Lust & Gore Hardwear Customized Military Caps to Be Featured in 2009 GRAMMY® Gift Bags

The contract is signed and the press releases are drafted. Lust & Gore Hardwear has been invited by Distinctive Assets to ccontribute to the Official Presenter and Performer Gift Bags for the 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards. For those who haven't seen the media frenzy in previous years, Distinctive Assets is the company who has made GRAMMY Gift Bags the coveted items they are today. This is a big deal. Lusty and I were struggling to get our gear on a celebrity or two, and along comes Distinctive Assets handing us the opportunity to put our hats on the heads of 150 of this year's biggest celebrities. Needless to say, we scraped up the resources and accepted the invitation. Now we are frantically, but carefully, making hats and folding boxes. Paper cuts and puncture wounds never felt so right.

The following military cap designs will represent the bulk of the hats in the Gift Bags (in case you want to wear what your favorite GRAMMY Presenter or Performer may be wearing):







Visit our website to see all of our military caps: Lust & Gore Hardwear Customized Military Caps


The 2009 GRAMMYs air on February 8th, 8PMET/PT on CBS.

Lust & Gore In Grammy Gift Bags? Could Be . . .

I shit you not, I got a call from Distinctive Assets today. They are famous for their to-die-for award show gift bags. So, the scoop is that they just read our press release, Lust & Gore Online Press Release, and thought our stuff might appeal to some of the presenters and performers at the Grammy Awards in February. Artsy, edgy, and full of attitude. Lusty and I knew that all along. It's actually the point of of Lust & Gore Hardwear -- making people feel like superstars and superheroes (or, in some cases, super-villains). Now, it seems that there is a real chance that other people (some already superstars) might get to experience the Lust & Gore attitude first-hand. Lucky devils.

We'll keep you posted . . .

Thanks For the Ass! Cowboy Hat Anyone?

In the world of online marketing, the keyboard can be your friend or foe. With that instrument I am a brawlarina (shout out, AZRD!) far more than a ballerina. My peckers have good length and girth, and all 4 of them that I actually use type with both speed and power, but not always assuracy. Most of the time they serve me well. Sometimes, though, they miss or overflow. So, when we drop you a flyer on MySpace, or post on your Wall on Facebook, just know that whether Aurora's fat fingers typed "Thanks for the add!" or "Thanks for the ass!" she meant it with the utmost respect and professional courtesy.

You see, at Lust & Gore Hardwear there are a few things we love. Cowboy hats, military caps, and jewelry, of course. But, we also love roller derby, rollergirls, music, music lovers, tattoos, motorcycles, bikers, extreme sports, metal, dogs, sarcasm, and booties.

Well, honestly, we think boobies are nice too . . .

Come visit. Get to know us better.

Lust & Gore Hardwear

Thanks for the Mammaries

I would love a boob job for Christmas, but I suspect that I won't be getting it. Money is running low, almost as low as my boobs.

Perhaps this will be the dialog I can look forward to:

"Thanks for the sweater vest. I love how it doesn't cover my tattoo sleeve. Nevertheless, it is itchy and scratchy against my nipples so I shall put it in the crock put you bought me last year and cook it on low until I have burned it to nothing more than a bad memory."

Don't let this dialog be your Christmas mammary. Gift some Lust & Gore, the gift that says "Fuck you" before they can.

Hey, you wouldn't even be buying them Lust & Gore if they wouldn't say it . . .

Stalkings and Missile Toe

Tired of the same old Christmas ho-hum? How about gifting a little Lust & Gore? Nothing represents the spirit of the season like a Twisted Link Choker . . .



Lust & Gore Hardwear's Website

Hey, fashion is pain. Like wearing tight clothes, it is a little uncomfortable to look like 2 pounds of baloney in a 1 pound sack, but it is so worth it.

So give the gift that says "What the fuck are you looking at?" this Christmas. I know I will.

