It’s that time again ladies- time for a brand spankin’ new print edition of Pin Curl Magazine! Our Best of Spring 2010 Issue will celebrate its release on May 15th at Hot Rods and Heels 2010 at the Lakewood Theater in Dallas. Our cover gal Miss Cardinal Cyn will be on hand to autograph your issue!

This issue is jam packed with the best from the winter and spring online issues as well as brand new material you won’t find anywhere else! You’ll find everything from our spotlight interviews with fabulous gals like Dirty Martini and Masuimi Max, to DIY Beauty and Entertaining Tips, Pin-Up Modeling Tips and Tricks, Herstory articles on the legends, and much, much, more! Come on out to our booth, and say hi- we’d love to see ya!

Hot Rods and Heels 2010 Schedule:

Doors open at 4pm. The first 25 gals in the door receive a swag bag stuffed with fabulous goodies!

Daytime Activities:
Hot Rod Car Show, Shopping with fabulous local vintage vendors, Pin Curl Issue Release Party with Cardinal Cyn, Workshops, and Pin-Up Photoshoots.

Workshops happen every 30 min and will include Pin-Up Makeup, Pin-Up Posing, a Dr Sketchy’s Session and more!

Evening Activities:
Model Showcase emceed by Dayna Delux and live Burlesque Show with over 20 of the best performers from all over Texas!

You can get all of the info at HotRodsandHeels.com

Miss Cardinal Cyn of Austin is the featured performer for Hot Rods and Heels 2010. Here she takes the time to chat with us about Mexican wrestling, pimps, Miss Exotic World, and Femurs. This is an abbreviated version of the full article available in our Best of Spring 2010 Issue, which will celebrate its issue release at Hot Rods and Heels on May 15th, and will be available in our online shop after that!

Interview & Photographs: Shoshana, of Through the Looking Glass Studio

Q: Your burlesque bio is extensive.  How did you get your start, tell us about that first performance.

My introduction into the burlyq world started behind the scenes where I helped friends with their hair and makeup for shows and photos.
My first appearance as Cardinal Cyn was on the cover and centerfold of Barracuda Magazine!    

From there I was in the “Night of the Tiki” featuring Don Ho!  I was the mermaid that sheds her tail, so she can join in the tiki fun. Kitty Diggins gave me my first shot on stage as  one of her follies in “the Kit Kat Follies Burlesque Revue” fundraiser for Dixie Evans Exotic World Museum at the Palace Theater. The Palace is an art deco theater that holds 2200 seats! My most memorable solo-ish performance (I had 2 backup dancers) was at the Mayan Theater (built 1927 holds 1491 seats)which is truly amazing  it’s the real deal with balcony seating and art deco mayan carvings on the walls.  The show was Lucha Vavoom (Mexican masked wrestling, comedy & burlesque) which I previously performed in as a ring girl. I read that in 1948 the Mayan was a burlesque theater and Marilyn Monroe made an appearance!
 
Q: You competed for best Debut at Miss Exotic World 2006, can you tell us a little bit about that experience? 

It was the first year they did it in Vegas! I just remember all the great acts and getting to see and meet the legends! I had my first run in with Satan’s Angel in the bathroom giving my friend Mia Vixen a impromptu lesson on tassels! I recommend to all the girls new and old to attend Miss Exotic World or Tease O Rama and really experience the true supportive and awe inspiring performers from all over the world.  It’s a really great feeling to be enveloped with all the camaraderie with other women that have the love you do for burlyq!
 
Q: At one point you were represented/managed by a talent agency, maybe you still are.  What is your view on professional representation, as opposed to performers representing themselves?

I’ve always represented myself. I’m listed with a friend’s promotion agency out of NY!  Living in TX now I don’t book as much in the corporate world.  It would be great having someone to deal with all the money aspect.  It’s hard when there are people out there trying to take advantage of performers, we don’t need pimps, people!

