Saturday, January 31, 2009

Monkey in my car....and local photog is awesome


Well what before my wandering eyes should appear....
But a swirly glass ball awaiting in there....
in my car....a lovely gift from glass-blowing monkeys....
Thanks! 100th Monkey people........I love my Ox ball....
And it will be in my jewelry case at funkoma vintage....

at other news at funkoma....
my shirttale cousin....Sandy Wright is a photographer...
she's filterfour.com....
and at modelmayhem.....

please go there and view her magnificent work.
She and her cousin Sherri, came to the shop, and set up beautiful vignettes.....
So, lucky me ! I'll be having different lovely gals for modeling....


Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Havin' A Ball y'all....

I love making stuff...and having my big Sewing Room at funkoma vintage, "where the magic happens" (tm) allows me to churn out lovelies like this....now on the bod of The awesomeness of Jennifer Johnson...




I don't know about you, but I am real sick of winter...I have always disliked winter because it's cold, and I'm from California, nuff said.
But I'll say more. So, I'm setting out spring stuff in the shop already. I can't help it. I have billions of new things (er, vintage) and I think if I put them out there, Spring will come sooner.
I'm seeing the tops of little bulb leaves.....

And have I told you I have a Red vintage ruffly Tux shirt for the boys or girls whatevah.


Monday, January 26, 2009

Jerry Miller had some bad luck...


Moby Grape in a photo used on their debut album cover. Back (l to r) Peter Lewis and Skip Spence, front (l to r) Jerry Miller, Don Stevenson and Bob Mosley.

Moby Grape ! I was so saddened to hear that my fave California exile Jerry Miller (we also share the same last name...) suffered horrid flood damage in the last round of northwest flooding. He lost memorabilia, guitars, amps and personal effects according to The Volcano....A benefit will be held Friday Feb 6 in Spanaway...I'll be there!
[Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill, Friday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m., 16003 Pacific Ave., Spanaway, 253.507.7808]

Did I , funkoma vintage, or did I not just blog about him...and haven't I, funkoma, blogged many times about my beloved Jerry? Yes!
clicky here!

I have no doubt this is also one of the many reasons why I will drop my clothes at almost any moment....Naked If I Want To....
And since The Tressie Nostalgia Train has left the station, at the bottom, I've included one of my other favorite San Francisco bands...Quicksilver Messenger Service...2 vids....Fresh Air and...What About Me...


"No rock and roll group has been able to use a guitar trio as effectively as Moby Grape did on Moby Grape. Spence played a distinctive rhythm guitar that really sticks out throughout the album. Lewis, meanwhile, was a very good guitar player overall and was excellent at finger picking, as is evident in several songs. And then there is Miller. ...The way they crafted their parts and played together on Moby Grape is like nothing else I've ever heard in my life. The guitars are like a collage of sound that makes perfect sense. Miller-Stevenson's "8:05" became a country rock standard...."




Wish I could find this.....
I am so bummed for him, that I won't make any jokes about Moby+water...too late.
Here's some pics I stole off teh internets....















Quicksilver Messenger Service...
Fresh Air...


What About Me...

What About Me
(Released December of 1970)

You poisoned my sweet water.
You cut down my green trees.
The food you fed my children
Was the cause of their disease.

My world is slowly fallin' down
And the airs not good to breathe.
And those of us who care enough,
We have to do something.......

(Chorus)
Oh.......oh What you gonna do about me?
Oh.......oh What you gonna do about me?

Your newspapers,
They just put you on.
They never tell you
The whole story.

They just put your
Young ideas down.
I was wonderin' could this be the end
Of your pride and glory?

(Chorus)

I work in your factory.
I study in your schools
.
I fill your penitentiaries.
And your military too!

And I feel the future trembling,
As the word is passed around.
"If you stand up for what you do believe,
Be prepared to be shot down."

(Chorus)

And I feel like a stranger
In the land where I was born
And I live like an outlaw.
An' I'm always on the run..........................

An Im always getting busted
And I got to take a stand........
I believe the revolution
Must be mighty close at hand.......................

(Chorus)

I smoke marijuana
But I cant get behind your wars.
And most of what I do believe
Is against most of your laws

I'm a fugitive from injustice
But I'm goin' to be free.
Cause your rules and regulations
They dont do the thing for me

(Chorus)

And I feel like a stranger
In the land where I was born
And I live just like an outlaw.
An' I'm always on the run.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Handpainted Donkey Mexican Vintage Skirt

is one of the cutest things I've found in a long time! These skirts are usually painted with Aztec symbols or guitars, big florals, or cactus. They were made of cotton and painted for tourists in fun colorful Mexican motifs that would be a wearable memory of a 50s warm and sunny vacation. The style of the time was a big circle...just perfect for dancing and being impressive with a huge crinoline underneath.

