Mad Chantilly

Ayesha ²

2011-11-27T20:14:00.000+01:00

Small update between two ~~hair-pulling session of work~~ little stuff for school !
Last month, I had a small photoshoot in East London for a Make Up Artist, but it turned out with some ~~not-so-nice~~ surprises.

I ended up shooting indoor, even after sunset, and then a whole set of pictures with one of the model got ruined : bad lighting of the location lead to some very crappy quality pictures that can't even be used. I am thinking of doing black and white with these, but I am not convinced about salvaging them...

Anyway, two pictures from Ayesha, the first model. Not the best pictures I have taken, but heh..had a hard time getting inspired somehow ='( I need to get back to it, my sense of direction seemed to have disappeared.

Summer's gone, get over it. and Camden

2011-10-16T23:32:00.000+02:00

School kicked off, project seems to have passed the first Gateway presentation !
We surprisingly manage to take decisions very quickly in our group, as we are only two. Common interests make it a bit easier too, and I really need to work on my drawing skills (because they still suck, but we'll get there). We seem to be good to go, it is going to be a long way, and many work hours. Wish me good luck.

And yes, Summer's gone, it is sunny lately, but getting colder and colder, especially at night time. But as it is not too bad yet, we can still enjoy a cup of coffee (or a pint) on the terrace. Went out a bit this weekend (yay, get a life!). Kudos to the very awesome house warming party half happening on the roof-top terrace, with the very nice chimney landscape at J.'s flat. (Had a lovely evening, H. lost his shoes, Shoe rack got destroyed, way too many people inside, talks while queuing for the bathroom, nice meeting some first years as well. and yes, why did I choose IDE over Design Interaction ?).

Something painted on a Worksite next to Great Portland Street Station.
It's a guy puking a rainbow !

Also went around Camden, I already love this place =))) And I think that I still prefer Camden over Brick Lane too. There is a super nice café, which has a very cool terrace at the top floor (I love roofs..), need to go there again. And in general, Camden town is great, even the walk towards Morning Crescent and Parkway has some good food places..or so it seems +_+

Generally speaking, it is a lovely place, and I love the markets, especially the Stable Market, which is a very cool location..with the setting, the railway, the bricks, the tiny shops..Too bad you can really take pictures of the shops (next time.).

(there is a Bubble Tea shop in Camden Locks markeeettttt ! )

Camden Stables Market

Camden Stables Market - inside

A new Beginning

2011-10-02T09:42:00.000+02:00

This is it, London, new flat (with two amazing flatmates O. & M. ), new year has started.
Moving back was a bit strange, and I was amazed by the amount of things I had to bring back here, despite the fact of leaving many of my belongings in school.

My room is a bit small, but it is okay, everything fits in the wardrobe, and all work-related things are in school.

I managed to get an external screen, 19" HD lcd screen, for 40£, a pretty good price ! The only problem is the girl lost the little screw to fit the screen to its stand, so I have to go hunting for them...and also it does not come with any VGA cable.

Then..there was dissertation ! Finished before the deadline (^^)y, got my proof reading a bit last minute before sending it to the printer. Thank you A. <3 !

xx
From London

Where the Sun shies bright these day !

Self Portrait

2011-09-14T19:39:00.001+02:00

~~I am seeking a bit of help on http://ulule.com/shutterspeedproject ! Please spread the word and the link, or show some moral or financial support, it means the world to me !~~

~~http://www.ulule.com/shutterspeedproject/~~

Some pictures

2011-09-11T23:09:00.000+02:00

... I am really not very good at keeping this blog up huh ?

Yes, oooh well, things happen ! Unfortunately, I cannot always explain what is happening around my life...

Summer's coming slowly to an end, and now I look back and I can say : what an unproductive Summer ! But it was really good to a have break, to slow down the crazy pace that I had taken the last year in school. I may not have been so busy during this last months, but it definitely did its part in the healing process.

I took a small Summer job -was lucky to find one as a student-, part time, in order to pay a part of my tuition fees for next year. Did some hair accessories, that I still need to sell before going back to London. Didn't practice my drawings, coding, electronics and adobe learning as I intended to, nor have I make good progress for my dissertation...Aaaaargll dissertation !! Due so soon, and i have still so much to write and read !

But right now, I am so worried about money for the upcoming year..having no bursary, I struggle to pay the tuiton fees, even with installments... I feel like my father has not even thought about it, and I wonder if I will be able to find a part time job once in London. I try to convince myself that it everything is going to be fine, but I cannot even be sure about this (who can, really?). I am still waiting for my paycheck, I still need to pay rent within a few days, how long is the transfer going to be ? While nothing is coming, seeing the end is always hard.

I can just wait until it starts moving, so that the weight of the unbearable wait can go away a little bit, so that I can keep walking.

Don't stand still, keep walking.

Pandora Collection with Odds and Ends Box

2011-08-19T21:50:00.000+02:00

'And you, what are you doing now ? Nothing ?'

It might have not been a mean thought behind this question, but still, as it came out from my friend, I think I got a bit hurt. No, I have not been doing nothing since I came back home in Brussels. Yes, I did wander around aimlessly the first week, after what I figured it was too brainless and too boring...