Shotgun Style Interview Reveals Secret of the Orient

For your enjoyment and theirs, Lusty and Aurora sat down (But wait, that's not even the fun part!) and interviewed each other. Because of Aurora's substantial ADD and Lusty's excitement to get to happy hour, the interview is done shotgun style - -questions fired, answers scattered, splattered, and, sometimes, disgusting.

Aurora to Lusty: Would you rather have a hook for a hand or a peg leg?

Lusty: Hook. I can't fit my skate on a peg and I can rip a girl's face off with a hook.

Lusty to Aurora: You were in the Air Force. Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?

Aurora: No. I have shot a machine gun straight up into the air with one arm while yelling "Freedom!" though.

Aurora to Lusty: Is my butt broken?

Lusty: Yes. There's a huge crack in it. Maybe your name should be Count Crackula instead of Aurora Gory Alice.

Lusty to Aurora: Do you think my sweat smells like menstruation?

Aurora: No. Your breath does.

Aurora to Lusty: Alright. On to Lust & Gore now. What is your favorite Lust & Gore product?

Lusty: Our newest design usually tends to be my favorite because we just get better and better at designing. Right now, though, my favorite is the black straw cowboy hat with the nails through the hat band, and nails pierced through the brim. It makes me feel a combination of heavy metal and hoedown.

Lusty to Aurora: What Lust & Gore product or products are you most excited about?

Aurora: I love to skate. I have roller derby to thank for the "fuck it" attitude that led to the creation of this business. So, my favorite designs are those that pay homage to skating, namely the skate bearing jewelry and the customized military cap with the handpainted rollergirls.

Aurora to Lusty: What is it like to work with me?

Lusty: If it weren't for all the drinking, I am not sure I could do it. Thank goodness for the drinking. Plus, I think you're kinda hot. And tall.

Lusty to Aurora: What made you decide to make fashion accessories out of hardware?

Aurora: On the way from Albany to Phoenix, we decided to buy cowboy hats. Everything we came across in our search for the perfect cowboy hat was either lame or low key. We are neither of those things. I had always thought about making jewelry from hardware for myself because I love the weight of the metal. It feels powerful and hardcore. So, we translated that idea to cowboy hats, and later military caps. We customized them with hardware to make unique hats that were hardcore without trying. They don't feel contrived. They are just badass.

Aurora to Lusty: Is there anything you want the reader to know about Lust & Gore Hardwear?

Lusty: Lust & Gore stuff makes you feel good. This old world can suck you dry sometimes. You deserve to feel good so we are designing interesting products to make you the superstar of wherever you are.

Lusty to Aurora: What about you? Anything you want the readers to know?

Aurora: If you're wearing Lust & Gore and people aren't staring, it's because they are scared.

Aurora to Lusty: What is the secret of the orient?

Lusty: Why, Pearl Cream, of course.

Our Website Is Live! LustandGoreHardwear.com Is Open For Business!

We are open for business!

Lust & Gore Hardwear's Website

Please stop by. Look around, buy stuff, contact us. Have fun! Tell people!

Slugs & Kisses,

Lusty and Aurora

You Just Look So Cool That I Had To Ask - - Are You a Rock Star?

We all want to make a living doing something we love. Good marketing is a way to, at the very least, let us chase the dream a little bit longer. When you dress differently, confidently, people tend to care more about what you and who you are. They become interested in you. They ask questions. You get to tell someone about your band, your bike, your skate shop, your roller derby team. That is street marketing at its most basic level. It is promotion of the best kind - self-promotion. No one can speak more passionately about your passions than you. So drum up the interest. Dress the part.

Lust & Gore Original Design - Black Toyo/Nail Sash/Nails

Double Tier Sash Machine Screw Bracelet

Visit :

Lust & Gore Hardwear Website

and

Lust & Gore Hardwear MySpace Page

For customized cowboy hats, military caps, and original jewelry designs that don't just hint at who you are, they scream.

It's Like We're Famous Or Somethin'

We got real professional flyers done this week. Thanks to T-Wrexx for modeling and Adrian for making the flyers look HOT!

Please feel free to post these, send these, or print and distribute these. It's not so much even "feel free". What I mean to say is "Please post these, email these, print these, and in any other way, distribute these." Please?

