Bijou Bazaar

THE KOOPLES

2011-12-31T00:48:00.000+08:00

No, not a band. But a Parisian-label that delivers impeccable quality and street chic clothing to men and women. Their concept of practicality centers around luxury styling with a bit of rock 'n' roll and street chic. What makes this brand really appealing? It features stylish real life couples, showing the versatility of their brand and how even normal people like us can look effortlessly cool !

Credits: Thefashionistoimages

Are you in love with this brand already? Intriguing, how it all started by the great minds of three brothers. Check out The Kooples and featured couples' 'oh-so-sweet' videos here!

xoxo
millie devotee

The Long Distance Relationship

2011-11-14T16:00:00.003+08:00

A brilliant first try from a group who called themselves "GRIMFILM".

Looking forward to more from them. :o)

Summer Love!

2011-09-08T14:57:00.000+08:00

Bijou Bazaar @ Suara Kami 2011

2011-09-01T21:53:00.002+08:00

17 September 2011 | Stadium Merdeka Kuala Lumpur

Yes! We'll be there too!!!

You don't need to get the tickets to visit the bazaar but to catch the rad line up at the festival, do get your complimentary tickets.

Go to the official website of SuaraKami 2011 –www.suarakami.com.my and go to the “Get Your Tix” tab to fill in your name, NRIC number, email address and number of tickets requested and click submit!

Upon submission, you will be given a unique code number. Print the unique code and bring it along with you at the venue for ticket redemption. Email verification will also be sent to your registered email address.

Ticket redemption details are as follows:

Ticket redemption will begin from Monday, September 12 to Friday, 16th September 2011 at Stadium Merdeka. Ticket counters will be opened daily from 9.00am – 5.00pm September 12 – 16, 2011.

On 17th September, counters will be opened from 9.30am – 12.00pm after which the ticket redemption will be closed. Please bring the unique code and your NRIC card for redemption.

See you soon?

xoxo

MalaysiaKu 2011 Street Festival

2011-08-25T10:34:00.002+08:00

MalaysiaKu 2011 Street Festival | Malaysia Day, 16 September 2011

Bangkung Row, Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar

This Saturday (12.01.2011)

2011-02-08T09:42:00.001+08:00

Mari! Mari! Mari!

Hope to see you there! :o)

Black Hole

2011-01-22T17:19:00.000+08:00

Black Dresses by Theory
Platforms by Miss Me

Happy New Year peeps!

2011-01-01T10:02:00.002+08:00

Sweet December

2010-12-18T12:00:00.004+08:00

Happy weekend peeps!

We know, we know ... we've been M.I.A from the blog world for quite a bit. Fret not, we're still very much around. Just finished sitting in the National Youth Transformation Lab. How did we get there? Apparently, we said something like "the youth doesn't like the government" sometime back left a mark, since they've actually been following Bijou Bazaar. Well, hopefully the implementation would bring real, beneficial change for the youth. Next week it'll be presenting our proposals to the authority.

We're also lining up projects for 2011.

Fingers crossed!

This week has been an exciting week for fellow fashionistas. We started the week off with an intimate Live Fashion/Love Music showcase by Yuna x Maysaa London in the Black Box, MAP of Dutamas, which saw a gathering of beautiful people. :o)

Visit countthethread + sptnkswthrt for images.

If you missed out last Monday, here's a mini documentary collaboration by IkanPaosCollective with Zul Luey of LueyMotionLab and Shah Azman of Motiofixo for Maysaa London, which was shown in the Black Box:

Oh and Facehunter is in town, today between 4 pm - 6 pm, he'll be in Palate Palette for TiC x Facehunter book signing!

Make your way there peeps!

xoxo

Up Next Weekend!

2010-11-13T17:53:00.002+08:00

LomoKids x YUNA

2010-11-02T19:03:00.004+08:00

LomoKids designed the Lomowall for Yuna's Gadis Semasa video clip.

Great collabo, peeps! :o)

xoxo

CSM-ACE 2010 Satellite Event

2010-10-19T04:15:00.001+08:00

In collabo with e-Women Directory team, we are organising a satellite event for CyberSecurity Malaysia's inaugural Cyber Security Malaysia Awards, Conference and Exhibition 2010 as per detailed below:

Cyber Entrepreneurship: Threats & Trends

Date: 25 October 2010 (Monday)
Time: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Plenary Theatre, Level 3
KL Convention Centre

TOPIC & SYNOPSIS

New information technologies have become the source of a new form of entrepreneurship known as cyber entrepreneurship. The cyber entrepreneur creates a firm that is essentially founded upon electronic commerce (e-business start-up), and whose main activities are based on exploiting networks using Internet technologies. In Malaysia, cyber entrepreneurship is still in its emergent phase.

This public workshop is catered for women and young cyber entrepreneurs, especially from the creative industry, to discuss on potentials and perils of Internet and technologies for their brands as well as successful solutions to address related issues on data protection and privacy, as well as social networking and security.

Panel Discussion 1 (Threats)

Time: 11:00 - 12:30
Topic: How Cyber Safe Are You and Your Business?

Synopsis:
The panel discussion will focus on creating awareness amongst cyber entrepreneurs on cyber crime and security issues; social media and cyber crime, brand hijack or identity theft, online banking/transaction precautions, cyber bullying.

Panel Discussion 2 (Trends)

Time: 14:00 - 15:30
Topic: Digital Brands: Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Brand Building on the Internet
Synopsis:

This panel brings together successful entrepreneurs focus on cyber enterprise. The panel discussion will focus on cyber entrepreneurship trends; how established cyber entrepreneurs exploit the Internet to grow their endeavor; branding, social media marketing, e-commerce. Panelists are at a various stages of their business growth, some more advance than others. Of particular interest to the audience will be discussions of the challenges faced through the various stages developing a cyber enterprise, and most importantly how one can overcome such challenges. The panelists will also share insight into the next growth frontiers in cyber enterprise are; shopping 2.0 and how interested parties should position themselves to participate in these opportunities.

Interactive Workshop
Time: 16:00 - 17:30
Topic: Taking on Cyber Threats

Synopsis:
The interactive workshop will focus on empowering entrepreneurs with tips and tools to protect their businesses and themselves from cyber crimes and security issues; social media and cyber crime, brand hijack or identity theft, online banking/transaction precautions, cyber bullying.

To register please call 03.5630.0061 or 03.5630.0062 or email your full name, business name (if available) and mobile number to info@e-women.com.my.

Time to knit, grandma

2010-10-17T05:14:00.001+08:00

Stashed away grandma's presents of knitted sweaters? It's time to rummage your closet for them and get cozy in this classic piece. Pair it with jeggings, military boots and satchel and you are perfect to walk out this fall!

Credits: Justjared, Topshop

Have a great one stylistas!

xoxo,

milliedevotee

The Japanese Popstars Feat. Green Velvet - Let Go

2010-10-02T11:02:00.000+08:00

Love the video + somehow the song is relevant. :op

Have a great weekend, peeps!

xoxo

MalaysiaKU: Celebrating Malaysia Day

2010-09-18T11:18:00.006+08:00

Thank you everyone who made it to Bangkung Row of Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar on 16 September 2010.

You folks made the evening awesome! :o)

We saw Azmyl filming at the Subang Jaya SS 18 Pasar Ramadhan a week before raya + we love the song, so we leave you with "That Okay Song"

True.

A lot has been going on around every corner and sometimes it gets to be too much to deal with. What keeps you going when you feel like throwing in the towel and give up?

We were reminded to think about how beautiful the world can be, the sacrifices that people make so that others can feel wanted and loved. Life is worth going on for if we only had a little more happiness and love thrown into the mix. Maybe when we're down, all we need to do is just one thing for someone else, one beautiful, simple thing that might make someone else's day.

That Effing Show boys somehow echoed the same notion, that ...

Hey, it's okay.
We gotta live for a better day. (Hey!)
Now we give a little a love and we're on our way
Kita kaotim everything, parava-illay

Have a great weekend y'all!

xoxo

Rumah Degil

2010-09-12T20:51:00.001+08:00

Happy Sunday! :o)

xoxo

Bangkung Row

2010-09-11T16:54:00.015+08:00

Turning into Jalan Bangkung, off Jalan Maarof at the Jeumpa D'ramo traffic light junction (a landmark for those familiar with the early days of Bijou Bazaar), just up the road you'll see a row of shophouses perched on your left called Bangkung Row. A hidden jewel, Bangkung Row feels rather secluded, it's like a tucked away sanctuary, albeit just off the busy main road.

