the pokemedot craft ghetto resurrection

Last Weekend = Indigo Blue Weekend.

2007-10-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

I tried to blog about this right last weekend but my computer was being WONKY. Long story short = it was an incredible week last week with performances AND Miss Indigo Blue Workshops. I kid thee not, the woman is brilliant, hilarious, so open, so frank and a dork to the max. I loves it.

I saw her perform with some other bitchin' awesome Vancouver burlesque ladies.

And these are my blue pictures of my cute outfit with a necklace that I had just strung right before Kelsey picked me up. Once again, sorry for the retarded side pics :( And you're missing my awesome blue/black striped socks with my kitten heel t-strip shoes, reminiscent of a flapper look.

Sweet. :) xo

Etsy = Too Pricey

2007-10-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

So I was going to run my little Joanie Gyoza Etsy stand for my gorgeous flowers and assorted fantastasical necklaces.

But Etsy charges 20 cents per listing and only lists for 4 months.

HELLS NO
for a hobbyist burlesque-ite. Frankly I don't have product with traffic unique enough; nor really, the heart of it is I don't think I have the patience to upload everything with its description and specs.

So until the real wave of selling shit happens, ladies and gentlemen--I delight in making beautiful things and I have beautiful things for sale on the sly. I also love creating custom work for people, so if you need anything, ask me :)

GOLD POO Vancouver Comedy Fest Performance Highlight

2007-09-24T00:58:00.001-07:00

This has got to be one of the most unexpected and awesomest things I have done yet.
One, I performed in a group choreographed number. (My second time ever, first time being in the front of the bloody line--stressful).
Two, I performed for a non-specific burlesque audience.
Three, I was in the Cultch for the first time (one of my goals ) as a performer...

AND THE KICKER

I opened as a sperm for David Cross, who is the shit in one of my favorite directors' short movies.

Voila la link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xU6zcqmw0Uk

I love my life :)

Strained Wrist and Burlesque Blogs

2007-09-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

Que pasa lovelies?
typing to minimum, too much beading and crafting and typing = ouch.
cool blogs to share!!!

www.candypitch.blogspot.com

www.burlesquedaily.blogspot.com

AWESOME :)

I have never been so at home in my skin...

2007-09-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

A corner of Ruby Dog's Art House (www.dxmarket.com/collagejoy)
where I was hunting for scraps yesterday and which I consider
to be a definite cozy comfort for creative kookachoos :)

...actually that's a lie, as I'm incredibly blessed and feel enough moments of authentic bliss that I am ready to die with peace and happiness at any moment :)

Hee hee, well, maybe not really. :)
I likes life :)
Anyhoo I digress because I just have to share with you my perfect harmony of dirty fingertips, paint on my shirt and glitter on my face and a mom who is actually giggling with some kind of reluctant amusement as her grown daughter crafts like a dork on the dining room table.

I spoke with my dear friend Rachel yesterday, and she's for sure a kindred spirit (to the max). Not so long ago, in January when we had our little house together we were both in the throws of angst and anxiety as to what do do next in our lives filled sky-high with ambition and apparent limitations like time, money and our own niggling insecurities.

Speaking to her yesterday was so warm and gratifying because I feel we're both more in our own skins everyday, and jubiliantly so.

For me,
dorky as can be,
it's the amalgamation I find in burlesque, satisfaction with my career as a nurse, making peace with me parents, my honey bun the Gnome and best of all, ever growing.

I shit you not, crafting via making my burlesque costumes and props feels EPIC.

Par example, this Charmer in Training costume is SO BITCHIN' because I was able to use so much of what I already have; bellydance coin belts from Bellydance Superstars, super coin-bellydance goddess earrings that i bought but am to shy to wear normally, bracelets found in the spca thrift shop that i really wanted but have never worn, my graduation necklace present to myself, fabric scooped up from the glamour bin for CHEAP at textile clearance wearhouse and finally the icing on the pie yesterday:

as i was showing my costumes, brain storming and throwing ideas back and forth with my awesome sister at 1:15 am my eyes fall upon these very genie-esque flats that she and i bought together at a thrift store just cos we loved em.

they matched my costume so perfectly.
and i was going to go barefoot!

