Finished a Journal - art dump part 1

Journalling is one of my favourite pastimes. My journals include collages, doodles, writings, etc. Newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, internet print-outs, bus tickets, movie tickets, candy wrappers, you name it and it's probably in one of my journals.

Pretty much anything that currently is of interest to me gets dumped into my journals.

My favourite brand of notebook to use for my journals is Moleskine. I typically use the softcover, though I do enjoy the hardcover ones as well.

Anyways, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Just a few pages from my journal. May do a few more posts' in the future.

Do you journal? What kind of things go in your journal?

REVIEW: The Big Lebowski (Movie)

The Big Lebowski
Directed/Written By: Joel and Ethan Coen
Stars: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore

"I'm the Dude, man."

The Big Lebowski may have come out a little over 15 years ago, but it was only yesterday that a friend encouraged me to watch it for the first time.

Previous to this, I've had a few acquaintances refer to me as "the Big Lebowski" in certain situations. Of course I had heard of the movie, but I was clueless as to why they deemed me worthy of the nickname. After seeing the movie, I realize the accuracy of their name-calling. Nonchalant, carefree, and the worst luck imaginable. Not to mention the hippie-esque wardrobe...sounds pretty close to my personality.

The Big Lebowski focuses on "Jeff Lebowski" more commonly called "the Dude". A laid back, unemployed, bowling-loving hippie. He is mistaken for a rich man under the same name of Lebowski. This leads to a string of ridiculous events that have him following the rich Lebowski's request to bring back his kidnapped wife. The Dude's two friends and bowling partner, Donny - an airhead at best, and Martin - an angry Vietnam vet - accompany him along the way.

The cast, characters, and iconic quotes are what really make this move the cult classic that it's become. Jeff Bridges stars as "the Dude", and the best person I could've possibly imagined to do so. Julianne Moor, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi are just a few of the supporting characters alongside the Dude. Aside from the flawless cast, the quotes alone deem the movie endlessly re-watchable (in my opinion). The Dude is painfully blase about almost every situation he comes into contact with, delivering a plentiful amount of witty comebacks along the way for us to quote back.

In short, this film is a must see for comedy fans. The funniest movie I've seen this year, by far, and definitely in the top 10 for my all time funniest.

CHARACTERS: 5 of 5

STORY: 5 of 5

GRAPHICS: 5 of 5

OVERALL: 5 stars all the way. Take away the perfect characters/cast/quotes and the plot would be bland, but the Coen brothers blended it flawlessly. Will definitely be re-watching frequently.

REVIEW: Paper Moon

Paper Moon was a recommendation from a friend. I was able to watch it the last night that it was available on Netflix a few weeks ago.

Summary: 9-year-old Addie has just lost her mother when she meets Moze, a con artist and one of the many men her mother had had a relationship with. A woman at the funeral points out that the pair have "the same jaw" and are possibly related. In the end, Moze is roped into taking Addie to her new home with her aunt and uncle. Along the way, the pair become collaborative con artists', using their "similar jaws" (a recurring theme) to their advantage claiming to be a down-and-out Father/Daughter pair.

Review: 
I went in watching this movie not really knowing what to expect. It's a comedy that was made in the 1970's, filmed in black and white, and set in the 1950's during the Great Depression. Then I remembered that Grease was also a 1950's style movie filmed in the 70's, which somehow convinced me to give it a shot. What could it hurt to try?

I was blown away.

Ryan and Tatum O'Neal who play the lead characters of Moze and Addie are real life father/daughter, which plays into the charm of this film. Their on-screen dynamic is realistic and appealing. I had no idea that they were related until after I watched it, when I went perusing the internet for further information.
Addie is a feisty little tomboy who envies the women that Moze is often seen with throughout the movie. She wants to look more feminine, though Moze assures her she is just as pretty as her mother was.
Moze is a con artist with a soft spot for beautiful women, and eventually Addie. His conning skills are often overshadowed by Addie's ability to up the ante when it comes to value.

The overall story was appealing. They take you along on their adventures as father/daughter con artists', getting into drama along the way. It's one long road for Moze to take Addie to her new home with her aunt and uncle, leaving you hoping that they will get lost along the way and never end up to that fated destination.

The black and white filming was a huge factor in what made this film appealing, to me. When watching it, you really get a feel for the 1950's (as much as a girl born in 1991 can imagine, anyhow). The film is so clean, even for being filmed in the 70's.

CHARACTERS: 5 of 5

STORY: 4 of 5

GRAPHICS: 4 of 5 (taking into account it's such an old film)

OVERALL: 4 of 5. A must watch for fans of classic movies, quirky characters, and hilarious plots.