Q: Now a painful subject.  In 2008, when it seemed like you were unstoppable, you slipped on an audience member’s spilled drink and broke your femur during a show at Emo’s in Austin with Kitten Deville.  It took a troupe in the show insisting that you go to the hospital, and when you arrive you learned you were going to need metal screws to put you back together.  You were out of commission for three months, and unable to perform for a lot longer.  How long did it take you to emotionally recover, and how long did it take your career to recover?  What has the rebuilding process been like?

Ladies I don’t recommend doing this at home or anywhere!  Although I do believe it helped win me the title of the “Most Beloved Burlesque Performer” in the Austin Chronicle! I broke my femur at the hip and have 3 metal screws to put me back together. I was on a walker for 3 months and then moved on to crutches.  I was scheduled to perform at a benefit for Miss Exotic World in Corpus Christi. I didn’t want to let them down and I really wanted to perform!  I bought a beautiful art deco red velvet chair to perform on.  I was nervous because I’m a hip shaker and never just did a striptease!  It was an amazing experience!  My adrenaline kicked in and I couldn’t even walk on my crutches, I had to be carried off stage! I did that performance two more times in Houston at the Continental Club and Numbers! Burlesque definitely helped to get back on my feet.  I don’t have insurance so I couldn’t afford physical therapy. I did it all myself dancing in the pool!  My motivation was to perform at the Tease O Rama in SF, where I used my cane right up till I got on the stage!  That was 8 months after my accident.  Two years later I’m still working on getting my leg back to full use without discomfort, and no I can’t tell if it’s going to rain.  The experience really made me appreciate my life, legs also made me realize how vulnerable I am.  How nothing can hold me back and that I’m not patient what so ever!
 
Q: In addition to quite an impressive burlesque career, you have an equally stunning career as owner of La Petite Rouge in Austin where you are a hair and makeup artist.  What have been your most rewarding experiences in your “day job”?

I love vintage glamour and I love making people feel beautiful inside and out!  That truly is the most rewarding!  I have had the pleasure of working with many great people including celebs and the girl next door.

Q: What are the most common mistakes you see gals make in the realm of pin-up and burlesque make-up and hair artistry?  What are your beauty pet peeves?

Well I’m eyebrow obsessed and it’s truly one of my specialties! So ladies get them right!  Just find what makes you stand out and have fun!  Do your homework before a shoot.  Look at other pinups and find the pose and the look you want before the big day!  For burlesque know your body what are your best attributes? Make them a focal point and disguise the ones that aren’t!

Not a beauty pet peeve, but a performance…I don’t really care for shock value in burlesque, to me that is more of a performance art. I like the glamour of burlesque, I’m not into the raunchy props keeps those at home please!…Unless of course the show is all about that then by all means go for it.

And a final word from your burlyq sponsor :]  Be supportive of your fellow burlyq girls they’ve got your back!  If you’re not having  fun don’t do it.  xx Miss Cardinal Cyn

Grace Truvant, founder of Lady Grace Academy, is putting Houston, TX on the burlesque map!

Story: Bubbles VonBonBon Photos: Shoshana, Though the Looking Glass

Know burlesque? Know Texas? Well here’s a question…what do you know about burlesque in Houston, Texas (the nation’s fourth largest city by the by)?

Your answer in all likelihood is not a darn thing–which seems surprising in these neo-burlesque-even-sweeping-the-silver-screen times. Located a mere two hours from Austin…and only five from Dallas where TWO different burlesque films have made their debut within a two months’ time span, Houston is surprisingly behind the striptease times.
But one little lady in the oil tycoon city is set to change that…and she’s starting with building her own audience of burlesque admirers and appreciators.

To my absolute enjoyment, the stars aligned for me to do an actual phone rather than email interview with the woman wanting to help bring burlesque to her hometown, and by the end of our talk I was absolutely enthralled with the sweetness and intelligence of this new but determined advocate for Houston’s striptease revival. Grace Truvant first fueled her lust for classic tease by attending one of the most historically relevant festivals in the new movement….the very first annual New Orleans Burlesque Festival.

