Photography from Downtown Los Angeles

Tonight I went walking around downtown Los Angeles by where I live. It is Super Bowl sunday so I knew it would be a great opportunity to take along my camera since the streets would be deserted. I have been trying to work on a photography book, theme to be unveiled at the end of this year - my end goal date. Check out some of my shots from today....

Inspiration and Process for My New Branding for JenniferOgren.com

I have been contemplating changing my branding and I was recently inspired while I spent two weeks in Paris, France. I was in the Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt, the antique market. Among the gorgeous furniture pieces, vintage cameo jewelry, art deco silver dishes, and toys from yesteryear, I came across some amazing original letterpress letters in a little shop called Tombees Du Camion (http://tombeesducamion.com/), meaning "Goods Fallen Off the Back of a Truck". I spent about an hour picking out my favorites for each letter of my very long name. I just starting photographing them and will be updating my website and business cards soon. Here are some photos of my antique-market-escapade:

New look for www.JenniferOgren.com is coming soon!

Black Swan Costume for Halloween by Red Ostrich on Etsy

I thought I would share my Halloween costume this year and also how I made it in case anyone needs tips for next year! I wanted to continue my feather obsession and decided to be Black Swan, the goth ballerina from the Natalie Portman film. I was also inspired by the MOCA show of the real costumes earlier this year ( http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/?cat=79 ). I used items that I already had except for one $15 short tutu that I used to make my petticoat stick further out. I started with the following items:

1. a corset I had in the back of my closet (I turned mine inside out so it would be more black). 

2. two feather pads or lots of black feathers 

3. feather boas - one or two black ones - they can be old or falling apart - mine were and it adds to the distressed character.

4. black petticoat or black tutu or both.  

5. safety pins

6. needle and thread

7. tiara

8. some type of black necklace or brooches or jewels 

9. jewels for the corset

10. tights and ballet shoes or black heels and satin ribbons to use instead

11. black and white eye makeup (both eyeliners and shadow work best)

12. birdcage french veil netting or tulle and two bobby pins

I used the needle and thread to sew jewels on one side and the feather pads on the other side of the corset chest area. Then I took the feather boas and safety pinned them onto one side of the petticoat. I pinned them from the underside so the pins didn't show. I then made up my eyes like the character, after getting ideas by watching several youtube tutorials. I found that patting black and white eyeshadows over white and black penciled lines, helped the makeup stay all night. I used the MAC angled eyeshadow brush to achieve sharp lines. 

Then I used two overlapping bobby pins to adhere the french veil birdcage netting over my face, right above the center of my forehead. Then I placed on my goth tiara. I used an old tiara I had that was silver with a few fake diamonds but then I took an everyday necklace that was black and used wire to wind it around the tiara so it would have height and the black goth-y look. If you don't already have one, you can probably find something cheap at either H & M or Forever 21. You can also pin brooches on your tiara or use them instead of sewing on jewels on the front of the corset.

I got some great reactions at the parties I attended, all for a costume that cost me under $15. I ended up wearing it three different nights that week! :o)

My recycled packaging for my etsy shop!

When I package items in my etsy shop RedOstrich.Etsy.Com, I  also use all recycled packaging so I can help minimize my mark on the environment. I ship items with ample padding and care to be sure that they do not arrived ruffled but I use recycled boxes, labels and packaging supplies. I get most of my my aunt's optometry office. The boxes for glasses and contacts are the perfect size!

This is my packing station where I have my labels and reusable boxes. 

Sometimes they topple but it just adds to the fun~

This is my desk where I have pictures to inspire my creations. The original painting in the purple frame is an artist in Siena, Italy - named Daniela Pedretti. She was selling her wonderful original works and I bought one when while visiting there with my Dad.

For my tags, I print on sample papers that I had for past graphic design 
projects, so I am not cutting down extra trees. 

The ribbons I use to fasten my tags are all scraps and also pieces that I found in my Mom's crafts that she never got to use.

The label stickers I use to cover old logos on boxes are from my husband's job at the pharmacy - they are the ones that may ruffle an edge or the ones at the end of the roll that don't fit into the pharmacy labeling machines.

After packaging, I put the packages in one of my reusable enviro bags and I walk (to save gas and pollution) to the Downtown Los Angeles post office. Here are some of the things I see on my 20 minute walk from the Arts District to the post office. 

the back of MOCA museum and the subway...

my shadow...

downtown's version of st. mark's square in venice, italy.

broken glass that sparkles like diamonds in the early morning sun... I have taken pieces home to use for a later art piece.

birds in a row....

Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles.

My post office - a cool art deco building....

Then I walk back to my studio and go drink more coffee! Thank you for visiting my blog! :o)