On film.

I was in a dreamy sort of mood yesterday, when I stumbled on this gorgeous blog: EvaForeva, by artist Jenya Kurtsman.  Those are all her photos above.

Jenya, like me, shoots with a Canon Rebel XS most of the time, but for film shoots with a 35mm Pentax K1000 -- just like my beloved Orangette.  Sign?   I think so.  I'm coming for you, Pentax K1000.

Last night in silks, we were practicing our routine to Jeff Buckley.  There's this moment in the song "Lover, You Should've Come Over" when Jeff is really digging in and going for it, screaming about his lover (as you sometimes do).  Anyway, in that section one person stays up high on the silks, and then their partner climbs up underneath them and meets them at the top, both partners spinning in the air all the while.  I'm going to bring a camera next week and try to capture it, because it really is something to behold.

What I'm not going to do is video people on my iPhone, while singing along softly to the song thinking the phone's tiny, yet powerful, microphone won't pick it up.  That's what I did on Monday.  Let's just say my Jeff Buckley demo tape has a mighty long way to go.

Samba Sister.

My friend Rendi, whom you may recognize from this post.  What a babe, huh?

Here's a funny little fact about my life.  Of all the rich, beautiful global cultures out there, there are two that have fascinated me my whole life: 20th century Brazil, and Victorian England.

Honestly.  Could you pick two more disparate entities?  It's like claiming your two favorite foods are Butterfinger Chocolate Cream Pie, and, celery.  Suffice it to say that modern Brazilians and the empirical British share little in common, except for their mutually healthy appreciation of headwear.  And yet, there it is: My bookshelf crammed with Wildes and Brontës, my lovingly scratched Brazilian music CD's, my college trips to London and Oxford, my date nights at Sao Paulo.

I'm not sure what the Brits would have to say about all that Brazilian skin, or what the latter would say about the former's boiled cooking, but in my heart, they are two perfect, loveable spheres.  As my Downton Abbey and Austin Samba School obsessions suggest, I long to inhabit both.

On Saturday night I got that opportunity, or at least for the Brazilian side of things.  We had our Carnaval show, and friends, can I admit something?  You are looking at a changed woman.  I am totally new to this form of dance, and while I always had a good time practicing for our show these past few months, I didn't have the hunger, exactly.  I thought, "this is nice because Ross and I can do it together" (he's one of the samba drummers), "it's a great workout," "I like the music," etc.  But Saturday CONVERTED me.  I don't know how to explain it, but I had my come to Jesus with samba.  I have hearts in my eyes.  I have a crush on it.  As I write this blog post, I literally just came home from a samba class.

Our show!  How crazy beautiful is everyone?  It was a Wizard of Oz theme, and you can kind of pick out the characters.  Well, the sexy samba interpretation of the characters, anyway.

Here is my little group and I doing our thang.  You can just make out my torso in the top one.  In the second, we are backstage jamming out.

Photos via the amazing Daniel Mora.

Bonus shot: Me and my mom!  My AWESOME mom, who came to come watch Ross and I perform.  Pardon the iPhone pic quality.

Both my mom and I come from British ancestral descent, but sometimes (and especially on nights like these), I think we may secretly be Brazilian girls trapped in Brits' bodies.

The Beefcake Party.

In other event-related news this week (see yesterday's Downton Abbey post), I am judging a contest right now for an extra special Austin business, The WonderCraft.

Have you ever seen The WonderCraft trailer tooling around town?  Do you know the story behind it?

Basically, this group of awesome women got together a few years ago and started teaching craft classes out of a shiny Airstream named Stella, which you can often find parked outside of your nearest children's birthday party or dive bar.  Their clientele is, refreshingly, widespread.  

The WonderCraft and I have partnered on lots of events together in the past, and the ladies that run it are some of my personal heroes.  Their business got so big that it's now a brick-and-mortar store on E. Cesar Chavez, but Stella still carries forth! 

All photos via Ultralicious Photography.

