Entry #99: ISO

iso muji notebook...

I hope they open up here soon!

Update:

Dear PLS,

Thank you for your email.

We think the US could be a potential market for MUJI and are preparing to open stores in NY. However, we do not have any plan in LA at this time.

Thank you again for your keen interest in MUJI.

Yours sincerely,

Customer Relations Office
Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.

No:2007060002390

Entry #98: The great and the horrific

I am appalled by the Supreme Court! We need a Warren, right quick. Fantastic article in the New Yorker.

On a different note... this is on my wish list (along with the iphone... which one, which one??)...

Entry #97: Biosphere II

Smack in the Arizona desert.



Inside:





The gallery (in flash) is much more amazing.

"In the 1800s, the property was part of the Samaniego's CDO Ranch. After several changes of ownership, it became a conference center in the 1960s and 1970s, first for Motorola, then for the UA. Space Biospheres Ventures bought the property in 1984 and began construction of the current facility in 1986. Human missions 1 and 2 lasted from 1991-1994. In 1994, Decision Investment took over the property and Columbia University managed it from 1996-2003. The property was sold June 4, 2007, to CDO Ranching & Development, L.P."

The controlled environment (there is a section that mimics a rainforest!) will gain new life, as it was recently leased for advance research. Yesterday's Press Release.

Entry #96: Mao Mag & Olsens Launch

Mao Mag was recently floated to me after the longest conversation EVER with L&V Architects.

From the site:
Founders Mauricio and Roger Padilha launched MAO MAG in September 2003. It is published bi-annually, coinciding with New York Fashion week, and explores the worlds of fashion, both past and present, commercial and underground.







Mao Mag Online

Seeing the following picture of the "inspiration" behind a dress from the Olsen sisters' collection makes me think of Guess or Express or some other mall brand. Shame.



Wholesale prices range from $40 for T-shirts to $452 for other stuff. They are actually consultants, with designs by the LaRok peeps and some other person.

Entry #95: Ronald Kurniawan Paints LIVE

Ooo... I was enamored by Ronald Kurniawan's work for Entry #94's flyer (LACMA at Night) and discovered that he will be painting live @ the event!




OMG: That is the CUTEST WHALE EVER!





and here's one for Mindy and her font drawing craze:




Ronald Kurnianwan Here

Entry #94: Late Night @ LACMA

Oooo.
Thursday!

Entry #93: Bookie.

There's a lot of humorous material available on Google Book Search, especially if you have a taste for bygone ways of joking. Here’s Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary, one of the most celebrated works of American wit.

Sample o sample!

daring: one of the most conspicuous qualities of a man in security.

Via

p.s. Oprah Winfrey's Book Club #57 is The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. I'm interested in reading it based on the author's bio.

Entry #92: Pretty Little Vegan Thing

How To Knit a Marzipan : Via VeganYumYum

AND



Mojito Cupcakes

Speaking of food, there is a cooking class company down below and I am thinking of taking one (maybe, probably, eventually)...



Via Hipcooks

Entry #91: If Only, numero uno.

DIY clothing is awesome, but how do you go from idea to the actual product? I have a hard time finding the proper material (despite being so close to downtown LA) and cutting the clothes to fit the style I'm aiming for. I'm still iso certain fabrics and it may be wise to just base my designs on the available fabric but "NO, not there yet dammit." Some stuff that may be helpful if you're interested in making your own clothes cuz you wanna waste time productively [(say yes) x (And it's fun!)]

sloper [n]: a basic pattern that follows the natural lines and represents the basic dimensions of a figure, from which all styles are based on. Also called basic pattern, block pattern, or foundation pattern.

Slopers can be bought online or you can start making your own collection by tearing apart the clothing you have and redrawing the forms (be sure it's something that is BASIC, unless you want to remake the exact item in a different material, length, etc).

Pins and needles are amazing inventions for the dressmaker and I highly recommend using them as much as posssssible and for EVERY crease, nip, tuck, & fold to be sure that your clothes will come out correctly. I've wasted tons of material and money because I wrongfully believed in myself too much (the pin wins, it's true). I blame this on America's "you are special" syndrome that occurred in the 90s, or rather- my formative years. Don't trust your instincts when it comes to the technical aspect of making clothes is Lesson #1.

Future I wish I knew isms to come, but now you can make me a dress (don't forget to pin extra material for my CODE WORD: babyfat).

Entry #90: Justice - D.A.N.C.E

Love it.

