gatormade

My first runway show!

robin — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:06:25 +0000

A few weeks ago my sewing teacher Sumie Tachibana, mentioned that she was working with a local boutique, Subdivision on producing a runway show here in L.I.C. Even cooler was that it’s to be held at The Foundry, the venue where Sami and I were married. She said that she was thinking of having her students present pieces for the show. I tried not to jump up and down like a 4th grader, but I was superpsyched by the idea. I really wanted to take part. So she confirmed a few days later and I started sending her patterns and ideas. I bought a vintage sari and during my last lesson we sketched out the final design for the dress, utilizing much of the sari in funky ways, and customizing the look. I’m really pleased with what we came up with…

What i’ve been doing the last few days is basically restructuring the dress from the original pattern into the design we worked on. Right now it’s still in muslin. it’s kind of a challenge for me because I only know that basics of pattern alteration and Sumie’s away for the holiday so I’m doing a certain amount of guess work. It’s good though, because I’m forced to figure it out, which is great because I’m learning alot, I have to say. So here it is so far….More as it progresses!

dresses galore…and much much more!

robin — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:59:05 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Haven’t posted much. Not like I think anyone’s out there reading this blog, BUT I have been a pretty busy sewing lately. I’m trying to get in as much as I can before Zikrayat begins another busy season. When the band is super busy I have no life so I have to fit in as much of my other creative endeavors as I can when we’re taking it slow.

Over the last few weeks I made several really neat little dresses, which is kinda funny because I NEVER wear dresses…

I also made Sami an apron for Christmas. Here he is bringing me a sandwich as I’m working…

I also decided to dabble in relational art after watching a marathon of “Art Safari”. Here is my first sculpture…

Here they go!

new dresses on the horizon!

robin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:18:45 +0000

last week i finished another dress. it’s from a 1970’s mccall’s sewing pattern.

the dress is made from an interesting woven material that has a soft sheen. i really love it, though it’s far from perfect! i wore it to an indian concert over the weekend though and it looked devine!

next is a chinese brocade 80’s prom dress!

rakassah

robin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:17:31 +0000

long time no post! it’s been a super crazy few weeks and time has really flown by. last month i hosted my friend Astryd for a fab Raqs Sharqi workshop. two weeks after that, Sami hosted his friend Faisal Zedan for a workshop and bunch of shows one of which was Rakassah. Rakassah is a huge Middle Eastern dance festival in NJ. i have mixed feelings about rakassah these days. there is three times as much fusion as there is any kind of authentic Middle Eastern dance. We were they only Arabic ensemble! it’s a little bit disheartening. I don’t have a problem with fusion for the most part, it’s just there are so many baby dancers coming into it now, and have no idea what’s real and what isn’t. i guess i just feel like we are representing an already misunderstood underrepresented art so the least we can do is present it as authentically as possible. it’s ok to create your own thing, but maybe…call it something else?

the weeks before rakassah i did a pretty good job of stressing myself out (as usual!) i choreographed my first piece AND made costumes for the performance for yogi, me and sherine. they came out really beautifully, but i was literally sewing up until we hit the stage! immediately after i went back to my hotel room and took a 4 hour nap! i was so completely wiped out. as a result, i don’t think it was my best performance, but went over pretty well. the girls were really awesome and it was the most fun i’ve had actually in a long time. vive banat zikrayat!

here is dimitri doing a hilarious robot dance to tribal fusion music at rakassah while bridget looks on…

book of the moment

robin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:09:01 +0000

photo of the day…

robin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:04:17 +0000

“cause i’m an animal, and i’m bigger than you!!!!”

robin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:14:30 +0000

…and in case you’re curious, here are the actual lyrics…

one two three

my name is sarah palin you all know me
vice president nominee of the gop
gonna need your vote in the next election
can i get a ‘what what’ from the senior section
mccain got experience, mccain got style
but don’t let him freak you out when he tries to smile
cause that smile be creepy
but when i be vp
all the leaders in the world gonna finally meet me

how’s it go eskimo
(eskimos)
tell me what you know eskimo
(eskimos)
how you feel eskimo
(ice cold)
tell me tell me what you feel eskimo
(super cold)

i’m jeremiah wright cause tonight i’m the preacha
i got a bookish look and you’re all hot for teacha
todd lookin fine on his snow machine
so hot boy gonna need a go between
in wasilla we just chill baby chilla
but when i see oil lets drill baby drill

my country tis a thee
from my porch i can see
russia and such

all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up

when i say ‘obama’ you say ‘ayers’
obama. (ayers) obama (ayers)
i built me a bridge - it ain’t goin’ nowhere.
(ohhh)

mccain, palin, gonna put the nail in the coffin
of the media elite
(she likes red meat)
shoot a mother-humpin moose, eight days of the week

[three gunshots]
now ya dead, now ya dead,
cause i’m an animal, and i’m bigger than you
holdin a shotgun walk in the pub
everybody party, we’re goin on a hunt
la la la la la la la la
[six gunshots]

yo i’m palin, i’m out!

had to post this!!!

robin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:05:58 +0000

obamkin

robin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:52:51 +0000

so busy!

robin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:21:02 +0000

been working on a myriad of stuff.

for one, i just finished my friend judith’s website: jzqphotography.com

and i’m in a furious race to finish costumes for rakassah! pics of those forth coming!

speaking of yesterday we had a super rehearsal. i’m glad it went well. here are some pics from the car ride to the studio!