Where Birds Don't Fly

Where birds don't fly, that's where I'm going to be and if you see I'm back the very next day, that is not me. Where I'm going, there are no streets but I'll be walking the streets of my hometown
(Club 8- Where Birds Don't Fly)

*****

As I promised before, I'm home bringing a lot of stories and photos. Unfortunately, a little accident happened and all I have left are 15 photos out of 80. The rest remain a history. We've tried a lot of recovery programs but nothing works yet, sadly. Only the photos of my favorite contemplating spot of the master bedroom and the walk-in closet survived. The photo of the trip, the house, the pretty little spots~ all, as good as gone! Puff..

So, once again, the only reason I love this trip was the presence of my beloved. I never really like the city, but my beloved is a real city boy and he loooove being there. We stayed at my uncle's penthouse, the only place I can call home there. My uncle is leaving the country for a few months now, preparing to move to his dream country. So, the apartment is completely ours!

Yeay!

*****

*****

Day 1

As soon as we arrived, we're heading to our favorite location: Kemang. I set my eyes on the Fish and Chips store that is said to be the best one in the city and Dito is heading straight to Aksara after lunch. Unluckily, we couldn't find the fish and chip shop, grabbed burger and macaroons instead at La Codefin. After an hour or so at Aksara, we went to Tika's resto: Kedai, and I love it a lot! I mean, it's all retro and stuff, but the vibe is totally friendly. Since I was still suffering from an asthma attack, we soon heading back home, took a nice bath, and enjoy casual dinner in the mall nearby. Later that night, friends stop by at our place and end the night nicely.

Day 2

I got a new haircut and face acupressure for the sake of the interview I'll be having the next day. We also spend the day shopping for storybooks at Kinokuniya and having sushi feast at Sushi Tei with some friends. Definitely the best sushi ever!

Day 3

Day 3 is the interview day. It went well, but right after the interview, I got terrified once again. It's a big step I'm taking, not just a baby step. I'm having the interview to move to the city I don't even like yet, leaving all the things I've started behind. So, in the midst of the fancy crowd in Grand Indonesia, I keep crying on his shoulder~ completely terrified. Even the fact that I finally found the fish and chips store (in front of Wimo Kemang), and the nice martini sip at Birdcage didn't heal. Later that night, Dito and I had this long conversation over delicious night tea and all is fine again. One of the best parts of the trip is that we had tea for two, twice a day with nice city view and warm conversation.

Day 4

At the last day, I keep my immature stupid praying that they wouldn't call me back again~ seizing me from my wonderland, take me away to the real world. But, a girl must grow up. That is the fact us girls realized years ago. Big girl just won't cry over such a life improvement, right? So, we're happily fly back home after a memorable lunch at the prettily quaint Nanny's Pavillion at the front mall. Who would guess that the call later that evening would change all the happy vibe I'm having?

*****

*****

So, later that evening, I got called again that force me to fly back-and-forth two days in a row. It was crazy. At day 5, I went back to Jakarta, all by myself after a non-stop cry from the previous day. At day 6, I took a 22 hours road trip home from Jakarta to Jogja (which was a total relief, and the view was magnificent, and the feeling of heading home is irreplaceable).

Since then, I enjoy each day home as if it was the last. The breeze, the togetherness, the blue sky, the green grass, the friendly smiles, the priceless happiness, and all. Until today, I am still not so sure whether I should go back there and grow up responsibly or keep doing whatever I've started here. And no matter which one would go my way, I'll face it head up and happily. Would I still be chasing for the blue bird that gives me simple little happiness, or will I finally be the black bird that flies high? I don't know yet. I'm still at the place where birds don't fly now.

*****

******

Miy
Little White Dress / a.k.k.u
Purple Necklace / Thrifted
Purple Shoes / Chrysalis

Photographed by Dito Yuwono

A Baby Step

(source: here)

Quick and (might be or might not be) insignificant post! ;p

*****

So, I was researching about stuff and writing about this and that for my blog, really. I was planning to post them this week. There is also a stock of outfit photo session with my picnic pal coming up very soon.. but.. schedule changed!

