Entry #36: Perfect Symmetry

We all remember science class... and how we learned that the beautiful people are so because they are symmetrical. Interesting article on the front page of yahoo.

Entry #35: After Lunch

During lunch I ran into a designer friend of mine who will be off to Parsons for college... yay Mia!

Oooo, so I absolutely adore these pants this guy is wearing?


And this is nice, particularly the silhouette:



I wish we could all just be naked. then I'd invent clothes.

Entry #34: Work Wear, again.

work clothes consist of muted colors. I am lacking spirit. I think it's in Africa. Baby better be there. Yippee!



splenda sweet.

Last night was some mildly interesting work with the country singer. I am still stuck on the black dress scene.

Must get back to the real world of design.

O, o... that reminds me: My brother & I were interviewed for Issue 2 of an online mag, Commonism. Here's a snippet...and you can read more at Commonism (I love their layout+design, btw).

What, in your opinion, is the most prominent creativity source in your direct culture/world culture?
You know your favorite shirt you got in that thrift store downtown? How about that amazing photograph of your dad in shorts? We're all about those little pieces that make you smile and long for something that isn't there anymore. We're not completely nostalgic but we do find that a lot of our ideas are derived from the past.

Any sort of communication that should be in existence but isn't? What would it be?
Telepathy? We're pretty satisfied with iChat though. Free wireless internet across the country like they have in Europe is something we support.

Entry #33: Art, Design, & Nature.

I am absolutely in love with this website, NotCot.com! Bookmark it and keep an eye on its wonderfulnessss.



I've noticed an influx of bell jars lately (Target included). I think it's the IKEA affect, but girlie looks good...Bottom row, second to the right = mine. You can find it here for only $18.50!



And to really freak you out: VECTOR images are getting crazy. Case in point:



(You can find out more about this artist here.

Entry #32: Wish you were here.

You want to go to OPENING CEREMONY, namely because it's the only place on the west coast that will give you access to Topshop. This store shows how easy it is to have a killer wardrobe... all it takes is money, baby. Speaking of which, I've been seeing a lot of the Balenciaga's on the streets of Los Angeles.


And oddly enough, people look really GOOD wearing it. D&G and others have also gone the S&M route...(I think they are all under the same house?)

SALE! Mark you calendar, P.J. London is having a sale at its consignment shop- 50% off of already reduced designer stuff. O boy.

Entry #31: Fashion and the Worker Bee

Work is tough for the inner fashionista. I want to be simple and lovely, but I generally lack the ability to LOOK simple. I posed this problem to a friend who said that it was because "you look exotic." Ahhh... I see.

I have been wearing lots of shades of black and brown and here is a lovely example:


The takeaway from the above photo are the large sweaters, layered. I will be making a trip to the other coast and hopefully, will get some much needed inspiration.

Entry #30: Fashion kills the designer.

Zara is a clothing company that I discovered in Spain. It was a staple in my European adventures abroad, as the clothes were cheap and stylish. I will make this dress mine tomorrow, as I will take a detour to South Coast Plaza.


Also, H&M recently opened up two stores in South Coast Plaza. To be honest, I've been pretty disappointed with H&M. Madonna's line is horrific. On the upside, I adore their mens selection and bought a few large sweaters from them (perfect with pencil skirts, if you can believe it).

And speaking of ugly, Miuccia Prada is dying, I have proof.




What the hell is going on in the fashion world? Thankfully, we have a great season this Fall 07, according to all the line sheets I've been receiving. Designers are taking a cue from architects like Gehry (haha, or someone) and large weird but strangely satisfying holes and wings are showing up at the Cooper Design Center in Los Angeles. I will explain further in pictures when I have the time to search engine various companies.

Entry #29: Eco-friendly, think twice.

I'm tired of people trying to sell "eco" friendly items and "native" plants to me. It bugs to think that companies are making money off of a movement that is barely beginning (finally!) to take shape in our consuming habits.

I've been thinking about that lofty term, organic, and eco-friendly products. First off, things such as bamboo, soy, etc. as a fiber isn't necessarily eco-friendly. From treehugger, I note,

"Bamboo, for instance, sounds great: it’s a fast-growing plant, not reliant on chemicals, and beautifully drapes the human form. Trouble is, bamboo plantations can displace native forests, and the harvesting and fiber processing are often polluting and unregulated. As with soy, corn, and Tencel (which comes from trees), the processing from plant to fabric is energy and resource intensive." -treehugger.com

So these items should be viewed the same way we view cotton, lyrca, silk, etc. I don't mine the advertising of things made from bamboo, but please don't view it as "eco-friendly" unless there are documented proofs of such (not that there is a definition/regulation for the use of that term).

