Two Weeks in (Photographic) Review

For the last two weeks, my sister has been visiting me in San Diego from Austin, Texas. I decided to make my camera useful and take lots of pictures during her stay. Because no one likes seeing other people's vacation photos (if you wanna see that, you can check my facebook and trudge through them), I've reduced it to a photo diary capturing the vibe of the last fortnight.

And this is how it's felt.





























Fin

Popular Imagination

Popular Imagination, the blog of one of my high school best friends. Crazy talented girl. Got to do a shoot together when I was back in Texas in July. Warm summer nights. I miss those. She shot and styled this series, and here's my favorite shots.

You know what I don't miss?? MOSQUITOES. Stay in Texas, fuckers. If I ever find you in San Diego, I'll ... do terrible things to your mosquito family.















All photographs by Chelsea Delzell. Her blog, Popular Imagination, and the interview she did for The By and By.

Symbols and Longevity

This table speaks volumes. I ran across this study done at the University of California San Diego last week. They don't know how and they don't know why, but people with "positive connotation" initials live longer-- much longer-- on average than people with "negative connotation" initials. And they've got all the proof to back it up, here.

So for the love of Pete, don't give your kid shitty initials.

And while we are on the topic of symbols and longevity... In medieval art, the stag beetle represented mortality. And I happened to be at The Getty museum in Los Angeles on Saturday and happened across my favorite Albrecht Durer (German, 1471–1528) painting of the stag beetle-- the same one that inspired my most recent tattoo.



And the stag beetle necklace found in a strange shop of natural curiosities on a back street in Munich... I spotted it and my dear sister got it for me for my birthday back in 2008.



It's a recurring theme.

And finally, since it's not a decent post without a cat picture, here's Cookie, the light of my life.

WHITE FLAG

This old blog is getting repurposed. This is going to be for DIY/health/recipes. Everything the fabulous, health-conscious broke girl needs.

I'll keep my tumblr for stream of consciousness, mood-boarding and inspiration, and I'll make this one a bit more personal.

The inspiration for this project started with this photo:



The white-out American flag. It's debatable whether or not it's photoshopped, or really is a bleached flag, but I am unstoppable. This will be home decor, as I want to hang it on the white wall of my bedroom. First and foremost: finding a flag made of cotton. Most are weather-durable, synthetic fibers that would be a bitch and a half to bleach, if not impossible. But thankfully I found one at The Flag Store, it's the heavy-duty cotton version.

4 feet by 6 feet? Yes please. Go big or go home.

But, before dying, I figured I'd get in a gnarly self-timer sesh and feature the bikini I got for the summer. My sister got it for me for Christmas (as per my request) and it's really excellent. We all know I support handmade, so this is an Etsy store purchase, from a swimsuit maker in Hawaii. It's either actually much darker in person, or I'm just so pale, I make it look dark. But it's more tan than nude.

And I am on a serious nude kick right now.

But without further adieu, here's a big fucking flag pre-bleach.















Now, on to the bleaching process!

DIY OR DIE: DREAMSICLE SHORTS

I recently developed an obcession with dip-dyed, ultra destroyed shorts. Because a.) shorts are my favorite article of clothing, b.) I love anything holey and destroyed, c.) I love Easter pastels. And because I'm a cheap son of a bitch, I figured I'd make my own. Because I believe real fashion is about DIY and sharing with others, here's how to transform a pair of mom jeans into dreamsicle shorts. Of course, if you don't feel up to it, then please, drop me a line via paypal and I will gladly whip you up a pair. :) Much love, The AnnaChrist.





Start with a pair of mom jeans. If it ain't high-waisted, don't bother. High-waisted, high and wasted, these are good things. I prefer Levis 550s. The perfect mom cut. Flatters white girl bottoms and makes waists look teensy. It's got to be heavy-weight denim and 100% cotton. Levis FTW. To give you an idea of fit with 550s, I wear a 5 in them and I'm 120 lbs, 25" waist, 35" hips. Where does one find said Levis? The pair in this tutorial was bought on Ebay for $1.50. That's right, folks. A buck fitty. But I've paid up to $15 for a pair before.





Cut em. High on the thigh, reasonable in the inseam. Gives em good shape. Don't cut too short at first. You can always go shorter later, not longer...

Shred. I use the unsafe method of a blade while wearing the shorts, and holding the fabric taut away from my body. A bunch of horizontal slashes do the trick. When you wash them later, your clean slices will turn into glorious, shreddy destroyed holes.



Bleach. Get a bucket, or fill a sink with straight bleach. Add shorts. Wait. If you soak them in bleach and let them sit in the sun, it quickens the process. Rinse. This is usually when I chuck them in the wash (I then let air-dry). This is when the slashes get glorious.













Dip dye. Fill a bucket with hot, hot water from the tap. Add RIT liquid dye (it's my fav) and dip the wet shorts. Start with wet shorts because it absorbs the dye into the fiber better. Mix colors to achieve desired effects and dilute with water for opaque to pastel. Get creative with your colors!







Then rinse, let air-dry and boom. Dreamsicle shorts. Here's some others I've done.









Pair with a crop top and Doc Martens. :)