Thrifty

Friday I work at Hammerpress for free. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my only days that I get paid, however, Fridays I usually print, which is odd, but somehow understandable. Currently I am printing the many layers that go into the flying dirigible calender - which is a surprising amount. I've got three down and I think three more to go - which will be finished some time next week.

Before lunch I finished packing the remaining orders needed for the next two weeks and then post lunch/nap I printed the silver layer of the calender.

At the end of the day Brady and I talked about a poster he has in mind for the Land of Nod - something based off my wood type piece - that I'll get to work on maybe the week after next. Finally some typesetting. I've been itching to get my hands back in those drawers.

Even though there was a show going on at the Pistol, I can't say I was too interested and instead Halliday, Terry (an awesome girl Halliday introduced me to), and I went thrifting.

We hit up the best spots up north in Gladstone. First was the DAV which I always score excellent finds, and this time was no different. I came away with an intricate belt, sequin gold top and vintage dress, which I later found I couldn't fit in (no fitting rooms at DAVs') but will resell for more than i bought it I'm sure.

Second was this slightly more expensive shop called Plato's Closet. There were a number of cute items, but a bit more pricey than I was anticipating so in the end all I found to buy was a gold belt, but since the limit for debit cars was five dollars, I left empty handed.

Third we went to Salvation army and I was more successful there, which isn't usual. I found a navy blue pencil skirt that fits beautifully and a jean high waisted 90's skirt that I'll have to hem, but fit well enough it had to come home with me.

Finally, I went shopping in Terry's give away clothing bags and found a cute jersey dress, mexican peasant top to go with my pencil skirts, and tan bulky sweater that will be nice as it gets cooler.

The things that I was looking for - pencil skirts and wedges - were difficult to find and I think I'll end up ordering my wedges online, after all it isn't the season for them, but I need them for working at the Gap.

I didn't get to Forever 21, and I might go on Sunday since that is where I really wanted to shop. The zipper on the pencil skirt I bought from there a little bit ago (January maybe?) has gotten stuck and I am in need of a casual black pencil skirt, so I'm thinking I should just go back.

Oh, I also want a leopard print cardigan. I saw one at Urban Outfitter's - perfect - a bit grungy, but still chic, although the price tag was too high. A silver sweater. I want that too, all of the one's I saw at thrift stores were too large for taking in properly, but I'm going to get one with my next paycheck, not many worries there.

I'm thinking of making Tuesdays a "tips" day and maybe having Fridays a "I'm obsessed with..." day. We shall see...

Ladies day!

Saturday was a ladies day.

Halliday and I met up around 3 to go shopping. I needed a costume for an event this weekend and she just got her paycheck. We started at the costume shop on Main, but got there three minutes after closing. That didn't hold us down. Instead we drove north to do some thrifting.

First stop was the pizza buffet where I had potato pizza with bacon bits on top accompanyed by barbeque pizza with jalapenos. Man I love jalepenos...like pickles but way better.

Next stop was the amazing DAV up near Smithville. Yet again, I scored. I found a slip for my costume, and some awsome electric blue and tan heels, plus a super cute cardigan for me. Smithville DAV was followed up an outdoor mall stop where I found another good costume piece at Hot Topic and the cutest summer dress known to man at forever 21. By then we were getting tired but we ended out shopping trip at Joanne's for some trim and black fabric dye for my slip.

Originally, I was going to then go to a house part with Halliday, but I ended up calling it a night instead. We had alot of fun and it felt refreshing to go out with another lady and just be girls. More shopping trips like this need to occur!

Oh, weird sidenote. So apparently I'm hot stuff with the Illustration Art Direction class. So far I've had four requests to do work. I wish they were more descriptive in their emails, but I've decided I can take two on, and had to turn the other two down. Crazy, eh?

Thrifting madness

Thursday started out with laying down layer three of the poster, a bright green color. However that was all the printing to be done.

Right now Brady is building a new wall in the front of the shop to section it off from the studio, it would seem there have been too many prying eyes wandering too close to the presses. Because of all the noise and mess, there really wasn't time to set up another project.

Instead, I helped Wendy put together a very large order as well as assemble a huge pile o' cards so we are not packaging them as they are bought. To get a card together one must fold it around an envelope and slide it into a cellophane bag. From what I am told, all letterpress cards are packaged this way, by hand, although many large producers outsource to assembly workers. Brady is thinking of going that way to save time for more important things.

I came home to find Halliday working in her studio. Originally we'd planned a night of Rockabilly together, but she needed to finish an order and it was a bit too muggy to get dressed up. Instead I plopped down for some Slayage.

An episode or two of Buffy later, Joe stated that he was in need of some new pants, and "did we want to go thrifting?" When one does not bring enough clothes to wear the answer is always "hellz yeah!". The three of us piled in my car and drove twenty or so minutes north to Smithville, where the "good" thrifting is.

The first stop was not a thrift store but some genius place called Quik Stop where the .49 cent, thirty-six ounce soda is alive and kicking. I splurged and bought one for each of us.