Until January 28, '09, this one is for auction at ebay.....






Most vintage mexican skirts I've seen were made of an odd black velvet decorated with sequins. Sometimes you can find them with a matching top. Worn alone or together they make a darling ensemble for a party or a patio barbeque! The vintage handpainted Mexican skirt is wearable everyday...such fun to brighten up the day while shopping or running errands, and special enough for a casual dinner out with the family.

Here's a few other Mexican hand-made items found in the last year.







Click here for some modern day Mexican fashions.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Save the date....Artwalk...


for February will be special in a special kind of way..

Why? Because dear, not only is it Artwalk for February '09 in the year of our new funky president........
But February 19 is the One Year anniversary of the stupid and untimely death of old friend Steve Craig....


hard to believe he's been gone a year already...

We'll be celebrating, er, uh, remembering Steve...
and remembering his part in so many artistic art-like endeavors, people and parties...








AND !!
Steve Stefanowicz has agreed to play music for us here at funkoma vintage world wide headquarters from 6 ish to 7 ish........

I think your head will pop pop pop...from all the
Steveness that will be happening...
it's all happening....
02 -- 19 -- 09




first some pics of Folksingers In Hell...
you missed a great show......first David sat out on the street on a frigid Tacoma night...and wailed on the elektrik geetar...
Then he came to his senses and he and Heidi sang new and old songs of ye old folk...
Heidi sang her groovy song homage to Brown and Haley makes 'em daily Candy Factory Worker Blues!!
and David regailled up with The Suitcase Song for which he won an actual Cash prize !!








and I think you should now consider becoming a Myspace friend...then I can send you this as a Free Thank You Gift !!

Inside the shop.........Can you believe it?

MidCentury Modern








and uh, I have some new auctions on ebay, and adding new stuff to etsy, and if you can find the time...I have tons and tons, and I mean tons of new stuff in the shop...
Chartreuse loveseat.........50 MCM plywood chair....victorian carved furniture ...so steampunk....



ebay.










Wanna go to see it on ebay? clicky




Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Oh Happy Day !!


Michelle's dress...


and more on the First Family fashion and the 2 First Daughters who are not dressed like miniature prostitutes..

First ladies fashion....



The Mrs O blog...


A slideshow of Mrs O....

About spring color...

THE Poster...



From now on we'll have rainbows everyday, and a Unicorn in everyone's backyard...

Sunday, January 18, 2009

People Picked Me !

One of the many reasons I love etsy is for its artistic vibe...cool, clean and modern and yet....the handcrafted item is the Star of the Show....But they have huge category of vintage...housewares, home decor, books...all manner of the old stuff.......
It is always eye candy...and one of the most eye candiest features is The Treasury.
It's a part of etsy where etsy-lovers make beautiful lists of their favorites on the site....
A wonderful feminine steampunk vintage wool and satin 30s/40s coat of mine was featured recently by a Treasury Maker.... PickleValentine...

The Treasury is titled Chocolate and Licorice...
here's the link....mmmmm....tasty!

The Treasury expires Monday January 19 at 5:47 pm....
I guarantee...You'll crave more Treasury on etsy....
click here for the vintage clothing section....






(and a 60s pink spring suit was picked for the etsy widget by Carol, our Vintage Bulletin blogQueen, this week!)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Best songs about Tacoma & Blogging & stuff

Love love this one about us....the lonely bloggers.....that Fewster is mad...and Heidi's songs touch me......and that child of his..Hannah.....what a big chip off the ol' block ........Artwalk night, Folksingers in Hell will be singing with us....

and I just wanted to mention that January's birthday is January 15th...she's 39. She's my first born. I love her more than I could ever tell you...no matter how many words I use....and aren't I a special mom, that I could arrange for a National Holiday just for her on her special special day??




here's a few vids....at the bottom.......
no intro needed for Neko...who used to dance with January for and with Girl Trouble...doesn't get much more Tacoma than that.......



not so much about Tacoma, but Fewster is Tacoma...


not about Tacoma, but named For Tacoma....and you never go wrong with a Leonard Cohen song....


So Just how BIG is Tacoma....well, I can hold it in my heart....


and because Jerry Miller lives here, and it's been toooo long since I got drunk and made him play this song, for me...Just For Me ! I mean, how many people met in SF in the late 60s/early 70s and then, independently moved to Tacoma??


