My Heart On A Plate

Every Sunday, without a doubt, you'll find me in my bed, reading up and catching up on all my favourite blogs. Listening to the latest music, reading the newest reviews and discovering what my friends (and whoever else I've added to my favourites) have been getting up to during the week.

More often than not, I will end the weekend with a bunch of new music in my iTunes. And I would have come across something inspirational. Something that inspired me to speak the truth. Something that left me with a smile on my face or a tear in my eye.

Today I experienced just that.
Listening to the new music I acquired, I thought I'd share some deep, raw and honest thoughts with you right now:

Little bits of my heart have been broken over the past 23 years of my life. Not always because of love or my (false) idea of love. Sometimes because of betrayal through friendships. Other times the cause has been the broken trust between myself and someone I know. The emotion you feel when you hear someone talking about you or someone you know and care for when you're standing right there like it doesn't matter. Like you're invisible. The tears that fall down from my eyes and roll down my cheeks when I hear something that causes pain to my ears, my mind and my already fragile heart.


My heart has been broken so many times before. I feel stupid for allowing myself to give it away so easily. To let people break down my walls and touch my heart. At the time it just felt right. But most times I found out the hard way that it just wasn't the right thing to do. It wasn't the right person I should have opened up and shared my heart with.


After all the shit I went through during high-school, I wish I was a stronger person because of it. Learning from my mistakes and all that. Lately, I've been running into one of the girls who caused my final years of high-school a living hell and if I wasn't so self-conscious, I would have walked up and slapped her in the face already. At least that's how I imagined it would be. She wasn'the main cause of my pessimistic attitude after high-school but she was a supporter of the main girl who bullied her way through our senior years to cause me endless pain - more emotional than physical.


I don't cry about it so much now as I used to when I would tell friends what I'd been through. But seeing her lately (even at a distance) has just really made me feel really uneasy. 

How can anyone go on living life so carefree knowing that they've treated someone else like shit? 

High-school was all about the drama and trying to make ourselves more liked by everyone around us but now, we're almost reaching our mid-20s and although I still despise those girls and the things they did, I just want to move on - completely - and live an independent life - free of all things that bring me down. 

Here's a couple of quotes that had me wanting to write the above today.
I'm out.
x

'I heard your voice through a photograph. I thought it up, it brought up the past. Once you know you can never go back' - Otherside, Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Truth Came Out..

So Friday night, my friends and I went out with the intention of getting our friend "hammered"..
I didn't think that things would take a bad turn and I would be the one smashed!

I guess it was just an emotional day all-round what with what had happened at work earlier that day (check out my previous post) and then seeing someone turn up with her friends but getting completely snobbed by her. Instead, she made a beeline for the boy she's with now and was just hanging all over him everytime I saw her.

I think that's what made me throw in the towel. It was all too much.
Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse...

I guess I thought that being with my friends and having a good night out would pick up my mood but no - it didn't. It kind of worsened when it hit me what was happening.
The things I was seeing all around me.
I started to feel alone and unhappy again.

The truth came out when I was in the ladies with a couple of girlfriends...
I didn't mean it to and although I keep telling myself and others I'm okay, when the truth came out, it completely revealed that I'm not. :(

Needless to say, my drunken state had me leaving early whilst the others kicked on til the early hours and whilst I did receive txts and missed calls from those who truly care about me the next day, my mind was not in the mood to talk. I couldn't even eat or sleep it off for a good portion of the entire day.
Maybe it was the hangover but I think it was something deeper...

x
chauie
'Here's where I stand, Here's who I am. Love me, but don't tell me who I have to be. Here's who I am, I'm what you see. You said I had to change and I was trying, But my heart was lying' - Here's Where I Stand, Tiffany Taylor

McFancy

Imagine Mcdonalds for the upscale high-end elite individuals of today’s society - those of whom you would gasp and stare at in shock if you saw them (or if they saw themselves) step into a fast food chain like Maccas.

Imagine walking up to the counter and ordering a Burberry (packaged) burger with a side of Hermes or Gucci fries and to top it all off, a Paul Smith sundae.

Enter McFancy - created by the Cool Hunter and Access Agency – a collaborative pop-up design project set to launch at fashion weeks around the world in 2010!

"Today’s demanding consumers expect even their beloved, favorite brands to step up their game. Many run-away online successes of offline brand “stunts” attest that consumers expect, and get really excited about, experiences that are unusual, fun, thought-provoking and emotionally engaging. With the power and immediacy of social media, surprising offline events and stunts have now turned into truly powerful promotional tools.

In 2010, TCH will launch Access Agency. It is a dedicated entity that will continue our work of creating highly original, transformational, yet eminently practical and results-oriented strategies for companies to stage the kinds of offline brand experiences that will increase the economic value of their offering.

