This Just In.... Current Project Runway : Best Season since Season 1 !

Did I really skip the entire month of August?
Well,honestly,she said in a decidedly arch southern accent! I guess I should also add..."well, I declare".
and here's my declaration!
Project Runway is absolutely AMAZING this season!!! I must admit I was ever so nervous when P.R. had a repeat of season 1's 1st challenge(had the producers run out of original ideas?),but obviously there was absolutely no need to worry!
I must begin by extolling the virtues of the designers.
They are perhaps not as polished as last seasons crop.,but they are full of fresh ideas!
My favorite "Silent Fashion Assassin" has practically ran away with the show,as you can tell from the peeks at her final Bryant Park show.
Origami continues to be her true inspiration,and there has not been a SINGLE garment she produced that I did not love!
Speaking of inspiration. I must admit ,to being quite partial to Astrological images.Throw in Avante Garde and I'm a goner!
Leanne is probably the only designer that got this challenge COMPLETELY right. Definitely inspired by the scorpion and definitely Avante Garde.
This dress? Um...perfection !
Leanne ,will of course be one of the final 3 finalists.Based on the peeks,I think she should win.
The other 2 Finalists? ( I know its pretty obvious).

Kenly:
Though I agreed with the judges criticism,the garment had nothing to do with Aquarius,and was a bit Victor and Rolf.... I felt it was really the ONLY one ,besides Leanne's, that was truly avante garde.
I loved all of her looks leading up to and including her overdue win with this dress. There was something about her design style that struck a familiar note with me. So I google imaged a past favorite designer that I once loved and found the below dress.

Hmm similar print.Victor Costa is a Texas born designer ,who loved over the top silhouettes , Hollywood glamour and big bows,all distilled with a certain 80's aesthetic.
I remember once stating in a junior high "Slam book" that "his bows were my life".
A sample from Kenly's Bryant Park show.
A Victor Costa googled image.
Another sampling,of that final show.
A Victor Costa sample from my own closet!
Not her bestus P.R. work,but I loved the silhouette.
As you can tell from another sampling from my own closet! Hey maybe those Betty Page bangs weren't so bad after all!
...and I ADORE Kenly's personal style!!!!!!!!
Beautiful......
....and beautiful-est!!!!!!! In the end ,it will be between Korto and Leanne for the Project Runway Crown.
If a boy does sneak in to that final 3,Hello Kitty thinks it will be...
....Jarell un-seating the fabulous Kenly.
This skirt has to be one of my all time favorite Project Runway garments,too bad it was paired with that jacket.
You think I am kidding about Hello Kitty and haute couture? Japanese Vogue and...
...Diors John Gallianno ,seem to agree that H.K is indeed a fashion goddess. I think she(H.K) would also wear Jarell.
Hmmm...... I think I have been inspired.
...and what do you all think?

Oh ....A little Show Called Project Runway!