Anyway, in terms of crafting, I have been making a tiny collection of accessories with my friend Luo, who keeps the blog Odds and Ends Box. Although she mainly post her drawings on the web, she can also make tiny polymer clay accessories.

My little fabric flowers got mixed with them, to give some one of a kind pieces. Feel free to drop on my Dawanda store to buy one =) They are all unique pieces.

Another Sunday at home

2011-07-24T22:13:00.000+02:00

Once in a while, it is always good to indulge ourselves a little bit of laziness and a nice, warm late breakfast. Usually I don't eat breakfast, or a rather fast one : leave home, grab something at the café of the school, go up to the design studio, make coffee, sit and eat while reviewing few things for a project. Or sometimes I have some cereals and milk laying around in the kitchen, that sort of things...I barely take the time to cook anything, especially when I am alone.

Yesterday though, my brother decided he would make us pancakes for this Sunday's late breakfast. The preparation went well, until we encountered some issues with the cooking ! The electric stove we used ended up being to powerful, burning most of our pancakes while leaving the inside just cooked enough to be eaten. Some of them were edible, but we'll now know which one NOT to use for the next time.

Some of these poor things where burnt

Of course when you eat late, you're not really expected to east lunch at decent hours. Next meal around 4pm (yay, tea time), but not really craving for more bakery and sweets (X_X). And I wanted mushrooms. MUSHROOMS. (not the ones that gives you weird dream. what are you guys thinking?). I ended up making myself a British Breakfast-alike : scrambled eggs, ham (hey, I don't eat bacon), mushrooms and cheese =D.
Second breakfast, yoohoo \o/.
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FOOD *ç*

India Ahmedabad !

2011-07-17T18:10:00.005+02:00

Last March / April, our course went to India for a craft-ology project with students of the National Institute of Design (NID) from Ahmedabad. Although the project was 3 weeks, we had some spare time at the beginning and during some days so explore the city, in addition to a planned trip to Kutch, in villages and desert.

Few people from the villages we visited... I still ahve to edit the rest of the pictures I took, it is going to take ages...me and my processing =(

Oh hey there !

2011-07-17T15:57:00.001+02:00

Oh my, I haven't updated anything here in a while !
But there I am, back in homey Belgium, with lot of spare time and things to do and explore.

The last months have been hectic, but overall amazing. Last October, I moved to London to pursue my Master degree in Innovation Design Engineering, and got so busy as months went by. I did not have enough time or force to update anything, nor to do anymore of my hair accessories...I regret so much not having the time to do any photoshoot while in London. School took soooo much of my time, it was amazing : 6 days a week, I was at school working on some project. That's how little life I had to explore the city D=

The course, at the Royal College of Art, has been a blast ! I love the diversity of personalities, backgrounds and culture in our department, not to mention to very interesting project. Things are sometimes hard, upsetting, tiring, but in the end, they are all good memories. There are ups and downs like everywhere, but it still amazing. I love the facilities we have access to. Yes, there was moments were the doubt of "I am at the right place here ?"or "can I do this?" came up, but now that the year is over, I am happy to have accepted the place at the RCA.

While I probably cannot show you any of my school work here, I'll try show you some pictures of random things that have been happening this last year, including an awesome school trip/project our class did in India ! I am sad I did not take as much pictures as I wanted but as I hung a lot in the design studio, there was not a lot of things happening (now you'll know how much I don't go out )

Bubble Tea from Candy Café in London =D

[Brussels] PANTONE Hotel

2011-04-25T11:08:00.001+02:00

For those who worked in graphic design or printing of any kind, Pantone is a well known name. This american brand has introduced around 50years ago an international color matching system (PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM ®), a super wide range of color swatches, that enables designers and printer to coordinate precisely and accurately a color. Each color is identified with a unique number. Pantone colors have become the standard in printing and graphic arts industries. (and if you are curious, Adobe Creative Suites usually integrate all PANTONE colors in their libraries )

Pantone has expanded their range to lifestyle accessories, including colorful design products : mugs, shoes, bicycle, clothes, kitchenware, and more. Last year, Pantone brought us the PANTOL HOTEL^TM,, in Brussels, where you can fulfill your ~~graphic designer's~~ dream of living in a PANTONE colored universe.

All picture are © PANTONE HOTEL

7 floors, 59 rooms, 1 store, the largest collection of Pantone objects.
The hotel is located close to the fancy Louise district, in a building from the 70s. Interior has been renovated by the architect Olivier Hannaert and the designer Michel Penneman. All rooms are theme-colored, inspired by abstract photographs of Brussels. Each room feature a detail of a photograph taken by Victor Levy, that gave away the color theme of the room.
Prices are surprisingly reasonable, since you can get away for 79€/night, depending on which type of room you book.

The stripes from the lobby can be switched, if the hotel is booked for a reception.

if anyone gives me one of these, I'll by blessed !

