VooDoo Dolly Accessories Review

It always makes me happy to support independent crafters and designers in the gothic/lolita/neo-romantic community.... especially when their designs are as unique as VooDooDolly's. About a month ago, she listed a bunch of pieces on the EGL Community, and I fell in love immediately! It was hard to choose which pieces I wanted to get, but I decided on a cruxifix necklace and ring.

My haul! 

Everything came exceptionally well packaged in individual boxes customized with stickers and wax seals. Voodoo Dolly also included a cute thank you note, a business card, and even a free gift! Bonus points that the note was written on Sentimental Circus stationary,  which is my favorite Sanrio franchise <3.

Cruxafix Necklace

The first item I ordered was this antique gold rosary-inspired necklace. It features a really detailed cruxafix, a chain cluster of gold and glass beads, a bible locket charm, and a scarlett tassel. I don't have as much red as I'd like in my wardrobe, but the blood-red tassel sold me on this necklace!

Bisque Doll Ring

The second piece I ordered is a simple ring. It has a solid brass, non-adjustable base, and features a tiny doll. I'm not sure if the doll was just a pre-fab cabochon, but it looks and feels really old. It reminds me of something found on an archeological dig.

Free gift! Skull and lace ring

I only ordered two pieces from Voodoo Dolly, but she included this third for free with my package! It's a skull, skewed at a jaunty angle on an antique gold-finish ring base. The skull itself is a little atypical from skulls generally seen in gothy jewlery. Like a child's or something. The whole thing is set off by two leaves of venice lace. It's really cool! The plastic the skull is made of is a little waxy, leading me to wonder if Voodoo Dolly casted it herself. Overall its a great piece, and an even better free gift. 

My new rings together!

I'm really happy with the pieces I purchased from Voodoo Dolly! I've actually been thinking about buying a few more pieces from her shop. Her Etsy seems to be on hiatus for the time being due to October conventions, but it can be found here when its up: etsy.com/shop/voodoodolly

Anima portraits...

Today was a very special day for me.  I was invited to speak about my work at Stitchy! Sewing Workshop and Lecture program at Roxaboxen Exhibition Space in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. There was a pretty small turnout, but it was still really gratifying to talk about my art in a public setting with an audience of people I didn't really know.  Here are a few shots!

A quick craft idea....

My roommate has been frantically making things to decorate and organize our new apartment. October is always incredibly hectic for me, so I have only had time to muse on domestic crafts! This quick "terrarium" project I found on my Tumblr dashboard today is easy enough that I might even be able to make a few before its too late to find plastic spiders and skeletons. All you need is some curiosity-inducing specimens, craft moss and twigs from your back yard, and leftover jars.


Halloween Terrarium Project

STEP 1: First, wash each container and dry thoroughly. Choose a sturdy twig that's slightly shorter than the jar and hot-glue it to the inside of the lid, so that the twig sticks straight up.

STEP 2: Hot-glue plastic bugs to the wood — making sure the decorations are small enough to fit inside the glass when you seal the terrarium.

STEP 3: Spray-paint everything but the jar — twig, bugs, lid — white or black.

STEP 4: Once the piece has dried, hot-glue green floral moss around the base of the twig. Carefully place the jar upside down over the lid and screw it on.

Original craft post can be found here: http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/terrarium-halloween-crafts-1009

Artist of the Week: Pablo Picasso (Rose Period)

Picasso probably isn't the first name to come to mind when thinking of Romantic art. The man is known, of course, for his frantic, bold, cubist compositions, and is often associated with the realization of modernism in the twentieth century. The public eye (and frequently those of curators and art historians) tends to overlook Picasso's preliminary stages, except in mention of his development. As you probably remember from highschool art class, Picasso's work went through many, many stages, and some of these are very relevant to the interests of a neo-romantic.

Picasso's Rose Period, which lasted briefly from 1904 to 1906, captures the moody melancholy of his previous Blue Period while allowing new color choices and new stylistic conventions to pull the viewer into an ethereal, and sometimes subtly uncanny realm.

Harlequin Seated before a Red Back Background (1905)

Harlequins and traveling performers were common subjects during Picasso's Rose Period. I love anything to do with circus folk, especially the antique variety. Traveling carnivals were popular during the 19th century and the first half of the 20th, but they were often manned by those on the fringes of society. Picasso identified with these characters and their stories, and continued painting them throughout his career.

Mother and Son (1905)

A Boy with a Pipe (1905)
Unfortunately, Picasso abandoned this evocative style of painting quickly in favor of the more angular, modern style he has become known for. In 1907, Picasso debuted his opus Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, marking the end of the more subtle stages of his youth. The Blue and Rose Periods are very simmilar to late 19th century symbolism, though Picasso never aligned himself with that school of painting. Maybe you've noticed the similarity to Redon's later work!

Seated Female Nude (1905)


Style Lessons from Picasso:
+See your style through rose-colored lenses: I could hardly write a style guide influenced by Picasso's Rose Period without talking about the color rose! Add some warmth to your wardrobe with rose, coral, pinks, and reds. As Picasso proves, these colors can be moody and languid, not just girly. Try to evoke a similar mood for more somber looks with these typically ecstatic colors.

+A Clown's Flounce: Take some inspiration from the harlequins, clowns, and dancers that grace these canvases. Add a decorative collar or cuff to your coordinate. Detachable collars and cuffs were pretty popular until the 1960's, so its pretty easy to find them in vintage and antique stores. If you're feeling crafty why not make your own?