I just got a call from the real world- offering a real job, not so sure yet whether I'll be actually allowed to enter the door or not.. but, I need to take the baby step. Remember how I used to get bored really easily in my town house and shop a lot because of that? (read: here) Yeep.. I made another try and that's why a baby step is needed. Tomorrow morning, I'm going back to Jakarta. I'll bring you as much outfit photo and stories as I can take. :D

*****

Wish me all the best, Loveliest..

(source: here)

Woohooo..It's Time for Giveaway!

Cupcakes, as I promised on my previous post (here and here).. May present to you: my blog's anniversary giveaway! Here they are:

*****

The Flying Butterfly

(a high-quality handmade necklace from House of Beads by Sondy Garcia, her works are my personal favorite when it comes to costume jewelry.. This necklace is such a sweetheart.. it looks like flying butterfly that leaves trail behind when you wear it)

*****

The Key to Secreto Land

(Remember my long post about The Clandestine Sister? Yeep..this is the key of the Secreto Land on that tale. Owned by the Gatekeeper. Hopefully it can take you to your dreamland too.. This is also a sweet gift from dear Sondy, so I present this necklace on her behalf. ;)

*****

The Creamy White Shoes

(I own this shoes for years but I never wore it. Turns out that this shoes are way too big for me. It's a nice one, but, only opt for this one if your shoes size is 37-38)

*****

To enter the giveaway, post a comment below and this is what you have to do:

1. Choose..
which one is your favorite item out of those three?

2. Tell me..
do you actually read my blog? tell me all about what you think.. I mean, what do you like, what things that you dislike, what is your favorite post for the past one year.. well, tell me all about it, will you?

3. Suggest me..
what should I do to improve my blog? what do you want to read and found here? once again, tell me all that you want, will you?

4. Share..
please share about this giveaway to the world.. you can share it by making a blogpost about this giveaway completed with a link to this blogpost (or simply mention it on your latest post), or share it via Facebook, or simply by Twitter and mention @dreamiy on your tweet. Don't forget to add the link of the post on your comment :)

5. Where..
tell me how and where can I reach you so when you win this giveaway, I'll easily contact you. So, leave me your email address or link to your blog or your twitter. ;)

This giveaway is open for everyone and I'd really love love love to hear from you.. (sometimes I don't really sure that people actually read my blog..) This giveaway is open until the end of this month (May 31, 2010) and I will choose the winner based on their comments. Yes, I'd really read each and everyone's. I'm longing to hear from you..

*smoochies*

The Ladies Parlor: Tea Party and a bit of Shopping

A week has passed and I'm still in my euphoria, but, I promise you this is going to be the last time I mention about my 1st blog anniversary. ;)

So, as I mentioned before, I held two-day celebrations for my blog's 1st anniversary; first, an indoor-picnic tea party on May 1st and second, a fashion bazaar on May 2nd.

*****

The Party

The party brings me back to my 4th birthday party where friends gather in their lovely frocks, and colorful treats are all around. I was so happy happy happy! :D

The party theme is "Indoor Picnic" and as I promised, we're having a picnic under the tree, with all the colorful kite-like flags, and we sat upon the bluest shade of the sky and greenest shade of grass. The meals lay upon a real wood, and there is a room-cave made of delicate pastel-colored chiffon, flowers, and even cooling breeze. There are stacks of story books, fashion coffee-table books, and magazines all around the place.

(Me and Amel in her frocks.. it's a very rare opportunity to see her wearing dress, I'm flattered by her effort of putting on girly dress for my party..)

*****

(Amel is preparing the flowers that are as yellow as my sunshine caramel flan)

*****

My best friend, Amel, helped me preparing the snacks and she made stacks of mouth-watering noodle pizza. It's a ladies-only party, so, as soon as the guesses gathered, Dito left the party and all the girls start taking pictures by themselves. It was superfun and well, chirpy..Girls can be so much like colorful birds that make all those cute sounds sometimes.. Ha! How weird did I sound?

