Fighting Irish

Yes, I am that sad. I didn't get to have snowball fights with anyone and so...here I am, having a snowball fight on my own. Haha. Yes, stupidity. These were taken last month when snow fell by the handful. Although it was grey-skyed all week, the snow made up for the lack of sunlight. There's nothing like a good sunlight to boost my mood, though. Plus, it was frikkin' freezing around that time. All the more reason I was surprised to find the the lake wasn't all frozen out and the ducks stayed around here. I thought they're supposed to migrate. Oh, that reminds me of NatGeo's The Great Migration. My sister and I spent a whole month in Indonesia watching it in 2010. It was remarkable, amazing and breathtaking to see all these animals going the great lengths in a massive motion. Sometimes I wish human beings can also migrate for seasonal reasons.

Mom's Trau & Loevner sweatshirt// Sis's Tirajeans jeans // H&M socks // Pieces scarf // Red Adair boots via Kleider Kreisel

Something about this sweatshirt just makes me think of college life. It used to belong to my mother. She'd never worn it for as long as I could remember, which makes me think that she used to wear it back in college. I could imagine her sitting in a circle of friends, laughing hard, wearing this sweater. It is very cozy, although I'm not a sweater person. Something about the leprechaun, ready to fight on the front, and the writing "Fighting Irish" makes me want to roll on the floor, bawling, maybe in an irish pub or something. Hah. Here's a small video I shot that same day just because I wanted to try video-shooting with Prixma. Please do excuse my childish excitement at the mere sight of snow. Enjoy your Tuesday! Cheerio!

Snowy Adventure from alivegurl

Welcome to the Year of the Snake!

Happy Lunar New Year's, all! According to the Chinese calendar, 2013 is the year of the Snake. I know at least three people whose skin would crawl if they were unlucky enough as to be surrounded by Chinese New Year's decorations in the shape of snakes. Haha. I don't normally celebrate Chinese New Year. Yes, despite my somewhat-Chinese looks, I am 100% Indonesian. There isn't any Chinese blood in me. I know some people who do, though. In fact, my closest friends in Germany celebrate it. The whole festivities really excite me. Back in Indonesia, actually, up until the '98, the Chinese culture was a minority, in which this event wasn't even allowed to be celebrated. Afterwards, though, the festivities are just so inevitable! Personally, I love the dragon dance, the angpao (small envelopes of money, that the elder in the family spread around the children of the family on this day) and the festivity in general, really. Also, red seems to fly around on this event, as it is the colour of luck in China.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 

Again, happy Lunar New Year, folks, if you're celebrating! Cheerio!

Movie Date: Tanda Tanya

Living in a country with five major religions is an interesting experience. Islam being the major majority. Difference of religion is a huge topic where I come from, especially nowadays that there are more and more harassment to people with different religions. Sometimes the Muslim people are the victim, sometimes they're the culprit. Seeing people with your religious belief do things you feel immoral is just...shameful. This is not to say that other religions haven't done their fair share of harassment. More often than not, it's so hard to see, through an objective perspective, what actually happens. That's what this movie is all about. Tanda Tanya (Question Mark) is an Indonesian movie, set in a small town in the outskirts of Semarang, Central Java, showing people with different religions living as a society. It is so controversial - although fiction -, that it's been banned to be shown on TV after its premiere on silver screen.

We are introduced first with the everyday scenario of Pasar Baru, Semarang, where Muslims, Catholics and Buddhists live side by side. Their everyday lives aren't exactly peaceful and agreeable. There are time when one religion or race - since there were also Tiongkok, Chinese people who migrated to Indonesia, as well - has disputes with another. Menuk, a hijab-wearing, muslim woman, works at a Chinese restaurant, whose owner are Buddhists. She is friends with Rika, who got a divorced, turned from Islam to Catholic and has received many subtle and non-subtle criticism about her choice. Rika is friends with a Muslim actor, Surya, who she often asks to help her out with dramas at the church. Menuk, on the other hand, is married to Sholeh, who became a religious troop to protect the harmony of all religions in the area. The story revolves around these people. And what could possibly go wrong?

Note the fact that this movie is controversial, from religious aspects. Oh, don't be too serious about it, though. The time my friends and I watched it, we couldn't stop laughing. This movie was a set of booby-traps of jokes. And also, although it was supposed to portray religious conflicts, when it comes down to it, it's all mostly based on jealousy and the like. So it's still pretty human and not at all heavy. So pop some corns, fill up the soda and enjoy the show. Cheerio!