Ahhhhhhh :)
Synchronicity :)

Makes me feel that my decisions made with my gut/heart with the most authentic parts of myself are ever paying off and making more sense. Maybe it's justification for compulsive shopping and being a packrat--but DAMN, this packrat is in the pay dirt with finally coming to a level where my output spent on acts is decreasing and satisfaction/product is increasing :)

YES :)

Anyhoo also below is something that resonates a lot :)

There's my bleeding heart, bon appetit :)
Love much to you, xo joanie gyoza :)

original source: http://poppalina.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/06/acts-of-gratuit.html

Acts of Gratuitous Beauty

Of the myriad communities on the internet, I can't think of one that could possibly be kinder, more friendly, sharing or caring than They Who Craft. Not unless there's a Myspace group called Heavenly Angels at the Right Hand of God.

Crafters get to the Heart of Things. They share, teach, swap, send gifts, and support one another. They have to. Their vocation is to make the world a more beautiful place. They need all the help they can get.

They find their materials in op shops, garage sales, on the beach, in the garden, occaisonally even falling from the sky and hitting them on the head. They encounter all things with an eye to how they might utilize, enhance and adapt. They're thrifty and hate waste, as did their mothers, and their mothers, and their mothers before them. It's always been this way.

dear meagan

But they also love to save, to rescue. A good crafter can spot a handmade doily, swatch of kimono fabric, or well-preserved handknit (and tell you what fibre it's made from) at a hundred paces, out of a pile 20 feet high, in a dimly lit back room, not 10 minutes before they have to pick the kids up from school. They will pay their last 2 bucks to rescue it, take it home, gaze lovingly at it, and then put it away.

Some considerable time later, they will take it out again, wash it, felt it, embroider it, cover it in wire and beads, put a zip in it, attach an adjustable handle, slip cast it, oxyweld a brooch-back onto it, and cover it in glitter.

It will be magnificent. One of a kind. Never to be repeated, at least not quite the same way, ever again. Hours of thought, pondering, working, fucking up, lamenting, undoing, and fixing have gone into it. A part of themselves, too, never to be replaced.

mimi kirchner

Then, when it's all done, they will either give it away to Some Deserving Person, or sell it for an outrageously small fraction of what it's worth, in order to scrape together the cash to make something else. If it's good, it will probably be ripped off, sent to a Third World country, copied, sent back as a knockoff, and sold in the same shop that stocked the original, for a third of the price. liana kabel

Most people think Crafters are nuts. Potty, whimsical and eccentric, at best. Cracked, spooky and best avoided, at worst. Maybe they're right. I know it takes a certain degree of obsessiveness to see an idea through to completion, and a demented level of fervour to start such an ambitious project in the first place. Crafting takes time, lots and lots of time. And so much patience. Neither are highly valued, anymore.

Crafters are patronised, excluded and ignored by the Art World. What we do is too home-oriented and kitsch for High Art, too grass roots in it's aspiration, too unsophisicated in it's intention. I have had my work removed from exhibitions under pressure from other artists, on the grounds it didn't the fit the media parameters of 'Fine Art', ie. it was embroidered rather than painted or drawn. In short, it was Only Craft, and was therefore diminishing the calibre of the collection. At the time, I found the arrogance and snobbery of this argument hilariously funny, but I am also bewildered by it to this day.

Laugh at craft, by all means.

Monster Crochet

We will happily laugh with you.

But sneer, condescend, exploit or, most craven of all, steal our ideas and pass them off as your own, you thieving bastards, you know who you are, and we will curse you. A curse to haunt you for lifetimes to come. And then turn our backs on you forever, to concentrate on the Good People in This World.

6.5 stitches

Real crafters are dedicated, honest people, spinning dreams, and working their arses off. Nay-sayers and parasites kill our high, make us miserable, stop us from working. And that's a Very Bad Thing. One of the reasons we lock ourselves away and make things is to avoid the company of People Like That. We don't do it for fame, fortune, or glory (though a little fortune, occasionally, wouldn't go astray). Hell, we don't even sign our own work most of the time, it's so not about ego.

Crafters craft because they must. They are driven by a blind desire to create Gorgeous Things. Things that take time and patience and love.