And Chan Marshall doing a cover of my other fave Moby song.(moby GRAPE !)Naked If I Want To. I love this one soooo much because the lyrics really capture the times of my misspent youth, man....

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

It's A Heat Wave !!

56 and sunny....and that's not just my age and disposition.....that's the Weather Forecast...
I'll be in a bikini!
'member last Art Walk...the one that didn't happen? Snow snow snow...up to your bikini line?
so, let's do it again for reals this time.......
Artwalk 3rd Thursday.......
January 15
and Folksingers In Hell have agreed to come back and play their
Tacoma Crunchy Sugar Pops In A Blacktop Bowl genre of folk music.....
That is music for folks who are in danger of jadedness,
in danger of calcification and ennui.
Music from David and Heidi
from
7 pm to about 8:30 ish.
Food and something to drink.
funkoma vintage &
Amocat Antiques.
712 Broadway.
In the Rampart Bldg.
Tacoma Washington







Because Folksingers In Hell isn't enough frivolity for December's Artwalk evening....
We present...hanging on our wall...
..the art of..

Maureen Smith

****Maureen spent a year and half in commercial art school right after high school. This almost ruined her and sucked all the joy out of doing art for years. She was a hairdresser, theatre critic, insurance clerk, computer programmer, game, book and comic seller, would be novelist (not necessarily in that order) over the years. Now she tortures David Fewster at work and does art for herself at home. And loving it! P.S. It's David's fault.****






Monday, January 12, 2009

Murray Morgan Bridge..A little slow on the uptake...

I did read the headline and I am thrilled beyond belief!!! Yes, MM bridge will be saved! and it should be saved. History, and knowing your history, saves you from becoming like Dick Cheney or Leona Helmsley...and you don't want to be her/him do you? And to all the jerks that said to tear it down, I say, Kiss my Ass.
Allow me to quote from History:
T. H. Martin, Secretary of the Commercial Club and Chamber of Commerce added, "Nothing has been done for years that means as much to the industrial development of Tacoma as the building of this highway to the tidelands" (quoted in Jonathan Clarke, "City Waterway Bridge").

This bridge is a monument to the working class. It is in the perfect place in downtown Tacoma rubbing elbow to asshole with the Russell Building...

the MM bridge is proof positive that the working class (who don't wear Dockers to work), can accomplish great things, and this bridge is great and unique in all the known universe, while you are not a unique snowflake.........

Now true, the Docker wearing pencil pushers helped to corral the money for the bridge back in the day....and the function of the tideflat businesses and the ships moving in cheap plastic trinkets for you to buy at WalMart, and then the big ships that are full of American money that sail back to China.....are for big big commerce. I'll let that go, for now.

Without those of us who drive the big rigs, who swing the hammer, who sweat and strain...for your leisure....well, I just think you need to be a lot more appreciative of us.
Come on...it was just Christmas...didn't you watch It's A Wonderful Life?? What do you think that movie was about??
Zuzu's petals?
reprinted from the News Tribune...and I still hate your guts except for about 5 people that work there....



Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
Murray Morgan Bridge could have new cables by July
Posted by Jason Hagey @ 04:43:28 pm

That's what Tacoma City Council members were told Tuesday.

Even though officials haven't secured all of the estimated $80 million it will take to rehabilitate the bridge and re-open it to traffic, they are ready to replace the cables. That will allow the bridge to remain open to pedestrians, rather than lock it in the upright position -- something that was contemplated.

Jim Parvey, an assistant public works director, and Kevin Dayton, state Department of Transportation regional administrator, updated council members on the effort to rehabilitate the iconic bridge that connects downtown to the Tideflats.

It's been closed to vehicles since October, 2007.

The men outlined a four-phase approach to rehabilitating the bridge that starts with replacing the cables.

Doing so will cost about the same amount -- $3 million -- as it would to lock the bridge in the upright position. The money might as well be spent on something that will contribute to the rehab effort, they said.

About $36 million is currently set aside for bridge work.

"At this point, we are ready to move forward with the design of the lift cable replacement," Parvey said. The work is scheduled to be finished by July.

The other phases include:

[More:]

* Rehabilitating the center truss. Estimated cost: $54.1 million.
* Fixing the approach on the downtown Tacoma end of the bridge. Estimated cost: $14.9 million.
* Fixing the approach on the Port of Tacoma side of the bridge. Estimated cost: $8.3 million.

Officials hope to complete all of the work by 2013.