Bangkung Row houses a group of restaurants, namely Cava, Opus Bistro, Leonardo's Dining Room & Wine Loft (serves non-halal meat), and their latest addition Four Seas Seafood Grill. During my short interaction with the restaurants, they even lived up to their reputation as having the most obliging and enthusiastic service crew in KL. Well it was only my third visit, yet they surprised me by serving me warm water, when everyone else were served iced water. They remembered that I don't take iced water!

Trivial, but it was just the thing that will seperate them from the rest. Patrons will be impressed with the level of attention that they receive.

A rare gem in Kuala Lumpur, I must say.

Why were we at Bangkung Row?

Yes, yes, getting there. :op

It was actually the Bangkung Row, which mooted the idea for a Malaysia Day Street Festival this Thursday, 16 September 2010. We were only happy to be part of the event, a collaboration with 18 NGOs. There will be Bijou Bazaar vendors on the street with art installations and stage performances. The restaurants will also host mini events by the participating NGOs.

Make a date with us?

Have a great Aidilfitri everyone. :o)

xoxo

Ghost by Ana Raffali

2010-09-04T11:37:00.001+08:00

Felt like listening to it today.

Great weekend, everyone. :o)

xoxo

Hujan Panas by Nadiah Hamzah

2010-09-02T21:08:00.004+08:00

We so love this project by Nadiah Hamzah!

Nadiah is a Masters of Fine Arts (Film & TV) candidate at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. She has written and directed more than four short films; and worked as a cinematographer on 10 others.

In 2010, she was awarded a competitive department fellowship, and interned on the upcoming HBO documentary If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise directed by Oscar-nominated director Spike Lee. Her last short film, Sub Rosa (HD/Color/2009) is also currently traveling the festival circuit.

Hujan Panas (Afternoon Rain), her MFA thesis film, is a 20 minute short film that revolves around Zaki, a Malaysian man, whom for the longest time has dreamed about coming to America. He enrolls himself in a business course and finds himself in New York City – and moving into an apartment with two illegal Indonesian immigrants; Ferdy and Mira, in Flushing, Queens.

As he grapples with the harsh reality of living in the city, he finds himself slowly attracted to Mira. She helps him realize the possibilities of starting life anew – possibilities that are threatened by an impending marriage and his awaited return to Malaysia.

Nadiah Hamzah has been living in New York for three years but have never made a Malaysian film set in this city that she's grown to both love and hate. HUJAN PANAS is definitely her passion project before she leaves New York for good at the end of this year! Currently, her producer and she are putting together an amazing cast and crew for a nice, breezy fall shoot come late this September.

This will also be the first immigrant film to feature a Malaysian as the main character, and the whole film will be shot in Bahasa Melayu/Indonesia.

She's currently raising fund for the filming and she's got 12 days to go to meet the US$ 3,500 target. She's collected a pledge of US$2,605 as of today, which will only be cashed if she meets the target within the given deadline.

If you would like to see the film being made, do help spread the word or be a backer through KickStarter.

We wish Nadiah the very best of luck!

xoxo

Bijou peeps' Artwork

2010-08-31T13:21:00.014+08:00

It's 31 August 2010, Merdeka Day and we received pleasant surprises on our Facebook wall, which had made us go all warm inside. Two Bijou peeps submitted their rad artwork for Bijou Bazaar. We felt like Nylon magazine for a bit there. :op

Owh ... thanks very much, guys!

The first submission was from Iylia Fahmi. If you remember him, he sang at our acoustic sessions several times last year. Our favourite song of his is "Til the End", the one about Facebook love.

Cute song.

Better YouTube it up people. ;o)

The second submission was from Azeem of Juxta Art.

His story was interesting. He first visited Bijou Bazaar in January '09, when we had our Youth '09 installment. Then an architect, he was so inspired by them peeps in the hall, he quit his job to focus on his art + music.

Yup! A musician too, his band is called JuxtaposeD.

Thanks again, guys. :o)

A quick announcement, folks!

We'll be holding a Bijou Bazaar installment in Jalan Bangkung, which is off Jalan Maarof, Bangsar on 16 September 2010 in conjunction with Malaysia Day Street Festival. A project championed by Bangkung Row restaurants in collaboration with 18 NGOs and Bijou Bazaar.

Make a date with us?

xoxo

Zillmann

2010-08-24T18:29:00.000+08:00

Berlin Fashion Week 2010, which was reported as a cracked-out, no-holds-barred fashion spectacle ended last month. Once again, Berlin’s projektGALERIE whips up a batch of stellar fashion-infused events.

projektGALERIE is a showroom, temporary shop, press/PR agency and gallery. It exemplifies tightly concentrated cool that is Berlin. It was through projektGALERIE images that we stumbled upon the rather quirky designs by a young, up and coming fashion designer, Alisa Zillmann. Not surprising given the writer's obsession with hair accessories. Curious about the designer behind the designs, we got in touch with Alisa.

Despite the language barrier, Alisa who just celebrated her birthday last week was easy to get along with. We love her fun, bubbly and childlike cheerfulness. She managed to squeeze in some time to answer our questions, eventhough she's currently tied down with the preparations for her online store to be launched by the end of the month.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm Alisa, a fashion designer based in Berlin. I graduated from Berlin ESMOD School of Fashion in 2005 followed by an internship with Kaviar Gauche. Since, I've worked with Mabelline Jade and projektGALERIE. I'm a fashion stylist for a rather diverse portfolio of fashion labels and actors/actresses. I own a t-shirt label called ZILLE.

I'm currently retailing my designs under the fashion label ZILLMANN in projektGALERIE showroom.

2. Who is your style icon + what do you like about their style?

My personal style icons would definitely be Bridgitte Bardot, Twiggy, Coco Chanel, Gwen Stefani, and some friends. I think that they are just real and brave!

I love women who put an effort to dress up, but with a flair. I just can take the woman seriously, especially those who are authentic.

3. Tell us more about your brand Zillmann + your creation.

ZILLMANN is a fashion label based in Berlin, which is at the moment focused on accessories. The accessories such as exeptional hats and hairbands are primarily made for women, but also intended for extrovert men and boys.

I'm using feathers, rivets and other unusual materials for my fascinators (leather based) and hairbands. Every piece is unique in its own way, because they are handmade. The style is progressive and avant-garde but wearable as well.

Keywords associated with the designs are Native Americans + Pocahontas + Twenties + Thirties + Tomorrow + Birds.

4. What has been the most exciting part/thing to happen since setting up Zillmann?

At the onset, it was a mere experiment of bringing many different materials together to see how they developed into an end product. Since, the requests and interests have been overwhelming.

5. Apart from creating those dramatic hair pieces, what do you do?

I'm also an illustrator and a bartender. You will see them in my fotoshoot. It will also contain personal elements like my first one.

Perhaps I'll be in a band soon too.

6. Who do you want to see wearing your hair pieces?

Cool people with taste.

7. What first made you want to become a designer? What prompted you to set up Zillmann?

I knew, I have to go into arts. I need dramatic and joyful moments in my life but I also need boredom by doing nothing.

I had a lot of jobs in the scene ... I knew its a good time to start ...

8. We understand that your elder brother, Daniel, is the vocalist of the band Straight to the Rabbits. Tell us a bit about him + if his involvement in music has any influence in your design.

And he is also a very good actor and a very good artist.

We're connected by living out our creativity. We've even worked together (I designed their band logo, the embryo bunny) he also wears my hairbands at his concerts.

Luckily, we share a similar style and enjoy our work. Our parents are happy about it.

9. Name your top 5 books, movies, musics + website.

Books:

Haruki Murakami books (I love how he mixes reality and surrealism)

Artists:

Frida Kahlo

Otto Dix

Tamara de Lempicka

and many more

Oh love movies, especially inspiring movies from the 80ies:

Never Ending Story

Back to The Future

Star Wars

Roger Rabbit (I love Jessica Rabbit, I find her inspirational for my art)

and a lot of more

Music:

Florence and The Machine

Gwen Stefani

Kings of Leon

Kate Bush

Janis Joplin

Etta James

music to dance

many more

Of late, I spend a lot of time on my own website and blog:

http://www.alisazillmann.de/

http://eklektikenterprise.blogspot.com/

10. Share with us Berlin's best kept secret(s)?

You'll find the world in Berlin, it's quite a cosmopolitan.