Swept by storm tragedy a mere 4 1/2 years ago, New Orleans is often viewed as the old time birthplace of American burlesque. Although this is factually questionable, there is no doubt that NOLA brought something entirely original to the language of bumps and grinds. The lovely Ms. Truvant happened across the festival through the internet and planned a trip with her husband; the trip soon served as the impetus for an overhaul of the curriculum offered at her newly conceived dance school.

When she came voyeur to stage with NOLA and the enticingly cheeky and charming performers of burlesque, Grace fell in love at first grind. Having recently founded Lady Grace Academy, as an alternative opportunity and environment to learn exotic dance, Ms. Truvant knew that she must bring burlesque back. For herself. For her city. And above all to her students…women searching for the meaning of everything from body confidence to sexuality to femininity as fun.
You see…before Grace took burlesque to her city, it was nowhere to be found. Not on stage, not in studios. Asking Grace what really hooked her that fateful night in New Orleans where she witnessed her first show, I learned we had one remarkable influence performer in common: Jo Weldon. It was the incredible aura Jo brought to the stage as well as her workshop (Tassel Twirling 101, of course!) that sealed the deal for Grace, as it has for many burgeoning burlesque stars. It was Jo’s influence and presence as a strong woman in both performance and attitude that gripped Grace’s dancer soul and led her toward beginning a movement that has yet to be really made in Houston.

Grace will tell you that there have been troupes that have come and gone in the south Texas city–but nothing that really stuck or resounded with the general populace. Ms. Truvant is not entirely clear why this has been the case in her hometown, but she suspects it may have somewhat something to do with the high number of lap dance strip clubs–which may help foster a general lack of education regarding burlesque and its value as entertainment beyond sexual enticement.

This led me to another curiosity: if the Houston scene has yet to develop, and few people in the city seem to have a clear idea as to what a burlesque show entails, what sort of students seek out the Lady Grace Academy? Essentially it is women in very similar sparkly shoes to Grace this past year: they have a base knowledge of what burlesque once was, just as it has become part of our classic collective knowledge. But that isn’t enough. Her students find her as they search to find what the meaning and movement of burlesque is beyond feather boas and satin gloves.

Although LGA initially offered only exotic dance classes (Lady Grace herself has been trained in exotic dance forms from expert instructors in the field–but she sought to make it more accessible to women intimidated by the sometimes unfortunate connotations of the art), the school is now almost exclusively burlesque curriculum based outside of the occasional workshop on lap dance or go-go movement. In between educating women about the benefits and beauty of burlesque, Grace is also presented with another plateau to mount–actually getting burlesque shows into Houston. This is a process of small steps, however; and Grace wants to get it right the first time.

Although Grace is well versed in the transformative and tantalizing thrill of burlesque movement, she too is still seeking out her burlesque performance voice. A trained journalist, she is well acquainted with searching for her writing voice–and the difference it makes in presentation once it is finally found. When we talked about the high volume of writers cum burlesque queens (and vice versa), she felt it was that voice element that draws so many practitioners of both arts. As she said, “Burlesque requires the brain, all of one’s thoughts. The planning and methodical process taken to produce a cohesive creative endeavor appeals to women who are attracted to thinking in a narrative way.”

For Grace, the first stop then in creating both a burgeoning burlesque scene in Houston, as well as growing and shaping her school and students, is to really find her space on the stage with more performance experience and audience interaction. As many fresh faces feel when they arrive, she feels the tug of opening herself totally on stage, but she is still exploring the means and meaning of her personal give and take with the audience. She’s trying to process her precise formula for the final feeling and energy she wants to leave with her spectators. Once she finds her personal stage presence signature…the spotlight’s going to keep shining bright in Grace’s eyes. Thus far she has performed in Houston’s “A Tribute to Bettie Page,” presented by The Jigglewatts. This week she takes on Texas Burlesque Festival, and she can then next be seen at Dallas’s own Hot Rods and Heels. All shows which provide further evidence that although Grace may be new to the scene, she’s a force that won’t be forgotten any time in the near future.

