TILT- Kriss Kross will make you wanna.....

JUMP JUMP!

Today's TiLT is just about one thing I loved that I did this year. It was going to SkyZone with a bunch of friends and playing like we were kids again but feeling like we were 80 years old by the time we were done.

I was essentially a nice warehouse with tons of trampolines in all different configuring for maximum fun. I took these pictures at the end and in between a private party so you can see the grand scale.
There was a Foam Pit with 3 trampolines that you jump on before diving face first into memory foam blocks.

I really don't want to dwell on the bacteria that could be floating around in there so let's pretend there isn't any. It felt like what you might imagine jumping into a cloud would be from your youth before you started taking practical science.

The main jumping area is here, where the walls are also trampolines. It was slightly embarrassing to be the oldest people there jumping. They put us in a corner just for the 5 of us and kept telling the kids to stay away as if we were some big hazard waiting to happen.

This was our corner of exile.  It was probably for the best since I kept trying to do flips only to faceplant repeatedly into the trampoline. I'm surprised I didn't break my neck or come out with another back injury. There was one more section that was 6 tramoplines facing each other with padding in the middle for a dodgeball court. We were all excited when they asked us if we wanted to do that because we thought we would be playing each other. No such luck, they were looking for a team to play against a bunch of High School kids both guys and girls. We felt a bit guilty trying to throw balls at these kids faces.

Over all I'd do it again. I mean I wouldn't of bothered blogging about it unless I thought it was amazing and made me happy right? And this Blog is about positive and happy things that I want to share with whomever reads my various fashion/nerd/adventure/event posts.

So go out there and BOUNCE!
As a side note they do have aerobic bounce classes and "rebounding" is starting to become a more popular form of exercise.

Tilt - Feeling Good

This week I am feeling very inspired and very productive. I got some DIY accomplished over the weekend. Started a few other person projects and worked on getting some of my fine art fine tuned for display.  These are some things that have helped me along in little ways to keep the cheer levels up!

1. Gel manicure- I am a huge fan! It's been over a week and no chips, no muss.  I'm going to become an addict. Totally worth the money for the safety of my fine tips.

2. Smashbox BB Cream- I was a skeptic and now I'm an addict. This stuff has completely wiped out the use of all other tinted moisturizers for me. It does what it says it will for my face and I love that it works as a primer as well. This has reduced my make up bag requirements by quite a bit.

3. Studio Ghibli plushes - no mater my mood I just need to look down at their cute faces and it can usually perk me up.

 

4. Clover circular knitting needles in size 2 - I have long been and still am a fan of Clover craft/art supplies and tools. I was ecstatic when I found that they brought back their short circular knitting needles and in new tiny sizes. It makes the new socks I am working on such a breeze.

5. Avengers Movie Marathon- I went I saw and conquered. There is no better way for me to take some serious me relax time then a movie marathon with loads of eye candy and nerdiness. I saved this for last because I could eye candy for days on the cast of this movie.

Starting in the order of my Favorites!

 Thor - Chris Hemsworth

 Iron Man - Robert Downey Jr.

 Captain America - Chris Evans

Hawkeye - Jeremy Renner

The Hulk - Mark Ruffalo (I like that they had him wear a purple shirt to keep some essence of the original hulk in there for character continuity).

Black Widow - Scarlett Johanson

I actually like her Character a lot but the boys are more fun to look at for me.

I found this random image while surfing google and it was too good not to share.

I wish Thor would be this casual in Asgard. That would make for a hilarious scene. Of course the Shawarma at the end of the Avengers is pretty classic too.

Cheers!

TiLT - Random Smiles

There is no rhyme or reason to this week's TiLT just things that make me feel good and smile.

1. Old Hotel Chandeliers - they just don't make them like they used to.  Gorgeous twinkling crystal chandeliers in the hotel lobby is a like a step back in time.  You just don't see such class in the new hotels these days.

2. Random Animals - This little one was found randomly.  I think a friend sent it to me.  I love animals and so anything cute always brightens my day.  This little guy just looks like he is chuckling away.  It reminds of what a scene in the Brian Jacques, Mossflower books might look like if he was at a table with a meadow cream pie in his paws.

3. Small Dinner Parties - Now that we have seating for our dining table we are finally able to have friends over for intimate dinner parties.  We had our first one on Valentine's day.  The meal was all from scratch of Beef Wellington, asparagus, mashed potatoes, cocktail shrimp and a box of chocolates.

