My Blog

Assistance from clever people requested

Autumn — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:25:36 GMT

I have a really great project coming up. Dark Garden and Catherine D'Lish will be collaborating on some of the sparkliest, most luxurious corsets you've ever seen.We've worked together for years on Dita's corsets, and made the red tails for Christina Aguilerra together. We've worked out many of the logistics, but need a name. The obvious simply won't do...Dark and Delicious conjures up too many double entendres of the juicy sort. Our friends in Pittsburg already have Delicious Corsets...Delicious Garden is just silly. So - I appeal to you, my literate friends. If I use the name you come up with I'll give you something really good - not just the first T-shirt.

Life is Beautiful

Autumn — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:02:43 GMT

DG won Best of the Bay...Thank you all so much for your support !!!! And on a personal note, the end (I believe) of the car saga....I got my dream car !!!! It's a lovely little black Mini with a white top and white wheels..and I'm taking her on her first road trip to LA in a matter of minutes. I'm thrilled and delighted to have a nearly new car for the first time in my life, I feel like such an adult...and I love those car payments, yeah, mmm hhmm.

Dark Garden Rummage Sale

Autumn — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:41:51 GMT

It's time for a little shameless self promotion.... Sunday July 15th, 11am - 5pm ============ ========= ========= ======== It's time once again for that rare and exotic beast – The Nearly Annual Dark Garden Sample and Rummage Sale! We'll be opening on a *Sunday* to give you access to some great deals. We're selling off selected Ready-to-Wear size samples & shop-worn Custom samples or abandoned (Can you believe it?!?!) Custom creations. We're taking $25 off Ready-to-wear corsets in stock. 10% off hosiery, jewelry, gloves, and many accessories. We'll also be offering 10% off CUSTOM CORSET orders placed that day !! We'll be selling off fabric bolt ends, and we'll even have fabric scraps sold by the pound– perfect for crafters, quilters and costumers. Fabric $1 a pound Leather and patent leather $3 a pound Dark Garden offers a new service ONLY at the Rummage Sale: Have you, or perhaps your corset, shrunk (isn't it amazing they can do that just sitting in the closet)? Would you like to see if someone else wants your Dark Garden corset? Please bring your DG corset in before 5:30PM on Saturday the 14th (if you need to bring it by Sunday morning please call to set up a time). We will have a special area dedicated to Dark Garden corsets that have been gently worn. Pieces will be sold on consignment, so please be prepared to tell us what price you want for the corset. The consignment agreement will include a 10% markup, and we will need to see a photo ID when you complete the paperwork when you drop off your corset. We look forward to seeing you there! Don't know where "there" is ?? 321 Linden St Between Gough & Octavia, parallel to Hayes & Fell in lovely Hayes Valley, next door to the illustrious Blue Bottle Coffee no, that photo isn't me - wouldn't that be nice though ? Perry Gallagher took that picture of the beautiful Anyssa

Please help Dark Garden win Best of the Bay...today by 5pm !!!

Autumn — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:56:20 GMT

Kitty and Garden Friends... We have an emergency on our hands. While the Kitties and one head Gardener have been skipping all across the US of A the annual vote for SF Bay Guardian's "Best Burlesque Act" as well as "The Best Place to get your Wedding Wear" has been taking place. If you are all as fabulous as in years previous, it'll be the Garden's 5th year of being recognized as "the Best" YOU HAVE UNTIL 5PM on 6/27 (that's TODAY folks) to vote. You don't have to be a current Bay Area resident to vote, fyi. Just go to http://www.sfbg.com/bob/2007/ Go to Page 2, number 29 for Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Go to Page 5, for Dark Garden Pretty, Pretty Please.... with sugar on top. What, you ask, have the kitties been up too? Well, the kitties are secretly sweating away at a new set of numbers more fabulous and fantastic than ever before. Top secret stuff if you know what I mean. Cotton Club meets Shanghai 1930... Did I mention that we are going to be on the cover of "Biker Beauties Magazine?" How we got that privilege involves a trip to Luray, Virginia and 10,000 bikers. Call any of us up and we'll tell you the tale over a nice Manhattan. Think about it. Who do you depend on for quality entertainment time and time again? Who delivers the goods and brings a smile to your face? The vivacious vixens of the Barbary Coast KITTY KITTY BANG BANG!!!! VOTE NOW!!! And Dark Garden ? We've been dancing with Pirates at the Northern California Pirate Festival - in fact, I was seen on posters as the Pirate Cover Girl...Tee Hee..I mean...Arrrgghhh Our once a year Rummage sale is taking place on Sunday July 15th from 1 - 6pm...a few corsets and bits and bobs, as well as 10% off jewelry and custom corset orders placed that day. What else ? Dark Garden wil be turning 18 next month - can you believe it ? My little baby is all grown up !! Next thing you know, she'll be out...uh, never mind, your imagination can do the rest. But don't let me distract you from the VERY IMPORTANT task at hand. VOTE NOW !! Just go to http://www.sfbg.com/bob/2007/. Go to Page 2, number 29 for Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Go to Page 5, for Dark Garden May I also recommend Avalon Rising, Cat Taylor's band, for Best Indie Band ? Love and Scratches, Honey Le Bang aka Mizz Garden, Autumn Adamme www.kittykittybangbang.com www.darkgarden.com

I'm performing on Thursday night at Little Minsky's....

