Thursday, December 22, 2005

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Blythe!



I am so a Blythe kind of girl.

Blythes are these big-eyed dolls that you can buy and dress up and photograph and be friends with. They like hearing secrets and talking on the phone and ofcourse they like pink. Oh, and they also like punk rock.

There are books about Blythes that show photographs of her voyages and more importantly, her fashions, as she travels. What, really, is the use of travel unless it's to construct and then wear appropriate outfits? Berets... capris... riding boots...etc.

This second photo is from a
great site called Etsy that sells crafty things. Here's a sexy winter hat and scarf for your Blythe.

Here is just some of the fascinating history of Blythe:

"In 1972, children found the large eyes that changed from green to pink to blue to orange with the pull of the drawstring at the back of Blythe's head a bit on the scary side. Blythe was produced for only one year, but it is now apparent that she was ahead of her time. For many years, Blythe was a curiosity that only doll collectors were interested in. Then in 1997, a friend introduced Gina Garan to Blythe, thinking that Gina looked like the doll. Gina had just been given an old camera and she needed to test it. Her first photos using that camera were of Blythe. Gina, who works as a video and TV producer, started carrying at least one of her Blythes wherever she went on her travels around the world and took many photos.

In December 1999, at the opening of an exhibition for the CWC International artists in Soho, New York, Gina showed her photos to Junko Wong. Junko took these photos to Parco and made a presentation for an exhibition and as a "virtual model" for Parco's innovative sales promotions. In the summer of 2000, This is Blythe, photos by Gina Garan, was published by Chronicle Books. The Christmas 2000 Parco campaign featured Blythe in a TV commercial and print media and Blythe took off in Japan. On eBay, vintage Blythes jumped in price from $35 to $350. Blythe continued as Parco's "image girl" through the spring and into the summer of 2001. The price for vintage Blythes jumped to thousands of dollars U.S. on eBay. Even the Neo-Blythes are sold for up to four times their retail price on the Yahoo auction site in Japan.

In June 2001, the first of the Neo-Blythes - produced by CWC and manufactured by Takara - went on the market. The launch of the neo-Blythes was in conjunction with a photo exhibition by Gina Garan. Gina made the trip from New York for the launch and exhibition.
The Parco Limited Edition (1000 dolls), sold out in less than an hour, was followed by the Mondrian, and then Rosie Red, Holly Wood, All Gold In One, Kozy Kape Inspired, Aztec Arrival Inspired, Sunday Best, and in conjunction with the first year anniversary of the neo-Blythes in Japan, Miss Anniversary Blythe. The first year anniversary was marked by a series of Blythe events in Tokyo, which included an exhibition and charity fashion show at the Spiral Hall in Aoyama and exhibitions at the Rocket and CWC Galleries, and at IMS in Fukuoka, Kyushu. The exhibition featured photos by Gina Garan and dolls styled by artists, fashion designers, and Blythe fans. The fashion show featured couture for Blythe by such internationally known designers as: Issey Miyake, Chisato Tsumori, and Hysteric Glamour. " from the This is Blythe website.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

sad boo.

Monday, December 19, 2005

what i want for x.mas


these are designed by marcel dzama and they are very cute.

i like them.

i am so tired from partying and planning and shopping and working and cleaning and re-arranging and baking

that i have very little to say.

Marcel Dzama

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Friday, December 16, 2005

Lost wallets and Lost photos.




So... the other day at the library, a young lady realized she had lost her wallet and she started crying hysterically, M. the librarian proceeded to hug her, after much carrying on, to console her. She hadn't lost it in the library, but next door in the community centre, and she had a lot of cash in it for xmas shopping. She cried and cried and cried and said how she could no longer buy presents for her family. M. hugged her and said nice things to her. I said, to the nearest, unfortunate co-worker:"now she has no money and she'll catch M's cold". M. had been at work for a week very, very sick and was generously spreading germs steadily to everyone. Thanks. Always love that.

Eventually, an especially annoying, dirty and interfering homeless man came by to let everyone know his opinion. The crying was loud and had attracted many bystanders by this point. I have noticed a lot of that, people who just stand, transfixed at the scene that is unfolding in front of them, caught like a deer in headlights. Social drama gets them everytime, I guess. This same homeless man had earlier asked me an impossible to answer reference question (my favourite kind) - he wanted to know the exact statistics on how many women (mothers) lose pictures of themselves and their children, everyday. Sorry, buddy the library doesn't carry statistics like that... nor do we venture into crazy-land and try to answer them -"Well, they should he muttered"... and proceeded to ask me the exact same question again, louder. He got the same answer.

Anyway, he decided it was high time he got involved and told her to stop crying because shit happens all the time, and people hurt you, and you lose stuff, and you'll get robbed again especially if you stay that vulnerable... and be glad you have a family at all, because he lost his. Clearly, he lost some photos along the way too, or his ex-wife did and he's still damning her for it. He went on mumbiling angrily but then finally M. told him to mind his own business. It was inappropriate, his getting involved, but it was funny the way it worked instantly to stop the girls' crying. She stopped immediately and looked at him, dumbfounded as he talked. He was steered away but what he said worked... or maybe it was the crowd of chinese new immigrant onlookers watching her, or the giant Librarian consoling her with touch... or the silence of the building as she sat there, it's focus... whatever it was... it was a funny moment.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Go To Your Room!



"I have discovered that all human misery comes from a single thing, which is not knowing enough to stay quietly in your room" - Pascal.

