Entry #48: Ways in Which Nonverbal Messages Interact

I don't deserve all this nonverbal communication given to me by el amor de mi vida.

Speaking of hearts, I googled that mess and came across this medical university website and received a quick dose of dopamine with the image below.



I recently put in my two weeks notice, with thoughts of Africa dancing in my head. Fortunately, the environmental company I work at, will be keeping me on as a consultant.

Entry #47: Pay me in prints and pleats

I would like to be paid in objects.

pleats!



Early day little birdie? Why, YES! The dress I'm making is almost done.

Entry #46: I have never been so enlightened in my LIFE.

A picture speaks a thousand non-verbals. Our President should seriously learn. Anyways, how AMAZING is the following? Eff minimalism, I'm all about cravats in all its historical senses and splendors. My, my... Monday through Friday = you are sooo-x TAKEN!








And in case workers start asking about the past few "very interesting" outfits that you've been wearing, translate this crazy Cravatica bloggggg and come up with some uber-educated answers about Cravats. But I would get all starry eye and start chanting the story about a girl who always wore a green scarf around her neck... consider them your friend if they laugh in glee and recite the ending. Foe if otherwise.

Entry #45: Step it Down.

Oooo! I imagine myself painting pictures of ancient cities that were captured by communist enemies (in the midst of battle none the less) in these Tai Chi Shoes that are only $5.95! If I divide that by the number of times I would wear it, it would actually be only about 0.15 for the Zen experience. Would Ghandi appreciate the minimalist love of this look or would he point a thousand fingers at the little boy who made these shoes... dammit, he probably got paid in rice or something. Suddenly, I feel way too guilty to put down my amex for it at Pearl River.

Entry #44: Capture the Sun at Coachella

This is probably the best piece of the sun you can get without skin cancer in your bones. And it comes in your average jar, and titled the o-so-simple SUN JAR. I'm there, baby.



From the website:
Made with a traditional Mason jar and high tech energy efficient lighting! Captured inside the jar are a highly efficient solar cell, rechargeable battery and low energy LED lamps. When the jar is placed in sunlight the solar cell creates an electrical current that charges the battery over a few hours. This energy is then used at night to power the three LED lamps inside the jar. The light is diffused by the frosted jar and give the appearance of sunlight emitting from the (warm coloured LED lights are used to give a more natural and warm light).

You can capture the day at night at Suck UK.

I suppose I should just curl up at home with this (a rather beautiful book I started reading on the other side of the coast), by Irène Némirovsky:


I am on chapter 16 (five pages or less a chapter, it seems).

Entry #43: The Natural and the Nude Are Dressing Up, Dammit.

I don't know what today is about, but I've been getting constant reminders of Project Oceans, the marine biology camp that introduced me to, dare I say, a whole new world? I swore I was going to be a marine biologist... didn't happen, but I do recall diving down for sea urchins galore off the coast of a little bay in Catalina Island that was part of the Southern California Marine Institute.

And the objects below made me swoon (particularly #1):






The following Garden Dial can be yours for a mere $5 (it looks like fun).



You can find all of the above products at The Curiosity Shoppe.

Natural and Nude: getting dressed up has been a bit gawdy and depressing lately- namely because I've gained weight and know that all this flucuating isn't doing this body good. (the once loose size 25 looks like a 26 on me now- BOO).

But I've taken my health into my hands, Captain Planet style, and have decided to do a few drastic things. Namely, get rid of my car and walk/metro it everywhere.

My carbon footprint is so low, Al Gore is smiling (I just know it)!

Entry #42: Love and the Invisible City

A friend and I gathered this past weekend. While sitting in a booth with him, the line “Bury me in your Rs and roll (wrap?) me around like a Spanish tongue” came to mind.

The work of Marlaina Read also came to mind. Every time I view it, I feel a longing for some type of make-believe past. Nostalgic fantasies, I suppose.

