Pop Life at the Tate Modern

Long time no blog.

Once again, i'm back with excuses. This time, uni. Again. But i'm finished for the term so it's great. I'm slowly updating all the stuff i've meant to have had updated many moons ago.

Plus it's snowing where I am. Woop. Hasn't snowed near a Christmas for a looooooooooong time.

This was taken just 10-30mins ago, depending on when I get this post published. Not the best photo, this was taken from my dad's room, by semi hanging my Mac out of the window. Risky. Yes, a camera could and would have been a better choice, but the Mac has it's own mini camera. Less hassle of having to upload :)

And so. The title 'Pop Life'. Oh so great! I finally got to go last weekend. So brilliiiiiiiiiant! My favourite bit was the Murakami bit. The video of Kirsten Dunst doing 'Turning Japanese' by The Vapours was the best bit in my personal opinion. Especially the ending scene that starred Murakami himself!

(Images from here, here and here)

The weekend I went to, was coincidentally this. In a nutshell, it was great, I spent an extra £30 and got to fangirl to Zara Wood! Off of her stall thingy, I bought some postcards, two badges and a tee.

But this 'flea market', besides the Zara Wood stall, to me, it seemed like recent grads trying to sell some of their hard worked work. Thats the only way I can describe it without trying to sound patronizing.

This creased tshirt with the wonderful fox illustration was by two guys - well, the stall was just two guys, under the name of 'We make t-shirts'. (I couldn't find a link to their site/blog, but they were just recent grads from illustration at Nottingham Trent... if anyone knows a link, let me know and i'll put one up.) The picture kinda looks like I could be wearing it. But come on, it's fairly impossible. Unless i'm flat as heeeeck. I'm just holding up the tshirt, hence the flatness. They also sold canvas bags and jumpers with very cool other various designs, but from my wondering around and coming back a few times to the stall, I felt that most of us 'buyers' were most drawn to the fox designs.

It's nice to support my fellow artists :)

Hope all is well. I know i've neglected the blog and not really been commenting on anyone's. But I promise that I do read, even if I dont comment.

I'm going to try and do another post at least, before the year is out, just a conclusion of 2009. Plus i was tagged agggggggges ago by the lovely Girl With The Golden Touch, and i've yet to even reply to her tag let alone do the actual post! But i will! I'm just looking for the right time!

Lots of things have happened since I last posted. I got my work placement for uni in January (another day, another post)! I've seen New Moon and Where the Wild Things Are. Something involving me being picked for Jury Service, aaaaaah! And other petty little things. But they'll be in the next posts or three.

If, if I don't post before Christmas, I hope everyone has a good one and be safe. 2009 has been a crazy year, it's made me fairly paranoid for reasons that i'm allowed to have :)

I'll post soon indeedy.

Oh, and now it's friday (for me at least, good ol' UK), the countdown to Christmas begins!!!!!!! Just a week away!

In nearly a month.

Wow. This is one of the longest since i've last posted something.

Sorry for the AWOL, I haven't left left, i'm just stupidly busy with uni. If I have to think about anything fashion/art based, anything fun, it's going to relate to uni. The less time I think about it, the slightly easier i'll sleep. Hopefully.

I should be back to normal occassional blogging after I break up for the holidays. Or when I hand in my work to be marked, which is mid december.

Aaagggh.

Harper's Bazaar, October 2009.

I'm mad at myself about not finding out about it sooner and buying the magazine.

I'll post when i'm less stressed.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. We need something like this in the UK.

My sense of time is lacking.

I thought I had posted something recently. That was 10 days ago.

I still haven't done anything that I planned to

do. Its so bad that I didn't even go into uni today. I'm sitting in a Starbucks, using their free wi-fi - technically not free as you have to register a Starbucks card with them, having topped up at least £5 before said registering. But i'm a well recognized customer at 'local' 'Bucks so its fine. I deserve the 'free' wi-fi. I've spent many hours and hard earned pounds there.

The more time I spend outside of my house, the more i'm starting to dislike tourists. I think it's just the dislike of having so many people around me. I saw recording a video on the corner of Tottenham Court Road station. Why, Mr Man, why? I just find it incredibly strange. Especially the concept of them filling Primark up. No matte

r what time it is, that place is filled. Primarily with tourists. I know London is expensive, but come on. You stock up on places like Topshop and/or H&M. Clothes that will last more than once and you won't get at home. You don't buy your cheap basic everyday clothes on holiday, that's just crazy.

'An Education' is coming out on friday :D

I'm so excited for this film to come out.

This is another part of the unregular postings from me, where I mention and question whether i've mentioned a certain something before. I may or may not have mentioned the film and how I watched a trailer for it when I was waiting to watch 500 Days of Summer..

Peter's accent in the film... ah. He does a pretty decent english accent. And he looks scarily young too. Not that he's old.. (later edit - Ok, he doesn't look scarily young, but look at the film poster and tell me he doesnt look YOUNG there! Oh jesus. Photoshopped much?)

I'm trying to mentally memorize how many, and what films I've seen at the cinemas this year... So don't mind me while I list them here... (I'm trying to list them in order, but it's not working...)

