TiLT:: It's All Black and White

I've been saving a lot of black and white items in my favorites on Etsy, so I thought I'd share a few with you:

1. These tarot cards are awesome, the intricacy of this pack is amazing. I love tarot cards even though I don't believe in them and I have a deck as well. I like the idea of an artist creating their own, though.
2. Glass beads with black and white swirls! They're really mesmerizing, for some reason. My sister is a glassblower so she probably knows how to make these.
3. Check out this ring by MisanthropyCreations. This store is one of my favorites and I highly recommend that you go check out their stuff! I might do a TiLT specializing in this store soon, because so many of their items are my favorite!
4. This is a wedding gown and I do know that. However look at it! The black and white stand out so perfectly against each other.
5. I've been ogling this coat for a long time, but I don't think I'll ever be able to afford it. The lace underneath is so cute. You could probably wear this alone as a dress, even! High fashion but low effort, that's my style.
6. This is another store that often has cute things. This collar is awesome and can be thrown on top of anything! So much versatility.
7. More wedding things... I have no clue why I often find myself in the wedding section of Etsy. They're save the date invites in a comic style! Perfect use of black and white.
8. Finally, I present the number one favorite. This blazer is so cool, but not my size. How I wish it was! The black cuffs are really what make it for me. And you can wear it on top of practically anything and look effortlessly put together. Props to the person who modeled it for wearing a Jane Birkin shirt, too.

I haven't done this for a while! I forgot how much I loved to put together collections. Black and white looks great for an all neutral look, with other black and white patterns, or even with a couple of pops of color! I like it because it can be worn in 21908983 different ways. You could style the same black dress with sneakers and go to school, with flats and go to work, with heels and go out, with cowboy boots and go on a picnic... the possibilities are endless if you have a good set of accessories at hand!
<3 Linda

TiLT (Part 2): Giving Thanks For...

• Having amazing friends who enjoy my presence and are willing to pick me up when I'm not doing so well. (This was the day that I played improv and a random girl told me I was a "bad partner". Conclusion: I'm not going to play improv for a while.)
• Having an awesome family that's going to drive down to see me tomorrow. I haven't seen them in ages. It will be nice. (I'm only saying this because they read this blog... JUST KIDDING! Sort of. :P)
• Having festive roommates who decorate our room for Christmas a month early.
• The wonderful, slightly chilly weather that has finally graced Los Angeles.
• The extra days to catch up on homework... I mean...

I'm just--- really thankful. In general. To life, for having worked things out in such a way that I can for once be content and not extremely anxious about things going on. I would say more but I only had a chance to write this at 4 in the morning, so my brain is pretty darn kaput. Happy Thanksgiving!
<3 Linda

TiLT: Too-Cute Tea Infusers!

I've always used tea bags for my tea, but loose-leaf tea is so much cheaper! You can buy it in large bags instead of buying teeny boxes of tea bags. To steep the tea, you need a tea infuser. And that's where these babies come in! They're so adorable. I feel like there's a huge gap for creating a business out there for creative tea infusers. Here are some of my favorites and where you can buy them:

1. These fruity tea infusers look so colorful and happy together, I like it!
2. This seashell one is meant to be a wedding favor, but seeing as how there's no wedding in my near future, I would probably end up buying this for myself!
3. This shark one is so cute because it floats on top of the water, making it darker and darker until you can only see the shark fin poking out! Innovative, huh?
4. I found this monkey one on EBay. The way it's supposed to hang off the sides of your cup is genius!
5. Tea-ception.
6. The rubber ducky idea is similar to the shark fin idea... but it has the added bonus of being a fun toy on the side! Not that you'd want to take it into the bath with you or anything... (Can you say tea bath? And yes, those do exist!)
7. Playing off the idea of dipping something underwater, this scuba diver silicone tea infuser is pretty well-thought out. I like how large his head is in proportion to his body!
8. Finally, the one that started the search for the best tea infuser on the internet: This candy cane tea infuser from Modcloth. It's coming out soon! I can't wait. I love how it hangs off the side of the cup :)

I mean, really. Now that the holidays are coming up, you're probably going to be looking for gifts. And what better thing to get a tea-lover?!
<3 Linda
PS. Confession time: Oh no... I'm a day off! I wrote this post yesterday, but didn't get to send it out, and that's why it's a "Things I Love Tuesday" post. Sorry!