Sandra Monat

Things designed to reach people,

Screaming Lulu

break your heart,

mollychicken

draw you closer, until it rests against your cheek,

Suse

or laugh with pleasure,

Marianne Jørgensen

because it's just so beautiful.

spirit cloth

Crafters try to bring a little of the Divine into the real world with everything they make. As a gospel singer might describe it, they sing it down, during the hours and hours of meditative work involved in each piece.

To do this gives our lives meaning.

It makes life worth living.

===================================================================

SHOW ON FRIDAY! :)

2007-09-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

It's this Friday the 23rd Chez Le Colbalt. Show is at 10pm and it will be majorly RAD-tacular :) I'll do my Charmer in Training Number AND be in a big scary group performance :) xo

Charmer-In-Training: Act in Progress

2007-09-17T01:41:00.001-07:00

So I'm up blogging late in the night after some wickedly frantic and ecstatic crafting. Argh. Sometimes in the midst of it all, when I'm only halfway through the last of stuff that I need to do for an act that I've been working on already for 5 hours (and I haven't even blocked it to perfection) I'm always thinking "why do I do this again?"

Then it finishes and I sit back and look at the fruits of my labour and think "aaah.....oh yes..." :)
And that's only half of the fun process: making the god-damn props. Which I LOOVE.

Which brings me to the fact that I should blog project specs, like my friend Chrissy the Great blogs her knitting project specs.

Because I'm always proud of the way I make my things: GhettoLuxe Style. Meaning it's deluxe and indulgent to the max (I'll make the glittery oversized cucumber) BUT ghetto in that I try to find as much of what I can for the costume/props in second hand stores/by reusing found objects around the house.

Very inspired by this lady here, Lois Walker, who I met once when I was 8 years old at the PNE. It was the height of my star-dazed moment, with my best friend of early elementary school Leah who I recently connected with again via facebook. CRAZY :)

Anyhoo I dedicate my next number to this crazy broad who adore and admire.

My costumes are inspired by this lady's get-up.

And finally, I'm going to do costume specs because this is BY FAR, the most ghettoluxe I have come. I mean, I made a basket out of plastic and card board that will hopefully fold down and travel super economically.

Bitchin' :)

Anyhoo my love to you all who are reading. Amazing :)
love mooch, your Joanie Gyoza

2007-09-17T01:41:00.000-07:00

Burlesquey Books

2007-09-13T10:02:00.001-07:00

See, when I blog, I blog in spurts!
It all comes a rushin' out.
But, I figure it's better than no blogging at all.

This little thing is just to show you the other big thing that I have been doing this summer: trying to track down burlesque books for cheap (thanks www.abe.com) to get some historical context and knowledge about burlesque.

There's nothing more annoying (it's a pet peeve of mine) than performers that don't have a context. Maybe it was just super important for me, as a person who was entirely new to performing. In anycase, I'll try not to be such a snob about it and instead revel in being a hardcore nerd.

Note that the Century Girl book about Doris Eaton Travis is my favorite. Not only is Doris a phenomenal woman, but the book is done in a completely organic and creative scrapbook style reminiscent of the way I write about/document my own life. Complete kindred spirit, mmm :)

Smoochies for your reading :) xo, j

Amigurumi Madness

2007-09-13T09:51:00.001-07:00

So I love this beautiful awesome Japanese art. I thought I would showcase some of my most favorite pieces AND most exciting news....

Flying Pig from my facebook amigurumi group :)

Gnomie Amigurumi
by my brilliant and talented friend Cynthia of hula-la.com and big_girlfeet.blogspot.com

And tah dah!!!!
New exciting dream stuff--finding the perfect amigurumi dumplings to be in a photoshoot and to be a mascot. I hope the person who made these cuties is up to making me some more ... don't you think they fit my little gyoza perfectly?

Cherry and Daisy Dumpling

From Else's Belles Artes on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=34139)

And finally, my gyoza--don't they match? :)

The Belle Epoque Exhibit at the Vancouver Museum

2007-09-13T09:44:00.001-07:00

Darlings,

That Vancouver Museum has the most bitchin' little exhibits I swear. Last time, it was women and travel in the late 1800's to early 1900's.