4. Going to see the Symphony - One of my favorite things is being able to see a Symphony play.  I used to play violin avidly as a kid and younger adult and I miss it.  Watching a Symphony is such a treat to me. I like to pick out and watch the different performers playing and marvel at how difficult that stanza was.


5. Kitty love - Nothing is better then when your cat shows you love.  Cats really make you work for their affection.  I feel like there is a more true bond when a cat chooses more so then dogs (and I have had both).  When my kitties come to me and show me affection I feel grateful that they trust and care about me enough to be vulnerable when I am around.

I hope you are having a fantastic Thursday and remembering the little things that make you smile everyday!

TiLT - Fashion inspring me

I feel slightly obligated to post something more "fashion" oriented considering this is amidst New York Fashion Week and right before the Oscars. Let me tell you what you won't find here, trends. I don't really follow them the way the masses typically does.  I do fashion to the beat of my own drummer and go for inspiring and original rather then that new hot color or shape to wear.  Sure I follow the trends but I pick and choose what I like and what I think is really appropriate for me.  Doesn't mean it is appropriate for you, just me unless otherwise stated.  Having said that let's move on with my Things I Love Thursday for fashion inspirations!

 1. Pastels and Peekaboo maxi skirts.
 I love mint I always have and there is something about pastels that just screams for spring to start.  I could never personally pull off the Pink but I think with a contrast of Electric blue or black I could rock it.  That peekaboo maxi skirt I am in love with. It's not a leg baring slit, it's not a skort, simply a combination of long and short hems that give a little show as you walk or sit cross legged looking over all sophisticated when matched with the right fluid fabric.

 2. Sheer Oversized Sleeves
 If you know me and my design work you know I love an over sized sleeve. This one of course instantly struck me as amazing.  It makes me wish I had endless yardage of silk organza to play with.

3. Givenchy Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012
 Firstly, yes! true Haute Couture not the pret a porter that most people assume is Haute Couture.  You can read my rant here.
Moving on, the attention to all the details, the elegant draping, this has got it all.  There wasn't a single piece in the collection I wasn't floored by. I am also reminded by a quote from Valentino "I have never made a dress where the hem shows the ankle as you walk that is disgusting". If you haven't done so already you should take a closer look at each individual piece here.

4. Making Lace
Although I am not so keen on this design it has sparked a wonderful DIY lace idea in my head.  I want to use satin stitch and free form sew some of my own patterns to an OOAK (one of a kind) lace for applique on my own pieces in the collection I am forming around Neurons. 

5. Sketch applique mixed with heavy beading
I am in love with this contrast.  The very sketch like light embroidery and applique matched with super heavy beading in coordinating colors.  It looks light and airy but the feel is weighted.  It reminds me of the Japanese squiggle coloring books turned adult

6. Striking Ombre
Yes Ombre has been around the block more then a few times but what struck me about these pieces is how potent the color is and stark.  Not to mention the careful selection of which part to dye.  Both of these pieces would of been just find on their own plain because there is enough detail going on with them to make them unique.  Adding in the ombre was a gamble, it could of been viewed as overworked and trend following but the above two pieces hit the perfect pitch in my book.  The first shows how ombre doesn't have to be just from one side to the other.  The bow was the basis for the garment and letting it bleed out organically into the rest of the jacket is poetic.  The dress/skirt on the right is a prim example of how you don't have to let the ombre take over the entire garment.  It is super saturated and then quickly disperses to the stark white of the rest of the garment.  This is just another example of how editing embellishments to any garment is key.




All the photos in this post were taken from various sources which I unfortunately didn't keep a great track of when I plopped them into Pinterest and Evernote (sorry)
Style Bubble, Park and Cube, Givenchy Facebook, Style.com

TiLT

Today is brought to you by randomness which was set on by this gloomy weather we are experiencing here in Columbus.  I have been begrudgingly working on non-sewing projects to get my 2D skills brushed up for working on my portfolio.  It is really painful to not be making something 3D with my hands.  I am still knitting but currently it's just for me and I love it! Tomorrow I will be journeying to our last wedding of the year to attend!  It'll be a long road trip to Upstate New York and probably won't even get a chance to admire anything around us.  We go where we will for friends because we love them and want to celebrate in all their important events.  I hope you all have a great weekend ahead.

Now's let's get down to Business!

