Held at the Barn Theater in Willmar, Minnesota, (a community theater originally built in a real barn) Alice organized a green prom dress project, with a fashion show modeled by girls wearing re-designed prom dresses, created by ladies in the local Willmar community and also 1 by me.

The event turned out great, and the young ladies all looked beautiful in their “green” prom dresses.  Everything in life starts from a creative idea, and I’m so proud of Alice and her own creative idea and its success. Way to go Alice! Thanks for including me and thanks for helping to save your planet!  Live Green and Prosper xo

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I was told by the landlord that the fish was about 9 years old, and that its owner would take off for a couple weeks at a time, leaving this little creature alone and unfed.I realized this neglected fish was trying to get my attention. So she became mine, and I named her Francine.

I gave Francine’s tank a facelift. A new light, plants, new gravel, a big conch shell I got from a trip to Trinidad, some sand dollars from the Sea of Cortez at San Felipe and a little plastic smiling mermaid gave it a new life. And of course food. She was always in the mood for food and seemed to always want to interact with me. I noticed she would bite at my finger if I held it to her but if I offered her kisses she would kiss me back, backing up if I backed up and swimming forward to give me kisses.

So we shared kisses many times a day. She loved interaction and attention, and if I sped on by without stopping to say hi she would splash loudly until I came back.

I had other critters too, a cat named Phantom and a dog named Berger. Berger didn’t care too much about her but the cat was fascinated. They would often play through the glass. At first the tank had only a partial cover and Phantom would sometimes reach her paw into the tank. Francine would startle her by racing after it. Luckily I was there when Phantom’s claw accidently came out, hooking Francine and sending her flying out of the tank onto the floor. Everyone was startled. I put her safely back and made a safety lid out of plexiglass.

Often when I cleaned her tank and rearranged the plants, she would get busy rearranging it herself. First thing she would do was knock over the mermaid and spit rocks on top of her. Maybe she was saying “I don’t want this bitch in my tank”
But the mermaid lasted because I kept putting her there and I would laugh every time I’d find her on her face, only to set her up again. It became a little game.

Francine would move gravel from one area to another, creating hills and valleys. She’d uproot plants and send them floating or relocate them. I even saw her pick up a scallop shell and swim it to the other side of the tank. I figured she had an opinion about how she wanted her tank to look and my ideas weren’t quite what she had in mind.

Little did I know that when she launched into her first major redesign, she was creating a safe nest to the best of her ability in the context of a tank. I’m sure hiding her eggs under a plant canopy was part of the plan to keep predators from seeing them from above, which would explain the floating plants..

There were no predators, however, as she was to be a lone fish, not a goldfish after all. I took her one day with questions about her breed and care to a knowledgeable aquarium shop owner who told me she was a Red Devil Cichlid, very aggressive, and in no circumstances should I introduce another fish into the tank. It would be war…

In the midst of her home/nest rearranging mode, she would also get a bit puffed up and short tempered. And if I dared to reach in to clean her tank she would come after my hand. I got bit once and that was enough. I’d save my cleaning for another time when she was her usual loving self. Fish PMS.

Girls who spend time together have a tendency to synch up in our “moon” cycles. Francine and I did the same thing. Odd as it sounds, I would wake up with cramps only to find her looking right at me, guarding a rock or conch shell full of eggs. This went on for years. She supported me through 2 miscarriages and a couple rounds of fertility treatment during my marriage. Neither one of us had babies but she continued her nesting until she was about 26 yrs old.

When traveling we would always enlist the help of a friend to come over and feed her once a day. But feeding ended up not being enough. We had turned into her parents and she missed us terribly. We came back to find her pale and at the bottom of the tank, staring blankly, swimming sadly. When I tried to say hi she didn’t see me. It was if she was in a depression. “They’ll never come back.” She must have been thinking. But I kept trying to get her attention and finally did. She became excited, happy, swimming fast around the tank, giving kisses, her color finally coming back to is usual bright orange. “They’re back! Happy days!”
From then on I asked whoever was feeding her to please say hi and spend a little time to keep her from feeling abandoned. My friends got to know her and did just that.

My dog Berger and cat Phantom passed, and we got a new puppy named Greta who was also not interested in Francine. My marriage ended and I was alone for awhile with my critters who were now my only family but surrounded me with constant unconditional love.

I met John 3 years ago and they both were crazy about him from the start, showering him with kisses, love, and much attention. Francine has been prominently located in the living room where she could often see us and also check out who would come to visit. She could see into the kitchen from the corner of her tank and we’d find her looking at us while cooking dinner, with Greta also on the lookout.
She loved us.

Lately we noticed that Francine was getting paler and less active. She had turned 31, about 21 yrs older than their typical life expectancy. The man I had been married to passed away Feb 20, and Francine followed him a month later on March 25. I thought my heart would break. I was all so much loss. I there for her last breath.

