Kootenay women…Who knew that two treadle-pumping , wood-splitting females who both spent half of the last decade or so living off the grid, (and away from the streets and fashion TV,) would find each other on Facebook, only to immediately dive in to a creative alliance with a high fashion flavour without even meeting each other?! I’m blissed out on this project and the women in it!
I finally met Lara in person, and stood in her tidy studio, wide-eyed, and soaked in all colors, textures, and presence, and marvelled at the gowns, buttons, and felted wigs. The other gem in this ring was Avrell Fox, who, to my delight, turns out to be a fabulous makeup expert as well as my long time favorite painter of glamorous women, and she was educating me on eyelash glue and getting me more excited for their photo shoot, which thanks to an incredible team had amazing results! I’m still reeling from the experience of having my work be included in this project after lulling in a bit of a silent, snowy winter in Kaslo.
The Kootenays are a place full of artists. BC is a haven, and Kaslo and the Kootenay Region in the southern interior have a high concentration per capita of people who live for their creativity, and live on it. Internet lines keep making their way further into the nooks and valleys and revealing this area’s rich and hidden talents, and alliances and collaborations continue to be cultivated.
The woman whose family owned our house for the last 100 years had a true nose for fashion. The photos of her are a testament to the trendiest hair cuts of the day,with ropes of pearls and lovely shoes with a little extra flair, and she always looked polished, even leaning on an old driftwood fence and leisurely sniffing a flower. Here she is out front of the house with my studio windows in the background. She reminds me of my mother with her dark hair and petite frame.
She makes me remember that just because I’m living in a small town like Kaslo doesn’t mean I can’t dress with a little effort put in and make myself look presentable. It’s a way to feel more feminine and beautiful while I take feed out to the chickens and bring kindling from the woodshed. This old 1934 newspaper article came out of an outside wall on our porch reno and really speaks to me of my fashion and hoopy-loopy lifestyle choices. Women will always have a keen sense of where the world is heading!
So, I want to protect my lady’s identity, and flaunt her style. I’ll call her “Ms H.” Sometimes I think she’s still here in this house, assessing my outfit choices for the day. Her voice is muffled in the thick plaster walls and, what was that you were saying, Ms H…..?
“Put on some lipstick and brush your hair, would you please, Darling?”
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