Fake moustaches (I normally spell it with an "o") are quirky and funny. Don't you agree? Just throw on a fake moustache on anything - your pet, your fruit, your drinking glass, your cellfone, and it becomes goofy. :) It's an instant picker-upper, guaranteed to bring a smile... or at the very least, an upward curve to the lips. Heh heh!
Now I bet you didn't know that there is an organization called The American Mustache Institute! !! WTH. And the different mustache styles have been given names for identification purposes, as shown in the illustration below. *Hilarious*
Looking at all these mustache images reminds me of one of the most successful and longest running ad campaigns in modern history: The Milk Moustache! Featuring Martha Stewart, Dark Knight, Rihanna, Rebecca Romijn, Beyonce, Olsen Twins, David Beckham, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston, Giselle, Angelina Jolie, Heidi Klum and many, many more celebrities.
I love ginkgo because of its fan-shaped leaf which produces an unmistakable silhouette. So aesthetically-pleasing. I love how organic and beautifully unique the shape is. Ain't nature grand? Nature has the most incredible designs ever and it's inspiring + humbling all at once. I came across a ginkgo tree when I was in Seoul in 2009 and for the first time ever I held a real leaf in my palm. I was blown away by how perfectly imperfect it was! (You like the photo by yours truly above?) It was a profound wabi-sabi moment for me. :*) It is no surprise that over the years many artists and designers have been inspired by the ginkgo leaf. You can find depictions of ginkgo leaf in housewares, jewelry, stationery etc. I have collected the following for your viewing pleasure:
from Real Simple, Jan 2011 - Life Lessons: 5 things you can learn from your pet.
Lesson No. 4: Don't try so hard.
Cats are quirky, independent thinkers. Some people don't like them for this very reason. But I find that quality enormously appealing. I respect each of my seven cats because they are so true to themselves and resistant to outside influences. In my opinion, it would be preferable for politicians, in particular, to behave more like cats, who just do their own thing, and less like dogs, who clamor for affection and acceptance.
My furbaby, MM, whom I can definitely learn a thing or two from - starting from how easily it is for her to attain peaceful sleep. See more of her here.
For the longest time, I had crammed all of my clothes into a 3 ft x 3 ft x 8 ft-sized closet.... A closet which was really more appropriate for storing broom, mop and other household cleaning items. My closet space was SMALL. Even Harry Potter's room under the staircase is bigger than my closet. Ah, I wish I have a picture of it to show you. There was no way I was able to stuff all of my clothes into it and from very early on I pretty much maximized every inch of it. In addition to purging out unused old outfits regularly to make room for new additions, I also had to do the seasonal rotation thing; during winter time I'd put away all my tanktops, shorts, sheer short-sleeved items to make room for the heavy bulky winter coats. And come warmer weather, I'd vacuum-pack all the wool sweaters, down jackets, corduroy pants and hide these all the way under my bed.
Carrie's walk-in closet after she moved in with Big.
THE dream closet that Big custom-built for Carrie in their new penthouse apartment.
Carrie's closet in her own apartment.
It got me then thinking, after perusing loads of walk-in closet images online, how to go about putting a walk-in closet together. I'm thinking aloud here with my observations and considerations, I welcome your input/thoughts.
The basic components of a walk-in closet space are:
1. Hanging rods - single for longer dresses/coats, double for blouses/tops and pants/bottoms.
2. Some sort of shelving - for folded t-shirts and bags.
3. Standard drawers - for smaller items like belts, socks and lingerie.
4. Shoe rack system - don't forget to have taller compartments for boots.
1. An island/countertop (if space allows) - the flat top of the island is useful for folding clothes.
"Today's luxurious closets feature custom cabinets and spacious islands similar to the quality and size found in many new kitchens. Whether you choose custom-built beauties like these, or more budget-conscious factory-built units, aim for a mixture of shelves and drawers so you can easily store different types of items. Also think about including an island or other flat surface where you can fold and stack clothes." (Remodeling Center)
2. Laundry basket - get an attractive one that can be displayed openly, else hide one behind a designated shelf with doors.
3. Shallow drawers - for jewelry and accessories.
4. Vanity - for displaying perfumes, body lotions, etc.
"Dressing areas in walk-in closets allow you to get ready in comfort without disturbing a partner snoozing in the master bedroom." (Remodeling Center)
5. Ottoman or Lounge Chair. Or any form of seating - ideally with a small footprint.
Have I missed anything out?
Now, my question is:
If you have a walk-in closet, will you choose to store your stuff behind individual wardrobe doors or leave everything proudly exposed/displayed?
