My furry friends.... hangin' in my closet!

FUR... This topic makes me a little nervous, only because I don't want to be doused in red paint! ; ) Fur has been worn for centuries; only relatively recently has it become a huge controversy in the fashion industry. Fur can be very beautiful and glamorous. Of course I love nearly everybody and everything so for myself it would be impossible to intentionally kill an animal, however if the rest of the animal is being used I don't see a problem with wearing the fur.

There is a right and a wrong way to do almost everything. I do not agree with people torturing animals. Killing animals specifically for their furs and discarding the rest of their body is a terrible waste and absolutely disgusting. I do not agree with fur farms, just as I try not to eat farm raised fish; it's just not natural. On the other hand  I do believe in hunting and I eat a lot of animal products: steak, cheese, ice cream, hamburger, bacon, pork chops, ribs, calf balls, etc.

Within the last few years I have been lucky enough to take part in many cowgirl activities. My older sister married a fifth generation cowboy from the San Diego mountains, almost three years ago. Since they met he has introduced us to a very natural, practical, traditional cowboy lifestyle. I had never been to a branding or imagined I'd be interested in hearing about how the steak, chicken, bacon and burgers (that I LOVE to eat), get to my plate, but these are things that I really enjoy now. I have learned so much from this new lifestyle; I have a new point of view!

My sister and brother in law raise grass fed beef and sell it to Homegrown Meats, a butcher shop in La Jolla. The cattle are raised in a natural setting, on thousands of acres, in beautiful valleys on and surrounding Palomar Mountain. I am lucky enough to help: gather, brand, ween, chase cattle all over the place! When the cattle reach weight and go to the slaughter house, every cow's hide is removed... this is not discarded, it is used to make leather goods, or another cow hide product. I had no idea! Every part of the cow that can be sold and used, is sold and used. It makes so much sense. People eat rabbit, deer, cow; all of which has fur, I want to wear it!! : )

 Growing up one of my favorite items of my Mom's to borrow was her Rabbit fur coat, a gift she received from my father for their first anniversary. I wore it everywhere: dances, plays, dinner, walks on Christmas morning, etc. Of course while I was wearing this gorgeous coat I never imagined what had been done in order for it to be made, why would I? All of the fur that is hanging in my closet was given to me and I love all of it. In the future I will buy faux fur or fur from responsible traders. I don't find it necessary to discard the fur that I already own, although I don't know where it came from, what good would that do... the animal is already dead and hopefully eaten!

Growing up in the country gave me what I consider a very practical view on animals. Every time we got a pet it would get eaten by a Mountain Lion, our Rottweiler, or another giant creature. We had pets run away, hang themselves, get attacked in front of our breakfast nook as we watched through the windows, break their back, contract some gnarly foaming of the mouth virus, drowned in our pool, etc. That's rough! I didn't want to get too close to them, three weeks later they'd be a little hairball on our back deck. I've fed mice to snakes and bunny pops to wolves. Good ol' circle of life!

My relationship with animals is very spiritual, I feel very connected. I love to ride horses and watch the birds fly through the skies. Baby animals of any sort are cute enough for me to bring home and cuddle in bed all night. When I make eye contact with animals it makes me a little sad, there is something a little sad about their faces; I could cry. I don't have an extremely strong bond with any animal in the world, but I do love my sibling's pets and if I ever saw an animal in any kind of harm, I would without a doubt do my hardest to assist it. The only thing I really dislike about animals is the odor and dander; It's foul.

Please feel free to let me know how you feel about fur. Considering we all come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences and bonds with animals, we will all have a slightly different point of view! I promise to respect everybody's opinion, please do the same for me.

May 2011 Fashion Photo Shoot

I Am a Free Spirit  

An Affirmation & Meditation for Inner Peace, Strength, and Healing 
  
I will heal 
And not harm  

I will love 
And not hate 
 
I will restore 
And not demolish 
 
I will help 
And not hurt  

I will seek to understand 
And not judge or dismiss  

I will grow 
And not stagnate 
 
I will be respectful 
And not rude  

I will be compassionate
  And not cruel 
 
I will have empathy 
And not apathy 
 
I will be mindful 
And not heedless  

I will be strong 
And not weak
   
I will be courageous
  And not cowardly 
 
I will dare to dream
  And not relinquish hope
   
I will be open-minded 
And not closed shut 
 
I will plant peace 
And not strife 

I will inspire 
And not crush

  I will thrive 
And not be thwarted 
 
I will live in the moment
  And not dwell in the past or on the future
   
I will cherish my loved ones, animals, and Mother Earth 
And never take any of them for granted

  I will embrace my uniqueness 
And never be generic 

  I will make magic 
And not malignancy 
 
I will create 
And not destroy 
 
I will be free 
And never confined 
 
I am a free spirit
  Who is grateful For my life and freedom . . . today.

