Dreams Awakened: Benjamin Hubert

This is a quick post in between lots of work!

If you may do so, please add to my list (and yours) of favorite designers: Benjamin Hubert. He's a UK-based industrial designer, designing things the likes of from furniture to lights to architecture. His designs are minimalist but they're so beautiful! So creative! I'm just so amazed.

Just by stumbling upon his site today, my spirits are lifted! His works inspire me more to take up Industrial Design after finishing my business course. Maybe one day I'll create designs and works just like him... :)

 "Pod"

"Industry"

"Field"

The designer himself. Such young talent!

All pictures came from his website. Check it out for more of his wonderful, wonderful works! :)

Prints and Excessorizing

I'm in a print craze right now - especially animal and tribal prints and patterns!

CottonOn top, Bayo shorts and Suelas shoes

Without flash. I also have this top in Tribal patterns!

Comfy comfy shoes! I love Suelas! :)

Let's not forget the accessories!!!

Ring, check. (from Maple)

Arm cuffs, check.

Earrings, check! (I love the intricate tribal details)

Cake Craze

Last March, my best friend gave me this amazing cake for my 20th birthday. It's about a foot high and the chocolate fudge cake inside was really moist and satisfyingly filling! But more than that, the design itself was so sweet because it told the story of how she and I met back in kindergarten. Seriously, it made me go "Awww..." :)

Although this is such a late post, I really feel like I have to feature this. I'm just really in awe by how the cake was made. The whole thing was created only by decorative sugar and can you imagine how the loops and twirls stood there steadily? I'm not a cake expert but the technique of putting them up must be some kind of magic! Kuddos to The Bunny Baker! Apparently, my best friend had it made there and she told me that you can submit a design to them and they can make it for you, or they can do both altogether! How awesome it that? I'll surely keep them in mind.

My birthday cake by The Bunny Baker

IoTD: Scandinavian Inspired Mix

Fresh European Color Palette: Scandinavian Inspired Mix from http://www.apartmenttherapy.com

Fresh European Color Palette: Scandinavian Inspired Mix from http://www.apartmenttherapy.com

Saw this color palette from the site (a friend linked me!) mentioned in the caption and I just really fell in love with it! I love how neutrals can brighten up with a few simple accented colors. This palette is comprised of White, Warm Gray, Chalky Light Blue, Chalky Acidic Yellow, Soft Cocoa and Blond Wood tones. You can see more pictures of interiors with this color palette at Apartment Therapy.


What do you think? :)

Become Someone Else

I stumbled upon this ad by the Lithuanian Agency called Love for Mint Vinetu via Black Eiffel's blog (Thanks for the amazing post!). This is part of their campaign called "Become Someone Else," and they said this about it:

"When one reads books, he/she starts living it and identifies (or not) with main hero. These print ads for the Mint Vinetu bookstore, which sells lots of classics, focuses on the idea of becoming someone else. And provokes people to try on different personas."


I love their marketing edge!

For the avid readers, agree or agree? :)

Croissants, Cheese and Wine

The sun's flaring up the place here and it's no doubt summer has already arrived. And since it's also less than a day away from Holy Week, everyone's packing up their bags and heading out of town for a nice long vacation. Ironically though, the beach isn't the most sought-after destination this year. It seems that almost every one of my friends right now are visiting colder places to pass on the sweat. I've been hearing about Russia, Norway, upper China like Harbin, Canada and many other snow-bound places, and while I'm usually excited for my friends, it gives a little damp of envy in my heart to have never reached one of my top dream destinations - France... Cue long heavy sigh.

I can't wait for me to visit the country. Its food, fashion and people (although they are infamous for notorious manners) are just some of the things I'd love to experience. Not to forget the art museums! Oh, the Louvre, please wait for me!

For now, I have just to continue to dream to see France and its culture. I'm sure one day I'll get there. Like I always say to myself, there's no dream worth dreaming for if it's not big enough to be worked for. (Now, there are a lot of 'for's' in that sentence haha!) Here's to authentic croissant, cheese and fine wine! :)

A pseudo-poster on a talk about France I did for a class a few months ago
(Reeves watercolor and Unipin fine line water and fade proof pigment ink on Arches watercolor paper + Photoshop Elements editing)

IoTD: Color Blocking in Furniture

There’s really something so outstanding about monotone yet strikingly colored furniture! I love it against darker surroundings - adds a bit of playfulness :>


The Collect 2011 exceptionally vibrant cabinets in the pictures below are by A2 Designers

http://blueantstudio.blogspot.com/

What do you think of these? Post your favorite vibrantly colored furniture! :)

Neutrals and Brights

My new favorite thing in my closet right now is this khaki tulip skirt I got in Hong Kong! I love its high-waist fit on me and its shape. I know it's not a new thing around the fashion world but never have I loved a tulip-skirt as I do with this one (I used to look so bulky in them).