So what does come next for Lady Grace Academy and Houston burlesque as Grace goes forward? Well, for one she wants to take her students to the next level with her. Having traveled to Dallas several times for workshops with Ginger Valentine, Headmistress of Ginger Valentine’s Burlesque Charm School, Grace is excited to begin planning for advanced classes in addition to her Burlesque Basics (which already has experienced several happy repeat students). Once things really get underway for both Grace’s performance prowess and her school’s student advancement, she hopes to seek a space to showcase her students and try her hand at producing. She isn’t afraid to help other ladies join her ranks, either. Because that may be the most charming thing about this sweet Houston honey: she really honors the term lady and exemplifies a refreshing grace. For Grace this isn’t about being the best or outshining others. I think she put it best when she told me at the end of our lovely talk, this little gem of a genuine spirit:

“The thing I always want to uphold and encourage in my time as a performer and teacher is that burlesque is a tribe. We should all support one another as much as possible. Because when one of us shines, we all do. There is no finite number of spotlights and we all bring something different and special to the stage. We won’t eclipse one another.”

With that, I can’t wait to see the direction Grace takes on stage, with her students, and in helping to shape the foundation of Houston’s burlesque community as a whole. She’s already a star in my sights, and we should all support this new addition to our skies.

You can find Lady Grace Academy at ladygraceacademy.com, or you can find Grace Truvant on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thursdaygirl, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Truvant/322338607783.

Rosie Rawhyde sits down to talk married life, Vegas, the Air Force, and camaraderie in Texas burlesque. Rosie Rawhyde will be performing in Dallas on May 15th at Hot Rods and Heels.

Interview: Divertida Devotchka Photos: Eddie Hernandez

Q: Your website says you were in the Air Force. How did that transition into burlesque?

I was in the Air Force for almost 5 years. I was an Electronic Warfare Technician and was lucky enough to get stationed in Las Vegas at Nellis AFB. When I moved to Vegas I started hanging out with a group of girls that were into pinup modeling. I did some photoshoots with them and talks began to start a burlesque troupe, which became The Sin City Grind Kittens, which to my knowledge was the first neo-burlesque troupe in Las Vegas. This was in January 2004, and I finished my time in the service in September 2004.

Q: You’ve performed in several troupes under different names over the years. Please share your troupe/stage name history with us.

My first performance was with Sin City Grind Kittens as Deadly Tiger Lily. In August 2004, with the help of my friend Goldie Debloomers, we started Babes in Sin Burlesque. We performed regularly at The Cooler Lounge and performed at the Aruba Hotel on the Strip. During this time I got to go to the last Miss Exotic World Burlesque Reunion held in Helendale, California. I was honored to perform at the Friday night performer party. I performed with Babes in Sin until August 2005 when I relocated to Texas. I took time off until early 2006 when I was hired to perform for a bachelorette party. The event was such a hit I was contacted to start a burlesque show. I decided a name change was in order, and my husband came up with Rosie Rawhyde. We continued self-producing and directing shows under the name Babes in Sin, Texas until late 2008 or early 2009, when it was decided to change the name of the show and the show itself. Instead of making a “troupe” we wanted a “production.” There is a core group of ladies that produce and direct each show as well as perform, but we try to have a rotation of performers to keep it fresh. From this point on the After Dark Revue, Corpus Christi’s only burlesque show, has been in full swing.

Q: What’s your favorite aspect of performing? The most challenging part?

My favorite aspect of performing is the creation of the performance. Having the opportunity to become someone different is such a freeing experience. I love traveling and meeting other performers. I have been able to go to some amazing events and performed at a number of neat venues and I have also had the privilege of sharing the stage with amazing performers.