Now it's the Belle Epoque, DROOL: complete with a special weekend with fashion shows and tea at one of my FAVORITE tea places in Vancouver.

Check this link out: http://www.vanmuseum.bc.ca/belleepoque.html
If you're out there in the wide world and would like to join me, get in touch :)

And for tea after: http://www.secretgardentea.com/

Mmm...that's my idea of a wicked wonderful weekend, Nov 3-4.

Kin Kamikaze: Introducing…Miss Chibi Shitake!

2007-09-06T10:31:00.001-07:00

I'm lucky, I have a sister who is brilliant and who is my publicity pusher, my manager, my critique chum, my show buddy and my incredible general over all support. Now she's got a name and burlesque personality to boot. Check her displaying her wit in this little self-penned poem:

Like how fresh sushi needs spicy wasabi…
Like how sticky rice needs chicken teriyaki…
Miss Joanie Gyoza needs Chibi Shitake!
The burlesque glamour of Miss Joanie is in part coached and produced by this half-pint Buddha who’s happy to shine offstage.

Now I hope YOU'RE lucky and you have a laptop so you can turn it sideways to check her out.
Because her pics aren't right side up even though I saved em so.

Where Has the Summer Gone?

2007-09-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Holy Toledo!
Well I've been away since June it seems and I'm telling you, it's for good reason because it has been BIZ-ZEE in my little corner of the world :)
So would you like a mini-blurb on what's been a-happenin' in the world of Gyoza?

June = A brilliantly cute new duet with my friend Corvetta Curves. I love working with her, she's got the most hilarious expressions and she's just talented and gorgeous. I was very pleased at how this turned out! Plus the Softcore Comedy Night Chez Le Cobalt is always a fun zoo to perform at; I even hit the stage with Mike McGee!!! (eek!) Spoken Word total geek moment! Only thing was the stressful LESSON LEARNED: Check fucking music twice before show. Period.

July = Lots of work. I worked a buttload in July because lots of people were on vacation, I also snuck away to the Sunshine Coast with my dear Junebug and that was fun and a needed break. I did the usual summer lazy things, hung out with my brother playing the gamecube (mario cart) and wii system lots. Hung out with my boo, living the good life but feeling low-energy because of my lack of kickboxing

August = Seems like my life = burlesque. It's been super busy because I'm serving as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for Vibfa, which is hugely exciting. Lots of behind the scenes work. Also I was a stress case because I performed twice and had to prepare a couple of new numbers, eek. NOW though, I feel much more seasoned and I think performance is an energy issue. I find if I ground myself before hitting the stage and instead to just let my diva loose, the best case scenario is that I bring laughter, sexy celebration and general joy/goodwill all around. It's like a glamourous celebration of glitter and life everytime--or atleast that's what I hope :) LESSON LEARNED: The butterflies will be there, but look fear in the face, get out there and ROCK IT.

September = Working on another new number (actually like 3!!) and really truly feeling for the first time that I really am a burlesque performer, not just a pretend one :) Actually it's been a funny summer for feeling like a newbie, or generally tricking the masses that I'm really an adult/etc. etc.

Bollocks to it all quite frankly, life is awesome :) I send my life via cyberspace! :)

Previously Out of Commission

2007-06-11T00:49:00.000-07:00

Hi :)

Can you believe that I was totally out with a flu solid for like, 5 days and have spent the rest of the 9 days just takin' it easy and chillin?

I can't believe that I was so darned POOPED OUT from the flu; and I still have sniffles!

It's good to be back in commission though :)

Natalie Dee's Pictures

2007-05-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

nataliedee.com

nataliedee.com

nataliedee.com

heh heh.
brilliant :)

Journalling and The Cutest Bathing Suit Over

2007-05-22T05:38:00.000-07:00

...droool... i want this.

specifically the black one, it's gorgeous.

fun fact: the model in red is Maisuimi Max, whom I think it GORGEOUS. I have a huge crush on her.

On another note:

most of my drawing of late has been in my book, with pens etc, old-fashioned-like.

I'll take some pictures and get them in here, it's so satisfying to be drawing again :)

Circus and Vaudevillian Stuff :)

2007-05-16T00:45:00.000-07:00

These guys are amazing, check'em out :)

Peep Up?