I think the time is now for environmental organizations to take a stance on such things. Anyways, American Apparel has organic undies on sale for $6.

Japan's seal

EU

Entry #28: Saturday's Child

Oooo!

A friend emailed me the following because of my love for Fassbinder:

Berlin Alexanderplatz Restored!
April 10–15, 2007

I love the titles of the sections... such lovely weaving of words. O, o!

The Schedule:
Berlin Alexanderplatz Parts 1–3. 1979/1980.
Written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Part 1: The Punishment Begins
Part 2: How Is One to Live If One Doesn't Want to Die?
Part 3: A Hammer Blow on the Head Can Injure the Soul.
German; English subtitles.
Saturday, April 14, 2007, 1:00 p.m., Theater 1, T1

Berlin Alexanderplatz. Parts 4–7. 1979/1980.
Written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Part 4: A Handful of People in the Depths of Silence
Part 5: A Grim Reaper with Powers from Almighty God
Part 6: Love Has Its Price
Part 7: Remember: An Oath Can Be Amputated.
German; English subtitles. 240 min.
Saturday, April 14, 2007, 6:30 p.m., Theater 1, T1

Berlin Alexanderplatz. Parts 8–11. 1979/1980.
Written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Part 8: The Sun Warms the Skin, but Burns It Sometimes, Too
Part 9: About the Eternities between the Many and Few
Part 10: Lonliness Tears Cracks of Madness Even in Walls
Part 11: Knowlege Is Power, and the Early Bird Catches the Worm.
German; English subtitles. 240 min.
Sunday, April 15, 2007, 1:00 p.m., Theater 1, T1

Berlin Alexanderplatz. Parts 12, 13, Epilogue. 1979/1980.
Written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Part 12: The Serpent in the Soul of the Serpent
Part 13: The Outside and the Inside and the Secret of Fear of Fear
Epilogue: The Death of a Child and the Birth of a Worthwhile Human Being.
German; English subtitles. 240 min.
Sunday, April 15, 2007, 6:30 p.m., Theater 1, T1


O wii is meee! (I love Fassbinder because every shot looks like the perfect photograph.)

Entry #27: Novelist Kurt Vonnegut Dies at Age 84

(November 11, 1922–April 11, 2007)

Brain injuries from a fall weeks ago...



"I will say anything to be funny, often in the most horrible situations," Vonnegut, whose watery, heavy-lidded eyes and unruly hair made him seem to be in existential pain, once told a gathering of psychiatrists.

A self-described religious skeptic and freethinking humanist, Vonnegut used protagonists such as Billy Pilgrim and Eliot Rosewater as transparent vehicles for his points of view. He also filled his novels with satirical commentary and even drawings that were only loosely connected to the plot. In "Slaughterhouse-Five," he drew a headstone with the epitaph: "Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt." -npr.org

According to Kurt, there are eight rules about writing a short story.

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Did you know, Vonnegut was also an artist?



I read the article on Kurt Vonnegut's death on NPR.org

The NY Times has put together a fantastic piece on Vonnegut, titled Kurt Vonnegut, Novelist Who Caught the Imagination of His Age, Is Dead at 84.

Vonnegut Web has the most comprehensive information about Vonnegut, including interviews.

Entry #26: Big-city Country gal...

Oooah! I just got back from the music video meeting and I'm having a little bit of trouble with swimwear and the "dark" dress.

I think I am going to spend an hour or so watching country music videos in order to get a feel for the audience's taste.

All for this little lady songbird here:

Entry #25: Organic Skivvies/ Undies

100% cotton undies are the way to go.. that nylon crap, although may be cute, is not good for the bod or ecosystem. I'm such an underwear fanatic (I buy sets biweekly or slightly more)... but recently I've been on the hunt for organic undies...and can't seem to find a really good one. BOO.



(that's the best I can find) Someone send me to a proper website for organic undies that make me go Ooo!

Entry #24: Tights, urgh.

