READING: THE BELL JAR

"I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant loosing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet."

"i felt dreadfully inadequate. the trouble was, I had been inadequate all along, I simply hadn’t thought about it"

“There is something demoralizing about watching two people get more and more crazy about each other, especially when you are the only extra person in the room. It’s like watching Paris from an express caboose heading in the opposite direction—every second the city gets smaller and smaller, only you feel it’s really you getting smaller and smaller and lonelier and lonelier, rushing away from all those lights and excitement at about a million miles an hour.”

"To the person in the bell jar, blank and stopped as a dead baby, the world itself is the bad dream. I remembered everything"

the bell jar by zabrena-l featuring cat shoes

Miss selfridge
77 AUD - missselfridge.com

Cat shoes
56 AUD - nastygal.com

A FLORAL CONCEPT: SEM. ONE MOOD BOARD

 

Of course my Adobe Illustrator decides to crash tonight, and so I will not be able to show my design teacher the illustrious mood board that she is expecting. Sigh. For some reason I feel like a blog post that she will never see will make up for this, yes.

Theme: Spring Racing "Blossoms in Bloom"

So naturally, I have gone on a tangent that seems to perhaps be the complete opposite of the given design theme (don't worry, I got my theme + concept approved). The theme being flowers in bloom colliding with Spring Racing fashion and embellishment techniques etc., I have focussed my design more on what comes after the fresh spring flowers make their debut into the world. I have built a story around the past, more like a memory of today becoming yesterday as yesterday was once tomorrow. I started with the inspiration of dried flowers, something once beautiful and so delicate and ultimately the most popular gesture, being squashed between two weights, it's imprint embossed between the paper to be withered and preserved. Preserved being the operative word, in a way that has changed it's shape and dimension into something flat and dried up, yet you know how you felt when you first laid eyes on it's petals. A reminder of a time/a place/a memory. We keep these flowers, wedding bouquets, corsages, flowers from a monumental day, and we watch them wilt and it is okay. It happens, in some ways it is a reminder that this/us/we/that moment happened. A lot of the images used are from Lana Del Rey's, Videogames, film clip which she made herself before all of her hype came about. It is pretty simple, but I think this just makes it that much more sweeter and real. She chose the images herself along with the clips of the Chateau Marmont and spliced them in with her own footage and music.  The song itself reflects the good times of a young romance, as well as the summertime sadness that comes with thinking about something that you once had. The imagery used in the film clip, along with the mood of the song, includes a lot of vintage photographs with lots of hues of purple, blues and greens. In the same way that we reflect on memories through old keepsakes that have aged and become tainted over the years, dried flowers remind me of old photographs that have lost their initial colour and shine. I also thought of My Blue Valentine, which in itself seems to be a string of what once was, trapped in a very soft and hazy and romanticized memory. My end collection will have a very whimsical, feminine, soft, romantic and withered feel, inspired by the impression of the dried veins and texture of the pressed flowers. The design i have in mind to go into production, will have a lot of layers I think. When I think of memories and of the past I think of all of these layers and I don't know why I am writing all of this but it is the only way to explain the mood of my piece. I really need to fine-tune this and have it succinct by the time panel assessment comes along.

As for my embellishment piece, i have no idea what I am going to do. Well I do, but I don't know how much embellishment will go into it's production. I just want to keep things simple, falling apart almost. If this was on a runway I can imagine having Videogames playing, with a time lapse of different flowers playing on a big screen and maybe petals falling from the models hands as she walks down the runway, and as the show progresses with each model walking the fresh petals are replaced with dried flowers until the runway is completely overflowing with dried up flowers. Oh god, I seem to think and over analyze everything apart from what I am meant to actually to do for class, whoops.

TRY: OUTLINE NAILS (RETRO GLAM NAILS)

I found the two first photos courtesy of the tumblr-sphere and actually just found this while looking for a proper link, from Teen Vogue which seems to have an actual list, FINDING THAT BEFORE WOULD HAVE BEEN HANDY, but anywho I waited until I found some nail art pens to try this out and voila, they seemed to do the trick. Nail Art Pens are starting to creep up everywhere commercially, so it shouldn't be hard to find some while out shopping.The last photo in my comfy red jumper is of my attempt hand, which although from a far away- shotty webcam quality picture seems alright, was actually very very hard to do. This actually took me close to an hour to do, and believe me i spend a lot of time doing all sorts of patterns on my nails, but this was actually so tedious and i think what mostly stressed me out was just getting the precision of the thin black lines.