The second stop was another DAV and yet again I was pummeled with excellent prices. I found:
* two dresses
- one red wrap with white feathers, it had shoulder pads, but I pulled them out
- the other a 1950's-like sleeveless number with a yellow and green tropical print
* a black looped belt
* bright pink bloomers with lace and hand sewn bumblebees (1.98)
* a blue and white striped shortsleeve cardigan
* a purple v-neck knit top
total: 21 dollars and change

The last place we hit, because it was getting late and stores were closing was the Salvation Army. My memories of the S.A. are of ratty shelves lined with plastic toys, a few sad racks of clothing and lamps that had died in some 70's reality and returned from beyond the grave. In Bremerton S.A. is a place to go for cheap furniture, not clothes.

This one was not the case. It was packed, overflowing, with clothes. Upon initially walking in, I became overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. I eventually navigated myself to the dresses, but they were mostly 80's styles and the nurse's uniform that could have looked nice dyed, draped funny around my hips. I didn't look very hard through the tops because there were too many to get my head around. After prying myself off an amazing leather jacket, I did find two shirts in the kid's section.
* Orange shirt with number 10 and yellow softball shirt from kids rack
total: 1.50 - green tags were half price.

I don't think there is an item of thrifted clothing in the entirety of Washington and Oregon that is originally priced at a dollar. I left a bit speechless.

As it was nine and all the stores were closing, the three of us went out in pursuit of food. We probably spent an hour trying to decide where to eat until I finally threw down the law and drove us to some Mexican. I did find out that Godfather's Pizza still exists out here and I will have to have some before I leave. It is my very favorite pizza, the only place that makes the crust correctly.

After dinner we drove home and I watched some more Buffy before bed.

"Hello, my name is Karen and I'm addicted to Buffy."

So I'm a little behind.

Sunday, June 7th

I started out the day writing this blog but then I realized, it takes me an hour or so to get everything how I like it, and the day was lovely, what on earth was I doing inside? I dropped what I was doing, jumped in my car and went exploring. That ended up in me being behind, but was worth it.

My first stop was the River Market, an open air combination of flea market, farmers market, and restaurants. What made me pull over was the flea market and I was lucky enough to have the coincidence of the farmer's market being there as well.

The flea market prices were outstanding - twenty-five cents for bright orange mugs, three dollars for a Carmen Miranda head cookie jar. I know what you're thinking; "Karen, you came home with that cookie jar didn't you?" No, I promise I didn't. The only thing that found it's way back to my place was a little ceramic sugar bowl in the shape of an orange.

Around the flea market was a line of shops and a museum dedicated to a steamboat wreck found in the Missouri river. One of the shops was called "Vintiques" and a seductive row of atomic chairs outside the door lured me in. The chairs were a little misleading since only one room was housed an assortment of furniture, however I was wonderfully lead astray.

The glory that is Vintiques is an assemblage store. Wares inside were paper, found items, a variety of embellishments, ribbon, and about anything I could possibly think of to use for altered art. Some highlights were a button wall, vintage travel guides to Latin America, a basket of skeleton keys and a case full of early century door fitting. Although I would have like to walk out with more, I limited myself to a handful of vintage photos and a 50's pamphlet on cooking. The owners said if I wanted to bring in any art I would be welcome since they sell assemblage art on the wall.

Bobby had mentioned the River Market Antique mall as being worth a visit, and so with the directions from the folks at Vintiques, I headed a few blocks away to check it out. I have found that flea markets in the Northwest are depressing. Most items are obnoxious in price, and sellers typically aren't keen on haggling. This apparently is not a running trend in Kansas City. Three stories of a large labyrinth-like warehouse were packed with finds. Not the junkyard sales items made to look like antiques finds, but honestly cool items, at affordable prices.

The dining room set of my dreams and I bonded almost as close as me and a 1940's bathing suit. I would have bought the suit if the color had been something other than salmon and yellow, I almost bought it anyway. A set of atomic era chipboard cutouts of blue collar workers (that could have looked neat on the Perceivers selling table) also almost found their way home with me, but, for what they were, the price was high. I ended up leaving with nothing but had an enjoyable adventure in antique hunting.

Around three o'clock or so, I found myself finished with the River Market district and went in search of my next destination - the Plaza. Some research showed the Plaza is modeled after Seville. I think this would be the case if Seville were to have a love child with Rodeo drive, and that child were fuse with a strip mall, then imbued with the essence of American supersize, dropped in a boiling vat of consumer idealism, then finally served with a side of terracotta colored paint. In otherwords the Plaza is a mildly Spanish (Southern Californian?) themed open air mall that houses the Armani Exchange and Coach stores among others. All the stores are on the higher end, the lowest price ranges being Gap and Barnes and Noble. A trip into Urban Outfitters revealed a great summer dress that I will wait on. Maybe I could treat myself to it for my birthday.

