Urban Geisha Amy

Meet Amy-

And her husband Mike.
I stole this picture from your Facebook, Amy. Hope you don't mind.

Now, meet Geisha Amy-

Tirzah and I took turns photographing Amy and I can't really credit the photos specifically. I don't remember which ones I took and which ones she took.


These were taken in my bath tub.


We had a white sheet covering the window behind Amy.


Sorry, I like the odd editing from time-to-time.


Amy sat on a stool (in the tub) and did whatever we asked of her. "Move your head this way, look that way, stick out your neck, arch your back...."



She was very easy to work with.



And an absolute pleasure to shoot.



I decided to not put a wig on her as her hair is already very interesting and beautiful.


Tirzah asked her to put her hair up for some shots. Look at that bone structure!


We took a few outside....


It was so hot but Amy did not complain,



Love those.





Thanks to Amy and Tirzah. Ya'll are too much fun!

Makeup

Last Saturday, Amy and Tirzah came over for a little Urban Geisha fun. If you don't know what an Urban Geisha is, you have not been reading my blog for very long.

Let me give you a little info. My love for makeup began when I was about 13. I was at a slumber party and we were watching Labyrinth. I fell in love with David Bowie's charachter (Jareth the Goblin King). I loved his voice (both speaking and singing), his dance moves, his skinny little English body, his costumes, and his hair. Most importantly, I loved his makeup.



After the movie, the other gals popped in Tremors (a far less superior movie to Labyrinth), and I locked myself in the bathroom where I used all of the makeup I could find to transform myself into Jareth the Goblin King. Yes, the other girls probably thought I was a tad weird. They liked it.

My fascination with Bowie and makeup did not end with that experience. In my late teens/early twenties, I was exposed to David Bowie's adopted persona - Ziggy Stardust.


I was truly in love with this idea. The theatrics....the makeup....the pictures!

In my late twenties, I started The Urban Geisha Project. I was the first model.I did the makeup and took the pictures. Laurie was next, and I realized I really liked being able to take pictures of someone other than myself. I still love self-photography (especially when I am wearing crazy makep) but being able to pose someone was fun. Rachel followed Laurie and Kristi was my most recent Geisha. I have resurrected the project and had Amy model for me. This time, there were two photographers. Tirzah, a professional, helped me learn more about lighting. I asked her to take some shots with my digital to help me learn how to use it to the best of my ability. She also took some pics with her film camera. Can't wait to see those!

Any-hoo, Here are a few teaser shots. I bring you, the makeup process:

That's a lot-o-makeup!


We start




I promise I was gentle


Tirzah took all of the above pics.

You will see the rest once I am done editing. There are many excellent ones to choose from! Amy was a great model!

Not a Bad Way to Spend a Thursday.

Miss Bee and I were recently invited to a long lost friend's house for an afternoon of food, fun, and sun. The gathering was officially "brought to you by the letter P." We had paninis, pasta, petit fours, punch (sangria), the pool, pineapple poundcake dessert, and pickles. M was our lovely host and she did a fabulous job. She even gave us a tumbler/shaker as an arrival gift which was soon filled with sangria.

See the tumbler/shaker next to Miss Bee's lovely legs?

M's dog, Bo, and I spent time racing each other in the pool:


That dog is fast.

M has a beautiful home that sits on the greenbelt in Round Rock.


Here she is, making our yum-yum dessert:


And here is the finished product:

Miss Bee took that photo. Not too shabby, eh?

We had such a lovely time. There is nothing like lounging by the pool as you catch up with an old friend. Thanks, M!

Aye yai yai!

I now present you with the Mariachi night pictures.


We have Dale:


Josh, Tirzah, and Amy:


And Juan, Reyna, and myself:

Did you know that if you drink enough margaritas you will be able to sing along to the Mariachi songs even if you only had two years of Spanish waaaaay back in high school?
It's true.

The Band, Mariachi Estrella

This amazing band started performing at the front of the restaurant. Let me tell you something, those dudes can project! They don't need no microphones, sucka!

After a short set, they began playing to different tables. We were way in the back so it took some time before they got to us....but, they did.

Have you ever been at a restaurant and had a little 3-piece Mariachi band come play at your table? I have, on more than one occasion. Every time this has happened I politely deny their request to play a song. Not this time. These guys were so good! We held them at our table for as long as possible. They finally had to tell us that they had to play other tables but that they would come back to us.




Juan and I had an arm-wrestling match while we waited. I won (because he let me).

They finally came back and we danced and sang along. By we, I mean Juan, Reyna, and I.


I think everybody enjoyed it, though.


Even though Josh said Juan and I were constantly yelling. Poor guy had to sit by us.

Juan sang to Reyna:



The gang:


After the show, Juan went up and made friends with the Mariachi band.


They let him borrow a guitar:


Which Dale played, for a split second:


before Josh took it away:


and gave it back to the band:

(psssssssssst...., I think he was afraid we might break it.)

I highly recommend that you go see Mariachi Estrella.
Take some friends with you that are already Mariachi fans so that they can request all of the good songs. There is not much out there that is better than good tequila, good company, and a private concert.

In Other News: I found my next model for the Urban Geisha Project. Behold!

Amy will do quite nicely, don't you think?