Hotel PANTONE Brussels

http://www.pantonehotel.com

1 place Loix

1060 Bruxelles

Telephone : +32 2 541 48 98

More infos ?
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/now-booking-pantone-hotel-brussels/
http://www.fubiz.net/2010/05/25/pantone-hotel/
These two following links features short videos of the hotel and interview of the designer in French. (second one is better, but you have to fast forward the video a bit since the Hotel is around the middle)
http://www.rtltvi.be/video/Hotel-Pantone/228308.aspx
http://www.rtbf.be/video/v_une-brique-dans-le-ventre?id=957853&category=viepratique

[Brussels] Aloft Hotel

2011-04-25T10:06:00.001+02:00

Last September, before moving, I was attending the opening party of the Aloft Hotel in Brussels with Belgian Blogger Mod'elle POP . Although I sent her the pictures long time ago, I didn't take the time to update this blog.

Aloft Hotel has been officially inaugurated on September 23rd, 2010. This new and stylish hotel is located at Schuman, the district where the buildings of the European Union are, conveniently close from the metro station as well. And for those who drive, if you are heading toward the Cinquantenaire Tunnel by the Rue de la Loi, you can probably see the striking new building.

The inauguration party was hosted in the common area on Ground Flood, which includes several open lounges, the WXYZ bar, pool table, a self-service snack buffet, meeting rooms and an access to a wood-covered terrace. (2 pictures below are from Aloft website)

It is an truly nice play to hang around, pleasing and colorful, well organized as it felt more like a lounge/club/bar than an actual hotel. Spaces were divided by colors, and all were featuring original Paintings from David Meyers. Ceilings are only partially covered, giving an industrial feeling to the space located close to the bar.

WXYZ Bar

Aloft Brussels Schuman

http://www.aloftbruxelles.com/

Place Jean Rey

Brussels B-1040

Telephone (32)(2)800 08 88

Moving to London + Valerie Pictures

2010-10-09T16:47:00.002+02:00

Hey pals !

I haven't been around lately, but there's a good reason for that : I moved to London!! So yes, I didn't have a lot of time before packing and after arriving. I couldn't even make some post before hand. But I'll try to update more once everything is settled down here =)

But to make up for it,here are the pictures of Valerie from Sept 17th.
To follow up : Aloft opening party pictures, other mysterious posts (I have no idea )

[Belgian Blogger] Florence from Ouchilistic

2010-09-21T17:14:00.001+02:00

Very first collaboration with a Belgian Fashion Blogger, with Florence from the blog Ouchilistic.
I facebook-messaged her the small photoshoot sessions I wanted to do with the Belgian Blogosphere, and we quickly set something up in Mons.

Florence has started her blog 2 years ago, where she shows her outfits, the trends she loves, talks about events or products, and sometimes about her life. What I loved right away, was the proximity and simplicity of her posts, and the fact that she talks and shows things that are not out of range for most of us. Far from all the top brands, she shops where most of young people do :H&M, New Look, Internet, Second hand stores, ...

For her outfits, she takes inspiration from everywhere, magazines or someplace else : the only criteria would be if she likes it, may it follow the trends or not.

In the pictures, she wears :
'Coatted' Slim Pants from H&M
Silk Top, Vintage from eBay
Wedges Shoes from La Redoute
Scarf from Cool Cat
Leather Jacket from Naf Naf
Bag from HEMA
Plum colored Nail Polish from E.L.F.

And a little 'What's in your Bag' :

DIY Updating a chair~

2010-09-19T16:23:00.003+02:00

Many of my friends have been hearing me talking about "redoing a chair", without seeing the actual pictures. So there you go, before/after picture. I've wanted to do this for a looong time. Yes, I do love red !

Lush

2010-09-16T21:27:00.002+02:00

I've mentioned it previously (here), I will talk about Lush and its products. If you don't know them already, you should run to a local store, and they'll tell everything you want to know about their products and policies, with fun and joy (which never lacked in any stores I visited so far ).

"We believe in Happy people making happy soaps"

Lush makes fresh, truly natural and organic cosmetics products. Their policy is to make effective products from fresh organic fruits and vegetables, essential oils and safe synthetics. This is more than just a commercial campaign, it is a true Lush way of life, as they say. Unlike many products in our supermarket, if you look at the ingredient list you'll only find natural product, and not weird chemical stuff (yes, I know you love how "Metyhlisothiazolinone" sounds when you read the ingredients of your Herbal essence shampoo, but you don't want to know where that comes from and what it does...seriously)

All products are handmade, and every little pot has a stickers that states "made by [name]" with a picture of the maker on it. At first I thought it was for fun. Then I saw the guy on the sticker walking in the store, and he did made that product ! (Also, if you read, you will see "Tested on the British", because the ones making the products usually try them themselves ).

About the products :

Products : From shampoo to moisturizing skin cream, to foam/bubble bath things, they make lot of different products. So far I've tried scrubbing cream, cleaning cream, cleansing one, ballistics, emotibombs, soap. They are all very efficients, and they last a long time, except for the emotibombs and ballistics that are more for "one use" only. They have a large range of smells too. I love everything close to lemon, orange and such, but they also have flower fragrance (sorry I haaaate thoses, generally speaking), grass fragrance, chocolate, honey, whatever i don't remember !

