Thoughts. Buttons.

So I've been so busy with living, in general.I am just burned out. I know I have it better than most of the global population. Tired.

I see buttons everywhere, all shapes and sizes. They are trims I am developing for many of my customers.While zoning out, I opened my old blog and started writing. (Since no one sees this anyways....)It hit me. Thoughts. Although this industry has taught me a lot, it brings out thoughts.I can never buy at my favourite retail stores without second guessing the cost and quality. If I stand there and carry my mind in to deeper thoughts, I start thinking about who would've made this. Thank goodness I hate shopping whereas I'll move along quickly so I don't fall into deep thoughts..I only follow trends with my mind and my friends are always wondering why I don't dress up anymore.

I've said many times before, anything ending with -logy is depressing. What I've learned in Environmental Biology, Anthropology, even Sociology; has hit me as soon as I started working in this field. Being involved opens your eyes to all angles of the garment producing industry (it can just be me) I prefer buying local products for groceries and always rant about consumption; yet the hypocrisy of all this is - I myself can't live without depending on imports and non-green products. Wanting to be environmentally friendly and signing petitions for the end of unfair labor laws worldwide is just as how far my powers are (internet and sometimes some effort in actually going to these places). 

Ironically, I am indirectly engaging in a similar situation or I am willingly interacting with the circumstances of my work.I am proud to announce that my overseas office does not treat genders differently or have unfair compensation. (Vietnam is still a county that has most men believing they are more important than women) What I do not know is - what happens in the factories we use. I know for certain the factories do not have child workers but I have no information on overtime or working conditions. I assure you it is not as bad as the horror stories I've heard of (one of the reasons why I pause when I look at clothing made in Bangladesh) Yes, yes.. I shouldn't base my opinion on just one case. Hence, new slang in Korea 'Ke-Ba-Ke' a.k.a. case by case.

My point was, sometimes I feel like I am helping and being a part corporations taking advantage of underdeveloped countries. If I look at this in a optimistic way as my friends suggest, it is work for me and overseas. I just hope everyone is happy.I also believe this is another cycle, it won't end. Humans have always surpassed the resource/supply value. Population is soaring and more than half the world is hungry. This reflects on my job also.

Resources are a survival for my business, we survive by having the best material cheapest as possible. Sooner or later, this industry is going to start making factories in new countries. China's wages and resource prices have been rising so a lot of factories are emerging in Vietnam. Ten years down the road, this industry will want to start elsewhere because of the same occurrence. Mexico? Cambodia? You have to calculate freight/culture/policy/safety. 

Can severe happiness bring you misery?

Just thinking about what I have and to think about it disappearing.

june.. oh june. how was may?

June! Mid-year! June reminds me of my dad.
As a child, in school, we always prepared father's day's cards every year. Every message, i would add 'happy birthday' to his card. He used to say... " i want two separate cards!!!" With a grin then a smile. Wow. If i think about it now, that was a lot of construction paper, glue, dry pasta, glitter (accumulated over the years). And i don't think my dad has any them anymore, probably got lost or thrown away after a year.
Growing up in the states, every father's day (and any other event including parents) our teacher would always mentions, remind the class. You don't have to dedicate a card to your father for fathers day. It can be your uncle, grandfather, stepfather, anyone who is a father figure. We live in a society with families that are more extended, or complex. Maybe it can be confusing or unstable. I just want to be happy.  I don't need a nuclear family. The near-future, I see school curriculum's that are multi-cultural and liberal.

May. More thoughts.  more thoughts on how serious I can be and how immature I am at the same time =D
I enjoyed Chicago, wish I had more time.

I just want to live.

i realized im not 17 anymore.

may say hey?

i remember the warehouse days.

loft parties.

drugs.

music.

Im gone for the weekend

Floating Chicago - A collection of mirrored skyline timelapses from Craig Shimala on Vimeo.

I'll be in Chicago.

Kry's vacation.

why do you have to be pretty? miss soap?

So, why is it that some things are wrapped up so pretty?

I would hate to tear that up and even use it.

Sometimes i think i should just keep these wrappers framed. 

romancing the prints and intricate patterns. ( i feel so femme! )

weddings.

found a great new site, real weddings.
equally wed


i love it.

here is another site for inspirations, this ones more vintage/artsy once wed

Carucci

As if I had all my guilty pleasures satisfied,

elinor carucci  

Karl X Johan - Flames (dir. cut)

Hard to ignore.
I thought you would enjoy this video


Karl X Johan - Flames (dir. cut) from Gustav Johansson on Vimeo.

Pretty things make me feel better

I browse and browse when I'm not too busy. I feel better, then shitty again.
Miserable.
Happy.

luca mantovanelli

marble - weapons - boobs

Thom Puckey, some amazing marble work

http://www.thompuckey.com/

after going through the pictures, i remember when i first saw 'Queen of the Damned' with Aaliyah, i love Anne Rice's work, but how they captured in the film, the begining. When the queens marble statue was placed and she came to life.

accept payment... anywhere

https://squareup.com/

Stay Curious

Ella

One of my most favorite pictures in my life. I never thought a random photograph I take would turn out this great. It's beautiful, Ella is beautiful. I'm not going to post pictures of my friends kids because this is a public blog.  I almost wish I had a better camera. I was reminded of this photograph again because my friend made this her profile picture, lol. I was with them everyday when I stayed nearby their home, and I worked at night. I miss them... On days I feel lonely, I get more depressed knowing although they might like me now- im not their parent. In the end, im that 'auntie', they grow up too fast! way too fast! They started crawling, pointing and making want noises- now they speak complete sentences to me!!! ahhhh!

I had a conversation with my 'unnis' (older sisters) last night. I'm a only child by the way, all three of us had similarities, but not entirely. One wants a child, but doesn't think it's a good idea- (I'll get more into the subject later) -so she is seriously thinking about adoption in the future. One dislikes children but wants her own. One doesn't want to have her own child but adoption is a open option. Looks like a few of my straight girlfriends are getting married in the next year or so. Therefore, for you, Ms. Jen, I will start posting some great wedding pictures and fun topics. Research on adoption is going to start in the near future ; ) .

Here's some I've always liked!

I wonder if i'll ever take wedding picture..... in a dress....as pretty as this one ( ladder!) I like simple dresses, long, nothing puffy please...