Autumn — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:29:08 GMT

Anyone else recovering from the Las Vegas Exotic World weekend? If so, you maybe experiencing withdrawal from four days amongst some of the most talented and gorgeous burlesquers from across the country. In that case, our doctor recommends adjourning to Little Minsky's this Thursday for a fix of vintage frivolity and sumptuous showgirls. (We have the very best doctor, even if she does look suspiciously like a bartender.) Comedic mastermind RJ Owens hosts a luxurious line-up including tantalizing troupes Vima Burlesque and Peek-a-boo Burlesque, the melancholy-sweet melodies of jazz band Tin Cup Serenade, enchanting vocal duo The Bluebelles with Michael McIntosh (of The Cottontails), and high-heeled diversions from Esperanza, Rose Pistola, living legend Isis Starr, Lady Monster & Mariel a la Mode, and Honey le Bang (of Kitty Kitty Bang Bang (hey, That's Me !)) Stay tuned for some special appearances in July as Little Minsky's hosts the Hollywood Burlesque Tour on the 12th (www.myspace.com/burlesquetour) and another extra engagement is in the works... See you at the bar... LITTLE MINSKY'S BURLESQUE Vima Burlesque Peek-a-boo Burlesque Lady Monster & Mariel a la Mode Honey le Bang (of Kitty Kitty Bang Bang) Rose Pistola Isis Starr Esperanza VARIETY Tin Cup Serenade - crooning modern old-style jazz The Bluebelles w/ Michael McIntosh - silky-voiced duo and piano maestro MC RJ Owens - the big magic funghi DJ Oran - swingin' dance tunes Thursday, June 14th Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St (at Ashbury), San Francisco 9pm - 2am, Show at 10:00pm $5, 21 and Up Every Second Thursday Performer Info: RJ Owens - rjowens.com Vima Burlesque - www.myspace.com/vimadancestudio Peek-a-boo Burlesque - www.peekabooburlesque.com Lady Monster - www.ladymonster.com Mariel a la Mode - www.republicofmariel.com Rose Pistola - www.myspace.com/pistolarose Honey le Bang - www.kittykittybangbang.com/honey.html Tin Cup Serenade - tincupserenade.com The Bluebelles - www.thebluebelles.com Michael McIntosh - www.thecottontails.com/bios.html#mike