The past few months, I have been wearing outrageous tights in an effort to get away from dodgy tights that are worn by the cute and un-cute alike... I have even made my own variety out of patterns (O, Africa!) I found to be amazing... but dammit.

yes, it is time to get over a trend when everyone on the streets are wearing tights with flats, tights with dresses/shorts/etc. It's basically, choking REALLY!

But I DUNNO WHAT TO DO! TIGHTS ARE SO EASY to dress with ya know, ya know?

i.e.


I currently like the tights with loose shirt with sweet kicks (o, Nike by day and platforms by night) look... but even that is overdone. The solution is to get rid of tights (except for work I suppose).

Anyways, I like the bag pictured below.


And thank you, American Apparel for all the color that you brought to my life. Tsubi did NOT start the colorful jeans trend, thank you fashion mags. American Apparel brought it back to the masses, but umm.. it was really GUESS Jeans (those triangles!!) that did it. I can't find a picture of those lovely diamonds. O Dear, I think I sorta really want me a pair!

I've been wearing thigh highs a lot more lately. It looks good, particularly with a little ribbon tied around it. Fight the tights (halfway). Anyways, I'm sick of street fashion... but I can't afford the Good Stuff.

Entry #23: Tree rings

The oldest trees on Earth are the Bristlecone Pines. They live in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in California's White Mountains.

Prometheus= a tree that was cut down in 1964 by loggers. After analyzing the tree's rings, scientists determined that the tree had been 4,862 years old—the oldest living thing on Earth.

Entry #22: More Prefab Home Fun

I found a FABLIST for prefab homes.

Here is old, but new:
4 Architecture Dwell Home by Empyrean is a panelized version of our original prototype that was designed and built as a modular in North Carolina.

The Dwell Home by Empyrean
"The panelized method of delivery allows us wider spaces and the ability to offer The Dwell Home to more people in more locations. It differs in that the communal space is 18 ft wide, where as our modular is 16 ft wide, and The Dwell Home is now available in all 50 states and internationally as well.

As part of The Dwell Homes by Empyrean program, we offer modified versions of the Resolution: 4 Architecture Beach House and the Resolution: 4 Architecture Suburban, as standard models that can be purchased directly through Empyrean. We also have a new typology in the works we call The Vessel, designed specifically to leverage Empyrean's panelized method of delivery." -Joseph Tanney AIA of Resolution: 4 Architecture

p.s. I love Dwell.

Entry #21: Artist Sol LeWitt dies at 78

Cancer, that devil. I love his 3-D work.





“I would like to produce something I would not be ashamed to show Giotto” Le Witt has said referring to his “Wall Drawings” that had its beginnings in the historical Renaissance fresco paintings. While he has been known as an artist who has bridged the gap between minimal and conceptual art, LeWitt has also pursued the making of beautiful and well crafted art as well. His work through the 90’s to the present has pushed his work past his benchmark pure geometric forms into more fluid brushstrokes, undulating waves and layers that are more fluid in nature. LeWitt is one of the key artists that have evolved out of the 1960’s and has had major retrospectives worldwide including the Hague, the Whitney, the Museum of Modern Art and SFMOMA.

Sol LeWitt, Wall Drawing No. 681 C, 1993
Sol LeWitt's obituary can be found at International Herald Tribune. The always informative Wiki also has some info on Sol LeWitt and his work.

The pictures were taken from: New Arts Gallery and National Gallery of Art.

Entry #20: Hay Carambola!

That is a rather sexy picture of the Carambola (porn star name: Star Fruit) and I will be planting these little hot tigers! When I googled the mess, there wasn't an ad for carambolas on the side bar! Whaaaaa? But EBAY came to the rescue!!

Some fast facts:
Origin: The carambola is believed to have originated in Sri Lanka and the Moluccas, but it has been cultivated in southeast Asia and Malaysia for many centuries.

Adaptation: The carambola is classified as subtropical because mature trees can tolerate temperatures as low as 27° F for short periods of time with little damage. Like many other subtropicals, however, young plants are more susceptible to frost and can be killed at 32° F. Carambolas can be severely damaged by flooding or prevailing hot, dry winds. The small trees make good container plants.

