Sculpture

Yesterday, I went to the "Second Hand Antique Shop" (sort of redundant) in Kamuning Road to buy some reproduction sculpture. I was planning on buying a small sculpture (about a food in height) of two naked bearded men wrestling. One man is holding the other's penis. I saw this sculpture the last time I went there but thought that at P3,000, it is expensive. I was willing to buy it yesterday at that price (or a few hundred less) but it was already sold (though still in display).

I had to settle to buying a reproduction of Michaelangelo's David's bust for P1,400.



Though I think the price is still a bit high, I bought it.

The BF said it looks good.

I am on the hunt for reproduction for classical sculptures (mostly male nudes or semi-nudes). I already have Auguste Rodin's The Thinker. Can't seem to find where to buy these. Antique shops is one but majority of the sculptures in antique shops are either statue of saints, statue of Buddha or statue of women/children painted gold. I want classical statues in marble (or marble finish), stone (or stone finish) or at least silver.

I looked in the internet and found a site (www.talariaenterprise.com) that sells a lot of reproduction sculptures. The prices are reasonable but it is based in the US and the freight and custom charges may more than double the landed cost. Then there's a factory in Bacolor, Pampanga that manufactures statues made of plastic resin but they are an exporter and sells in bulk.

Probably, I'll have to scour antique shops this weekend.

My Blue Jeans

Back in high school (third year), I remember I don't have a pair of jeans at the start of the school year. My wardrobe consists of school uniform, some t-shirts which I wore for out-of-school functions (very few I must say) and some old clothes for home.

When I joined the COLT (Cadet Officer Leadership Training), we were required to go to school every Saturday wearing jeans and white t-shirt. Because I had none, my sister-in-law gave me a pair that belonged to her brother. It is an acid-wash 80s-style jeans (high-waisted that tapers near the bottom). Every Saturday for a few months, I would wear that pair of jeans (and only that since it was my only pair). I was eventually taken out of the program (only 18 or so went on to finish the COLT program and become commissioned officers, the rest of us became NCOs). I don't remember what happened to that pair of jeans. I don't particularly miss it as memories attached to it were not really dear to me (I don't particularly like military and other authoritarian systems. Possibly, it is because my older brother was Corps Commander and my sister was a Company Leader that I joined the training program in the first place).

Today, acid-wash jeans, high-waisted and tapered jeans are soooo out-of-style. I now have several pairs of dark denims (with regular waist and straight-cut or boot-cut). Still that pair of jeans, no matter how many I have will always be memorable (not dearly remembered but remembered none the less). May it rest in peace (whereever it may be and for whatever purpose it is being used right now).

"Top Design"

I'm still not over my "Top Design" phase and still not satisfied with how my apartment looked. Last weekend, I again stayed up most of the night cleaning and rearranging stuff in my house.



The hanging lamp (shaped like a lotus flower) is an IKEA lamp (costing P2,100 in Ikea Makati retailer), the painting I bought in Greenhills a few months ago (I originally planned on buying a painting with blue and green as dominant colors for my bedroom but the allure of the jewel tones and reds made me purchase this). I covered a piece of glass found in the apartment with black sticky paper (I don't know what this is called but it is generally used for lining drawers and cabinets).

I also like some modern metal musician figures I bought from Landmark (I think about P200 each).





The black jars I bought from One Price in Waltermart Makati for P99 each. I just love jars with the metal thingy for lock. I use the three for storing my coffee sachets, coffee stirrers and iced tea powder.

I also added shelf near my refrigerator and used this to store and display my Melaware plates (they would not fit in my dish rack).



I bought the shelf wood from SM, sawed some part off to get the appropriate length. I bought the "terrace" wood from Japan Home Center, drilled holes in the shelf wood and put the "terrace columns" in the holes.

Long before I took these pictures, I realized that something's wrong with the orchid flower. Only upon looking at interior design magazines late last night did I realize that the flower needs to be bent a little (rather than pointing straight up).



Right now, I'm still not satisfied completely with the apartment. I will add another set of shelves near my bedroom door. After completing the living room/kitchen/bedroom floor, I'll be doing the top floor which has the bathroom, a walk-in closet (actually a small room where I put all my clothes) and a roofed outside space for doing laundry and as an additional storage space.

I went to Evangelista last Sunday to look for some stuff that I can use. I found nothing. Most of the items sold there are like really old, or are Victorian in style (which is not my style).

I also went to the antique arcade in Kamuning (near EDSA). I only liked some classical sculptures (head of David by Michaelangelo, a bust of a Roman Emperor or a Greek/Roman god, busts of some other Greek/Roman deities or historical people). I liked a sculpture of two bearded men wrestling but I found it too gay. The men were naked and one guy is holding the other's sizable penis in his hand. Too much of a giveaway.

When doing and reading for my "top design" work, I realized:

1. Interior design is not cheap.
2. Minimizing (or hiding clutter) is the best way to go.
3. Buying small tchotchkes is not a good practice. They clutter a space and makes a small space even seem smaller. Buy select pieces in the appropriate size. As for me, I'll just be saving to buy paintings and sculptures that I like.

