Monday, September 12, 2011

Five Funny Hoop Headlines from the 1950's

It seems in the hoop's mid-century hey-day there was quite the controversy about our favorite plastic round. Flustering the Royalty and hospitalizing housewives, the hula-hoop made the page quite a few times - with chuckle producing results. Click on the headlines below for the full article. 

Spokane Daily Chronicle Sep 24th 1958

Sarasota Journal Oct 30th 1958


Toledo Blade March 30th 1959


The Sun March 21st 1959


Park City Daily News Oct 24th 1958 

Emma Kerr and Steve Bags - Partner Twin Moves (!!!)



They are having so much fun - as it should be! Pretty innovative you slick hoopers, you. 

Capturing Burning Man 2011

"Rites of Passage"

Beautiful shots of hoopers and more at Burning Man 2011. Is there anything better for a Monday morning when the 'real world' rears it's ugly head than a vicarious trip to that magical gathering in the desert? All photos courtesy of katparry via Flickr. Check out the Burning Man set for lots more of what looked like an absolutely amazing time. 

My goal is already set to make next years happen for me. Preparation and cost is intense so it's never too soon to start - but, my oh my, is it ever nice to have such a motivating factor to work towards. 


Friday, September 9, 2011

Jump Through Morning

Ah, capturing that moment of jump through - so satisfying.



DubStep Frenzy

Never has a title been more accurate.

I love her flow and experimentation with the speed and level of the hoop. There are also great tosses and passes in here! I love, love, love speedy hoopers - dizzying to look at, but so much fun to watch. 

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Ain't It the Truth






























Oh... OH so true.
Thank goodness. 

In the River





























Rachel Coles captured a stunning shot of hooping in the river

Tilted Whirl


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

A Painted Face at Antaris

Paul Vlaar works on isolations at Antaris 





















New. Home.

Here we are. The move is "over." "Over" in (air) quotation marks (and said with raised eyebrows) to indicate that the process is not really over until a routine is in place. Not until I can walk in, throw my keys on the side table and plop down somewhere comfortable after a long day will I really feel like I am home. Currently, my keys are... on the floor. The couch is made of camp chairs and the most comfortable place to hang out is on the kitchen counter with coffee in hand and feet dangling. It's just like being 10-years old again (though, back then, the coffee was 80% half & half, 15% sugar and 5% coffee.) 

Ah yes, the memories of this place and time are forming already.   

Premature nostalgia aside, I am really enjoying the 'newness' of it all. It's a blank slate, an exciting house-sized art project to personalize and perfect until it feels like home. I guess that's what they mean by laying down roots - finding objects that represent yourself, or an idea of yourself, and buying them so that you see who you are (or want to be) reflected in what you own. Choosing things based on preference and not necessity.  It definitely feels like another step towards adulthood. 

... though, traipsing in the building with dozens of hoops slung over my shoulder while I watch people scurry out in business suits keeps me feeling young.  

This place has passed the all important hoop test - with high ceilings and limited belongings making spinning with a teensy poly pro easy work. Another poly pro bonus is that  there are no colorful marks left on surfaces that are hit with the hoop - not even this pink hoop. With the memory of repainting the ceiling and walls in the old place so fresh, it was a big relief.

I'll miss the old place - we went out with a bang with drinks and ice cream waffles - but I am open to whatever this new experience has to offer. (and more ice cream waffles.)

Hoops sneak their way in to every picture...


I think I am finally accepting that change is life. I've heard it forever... but kept waiting for stable ground. Really, it's always moving - it's just about keeping pace and remembering to look around, smile, and be yourself.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Sunday, September 4, 2011

West End Farmer's Market 10am-1pm

The West End Farmer's market has been taking place in Alexandria, VA since 2006 and boasts an impressive list of vendors and artists. 


