Tallulah Lost

"They tried to bury us, but they didn't know we were seeds." -Mexican Proberb

The moment I heard this quote I fell in love with it. I love to garden, so it hit home quickly. Seeds make for incredible symbolism. At first glance, they appear tiny and insignificant. However, they are bursting with life and potential. Though they can be nursed by humans, they thrive on their own under incredible circumstances. Seeds ingested by birds can survive the digestion process and are transported far from their origins in little chirping tummies. For humans, bird droppings usually mean a bad day, but for seeds they are the beginning of a journey.

Like seeds, we deal with a significant amount of excrement; we are dragged through the dirt and sometimes get stuck in the mud and mirk of life. But without fail, it is our darkest times and scariest trials that cause us to grow the most. We become stronger that we thought possible and our souls are filled with beauty.

The trick is remembering that our future will blossom. That's why I love this quote and why I made these badges. Though we may feel as insignificant as a mustard seed, we all have the potential to grow into something exquisite. Sometimes we just need a little reminder.  

I wanted to approach girl power in a different way: a gentler way that was still powerful and full of solidarity. I wanted it to feel authentic, so I decided to revisit acrylics and make something truly unique and hand-made. I also wanted to incorporate my favourite quote.

I have lovingly painted roses onto four 2.5" (6.35cm) round wooden badges. I then Mod Podge collaged the quote overtop. Finally I applied an additional coat of resin to make sure it's sealed tight. I attached a metal pin clasp to the back because I am first and foremost an accessory company. However, part of me still wonders if these would work best as magnets.

When Tallulah Lost first opened, it only sold 1" pins and magnets clipped from comic books. I've always loved cutting things out. Comics are extra exciting as you can re-frame the context of an image and tell a story by grouping sets together in new ways.

Calgary Alberta is mostly known for Stampede Cowboys, the Winter Olympics, and oil city machismo. At first glance, it doesn't seem to have much to offer for the femme fatale aficionado. However, upon closer inspection, one will discover that #yyc has a surprisingly impressive...one may even say killer...arts scene.

We have Vertigo Theatre: Canada's only professional theatre to produce a series of plays based in the mystery genre. There's also a blossoming Noir fiction scene; every few months, writers gather at a local bar to read excerpts from their most recent work. I like to dress up for it, but that's not actually a thing. I just happen to enjoy retro hats and 40's dresses.

Last Friday, we uploaded two new members to the diamond pin/magnet collection!

First is a black diamond femme button. When I designed it, I chose to split the word in half. There's something that appeals to me about emphasizing the "me." This button is for the dame who ranks high femme; on the femme to butch chart, she ain't no neutral.

Up next in the diamond collection is a ruby red girl gang pin. For ladies with blood red lips who dot their i's with hearts. Or their eyes with hearts. 😍

OK, so it's January and we're a little late to this nasty woman business. But we believe in speaking up, taking action, and eventually breaking glass ceilings. So we're rolling out a purple diamond pin celebrating the subject.