This long weekend, I'll be coming back to Ikea Makati (Ikea Kamias is a big disappointment - not too many products sold), going to Dapital arcade (in QC) and probably to Megamall, Greenhills and Tiendesitas.

The "Hottest" Royals

Velvet channel featured a show called on hottest royals today.

Of course, Prince Harry and Prince William are at the top but they're sooo exposed that I lost interest in them.

Among the list are Prince Andrea of Monaco (who I think is HOT). His family is worth more than the Royal Family of UK ($1.2 billion compared to $600 million of the English royal family).

Then there's this prince of Sweden (I forgot the name). Who looks good in some pictures, not in others.

Then there's Prince Azim of Brunei. He hosted a lavish birthday party in London (inviting celebrities and models), he gave a jewellery costing almost $4 million dollar to Mariah Carey, he designs luggage. These, with the way he looks, got my gaydar sounding off. It's ironic that he is called a "playboy prince". Hmmmm.

Project Runway Villains and Favorites

Like any other reality shows, Project Runway has its villains:

Season 1 saw Wendy Pepper (a 40-something mom from Middleburg, Virginia). I think the biggest mistake of Wendy is having a "strategy" that involves feigning closeness with fellow designers and learning their weaknesses in the hope of using those weaknesses later in the show. Had she been in Survivor, that strategy would have worked but hey, this is a reality show that judges based on talent and creativity. It's not surprising that viewers and other contestants detest her. She went on to finish third in the final runway show.

Season 2 saw Santino Rice (a designer from Los Angeles) who has a very strong point of view - in design and attitude. He argued very strongly with Nina Garcia (fashion editor of Elle magazine) on the lingerie collection challenge. His works are edgy but sometimes (especially during the middle of the series) goes beyond the boundary of taste and commercial viability. He went on to finish third in the final runway show (behind Chloe Dao and cutie Daniel Vosovic). I think his biggest mistake is losing his point of view for his collection. He was put there on the top 3 because of his point of view as a fashion designer but he lost so much of his personality in the final show that it was boring. Also, without the rags of clothes in his clothes, the wrong fit of the garments was readily apparent.

Season 3 had Jeffrey Sabelia and Zuleman something. Jeffrey won the show while Zuleman got eliminated in the middle episodes. Jeffrey is not as villainous as Wendy and Santino but I think he lacks tact and patience. Zuleman has a very strong personality which sometimes conflicted with fellow designers.

Season 4 had Christian Siriano. He's the least villainous of all and the most talented (but needs refinement in taste). He won season 4 (which I believe handsome Rami Kashou should have won). Christian is more of annoying and tactless rather than villainous.

Except for Christian, I believe the common thread between these people are the desperation (often coupled with questionable talent) to get to Bryant Park. For Santino and Jeffrey, I understand where they're coming from: Santino had a really bad time as a designer and went serious depression after his collection (prior to Project Runway) bombed. Jeffrey Sabelia was a drug addict in his younger days and is mending his ways. For Wendy, I believe her reason is that she is the oldest among the designers and needs the chance really badly in order to get noticed before her time ends. Still this is no reason not to be nice with other designers.

Of course I also have my favorites: Kara Saun (so talented, impeccable finishing) of season 1; cutie Daniel Vosovic (season 2); humble Mychael Knight (season 3); and handsome Rami Kashou of season 4.

Guys from Project Runway

I've watched Project Runway seasons 1 to 4 and I must say that I am impressed by the designers.

I particularly like two guys: Rami Kashou (season 4) and Daniel Vosovic (season 2). They are cute and talented designers and in my mind, I've already made a scenerio where they are together (like together in a romantic kind of way) and oohh, hot hot hot.



Rami Kashou is a called the master of drapery because he performs clothes with beautiful draping. He was born in Jerusalem to a Jordanian mother (a Ms. Jordan in her time) and I must say that he looks hot.



Daniel Vosovic is an America-born guy (don't know why the surname though). He is talented, young and such a cutie (I have a thing for guys who can pull off a long hair). He is such a talented designer with a refined taste level (unlike Christian Siriano who is young and talented but whose taste needs a little refinement).

Of course, there's Robert Plotkin of season 1:



He's also hot (and straight) but not as talented as the previous two.

Then there's Mario Cadenas:



He's a Venezuelan-born designer (or was he born in America but with Venezuelan roots) who was in season 1 of project runway. He got eliminated early on in the show but he's hot, owing to his Latino roots.

There are other guys who I find worth mentioning: Jack McEnroth (who had to leave the season 4 series because of HIV-inflicted health problems), Daniel Franco (claims to be straight, eliminated in first episode of season 1, went back for season 2 and eliminated but with head held high), and Ricky Lizalde (season 4).

Of course, with a show like Project Runway, it is expected that most of the guys are gay (hello! this is fashion designing) but it's ok. I love the guys just the same.

I'll be starting season 5 this weekend. Who's gonna be the hottie this time?

Household Project

I finally decided not to buy a new table for my apartment. Instead I used my bed table (not sure if that is how it's called but it is used to serve as a table while you are lying in bed), removed its leg (stand) and put it on top of my two old bookcases. I bought some accessories, put curtains in between kitchen and living space and voila! Finally got a new setting.