2007-05-12T02:23:00.000-07:00

Curious:

Does anyone read my blog? I strongly suspect nil to very very few :)

But if you do, please let me know and comment, I would love to hear and connect with you :)

Muchos Gracias, have a lovely day :)

New Book! And Marvelous Day

2007-05-12T02:20:00.000-07:00

I had a marvelous day today :) I slept in, read some Golden Compass, drew and doodled, played with the dog, hung out with my sister, hung out with my main squeeze Kelsey, went and had dinner in Kits then poked around on 4th Avenue and got this marvelous book--this is one of my FAVORITE, it's super interesting detailing the growth of girlshows and burlesque across America :)

THEN

I walked all the way to work across the Burrard Street Bridge on this sunny warm and glorious day in a swank new jacket.

Bliss :)

reduckulously awesome.

2007-05-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

this is indeed, reduckulously awesome.
as are the following clips from youtube:
1. spiders on drugs
2. mario vice city
3. ysabellabrave
4. pretty much any muppet show clip, in particular mahna mahna :)

myshowmyshowmyshow!! :) Photos and Proppage

2007-05-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hi lovelies :) So it's been a week and a wee bit since my first show in a year and me feeling like i really really did come into my burlesque persona: miss joanie gyoza.

Miss Joanie Gyoza is heat from the East meets zest from the West :) I think defining elements of my work as joanie gyoza will be super cute, super ridiculous, mighty sexy and craft/prop heavy. Why? Cos I likes me makin' le props. I LOVE IT. I LOVE SEWING AND DESIGNING :) Plus I believe in the importance of razzlin' and dazzlin the audience :)

Anyhoo here are some pictures from the fun-ass evening :) I was so blessed, the Screaming Chickens are AMAZING and the women from my set, Becoming Burlesque 3 are incredible. :) Thanks world :)

This is Linda the Lemon, an amigurumi gift from Cynthia, the wonderful and talented (www.big_girlfeet.blogspot.com).

This is me in my act outfit (both the work one and the glamorous one) and me being nervous backstage before the show.

This is me shakin' what my momma gave me.

And finally, these are my handmade props which I am very proud of. The two lemon hats, an oversize citrus juicer (paper mache baby!) and nerf-ball lemons. Whooo-yeah :)

ARGH...lost camera cord frustration

2007-05-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

so i can't find my own bloody camera cord right now; it must have gotten lost in the process. does anyone know where i can possibly buy a cord for the nikon coolpix 4600? I want to show you the cool cherry blossom pictures. blech.

anyhoo other than that today has been AWESOME and I do have pictures to show you, and an update too. kiss kiss. i love bikeriding :)

My Daemon Sirion

2007-04-28T21:50:00.001-07:00

This is my daemon.
COOL.
Can't fucking wait for the movie.
It's one of my favorite series of books EVER.

One Week Away...

2007-04-26T03:52:00.000-07:00

I swear I'm going to explode into sparkles and sequins.

1 week until we babes get to hit the stage :)

Secretly I am thinking and conspiring to launch an all out burlesque offensive to hopefully inspire sexiness, creativity and loooooove to all.

May you too be wiggling delightedly in love, sparkles and sequins :)

xoxo :)

My Kind of Lady :)http://anahata.typepad.com/

2007-04-26T03:47:00.000-07:00

This is my kind of lady: http://anahata.typepad.com/
Isn't her art absolutely incredible? I LOVES IT.
Take note, this scrapbooking hand made stuff, this is home to me. *This* is the SHIT.
Hee hee. :)

What an inspiring, heart warming hug for my spirit!
And what brilliance:
DUH, do your paper scrapbooking, then photograph it for the blog.

