Productive Chicago Weekend

April 13, 2014 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ Leave a comment

Gosh you would think I was sitting on top of some hot-burning fire this weekend because I got a lot done. (Does that even make sense? I feel like that was my attempt at some Depression era ‘talk’) I had to go to my local USPS office to find a missing package with some very special cargo in it. Thankfully, my post office is actually super close to my house and the people who work there are actually pleasant… I know right?

that's a whole summer's worth of HK sun protection. — that’s a whole summer’s worth of HK sun protection.

I also took another practice exam for the GMAT and did an astounding 60 points better in just two weeks! I’m very pleased with this progress and know it is just an affirmation that the studying I am doing is really paying off in a big way. After my CAT, I went ahead and ventured into my craft room for some wonderful sewing projects! I just used a basic bias skirt pattern from McCall’s similar to THIS ONE. I did however use french seams and wish I had known about those sooner – I LOVE their finish.

I also tried to make a little tepee for the cats, but they were no feeling it. I think I need to make it bigger, they just didn’t seem to think it was very cool. Cats… they love the ‘sack’ of cloth I made for them a few weeks ago, but don’t understand this has potential for the best photoshoot ever!

In pursuit of the cheapskates lifestyle, I decided to price compare Wal-Mart to Aldi on a few items that I consume a LOT of. Basically, I wanted to find an alternative egg/meat source aside from Aldi. Wal-Mart does have organic Eggland’s Best Eggs for $4.98 and a very very limited non-antibiotic/steroid chicken selection. Aldi rotates organic selections based on consumer buying patterns with a ‘features’ program so two weeks ago when they had the Organic Grassfed beef I was so happy but should have bought more to freeze and use later. Anyways, I’m thinking more about the antibiotics thing because my GMAT prep test actually had an article about how the EU has banned antibiotic use, but the USA hasn’t and well….. here we go. Also in my Wal-Mart escapade today I found some awesome products that made me proud to say ‘EASTHHHER IN AMMMERICCHHHAA.’

vanilla creme peep - limited edition. limited lifespan - CHOMP. — vanilla creme peep – limited edition. limited lifespan – CHOMP.

Sunday, I colored my hair, and while that was processing made that fox skirt up above! Then I went to finish my Dunwich Horror with Mister Josh Howard at Pioneer Tattoo. I love it.

There was also a Katy Puggy siting… I keep tweeting the real Katy Perry – maybe one day she’ll see.

Le sigh Monday….

xxx
GFK

Lois Came for a Visit

March 25, 2014 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 3 Comments

Lois – my mom (and my nickname for her) came to visit over the weekend. I was so glad to just hang out, run errands, and eat super tasty food with her. Honestly, I forget that I’m here alone, because of social media and phones. But, I LOVED having her here even if it was for a few short days.

We both started watching Chicago P.D. and got addicted.

Don’t worry I don’t have my mom come all this way just to watch TV! We were working on our Heliopath KALs!

Then, I have been on the market for some vintage Pyrex – but I’m still too cheapskate to pay the retail prices for it now. I mean, all the sellers know it’s popular at the moment so for a set of 4 nesting bowls it’s common to see $100 price tag attached. I’m more into the designed square refrigerator ones so it’ll take time to ease in to that hobby. BUT. We went to this great Vintage/Retro Kitchen store in Chicago called Jazze Junque and it was way cool. She had loads of vintage Pyrex, $500 cookie jars, plates, mugs, kitchen sets, glasses – I was in heaven.

We ate amazing Polish food at Staropolska in my neighborhood too. I tried to practice my Polish, but I’m too shy and got way too nervous. But the waitress was really nice, even after I made an ass out of myself trying.

placek z cukini z piersia z kury, papryka, cebula, cukinia, kozi ser (zucchini pancakes with chicken, peppers, goat cheese)

kiełbasa z kapusta (sausage and cabbage)

We also got tattoos. I got this ‘Dunwich Horror’ inspired monster man and done by Josh Howard at Pioneer Tattoo in Chicago.

I made this little tissue ‘coozie’ for Josh Howard also since he is an elderly_lady.

Overall great weekend. Back to reality.

XXX
GFK

The Tattooed Life

September 7, 2013October 1, 2013 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 6 Comments

I went to the Milwaukee Museum of Art two weekends ago and was able to see the Amund Dietzel Flash Tattoo Exhibit. It was stunning. Some of the designs he was drawing and tattooing in 1917 were something I know any tattoo inclined individual would love to have on their body today. Obviously, I love tattoos. I have a nice little collection started and many of my friends are tattoo enthusiasts if not tattooers themselves so ‘talking tattoos’ is something I’ve become familiar and comfortable with. While I was there I heard some pretty hilarious banter from ‘non-tattoo’ folks. I don’t think very many of the people I shared the exhibit with were there specifically for Amund like I was. I ended up spending about a solid hour combing over all the pieces of flash and personal photos and stories from Amund’s life while listening to passerbys say gems like ‘oh tattoos, this isn’t real art’ and ‘can you believe people used to get tattoos like this that said ‘mom’?’

Above is a tattoo flash from 1916! And also Amund’s tattoo ‘kit’ where he stored his guns and ink.

This got me thinking about how certain people – well I would comfortably say the majority of people look at tattoos as being limiting. Limiting in the sense that they prevent opportunities from arising or exclude the tattooed individual in a way that’s economically and socially negative. I could say in certain situations that tattoos are limiting. However, as I‘ve described before I’ve learned how to lead my double life and not feel like I’m betraying my identity in the process. Thus, for me, I really believe my tattoos have given me infinite opportunities and a life I would have never led being tattoo-free.

Without tattoos I can easily name the following things I would not have ever done. I first would have never met the Dude because I would have never been friends with the person who introduced us. Despite the Dude’s ever-changing role in my life, I would have never visited Chicago and realized I loved it here – therefore I would have never moved here or have gotten my dream job. I would not know any of the people who I call my closest friends. I would never have experienced a Game of Thrones party, gone to Durango for a weekend I’ll never forget, have picnics at Sloans Lake eating friend chicken, or spend a weekend in Baltimore sweating to the greatest doom metal bands around. I would have never been comfortable being different. I would have not gone to Aveda and pursued an interest that was completely foreign to my previous education and lifestyle. I would have never met/dated/loved/hated a majority of the people I know and that I would never want to know a world without.

The things I love most about myself have a lot to do with my lifestyle as a tattooed individual. The funny thing is that if you ask me if I feel limited the answer is a resounding ‘no’ because I get to operate in both cultures of tattooed/non-tattooed. I guess I feel I get to be part of both easily. In fact the only place I’ve ever felt ‘left out’ was the pool at the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo – their culture still isn’t on board with bathing and tattoos. I’m not trying to sound like I’m any sort of authority on being tattooed because I am definitely NOT. Believe me I could name five friends in two seconds who have more authority in their little pinky on the topic. But the point is, I think the only reason I have the life I have is because I’m tattooed.

I’m thankful I walked into the right shop over seven years ago and made the choice to be different in a way that allows me to experience more out of life. I couldn’t imagine my body or my life without any of these tattoos and I would not change a single dot anywhere. My life is truly blessed as a tattooed woman.

Work by: Alisha Rice Th’ink Tank Tattoo Denver, Colorado & Josh Howard Pioneer Tattoo Chicago, IL