LGBT Community Service announcement

Autumn — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:05:37 GMT

Please take 3 minutes to read about the horrific murder of Erika Keels, a transgendered woman, and sign the petition demanding a police investigation. Dear friends, I am writing to ask you to support work that's being done with the Justice 4 Erika campaign in Philly. Erika Keels was murdered on March 22, 2007 on North Broad Street in Philadelphia. Witnesses saw an assailant eject Erika, a 20-year-old black transwoman, from his car, and intentionally run her over four times, killing her and leaving the scene. A medical examiner's report supports these eyewitness accounts. But police ruled Erika's death an accident and have refused to conduct an investigation. The driver, Roland Button, was later apprehended, but he has yet to face criminal charges 97including "hit and run" charges. When Ms. Keels' friends, who are themselves trans, questioned police officials about the classification of her death as an accident, they were asked to disclose their "birth" names and told they were "trying to make something out of nothing." Our immediate goal is for the Philadelphia Police Commissioner and the Accident Investigation Division to reopen Erika's case and conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding her death. We want to send a powerful message to the Philadelphia Police Department that we stand together to demand justice for trans and gender non-conforming people, police accountability, and respect for the inherent dignity and worth of every person. Things you can do to help: 1. Sign our community support letter :read below and sign at http://www.petitiononline.com/ErikaK/petition.html 2. Get organizational sign-ons from groups you're in or connected to. (Organizations should email Justice4Erika@gmail.com to confirm their support.) 3. Go to the Justice 4 Erika demonstration on Thursday, June 14 at noon @ 6th and Arch in Center City Philadelphia. 4. Sign up for weekly email updates on the campaign (email Justice4Erika@gmail.com) 5. SPREAD THE WORD. Write letters to local newspapers. Ask everyone you know to sign on to the letter. Thanks so much ! COMMUNITY SUPPORT LETTER http://www.petitiononline.com/ErikaK/petition.html To: Captain Michael Murphy Accident Investigation Division Philadelphia Police Department Cc: Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson District Attorney Lynne Abraham Michael Hinson, mayor B9s liaison to LGBT communities Mayor John Street June 2007 Dear Captain Murphy, Young transwomen of color living and working in Philadelphia know they are at risk of physical attack at any moment, and many experience layers of hate and harassment on a daily basis. Erika Keels was one of our own. On March 22, witnesses saw an assailant intentionally run over Ms. Keels four times after ejecting her from his car at Broad and Thompson Streets in North Philadelphia, killing her and leaving the scene. A medical examiner B9s report supports these eyewitness accounts. But police have ruled the death of this 20-year-old African American transwoman an accident and have refused to conduct an investigation. The driver, Roland Button, was later apprehended, but he has yet to face criminal charges --even "hit and run." When Ms. Keel's friends, who are themselves transgendered, questioned police officials about the classification of her death as an accident, they were asked to disclose their "birth" names and told they were "trying to make something out of nothing." We, the undersigned, refuse to be told that the murder of Ms.Keels and the subsequent police denial of the brutal, hateful assault on her are "nothing." The Philadelphia police have failed to protect her basic human rights and dignity. The schools and businesses of Philadelphia never gave her a chance to choose a career -they failed her, and she was forced to earn her survival on the streets. The social services of this city failed to shelter her in a safe place to explore her own potential as a young person with imaginative goals and opportunities to thrive. We, as a community, will not fail her. We are individuals and organizations representing Black, Latina/o and Asian people; trans and gender non-conforming people; lesbians, gays and bisexuals; youth; immigrants; educators; students; social service providers; activists; religious communities; professionals; neighborhoods; and supporters around the world. We demand a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Keels' death. Her case must be re-opened. Now and in the future, the police must follow their mandate to protect and serve all Philadelphians, including those targeted for hate because of their gender expression and identity. All levels of city government and administration must ensure that policy meant to protect human rights of people in this city is followed in letter and spirit.

"At least you have your health"

Autumn — Fri, 04 May 2007 19:15:36 GMT

It's been a week of lessons in "Be careful what you ask for" The loudest lesson was around that adorable little car. several times over the last month it's been hiding behind larger cars, and my first thought has been "Oh my God, someone stole my car." Well, that finally happened. The next part of that lesson was hoping that my car would be found, and that my shoes and costume bits would be in it still. I hoped my glasses might be in it as well, and at one point I said that I hoped for wheels too. Got it. All my requests ! I forgot to ask for a trunk lid, a hood, side panels, bumpers, gear box, stereo and cigarette lighter. Sigh. Well then....I want a two seated vehicle that I can put bio-diesel in, that looks nice, has some style, that I can park easily, that's in perfect running condition including sound brakes and working defroster/heater, that fits my budget, that I don't have to drive very far to get, that's safe to drive...what am I forgetting ? That I can see out of... I promise that this time I'll get comprehensive insurance. Yes, part of my lesson is to properly value and take care of the things that I have. I'm trying very hard to end the pity party I've thrown myself, but it's alittle difficult to get out of the funk. Saturday I got literally bowled over by a teenager on a flying bicycle and was really banged up. Sunday I dislocated my shoulder; fortunately I had finished dressing all of the models for the fashion show that happened a bit later. Moday was a great day. Tuesday the car went for a disastrous trip. Poor little me. OK - My skin looks great from all the crying I've been doing, I have a wonderful significant other and a great deal of love in my life. Business is great. No one was hurt when my car was stolen. I've uncovered a bunch of emotional ick that was hiding behind some bravado and I've been going through it and cleaning it up; my dear friend Alexandra is in the same time zone for the week, so I was able to call her and cry on her shoulder and laugh at the situation in the way you can only do with your best friend; my Tribe friends helped me get my car back and made me feel tremedously supported and cared about. I got the circus costumes I took on when I really didn't have enough time to make them done in the nick of time and the client was so happy they tipped me enough to cover the towing and storage of my defunct car. Now look at that - the 'good' list is much longer than the "woe" list. The pity party is over; it's time to wash the ashtrays and take out the garbage. Alyscia just read the most absurd news story to me. A man in South Africa was forced to strip naked before being glued to his exercise bicycle by thieves who also glued his mouth shut before ransacking his home. It can always be worse, can't it ? Ladies and gentlemen, please be so kind as to take a tiny moment of silence for "Little Blue", may she rest in peace.

My friends are the best !!!

