Nature gets a helping hand as snow blankets Beijing | World news | guardian.co.uk

Nature gets a helping hand as snow blankets Beijing | World news | guardian.co.uk

Yellow Sticky Notes

More Shine

More Shine

CHARTPAK MARKERS

MY LATEST OBSESSION... ACTUALLY I HAVE BEEN OBSESSED WITH THESE MARKERS FOR MY ENTIRE CAREER..
actually it's a strange relationship thing.. when u are used to working with certain materials... u feel lost with out them...


SUPERBLACK n BLENDERS!



and the latest woody ones...



as i am about to run out and it's all dried up on the last marker... or they have grown legs and walked off in other people's hands...

I am desperately looking at where to stock up next!!

So i guess it will be in LONDON when i am there next week.
Anyone with any suggestions of where i can bring back a truck load of them to ASIA... i will buy you burgers for life....!!





xxxP

YUM CHA CHIT CHAT

As i am here scribbling away burning the candle at both ends for the sake of working out tactics...for a project that i am working on.. some thoughts came to mind about recent incidents.

Okay what happens when people start living life to and for processes... self help books as a part of that daily grind? Does it get mundane .. or people need the structure to function or feel self satisfied that what they do is justified.. and a point for behaving as an ass.

What happens when you keep complaining?

stars don't align and you gotta fix it otherwise it's like a chain reaction, never know why.. it's just how it is.

Try to work out the balance to turn around that energy --- negative into positive??

Funny. Lots of people make that off hand remark that i am always HAPPY, Full of energies etc.. not sure what to think about that except that i am not about to take a leap and jump off the block for the opposite effect.

Shit happens to us each and everyday. You deal with it straight up.
Not everything maybe comfortable, but you work out the solution and move on. Everyone has fear - just gotta conquer it.

Occasionally i come across with people that i for some cosmic reason don't see eye to eye. That's cool too... just go away and see less of them. Some people can take away your energies.

Rare occasions in life that i really meet peeps that are totally on point...who are totally in line. Happens like once every full moon... =) . relaxed, safe and happy. Those are the people who really inspire me to go on.

Go on have a cuppa tea!

Leica's

for sure.. i am a slave to fashion and looks...
time to decide on a camera......
seeing as i lost my last one... which i am actually quite happy cos it took such terrible pics... my needs were not serviced.. that's the conclusion!


SOOOO
these are soo damn good loooking!!




i actually love the old school feel on this one!!!


I need a happy snappy.... that is easy... clear.. good for all lights.. and action...motion is the worst.
and i can never be fussed.. so i appreciate a great photographer.. in fact anyone who can and has the patience to play with these all day long and create perfect visuals.... respect to another levelll


SOOOO WHICH IS IT TO BE.... or any other recommendations....

HOW MANY TIMES??

Okay from Designmilk....

i was laughing at this and just had to share it.. how many times???? for the creatively anal??

back to basics - spending time

Time to catch up on my blogging. Now that i am finally back home.

Earlier on in the month - i ran away back to Siem Reap in Cambodia.. i have been running back and forth between cities and collaborating with an organization based there that has very successfully elevated itself and its' artisans to a level that is truly well worth crediting for their pure achievements and dedication. Artisans D'angkor is a company that creates opportunities and employment for the local community and keeps traditional crafts and skills alive.

I recently went back to run a sewing workshop with our technician Clara who was kind enough to give her time and hang out. Special thanks to Anthony whom is still roaming around Cambodia for being a kick ass photographer on our tight budget!!

The first few days - we got ourselves familiar with the artisans that sew up all of the beautiful product that is made in silk.


Get to know each other..as i am terrible with languages and names...the common language is the craft. Unspoken words.


There was a unique harmony between artisans as they worked together often on the same piece. Something we do not often see today - Amazing energy..


Deep concentration


Here's me trying to figure out what next... wow it's been a while since i drafted.. still a bit rusty..
and do this all over again is truly rewarding... it's all coming back to me!



And it was wonderful to see the sneaky shots, happy to see that peeps were paying attention..



Clara - our amazing technician.... full of smiles, laughter and that awesome trademark red lipstick! It's all about the elbow grease when it comes to pressing....


She was teaching all those little tricks that you need when that garment is assembled.
Waaay beyond me.. that is a lifetime of skill!



Artisans have several workshops in neighbouring villages and they specially built hang out spots for the kids..while their parents are weaving.. it's all about family.


What a life... i wanna day dream like this.

And this is one amazing archive of what the artisans have produced in silk fabrics and designs in Ikat..I love it all and can't wait to start working with it.


Spent a couple of evenings with some of the artisans who were kind enough to have us.