1. PhotoBooths, who doesn't love them?  Spontaneous photos full of fun and great memories.  Totally unplanned me and the ladies from the Crafty Cotillion came to the event completely matching!

2. Scrunchies, yes I said it Scrunchies.  I like them, if they are more then just holding your hair up.  I have a plethora of ideas from some Japanese hair Accessory books and I plan to be rocking my long hair all winter in a bun adorned with colorful scrunchies.

3. Ballet Day Wear style - I have been very interested in wearing layers for winter like you see off practice ballerina's wearing when they are going to or from practice.  Leggings with flimsy skirts and multi layered crop tops over thermals sounds so comfy and fun to me.  It will also strengthen my want to wear my hair in a bun with Scrunchies all the time.  Not to mention legwarmers!

4. Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones.  I've read the book and then I watched the series.  I completely hated this girl but then through the series and the book you see her quickly grow up and start to plot deaths.  You gotta give the girl props.  The actress Sophie Turner who plays her in the series does a very convincing job of portraying the character.  From all the annoying whining and preening that she does to proper womanly behavior in the court and observing laws and rules. 

5.Neurons - Currently I am super fascinated with Neurons and their networking.  I love these microscopic interpretations of them like you see here.  This is my current inspiration for my portfolio pieces.  I'm interested in how to perceive the brain activity and synapses when an artist makes their art vs. when a patron looks at the art and their reactions. 

What are the top 5 things that you are loving this week?

TiLT - Harry Potter Edition

I did promise Tatting photos and a post about it. I didn't forget but it's Thursday.  So I post this today and tomorrow my post on Tatting. I can for sure say it will go up because I already did it. I just need to press the button to publish it. Cheers!  (P.S. That was a lot of strange short statement type sentences which I am not fond of but I shall leave for now)

1. This week I saw the Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2.  It was good and it felt like it was finished but I don't think I could easily watch that again the way I have with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  That being said there was so major hotness!  Yes I know very mature of me.  At least these boys are legal even if it makes me feel a bit like a cougar.  Which brings me to my #2.

 2. Matthew Lewis AKA Neville Longbottom.  My how the children have grown.  Even better there is an appreciation blog of this man's gorgeous smile.  "fuckyeahmatthewlewis"  It's not a lot but it's enough to bring a goofy look to my face and brighten my day.

3. Emma Watson.  What a darling women she has become.  I could stare at her photos for hours.  She just exudes this kind of quiet intensity.  She reminds me somewhat of Audrey Hepburn, a girl who's got it together, intelligent but still soft and stylish.  Her Pixie haircut is killing me in jealousy!  I wish I could pull something off like that especially in this heat.

4. Toys.  Thanks to the Harry Potter Franchise we have a huge assortment of toys spanning through the years that we can look forward to showing up as age, as our children age (well for those of us that already have children (I'm not one of them)).  I look forward to seeing photos of these nostalgic toys perhaps in Robot Chicken Stop animation someday or just the quirkiness of Diaramas.

5. Books.  For a time these books had new reader's gripped to them and have given a younger generation an appreciation for the written word.  I can dig anything that helps promote reading.  They are fairly easy reads and I know people in all age groups who have thoroughly enjoyed them.

My runner ups for TiLT and just some other Harry Potter Nonsense

 6. Professor Minerva McGonagall best dressed witch ever!  She is how I would dress if I was a witch.  Hands down I feel like she is a combination of Eiko Ishioka, Martin Margiela and Alexander McQueen in the way that she dresses.

7. Rupert Grint & Tom Felton...... I would of mentioned them earlier but I didn't want to seem like I was a cougar on the prowl, especially since I am marrying the love my life in a mere month.

TiLT

This week has been a trial.  Getting through all this wedding nonsense is killing some of my creative spirit.  You would think "OH wedding! you get to decorate and be wonderfully creative", unfortunately that only lasts a few weeks then it is more about the organization of the entire event.

That being said I needed to branch a little more to both humor and re-inspire myself.


Freunde von Freunden - Esther Perbandt from Freunde von Freunden on Vimeo.
1. Artist Collaboration.  This video of Esther Perbandt and Marco Pho Grassi was a wonderful peek on how wonderful artist collaborations can be.  I like how she talked about his and her fears of having two strong visual personalities clash. They had great harmony and respect for each other and I hope to have involvement such as that some day.

