Monday, June 11, 2012

neon weekend

Howdy buddies,

It’s seems I’ve lost my blogging mojo lately. I still love to play dress up, but the words just aren’t coming to me so easily these days. I’m feeling a little uninspired these last few weeks, as is to be expected after indulging in far too much television and social media (ie: all the many lovely fashion blogs that are far too easy to get sucked into), spending money unnecessarily, and generally not being as creative or risk-tasking as I’d like, perhaps out of fear of "having an artistic temperament but not being an artist." (quote from season finale of Mad Men that really hit a nerve: Marie, Megan's mom, to Don about Megan.) I suppose there’s no better shade than neon to help shake temporary feelings of dissatisfaction and boredom, and I’ve been wearing it all weekend.

When I find myself in a boiling pot of stagnation stew, I turn to the words of those I admire for inspiration, in this case my two favorite modern dancers: Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham:

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others" -Martha Graham

The only way to do it is to do it.” - Merce Cunningham

Dearest readers, how do you stay motivated and creative?

Outfit # 1: casual wear for holding my best friend’s baby for several glorious hours. I love holding babies and can do it for an inordinate amount of time without complaining. Neon 90s denim shorts (thrifted), vintage softest ragged western shirt (hand me down), red floral bandeau top (thrifted).

Outfit # 2: my best neon senorita look worn to sell vintage clothes at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Vintage neon dress with puff embroidered sleeves and vintage cowboy hat (LB antique market), vintage cowboy boots (thrifted),

xoxo,

Crystal Lee

13 comments:

  1. I like the quote from Merce :) I find it hard to keep motivated sometimes too, but I find the best way is to have a little break then read some of the blogs I love most, and I always leap straight back in feeling inspired again :)

    Penny Dreadful Vintage

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  2. You look darling as ever, people like you quench my creativity. The Graham quote is wonderful, I do feel like Megan's mum is talking about me though. I work in a dull office and feel like I should be somewhere more exciting, even though I have no talent or expertise hah xxx

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    1. Thanks, Hannah! You are a glamorous gal and totally deserving of a glamorous job.

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  3. I LOVE the dress in the second outfit... it's so wonderfully crazy!

    I have trouble with creative stagnation, too (who doesn't?). When it happens, it usually helps to forcibly shake things up a bit. I'll try something new and scary to me, start a project in a medium I've never used, or just choose an outfit that's not my usual style and see how it feels to go about my usual business in costume.

    I love the modern dancer quotes! Do you do modern dance? I'm trying to get back into it after a few years!

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    1. Hi! I love to dance, but I don't have any formal training. I would love to take modern dance classes, but it seems there aren't too many classes available, especially in the evening during the work week. I have a modern dance workout that I really enjoy, in the meantime. Do you do modern dance?

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  4. Oh dear - this happens to me too (can you tell - those times I post tonnes of photos and no words?) I don't really have any way of getting out of it! In my work (research and writing) I spend those days, when I lack creativity, getting through the slog work - the stuff that needs to be done but doesn't require any imagination. I have also found that if I sit down in front of a blank page and tell myself to just try - try write anything for 30 mins, it can sometimes work out too.

    Hope inspiration and motivation come back soon!

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    1. Sound advice, girly. I'm going to start writing in my journal again.

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  5. love your neon green outfits! I just found the sweetest neon green dress and left it behind ... now I wish I had bought it!

    xxx
    www.ladyalamode.com

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    1. You'll find another one if you think hard on it. At least that's what usually happens with me. Thank you for the compliment.

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  6. Gee you look splendid! I adore your neon senorita dress!!

    There's definitely something going around... my own blogging spark has been dwindling these past few months. Taking outfit snaps and writing words is starting to seem like a chore, plus in these summer days I've been looking like Ellie Mae Clampett's slightly disheveled cousin. I sure hope we all recover our creative impulses soon!! That Martha Graham quote is especially inspiring...

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  7. God, you look amazing in the second dress. I have neglected 60s and 70s looks for so long but that photo is serious inspiration!

    I feel you on the blogging rut. Lately I feel like my life has mostly entailed sleeping for 12 hours a night and watching The Simpsons and reading other people's blogs and wishing mine was better but not actually making it better. Sigh.

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