For McDonald’s, we envision a cool, surprising and fun mix of concepts. First is McFancy, an upmarket temporary McDonald’s store that launches at Fashion Weeks around the globe — London, New York, Paris, Milan, Sydney, Hong Kong.

McFancy is part art installation, gathering spot and, of course, a restaurant that offers a traditional McDonald’s menu but packaged in a way that makes a playful yet stylish nod to the lifestyle of the highly desirable, influential consumers that attend Fashion Weeks." (The Cool Hunter, 2009)

This concept is not yet realized but is hoped to be unveiled in 2010. Question is, would you rather tuck into a good ol' Big Mac at McFancy or would you prefer to just sit and look at the pretty packaging? I'd love to do both! :)

Photos courtesy of The Cool Hunter

x
chauie

Eibatova Karina ( Eika )

I've fallen in love.

No, not with a boy but with the work of an artist whose eye for intricate lines and attention to detail shines through her dope and whimsical drawings.


The artist in question is Russia-based Eibatova Karina (also known as Eika) and her pencil illustrations are utterly fresh. Check out her latest showcase, Life in the Alphabet, in which she explains,

"The idea of the project is to represent a letter in a natural form and appearance.
Like something alive has turned into a letter and stood still.
In some letters it's possible to find symbolism, others are just an abstract form.
In the alphabet you can find only one human - a woman in space. And one unreal creature - a dragon, also a very symbolical sign. "

Three words: Beautiful, creative and inspiring.



Peace yo,
chauie

Where The Wild Things Are x Girl Skateboards

Hands up who can't wait for 'Where The Wild Things Are' to hit our screens?? :)

For those who don't know, Where The Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer Maurice Sendak and was originally published by Harper & Row. The book has recently been adapted into a live-action feature film directed by Spike Jonze.

The film has already been released in the U.S [in mid-October] and won the weekend box office, taking in US$32.5 million. Many critics have noted that the adaptation of the popular's children book is rather dark and may be too scary for children, but older fans of the story will still love the story and concept of the movie.

Unfortunately the movie won't be hitting our Aussie screens until December 3rd and with the release of the movie, you can no doubt expect plenty of merchandise from shirts, hats, posters, the movie soundtrack (fronted by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and her friends), toys, games and plenty of accessories we probably won't need but will still want.

Until we are able to physically watch 'Where The Wild Things Are' at the movies, Girl Skateboards has gained inspiration from the movie and have designed these dope skateboard decks. So for anyone who likes to jump on a skateboard and land some tricks or travel their way into the distance, why not grab yourself one of these?

Damn, it makes me want to learn how to skate!

Photos courtesy of Lifelounge

Peace yo,

chauie

Little People Project

I just did a post for my 13itches familia and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, so I thought I'd post it here too - check it!

~

Imagine randomly walking through the streets of London and (if you’ve got great vision) stumbling upon ‘little hand-painted people, left in London to fend for themselves’.

UK artist Slinkachu started his Little People Project a few years ago, back in 2006, by taking miniature train set characters, remodelling and painting them, and then leaving them around the city with the ordinary problems and situations we’re faced with to fend for themselves.

"The scenes I set up, more evident through the photography, and the titles I give these scenes aim to reflect the loneliness and melancholy of living in a big city, almost being lost and overwhelmed. But underneath this, there is always some humour. I want people to be able to empathise with the tiny people in my works."

Slinkachu really captures the feel of life, like for example with the three images above, through contemplation, romance and disaster. The urban art installations are so small they tend to blend in with the surrounding street and sidewalk debris, so next time you’re walking through the streets of London, be sure to watch your step!

Check out my favourite below, aptly titled ‘Life As We Know It’:

This is an artist whose blog I regularly check back on to see what other ordinary situations he’s placed these “little people” into and you can do the same at http://little-people.blogspot.com/ .

Photos courtesy of Little People.

Enjoy yo!

chauie

Crave... and Think Pink!

Today is the 1st and locally, in Sydney, it marks the launch of a new food and art festival, Crave Sydney whereby their tagline reads, 'Curb your cravings with 31 days of food, outdoor fun and art'.


(picture credit: cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au)


Doesn't that just make you wanna leave your house and wander the streets of Sydney to see what exactly this month has to offer the locals and visitors / tourists? :)

I will do my best to get out there and discover a few things but with work and study on the brain, I can't promise anything...


October also marks the month of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Don't take any offence when reading this, but make sure, ladies and gents, that you all check your breasts. Think Pink yo!

Even though my Aunt had a different kind of cancer, it's made me more aware of the different causes out there and for anything to do with cancer, I've decided to donate and support.



(picture credit: www.babble.com)

So much so that I plan to grow my hair and chop it off for charity purposes during the month of March next year. It's for the charity that bares the name of what I think is called World's Greatest Shave. And well whilst, I won't be shaving my head, I don't mind cutting it fairly short.

