HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year All!!! I've been hibernating and been way too lazy to upload new stuffs (also i'm using dial-up connection at my parent's :( sad). But I do have tons of goodies I found here in Jakarta. I promise I will be uploading new things As soon as I'm back in Chicago. I wish you all good luck, health, and happiness for 2009.

Smitten at Aeon Mall, Narita

I'm not in Jakarta yet, I have to stay 1 night layover in Japan. My hotel is still around the Narita airport area which is pretty much like the suburb of Tokyo. I got here at 3pm Japan time and I was trying to find something to do to kill the time at least for a couple of hours. The hotel concierge suggested me to go to Aeon Mall which is according to him it is a popular place for people during layover to spend their time and go shopping. So, half sleep walking I agreed to the overly polite concierge, nice guy thou. I just realized I do bow down here and there automatically and saying "arigatou" (thank you sumimasen" (execuse me ) all the time, well I was trying to adapt, besides the jet lag was hammering my head. So i went to the mall and got dissapointed, IT looks like CHICAGO SUBURB MALL!!!! This is not the Japan I remember (ok I was 5 last time I came here). Ok now they have Claire's, Starbucks, Sports Authority???? and the fashion??? Almost pretty dissapointing also some of them looks like forever 21 and Abercombie and Fitch kind of style...hmm maybe this is because it is located in the suburb of Tokyo.....oh well but I had a good time at MUJI (picture above). I've been always obssesed with MUJI since I was in Highschool. Almost all of my stationary I got from MUJI. I still have the aluminum pencil case and mechanical pencil. While I was waiting for the shuttle to pick me up back to the hotel, I sat infront of MUJI store and staring at this huge poster (see above picture again). Look for the asian guy on the right side of the picture, second row from front (the one without glasses), wearing the sweater with snowman on it. Isn't he adorably HOT????? *smitten* I bet I was drewling all over the place, smiling like an idiot and half sleeping at the same time. Whatever, I am a stranger here and no one knows me, i hope... Ahhh....another long flight tomorrow. ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........

Au Revoir Chicago Winter.....See you in January ;)

Today, I'm leaving for Jakarta for my yearly month long hibernation. I am planning to post things during my travel, in between my forced detox apple diet program (it's a long story), highschool reunion (hmmpphh......), fighting 12 hours difference jet lag (zzzzzzz.......) and thinking about what other things I can do besides sleeping (more zzzzzz.......).

Seed Archive by Britt Bell

Photos from Britt Bell

I am always excited to see young talent's projects because it appears to be very fresh and current most of the time. Especially the ones who are still in school and somehow managed to produce a kick-ass project. Just like this talented Miss Britt Bell. She is a student of Victoria University Design School. Bell also inspired by some of my favorite architects when I was still in school. The likes of Zaha Hadid, Santiago Calatrava, Sarah Schneider and Chris Cunningham inspires and influences her work greatly. Even so, she still maintains her own style. Her lines are very feminime but furious at the same time. Give her a couple more years, I would love to see where she is going to be at :) . Visit her blog to see more of her work.

This Charlie Chandelier from Altlucialternative reminds me of a flapper dress. I love how they use crystals at the lower layer to add sparkle and also fuctioned as weight.

SERPICO CHICAGO'S OWN AVANT GARDE DESIGNER

Photo Via Serpico
Melissa Serpico Kamhout, a Chicagoan graphic designer turned fashion designer is the talent behind this 1 year old label, serpico. Kamhout utilizes meticulous traditional draping methods to create intricate yet Avant Garde designs. Each design is original and properly fitted. She is also accepting made-to-order pieces customized fit at her own store opened just this past October.

David Wiseman

Photos Via David Wiseman's website.

David Wiseman work is just simply beautiful ,delicate and honest. Breath taking....owww.....

Oui..Oui..New Miss Dior Commercial by Sophia Coppola

Recessionista....

We have cute interns at work, and one of them is Sarah Mina. Yesterday she came up to me and Julie out of nowhere telling us that NOW there is a new term out there for FASHIONISTA. It is called Reccesionista? hmmmm......interesting. She had not had the chance to explain it to me but I did my own research instead, I found tons of blogs with tips on shopping deals, how to not sacrifice beauty during this hard time, etc,etc,etc. YES I agree this is the time to be creative and be as resourceful as we could. I think I'm kinda digging this concept. I will be posting deals and tips from now on, like how to snach a rich silver fox with a pot of gold HAHAHAHA...Well, we'll see. But I will still posting beautiful things to inspire us. We still need to dream, aren't we all? At the end we could all give 2 big MIDDLE FINGERS to recession, the hell with it we will get through this together IN STYLE!!!!!! 'aight dahlings???

Extraordinaire Peter Callesen A4 Paper Cut Sculpture

Photos Via http://www.petercallesen.com

Today, I'm obssesed with paper cut and cut-out sculpture (see earlier post). A friend of mine suggested Peter Callesen as the feature artist of the day. This Danish dude takes paper cutting art to "nirvana" level. His media, just simple white A4 paper. His tool, exacto knife and pencil. The outcome, extremely complicated paper structures with delicate details. Trained as an architect prior to studying for Fine Art made him understood about construction and 3D structures very well. Most of his work matter relates to death, rebirth, self-creation, and self-destruction. His other favorite subject matter is the reinterpretation of classical fairytales associated with a more general interest in memory in connection to childhood. But why paper? Learn more about Peter Callesen and his work here.

Adorable Pop Mat for the Holiday by Publique Living

Photos via Velocity Art and Design.

Whoever thought about this concept and did it is a genius. This is a non-fussy, cute way to add a unique touch to holiday dinner party. You can also write name of your guests on the pop-up part as a place name holder. It is made from 100% recycled paper so you'll feel less guilty. Another way to re-use this place mat further, you can also frame this afterwards to send to dinner guests as a souvenir. My co-worker LK "the queen of cute stuffs discoverer" found this one day. You can see more designs here.

Bruce Munro’s Field of Light at the Eden Project

Photos Via dezeen.com

A magnificent Utopia-like installation.

See further story here.

Read the concept, it is very interesting.

Michelle Armas Paintings

All pictures via Michelle Armas

I found these artworks by Michelle Armas from Etsy. She is a graphic designer and an illustrator from Atlanta and her artwork are sooooo damn affordable. Her color pallete, delicate detailed forms and composition are amazing. I heart you Michelle Armas, you just hit the right soft spot in my heart. Oh me.....I'm just a girl cursed with champagne taste, only with beer budget. You can find her stuffs at etsy, search for marmas as her seller ID or just simply click here.

LED Illuminated Knitwear

Photos by Michael Sun

I looooveee looveee this illuminated scarf and top by Mary Huang from rhyme&reason. "rhyme&reason" is an exploration in using light as a material to create transformative fashions. Reflecting on the change from day to night, inconspicuous white knitwear is enlivened by illumination, creating a sense of magic and mystery for the wearer.When not being worn, the pieces double in function as lamps, avoiding the fate of hanging neglected in a closet," Huang said. The pieces are embeded with white LED light and the the power source came from an adapter that can be powered both from battery while being worn and wall power while not being worn which functioned as a light fixture. Genius!