Family life - afterhours...

Neighbourhood boyz who wanna chill with us too!


Believe me this smelled sooooo good.. nothing like fresh fried fish!



Another artisan in their home - The couple are both weavers working at Artisans, the husband lost his leg when he stepped on a mine back in the '85 - they have a really wonderful family unit.


kids were so shy and curious but the youngest as always is full of smiles...



They are lucky to have a well to draw water from when they need right in their back yard,



however electricity is still not widely available..approx 750USD for the electric line from the street to the house !! so they use their trusty car battery for rechargeable power.

dinner time for the young one fed by grandma!

A beautiful view every night


Grandad looking a bit toothless popped up at the end of the evening ready for bed!

I gained alot from this trip. I think spending time with the families and the wonderful artisans who worked in the sewing and weaving workshops and make everything happen meant slowing down a daily routine for me and see what it is really about. Things are not instantaneous.. and i think as we are running day to day here in HK, New York, London, whereever it might be...we all have expectations of immediate results and lose sight of what matters daily. Really back to basics and spending time doing what's important and seeing results thru grassroots learning, being with those that care about each other and have formed incredible understanding of each other - brings you back to reality.

Here's a bit of a taste of mine coming together...


More soon...!

"Cartier Treasures" exhibit - Beijing

This i HAD TO SHARE WITH YOU......... here in Beijing and decided to do a quickie at the Forbidden City this morning... before heading out.

Brilliant CARTIER TREASURES exhibition on right now.. so for all of you OVER in BEIJING.. this is a must...on until November.. and just opened at the beginning of September.

Beautiful day....clear blue skies and stunning jewellery and magical pieces from my all time fav jeweller... CARTIER....

Starting with Good Ole' Mao...


these are by far some of my ALL time "LOVES"
ENJOY.


this is my all time fav from the exhibit..... quite exquisite... just a feeling..


This one is the "stomacher brooch"...oooer..





Some of you might recognise the Panther from the modern day collection.



then onto the serious stuff. BULLET cut diamonds


This one has a stunner - 143.23 carat Emerald

Many of these pieces are from the 1920's to 50's.. and it all looks so, i would Love to own a piece or 2. Any offers anyone?? perhaps i should have gone into designing fine jewels . instead of fashion!!

Ending with...
XXX

artisan weavers cambodia

As i am spending more time over in Siem reap.. here's a preview of what i am surrounded by...hand woven silk....this is one of the first steps.

Highly skilled weavers who are stil doing this by hand... tradition.

More coming

scupltural space

I have been thinking about LAYERS LAYERS AND MORE LAYERS in sculpted shapes....actually for the body.. but
this is fab by architect Zaha Hadid for the Neil Barrett store...stores concepts are a whole other play ground....

SOLAR POWERED PAVING SLABS

Just went past this .. and i think it is a great way to run... can we have more of it in HK??

An installation in Shoreditch

The Beacon is a 6 metre tower of coloured Plexiglas, solar panels and light. The installation produces its own electricity through an array of solar panels, mounted at the top of the tower, and through innovative solar paving slabs, which are made from photo voltaic cells, embedded in a mixture of recycled glass and resin – manufactured in Hackney, from glass produced as a waste product in the borough.

During the day, the Beacon will be illuminated by sunlight, which at the same time will charge up a bank of batteries in the base of the installation. At night, the batteries will use their stored solar energy to power 16 efficient fluorescent tubes. The Beacon will not be lit constant at night, but only if the solar panels have converted enough energy to drive the lighting display. How long the Beacon remains illuminated (if at all) depends on ecology. How fast the light when on display depends on the view: the more movement the brighter and faster the Beacon.

from

http://www.lottolab.org/articles/beacon.asp

ALL ABOUT being IN THE KNOW!

I love the sense of humor in the visual message!

SO this FALL.... remember CHUNKY KNITS.... and FUR...

THE SARTORIALIST

YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK.

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

Sneak preview.... a must for anyone who loves watching everyday people. THE STREETS inspire you.

The Beatles: Rock Band

The Beatles: Rock Band

Posted using ShareThis

which chair??

I found this amazing spot in shanghai on a friends recommendation..it's a whole shack.. full of treasure finds...OLD everything..collected over the many years from different homes..a mad mix of bric a brac..better than the old antique market...but u gotta take the time to look and get dusty...avoid the mozzies

We were looking to furnish out our temporary studio on a shoestring or two.... and this really makes you think...reinvent.. recycle...recreate... remake....relook...hahaha..how many more RE's???

WHICH CHAIR? Mine are in here somewhere



TIN CAN ALLEY..


even a full set of temple drums!!