What do you think? Good or Bad idea? :)

Will anyone be willing to support me and donate money if I go through with it?

x
chauie

Let's Make Some Music

Wanna make some cool beats and waste time all at once?

Check this out. :)

iNudge

Definitely fun and addictive once you get into it.

Best thing about it is that it's based on a harmonic scale, which means it's pretty hard to produce something that sounds really horrible!

Have fun,
chauie

Broken Promise

I was going to write a post about my Aunt and how I feel about the state she's in but my mind has been occupied by something else that happened tonight.

I was supposed to meet up with (some of) the 13itches crew tonight... if you look back in the archives, you'll find a post I did earlier about them/us... anyways I was really looking forward to the post-official meeting because I couldnt make the one that would be "officially" held tomorrow night as I'd be attending class.

The meeting got cancelled at the last minute. I told my friend who relayed the message that

"I wasn't mad - just disappointed."

But my first initial reaction was 'wtf? that's bullshit'.

And I think my disappointment has turned into sadness. I'm chatting to that same friend online trying to explain how I felt when he msged me but instead I'm typing nothing and sitting here crying instead.

I mean I love our crew. The whole 13itches project is a fantastic idea in my opinion but we've definitely lost momentum for it. Especially when 80% of the group went travelling to different destinations last month... It's like when they left, time stood still and everyone in the group just decided to put the whole project on hiatus for the period of time they were away.

I feel like we've been in the wrong mindset for the way we've gone about things. Getting our website (insert shameless plug: www.thirteenitches.com.au ) up and running was a big achievement for us. We even had a Launch Night for it! :P
But I feel like after that night, the focus went in a different direction. Instead of thinking 'Yay, our website is done, what's next?'... it felt more like we went into the zone of 'Yay, our website's done. Now we can relax'.

Our crew has a lot of focus but we also have a lot of people and everyone has a lot of ideas and I think that's where our focus diminishes.

When we all got together for this project (initially), we all kinda made an agreement that whoever wanted to be apart of this, would need to make the commitment to work hard and whatnot.

But now it just feels like it was all talk, no action.

It feels like we've all broken a promise to each other.

This feeling is definitely not a great feeling coz we're such a tight-knit group. I wouldn't want all this to tear us apart...

I'm out.
The piece on my Auntie will be up by the end of the week...
Warning: the mood of that one is a bit of a downer too :(
...Excuse my mood...

chauie
"Why must I feel so wrong when I try and do right?" - Mr Solo Dolo, Kid Cudi

The Uniform Project

Could you wear 1 dress and create different looks for 365 days?

Sheena Matheiken thinks she can and has been doing so since May 1st, 2009!

(picture credit: http://www.theuniformproject.com/ )

The idea for The Uniform Project sparked Matheiken to also have the fashion blog create exposure and donations for the Akanksha Foundation, a 'grassroots movement that it revolutionising education in India'.

7 duplicates of the dress, designed by Eliza Starbuck, were made to represent each day of the week for Matheiken to wear and style it to her own unique and individual look. The dress, which was designed to be able to be worn both ways - back and front - and also as an open tunic, is the blank canvas for Matheiken to layer and accessorise to her heart's content.

Matheiken asks that you 'think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade's boudoir'.

Check out her daily ensembles here:

http://www.theuniformproject.com/

To any budding accessories / jewellery designers, Matheiken is happy to add a little touch to her outfits with your designs - feel free to contact her at the above site. Those who weren't blessed with the creative touch can help out Matheiken by donating to the Akanksha Foundation.

Enjoy.
chauie

Side Project...

Thirteen Itches.

My friends and I have been working on a lil' side project for more than a few months now and I've never really talked about it. I've told workmates but only to a certain extent. Only because I don't think we've completely prepared ourselves yet. To be honest, I don't think we are ready to launch our brand just yet.

The only thing we have right now is a website and a blog (in which I regularly contribute to)! :)

Feel free to check us out:

http://www.thirteenitches.com.au/

Yes, we are a design company catering mainly to those of the streetwear scene but nowadays fashionistas everywhere are incorporating streetwear into their look, so i'm kinda confused as to where we actually stand in the market.

But that's something to decide later i suppose.

This is the project that I'm doing and the people that I'm with when I'm not working, attending classes or writing for this blog. :)

However, I do want to say, because there is a certain limit (in my opinion) as to what exactly I can post (yes, there is a process), for that particular blog, if I write something thats meant for 13itches, i'm going to post it here aswell regardless if it makes it on that website or not.

I don't want to work on a piece and have it thrown away. It should be published somewhere - why not my own blog?

And if for any reason, haters out there come across a post on the 13itches website first and then see it here and say I'm emulating someone else, please check the By Line before you open your mouth.

That's all.
chauie