g/e/n/design

Little Bribes.

2009-03-28T20:54:00.000-07:00

Not going to lie. I was not a fan of of Death Cab's last two albums Narrow Stairs and Plans. I listened to Plans a couple times and just got so turned off that I barely made an effort to listen when Narrow Stairs came out.... which I still have not listened to all the way through.

Yet I still claim that DCFC as one of my top ten bands. But when I think of them, I think of the older albums of prominent electric guitar strums, a basic hollow drum with light symbols clashing and sometimes the sounds of an organ or keyboard. I think of You Can Play These Songs with Chords and Something About Airplanes and The Photo Album. I think of We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes and I think of Transatlanticism.

I realize that their music is evolving, but I am sad and in denial about their direction. However, they have a new album on the way, to redeem themselves. There is no denying that Ben's relationship and engagement to Zooey Deschanel hasn't had an influence in this album, "The Open Door". I have included a link to a peek into this album and you can decide for yourself how you like it. It definitely is upbeat. I can't wait to hear the EP as a whole. It is expected to release March 31st.

Conan Come Home

2009-03-18T21:27:00.001-07:00

So as we all know, or at least I hope you know by now, Conan is no longer with us. And by with us I mean on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. So sad, too bad. He was the funniest of the late night comedians. Alas, I have something to cheer us all up. This is a video clip of Conan on Martha Stewart's show. Now, I work in the craft business, and I think that the majority of the people who also work in the craft business or even do crafts, associate Martha with the devil. And this video is such a perfect example of how brilliant Conan is and lame Martha is. So good.

Live young and fast. Die a beautiful soul.

2009-01-30T09:27:00.000-08:00

Went to Gold Rush Tattoo in Costa Mesa last night. A friend was getting her spine tattooed with the quote "Live young and fast. Die a beautiful soul." I had met the tattoo artist, Bucky Crispin, once before, but I hadn't seen much of his work. I have to say that he is an amazing artist and I love his style. If I ever get a tattoo, which I'm too scared, but I would want Bucky to do it.

His best pieces are his traditional tattoos and art deco girls. If I had to get anything, it would be something art deco. Hands down.

From February 20th to the 22nd, all the artists at Gold Rush will be at Musink at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds. One day tickets are only $25 and weekend passes are $65. You can go crazy and get the VIP pass for $100. You'll probably see me there at least one day. Tattoos are such a great way to get creative inspiration.

"I like the things that I like, but I love everything"

2009-01-29T09:41:00.000-08:00

So I've pretty much become obsessed with Skins, a BBC teen drama that began January 2007 and is currently into it's third season. The thing that separates this teen drama from all the American ones, like 90210, OC, and Gossip Girl, is that it's actually good. The dialogue is so witty, which seems strange since the show's written by a father/son team. And with such thick British accents and slang, I've been able to find new jokes every time I watch the episodes again.

Another thing that makes this show unique is that each individual episode fixes itself on the life of one particular character. And somehow they are able to perfectly weave the other characters around that main character so that all the episodes and overall story flow continuously. Amazing. The show is set and taped in Bristol, which is where they actually cast as well. The whole thing is just about a group of teens in "college" (UK for high school), all their relationships with the people around them (including family), sex, drugs, and partying.

My favorite characters are Sid, the nerdy virgin, and Cassie, the insightful yet unstable slut with anorexia. Sid can be so completely oblivious, but he is the sweetest guy and the geek factor makes him even more likeable. Cassie, who by far has the weirdest, yet coolest fashion sense, sounds like an airhead, but really she notices the things no one else sees. She's so smart, a loyal friend and also very organized, which is funny, because everyone thinks she's crazy and she's in and out of institutions the whole time.

It makes me kind of sad that every two seasons, the creators of Skins have decided to change the characters completely. However there is some kind of tie between the different casts. Season three has Tony's little sister Effy as one of the new main characters.

I really havent watched the third season, as it has only just began (Jan. 22), but I am kind of skeptical. The first two seasons were just so well written and cast. But I will still watch, of course.

I bought Skins Season 1 from Amazon.com for only $29.99. Season 2 comes out April 14, 2009.

Apartment Therapy.

2008-08-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

Just moved from Old Town Orange to Costa Mesa. Fixing up the place with my roomate (also a graphic designer, just like myself). We've managed to make it look pretty sheik and grown up...compared to my old place that had miss match of hand-me-down furniture and stuff found on the side of the road. I assure you that was normal of college students. But now that I've graduated from school, I've graduated to tasteful design. Here are just some of the few things we've bought.

(Clockwise from the top left) The Doile Pot Holder was on sale at Urban Outfitters for only $2.99, was originally $8; the Compensation for Missing Limbs Poster was $20 from 826 Valencia and is silk screened, which I love; we got two of the Expedit Shelves in black-brown from Ikea for $79.99 each and put them on both sides of the plasma tv to make an entertainment center; the 3'3" by 5'3" black Shag Rug from Target for $125.99, which is pretty cheap compared to CB2 and Urban Outfitters' shags; the black Set of 10 Frames were $28 from Urban Outfitters; and the sofa, my pride and joy, was a custom made knock-off. I chose the André couch design from Room & Board and had Sofa Craft clone two sofas, a 3' long one and a 7' long one, in my choice of gunmetal tweed fabric. I think the total of the two chairs came to $1600 and that included 4 pillows, a firmer foam and a stain protector. The Room & Board version would have cost more than $2100.