Gratuitous begging has ended.

Lusty learned Photoshop Elements. Check out her flyer.



(If you right-click or control-click and open the image in a new window, you can actually see the whole thing.)

You know, if you want to show this to your friends and family, it is okay with us . . .

Miniature Highway Patrolman, Meet Larger-Than-Life Aurora Gory Alice

So, I got pulled over on the way home from the bout on Friday night. It was about 11:00 PM and there were 5 of us in the car. I had just asked if anyone had seen a speed limit sign. No one had. Still, I came speeding up on the asses of 2 Highway Patrol cars. I passed one. Always a bold move, but, hey, why the fuck not? Anyhoo, he immediately pulled in behind me and flipped his lights on. Oops.

So I see him get out of his car and I debate my first words to him. I am thinking about saying "I know, you pulled me over to invite me to the Highway Patrolman's ball," praying that he will respond with "Highway Patrolman don't have balls." As we had all been drinking, I decide that maybe I will just hold my tongue and answer his questions.

He approaches with an attitude. Something about the speed limit being 45 because it was a construction zone, me passing 2 Highway Patrolman, and the car smelling like alcohol. I told him that I had had a couple of beers and the next words, as expected, were "Would you step out of the car?" I was not nervous about the sobriety test as I was not intoxicated, but I was feeling inconvenienced. So I throw the car door open and take the walk to the rear of the car to chat.

His tone was definitely different during the conversation outside. He asked questions in a normal tone of voice. The follow the pen test was brief, and he let me go with a abbreviated schpiel about impaired driving. I think back on it now, as I stood there dressed in my metal clad boots with the 3" sole (making me 6"2), knee socks, a short skirt with crossbones, and my uniform tank top which says "Obey Your Master" across the front and wonder if that had anything to do with the way it all went down. I wonder what he must of thought when I stood there next to him looking like a super hero. I wonder if that takes away from the powerful, dominating feeling he must be used to when people clamor for words and get nervous by his presence. I would guess Aurora Gory Alice may have stolen a little of his thunder that night.

If so, I am sarong and sari. Not.

Easygoing Vengeance Mutha Fucka

So the bout is over. It was the throwdown, knock-around, hit-the-ground, bloodlusting derby everybody anticipated and then some. The "and then some" came from the unfortunate douchiness of some of the fans. There was kicking, holding, and throwing of fashion accessories from the crowd, along with a display of complete bonerism from a woman I am quite certain was not skilled enough to actually make the Dames bouting team. That aside, or aside as it can be put, I had quite a few fans approach me spewing compliments about the excitement of the bout. With a final score of 15-0 (in favor of the Dames) the compliments were not just blowing smoke. Bruised and battered, I can't necessarily say the bout was good derby, but it was a hard-fought, apparently fun to watch battle. And, I can't speak for everyone, but I can tell you with certainty that that bout will ultimately make me a better skater. Vengeance is a powerful motivator.

Roller Derby Riot This Friday! Arizona Renegade Rollergirls vs AZ Derby Dames!

This Friday, November 14th at the 5th Ave & Madison Event Center, all no-rules skating hell will break loose. The Renegade Rollergirls will be taking on the AZ Derby Dames. The Renegades are the pioneering league to scrap the rules for the real hardcore, downright entertaining new roller derby that fan of old can embrace. The Derby Dames are a seasoned league with solid skills and big numbers. This clash of the roller derby worlds is sure to be high on endorphins with the Renegades "Whatever it takes" style surely being a source of big, ugly frustration for a league used to the structured framework of rules. Having said that, there is no doubt in this Renegade's mind that the Dames will embrace the freestyle mayhem for one night and put up a good fight (quite possibly literally). It's gonna be brutal. If you only catch one bout this season, this is the one.

Skatin' is hatin' and hatin' is fun.

