I love monochrome. I love how you can say so much with so little color!

I enjoy doing watercolor portraits so much. I painted this out of frustration the other day. I was running out of ideas for an upcoming project and finally gave in to just doing what I felt that night. I spotted an old copy of Wallpaper and sketched the model’s face on the cover (for lack of a better subject). If there’s one thing I need to spend more time perfecting, it’s definitely drawing the human face/figure more accurately and realistically. That’s something art school could have given me, but then again, maybe I just need to spend more time sketching and observing real people.

Oh, and I just idolize David Downton so much… I hope to meet him one day!

Every night, my head swims with a million thoughts before drifting off. What I’ll be doing tomorrow… What I should be doing tomorrow… It’s a mind-consuming, almost never-ending hodgepodge of ideas and images and moods and deadlines, which I try so hard to capture in one last snapshot before sleep takes over. I really should have a notebook at my bedside. It’s usually at these half-awaken hours when inspiring ideas make themselves known!

This one looks as though it came right out of the pages of a ’60s sewing manual…

…she even has a male counterpart, how cute!

I kind of wonder how it must have been like to get all dolled-up during this era. Seems like a dream for little girls!

And this one has a very regal, Holiday-ish feel to it…

I can already imagine these as prints and wallpaper–done in chic, updated versions (but if it were just me, I wouldn’t think twice about decoupaging their original, vintage selves onto a wall or sexy escritoire). Mmm. Must make a pattern out of them, pronto!

Credits: (1) and (2) 42ndblackwatch1881.wordpress.com; (3) thefrenchbee.blogspot.com; (4) blog.illustrationcastle.com

My older friends will kill me for saying this–but for the first time in my life, I feel older than ever! So. Being a bit past my quarter life now, I can no longer say I’m still in my “mid-twenties”… Well, last year was the last year for being that, in my book. Haha.

Took a birthday leave–and today being the middle of the week, I spent it mostly alone… Window shopping and mall-hopping. Galleria was my first stop. I miss it so very much, I actually wouldn’t mind going there every weekend, to be honest. For lunch, I managed to get B to eat with me at Cafe Breton (yay!). Then I hopped over to Megamall to finally check out their brand-spankin’ new (well, newly renovated, at least) department store. Man, it’s evolved by leaps and bounds–I couldn’t believe my eyes, and I couldn’t help myself, I just had to buy me one of those cute booties from now-unbelievably-chic-yet-cheap SM brand, Parisian. (Yes, my dears, Parisian!)

Came home to a semi-rushed albeit hearty dinner with the fam. My first time, I think, to celebrate at home instead of the usual dinner out. My mom, as always, did such a great job, we ended up with more food on the table than planned. Ah, well, there’s a packed lunch for me right there!

P.S. So overwhelmed by all the messages everyone left on my Facebook wall! I love you dears! THANK YOU!!!

The weekend was quite calm, with a slightly somber note. Saturday was spent mostly with family in celebration of the Chinese New Year (for the first time in a looong time I enjoyed just being with my fam at home); while Sunday was spent mostly in bed due to a bad case of migraine…

But B and I still managed to save the day with a simple yet lovely dinner, and pretty soon the clouds in my head lifted (thanks also to yummy hazelnut crepe and iced coffee!). We capped off the night watching Up in the Air at his place. Boring? Maybe, but at least it was cozy… And these days, just being cozy with the people I love is happiness…

P.S. Days ago I was shocked to learn of Alexander McQueen’s untimely death. They say it was suicide. I haven’t been able to read up on all the related material (due in part to some kind of denial–can’t believe he was only 40?), but it’s enough to say I really, truly felt how dreadful a loss it was to fashion. I’m not a huge fan, but I’d seen enough of his stuff to say he inspired me (and still inspires me) to dress a little more differently every now and then. I’m sure he’s in a better place now. RIP.