But more importantly, I have found how fun neutrals are! It's obvious I've always been drawn to very bright colors as seen from my art to my wardrobe but now, I've embraced the subtler side to hues. Pairing the khaki with my bright red nails and bright red shoes, as well as my big ring, I formed a date-worthy Sunday outfit! How awesome is that :)

H&M basic tank, Pull and Bear high-waist skirt, CMG jelly flats

Peacock ring from a bazaar - my favorite ring at this moment

What are your favorite fashion combinations? :)

Arts and Crafts101: How To Make A Party Hat

Last Friday, I felt my inner kid and did some arts and crafts for my little friend. His name's Saur-e and he's a stuffed dino I gave last year to someone special who somewhat influenced me to love stuffed toys! I know, it's crazy but here's to a renewed childhood! :P

Getting to know my inner kid

Saur-e taking a look at himself

Tada!

Hi! I'm...

...Saur-e :)

Isn't he just adorable? :)

Take a picture of your childhood's favorite stuffed toy and post it! :)

IoTD: Imagination-Infused Rooms

I wish I had a room like this when I was a kid <3 The pastel colors and Disney-like teepee sure reminds me of "play time" back in kindergarten when I would crawl under benches and tables thinking they were caves. Ah, nostalgia!

www.mydesignchic.com

Color Blocking In Dreams

I had this crazy dream last night (like that's not usual *sarcasm*). I was being chased by something - dunno what - in this funky outfit: orange short cropped top with Aladdin-like baggy cuffed pants. Also, I wonder how I ran with those purple pumps!

Quick sketch on my little Corona sketchpad by pencil and Photoshop brush

Have you had any weird dreams lately? :)

Siren Nails

Check out my new nails!

Orly brand

Siren color

I love how this hue is not RED red, but rather a light strawberry red tinge! Check out other Orly colors. :)

What do you think?

In Awe

Originally posted in my Tumblr account on April 14, 2011.

Just a few minutes ago, a good friend showed me works of an all-around artist (he can use almost any medium masterfully!!) and right now, I’m just blown away! This dude is INCREDIBLE and I think he’s just 22. His technique and meticulous detailing is just amazing; not to forget, the color usage! Amazing, amazing, amazing - that’s all I can say! 

I wish I could make artworks like these one day.

These are some of Minjae Lee’s works (from his marker-as-medium collection): 

His deviantart: http://greno89.deviantart.com/

(Click on his name for his website)

What do you think of the works? :)

Supergirl Wannabe

Originally posted in my Tumblr account on April 13, 2011.

It’s my 3rd day back from vacation and I still have this freakin’ cold from all the change of weather. My immune system sure lacks a lot of those what you call Vitamin C for a few degrees to hit me like this. I can’t even do my work properly with all the sniffling and nose blowing on endless amounts of tissue! Ugh. Someone save me…

But since nothing can be done any time soon, I’m taking a few minutes from thinking up of good mandatory designs (meaning, designs with a deadline and consequences if not done) and posting up a sudden thought about… well, colds.

Yes, you read right - COLDS.

When I was a little kid, I never had the tradition of drinking up chicken soup whenever I was sick. Never did my mom cook up something exceptionally special just for colds or cough or even the flu. All that my siblings and I were taught was just to drink a lot of fluids, take our medicine 3 times a day and continue working or doing whatever we had to do. Sickness wasn’t an acceptable excuse for our family to stop and take a break from our responsibilities, nor was it a reason for mediocre work.

At that time, I resented not having a good opportunity to skip school and snuggl

e up longer in bed. But in hindsight, I think my parents just really sent the message of being strong. It’s like, “Take good care of yourself while you do your thing” rather than “Oh, let it pass and continue doing it next time” ‘cause next time may be too late. (Of course, if it were a fatal condition we wouldn’t force it now, would we? Haha!) And I’m grateful how this was not only in terms of getting sick but in everything else we do. They never raised us kids to be weaklings, that’s for sure!

So, in lieu of the moment, here is a work that I really love by Joshua Middleton. Stumbled on it in his site (www.joshuamiddleton.com) a few months back - with influence from my good friendl - and I fell in love with all his other works ever since! 

Presenting the kind of girl I want to be: invincible yet somewhat human through and through - Supergirl. :)

Thanks Mom and Dad! :)

License to be Vain

Originally posted in my Tumblr account on April 11, 2011.

Sometimes, there is a need to be the subject of one’s own lens. There’s no room for shame now - I’m posting a picture that I’m sure everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) has surely done. Now, don’t deny it!

I dub this pose the “license to be vain” pose. I love how it always reveals some sort of inner vanity. Of course, the mirror is always a necessity for this. :)

This is my stowaway look (not to forget the matching backpack and worn out luggage to match) - for comfort when travelling on a plane!