Council members were generally pleased by the news, but they also expressed their continuing frustration with the state Department of Transportation for allowing the state-owned span to deteriorate to its current condition.

Councilman Mike Lonergan said he worried that despite the efforts of state Rep. Dennis Flannigan, D-Tacoma, to secure state funding, the bridge would not be a top priority compared to other big-ticket items such as the Highway 520 floating bridge and the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle.

Mayor Bill Baarsma said he believed that Flannigan, had he been able to attend the council's study session, would have expressed optimism about the chances of securing additional state funding. Baarsma also thinks there is an "excellent" chance of landing federal money.

"What we really need, it seems to me, to secure that state and federal funding is to start the process," he said.
Categories: Tacoma • 4 comments
COMMENTS:
Permalink Comment by footballscaa @ 12:44 - Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 Email
Well that accomplishes nothing but unneeded expense. How about widening Portland Ave, so those of us who work in that area can get to work in a timely fashon. Waste of time and money.
Permalink Comment by smartalex241 @ 13:32 - Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
Take this ugly industrial monster down. Use the money to fix the streets or build a decent looking bridge. How anyone can defend this as a historical treasure is beyond me.
Permalink Comment by mrbaileyboy @ 17:39 - Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 Email
This bridge is being saved so the property on the east side of the waterway will remain valuable to a certain port commissioner. Drive east on 11th street sometime. It is a dead end. Tear down the bridge.
Permalink Comment by turp63 @ 05:05 - Thursday, December 18th, 2008 Email
Yup.. Instead of wasting the money on new cables have it demolished and removed.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Let's hear it for the boys....

Excellent men's vintage is harder to come by........stop snickering..


Men wear their clothes out...till there are holes and stuff. Not much left but for the Rag Bag. I give a little Whoop inside when I get the good stuff. Here are a few......

Ending soon.
ebay.
Gold Black Satin Sharkskin 60s Vintage Smoking Jacket



Wanna go to see it all on ebay? clicky




Very Vintage 40s 50s Red Wool Winsted Thermal Shirt





Vintage 40s 50s Pilgrim Long John Underwear Union Suit




60s Vintage CAFE Racer Leather Motorcycle Jacket M L




Skid Row * Skids Across America Tour Vintage T Shirt




Golden Glen Plaid Sharkskin 60s Vintage Jacket 42/44




50s Vintage Fleck Tweed Silky Wool Jacket 42/44




Superb Sharkskin Bronze Rust Plaid 60s Vintage Jacket L


Saturday, January 10, 2009

so, see what happens when you google yourself...

in many other countries artists are treated as if they are valuable, as if what they do is as important as a plumber, for instance.

a certain plumber now has a job as a TV reporter, tho he has no good grasp of language, or politics. What a Country!!!!

Perhaps artists will get a bailout like FDR did in the 30s.......when Obama takes the crown and walks down the aisle.

so, here is a little film titled FUNKOMA.
not by me, but by some folks in Istanbul....
nice silliness. cute 80s dresses.
Hey, maybe they should enter this in the next Tacoma Film Festival, in the New Category titled:

Inadvertently Tacoma-Centric Titles, But Not Necessarily Jive Subject Matter.

weird.
clicky here.....

Friday, January 9, 2009

Long and Plaid !

Plaid is cool...plaid is for everyone...and plaid is back!
In the fashion world the popularity of plaid rises and falls....
and it's all about plaid right now.

Plaid was a big deal in the 70s. It can have a boho, earthy quality in natural tones. A big deal in that time was the maxi...ankle length dresses, skirts and coats for that romantic hippie look.
This coat has wood toggle buttons and a big collar, and hood. It's back in style again...and listed on ebay.







In the punk anti-fashion fashion movement of the late 70s and beyond...
designers like Vivienne Westwood & Malcolm McLaren who opened their Let It Rock boutique in London’s Chelsea in 1971, used Royal Stewart tartans, the royal personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II, as a political symbol of protest against government oppression by subverting, tearing, cutting, pinning and writing provocative statements on the esteemed tartan.

Here's a dress that combines tartan and vinyl, in a punk way...
click to go to etsy

The history of tartan goes back to the French word, tiretain, meaning woven cloth. Tartan usually refers to special plaid patterns. The word plaid is derived from the Scottish Gaelic plaide, meaning "blanket". Originally plaid was first used to describe the rectangular, blanket-like garment, sometimes made up of tartan, that preceeded the modern kilt. And as we all know, kilts are mostly made of plaid patterned fabric! Wanna find a tartan pattern name? click here