Right after I blew the candle, a sweet friend, Tria, surprisingly played her harmonica and read me poem as a gift. It was so touching I can't help but crying. The party went on and on until the last guess came and some of us spend the night at my house, preparing for tomorrow’s fashion bazaar. Ah, now, let the pictures and videos tell more about the party:

(The cave of pastely chiffon)

*****

(Vita showing the LBoPg 3)

*****

(Reading fairytales)

*****

(The flower girls, my flower crown seem to have its fans)

*****

(with the floral fairies and Sondy)

*****

(the gift-swap with the other bloggers, Thika and Lauretha)

*****

Look to this Day by Kalidasa



Look to this day, for its life
The very life of life
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities
Of your existence

This bliss of growth
The glory of action,
the splendor of achievement.
Are but experiences of me

For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision,
And today well lived,
makes yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope

Look well therefore to this day
Such is the salutation to the ever new dawn.

*****

For the beautiful day at the party, I'd like to thank everyone who helped a lot, I'd be nothing without you. First and foremost, for my loyal friends: Bentar and Dini who helped making the impossible project of LboPG 3 come true, my little sister Nana and her troop: Kiting, Emon, and Fay for helping the party preparation. Dito Yuwono, for the beautiful..really beautiful pictures. Amel, my best friend, for the delicious pizza and photos, and hugs, and supports. Mas Kasno and Mas Cokro. And last but not least, all the pretty guesses: Tria, Vita, Sondy, Kinan, Dee, Intan, Diela, Thika, and Lauretha. Thank you, thank you, thank you for making my day! :D

*smoochies*

(some of the ladies)

*****

The Bazaar

After the party, some girls were staying over at my house, an hour away from Cups where the bazaar was planned. We planned to start the bazaar at 8am, and..surprise..surpriseeee.. we woke up late! Some customers were already come and we haven't even build the tent. How irresponsible of us, yet, it was exciting! All the rush and the effort of making the bazaar look nice in such tight deadline. It was thrilling.

The bazaar was full of flowery dresses from Obi-Obi and Summer Spring, accessories from Sondy Garcia, prettily quaint vintage dresses from KotakPandora, and some of mine. Its nice how Kotak Pandora (translation: Pandora Box) always put the item bought in a colorful box completed with sweet poetry.. Oya, anyone who bought my cloth would also get free cupcakes or caramel flan. ;)

In the middle (and most crowded) time of the bazaar, a heavy rain poured down and we were panic (but gracefully) move the stands from the outside of my Cups to the inside. It was, once again, thrilling.

The day was fun, thanks to Dee and Kiki from Obi-Obi; Vita and Tria from Kotak Pandora; Sondy for making those sweet necklaces and bracelets; and all pretty customers who come over and join my celebration, the girls troop from several high schools, Mayang, Osa and Dini, Cups Hams Club, mbak Lusy from Garasi and friends, new friends, neighbors, other bloggers such as Tika, Fian, and so on. Let's make another Bazaar sometimes, shall we? ;)

*****

Miy
(party)
Skirt / Popperca
White Top / my sister's
Pink Bolero / Orchid Boutique
Flower Crown / I made it myself
Butterfly Necklace / House of Beads by Sondy Garcia

(bazaar)
Green Dress / Summer Spring
White Shoes / from my mom
Necklace / Cheaper-Cheaper

Pre-party day photos taken by Dito Yuwono
Party photos were taken by Amel, Sondy, Vita, Diela
Video by Sondy Garcia

A Year in Wonderland and Counting

And just like that, a year went by as the Picnic Girl. (Happy birthday, my dear alter ego..) Looking back to the wonderful year I passed, this blog is truly my wonderland. I can be whatever and wherever I want to be. Let’s contemplate a little with me and please forgive this potentially long blog post, my dear reader.