Packaging : unlike the supermarket products, you don't end up with all these shitty plastic warping. You know, the one you can't tear apart unless you have a sharp pair of scissors. Okay, you probably heard many people telling " Oh, not only that packaging is annoying, but it is just not very eco, industry should stop using them, because it is not always being recycled, it uses a lot to produce that" and so on and so forward. We're not talking about that, because it as is good point and bad ones too. Lush products come in paper bags, and small pots that you can recycle by bringing them back to the store. The products are ready to be used. You can just go home, tear that paper, and jump in your bubbly bath. Way of speaking of course.

Am I satisfied with these ? YES.
Okay, truthfully, I think they're a little expensive, but for the time they last, and its good quality, it is worth it and pretty reasonable. I just think it is a shame the ballistics and emotibombs are so expensive and only for one use...but the some other products are worth the price : I am not fond of the soaps, even if they smells nice, they're still expensive. But the washing creams, scrubs, moisturizer are pretty good, these are truthfully worth it...

Lush Brussels :
38 rue des Fripiers
1000 Bruxelles

Lush Liège
27-29 rue Pont d\'Ile
4000 Liège

http://www.lush.com

DIYGarden waste deco

2010-09-15T18:13:00.001+02:00

I love tree branches, and I thought I could be cool as a Jewelery hanger. But plain tree branch just don't look very cool and attractive, so I decided to spraypaint them in vibrant RED (because red is cool). But in the end, I couldn't find anything to put in the pots to make it stable enough, and ended up using the branches as Deco.

You can see the top parts aren't all painted, that's because I hold them at that place.

.

Breakfast Today - Miso, Rollup egg, rice.

2010-09-03T11:42:00.002+02:00

After posting so many food pictures in my previous post, right after I woke up, it made hungry (and craving for that steak fish Luo ate). So I decided to make breakfast today, Asian style (or more Japanese inspired ?) with the Miso soup from yesterday, eggs and rice. I wanted salmon too, but I thought I couldn't eat everything, so no.

Miso soup : it's amazing instant food can actually be good and such. So far, I've only had miso soup in few restaurant, and if I remember right, to one at Sakura, near Saint-Géry was pretty good (even though, once again, it is not truly Japanese)! I also suspect Anata to only have instant ones, because the taste is not so great. The instant miso soup is not bad indeed, almost even good (but let's not say 'good' before having tried out real miso soup in a real Japanese restaurant) you can even enjoy seaweed (and not only 2 micro leaves). Pay attention not to add to much water, otherwise it will loose it's taste and saltiness.
Conclusion : If you don't want to cook or go to a restaurant, instant miso is indeed the best solution to enjoy a small portion of it, even if it is not the best, but it is probably not the worse either. Does the trick.

Rice : Just a small portion of regular long grain Asian rice.

Eggs : A slightly sweet rolled omelet, like Tamagoyaki. Once again, I don't know how Japanese do it, so I just cooked my eggs the way I usually do, with a little seasoning (Viet style haha! ). Eating just a basic omelet without seasoning is blasphemy. BLASPHEMY !
Seasoning : Put your raw eggs in a bowl, add a little bit of sugar (I would say 1teaspoon or more, depends on the number of eggs), veeery little salt (less than 1/2 teaspoon), a tint of Núoc Mám (fish sauce), and peper if you want to. Beat your eggs and cook.
Rolling that thing : Pour half of the beaten egg in the pan, let it cook. Roll it : I usually fold it in 3 or more depending on the size. It leaves a space on the fried pan : pour the rest of the egg, lift a little bit the cooked omelet you just folded. Let it cook, then roll the already folded omelet over the unrolled one. Tadaaa, cut it in slices~

"Shopping", or how to fill your free time. [Asian, Anata, Lush, TASCHEN, Bozar]

2010-09-03T09:24:00.002+02:00

Yesterday was quite busy, and I came home exhausted between 11pm and midnight, so I went straight to sleep (although I took the time to check my email and stuff, silly me).So Luo & I let ourselves enjoy a small afternoon in the City, during which I we spent too much money and killed our feets.

First stop : Asian store, to buy sweet Mochi and some instant red miso Soup. I bought a box of Macha (green tea) Mochi, and a box of Red bean one.

Then we headed to Lush, where I bought an Emotibomb "Bouge ton boul'" or "Up You Gets" as they call it in English. The second thing I got was a cleansing lime, coconut and sea salt scrub "Raz de Marée" or "Ocean Salt". For now there's no time to truly write about Lush and their products, but I'll get back to it in another article soon =] They gave me a small soap sample, and my friend L (whom I visited later) gave me her pot of "Rose Bonbon", a shower cream because she doesn't like it and doesn't use it (yay for me!)

After exhausting ourselves (I know, right ? ), we had lunch at Anata (Japanese snack). I am not very fond of this snack/restaurant, but it is cheap (lunch and combox around 10€ ), and portion are huge...but I'll write a full review later maybe. Fish and Seafood lunch for Luo, Teriyaki Beef bento box for me (which comes with vegetable tempura, rice, miso soup and few marinated vegetables). It was quite tasty, but the beef was slightly too rare for me, and they didn't bother removing the nerves in some part, so it got chewy sometimes. But that was good. I only regret the rice wasn't Japanese and "so dry" (in term of Asian rice...if you get it.).

