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Taschen publishes amazing art books. If I had the money, I would buy the entire collection. Each book is full of full-page, high-quality pictures and is a VERY good resource for art students and enthusiasts alike. I get a lot of possible ideas from these books and I just love them so much. What I love most are their books which tackle on the subject of Pop Culture especially the sets with vintage graphics. The wealth of images that they provide is amazing and it's as though you are being transported to a different era as you flip through the pages.
The picture above are covers of some Taschen Books that I REALLY want to get. Also includes some books which have yet to be released as of this moment. Also, I posted sample covers so that you guys have an idea how the covers look like (in case you haven't heard of them before). Very pretty, aren't they?
I currently own 2 Taschen books: Japanese Prints and The Golden Age of Advertising - the 60's. Both are part of the 25th anniversary set, which means that they were priced cheaper than the usual Taschen books. Hooray! I will increase my collection once I start earning more! Haha!
Love is the movement.
I was introduced to this campaign by my good friends, Jed and Abs because they wear TWLOHA apparel and I got curious. What really caught my attention was their slogan "Love is the movement" and it got me into reading more about it.
I have completed another goal in my 70 Things to Do Before I Die list! #9: Build a sandcastle!
It wasn't anything grand but it was already an accomplishment for someone who hasn't gone to the beach for years already. HAHA. My family doesn't go to the beach that often because my parents prefer cool, relaxing getaways so this was a very rare opportunity.
We were at Subic last May 10 to 12 and I had such a wonderful time! Thanks to our family friends, Auntie Ellie and Uncle Henry, we were able to ride their private speedboat and have this place (beach) all to ourselves. Subic is such a great place. It's really a pity because I think that if they develop the other attractions more (like Zoobic and the beaches), it would really be a great tourist destination.
Anyway, me and my brother were each building our own castles and took pictures after. The waves were a bit strong so I had to rebuild this so many times. We had to build not too far from the water because we didn't bring any pail or shovel. Haha. We needed easy access to water o__o My design was simple, but I really like it! It sortta looks like a mosque of some sort though... or like a flying saucer, or you know that thingie on top of juicers? Lol! I am but an amateur, don't laugh at my castle. Hahaha.
Yes, I built this with nothing else but my bare hands and my heart <3
For those living under a rock for the past year, allow me to introduce to you the RED campaign (started by Bono and Bobby Shriver), beginning with the RED Manifesto. Read on.
The Join Red campaign, I must say, is such a genius project in so many ways. It is a great marketing plan (a fact they self-proclaim) and at the same time they DO help. The manifesto says it all and bravo to them for making the manifesto honest and straight to the point.
It also helps that the simple designs are charming. I'm pretty sure GAP sales rose tremendously with their RED apparel line as almost everyone in the US has a shirt or two (exaggerating much, obviously). And I've been hoping that Apple would release a RED iPod Classic because although I adore the RED Nano (the old one, not the new square ones), the capacity just won't do it for me. Hopefully more companies would join the campaign as I'd like to feel less guilty every time I buy something nice.
Anyway, GAP is opening soon at the Shangri-La mall here in the Philippines and I sure hope they carry the RED apparel line (it would be pretty silly if they didn't). I want an INSPI(RED) tshirt... and that RED hoodie is just to die for.
If you are still confused or would like more information, visit their website Join Red. I'm not sure if it's just me, but the site usually takes a lot of time to load. Fret not for the site is worth it.
New music discovery and this one is love. Automatic Loveletter.
When I listen to songs, what strikes me more are the lyrics first before the sounds and I guess that is why Automatic Loveletter was love at first listen. Juliet Simms' poetry is amazing and I love all the imagery she brings. Music wise, her voice is full of passion and their energy is magnetic. Why, oh why, do they only have a few songs. Huu.
My first encounter with Juliet Simms was from Remembering Sunday (a personal favorite of my friends and I), a song with All Time Low (I love this band). "The Answer" was the first song that I listened to and it remains to be one of my favorites from them. But the song that I really love the most is "Unhearted" because of the lyrics. It's not the best most poetic thing you've probably ever heard but it meant something to me personally :).
"...and I breathe cuz its necessary and I sigh when I see the moon. I dream to make sleep less boring.. I'm a hopeless romantic and kicking the habit but all hearts have darts." - Unhearted
"This drama sat shot gun my eyes rained like autumn only the glove box knows how the story goes" - Make Up Smeared Eyes
"From ocean to sky summer and fall, I have been there though it all. From laughing and crying to pain that comes easy from shades of grey meaning that turn out so sweetly" - The Answer
Best place to shop = Chatuchak Weekend Market. That's basically it.
I had to come back twice on the same weekend just because I felt like I didn't buy enough during the first day. Loads of robot/monster shirts and very nice graffiti style graphic designs as well. My brain was so confused. Haha. Shirts cost around 100-200 Baht at max and that's extremely cheap! If only I could go back, I would've bought like 20 more :| Haha! My brothers were grabbing shirts like crazy as well and I LOVE the designs on a lot of the boy shirts so I helped my brothers pick for the really nice ones and I ended up borrowing and wearing them also back home HAHA.