Since my FAV-OH-RITE television show premiered last Wednesday I felt the need to share my thoughts!
I'll be brief however,because Crooked Halo opens in....
"Seusical the Musical" on Thursday as Amazing Maisie!!....but hey, more on that later....
In the mean time,(though I feel many of the designers 1st efforts would have actually been quite at home as costumes in that Seussian vehicle,both in good AND bad ways), ....please explain to me how this dress was NOT in the top 3? Kenly's dress was QUITE amazing itself.
The producers went back to the absolutely fabulous "Grocery Store Challenge"of season 1,picking raw materials available from a grocery for a limited budget.
I felt Kenly used both innovative materials(lawn chairs and rubber bouncy balls) and good design.The origami type skirt looked as if Rodarte
had been inspired by Dr Seuss artwork (in a good way).Kenly is on my "top 5 fave designers thus far" list.
I felt Terri should have also been in the top 3. Unique materials(dang nab mop heads!) used in a unique way,and good chic design!
I do agree with the judges that Korto (what a cool name!)should have been in the top 3. Gorg design and a brilliant use of produce cut open to reveal a jewel like effect! Yeah,yeah everybody used tablecloths,but no one used them quite as beautifully as she did. Korto also made my top 5 fave list!
Leeanne created this confection. Over the top? You bet ! True to her personal design aesthetic? Yup! I LOVED the peeks at her design portfolio and she also channels her inner lotus blossom to create wearable ,but oh so girlie, origami. Based on her portfolio,her 1st design and her self dubbing as"the silent fashion assassin". She also makes my top 5 ,AND gets the dubious honor of my current personal fave!
I thought Jennifer's "Holly meets Dali" napkin dress was quite sweet,I am curious to see more!
Paper cocktail umbrellas as a design element? I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!
So Jerrell's dress was my guilty pleasure favorite! Another sassy Seussical look! His portfolio gave us no hint whatsoever that he would produce a look that even....
Hello Kitty would love!!! Honestly, I am not being negative here,I kinda loved it!It had great proportions and wonderful whimsy! I can't wait to see what he will produce next! If the producers give us another wedding dress challenge....
...perhaps we can expect something like this random googled image of an HK wedding gown!Admit it... you know you think that gown is cute!
To round out my top five fave. I gotta give it up to Daniel. Not only did I adore that card dress from his portfolio,but he most definitely gave an interesting and innovative offering to the runway(plus ,I like the way he dresses!)!
As my dear Austin Scarlet said,yep..."hideous!"....but again I am oh so curious as to what this rather bizarre lad will produce next!
Who rounds out my top 5....okay,so I really thought this dress was a miss,certainly a surprise win in my eyes!.....but I loved the peek at her portfolio and actually thought I might be sweating out her survival in the bottom 3. The skirt was adorable and of course the use of spirals as hook and eye ,amazing(and yet another possible Seussical look)!Based solely on her portfolio peek,she rounds out my personal top 5.
What I found interesting was that the designers seemed positively gob smacked by the challenge. Had they truly NOT performed the grocery store challenge hundreds of times in their own minds while on their own shopping junkets?
What would you pick dear readers?....and who is your current fave?
I have thought of what I might use in this particular challenge many times,and I always go back to Yellow rubber gloves as my basic and oh so simple tube dress fabric,beaded with....
JELLY BELLIES!!!!!!!!

An Old School Thriftventure,Don Juans Romantic Mexican Food...and a bit of an update!

