Tuesday, December 11, 2012

FOR ERMENGARDE, WHEREVER YOU MAY FIND HER.

i got the most incredible letter today from a girl whom i met while she was shopping in my store. let's call her ermengarde for storytelling purposes. (after a character in my favourite childhood novel. i was always like: wow. cool name.) ermengarde was at a crossroads when we first spoke: feeling like she needed to persue something creative, but also feeling the pressure to succeed financially. these two things aren't always mutually exclusive. (pretty sure angelina jolie isn't ripping through the 'seen-better-days bargain basket' at the co-op looking for the loaf of bread with the most easily removable mold.) unfortunately, the term "starving artist" exists for a reason. there are no pensions. there are no "benefits" if you get sick. job security is as tangible as a pet unicorn, and you're often asked to work for free. (think of the EXPOSURE!) in fact, most of the artists i know have a joe-job to cover their bills.

joe-job (noun): the thing you get paid minimum wage to do so that you can afford your career as an artist. ie. server, salesperson, pretending to be a criminal at the justice institute while police in training interview you. (yes, that's a job, and yes, you do have to sign a waiver stating that if your acting is so great that you force an officer to physically restrain you and you get hurt, you will not sue.)

MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF ERMENGARDE: a paragraph

this girl is beautiful. if you were standing behind her in a bookstore line you'd be irritated because she's too pretty to be reading books and being all smart. that's not fair to the rest of us. it crossed my mind that i should probably trip her because life is going to be too easy for her and someone needs to teach her that life is hard. like a floor. after books fall on you. but then when she speaks she's gracious and funny. she laughs at herself. she's totally vulnerable when she talks about her dreams, and vulnerability in anyone is so LOVABLE because it makes us feel less afraid to open our own hearts a little. i remember thinking after she left: wow. that girl will succeed no matter what she does. i actually thought that! when does that happen?? and then i got this letter.

LETTER FROM ERMENGARDE.

she starts by thanking me. she says i am inspiring and that my last blog post really moved her. my first thought: HOLY SHITBALLS! SOMEONE WHO ISN'T MY BEST FRIEND IS ACTUALLY READING MY BLOG!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! my second thought: ooooh shitballs. am i being honest in my blogs? i'm a shit-show. did i clarify that somewhere?? dear reader: these are my thoughts. i want to share them with you but be forewarned - i'm a total flake. if you want to be inspired you should find a different blog from someone who actually knows stuff. i can't remember putting that in my last blog. i have a mild panic attack and then continue reading.

ermengarde goes on to say that she feels lost. she's got the 9 to 5 job and the boyfriend. she bakes. her home is so clean it sparkles and she's hosting this year's christmas party. somehow her life turned into a cookie cutter existence and she's lost her spirit. she wants advice. she wants to know if i really believe in jumping into something without having any idea where you'll end up or what the consequences might be. she asks me what steps she should take. she thinks i'm qualified to answer these questions because i've somehow opened a business that's artsy. jesus.

THINGS I'M THINKING OF IN RESPONSE.

yes. i REALLY BELIEVE in following your heart. i always do what my heart tells me to do even when my brain is violently opposed. it's never been the wrong thing for me. but i'm not a success story. i've got no business giving advice to anyone. 

on my first day of theatre school my orientation began with this statement: "if any of you in this room can think of ANYTHING you could do with your life that would make you happy OTHER than the performing arts, please (pause.) please (longer pause. exhale.) go and do that. there is not one thing about this path that will ever be easy."

she wasn't wrong. i spent years after theatre school chasing my dream. i've auditioned for countless HORRIBLE commercials, prepared a million monologues for generals, been kicked out of a t.v. and film audition after only having delivered one line. that was the WORST "okay, thank-you" i've ever received. i've been asked how quickly i can drop ten pounds. on one callback (3rd. i had stars in my eyes.) the casting director came into the room where i was sitting with one other woman  and exclaimed,

"HI!!!! just so you know, this is pretty much a formality. the director really wants you. we're just going through the motions."

she wasn't talking to me. that was such a blow. i'd spent days working on my sides. i was OVER THE MOON that i'd gotten a callback. i'd paid for a private coaching and had my make-up professionally done that morning to make sure i looked pretty on camera. that's so embarrassing to me now....... that i wanted something so badly. the worst part: i had called my dad and he had sounded proud of me. i sat on my kitchen floor when i got home and sobbed. i slapped myself in the face over and over and over again because i needed to feel ANYTHING other than absolute failure. i said out loud: why are you so USELESS!!?? (slap.) YOU'RE USELESS!!! (slap) i said it so many times i believed it. on bad days i still hear those words in my head. i didn't shower for a week.