 Photo is from manrepeller.com

2. Manrepeller.com  This is where I come when I need a little laugh at the current fashion trends and how this quirky woman makes light of herself.  Sit down, relax and have a good laugh while getting your dose of fashion.

Image from Decor8

3. Using up Scraps.  I love finding new ways that I can use up scrap fabrics and purpose them into something else especially when it is decorative.  As soon as I saw this image from decor8 I knew I had to make these stars with all those left over scraps that could of been a collar or some sort of lining.  I just needed to let them go and allow them to become something none fashion related.

4. eatyourkimchi.com  OH yah.... some racial/cultural silliness.  This couple from Canada lives in Seoul, Korea and teaches English.  Their blog is their misadventures in doing so, a guide on how to get around, survive and hopefully not offend any of the natives. They also like to poke fun at the current trends and K-pop Music.

 5. Growth.  I have started to take the time and seriously prepare and dabble into some new fiber arts as well and mastering other ones.  Above is my first creation of my fabric Kanzashi type flowers where I assembled it in a new technique that I had been avoiding.  I've learned in some discussions with friends for craft to continue and grow it needs to accept some new materials and inventive non-traditional assembly.   Because I was willing to accept this non-traditional assembly I am now able to create more beautiful and larger pieces using the Kanzashi techniques.  I look forward to presenting these in the upcoming craft shows.

TiLT

Last week a bit rough and I feel like I have just come out of the darkness and awakened to a new look on life. I was having a bit of an existential crisis but I'm good now. Moving on with my life and some profound revelations and decisions were made.  It will be interesting to see what lies in my future the next couple of years.  To sum it all up I am a passionate person who needs to be challenged in my life.  What those Challenges are can be defined by a myriad of things.  What is important is that I know what those things are and I keep myself in check lest I fall off the edge again.  Depression is no fun kids and it is even less fun to talk about and hear from other people.  Best way to fight it is head on, get your bearings and remember what is important.  Don't focus on what put you there but focus on what will bring you out.  Triggers can be anything but they aren't necessarily the reason for your downward spiral and that can be a tough pill to shallow.

Now let's be done with this serious talk and get to the FUN!  Things that made my week that I love!

1. Finishing a collection.  No matter how small it is I was happy to finish my little trio of Squibs from Rivet.  They are like my stress balls at work, but I actually just pet them and pose them around my cubicle in epic fights against my mini Godzilla.

2. Green Tea Ice Cream.  I love how it is not too sweet and has this sort of grainy taste to it yet it is still cold and smooth.  It also feels not as bad for you as typical ice cream even though I know it's just a farce.  It is the perfect way to end a great meal of sushi.

 

 3. Ridiculous Karaoke. I LOVE Karaoke and this week I was fortunate enough to get a double dose with friends.  The best is when you get to pick songs for each other.  Like here my friend TJ is trying to keep up with Snow singing "Informer".  I have a few songs types I like to hit every time I'm singing. 

Diva song so I can Belt it out

Ridiculous Rap song that no one would suspect coming from a little Asian Girl (Eminem & Beastie boyz)

Duet with a friend

Song in a Asian Language

Rock out song

Last night my song list included:

I will Love again - Lara Fabian

My Name is - Enimem

Juke Box Hero - Foreigner

Sabotage - Beastie Boyz

Fu*k You - Cee Lo Green

The Sign - Ace of Base

4. Going to the Zoo.  We do this every year for my birthday and it never gets old or tiring.  I feel like every single the animals are doing something new or different.  The tigers were especially active that day.  I got a bunch of cute photos of them grooming each other.  We also spied a Flying fox just straight up taking a piss right in front of us, very odd.  The Artic foxes were hilarious because they were not all cute white and fluffly like their photos.  They were molting, mangy, smelled bad and yelling at each other while rolling in the dirt.  You can spy more of my zoo photos here!

 

5. A Mascot.  Lastly this week with it being a little rough for me I needed a little pick me up just for me. I picked up this little guy once again from Rivet.  I've been reading "Game of Thrones" completely unrelated to the fact that is it now an HBO series.  The idea of these kids having the direwolves was the first thing that popped into my head when I spied this little guy.  I had to have him as my mascot.  His Character is that he is a magician.  I like to think he brings a little magic into my life in that he makes me smile whenever I look at him.  I keep him with me in my purse at all times.  When I feel a little down or nervous I pull him out.