Alice in Wonderland: The Mad Hatter

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings." - Lewis Carroll

"There is a place, like no place on earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger. Some say, to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter. Which, luckily, I am." - The Mad Hatter

I'd like to think that a lot of who I am is based on the Mad Hatter. My uncontrollable love of tea. My absolute need for my very weird tea kettle. There is no practical electric kettle in this household. No siree. My need to be myself and my joy on the reaction of others on how much of myself I am. I strive on not being 'normal' but hilariously it's normal to me. I couldn't see myself any other way. I'm really glad that I'm a weirdo.

It really takes a lot of courage to be yourself even in this day and age. I just got blue hair a week and some change ago and got asked to do a modelling job for Armani. I told them my hair was blue now and that I could do it up all fancy like. It's just hair. I haven't heard back yet. I'll let you know.

"Trust me. I know a thing or two about liking people, and in time, after much chocolate and cream cake, 'like' turns into 'what was his name again?'." - Mad Hatter

There's not a day that goes by where I can walk out the door and see the vast majority of people who look exactly the same. The world is full of trends whether it be beauty or fashion or lifestyle and everyone gets so caught up in it. And if you like it and that's who you are all the power to you. I'd never want to take away the happiness of others or the comfort that they have in their own skin. I'm just saying if that's not you have courage and just go for it. There is nothing more beautiful then seeing a smile on someones face when they love who they are.

To give you an idea of who I am. If this blog hasn't already given away that much. I'm a twenty-seven year old woman with bright blue hair and undercuts. I wear dresses and skirts in the summer because I really loathe pants. On some occasions I leave the house with a unicorn horn. If I run out of time like yesterday when I borrowed the clothes for this shoot. I go and drop them off looking like the Mad Hatter. I freak people out sometimes but mostly I get smiles and pictures taken of me and I've made someones day. And really that's a wonderful thing. If my 'weirdness' can turn someones day a little brighter I'm very happy to be me.

"Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?" - Mad Hatter

When I was younger I was asked, if you could be anyone in the world who would you be? I sat there forever and I really didn't know how to answer. I felt really uncomfortable with the question. At the time I wasn't completely me. It was high school and I think the majority of people are trying to find themselves. It took me until I moved away from home all the way across the country when I become much more muchier. I think my answer back then should have been me but more. It should never be someone else. Everyone has something amazing to offer and you debilitate yourself by wanting to be someone else. I want to be me in all my ridiculous glory with all my faults and troubles and all my talents and aspirations.

So, a tip of the hat to all of you. Have courage today and do something completely you. Be free and open to a complete metanoia. Let your spirit soar in transformation. Become the butterfly you were always meant to be.

"Of course not. This is an unbirthday party." - Mad Hatter

Products used:

Foundation: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44 and MAC Face and Body Foundation in White AC3.

Contour: City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon.

Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade.

Blush: Nars Deep Throat Blush.

Eyes: Morphe Brushes Eyeshadow Palette 35E and some MAC shadows I never labelled before I depotted them. Probably limited edition. I think one was from Heatherette...

Lashes: MAC Lash Mixing Medium mixed with Morphe Brushes Eyeshadow Palette 35E. As Well as, Make Up Forever Artistic Lashes 110 and Lash Show C-807.

Brows: MAC Lash Mixing Medium mixed with MAC Eyeshadow in Rule.

Lips: Jeffree Star Hoe Hoe Hoe overlayed with Naked Cosmetics in #HE-02.

Wig: Powder Room D Flame Lace Front Wig.

Clothes: Borrowed from Hunter & Hare Consignment at 334 West Pender, St Vancouver.

Cup and Chair: L'Atelier Home on 452 West Cordova St, Vancouver.

Book: Of course my copy of Alice in Wonderland.

"Yes, that's it! It's always tea time." - Mad Hatter

Alice in Wonderland: The Blue Caterpillar

So far, everything that I've posted has been influenced by close family. I guess I can give some credit to early childhood fairy tales and Disney but I never watched Alice in Wonderland as a child nor did I hear of the book. I've always been interested in fairy tales and have read a staggering amount of them but it wasn't until I was in high school that I read Alice in Wonderland.

There is so much imagination crammed into Alice in Wonderland that is so hard to find. See, I love to read. There's really not a day that goes by where I don't read at least twenty pages of something or other whether it be book, or magazine, comic, or dare I say it fanfiction. Sorry, not sorry. Every time I open a book though it's like jumping into another world. And every time I finish a single novel or series it's always like saying goodbye to dear friends. There are very few books that transport me to such a topsy-turvy fantastical place where everything is just a step to the left and a little bit backwards and yet resonates on such a profound level in my soul.

I can't say that the only exposure to Alice was the book and the first time I read it. Though it meant much more to me after I did. My Mum's favourite song is 'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane and written by Grace Slick. If you haven't heard it, it is a psychedelic wonder to the senses and it is a beautiful journey to be on.

I guess my Mum did introduce me to Alice indirectly. I should probably return the favour by letting her borrow the book. We can both be the influences this time.

Anyway, the blue caterpillar or Absolem in the films is a hookah smoking caterpillar of profound wisdom and sight. With a shocking vocabulary for one so small. But that's the joy of Alice. Great things come in any size and from any place.

I want to do something a little different for this post because Alice in Wonderland has had such a drastic impact on my life and who I am now. So let's do this I guess:

It was with great pleasure and a bit of remorse that the caterpillar awoke for the day because there is a great many adventures that can happen during a day but also a question of what may come of dreams. And of course caterpillar do dream.

Don’t be silly.

Caterpillars dream of the sky and flying. Of reaching heights they’ve never known and seeing if the sky is really that blue. The caterpillar wondered if the sky was as blue as it was. Of course if a caterpillar can dream it can also think and this particular caterpillar was very wise.

It had much to say on daily events. Creatures came from far and wide to hear its great wisdom. They just had to beware the smoke. For a hookah smoking caterpillar said a lot more than a regular blue caterpillar. And he had quite a bit to say.

Today, he would have a surprising adventure. Today, he would meet a three inch tall, pink skinned, little thing in blue garments. And he definitely had quite a bit to say. The most important being:

“Who are you?”

Products used:

Foundation: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44.

Contour: Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette ME-230 and Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette Sapphire.

Highlight: Make Up Forever Star Powder 90944.

Blush: Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette D-236.

Eyes: Make Up Forever Artist Palette ME-230 and D-236 Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette Sapphire, Aquamarine, and Moonstone.

Lashes: Make Up Forever Smoky Lash.

Brows: Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette ME-230 mixed with MAC Lash Mixing Medium.

Lips: Jeffree Star Blue Velvet mixed with Jawbreaker and Druglord topped with Make Up Forever Star Powder 90944.

Who Are You?