When I couldn't hold off the hunger any longer I grabbed a salad at a swanky "Tuscan bistro" with a fantastic little balcony. Happy hour appetizers were only $2.50 and that's how I unexpectedly had a shrimp cocktail to go with my salad. A table full of self-admittedly drunken 50-somethings chatted me up a bit (amazingly not about how I reminded them of their children) and then I left to seek out my last stop; KCAI.

The Kansas City Art Institute is situated on a little hill flanked by art museums. Next door to the ceramics building is the Kemper Museum of Modern Art, recognized by the giant spider creature out front, and across from the painting building, the city museum and sculpture park. Trees shade KCAI's lush grounds and an old castle-like main building plus gated entrance make it seem like someone's private estate.

With the evening light being perfect for walking, I meandered over to the sculpture park and made it my business to either touch or climb on all of the statues except for the "Thinker" casting (it was too high). I am an avid believer that public art should be touchable, maybe I'm out of line for thinking so, after all I'm no sculptor, but I had fun.

Three things I saw in the sculpture park I'd never seen live before:
* Four, twenty-five foot fiberglass badminton birdies
* A praying mantis, I even touched it!
* A wild bunny

I came home and spent the rest of the evening starting what is now a horrible habit of watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Seasons one-three are on Hulu and I'm hooked.

"Hello, my name is Karen and I'm addicted to Buffy."

Monday, June 8th

Monday morning I finished the poster for the show next week, played around with color and placement. Looking back, I could have been more conservative with color, but I learned something new and will be able to use color minimally and to my benefit next time.

Around two, I met up with Jen from work and we went to the DAV thrift store to look for some sweet threads. Again I was amazed by the deals, six dollars being expensive. Kansas City is an actively thrifiting community, but not over crowded. The selection isn't picked through and one can find put together a perfectly decent outfit. This trip was very successful. I scored a little black dress, t-shirt, sweater, belt and jacket for under twenty dollars.

Yes, you did read sweater and jacket. No, I don't have enough jackets (this one is so sweet I can barely describe it, but picture the most perfect 70's track jacket, white with green stripes, and you're close). The sweater is actual vintage, red with little buttons on the collar and shoulder. While I many not be needing it now, eventually I will be in a time or place where it is cold and I will wear it at that point. It will look smashing with my brown pencil skirt. Jen picked up a shirtdress, jean jacket (she has a jacket fetish too) and Asian inspired robe.

I dropped Jen off at her home so she could go to class, then I booked it to the Arts INKubator for a tour around the studio. As there are only eight INKubator Press members I believe it will be somewhat akin to having an entire studio all to myself. The place is large and when I print I can set up on an entire table. The drying racks have too large a grid for me to use, but there is yet another table I am free to take over when my printing threatens to overwhelm my space.

I went home to print off stencils (and watch an episode of Buffy) then returned to print thirty or so band posters. There are two downsides to the INKubator.
1. The inks. Are speedball acrylic based and runny. The bulk red that has been provided is an orange red and when mixed with blue to create purple, simply turns red-brown.
2. The emulsion. This is a huge downside. They have provided some sort of crummy blue colored junk that barely stand up to the hose used to wash it out. I accidentally washed out my screen twice and after about ten prints the stuff stated flaking. I intend to find out what PNCA uses and see if it can be ordered.

By the end of the night I didn't have much progress. I left around eleven or twelve, tired and knowing I'd have to start over from scratch.

I came home, watched some Buffy and went to bed.

Grand Tour de Kansas City

Saturday was spent doing two things: exploring the West Bottoms and going on a grand tour with Halliday and Joe.

During the day, nothing much goes on in the West Bottoms, or at least nothing goes on outside. It's so hot I can't blame anyone. There aren't any trees and the only refuge from the heat is in the shelter of the warehouses. I think the optimal time to run around here is probably at dawn and sunset, I'll do the latter tonight, maybe I can borrow someone's bike. The riding around here would be great.

The grand tour included all the major highlights of Kansas City. KC is far more interesting than I could have anticipated. It is a happening city, and I guess I should have known that due to how large it is. All cities have a counter culture worth looking into, Kansas City's just happens to be right up my alley. Then again; it could be my hosts. Halliday and Joe seem to know a large group of people. Everyone we ran into I was introduced and there is no possible way I could remember all their names, but everyone was friendly, I even met a guy who went to PNCA.

A few highlights of the tour included:
- Westport, trail head for the Santa Fe Trail, and home to the oldest remaining building in KC. Westport also is a indie hangout and has the equivalent of the buffalo exchange, an excellent brewery, and the Broadway Cafe - which put a Starbucks out of business.
- Thrift stores, the prices are what thrift store should have. Here, you can buy a thrifted dress for five dollars or under and such things as the dollar barrel exist.
- The city of fountains, the only city with more per capita is Rome.
- Shakespeare in the park, doesn't open until July.
- Riverfront Market
- KCAI and the surrounding museums, not part of the art institute chain as I previously suspected, the grounds seem worth looking through.
- The Plaza, an older part of town that has been remade into an expensive outdoor mall.

Joe gave me some info for an upcoming show, today I'm going to put together a poster for it and work on my zine.