Barbie Autopsy Reveals No Brain

Every morning I wake up to the world with coffee and computer. I read emails and check out Flickr and then decide what to do for the rest of the day.
This morning began with an email from my friend Cheryl and I cracked up when I opened the link to Margaux Lange and her unique Barbie Jewelry.

This piece is called The Kiss and I really love it. It's available at Etsy where Margaux has a shop with a few unique items listed.
They are constructed with sterling silver and a dash of humor and are a great way to keep Barbie from the landfills.

It's all about re-purposing and this is a fine example in my humble opinion. I see them at the G-Will all the time and have seen them deconstructed, painted and transformed with paper clay or sculpy in recent years.
Why does it seem disturbing?
Maybe because of the skin tone- if it was all silver it wouldn't be so troubling would it? Seeing Barbie and Ken just as parts may resemble the work of a serial killer - imagine Dexter does Barbie!
She is hollow- no heart, no brain- she has always been courageous though- all those career changes takes guts!

The more I look at her work, the more I like it.
I think every kid has a relationship with Barbie at some point in their childhoods.
I always wished I had the whole dream house, corvette and Barbie case with over-flowing wardrobe, but I didn't. My sister did and I am not sure I was allowed to touch it.
Maybe that made her more appealing.
You always want what you can't have, right?
Now I can buy all the Barbies I want but they are not right- they look all pouty and Bratty and I miss the coolness of the 50's and 60's Barbies.

There have billions of Barbies sold world wide and I don't have the numbers on how many it takes to go to the moon and back but I imagine that could be possible. So, I applaud Margaux's witty recycle of Barbie dolls and I hope she can make a fortune from it.
She has a Blog named Midge's Mind with more personal insights into her jewelry and how it evolved.
 She also has some really cool friends like Kate Cusack who makes jewelry from zippers.

Kate also has an Etsy shop. Using unconventional materials for making jewelry is brilliant because it makes you say wow and go back for a second look while hoping there is enough in your Paypal account to get a little piece for yourself.

Remember that just as you are what you eat, you are also what you wear and if it's cool and hip, then so are you.
I bought a bag of zippers several years ago at a thrift shop and tea dyed them because they were all white and I use them occasionally in a small doll quilt or on an apron as a textural element.

Nothing as clever as this though.
Wish I'd thought of this.
Inspiring isn't it?

I really loved this Day of the Dead ring by Margaux that was pictured on her blog.

It is very sassy and chic and ties in one of my favorite things.

Amanda- do you see this?

Killer, right?
Totally.

I'll be seeing you...

***
dude-
is anybody watching Lost(?) and can they tell me how to keep from falling off my couch?
My mouth hangs open with every episode and I sit there, slack jawed in freaked out amazement.
back to the island, indeed.
snap!
that's the sound of my  imagination stretched beyond belief!
at least Kate had enough sense to get in Jack's bed before leaving to attempt the impossible.
and Ben- how evil is he?
will we ever know?
man, I'm hanging!

***
it helps keep my mind off other things- all this and you too- so thanks for all the kindness on the last post...
I climbed back in and shut the window.
I took the rocks out of my pockets.
sighed the big sigh
looked up and prayed
said thank you for better days
sat at the sewing machine and worked
feeling lighter by the day
at least until the next dump truck pulls up to the curb

all you need is love,
and Barbie parts,
xo,
calamity kim