A stall there named Defy were selling unique gold plated pendants, charms, necklaces, rings and many more. It was probably my favorite shop. I wanted to buy so many and had to control myself. I bought this Paper Crane designed necklace which I absolutely adore! I have a thing for paper cranes (since I've been folding them like crazy this summer) and paper cranes remind me of very nice memories so I just couldn't resist getting this. This is now my favorite piece of jewelry.
If you're visiting Thailand and if you're a fan of tiangge style markets, your best bet is this weekend market. Be sure to bring water. Tie your hair. Wear comfy shoes and comfy clothes. If crowded places irritate you, ha, you sure are in the wrong place!
The first song I heard from this band was "Lions Roar" and it was through a REALLY AMAZING typography video that I found on You Tube. I fell for the lyrics and loved the sound, thank goodness this was the first song I heard (Come on, there were words like 'puppets' and 'elephants' and everyone knows how much I love the circus haha). I am proud to say that the Hush Sound was my own discovery (much like my ultimate favorite singer Rachael Yamagata). I was searching for new material when I came across the cover art of their album "Like Vines".
Their indie rock sound is very much reminiscent of another of my favorites, the Decemberists, but the Hush Sound provides a softer and seemingly more innocent feel. Heavy pianos and often times, a mellow tone. Charming is the word to best describe them.
Greta Salpeter and Robert Morris take turns in the vocals and it helps in keeping a good range of variety in their music.
Listening to their sound in the middle of everything was one of the best things that's happened to me this week, and in perfect timing as well. Their sound makes you forget about the world for a bit and takes you to a place where time stands still and people sit and stare as the world flies by.
I haven't listened to all their songs fully yet as of this moment, but here are some of my favorite lines, so far.
"You painted me in pastels, colors that don't tell of any boldness. Cause that's the way you love to see me; so delicate, so weak, so little purpose" -The Artist
"You are the daydream in my eyes, there whenever I wake up. But the colors never crystalize and I never get enough" - Love You Much Better
"And if the timing is right to sneak off into the night, I'll let myself be taken just for the thrill. And if I'm given the chance to be a doll in his hands, I will be sure we shake the mountains while we dance" - The Boys Are Too Refined
As many people know, the thing I'm most excited about during my trip to Singapore & Thailand was finally being able to meet the elephants, or who I fondly call the PHANT PHANTS!! Wooo! I was so excited for this!
So last April 6, the day before we finally came home from our early summer trip, we visited the Rose Garden at Thailand to go and say hello to the phant phants. The weather was terrible actually, as it was raining throughout our 1 hour ride from the hotel to the place. Luckily though (and I think mainly due to my grandma's presence, since she honestly prays like crazy every single moment, and thank goodness for that), when the time came for us to ride the elephants, the rain stopped! Hooraaaay!
You had to pay I think something around 20 baht to have your photo taken on the small phant phant. You get to sit on his leg, yeheeey! Whoever said I can't hug elephants can kiss your unbelieving butt buhbye because ha! I was able to do it!! Heehee.
I self-proclaimed that the elephant's name was to be Michelle. I kept calling it Michelle already until one of my brothers pointed out that I was so stupid because the phant phant had tusks, which obviously meant that it was a boy. What was I thinking?! Haha! So I renamed it to Mark. I don't know why I name him Mark. I just did. Haha! My brothers were laughing at me because I was talking to the elephant.
Anyway, super happy! I finally got a chance to ride the elephant as well! My love for elephants overpowered my fear of heights so hooraaay! The ride was super short, but it doesn't take a lot to make me happy.
Crossing out another item in my things to do before I die list!
View the original Soundtrack of My Summer entry over here
This picture showcases the entire collection so far. I have a feeling I'm going to be drawing more soon but people might get tired of it so... haha I dunno. Here's the second part of the collection I guess (together with the first one). 5 new drawings starting from the brownish one with hanging clouds! Click the link above for the story behind this collection.
It is officially summer and so far, I'm having a great time. I've been going out, bonding with elephants (haha), hanging out with my friends, planning stuff with my co-officers at Celadon (my organization) *which I totally enjoy, just to make that clear* and more drawing. I'm trying to learn new things too such as sewing and more origami stuff haha. Folding more cranes as well. Ah, cranes...
My favorite from the latest batch is the one with the slow dancing theme. I may not look it but I'm a fan of unsaturated color schemes. And I love the white bubble dress on this one... wish I had one. And the boy looks particularly cute here... and they're slow dancing, what other explanation can I give? Anyway, the last one, with the silhouettes, is also something special since it's my first time to draw silhouettes and I think it makes a great 'last picture' because it truly encompasses summer. I have to say though, the boy's arms look funny here haha.
Still playing this playlist over and over. Still drawing drawings of you. Still as inspired as ever. Why...