Autumn — Wed, 02 May 2007 03:03:24 GMT

I just got a call from Berkeley PD - the little car is in the pound in Oakland ! It's likely stripped, but it can come home as soon as it gets it's shots...I mean, as soon as I go to both Berkeley PD and Oakland PD. Phew !!! Thank you all for your homecoming thoughts...they worked !! Hugs and love to you all.

help !

Autumn — Tue, 01 May 2007 22:53:50 GMT

My charming little car was stolen this morning, with many important costuming articles and, horror of all horrors, 4 pair of shoes inside. Pretty please, everyone who reads this - visualize my car being returned to me with at least the costumes still inside. It's a silly little Aqua Honda del Sol and I miss it a lot already. The plate number is 3KNJ038 Thank you !!

I am "strength"

Autumn — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:24:39 GMT

Hmmm, impulse management..... Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy This is a card of courage and energy. It represents both the Lion's hot, roaring energy, and the Maiden's steadfast will. The innocent Maiden is unafraid, undaunted, and indomitable. In some cards she opens the lion's mouth, in others she shuts it. Either way, she proves that inner strength is more powerful than raw physical strength. That forces can be controlled and used to score a victory is very close to the message of the Chariot, which might be why, in some decks, it is Justice that is card 8 instead of Strength. With strength you can control not only the situation, but yourself. It is a card about anger and impulse management, about creative answers, leadership and maintaining one's personal honor. It can also stand for a steadfast friend. What Tarot Card are You? http://www.flarn.com/~warlock/tarot

Dark Garden at the De Young Museum - the morning after

Autumn — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 21:04:43 GMT

Well, we did it ! We pulled San Francisco's corset strings with great relish. 19 models and 6 lacers plus Model Wranglers Michelle and Gordon managed to answer about 2,674 questions about corsets and laced approximately a million people into them. I suppose the number was actually closer to 400, but the evening was fast-paced and kind of crazy at times. My favorite "try-on" was a mother of three and her eldest daughter who was all of 9 years old. They both jumped for joy with the excitement of the experience. We expected the event to begin gradually at 6pm and close up at 8:30, but instead we had requests from Museum patrons asking to be laced into corsets as early as 4:50pm and the guards had to chase over 60 people out of the Murals Room at 8:50pm. I feel incredibly fortunate to have such great friends who are willing to step up to any challenge posed. People that expected only to model not only answered many questions and posed for countless photos, but even lent a hand to lace corsets. Tanya mentioned that she might have chosen footwear differently had she realized what she was up for....the 7 inch heels on her thigh-high patent boots proved a slight challenge, but not one she couldn't handle. Photos coming soon !

a rant about the degradation of American spelling and punctuation...what's that called anyway ?

Autumn — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:42:28 GMT

This was written to a man that I went to Jr. High School with after he wrote to me "I didnt no you were an English teacher" after I mentioned that every email I had gotten from people I went to school with in Santa Cruz had terrible spelling and punctuation. "And why do you say I'm a weirdo ? Because I think correct spelling and punctuation are important ? I think our language is being completely degraded by our current modes of communication. "Quick" messages are an excuse to spell terribly - and that means that our kids aren't going to have a clue how to spell. Why does it matter ? I'm not sure for certain, but think about this reality. The French government has actually outlawed the introduction of any more English words into their language, as they wanted French to stay French, not Frenglish. Do you realize that Americans are the only people that don't, as a general rule, speak two languages ? We're absolutely spoiled, in that many other cultures have taken pity on us and have learned our language, so we don't think we have to learn theirs...but try going to the country side in Europe. "They" don't all speak English, though they usually speak not only their language but that of their neighboring two or three countries. Thank goodness for "universal sign language." " Children growing up today will think "right" is spelled 'rite' not to mention 'nite' and gr8 Yes, some of it is pretty clever, and I'm certainly guilty of doing what I can to complete a text message in 120 letters or less...but seriously, dashing off a quick e-mail is no excuse for not even trying to spell or punctuate. My punctuation needs plenty of work, but it's not so bad for that of a high school drop-out, is it ?