BRILLIANT :)
hugs and snuggles :)

Weekend Updates :)

2007-04-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a full and awesome weekend. I think I have a cold from the efforts. Highlights include:

1. Saw Renee-Penne, my most awesome and supercool friend. I love her to bits.

2. Rehearsing with Lauren-Lemon who is FANTASTIC.

3. Work Less Party Party with Kelsey! :) I helped Woo with her shadow burletta again, which is always magical :) There were some seriously wicked costumes happening, my favorite being Bender from Futurama and Big Creepy Dude on Stilts. I went as a cow :) Hee hee.
www.worklessparty.org

4. Cherry Blossom Trolley Tour, Dim Sum Research and Candy Shopping with Mrs. Reichenback for Sunday--Super awesome, pics to follow when I find my proper cable to transfer pics :)

5. Watching Center Stage with my sis and bro Sunday evening. One of the Best Movies EVER. :)

Have a brilliant week, xo :)

Random Checking In

2007-04-21T00:58:00.000-07:00

'Ello one and all :)

Alright, here I am trying to stay on top of the blogging :)

Problem is that there's so much going on right now I'm buzzing from a little of everything! So perhaps I will just list it all off:

- hee hee, the costume up top is my inspiration for a similar little outfit i made for my act. i have done so much delicious crafting for the act that my fingers are dry, sore and tired. i'm finally sick of stitching stuff. i'll finish rough edges to the retarded looking big gloves that i made lates.

- anyone know where i can find a huge big wooden decorative spoon? for a prop :)

- have been moving my stuff to my little room at my parents for the next leg of my journey of life. this move is both AWESOME and FRIGGIN SCARY. but statistics say that about 30% of people under 30 live with their parents to save money to buy a house, so i feel better that i'm a stat i suppose. upside: i've had my own beautiful place for 2 years and have LOVED it and now i get to do the at home with parents and sibs again which may be difficult at times but ultimately memorable and awesome. pics up soon--i'm pleased to say that my room looks awesome as i've aquired some awesome furniture and art in the last couple years and have an inevitable ubergirlie-vintage look of creams, golds, browns and pinks in my room.

Final note about something cool today, besides the lots of little cools:

I watched the hour interview with june callwood :)

she is a supremely cool lady :)

Bento-Fabulous

2007-04-15T00:02:00.000-07:00

So my other little side obssession is bentobox lunches. Why? It's...
-fun
-creative
-cheap and economical way of eating lunch (less eating out!)
-environmentally friendly (reduce packaging and such)
-healthy!
So I make way too many cute little lunches in my awesome ass laptop lunchbox-I have both the whimsical and primary sets because my sister doesn't use hers as much (my pink one is coming in the mail, hee hee) to photograph and frankly, they are basic.

BUT
perhaps I will soon post up cool lunches because i have more time to not stress the night before in my new job and of late, have been totally diggin' making lunches with more pastiche.

So, I now share with you,
the cooolest links related to bento EVER. Seriously...EVVVER.

www.veganlunchbox.blogspot.com
www.cookingcute.com
http://www.e-obento.com/mainichi-Frame-set.htm
www.bentotv.com
www.laptoplunches.com

You must check out the Flickr groups with Laptop Lunches/Bento. Some of them are very blah lunches though, I find I can be a bento snob. Ie. Pet peeve, putting bloody teddy grahams in a side dish does NOT constitute bento art. Arranging teddy grahams artfully with hmm...fruit shaped cereal = yes, bento it is.
Anyhoo I digress.

Ebay shops- "Store in Japan" and "Bento Obento"

Enjoy the bento site cruising. Kisses and love :)

Post Two: Go See The Erratic, But Original

2007-04-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

www.pokemedot.blogspot.com

see my beautiful kitchen that i'm moving out of to go back to my parents.
it's a growing season, a joyous and bittersweet/sad move at the same time.

Post One

2007-04-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

For pete's sake.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

I can never do these blog things because:
1. I like pen, paper, cutting, gluing and writing much better
2. I forget to stay on top of things
3. I always always forget my own friggin login name and password.

Geez louise :)

But hopefully this time, I won't forget...especially since I'm trying to tie together my online stuff as a tool for communication and THE MASS EVANGELIZATION TO TURN ALL PEOPLE INTO

crafty
boob lovin'
creative and daring
cheeky and compassionate
zeigeist and hunter thompsonian
earth-lovin
make your own culture
fun making
YAHOOs :)

Basically be your own self as brightly as you can. Love to the max and have tons of fun all the fucking way :)
Cos life is beautiful.

:)

So cross your fingers and hopefully you will find me posting up my crafty passions and weaving together my intersection of things I love, in a most exhibitionist-online way. How very facebook of me :)

tah tah and xx