Pantone Palate

Again I have been prowling the internet in the wee hours of the morning, and I've come across these great interpretations of Pantone colour swatches. This lot is by French food designer Emilie de Griottes.

Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working - Pablo Picasso

Travel Essentials: A smartly stocked handbag

I absolutely love the idea of traveling with no carry on, just a little crossbody with chapstick, my passport and my wallet. But it is quite unrealistic considering that I usually travel by myself, and I always have to bring my laptop and camera-- I learned this fact the hard way. So perhaps when I get married I'll be able to coerce my poor husband into carrying everything for me ;).

I'm currently on my reading week from college and I absolutely refused to stay in Toronto, so I found myself a ticket to Atlanta, and while writing my lists for packing I thought it would be nice to show yall what I find necessary for my flights, and how I pack my tote to make sure its light but has everything I need.

The Bag: Zara ( as seen here)

The Details:

1. Make-up bag: Usually contains, chapstick, lotion, a mini toothbrush, toothpaste, deoderant and  tylenol.
2. My cellphone.
3. A very large bottle of water.
4. Nuts
5. My business cards--you never know when you need to do some self-promotion.
6. Tea-this time jasmine green tea, but I do prefer Earl Grey.
7. Earphones.
8. My agenda and favourite pen.
9. Large wallet.
10. My handy Kindle which I love so much.

Potatoes gonna Potate

I checked my mail this morning and came across a very interesting comment left by Anonymous on my blog post Made-Up. In the comment, they are referring to another post, School is so cool, and are trying to be nasty and negative.
 Just so you know, Anonymous, I really can't be bothered with the opinions of people who don't care about me, or that I don't care for. Just so you know you are the one who looks like a fool because you don't even have the gall to leave your name. But congratulations, you've made it onto the blog.
And just so you all know, things like this wouldn't make me stop writing, it's more likely to make me write more.

School is so cool.

This semester at school I have to take a computer drawing class where I'm forced to learn Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. So far we've only covered Illustrator, but somehow last week I had a breakthrough moment and I am now completely in love with it. I just did an entire assignment for another class with the program, and I am extremely impressed with myself and how it turned out. So I can't wait to see how I can use the program for blog posts.
I'm currently using the free CS6 trial on my computer, but it's only for a month, so I am seriously considering buying the standard package, which is $229--at the student rate. This is considerably cheaper than the $1200 regular tag, so any of you students who are interested in buying it should definitely look into that at your school bookstore.
If any of you guys are really good at Illustrator or Photoshop, do let me know if I can do things better, I'm always willing to learn!

Colour story for my Product Development class completed on Illustrator

Made-Up

I actually wear very little make-up just because I'm used to not having anything much on my face, and also the fact that with the exception of full coverage concealer for my undereyes, I don't really think I need it. On that note, this is probably the most make-up I've ever bought at one go, and the majority of it is lip colour because I just can't get enough!

Make up Forever Full Cover 10 | Make up Forever HD Powder

Maybelline Hot Plum 900 | Rimmel In Vogue 038 | Revlon Soft Nude 070

Revlon Gold Dust 024 | Revlon Papaya 020

Papplemouse 33 | Fraise 17 | Lychee 19 | Marshmallow Electro 95 | Cerise 15

Paper Trail

I constantly wake up at 3 a.m. nowadays and I rarely get back to sleep so I often manage my boredom reading, writing or ploughing through Pinterest. This weekend I came across a very interesting, colourful, and intricate piece of work from a mixed media artist named Yulia Brodskaya.
This Russian artists work completely enthralled me and after a bit of research I realized I've come across her work before-- in the Sephora Christmas windows of 2011. To think that someone has skill like this makes me extremely awestruck and jealous at the same time.

Images Courtesy of Yulia Brodskaya.com

Good-buys!

 I love me some good accessories--as can be seen here-- so I just had to share these couple of buys that are simply FAB. The gloves I have wanted for ages, they're green leather and go just below my elbows, but they are the perfect pairing for a cape or jacket with shorter sleeves. My father spoiled me with the black bag from Zara-- I really love a big bag, this is one is great as a travel buddy, I can throw in my wallet, some magazines, my handy little kindle and a huge bottle of water.

Zara Tote- 79.99

Forever 21 Purse- 23.80 | Leather Gloves-Winners; 16.99 sale!

H&M Scarf - 5.00

Just in time for Valentine.

I'm not really a Valentine kinda girl, but I found these images, and thought they would make a suitable Valentine post for a non-Valentine person. To think that something like this exists on earth really makes on realize that there is so much beyond your imagination.

These photographs are aerial shots and were taken by Australian photographer Steve Back, and are of Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia. The pink hue is caused by an abundance of Beta Carotene producing algae that is farmed in these man-made ponds, making them...just rosy.

Steve back has a lot of beautiful photographs of Australia, you can see his entire portfolio on his website.

Off the Bookshelf : The Sly Company of People Who Care.

I'm a reader. I don't know if you've grasped that yet, but I just love being able to find complete solace in a book. I unfortunately haven't been reading very much but I've been making a huge effort to stop doing everything else, including watching television, and just read. So Sunday afternoons in my nearby Chapters has become my favourite limin' spot. This wasn't one of my finds at Chapters but I had to share it.
The Sly Company of People Who Care by Rahul Bhattacharya was written by a cricket journalist from India, and is about his year long experience living in Guyana-- and boy is it an accurate representation of our culture. I can tell you that if you grew up in GT, or your parents are from there and have shared their stories with you, you will be dying laughing about the entire thing, from his adventures with the poke-knockers who nearly kill each other over some diamonds, to a sweet girl with chile-father issues, and a shine-eye mentality.
Pick it up, you will thoroughly enjoy it.

In the midst of a snowstorm...

In the midst of this terrible weather in the GTA, I just had to add some colour to both my life, and anyone who came across this post. It felt so lovely to finally look at something and feel inspired enough to share it with people. This artist currently lives in Toronto, but is originally from China. The vibrancy, highly saturated colour and simple abstract beauty of her canvas completely moved me.

Let Yangyang Pan move you, too, she has a showing of her work as well as a sale on March 27- March 31. I'm currently trying to coerce my mother to buy me a piece as an early birthday present... I'll let you know how that goes.

Here are a few of my favourites.

Ivy- Oil on Canvas

Lake Ontario- Oil on Canvas

Sorrow be Gone- Oil on Canvas

Floating Clouds #2- Acrylic, Oil, Charcoal on Canvas

Images Courtesy of YangyangPan.com