Fertilization: In soils of low fertility young trees should receive light applications every 60 to 90 days until well established. Thereafter, they should receive one or two applications a year in deep soils or three or more applications in shallow soils where nutrients are lost by leaching. Application at the rate of 2 lbs per year for every inch of trunk diameter is suggested. Fertilizer mixtures containing 6-8% nitrogen, 2-4% available phosphoric acid, 6-8% potash and 3-4% magnesium are satisfactory. In the more fertile soils of California, this program can be reduced. The tree is prone to chlorosis in many western soils but responds to soil and foliar application of chelated iron and other micronutrients.


Propagation: The carambola is widely grown from seed though viability lasts only a few days. Only plump, fully developed seed should be planted. Veneer grafting during the time of most active growth gives the best results. Healthy, year-old seedlings of 3/8 - 3/4 inch diameter are best for rootstocks. Graft-wood should be taken from mature twigs on which leaves are still present and, if possible, the buds are just beginning to grow. Cleft-grafting of green budwood is also successful. Top-working of older trees has been done by bark grafting. Air-layering is less successful than grafting. The roots develop slowly, and percentage of success often is low. Trees are small and rather weak when propagated by this method.

Further reading:
* Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990. p. 39.
* Maxwell, Lewis S. and Betty M. Maxwell. Florida Fruit, rev. ed. Lewis S. Maxwell, 1984. p. 19.
* Morton, Julia F. Fruits of Warm Climates. Creative Resources Systems, Inc. 1987. pp. 125-128.

Entry #19: For the love of Shoes!

Nicholas Kirkwood, you steppa you!!

Entry #18: Out of Africa: Travel Clothing 101

If everything goes as planned, I will be traveling to good old Tanzania (airport code DAR) for a bit. The perils of travel clothing doesn't really exist unless you are in love with designer handbags that scream DESIGNER. Otherwise, travel clothing is about... wearing what's in tune with the weather forecast and avoiding highly American things like T-shirts with the names of American companies or other logo-oriented wear. Side note: Not handling your liquor is an American thing to do, as is being snooty. So Don't!

For the most part, I’ve discovered that it’s best to dress how locals dress without calling attention to yourself and paying careful attention to comfort over fashion. O, yes, none of that crazy American tourist in Disneyland or National Park thing is allowed. A few years back in Morocco I was mortified to find out that a bible thumping travel mate of mine was wearing a t-shirt with an American Flag. (Don't) This was during the 2004 Presidential election, where everyone outside of America was on edge about our cowboy’s War on Terror. I survived, so people are actually very forgiving. I like to blend in as much as possible though, so a quick google on x country will get you to the right site, right quick!

But here is my Travel Clothing 101 List:
Spain:
Pretend that you are visiting your hippie parents for a semi-formal dinner when you’re in Spain. They dress by the season with dark clothing in the winter and super bright in the Spring. Mother Nature rules. They dress up more than we do in Los Angeles (I think the rest of the world dresses up more than we do) and they can smell an American quite easily, so avoid the flip-flips and Rainbows that we so love out here in California... Also, the Spanish ladies are tall and skinny! So maybe they dress the same, but just look better doing it?



France:
These suckaz can’t decide on politics, but they sure as hell know their fashion. Black and black, and perhaps a dark stone gray is what you’ll find here. Imagine a bunch of New Yorkers going to a funeral and you get the picture. But they look so good mourning maybe 2 years of mourning should come back? I'll post a blog about some research I did regarding The Little Black Dress... but back to France...their fashion is high street beauty. (pssst! They aren’t so big on jeans, it seems).


Amsterdam:
Bikers, bikers, and more bikers of the Critical Mass variety populate this o-so-friendly city. I suggest super comfortable shoes and looking both ways before you cross. Everything else is pretty much up to you.

Taiwan:
The clothing here is more American than America. They wear things slightly looser than Americans (ode to heroin chic?) and they seem to be much neater than other parts of the world. Additionally, there are tons of odes to various name brands…and yes, they are real. The older women are especially guilty of this phenomenon.

Thailand:
The beaches of Thailand consist of very well dressed travelers in comfortable clothing. I don’t know how they do it, but they just LOOK rich and REALLY relaxed and they bring sexay back. So travel clothing here is about updated, chic, but ultra comfortable in amazing patterns… a lot of the clothes you can actually find in Thailand and it may be interesting to pick out their various sarongs during your stay here. After a while, you’ll adopt the carefree nature of travelers here and this will somehow show its way into your clothing.