I used Manicare's Glamnail Nail Art Pen in Jet Black, which I picked up from Priceline for $9.95 over Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear pink nail polish in First Blush for $6.95. My routine usually with nails is a double coat of base coat to make my nails last longer and then either a coat of clear top coat or clear matte top coat to finish. I've opted with just your regular clear top coat here. I'm not even going to bother and show you what my right hand looks like, because i can already hear the virtual snickers at what a horrible horrible job I did. So far, I really like these. I might try a nude or pastel blue variation next.

I think I am actually a little light headed from all of the nail polish, oops.

WHAT I WORE TODAY: 20/4/12

Clockwise:

1. Forever 21 Laser Cut Suedette Top
2. Acne Romantic Tafetta Skirt
4. Longchamp Limited Edition Transparent Bag (I wish)5. Whistles Burgundy 90 Denier Stockings
6. Alexander McQueen Skull Bracelet (I wish)7. Zara Brown Leather Ankle Boots

3. Mulberry Double Wrap Coin Bracelet Black Suede (I wish)

What I wore to 420, just kidding of course. I had a job interview today (fingers crossed) and for once woke up feeling like today would generally be a good day. I spent most of it reading The Bell Jar and eating choc-mint ice cream. For me, this is a good day.

Also, I think I collect note books... I am certain that I do because I walked into Typo today and walked out with, I don't even know how many notebooks because some are normal size and some are teeny weeny, ahh they are just so beautiful and whenever I buy notebooks I just feel so calm and inspired and happy. Yes, this isn't the first time that I have bought more than one notebook in the span of ten minutes. I don't even have enough uses for them all, they are just to immaculate and I guess are there for me if I do need to write something down or on the off chance that I will think of some spectacular use. When I buy them I always convince myself that there are endless uses, like this would be perfect for all of those poems I write and I could turn this into a scrap book, and oh a parchment covered notebook maybe I could draw some of my own illustrations (this really reeled me into today seeing as I bought two.) You will most likely see me in a year's time on My Strange Addiction, the lady who buys notebooks before meals, I know. But look, how pretty!

  

POWDER BLUES

(and old photograph of my grandfather) 

Harry Style's (insert intense fan girl moment) blue suit during the Logies made me melt melt and reminded me of when I wanted to take a boy in a blue suit to my high school formal. 

It was also my grandfather's birthday on Sunday, he passed away six months ago. I didn't even realize it had been that long until I'd counter just then.  Look at how handsome he was.

WHAT I WORE TODAY: 7/1/12

What I wore out to I can't even remember where. I think it was to the Rochester? And I am certain that was the last time that I have been there. There were so many people there that night and crowd was so rough and the regular djs were on holidays, so the music wasn't as good as it used to be. I do miss it there though, it's a favourite among my friends, free entry and the usual djs are so fucking awesome you always just have a great time.

Intense flash camera photo, fun.

WHAT I WORE TO: METRONOMY

What I wore to Metronomy at the Hi-Fi bar in Melbourne on the 6th of January! Swaying to Corinne was lovely in this fringe kimono kind of thing that I absolutely wore to death in the summer in Melbourne. This had to have been my most favourite thing at the time. It honestly brought any outfit to life.

Corinne- Metronomy

I remember finding a video on youtube after the gig that had to be from somebody next to me because I could see my friend's curly hair in the video, it was definitely us, but it seems to have disappeared from the interweb, so here is my favourite Metronomy song instead!

WHAT I WORE TODAY: 5/1/12

I actually remember this day really well. I went to lunch with a friend to exchange Christmas presents and have a little japanese/korean shopping day at Daiso and have lots of little asian cakes and sodas, it was the best. My friend, or well her mother, made me collar with cats on it (which explains my wardrobe change mid-day) and the best phone cover to ever exist. I am not joking.

Nobody messes with you when you have a bling'd up mobile phone cover. it also makes me feel like Sailor Moon and has practically become my party trick because people cannot believe just how bejeweled this baby is.

WHAT I WORE ON: NEW YEAR'S DAY 2012

I wore this to a family party on New Year's, I must have been really hung over because I have not seen that top since. What did I do

WHAT I WORE: NYE

I had completely forgotten about these! This was something I started at the beginning of the year, and unfortunately had forgotten about perhaps four days later. I think I should start again, especially now that I have this blog up and running. This was the first in my "What I Wore Today" Illustrations, being what I wore on New Year's Eve. I don't think I have worn that skirt since, I really should. I side slit is actually so lovely to wear

SWEET LIKE

My nails from the easter weekend (my very flat attempt at the very lest of dripping nails) + yummy photos from a little 50's themed diner from the Queenscliff trip

LANA DEL BURGER

I will love you 'till the end of time, I would wait a million years. Tell me you'll remember that you're mine. Baby can you sit through the tears? Love you more, than those burgers before <3

We've been learning how to use Adobe Photoshop for our mood boards in our design classes, and of course this is the first thing that I make. For design this semester we have to design, produce and pattern make one dress, a knit jacket/shawl and an accessory. Sigh, maybe I should just make a burger headband for my accessory, what do you think?