Luo's Lunch . Does this look like meat ? It's fish (it was good ! )

Luo's Lunch with Maki; Sushi, sashimi, Tempura, salad

My Combox Meal. Picture taken by Luo !

Rice + Egg of my Combox.

After filling our empty stomachs, we decided to look for the TASCHEN bookstore : I knew there was one in Brussels at the Sablon, but where goddammit ? We walked for ages in the streets around the Sable without finding it...it turns out the store was RIGHT where we walked to arrive to the Sablon. Me who expected a colorful store (just like their books or bags), it was just plain black on the outside....and we ~~barely~~ did not even notice it. Many many books are available, it was hard to make a choice, but I decided to buy "Fashion Now 2", which was edited in the "25th anniversary" edition (which is supercheap...this one was 10€ but it is pretty thick and complete). I also got "Secret Brussels" which I thought could be cool to discover more hidden spot in Brussels =D.

Also I made a stop at Bozar, where I took a BOZAR Start : these are for the young under 26, it cost 25€ for 5 tickets that you can exchange with a BOZAR exhibition ticket, or a dance show, or a music representation, everything organized by BOZAR. The only thing is that you don't know if there's gonna be BOZAR start tickets available before 1 hour to the show....although the shows are rarely sold out, so it should be fine. Also they only keep a small portion of the remaining seats for the BOZAR start-ers. It's a very affordable way to access all cultural events that usually cost 10 to hundred euros. The coupons are exchangeable within 1 year starting from the day you bought them.

Did you see that ? It's totally awesome, I need to check it later today !

To finish the afternoon, I went to visit a friend (who's currently in exams..crossing fingers for you, L ! ) after what I meet with others ones to eat fries (yummy) and have a drink at the "Café Modele", Rue Dansaert (in front of the canal).

Les petits riens / Spullenhulp

2010-09-01T23:17:00.004+02:00

"Les Petits Riens" or "Spullen hulp" is a non-profit making organization, which activities are aiming to fight poverty and exclusion.

If you live in Belgium, especially in Brussels, there's NO WAY you haven't heard or read about them. From clothes and furnitures gatherings and give away, to sheltering the homeless, providing social helps and organizing fashion shows, they make a lot. And they have been doing so for more than 70 years now.

For any additional informations, or if you want to help them, check out their website : http://www.spullenhulp.be/

What I wanted to write about today was one of their many second hand stores. I LOVE second hand stores, may they be real vintage or not, and...FLEA MARKETS, and since the first time I stepped into a "Petits riens" store, I keep on checking them whenever I can.

They have many second hand clothing stores dispatched in Belgium, several in Brussels, in which content vary (obviously). Everything is at a super affordable price, ranging from few cents to 15-20 €, and all the benefits are for the organization to continue their economical and social involvement and actions. I usually go to the small stores, but today I went to the biggest one...the HQ of the organization ! (this sounds like I'm going to war).

Rue Americaine 101, 1050 Ixelles (Brussels). (Bus : Washington, Tram : Vleurgat)

The store is divided in 2 parts. The first part is more about almost everything and is about 3 stories, divided in many (many) categories : Big furnitures, small ones, electronic, random house decorations and articles, books, music, movies, .. etc. You can find pretty much everything, and that could be handy if you're just in need of material whenever you just moved (or not) : plates, glasses, shaker, tables, beds, wardrobe, lights, pens,suitcases, games, well you get the picture ! And of course, everything with super cheap price, and mostly good states. If you're looking for a specific thing, just ask, they're pretty nice.

The second part, smaller, is only for clothes (men-women-children), bags and shoes. I didn't get to take more pictures (it feels awkward to pull a DSLR in a second hand store like this), but this thing is bigger than in the pictures.

(By the way, they did something AWESOME with the whites shirts and the wall, at the entrance..see ? )


There's still another section on the right.

Close to this main store, 2 smaller shops : Retro Paradise and Baby Paradise. The first one is pretty cool, all colorful and filled with retro clothes, shoes and accessories...bigger than the pictures too ! It has second hand stuff, but also brand new clothes as well. Definitely a place you want to check, if you love retro, are not afraid to dig and look, are not afraid of colors and flashy patterns, or if you're just curious.

picture from "Les Petits Riens" website.

To end this article, a little reminder for the fashion show fans : every year, "Les petits riens"/"Spullenhulp" organize a fashion show featuring several Belgian designers and stylist, who will present more than 50 looks made of used clothes and furnitures they found in the stores of the Association. With this, they want to make people aware of their environmental and social goals. An auction sale will take place after the show, and the benefits will help the association to maintain their activities.

October 15, 2010 @ Tour & Taxis, Brussels
Tickets info : http://www.petitsriens.be/defile-edition-2010-fashion-design/

This year's participating designers :
L’Agence, Thierry Bataille, Atelier Blink, Bram Boo, Sylvain Busine, Pili Collado, Raphaël Charles & Dustdeluxe, Anita Evenepoel, Laurent Havaux, Charles Kaisin, Sofie Lachaert, Anne Masson & Eric Chevalier, Hugo Meert, Zoé Morel, Pol Quadens, stefan schöning, Unik Bikes, Denis Meyers
..and stylists :
Véronique Branquinho (Delvaux), Romain Brau, Maureen De Clercq, Anita Evenepoel, Anna Heylen, Conni Kaminski, Hüsniye Kardas, Le Fabuleux Marcel, Petits Riens, Cathy Pill, Emilie Pirlot, Kim Stumpf, Simon-Pierre Toussaint et Alice Knackfuss, Valeriane Van Eetvelde, Edouard Vermeulen (Natan)

DIY : Roll-up pen case

2010-08-30T20:31:00.000+02:00

Crafty Monday ! I made myself a roll-up pen case, because looking for my pencils or pen is just a pain..so I needed something where I could actually see all my pens.

