Sometimes when I'm sitting in the crowded melee of an airport, I wonder: am I doing my title justice? Am I really supporting and aiding and rocking my community? Am I doing them proud? I think the stress of travel brings out the nerves.
Follow my trek across the country (and world!) as International Ms Bootblack 2011!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Doin' some fancy math
For those of you that know me closely, you know I'm all about two things: integrity and transparency. They're very related, but for this moment, I'm gonna focus on transparency.
In the interest of being transparent, I will say that it is fundraising time again, and in a hardcore way. The truth of the matter is, travel funds are not that large. They don't necessarily cover all travel, and most of the time, I have to do a fancy-dance combining several types of airlines and buses and the helpfulness of friends to get somewhere.
I've finally really figured out what the rest of my title-year looks like in terms of travel, and essentially, by the mid-October my travel fund is gone. That is, if I do all the events I've been asked to do--which I want to because that's the point, yeah? ::grin::
I spent a good chunk of today figuring out what some of my more significant trips would potentially cost. This is coupled with the fact that I also realized that a lot of my more non-northeast travel happens later in my title year, making it so the more expensive trips are post travel funding. Does all this make sense?
Additionally, it was real nice to be able to hand a check for $100 to the Women's Leather History Project within my first month, and I wasn't able to do the same for the month of June. I'd like to change that!
My goal is to raise another $500 by August 1. I think this is do-able, and then I can cut the WLHP another check, and not go broke this year! Whatcha think, y'all?
There are several ways to donate to my travel fund:
1. If you want to get a piece of art out of the deal, you can order a print here: Society6: Katie Diamond Any art prints related to leather or boots or sexuality have a note that 20% of those proceeds go to the WLHP. And the rest will go to my travel fund!
2. You can click here to donate directly to me via PayPal:
3. You can sit in my chair when I bootblack at an event!
Thanks a million, folks. Any questions can be directed to me here or via my email: imsbb2011@imsl.org
In the interest of being transparent, I will say that it is fundraising time again, and in a hardcore way. The truth of the matter is, travel funds are not that large. They don't necessarily cover all travel, and most of the time, I have to do a fancy-dance combining several types of airlines and buses and the helpfulness of friends to get somewhere.
I've finally really figured out what the rest of my title-year looks like in terms of travel, and essentially, by the mid-October my travel fund is gone. That is, if I do all the events I've been asked to do--which I want to because that's the point, yeah? ::grin::
I spent a good chunk of today figuring out what some of my more significant trips would potentially cost. This is coupled with the fact that I also realized that a lot of my more non-northeast travel happens later in my title year, making it so the more expensive trips are post travel funding. Does all this make sense?
Additionally, it was real nice to be able to hand a check for $100 to the Women's Leather History Project within my first month, and I wasn't able to do the same for the month of June. I'd like to change that!
My goal is to raise another $500 by August 1. I think this is do-able, and then I can cut the WLHP another check, and not go broke this year! Whatcha think, y'all?
There are several ways to donate to my travel fund:
1. If you want to get a piece of art out of the deal, you can order a print here: Society6: Katie Diamond Any art prints related to leather or boots or sexuality have a note that 20% of those proceeds go to the WLHP. And the rest will go to my travel fund!
2. You can click here to donate directly to me via PayPal:
3. You can sit in my chair when I bootblack at an event!
Thanks a million, folks. Any questions can be directed to me here or via my email: imsbb2011@imsl.org
Updated Travel Schedule!
For y'all!
July 27 - August 1
International Leather Sir/boy and Community Bootblack
(I'll be your resident boot uncle!)
August 12 - 14
Toronto Leather Pride
(I'm teaching and doing boots!)
August 18 - 20
Great Lakes Leather Alliance
(I'm judging the BB contest!)
September 1 - 4
FETFest in Maryland
(Doing boots!)
September 14 - 19
Dark Odyssey: Summer Camp in Maryland
(Tentative)
September 22 - 26
Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco
(Confirmed! Probably doing boots)
October 6 - 10
American Brotherhood Weekend in Chicago
(Tentative - trying to figure out travel!)
October 20 - 23
I'm trying to make some BB mischief in Montreal!
October 29 - 30
Queer Invasion in Connecticut
(I'm the presenter!)
November 4 - 6
Philadelphia Leather Pride
November 11 - 13
Transcending Boundaries
(Not primarily a BB event, but awesome nonetheless!)
November 18 - 20
Montreal
Trying to figure out how to teach!
November 25
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Leathermask Ball
(Lyndon and I will be rockin' out in my hometown!)