*****

May 2009

This is the first time I publish my blog after several months of uncertainty. I didn’t have the gut to publish a so-called-fashion-blog and I started it by posting picnic stories and playing dress up. My first post was “Why Picnic?” a rather shy introduction. My outfit post started with “A Little Picnic upon the Hill” where I’m still too shy to be seen alone and introduce myself as the picnic girl. The photos were taken on one of my favorite picnic spot. It’s heavenly! Next, my first fashion show invitation, “Runway Report: a poetic Dance of Fashion” initiate the blog as a fashion blog. “The Secret Garden” consists of some pictures I took myself when I learn photography and I start to jump into the fairytale. “Embraced by the Soft Orange” is another outfit post where I’m still too shy to be seen. Overall, the may 2009 is more on the nice weather and beautiful scenery, less on me and my outfits.

*****

June 2009

On June, I start to do some shopping as The Picnic Girl. Buying some stuff more for the blog’s need rather than mine. I also learn to shop in the flea market as told in “Recent Buy: Flea Market” post. Previously, I don’t know how to shop in such kind of place. “The Girls inside the Ladies” is another shy post and later considered irrelevant. “Vilual: My First Handmade Necklace” is a onetime project I did, back then I was so sure that I might be able to really design my own jewelry. I shop a lot on beads and utensils; I end up making only this necklace before losing my creative urge. ;p “On the Edge of the Prairie” is one of my favorite post ever, I love the photos, I love the trip, I love the place and the journey was a birthday gift from my dearest to me; I was so happy. “Time Traveling through the Thousand Doors” is another outfit post I took on a trip to neighboring city.

*****

July 2009

“The Little Shoes, Drops, Fru-Fru, and Strawberries” is my first make-believe post I later achieved under ‘daydream’. The white balloon dress is my favorite dress that I keep wearing over and over again. Due to my lack of fashion blogger sense, I forgot to take a full dress photo shot on it. How careless of me.. “The Abandoned Little White House” is about my quaint obsession on abandoned houses which is spreading all over my neighborhood. The photos were taken in one of my happiest moment when I spend a glorious evening walking around happily with my beloved. “Redefining Love and Joy” is another non-outfit-related posting I made, rather irrelevant but I simply like to share.

*****

August 2009

This month was only consist of two outfit post but I consider them my favorite moments. It was when I regularly spend Sunday morning for a happy walk and come up with the magical post of “The Magical Migrating Balloons”. This month, I also found one of the most beautiful spot for a picnic it almost considered legendary in this blog in “The Little House on The Cliff by The Sea”. The place is so beautiful I considered myself died and woke up in heaven. The outfits in these posts weren’t the most stylish ones but the behind the scene ambiences are incomparable.

*****

September 2009

“Recent Buy: Go Vintage” is my first promotional posting for a new-found store, Little Garage. “In Crafting My Fashion Mood” is an outfit post with some daily-life writing on it. It was then when “I’m Addicted to Looklet” and got my first job in fashion as an artistic supervisor for local fashion zine, Blush!

*****

October 2009
-(no photo)-

October is a rather busy month in my real life, you know..work stuff and blablabla.. So I just made a very personal non-fashion-related post about six things that makes me happy “Think Six Happy Thoughts and It Will Lift You to the Air”.

*****

November 2009

I feel more established this month compared to previous months. I start to write “The Muse Series: Audrey Hepburn” that later be my first booklet. I start to write a complementary writing on the muse series by “Steal the Look: Audrey Hepburn”. “[b!] for Blush!” is about the fashion zine I used to work at that got me the privilege in attending an exclusive fashion show that I later wrote in “Runway Report: Jogja Fashion Tendance 2010”. “Where the Sunbeam Choose to Fall” is another favorite outfit post that later be my template for posting fashion-related post. “Recent Buy: a So-Called Plastic Relief” is a shopping review and a little bit about me.

*****

December 2009

December is a month of lists, I made a long post on “The Picnic Girl’s List: Fashion Movies” and “The Picnic Girl’s List: 2009 Fashion Favorites”. This month, I also introduce another project of mine called ‘The Picnic Pal’ where I took picnic photos or themed editorial fashion photos with friend. The first project was with my loyal and most beloved reader, Intan, in “Malila and Pakuna the Little Indian Girls”. There were also an outfit post presenting my daily look on “Black and White Love Affair”.