The Cliff Notes to "The Secret"

Autumn — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 21:35:50 GMT

If you haven't seen "The Secret" now you don't have to. Some kind soul has taken the time to type out many of the key points the movie has to offer. I place them here for your viewing pleasure. I actually think everyone *should* check out the movie for clarification of some of these points....but what is "should ?" Many people have nothing good to say about the movie, and while I understand their skepticism, I also feel that the general populace needs a way to access positivity, and the concepts in this movie are just that. 100 quotes from the Secret 1. We all work with one infinite power 2. The Secret is the Law of Attraction 3. Whatever is going on in your mind is what you are attracting 4. We are like magnets-like attract like. You become AND attract what you think 5. Every thought has a frequency. Thoughts send out a magnetic energy 6. People think about what they don't want and attract more of the same 7. Thought = creation. If these thoughts are attached to powerful emotions (good or bad) that speeds the creation 8. You attract your dominant thoughts 9. Those who speak most of illness have illness, those who speak most of prosperity have prosperity 10. It's different from "wishful" thinking 11. You can't have a universe without the mind entering into it 12. Choose your thoughts carefully ... you are the masterpiece of your life 13. It's OK that thoughts don't manifest into reality immediately (if we saw a picture of an elephant and it instantly appeared, that would be too soon) 14. EVERYTHING in your life you have attracted ... accept that fact ... it's true. 15. Your thoughts cause your feelings 16. We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings. 17. Thoughts that bring about good feelings mean you are on the right track. >> Thoughts that bring about bad feelings means you are not on the right track. 18. Whatever it is you are feeling is a perfect reflection of what is in the process of becoming 19. You get exactly what you are FEELING 20. Happy feelings will attract more happy circumstances 21. You can begin feeling whatever you want (even if it's not there)... the universe will correspond to the nature of your song 22. What you focus on with your thought and feeling is what you attract into your experience 23. What you think and what you feel and what actually manifests is ALWAYS a match-no exception 24. Shift your awareness 25. "You create your own universe as you go along" ~Winston Churchill 26. It's important to feel good ( ( ( (((good))) ) ) ) 27. You can change your emotion immediately Â… by thinking of something joyful, or singing a song, or remembering a happy experience 28. When you get the hang of this, before you know it you will KNOW you are the creator 29. Life can and should be phenomenal ... and it will be when you consciously apply the Law of Attraction 30. Universe will re-arrange itself accordingly 31. Start by using this sentence for all of your wants: "I'm so happy and grateful now that.... " 32. You don't need to know HOW the universe is going to rearrange itself 33. LOA is simply figuring out for yourself what will generate the positive feelings of having it NOW 34. You might get an inspired thought or idea to help you move towards what you want faster 35. The universe likes SPEED. Don't delay, don't second-guess, don't doubt... 36. When the opportunity or impulse is there ... ACT 37. You will attract everything you require-money, people, connections... PAY ATTENTION to what's being set in front of you 38. You can start with nothing ... and out of nothing or no way-a WAY will be provided. 39. HOW LONG??? No rules on time ... the more aligned you are with positive feelings the quicker things happen 40. Size is nothing to the universe (unlimited abundance if that's what you wish) We make the rules on size and time 41. No rules according to the universe ... you provide the feelings of having it now and the universe will respond 42. Most people offer the majority of their thought in response to what they are observing (bills in the mail, being late, having bad luck...etc.) 43. You have to find a different approach to what is through a different vantage point 44. "All that we are is a result of what we have thought"-Buddha 45. What can you do right now to turn your life around? Be Grateful 46. Gratitude will bring more into our lives immediately 47. What we think about and THANK about is what we bring about 48. What are the things you are grateful for? Feel the gratitude...focus on what you have right now that you are grateful for 49. Play the picture in your mind-focus on the end result 50. VISUALIZE!!! Rehearse your future 51. VISUALIZE!!! See it, feel it! This is where action begins 52. Feel the joy ... feel the happiness 53. An affirmative thought is 100 times more powerful than a negative one 54. "What this power is, I cannot say. All I know is that it exists." ~ Alexander Graham Bell 55. Our job is not to worry about the "How". The "How" will show up out of the commitment and belief in the "Why" 56. The Hows are the domain of the universe. It always knows the quickest, fastest, most harmonious way between you and your dream 57. If you turn it over to the universe, you will be surprised and dazzled by what is delivered .. this is where magic and miracles happen 58. Turn it over to the universe daily... but it should never be a chore 59. Feel exhilarated by the whole process ... high, happy, in tune 60. The only difference between people who are really living this way is they have habituated ways of being 61. They remember to do it all the time 62. Create a Vision Board-pictures of what you want to attract ... every day look at it and get into the feeling state of already having acquired these wants 63. "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein 64. Decide what you want ... believe you can have it, believe you deserve it, believe it's possible for you 65. Close your eyes and visualize having what you already want-and the feeling of having it already 66. Focus on being grateful for what you have already ... enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it 67. "Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve." ~W. Clement Stone 68. Set a goal so big that if you achieved it, it would blow your mind 69. When you have an inspired thought, you must trust it and act on it 70. How can you become more prosperous?? INTEND IT!! 71. 'Checks are coming in the mail regularly'... or change your bank statement to whatever balance you want in there... and get behind the feeling of having it. 72. Life is meant to be abundant in ALL areas... 73. Go for the sense of inner joy and peace then all outside things appear 74. We are the creators of our universe 75. Relationships: Treat yourself the way you want to be treated by others. Love yourself and you will be loved 76. Always cultivate a healthy respect for yourself 77. For those you work with or interact with regularly .. get a notebook and write down positive aspects of each of those people 78. Write down the things you like most about them (don't expect change from them). Law of attraction will not put you in the same space together if your frequencies don't match 79. When you realize your potential to feel good, you will ask no one to be different in order for you to feel good 80. You will free yourself from the cumbersome impossibilities of needing to control the world, your friends, your mate, your children... 81. You are the only one that creates your reality 82. No one else can think or feel for you .. its YOU .. ONLY YOU 83. Health: thank the universe for your own healing. Laughter, stress-free happiness will keep you healthy 84. Your immune system will heal itself 85. Parts of our bodies are replaced every day, every week…Within a few years we have a brand new body 86. See yourself living in a new body. Hope leads to recovery. Happy leads to a happier biochemistry. Stress degrades the body 87. Remove stress from the body and the body regenerates itself. You can heal yourself 88. Learn to become still and take your attention away from what you don't want. Place your attention on what you wish to experience 89. When the voice and vision on the inside become more profound and clear than the opinions on the outside, then you have mastered your life 90. You are not here to try to get the world to be just as you want it. You are here to create the world around you that you choose 91. And allow the world as others choose to see it, exist as well 92. People think that if everyone knows the power of the LOA there won't be enough to go around .. This is a lie that's been ingrained in us and makes so many greedy 93. The truth is there is more than enough love, creative ideas, power, joy, >> happiness to go around 94. All of this abundance begins to shine through a mind that is aware of it's own infinite nature. There's enough for everyone. See it. Believe it. It will show up for you 95. So let the variety of your reality thrill you as you choose all the >> things you want. Get behind the good feelings of all your wants 96. Write your script. When you see things you don't want, don't think about them, write about them, talk about them, push against them, or join groups that focus on them. Remove your attention from don't wants and place it on do wants 97. We are mass energy. Everything is energy. EVERYTHING 98. Don't define yourself by your body. You are an infinite being that's connected to everything in the universe 99. Our bodies have distracted us from our energy. We are the infinite field of unfolding possibilities 100. Are your thoughts worthy of you? If not, NOW is the time to change them. You can begin right were you are, right now. Nothing matters but this moment and what you are focusing your attention on -