This is what I think about practically everyday, when that room is not one's own, but the library.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

An ode to mushrooms...





These poems were originally published in Elimae.


Three Poems
Catherine Moran

Enoki

-----

Covered in light fuzz,
Cuddled together
on your black cutting board.

Worms
from a dark forest
Made beautiful
There.

Fall
----

Crates of
Fresh red apples,

Your footsteps
That once fell
Fast and hard
alongside

Now lost.


Poem for Shoes
------------

I bought new shoes.
To carry me through this.

The pinch and
wobble
matter little

As I am
expert
at falling.

1996
© 2005

falling...




I had my first real winter fall today. Rushing to work... wearing Japanese, imported running shoes... very cool ... very pastel... very stupid for winter...

I was roaring round a corner when both feet were suddenly up in the air and the ground was speeding towards my face, fast. I put out my wrists (as one tends to do with falls) and they both smashed badly onto the concrete and ice, (but did protect my face). I let out a mighty "AWWHHH FUCK" as I hit, and then mumbled sadly, pitiful little whimpers to myself, all as I tried to quickly recollect myself. Isn't it funny how once you're down there the most pressing issue becomes to get back up right away? I mean you should really assess the damage somewhat while you're down there, but No ...you have to get busy to get right back up on those Two Feet. We are Bi-peds, god damnit, and so we must instantly return to our bi-ped state of uprightness. Really, I did need some time down there because I was hurting and I smashed my iPod and my wrists were barely able to do the job of getting me back up and I was sad. Okay, I can admit I am "smashy". I have had the nicname "Catacyclsym" before, oh and cat-alanche and... oh forget that... I mean I fall, but that's not so bad...

Really, what's most important about this, the first fall of the winter is that 1. it teaches you that you are a stupid hipster for not wearing real winter boots, 2. winter hurts in many different ways, 3. you are too old to be falling, 4. the route of the backstreets is best because not many people witnessed my fall, 5. I could leave 5 -10 minutes earlier for work so I'm not rushing all the time, 6. We need gravity to teach us to not be so damn sure of ourselves all the time.


Be safe.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Sad news everybody.

This email was sent to "Everybody" at my work. That's 1000's of people, management and staff for all of Toronto.

It was entitled "sad news everybody".

>Sad news everybody. I don't have any living grandparents to celebrate this christmas season >with. Unfortunately I did not inform you all of each of their deaths as they occurred over the >psat few years.

Micheal K. wanted to share this with everyone. I guess he's either looking for an Xmas invite or just wants to whine. My friend at work wrote him back to say how sorry she felt for him. I think he should grow up and stop using the "Everybody" email group for fun. Really, I thought it was done on a dare.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

carwash


This thing


between you and me
is all about
giving head,
I realize,
in the touchless carwash.


-------

Catherine Moran
Copyright Elimae 2004

party...party....party

Thursday, December 08, 2005

The Book Tree!


Here it is... the book tree lives!

It towers overly lowly Library patrons and haunts them with tales of books unread ...and holidays barely enjoyed due to endless trips to shopping malls and ...snow up to one's eyeballs... and grumpiness from friend, family and foe...

ahhh... christmas...

It brings joy though too.

Except for the guy who kicked it. (yes, an ornament was smashed and lost).

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Matthew Back From U.K.




This is my Mat with his friend Matt. Matt H. just moved back to Toronto from London U.K.

He is glad to be back. He didn't like the snotty Brit wankers one bit.

Everytime we see him he has very nice clothes, and scarfs. They make nice scarfs there.
Welcome back Matthew!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Special Day




Today is a very special day....

It is Mathew's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mathew!

I love you Very Very Much.

-C.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Three Ladies

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Friday, December 02, 2005

New Work


I am working on a new series with miniatures and candy.

This lady is on her way to somewhere important in candy land.

She is somewhat discontent.

M Sarki's Orchid


This is the favourite orchid of my friend M Sarki. He is a very talented poet. You can vist his blog here. I reviewed his book of poems Zimble Zamble Zumble. Read the review here. He runs a publishing company The Rogue Literary Society. You can buy his wonderful book there. You can read my review of his book at Taint Magazine.

Still Life Close-up

Shadow Box Detail


This is a close-up of a shadow box I made using found glass and a found tree toy.

I like it.

Still Life.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

And Talking about Nabokov...



Seeing as last post, I got on a mini rant about Atwood, I thought I'd throw out some Nabokov just to further my point about the "literature of ideas",

"Although I do not care for the slogan "art for art's sake" ...there can be no question that what makes a work of fiction safe from larvae and rust is not its social importance but its art, only its art." -Nabokov

Atwood's drivellings will never withstand the effects of larvae and rust...

I guess Nabokov had a similar hate-on for Ryand, as I have for Atwood.

As evidenced by:

""Ryand? God, no. She is one of the cheapest, most bombastic, thoroughly tired writers around -- I can't for the life of me figure out why scores of angry young men and women waddle through jungles of scribblings and grandiose little tropes (.... is right about Ryand's overuse of similes) to end up with a few bumper sticker-type slogans. "

"Writing, at any rate, is not about ideas but about words. Ryand might have amounted to something had she put as much thought into shaping a paragraph as she did in telling a couple of hundred-thousand readers that they were all individuals. That her books are embraced by millions, that her thesis seemed to be that you, of all people, are meant to do great things and that the rest of the world is made up of a foolish, sheepish flock -- that's the great irony about that drudge. Hasn't anyone caught on?"

From a New York Times forum on Ayn Ryand .