Pride without Prejudice

Sunday was the 40th anniversary of Gay Pride festivities in San Francisco!  This was the first time I attended the SF version. I have previously attended the Seattle festivities but San Francisco definitely takes it up a notch.  First of all, I have never seen so many people, happy people, all in one place.  It was hard to walk anywhere cause the crowds were so intense.  We saw the backstreet boys in the parade and then performing on the main stage, people were so excited to see them, it was crazy.  They were great performers, their dancing was super tight.   My friend Sarye and I met lots of nice people and managed to have a blast. 

I am wearing-

Feather hair dangle-DIY/Pretty Pirate Designs

Sunnies-F21

Tank-Arkay Workshop/Alternative apparel)

Purse-DIY/Pretty Pirate Designs

Belt-Moksha in Seattle/imported

Skirt-(previously the bells from pants that I altered into a skirt)/Import store on Haight St.

This guy is from Cheer SF and is currently on "americas got talent".  What a nice guy too!  We saw them perform and they were amazing!

Rainbow tail doggy!!

These guys have been together 44 years, thats more than most marriage's last!

Love the feathers

Angel on stilts

Cute float representing Middle Eastern gays

The house music block, people were dancing tough, this was one of my fave areas

The garbage was pretty overwhelming, they needed way more receptacles, they were all full

Watching the parade

Outstanding day!

Continuing with my perfect week, I attended a amazing outdoor party on Sunday.  It was on Treasure Island right across from San Francisco.  The "sunset parties" are put on by Pacific Sound and are some of the most fun events of the summer, in and around SF.   Some friends and I, took off pretty early and were among the first 100 people there at around noon.  The number of people quickly grew to around 1000.  Not only did I go with some amazing ladies I also ran into tons of friends that I didn't even know would be there, gotta love that!

Some buddies and I  

The view from the upper deck of the art car, which was a wooden ship (see next photo).  That is SF across the water. 

A little jumping!  She was so darling, her dress was handmade and super cute!

My lady friend and I, this is my flock of seagulls hair do, it was super windy so my braid kept coming out. 

My friend Conrad, who is hilarious!  (you can see a closer view of the cute girls dress in the background too)

Derosa Art Preserve and My Band of Colorful Characters

First of all, let me apologize for my lack of presence here.  Having just moved I was hoping for a free internet connection which I did have, but it only lasted a few days.  I have now bitten the bullet and paid for it.  It's well worth it, I was getting so bored.  

Last weekend, some friends and I went to the Derosa Art and Nature preserve in Napa.  It was one of the most interesting places I have been, in the area.  I highly recommend visiting if you live close by and if you plan on coming to the bay area.  They have the largest regional art collection in the United States and quite possibly the world.  There was so much to see that I plan to go back in July with my mom, when she is here.  There were no photos allowed inside which is where most of the art is so these are all just outside shots.  

 I was so excited to see so much work by David Best, who I was already a huge fan of.  His art is really touching and invokes many emotions.  I saw a sculpture which was about the invasion of Poland by the Nazi's, it was a full size horse with a young boy on a carriage, it was really dingy looking with jewish stars and symbols all over it and underneath it was a pile of ashes, very intense and beautiful.  

The lake when you walk up to the first gallery.

This is the back of the property where a lot of the sculptures are. 

I was so excited to see so many peacocks, they were at the end of mating season so they were really loud.

The other side of the lake outside the second and largest gallery.

The old barn and stables, this tower was a add on by Rene Derosa who converted this into his home. 

These last two are from a event called ShowNuff I attend every friday night at 111 Minna.  My friend Conrad (playing the guitar) books the happy hour with live music which is so much fun.  It's free to get in with drink specials and great local live bands and is every friday from 5-9.  This Friday Kalri$$ian will be playing, who I preform with.  Come on out and see us!  Add us on facebook too!

DIY bunny ears

I was invited to a rooftop party on Sunday with the theme of  "Zombie Bunny Brunch".  I wanted to make some bunny ears to wear that were unique and fun.  I have made feathered bunny ears in the past with pink and white feathers but this time I wanted it to be a little more organic and pretty.  All the feathers are from the pheasants that my dad sent me.  He is a hunter so I have a great resource for feathers.  I love that I am helping to use all the parts to the bird.  I grew up eating mostly hunted meat and feel that it was a healthy, economic and tasty way for my dad to feed the family.   I started this process by cutting out two cardboard ears, then covered them with a stretchy fabric.  Next I covered the front with feathers then began to add the layers.  I added the leftover fluffy parts that I cut off from the bottom of the feathers to cover the back (I used the tops of the feathers where that are much prettier for the front).  This project took about a hour and a half.   I am so excited to wear these and have the most unique bunny ears there.  Now.......to find a zombie outfit to match!  

After the party we are heading to Dolores park for the crazy easter, mad tea party they have every year, sponsored by the sisters of perpetual indulgence.

Costume fun!

I'm heading to a costume party tonight with the theme of guru's get giggly,  I don't really know of any specific guru's besides spiritual leaders who's writing I read.  Most of which are men.  This is my interpretation of a indian goddess, good enough right? 

Costume details-

Head dress- I made (Pretty Pirate Designs)

Necklaces-Self made and gift

Belts-Ebay, Moksha in Seattle and scarf from Bumpershoot

70's poly goddess dress-Thrifted years ago

Bracelets-Thrifted all over

Hand Carved wooden Wedges from Phililppines-Festival vendor at Bumpershoot

Blast from the past

While cruising the interwebs today, I rediscovered these really old pictures, taken a huge burning man costume party in Seattle in 2004 by DB.  In the first few I am with my dear friend Nicole, this is pre her marriage and now the birth of her first child.  I borrowed this amazing dress from a friend, it was so fun to wear!

The the amazing Jen Star

A bunch of us holding the very tall photographer. 

L to R, Dan the man, Jeff, Kathy Kim, Muah, Morgan and Nicole.

Pre Halloween birthday and costume party

Here's a  few photos from our costume party outing last night.  We were celebrating Kristys birthday which made it perfect that there was a costume party.  I love dressing up and it was good to try out my costume before the REAL Halloween.  I think I might do a little altering of the dress, as in cut some fringe on the arms and a little bit off the hemline.  I want the hemline to be a bit more jagged and "natural". 

Kristy with the guys we met when we arrived, they were missing their Dorothy!  She will be out with them on Halloween. 

These two made their costumes and paper mache masks.  They were awesome, and won the couples category, natch.

Here is the front of my costume, I made a huge feather Bustle for the back last minute, it's gorgeous.

Sushi Party

A friend of mine had a sushi party last weekend. It was amazing, all you can eat, great quality fish. That's would make it pretty perfect in my book. I helped by making cute and weird signs for the rolls. We choose names together as more people started to arrive. Of corse there were 2 Michael Jackson inspired rolls. We also had Salmon, Himachi, Tuna and sweet shrimp sashimi. It was all so fresh and amazing.

Here I am doing my trusted self portrait.

Im wearing a vintage dress.

My lady Eliza!

Here are some of my signs, they all included a real plant.

The shrimp after it was cleaned (a long process)

Jeremy cutting up the goods.