A question for the gentlemen...and others who know or have opinions about the matter

Autumn — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:18:56 GMT

I'm wondering, are kind, nice women rare and unusual creatures that are difficult to find ??

Dark Garden Corset Event at the De Young March 30th

Autumn — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:29:31 GMT

yeah, for reals ! So, the De Young holds Friday night cocktail parties and they have interesting art and bands and other fun stuff - and they've asked us to participate while the Vivienne Westwood exhibit is up ! The reason I'm posting about this is not only am I completely honored to have been asked and wanted to share the news, but because I need some help. We're going to be a little "Corset Shop" installation where we'll be trying corsets on people, as well as displaying lovely live mannequins, a la Dicken's Fair, but without the protection of the windows. We'll be showing some of our slightly avant garde designs as well as some evening gown styles and need volunteers, both men and women to come play dress up. Live mannequins need to actually present themselves as mannequins, meaning remaining completely still with very few pose changes. No themes are needed, nor is there any requirement of a story to be told (info for Windows veterans) The event begins at 6:00 and ends at 8:30pm, so it's a short event. We won't have a lot of time to get ready - I believe our dressing room opens at 5:00 so I may need some dressing help as well. They'll have a combined dressing room and hospitality suite for us, and we'll be able to see the Westwood exhibit (which is pretty darn fabulous I must say) while we're there. The time commitment during the event will depend on how many people offer to model. I can dress a good number of people in stock sample corsets, but would of course very much like people who have Dark Garden corsets and/or ensembles of their own to come out and show off. If you're into it, please drop me a message either here or at autumn.darkgarden@yahoo.com very soon.

Who thought I'd ever enjoy anything Woody Allen had to say ?