---- 2012 ----
January 13 - 15
Mid-Atlantic Leather
(Still confirming!)
January 20 - 22
Phoenix, AZ
Southwest Leatherfest
(Almost confirmed!)
February 10 - 13
Providence, RI
Fetish Flea Market
(I always do boots!)
March 15 - 19
Portland, OR
KinkFest
(Almost confirmed!)
March 29 - April 2
International Ms Leather - Step Aside
July 27 - August 1
International Leather Sir/boy and Community Bootblack
(I'll be your resident boot uncle!)
August 12 - 14
Toronto Leather Pride
(I'm teaching and doing boots!)
August 18 - 20
Great Lakes Leather Alliance
(I'm judging the BB contest!)
September 1 - 4
FETFest in Maryland
(Doing boots!)
September 14 - 19
Dark Odyssey: Summer Camp in Maryland
(Tentative)
September 22 - 26
Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco
(Confirmed! Probably doing boots)
October 6 - 10
American Brotherhood Weekend in Chicago
(Tentative - trying to figure out travel!)
October 20 - 23
I'm trying to make some BB mischief in Montreal!
October 29 - 30
Queer Invasion in Connecticut
(I'm the presenter!)
November 4 - 6
Philadelphia Leather Pride
November 11 - 13
Transcending Boundaries
(Not primarily a BB event, but awesome nonetheless!)
November 18 - 20
Montreal
Trying to figure out how to teach!
November 25
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Leathermask Ball
(Lyndon and I will be rockin' out in my hometown!)
---- 2012 ----
January 13 - 15
Mid-Atlantic Leather
(Still confirming!)
January 20 - 22
Phoenix, AZ
Southwest Leatherfest
(Almost confirmed!)
February 10 - 13
Providence, RI
Fetish Flea Market
(I always do boots!)
March 15 - 19
Portland, OR
KinkFest
(Almost confirmed!)
March 29 - April 2
International Ms Leather - Step Aside
Monday, June 20, 2011
Art art and more art!
I've opened up my old locker of illustrations, and also started drawing with more fervor and frequency, and have been putting these illustrations up on my Society6 website. Prints, shirts, and other goodies are available there, with 20% of the profits on leather and boot drawings going to the Women's Leather History Project, and the rest to my IMsBB travel fund!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
International Mr Leather
It's long overdue if you ask me, but here, finally, are my thoughts on International Mr Leather! Because I'm a nerd, I shall place them in numerical order.
1. The joy of watching Jim Deuder, my boot-grandaddy and now, my sash-husband (are we incestuous, or what?) rock out at the competition was just wonderful. He licked every pair of boots he blacked. It...was...amazing.
2. Hot leathermen. 'Nuff said.
3. I finally got to meet, in person, some folks I've only had the opportunity to meet online or hear about. I often feel passionately about our community (in case you didn't notice), but pleasant reminders of our loveliness still stun me.
4. Thank goodness for Pony, International Mr Bootblack 2009. I mean, seriously. She fed me, made sure I got everywhere I needed to be, made sure I got at least 7-8 hours of sleep, and is just incredible. Thank goodness for her.
5. Hot leathermen. Uh huh.
6. Though, I do admit, in regards to #2 and #6, I often forget the following things about myself: a) I am short. b) I may be a tiny bear but I am still female. I think I confused a lot of said leathermen when I woofed at them. Or made them giddy. It's still up for debate.
7. Being able to hang about the IMBB contest and watch the contestants was wonderful. I consider myself a true voyeur - I am so down with just watching. Being a nerdy voyeur, I really enjoyed watching people's styles and personalities.
8. Also, thank goodness for the American Brotherhood family. The ABWs are simply divine. I also feel very taken under their wings whenever I am around them, and I hope to return the favor as soon as possible and as frequently as I can.
9. Back on #6, another wonderful thing about being a ladybear is when you are indeed seen as the ladybear you are. Many times, I'd meet a leatherbrother for the first time, and our greeting was growly and joyous. It would surprise whoever introduced us, and it would remind me that my queers are totally rockin'. Open-heartedness is really the basis for everything, I believe. Maybe that sentence is cheesy. But one could argue this whooole post is cheesy.
10. The opening of "A Room of Her Own" via the Women's Leather History Project at the Leather Archives and Museum was so successful, and I'm so proud to have been there and to have been a part of it. To be a part of it!
Well, I think 10 is a good number to end on... Obviously there was much more to the weekend, but being able to quantify and qualify it all in words is sorta beyond me. Here's a picture of the WLHP A Room of Her Own pin instead.
