History: Manicules, Fists & Indexes

"The problem is that everyone knows what the symbol is and does when they see it, but almost nobody knows what to call it." - William H Sherman

I don't know about you, but I've always found the hand pointing left/right a mystery. I've seen it around in places here and there and it seemed like an iconic classic feature but for a while it didn't seem to have a name or face. All I knew was that I really liked it. It had character. It is only until today however, that I have discovered its identity and I am finally able to pinpoint a brief story behind its birth.

With the help of Typophile I discovered that it goes by the name 'Manicule', invented by William H. Sherman who also unravels the symbol's history here. Its origins are embedded within the history of typography, a symbol popular pre-20th century, used by typesetters (usually in the margins of manuscripts and printed books) to point out significant parts of texts and paragraphs. It is curious and fascinating because for a simple function its design was rather intricate. But these hands, didn't really have an official standard name in the first place despite it being widely used during the time, they have been called and known as 'fist', 'mutton-fist', 'index' and even just 'hand' ... but since they were rather generic and as Sherman puts it "sketchy description", he decided to invent one and thus 'Manicule', the name we know today, came to be. 

Inventory: Chup Socks

I always value quality over quantity and the Chup Socks certainly live up to this philosophy. The Japanese label Chup, (Creative Human Universal Products) by Glen Clyde, produces beautifully crafted high quality socks incorporating ethnical, indigenous & native patterns that are inspired by nature. They're manufactured using vintage stocking frame machines that weaves incredibly complex & intricate designs which means that the production process is slow where one machine is only able to produce 20-25 socks per day. They also use yarns called 'eco-yarn' which is made from recycled threads.

Needless to say... they are perfection - not perfect - but perfection. Let me write a completely biased list of reasons why:

• A Japanese Label: Almost anything Japanese (except for excessive consumption of whales & seafood, nuclear power and cheesy kawaii doramas) is a win
• It's all about slowing down for quality's sake. Craftsmanship.
• A perfect addition to anyone's sock collection (caus' we all have that)
• Eco-friendly vision (self explanatory)
• Variety of Indigenous inspired designs from Nordics to Navajo. 
• Makes you want to be an explorer.

 

I first spotted these  little treasures on an escalator on my way up to Kinokuniya (TGV) eyeing the store Carhatt. This is habit. I always spy on this store even though it's predominantly for the male demographic but  I never dared to go in by myself. This time however I absolutely could not hold back anymore (but technically I also had moral support - mum) for when I first laid my eyes on the Chups 5-10 metres away, through glass, and moving - it was instant love.

To be quite honest with you, my visit in the store involved one touch (and mental devour) of the socks (THEY WERE GORGEOUS.. SOFT... PERFECT), a quick nervous glance & feel around here and there, and a pick up of their catalogue before dashing off. Don't ask me why I proceeded like that okay? I mean sure there was a box full of discounted women's tees (psssh)... sure I shouldn't have to be such a chicken... and it's not like I'll be judged or anything... but maybe it was best that the world didn't have to divide and categorise clothing into male & female. Imagine that. A world where all clothes were labelled as unisex... think about it. Just think about it. Until then, I'll just... you know... try to tear down that imaginary wall...

However, there is also the dark side to this story. I would say "For every cloud there is a silver lining" (but I realise I got that quote all wrong... I always thought it was the silver lining that was dark part... not the clouds... for I love clouds...) but since that won't work let's just forget about quoting a saying altogether. As much as the Chups are beautiful, and if you're like me, a student, poor, and in saving up mode....... then... ohhhh boyyyy... they were $35 a pair... Instant. Heartbreak. Mind you, it's worth it ... it's reallly worth it... but unless you're happy to add that into my inventory, I think for now... (Yep, time to face the music) I'm not ready to splurge.

Storytime & Showcase: I Want My Hat Back

I First heard about this book through Kinokuniya's Facebook when it was first released. The moment I had set my eyes on the book (via internet) I knew that it was going to be something. And I was right. I mean how amusing is the title? I WANT MY HAT BACK is a twisted kind of picture book with a story so absurd (a good kind of absurd) purely because of its raw simplicity. It made me chuckle and smile out loud because of its damn-straight tone and seriously unexpected but oh-so-right ending. I don't think I've ever laughed or been this amused by a picture book, on its first read that is, before - so it's pretty special. I won't spoil the ending because it's worth having that experience for yourself. I think I also have a bias for things with negative spaces and minimal design - and Jon Klassen does this well so it naturally won me over almost immediately. There's also a nice rhythm set up by Klassen that draws you into the story through his writing & typography. Unfortunately I WANT MY HAT BACK is not part of my collection yet... but trust me it will be. 

Another thing to note is the illustrations of Jon Klassen (Again I suggest you go have a look for yourself) since his works don't just stop at this picture book but extend to other formats such as animation and a range of other publications. His works incorporates both hand and digital techniques: he creates hand generated textures using a range of media usually gouache, acrylics or inks and then digitally edits and assembles them into amazing works of art. I'm also pretty amused with his sense of humour - his website Bursts of Beaden is a 'spoonerism' (only just discovered what you call these types of phrases) on Beasts of Burden. There is only thing I can say. Absolute. Genius. 

