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Skirt 5 is getting some publicity!

Just thought I would share.

Also, check out my friend's blog Proyecto Machay. She has been in Peru all summer on an archaeological dig and stuff... probably chasing llamas or something. I'm sorry that I won't see her before I leave.
Skirt Project should be back in full swing by the 20th of August.

Hasta!

The end???

A beautiful waterfall in Oregon.

My friends, this is not the end of Skirt Project. It's just a break... As I prepare to move to Puerto Vallarta, my skirts and I will be on hiatus. I have a lot to do.

This skirt is moving on to greener pastures...

Skirt 65

Another denim skirt, today's skirt is Levi's and was made in Mexico... So was yesterday's skirt incidentally. I've been noticing more where my stuff is made. Mexico will not allow Chinese goods to be shipped into the country. I did not know this. While I can ship some of my stuff, practically ALL of my skirts will have to come on the suitcases with me. I've never really paid any attention to this sort of thing.

Today's skirt is a long, dark, denim skirt. This is totally a teacher skirt. In fact, that's why I've kept it all these years. In the back of my mind I've told myself (what if you ever teach again...) It's so dowdy... It's hard for me to imagine myself in this skirt, with my classroom keys and ID around my neck, and 20 middle schoolers tailing behind me. Those kids have all graduated or dropped out by now. Time goes by so fast. This skirt is totally not me anymore, and I wonder if it ever really was.

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Another beautiful day. Good morning Portland!

See what I mean? I can't believe I used to wear this skirt.


Getting our toes done. I caught up on my People magazines. Steph's lady yelled at her. Hey lady, take it easy, it's just one coat of red! Sheesh!


Beer, glorious beer! A flight at Fifth Quadrant on Williams Street. I liked the red and the creamy stout with coffee undertones.


These are superior fabric scissors. Who knew? Gingher... gotta remember that...


How odd that the scrap mobile was right outside. This is a pretty cool idea. Check it out.



At Powell's Bookstore: the biggest mother ship in the land!


Delicious oysters from Alberta Street Oyster Bar.


Much better... Hot for teacher.


Later that night Steph got the fire pit in the backyard going. We pulled out the sparklers, were serenaded by Ben, got a little more crazy... Steph cut my hair.

Skirt 64

In the Pacific Northwest, visiting my friend Steph in Portland. Today's skirt is about five years old, it's from Marshall's and was a find because it's Calvin Klein and cost $19.99. Everyone needs a denim skirt, I've had some form of a denim skirt in my closet since elementary school. The denim used to be darker, I guess it's faded over the years...

Steph and I've been friends since elementary school. She's like family.


At brunch at Cafe Vita on Alberta Street.


Renegade publicity, gotta help Steph get the word out for her show this Saturday.


A little shopping at Buffalo Exchange. Portland has no tax, and I'm shopping for clothes more suitable for Vallarta and teaching. Check out all these skirts! You can see one that I bought. Guess which one it is?


Hooray! The sun came out!
(Gotta get your coffee while you're up here.)


Out back reading Clumsy by Jeffrey Brown... funny stuff.

Later that night, I did some shopping and eating on Alberta Street. If you look closely at the house behind me, you can see a guy dancing and singing in aqua tights and tightie-whities.

If thunder was the sky....

A better band to check out is the Magic Bullets from San Francisco...

Skirt 63

Too busy to really post today.

I am wearing a white skirt...

Will update later.
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Later...
I have so much to do. I'm leaving town today and so thankful for the break. It's really stressful here in Big D.

Today's skirt is from J.Crew. It's a cotton white eyelet, sewn on the bias. I bought it while I was teaching... It used to sit on my hips, not it's right at my waist. There was a matching 3/4 sleeve blazer that went with it, but I couldn't afford bot, and by the time it went on sale, they didn't have my size. This is the last of the white skirts, this one is my favorite because it's so simple.


I had lunch with MT and Sibyle. It was great to see MT. She is so great: my mentor and friend.


Five hours+ plus, crammed in this tiny seat.

At least I had a window seat.

Somewhere over southern Cal.

So, I had dinner and watched the sunset at John Wayne airport.

Waiting to board the plane for the last leg to my destiniaton...

Portland, Oregon: the air smells so fresh and clean here.

Skirt 62

Today's skirt is from my little sis, Naomi. She gave it to me for Christmas '04, I think... She picked it out for me special. I love that! It meant a lot. I forgot that I had this skirt, because it's been put away with my other winter clothes and skirts (I have 5). Too bad I won't be able to wear them...

This skirt is made of olive green lightweight corduroy, similar to Skirt 11. I like this skirt better because of the shape and the way that the panels are sewn and cut. Everything is on the diagonal. I also like the frayed bottom, it's very grungy... very Pacific Northwest...
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JD said I looked like a gladiator today, with my gold Roman sandals and belt.


