Did you ever walked that long dark tunnel at the bottom of the Southwest Museum as a child? The tunnel,  a low lighted, low ceiling, curved and carved out of the hill. Cool in the summer and smelling of the hill. It had dioramas set in the walls. Mysterious depictions of the goings on in the early days of California.  They were dusty dim scenes of Indian tribes washing clothing, hunting deer and a skirmish or two.
The tunnel quiets you down. You can feel the weight of hill on your head. It is is a subterranean escape from the oppressive summer heat. It takes you from the parking lot to the old elevator that pulls you up through the hill to the top where you exit back into the heat of the day and shoves you towards the entrance of the museum. 
As a child I tried to prolong that walk. My nose pressed to the glass of those dioramas. Trying to get inside the scenes and feel the life they portrayed.
This little scene from IlaBoom brought back all the memories. The dimly lit box with a mysterious something to stare at. Its a lovely piece of art. Please visit her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ILaBoomhttp://www.etsy.com/shop/ILaBoom

Her shadow boxes are unique and evocative of childhood memories. Its the funny thing you saw in the odd town you drove through. Its the small town circus and the weird valentine you got. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

A little halloween poem.

I baited my breath

to attract the bats
to move into the belfry

along with the cats.

My breath has abated
my brain has been batted
The belfry is scented 
with an aroma that's catted.

With love,

 Me.  

Best pet bed EVAH! (nods to Lantz Tolles)

Want....   I dont know if Henry wants it, but I want it. Found over my morning cup of coffee and etsy window shopping. Im my imaginary dream house this is sitting nicely against my pretty white wall snugged under the sunny window showing off the view of the country estate.  Fabulous window treatments frame this charming pet bed and my perfectly behaved Henry is reclining like a pampered pet.

 

The price is right. Some one needs to grab it before I do.  I would have to get rid of my one chair to fit this in my house. It might happen.  Made by  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Spaghetteria

Celebrating Henry’s bad behavior.

I woke up this morning with a feeling of dread.
I found Henry’s rectum was glued to my head.

It wasn’t his usual choice of repose.
The artful arrangement, his torso, my nose.

I wont be surprised if I break out in a sty.
Due to new sleeping habits, his anus, my eye.

I hope he goes back to his chest, my ear.
My armpit will cheerfully cradle his rear.

With the first light of day now up my cats butt.
I'm considering trading him in for a mutt.

I love little Henry with all of my heart.
I'm ever so grateful he cant pass a fart.

My favorite colors.

Etsy is known for its tasteful pale front pages. The front pages come from treasuries that the etsy members create. I like this one. It roars with color. It hoots, hollers and dances in the aisle. Bring on the color! Toot some horns! Wave a flag and pierce an ear or two! Lets be a little lively.

Why I wont own a plastic covered couch.

 Skin stuck to leather? No. Thats why I like fabric furniture.
I have a fuchsia yoga ball that is my computer chair.
I loved it till the warm weather hit. I plopped down on it wearing nothing but my undies and a t-shirt. Im on it for an hour. When I stand up to answer the phone, I discover that sweat + plastic = super glue and I am now one with the yoga ball as surely as if I had licked a frozen pipe in the middle of winter.
I go capering off to catch the phone in a bent over thigh glued together kind of staggering waddle. Henry is going bug eyed at the worlds largest pinkest bounciest hemorrhoid that is glued to my ass.
The ball ripped away when I went careening through the doorway and it got caught in the doorjamb. I caught the phone on the last ring. All I could do was lay on the floor laughing hysterically while my friend kept asking "Honey.... are you okay?"

Where are the movie cameras when you need one? It was hilarity with out witnesses. I just hate that.

1976 Rare banned Queen Poster! A Night at the Opera

Its a post about a poster.
A million years ago photographer Philip Dixon hired my sister and I to model for a risque rock poster. The band, Queen, the poster, A Night at the Opera, The year 1976. The poster went up in Tower Records on a Friday. By Monday they were pulled off the walls, banned and destroyed. There are very few left in the world.
We were paid in albums, posters, front row seats to the concert and some cash. I ended up with my first pair of boots. Earthshoe boots! I was so darn hip in those boots. I gave up the boots years later when I couldnt fit into them anymore. I just loved them. They were the height of seventies fashion.
Cleaning up around the homestead, I found a couple of posters that were squirreled away by my father. He thought they might be worth something someday. Thanks Dad!
So this is for sale. $900 (as of 2018) plus shipping. Please contact me through my website at www.kristismart.com My sister and I are splitting the loot.

Faux vest set in tail coat

zippered punk frock coat

Punk Rock safety pin coat by Kristi Smart

 

 

The basic black vest for the men folk.

I get so wrapped up in decorating my vests I forget how much people like the clean black no fancy no fluff vests. Available in any size you might want to order. From elfin to giants. You can order this vest through my website.

back view of weird vest.

back view of weird vest. , originally uploaded by Kristi Smart AKA ManicManx.

Ive got a new obsession and its this applique I made. It keeps evolving. Like a virus. It started out simply but with spectacular flashy fabric. It got cut into two pieces. It got elongated, it got pointed. It got carved into a ribcage. It got leathered, silked and velveted.
Im working on the back of a coat right now. Bubbly textured leather and a glittery wool. Its got metal rings and if anyone is interested its a mens medium long frock coat. Part steampunk part circus couture.
Stay tuned for pictures.