(H&M Fedora hat, Bossini over-sized shirt, rolled-up semi-skinnies, Converse sneakers, Maple, Cotton On and Girl Shoppe accessories)

Big Lights

Originally posted in my Tumblr account on April 11, 2011. 


I’m finally back from Hong Kong and really, there’s no place like home! But sometimes, to just get away from home brings in a breath of fresh air. There’s nothing like the lights of a different city - similar to any other, yet distinctly one of a kind. Night lights never fail to inspire me :)

Civic Square at 1 Austin, Kowloon

Point and note: I should really get a night life!

Best Summer Chillers

Originally posted on my Tumblr account on April 8, 2011


Since summer was reaching the shores of Hong Kong already, my 5th day here was spent hunting down (exaggerated language use, that is - it’s everywhere!) for my all-time favorite “comfort chiller” in the city - Hui Lau Shan’s Aloe Vera Jelly coolers. Ever since I was a kid, this was what my cousins and I looked for whenever walking outdoors became a tad bit warm. Trust me, there’s no better way to re-energize yourself for more shopping in the afternoon! :)

The house that holds the chillers

Their famous 4

My cuz and I enjoying our Mango Aloe Vera Jelly shakes

What's YOUR favorite summer chiller? :)

Have A Break, Have A KitKat

Originally posted in my Tumblr account on April 4, 2011.


In the land of great shopping and food right now (Can you guess where? haha) and the first amusing thing of the trip is the new munchies I discovered! It’s - wait for it - CHEESE FLAVORED KITKAT! Amazing, isn’t it? 

The flavor had a parmesan-slash-cheddar tinge to it. It was kind of okay at first but the mix of creaminess after awhile sort of makes the whole thing too much for you to have a second “break.” But I think it’s worth at least one try!

The box had a fancy lock design thing too! Didn’t know what it was for though…

Here are some other exotic KitKat flavors I had before (all from Japan) aside from the typical milk chocolate flavor.

Melon flavor

Green tea flavor - THIS IS SO YUMMY! It's my favorite!!!:)

Wasabi flavor

Soy Sauce flavor

Corn flavor

What flavors have you tried? :)

Photos courtesy of my cousin's camera and Google Images.

A More Revealing Trailer

Originally posted in my Tumblr account on April 2, 2011.

So, I’m trying this thing called blogging for the second time; although, in hindsight, I can’t call my first attempt anything beyond immature high school ranting (age of emo much?). For a few years now I have avoided the urge to post anything more than the Twitter 140-character limit or the Facebook one-liners, hesitant that my seemingly boring life would be scorned upon. But alas! The hidden attention-seeker in me can take it no longer. And who knows, maybe this can finally be an avenue to revamp the monotony and push myself to find new things in my daily life. Fingers crossed there!

First things first, though—intros. I’m not much of the Name-Age-State-All-Facts kind of person, though. I let things speak for themselves. So, a rundown of my interests; henceforth, a rundown of what to expect in this blog! :)

Art, Design and Doodling - There’s nothing I’m more passionate about than this :) That includes lots and lots of colors! :)

Illlustrator’s Color Wheel - This was made for my art elective last semester in school. I think it represents my love for color and how I really like seeing them differently! 

   (Reeves watercolors in tube, Canadian-brand watercolor brushes, Unipin water and fade proof pigment ink 0.2, Faber Castel watercolor pencils on Arches watercolor paper) 

Foodarama! - I LOVE LOVE LOVE FOOD! Whether it’s comfort food or something new, I just enjoy the very act of seeing how lovely the ensemble is and then gobbling it all! And the mere fact that I was such a fat kid, I was raised to be a food-lover (I’m not gonna post any pictures of little me, any time soon though!)

The Red Mango frozen yogurt started one of my continuous food ventures. From the first time I tried this years before, I had been in the search for the best fro-yo in town! But until now, this is still my favorite! (I love the green tea flavor! yummy!)

The Macho Sport of Bowling - Yes, you read right: I play bowling. Of all the sports I’ve played (i.e. badminton, tennis, table tennis, volleyball), bowling has stayed with me, and vice versa, the longest. I’ll post a video of one of the most awesome bowlers (and my friend) out there - with his funny side! 

Fashion - From shoes, shoes and shoes to accessories and everything in between! Enough said.

SOME of my messed up accessories. I really need to organize them. Any advice?

Travel - The thought of flying aside, I love travelling to new places, especially with my family!

My sister and I outside the Elements/Kowloon Station of Hong Kong - our favorite and most frequently visited place for shopping and good-eats! 

Random wit and musing - I’m probably the most random girl in the world. To add to that, people say I think too much. It’s inevitable for me to NOT post anything that just pops up in my mind. So, beware and watch out for that! Haha

Having said all that, I hope I’m going to have fun posting and writing here.

Cheers to a new blog-inning! :)