Good-bye garbage!
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Hello!


Good-bye!

Skirt 61

This week I am finishing the last of my original 60.

So, where did all these skirts come from? Somewhere along the way I have either a) gotten more skirts as a gift, or b) bought them... I know I've bought at least one (Skirt 41). I have more to share, and they just keep coming. There never was any order and I wasn't expecting to receive more. Actually, I wasn't expecting to receive half of what I've gotten out of Skirt Project... That's the beauty of it!

Today's skirt is a long khaki linen skirt from J.Crew. I bought this skirt in the late 1990's: sometime between 97 and 99. I was very granola then and working at Purple Glaze, the paint your own ceramics shop. The skirt has a drawstring and is pieced together with four panels to create a very long A-line shape. It hits right at my ankle bone. Anyway, I like this skirt because it's easy to wear and very comfortable. It's linen, so I don't iron it... What's the point? It's just going to wrinkle anyway.

I'm stuck in Denton today, finishing up one of my classes... Probably not a very exciting day for skirt shots, not like my friend Adina who is on The BIG ADVENTURE!
Keep those photos coming, they take me back...
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Today wasn't so interesting as I spent all day in the computer lab in Denton. I took a final... I passed! Sold my books back for $10, not even a 10th of what I purchased them for, wrote two papers and facilitated an on line discussion... I didn't leave the lab until 9:20 p.m....

I want my life back...

Skirt 60

This is NOT the final skirt!

Today's skirt is from Anthropologie, which I purchased three years ago. I know that this skirt also came in a bright lemon yellow. However, yellow is not my best color, so I opted for this dusty rose instead. This skirt has beautiful tucks at the top and crocheted doilies at the bottom and around the thigh area. This skirt reminds me of my huelita, because she was so feminine. She also crocheted beautiful doilies, camisas and bedspreads. She was so industrious, and lived a very long life. Although she was from Monterrey, Mexico, I am SO excited to discover more of our culture.

I leave in less than a month!

Taking care of my girl Moxie... she's getting a check up.


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Getting c r a z y at Central Market.
I can't help it...

Skirt 59

Today's skirt is usually worn in a more formal manner. I like to dress this gray, full, pleated Isaac Mizrahi number up with heels. I love the pleats and construction of the skirt, but it is quite heavy. Which is probably why the side zipper is broken... and maybe why a button has popped off... Maybe.

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Today's skirt is also made of 64% polyester. That's why it hangs so nicely and doesn't wrinkle. It's cool enough, not sure it's cool enough for the beach though...


Taking out the garbage.


Taking out the trash.

I have so much stuff to do before I leave!

Skirt 58

Another white skirt.

Today's skirt is from H & M, which I purchased in Georgetown last summer. I had done some serious shopping while in D.C., and one of my major finds was a gorgeous navy blue linen jacket with scalloped lace trim from Banana Republic. I didn't have anything like it, and it's actually quite elegant. I HAD to have it! The only problem was that I didn't have any coordinating bottoms to go with the jacket. So, I spent quite a bit of time hunting for the perfect pieces to match this jacket and ended up buying two. One is a great pair of navy capri's, the other is this white linen skirt. This skirt has a 100% polyester lining, and is made from several panels to give it that flare. This skirt is alright. Nothing special, but a staple in my closet.

That jacket is a perfect example of the WASTE that shopping imposes in my life. While I love my jacket, I've only worn it twice. BTW, I'm not wearing it today. I spent quite a bit of money on the capri's and jacket, but what really gets me is the amount of TIME that I wasted shopping. I mean, I was living in Washington D.C. and I spent at least 8 hours shopping... That's an entire day that I can't get back in that city. I had a great time while I was there, I just wish that I had made better use of my time.

That seems to be a running issue with me...
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Besides the car shot, I wish I had taken a photo of today's skirt. I think the prime location would have been Target. Since I will be moving to Puerto Vallarta, I'm on the lookout for cool cotton clothing, shorts and swimsuits. I found some cute things, nothing I need... I'll take a day to decide if I really want them. I will miss Target in Mexico.

Skirt 57

I got a late start on today's skirt. It's almost 5 pm!


Look what flew on me this morning... A little ladybug! Isn't this supposed to be good luck?

I'm wearing my flamenco skirt today. It's long, full, black linen, with a sexy slit over the left knee. It's got this great ruffle around the bottom, which looks lovely when I walk. Too bad I quit taking lessons...

I don't have many long skirts, this is one of three actually... I bought it in Los Angeles on sale at Anthropologie in 2002 when I went to visit my friend Stephanie. That was a celebratory trip, because I had just gone into remission and was about to start a new job.
Steph now lives in Portland, Oregon, and I'll be seeing her next week five years later...

5 years later...