Autumn — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:45:59 GMT

"To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down." - Woody Allen, Love and Death

wuv, twue wuv

Autumn — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:44:46 GMT

“For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation”. --Rainer Maria Rilke "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." --Rumi "Love, as a word, is memorialized in countless books, movies, poems, and musical compositions. While there are many definitions of love, its essence, when used as a verb, can be captured in a few phrases: to care for, to cherish, to respect, to honor, to show an interest in, to value, or to treat with kindness." --Francine Ward Quotation from page 141 of the book: Esteemable Acts: 10 Actions For Building Real Self-Esteem "Love is a state of Being. Your love is not outside; it is deep within you. You can never lose it, and it cannot leave you. It is not dependent on some other body, some other external form." --Eckhart Tolle from page 128 of "The Power Of Now" copyright 1999 by Eckhart Tolle "Our barriers to love are rarely consciously chosen. They are our efforts to protect the places where the heart is bruised. Somewhere, sometime, we felt as though an open heart caused us pain or humiliation. We loved with the openness of a child, and someone didn't care, or laughed, or even punished us for the effort. In a quick moment, perhaps a fraction of a second, we made a decision to protect ourselves from ever feeling that pain again. We would never again allow ourselves to be so vulnerable. We built emotional defenses. We tried to build a fortress across our heart, to protect us from any cold assault. The only problem is, according to the Course, that we create what we defend against." ---Marianne Willliamson in “A Return to Love”

She's here

Autumn — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 19:12:04 GMT

Miss ...............Mayana Montani was born (will be?) at 6:55pm today Feb 12th and weighed in at 6.1 lbs. I hope I get to see her and most importantly Alexandra, tomorrow. They only let one person into the delivery room here, so I've been wandering around Rome wondering just how it was all going. Pretty well I guess. I only have stories from Jen and Zeina - and neither of them gave birth the same day they checked in. I'm pretty glad for Alexa that she came early. A little baby for a little lady. And no, it doesn't make me want one, even a little bit, but I'll happily be called Auntie Autumn.

afraid of the light....

Autumn — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 03:58:39 GMT

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous ? Actually, who are we NOT to be ? You are a child of (insert your deity of choice here). Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of G*d that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. ~ Marianne Williamson

Lucky me !!

Autumn — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 02:52:28 GMT

I'm off to Rome for a week...I get to hang out with my dear friend Alexandra, who is about to give birth to her first baby. I'm also going to eat gelato and pizza every chance I get. Anyone envious ? Oh Goody ! tee hee. I'll be back just in time for Valentine's Day to be over - oops - no roses for me this year ! Hopefully I'll have lots of amazing adventures and brilliant stories to tell - I may even post to this silly blog again.

Sunday Gorey Sunday - Dark Garden dresses up

Autumn — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:22:15 GMT

Dark Garden will be doing a version of "the Dwindling Party" by Mr. Gorey himself, complete with living trees, topiary, demons and an unfortunate family. Our valiant narrator will be none other than Mr. Peter Overstreet. Rosin Coven, Paradox Media & Vau de Vire Present: SUNDAY GOREY SUNDAY Edwardian Variety and Sideshow Night at The Great American Music Hall Sunday January 28th - Doors & Dancing at 7:30pm Tickets only $15, all ages welcome (6+) So you didn't get tickets for The Edwardian Ball? Naughty naughty! Or perhaps you did, but can't get enough of a glorious, Gorey-ous, costumed weekend? Well now, we've created a special Sunday night showcase just for you! Featuring: Vau de Vire Society's featured soloists & sideshows Jill Tracy, solo piano chanteuse Loop!station, cello and vocal looped duet Corset Fashion show by Dark Garden Vima Dance, Ballroom Burlesque Edwardian Disc Jockeys & dancing and mischievous members of Rosin Coven, Edwardian Hosts Plus: Ballroom Dancing, Antique Photo Booth, Costumes Galore, and, of course, the art & stories of Edward Gorey! Maybe even one you've never seen performed...