Things I Love Thursday: Houndstooth

Houndstooth is a bold pattern that only the stylistically brave can wear. I've loved it for a long time, it's probably the first pattern that I desperately wanted but could never find. I dreamed of days when I could wear a cute houndstooth trench coat... maybe one day it'll happen! I have to say, I'm still in love with houndstooth, even though I have no idea about whether or not it's considered trendy by other people. Check out these ones from Etsy...

1. Multicolor Houndstooth iPhone by PencilShavingsPaper

2. Houndstooth Cowl Neck Warmer by levicp11

3. Ava Black and White Houndstooth Halter Bikini Top by FablesbyBarrie

4. Stuffed Animal Cat Upcycled by Sweetpoppycat

5. Bowtie Adjustable 2-Layer Gray and Red/ Black Houndstooth by AmandaJoHandmade 

6. Purple and Black Houndstooth Toddler Sundress by StellarCheri

7. Blythe- It's an Illusion Dress by Treizieme

8. Decorative Designer Pillow Cover by Nenavon

Middle: Houndstooth Mega Paper Pack by SheryKDesigns.

<3 Linda

Things I Love Tuesday: Art Techniques

Being an art history major, I find myself drawn to (har har) the different ways that people can draw and paint an object. One artist can look at an apple and paint it with a veristic mood, while the other can create a more surreal image of the same apple. I have no idea why I'm rambling about apples. Anyway, here are just a few of my favorite techniques:

1. Stippling (using dots in one color) and pointillism (creating dots in many colors, with a more Impressionistic style from stippling). I'm lumping these two together because they're both equally amazing and similar in style. Recognize that man on the right?

2. The Human Printer: Taking stippling and multiplying the insanity by 100 percent. It's ridiculous! I know this isn't an established "technique", but when I saw the artists' tedious process, I fell in love with it. They slowly dot the piece just like an actual printer would, using only CMYK tones.

3. "The Droste Effect" is one that many of us have known and probably even done before without even knowing that it had a name. It's a picture in a picture in a picture in a... well, you get it. It's a great optical illusion that reminds me of nesting dolls. The effect is named after Droste's packaging-- I don't know about their cocoa, but their chocolate is delicieux!

4. Trompe-l'œil is the love child of realism and optical illusion. The paintings are so real that sometimes, you can't even tell what's real and what's fake! I'm still staring at the painting on the left trying to figure out which parts have been painted.... It's also useful when you want to create space in a small room. Recently I've seen it being used by 3D sidewalk chalk artists, it's ridiculously good!

This post has gone on for far too long, so I'm going to stop here. Click through each picture for the source, and to see them in full size. Which is your favorite? :)
<3 Linda

Things I Love Thursday: Online Comic Strips

I will be the first to admit that I'm not much of a comics person. Or manga person. Or anything like that... That is, until about a year ago, when I discovered certain online comic sites, most of which were created by artists just trying to get by on doing what they love. Since then...well, I'm still not a comics person. But these are my exceptions (in no particular order)!

1. Cat vs Human is my favorite of them all. Crazy cat ladies can definitely relate to the artist, Yasmine! All of her comics are cat-related, and mainly about her struggles and joy of living with cats. She's hilarious, too.

2. Stuff No One Told Me (But I Learned Anyway), abbreviated snotm (charming, I know) is all about lessons. Sometimes they're funny, sometimes they're serious, and almost all of the time, they're just downright true. The blog was created by Alex Noreiga, a freelance illustrator who started it when he felt himself falling into a rut at work and wanted to do something about it. He also has another blog called Your Mother Likes It, because...well, she does.