I got that awesome fabric in Barcelona, Spain; in a flea market. I can't remember the exact spot (or more like : I don't want to open my travel journal to look for it), but it was close to "Diagonal" street, close to the Agbar Tower (the "cucumber" or whatsoever). I know, very architectural spotting.

Tadaaa ! It is super easy to make, the only plain is sewing that elastic tiny bit by tiny bit. It closes with a snap fastener, but if you make a longer strap, you can just make a knot or so.

I still wonder : shoud I make some more for my markers and colors pencils ?

Belgian Fashion Bloggers [Intro]

2010-08-30T19:24:00.003+02:00

Not being a fervent reader and addict to the ~~fashion~~ blogosphere, I couldn't help but to notice the overwhelming presence of French blogs over the Belgian ones in Fashion oriented blogs, written in French. Soon I find myself looking for Belgian bloggers, no matter what language they are using.

It's not that I don't like foreign bloggers, no, not at all ! I just think that fashion (and especially streetstyles) are very different from one country to another. No matter the fashion show and catwalks we're being inspired by are the same, their interpretation into daily looks are very different. American people don't dress the way Europeans do, British don't use the same colors as we do. Also I am so pissed to head about the same brands allover, the sames shops that are abroad and that cannot be found in Belgium =< ! Furthermore, I am a little bit against the "follow the trend" thing, that has never been my thing, no matter how much I love a collection. Take what's good, make it yours, fuck what other thinks.

So yes, Belgian fashion blogs are needed.
Before looking how others are doings, we should look at ourselves and be proud !

Belgium'Fashion industry may not beParis Fashion week, but it still has a lot of potential, it is something you have to keep an eye on. From Antwerp to Charleroi, passing by Brussels, many schools, many shops, many upcoming designers are overflowing. If you look carefully enough, you'll be able to find real gold.

For these "Monday post", I want to present you some Belgian Bloggers, to give them a little more spotlight, to give them another place to express their true selves, not only by showing outfits. It will not be possible for me to do this every week, but I'll do my best. Meeting and shootings bloggers, I hope to be able to do so soon, maybe once a month. And if everything goes as planned, maybe another cool collaboration will emerge hehehe!

Anyway, Mélanie created that awesome facebook page for Belgian Blogs : "Blogosphère belge"
where you can see many of the blogs already =)

Inspiration [Sabrina Cichy]

2010-08-27T16:41:00.004+02:00

Photography : Sabrina Cichy "Suicide-Bee"

DECOoh!

2010-08-25T12:25:00.019+02:00

DECOoh ! is a professional fair for interior and exterior decoration, which takes place twice a year.

The fall 2010 edition will take place between August 29th and September 1st at Brussels Expo (Heysel)

Price : 5€ (online registration, until August 28th) or 10€ if you buy it directly at the entrance.

The entire fair covers pretty much 4 exhibitions hall of the Brussels expo, plus the patio where will be held the inspirations and demonstrations corners.

It will be the very first time that I will go there, so I am not sure about the content, but still, seeing the exhibitors and such, this fair seems pretty amazing to go to !

If you don't have anything to do these days, maybe check this out ;-)

ReNewall

2010-08-25T10:33:00.007+02:00

Life Line

Lena

2010-08-05T10:40:00.003+02:00

Model : Lena Mays

Lena is an American model, who just got into modeling :o)
She decided to take some time during her European holiday trip to shoot with European-based photographers. We had this shoot on a (too) sunny after noon in the very center of Brussels.
That day she was actually moving from one town to another, so we were walking around with her suitcase, backpack, both of our purses and such ! Sometimes I wish I had an assistant haha, but that's probably not for now.

Cheers =D

Valerie

2010-07-26T17:44:00.008+02:00

A shoot from last Saturday in Ghent, with Valerie and Kathleen (MUA)

That day was the first day of a festival in Ghent, but we didn't know...which led to some unexpected problems at the beginning ! It turned outValerie was stuck in town because the buses didn't ride to the station. Hopefully, Kathleen, our MUA saviour, came by car so we were able to pick her up =D (but it was so hard driving around, with the people, and then the restrictions, and then...a parking space..but we came out aliive ! )

Kwan-Yu for Mad Chantilly Creation

2010-07-20T20:39:00.007+02:00

Kwan-Yu (a.k.a. Luo ) accepted to pose for me and my little textile flowers . It was a short shoot under the bright, burning Sun ! Even if we hid ourselves in the shadow, most of the pictures were super bright, and some even looked like they came from a Final Fantasy-like video game !