DOORS
Pros: Neat, no one can see the mismatched hangers, or the about-to-explode shelves stacked with too many t-shirts. Coz you know you will maximize the space and keep adding clothes; showroom images are nice because there's breathing space between every hanger and other items have been organized according to color and size.
Cons: Feel kinda claustro, space may look dark, stuffy and confined.
WITHOUT DOORS
Pros: Feel like stepping into your own private boutique, glam-factor, damn luxe.
Cons: Commitment to consistently organize clothes according to color what-nots. Shelves get dusty.
On with some eye-candy while we ponder that question together.
Doors or no doors, a walk-in closet is every woman's dream, right? I mean, if you can have one, will you say no? It is a worthy investment too, guaranteed to increase the value of your real estate property when it's time to sell! :)
I suppose the appeal of a walk-in closet is SPACE and ORGANIZATION so maybe it need not be too big (well, anything bigger than a broom closet is BIG for me). Last but not least, just for laughs I leave you with this kickass Heineken commercial - if you haven't seen it already. ;p
Lately I've been thinking a lot about the Pantone Color of The Year for 2011, Honeysuckle - which to me looks sorta like a rosy pink. According to Pantone:
Honeysuckle
Pantone 18-2120
A Color for All Seasons
Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.
This color brings to mind many of my favourite blooms - peony, sweet pea, ranunculus, cherry blossom, nerine lily. I decided to jump onboard with this sweet color, starting from my manicure. :)
Feeling inspired and further encouraged by my freshly-painted nails, I put together a quick mood board depicting what the color represents to me: Flirty. Feminine. Fabulous. (Pomegranate martinis, anyone?)
There were many pieces which struck me as interesting during the Art Stage Singapore 2011 last week. Did you see me at the vernissage? I took plenty of photos and decided it's best to split the blog coverage into two posts. Here's Part 1 and I'm gonna dive right into my favourite pieces.
1. First up is my most favouritest piece (I'm kinda into the whole Honeysuckle/Coral Rose colors at the moment- in keeping with the 2011 Pantone Color of the Year and all, but hey that'll a totally different blog post). This piece is gorgeous, it's a photo of winter Amaryliss and the scale! Oh, the scale is friggin' grand... makes me wanna jump into and start rolling around the creamy peach-colored petals. I can only wish for a wall space big enough at home to display this piece. One day, oh one day, when I move into a loft with ultra high ceilings. ;p *droolz*
2. Moving on next, an oil painting by Chinese artist Zhu Yi-Yong. This painting of a young Chinese girl playing with a red string, shaped into a star is so captivating. I love how the red string jumped off the black and white background, and upon closer inspection, the artist had used small brush strokes to give the string additional dimension. I wish I can bring this home too.
Zhu Yi-Yong Memories of China Series No. 22, 2010 [part of Red Star series] Oil on canvas 130x100cm
3. I thought this artwork by Indonesian artist Arin Dwihartanto is unique because of the use of Merapi's volcanic ash. Now that is something highly unusual. The abstract one-of-a-kind result is visually dynamic and I can see this pair displayed in modern living rooms.
Arin Dwihartanto Ato and Dwie, 2010 Resin, Pigment, Merapi's volcanic ash on wood panel 168x168cm
4. I saw these two pieces by Taiwanese artist Hung Tung-Lu at the Affordable Art Fair a few months ago and here they are again at Art Stage Singapore. My camera was going crazy trying to find focus from the lightbox.
Hung Tung-Lu There and Here, 2010 Parallax Barrier/Stereogram/C-Print/Lightbox 140x180x12cm
5. I was first introduced to Thai artist Natte Utarit's works while checking out the Singapore Art Museum a while back. His newer and recent work, as shown here, is darker in subject matter but more vibrant in colors. I like the all-black frames, they showcase the artwork that much better.
Natee Utarit The Birth of Tragedy, 2010 Oil on Linen 240x600cm
6. Fun piece by Japanese artists duo, Mai Yamashita and Naoto Kobayashi: life-sized knitted turtleneck for a giraffe! Heheh, kawaiii~
7. I saw these pieces by Indian duo Thukral and Tagra at ARTSingapore last year. I'm delighted to see their work again here.
Thukral and Tagra Attractively Awful, 2010 Relief print, lithography, screen print, collage, airbrush, hand cut and laser cut construction on STPI handmade cotton paper 40x30"
8. Photographs by Shen Chao Liang. My photo doesn't do this any justice at all, it's best to check out his work online.