3. Everydaypants, as mentioned in this week's Weekly Positivity post, is a new find of mine. The artist, Ramsey Beyer, writes stuff about life and self-discovery. What stood out to me the most, however, was her honesty. And you can definitely tell when someone is speaking their mind versus when they're just trying to get a comic out for a commission. Her illustrations are obviously the former!

4. Everyday Cute is the originator of Pusheen, the web's most beloved internet cat. They just recently switched over to Tumblr, but you can still see their old comics by clicking the link on the sidebar. There is something ever so mesmerizing about all the simultaneously pulsating GIFs. And now they have non-Pusheen things too! My favorite new thing has been the Fuzzy Potter series. Kittendor-- Seriously?!

5. Adventures of an Asian-American Girl is a new blog started by my friend, Yannan, who is also a Producer for my theatre group for the upcoming year! She's really talented, and she's just begun to post, so show her some love, will you?


I guess the cat-related ones are the equivalent of ogling at cat videos on Youtube. But then again, I do that too. So...
<3 Linda

Things I Love Tuesday: Pastels

"TiLT" and "Craving For..." are extremely similar, so I decided to get rid of "Craving For..." altogether. I love love love pastel shades. Something about them makes me smile and feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. The only time that we really get to see these lovely colors are during wedding events and on Easter, which is a shame.

My favorite pastel finds on Etsy:
1. Pastel Colors Oxford Flats by GoldenPonies. These shoes, as well as the rest of the items in their shop, are amazing. They have really good reviews too, and aren't even that expensive for handmade!
2. Spring Unicorn- Pastel Rainbow by DragonsandBeasties. This is my absolute favorite out of all of them by miles! This little unicorn made out of polymer clay is too adorable for words.
3. 7 Box Baby Cameras by GirliePains. First of all, these are under five dollars. Second of all, they're partially DIY, because they're printables! Gotta love it. I really admire people who paper craft, and want to try it as soon as I get the time.
4. Pastel Blue and Purple Striped Skirt by Pinkiepiexo. This girl's shop is pretty much the culmination of all my childhood dreams come to life. It's perfect for anyone who loves over-the-top cutesy things! This skirt seems easy to wear too.
5. Vintage Toy Photographs Vintage Stacked Suitcases Pastel by Wavyshell. It is part of a set of five photographs. This print is nice for someone looking for a pop of color. I wish I had those suitcases in real life, they would look lovely as home decor!
6. Travel Art, New York Watercolor, Chrysler Building by SketchAway. There's something about sketches that really gets me. It's almost like you can see the artist's process and imagine them standing there, sketching away as they glance at the cityscape. And, of course (as you can tell from my last post) I'm crazy about watercolor right now. Perfection.

I guess it's time to start breaking out the pastels, because they need to become more popular!
<3 Linda

Things I Love Thursday: Glasses

Seeing as how I have to go get my eyes checked out today, I figured today's TiLT should be dedicated to all of my four-eyed friends (I mean that in a good way! After all, I am one of you).

Here are some glasses that I've been loving recently... oh, and a face shape chart as well! Remember, balance is the key to scoring a great pair of glasses that suit your face. 

What does it all equal? One happy lady!
1. Ray-Bans RX5242. How cute are these? I'm leaning towards this style the most.
2. DViations D22014. Classy with a hint of classic.
3. Anne Klein NY AK9108. Perfect for today's intelligent woman.
4. Essential EN3674. Large frames to open up the face, in a funky shape! Love.

Why do none of these glasses have proper names? Lame!
<3 Linda

Things I Love Thursday: Animal Videos!

One of the best things on the internet: Cute animals doing cute things. Here are my top 5 this week:

5. Everyone loves cute little dogs, right? Well, here's a video of a mini dachshund puppy. That's like three times the tiny-ness! I love how the little thing jumps about. Too cute.

4. This chihuahua is hilarious. Mainly for his teeny legs, his sporadic neck movements, and the fact that he looks exactly like my best friend's dog.

3. Last one for the dog lovers. This is probably the video that made everyone go crazy over French bulldogs (including myself).

