See Through Antoine's Plastic Lens

And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye. 

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery-

Meet Antoine!

Antoine is the name of this lovely boy I met on a vacation. Antoine is also the name of my favorite author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Now, I name my mini digital lomo camera: Antoine. I hope it can see the world in such a lovely and curious fashion like little Antoine does, and also able to see things clearly with heart just like old Antoine advice. 

Here are what my Antoine sees through the plastic lens and wishes to tell: 

(Once upon a time, Antoine met a lovely girl name Anna and her plastic camera named Yay! We had a day-picnic together and it was such a Yay! day.. ;) )

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 (Another day, Antoine ran into the wild.. met an dear little deer withe the most fabulous antler, huge sausage that grows on a tree, two holy cows sitting on a wall: it must be magic!) 

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(The very same day Antoine got its name, he read this shaman chant in a photography exhibition: "Starless in the sky where I was born, and as I turned into a breeze, I flew down." Right there and then, he knows how he and that little girl born.. on a starless sky, flew down as breeze..)

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From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remember'd;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

-Shakespeare's Henry V, 1598-

(The two picture above were taken in the place where I am now and the two pictures below were taken on a mini trip with Dito beside me. Funny that these four pictures look somehow completing each other while distance keep us apart)

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Photographed by Miy with Antoine

Much Love: Picnic Pal!

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Meet Anna of "Much Love, Anna"~ a sweet soft-spoken girl who continuously ask one of the most important question every week*: What are you loving? 

Simple yet very caring question that leads to anything sweet and warm~ such a conversation starter would lead toward a story of one's life. At least, that's how we start being friends :) 

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I start stalking her blog a long time ago, naturally.. she own this lovely blog full of vintage treasure and beautiful photographs. I was one of her fans and I literally jump on my toes when she first replied my email and link me in her blogroll. We start writing to each other from that on. 

Just a few months ago, I asked her to join the latest project for my magazine: Huff. She said yes and the corresponding continued. Then I find out that she came from the same city as I do and on her Eid Mubarak holiday, we met.  

For sure, she is such a sweetheart, really smart, and having such beautiful vision towards life; also, she's a serious time-framer: she carries three different cameras and literally snapshot everything! Other than being very passionate about art and vintage stuff; she is really tall and pretty.. wonder why she rarely show up in her own blog. With all that pretty vintage dress collection, she really should, don't you think so?

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(Posing all touristy)

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That day, I dragged her to my secret garden for a little picnic with our favorite magazines, vintage toys, toycams, some cookies, hot chocolate, and cheese croquette. Later we explore a bit further to my favorite spot in my hometown, found that Rabbit Lair, and went to visit Papermoon's studio. I was really worried that I might bore her to death, but in the same time, I really wish we had more time to explore more of the most beautiful place here before she's back to Melbourne. Meeting her is like finding an old friend in a new one. 

Now I miss her already.

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(Our favorite magazine: Lula and Frankie!)

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Realize how insecure I was standing beside her with all that height gap, she keeps making this bending-knees position in some photos.. I find that reaaaally cute and caring..lol! But it seriously had to stop, so.. in the next photo~ I climb the fence of that Candy-Candy house I love instead. Hahaha..

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(*) Here's what she wrote about Much Love Monday: 

"Much Love Monday is a weekly blog post series, intended to start off each week with some positivity instead of the typical Monday blues!  To join in Much Love Monday, simply do a blog post that includes a picture of a heart and mention something you love. Then leave a link of your blog post"

How sweet is that, seriously?

Photographed by Dito Yuwono (except the last photo, taken by Anna)

Visit her blog here.

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Hugs,

The Rabbit's Lair

♪ ♫ ♪  All is Love - Karen o and the Kids ♪ ♫ ♪ 

Her name is Love. 

A white rabbit called Love, as fluffy, and gentle.. and just as pure.

..and she has a pretty lair!

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I have a thing with hidden place. I find it necessary and simply whimsical. On and on I'll keep looking for a lair, falling in love with cute little hidden place all over again, and even creating one just to bring back the childhood memory when I used to hid inside my mother's closet and in the attic..just to have a little corner of the world, all for me. 

The day when I found this little hidden gem, I had all these visions inside my head: invite some girls over, have a long talk with the beloved one over a cup of hot chocolate, eating some sandwich and lemonade with childhood besties, put some twinkling little lights inside and camp there.. and the list grows.

Located in my aunty's house, this is actually a growing passionfruit tree that forms a little cave-like hideaway. Someone put a bench and a table made of woods inside this lair.. the same person who own gorgeous Love. Imagine! It's a lair for Love under the Passion-fruit tree. How quirky is that, seriously?

That day, I introduced Anna to Love.. and I made a new friend in the Rabbit's Lair.