1. Revolutionary Road,
2. Twilight (for the 2nd time, and it was hilarious),
3. Coraline,
4. 500 Days of Summer,
5. Marley and Me,
6. He's Just Not That Into You,
7. Confessions of a Shopaholic,
8. Harry Potter (twice),
9. How to Be (I watched about 20minutes of it, but the audio to the filmed screwed up),
10. Wendy and Lucy,
11. Rachel getting Married,
12. Little Ashes

It's not overly much considering it is within a 9month period. I had planned to see a lot more of them, but I never did. Compared to last year, it's like a 1000% increase, I saw 3-4 films in 2008, and that was quite a lot. Usually, on average, its about twice. I tend to watch them online or wait for the DVD to be released.

Owls

I like them. I have a pendant of one that my friend gave me for my birthday last year. No chain though. I'm kinda still on the look out for a real proper chain, but I don't really know WHERE to find one. A thin chain, cheap one. I'll find it eventually.

Inspired by this jumper: (I couldn't get a decent sized photo so I had to screen paste/dump my screen of the image, but stupid shortcut controls kinda zoomed on it while I was doing said action.)

It zoomed a little, it looked more 'zoomed'. Don't judge me by the mini shortcuts I have on my laptop. I'm going to call it either Beatrice, or Arthur. I like the 'old' names.

It's an long jumper with a dodgy drawn cat. Lovely in real life. But £45 for a jumper? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME TOPSHOP?! Even with student discount of 10%, it's still amazing expensive.

So, to save money, i'm making my own version. With an owl. And i'm going to embroider the thing. I can hand embroider quite well, but i've never done anything bigger than lettering. Like this size maybe, this size I think. I don't know how big it will look when I publish the post, but hopefully the text will look huge. Perhaps 2-3 finger height, but text, so I didnt really embroider very big. And i'll be embroidering an owl. But it would take a LOT of embroidery thread, and quite awkward to do so. Maybe i'll only embroider the outline and machine stitch the inside? These types of planning thoughts, they are what goes on in my head every single day. Making random stuff in random ways.

Maybe I could get some slightly thick material, like maybe fuzzy felt, and appliqué it on?

It's also going to be finding the right shape of jumper. As you've established, i'm doing it on the cheap. I don't want to go to the cheapest shop for clothes known to man in the UK, also known as Primark, so i'll settle for second cheapest, Peacock, and get a man's jumper.

(I might get two and make a second jumper with my OWN dodgy cat. SUCK IT, SIR PHILIP GREEN. Maybe when I make my disaster of a jumper, he'll see it and offer me work experience? I do need a months experience in january.... *winkwinknudgenudge*)

But the trouble with men's jumpers are that they are not usually very long, and when they are, i.e XXXXXL, they are just as wide. Not good. But women's are fitted fits, and I was baggy and LONG.

Here are some cute owls for inspiration.

I also got the bag in this post :)

I found the image somewhere here. Blogger won't let me upload anymore because of some 'internal error', but thats what it did when I tried to upload this one the first time... but you get the idea. Owl on jumper. Very cute. Potentially. In theory.

Don't think i'm obsessed, i've seen it. In my friend's mum's house. She has owl ornaments, pictures, a stained glass window with one, plates.

Managed to get another image in :)

Diana Mini

I ordered it in a late night/early morning trying to avoid work thing.

I've wanted a Diana for ages. For at least a year, but I've always been put off because of the price, and that they use 120mm film. Soon afterwards, there was a wonderful thing called the '35mm back', which is what it says, a back of the camera for 35mm film which you use for the Diana so it takes that instead of having to use only 120mm. That meant more money, so for a while. I asked around friends if they wanted to split the price of delivery. Sadly, all being students, money is shit and when it all comes down to when and if we have enough to spare for something that's not exactly important.

I gave up the idea of having one for a while, and then on sunday night, I took another look on the lomography shop site and found the Diana Mini.

I don't really know the differences between this and the normal sized one, only that it takes 35mm film and not 120mm, that if there are any.

I'm really excited at the idea of square shots or having half and half on one 'shot'. That's either 72 half shots or 36 normal square ones on a roll of film. Then there is the long exposure thing - I want to try out the long exposure and 'drawing' in the air with glo-sticks/sparklers. And of course, the dreamy/exaggerated colours you as a a result. It'll be my somewhat replacement for the Polaroids. Until they get back into production that is. Save Polaroid.

I will shed a little tear when I finish my last stacks of Polaroid. I'm selling of two double packs and then i'll have about 40-50 left. I read somewhere that they should keep up to a year after their expiry date. That was in september. Starting to get a little worried that they might not last until my 21st and New York. Though it would save luggage weight not bringing the Polaroid cam.

Diana Mini picture from here.

That image makes me want to go Paris. Definitely want to go traveling. My parents are going to Hong Kong for two weeks next month while I suffer at uni :( I'm going to try and go somewhere up north for a day, maybe Brighton? But thats not north and i've been there before. Ooh, I could go Scotland! For the day.... Not really worth it.

