What's up with me...

skewed perspectives?

starwilflowr — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:23:00 GMT

So this Halloween I didn't bother coming up with any great costume, I just put on a bellydance outfit & went off to a block party downtown where just about every woman that walked by me was wearing (or hardly wearing I should say) skin tight impossibly short skirts (among other things), pasties on top, or cleavage baring or such sundry scandalous attire. I commented to my friends "Geez- Kona girls have sure gotten slutty haven't they?" Everyone around me started doing the milk-snort sort of laugh implying not so subtly that I, myself, looked quite slutty. I thought about it for a minute and supposed that even though sporting a 20 pound bra and several skirts & belts, my midriff revealed and skantily clad upper half could suggest a somewhat slutty exterior. Funny how after belly dancing for years and having a deeply felt respect for the dance could prevent me from acknowledging the reality that most bellydance attire is, in fact, rather racy. It is just so dignified and elegant and tasteful in my mind that I hardly view it as such. Sometimes ya just gotta put your foot in your mouth. But you can judge for yourself- do you think my costume was slutty?

Dum-tek-Dum-Dum-har-har

starwilflowr — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:37:42 GMT

These are from (where there are millions more) http://drumcircles.net/drumjokes.html Some of these are stupid but some of them are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny! (And well worth remembering next time you wanna raz your drummer- hehe) Billy: Mommy! I want to be a drummer when I grow up! Mommy: Now, Billy. You know you can't do both. (HA!) What do you call a doumbek player with a credit card? Married. What is the difference between a drummer and a pizza? A pizza can feed a family of 4. What's the difference between a drummer and a percussionist. "Oh, about three hundred dollars a week," (hmmmmmmm.) Why are these drummer jokes so simple? So bass players will understand them! (ahem) How can you tell if there's a drummer at the door? The knocking speeds up. (yawn.) How many drummers does it take to screw in a light bulb? - 100 1 to screw in the light bulb and 99 to say how much better Neil Peart could have done it. (I should have cut this one) What do you call a drummer without a girlfriend? Homeless and without a car. (actually, from personal experience...it's the lead singer-not the drummer) What do you say to a drummer in a three-piece suit? "Will the defendant please rise..." (almost funny) How is a drum solo like a sneeze? You can tell it's coming, but you can't do anything about it. (well...ok) Which is larger...a doumbek or conga drum? They're both the same size; dumbeks just look smaller because a doumbek player's head is bigger. What's the difference between a doumbek and a jack-hammer? A jack-hammer only repeats itself 10 times a second. What's black and brown and looks good on a doumbek player? A Doberman What do you call a beautiful woman on a doumbek player's arm? A tattoo. What's the similarity between a doumbek player and a philosopher? They both perceive time as an abstract concept. What do you get if you drop a doumbek off the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Applause. What is the difference between an onion and a doumbek? Nobody cries if you chop up a doumbek. What has eight legs and flies? Four doumbek players. (Lord of the flies) What is the ultimate sincere compliment you can pay a doumbek player? "Nice tooth." What do you call 500 doumbeks at the bottom of the Mediterranean Ocean? A good start. What has 24 legs and three teeth? The front row at a doumbek workshop. What do you call a hundred doumbeks up to their rims in sand? Not enough sand. Why is the doumbek more popular than the bowed psaltery? There's more room for drugs. What do you call a doumbek player with half a brain? Gifted. Why is a dead armadillo in the road more tragic than a dead doumbek player? The armadillo was on its way to a gig.

You know you want one...

starwilflowr — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:51:27 GMT

Click the link below to see more! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6020424 Cigarette/Money case with artwork by Stephanie Bolton. This case is spring-loaded and very durable. Case is large enough to hold a full pack of cigarettes without crushing them but small enough to fit in back pocket of your jeans! Great for keeping your cards & cash, making it easy to switch handbags in a flash. I keep my library card, driver's license, credit cards, bank cards & business cards clipped into one side and my stamps, club cards, & cash clipped into the other side. The clips keep items secure so they don't fall out when you open your case. Ask me about custom orders- I can put personal artwork just for you on your case. They make great gifts!

Cairo Time

starwilflowr — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:48:02 GMT

Too Cool- movie set in Cairo coming out soon. I heard there is even a bellydancer in the party scene... not sure if she will be dancing but a dancer none-the-less (be a pity if she isn't) Anyway- if anyone wants to meet me at the movies: let me know!