I'll be spinning and selling there today from 10am-1pm in an effort to completely CLEAR my hoop inventory! EVERYTHING MUST GO, as they say. Whether I sell 30 hoops or none, though it should be a blast to get some hoop time in surrounded by some awesome folks!

Food Vendors
  • Vera's Bakery: scones, miniature cheese breads
  • On the Gourmet: meat, milk, ice cream
  • Fresh Joseph's: fresh squeezed orange juice
  • Pearl Teas: ice tea, loose tea
  • Amish Diary Products: cheese, yogurt, eggs, canned goods
  • Penn Farms: Vegetables and herbs
  • Norma's Produce: Vegetables
  • F. J. Medina and Sons: Vegetables, melons and herbs
  • Shamba Farm: Vegetables, fruit, herbs and plants
  • Vera's Bakery: Sweet rolls, muffins, breads, cookies, pastries
  • Great Harvest Bread: Breads, rolls, muffins
  • Eden Good:  Vegan cookies
  • Scamperdoodle: Dog treats, dog tags and nail trimming
  • Marianna's Macarons
  • Guata Java: Coffee and coffee beans
  • Alma's Berries: Fruit, vegetables, squash blossoms and herbs
  • New Family Naturals: vegan & wheat free foods

Artists

  • Billie’s Flowers: Fresh cut flowers
  • Roberto's Plants: Herbs, flower and decorative planters
  • Arch Painter: Wreaths, Flower arrangements
  • The House of Glass & Stone: Jewelry
  • Ted Marburg: Woodworking children's toys, mobiles
  • Paper Scissors Fabric Clayjewelry and art
  • Renee Clement: Photos and gifts
  • Sandra Taylor: Children’s Toys, Clothes, Aprons, Soaps
  • Bella Tierra: Ernie Pazmany
  • Rich Blumm:  Thai and Eastern artisans
  • Rod's Knife Sharpening: Sharpen all cutlery, scissors and tools
  • Debra Susan Abbott: Glass Turtle
  • Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Capital Area Chapter
  • Truly-Life: soap
  • Mindy Makes: children's clothes
  • BSE Bonsai


Friday, September 2, 2011

NEON Paradise


Approve! Love this! The skirt makes me ridiculously happy - it's a tutu, only longer.
 Always enjoyable. And that pink wall - oh my. I am overwhelmed by the greatness. 
... Clearly, I am not eloquent when I have been moving all day. Bear with me. 
Via: tumblr
Photography: LeMewPhoto

LED Playground


Via: Facebook

Moving Day Ramblings

Somehow, I swear, the number of hoops I have has multiplied. 

I am packing up all my belongings today, schlepping them to the car, and preparing for the real start of the moving process later tonight. There is never a good place for hoops during times like these. Which, is why I will be having a MONDO-SUPER-MEGA-GIANT sale at the West End Farmer's Market this weekend with ridiculous prices on new and used hoops. Please, if you are local - stop by! It's in Alexandria, VA and all the directions and contact info can be found HERE. This Sunday from 10-1pm. I'll be hooping to calm my sore muscles from tonight and tomorrow's heavy lifting. I feel sort of crazy working the market during the weekend of the move - but I plan on riding the momentum all the way until Monday evening. Whew!

... and this is BEFORE my friend drops off the 10 hoops I lent out last week. 




Seriously though...how has everything changed so fast? 

It's strange, really. For over two years I had been teaching at the same place where I started my first hoop class.  We had our final meeting this past Tuesday. Though I do think it was time to end (most hoop teachers set up 6 week sessions... I had simply started teaching and not stopped for... two years...), I'll admit that I got a bit misty eyed when I was driving away. It was my first real hoop opportunity and things would never have gone the way they did without it. I met so many wonderful, wonderful students and watched them go from novice's to hoop masters. Watching passion grow in someone is a tremendous experience. 

So what is the next step? 