1. The joy of watching Jim Deuder, my boot-grandaddy and now, my sash-husband (are we incestuous, or what?) rock out at the competition was just wonderful. He licked every pair of boots he blacked. It...was...amazing.
2. Hot leathermen. 'Nuff said.
3. I finally got to meet, in person, some folks I've only had the opportunity to meet online or hear about. I often feel passionately about our community (in case you didn't notice), but pleasant reminders of our loveliness still stun me.
4. Thank goodness for Pony, International Mr Bootblack 2009. I mean, seriously. She fed me, made sure I got everywhere I needed to be, made sure I got at least 7-8 hours of sleep, and is just incredible. Thank goodness for her.
5. Hot leathermen. Uh huh.
6. Though, I do admit, in regards to #2 and #6, I often forget the following things about myself: a) I am short. b) I may be a tiny bear but I am still female. I think I confused a lot of said leathermen when I woofed at them. Or made them giddy. It's still up for debate.
7. Being able to hang about the IMBB contest and watch the contestants was wonderful. I consider myself a true voyeur - I am so down with just watching. Being a nerdy voyeur, I really enjoyed watching people's styles and personalities.
8. Also, thank goodness for the American Brotherhood family. The ABWs are simply divine. I also feel very taken under their wings whenever I am around them, and I hope to return the favor as soon as possible and as frequently as I can.
9. Back on #6, another wonderful thing about being a ladybear is when you are indeed seen as the ladybear you are. Many times, I'd meet a leatherbrother for the first time, and our greeting was growly and joyous. It would surprise whoever introduced us, and it would remind me that my queers are totally rockin'. Open-heartedness is really the basis for everything, I believe. Maybe that sentence is cheesy. But one could argue this whooole post is cheesy.
10. The opening of "A Room of Her Own" via the Women's Leather History Project at the Leather Archives and Museum was so successful, and I'm so proud to have been there and to have been a part of it. To be a part of it!
Well, I think 10 is a good number to end on... Obviously there was much more to the weekend, but being able to quantify and qualify it all in words is sorta beyond me. Here's a picture of the WLHP A Room of Her Own pin instead.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Next few months for y'all
I was hoping to have a calendar of events I could embed onto the blog, but apparently that's too tech-savvy for blogger... So to keep it simple, here's a list of the events I know I'll be at in the next few months! (I'm certain I'll add things!)
May 26 - May 30
International Mr Leather in Chicago
June 11
Boston Pride
I'll be on the Ramrod float!
June 18
Portland, Maine Pride
July 1 - 4
TESFest in New Jersey
July 27 - August 1
International Leather Sir/boy and Community Bootblack
September 1 - 4
FETFest in Maryland
September 14 - 19
Dark Odyssey: Summer Camp in Maryland
September 22 - 26 (Maybe)
Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco
October 6 - 10
American Brotherhood Weekend in Chicago
October 29
Queer Invasion in Connecticut
I'm presenting!
November 4 - 6
Philadelphia Leather Pride
And then we're suddenly in 2012, which is way too intense for me to post now. ;)
May 26 - May 30
International Mr Leather in Chicago
June 11
Boston Pride
I'll be on the Ramrod float!
June 18
Portland, Maine Pride
July 1 - 4
TESFest in New Jersey
July 27 - August 1
International Leather Sir/boy and Community Bootblack
September 1 - 4
FETFest in Maryland
September 14 - 19
Dark Odyssey: Summer Camp in Maryland
September 22 - 26 (Maybe)
Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco
October 6 - 10
American Brotherhood Weekend in Chicago
October 29
Queer Invasion in Connecticut
I'm presenting!
November 4 - 6
Philadelphia Leather Pride
And then we're suddenly in 2012, which is way too intense for me to post now. ;)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
$100 raised already!
That's right - you read correctly! It's only been a month, and all y'all have been amazing and made it so I've already raised $100 for the Women's Leather History Project!
I want to keep this trend up... So I'm making it my goal to raise $100 for the project every month of my title year (and perhaps beyond!). 20% of all my travel funds go to the Women's Leather History Project, and the rest goes to travel.
It means tons to me that y'all have been so generous. It takes the burden and stress off of traveling all around repping IMsL/IMsBB, and makes me giddy that it has the added bonus of preserving our history.
I want to keep this trend up... So I'm making it my goal to raise $100 for the project every month of my title year (and perhaps beyond!). 20% of all my travel funds go to the Women's Leather History Project, and the rest goes to travel.
It means tons to me that y'all have been so generous. It takes the burden and stress off of traveling all around repping IMsL/IMsBB, and makes me giddy that it has the added bonus of preserving our history.
So, click below!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
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