Yes, I only blog when I travel

Autumn — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:25:03 GMT

First let me say that I make some sweeeeping generalizations about a few nationalities in the coming paragraphs. Forgive me, and know that noticing diffences is part of being aware that we as humans are all one. Munich is sometimes referred to as the northernmost city in Italy - it's beautiful and warm and in Italian it's called Monaco (?!?), but the people sure do look German, except all the Italians running the gelato shops and all the beautiful Turks running around. The best part is the Vietnamese and Chinese that speak German. I was really surprised the first time I came to visit - it's far more international than I expected. When I visited Rome I discovered that Italians only like Italian food. Fortunately Germans like lots of food, and it's pretty easy to find anything you want to - especially if it's Weiswurst, a pretzel and a beer, which is not cheaper than water anymore, though it is easier to find. One of the things that I find completely charming about Munich is that it's the heart of Bavaria, meaning that people still commonly wear the traditional "trachten" - lederhosen and Dirndls. The sweetest thing I ever saw here was a pretty girl riding her bicycle along the bank of the lake in her dirndl. One of the funnier things was a big lumber jack sized man in leder shorts and these funny calf warmers that they wear, along with the fancy shirt and hat with a feather in it, walking up the escalator in the Underground - such an interesting juxtaposition of old and new. It's very traditional and sometimes you really feel like you've stepped back in time. There are bakeries on nearly every block that smell incredible, butcher shops,wine shops and cheese shops and even a basket shop around the corner. He happens to live in an attractive part of town now, so I tend to forget that at least half of Munich is ugly as sin, being quickly built after the war in typical, low cost, boxy fashion. We just watched "Wings of Desire" Have you ever seen it ? It was made in 1987, shot in Berlin and is incredible to see now, knowing what Berlin looks like now without The Wall. They also intersperse images of Berlin during and after the war, shot in exactly the same place. One of the things that I like about traveling in Europe is the sense of time and change that has happened - or not happened as the case sometimes is. In San Francisco we have nearly no idea about that - no comprehension of what war does to a city and the people that live in it. Not that I want to know any more intimately. One of the characters in the movie says "What's wrong with peace that it's inspiration doesn't endure?" Hmmm, eine gute frage, a good question. One reason I'm interested at all in being here, and have tried to learn the language is that it's "where I come from" as it were. My grandmother spoke a bit of German, and apparently her mother spoke it quite a lot, and my mother is mad for Polkas. I think they were from an area not so very far from Munich, but each town is so different they may as well be separate states, what with dialects and all. Oktoberfest begins tomorrow. I'm curious as can be about it, though I understand it's mostly like Halloween in the Castro these days. Fun and full of costumed people once, now full of drunk tourists. Mostly, I just want to see foxy girls in Dirndls carrying absurd numbers of huge beer mugs. On the flip side, whenever I come here my dad says "Remember, you're a Jew" though I feel that Jewishness is in the eyes of the beholder. Most Jews will say that I'm not, because only my dad is Jewish, and it's passed through the mother, unlike nearly anything else in the world.

Germany

Autumn — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 22:04:07 GMT

I flew to Munich three days ago and boy are my arms tired. i can't believe I said that. i think I'm nervous because i'm new to the blog. Here goes. Aaron and I just got back from Berlin. It's about a 90 minute plane flight from Munich. The two cities could hardly be more different. Munich is homey and full of Bavarians, some of whom still wear their traditional dress on a regular basis - yes, that means Dirndls and Lederhosen. Beer Gardens abound and people really do eat giant pretzles, schnitzl and so many types of sausage it boggles the mind. Berlin is full of tourists as well as edgy younger people and the city itself is HUGE ! 377 square miles. I'm actually not sure what typical Berlin food is because we ate Italian, Thai, Vietnamese and Belgian food (actually fries). Aaron declined to eat Apple Strudel because we were in the North and apparently it's best in the South. Such a good little Bavarian he's become. Berlin has got incredibly clean air, lots of trees (on which the leaves are turning - SO beautiful) and art. We bought a three day pass for as many visits to any of the 50 museums we wanted to go to. We made it to four. They were astounding for the sheer volume of art - and all of it thouroughly worth looking at, says the less than completely qualified art critic Autumn. It was incredibly interesting to see what has replaced The Wall as well as the blending of East and West Berlin, lots of really old (to the American mind) buildings that have new additions to them - the most notable being the Capital Building. It used to have the fairly typical Dome at the top, though it was a squarer shape than the White House Dome is. Hitler actually used a fire to the original Dome to squeeze his way into Government by blaming the fire on the Communists. 50 years later it was rebuilt with glass, steel and mirrors and is really incredible. I have no idea if Americans can actually visit the Dome of the White House for free and a wait of a mere 45 minutes or not. I assume not, but that's me. The view from up there was amazing, not just all around Berlin at night, but right down into the "Congress" meeting room. Pretty neat stuff. It's interesting to note that the most "defended" building in Munich is the American Embassy. It's got high concrete walls, barbed wire and a mini tank out front. What are we so darn afraid of anyway ? We went to see a Cabaret on Saturday night - a few good Circus acts and a fairly brilliant MC who did great physical comedy including an act as 1/2 a Lipazanner and a good impression of a camel. He also told lots of stories about his Italian grandmother, made jokes about Bavarians, German Politians, German Sports heroes, German grammer and - you guessed it - farts. Sadly, my German is still mostly limited to numbers and the alphabet so I missed most of it except when Aaron could stop laughing long enough to translate a bit for me. As disappointing as it was not to be able to understand the jokes and stories I was glad that he didn't do the show in English as they did at the Moulin Rouge in Paris. Of all of the European cities I've been to so far, it seems like Berlin is holding out against American culture the most. I can't believe we were only there for two and a half days - it feels like we saw so much, and it wasn't even a tenth of the city to be sure. I've only got two days left here before returning to San Francisco and diving into preparations for Dickens Fair. I can't wait. No - really.