r e g g a e - r i s i n g

Morning get up courtesy of my Guamanian homey, Jay. Yesterday my childhood friend Patricia, one of the first female DJs in Indonesia, have asked me to style her profile photo shoot. I'm a stylist for the day! Making sure I've got everything packed and ready for the shoot while listening to this Passafire number. Heading to Bellagio to meet up with team DJ Patricia, from Spinach Records, in a few.

w a y u ú - s u s u

Mochila bags are made by the Wayuú people, a group of indigenous people who live in La Guajira Peninsula in northern Colombia and north west Venezuela. Wayuú people believe that the knowledge of knowing how to weave is a symbol of creativity, intelligence and wisdom, a practice that is past on from one generation to the next. It takes a Guajira woman about 20 eight-hour-days to complete just one bag or 'susu' in the Wayunaiki language. Purchase a Mochila bag through the Wayuu Taya Foundation, a non-profit and non-governmental organization, where all sales will proceed to help cultivate one of the poorest countries in Latin America.

The colors of the Wayuú people have given 'tribe trend' a statement in hobo chic. Now known to the rest of the world and worn by celebrities such as Katy Perry and Shakira, find out how these Mochila bags were first introduced in the fashion scene through this New York Times article.

 Wayuú Mochila Bags for Free People's March 2011 Catalog

Picture credit: Oracle Fox and Free People

b e c o m e - s o m e o n e - e l s e

A brilliant advertising campaign made by a Lithuanian design company called Love Agency. 'Become Someone Else' was created for Mint Vinetu, a pre-used bookstore. Photos taken by Cyclopes-Photo.com.

Photo credit: Love Agency

h i g h l i g h t - i t

 

I was browsing through Hanneli Mustaparta's blog when I found this fluorescent gem. This satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Company, a company that has taken the fashion world by storm, is made in Great Britain and is truly eye grabbing. The neon nation is rising fast in the trend scene and everyone is talking about it. I am certainly drawn to it!

Picture credit: Hanneli

g i l . s c o t t - h e r o n

(April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011)

Rest In Peace Gil Scott-Heron... You were a poet, a singer, a true voice! May your music live on for generations to come. Your contributions to music will be missed and you will be remembered as the musical legend that you are.

Picture credit: Newstalk

f l o r a

I have always been a girl of nature but was never a girlie girl. However, over and over again, I find myself surprised by the beauty that a flower can exude. The different shapes, colors and scent that each flower exhibit is of great wonder and one that triggers various sensations to my imagination. These flower head ornaments captures the essence of what nature can offer to beauty, to life and to fashion. One of my favorite writers, Khalil Gibran, exquisitely described the wisdom of the flora in such fairness and vulnerability.

Song of the Flower XXIII 
 By Khalil Gibran

I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.

At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.  

c r a z y - j o e

Indonesian funkadelic rock band, AKA, was founded in May 1967 in Surabaya. The members of the group consist of Ucok Harahap (keyboard/main vocals), Syech Abidin (drums/vocals), Soenata Tanjung (main guitar/vocals), and Arthur Kaunang (bass). AKA stands for 'apotik kali asin' which literally translates to 'pharmacy of salty river' in English. A tad unusual for a band name but at least the weirdness meshes well with the identity of their music and interestingly the name derived from an actual pharmacy that Ucok's parents owned which is also a place where the band used to practice. AKA's sound was popular amongst young Indonesians of that era; a time where eccentric rock was considered taboo. This particular track was released in 1972 and I'm so psyched for this find. Why can't we produce and exhibit originality as we have in the past? Music needs to be rediscovered!

t i g e r - m i l k

"Tiger symbolizes such character traits as bravery, competitiveness and unpredictability. Tigers love to be challenged and will accept any challenge if it means protecting a loved one or protecting their honor. They don’t worry about the outcome because they know they’ll always land on their feet!"

Jeff Nishinaka is the creative genius behind this beautiful three dimensional paper sculpture of a tiger's face. Having worked in the world of advertising, fashion and fine art, Nishinaka have produced an impressive portfolio by working with Bloomingdales and Galeries Lafayette, Visa, Coca Cola, Playboy, American Airlines, Toyota and Mattel. This Los Angeles based artist also produces large installations and works mainly with white which creates the elegant play with shadow and light a true game of art. Jeff Nishinaka's other works are truly exquisite masterpieces but tonight I wanted this tiger-milk to be celebrated on its own as it exudes regal power and the strength of a tiger woman.

Picture credit: Jeff Nishinaka

l o n g - n e c k s

Tumbling on INSPIRATION and JUST-FOR-FUN facts never fails to put a smile in my brain! :D

• This long neck mammal was considered the "queen of beasts" by Arab prophets and poets for what they considered to be its delicate features and fragile form.

• The giraffe's circulatory system has been studied by NASA which hopes to replicate the giraffe's ability to keep blood from pooling in its lower body for astronauts returning from space.

• The first giraffe that was introduced to China was brought from Somalia in the year 1414, during the Ming Dynasty.

"Tribute giraffe" from Bengala(Bengal), by Shen Du in 1414

Photo credit: Las Cuellos Largos
Facts credit: Wikipedia

f a l l i n '

I am in love with Michael Grimm's voice and his rendition of Alicia Keys - Fallin'! This 2010 America's Got Talent winner brings back the soul in music with his raspy lusty bluesy, oh so sexy, sound.

v i n t ä n g

 "Reach Higher"

 

"LOVE"

"Be Together"

Swedish jewelry designer Emma Vintäng gives us a unique and very dreamy line. I love the photography and the soft pastel color pallet that is captured in these images.