I read her paper on non-places. About airports, she writes:

In the airport I feel a sense of dislocation, it comes, I think, from knowing that there are hundreds of airports just like this one all around the world. I cannot be intimate with a location that is constantly repeated because it does not exist as an individual place. The structure of the airport does not require individuality in order to function. Its production of repetition and homogeneity is the basis for its efficiency worldwide because it creates an order through which people's movements can be controlled smoothly. Any intimacy I could want to feel in this space would, therefore, be swallowed in the airport's overwhelming sameness. This is a space that serves to move people on their way, it does not exist of and for itself, but instead only as a means of delivering people to their destination. The airport is a place of transition; it does not need to describe history or culture because no one is coming to the airport to be at the airport.


My memory of airports are a lot more intimate than Read’s, and I think it’s because I’ve used the airport as a sleeping (and playing) ground, and have also placed a lot of emotional value on airports. I remember staying the night at the airport in Barcelona, washing up in their facilities, and perusing the book shops for paper. I also remember being terrified in Philadelphia’s airport because I missed my flight… and there was LAX, when I first arrived to Los Angeles, in the arms of my father. And of course, I remember picking up this gentleman that sat next to me at the booths from the airport (and how nervous I was) and then later, much later- how sad. And when a certain other picked me up from the airport- how quiet and stone silent the ride was back to my apartment (that too was sad)... I remember leaning into him and how he said, "let's not talk right now." Airports have stories.

Or maybe- I am just trying to add value and meaning to airports in my need to consume.

Anyways, I absolutely love Read’s work.





Check it out at Invisible City.

Entry #41: End of Histories Collection

The term “End of History” was coined by a 1992 book entitled The End of History and the Last Man by Francis Fukuyama. The idea of the end of the history is not a new one, as it goes back to Karl Marx, who believed that historical development was determined by “the interplay of material forces” and would result in a society that “resolved all prior contradictions” of social class (building upon Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel). The beautiful thing about Marx’s theory is that there is no timeline of event.

So Francis Fukuyama said that the end is now.

That Western ideals have taken root and that we are at “the end point of mankind's ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.”

Fukuyama was too early in his declaration. But I wonder, is there an end to the histories of such things as color, transportation, and communication?

The answer is likely the same as my take on Fukuyama- are you effing kidding me? Of course not!

History of Communications by Erik Nitsche


History of Physics by Erik Nitsche


History of Transportation by Erik Nitsche

Entry #40: NPR and Stereoscopic Stuffz

Older people are smart because they have more time to listen to NPR on the drive to and from work. So the more NPR info you have in your life, the more horrible and lonely you are. Thankfully, I remember this and change the channel.

So I caught a bit on NPR a few weeks back that stuck with me: Stereoscopics. Apparently, the biggest collection is at UC Riverside.





The verdict is in: I should carpool.

Entry #39: The Beginning of Color History

History is such a loaded term. Love it. Hate it. Wish I studied more of it. Love, love, love:








baby, which light are you looking at? (the white one)


I actually was looking for information on color and how the brain views it, but it was sorta hard to find. Wiki had a little blurb, but it didn't cut it. I went into the library (i.e. garage) and discovered a neuroscience book, but it was on imaging and learning. DAMMIT. I should really pack and remember that I'm not a student anymore.

Note: The above color pictures are in no particular historical order. They just look old and some are famous.

Entry #38: The World's Oldest Tree is CUTE.

WOW. I want one of these extinct babies...Speaking of native plants, we are converting our front yard (now grassy) into a Native Plant garden. Yippee!

"...The tree belonged to a group of early fern-like plants called Wattieza. Unlike flowering plants, which use seeds to reproduce, Wattieza used spores, the reproductive method of choice for algae, ferns and fungi.

The finding, detailed in the March 19 issue of the journal Nature, will help scientists understand a crucial turning-point in our planet’s history—when the first forests appeared." You can read the entire article, World’s First Tree Reconstructed.

Entry #37: Buttons

For a dress.

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