We always say in the Kingdom that it's nice to be nice. It's not always possible to be nice of course but we prefer to try because good things happen when people are nice. Of all the benefits that have come with writing this blog then meeting/communicating with amazing, nice, people has probably the been the most fulfilling, and I think I speak for both us when I say that.
Sister Wolf and Queen Marie send each other fabulous gifts, Suzanne from Idee Fixe and I speak on the phone to each other and send each other gifts too, Lady Winona from Daddy Likey sent me a lovely wee pressie when I was coping with the Queen Mum's death and was bestowed a Royal title many years ago, I have other bloggers' numbers in my phone and could genuinely call them up when I'm in their 'hood, not to mention all the designers we've met and become friends with. It's been truly incredible and not something I ever expected when the blog started 3 years ago. It's been very special and deeply rewarding.
A recent occurance, which has been especially rewarding for me, has been the bartering system I've been taking part in with various designers. This, as I have explained before, basically involves the utilising of creative talents for mutual benefit. The bartering system has been a godsend to me for several reasons: it's given me confidence to go out and accept freelance, it's allowed me to realise that I can actually design websites despite being told I couldn't, and has provided me the chance to procure clothes I wouldn't normally be able to due to my job situation. It also means I can work for people all over the world without pesky currency becoming a problem.
I've so far had the absolute pleasure of designing for the likes the Urban Collection, Norwegian Wood and Black Milk, I've done some writing for Jean Pierre Braganza and my latest barter has been with Alexsandra Strojadinov, aka Dust, whom you'll know if you read the comments. Dust and I connected almost as soon as she made an appearance on the blog. A shared love of the same music, same aesthetics, same thought processes - Dust is truly a creative kindred spirit.
When she asked me to get involved in the branding and web design for her label, Dusturbance, naturally I was more than happy to accept. The bartering system began. As payment for my creative services she designed me a dress. I just let her create whatever she wanted, with the only brief being "put on Nine Inch Nails' Closer as inspiration and design whatever comes into your head", I reciprocated by designing her website along to Skinny Puppy (oh how she loves Ogre!) and together we made each other very happy indeed!
I can't show you the site yet as it's still being developed and will go live on 11th November, but it's been the most rewarding site I have designed to date. I was allowed to do whatever I wanted - breaking all the usual 'rules' which guide web sites like sensible navigation and such like. We just chucked away the rule book!
In return I got the most incredible dress. I simply cannot begin to fathom how she made this piece of zippered, poppered, panelled slice of sartorial heaven, but she did. It comes with attachments which allow me to construct and deconstruct the dress in as many ways as I can possibly think of. It's anarchic, bold and perfect.
We are also collaborating on a project which involves this dress, which I shall tell you about as soon as I can, but let me say that these looks are but a tiny fraction of the way this dress can be worn. Multi-functional simply does not describe this creation.
Queen Michelle
