News and remembering...

Yep, madmenyourself.com has me on their website ;-)

These days I am prepping more personal repertoire for solo performances, including a private performance during a wedding reception at a gorgeous outdoor location. I am looking forward to this very much.

----------------------------

My gypsy band and I had a FANTASTIC time at Victoria's 11th Annual Ska Festival on the afternoon of July 10th, down at Ship Point in Victoria BC.

Thank you to the Victoria Ska Society for having us, the sound and stage management, and the crowd!! It was a great party!

----------------------------

Some sad news...

I wanted to pay my respect to a friend who was renowned in the arts here on the westcoast, Glenna Evans.

I had known Glenna since I was in Grade 6, where we met, during our first year of the scary world of middle school.

We went to school together, until she left sometime during highschool, but luckily I got the chance to reconnect with her by seeing her around within the arts scene and through Facebook.

I learned she was heavily involved as a visual artist, photographer, tattoo artist, performance artist -doing stilt walking, fire breathing, drumming, cycling, and skateboarding.

It was great to see what she was up to, through her websites and social media sites, and I was happy to know we both within the same scene, having a mutual love of the arts and performance. I loved seeing her passion and devotion to what she was doing with her life.

I am still in shock, and my thoughts are with her family and loved ones. Rest in peace Glenna.

xoxo Natasha

ENJOY

Enjoying my youth, and enjoying life as well....is what inspires me through life. Would you look back at yourself and regret NOT doing something? I would rather regret not having done something, then doing something I regret.

Regret is a feeling I try to avoid. I justify my actions by what my gut tells me. I rely on strong personal ethics, morals, and wanting the best - for myself and my loved ones.

I have heard a quote by Deepak Chopra, saying something along the lines of how you feel about yourself and treat yourself NOW will reflect on who you will become in 10 years from now. You, right now, are a product of how you treated yourself a decade ago.

I have heard this many times about elderly women, how they had wished they hadn't put so much energy into being self conscious, and insecure in their younger years, and that when they looked back at when they were young in age - they realized they were gorgeous, healthy, perfect the way there were, but didn't appreciate it.

LET'S AVOID THIS! Stop thinking that this or that is imperfect, and just embrace, and have a good time!

So with that, I sing, and play, wear costumes, and I carry on enjoying myself and what it is I do for a 'living'...

I may not melt faces, 'shred' or 'wank' with my solos on the accordion, but I will entertain and perform my heart out, and entertain and perform FROM my heart for you - with my accordion :)

♥Natasha

Great moments and gifts

My gypsy band and I had an absolutely awesome time at the Victoria Pride Parade & Festival this past Sunday, July 4th 2010.

http://www.victoriapridesociety.org/


My gypsy band was more then happy to be in this parade, the best parade to be in and watch in my opinion, and we were very thankful to both the Pride Parade Coordinators and to Kabuki Kabs for having us and giving us a lift from downtown Victoria BC all the way to James Bay's Macdonald Park.

http://www.kabukikabs.com/



We were close to the start of the parade, creating a lot of noise and having a party - on wheels! It was such a great time!!

Next up, we arrived at Macdonald Park, where the Festival was to take place. Food vendors, merchants, kids activities and a stage for performances was all there to entertain.


A nice mention and appearance on both the Times Colonist and Vancouver Sun websites:

This day will go down as one of those amazing, memorable, extremely fun and hilarious days - all spent doing what I love to do, with fantastic people.

After the long day, I came home, cleaned myself up and cleaned my apartment a little bit too. It was during all this that I heard a familiar voice in my ear, which was my Grandmother.

She has left a big impression on my life since her passing, and I heard her say "Hello" in my ear on that early evening on Sunday. Pretty cool, touching, and beautiful. She never saw me perform the accordion, but she loved and supported my piano playing and lessons I took as a child. It was nice to remember that she's still with me ♥



xo Natasha

New "Squeeze Me - Accordion Chic Apparel" items available!

New "Squeeze Me - Accordion Chic Apparel" items available on the online Etsy shop!

Check out the items here: http://squeezeme.etsy.com

Etsy Buy Handmade squeezeme

As a designer, I wanted all accordionists and accordion lovers alike to have a stylish, eye catching - but comfortable line of apparel so that everyone can show off their love and devotion to this internationally loved instrument!



An Accordionist myself, this new line of clothing has evolved naturally for her, and has been a joy to create and have so many fans.

I have been in the fashion design industry for the past 9 years, and started off with my fashion line "Aspekt Clothing and Design." My fashion business has been in over 20 different retailers across Canada, and I have taken part in many retail, trade and fashion shows, television appearances, youth empowerment seminars, and donates every year to the Visions Fundraiser for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.

I now have directed my designing abilities to costuming, and "Squeeze Me - Accordion Chic Apparel".



This line is for those who desire to be more Accordion chic, with a selection of apparel with fun accordion silk-screened images.

With seven different images to choose from, you are sure to show some accordion love every day of the week!



Private orders more than welcome! Place your order today!

Email your inquiry HERE.

Head spinning, dizzy-ing, fun fun fun, busy times!

Photo by Darren Stone, timescolonist.com

In the past week I got to perform for a daycare with The Great Giffoni, where the kiddies were about 2.5 to 4 years old. They were a fantastic and superb little audience. When I say superb, I mean one of the giggliest and loudest with enthusiasm. I had fun :)

----------------------------

July 1, 2010 - Canada Day

Lots of fun to be had with my gypsy band and I this past July 1st!!

We did the Sidney Canada Day Parade on a treacherous flatbed truck, what's a holiday without a little bit of trauma? Not my idea for the record!!

Then...we marched around the "Flavour of Canada Food Village" down at Ship Point in Victoria BC's Inner Harbour.

Photo by Derek Ford

What was next for myself and the band? The MAIN STAGE for the Victoria Canada Day Celebrations!

Photo by my Momma♥

Photo by my Momma♥

Performing in front of the whole city was nothing shy of AMAZING and EXHILARATING! ...Not to mention stripping in front of the 50,000 people....

A big THANK YOU to my talented and hardworking band mates!

THANK YOU to TNT Productions and The City of Victoria for having myself and the band perform at the "Victoria Celebrates Canada Day" events.

----------------------------

Next up for me....

My gypsy band and I will be making some noise at the Victoria Pride Parade!

Start: 12pm @ City Hall (Pandora Ave)
Ends: 1:30pm @ Macdonald Park (James Bay)

After the parade, the Victoria Pride Festival goes until 5pm at Macdonald Park. See you there!