This morning I had this equally exhilarating and terrifying thought:
(And somehow that thought corresponds with this wicked picture I took of my good friend, SQ. beautiful. hard. soft. lovely.).
I hope you all have unabashedly confident weekends.
xox~betsy
***Song of the Moment: Godspeed, by Jenny Lewis*** (okay okay, I’ll switch it up next time. I’m just really loving Ms. Lewis this week).
THREE more nights of performances …for now. I suggest securing tickets online beforehand. Thursday, Friday or Saturday this week … 8:30 pm @ Shaking the Tree Studio, 1407 SE Stark.
REVIEWED;
Portland Monthy Magazine (blog): Preview: Truth & Beauty
Willamette Week: Fertile Ground Day 1, Truth & Beauty
Oregonian: Fertile Ground: ‘Truth and Beauty’ is a literally moving production about a unique friendship
a friendship like no other
It’s playing in front of these audiences that has really brought our characters to life. A few days before we opened, Jessica (co-star, plays Lucy Grealy) handed me a book for inspiration: C.S.Lewis’s A Grief Observed, written after the death of his wife. His words helped me tremendously:
No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. … And no one ever told me about the laziness of grief. I loathe the slightest effort. Not only writing but even reading a letter is too much. Even shaving. What does it matter now whether my cheek is rough or smooth? They say an unhappy man wants distractions–something to take him out of himself. Only as a dog-tired man wants an extra blanket on a cold night; he’d rather lie there shivering than get up and find one. … The act of living is different all through. Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything.
There is a sequence in the beginning where Ann Patchett (the character I’m playing) lyrically expresses her grief. With an appropriate David Byrne song playing and only one chair, Ann’s chair, in just a few moments, she goes down to the bottom and claws her way back to the top—fighting through the mire and muck of sadness to come out on the other side. Ann wrote the book this way…3 weeks after Lucy’s death.
In the performance, there have been nights when I thought I got there. There have been nights when I knew I was no where close. I have 3 more nights to go even farther and I intend to.
Won’t you join us?
***Song of the Moment: Memories Can’t Wait, by Talking Heads***
I remind myself of a succulent sugarcoated melon flavored tart gumdrop today. (The dress is Michael Stars, quite affordable and made in the USA).
Since I am trying to get ready for New York in lickety-split lightening speed time, I’ll keep this baby short. Soon, I’m going to post about the number of callouses I’ve developed on my poor hands. I never thought one could get callouses in such places. The building of my ear wires in large numbers has given me tough spots all over my hands— the way a seasoned guitar player has merit bumps on the tips of his fingers. The more you play, the harder they become.
I’m quite proud of my bumps (hehehe). But in order not to feel like a butch mechanic in a local autoshop, I offset the calloused beauties with a sweet dress from one of my favorite local shops, Mabel & Zora.
It was a little chilly when I left for the studio, so I paired one of my favorite jeans–from another local favorite, Pin Me Apparel—with the ensemble, to keep me cute and warm! My gray strap-happy shoes come from yet ANOTHER local twinkle, Shoefly.
The earrings are a new betsy & iya fave (well, my favorite at least). I’m experimenting with a buttload of vintage chain and making all kinds of new items for the drips section in my shop. These are just a preview. I’ll let y’all know when I update the shop.
Don’t forget to comment for the giveaway (or spread the word for folks you know in NYC)! xoxoxoxo!
***Song of the Moment: Starfish and Coffee, by Prince*** (i know, i know, I’m on a prince kick lately. this is one of my all time favorite prince songs off of one of my all time favorite prince albums, Sign of the Times. If you’ve never listened, you should. It’s wildly fantastic.)
(St John’s Bizarre, May 2009. Those massive earrings I’m wearing are a new pair, inspired by Sheila from Rock n’ Rose. Lookout for them in my shop SOON.)
Okay, I can’t think of a better title to encompass the whirlwind that has been my life the past few weeks/months. And then there’s the past few days where I’ve sort of been sitting zombie-like, with my jaw dropped reflecting on all that has happened and all that is about to happen in my life. It’s like I’ve been hit with a frying pan and I’m seeing the pretty stars circling around my head, while blinking very slowly.
(Art Hop on Alberta Street, May 2009. Lupe is wearing my wooden curtain rod hoops in this photo.)
(The colors always draw people to our booth.)
The last two street shows have been the best we’ve ever done. The weeks leading up, I basically made jewelry until my fingers bled. And now I must prepare for the Rose Festival (I’m selling with Handmade NW right on Waterfront Village!!!) and then comes…New York!! That’s right, NYC friends, I’ll be at a MASSIVE show at the end of June, for 5 days!! I am also planning on hitting up some NY stores to try and get in long term. Any suggestions??
Stay tuned, I’ve gotten some great suggestions on this blog and I intend to tune in more often than I have as of late. I think I just needed to break for a second. One thing that’s for sure—you all love the Outfits of the Days!! This actually really cracks me up, because even though I love playing dress up, I feel a bit like a fashion impostor. Maybe that’s why you love it so?—it does truly make me giggle sometimes.
Lookout for upcoming OOTDs. Tomorrow’s might be my favorite of the month. Here’s a teaser. I like to call this photo: Locker Butt. (I’ll explain tomorrow).
***Song of the Moment: 1-2-3-Apple Tree, by Herman Dune***