I am so greatful for all the love she gave me and the big life lessons I learned from her. I see and know that all living things respond to love, and if you pay attention you can learn many things from all creatures great and small.
I have heard that what is most important in life is not how much you own or how much you earn, but how well you love. I couldn’t agree more.

We bought another fish. A tiny little electric yellow cichlid that is a bundle of energy, A tiny fish in Francine’s big tank. We named her Amanda. Love goes on…

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My Marilyn Dress is featured in this inspirational and whimsical photoshoot. Lovely location, place settings, flowers, and that cute striped Parisian garter. Love it all.

See all the photos here

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My Dana Dress is the featured bridal gown photographed at the rustically romantic Mc Gee House in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The resulting photos are absolutely breathtaking. I can’t even describe how beautiful this photoshoot is.

The location, the wedding party, the flowers, the cake… everything is just perfect.

Have a look at Lukas and Sandy’s blog post here

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I decided to celebrate it a bit myself, along with a talented and creative crew to create some dark looks fit for All Hallows Eve. Model: Kassidy Fischer, Photographer: Chika Ozakumi, Makeup and Hair: Eugene Conde.  See the video of the photos here:

Goth/Halloween Fashion from Deborah Lindquist on Vimeo.
And in the gallery below:

Happy Halloween &  Dia De Los Muertos everyone!

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A fashionable Brit girl at her country home is the theme of “A Country Life”. Surrounded by her loving and attentive animals which include chickens, horses, dogs, and pot belly pigs, she looks just as much at home in her flower gardens and country surroundings as she does in her usual urban setting. She’s a bit eccentric in her wardrobe and her fashion sense is a blend of edgy/femininity with a bit of punkish influence. She wears a combination of eco couture sweaters, bustiers, and evening wear for fall 2012. She certainly has a nice life…..

Photographed by Kay Greenwood, model Erin Saltman has been one of my favorite models to work with.  I’ve known her and her family since she was 8, (Kay, her mom is the excellent photographer who’s work you see here) and she’s been photographed in my clothing and walked the catwalk for me since then. But its been a while. She moved to London so we don’t see each other so often. I was so fortunate to collaborate with the 2 of them twice in September. (Erin is also the shapeshifter in “Into the Wild, a Love Story”) And she willingly put on her toe shoes for the finale! (she’s a 6’2″ ballerina)

Thanks to Monica Garcia for the makeup and hair, Bare Sole for the shoes, and Bill Stankay for composing the soundtrack for the video. What a great team. I’m so grateful to everyone involved.

See all the photos in the lookbook and video below:

A Country Life from Deborah Lindquist on Vimeo.

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“Run up and down this sand dune” he says.

In a ballgown the color of the sun on a scorching hot summer day, exotic, leggy model Lupe Felix did what photographer Joseph Diez instructed, and looked edgy/beautiful every step of the way.

Not an easy task, in sand so hot it scorched our feet. But there we were– me as a human wardrobe rack with the next looks in my arms, Lupe looking fabulous (with a great attitude!), cars whizzing by the ocean on PCH, clear blue sky, and Joe capturing fabulous photos. It’s the glamorous world of fashion….I’m in love with this shoot.

Lupe is wearing a ballgown made of vintage sari fabric and silk organza, with a one of a kind bomber jacket of vintage kimono. (bomber is my own personal piece)

The Sand Dune from Deborah Lindquist on Vimeo.

Model: Lupe Felix Photographer: Joseph Diez Clothing & Styling: Deborah Lindquist Eco Couture

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I was fortunate to work with the stunning model Alejandra Espinosa De Samos and photographer Joseph Diez early one recent morning at the beach.

These photographs capture the romantic sensuality of the early morning mist and the flow of gentle surf. Alejandra wears an eco couture gown of vintage sari fabric and silk organza with a military inspired jacket of vintage army fabric, vintage leather, and muga silk.

Quando Calienta El Sol.

Quando Calienta el Sol from Deborah Lindquist on Vimeo.

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I enjoy exploring that question… Is it our similarities that draw us together, animal attraction, luck?

“Into the Wild, A Love Story” is a story told in images of a mystical couple who meet by chance in a lush wetlands area where plants and wildlife thrive. See the storybook and video below.

Into the Wild, A Love Story from Deborah Lindquist on Vimeo.

Thank you to everyone involved in making this a magical story!

A Special thanks to Leah Walton and her beautiful wolves Magwie, Mai Mai, and Blue (who was there for support)

Models:Erin Saltman, Nevin Millan Photographer:Kay Greenwood Makeup and hair:Eugene Conde Shoes:Bare Sole Shoes Jewelry:Deborah Lindquist, Georgia Fletcher, Flying Willow

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Weddings from Deborah Lindquist on Vimeo.

Model:Danielle Burt Photographer:Mariel Hannah Makeup & hair:Valerie Lopez Shoes:Bare Sole Shoes Video Soundtrack:Suzanne Teng-Silverlake

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