Photo credit: Vintäng Jewelry Factory

j o n e s i n - c a l i

A few days ago was the birthday of My Mowner a.k.a Janagifofanuiknowright ;) and today my little sister, Galuh, posted this song up on facebook. Couldn't have been more fitting as this track really hit the spot! My Mowner lives in San Francisco and even though I am torn by the distance that keeps us apart, writing this entry brings back a smile to my face and all of the sunshiny Cali memories.

      Dear Cali,

"You can try to hold me back. Build your damn walls,

pack sandbags along the edges and yell at the clouds

and the rain and the sky to stop.

But I will not relent. I will reach you. Because I am the sea.

And I will continue to love you no matter what."

                                                            Yours Truly xox 

g a g a - m a s k

Masks by Chanel Makeup's Global creative director, Peter Phillips, and made by Montex Paris

  

V Magazine did an exclusive interview with the world's most unusual music phenom, Lady Gaga. Even though Gaga is not of every one's cup of tea, she is certainly not scared to strip her self naked to the public eye and she never fails to go beyond the limit of the highest outlandish entertainment. I give her props for her consistency. She is a true musician that sticks to her eccentric artistry. Photos taken by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin.

Photo credit: V Magazine

s k e t c h - a - f u r n i t u r e

Sketching on air to make a furniture bakes an idea of an inconceivable possibility. Front, a group of Swedish designers have proved it inevitable. By using the technology that they've discovered, we will now be able to sketch our entire home to life!

The Making of Sketch Furniture

Photo credit: Style this Simple

s c i - f i k e a

The guys at College Humor have revamped the dullness of an Ikea manual and traveled through time to produce these science fiction inspired ones; providing us with what one of their writers call 'image-based laughtermagic'. Brilliant!


Photo credit: College Humor

i n v a d e r - i n v a d e s - m o c a

The Geffen Contemporary Art at MOCA (The Museum of Contemporary Art) in Los Angeles, presents Art in the Streets; the first major museum exhibition of graffiti and street art. The exhibition opened in April and will run until August 8, 2011. With all the spectacular art and installations at this exhibition from the likes of Banksy and Shepard Fairey (Obey), the Invader invasion was seen throughout the vicinity of the museum. Inspired by the Space Invaders game, Invader is a French street artist whose work is created and recognized through the collaging of small colored square tiles which portray pixels and form a mosaic. Like in the MOCA, he does this in cities across the world, then documents this form of art as an "Invasion", with books and maps of where to find each invader. 

Invader was also a part of Banksy's 2010 street art documentary called Exit Through the Gift Shop. It documents on how an anomalous French shop keeper and amateur film maker, Thierry Guetta a.k.a. Mr. Brainwash, who is also a cousin to the Invader, attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist switch the story on Guetta himself. The film covers the world's most infamous graffiti artists at work.

Exit Through the Gift Shop Trailer

Photo credit: Arrested Motion

Video credit: Exit Through the Gift Shop

t h e - p o w e r - o f - b o o k s

We voyage and transcend to a world given to us through words written in a book. We imagine, laugh, hold our breaths in suspense and we cry through chapters written in a book. To get completely lost in a good book is the very reason why reading is so addicting. It is a way to let the mind travel while you are still. These images from Bulgarian graphic designer, Mladen Penev, speak the power of books. Simple, creative and sends the message!

Photo credit: Mladen Penev

c o n c r e t e - 2 2

22 Design Studio was founded by, Sean Yu and Yi-ting Cheng, two Taiwanese students who studied industrial design at the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. They use raw materials such as cement and stainless steel to create jewelry rings inspired by urban architecture.

Photo credit: 22 Design Studio

m o l e s k i n e - p a c - m a n

Pac Man for Moleskine

n e o n - f u r n i t u r e

The Bistro

Re-discovered London based interior designer, Lee Broom, and his 2007 Neo Neon furniture collection. Even though the collection is four years old, it did not fail to live beyond its' expiration date. Not only does these neon lighted furniture light up; it makes a whole new statement in the interior design world by introducing a futuristic element to a traditional conception. This British designer launched his first store in early February by partnering with one of London's leading lifestyle store called The Shop at Bluebird. I love how the electric energy gives life to these household goods. 

Photo credit: Lee Broom 

l e i c a + i p h o n e 4 = i 9

I honestly don't know where to begin. I was so speechless, frozen with my mouth open in front of my computer, when I saw this. I ask myself, is this for real? The production branding team of Black Design Associates, my new found heroes, have come up with the brainy marriage of the Leica i9 and the iPhone 4. Slipping your iPhone 4 into the back of the i9 brings the fixed-lens rangefinder camera to life. It activates the compact optical zoom, aperture and shutter dials, flash and light meter, which beyond any doubt, will result in images nothing short of Leica's established and remarkable reputation. I feel ecstatic about this news because it's just stupendous! You will have to no longer dwell on having to choose between your hand-held camera and your favorite iPhone photo apps. So to answer my question of this being real or not, well the answer is 'not yet' as there is no sign that the i9 will even reach the prototype phase.

People say that the invariable mark of a dream is to see it come true. I'm confident that every shutterbugs and apple junkies out there will dream with me on this. Let me just end this note with an inspiring video montage from Leica and Magnum Photos.

"Leica could be like a big passionate kiss, 

or then again like a shot from a gun,

or a couch of a psychoanalyst.

You can do anything with a Leica."

- Henri Cartier-Bresson 

(Photojournalist & Founder of Magnum Photos)

Photo credit: Black Design Associates

Video credit: Leica