Recently, the ladies decided that Stella needed a man.  A crafty man, to join the biz, provide a male perspective on things, promote events, look good in tight appliqued cupcake t-shirts ... etc.  So they took applications, narrowed it down to seven, whom you can vote on now.  

The winner will be announced this Saturday at a party at The WonderCraft's shop, where there will be free beef and cake, Tito's, beer, music, and of course, abundant craft activities (which are even more fun with cocktails as everyone knows).  

I will be there with my crafty husband, and if you are in Austin, I hope you'll come too!

I submitted my judge's ballot over the weekend, and in my mind, there were TWO standout candidates.  Ok maybe three, but two who flat-out stole my heart.  Can you guess who they are?

We did it: Downton Abbey screening!

Well friends, it is Mission Accomplished around here. 

Remember how we were discussing Downton Abbey a few weeks ago?  And how we wanted a public screening in Austin?  Like really badly?  Horshack waving around his arm yelling "oooh!  Ooooh!" badly?

Well I'm thrilled to tell you that KLRU has heard us!  On Sunday, February 19, KLRU and Austin Eavesdropper are co-hosting a SCREENING of the Downton Abbey Christmas Special (hands flapping in verklempt manner), i.e., the Season 2 Finale.  Success! 

The screening will be held at Studio 6A -- the former home of Austin City Limits -- and there will be light snacks, giveaways, and most importantly, 90 minutes of glorious sidelong glances from Maggie Smith.  Best of all, it is free!

♥ rsvp here ♥

May I make a confession, just between you and me?  I don't know what I'm more excited about.  This screening, or this smorgasbord of Downton Abbey cast member pics in their civilian wear.  Guys.  Can we please discuss Mrs. Hughes?  Or foxy (yes! Foxy!) O'Brien?  I am speechless!  And Mr. Bates is hurting me with adorableness.  That baby?  Dear God.  Just stop.  

Just released: Wild Child's new music video.

Megan Renart reviewed the debut album of local indie faves Wild Child for Austin Eavesdropper back in December, and since then, we haven't been able to get "Pillow Talk" out of our heads.  Apparently we weren't the only ones, because now it's a music video!

The video released yesterday, and my oh my, is it dreamy.  Kelsey and Alexander half serenade, half plead with each other in a low-lit pillow-and-blanket draped fortress.  It's more playful than sad (note the exploding pillows), but still managed to choke me up a little.

Also, given Austin Eavesdropper's recent foray into video, I must say I'm really impressed that virtually the whole thing was shot in the dark!  Hats off, Andrew Baird (the video's photography director).  I have a whole new level of respect now for video lighting levels, and during an AETV shoot on Sunday, I kept screeching to the crew: HOW IS THE LIGHT?  CAN YOU SEE US?  HOW MANY FINGERS AM I HOLDING UP?  (Answers: Bright, yes, one because you're pointing directly at the lens, Tolly.)

This weekend: Carnaval Brasileiro!

All above images by: Merrick Ales Photography.

Right, so, remember when we were talking about our New Year's Words?  And how in 2011 I chose the word "openness?"  I was so successful at being open that I joined a samba dance troupe.  

The Austin Samba School is probably one of the coolest things I've ever done.  For one, it is enormous.  Our group is comprised of about 50 drummers and 50 dancers, so wherever we go, we are a small village. We did a Dia De Los Muertos show at Central Market last Fall (pics here) and just our group - not counting the actual audience -- filled the entire premises.  Have you ever seen a walking army of skeletons?  It's sexier than you think.  

Also.  If you couldn't tell by the 2011 Carnaval photos above, samba is -- how shall we say? -- flashy.  Headdresses!  Sequins!  Sparkly bras!  Our theme this year is The Wizard of Oz, and my little dance group is the yellow brick road.  "A road?  That's not sexy!" you think.  WRONG.  We are halter-top wearing, vertical hair feather donning, body glittering bricks.  So not just a road, you see -- a hot road.

Tickets are available here.