The most challenging aspect has been the promotion. I hate having to “sell” myself. I want my art and performance to speak for itself. I spend most of my money and time on the actual performance and maybe I have been hurt by not promoting myself enough. On the flipside, I have seen girls that have great websites, business cards and photos, but they’re just boring live. I also find competitions to be a turn off. The minute competition is mentioned, there are performers who will get catty and that is something I don’t want to be involved in. Building camaraderie is something Texas needs. It’s too bad the state is so vast. Travel makes meeting other Texas girls hard because of our location.

Q: Who/what inspires you?

Recently I have gotten into tribal belly dance and have been blown away by the performers and the costuming. I have learned that skill in dance and pride in your costuming is essential, and that you shouldn’t rely on the final tassel shot. Other inspirations include old black and white movies, musicals, vintage cartoons, driving across the country, old glamour, vintage Hollywood, and music. I am inspired by life in general!

Q: How long have you been married? Is your husband involved in the burlesque industry? What are his views of your participation in burlesque?

This year will mark our 8th anniversary. He is the music tech. He is involved whenever we need him, but he never really volunteered to do it, I pretty much volunteer him each time. He is great though, dependable and willing to put up with numerous girls telling him directions.

He feels as long as I am having fun and hold myself with class, performing is fine. Marriage is about compromise and growth, together. I always tell the girls in the show that family comes first. I have found that if I equally give him the attention I give burlesque, I can keep everyone happy. I have a great friend and husband at home that I have a blast with on a daily basis! I have to remind myself that there IS life outside of performing sometimes!

Q: What are your goals as a performer?

I guess my current goal would be to keep that inner spark going. I never wanted this to be a day job. I want to be able to perform and hopefully be able to travel more for various events. I would LOVE to make it back to Vegas to do a show with the troupe I started out there. Of course I lack horribly in promotion so maybe working on that more should be a bigger goal!

Q: You’re performing at Hot Rods and Heels in May. Have you performed in Dallas before?

I haven’t yet had the pleasure of performing in Dallas! This will be my first time seeing so many Dallas performers and I am hoping to have a few join the After Dark Revue in Corpus Christi some time!

Q: What other projects are you currently working on?

After Hot Rods and Heels we start pre-production on our late summer Sideshow Ball. We are also in talks right now to possibly host a Texas Burlesque Performers Showcase in 2011. I would love feedback from any and all performers about traveling to Corpus and participating in a two night party and performance for Texas performers only. No pressure, no competition and a welcoming way for us to meet Texas burlesque performers! Please email rosie@rosierawhyde.com for more info and to submit ideas and feedback!

Q: How do you spend your time when you’re not performing (or preparing to perform)?

When I am not performing I love to spend my time having friends over for drinks and movies. Although once us girls all get together and have a couple drinks we end up watching burlesque videos and having a dance party in the living room to David Bowie!

LaDonna Hearne sits down to talk Hot Rods and Heels, TFP, her upcoming marriage, and how getting fired changed her life for the better. Hearne will be teaching a workshop in make-up at 5pm at Hot Rods and Heels on May 15th

Interview: Divertida Devotchka

Q: You’re doing a pin-up hair and makeup workshop at Hot Rods and Heels this year. Have you ever done a workshop before? What are your expectations?

I have taught lessons and done a few workshops over the years. I feel really confident that the workshop will be very informative. I will mainly be covering the basics of a classic pinup look, but I will answer any questions that may come up. I also offer private lessons that can be scheduled with me at a later date.

Q: What’s the best advice you can offer a gal who wants to do create her own pin-up look?

The best advice I can offer to create a pinup look is to focus on the lips and keep everything else clean and simple. A well defined eyebrow also nicely pulls together a pinup look…and false eyelashes!

Q: You have a wealth of experience in the industry, dating back to 1995, correct? Please briefly describe your education and training.

I started my training back in 1994-95, with Diane’s School Of Modeling at the Diane Dick Modeling agency in Amarillo, Texas, where I also taught a few classes on makeup. From there I dabbled in the industry here and there while attending the University of North Texas majoring in Art History. I also took theatrical makeup at UNT. I then worked for MAC cosmetics for about 3 years, where I had a management position and was a member of the elite Impact Team.

