Dear AFP (Dress 125)

Dearest Amanda F***ing Palmer,
I cannot express how much you inspire me. Your skill and artistic integrity mean you have the opportunity to work with some of the most interesting artists, musicians and performers in the international scene. You're not a sudden star- you've worked (and continue to work) hard, constantly to be where you are now, with your collaborative project with Jason Webley Evelyn Evelyn now touring internationally.

I saw you perform in Melbourne's Forum Theatre earlier this year- and I will never forget what that did to me. You took to the stage, vibrant, engaging and wildly charming, sang your soul out for two hours, and then- as promised, serenaded us from the gorgeous balcony with Radiohead's Creep. I cannot help but feel that every person in that audience was buoyed by that anthem of the disconnected.

What happened afterward is something I will always remember, and treasure. I waited to speak with you, and thank you, and after meeting you, I walked away shaking, and crying- because as much as I love your music, your artistry, your creative path- that's what enthralls me.

Your manager comforted me, and asked my name, and let me know that yes: you can do it. He manages your tours in the southern hemisphere, and he was in five films last year... So why not? That even your tour manager is an awesome bloke just cements my perception of you as a collaborator, these people come together to make something amazing because you bind them with charm, talent and ambition.

You are a role model for artists everywhere to go and do what they want; with whoever they can get; and do as much as they can with what they are given.

Not just all this... you're also about to marry one of my favourite authors, the incredibly skilled wordsmith, Mr Neil Gaiman. Damn.  When his book Coraline was adapted into a film, and the film was nominated for an Oscar for animation you went along, and in true ballsy fashion- wore this:

Which was brave, funny, clever and stunning- and prompts this beaded dress over a silk slip (I'm not that brave.)

The beads are strung on long fine strings that are formed into that configuration as they are beaded.

Thankyou for your courage, your skill, and your generosity,

All my love,

IP

Welcome; and some explinations

Dearest Audrey,
It's always been a dream of mine, to collect all the things that I find beautiful, and innovative, and inspiring. You were all three- and so; in dedicating my first post to you, I wish to begin on the purest note.

My plan for this adventure is to develop the conceptual basis of the blog as I design the page- amongst the things I intend to do (and; as my tweed-and-bow-tie mathematics teacher used to say: show all my workings.) are
-Artwork for the header (A fawn; probably mechanical pencil, fineliner and watercolour) involving the process of choosing a font for the title and the photoshop process of placement and enhancement. (Will have to wait until I am home in Melbourne with my Windsor and Newtons and my darling Photoshop.)
-Design of a signature- something I find charmingly pretty in any blog.
-Paring down my morbidly obese 'favourite blogs' tab until I can choose only those I find truly well-rounded or of exceptional quality.
-probably many other things. I have forgotten all the things that sprang to mind but an hour ago. Bother.

And along the way
*recipes
*inspiration
*tutorials
*plans
*past projects
*favourite fashion pieces
* '' films
* " books
*outfits (only when particularly meticulously planned/photographed... Shoddy camera work, or uninspiring outfits simply serve to irritate me in the genre of daily-outfit-blogging. Better to not post than post something mundane?- although if you disagree, please let me know: I'm curious.)
*and most probably (although avoided when at all possible) rambling and ranting on the topic of my whimsical choice.

If you should happen to stumble onto this- please tell me what you think. If I'm doing this for other people (as well as myself) I want to know what you enjoy- and what you'd prefer I pared down.

All my love,
Ip.