When I finish a roll of film, i'll be sure to post some up on here and my other blog :)

I watched this alone.

Is that sad? I've watched a few on my own now. It's weird. I don't watch the overly popular type films on my own, usually smaller type films. Ok, I kinda lie, kinda. Exaggerate, really, not lie. I'll go on times when I hope kids should be in school and not watching the same film as me.

On friday, I saw '500 Days of Summer'. I loved it. I really did. I would happily see it again.

Another crush to add to my list, Joseph Gordon Levitt. And he's jew. I sure know how to pick 'em.

Seth Rogan, Jason Segel, Andy Samberg... I also 'heart' other jew actors too, but I won't name them now because this post isn't about them at the moment.

I won't ruin the ending for those who haven't seen it, but I really fucking recommend you do!

The film is great. Thats what I'm trying to say.

I watched Lost in Translation back when it was released and didn't get into it. It was shown on tv a few weeks ago and loved it. I bought it on DVD and watching the 'bonus material' now.

I want to go travelling so so so so so much.

My parents are going Hong Kong at some point next month. I want to go, I need to sort out my passport card thing. For those who have some sort of close relation with Hong Kong, you'll understand, but for those who don't, it's pretty much your passport. When you go HK, you fill out a form for immigration purposes, it's like applying for a visa, but you just do it there in the airport or on the airplane when you're touching down soon. I have mine so I don't have to got to the 'immigration' line, I go straight to the other one, because I have the card. It's power. But yeah, when you turn 18, you're meant to change it.. like an upgrade? I'm not that sure myself, but I know I need to 'change' it. There is the whole thing of having to go back every 3 years because of this changing. I haven't been back since 2008. I was 17, too early to change it when I was there. I won't be going HK this year because uni. So if I go past my 3 year visit limit, apparently I can't be Prime Minister/President of Hong Kong - i'm not sure if it's PM or Pres, I tried googling, but it confused me a little bit more. I''ll have to wait 7 years before I can do so. That's ok, I can wait 7 extra years until I partially rule HK. Just a little bit longer until my start of world domination starts.

I heard a rumor that my course tutor wants to take 'us', I'm not sure who my friend meant by 'us', as if could count for the 3rd years, or even the 1st years, but yes, she wants to take us to Paris Fashion Week? That would be so fucking amazing. She showed at LFW, she designs hat and accessory wear. I would post a link, but I won't. Maybe when I finish this course i'll mention something. Or just email me and i'll send you a link.

Then there is the infamous NYC. It really is too early to start booking flights, mainly, because they're not showing up. I'm constantly looking for something less than £300. It's possible. I'll find it. Or get someone else to help me find it.

Back to the topic. Of films. I'm debating whether to buy myself a unlimited cinema card thing.

Oh, and I ordered the new Professor Layton game. Pandora's box. For my DS. Yay. Just waiting for the postmen people to stop going on strikes so they can send my shit.

This post was very off-topics. I had a idea for something last night, but I can't remember it.

Lovely wallpaper.

I didn't make it clear, but 500 Days of Summer was the film I saw alone. Amongst many other films I saw alone earlier this year.

Dr Martens

Long johns post will be coming up soon.

Soon.

I've been wanting a pair for a few months now. But every time I imagine myself purchasing them, I've been questioning whether I should actually buy them or not.

(Luella S/S 2008 - LOVE this collection.)

I'm totally undecided still.

Today, I got to have another proper look at them. They're fairly stiff and heavy. Yes, I know they're boots so that is what is to be expected, and they have be broken in to be not so stiff.

I love the idea of boots. They look cool and they're definitely going to keep your feet safe from a lot of things.

But girls in boots? They're fairly masculine, not the dainty, girly, little shoe type. Somewhat recenetly, they're becoming more in fashion, generally being worn with girly outfits, floral skirts, cute stuff. To balance the masculine style of course. I've looked at a few links with answers of what people think of girls in boots. Mostly, the guys were idiotic anyway, and disliked the idea, most girls were pro it. One of my friends were them pretty much most of the time, she gets by fine, no problems with getting boyfriends.

(Image above and below, Daisy Lowe for DMs.)

Different strokes, difference folks, right?

The original reason for me not to buy a pair was because I have ma-hoo-sive calfs. I'm really aware of them, though it doesn't stop me from wearing skinny jeans and leggings. But if the shoes end from just the calf, that isn't going to be flattering, it'll just make them look bigger. And now, the added dilemma of looking too butch. I dress kinda grungey now anyway, not particularly girly. So added boots aren't going to help.

BUT I WANT THEM!

Despite my crappy body shape - apple if you must know, weight mainly shift around the middle. The worst shape of course. Thanks fate.

Luckily, despite this, my legs are fairly skinny, hence me just wearing leggings all the time. Because I can. I don't show cleavage, I show leg. Short little legs.

I'm making an effort to lose weight, so hopefully by the time I wear them all the time, i'll be this skinny asian chick with boots.

Agy Deyn is a good example for a constant boot wearer. Quite a few images of her wearing them around.

I just want to go NYC now. Fuck uni. NYC.

And I have a shitting headache.