Artist of the Day…Diem Chau

It’s great when art combines many different elements. Sometimes, it’s elements that you wouldn’t even think of putting together…like Diem Chau’s works. This fine artist combines minatures, china, and needlecrafts to create unique, almost sculptural vignettes of everyday life and people.

Diem Chau is a Vietnamese refugee that creates her works using organza, thread, porcelain china, wood, paper, and the most interstingly, crayons. She obtained her BFA in 2002 and since then has shown in exhibitions in New York, Seattle, and LA. Most recently, her crayon carvings were utilized for a World Cup 2010 promotion by Nike.  

Those crayon carvings are my favorite. They are so intricate…then again, I’m liking all of these pieces!

The Life of Ms. Sheree (6.28.10)

Hey there!!!! Another week is beginning as another weekend ends…I wish weekends never ended…but then I suppose that would be called retirement, hmmm? Anyway, how was your weekend? I do hope it was enjoyable. The worse thing is to be looking forward to the weekend and then have it turn out to be a bad one. Luckily, I escaped that bit of misfortune…my weekend was quite nice! Even though the weather was horrible. How horrible you ask? Well, for starters, tornado warnings were in effect across much of MN…none of them were in my area, but the siren did go off a few times which is also unnerving. On top of that, it hailed 1/2 thick pieces of ice that basically sounded like a million bb gun pellets being shot at your window. The storms in MN have been some of the worse I’ve ever seen. Perhaps it has something to do with all the open fields and stuff…

Anyway, I had to wait for all of that to die down before I could head out to the Legacy cast party on Friday. Of course, it was a good time filled with laughter, random dance sessions, and freely flowing liquor, haha. I had my iPod on deck and I attempted to annoy people with my love of 80′s music, but surprisingly, people started asking me who was playing and where can they get it!

(*COMPLETE SIDE-NOTE*) So I’m currently typing this on my phone…on the bus…and I just looked out the window to see that we are somehow nowhere on the usual route…I have no idea if there is some sort of detour up by the usual exit…all I know is that I’m very confused at the moment…

So after the party on Friday nite, the rest of my weekend was pretty chill. I worked Saturday morning…a customer complimented me on my helping her so that was nice. The best part about Saturday, though, was that my mom and I headed out to the fairgrounds to check out a vintage clothing and textile show and sale. I was totally in heaven…

I saw some of the most gorgeous pieces of jewelry, clothing, and textiles. I suppose vintage clothing is where I turn into a history buff…it’s so amazing to think about the lives that were lived in the clothes…it’s living history! Anyway, I was completely overwhelmed by everything I saw, and I wanted to buy everything (including those square sunglasses above…I died when I saw them!) I managed to pull myself together and settle on a few things…

Now, I had gone to the show with the intention of looking and NOT touching, clearly that did not work out well because I managed to spend more than I had planned…but i stayed with a budget so I suppose it’s all good. The reason I didn’t get the sunglasses was because I had already purchased that gorgeous bracelet above…and the lovely lady who sold it was nice enough to give me a deal on it. The buttons were selected after about 45 minutes of going through bins and bins of vintage buttons…and I was quite pleased to find the amber colored ones above. They’re made of Bakelite, which I’ve been wanting to start collecting for ages. To give you an idea of how coveted Bakelite accessories and jewelry are, I can tell you that every vendor I went to at the show had gorgeous Bakelite bangles – none of which were under $90 bucks. It may sound ridiculous, but the weight and craftsmanship of Bakelite jewelry is like none found today. They are more than likely from the 1930′s and there are some really amazing pieces out there.
I’m not sure what those buttons are going to become, but I’m extremely excited to see what my mind and sewing machine come up with….stay tuned!

The remainder of my weekend was spent just relaxing and doing a bit of sewing. Sunday was True Blood day with the guys and last nite’s episode did not disappoint. The show is finally setting it up for Sookie and Eric to start to become involved, so I’m excited about that. I will say though that the ending scene of the episode was a bit disturbing…vampires, anger, and twisted necks makes for an interesting sex scene – if you watch the show, then you know what I’m talking about…if you don’t, well, let’s just say that scene wasn’t for the squemish!