Lust & Gore Contributes to This Month's Issue of Fracture Magazine

Yours truly, Aurora Gory Alice, submitted a couple of training articles to a wicked cool roller derby magazine called Fracture Magazine. One of those articles, Structuring a Roller Derby Season, can be found in this month's issue.

http://www.fracturemag.com/derby/derby101/structuring-a-roller-derby-season

If you haven't checked out Fracture Magazine, you gotta see it. It is a great magazine that recognizes derby for what it is, a lifestyle. Learn about the sport, the skaters, take in the art and music we love, and learn about some gear and goods you gotta get your mitts on. Seriously sweet. If you live derby like I do, it is a must read. And if you know me, you know that I don't even like to read.

http://www.fracturemag.com

Drum Roll Please. Cowboy Hats, Military Caps, Jewelry, and Clothing by Lust & Gore Hardwear Available November 14th

So November 14th has become the tentative go live date for Lust & Gore Hardwear's website, www.lustandgorehardwear.com. But wait, there's more. . . November 14th is also the day our roller derby team, the Arizona Renegade Rollergirls, hosts a bout against the Arizona Derby Dames. It is going to be a no-rules, roller derby brawl. But there's STILL more . . . Lust & Gore Hardwear will also be selling our skate bearing jewelry at the merch table at the bout. Here's your chance to get one of these designs before anyone else and at a low introductory price.

So, when you wake up on Saturday the 15th after your hard night of whatever, ease into your day with a visit to www.lustandgorehardwear.com. Cowboy hats, military caps, jewelry, and clothing that's aren't for everyone, they're for you. Buy them if you like, wear them if you can.

Lust & Gore Skate Bearing Jewelry For Sale at Nov. 14th Renegade Rollergirls vs AZ Derby Dames Bout

Lust & Gore will be debuting their new skate bearing jewelry at the Nov.14th Renegade Rollergirls vs AZ Derby Dames bout at the 5th Ave & Madison Event Center in downtown Phoenix. All 3 designs will be sold at a low introductory price. If you are a fan of skating, you gotta have at least one of these. Wear it. Love it. Represent.

Serious Skate Jewelry - Skate Bearing Necklaces and Earrings For Heroes and Villains

Love to skate? Yeah, us too. That's why we came up with these designs. 2 necklaces and a pair of earrings you will want.

Why are we posting abut this jewelry again? Because we searched the internet and didn't find anything that could compare. Nothing even in its league. We use real skate bearings. Bronze cage, open bearings that really stand out. The chain is industrial, ordered by the foot from a real industrial supply shop. This is the real deal, not something your kid brother could make at summer camp.

Skating. Love it. Wear it. Represent.

New Skater-Specific Lust & Gore Jewelry

Yesterday Lusty and I came up with a couple of skater-specific necklace designs and an earring design as well. Skate bearings and industrial chain. We love to skate and want the world to know it even when the wheels aren't strapped to our feet. Someone asks about the necklace, we get to tell them about derby. That's us, spreading the love.

So, no matter what kind of skating you do, share the love. Or, if you are me, share the hate. Skatin' is hatin' and hatin' is fun. There's plenty to go 'round.

See all the designs on our Lust & Gore Myspace page.

http://myspace.com/lustandgore

Does This Blog Make Us Seem Vain?

If not:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lustandgore/

http://lustandgore.tumblr.com/

Our newest ways to make Lust & Gore Hardwear the biggest adventure is can be. Fuck big girl jobs. We ain't never going back. Nothing but roller derby, hardware, hats, and an uncensored creative flow from this point forward. Well, those things and working in our underwear, listening to The Meat Purveyors during our afternoon "bored meetings", having liquid lunches, and partaking in random acts of Lust and Gore (but mostly Lust).

Our website is imminent. It is the ultimate example of what happens when rollergirls do retail. No rules. Full contact.

http://lustandgorehardwear.com

Heavy metal, hardcore, and hot like fire. Sometimes it hurts to look this good.

Feel Bad? Feel Better.

