WATERCOLORS AND TEXTURE

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That last print spells unconscious. 

The top two prints are by Daniel Egneus and the bottom two are by Sprios Halaris.  I am not a follower of art; I don't know these men from Adam, but I dabble in the art of browsing.  In my second job as an online browser, I have discovered Arte Limited, which has a nice collection of art and photography that is a higher grade than, say...a lot of pieces on Etsy. There is also an option to show prices in US dollars, if you prefer.  

I picked these pieces out because I like watercolors, or just the texture of water in a print, the way colors can run together.  Always have.  I have a thing for softer images, free from hard lines.  I like the way watercolor can show texture (if you look at the top print) and an appreciation for the control it must have taken to create the orange pattern that is painted in a way to suggest that you are looking at fabric.  

EVA CHEN: LUCKY MAGAZINE'S NEW EDITOR IN CHIEF

News articles are identifying Eva as the first Asian-American editor-in-chief of a Conde Nast magazine. First, I don't remember where that pic came from.  I tried to find it again and it just got lost in the google abyss. Second, as much as I would rather Eva was praised for her social media savvy (45K instagram followers and 47K twitter followers*) before her Asian-ness, in the end I don't really care.  It takes a small miracle to amass that many followers - I don't care if they're mostly the same people.  I can barely cut and paste my blog links onto a Tweet. 

As always, I'm happy to hear about Asians who ditch the premed/law school course to go with what makes them happy, especially when they're already most of the way through Johns Hopkins, which isn't exactly known for their fashion and design program. 

Eva seems to be an interesting choice to head a print magazine.  I wonder what she's going to bring to the party. My personal theory on people who can successfully gain thousands of followers through tools like Twitter is that they have the gift of knowing what people want, and then giving it to them.  Over and over again.  It's like having your finger on the pulse of the human psyche, and knowing what makes that pulse jump.

Even though Lucky has been in a slump, I've always liked it, since it didn't subject me to pictures of models holding barbells in spandex to encourage me to go on a diet. It didn't care about my eating or exercise habits.  It didn't oversell me on sex.  It always seemed to be slightly off from the other mags, a little bit unusual in their style recommendations which were sometimes based on editor's personal style.  It showed you that fashion didn't have to be a glossy sheet of perfection by draping clothes all over models.  Instead, they used real people to encourage readers to make their own style choices.  And there was never only one.

I have a feeling the changes won't be dramatic, but will be slow and steady, and the overall makeover will be a quiet revolution.  I will wait and see. 

* Note to self: follow Eva on Twitter.

EASY WEEKEND DIY: WELCOME MAT

Shine Design

Welcome mats are the ugliest things.  Yet they serve a necessary function (capturing dirt so it doesn't get all over your nice flooring), so you're probably better off with than without, and most people have them.  Even I have one...left over from the previous tenant (I didn't see the point of paying money for something equally ugly, but slightly newer to step on).  When I look at a doormat, I see a doormat.  I've never looked at my welcome mat as being an object of creative potential, but apparently it can be.  

I came across the above DIY from the blog Shine Design and had to share it.  You have to appreciate people that have that kind of eye - that see a boring thing, and then its underlying potential to be better.  The original post is in Norwegian, but her pics pretty much speak for themselves.  The mat is from Ikea, and the pattern is made by outlining using a bowl and some white pencil.  Genius, I say.

FUN LINK TIME

Daily Frenchie

I'm one of those people that like to solve problems.  Sometimes I notice things and mentally link them to people they could possibly benefit, and sometimes that person just doesn't exist...so what do you do with this excess information?  Well, problem solved.  See below.

• 60 minutes: The Save the Tortoise Episode.  Is watching 60 minutes uncool?  I know it's been around for awhile, but I just realized this show exists.  Most people I talk with like to name drop NPR (example: "Oh, I heard about [insert hot button topic] on NPR").  Apparently radio is the way to go.  I linked to the tortoise episode, on 60 minutes, because it's strangely heartbreaking. 
• Confidence and public speaking: This article on how to sound confident even when you're not.
• Decor: Easy DIY for decorating with silver tape. 
• The British: This post on what British people say v. what they mean. 
• Food: Fork and Beans for vegan recipes
• Acne: This thoughtful article on acne from The Dame is one of the most thorough and holistic approaches to acne I've come across, incorporating changes to both your lifestyle and eating habits instead of just recommending facial products. 
• Bunions: If you google "Victoria Beckham" and "Bunions," you will meet the most famous pair of bunions in the world.  Try this bunion splint to try to prevent that.  It's a progressive problem and can only get worse over time, so far as I know, so this splint should stop the problem from getting worse, and it may also makes you appear mildly athletic.
• Acne Scars: Try this organic scar cream. 
• Bed Hair: Try this silk pillowcase.  

PICTURE FOR THE WEEKEND NO. 22

I trotted around here over the weekend.  It is nice to live near the water - or at least to have the water a pleasant commute away.