when i was in university people would often ask what i was taking. i'd say theatre arts and they'd say: well what are you going to be? i'd say: an actor. they'd say: but what will you do for work? i'd say: act. they'd say: better stay in school. ha ha ha. i'd think: go fuck yourself. ha ha ha.

during those years i'd often talk in my sleep. i'd try to serve my boyfriend drinks in bed. he'd nudge me gently and say: take a break kaela. it's break-time. no one needs drinks. apparently that would stop the talking. i'm a very good server. i can actually do it in my sleep.

don't get me wrong. magic happened for me in these years too. i've been in commercials and films, i've written and produced my own one woman show, i've gotten incredible theatre parts. a standing ovation in a theatre is indescribable. the lights are in your eyes so you can't see faces, just outlines of bodies. and they just keep clapping. those are moments i will have for the entirety of my life. i've earned them and no one can ever take them away.

HOW CAN I WRAP THIS UP?

the store...... oh man! I LOVE MY STORE!! it's not making millions, but it's paying the bills. the key to its success? artists!! it's so strange. i think artists are like sharks sometimes and we can smell blood in the water. i'll post a quote at the end of this that will make that line make sense. artists bring me insane clothes to sell. artists come to my shop before they go anywhere else because they are trying to support me. i often use dancers and photographers and musicians in my events. i can't even express what artists have done for me with almost no monetary reward. even my employees; they're artists and they deliver AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. artists take care of their own.

FOR ERMENGARDE.

sometimes the grass is greener on your side. there is no stability over here. i think i'm incapable of tying myself down. i have so many friends with beautiful homes, and routines, and kids that they throw birthday parties for. i watch it all from outside and sometimes i am wracked with sorrow. if only my house sparkled!! my advice for you is cliche. i'm sorry. BE YOU. that's all i've got. you've got success written all over you. like for real. and every time you put yourself out there as an artist, the arts community will do its best to hold you up. 

this is who i am: i'm brave. i follow my heart. i am ridiculous. i am a terrible example always. i can handle a little failure but i'm really fucking dramatic about it. this store that looks successful? it's temporary. i'll blink my eyes one day and just disappear.





Tuesday, December 4, 2012


"The trouble is, you think you have time." ~ Buddha

i'm a sucker for quotes. there isn't a scrap of paper in my home that hasn't been graffiti'd (verb creation. love it.) with some type of inspirational nonsense. i've got agatha christie on cereal boxes, nietzsche on envelopes, and oscar wilde on my arm. (not tattooed. god forbid i get stuck with one mantra. i'm a shape-shifter.) i've even painted a couple of the walls in my house with that chalk paint so that my favourite quotes can be plastered in my room until i tire of them. i confess.... sometimes i take a picture of the things i write on my wall and put it on my facebook page.  (gasp! the nerve!)
   

i'm proud to report: i've succeeded in brainwashing myself with all of this carpe diem crap. it's fantastic! i'm impulsive by nature and my walls seem to agree with all of my decisions!

"be free. be brave. do epic shit. collect moments/ not things. live in the sunshine./ swim in the sea./ drink the wild air."

kinda barfy, i know, but i believe in these ideas. i even have a quote to support my actions in relation to this belief!(obviously.)

"to believe in something and not to live it, is dishonest." well thank you mahatma gandhi. i couldn't have said it better myself!

those of you who know me, know that i took these philosophies to heart this summer when i chose to run away from the store like a shoplifter on crystal meth. (i've experienced that first hand. she was really fast.) now, i happen to have an incredible sidekick named arden who is EXACTLY LIKE ME!! if you've met arden you know this to be true. she's actually slightly more responsible than i am, so throwing the store in her lap seemed like a pretty wise decision. my mother is convinced that i've lost my mind. that's kind of true. ("if you've never lost your mind, then you've never followed your heart."-unknown.) i discovered two things:

1. arden is my angel/fairy godmother/unicorn.
2. the cheezy quotes are right. following my heart is absolutely the right thing for me, even if it means sacrificing the traditional idea of "success." even if some of the experiences i stumble upon make my heart hurt.