It's been a bad week. In the midst of tragedy and relentless bad news I have tried to hold on to Lust & Gore as a slice of the good things life has to offer. Like the perfect song when you need it, or wearing a hoodie when you want to feel surrounded, but alone ( I love hoodies). I think with all the sad shit that goes down, life is about finding a way to feel the way you need to feel. If you can do that without stepping on someone else's feelings, that is good living. So, I feel thankful to be a part of a business that offers unobtrusive, desirable feelings. Heavy duty hardware offering solid steel solace. The cold then warm weight of metal making me feel powerful. The totally unique designs of the cowboy hats are attention grabbing, but standoffishly scary in that hardcore, don't-fuck-with-me way. The pimped military caps have enough bling to grab the limelight and enough attitude to make me nearly unapproachable. It is a beautiful combination to be lusted after and feared. It is another way to be surrounded, but alone. Beautiful to me. It could be to you too.

Lust & Gore Hardwear. If they aren't staring, it's just because they're scared.

Cowboy Hats and Heavy Metal Jewelry To Die For . . . or Kill With

You've seen custom cowboy hats before. Normally the customizations are in the form of fur trim, airbrushed graphics, or maybe even rhinestone designs. Nice try, but these hats make me think of 50- year old women in Vegas just letting their hair down and bein' 50-year old crazy. These custom hats don't say rock 'n' roll as much as they say Elvis impersonator. Western stores also carry some less classically country styles in the form of spray painted straw or harder-edged-but-still-mass-produced hat bands. All well and good if you are feeling mainstream, mass-produced badass. Same goes for jewelry. There are some pretty cool designs out there, but when you boil them down to the construction and the pieces they are made up of, they aren't as deviant and alternative as you would want them to be. With jewelry more than hats, there are exceptions though . . .

http://www.femmemetale.com>
http://hellkats-la.com

and of course . . .

http://www.lustandgorehardwear.com (http://myspace.com/lustandgore until the website is live)

At Lust & Gore we use pieces of power. Real heavy duty, heavy metal, industrial strength hardware to create designs that make you feel powerful, indestructible, hardcore, and badass. Other than the stripped down hats we build on, the elements of the designs we make are atypical from the hooks on the necklaces to the hat bands on the cowboy hats and military caps. And, because the materials we create with are meant to assemble, support, and bear weight, they tend to be sharp, strong, heavy, and, sometimes, hot. Although the process we use to incorporate these materials into a completed design is less robust than the materials themselves (This means if you roughhouse with your Lust & Gore, it might get damaged. Hey, this is art. Take care of your Lust & Gore design, though, and it will take care of you.) it is not to say that a Lust & Gore design couldn't inflict some bodily harm. The Lust is in the wanting. The Gore is built right in. You be careful now, you hear?

All Lust & Gore designs are made by hand, making every piece absolutely unique .

I Could Gore You With My Hat but Then I'd Have Blood on My Beaver

The newest Lust & Gore cowboy hat could poke your eye out. The real bummer with that would be that you would only have one eye left to admire the hat with. Chain and screws for a hat band and 1 1/2" screws (of substantial girth) up through the black fur brim. The Lust is in the wanting and the Gore is in the design. A couple of new ideas in our rock star/roller derby minds promise more danger and "Fuck you" fashion in the near future.



I am Aurora Gory Alice. I will make you better or make you cry.

At the writing of this post, Lusty Crush was unavailable for comment. She is building an octagon in the basement. This blog would be longer but one of my hands is secured to the chain link fence of the octagon with the same twisted link chain that is used to make our cowboy hats and jewelry. We don't just sell Lust & Gore, we are Lust & Gore.

I Hate the Renegade Rollergirls

It was amazing. First time out skating Renegade, and Lusty and I did not look out of place. Me thinks no rules is what we were born for. We held on to a few of our old habits (such as knocking people into next week with a solid shoulder) knowing once they slip they will be hard to recover. But, all in all, I think, if you had known no different, you would think we were Renegades all along. No turning back now. Thanks to Angelethal, T Wrexxx, Hellbent Heather, Mayhemily, Magnum, KC Karnage, NightMar, Gina Dentata, Kat A. Strophic for poppin' our cherries. We will always remember the first time . . .