Winter Cowgirl

At the time that I took these pictures, snow was piling by the metres all around town - okay, total exaggeration, it's knee-high tops. It was abundant, though. In this picture, the snowy background - don't worry - is a small hill, not an unbelievable pile of snow. Although it hadn't snowed in two days, the aftermath of the week before stood still like evidence of what had happened. I know it's cold and I really can't stand much of it. But, whenever I go out and see the snow, I can't help but feel invited by their soft and puffy structure to want to roll all over them, like a child. And everyday I'm out and about, while there's snow, and not take pictures of all this abundance, I feel like I'd just wasted a perfect chance to preserve beauty. Which is why I'm more active to take pictures of the town in white, in spite of my unwillingness to put some layers on and walk out the front door into the unwelcoming chill of the winter air.

Batik Solo dress (gift from Firu) // Yumi coat c/o Amaquita // Vero Moda blouse // Typo satchel // Pieces scarf // H&M tights // Deichmann chelsea boots

Maybe this outfit doesn't remind you of cowboys at all but it does remind me. This type of plaid just reminds me of the wild, wild west whereas the colar from my dress serves as a scarf, kinda like Woody's. Maybe I'm thinking too out-of-the-box here. I'm not even wearing cowboy boots. Plus, what kind of cowgirl wear tights? Anyway, I really love this dress. Mostly, because it's the only silk batik that I have. This dress inspires me to design a batik dress in silk. The pattern is rather crazy, though, which adds excitement to an otherwise mundane outfit, I suppose. Happy snowy Friday, all! Come back later today for another Movie Date. Cheerio!

Illustrators Arise: Genevieve Godbout

Dearest readers, I'd like to introduce to you all to a brand new feature on the blog starting now. Well, actually, it's just an old feature...evolved. From now on, every month, I'd like to introduce a different illustrator, who I adore and have yet to feature, through an interview I do with them. First off, give it up for Genevieve Godbout!

A: Hi, Genevieve! Thanks for letting me interview you. Could you please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and what you do?

G: My name is Genevieve Godbout and I am an illustrator based in London, UK. I have a blog called Rose-a-Petits-Pois where I post most of my works.

A: What first got you interested in illustration?

G: I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. I studied traditional animation in Montreal and then at Gobelins in Paris. Both places taught me a lot. While working at Disney Consumer Products in London I realized I would love to do children books. I don’t write my own stories yet, but I had the chance to be contacted by authors and publishing companies to work with them. I am now represented by Folio Jr., a literary agency based in NYC.

A: What are your most prized works?

G: I don’t know… Right now I’d say none! But when I first saw the printed copies of my books I was pretty excited!

A: With which materials do you usually work?

G: I love drawing with color pencils and pastels. I tend to work on a small format as it gives me a better overview of the illustration. However I am trying to learn to work on bigger formats too. Prior to the color, I do all my concepts and roughs on Photoshop with the Cintiq. I find it a very instinctive tool to use. I can search for ideas and frame my illustration very quickly. The biggest struggle is always to keep the same flow and energy on my final illustration that I usually have on my sketch.

A: What is your greatest inspiration?

G: There are so many! I love the beauty and softness of the Impressionism movement (Degas, Renoir, Monet…) , I love the strong sense of staging of Sempe, I love the color style of Mary Blair and I love the cute characters of Richard Scarry.

A: Have you ever done commissioned works?

G: Yes, I did. It is very fun and challenging. The hardest part is usually to please both the client and myself.

A: Quite recently, you've got the chance to work together with Nadinoo and Anthropologie. Could you tell us a thing or two about that?

G: Nadia, from Nadinoo, is a talented designer whom I had the chance to meet a year and a half ago. I was surprised and very pleased when she asked me to create original prints for her next collection – which ended up being sold to Anthropologie. 

A: If you had to choose between personal projects, commissioned works and competitions, which one would you choose and why?

G: I think it’s good to do a bit of everything. I love working on my personal projects, but commissioned work gives me more structure. I need a deadline to do something efficiently. I never did a completion though. One day, why not!

A: All right, thank you for your time, Genevieve! Just one more thing: what kind of advice would you give to novice illustrators out there?

G: To work hard and to have fun in the process. It’s also important to be inspired and curious about learning new things!

Genevieve Godbout + Nadinoo for Anthrolopogie

What I absolutely love about Genevieve's style: it is so warm and homely. The pastels create such a soft effect, which I usually associate with the sweetest memories of my childhood - it also helps that she illustrates children's books. It is also quite apparent that Impressionism affects her style very much.

Thanks for stopping by, folks! Don't forget to check out her blog for more awesome illustrations. Cheerio!