don't get me wrong, i LOVE my store. i LOVE the pretty clothes, the art projects, the people, the frenetic energy, and the fact that i'm contributing to the reduce/re-use/recycle movement. (grade six kaela would be proud.) but there is a quiet centre of myself that loves being out alone in the world. i love watching a day unfold without the aural clutter of civilization. i live in two very different realities and i'm comfortable in both. but which makes me happier? i don't know. or if i do, i'm not sure that it's an answer i'm comfortable with just yet. 

i guess i just want to say thank-you! thank-you for supporting this little store of mine whether i'm physically in it or not. this shop was once one of my dreams. i copied out inspirational quotes furiously while i was trying to open it. running away from everything: another fantasy of mine! the point of this blog? to share my experience with you: it's worth it. taking risks, doing ridiculous things, following your heart even when you're terrified of losing everything........it's worth it. even when you fail. (which i have. many times.) no one can take away courage. no one can ever tell me that i'm not brave. the quotes are little tidbits of truth.


"You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop."   ~ RUMI

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

a wee poem...

my dear friend eric and i put this piece together the last time he was in town. it's not perfect, but i'm proud of it and i want to share it. thank you for taking the time to check it out!!

http://youtu.be/hD8yyGz83is

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: REMEMBER TO WRITE BLOGS

well it appears it's been over a year since my last entry. typical. i obsess over things and then i let them slip through my fingers. i like watching things fall away from me as much as i like clutching them tightly to my chest. two sides: one coin. with the former, i feel lighter; less tied down. the latter gives me a second of stability. who i am depends on the day.
it's been an incredible year for frock. this little business just keeps on truckin' and it's ONE HUNDRED PERCENT because of the sweet souls that float through the door day after day. and the lovely girls who work for me. it's recently come to my attention that i never introduced arden on my webpage. (mon dieu!)
arden is a tall lanky creature with a fetish for TIGHTS AND BOOTS! she's got legs up to her armpits so this look seriously works for her. it's kind of irritating for those of us who hover closer to the ground. she yells as much as i do, which delights me, but possibly freaks out unexpecting newcomers who venture into the store. i met her when she purchased a 1960's baby blue cupcake dress from me that she wore to her grad. her enthusiasm made me fall in love with her. i hired her on the spot even though she wasn't sure she wanted another job. i ensured her that she did and I WAS RIGHT!!! which i love. arden has recently decided she's going into fashion design, and that pleases me immensely. what clothing store doesn't need an aspiring fashionista in their back pocket? she's environmentally conscious, has great taste in music, and often choreographs super slick dance moves to her favourite songs that she'll share if you ask her.
so if you come in, please be nice to sweet arden!!! and i'm going to try and stay on top of this blog!!! eeeeek!! also: it's january and stuff has to sell, so..............SALE!!!
see you soon sweet angels. k.

Monday, November 22, 2010

don't let the door hitcha.....

so sometimes the most interesting things to write about are the wee altercations that occur as i'm out in the world spreading joy. some days i'm less joyful than others i'm afraid. one such instance:

i still work one waitressing shift a week. i prefer the term "waitress" to "server" because i am no one's servant. i do however spend a ton of time waiting for people to make decisions. (and i love any word that ends in "ess" or "ette" because i'm very girlie and enjoy words that celebrate that pivotal difference in humans.) politically correct? meh. also, the money's good and i love the people i work with. plus i get paid to be out rather than paying for the priveledge. it's win win.

i don't necessarily love mountains of chicken bones on wing night and boatloads of drunk annoying men. sometimes my patience wears thin. i was blessed last wednesday with a table of dudes who thought they were hilarious and expected me to be impressed by their wit. i may have cracked wise with them had they been less derogatory. i got a bad vibe and i reciprocated. on my third attempt to take a drink order (unsuccessfully) i just smiled and walked away. please note: i wasn't laughing at their jokes nor flirting with them. apparently that was annoying.

"hey!" says one. "can i just ask you a question?"

me: "sure. go."

him: ''was it always your life's dream to be a waitress?"

me: (pause.) ''i waitress because it's fun. i have a theatre arts degree. i'd teach drama but i own a clothing store so there's not a ton of extra time for teaching."

him: (pause.) "you own a clothing store? where?"

me: ''downtown. right around the corner actually."

him: "really? because i have the rights to a sunglass line out of australia. i have them in a store in westbank but i'm looking to get them in a place downtown. could i bring some samples by and see if you're interested?"

me: (pause.) "ummmmm.....no." (turn to walk away.)

him: "hey!"

me: "yes?"

him: "can we at least get a drink here?"

me: "from me? no. try your charm on another waitress." (smile.)

