Namedropping (Part Two)

"Your new best friend, Heather Ross"*

*That’s a quote from my friend, Bitter Betty, who admittedly gets funnier when she’s feeling insecure or jealous. While famous fabric designer Heather hasn’t actually bumped local crafty pal Bethany out of BFF status, she was fun to meet and talk to when she did an in-store demonstration at a local fabric/yarn shop. She showed us some of her cute new designs (coming out soon) and did an elastic thread “shirring” demo. I even got to take home the demo thread. Woot! Heather Ross touched my thread — reminds me of catching the drumstick at a Thompson Twins concert back about 1984.


H & me at Luminous Threads.

H circa 1985

A commenter once left a semi-anonymous note about how I went to high school with Heather’s sister, but didn’t leave any details. The mystery went unsolved until one day I got an email from Heather. It turns out she spent some growing-up years around here, and, coincidently, went to middle school with my friend Sara, as well as my husband. He thinks that he remembers her, as, “That girl who carried a purse to school every day.”

***Update***

After I wrote the original post above, Heather contacted me because she had figured out that she *knew* me. One of the facial expressions in my Unknown Me post jogged her memory of a self-portrait I did a long, long time ago. Turns out we went to school together for a short time, too. Unfortunately, *I* was the mean girl in art class who made fun of her neon pink sweater and Ralph Macchio portrait. I don’t remember doing this, but it does sound like something my angry, pseudo-punk high school self would have said. I guess that “holier-than-thou” attitude, that a co-worker once described me as having, has been around for awhile. Fortunately, Heather is a much nicer person than I, and was full of complimentary things to say about our short stint as classmates.

Me circa 1985

This classic photo from my Junior year features my one-and-only perm, replete with a nearly neon pink sweatshirt. I think this is from the same year (maybe the year before) as Heather's neon pink sweater. How I thought my look was better than hers is a mystery. I've lost the ability to spot the make-or-break nuances of high school fashion. This photo is for you, Heather. BFF, right? ;)

Namedropping (Part One)

This is the first in a series of namedropping posts. I was looking for a photo of myself from this night, but it seems to be buried a little too deeply. I thought I better start posting anyway, before they go stale.

Tony Bennett Called Me Baby

My first job out of college was in-house artist for a small record store chain — the pay wasn’t much, but the perks were great. I had my own studio, a monthly CD stipend, and lots of free shows. A few of the bands I saw were: The Byrds, Ice-T, Public Enemy, Arrested Development, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Henry Rollins, Austin Lounge Lizards, Cowboy Junkies, Michelle Shocked, Phranc — anyone else love Phranc?

One night, after a Tony Bennett dinner show, I got to meet the guy that Sinatra called, "the best singer in the business." Knowing this meet-up might happen, I had fancied myself up with a new dress, lipstick, and an updo. Believe me, I usually don’t dress up for people — but, that night, I figured Tony would appreciate it if I left the thrifted, over-sized manpants at home. We were introduced, he touched my arm, said some words — nothing too memorable. I must have left my feminist heart in San Francisco that night, though, because I *do* remember liking that Tony B. called me Baby.