CROWN OF LOVE

(last old post I promise!)

(I'm sorry that these are such horrible posey webcam photos, but I have zero make up on, have had little sleep and when I do wear these out i will take some outfit photos)

I know that this has the same title of Rookie Mag's floral headpiece DIY page, but I was legit listening to this song while waiting for American Horror Story to load and this is my favourite song of all time and it really is just so fitting, but nonetheless, I do encourage you to watch Rookie Mag's video because it is so fun and pretty and has excellent instructions and Petra does make really beautiful head bands.

On to the crowns! I have been meaning to make some with a friend for the longest time. Lady Petrova stocks really beautiful Lunatic Headbands that stem as my inspiration for my DIY, and if only I had the money I would buy them all, but I don't and it is actually quite fun to make and not hard at all so I thought why not buy some fake flowers and instant glue.

If you watch Rookie's video, they used thick headbands and hot glue guns. I am too lazy to buy any hot glue, and only had super glue around the house, so I figured out a way to sew my flowers onto my head band. Well not so much sew, but to attach them. Using a needle and thread, I kind of hoisted the thread around the flowers and because the headband i bought had those little teeth things that comb through your hair, i used those to keep my flowers in place. I would do a step by step instruction, but it is all just a matter of randomly piercing the flowers and positioning them the way you like. I have a feeling that hot glue would have been easier but a needle and thread works just aswell and gives me more peace of mind that the flowers won't fall off while I am out dancing in a field like I intend to... (no really I now just have to work up the courage and find somewhere to wear my new favourite thing)





So these are the flowers that I picked up at a bargain store. Fake flowers can be bought from anywhere, I know Footscray and Sunshine bargain stores would be overflowing with cheap fake flowers so I would definitely check there for some crown supplies. I wasn't sure about the orange flowers are first but after trimming them down, they worked quite well. It also makes my crown feel a bit more festive for some reason. I haven't used the small flower yet but I am very excited too, they are so adorable. i'm thinking of making some jewellery or sticking them onto some shoes or something, they are so perfect.

A few tips that I found while making my crowns were:
- to use the stem of the flower when attaching the flower to the headband using needle and thread. When you cut up stem part and just the stub is left you'll know what i mean. The ones that i used had little holes which were perfect for placing the needle and thread through.
- even though super glue alone won't stick the flowers to the headband, keep some nearby to help with little touch ups or to help stick some petals together. Once you stick on the flowers you can make judgement as to how you want them to sit or what parts need to be filled up.
- don't disregard the petals and stems from the fake flowers! These can also be used, I was thinking of adding some to mine, but wanted to just keep my first one nice and plain, especially since the orange flowers were so bright already.
- if your flowers are too big, then cut them smaller! I tried it on mine (the orange flowers were so massive and really off putting when I tried mine on) but after quickly cutting the petals shorter, it looked more balanced and all over better on my head.



I was going to make a little collage to go along with this post but it is nearly 2 am so instead here is a photo of Isabel (the white girl) and I at last year's formal with her sweet floral headband from Lady Petrova! I also have lots of glue on my hands from my first attempts at using glue and glue alone to attach the flowers to the headband. Ahhhh, I know.

THE ART OF GETTING BY

a few screen shots while watching the film

As I mentioned in my new ABOUT ME page, did anyone (this implying i have any followers at all) notice my new page links up the top? This is as far as my blog revamp goes, but still a refreshing change. Any who, in my induced state of bad tv and teenage melo-supernatural-dramas and reality shows, I feel like i haven't watched a good film in so long. So i finally succumbed and watched The Art of Getting By, which seemed to me to be another type cast for Emma Roberts, who I can't decide whether I love or loathe. All the movies she has been in so far seem to be instant light hearted favourites of mine (Wild Child, It's Kind of A Funny Story), lots of emphasis on the latter with that being one of my favourite films, but I really did enjoy this movie. I won't bore you with a review but I will just say that although it might not be a favourite and that it may lack a lot of things that a good film should have, the character, George in particular, are quite relatable and fairly lovable and make for a really nice coming of age movie. The whole idea of fatalistic youth goes down well and I just h

ave to repeat, George did grown on me.

Oh and it had a study montage, I wrote about this on tumblr because I was so impressed. I am not going to lie, I really do love feel-good montages in movies, whether it be cinematic or down right cheesy. And what i love even more are study montages. The visual of accomplishment and motivation and effort that has actually paid off, it just makes me smile. And if you have watched the movie, or the trailer you will know that George is an artist, or aspiring to be so I did enjoy the scenes with his sketches and artwork, and also the rare stills that we see of his room. Oddly I think this is what made the movie for me.