seriously? how stupid can you get? also: waitressing is not an easy job. i think going into the christmas season we should remember to treat everyone with kindness and respect. i wouldn't have been snarky if he hadn't made me feel bad.

today i am hanging christmas bulbs inside the store and preparing for my upcoming soiree. i'm not positive on the exact date, but there will be music, refreshments, deals and door prizes. DOOR PRIZES!!! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! incidentally, life is pretty fantastic right now. thank you all for being in it. (hearts and smiles.)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

enchante.........

well i'm going to need multiple installments for this. i worry that sometimes in the chaos of the store it's hard to find all of the treasures. it doesn't help that i think i'm a pirate and feel separation anxiety every time someone else touches something i've developed feelings for. the purpose of this particular blog is to show you the handmade art that i have access to. i admit that i have "sharing issues" and sometimes look horror-stricken when you try to buy something. i am actually delighted and the sourpuss face is a throw-back to the many years i spent keeping my possessions away from the grabby mitts of my beady-eyed little sisters. (whom i love very very much and appreciate blah blah blah.) moving right along........

let me introduce Floating Gold Iceberg. these lovely lasses are creating handmade clothing and accessories in victoria and i LOVE THEM!! i've got wristwarmers and a couple scarves left in house. i've ordered pants and skirts and pillows and shirts and anything else i could think of while i was talking to sweet cara on the phone. they're a staple at frock and have been since i opened almost two years ago. they've been patient with me as i've built up my little business and they've made me feel like i matter. this is an incredible company who provides stunning, unique, cutting edge pieces and I'VE GOT 'EM!!! and they've stood by me even when bigger fish in town could've upped their bottom line. i think there's something to be said for that. FGI has beauty, brains, and one of the nicest bikes on the block. and they won't make fun of you if you ask them to prom.



and now to introduce Lovejules......

you know the incredible leather with birds on wires, gunslingers, planes, trains and automobiles that i hoard like cake? that's lovejules. pictures? let's try....and here is an introduction from the sweet peach herself: "My studio is located in Whistler, B.C. I personally design and handcraft each piece in my collection, and though I may produce more than one of any particular design, no two are exactly alike, 'cause my hands just aren't that precise! I use nothing but the highest quality materials, as my output is only as good as my inputs, and I'm happy to say everything is sourced locally (Vancouver, B.C.)."


i'm sad to say i'm ending today's installment before i've even begun. getting these pictures up here in an orderly fashion is proving complex. i need a technological wizard. preferably one with a cape. stay tuned...........

"now that i'm older my heart is colder."

so i promised to share some photos of the brilliance that has taken up residence inside my shop. (none of it mine, but i have no problem with riding coat-tails. i'm also partial to tall shoulders and inside information. i'm a user. it's true.)

but first i digress......... (shocking!!) it was "breakout west" in town this weekend. i'm sure you're asking yourselves: since when does the cultural wasteland known as kelowna embrace independant music and showcase it in almost every mainstream downtown establishment? since now madames et monsieurs. apparently we're changing! kelowna has bought itself some patterned tights and an oversized 80's sweater and we're going to the party!! (WHAT?!?) if only we could go back in time and NOT dismantle sunshine theatre. (still irritated. can't help it.) anywho.....heard some new music and I LOVE IT!!

FROCK has been obsessing over the decemberists "the hazards of love" for some time now. i get obsessed and listen to things over and over again for days on end. (or weeks. whatever.) i now have new obsessions to rotate in. (dear maiya: can you handle the mixing of cd's that i'll love? as my pretend personal assistant you should be able to read my mind. get on it.)

right now the shop is playing my signed copy of dojo workhorse. (god i'm cool.) couldn't find any youtube clips, but three of the members are in the dudes. (whom i've known and liked for a while now.) i'll post a dudes clip in lieu of my new love. i'm also going to post the zolas. i've been slow jumping on the bandwagon but i've got a seat now and i've ordered a drink. first clip: the zolas, you better watch out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aye5sNBABsM

clip 2: the dudes, love is dangerous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk9hAJ2feBE

clip 3: we are the city, in heaven. (p.s. local and brilliant.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElUGg_bxTOM

i'm getting hungry so i'm going to have to sign out now. rest assured i will return for my "handmade accessories showcase." FROCK is giving these bands its stamp of serious approval. (pretty prestigious considering that i'm the self-proclaimed dictator of all things awesome.) there was even a generational consultation. read: pretty big deal.