Written by Christine Bruness

Copyright 2008.

chatnoir@comcast.net

 The May 2011 Fashion Photo Shoot took place on Palomar Mountain. I was the stylist, creative director, make up artist and photographer, with the help of Alison Hamar. The talented model in this shoot is Jessie Thompson. The inspiration came from the 1980's. I am a product of the 80's, I was born in 1985. I am thoroughly enjoying seeing 80's inspired pieces reappear on the runway, in stores and all over the streets. Our goal was to incorporate 80's fashion with today's fashion while putting a little country twist on it!

May 2011 Fashion Photo Shoot

 "They can't chain my spirit! My spirit runs free! Walls can't contain it! Laws can't restrain it! Authority has no power over it!" -Bill Watterson

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Albert Einstein

"Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art." -Leonardo da Vinci

"Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than material force, that thoughts rule the world." 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

April 2011 Fashion Photo Shoot

" Like a true Nature's child, we were born, born to be wild." -Mars Bonfire

A hippie at heart. I have always been very open minded. I believe in peace, love and freedom. I am disgusted by war and hate. I can not imagine wanting to inflict pain on another person, I don't believe I have that right. I can not relate to people that do not feel empathy or have sympathy for those less fortunate.  I believe that we are all equal. I love almost all people, whether I know them or not. I am willing and eager to fight for what is right. I always side with the underdogs, it's just my nature. If I see somebody in trouble or in pain I will always try to help them, I can not stop myself. I do not believe in status. Money does not impress me. I believe I can relate and find common ground with nearly every person on the planet. Life is too short to be serious; I find humor in most situations. I do not believe in being proud of circumstances beyond our control, e.g., the country and town in which we were born. I feel blessed to be an American and support the people that are willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom. I want to see the world and meet people from every nation and walk of life. I wish that everybody was born into a family as loving and supportive as my family. I believe that every person has something positive to offer the world, whether they acknowledge and attain this is another story. I do not measure a person's intelligence based on their education. I do not like to hurt people's feelings, but I am one of the most protective people on the planet; I tend to say mean things when I feel somebody needs my protection. I am very honest and vocal. I love to make people feel good about themselves. I could be more patient. I tend to freak out if I am around people all of the time. I enjoy spending time alone reflecting on life and what I can do to better myself. The news gives me terrible anxiety, because I do not believe that people deserve the pain that they endure. There is nothing worse than seeing a person in pain. Politics and religion are personal to me, I do not share those beliefs with everybody in fear that I will offend another person. Had I been born under different circumstances I realize my beliefs may be completely different. One of the hardest lessons to learn growing up was that regardless of how much I love someone they may not ever love me back, not even as a friend. I do not believe in perfection, though I am very particular about a lot of different things. I realize and understand that my opinions and beliefs will always be changing and that I am no more than a walking contradiction. This is my life and I was born to be me, wild and free!!

The April Fashion Photo Shoot was inspired by the hippie movement. The 1960's counterculture has always fascinated and inspired me. I was the stylist, make up artist and model. Alison Hamar, my younger sister, was the photographer for the shoot. All of the pictures were taken on Palomar Mountain.

"Do your own thing, wherever you have to do it and whenever you want. Drop out. Leave society as you have known it. Leave it utterly. Blow the mind of every straight person you can reach. Turn them on, if not to drugs, then to beauty, love, honesty and fun." -Myron A Marty

"The 60's were a leap in human consciousness. Mahatma Gandhi, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Che Guevara, Mother Teresa, they led a revolution of conscience. The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix created revolution and evolution themes. The music was like Dali, with many colors and revolutionary ways. The youth of today must go there to find themselves." -Carlos Santana

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you've 

always imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

"All I'm gonna do is just go on and do what I feel." -Jimi Hendrix