Q: You’re known by some for saying that being fired was the best thing that ever happened to you. From what job were you fired and how did that open up new doors for you?

Leaving MAC ended up benefiting me greatly. I was definitely fed up with retail. My career at MAC led me to where I am today, but it took getting fired for being tardy in December 2008 to force me to pursue my real dream of being a professional makeup artist. Fortunately, my family and fiancé were very supportive, so I was able to build my business and get my name out there without getting distracted by a “real job”. I also have to thank all that networking I had been doing for the past decade when I was out and about. A lot of the friends I have made over the years grew up to be fabulous photographers and models, and they really helped me get on my feet.

Q: What advice do you have for those who want a gig like yours?

The best advice I can give to anyone who wants to do what I do is to go work for MAC or some other makeup line that offers training and the opportunity to work on all sorts of random people. You will be ready for any face that you are asked to work on. The other bit of very important advice I would give is don’t turn down TFP work (trade for print), unless the photographer totally sucks. EVERY job I have done for trade has led me to more clients and paid gigs. Treat every job like you are making $100 per hour. You never know who is watching!

Q: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job? The most challenging aspect?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is helping to create art and making people feel great about themselves. I love working with regular gals, some who have never worn makeup or felt pretty. There is beauty in every woman, and it is awesome to help them discover that. It’s also fun working with my modely-models and coming up with creative new concepts!

The most challenging aspect of my job would probably be finding time for my family. I am usually the busiest on weekends, I start very early (8 or earlier) and do as many jobs as I can cram into my day and night, sometimes 4 or 5 all over the metroplex. Just looking at my schedule makes my feet hurt sometimes. I love what I do so it doesn’t really feel like work!

Q: Do you have any makeup pet peeves or makeup pitfalls to which you think most women commonly succumb?

Never skip mascara! Otherwise have fun, be creative, and the rules are made to be broken. Perfecting the skin with at least a little concealer or powder is essential for pulling off any makeup look. I love to see creative, crazy makeup on people, but it just doesn’t work if your zits and dark under-eye circles are uncovered.

Q: Any upcoming events or projects you’d like to discuss?

I have several projects coming up that I am really excited about, not limited to but including a big campaign with Shelly Singleton of SKS Cosmetics showcasing her makeup line, a fabulous shoot with Through the Looking Glass Studios involving a huge moon prop, a House of Mob fashion show, and a Brutal Beauties shoot with Roxanne Dale by H. James Hoff for Brutal Industries. I am also look forward to resuming my Lempicka project that I have been working on with Neither Noir Studios and anything involving accessories by Slipshod Sally. And of course my wedding to Jason Stein in October!

Q: What goals do you have for the upcoming year?

One of my goals for the upcoming year is to get more of my work published in magazines. My work will be in a spread in an upcoming issue of AltNoir magazine featuring Kaia in clothing by Victoria Velvet shot by H. James Hoff. I would also like to see more development of the Brutal Beauties project by Brutal Industries, and help my friends in the industry become more successful and achieve their goals too!

Q: What are your 5 favorite beauty products?

Eyeshadow by SKS cosmetics, dry spray wax for hair, MAC Brushes (essentials – 224, 212, 160), MAC Russian Red Lipstick, Magic Powder by SKS cosmetics

Pin Curl Magazine is proud to present: Viva Dallas Burlesque!

Dallas’ first consistent monthly burlesque revue! The first Friday of every month the Lakewood Theater will host Viva Dallas Burlesque, featuring your favorite local ladies of burlesque.

June’s show features Angela Ryan and the aerial acts of Angi B Lovely! This show will also feature the return of beloved Comedian Justin Foster as MC. This promises to be a night of laughs, stunning visuals, and lots of fun.

Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are $20 in advance. Tickets

What is a hair rat? They are extra padding that were used back in the day to add volume and make those classic hairstyles easier to achieve.