Well, I’m off to dod a little bit of work…and a lot of daydreaming. I’ve got a pretty chill week ahead of me. I plan on sewing some things both for myself and for my upcoming photoshoot. I think my sister and I are going to watch Avatar tonight (and yes, I’m probably the last person on the planet that hasn’t seen it yet..)

Have a fantastic week!

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U- Underwear: Either boyshorts or bikini briefs. And they are only from Victoria’s Secret…I refuse to buy undies form anywhere else!

V – Vegetable you dislike: Peas…yuk!

W – Ways you run late: procrastinating or getting up late…rushing gives me an adrenaline boost that I enjoy, so perhaps sometimes I make myself late on purpose.

X – X-rays you’ve had: just teeth

Y – Yummy food you make: pancakes. My chili is pretty bomb as well.

Z – Zoo favorite: I’ve recently decided that I have a problem with the idea of zoos…however when I did enjoy going to them, I liked the exotic bird and reptile sections.

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. – Andre Gide (1869 – 1951)

Friday Flash…

THIS is a great tribute to Michael Jackson (yes, this is a shameless plug )

Hamburgers as inspiration for art! (You must see the dress!)

The Names Brand (For those who want lists of Brangelina’s kids…and other famous name lists…on their chests…)

Like pranks? Then you’ll LOVE this site!

Interactive Cats! (Yesssssssss!)

This guy saved 2 Million Babies (This is what I call a superhero)

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Love this idea - emission spectra scarves (get one made of your favorite element!)

LOVE this brushed aluminum luggage by Dunhill house

The Blood Pillow ('cause scaring your loved ones is fun!)

These kicks by Rick Owens & Chrome Hearts are hot

Gorgeous...

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I found this neat lil game of tag from Gwen over at Bay Girl! Basically you’re supposed to answer a list of questions and then pass on a new set at the end. Let’s give it a whirl shall we??

1. What are you views on gay/lesbian marriage? I believe that love has no boundaries and that anyone whom is committed to being with and loving someone for a lifetime should get married. This whole debate bothers me because it is based in a religious standpoint, and while I’m supposed to agree with this stand point (being a Christian and all), I don’t. That’s for many reasons which I may one day express in a whole other post at some other time…but, what I’m getting at is that there is supposed to be a separation b/t chruch and state in this country and the gay marriage debate is clearly showing that it’s not.

2. If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Hmm…that’s a good one. I love to eat so this is somewhat hard for me, but bacon is the first thing I thought of, so I’ll say that.

3. PC or Mac? I’m a proud Machead…I even watched this documentary, haha!

4. Which celebrity would you marry and why? Ooh…another toughie. I could break this down into categories like physical reasons vs. personality reasons, but that would take forever, so I’ll make my dream celebrity man using qualities from real celebrity men…how’s that??

Will Smith – ’cause he seems like he’s devoted to and cherishes his marriage and family

Travie McCoy – ’cause he’s sexy as hell, has tattoos, and is a little rough around the edges

Michael Buble – ’cause I’m a sucker for soulful white guys

Jonathan Rhys Meyers – ’cause his eyes are goregous

Barack Obama – ’cause he exudes power, intellect, & class

Pharell Williams – ’cause I love his style and creative abilities

Reggie Bush – omg…that body!

Lil Wayne – ONLY, ONLY, ONLY for his ‘dreads…that is the ONLY thing about this man that is remotely attractive to me.

5. How did you get into blogging? I’ve always documented my thoughts in various places, so I wanted to have a place where I could share them with people with like minds or ideas. I realized that I found so many cool art/design/fashion/culture things as I went through my daily life that I decided it would be neat to share them with other people…thus Sparkleshock was born!