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Songs from left to right top to bottom: "On Top of the World" by Boys Like Girls, "Coffee" by Copeland, "The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls, "Simple, Starving to be Safe" by Daphne Loves Derby, "Better That We Break" by Maroon 5, "Three Cheers for Five Years" by Mayday Parade, "Burn This City" by Cartel, "You Be the Anchor That Keeps My Feet on the Ground I'll Be the Wings That Keep Your Heart in the Clouds" by Mayday Parade, "Tonight" by FM Static, "Jamie All Over" by Mayday Parade
I didn't notice this until one of my good friends, Christiane, pointed it out to me; 3 am is my inspired hour.
For the past weeks I've been having this very annoying and irregular sleeping pattern. I still sleep at my usual bedtime 10:30 pm (still kiddie! nuu!), which I fondly call my "meme time" but I've been waking up at very odd hours and couldn't sleep again. The usual routine goes like this: sleep form 10:30 pm, then I wake up at 1:30 am, try to get back to sleep and finally gives up after an hour or so. If I'm lucky, I can get back to sleep again at around 4:30 am but if not, hello deeper eye bags.So you might be wondering, what is an entry regarding my stupid sleeping problem doing in my happy blog?Again, 3 am = inspired hour. The first time this happened to me over the past weeks, I immediately sat down on my desk and popped my ipod (after trying for hours to get back to sleep). Then I took out my pencil and started doodling away. The result was my Soundtrack of My Summer collection (Part 1!). Then again the other night, I gave up again around that time and started doodling, and I drew another 'inspired' artwork (which I will never post anywhere, I'm quite sure, guess why, haha!). And sometimes, I would just stare blankly while listening to my playlist and I'd get really ... i don't know how to describe it because I don't want to use the word emo HAHA. Uhm, but something like that. In a good way though. Like I'd get really inspired to create things, and it's such a positive and wonderful feeling. :)
I had these necklaces made from Personage by Stazas Inc. I saw their booth at the Celadon Biz Fair last January and knew that I wanted to have an item or two made.
We had a few problems at first because the first item they sent was damaged but all's well since they offered to replace it for free and have my second item discounted, which explains why I have two items! The drawings I sent were the Sakura and the Pag-Ibig na Dakila drawings because I think they're the most vintage-y looking drawings I have (not really THAT vintage but at least... hehe). I'm sure these will match well with some of my outfits! Yey! Thanks for the great service.
I want to sell products like this one but I have no contacts for the suppliers and all the shiz haha. Maybe someday I'll be able to though, and I'll open up a store having necklaces like these on the shelves. I have to think of more products and designs! Yehey!
It was 3am in the morning and I couldn't sleep. I took out my battered Ipod and started playing the songs on my recent playlist... and sketches just came out of nowhere. Boys Like Girls. Daphne Loves Derby. Even some Maroon 5. A lot of the songs had very strong imagery and how I wish I could draw them exactly the way they look on my mind, but my noob skills permit me from doing so. Instead, I suffice myself to drawing those scenes as accurately (at which, I think I failed, but all the same...) as I can imagine them in my mind using my usual cartoon style. It, of course, helped that I was inspired during that time.
Back to the drawings. I started to sketch, like I said, some scenes as they were playing in my mind. I sketched so much more than what I ended up finishing and was inspired by more songs than what I ended up using. All the same, it was great practice for me. I will probably continue the rest of my sketches soon (especially since it's summer already) and create a second batch of love-sick, emo drawings using songs from Secondhand Serenade and from my all time favorite pro-depressant musicians Rachael Yamagata and KT Tunstall. But I'm trying to avoid my depressing songs lately. I need to keep being happy, especially since it's summer!
I named this collection the "Soundtrack of My Summer" collection, after the lyrics from one of the songs by Boys Like Girls ("Thunder"). I'd like to thank my good friends Jed and Abz for always singing songs like these during our emo sessions and car trips home. I hate telling people I listen to emo songs, but I just can't deny that I love these. Most especially, thank you Abz for "Coffee". It wasn't summer yet when I drew these and started listening to these songs, but I was thinking of summer so... I hope that counts.
My mom always begged me to draw more 'couple drawings' as she'd call it. She said I drew too much single girls , so thanks mom, I'm following your advice! I do hope that as you wish, I'd be able to find someone just as romantic as the boy in my drawings. Haha. To make things even better, I drew the girl to look like me (hopefully) with the outfits all resembling actual outfits that I wear regularly! My friends and classmates found the clothes all-too familiar, which was of course, the goal of the idea, so on that level, I guess I had succeeded. So yes, that's supposed to be me with my imaginary boyfriend in imaginary settings doing imaginary things. My boy has funky hairstyle.
And lastly, I guess I just want to say that... if you don't go looking for it, sometimes, it finds you.
Also, you don't know it's you, you probably never will, and you will probably never read this anyway, but thank you all the same for the inspiration! *clap clap!*
Read Soundtrack of my Summer: Part 2!
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Songs from left to right top to bottom: "On Top of the World" by Boys Like Girls, "Coffee" by Copeland, "The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls, "Simple, Starving to be Safe" by Daphne Loves Derby, "Better That We Break" by Maroon 5.