11. Where would we find you on a typical Saturday afternoon?

Typical situation:

My friend Nora and myself, were work in the bar/club called Enklave (cellar room; you actually have to climb through a hole to come in) on Friday nights.

On Saturdays, I'll have a long brunch with my friends, Nora, Nicole and Amelle. While we're sitting in a cafè in Neukölln, we'd accidently bump into my brother and Dennis, Heide and Nico would later appear with their son Toni. The group at brunch would get bigger and we'll need more chairs. Though we are there with hangovers, we'll tell stories (very loud) till we hear more "hello guys" from the other side of the street.

Friends. Chairs. Friends. Chairs.

We'll be making plans for the evening. A lot of possibilities in Berlin. Eating ice cream at "Fräulein Frost" at 11 pm, chilling in one of our parks, dancing in clubs. Just moving between two districts.

But normally, we'd ended up staying in that first cafè, till it's time to go to bed.

12. In 10 years time, where would you want to be?

Still in fashion and arts.

To Bijou peeps, Alisa is currently running a competition on her Facebook group, which ends 31 August 2010.

Just print Zillmann logo, wear it creatively, take a picture to be posted in the Facebook group and collect the most "like" to win. Easy peasy!

Alisa is going to launch her online store at the end of this month, international customers are welcome. Fanpics wearing Zillmann pieces will be published on her website, with their approval (category: walk of family).

Note: the feathers used by Zillmann are from German (not protected) poultries including Turkey, Cock, Hen, Pheasant and Guinea Fowl.

Brett Domino - Justin Timberlake Songs Medley

2010-08-13T20:58:00.008+08:00

Nerdgasm!!! OK, is that allowed? :op

Happy weekend, y'all!

xoxo

Malaysia's Unsung Poet Laureate

2010-08-12T06:19:00.027+08:00

Do you know that Malaysia has got her very own Nobel Prize nominee, for Literature, in 2005?

You would expect such monumental achievement from our Bolehland to create tremendous bruhaha and would landed him a Datukship. The fact that there is little local media interest on him is curious, even the Mat Rempit North Pole Free Fall Expedition was better celebrated for the achievement, apparently, would inspire the masses. The Nobel Prize nomination came from the Philippines and the USA. Back then, only The Sun carried the story on our first ever Nobel Prize nomination.

Who is the unsung poet laureate?

Once upon a time, not so long ago, well, long before blogs, Raja Petra and Malaysiakini, there was Cecil Rajendra, a passionate activist who firmly believes in the pen being mightier than the sword.

He is much respected for his pioneering work as a human rights lawyer and environmental activist as well as his poetry. He named his fight for Orang Asli's right to own their land as his biggest legal rights achievement. His first collection of poems was published in England in 1965 when he was still a law student in Lincoln’s Inn, London. Using his talent to full measure, he tackles society's ills such as environmental destruction, poverty, oppression, corruption, racism and injustice with persistence and dedication. Not as widely read in Malaysia, Cecil Rajendra’s poetry has travelled far and wide, cited by WWF, UNICEF, UNESCO, National Geographic and Amnesty International.

Asked if he finds himself toning down as he ages in an interview, he replied that he sincerely hopes not. Many years ago, he answered the question in a poem:

As I grow older
I grow wilder
not wiser
I respect nothing
do not talk to me
of the temperance
of middle-aged men
I have consigned
Caution to the wind.

We were just informed yesterday that Cecil Rajendra will be reading parallel to our next installment, a massive collaboration to commemorate the birth of the independent and sovereign state of Malaysia in 1963.

*nerd mode switched ON*

w00t! w00t!

:op

What better excuse to join us this 16 September 2010 to celebrate the little, little things about Malaysia that fires hope.

Yes, we're secretly patriotic. ;op

We'll be seeing you soon? Post-It the date, y'all!

Have a blessed Ramadhan, everyone. :o)

xoxo

Corinne Bailey Rae - Closer (HD)

2010-07-06T11:07:00.000+08:00

Anyone off to Singapore this July 28?

We are. :o)

Have a good day ahead!

xoxo

Peter Says Denim

2010-06-08T08:18:00.011+08:00

The Bandung based denim line, established in 2005, has been invading the world by collaborating with rock bands.

This weekend, they'll be joining us at MAP Solaris Dutamas.

Check them out at http://petersaysdenim.com/, y'all!

xoxo

Back Again! :o)

2010-05-31T20:59:00.005+08:00

Yes, you heard right! :o)

Bijou Bazaar @ MAP Solaris Dutamas
12 + 13 June 2010
Operating Hours: 10 am - 8 pm (or later)

Post-It y'all!

xoxo

Look of the Day May 21

2010-05-21T19:34:00.004+08:00

A friend from secondary school, Hefle, got her styling picked by Looklet editor as Look of the Day!

Yeyness to her!

She's now Looklet famous y'all! ;op

Check her Looklet out.

Looklet Monday

2010-05-17T20:30:00.003+08:00

The writer's been real busy today; playing pretend fashion stylist at Looklet. ;op

How was your Monday? :o)

MAP Solaris Dutamas

2010-05-15T22:17:00.015+08:00

We were curious when we received an invitation to attend MAP Arts Festival not too long ago. As we've been hibernating a tad bit too long, totally isolated from the outside word, we were hungry for something fresh + inspiring. So off we went to check the art festival out.

We weren't disappointed!

MAP opened its doors on the 27 March 2010 with a 2-day arts festival. Activities include music, art, sculpture, performances, installations, talks, workshops + an art market alongside social + individual empowerment activities.

The arts festival was curated by ARTERI in collaboration with MAP.

The festival introduced MAP’s two spaces: a 6,000 sq ft gallery + a 200-seater experimental theatre named the White Box + Black Box respectively.

During the visit, we secretly harboured our wish of coming back to life, having our first installment after going into hibernation for so long at MAP.

Thought bubbles went hovering us as we walked through the spaces in MAP. In our heads, we had pictures of the rotunda at the entrance of Black Box wrapped with lomo prints with our disco ball lamp rotating at a corner on the floor. We imagined plastic bag light garden at random corners of the Black Box. The White Box sent our minds running riot, we dreamt having our little fashion + craft bazaar surrounded by different themed art installations...

*sigh*

Watch this space!

MAP on Google Map.

Fever Fairytale by Tika

2010-05-09T08:08:00.009+08:00

We've always been a fan of Tika, an Indonesian independent singer-songwriter, now, with an ensemble called Tika and The Dissidents. We saw her sing live for the first time at JEUNE Magazine Animal Issue Release Party in Bandung, circa 2008. Totally brilliant.

Why the independent path? Tika’s reason is solely because Indonesia’s thriving indie scene is the only place she can keep being a musician that is true to herself.

TIME magazine dubbed Tika as “Indonesia’s Hottest Diva”, while Rolling Stone Indonesia mentioned her as “The best Indonesian independent soloist that the country has”. Recently, TEMPO Magazine awarded her band's release 'The Headless Songstress' as “Album of the Year 2009” and Tika and The Dissidents as “2009’s Chosen Music Figure”. Not surprised.

Happy Sunday peeps!

xoxo

Marcela Gutierrez for PULL THE METAL

2010-05-08T08:08:00.001+08:00

We are captivated by Marcela Gutierrez's recent work for the online lifestyle magazine, Pull the Metal - a collaboration between Pull and Bear + Metal Magazine, a publication based in Barcelona.

Do check them out! :o)

xoxo

groovylicious Grove

2010-05-07T16:29:00.011+08:00

Earlier this month, Grove launched their first batch of grove bamboo iPhone cases + we fell in love with them. Curious, we went snooping to find out more about the outfit.

Grove is a partnership between Engrave + TomitaDesigns specialising in customisable products made of green materials, with sustainable practices. The team of 5 is led by Joe Mansfield + Ken Tomita.