Historically, hair rats were made from the hair of the wearier. Women would simply gather the stray hairs caught in their brushes, when they had a pretty significant amount, they roll them with their hands until a tight sausage shape was achieved and viola- a hair rat! These were then used to roll their natural hair over (like rollers) and secured with hairpins to achieve everything from liberty rolls to Betty Page bangs, and because it was made from their own hair- the color and texture matched perfectly, making the rat extremely hard to spot.

If the idea of gathering your old hair and wearing it without being able to wash it eeks you out, modern luxuries include the store purchased rat, which are made of foam or tightly woven mesh and come in a variety of colors. Simply Google “foam hair rats” and a variety of suppliers will pop up. Once you’ve obtained the synthetic hair rat that is closest to your hair color, just cut it to the length you want and style away.

Easy as 1,2,3- Betty Bangs for gals without any bangs:

1. With a comb, divide your hair into a front section that will become bangs.
2. Starting at the tip, roll your hair over the rat, tucking as you go.
3. Using hair pins, secure the hair and rat in place, making sure to pin hair over the entire rat including the sides.

This will take practice. Remember: the ultimate Bettie Bangs are actually U-shaped, and not straight across.

We all have a ton of old tee shirts lying around. You know the ones that you love so much you can’t throw them away, but you can’t wear them either? Maybe they’ve shrunk (or you’ve grown), maybe they’re stained or have holes. Why not turn them into a punk rock, eco-friendly, tote bag for groceries, or whatever you have to carry around?

Step One:
Lay your shirt flat, iron if necessary. Cut off the sleeves at the seam.

Step Two:
Cut out the neck, leaving a scoop effect, and a wide enough opening to stuff easily, while being careful to
leave your handles (area between neck and where the sleeves used to be) at least 1.5 inches wide.

Step Three:
Turn the tee inside out, and sew a straight line across bottom hem of the tee, sewing the two sides together. You can do this by hand or machine stitch.

You are done! Flip it back to right side out and stuff- you now have a tote bag!

Article: Shoshana

It is an understatement to say that I love cheese. Some gals crave chocolate or wine, and those are both fine, but for me, nothing can compare to cheese. So much so, that when I was five or so I watched a Reading Rainbow where LeVar Burton visited a cheese factory- I announced to my parents then that I would become a cheese maker. While that hasn’t happened yet, I do still adore the stuff. Here’s just a few that you maybe haven’t tried yet:

Brie is a French, soft, cow’s milk cheese that can be eaten cold, or baked into gooey goodness. Has a very mild flavor and melts well. Serve with crackers, hard fruit (apples, pears, etc), and medium bodied red wine.

Torta Del Cesar is a Spanish soft cheese made from sheep’s milk. It’s texture is creamy, while it has an intense bite in flavor, with a hint of smokiness. Serve by making a hole in the top and scooping out the creamy insides and spreading on thick crusty bread, and pair with a crisp white wine.

Queso Oaxaca is a Mexican semi-soft cow’s milk cheese, which is comparable to an extra stretched, salty mozzarella. It is a superb melting cheese, and used in many recipes- makes an amazing queso.

Manchester is an American, semi-soft, Goat’s milk cheese with a washed rind. Has a distinct nutty, rustic flavor.

Fontina is an Italian, semi-firm, cow’s milk cheese with a very distinct earthy, woody taste. It is used in lots of Italian recipes, and goes well with meat, mushrooms, and strong red wine.

Gruyere is a firm cow’s milk cheese from Switzerland. It is nutty, mushroomy, and slightly sweet. Gruyere makes a great fondue for dipping crusty bread. Serve with champagne or zinfandel.

Gouda is a Dutch hard cheese made from cow’s milk. It is a deep caramel color and very flaky and crunchy. The flavor is a great blend of salty and sweet. Serve with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wanna learn more? The Mozarella Company is an indepently owned cheese shop in Dallas, with monthly classes including cheese making and wine pairing. Visit them at Mozzco.com