Tumblr

I'm done with Blogger. Well, not totally, I still use my Spanish blog pretty often, it's ideal for my long this-is-my-first-language rambles. But when it comes to my stiff English, I've recently become very attached to Tumblr. Its fast posting system is perfect for my rapid blasts of design and moods. So here you have it:

http://misscristal.tumblr.com

I don't think I'll be updating this Blogger page any more (or at least for some time), so I'd really appreciate the follow if you have a Tumblr account!

Non-stop

I've been so busy lately, with one thing and the other, that I've hardly had time to list new Miss Cristal jewellery. What I have been doing is taking photos of the beautiful Natalia, who kindly offered to pose for a pin up session I carried out with some friends for the humour Spanish site zasbaidefeis. I'm quite pleased with the results (except for the post-editing, since a few of the photos aren't properly edited... I really should have done that myself), and I managed to sneak in a few of my pieces for my own Miss Cristal profit! This is my favourite, I just love the picture!:

I have also devoted waaay too much time on more origami. Here's a sample of my latest, cute little handpainted gift boxes!

Wednesday Webcomic

Cyanide and Happiness is one of those webcomics that gets stick drawings right.

Can hardly believe...

... I managed to make this kusudama ball:

Thanks to Findinspirations.com for the tutorial!

Not myself today

I've recently joined a treasury team on Etsy, and have been making loads of treasuries, as well as being featured in quite a few. This is my most recent attempt, hope you like it! (Treasuries are member-curated selections of Etsy items):

Tuesday Artisan: Bullfinch and Barbury

Bullfinch and Barbury has only 27 items in her shop right now, but it's still extremely hard to pick just a few photos for you to see. Enamel is probably one of the most beautiful mediums around, and she specialises in bracelets, which are my current flavour of the month (or last four months, maybe!). So feast your eyes on these precious colours and textures:

Unfortunately I don't wear enamel bangles anymore, the few I've had I've managed to repeatedly deform and smash... the same reason why I don't wear glass rings!

Seattle Artist's Studio

I've always liked the concept of shared artist studios. Huge, open spaces where you can share your fun, frustration and general artisty things with other people. What's fantastic about this place is that it has sliding modules, so you can transform a wide, shared space into a private office in a matter of seconds!

Read more about this great artist studio in Seattle by Olson Kundig Architects at Remodelista.

Tron

So you've seen the movie, bought the t-shirt, wrote the fanfic. How about staying here for a night?

Read all about this amazing led-illuminated Tron: Legacy suite made in Sweden's Ice Hotel here.

Tuesday Artisan: Naventin

Large rings and talented women are two of my favourite things in the world. So it's no surprise I fell in love with naventin's work as soon as I saw it. Plus, she's from Barcelona. I'm afraid most Spanish artisans I've found on Etsy aren't really my style (lots of cute felt and polymer clay figures), so it's always a huge plus to find someone as accomplished as this young lady.

On a completely unrelated note, I wanted to point out that she states this in her shop profile: ATENTION!!! SHIPPING NEWS! This year the spanish post service has risen its prices, therefore my shipping fees have risen a bit too. And it's true, it has, and it makes me feel like crying every time I have to charge someone 13 dollars for shipping one hundred and f*****g fifty grams!!! How am I supposed to compete with other sellers? It's COMPLETELY ridiculous. Thank you, Correos, for making us Spaniards have an even harder time at making a living.

Anyhow, I'll calm down now and leave you to enjoy her handmade beauties:

Corsets

I collect corsets. I don't wear them often (they're not exactly the most comfortable of garments, and my limited budget only allows me to buy cheap versions of the real thing), but I do spend a long time drooling over them. This is my current favourite. I really don't think latex is my thing (sweaty!), but I'm sure I'd make an exception for this (green! swoon!):

 Probably great for a nice St. Patrick's day down at your local pub. Or maybe not. Considering I just bought an 8 € camisole at Lidl to wear over leggings on Saturday, I may not be one to judge.

Wednesday Webcomic

Recently it has come to my attention that I'm terrified of success. Yep, sounds odd, doesn't it? But the more I ponder, the more I realise that I'm constantly bullying myself into thinking that if I ever did atain my goals, I wouldn't really know how to handle it. The other day I stumbled onto Hyperbole and a Half, and Allie Brosh had a brilliant post I think reflects EXACTLY how I feel. Not that I ever wanted to be a doctor, but my grades at school always had people thinking I was going to be one.

Read the rest of Allie's spot-on post here.

Tuesday Artisan: Traven7

Well, Traven7 isn't exactly an artisan, but I think finding amazing vintage dresses should be considered an art, definitely! They've been on Etsy since 2008, and the clothes they feature are absolutely divine! Here's a little sample of what you can find in their online shop:

 

Traven 7 is also on Facebook, you can find their page here.

Hyde Park chic

I recently came across a house tour in Apartment Therapy I absolutely adored. Apartment Therapy isn't always my fave choice; I find their average tours bland and uninspiring. However, in this case, shocking wallpaper and classy but modern furniture (with just the right amount of retro) make this Chicago home quite the stunner. My favourite spaces are the entrance, with its striking stripes, and the living room, with these amazing organ pipes transformed into shelves:

Have a look at the rest of the apartment here. Great, comfy space usage and lighting.

Fashion secrets

I love this Bensoni organza dress. I actually prefer it in dark blue, but could only find an image of it in white. Very summery, in any case. I like the smooth, flattering lines and the beautiful collar. I'd definitely wear it with cute, flat sandals and a huge, chunky bracelet. Shame you'd need 550 USD to get ahold of it! I've always said I can't understand how people spend so much on fashion (I'm more of a second hand shop girl myself), but I suppose if you earn millions, a mere half-mil isn't going to set you back. What I find quite surprising is how people living on a 1000 euro budget (that would probably be the equivalent to 1600 dollars in the US, wage-wise) prefer splashing out on something like this than paying for basic stuff like food!