Joe operates Engrave, a custom laser engraving company specialising in artists. He also has a line of customisable laser engraved leather moleskin covers. He is also an avid photographer who took the majority of the shots on their site.

In his spare time he enjoys running, nerding out on design, working on his bike, + driving old Saabs without brakes.

And you would have guessed right, Ken runs TomitaDesigns - a custom furniture design/build company focusing on contemporary Japanese design. He also participates in BambooDNA, led by Gerard Minakawa building large scale bamboo sculptures around the world. His passion for community building led to Project Chaboo, a collaboration project based on his chaboo design.

His favorite animal is the once thought to be mythical Okapi.

Do visit their site, Grove, folks!

xoxo

Toast It!

2010-05-06T08:03:00.007+08:00

Toast It is a cork bread-shaped trivet/coaster from Brazilian design studio Oiti, which is run by Patricia Naves. Cleverly packaged and beautifully photographed, they made us want to run out + quickly add this "toast" to our arsenal of food props. OK, OK ... we admit. From the choice of words, it's obvious that we are no domestic goddess. ;op

Yup! That's Patricia Naves, the founder of Oiti, a furniture and object design studio established in 2004 + based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. She graduated in Architecture in 2002, from Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG.

Patricia attributed her childhood to her leaning towards architecture. She grew up in a small apartment + had a tiny bedroom. When she was 18, she lived in Australia for a year, where she was awestriken by the width of the sidewalks! After which she returned for her degree. During the second year of university, she spent a few months in Finland + got carried away with Scandinavian architecture + design. She realises then that she would never be able to separate these things: design from architecture + Scandinavia from Brazil. Since then, she had tried to administrate these four passions in life.

We are sure glad that she followed her heart + found her passions, we just love Toast It. Not a good choice for a household that has hangovers - imagine the error of buttering one of these and trying to eat it! :op

Check her other work out at OITI.

xoxo

Holes by Melpo Mene

2010-05-05T16:02:00.012+08:00

Hey peeps! Things have been crazy on the work front, it's all exciting + daunting at the same time. We hope all goes well.

And we can smell the rain outside. There's this saying which goes, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass ... it’s learning to dance in the rain.” We feel like we should dance in the rain, like literally. If it's raining at your end, care to join?

o_0

Have a good day y'all!

xoxo

Sign Language: A Short Film

2010-05-03T16:20:00.006+08:00

Meet Ben, he holds a sign for a living, and he loves his job more than almost anything. But today is his last day.

Sign Language was well written, well shot. Such a wonderful little piece of art, rather heartwarming too.

Hope you'll enjoy it as much as we did.

Happy Monday peeps!

xoxo

Aloe Blacc

2010-05-02T10:23:00.005+08:00

What better way to spend Sunday morning than to hide under the duvet, listening to the kittens purring. :o)

If you've not heard of him, meet Aloe Blacc. His story rang a familiar bell, hope you enjoy his music.

xoxo

Kimia by Melda Ahmad

2010-04-30T17:00:00.007+08:00

Melda Ahmad is a familiar face at Bijou Bazaar. We often see her sitting quietly helping her sister with sales, but we never knew she write songs + sings beautifully.

We were pleasantly surprised to listen to her song recently. 'Kimia' or chemistry is a love song about two people sharing a chemistry + ended up together in the end. We just love the innocence in her voice. Listening to the tune made us somewhat nostalgic about our youthful years.

Oh well, hope it's all sunshine + rainbows where you're at this weekend. If everything's well, we're off to Seremban, a town south of Kuala Lumpur, this weekend for our alumna school visit. A walk down memory lane with the girlfriends, looking forward to that.

Oh ... oh ... to Baby + Mr A who first met at Bijou Bazaar, sitting by the pool, Happy 2nd Anniversary you two! :o)

xoxo

Poketo 100% Upcycled Bags

2010-04-29T19:01:00.011+08:00

Poketo has just launched a new collaboration with environmentally-awesome Korean nonprofit design brand Eco Party Mearry, and we're loving the result.

Meet 'Joe' the recycled suit tote, named after Joe Poketo's dad. It is a 100% recycled tote with neatly stitched leather handles, also created from recycled leather couches. There's only one piece of Joe in the world + it is sold.

We're not surprised + super excited to see this latest offering by Poketo. Borrowing one of your dad’s suits might make you look like a square, but turning it into a tote bag is just ironic enough to be incredibly cool.

Who wouldn't want to own one of Poketo's one of a kind, limited edition uber crazy rad recycled suit tote, carefully hand-tailored to give men’s suits their second chance at life + are sure to make statement right? This one of a kind tote will definitely get some attention, especially from cute hipster chicks who are into saving the planet and stuff. ;o)

It was only last week, Poketo launched the collaboration + most of recycled suit tote retailed online were sold.

Dexter, the loveable and fashionable nerd is sold too. Check the rest of their mates out at Poketo.

Stalked: Evangelione's Handmade

2010-04-28T08:08:00.006+08:00

Peeps who's been following Bijou Bazaar blog from earlier on would have noticed our infatuation with homegrown + handmade. We have been stalking quite a number of Malaysian crafters on the Blogger network + we feel like sharing one with you. It's always a pleasure to watch the stride they make in growing their crafts + how their work mature.

Yup! Just the one we're sharing this week, a crafter who's work we really, really love. But we might change our mind + share more stalked talents here. We'll see... ;o)

Evangelione's Handmade first caught our attention at 'Arts for Grab' circa 2008. If you frequent the Annexe's arts + craft market or 'Pipit Wonderful Market', you would be familiar with Evangelione's rather exquisite + poetic work.

Wait!

Before you blokes go rolling your eyes + conclude that the only reason we were attracted to Evangelione's Handmade was because the work are girly + cute, let us tell you, it's more than that. Mind you, the writer has never owned a doll in her life, though that might change shortly. ;op

Evangelione's Handmade dabbles with crafts like card making ...

... dollhouse miniatures ...

... and a few other crafts but it was her handmade dolls which spoke to us. Like Mr Bunny below, there's this lingering tired sadness about him, while his other friends carry different emotions.

Curious, we spoke to Tako, the Johor Bahru based lass behind the brand to know Evangelione's Handmade better.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hello^^ I'm Yeo Mei Ying but my friends call me Tako. I am currently a full time crafter and I work from home. I love all things beautiful, I love colours, I love so many things but I love crafting the most. I am quite a shy person and I am not very good at communicating, I have a weird habit of not picking up phone calls, I know it is bad but I just can't help it. I can't hold a good conversation with people whom I just met. Oh, I am bad tempered too. =.=

BB: all that that you've described says you are a creative + passionate person but we found you rather pleasant over the email, just aced a form of communication there. ;o)

2. Tell us more about Evangelione + your creation.

I started to use Evangelione as my email since almost ten years ago, it was just a name I use on forums and so on, and then I started to blog, so I used it as my blog name as well til now and it became my brand name. My work are mostly dolls, accessories and dollhouse miniature, I have a doll name Audrey, who is the little girl who lives inside me, she tells my secret, she speaks for me. I believe every girl does too, have a little girl living inside you, the real you, or the girl you wanted to be.

3. What has been the most exciting part/thing to happen since setting Evangelione?

I have to say it's the people I met. I met so many wonderful people who have been supporting me all the way, friends or crafts friends who are with me whenever, in whatever situation, I am very grateful for having them around.

4. Apart from creating those lovely dolls, what do you do?

Actually I love everything about crafts, I like to try everything. Apart from making dolls, I am also fond of dollhouse miniatures, as a matter of fact, I started Evangelione with dollhouse miniatures, then I went into doll making. Besides crafting, I love collecting beautiful things too.

5. What first made you want to become a crafter? What prompted you to start?

Crafts has always been a important thing in my life, I love create things, and I think it is in my blood, I just have to do it! No matter what! >_<

6. Name your top 5 books, movies, musics + website.

books: The little star dweller by Yoshitomo Nara, "Kawaii Tezukuri Zakka 1000 No Shugei", Design of Designe by Kenya Hara, Paumes.

movies: I seldom watch movie, but anything with lots of beautiful details and great scene inspire me.

musics: Angus and Julia Stone, Chen Qi Zhen, Kimya Dawson, Solanin soundtrack, Band of Horses

website: Paumes . Nunu's House . Hello Sandwich . Handmade Craft . Etsy

7. How do you promote your work?

I try to get my work to be seen and not over do it at the same time, I believe work that is made with the heart and love will promote itself, so you don't really have to do much if you put effort on the work. But I do show my work on Flickr, Facebook and my own blog, I'm also lucky enough get feature on several beautiful blogs (like Bijou!), these really helped.