 Fall is on its way and its time to start thinking about hats again.
I prefer the combination of whacky, arty, pretty and handmade. The kind that lets people know you are aging with humor and keeping your head warm while doing it.

Here are some of my etsy favorites. Jannio is two people run by Janine & Isabelle. Skilled hat makers residing in France.
  They design wonderful hats and their felted purses are truly works of art.

 For cute comfy and eliminating the need for dying your hair pink, visit  DesignProjects.
The macho duck hunter  silhouette is offset nicely by the lush soft yarn and the adorable ears.
I still love a good whacky hat with kitty ears on those over fifty.
When your hair follicles aren't what they use to be its good to have a back up plan and it might as well be Betsy Johnson Pink

I mailed this coat off to Marty Gear a week ago. He wanted it to have a bit of the vampire on it. The dark muddy red fabric on the lapels and the skirt is actually the back side of a bright red fabric. Sometimes its the wrong side that is actually the right side.

My face hurts from grinning for solid week! Belle Armoire has just published their Jan/Feb issue for 2010. Inside is an eight page interview and photo layout of their featured designer. ME! I am thrilled to no end! They are showcasing some of my womens coat designs.
This magazine can be purchased directly from their site. I have also seen it at Jo-Anns Fabrics, Michaels and Borders.

What part of "Do Not Block Garage" were you unable to read?

Dear Everyone pulling into the parking lot.
To my horror and dismay I have developed a deep psychic connection with Tiger Woods wife. Her presence comes forth commandeering body and soul when faced with problematic automotive situations.
A good example of this would be me rushing to the garage only to find that some one has parked directly in front of it despite the fact that there is a large number of empty parking spaces available that don't involve keeping a tenant from getting to work.
I have taken the necessary precautions. I have removed all the golf clubs from the house. I am trying to arrange an exorcism but exorcists are hard to find and the good ones are really expensive.
Until I can find the means to remove this unwanted visitor who is currently channeling through me, perhaps everyone can help me from getting all Tiger Woods Wifey on random vehicles by inconveniencing a tenant other than myself.
I have placed a sign on my garage saying "Do Not Block Garage. Tenant Parking Only". Of course this does not apply to you but to be on the safe side, just pretend it does.

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation during this difficult and confusing episode of psychic woe.

Plus size pagan pirate coat

Plus size pagan pirate coat, originally uploaded by Kristi Smart AKA ManicManx.

Since I have been making this silhouette for so many years, I can adapt it to fit any one. I am guilty of looking at people and not seeing a person but a pattern project. Its a puzzle to solve. Its an obsession. Its a love and its my job.
I have a passion for making plus size coats. A woman with some meat on her bones looks like a queen. They have a rump to show off and thats my job. To make things that drape off of it and frame it like the picture it is.

Its why I have Manx cats. Its all about the cute round butt.

TotusMel's Wunderkammer

TotusMel's Wunderkammer
I found this really nice blog featuring steampunk art.
They have featured richly layered imagery from Indigo Lights. The artist is Brian Giberson who works in all mediums.
Nice stuff!!!!!

I thought it was an oyster.

Fried mystery meat., originally uploaded by Kristi Smart AKA ManicManx.

Wrong.

chitsaron bulaklak

What did I just eat? , originally uploaded by Kristi Smart AKA ManicManx.

The other day I walked into a Filipino grocery store and walked out with two fried lumps of mystery meat. I asked the woman what it was.
She said. "something from the pork"
"What part of the pork?"
"Hmmm. Something from the stomach." And she carefully cradled her hands under her abdomen. I thought perhaps it might be ovaries.
I ate the first one in the car. On the second one I realized I was eating almost solid fat. Nothing like fried fat with a side of fat.
When I bit into the chewy stringy parts I stopped eating and got out the camera.
Because of the stringy veined bits I now thought I was eating a testicle.
Pinupchick on etsy identified it as chitsaron bulaklak.

Im sure my cholesterol went through the roof. But it was fun and soooo tasty. So much for eating healthy this week.....

More fabric.

More fabric. , originally uploaded by Kristi Smart AKA ManicManx.

Once a year or so I pull all of my fabrics off the shelves. Its amazing how many pieces get stuffed behind something. I unearth forgotten treasures. Silks and velvets, Fabrics rich in texture and color. I sort and refold. I pile things according to color and potential projects. I place the accompanying trims on tops of bundles of inspiration and neatly tie them up with a selvage edge of something.
This year I got an email. "I need a coat in shades of gray that looks like a drowned pirate". I had been wanting to make a drowned pirate coat for a long time and could not convince those who want to look like the robber of the rich to go that route.
I had my bundle of gray with the ancient tattered lace waiting to be sewn up.
Perfect.

I love it when my dreams come true.

Organizing can be bad for your health.

I don't know whats going on with me. I have been organizing to the point where I feel its taking time away from actually making coats.
It has to do with my work environment. Everywhere I look I see things that need to be folded better, sticky noted or pinned to a wall.
I had spent two days pulling all my fabrics off the shelves, folding them and arranging them according to color, coordinates and possible projects. I found a box of unused plastic fruit containers. All my cones of thread went into them arranged by color. Today I pulled all my bags of cut out coats and vests. Every bag of cut garments has a sticky note pasted to the inside of the proper folder.
I guess this all needs to be done in order to work more efficiently. Its all part of having a business. Its just not really part of an artists brain.