And, thanks to Man-Gina and Hellbent for rockin' a Lust & Gore cowboy hat last night. Western-style never looked so good. And, thanks to Angeletahal for making military look so deviant. Lust & Gore cloth caps done derby style from the queen of reverse whips.

Today = football, Octoberfest, candy corn, and making Lust & Gore cloth caps. Military style without the discipline or commitment . . .

Countdown to Renegade Initiation

The clock is ticking faster and faster as the day approaches. Saturday is our (Lusty's and mine) first bout as members of the Renegade Rollergirls. Holy shit! When I think about it, I am nervous, and I am thinking about it more and more. First time always hurts a bit, but rumor is, after that, it's all we will ever want to do. Here's hoping that our experience in Albany has broken us in a bit. I suspect that Renegade is a bit more adventurous and well-hung. We'll know in no time now. Last bout got cancelled, but I think this time we're going to get a go at it. Once again, I repeat, Holy shit and Lord help me be the best Aurora Gory Alice I can be . . .

We had photo shoot take 2.5 yesterday. We had the first photo shoot 3 weeks ago. We had the "Keep your girl on girl cooties off my camera," photo shoot experience last week, and, this time, Mondo Art Photography did us up really nice. Check out our photos going up on Myspace in the next couple of days. The real deal fo' sho. Shots of us and our products. Check out the bits and pieces on our naked hats. We are talking full frontal. Our finished cowboy hats are hung like stallions while giving off the va va voom of pin-up girls. And, well, Lusty is as jaw droppping, tongue hanging, eyes popping out of your head, smokin' hot as you could ever imagine her. But you don't have to imagine. You can see ...

http//myspace.com/lustandgore


Those photos should be up no later than this weekend. If they are not up when you first visit, check back. You won't regret it.

Who can wear Lust & Gore?

Sixstitch. Our good friend Angelethal is friends with Sixstitch, a Phoenix metro based rock band, and it seems that Sixstitch is interested in adding some Lust & Gore to their lives. Metal meets metal 'cause these guys are the real deal. No half-ass, they'll be donnin' Lust & Gore cowboy hats as they rip the Southwest apart with their hardhitting beats and screams. We couldn't be happier. Big thanks to Angelethal and Sixstitch. We'll do you proud.

So, on the way into the city today I tried to take in more than usual. I wanted to sort out in my mind, who I thought could wear Lust & Gore and rock it for all it was worth. Who could wear a Lust & Gore customized cowboy hat or military cap, or an original jewelry design and not look like they were "trying"? Well we know Sixstitch could. No fuckin' doubt. Rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, psychobilly, and metal bands have the attitude to represent the spirit of Lust & Gore. Rollergirls and rodeo riders. Harley and custom motorcycle riders. Tattoo artists. See the theme here? It is about having attitude and opinions and the guts to put them out there. But then I saw a middle aged man driving an El Camino. He looked like Sam Elliott, and I thought, "He is Lust & Gore." I saw a vintage scooter, pale green, parked on the street downtown. I think the rider of that scooter was Lust & Gore, too. Lust & Gore is comic books, and afternoon in swinging door saloons (I'll be the villain at the bar). It is "King of the Road" truck drivers, and "World's Fastest Banjo Player" bluegrass. Lust & Gore is extreme for the extreme. We are not bedazzled, faux fur trimmed, airbrushed accessories. We are the fuckin' real deal, too. Heavy metal for heavy metal. It is sharp, and heavy, and hot. And it is all put on hats a real cowboy wouldn't piss on if they were laying on the ground, or laugh it if he saw them on your head. The jewelry is industrial and dangerous. It's kinda scary, but, hey, you are what you wear.