Well, I plan on looking  for more teaching/hoop jam locations and expanding things on that front. Possibly more markets and workshops as well. It's really all thinking aloud at this point. I will have to get used to a new hoop space - though, I must say, we will finally live somewhere with ceilings taller than myself which will be a dream during those long winter hoop months. (And, really... in general.)

I have moved so many times. So, so many times. Finally I feel like I am moving into a home instead of into a space. Somewhere that I can get cozy and make my own - it is something that I feel is often taken for granted by folks who have lived in the same place for years or grown up in a home since they were little. I can't imagine that level of stability and am extremely grateful for the massive amount of experience I was able to get by living with so many different people and places - but, a bit of stability would be nice for a change. 

Particularly since, As usual, I am unsure of the exact path life has in store. But, I am still following my passions and moving forward each day. With each new opportunity I ask myself, 'does this get you closer to where you want to be or not' because it can often be deceiving. A short term benefit (i.e., money) can often times mask a greater loss (being 'trapped' on an unhappy path.) 

There will certainly be a lot of changes up and coming. But that is what life is all about, right? You don't get a practice run so there is no use in worrying about what could have gone better or been different. Learn. Listen to yourself, and continue to move forward. 

This move is a step in the right direction and I absolutely can't wait. 

As always, thanks for listening guys. Alright - back to the heavy lifting!

West End Farmers Market
4800 Brenman Park Drive
Alexandria, Virginia
22304

Sunday 9/4 10am-1pm

Now, What is This I am Looking at, Here?


A seated elephant practicing his hoop moves, obviously. 
The man in the hat is just a bonus.

Lindsay Nova, Festival Season Flow


Isn't it wonderful how even if you are surrounded by a loud crowd - you can still get lost in your hoop? 
Lindsay Nova, from her blog
Photo by B. Hockensmith.

Maggle Rock's Hoop Dance to Sigur Ros


Find more videos like this on Hoop City - Hooping Community - a space for hoopers

Maggle Rock does some beautiful isolation and shoulder work in this video dancing to Sigur Ros. I must say I am a bit jealous of that hoop space - ah yes, you know you are a hooper when: you see an empty room with one window and a tapestry and you think "BEST ROOM EVER!"

Truth.

Anyhoo...I love the shoulder spins around 3:36. Even though I can never give up my teeny poly pro, I have not been able to apply the duck out/shoulder spins that I learned with my 33" hoop to the 29"... 

One day, one day...

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Hooping To Morphine



Practicing this afternoon to Morphine's Super Sex.  I have filmed many practice sessions lately, but most have been the stop-and-start, pause and rewind, type sessions where I am attempting to perfect new moves. Hoop. Stop. Check move. Hoop. Stop.

It's great for learning, but it turns out crap videos. 

The thing that always eventually churns out a video I am happy with is just starting from the top - that is, going over as much as I know as a reminder that I know it. Yesterday I did this, starting with waist hooping, then chest, shoulder, knee, off-body, and into the more recent discoveries like tracing, folding, fish tail, etc, while trying to remember the chronology of what I learned and how it led to the next step. 

It was a great reminder of all that I can draw upon when I am moving. So often when rewatching videos I can see myself thinking, "what should I do next?" It's completely normal, of course, but it's also pretty flow busting (and cringe inducing.)

It's crazy how simple things like taking lots of warm up time can change this "huh" feeling. When I am really wanting a good session, I usually start with about 20 minutes of not-so-great hoop time where I focus on waist, chest, hip hooping and basic angles, just to get in the flow. I picked this up at Hoop Path, when Bax insisted on starting with these basics at every class. It's like "remembering" to stretch - it can feel annoying and tedious, but everything works out better in the long run when you just force yourself to start slow. 

What a lovely feeling. Particularly because in just 2 days I kiss this yard good-bye forever. The timing was perfect today though - I got a great session in, and just missed the rain.

Hoop Solider




























Circles in the Grass





























I would now like to have a shirt that says "drinko de mayo." Yes.