the rape of europa

"Imagine if Hitler would have been accepted [to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna] and I would have been rejected. I would have run the world quite differently and he couldn't have done that harm that he did being a bad painter." - Oskar Kokoschka quoted by (oops) a guy I can't remember

Recently watched The Rape of Europa (2007), an interesting documentary about another side of Hitler that is often overshadowed by the horrific role he played in World War II. In it, I learned that Hitler was an aspiring painter that was passionate about the arts. (And from the atrocities that he committed, you'd think his paintings would be all crazy and evil, but they're actually really boring ones of scenery.) Besides taking miiiiiillions of lives, he also forcefully stole more than 16,000 works of art from private collections and museums, including masterpieces like Klimt's portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer (recovered) and Rapahel's Portrait of a Young Man (still missing).

And as the quote above mentions, Hitler was not accepted into art school as a young man, ultimately leading him to choose a different career path. Can you imagine how incredibly different history would have unfolded? What if there was no World War II? No Holocaust? What if Hitler became a prominent painter? It's crazy to think about.

rex

Living with Dinosaurs by Sayaka Yamamoto

Holly, I hope it's okay if we decorate our new apartment with dinosaurs.

the importance of the tip

Fingernail rings, Hyun Kyung Park


Finger nail protectors, Jill K. Baker Gower

dawn wain

My necklace is better than yours cuz it's made of rocks that look like paint dripped on it. These rocks also look like the ones that form a pseudo river in my mom's backyard.

Nature's jewelry by Dawn Wain

unnecessary

but still very necessary

pillow chair | blanket with sleeves

sleeve scarf | rib necklace

Tom Scott

knot even

The plaiting section of this book excites me. I'm definitely going to be incorporating some of the techniques into my bracelets. Oh, and I'm completely redoing+remaking the chain bracelet I made earlier. I don't like that the way I have to finish it ruins the whole look and is something I would never attempt again. So instead of giving Sasha my janky prototype, I'm going back to square one and banging something incredible out. Still need to find some cheap thick ass gangster chains and more leather and cotton cord.

super duper

I've been stalking this pair of Super Duper Strength sunglasses by Karen Walker since spring started. After hearing that she was having a sample sale on Estile from Amanda, I was hoping that it would be offered in black. Sadly, there were only colorful shades to choose from and pink is not my color. The many reasons why I just don't get them from Totokaelo is 1) I treat my sunnies poorly and most end up getting bent, 2) my Asian face means they don't sit well, 3) my fear of commitment to pricey things I've never tried on, 4) the price. Hmm, vat to do, vat to do?

fallen angels

Duo Luo Tian Shi, written and directed by Kar Wai Wong



"When I looked at her, I suddenly felt like I was a store. And she was me. Without any warning, she suddenly enters the store. I don't know how long she'll stay. The longer the better, of course."

work in progress

I have a new found respect for Arielle de Pinto, because after four hours of interlacing three kinds of chains, brown suede and cotton cord, I had the meanest headache. But it was all worth it because I love how it turned out! Before this, the only other jewelry I had made was a few simple body chains. Challenging myself to make something with my hands, by intertwining and mixing different materials on whim, was exciting. Now, I just need to figure out how to finish all the loose ends (chains, suede and cotton cord are all still attached, haha) and where to get cheaper supplies (I got mine on Etsy). Any suggestions?

laces

Kris Van Assche S/S 2010
via Mens rag

bamboo banga

Looking through the works of different Japanese bamboo artists, I find myself being drawn to two different styles.

Knotted and tightly wrapped pieces that use a mixture of different thicknesses to create some awesome texture. I wanna run my fingers over these.

Monden Kogyoku, Undulation

Yufu Shohaku, Graceful Dragon

Mimura Chikuho, Hope

And circular forms that allow light to pass through its open centers or slide between slivers of bamboo. I wanna bounce and throw these in the air.

Torii Ippo, Sign of Wind

Monden Yuichi, Flowing

Fujitsuka Shosei, Tide

via TAI Gallery

i got shoyu on my shirt

my eyes traced the immense vault of heaven; the starry sky twinkled happily above me, as if answering in the affirmative to the question rising deep within me: "is all of this worth it?"

ernesto 'che' guevara, the motorcycle diaries

momma, is that you?

Pretty Young Thing pins
Givenchy F09 Couture

miao silver

Last year I saw the Writing with Thread: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities exhibition. Ever since then, their intricate jewelry has haunted me. I've never been able to find pictures online that depict exactly how exquisite their jewelry is in person. Maybe the library has some books on this stuff and I can get some scans... For now, here are some silver Miao neckpieces.





via Wikimedia Commons

skinned

When I was younger, I used to always be cutting up and tearing pages out of magazines. Now that I'm stuck at home cuz I'm sick, I decided to take a different and quite tedious approach to it by fitting shapes of cut out skin onto one side of a manila folder. Trying to work up some more energy to do another one in shades of white. Maybe the three cartons of sorbet my mom dropped off last night will give me a lift.

passing through

Whole in One ring by Jogema
Great Basin National Park by Richard Olsenius, NG

ordinary

I could watch Pauline Bastard's videos forever. So mundane, but that's what makes you notice so much more.

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downward

Mmmm, pretty clothes. MMMMMMMMMM, wood chip floor + tulips.

Anna-Sara Dåvik A/W 09-10

octomom

new bracelet from secondhand store

winner

I told my friend to pick a number between 1 and 24, and she chose my lucky number EIGHT. So congrats to the 8th commenter and my fellow Hawai'i blogger ALLIE on winning this Elizabeth and James shirt! Thx to chickdowntown.com and everyone that entered!