*****

January 2010

I start the New Year by doing some styling jobs for some photographers, the first was a surrealistic photo of a pregnant lady that can’t be published, and a makeup styling titled “A Smile and Flower Petals”. It seems that my styling job consist of the non-ready-to-wear and more-surrealistic style. I like it that way. “DreaMiy The Picnic Girl’s 2010 Wishlist” is another list I made to welcome the year. “Steal the Look: Heidi and Clara” is a part of steal-the-look and the Picnic Pal project. I love it. There was also a story of me and my beloved on our most memorable road-trip picnic on “A Memorabilia: Snapshot of Serenity”; it was also one of the reason why I named my blog as The Picnic Girl: because I usually dress up for a picnic with my beloved and got lots of photos from that. January is also the launching month for my booklet The Little Book of the Picnic Girl, noted in “Freshly Baked, Grab It Fast”. The first edition is all booked only a few hours after that post is published, and I can’t even believe that! (a nice review of that booklet can be read here) “A Poem for My Almost-Birthday and Getting-Older” noted a bit of panic I had during my 24th birthday and embrace a little child in me.

*****

February 2010

“Celebrating My Day at Cups” noted a bit more about me, my job, my daily life, and my own little café that I just repainted myself. It’s a bit of outfit combined with interior-related post. “Tadaaaaa..”, presenting the printed version of the Little Book of the Picnic Girl. “The Phoenix Transformation” is my first art-meets-fashion project I did for Cemeti Art House and Wasted Project, the full story is published in the Little Book of the Picnic Girl II. “L’Orange” is a pure outfit post about a skirt I remade as an orange-lookalike balloon skirt.

******

March 2010

This month is started by a sweet giveaway from my dear friend, The September Issue DVD. I wrote a posting about it titled “Counting the Bliss”. “Out Now: LBoPG 2” noted the published date of the printed version of LBoPG II. “Picnic on the Darker Side” is a rather unusual look of me in my first animal-printed skirt. “The Rainbow Trail” is my feel-good project inspired by my favorite street artist where I did a little story and making rainbow steps in front of my café. “The Fairy Tea Party and Mr.Palm” is my first long story I madeup for DreaMiy and her miraculous world behind the lens. “Twisting Stems of Resebuds” is a posting on D.I.Y. flower crown making step-by-step.

*****

April 2010

April is one of my most productive months for the past one year. “Challenge Me to Dress Your Favorite Heroine” is my fashion fairytale project for Looklet. “The Darkness in Style” is another styling project for a surrealistic photo concept. “The Tale of Clandestine Sisters” is my first long continuing story I made-up, completed with outfit posts and fashion photos. I consider it as a long magazine fashion editorial I made and it ends (for now) on the fourth story. This month, I also awarded as one of the finalist of ‘10 Most Stylish Onliners’ from Centro and I joined a four-days dreamlike activities concluded in "Shopaholic Dreamland: Centro Fashion Fest". I only got into the big three but I also awarded by a million worth shopping voucher. A party plan is also published for my 1st anniversary of PG this monthtitled "When I Celebrate, I Celebrate Hard".

*****

May 2010

May 1st, I was having a private tea party with fellow bloggers. May 2nd, I hosted a Fashion Bazaar at my little café, and May 3rd is the D-Day of the Picnic Girl Anniversary. These three days events are my celebration of this blog’s 1st anniversary. Yeay. Report of the celebration will be published very soon. ;)

*****

Yes, It’s been a year. I can never thank enough for my dear reader and friends who keep supporting me in this blog.. *hugs and kisses* I’d also like to thank my dearest Dito for all those delicate and beautiful photos he took, and for Bentar Sadani who always behind me in my Little Book of the Picnic Girl projects and all graphic design need. For the next coming year, I wish more people actually read my blog, share my dreamland, and may this blog bring me to any real-life-wonderland.. :D

P.S.: this month I’ll throw giveaways, so, keep updating my blog, follow me if you like, and be prepared to join my giveaway. (I’m having a product photo session for my giveaways now, Darla.. be patient..)

*this post was also printed and published as The Little Book of the Picnic Girl 3*