BB: awh ... that's nice of you :o) but like you pointed out, work which speaks with an authentic voice draws people, we were drawn to feature you in our blog.

8. In 10 years time, where would you want to be?

Perhaps I can still do what I love to do and keep crafting, I am not a person with a big ego, I just want to live a simple life and keep on crafting!

BB: thanks very much Tako for making time answering our questions. Keep on crafting ya? :o)

Folks, do support Tako at Evangelione's Handmade (and if you want to see Evangelione's Handmade at our installments, shout so!)

xoxo

A Smokey Room - Eliza Doolittle

2010-04-27T10:59:00.002+08:00

Yeah! We know, we've gone a tad bit too musical of late. Meet our Tuesday tune, it's blaring through the laptop the whole morning yo!

Have one awesome Tuesday y'all! :o)

xoxo

Take It Easy, San Francisco - Emily Wells

2010-04-25T12:54:00.003+08:00

Our little Sunday tune, while watching the kittens play with the squirrels.

xoxo

You and Your Heart by Jack Johnson

2010-04-22T08:43:00.001+08:00

The video for Jack's new single "You and Your Heart" has debuted yesterday on VH1.com. It was directed by Jack, and shot in Hawaii.

Have a good day ahead! :o)

Tank Chair by Pharrell Williams

2010-04-21T22:48:00.004+08:00

Booh!

How did your Wednesday go?

We hope it's all sunshine + rainbows at your end. :o)

Last night, we were real busy surfing the net when a piece of furniture sent our imagination wild.

Tadaa!!!

Meet Tank Chair by Pharrell Williams

OK, OK, we get ...

... true, without a person sitting on the chair, they look awkward. Aesthetically, they are vulgar, but they actually represent hip-hop perfectly. Don't you think? We love them anyway for the fact that they have a nice bit of fun about them.

It'd be awesome to have in the office ...

"Get out of my way fellow workers, my chair is secretly a TANKER!"

"OK people, we have to battle to get the job done ... rev up your machine!"

No?

Pharrell Williams doesn't believe that there should be any boundaries to creativity, now the super producer + big time rapper is designing furniture.

You are what you think!

Hmmmm ... Pharrell looks good sitting on them chairs, we'll have another picture of him ... and the chair. ;op

Bonne nuit a tous!

"Never Forget You" by The NOISEttes

2010-04-20T07:23:00.002+08:00

We feel like letting you into a secret ... we've been stalking Shingai Shoniwa of The NOISEttes over the net, most part of 2009 because we have a style crush on her. If there’s one girl who fearlessly struts out looking like an absolute fashion powerhouse, we reckon it is she.

No?

Happy Tuesday! :o)

In Memoriam: Ruby Ahmad

2010-04-16T13:46:00.016+08:00

I was having a chat with Rizal of Emmet Garage Sales recently, when I realised we have been pretty quiet on the pop up bazaar front. He said he was excitedly waiting for the next Bijou Bazaar installment, when Bijou Bazaar went quiet. I gave him some lame excuse but not the real why.

Rizal's passion + belief in his idea as well as others like him was the reason why Bijou Bazaar came to life. One thing the experience had taught me was to tell the difference between people who have that fire in their stomachs + those who see ideas primarily to get rich, preferring them who ask, 'How can I make this idea a success?' rather than 'How do I make a fortune?' I've always believed that you need to find the convergence between your passion + what people would want first, the money will come. It's always hard work first, there's no short cut to it. And things aren't always as straight forward as when you are drawing salary from a company.

In building Bijou Bazaar, I had made my sacrifices. This had include me missing my brother's wedding, I tried to attend but the event partner called me back to the venue. Bijou peeps who were at the event would remember me wearing a kebaya that weekend. I went missing from my close friends + family radar too. The journey was full of challenges + learning exeriences, at times it got to me.

After having lunch with an old blog friend, Agus, who started building his carwash business about the same time I started Bijou Bazaar, I realised I was not alone; he made similar sacrifices.

Perhaps, people I met pre-Bijou Bazaar played a strong influence on how it was moulded + the decisions I made.

Hence, the similarity?

Recently, my aunt passed away.

Since, I have been revisiting past friendships, embarking on new ones + spending time with my family, neglecting Bijou peeps ...

*whispers "I'm sorry!"*

:o|

The last Facebook wall comment I received from my late aunt Wan Bi, Ruby Ahmad to many, was an urge to "Go for it!" An expression peculiar to her. Even the brief description on her blog simply says: “I’m a ‘go for it!’ kind of person."

The news of her sudden passing took me by surprise, at first it seemed like a bad joke.

During our last few coffee sessions together, she was always imparting wisdoms + I was only happy to listen. To me the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

Her funeral was proof of the person that she was. Friends + family all gathered to bid her farewell with quiet pride. Even in her passing, Wan Bi was busy imparting lessons about what is to be valued, about what matters ... a life of service.

While remembering a person of such stature, I mourn the passing of a generation that is ceasing to exist, taking with them the values they held high. It is my only hope that the strong values + motivations she imparted through her blog writings + friendships would live on through us, you + me, who's life she touched + might now touch, through the blog she left behind.

:o)

"The only thing you take with you when you're gone is what you leave behind" - John Allston

Al-Fatihah.

YouTube Mixer

2010-03-04T18:36:00.001+08:00

A wicked new 'invention' on YouTube - a mixable video. (Wait until the video is fully loaded.) There are 11 beats to mix from and the wheeler indicator shows you when it is time to mix.

Do have a go at it! :o)

Happy Weekend! :o)

2010-02-12T19:36:00.000+08:00

Mini Bijou Bazaar @ BE Yoga TODAY!

2010-01-23T10:16:00.004+08:00

Saturday, 23 January 2010
9 am - 6 pm

BE Yoga Studio, W-102 & W-103, Metropolitan Square, Damansara Perdana, Jalan PJU 8/1, Petaling Jaya ... here's the corresponding google map - http://tinyurl.com/yeujxzc

'On The Radio' by Regina Spektra

2010-01-19T07:36:00.002+08:00

Just love the smell of rain, this morning ... Happy Tuesday! :o)

xoxo

Where on earth is SAAS Airport?

2010-01-08T11:32:00.014+08:00

SAAS Airport stands for Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport or the airport we fondly remember as Subang Airport. So, obviously, it's in Subang.

Yup! We're aware that most of you were in your primary school when we last used SAAS Airport as Kuala Lumpur's International Airport, but the last time I flew out of SAAS Airport was to do my A Levels and when I came home with a degree, it was through KLIA.

Now, now ... just put away those calculators ... am not very young, I admit. ;o)

Somehow, I vividly remember that very flight out of SAAS Airport. It was a midnight flight + I was in the Terminal chatting with a friend from secondary school, Hefle, and a childhood friend whom I used to go camping with, Ahmad - you would now know him as Altimet, and their family.

Why that particular time?

I was playing with a trolley filled with our cabin bags + chatting at the Terminal concourse, when I fell off the trolley + it flipped with a loud crash. When I look up, I saw Ahmad staring at me in horror, I had to explain to him that girls fall down too. After which the three of us went running off as we were late for boarding.

Who would forget such incident right?

Well, that night marked a new chapter in our life as well.

Anyways, it's tomorrow y'all!

MAS Touchdown

And we'll be having the event in the concourse area of the recently launched SKYPARK Terminal, SAAS Airport.

Find out more about the venue from SKYPARK Terminal y'all!

xoxo

Hello 2010!

2010-01-03T18:16:00.007+08:00

Source: Wani Ardy

Well, we reckon patience and a lot of perseverence pays. Find strength and keep on going.

Happy 2010 peeps! :o)

xoxo

Najwa Mahiaddin

2010-01-02T07:20:00.006+08:00

We fell in love with Najwa Mahiaddin since the first time we heard her sing over MySpace in 2007 and it's a pleasure to be sharing the same 'roof' again with he pretty soon. More of Najwa @ www.myspace.com/najwamahiaddin

Catch Najwa Mahiaddin this 9 January 2010 y'all!

xoxo

We're Back!