Entry #17: Letter Writing Etiquette circa 1869

"No one should write letters at all who cannot write in a clear, fair hand, that "those who run may read." In a busy ago like the present, when every one's time has a certain value, we have no right to impose the reading of hieroglyphics upon our correspondents...The handwriting of a lady or gentleman should not be commercial or scholastic, but firm and characteristic. All affectations in writing should be avoided, such as sloping one's hand to the left, the use of flourishes, undue size in the characters, or a diminutiveness of the same to try eyesight and patience. The signature should be simple and unostentatious. Nothing can be more absurd than to see a person whose name can have no significance to the world in general, sign himself as elaborately as if he were the Pope or President at least..." (Frost, 151)

The above is from the book, "Frost's Laws and by-laws of American society: a condensed but thorough treatise on etiquette and its usages in America, containing plain and reliable directions for deportment in every situation in life," by S. A. Frost (c. 1869)

Entry #16: WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution

My dear friends and I went to WACK! at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles a few weeks ago and I forgot to mention that the exhibit with the mattresses = most fun ever. We jumped, jumped, around like no one was in town and I think we started a revolution of our own. EFF The Princess and the Pea, we screamed as we collided into the air.


What was painful to watch was the Yoko Ono footage. ACK! I said.

The Andrea Zittel: Critical Space exhibit showed me that it IS possible to do everything you want in regards to art... you just have to outsource the labor work! In truth, Zittel's work was very good, as were her ideas, but a part of me felt that she didn't have enough PART in the entire PROCESS. It just sorta shows that a lot of art and design depends on how much money you have... which sorta ruins the whole simplistic design ideals that I have (btw, I am super messy, which is why I want a prefab home and as much as nothing as I possibly can have). I MAKE SENSE.

Since Entry #16 is getting personal, I might as well announce my upcoming work as the wardrobe stylist for a country music video. sa-weet!

Entry #15: CA Boom Design Show, la-la LOVE!

All access passes to the CA Boom 4, West Coast Independent Design Show in Santa Monica, CA were granted to yours truly by her awesome brother and eco-friendly floor manufacturer gal. Here's a run down on some amazing stuff.

Pre-fab homes:
Pre-fab homes have been around for decades, particularly in the environmental design classroom so it's a bit surprising that there aren't that many in the nation today.

The OA-SYS (Open Architecture System) was first introduced to me in 2003, while leafing through my brother's design studio book. This system is a collaboration between the Austrian Architect Oskar Leo Kauffman and the modern timber construction company Berlinger Holzbau, based in Vorarlberg, Austria. I expected prefab homes to pop up everywhere, but I forgot to look, and I realized I forgot to look because they don't really exist in the numbers I expected (and was hoping). Fortunately, green friendly homes are getting attention, as seen in Sunday's NY Time article, Factory Fresh: Interstately Homes.

The following companies were at CA Boom's Prefab Zone, which made its debut at last year's CA Boom.
1.) Alchemy Architect: "Alchemy Architect's mission is to make stimulating, engaging, and efficient design accessible and affordable for a wide audience."


2.) CleverHomes: They have good stuff, but I don't want to go to the trouble of converting their flash images to jpgs. I actually like them less because of their excessive use of flash. Hmmm.. it's about the total package. Anyways, I think they are on view at the Pacific Design Center.

3.) H-HAUS: "H-Haus models are the ultimate showcase of intelligent home design for the 21st century. The architectirally modern home designs from H-Haus, LLC is introducing elegant living paired with eco-friendly designs designs adopted from European housing standards to the American Market.


4.) Hive Modular: "Attainable modern modular home sales and design."


5.) Kithaus: "KitHaus is about modularity. True modularity. The kind destined to revolutionize the conventional rules of prefab." (note: TRULY amazing. Check out their website for more pictures.)



6.) LivingHomes: "LivingHomes creates homes by world-class architects, which feature war, modern designs, functional amenities, and great price value." (Note: Check out the website... slightly TOO grandiose for me)

There were actually ten total Prefab homes, but I think the above gives a great idea of what is in the future. Prefab homes have not "made it" yet. I think it "made it" if something crazy like IKEA sells em happens (O PLEeeeeASE, for the love of the environment!)

I would have to spend another entire blog section on the AWESOME furniture at CA Boom 4! I just have to say that I am absolutely thrilled that there are so many eco-friendly products that combine high style and I am hoping that eco-friendly will lose its hippie status soon.