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(photos by Anna)

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(photos by Dito)

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Miy

Chiffon Spring Top / Summer and Spring

Scallop Pink Short / Hooked on Flea

Colorful Crocheted Bag / A Gift 

Shoes / Hooked on Flea

Outfit photos by Dito Yuwono

Photos of Love by Anna of Much Love, Anna 

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Magical Papermoon!

♪ ♫ ♪  Papermoon - Ella Fitzgerald ♪ ♫ ♪ 

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Papermoon is a very mean puppet theater. They keep making me cry. Even when they try to be a bit cheerful (like here), they would at least made my tonsil hurts. :'( Last month, I went to their exhibition in Esplanade's tunnel. Even the fact that I've seen the process of making the videos (which is funny and entertaining), being in Singapore with all that stories come alive in front of my eyes; is quite a sad little thing.

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Their exhibition titled "Circus of Life" consist of puppet instalation, drawing, and videos. Visually, it's perfect and detail; just like they always do. Things are so cute, whimsical, magical, and sometime ironic, but never boring.  

When you dig deeper down inside, you'll find a sad story about Singapore senior citizen who are still working so hard in their suposedly 'golden years'; working as can-collector, exhausted-looking janitor, 70 years-old taxi driver, dishwasher lady, and so on. It becomes much more alive when you experience it there, and see how most of the worker cleaning up your restaurant table, driving you to the airport, and the one packing your grocery are elderly that might remind you a little about your beloved gramps back home who's living a comfortable golden years. 

Just like in their very mean performance, Mwathirika (in which I simply can't stop crying my heart out) and also their latest performance Sirdus Karkus; all seem to leave a trace of 'unfair' feeling. Just like this Circus of Life exhibition. At the end of the tunnel, there goes this uneasy giddiness inside your tummy.. some kind of disturbing unfairness. Yes, maybe watching the elder people work hard in Indonesia (especially in local markets and in the rural area) is quite common.. but seeing them here in such a 'made-perfect-country' seem to make the condition, somehow, worse. 

But, hey.. cheer up! 

In Circus of Life, all these elderly leads a happy magical life. They can juggle with their plates, fight vicious flower monster, do some tricks with the cans, and such amazing circus performance (shown in the videos installed between the puppets). Afterall, Papermoon is not that mean.. they are magical and that's why I love them! 

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 Feel the magic while it last! 

The exhibition will still be on display until September 26, 2011 in Esplanade Tunnel. 

Make sure you won't miss it! 

(Read Jakarta Globe's review here)

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(Remember this lady? I once featured her in Picnic Pal. She's mbak Ria, a good friend of mine who's responsible for all the tears and magic from Papermoon Puppet Theater.)

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Follow their blog for latest info. 

They are about to go for road-trip show around US next year. Don't miss it!

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Photographed by Dito Yuwono

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P.S.: mbak Anna of Much Love, Anna just featured me in her lovely blog. Check it out here.(I'll be posting about that picnic story anytime soon)

Hello, Goodbye!

♪ ♫ ♪ Hello Goodbye - The Beatles ♪ ♫ ♪

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Say Hello!

Say hello to new looks of my Lir Shop. It is now filled with more trinkets and curiosities.. and a friend is currently painting on the wall for more surreal feeling. Just wait and see. (I'm so excited!!).. 

Later when you step inside the door of my shop, you'll find yourself in the middle of fantasy garden with little unexpected sweet things floating on the wall. Step a little deeper and you'll find more curiosities with vintage goodies for sale, handmade products, and more little doors begging to be opened before you'll discover a liliput cake shop and asked to take a look inside a looking glass to find a colorful wonderland. 

We open everyday from 10am to 8pm here.

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Wave Goodbye!

And by the time you read this, I was just waving goodbye to my little shop, my city, and my beloved ones back at home. A little goodbye for a while. I will be residing in Bandung from today till the middle of December 2011 to work as a curator assistance in Selasar Sunaryo art space. This is something I'm looking forward to, so, no drama and no tears this time. (Unlike what happened to me vs Jakarta last year) ;) 

Yes, I already miss everything I leave in Jogja, but as my beloved once said, this is once step backward to move three steps forward. Thus, instead of being a cry baby.. I threw a little farewell party (known for my friend as "For-a-while party" and for public as "A Fine Afternoon with Stars and Rabbit"). It's some kind of celebration for my upcoming new phase in life, as well as a gathering with dearest friends. The afternoon was superb, the song were extra sweet, and everything leaves a warm trace of afternoon sun in my heart. 

I am ready for a new adventure. 

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(Stars and Rabbit.. Elda is such a gorgeous lady, eh?)

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(This is when she sang "Melody of You" for me and dito.. sweetness)

Elda wears maxidress from her private Little Garage collection.

We both wear handmade flower crown.

Photographed by Dito Yuwono

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Hugs,