2009-12-31T11:52:00.003+08:00

Bijou Bazaar's back after it's long haitus from the 'pop up/guerilla/indie bazaar' scene y'all!

Let's start 2010 with a bang, shall we?

xoxo

Mama Do by Pixie Lott (Acoustic)

2009-12-04T08:40:00.002+08:00

Have a good weekend! :o)

xoxo

VOTE FOR US, y'all!

2009-12-01T14:45:00.010+08:00

Psst! It's almost the end of the year now + it's time to V.O.T.E!!!

We are a little bit shy to announce this but we are nominated on 3 itsy cutesy tiny awards. Nonetheless, 'twas rather humbling to see the list of nominees for those awards.

If you feel a little generous towards us (+ would like to push us to organise another installment soon) + would like to vote for us ... by all means, PLEASE DO SO ... VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Vote for us under the Lifestyle category for 'Bazaar You Don't Wanna Miss' - http://sites.tonguechic.com/ticawards/05-lifestyle.php#disqus_thread

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! ... thanks very much! :o)

Next, vote for us, again, under the Life&Atyle category for 'Favourite Bazaar/Flea Market' - http://sites.klue.com.my/bestof2009/category-life-and-style.php

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! ... thanks very much! :o)

This, you can't vote because the closing date was 30 November 2009, that's like yesterday. The work horse behind Bijou Bazaar was nominated for Cosmopolitan magazine Fun Fearless Fabulous 2009.

The awesome Nik Erwan Roseli is designing for her at the awards luncheon this weekend. Will share the images from the luncheon. ;o)

Thank you, Cosmopolitan!

Thank you, KLue!

Thank you, Tongue in Chic!

You guys have been real supportive throughout our existence, We heart YOU long time! :o)

*bear hug*

Free Me - Joss Stone

2009-11-23T13:25:00.000+08:00

Happy Monday, peeps! :o)

xoxo

Swine Flu Style

2009-11-16T02:13:00.004+08:00

Credits to Trendhunter

These photos speak for themselves. Simple. D.I.Y that prevents you from swine flu.

Let your mind, imagination and creativity flow. Stay healthy and fabulous!

xoxo

milliedevotee

McQueen Reptiled

2009-11-07T03:26:00.003+08:00

This has to be my favourite fashion show yet since Chanel Spring Summer 2009. It's so stunningly beautiful. Started off with great visual effects, Raquel Zimmerman, lying on the sand with snakes! Who wouldn't be excited looking at that? Naked, I might add.
Then, the models walked out. What I first noticed were those killer shoes!!! I don't even know how they managed to walk in that, but it's gorgeous, I would totally wear those if there weren't so high.
A lot of the collection were short dresses, reptile-patterned with so many different textures. It was beautifully structured with a belled-like silhouette. Not forgetting those hair, giant creature constructed hair. It goes perfectly well with the rest. Seems like they're mysterious creatures in a serene world, with the song, the background and the way they walked.
I really hope High Street stores will offer us something wearable from this collection. I guess will just have to wait until next year! Hurts, I know.
In the meantime, enjoy the video guys! Breathtaking.
xoxomillie devotee

Credits to www.coutorture.com

Love, Peace and LOL ...

2009-10-27T18:59:00.000+08:00

Pop up Fashion Show

2009-10-25T05:08:00.005+08:00

London Fashion Week will remain the preserve of A-listers and journalists. But at the pop-up style event - 'The People's Catwalk', which is part of London High Street Fashion week, commuters had front row seats as models paraded down Oxford Street before heading to Tottenham Court Road and travelling in style to Marble Arch Tube for the world's first fashion show on a moving underground train.

The show, which started at 10am on 7th September, was part of a sequence of surprise 'pop up' fashion shows to promote new autumn clothing ranges by Selfridges, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Next, River Island, Marks & Spencer and Uniqlo and John Lewis. The show started at 10am, missing rush hour, and lasted 20 minutes, much longer than regular shows, which often last for under 10 minutes despite hours of waiting.

How rad is that?

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

2009-09-19T11:29:00.004+08:00

Hey peeps!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Muslim friends a Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Eid Mubarak. Maaf zahir dan batin.

We hope you'll have a good time with your loved ones.

And we'd like to leave you with this video clip ... make your influence positive.

May our Aidilfitri be blessed with love, joy and forgiving. :o)

Happy holidays!

xoxo

Final Wednesday

2009-09-14T14:30:00.013+08:00

Finally, this Wednesday will be our last berbuka rendezvous @ CapSquare. I'm with a mixed feeling of happiness + sadness + nervousness, etc. Happy because it is going to be raya soon ... w00t! w00t! ... sad because Ramadhan is a wonderful month, and we're leaving it soon and nervous because I don't know what to wear for Raya!!!! It would be easier if I were one of them models in looklet.com.

*wink, wink*

For this final installment of Wednesday Berbuka Rendezvous, joining us will be Cosmic, a brand from Bandung which honestly is new to me, but I always like the independent labels from Bandung. The peeps over there just have good eyes for design. I might end up shopping again this Wednesday!

This will be the last installment before our secret project which is planned on 31 October, did I say that out load and overly clear? Hmm ...

Come on people, before we go off for raya, let's all have our berbuka or rather, iftar, together! ... and of course shop together gether too!

*Iwan-G*

Pretend Play

2009-09-04T01:03:00.005+08:00

Folks!

We found this cool application online where we get to pretend play a fashion stylist + we're hooked since day one! This was our first wardrobe styling project. ;op

Happy Friday + another loOOOoooOooong weekend y'all!

xoxo

Wednesdays Berbuka Rendezvous

2009-08-26T03:18:00.007+08:00

Sup y'all!

:op

How's Ramadhan been treating you so far?

We're repeating last Ramadhan's crazy move @ Menara Hap Seng but this year it's in CapSquare. We figured the traffic would be horrendous this Ramadhan after work so we considered a tie up with a berbuka puasa buffet in the heart of KL (so that you have an excuse not to battle in the traffic jam) for this year's Ramadhan Souq ... echeh! So if you don‘t want to be seen in the same clothes as everyone else, ditch the high street and head to you know where. ;o)

You can berbuka puasa @ Bunga Serai Cafe, CapSquare KL, with over 20 lauk kampung, accompanied by 'alunan muzik traditional'. Ramadhan Buffet RM 29 pax. A party of 5 or more gets 10% when reservation is made a day before. For reservation, call 014.669.3073 016.246.8242.

If they are fully book, there are other restaurants and cafes as well. You can ring CapSquare's concierge desk at 03.2697.9718.

Join us on Wednesdays?

How to get there? Just go to this Google Map's link - Map to CapSquare

xoxo

Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

2009-08-10T12:57:00.003+08:00

An interesting fan made video.

Happy Monday peeps!

xoxo

We'll be digging it all @ CapSquare

2009-08-07T15:22:00.003+08:00

Do a little shopping or get a tarot card reading, we hope to see you there! :o)

It's tomorrow y'all!

xoxo

May the two souls rest in peace; Farrah Fawcett + Micheal Jackson

2009-06-26T08:18:00.002+08:00

Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jacksons 5

McTega Jewelry: When Science Meets Fashion

2009-06-15T22:07:00.011+08:00

You folks know how much we love the unconventional. Imagine our excitement when we stumbled upon work by two Los Angeles based friends, who met during their internship with Rodarte, under the brand McTega Jewelry.

Sarah McLellan and Kristina Ortega have jewelry design down to a science, literally. The former pre-med and microbiology students, respectively, discovered they were more interested in fashion than fermentation. Inspired by organic chemistry, the duo use materials like polyester resin and polypropylene (excuse the nerd talk), and inject molding to handcraft creative and surreal necklaces no fashion grad could cook up! From animals gilded in gold, to chunks of crystal and amorphous glass-like plates with colourful hexagons.

Geniuses ey?

Says Kristina: "Science is our point of departure, not our destination".

Check them out at McTega folks!

See you there this weekend!