As an aside, why are weekend pics practically always nature shots?  Because I find them calming, and I like a bit of calm during my weekend - also during the workweek, but there's no time for that, so weekend it is!

IDEAL V. REAL: THE TV

Via

Oh, how I would love this.  Let's look at it from another angle.  See below.  Yes, that still looks beautiful.  The entire apartment is quite beautiful actually, if you follow the link.  There really is no end to good taste and what it can do for you.  

Via

Now, here's a touchy question that I sometimes struggle with...is this practical?

  

Because in reality, I don't have overwhelming large pieces of art that I can display, and I'm not sure that I would want a TV that low to the ground.  

Here is the larger problem: I'm addicted to aesthetics.  I follow interior design sites the way some people follow porn: In the dark.  Late at night. Alone.  I'm checking things out. 

Aesthetically speaking, a TV at eye level (where you can watch it easily and use it for its intended purpose) looks fairly unattractive.  Most TV stands I've found are 1) overpriced and 2) unattractive.  So it's like being screwed at two entirely different angles. 

Below, I included the most practical, easily accessible, commercially available, and least ugly solution from West Elm.  It's not the same as the ideal, but it's not hideous.  

In my own abode, of course, I have an bleh thing from IKEA.

West Elm

I'm not going to include a picture of my bleh.  Because it's bleh. 

I suppose this second option could look okay depending on what you put around it. My preference is to minimize clutter, to not have too much stuff, you know?  

Just the proper amount.  (See above)

A PICTURE FOR THE WEEKEND NO. 21

Don't these mountains look Asian?  That's because they're from Korea.

FYI: I don't know that guy.  He seems to like mountains too.

EASY WEEKEND DIY: BRANCH AND YARN

Sweet Thing

Do you live near a forest?  No?  How about near a tree?  Do you have access to yarn?  If so, then you can probably do this DIY.  I am not talking about the fancy wood trinket mobile - more the large branch next to it.  

Simply wrap some yarn in a color block pattern around a branch, apply some glue, and voila.  Lean the branch where you will.  Some people paint fancy patterns, that's a bit more work, but if you can, do. I'm not stopping you. 

A MOMENT FOR CALM

It's hump day.  I've mentally been congratulating myself on getting past 100 posts - pictures count, you know.  So I should be feeling fairly accomplished if nothing else, but instead there a slight nagging sensation.  A little pull of dissatisfaction.  It's not altogether unfamiliar.  Because there is always something more out there that needs to be done.  It could be something big, or a series of small responsibilities or dissatisfactions that, added together, create a larger burden.  And these things are always there, listed inside your head, ticking away the seconds like a bomb. 

I'm posting this now as much for myself as for anyone else, as a reminder to acknowledge that nagging sensation, and to put it aside.  To calm down.  It's the middle of the week, there's still some time left to do what you need to do, and you've already checked a few things off the list. It's an ideal moment to take a little time to breathe.  I will repeat this every once in awhile - the need to cultivate calm - because I think I need the reminder every now and again.  Repetition leads to building habits, and I believe that this is a good habit to have. 

I took that pic above because it evokes a sense of calm.  Many pictures unintentionally (or intentionally) create dissatisfaction by creating wants - the desire to get away, the desire to buy things, the desire to lose weight, should I have kids (?), etc.  All of this leads away from appreciating what you have.  

There is nothing I want in that picture.  It's cozy.  It's neat.  It simply exists in a way that reminds me that there is another way to be.   

FRIEND OF THE BRIDE

Flickr

I've never wanted to be a bridesmaid.  Is that odd?  I have friends who get very excited, and some people consider it an honor to be a part of the bridal party.  I understand the feeling of belonging, of being part of your friend's big day.  I want my friends to be happy.  It just happens that this part of friendship seems to come with a lot of work and money.  Traditionally, and I might be wrong here, you have to:

• buy the bridesmaid dress
• pay for dress alterations
• organize and pay for the bridal shower, including travel and accommodations + gift for bride
• organize and pay for the bachelorette party, including travel and accommodations + gift for bride
• wedding gift

That seems like a lot of money and work, and I would feel awful making my friends do that, and on the other hand, I wouldn't feel bad if I didn't have to.

That aside, my friend told me that she didn't ask me to be a bridesmaid because she remembered how we had discussed how much it would suck to be a bridesmaid and she didn't want to put me on the spot.  It's true that I wouldn't have refused - I would be a asshole jerk if I said no. It's an opportunity to help a friend, and when a friend asks for help, you just give.  And pony up.

As a further aside, whenever I think "bridesmaid," I think "handmaiden," that old hag that had to brush the beautiful princess's hair late at night after a day full of royal princessian activities, at which time the handmaiden had had to clean the royal bedchamber. This is pretty much how I would picture myself during the wedding festivities - swanning around as part of a match set of bridal accessories in some ugly satin number with a train that drags along the floor.  Probably strapless.