Purses with "Purse-i-nality" & free shipping

starwilflowr — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:33:11 GMT

www.sasakibags.com is the place! if you want a really fantastic handbag that no one else has got- each bag is handmade and one of a kind, made with unique reclaimed materials like, coffee burlap sacks, hand-painted artwork on canvas or silk, kimonos, Thai silks, etc. Earth-friendly & Fashion savvy. Right now you can get them shipped to you FREE ...if you are from any of the following states... Alaska Alabama Iowa Illinois Kansas Kentucky Maine North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire Oklahoma Rhode Island Utah Vermont I work with a lady who makes THE finest handbags ever. I have never in my life gotten so many compliments on the streets than I have carrying my Sasaki bag- I kid you not- I mean, when I am in hurry, I seriously have to think twice about carrying it because I know I will be getting stopped at least 3 times & have to explain where I got it. They are THAT cool. I keep telling her that she needs to get a bizillion biz cards printed up and stick a stack in each purse she sells just for the convenience of the purchaser- to save them some time: they can throw a card at people instead of going through how and where they got it every time someone stops them. Now she is even making gorgeous yoga bags out of old silk kimonos- sooooo beautiful & chic! Her market bags are so cute- especially those haute potatoes bags! So I am passing along this special deal of hers, because shipping from Hawaii is kinda pricey. So this is a super great deal! If you wanna know why these states and not others, check out her blog www.sasakibags.blogspot.com for the back story. All of her purses have a story, btw, which makes each one even more special! She can even make custom orders for you too so don't be too shy to ask- if you have a special idea and don't see what you were looking for. Also I provide the original art on her gallery series so you can also have ANYTHING painted on your original art bag if that's the style you like. See my website for more artwork options www.stephaniebolton.com

Rachel Brice is following me on Twitter?

starwilflowr — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:57:02 GMT

Random. Honored for sure, but I am surprised and curious as to why RB or "Arbibi" would have any interest in following me on Twitter. But I notice that there are bunch of random people following me on Twitter who I don't know. I only use Twitter to talk to a business partner I have usually because I know it is a fast way to communicate with her. But then these other people started following me & I can't imagine why. Somthing similar happened on Netflix. I like to leave reviews of dvds I watch, mainly for myself so I can remember what I thought of this or that in case I ever consider renting again but I noticed a weird section I had never noticed before that said friends and favs- and there were 30 people who added me as a fav I guess or whatever. I suddenly felt like "people are actually reading my reviews?" Great- now I have to actually watch what I say? I can't just use that feature for personal reference to myself anymore? Most were obviously other belly dancers but some were men who obviously had no common interests in the movies I have been renting- why on earth would they care what I wrote? Does this happen to other people too?

Love your Mommy?

starwilflowr — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:35:31 GMT

I am having a mother's day contest!!! For a chance to win a free original painting for your Mama- just go to www.maunaleastudios.blogspot.com and tell me why your mom is the best mom in the world in 10 words or less. (I'll be announcing the winner on May 5th) My stimulus package to kids who can't afford super cool gifts for mother's day this year ;) Contest is open to anyone so please feel free to pass the link onto your friends!

Too Funny

starwilflowr — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:11:50 GMT

So you know you are a bellydancer when... We have heard this all before but it gets really bad when your 5 yr old son is watching the coffee maker perculate, starts bopping his head in time to the brewing bubbles and says "Mommy, mommy! This sounds like Beladi mwoosik!!! Aw you gonna bellydance to it?" I nearly hit my head on the floor! Too too funny!

Vintage Belly Dancer

starwilflowr — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:50:27 GMT

This is my Mata Hari-esque dancer- the last one's sister! You can see some of my process in creating them on my blog: www.maunaleamanor.blogspot.com These were really fun paintings to create. I hope that one day I will be able to find some sort of niche creating more bellydancing art.

My latest Painting

starwilflowr — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:59:24 GMT

This is a mixed media collage painting inspired by Moria Chappell. There are a lot of 3 dimensional elements, beading, coins, peacock feature, jewelry, real butterfly wings (but rest assured no butterflies were harmed in the making of this artwork- it was already dead, found him in the garden)... and just a whole lotta stuff! I love this style of artwork and was so excited to find an excuse to really go to town (a mixed media mag did an artist call) ;) I'll let you know if they accept this submission.