Entry #89: Biblio & Simon Haendel's Stammbuch

Things have been busy, busy. Gray May gave way to June Gloom, but the sun is finally out & my spirit is up and I am laughing & adoring the pictures below.











Stammbuch Collection Here : Via

Entry #88: Comeback, Kodak

According to the CNN News article, Kodak has developed new technology that will make camera phones tons better. sweetness.

Entry #87: Tyvek

I bought myself a lifetime supply of tyvek- thanks to my roomie who introduced me to a cheap tyvek distributor.

Entry #86: Space Control

Cool videos on NASA!

Ah... memories of watching launches in the dorm rooms. They didn't have this website freshman year?!

Entry #85: Designers + Agents Recap

Unfortunately, I'm too lazy to really recap the D&A event at the Cooper Design Space (I swear it's my new home) and the New Mart. They had water and coffee but no fruits.

Whatever the deal: Paul&Joe upcoming holiday collection= TO DIE FOR. I would slut it out for their gear.

Also, also, iWood ecodesign.. o the glasses were amazing. wholesale price, I love you.



(something like the above but a better version- i.e. thinner and less obvious- was my favorite at the show)

Entry #84: Forever 21 turns 12 by 12

Fast Fashion Retailer Forever 21 has a new line of stores set to launch called Twelve by Twelve. The pieces are priced above the Forever 21 price point, but well below department stores at nothing more than $100/piece. They are said to be made of higher quality, more detailed designs, and much more fashion forward- meant for the 30 somethings which are really the 20 somethings that follow the "young Hollywood" crowd. The website launches at the end of this month. So far, they have done very well, according to market research, in which these higher quality pieces were placed within the Forever 21 Store. The name is a play on their namesake, of course, but they also have 12 designers and they are on the 12th floor of some building. I counted the building downtown- not even 12 stories- therefore they must mean the one in China where, you know- women are making 12 cents a day.

Entry #83: Vegan? For Me?

maaaaybe.

One month adventure begins now.



GoVeg.com was first introduced to me in high school. I tried. I failed. Now I dust myself off and try again.

Entry #82: The Sun Shines, Even When It's Foggy

I wake up every morning to the sound of trains, ready for a hard day's work. Then I realize that it's actually 3:30am. dammit.

My roommate took some time to show me his work and I was officially floored. Check it.

My bestest friend got herself a bloggy. Sources tell me she's gonna be putting her fingerprints all over your computer screen.

Speaking of fingerprints...

The bookstore at the Brewery, called Bookfinger contains information galore for designers, politicians, and historians. I'm a book fanatic and I don't think I can let go, despite all these talks of minimalist living that floods my brains and dreams. I picked up the St. James Fashion Encyclopedia, which covers fashion from 1945-forward.

Apartment project 101 consist of getting houseplants that fight pollution. We researched the premise, but discovered that our combine brains did little to expand upon our individual list. Google, that devil!

Based on a NASA research project on houseplants that fight pollution & listed in descending order of effectiveness.

* Heart leaf philodendron
* Elephant ear philodendron
* Green spider plant
* Lacy tree philodendron
* Aloe vera
* Golden pothos
* Chinese evergreen
* Mini-scheffle
* Peperomia
* Peace lily

The most effective plants to use in removing pollutants like formaldehyde are those with a large leaf surface area.

* Heart-leaf philodendron (philodendron scandens)
* Elephant ear philodendron (philodendron domesticum)
* Green spider plant (chlorphytum elatum)
* Lacy tree philodendron (philodendron selloum)
* Golden pothos (epipremnum aureum)
* Chinese evergreen (aglonema modestum)
* Mini-Schefflera (bassaia arboricola)
* Peperomia (peperomia obtusifolia)
* Peace lily (spathiphyllum clevelandii)
* Corn plant (dracaena fragrans 'massangeana')
* Snake plant (sansevieria traifasciata)

Checklist starts now.

Entry #81: Downtown Living + a sad realization

All that searching and looking and having nothing feel right or priced right finally lead me to a place that felt comfortable + livable.



I signed a lease today to live at The Brewery Art Colony. The above picture= the building I'm in. The place is fabulous and was passed on to me by a friend who had first peaked my interest in shoe design. It is well known for their twice yearly Art Walk.


And it's less than 20 minutes away from work.

pssst! There seems to be space for some rooftop gardening...

The day, however, was marred by the realization that my price point for the clothes I make is way too low, considering the time, cost of material, & overhead.

My fingers need to stop typing & start cutting (the most annoying part of design, says I).