2. Maybe our fascination with these animals is because they're just so little that you can squish them! Baby bunnies are so cute... it makes me think about Niblet, my friend's secret bunny. :(

1. If you haven't watched this video yet, shame on you. And of course my top one would be a cat! I'm a little bit partial, even though I play the fence most of the time.

Happy squeeing!
<3 Linda 

Things I Love Tuesday: Christmas in July?!

Haha, just kidding. I just thought now would be a better time than ever to do a picture post of my Christmas wishlist!

1.  This Wacom tablet. (Yeah yeah, I know I've been going on about tablets.)

2. The Feeding the Swans dress from Modcloth. I hope lace never goes out of style! And those eyelets! And that collar! And those pleats! And that pink! ...Okay, going to stop rambling now. All I have to say is that this is the perfect dress, I'm so happy that it was chosen!

3. Brooches. Come on now, these ones by Hanaletters are adorable! I collect brooches, because you can wear them with almost anything, and put them almost anywhere!

4. A fair isle poncho. I haven't tried knitting fair isle myself, but I love the way it looks. And ponchos are personal to me because it's an alternative to draping a blanket around myself (which I love to do at home!). This capelet pattern is from Ravelry, so if you're interested, buy it and try it out!

5. These Sheer Pinstriped Thigh Highs with Bows from Sockdreams. I have been eyeing them for who-knows-how-long. They remind me of something you'd see in Moulin Rouge or Chicago and definitely have an old-time flair about them!

6. A black faux leather jacket. It's chic but not too dramatic. This Black Faux Snakeskin Suede Biker Jacket from Topshop would be amazing, it it were only in my size! I don't support wearing leather for ethical reasons, but if it's fake, I don't mind. Here's a cheaper alternative from Wetseal that I've also been contemplating.

That's just a bit of my huge wishlist! I'm an avid window-shopper, so I highly doubt any of these will be mine come December. But it's good to dream!

What do you have on your wishlist?
<3 Linda

Things I Love Tuesday: Museums

I'm such a big fan of museums and collections, since they can be anything from weird and wacky, to clean and modern. Next quarter, I'm even taking a museum studies course! I'm majoring in Art History in the hope of working in an art museum someday. Here are just a few museums that I have yet to visit (but would love to!):

Source: Sizuken's Flickr

1. The Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan. It combines nature and sculpture to create a unique experience.

Source: Marvin's Museum Website

2. Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Michigan, US. It has everything from coin-operated games to vintage fans, and is sure to be an interesting visit.

Source: LittleBrumble

3. The 3D Center of Art and Photography in Oregon, US. An interactive museum with special 3D screenings, classes where you can learn to make 3D images, and even portions dedicated to ViewMaster® toys, remember those?

Source: Busy Beaver Button Co

4. Busy Beaver Button Co. in Illinois, US. It's the only known pin-back button museum! I remember loving pinning these to my backpack in high school. It looks like it's really cutely displayed.

5. The Youngtown Rock and Roll Museum in Ontario, Canada. Its focus is the 1950s to 1970s, which happens to be most of my favorite music to listen to. They have a Beatles exhibit (!!!) as well as a Neil Young one, and so much more.

There are way more that I like, but I think I'll break it off and do another post on museums later! So many of these museums are free to the public; more people should go! I'd love to do a museum road-trip sometime. It would be a nice adventure, I think!

<3 Linda

Things I Love Tuesday: Books

Hello everyone! Not every T.I.L.T. of mine is going to be themed, but I found so many book-related things that I like that I decided to throw them all into a single post!

1. Shelfari is a great site if you want to keep track of which books you've read, are reading, and plan to read in the future. How many times have you been in the middle of a book when you suddenly realize that you've read the book before? It's sometimes really hard to keep track of which books I've read, so I like to use Shelfari to keep my affairs in order. My account's private for the most part, but you can also use the site to socialize and find people who have similar reading tastes, as well as to write reviews about books you loved or hated. I also like it because I can properly answer the question, "What are some of your favorite books?" by just pulling it up from the website.

2. Woody Allen shares his top 5 books. #1 does not surprise me at all. A lot of people list it as their favorite book, but I have yet to read it!