Being hopeful

starwilflowr — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:49:25 GMT

I have been listening non stop to Beats Antique (not that this unusual) but just knowing that soon they will be in the state is exciting. I really hope I can go. I would love to take the workshops and meet all the girls who inspire me. www.shakti808.com can give you more insight into the event of which I am referring... Indigo & Beats Antique in Honolulu. It is tough living in such a secluded place where the dance scene is so limited. It seems like if you want to be a part of anything you have to start it up yourself. Then people come and go so much here. Islands are such transient places. I wish I could make a living just dancing and painting & writing about dancers... *sigh* But instead I need to paint a lot of Hawaiiana to survive. Which is fine and can be fun too, but if you were to just leave it up to me. I'd just paint my interviews of dancers & artists. Maybe one day those will catch on. Till, then... I am off to sketch some tikis for my next project...

Snake Hips- wanna read it with me?

starwilflowr — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:08:05 GMT

So I just got this book, Snake Hips by Anne Thomas Soffee and it is Hee-LAR-i-ous! There are 14 chapters so I thought if anyone wants to laugh along with me, I started a discussion on it in my Bellydance book group on Shalfari http://www.shelfari.com/groups/22517/about?ec=7D921216B033T2S18202 Chapter 1 It's gonna Be a Generation Xmas... or not: farewell to the Tiki Lounge This woman (author Anne Soffee) is quite the character. Candid, shameless, and witty. Her writing has me rolling on the floor, due to choice phrases like... "I... wondered how I came to get my heart broken by a man who could pass a double A battery through his earlobe." "Would that every form of performance art include a four-minute drum solo as interpreted by a beautiful woman's hips." "Wedding vows and covetous wishes are no contest for a belly dancer and a candelabra." I don't know if these are half as funny out of context but I think I woke my husband up several times laughing out loud as I was reading this book in bed.

Does anyone know a name for this move?

starwilflowr — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:33:34 GMT

The thing I love about bellydancing is that after 10 years you can still learn new moves. This is simply an inexhaustible and ever-changing artform that will never have an end... the other day I was watching a dvd (I am a BD dvd fanatic) and I learned a move that I think I have seen performed before but never quite realized what they were doing with their feet. You create a foot pattern starting in a ballet first position then scoot your toes inward so they are pointing at eachother, heels pointing outward... then you return the heels together so that toes are pointing outward... and you travel this way. Feet always in a 'V' (either with heels touching or toes). When perforning from side to side or in a circle it appears like you are nearly floating with the most subtle of "twinkling toes"... and you can keep your head very level while doing this. The foot pattern alone is very artistic but the resulting "floating flutter" seems very other-worldly. Does anyone know a name for this move? Or its origins?

Making the mags ;)

starwilflowr — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:49:14 GMT

...or at least one of my patrons did ;) The Lanning residence was featured in At Home Magazine- living with style in West Hawaii August 2008 issue (came out in yesterday's newspaper). I did the four panel above the bed & the the one of the guy getting a Tattoo above the tv & the mural you can *kinda* see above the bathtub shot. But her cat, Pikake is the one who really stole the show! You can see her in almost every other shot throughout the article! hehe- too cute! Check out my photos for the other pictures or check out "the latest news" on my website www.stephaniebolton.com

Lonely Charming Cottage looking for a dweller

starwilflowr — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:26:00 GMT

My beautiful little cottage needs someone to call it "home"! If you or anyone you know is searching for a place to live in the Kona area on the Big Island of Hawaii please pass on this information: 1 room studio cottage with high ceilings and skylight, loft, spacious bath, kitchenette, private lanais, BBQ with burners, earth for garden, pets allowed, at a peaceful, quiet, comfortable evelation, close to town but in the country, on a gated 5 acre estate. $875 a month for rent $200 utilities (water, electric, cable, internet, & trash service) If you think you know who my cottage is looking for please have them call Stephanie at 808-329-5765 available immediately

Custom Prints and Custom Framing Now Available

starwilflowr — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:40:07 GMT

At www.imagekind.com/Showartwork.aspx?IMID=0242ae82-6478-4c22-a0c5-63534b5f7976 You can customize the paper, size, matting, frame starting at just $25.47 Even large giclees on canvas- stretched or unstretched UV coating, you can see all of the options on the artwork you are considering & even change the wall color behind the painting to be certain it will work with your decor - the works! It is a wonderful service that lets you shop at your own convenience right at home and ships straight to your door.