Aaah. So that's the secret to a size zero sorted.

 

Bah, keep the dress, I'm off to enjoy a nice glass of wine and some Lebanese tapas.

A gourmet view

I've always fancied trying out The Restaurant at The End of The Universe, but since that's highly unlikely I'll just have to make do with some other odd eating place, maybe this cute little cabin in Okinawa (Japan).

The things I find on the Internet...

Apparently I'm more naive than I thought, there was me thinking those jelly bracelets were all sweet and cute. I found this on Amyth.com, here's their info:

Sex Bracelets and Their Color Meanings...
What Do The Jelly Sex Bracelet Colors Mean?

Many people have inquired about the latest fad in colleges, high schools, even middle schools!
Those jelly bracelets from the 1980's are still being used today, but they have a completely different purpose than when Cyndi Lauper and Madonna wore them.
This new social phenomenon involves "snapping" the bracelet off the wearer, enabling the snapper to earn a sexual favor from the snappee based on the color of the snapped off bracelet.
The colors each have a coded meaning as follows:

• Yellow - indicates the wearer is willing to HUG
• Pink - indicates the wearer is willing to give a hickey
• Orange - indicates the wearer is willing to KISS
• Purple - indicates the wearer is willing to kiss a partner of either sex
• Red - indicates the wearer is willing to perform a LAP DANCE
• Green - indicates that ORAL SEX can be performed on a girl
• Clear - indicates a willingness to do "whatever the snapper wants"
• Blue - indicates ORAL SEX performed on a guy
• Black - indicates that the wearer will have regular "missionary" sex
• White - indicates the wearer will "FLASH" what they have
• Glittery Yellow - indicates HUGGING and KISSING is acceptable
• Glittery Pink - willing to "flash" (show) a body part
• Glittery Purple - wearer is willing to French (open mouth) kiss
• Glittery Blue - wearer is willing to perform anal sex
• Glittery Green - indicates that the wearer is willing to "69" (mutual oral sex)
• Glittery Clear - indicates that the wearer will let the snappee "feel up" or touch any body part they want

I specially love the clarification: 

WEARING THE BRACELETS DOES NOT MEAN YOUR KID IS HAVING SEX, OR PARTICIPATING IN THIS "GAME".
ALL REPORTS INDICATE THAT IS GENERALLY ONLY "PLAYED" BY KIDS WHO ARE ALREADY SEXUALLY ACTIVE.

The good news is that my new "Anne of Green Gables" bracelet is VERY difficult to snap off, thanks to heavy duty wire wrapping and clasp and so on. In any case, if I do get any oral sex out of it, I'll be sure to let you know (or not!):

 

Excuses

I really wanted to update today with some lovely new architecture. Really, promise. Even though I got up at 6:00 AM and spent all morning working and all afternoon making jewellery and writing. But this came in the mail, and I'm afraid I have to love you and leave you for now:

 Book Depository is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. 

Small but comfy.

I've spent most of the afternoon today working on custom orders, so I thought I might as well take some photos of my workspace. Here is where I spend 90% of my time...

From the top downwards: My beloved PC, kitty on bed (trying to take a nap despite my frecuent interruptions, beads and supply stash (colour coded!), doodling wardrobe door, workbench (plus coke can I was enjoying a few hours ago).

Pretty pictures

When it comes to decorating my own space, I generally prefer prints or paintings over photographs. I have some wonderful glossy prints of some of Nekranea's art, and also some by Felideus, with whom I've had the honour of working with as a publisher. Both are personal friends and very talented artists.

Bird Soul, by Nekranea. I love how she always includes tutorials and images of her creative process in her blogs.

Felideus is working on a book, a very steampunk project that I love. Just look at this homage to The Wind in the Willows, isn't it gorgeous?

'Cause you can never have enough books (or places to read them).

I like books. I like to read them, touch them and look at them. Sometimes I even make them (well, at least the layout, design and revision; the printer does the actual printing and binding; sometimes I even do the writing). I also like bookcases. And libraries. I really like libraries.

The Morgan Library & Museum McKim Building in New York was recently reformed and, as you can see, the results are spectacular. Read more about it (and have a look at the "before" pics to really appreciate the difference) at Architect Magazine.

Wednesday Webcomic

I'm not a huge Subnormality fan (my eyes water over so much small text), but sometimes it really gets me. And the Sphynx is a favourite character of mine.

 (Click on the image to read the rest)

Feels like everyday Spanish bureaucracy to me.

My current object of desire

'Nuff said.

Tuesday Artisan: BeadEvolution

One thing I find on Etsy is that there really aren't many bold, colourful items. Unlike its European counterpart, DaWanda, that constantly features colour in many ways, Etsy seems to favour bland, greyish and pastel selections, whether it be items, web design or front pages. So it's great when once in a while you stumble across shops like Helen's BeadEvolution. Resin is a must in her shop, and everything's crisp and bright as today's sunny blue Mediterranean sky.

 

And of course here's my Miss Cristal contribution for the day, The Blue Unicorn (thank you, Mamen, for the name idea!):

In case you're wondering, the background is my old Chinese workbook. I did one semester of Chinese at University, and all I can remember is "ni hao". Then again, I did a few years of French and I don't remember much of that, either. It's a miracle I still speak English!

From Napoleonic warfare to modern day beauty

A Martello tower in Suffolk (UK) transforms into an amazing home. I'm sure the soldiers who lived in these quarters never imagined it could look like this, over a century later. It took Duncan Jackson 10 years to turn it into this welcoming, extraordinary domus. Read about it in The Guardian.