Kat Roman

Worn & Tattered

2009-03-25T08:47:00.011-04:00

My latest project. I rarely get to make anything for myself and I thought, "hey, your twinings tea keeps giving you a message that says, reward yourself." After it was done I giggled and thought super size me. We're a nation that the bigger the better. Well, I love my jumbo bag. Betcha never seen a tote bag this big. To top it off it's eco-friendly.

Something funny happened while I was making this bag. If you're a sewer you know how many times you get pricked and how painful those little itsy bitsy pricks can be. Well, while making this bag I got pricked so badly and didn't feel it, instead I wound up seeing it after the fact. What I thought was funny was when I stopped to clean it up, playing on my IPod was Peter Murphy's, Cuts You Up. Talk about irony.

The proof:

Decay and Renewal

2009-03-23T19:56:00.012-04:00

Spring is finally here, but I still keep getting teased. When will it finally stay pleasant? Mother nature is playing a cruel trick on me. Can't wait to sit out in my garden and paint. My husband and son set out to do yard work on Saturday. A great task for sure. The Koi pond is full of string algae and he has his work cut out for him. Ah, but the joys of seeing those very first emergences. What pleasure. All that hard work with bulbs during Fall will finally pay off. Everything in nature must rest and now for the awakening.

Road Devils June 2008

2009-03-11T21:34:00.012-04:00

Some hotrods for your viewing pleasure.

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Road Devils CC - New Jersey

2008-06-03T09:42:00.007-04:00

Come out and have some fun with me and C.C. Bullets of Live Fast on Saturday, June 7.

FEATURE OF THE WEEK - Pamela Quevedo

2008-04-18T16:30:00.025-04:00

Pamela's work speaks for itself. It is quite intricate and detailed reminiscent of Victorian times. Quite lovely. I can't imagine the patience and time it must take to create one of her pieces. They are truly magnificent, what drew me in was that very Gothic look. I am always fascinated by people who are keeping art like this alive. It takes you back to an era where art wasn't powered by machinery and high tech powered mechanics. Take a peek for yourself. Enjoy!

Tell us a little about yourself? My name is Pamela Quevedo and I'm a stay at home mom to 2 little girls. My work can be found at: totusmel.etsy.com and I keep a blog at:
totusmel.blogspot.com

When did you start doing your craft? I'm a lifelong crafter, but I just started tatting in the last few years. I was simply bored with knitting and crochet and I wanted to do something different. I don't really remember where I ran across tatting first, but after several failed attempts at shuttle tatting I read about needle tatting online and bought a book by Barbara Foster and taught myself in one day. I often compare tatting to the board game Othello, a minute to learn, a lifetime to master. When I started I was only making simple doilies and bookmarks, then one day my mother in law mistook a bookmark for a bracelet and I thought, why not? Later I found that tatted jewelry was already alive and well, but I was hooked. I've been modifying vintage edging patterns and designing my own pieces ever since. Recently, I've been trying out tatted scarves and hats and I'm delighted to breath new life into an art form that people only seem to remember their grandmothers doing.

Who or what has been your biggest influence? My biggest influences are vintage patterns, I also love Gothic styled jewelry as well as steam punk and Victorian styles. I try to turn old patterns into something modern and wearable.

What do you like to do when you are not creating? When I'm not creating, I'm usually taking care of my kids. We enjoy video games, comic books and playing with bugs.

Any advice for fellow artisans? I'm no great success story, but I do make what I like and I manage to make sales on a fairly regular basis. Don't follow the pack and DO create what you enjoy, that way sales won't really matter all that much.

Enter to win this beautifully made pendant. How beautiful is this piece. I wish I could enter to have it.

Rules for giveaway:

You must visit TotusMel's etsy shop totusmel.etsy.comand make a comment here on the item you like most in her shop. If you miss this important step, you will be unable to be counted in the giveaway. Only 1 entry per person.

Contest ends on Sunday, April 27 at midnight ET. Winner will be announced Monday, April 28. Give-a-way is shipped out via the artist.

Be sure to tell a friend of this great giveaway. I would love if you can help promote Pam. She is an amazing artist and should be recognized for her wonderful talents.

This weeks interview with Marie Meier "illustrations et peintures"

2008-03-06T07:31:00.053-05:00

I found the fabulous Marie on Indiepublic and loved her work right away. It's fun and vibrant and has that "cartoony" comic book / tattoo flash art charm. Marie is a rockin' artist. I love her sugar skull bust and of course being from New York, that King Kong cover art is way cool. Check out the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Where are you from? I come from France, a little village in Strasbourg.