Summer Lovin'

     

  :]

Had the perfect beach day the other day with my sister and some of our homies. They're one of my favorite pairs of people to chill with, namely because they're sisters as well. It makes for the perfect dynamic. 

Food is always involved in our hang out sessions, however this time we chose a different route and walked the block or so down the street to the beach. Waikiki is a tough place to find a good spot on the beach, especially during the peak of summer. It's overcrowded with tourists' and locals alike. We were lucky to find some free space, away from the beach bums (literally....they live on the beach and jack your shit while you're in the water). 

Kaimana's is the spot we chose for our perch. Few tourists' venture that far down the Waikiki strip since it is a bit further from food stops and hotels. It's definitely worth the extra 5-10 minute walk. 

Free of bums and crowds, it caters mostly to the locals for their beach barbecues and kids for their body boarding needs. 

It lacks the "wall" that inner Waikiki provides, which means bigger waves (and on the downside, quite rocky in some places). 

However, it's perfect for tanning with the occasional dip in the water to cool off. 

I'm bummed to leave these ladies behind as I wander off on my travel adventure, but I always find myself back on da aina. 

Storenvy Sundays

So, as my readers know, I already do "Etsy Finds Fridays" where I post interesting things I come across that week on Etsy. However, Storenvy has also become a favorite website of mine for me to sell on. It is actually the website that I host my new website on. www.fabricillusion.com

Anyways, it's a smaller community and I would like to add this to my weekly posts'. Let's get started!

paperkitty.storenvy.com

Paper kitty provides stickers and pinback buttons of a large variety, including tv shows, movies, fun quotes, food, tumblr shenanigans, etc! Best of all, they are all really affordable! 

(pictures belong to their website)

chawrrylove.storenvy.com

Chawrry Love is a store that carries cute boho jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, ear cuffs, etc. Almost everything is under $20!

gisele.storenvy.com

I've been drooling over almost everything in this store since I found it. Their clothes are very unique with a vintage boho twist. 

Check back weekly for more finds! Or share with me your favorite shops on Storenvy. :]

Etsy Finds Fridays - Boho Themed

I always find it so hard scrolling through Etsy to pick only 10 items to list on my weekly finds. So this week I'm trying something new....going with a theme! 

Boho fashion is very "in" right now and  it's always been something I follow due to my mom being very "boho". 

1. Vintage Moccassins - $19 +shipping

First on my list, are these vintage moccasins! I love moccasins because they go with almost anything. 

2. Black Doc Martins - $50 +shipping

Speaking of shoes, how can you go wrong with Doc Martins. These aren't only "boho", but they can fit any fashion group. They go with literally anything. Prom dress, jeans, mini skirts, etc!

3. Aztec Boho Tote Bag - $10 +shipping

I think it's important for bags to be flexible in matching with many outfits. Who wants a bag that only goes with one outfit? 

4. Vintage Boho Turquoise Necklace - $15 +shipping

Jewelry is a huge part of the boho fashion sense. This necklace embraces it, without being overly chunky or tacky. 

5. Boho Tunic - $13 +shipping

I love oversized shirts like this because you can wear them in so many ways. 

6. Boho Yoga Pants - $40 +shipping

These pants are great, and not just for yoga. They feature a fun pattern so you can wear a plain shirt without looking like a plain jane. 

7. Quartz Necklace - $36 +shipping

This necklace is simple and neutral in color but will add flair to any outfit!

8. Boho striped poncho - $23 +shipping

The cold season is coming and this poncho cape is perfect for any outfit! Even if it covers up the outfit you so tediously planned, it won't look boring or clumpy. 

9. Black Floral Kimono - $65 +shipping

Kimonos are very hip right now and they transform an otherwise boring or simple outfit into something more profound and foreign. 

10. White sheer kimono - $34 +shipping

Another, cheaper option for kimono seekers!

Remember, send in your favorite shops or items that you find on Etsy for a feature!

New Website!

I've been considering transferring my business to it's own website for quite some time. But I always came up with excuses: it's not successful enough, i'm too lazy, it costs' money, etc. 

Finally, this past month I re-considered the benefits of having my own website. For one, it was much easier to tell people "Fabric Illusion.com" as opposed to "fabric illusion . etsy . com" or whatever host website I was currently using. That was the second issue. I transferred hosts' many times. From storenvy to etsy, to bigcartel. With my own URL I can change whatever host I want without changing the URL. And lastly, I discovered that with the right host, it's not that expensive! I'm paying barely $10 a year. 

So now, It's finalized! Check out my new website. I'm still occasionally tweaking things. For now, I enjoy the sleek, simplicity of the theme I have chosen. 

Feedback and thoughts are always appreciated!