Lust & Lust & Gore Too "Edgy" for Self-Proclaimed Edgy Photographer

Aurora says:

Ok. So here's the story. We had a photo shoot last weekend with our Renegade teammates. It was good and fun. Cowboy hats, military caps, and jewelry. Beer, music and rollergirls. Grrrreat. But we didn't get all the shots we needed. We still need studio shots of our products, and some sexy shots of me and Lusty for our About Us page. Not wanting to pack up and haul our products and our asses all the way to the other side of the city, we tried to find a more local photographer to finish up our work. And we thought we had found one. Prompt, professional responses, good website, nice photographs. We scheduled a time with her and everything. Here is the problem. During Lusty's phone conversation with the photographer, she explained that we needed our shots to convey "Lust" and "Gore". To this, the photographer expressed some nervousness about our "scary" (Gore?) shots. She said that she wasn't sure about the scary shots and the nervousness stemmed from her love for Jesus . . . Ok. Lusty explained that we were looking for sexy, edgy, and attitude which seems to clear things up, and then the shoot was scheduled.

Later that evening, at the Hall of Justice, we were laying in bed talking about the day and the Jesus comment came up. Hey, we love Jesus too, but (until now) we leave it out of our work. So we started thinking maybe our gayness/gaiety/lesbian status was going to be a problem for the photographer. The decision was made to come clean with the photographer so that the shoot could go down without surprises or akwardness. . .

It turns out that the shoot will not be going down at all now. The photographer refused to do any shots of us that may suggest a relationship. She would do "best friend" type shots, but nothing that might insinuate girl-on-girl action. Funny, I think one of my criteria to even be able to refer to someone as my best friend is the willingness to press their boobs against mine, or at lest let me ride them around like a pony (bareback of course). Somehow, I think the photographer wouldn't understand the type of relationships I have with my friends. I could be wrong, though. In her email she mentioned that she had many gay friends, and loved to dance at gay clubs. She also suggested she had a somewhat wicked and sordid past. Maybe she would believe me when I said that I like to lick the necks of all of my friends. I could show her the picture of me and Dottie on the motorcycle during the Albany All Stars New York Rider magazine photo shoot. Witness exhibit number one . . .

I am gonna pass the torch now because Lusty wants a piece of this blog action.

Lusty says:

This is my first blog ever. Computers aren't really my thing, but I'm going to have to comment on this one. First of all, let me just say, that having lived in the great State of New York my whole life (besides a brief stint in Paris), and I've never really had my sexuality come up as a problem. Except for that one time, a group of kids threw glass bottles at me, but maybe they just didn't like my shirt. Anyway, living here in Arizona, it's not uncommon to see homophobic billboards and commercials. It's highly disturbing...

So, as Aurora mentioned, we were looking for a photographer. I won't re-tell the story, because she explained it perfectly. But I will give you my reactions, as they happened. I cried. I cried so hard. I know, you're thinking, "Wow. What a pussy". Yeah, I guess I'm sensitive. Believe me, I certainly wasn't expecting such a strong reaction to this lady's email. But, there I was, sobbing. I was so insulted. How could someone say they "have lots of gay friends", and they "dance in gay clubs all the time", and they "aren't judging my lifestyle", and they "are sure you (I) love her and desire her", and that "it feels totally natural to you (me)"???? AND THEN, they turn around and say that they're uncomfortable taking pictures that would suggest any sort of relationship between the two of us, other than "best friend" shots. That's not what her work "on Earth" is for. Hmmm...So, her work on Earth doesn't involve taking pictures of Love? What does she have against Love? I guess we should take a look at the Bible. I've been reading it for several months now, because it's been around a while, and I was hoping I'd be able to find it's contents useful (and I'm a wicked slow reader). So here we are. Perfect situation. For those of you who don't know, Leviticus is the portion of the Bible where God talks about His rules and regulations.

LEVITICUS 18:22
"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable."

Ok, so the Lord doesn't want people to have gay sex. I get that. (But it doesn't say that you can't love a man as one loves a woman, but that's not my point. I'll get to my point shortly)

LEVITICUS 19:19
"Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material."

So, for this one, I'm interpreting the meaning as, you're not supposed to wear blended fabrics. No cotton-poly blends allowed, at all.

What I'm getting at here, is that if people are going to live by the rules of the Bible, they shouldn't get to pick and choose which rules they are going to live by. It's either all or nothing as far as I'm concerned. So, if some hypocritical asshole is going to hate on my lifestyle, they better be fucking sure they're wearing straight-up cotton.