When did you start illustration and why? First, I'm a painter but only because some people thought it was way better for me. But, three years ago I got new heart problems and I decided to do what I really wanted: Illustration, Better and Rock Illustration. Now I'm happy to do my work.

Who or what has been your biggest inspiration? Mmmmmmm...Frida Kahlo I think. She's my absolute master. She went through so much and she was able to tell her stories through her art using symbols in her work. Medieval art is the other big inspiration for me. They use symbols to tell a story the same way. Medieval artists created the first comics without text. Fantastic works.

What has been your biggest accomplishment? Working with people like, Philippe Manoeuvre and Virginie Despentes. They have all my respect and admiration. Philippe Manoeuvre gave me my chance and he has a very big heart. He's the boss of the music magazine for which I work. Virginie Despentes is my favorite writer and I've had the chance to create the cover of her last book. She's really nice and talented. It's a dream for me.

What's your favorite thing to do when you're not creating? I'm reading or watching Buffy, Heroes, Prison Break...since young I've been a fan of weekly series. My first was Diana and the lizards chief in V. I always prefer the naughty character...

You can vote for Marie online at: Festival de Romans Click on the bottom right corner where it says "voter pour Marie Meier"

Where to find Marie Meier:

OFFICIAL SITE:
Marie Meier
GOTH'N'ROLL GRAPHIC BLOG:
Sigma.Typepad.com
BOUTIQUE EN LIGNE:
rockcustom.votreboutiquepro.com
MySpace ILLUSTRATIONS:
Myspace.com/MarieMeier
FACEBOOK:
Facebook.com

Thanks to Marie for allowing me the pleasure of interviewing her.

Speed Racer

2008-03-02T07:45:00.005-05:00

It's been a long time coming and much anticipated, but finally the Wachowski brothers are collaborating on Speed Racer. I can't wait for this movie to hit as I know that the screen will be highly charged and energized by all the action as we know they do so well. Growing up watching Speed Racer and now seeing on the big screen with my son will be quite a different and funny experience. Oooh I'm dating myself.

The ever mesmerizing Christina Ricci will be playing Trixie, the girlfriend of Speed, Emile Hirsch. Christina is without a doubt one of my favorites. Every now and then taking on quirky roles. My favorite of all time was when she played, Wednesday in the Addams Family. How insane was that school play. She has many roles under her belt. To name of few that I liked, they are: Sleepy Hollow, Buffalo 66, Pecker and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. She is now in Penelope. Playing a pig nosed girl who falls in love. Talk about quirky roles.

Emile Hirsch will play her Boyfriend Speed. He was also in Alpha Dog. I loved him with his boyish charm as the bad ass skater boy in Lords of Dogtown and he will next be seen in Sean Penn's "Into the Wild."

Ji Hoon Jung will be Speeds Archenemy, Taejo Togokhan. Jung is Asia's top Singer turned actor and has been named in Time, as one of the "100 Most Influential People in Our World."

Matthew Fox will play Racer X. We all know him from Party of Five and now Lost. I can't lie, I've never watched these shows, but I know of them.

As a fan of the Matrix I look forward to all the stop and go action of this movie.

San Miguel de Allende

2007-12-01T22:21:00.000-05:00

Although I realize that my spending time in San Miguel de Allende has come and went, I couldn't help but share my wonderful experience and these amazing photos with you.

Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel
Templo de San RafaelSugar offerings at la Plaza CivicaSugar Skulls at la Plaza CivicaSenora selling ribbon dolls at la Jardin My Cross with Milagros - I was truly inspired to create.Feeling quite honoured to be able to assist in decorating the cemetary at San Juan de Dios. This historic cemetary had been closed for more than 50 years. It was built in 1782 and rescued and reopened a year ago by Eva Montes, a DIF employee.More photos from San Juan de Dios

Killing Me Softly Etsy Treasury Feature

2007-11-20T10:57:00.000-05:00

This treasury called "Killing Me Softly," features my Love Kills Necklace (bottom center). This is one of my favorite necklaces as it pays tribute to all you romantics out there, including myself. It's also my ode to Sid. LONG LIVE SID!

Thanks RavenX, fellow artist. You rock doll! Click the link below to see her goodies for sale on Etsy.

RavenX

2007-11-20T00:40:00.003-05:00

Currently creating for Live Fast in New York. I was listed as feature designer. This is my top being worn by a Live Fast model. I also sell my work on Etsy and ebay.

I love creating tantalizing clothes and working with kick-ass fabrics. There is no limit to what I can create, I am willing to experiment with anything. That’s what makes my creations bold, fun, and exciting!