For the Hypochondriacs

Feelin' like a zombie these last few days, which means I've become a recluse and my hypochondriac side is making an appearance.

Here's a video from Lenka (Album: Two) about love where she sings about your heart skipping a beat. Oooof. That won't help your paranoid sides, but it sure is catchy.

Thrifty Magic

If you haven't discovered the magic of thrift-ing, I think you should start.

It requires digging into 40% uninteresting things all of which are 100% not clean to questionable levels, but there are some amazing things in the heaps of stuff that only look  like trash. (just think of your attic at home)

On my way home from work I stopped by the Lamma animal shelter which doubles as a thrift store and took a look. I was kinda tired, and not really in the mood to dig and was on my out, when a dark frame caught my eye. So I stopped and took a second look. Two detailed old style lithograph prints (I mean prints of the original print) in heavy wood and glass frames. Dusty to be sure, so I asked how much there were. Friends, a mere 20 HKD (a little under 3 USD) per frame in it's entirety, art included!

You be the judge, was it worth it?

Personally I think the glass is worth more than that alone. The best part of thrifting is that most of things you find are older, which might mean more repairs, or stains, probably a small chip, something you'll definately have to clean and air out.

Or it could mean things they no longer make that you've been searching for, something the previous owner couldn't appreciate like you can, maybe a more unique piece to hang on your wall than the mass production at Pier One. Or something out of your price range at anthro (p.s. they thrift to get some things in their store too).

Give thrifting a try! Books, art, belts, cameras, furniture at architectural salvage shops, dishes, that can stand the test of years, sometimes decades, can make your home beautiful and unique at a sweet price, while recycling on top of it all.

Hexagon Lurv.

I love hexagons.

I'm not sure why, or how it came about, but in my book hexagons are pretty fantastic. The symetrical, pleasantly shaped polygons are structured, crisp and tessalate fantastically. It's no wonder artists choose it in pretty much any medium.

Recently a friend led me to a quilt pattern on Ravelry called the beekeepers quilt. and I was soon swoonin'. Quick as a flash I downloaded that impossibly cheap pattern [$5.50 wuuut?] and knitt myself some hexipuffs. Their as good as you, or perhaps only I, imagined. And they were easy enough, even for a beginner level knitter such as myself. All you need to know is how to cast on, increase, decrease, and Stephanie (tiny owl knits) shows you the rest with helpful pictures.

Sadly, a somewhat dismaying point is that I need about 800 to make a queen sized quilt. Aaand I'm at number 22, so to stay motivated there will be intermittent posts about hexagons. Ones made of yarn or perhaps not; it may even turn into a blatant appeal to convert the masses to why hexigons are so lovely and perfect.

Here's my progress instagram style.

P.S. Zohmg.

But, I Digress

Hey friends! Been spending alot of time on youtube lately, and I honestly don't know howall the time slips away in four minute videos. Anyhow. Has everyone seen this video of the annual Holi festival of colors in Arizona?
ch-ch-check it out!



While you were watching that, I bet you noticed those sweet, sweet jams yeah? That's the work of bigfreshmouf out of california. Now, if your as suseptible to youtube suggestions as I am, this will lead you to this orabrush advert put out by bigfreshmouf and can't stop won't stop. Seriously, brushing your tongue has never looked so cool, or came with such a good soundtrack!

Could it Be? Flattery?

Hey blog-o-friends! It's Novemeber, that disturbingly close to the end of the year month. Time to rake up resolutions and finish projects. As it were I've taken to writing. I discovered nanowrimo. Did you know November is national novel writing month? Apparently it is! I had no idea! (also didn't know a novel was anything over 50,000 words) If you so choose, join as well. You only need to write 1667 words per day to reach a novel by the end of a month. So far it's rather enjoyable, i'm sure that will change once I get farther in. Regardless.

I also came to the realization that I hadn't drawn anything of substance for a long while (almost 2 years) to remedy this I've begun another project that's been stewing for a while. It's a common catch phrase/proverb Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. While i'm not sure if this is entirely true (especially when the imitation is dodgy; Karl Lagerfeld probably doesn't appreciate cheep imitation knockoffs) I think that it probably somewhat flattering if the imitation is a transformative work, or gives proper credit. Continuing this line of thinking i've begun a new series Imitation = Flattery .

To begin we have Frank Miller's 'Nancy'. Followed by my copy in pencil.



I've got to say it was alot more cerebral than I thought it would be. It's not heavily ornamented so there's nothing to distract from a poorly drawn line or unclean edge. Everything must be carefully edged and finished, it really makes you appreciate a pencil sharper.

Etsy Revival!

Hey Friends!

Took a tiny break from blogging to focus on my Etsy for a bit, I've recently quit my job and took the opportunity to organize my flat and get around to the growing pile of  'projects-to-get-to'. One of which is a series of cashmere sweaters. Seriously, I exaggerate not. These pictures and posting is three years in the making, I hope your as excited as I.

Here's a link (sadly, not the legend of zelda kind)

Kindly take a gander and leave pearls of sagely wisdom!

Out And About

Today I woke up feeling adventurous (and oddly, simultaneously lethargic) and was greeted with a brisk cool Monday that seemed, adventure-conductive. So out and about I went, with aimlessness, I headed to Hong Kong island via the average 11:20am ferry to pay a couple bills followed by seating myself on a bench to simply feel the breeze and watch the people.

It seemed a quiet sort of day, and by the time 4 o clock rolled by I was happily entrenched with old, used books. I've discovered old books are equally good if not sometimes better. Opening a book to a handwritten dedication, scribbled groceries lists, or love doodles makes it feel like you got a little extra something in addition to deep discounts. A history of sorts to go with that particular book. Children's books are particularly good for hidden secrets maybe because they had no fear of writing on the pages, and a need to be heard. Either way I picked up some books then went window shopping!

First stop was Vintage HK today the clocks really got my attention. There was this orange one, which was wind up with a little date on the side. Every time you flip it over it counts upwards! (how awesome is that?) it' makes lots of satisfying click noises but was sadly 700 HKD which is about 90 USD :( booooo. Instead got a dress with elephants holding stars :3

Next stop was Homeless, they have three branches all on Gough street. The main store focuses on decor and designer housewares, the second furniture and bigger items , and the third is a specialty store for handmade  mostly metal, rubber, glass, and pottery (this store is called blacksmith :3 so it follows..)

Finally my fav shot of the day! These pictures look antique but closeup it's clear they're fairly new (still perfectly glossy) But they look faded to various degrees purely from the effects of the sun. I think it's interesting how you can see their sequence by their pigments.

Oh! I got myself an instagram and thinking about pininterest! Message me you sn if you have either!