6. Favorite Nickelodeon show ever. Ah! The Secret World of Alex Mac…this is another list that could go on and on though…

7. Recommend one book for me to read. “Lovers & Players” by Jackie Collins. It’s mindless, smutty fun and perfect for a day by the beach

8. Do you still dress up for Halloween? If so, do you lean more towards the slutty costumes or not? I dress up sporadically. Like I did the year before last, but not this past year. And what I am depends on my creative moods. Thus far i’ve been a gypsy, Naomi Campbell from MJ”s Remember the Time video, a hula girl…and judging by this list I supose I lean towards the skanky ones, lol.

I, in turn, tag anybody who wants to do it…link back here if you do, please…I love discovering new blogs!

Here are my questions:

1. Do you believe that you can have only one or many ‘true’ loves?

2. What would be your dream concert line up?

3. What’s the best amusement/theme park you’ve been to?

4. Least favorite type of soda?

5. Favorite childhood cartoon?

6. What’s the one thing you’ve done thus far in life that you think others should experience as well?

7. Cats or Dogs? (There is a right answer to this one, haha)

8. If you’re a Starbucks drinker, what’s your drink?

Have a Great Weekend!!!

Designer of the Day…Electric Feathers

So, I stumbed across designer Leana Zuning’s Electric Feathers label and was instantly hooked. Why you ask? Because in my former life I was totally a part of the Dynasty cast. Because of that, I have an affinity for shoulder pads and classy jumpsuits…both things Electric Feathers has as well!

Of course, all of Electric Feathers looks aren’t dreamy, 80′s goodness. There are some really goregous dresses a part of the label as well. Check out the site to see all the buzz around the label – WWD, Vogue, & The New York Times to name a few. I can see why – these are some great garments.

Trio…MJ Favorites

Seeing as today is the 1 year anniversary of Michael’s death, I wanted to dedicate a Trio post of my top 3 favorite MJ related subjects…This list could go on and on, but that would make this post even longer than it’s already about to be. All I’ve listed above is by no means an exhaustive list…but I could only list 3 because, well, that’s what Trio posts are all about!

Songs

Human Nature – I first heard this song during a scene in the ’92 TV film The Jacksons – An American Dream. From the moment I heard the dreamy melody, I was hooked…but I had no idea what the name of the song was or which album it was on. It wasn’t until 2001 when I bought my first copy of Thriller when I was pleasantly surprised by track #7. I love everything about the song – the production, the lyrics, the emotion in MJ’s voice…simply perfection. I have also thoroughly enjoyed the songs that sample Human Nature, some of which include “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” by Nas and “Right Here” by SWV. You must also check out John Mayer’s acoustic version (which was played at his memorial) – it is stunning.

We Are Here to Change the World – This was from Captain EO…one of the 1st 3D films I ever saw way back in the day at Epcot. I rediscovered it when I bought The Ultimate Collection…I love how cheesy 80′s goodness this song is! By the way, Captain EO is back at Disneyland in case you happened to miss seeing it back in the 80′s and early 90′s – it’s certainly a treat!

Rock With You – This song gets me nostalgic everytime I hear it. Obviously, I wasn’t around in the 70′s. but there’s something about the timeless melody and lyrics makes me feel like I could have been in love to this song back in the day. Again, the production on this song is magic as well and that sparkly suit MJ is rocking in the video is so awesome

Music Videos

Scream -

Things I love:

The colors, concept, and choreography

The fact that Janet’s in it AND they’re performing together

Those latex leggings they’re rocking

Smooth Criminal

Things I Love:

The choreography (Especially “The Lean”)

The 1920′s concept – excellent costuming!

The fact that the scene in this video is in the Moonwalker video game

Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough

Things I Love:

Michael is so cute in this video

The marbles that whizz around in the background

Live Performances

Dangerous – This was performed during the Dangerous World Tour and during various music award shows in the mid 90′s. The dancing in this number is fire and the costuming is on point. I love the fedora’s and red gloves. This was my favorite number to costume during Legacy.