I am still in remission, actually now that it's been five years, my cancer is considered cured.
I am about to start a new job. (Another teaching job!)
I am moving to Mexico.
Steph is a rockstar.

At Two Sisters today for lunch...

One of the tiles on the mosaic wall behind me says:
"If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!"
Katie Pell says:
"If you can't take the heat, quit your bitchen!"
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Later that afternoon: Happy Hour at the Gingerman.
Except I wasn't all that happy, just tired. It's been a long day. I interviewed my replacements... Hope we find the right candidate.
It was free glass night, so I drank Murphy's Amber. What am I going to do with this thing?

Skirt 56

I'm running out of options here: time is running out for Skirt Project.

Today's skirt is from H &M.This skirt has four, tiered panels in an A-line shape. It's a brown paisley print with white, purple and aqua. I bought it in 2005 in Boston, when I was at the National Art Education Association conference. It's brown, so I figured why the hell not try something different? I waited at least 6 months before I wore it. Typically, I don't do brown. But, when ever I wear it I get some compliments AND I have a good time. This skirt reminds me of some buffin' good times with Mycal: Mickey Hands, dancing to Elton John, and just acting c r a z y!


So, why the hell not try something different?
I'm moving to Mexico.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
But first, I have to get through school and I am SO close! Too close to quit, but man... I really want to.
So, afterclass I spent my time at the SOVA (School of Visual Arts) building at UNT. I realized today I've spent 9 years at this school... It's time for me to leave.

When I was little, I thought eating Goldfish made you smarter...

Saturday Skirt...

Saturday Skirt is NOT from the original 60, but if you've been following Skirt Project, maybe you have guessed that I have more than 60 skirts. I think I'm at 66 now. So, here's the deal... Since I've started Skirt Project people are starting to give me skirts. I love that! I don't want it to end. Skirt Project is going in a different direction, and rightly so as my life is also going in a different direction. As for Skirt Project, stay tuned for more information. I've got to sort out some details first.

Today's skirt is from Pam, a very sweet, smart woman who I met about a month ago. Pam is a hardworker, has a huge heart and is a free spirit: an amazing woman after my own heart. This is one of two skirts that she has chosen for me to wear.

I love today's skirt because it is so bright and colorful. It's decorated with sequences of sequins and reminds me of Fiesta! in San Antonio. I love the big pink butterfly on the skirt, because butterflies symbolize change and Skirt Project has created a significant transformation in my life. I'm considering taking a job in Mexico... life is funny, isn't it?

Ya' did good Pam!
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Happy Hour with the ladies! Me, Jackie and Kate. Kate is wearing a beautiful silk skirt from Gap. I was admiring it that night, and she shared a little history about it.
See! Every skirt does have a story! We ate at Fireside Pies on Knox Henderson. I used to work there. The food is A M A Z I N G! Everytime I go there, which is not that often, it's like coming home.


Isn't my skirt so pretty?

Skirt 55

This is my interview skirt. I wore it on two interviews last year. I got one of the jobs, but not the other... I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it's Friday the 13th, and I don't need to be anymore superstitious than I already am. BUT things always work out for a reason.

Today's skirt is from Target and is part of a suit. I have another skirt for the same blazer which I have worn already - Skirt 9. Anyway, this skirt is a simple black pencil skirt that hits right at my knees with a front slit on the left leg. It's a little revealing when I sit down, but what are you going to do? I feel very professional and mature in this skirt, and that’s all that matters this morning.

Wish me luck! Or should I say, buena suerta...
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Hey Daniel!
I need help... the site blows. It's 7 pm, and I still haven't registered for my test. I gotta go! I have a date. BUT it was so great to talk to you today!

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At the Arlington Museum of Art, in front of Wes Heiss' sculpture "Suburban" (2005), we made our first Skirt Project film! When not acting in my blog, or being art, it can also function as a professional-grade parade float, complete with sturdy D-rings.

Thank you Leslie for your wonderful direction.

(warning: 38 megabytes!)

Skirt 54

I'm wearing my Roman Holiday skirt!

Today's skirt is from Dillards and cost $13. It's S U P E R cute and it's the color red. I love the color red, at least I do right now. I didn't love this skirt on the hanger, but when I tried it on I fell in love with it. I had to get it because it reminded me of Audrey Hepburn in the movie Roman Holiday.



I'm wearing this skirt for two people, but I would have rather worn it tomorrow. Tomorrow, JP is leaving for Italy and Lauren is coming back from a two month European excursion. BUT, I have a very important skirt to wear tomorrow. I have an interview...
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I went to see From the Ashes of Vesuvius at the Dallas Museum of Art. It was alright... OK, who am I kidding... it sucked. Anyway this evening, a very important meeting took place.

At the Bar of Soap...

So fresh and so clean, clean!