The fiance and I have been on a bit of a frenzied wedding venue hunt lately, after I was very sternly told by the ladies in my family to get cracking if I didn’t want our reception to be at McDonalds. Apparently, the year of the Rabbit is a good one for marriage (and amazingly not for the first reason that comes to mind!) so all the good spots are booking up super fast. So fast that I’d better have a plan B, C and D. But no pressure! Everyone likes french fries, right?
Not that I’m thinking (much) about eloping, but if I were to pack my bags and run, I’d probably want to be married in Portland. Specifically, at The Grotto:
How mind-bogglingly gorgeous is that? Shame I’m not Catholic and too honest to lie about it. Wait – that last part has to count for something, right?
Photo from here.
To say I’m excited about the Valentino Retrospective is a smidge of an understatement. I’m just about dying to go…despite it being held at Resorts World, the parking at which makes my cashcard whimper.
Random thought: wouldn’t it be fab if the gift store there actually sold Valentino? Yes – I realize that a) nothing they’d sell (i.e. the current collection) would have been designed by the honoree of the exhibition and b) my bank account would probably not be up to the challenge anyway, but it would be so much more interesting than the regular offerings of postcards and keyrings!
When you have two creative types sharing a home, it can be hard to give wall space to outside talents. It’s not an ego thing, really – just that it seems pointless to pay for art when you create so much of it for free all the darned time.
This, however, I’d toss a few of my own paintings to make room for.
Using a tattoo pen (!) Danish artist Jacob Dahlstrup etches hand-drawn designs into thick watercolour paper, creating the coolest form of paper art since…well, since letterpress.
I wish I didn’t have such shaky hands and that I could draw mermaid skeletons, because seriously. How fantastic are these?
Photos from Jacob’s portfolio, where there’s also a video you can watch on the process.
I’ve always quite enjoyed the week between Christmas and New Year’s – there’s so much to look forward to, and so much to look back on.
Speaking of retrospectives, I just discovered these photos from earlier this month…and figured I’d better post them before the holiday season was officially over.
In case you were wondering, these shots are of a RTW corporate gift order where we matched our silver Stylized Chrysanthemum prints to multi-coloured, silver-lined envelopes. The belly bands were made from strips of gilded Japanese Chiyogami paper, and everything was packed into recycled paper boxes lined with silver tissue and tied up with twine.
Shh – don’t tell anybody, but I almost kept one for myself.
I had this much pink in my life (although I’m fairly certain my dog wouldn’t take kindly to being dyed). Aside from the huge stash of these hot pink beauties I received for Christmas, this could also be a good way to start.
I also wish I had more time to write a post-Christmas-post, but I’m off to the studio today so there’s no hope of that. No rest for the wicked!
Photo by Slim Aarons from here.
I’ve always found that the best way to enjoy Christmas is to participate in seasonal traditions and rituals, because they become something you look forward to every year. And if you don’t have any that you’re particularly attached to, why not start your own?
My favourite newly invented traditions are my family’s annual Christmas morning present guessing game (I won last year – wish me luck today!) and the paper snowflakes I make to decorate gifts with, which my mother saves and turns into an ever-expanding art installation.
Whatever activity it is you decide to start – or already do – I hope you have a wonderful time and a very merry Christmas. Happy holidays everyone!
For an amazing last-minute gift idea…or a surefire to trigger scent memories of childhood Christmases and get into the holiday mood.
Instructions available at Southern Living.
We’re THISCLOSE to Christmas morning (which by the way I’m deliberately counting as day 1, not day 0) so if you haven’t gotten all your shopping by now there’s really nothing my gift guide can do for you! My advice to stragglers: write up an IOU, put your feet up, and save yourself the trip downtown.
But before the countdown takes a turn for the domestic, I’d like to abuse the fact that I already have your attention by reminding you that you are so lucky. If you have even the slightest reason to be reading the ramblings of a letterpress stationer, chances are you’ve got it pretty good. At the very least, you’re probably not worrying about where your next meal will come from, or how to make sure your utilities aren’t shut off, or if your kids will have a gift to unwrap on Christmas morning, or if you’ll have enough gas money to drive home to see your ailing parents. You are so lucky, and I am too.
Unfortunately, there are lots of people who are dealing with all of those problems, and then some. Without getting all preachy, I’d like to urge you to visit Wish Upon A Hero and be someone’s hero this Christmas. The stories and pleas on the site are gut-wrenching, but it takes so little (read: a day’s dose of Starbucks) from someone like you or I to make a difference. I know it’s a gamble to give via PayPal blindly instead of through a charity, but some posts link to Walmart wish lists where you can spring for baby diapers, children’s toys, or even a warm winter coat. Some people just ask for cards and prayers so they can feel loved. It’s not too late to make Christmas happen for someone who might otherwise not have one.
Even if you aren’t able to help out, I hope you’ll visit the site as a way to put an otherwise commercial season into perspective. Hug your family a little tighter today, take a deeper whiff of your Christmas tree, stop and be thankful that your Christmases are a given and not a luxury. I know I will.
Photo from weheartit.
For your favourite fashionista, because those Louboutins aren’t going to rain-proof themselves (or provide much traction during rainy season).
SWIMS Cityslippers shoe covers with city map-inspired soles, SEK$500 (about SGD$100) from the brand’s online store.
For the creative type who you always make fun of for being both erratically non-linear and ridiculously anal.
Muji Chronotebook, USD$5.50 from their online store, or one near you.