Lets kick it old school style with a Thriftventure!Its been a bit hectic around the Pagoda (have you noticed my EXTREME lack of posting?),so it was quite surprising ,wonderful and relaxing to find myself alone with time on my hands to go thrifting...ALONE!I began my journey after dropping off the wee petal to stay the night at Grandmas house.I bee-lined it to my ALLTIME favo-rite thrift store T-Towne.As usual it did not dissapoint !Embroidered linens ,each 69 cents and less!A clever Easter bunny for 1.49,and these 2 gorgeous figurines for 2.98 each!!! They will be thank you prezzies for my mommy! She loves these pretty pastel things!
When I finished at the thriftstores ,I found it was 5:30,rush hour! I decided to take a detour back home and stay off the highway for a bit.I cut through a town called Grand Prairie,I had not been to this town in quite a while.I headed through the main street(oddly called Main Street) on my way back to Dallas.
I knew the way quite well because in my college days I loved poking around this kitschy area . This was also "historic" downtown Grand Prairie. I use quotation marks because when I think of historic ,I think of charming architecture that once housed diners and 5and dimes.Well this town was once a giant prairie and nary a landmark still exists.....but........what still stands is Don Juans Romantic Mexican Food
Open in 1966,here the original sign still hangs!
You walk in and are immediately charmed by the original decor.
...and your sense of smell is immediately assaulted as the scent of boiling taco meat almost knocks you over!
In my college days muy philosophizing was spent in this dining room....but only if I did not have rehearsal in the evening,because I ABSOLUTELY refused to smell of burritos!
A classic JDP moment of horror occurred when ,after feasting on burritos,my girlfreind and I decided to shop in one of the fun little whole in the wall establishments surrounding Don Juan's. I walked in and the shop lady rather loudly sniffed the air and declared...(read with broad Texas accent)"You smell like a big fat juicy hamburger,makes me hungry".I still shudder at the thought of the very idea of the smell wafting off of me igniting someones appetite.
I am actually not a burrito fan,but Don Juan's burritos are absolute nirvana,and be warned one is more than enough!As I was sitting and indulging and getting good and smelly in that nostalgic dining room,I noticed a new thrift store,right across the street!Oh ,and this one looked good and junky!!!!!!!
My haul from said junky thrift store! It was all Asian themed! Cherry blossom-ish paint by number mini painting ,for 95 cents.Gorgeous kimono girl for 2.95,jewelry box for 1.95,2 kochina dolls for 95 each,and........
...this amazing vintage paper lantern for 95 cents!I always get into strange thrift price patterns(this time everything ended with 95...) anyone else find that happens to them?
...but what shall I do with all these Asian themed goodies?
In a new house I might have a special room all to myself to let rip with whatever whimsy and theme I had a passing fancy for.
For the present time there is no new house.3 amazing offers on our house and all 3 fell through for random reasons having nothing to do with our house.Crazy times.So ,what does the future hold?
There is a painting that hangs on our bedroom wall. It is from Thailand and very old (perhaps 100 years,the story goes it was already quite old when it was framed in the fifties). It depicts a male and female character(please click to enlarge). You will note the male has a most determined look to his handsome square jaw(hey!!!my hubs is handsome with a square jaw!)He is holding on tight to his woman and marching forward into an unknown space. The woman (who obviously has had 2 kids that she breast fed,poor dear, has to hold her own bosoms up)in turn will not let go of her beautiful home.
Is it time for me to let go?
My mind travels back in time to a couple of Christmases before I was married.My husband,then my boyfriend gave me this framed Ty Wilson print.I think it is safe to admit here almost seventeen years later,at that time in our lives ,I wanted more from the relationship than he did. There was something in this print that struck a cord with me.Beyond the obvious physical resemblance we both shared with the 2 drawn figures(he,square jaw/me,massive curls),it was their actions that intrigued me.Do you see how her affection is completely present and "in his face" shall we say?Well yeah,that was definitely me.
...but look whats behind his back.Dozens of beautiful roses . It was as though he had a secret that even he did not yet know ,about the magic he was going to bring into my life!
Does the art work we choose for our home subliminally give ourselves away?
You haven't seen me around lately because I haven't been myself. I like to blog when I am joyous and creating. Lately that has not been me.I do not know whether we will move or stay put. That uncertainty has most definitely been the most present factor in my life,and yet there is so much more magic to come for my little family,that I cannot yet see!With this hopeful thought I will try to be more present at least in Bloglandia!

The Swashbuckler Soiree

Ahoy to all my long lost Blogpanions! Did you think I would not set sail with ye?
Donna of The Ribboned Crown Is hosting a grand party today ,and I simply could not resist joining in.
Have I been out of the bloggy loop lately?
Have I been slaving and organizing my house for sale ?
Did my fabulous house create a bidding war over its beautiful self?
Is there an inspector inspecting it as we speak?
You bet your sweet Pirates Booty ,the answer is yes to all questions!
Thus I decided a game of Fantasy Google Image Fashion Stylist was needed!

To attend a soiree one needs the perfect dress!I'm sure the Texas Fashion Collection,won't mind if borrow This Balenciaga gown from 1966.
For added Pirate Punk Punch how about this necklace from Zarobi Designs ?
I couldn't decide between these 2 wonderfully intricate bags from The Victorian Trading Company.
...but the Moulin Rouge hose (also from The Victorian Trading Company were an easy pick.
...and a Pirate Queen MUST have a pair of swashbuckling boots!This pair designed by Heatherette were the perfect choice from Irregular Choice.
I will need a sword,oh wait.....that could be messy. What if I get into a scuffle and get blood all over my borrowed Balenciaga?
This poison ring from Solange Azugury Partridgewill be much neater and MUCH more subtle.
Here I am ready to give all for my Pirate Prince!
Poor wandering one. I saved him.
He thinks I only have eyes for him(ack!!! there I am again with theBettie Page bangs!). Fooled poor Fredrik again.
...but who could resist Kevin Kline as the Pirate King.