Motown 25 Performance – I wish I could have been alive to see this live. Why? Because this is when MJ performed the Moonwalk for the first time ever. Plus this is when the iconic sparkly black jacket was worn…which (FYI!) was actually his mother’s.

Michael Jackson 30th Anniversay Special – I love this because this was basically the last time the brothers performed together. It was on Sept 10, 2001.

Wardrobe

The man always had a sense of style like no other…and even though they were opulent, I loved how he dressed…here are some of my favorite looks…

Some other random favorites?

My top 3 favorite albums are Off the Wall, Dangerous, and Triumph.

My favorite part of the song Tabloid Junkie is when MJ beatboxes at the beginning of the track…so cool that he can do that!

My favorite tour to watch is The Dangerous World Tour.

I do apologize about the length of this post, but you must understand that I have been a Michael Jackson fan since I was 6 years old. Literally. I made my Dad play the Dangerous cassette (yes, cassette) anytime we went anywhere in his car. I never bought into the “Wacko Jacko” mess and I get infuriated at the people whom feel that he committed inappropriate acts with children. To me, he’s simply the greatest entertainer of modern times. But more than that, I honestly feel like he was a good human being with a beautiful spirit. I realize he was human and I’m sure he was a jerk at times and made tons of wrong decisions, but at the end of the day, his music and legacy are some of the things I consider influences on my life. As strange as this may sound, I miss him and I hate that his life had so much darkness. But at least he’s in a better place and his legacy truly will go down in history…Rest In Peace King of Pop – you’re still, and always will be loved.

[Endangered Artwork]…Illustrations by Brenden Wenzel

Stubtail Macaque

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Black Faced Spoonbill

Binturong

Banded Broadbill

Asian Emerald Cuckoo

Asian Elephant

The illustrations above are from children’s book illustrator Brenden Wenzel. collection of images that features beautiful animals in Vietnam. A majority of the animals he draws are on the endangered or theatened species list. They gorgeous paintings…and they call attention to some serious issues. Great work.

Loving…Fishs Eddy

New York’s Fishs Eddy is a store after my own heart. They have a great collection of kitschy, fun, and unique housewares that totally suits my decorating style… 

I love the whimsy of the Alice & Wonderland Plate and the Receipt Platters. Then, I can satsify my love for vintage kitchenware with the American Glassware pitchers and the Toile Teapot. I should so order some stuff for the new apartment!

Artist of the Day…Tim Manthey

 

Tim Manthey’s Cloud Nectar collages, paintings, and mixed media pieces are really neat. So neat in fact that I think he deliberately omitted any “about me” info from his blog so that you can concentrate on the work. So besides knowing his medium, I can’t really share much about Manthey besides the fact that his work is awesome, he calls it Cloud Nectar, and that you should check more out at his blog!

I’ve said it before…collage work is so amazing because you never find yourself looking at the same thing twice. So interesting!

[Retro Suave]…Trussardi 1911 Spring 2011

I love fashion and I especially love MEN in fashion, so I’m going to be doing way more posts showcasing menswear that has caught my attention. Trussardi 1911′s Spring 2011 collection is one of them because I’m loving the Miami Vice meets James Dean meets 2011 set of concepts that appears to be going on…

The rolled cuff look has been really prevalent in menswear as of late. I know only the fashion savvy and confident guys out there will want to pull this look off, and that’s cool with me because I love it. I’ve always thought that menswear is sort of stiffling in the fact that there are way less silhouettes to play with (than in womenswear), so when designers like Trussardi 1911 decide to be creative through the use of color, print, and styling, it makes it all the more interesting.

I’m digging this…totally up my alley as far as my dress preferences for guys goes!

Loving…The Future Mapping Company

I have always been entranced by globes & maps. I’m sure it stems from my love for traveling – one which I’ll hopefully work on more in the coming years. Anyway, maps have always seemed more like art to me, so I love these from The Future Mapping Company…

I love the colors used in these! Plus, the 2nd to last one uses metallic ink to depict the worlds oceans…very nice!