3. Literature.org is officially my favorite summer site. It has several classics online, including my go-to book, The Count of Monte Cristo. I love the look and feel of a real book, but since I spend a lot of time online, it's convenient and easy to access. I like that each chapter has its own link; that way I can pace myself and have a goal of steadily reading a chapter a day. Keeping it to this schedule works out great if you have little time on your hands! That way you can prevent yourself from being sucked into a book for hours on end, shirking everything you need to do (which I admit, I have been guilty of!). I recently used this website to read the classic, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and loved the book's wordplay. Let me know if you've read it before!

4. This image (created by Poorlydrawnlines) always makes me giggle! I remain undecided on the issue.

5. The next few things on my reading list: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock and The Wasteland, both by T. S. Eliot. I also plan on reading Labyrinths, if I can get my hands on a copy. Daniel Radcliffe recently recommended it in an issue of Oprah, and this excerpt immediately caught my interest:

[In] "The Library of Babel" ("Borges proves that if you can write a story in ten pages, it doesn't need to be any longer"), he imagines an infinite library filled with every book written, not yet written, and every combination of words and letters in between. "The premise is that contained somewhere in these books is the meaning of life. So cults develop that walk through the library searching for it. The fact that Borges could start with such an idea—an infinite library, what would that involve?—and then take it to a logical conclusion is remarkable."

An infinite library? Sounds good to me. 

What are you planning to read this summer?

<3 Linda

Things I Love Tuesday

An intro since it's my first time: This will be a random set of links, pictures, videos, or audio.... Anything, really! Whatever tickles my fancy.

This time I'm going to stick to just one, and give you the names of some of my absolute favorite bloggers!


First up, we have The Dainty Squid! Kaylah's blog is actually the first blog that I started following a couple of years ago, even though I didn't have a Blogger. I had found her Flickr first, and then her Etsy shop, and finally her blog. I love her obsession with kitties, her beautiful craft room(s), her ever-changing hair, and her kitschy style! She likes thrifting and looking for mushrooms too, I love reading about her adventures! Plus, she's painfully shy, like myself, so when she pushes herself it inspires me too.

Elsie's blog is next. I like her style, as well! She has such a positive take on life. I met her at Renegade Craft Fair 2010, but I highly doubt she remembers me. She's my inspiration because she's such a hard worker, always able to cram things in and push herself. I have no idea how she does so much in one day. She's gone a long way, and even has her own boutique now! I started reading her blog soon after I started reading Kaylah's, because she had a link to Elsie's on her page. She recently got married, too! I thought her wedding was adorable.

Here's Nancy's blog, a recent obsession of mine. She has the best style! I love how she's always on the lookout for the latest fashion trends. She even likes vintage. Harvey (her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) is too cute! Her portfolio is amazing too. Check her out if you have any extra time, it'll be worth it! I can't believe I fell in love with a blog that quickly, but she posts some really interesting stuff!

Silje's blog is another great read. I started reading her blog soon after I started reading Elsie's, since they were both involved with Red Velvet Art at the time. Silje's obsession for makeup, paint, and yarn made me interested. I love her little chihuahua too! She makes the most adorable paintings of pets, as well as other things. I envy her knitting skills. She's also a tattoo artist, and I find it really lovely to read about what she gets up to while working!

Lastly, we have Gala's blog. She lives in New York and is living the dream! Her life is filled with whimsy, and she's created it all herself, which I really admire. She's always up to something or the other, in terms of projects. She also shows snippets of her own life, like what it was like to meet Betsey Johnson, for example! More than anything, I like her positivity; she's always looking up and encouraging others to do so as well.


And there you have it, folks! I can't believe I ended up writing so much. Anyway, check them all out. If you couldn't tell from my rambling, they're fabulous and really inspiring. I read their blogs (mostly) everyday to keep positive and to get inspiration to do something wonderfully creative with my life. There are many more that I also read, but perhaps I will save that for another post!

What are some of your favorite blogs?
<3 Linda