Free Online Art Class

starwilflowr — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:30:00 GMT

"Seraphine's Studio" @ www.permit-to-sojourn.blogspot.com is a free online art class open to anyone interested in expanding or challenging their artistic expressions. It is a casual, non committal course that features two techniques every month and offers participants feedback, assignments, art history, and inspiration. Ideal for illuminating your journel, starting a creative correspondance with a friend, or just excercising your ability to express yourself visually, if you like scrapbooking or collage art- this is something you'll enjoy. New lessons are posted every 1st and15th of the month beginning Febuary 1st (but if you go to www.permit-to-sojourn.blogspot.com you will find the first lesson already posted) This class is open to any age or skill-level; all the information is simple and the environment is supportive. If you have friends who might want to try it, please pass on this message. This class is designed so that you can work at your own pace, drop in when you have the time,- I will be thrilled to see your work. If you would like feedback on your experiments, just email them to the address listed on the site and note whether or not you would like me to post them up for the class to review.

Prints and Giclees now available

starwilflowr — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:42:04 GMT

My website, www.stephaniebolton.com, is now Paypal enabled so you can order and purchase prints, giclees, and originals right online. I will ship worldwide. If you are interested in a custom original painting or gift certificate, you will still need to contact the artist... but the option to purchase online will still be available (contact me with any questions you have).]

darkened the hair

starwilflowr — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 08:40:53 GMT

ok- is that better?

latest coffee girls

starwilflowr — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 18:11:40 GMT

I would love any feedback... I think they are finished... but not sure if there isn't something else that would make them better. Input please!!!! thank

ArrBEE inspired

starwilflowr — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:20:07 GMT

does anyone know exactly what the indigo "art project" is supposed to be about? Is it intended as an exhibit of some sort?

couldn't resist!

starwilflowr — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:14:50 GMT

It says "I just barely survived Hurricane Flossy" ...or aka Hurricane Floozy as she has yet become known, since she was just a big tease!

flirting flirting

starwilflowr — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:08:23 GMT

The hot stare of admiring eyes- unsupressable blush heating your cheeks- unable to will the corners of your mouth to uncurl- that magnetic pull that sucks you closer and closer unable to resist... remember the feeling? 'Unexpected Discoveries'- the latest! My cousin Danny just got married to Zulay Dominguez this weekend. I painted this for them. It is a strange painting but the colors make me happy- I can feel the heat of the falling sun. I hope they like it.

Query letter blues

starwilflowr — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 04:50:38 GMT

So I haven't been publshed- does that mean I'm scum! I wrote a mysterious story- a correspondance between two strangers (an artist & photographer) so the book will weave text & image in the great tradition of William Blake. The artist is an innkeeper who lives on a coffee farm in Hawaii & has never left her island. The photographer is a fisherman who spends his days circling the globe. 67 postcards unfold the curious story of how these two unlikely characters attempt to unravel the reason behind the bizarre disappearance of a mutual friend... the bellydancer, Danae. Secrets surface and compound thru unexpected twists in this genre-defying tale of mysterious coinsidence. ...anybody wanna read it?

question for any of my herb-knowledgable buddies

starwilflowr — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:09:28 GMT

I have this random bizarre chronic cough- since January... but it isn't like a cold, I am not sick, per se... I am fine most of the time but at night when I lay down to go to bed... I can't sleep cuz I am hacking away nonstop- till I get up and make some tea, read, take drugs (legal ones). But UGH I miss getting to sleep at night. So when I cough there is no stuff being coughed up- there is a slight weeze at the top of my sternum- I feel like the problem is below my coughing mechanism, cuz I cough and cough but it seems useless to whatever is causing the tickle provoking said cough. So... during one of my late night sleepless sessions I tried researching some herbal remedies... ordered some Coltsfoot and Comfrey from an apothocary cuz those sounded powerful- got fennel in the backyard, Bay & Cinnamon in the pantry... Mom sent me some mushroom pills that don't seem very useful... Any suggestions?