2009-06-03T09:28:00.010+08:00

Acoustic session on Sunday, 3 - 6 pm by

+ Tashya Basir

+ Iylia Fahmi

+ Ain Zulkifly

Iwan-G

"Bitter Heart" - Zee Avi

2009-05-18T13:33:00.002+08:00

Happy Monday! :o)

This Weekend!

2009-04-30T10:57:00.003+08:00

Lazy Oaf

2009-04-28T15:54:00.006+08:00

I would think it is safe to presume that most of you reading would rather be dead than to be seen in the same clothes as another person, hence us ditching the malls + high street labels + frequenting the independent boutiques + independent bazaars.

OK, I think you'd be able to guess where I'm heading now ... :op ... albeit am not featuring a local talent this time around but am sharing a British independent label, which I've been stalking for ages now - Lazy Oaf.

An innocent and cheery illustration style mixed with a palate of pastel and primary colours, Lazy Oaf is real bad-hair-day clothing; you won’t have to worry about your hair as everyone will be too busy fawning over your t-shirt and demanding to know where you got it from. The bright cutesy designs will melt the cold robot hearts of even the grumpiest among us. OK, if you ever stumble upon Simon Cowell, even if it's in your dreams, make sure you're wearing one of Lazy Oaf's. :op

The London based Lazy Oaf was born in 2001 and raised by the idle doodler Her Royal Oafness Gemma Shiel, who started out on a market stall in Spitalfields, the East End of London. The company is made up of a team of lovely ladies, half working in their studio in Shoreditch + the other half who work in their shop just off Carnaby Street. :o)

Oogle their online shop now: http://www.lazyoaf.co.uk/!

Hot Air Balloon Sunday

2009-04-22T13:14:00.005+08:00

As you all are aware of, we're taking a break in April from any weekend organising. It's all paperwork for us for the past month but on the 2 + 3 May weekend, we'll be back.

Since we're too used to working during weekends, we're restless + had decided to have a go at a hot air balloon experience on Sunday morning, albeit thetered air balloon 'flying'. :op

w00t! w00t! anyway. ;o)

A little Wikipedia-ed history: The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air balloon created by the Montgolfier brothers.

A hot air balloon has three essential parts: the burner, which heats the air; the balloon envelope, which holds the air; and the basket, which carries the passengers.

Hot air ballooning is a participatory sport; you just can’t do it alone. That's the participants helped in setting up the balloon envelope.

The participants went propping up the basket next. The basket holds the passengers, propane tanks and navigation equipment. Most hot air balloons use a wicker basket for the passenger compartment. Wicker works very well because it is sturdy, flexible and relatively lightweight. The flexibility helps with balloon landings. Wicker material flexes a little, absorbing some of the energy. Even so, during landing you're supposed to bend your legs to absorb the shock.

A hot air balloon is partially inflated with cold air from a gas-powered fan, before the propane burners are used for final inflation.

It was a team effort; both the instructors + students, old + young chipped in to inflate the hot air balloon.

Apparently, to fly a hot air balloon, you'll need a Pilot License + during flying you'll have to be regularly in touch with the local Air Traffic Control + the ground crew. This is because even the most experienced pilot doesn't have complete control over the balloon's flight path. Usually, wind conditions give the pilot very few options. Consequently, you can't really pilot a hot air balloon along an exact course. Unlike flying an airplane, hot air balloon piloting is largely improvised, moment to moment. For this reason, some members of a hot air balloon crew have to stay on the ground, following the balloon by car to see where it lands. Then, they can be there to collect the passengers and equipment. So there will be a lot of communications going on and the pilot regularly used his walkie talkie and handphone to coordinate with his ground crew.

Would love to fly on a hot air balloon one day, but will skip piloting it though. ;o)

Errr ... too much writing serious paper is making me write a report-esque account of the experience. D'oh! :op

We'll be seeing you on 2 + 3 May 2009 @ Jeumpa D'ramo, between 10 am - 6 pm ya?

xoxo

"Nerds in Love" by Fergus Brown

2009-04-16T21:37:00.004+08:00

www.myspace.com/fergusbrown

Love is All Around

2009-04-07T11:57:00.007+08:00

We had the pleasure of hanging out with Chin Yew, the bloke behind 'The Boy Who Loved Clouds', last Saturday at KLDW Secret Tents area in CapSquare. He introduced us to the folks under 30dayartist, we spotted some work, which got us real excited. We were throwing banters + exchanging pleasantries when Chin Yew shoved his latest work into my hand.

'A Love Letter' the title read.

Intrigued, I retired to a quiet corner to read.

It was the sweetest comic I've ever read! Mid reading the comic, I had Talentime OST - 'Angel' by Atilia playing in my head. 'A Love Letter' is about the intense fireworks of falling in love + the pain it entails. No spoiler intended, go get hold a copy if you're curious.

'A Love Letter', which is printed on recycled paper, is a self-published comic to mark the recent Earth Day. It is limited to 100 copies only + is selling at RM 10. Oh! and I own one.

w00t! w00t!

I'd say it's the perfect gift to tell that someone who sends you to utopia, where you feel everything is perfect, that they just did. Maybe we can invite Chin Yew to the upcoming Bijou Bazaar @ Jeumpa D'ramo in May 2009. ;o)

My favourite from the strip:

We leave you with Talentime OST - 'Angel' by Atilia

xoxo

On Your Tootsies

2009-04-01T22:02:00.014+08:00

Whilst busy google-ing, we stumbled upon work by Nina Hjorth, a 29 year old Danish designer.

Statement shoes are all that are needed to make an outfit pop, a Royal College of Art graduate and former McQueen intern, her collection will delight footwear fetishists + spark a flame in those who love Lego construction toys. Her collection was inspired by Tim Walker exhibition at the Design Museum London combined with the romanticism from the film Marie Antoinette + the paintings of New York artist Ray Caesar. Apparently, her all time fashion idol is Richardo Tussci (Givenchy designer).

*drooling*

Watch out Manolo Blahnik, Nina Hjorth's shoes rock!!! OK, just because Iwan-G was going through Manolo Blahnik's collection this afternoon:op

More at Nina Hjorth

PechaKucha-ing Tonight?

2009-03-31T17:03:00.006+08:00

Kuala Lumpur Volume #6
at Urbanattic ,G-46 CapSquare, No.7 Persiaran Capsquare, Off Jalan Ampang, 50100 KL
Presentations start at 20:20

Presenters are 4 international finalists from British Council’s Design Entrepreneurs Award (IYDE):

+ Nathalie Fallaha (Lebanon), graphic designer, vit-e
+ Nancy Chen (Taiwan), web-based graphic designer, CEO of Makeit.com and Managing Director of ESPstyle.com
+ Heath Nash (South Africa), designer and founder of Heath Nash cc
+ Makorn Chaovanich (Thailand) managing director/design director of Cerebrum Design

Joining them are:

+ Benson Saw, product designer and co-founder of Voonwong&Bensonsaw
+ Design Studio BLAM
+ Fauzi Yusoff, creative director of Efozy Design Studio
+ Metalsmithing studio Itchy Hands Works
+ Fahmi Reza, documentary filmmaker, man behind 10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka and Revolusi'48
+ Locksin & Birdie, art directors at interactive design studio, IF Interactive

We might see you there! ;o)

Now listening to 'Ambulance LTD'

2009-03-30T16:01:00.010+08:00

In New York's most populous borough, Brooklyn, you can't toss a coin without hitting a good musician. "Ambulance LTD" is one of the few bands who are making Brooklyn one of the best music scene in the US, we reckon. Rising out of the New York City indie underground 5 years ago, Ambulance LTD have received international acclaim for their music + live shows.

Line up changes + bankrupt record labels have not hampered this five-piece, who make Bealtes-esque pop.

"Stay Where You Are" by Ambulance LTD

More at http://www.myspace.com/ambulanceltd

Happy Monday!

xoxo

Earth Hour 2009

2009-03-27T12:01:00.006+08:00

How are we supporting Earth Hour 2009?

Nope. We're not holding any event to commemorate Earth Hour 2009, not that we don't believe in its plight, we do.