By the way, I wonder if her "gay friends" would still be her friends if they knew about this situation. But then again, gay folks just aren't that judgmental.

xoxox
Lusty

Where have all the cowboy hats gone?

The great thing about Lust & Gore Hardwear is that the stuff we make just makes you feel BADASS when you wear it. I can't say enough about fashion that just makes you feel good about yourself. New Rock boots and Lucky Brand jeans have the same magic for me. Our cowboy hats seem to have the same attention grabbing capability as an amazing tattoo. People will stare and do double-takes. When I wear our stuff, they don't comment to my face, though. I have a somewhat unapproachable presence -- I think people are intimidated by me. Good. That's what I go for. People talk to Lusty, though. They dig her Lust & Gore to her face. That is a good sign. Lust & Gore or not, cowboy hats are just cool. They have enough attitude and confidence to make a boring person interesting. Customize that with a little rock n' roll hardware a la Lusty and Aurora and a boring person wouldn't dare even put it on. That's the thing. Our gear makes a person badass, but, for the most part, unless someone is already authentically hardcore, they won't even put it on. Self-marketing products . . .

I am making a list of events that Lust & Gore Hardwear wants to market and sell at. We are thinking tattoo conventions, concerts, motorcycle events, rodeos, gun shows, art shows, and the like. We have some heavy metal, hardcore heat to spread the word about while putting a little coin in our pockets. If you have any ideas, please send them our way. We'll probably stay in the Phoenix area this year. If business takes off, we'll go worldwide next year, spreading derby love with Lust & Gore style. Can you say "Rollercon"?

The Story . . .

So, here's the story of Lust & Gore Hardwear (in third person for dramatic effect): As a couple, Aurora Gory Alice and Lusty Crush are a product of roller derby. It was a hot, summer's day at a roller rink in Albany, NY. It was an instant attraction and a forbidden love. How would they ever be able to be together since the rules of the roller derby league strictly forbade their romance? Hey, this isn't a cheesy chick flick. Two badass skaters with derby personalities the size of the city challenging a stupid, discriminating rule does not a sad story make. Color them a couple in no time flat and to this very day.

Tired of freezing their tits off and ready to start over, Aurora and Lusty packed up their stuff and headed to the home of Renegade Roller Derby, Phoenix, AZ. Lust & Gore Hardwear was born on the long trip out.

Aurora on the business: "This is a dream business," Aurora says. "It is a way to be creative and make people feel like rock stars. People can put on one of our hats and unleash their hardcore." Aurora likes to make good people feel good. On the colder side, she doesn't mind making mean people feel "inadequate". In her opinion, those are the two sides of her personal quest to make the world a better place.

Lusty on the business: “The desire is to create wearable art for hardcore people who can handle the weight of cool," Lusty says. "Our hats make people feel like rock stars. What’s unique about our business is that people get to customize their own personal image/idea of what Badass is. Using various hardware choices, designs, and original hat band creations, we make quality hats even better—by giving them personality.”

What is Lust & Gore?

Lust & Gore is short for a new company called Lust & Gore Hardwear. Rollergirl owned and operated.  Be. Wear.

At Lust & Gore Hardwear, we customize hats. We don't make hats. We leave that to the experts. What we do is take quality hats from experienced hatmakers and make them art. We do this by adding equal parts metal and attitude; think nails, wire, chain, spikes, studs, screws, and nuts along with a healthy dose of Lusty Crush and Aurora Gory Alice. The result is unconventional, attention-grabbing, wearable art. Our art is meant to look hot and hardcore. More specifically, our art is meant to make our customers look hot and hardcore.

Because everyone deserves a little Lust & Gore, and because not everyone wears hats, we also have other accessories to accentuate an attitude. Jewelry now with more to come. A kiss of cool to remind our customers that fashion is pain. As with our hats, our jewelry is designed to inspire feelings, hardcore, badass, you-wish-you knew-me feelings. Take a look and remember, this is hardware--not Hello Kitty. Wear but beware. See and be jealous.

Lust & Gore Hardwear - Hats for Heroes and Villains