Dear Diary... is it the holidays yet?

It wouldn't surprise me if the last month of so has been the busiest 6 weeks of my life. Everything has been a blur of painting, sewing, working on assignments, making up fashion boards and everything else in between. I was horrified when I started to get sick however my immune system must have been feeling super duper. In no time I was fighting fit again. Take that seasonal germs!

To motivate myself and keep me going I have stuck an 'Epic To Do List' on my wall and I take great satisfaction in striking all those various tasks off.

On Sunday I did a pin-up photoshoot! I haven't done one of those in a long time. It was such good fun. I got to pose with the most awesome hot rod, so awesome that it is hard to believe a 17 year old built it. Nice taste dude! Dale the photographer even gave me a home baked white chocolate and macadamia cookie when the shoot was over. I washed down with an iced cold solo. Oh yes, that is my kind of shoot. I'm looking forward to sharing the shots with you all.

Then I had to come home and work on assignments again. Aww. It's all been a bit stressful and with nothing immediate to be done I decided to chill out last night and see a movie. I ended up going with Matt to see Salt because he had already seen Inception. Is there anyone who hasn't yet seen it? I need someone to go with! Salt was none the less a good actioned packed all around entertaining movie. I must say I was rather mesmerised by Angelina Jolie's lips more than anything though!

At any rate I'm looking forward to finishing all my work and getting into the holidays. I'm going to have some fun and do a few photoshoots. I haven't done enough this year. My new and very different life as a student can be blamed for that. I'll also have some more time to myself to engage in more creativity. Making myself some clothes and accesories perhaps? Or even get a little work experience under my belt. The possibilities are endless.

But for now ... back to work.

Life as a Tattooed Lady

It's a rare day when my tattoos aren't noted, be it from a stranger, a family member or a friend. Usually on those days I'm all covered up. I find that I am forever being stopped in the street to be complimented, questioned and sometimes even tutted at by strangers in regard to my body art.

"Did that hurt?!" is by far the single comment I'm asked the most. Of course it bloody hurt! It was created by numerous needle penetrating my dermis at 3000 repetitions per minute. But the reality of tattoo pain all depends on where you body is being tattooed, your pain threshold and how well you distract yourself. Eating a square meal is important as well. If you're in the right frame of mind the pain is tolerable and sometimes non existent.

The second most frequent question I get is "Do Your Tattoos Mean anything?" It's also the most annoying. Many folks seem to think a tattoo must have some kind of earth shaking deep and meaningful symbolism in order to get it and that you're happy to divulge this meaning to any Joe Blow passer by that happens to ask. After three years of taking time to explain, I'm over it. They may have a meaning but they're mostly there because I like them aesthetically. I am a lowbrow artist after all so I don't believe all art has to be deep and heavy. Tattoo's aren't exactly high brow.

Thankfully it's rare to have someone lecture me or talk to me in a dissapproving way when they see my ink. The best compliments I've been delighted to receive are from mature ladies and gentlemen who say they don't usually like tattoos but think that mine are exceptionally beautiful! A comment like that can make my whole day.

I love my tattoos so much. Without them I wouldn't be me. I don't feel naked when I'm naked but I'd certainly feel naked without my permanent artwork. Each design has been thought out at length, designed and drawn by myself or my artist whom I highly respect.

I can't wait for the day when I have a day job where I don't have to cover them up. But I get my own back. On the odd occasion a customer spots a birdie's head peeking out from under my collar and they then make me show them the whole bird. They love it and think it's cute. Pure gold!

Greazefest Kustom Kulture Festival 2010. Sunday Hot Rod Show.

... continued from Greazefest Kustom Kulture Festival 2010. The Night Gigs!

Sunday morning the 1st of august, the day of the Greazefest Hot Rod Show! I had stayed up until 3am altering the size 14 top I purchased to fit me. Yeah I know, I should have done it earlier (and no they didn't have me size!). However I had been preoccupied working on my painting! My alarm was set to go off at 5am but I might as well have not bothered because I slept right through it. After I feebly managed to drag myself out of bed at 6am, I begun to get ready, put on my clothes, did my hair and makeup and loaded the odds & sods in the car.

You may be wondering why I was so eager to be there so early. The first reason is so we could score good spot for the car. The second reason was to make sure I could enter my painting in before the hanging space ran out. Paramount if you have a huge canvas like mine! After all that is sorted one can mosey at all the cars, art and stalls before the place becomes indundated with punters.


If only I could wake up to this every day.

Relieved now that my artwork was hung on the wall, I couldn't help but be proud as punch. All the weeks of organising and hard work built up to this moment and it was a good feeling to have reached the finish line. My artwork is of the beautiful India Rose with Luke's gorgeous XL Falcon in a mysterious, moody setting. Good company was nearbt with my art next to Mimsy's tattooed lady painting. So many incredible artworks were present in the tent this year. I was blown away by all the local talent.


'Incursion'. Acrylics on Canvas. Photo taken by the lovely Pete Walker.

Bella also entered her own little artwork in the show. Hilariously enough, our own mugs were also part of the art show in the form of photographer Pete Walker's canvas prints.