+A Center-Stage Headpiece: Many of Picasso's Rose Period portraits feature sitters with interesting headgear to set off the minimal details of their garb. I love the flower garland the young man in A Boy with a Pipe wears. Pair your statement hat or fascinator with simple, yet sophisticated clothing in rich colors for a powerful look. As they say, sometimes less is more.

A little bit of decorating...

I moved into my current apartment about a month ago, but I haven't had the time to really organize the place to a state worthy of decorating. My room seems to be the only place I can fit a bit of prettiness for the time being. Today I cleaned, and organized things to my liking. My decorating scheme has only just begun!



My nightstand... the book is "The Collector", if anyone is curious. An old roommate of mine found me the bowling clown print... It's really strange and sometimes I think about switching something else into that frame, but I can't bring myself to do it. I guess I've grown fond of him. I found the architectural photograph, and many others like it, today while exploring a closing photography studio.



The deer cranium I purchased at a general store in Arkansas, crested with a 1940's hair piece. It lives on my vanity.



Hat wall. I really enjoy the texture that the round forms of the hats lends to the wall. A few of my favorite shoes and the crown-shaped hat block I made live on the radiator.



My dressform displays some choice accessories including Monsieur Foxy Roxy and the rabbit headpiece I made. Other treasures include faux hydrangeas, dumpster'd lace, tassels, and a crochet reticule my grandmother gave me. I believe it's Edwardian. The tatted balls on it are so cool!

What are your favorite details in your room? What things for you make a space truly yours?

Ciao, bellas ~
Barbara Lynn
- the Lady Saltina

Carnivale Salt returns from the dead....

So, as it turns out, I am a terrible blogger. I haven't updated the site in over a year! I've updated/redesigned the layout to reflect my current interests and aesthetics, and hopefully push the blog in a more inspired direction. I plan to start using the blog in a more personal way, so expect a lot of things that are maybe related to my art practice, life, ect, and not nessecarily fashion-related. All things should be of interest to neo-romantics and/or kindred spirits. Stay tuned and enjoy!

Things I Love Thursday: Fashion 'Fros

I apologize for my lack of posts, a week goes far too fast. Back on track, go Things I Love Thursday!

Haute 'Fros

 Luis Vuitton Spring-Summer 2010 RTW


Before last winter, I never dreamed I would ever consider the afro wig to be fashionable, but then Marc Jacobs put this collection down the runway. I'm not entirely enamored with the garments, but those giant afros adorned with feminine bows take my breath away, and leave me lusting for a ridiculous round wig.

Luis Vuitton Spring-Summer 2010 RTW

Since then, I have seen these calamitous coifs popping up in all sorts of different fashion editorials in the west and in Asia. One of my favorites has got to be this shoot, called Sweet Blossom, featured in Vogue Girl - Korea. I must get one of my Korean friends to get me a subscription to this magazine, they always have the best shoots.

 Vogue Girl Korea - May 2010

The lavender hue and top knot style add a flirty and contemporary twist to the more conventional afro wig style. This look would be darling (and daring) with an OTT sweet lolita or fairy-kei coordinate, or maybe even a more exotic mori or dolly-kei look.

 Vogue Girl Korea - May 2010


This trend has been showing up in Western alternative fashion as well. Check out this amazing shoot by designer and photographer Kristy Mitchell. While I'm not a *huge* fan of the candy stripes in this outfit, I fully appreciate the deathrock approach to the afro. Not to mention the corset and ruff are fierce (click the link for detail shots)!

The Candy Cane Witch - Kristi Mitchell 2010

The haute 'fro manifests in lolita fashion as the "poodley" coif we see popping up all over the pages of Alice Deco ala Mode and the Gothic and Lolita Bible. Victoria Suzanne of Lolita Charm posted this compilation of curly cuties on her blog's accompanying Tumblr. Here we can see a wide range of afro-inspired coifs, usually in the form of teased curls over bangs. We'll dub this the poodle-do.

 

From the Lolita Charm Tumblr. Look at all the poodle-dos! 

There are a few traditional fros in there as well!

Currently sported by Sachi and Yuka of Kokusyoku Sumire, this equally awesome variant of the traditional fro is much more commonly seen than its counterpart. Someday I will have a wig like this!

Sachi and Yuka of Kokusyoku Sumire in a classic lolita 
ensemble crowned with snow white curls.


But wait! This incredibly fashionable duo has also mastered the art of the true afro wig! Like many other examples of the fashionable fro, they've styled it into dynamic shapes, making the style fresher and more contemporary. These two will never stop amazing me with their amazing outfits!

   Sachi and Yuka manage to tame the beast. Those are some fierce 'fros!

Because she cannot be forgotten in a post about fashion afros, I must include the work of Eri Utsugi, head designer of mercibeaucoup. Though her clothing has little to do with 'fros these days, Utsugi got her break back in 2006 when the fashion media spotted her because of her quirky animal-shapped afro wigs. I don't know if she still features them in her work because most of the coverage I found was from 2006 or 2007, but they are still too much fun to pass up!  Read more about her and her collections here.

Chicken/Duck Afro by Eri Utsugi. From Japan Times article linked above.

Bunny afro by Eri Utsugi 

   Okay, not an animal, but food afros are equally amazing! 
Ice cream wig by Eri Utsugi.