The Polaroid Summer

2010-07-09T20:03:00.005+02:00

Summer's here, definitly here. Sun is shining like crazy, burning and heating this whole country like never before (or so it seems to me), making us melt *blop blop blop* Most of my friends are gone on holidays, if not they're working, or just lazying around the way I do.

My very good friend Laure went to Japan for the two previous weeks, and came back in Belgium few day before going in Southern France with her family. I've bee saving my very last color polaroid shot to take one with her =3

As soon as my last color shot is out, I could try my Impossible-project First Flush film !
The very first try was too dark (shoot of a white cupcake on a black table) and really weird. I should I've used the flash =_=

Second try : a picture of Laure eating her cupcake x'] (Sorry, have to publish this, photographic purpose =D !) Turned out pretty well, beautiful shade !
Unfortunately, the lasts shots I took today were very deceiving : they're pretty much ORANGE !

Why ? Maybe because of the hot weather today, while I took Laure's picture in her "cold" room.
The bottom right shot, has been taken in the less hot room of my house, but as soon as the picture was taken , I covered it to hide from the light. And it turned bad. very bad? There's not picture at all, I just have a very fussy orange square !

Cinematoscope

2010-07-06T21:19:00.004+02:00

Somewhere in Dilbeek.

Marie "Kotori"

2010-06-15T07:57:00.003+02:00

Have I posted this pictures somewhere yet ? I've been so busy with school since January I can't remember properly, but I think I didn't since the photographs were retouched and so around March.

Turtle Story

2010-06-03T23:29:00.003+02:00

This is probably a very out-of-place-post x]
It has been around...few months now that I became the caretaker of a very nice turtle =3 It is already old, something like 70~80years old (and according to the neighbor, it's a she ) ! How did she get here ? Nobody knows, but since many years, she lives in the backyard of the house.

I have absolutely no idea what specie it is.
So far I am trying to figure out the list of what she eats/like >_<

She's been eating :
- different type of lettuce [even ate the one we grow...no used to grow. she ate all of it.]
- white and chinese cabbage
- carrots, carrot leaves (but not its skin)
- tomato
- radish
- apparently very few of violet flowers that also disappeared in one particular spot of the backyard.
I read turtle actually eat dandelion and daisy flowers, but mine doesn't seem to even care about these (yes, I tried. xp )

She never wants to drink water, but sometimes stays in the rain.

And FYI, she's a little bit more than 20cm big, and basically wander around in the backyard and the sun all day long.

=33

Reminiscence

2010-05-22T22:25:00.003+02:00

Summer Weather is here : the heat, the sun, the blue sky <3
How perfect would this be, if there weren't any finals at college.
I am very looking forward this Summer ! Shoots, Kanzashi making, holidays are maybe work~

Future started Yesterday

2010-05-21T23:15:00.006+02:00

White Bells

Dreams

Reverse Lens,
Canon 350D, 50mm f/1.8

A place in Time

2010-04-25T17:39:00.005+02:00

(Cardinal spine)

A random close range shot using Reverse Lens again.
Natural Lighting, Canon 350D, 50mm 1.8 reversed.

A far away dream

2010-04-12T23:25:00.005+02:00

Made In Asia - HITT

2010-04-06T20:46:00.005+02:00

Almost one month from now, I went to a "Japanese" ( wrongly called 'Made in Asia' since there were nothing about other countries) convention, where I managed to get a staff pass.

The Japanese singer HITT was performing 2 small live as a promotion for the European release of his album. I sneaked backstage during the show to get some shots.

I had a hard time moving around because it was so crowed in the first rows, and there were no space between the stage and the pit (which made the show quite friendly i have to say)

Marie

2010-03-22T10:21:00.003+01:00

Sophie.

2010-03-11T20:27:00.006+01:00

Few days after the previous entry, I had my very first shoot with a model and a make up artist. Since the weather didn't blessed us with a sunny and warm day, the happened indoor. I rather like the natural light better, but you can't get everything you want whenever you want yet !

The hair accessories were made by me, the red ones were made especially for the shoot.

Good things happen.

2010-01-10T21:25:00.003+01:00

2010 has started while I was sick, but hopefully I recovered while going through winter examinations for college.

As the first week ended, I presented my exam successfully (or so it appears, if the teacher says 'it was a good examination', it can't be bad, right ?) and took the time to rest and hang around with a friend. When I got back home, I had the really nice surprise to see that Zhang Jingna's postcard collection finally arrived ! The package was waiting peacefully on the dinner table, and it is beautiful. Then I was finally able to buy a knitting loom, which I've been looking for ages !

The next day, snow showed up again, covering everything <3 It is always so beautiful. I walked under the snowflakes to attend my training, then again to my first piano lesson since the last 6 years.

The teacher is more than wonderful,even beyond my expectations ! She plays wonderfully, and told me about many of the songs we were reviewing. In the end I choose a small piece Debussy wrote for his daughter, it is so lovely <3

And to make this week even more wonderful, I got a nice new skirt, and ordered a make up set which should arrive next week.

<3.

Hey winter !

2009-12-20T16:14:00.008+01:00

It started to snow on Thursday, giving us a wonderful view ! Streets are white, lakes frozen...so nice to see. Since I moved to another place, a park happens to be close to our new house. I went there to walk for a while, it was so nice, yet cold ! I couldn't feel my finger after one hour.