The day became a joyous blur of good times, good cars and good friends. Jane and I indulged in cupcakes. She had red velvet cupcake and I enjoyed lemon meringue cupcake. Sussing out the stalls was then in order. I ended up with a 60's rayon/silk slub weave dress in a periwinkle blue. For lunch it was picnicing with friends on a blanket in the grass, all whilst watching the live entertainment onstage. I made of special spoint of seeing The ReChords, The Ten Fours and The Sugar Shakers. So many people came to join us that we had to retrieve a second blanket from the car.



Beanie and Josh were evening braving the sun for a few dances. I didn't have any energy. I was all danced out from the two previous nights.



After the middlle of the afternoon when the trophys were announced, the day started winding down on the oval. Cars began leaving the previously chock-a-block oval. With room to move we parked all the cars together, just hung out and goofed off.


Somehow every Greazefest someone ends up riding on top of a moving car


Bundy atop his XM Falcon that he's had since he was 15. It's been hit, written off, patched up and he still loves it. Pure gold!



Busting a pose with the gorgeous Bianca




The beautiful Polly!


Kool with a K! Mez's beasty EK Custom

By the end of the day I was exhausted so I reverted my white heels to some comfy ballet flats. As the afternoon grew cold and dark, the group of us sauntered up to where the bands were playing in the pavillion. A lot of people were still partying but most of us were pooped! We just sort of sat around, relaxed and enjoyed the good music and company.


An adorable moment I just had to capture!

And just like that another Greazefest was over for the year.

I slept in until noon the next day!

Greazefest Kustom Kulture Festival 2010. The Night Gigs!

So as my last post entailed, Brisbane's own annual Greazefest took place last weekend. I think I've only just recovered. Too little sleep and lots of party party makes Drea a bit of a zombie for the rest of the week. Anyhow I'll just go over the night gigs in this entry otherwise I'll probably make blogger.com's head asplode trying to cram so much in.

I'll start off with WHAT A HOOT! My initial uncertain feelings about the festival changing to a new venue were quickly quashed once I realised how much nicer it was to have sufficient space to move around. Also, because the night gigs were now in an outdoor covered area I didn't sweat all my make-up off. That's always a plus.

On Friday I was furiously painting for the art show on Sunday. No surprises there. So on both nights I didn't allow myself time to do anything decent with my hair. I'd throw my brushes down and got ready in a whirlwind.


Myself, Kurt and Kirsten a.k.a Beanie



Matt with Bella in her gorgeous Holly Golightly inspired outfit.


With the gorgeous Bianca! And er ... Chucky.

The Line up for Friday night was:

• The Flattrackers


• Doug Wilshire & The Tailspinners


• Bertie Page performing burlesque


• The Detonators


• The Go Go Haunters

The Detonators, from afar.

At the beginning of the night I was too busy socialising and didn't see a whole lot of the first two bands. However the snippets that I saw of Flattrackers and Doug Wilshire were as good as they always are. Bertie Page did a striptease in a giant milkshake a la Dita Von Teese. The Detonators were amazing! I wish they came to Brisbane more often. Last on for the night was the Go Go Haunters. Their post punk/ garage/ horror sound was in stark contrast to all the other bands of the night, a good thing considering the psychobilly band presence last Greazefest was sorely missed due to the Sinner's Ball being axed. The punks and rockers were out in force busting their moves in front of the stage. By that stage of the night I was too pooped to dance, so I contented myself to standing behind the dance floor and watching.


Meanwhile the cheesy 'shirts and skirts' rock and rollers seemed rather daunted by all the noise and were making to leave. I couldn't help but smirk into my cardigan. Good riddance! I must tell you all about the great divide concerning kustom kulture, rockabilly and 'the rock and rollers' but I shall leave that story for another day.


The gents


The Line up for Friday night was:

• The ReChords


• Big Kitty & The Scaredy Cats


• La Viola Vixen performing burlesque


• Benny &
  The Fly-by-Niters


• Deke Dickerson
  & The Ecco-Fonics


• Pat Capocci Combo

I went to bed at 2am on Friday night and woke up 7am Saturday morning to work on my painting. I was painting really furiously by this stage in order to finish it. At 7.30pm that night I finally threw the paint brushes down one last time and started getting ready for the gig. No time for the hot rollers I wanted to use. Oh well. By the time we rocked up at Rocklea we had already missed the ReChords and La Viola Vixen. Daaaarnit. However I was happy to be there to enjoy the rest of the gig. I really really dug Benny and the Fly-by-Niters. The saxophone is truly a sexy instrument and more bands should have one!


Myself, Lawrie and Laura


Yeeeaaah!

Deke Dickerson put on an extremely entertaining show, but I must admit the dancing by his drummer 'Sugarballs' was the highlight of the night. He then stole the show with his own song ... about balls. Pat Capocci Combo rounded the night up. I always enjoy seeing Pat play. He is a truly talented musician and singer. That boy is going to go far.


Pat Capocci, once again from a fair way off. I didn't fancy pushing in front of all those people.


Rhea and Aleisha busting out some moves on the dance floor.


The beautiful Beanie, hot and sweaty from dancing. Three of us fanned her cool.

Stay tuned for my review of Sunday's Hot Rod Show. xo