Klassen's Workspace:

And I'm also pretty excited as I hear Klassen will be releasing ANOTHER picture book somewhere during October (too far away...) But already I'm amused.

Hello Storytime

This is the first post of my Storytime series of post. It shall be all things picture books and seeing that I've started to accumulate a collection of my own  I figured it was time to do some sharing.

Bookstores are my little escape. It's the place you'll find me when I need to treat myself. I go there whenever I feel like I need a break from the world and when I find myself sighing just a little too much. Not saying that I only go there when I'm on a low - I love the space just as much when I'm feeling brighter. I always ponder around the children's section of bookstores excited by the prospect of finding a surprise among the waves of picture books whether it be a trip down memory lane, a simple laugh, or something extraordinary deep for something that's in the so called children's section. This is perhaps what takes me into awe and wonder in these supposedly naive corner of the bookstore; there are actually things for people of all ages - not only for kids. These, however, don't always explicitly show themselves. You have to find them. And its the search that makes them so special.

/Ham 

So I made my first online purchase...

... and it looked a little something like this:

 (Yes I couldn't resist I just had to PRTSC)

Let's hope I don't suffer from the Pringle effect

Dreams & Discoveries: Eat Your Colours

Somehow I feel like the world knows exactly what I'm thinking and every time I dream up a little project or think up a little thought, my idea, still unborn in my end of the world, will somehow sprout up before me into the real world. It's a little stalkerish in a psychic sort of way... I mean I've had Frankie read my mind countless of times, where they'll feature articles and segments which were completely in-tuned with my thinking during the time (and to think they plan their issues 4 months before its release! How bizarre is that?). Let me put it into perspective:

Me: *Thought about how we're so dependent on plastic. Realised how it's everywhere in everything we use. Thought about whether one can live without it* Frankie: *30 days feature: 30 days without plastic*
Me: *Being a hoarder myself, friend linked me to A Collection A Day blog*Frankie: *Features A Collection A Day Blog*
Me: *Reflected on recent event of being asked "Where are you from". Thought about the strangeness and awkwardness of the question and being unsure on how to tackle it* (needtorambleaboutthisinanearfuturepost)Frankie: *Everyone Has A Story feature: (first line) "A lot of people ask me where I'm from..."*

I could go on but I realise I'm going on a tangent...

Anyways, so recently I dreamt up this campaign idea I wanted to call Eat Your Colours which basically promotes eating a variety of Fruit and Vegetables but in an artistic & visual way. I imagined a colour palette of fruits & vegetables arranged in classic rainbow colour wheel style, gradients of ripening fruit, and architectural cross sections of apples & pears all in fashion of minimal overhead photographs which embraced the colour and natural forms of my beautiful plant friends. Of course there's a lot more researching, planning and experimentation that needs to happen before I'm able to make it happen but for today I was pleasantly surprised with a new discovery that popped up on my Facebook feed via Anthology Magazine:

Absolutely genius edible piece of concept "Pantone Tarts" by French food designer Emilie De Griottes!

It got me so inspired - this was almost exactly the kind of thing I was aiming for in my future dream project. Even though the Pantone Tarts weren't exactly for promoting healthy colourful eating it certainly hit the spot for me on incorporating habits of the world of design into the context of food. I'll probably feature all the wonderful food/art/design discoveries on the blog section for my future dream website.

There's actually a lot of amazing things happening with the intersection of Food, Art and Design. I'm hoping to make another blog (another blog? what?) dedicated to this and share with you all the wonderful discoveries I've made during the past few years. I'm really excited for this actually... and it seems like things like these keep on coming!

I've decided to put the update on whatI'vebeenuptoforthelasttwoyears on hold and leave all that's been done & done behind for now and move on to more exciting things. I'm pretty much an inconsistent blogger and inconsistent-almost-everything but there have been some exciting ideas swirling in my head waiting for an exit into the real world... who knows if they'll survive? All I know is that I really need to start giving them a chance to be born and hopefullly, they'll grow into something magical ... otherwise they'll die from being forgotten. How lonely would that be.

Anyways, this post won't have anything... I just felt the need to post something ANYTHING just so that I can start a fresh page again without being bogged down from having to dig out my past AND just so that I feel like I've finally started a new beginning particularly in time with the very warm & rainy welcoming of Uni, March and Autumn.

Although, there is probably one thing I'd like to mention, which issss my excitement for the design subject I'm undertaking this semester which requires me to do almost-all things magazine related! I've actually been meaning to do this for a while now and post up some magical discoveries in the world of magazines I've come across.. so this is pretty much the perfect time + opportunity to start this, seeing as magazine hunting & gathering will delightedly be part of the process anyways! A March of Magazines shall it be? Sure. Why not.

/Ham