Creative Overload Event !

2009-12-03T11:26:00.002+01:00

I will be selling my little hair accessories in Paris, at Creative Overload event ! If you are around, feel free to stop by <3

Samedi 5 de 12h à 20h & dimanche 6 décembre 2009 de 12h à 19h
La Bellevilloise 19 - 21 rue Boyer 75020 Paris
ENTREE LIBRE ET GRATUITE

Pinky Doodle Poodle Live Pictures

2009-10-28T10:44:00.006+01:00

I think I am done going through the pictures of PDP's live of October 24th.
Even though there are still pictures I like in the unretouched lot, quality is too bad to be printed, or the angle is weird while the expression is nice (T_T).

Last pictures are being uploaded right now on the album :

> Click here < .

The pictures are available on Pinky Doodle Poodle official websites and other official pages (facebook, myspace) :

http://www.pinkydoodlepoodle.com

I was more than happy to see my photographs there, and surprised too ! I wasn't expecting such a thing to happen, but I won't complain =D

Pinky Doodle Poodle Live [sample]

2009-10-25T11:15:00.015+01:00

A first try for live pictures, I have quite a pixel soup (I mean ugly noise) on lot of them.

(ps: it was nice to be able to walk right in front of the stage, but I thought I was going to be deaf after staying in front of the amp.... )

Oct 14.09 Test shoot in Brussels

2009-10-17T21:52:00.008+02:00

So last Wednesday after going shopping downtown with a friend, we took few pictures outdoor, super quickly x').

Long time no write !

2009-09-27T14:50:00.004+02:00

Since last entry, it's been a while, yes yes... What happened since ? Not that much should I say.

School started once again, with a tricky light time schedule. I have a lot of free time (until November that is), which is good and bad. Knowing myself, I will not work a lot, and then I will go down down and 'OH CRAP' when the time comes. It is hard to re-enter that school work thinking, especially for my architecture project, I feel so rusted (O_O) !

Anyway, I keep my e-shop going, even though i don't want to add to much pieces on there (especially on etsy, but dawanda is fine).
I will be selling my little flower at Micro Marche, which is a sort of alternative market in Brussels.
I will be taking part of the Creative Overload event in Paris next december (=> the week-end right before my final presentation of architecture haha.. T_T )

Besides that i am trying to improve random stuff such as drawing, and trying to do some models shoots soon.

2009-09-02T14:39:00.008+02:00

Updated my etsy shop today ! I actually forgot to list some old stuff. I only made one sale so far ='( *sad*.

Anyway, last ones here...the black one is a custom order :

Right now, I am running out of inspiration..help ? T_T

2009-08-21T16:21:00.004+02:00

2009-08-09T22:39:00.006+02:00

Hey there, I am back from Paris !

I got myself a Diana+ before going home, and I need to work on a custom order (pair of hair sticks + barrettes ).

2009-08-07T00:40:00.010+02:00

Alright I am in Paris right now, or close to it most likely. Weather has been good so far, but it seems it is going to rain tonight or tomorrow. I visited few things : le Louvre museum, of course, Centre Pompidou (beautiful architectural piece, so famous), and the Chateau de Versailles today.

It was sure nice, huge indeed, so much gold it could disgust you. But am I too used seeing so much European castle that it seems so usual to me ? Of course the "galerie des Glaces" was the most impressing, along with the size of the gardens. But I was disapointed they didn't open more rooms. Then only open those casual rooms like the dining, drawing, bedroom, etc. It would have get much much more interesting to see the whole dressing room, bathroom, the kitchens and parts of the castle dedicated to the servants. That's the unknown part from the public. That is what we are not used to be told. That's what I want to see, the behind the scene stuff ! In Wien (Vienna), they do open that kind of rooms, but a very few. But you gotta see and understood what the imperatrix Elizabeth (Sissi) life. Her appartements, her dressing room with wardrobe, bathroom, bedroom, drawing room, the "fitness" one,...

Or maybe it only interest me ? =(

It was so hot, the sun was almost eating you alive, I couldn't bear to walk in the garden. I went from the castle to the Grand Trianon, and I was melting. I usually love to walk, but duh, that sun... I usually would have visit the whole garden, because I love flowers and garden...but it was so hot...I didn't have an umbrella...

AND when I got to Marie Antoinette's estate...IT WAS CLOSED ! Damned >< sad ="'(">

There will be more pictures next week, when i get back home.

ps : I wanted to work on some hair accessories and custom orders while being here. So i packed all i needed but....ribbon. geez.

2009-07-30T16:02:00.002+02:00

My last one hair clip. I had hard time trying to get it right, but this is the second try and it turned out well . *Happy* The first one was too flat, I couldn't figure out how to do it but now it is fine :

Photography time, with a shot from my backyard, using reverse lens.

Oh my..Hello there !

2009-07-29T21:00:00.003+02:00

Trying this blogger thing... doesn't seem so bad ^^.

I did one more hair ornament today for my etsy... I am so slow. My workspace is a mess, but I worked on few photographs today...Here's one :