We advocate shoppers to recycle plastic/paper carrier bags + bring their own canvas tote bags. We advocate supporting handmade + locally made products because of the lower carbon footprint of getting the products to you. We believe buying pre loved + vintage reduces the number of fashion items going to the dumpsite. Internet shopping helps too, we believe. We carpool + use the public transport. We refuse plastic bags when we shop + carry the shopping receipts with us, just in case the shop security guard stops us for finding merchandise in our tote bags. :op

We do believe every single one of us need to take action on Global Warming.

This Saturday, 28 March at 8:30 pm, we'll be staying at home with our family + loved ones, switch off the lights for one hour - earth hour, to watch the night sky + spend time with each other. It's more eco friendly that way. :o)

Have a brilliant weekend + take care of yourself + each other.

xoxo

Rainy Day Gibber

2009-03-25T16:14:00.011+08:00

Can you guys believe it?

It's coming to one year since we first took the plunge + held the inaugural Bijou Bazaar @ Jeumpa D'ramo. Many called us crazy for having the bazaar in a bungalow instead of at a commercial area. There will be no crowd, people will never come, so they warned. Remember the 4Ps, place is very, very important, so they reminded us.

Zee Avi, or Koko Kaina as she was known then, was one of the few who took the risk with us. We thank her for the trust. Since, she's signed with Brushfire Records, with her debut album out on 19 May 2009 + a US Tour in tow.

You go girl!!!

Recently, someone said to us, Malaysian artistes can never make it abroad, let alone an indie artiste. But totally not her fault, "brand Malaysia" is not that strong yet; it's still associated with inferior quality. And I guess she's not heard of Zee Avi too. Malaysia Boleh! ;o)

Zee Avi by Brushfire Records

Oh, we'll be doing a Bijou Bazaar @ Jeumpa D'ramo soon, to reminisce the good old days. Watch this space!

xoxo

Off the Top of My Head

2009-03-24T16:28:00.011+08:00

Of late, I have a serious thing for vintage inspired head bands.

At Bijou Bazaar, Patty Belle is my supplier of pheasant feathers head bands, adorned with crystal embellishments. I've got two sets from her! And I'm still hitting myself for not being fast enough to get the vintage inspired head bands by Indonesian designer, Cindy Valery under her brand EGOIST HARLEQUIN when she was over for Creative Mafia @ YOUTH '09.

Elsewhere, these are my favourites:

ban.do

Tree + Kimball

Handle + Spout

But I bet I wouldn't dare wear the head bands by Handle + Spout in KL. :op

xoxo

"Rock Star Poser" - N.E.R.D

2009-03-23T12:41:00.004+08:00

N.E.R.D. was awesome @ Sunburst KL '09!

Happy Monday y'all!

Bulu Bulu Studio Doodles for Sunburst KL '09

2009-03-19T14:32:00.005+08:00

It's hard not to love the work by Bulu Bulu Studio + guess what? They'll be with us at Sunburst KL '09. Sunburst KL peeps are giving Bulu Bulu Studio folks two white tarpaulin canvases to work on, so I think they'll probably do a black + white doodle like what they did on the high heels.

Can't wait for their final work to be erected on the grounds!

LomoWall for Sunburst KL '09

2009-03-17T15:58:00.007+08:00

LomoKids will be joining us again at Sunburst KL '09 this weekend to build their famous LomoWall. We first worked with them for Creative Mafia @ YOUTH '09. A rather enthusiastic and fun loving lot, it was a great pleasure having them with us that weekend.

At Sunburst KL '09, it'll be their first outdoor LomoWall + it'll be their biggest LomoWall @ 30 feet long and 8 feet high.

Am waiting for them to break China's Great LomoWall at the Temple of the Sun in Ritan Park, Beijing, which had 60,000 images collected from over 1,000 lomographers, mounted as mosaics on a 200 meter long and 2 meter high LomoWall. Soon perhaps? ;o)

Bijou Bazaar @ Sunburst KL '09

2009-03-16T09:46:00.009+08:00

(Image: www.sunburstkl.com.my)

It's Sunburst KL '09 this Saturday! w00t! w00t!

... and we've been entrusted to pimp the walls at Sunburst KL '09, alongside Adidas graffiti team. Erk! Corporation vs independent, the pressure is up. :op

Anyways, we're going mixed media, marrying a myriad of creative talents within Bijou Bazaar. We'll be featuring them on the blog leading up to Sunburst KL '09, so do watch this space.

If you'd like to inject your creative energy into our wall, do contact Iwan-g @ 019.655.9945 or Wegra @ 012.398.9849, we can still slot a few more in, the theme will be "Party in the Park". If you'd like to picnic with us at Polo Pavilion leading up to the weekend, you're more than welcome to do so, we'll be there from 10 am - 10 pm, Wednesday through Friday. ;o)

Happy Monday, peeps!

Agrikulture + Mawk of BuluBulu Studio

2009-03-12T09:45:00.003+08:00

When I first saw Agrikulture's album two years ago in Jakarta, it was the cover design, which had drawn me into buying the CD. Yeah, I know but I was sure happy to listen to their fresh boogie-able tunes, then.

Imagine how excited I was to hear that they are in Sunburst KL '09 line up. w00t! w00t!

Somehow, the work by Miss Mawk of Bulu Bulu Studio pops up in my head everytime I look at Agrikulture's album cover.

We first chanced upon Bulu Bulu Studio at Creative Mafia @ YOUTH '09 and she'll be with us again this weekend at our sister event, ARTrage Lab @ Soho KL. I'm so sitting next to her installation to oogle at her shoes! :op

We leave you with 'Kompor Meledug' cover by Agrikulture

http://www.agrikulture.com/

Tashya's Ink

2009-03-05T11:19:00.004+08:00

Remember the third installment of Bijou Bazaar, way back in Jeumpa D'ramo, the installment which attracted the police because you folks had to park your cars on Jalan Maarof itself clogging the whole road, causing masive traffic jam up to the Mid Valley flyover. :op

If you do, then you would have remembered this tiny thing, who was dwarfed by her own guitar even but with big husky voice; Tashya Basir. I reckon her acoustic English songs were her best. We're happy to see Tashya being featured in Issue 12 of Time Out Kuala Lumpur and that she'll be performing at Time Out KL's On the Up this March 18 at No Black Tie.

http://www.myspace.com/tashyabasir

A little bit about her band:

After winning the first Mystarz LG reality show, Tashya formed a 4 peice band Tashya's Ink where "we have side partings, curly hairs and no age limit" she claimed. It started with a plan to have a backing band. Initially, the band was set up with the help of veteran Nakim on bass and soon a reliable guitarist and a level headed, well not so level headed drummer joined the duo. After a long journey of frustration and disappointment they came upon Ayub a reliable drummer and they have not looked back since.

Songs are from the elements of blues, a lil bit of brit pop, a tad of rock & roll and acoustic. "It’s a mixture of many things and if were food, we’d be called lasagna".

Tashya’s Ink has just finish their 3 track single CD + you'd be able to purchase them from our sister event, ARTrage Lab @ Soho KL, next weekend ya'll!

Check out their jam session of 'Mana Hilang'

xoxo

ASTRO Kirana Short Film Awards 2008/09

2009-03-02T06:59:00.006+08:00

If you were at Creative Mafia @ YOUTH '09, you would have noticed that right at the back of the main hall, we had a mini film screening featuring a selection of independent short films by our young creative talents. Bijou being Bijou, we had allowed our participants to paint the canvas, they were given the freedom + trust to inject whatever they wanted into the event. It was only after Tangga Group + Filmmakers Anonymous had curated their slots, we found out that most of the short films to be featured were touching on sensitive issues.

Erk! At a mainstream event?! Ah well, all's well that ends well. Lucky the main people were too busy fussing over their corporate sponsors + people from the Ministry. :op

Amongst them was 'Kilaf' by Emelly Saad + 'Qalam' by Hadi Koh, who is also one of them creative people behind Tangga Group. We're happy to know that both short films were in the Top 10 nominees at the recent ASTRO Kirana Short Film Awards 2008/09.

We're proud of them! :o)

(Am so getting an autograph from Hadi at the next ARTrage Lab @ Soho KL. Ngeh! Ngeh! Ngeh!)

Oh yeah ... is Korn really going to be in Sunburst KL this year?

If they are, really, you have to find a way to be there because trust me, their energy will be brilliant! When I was *cough* younger, I was at their Manchester Apollo gig + it was awesome! I was buzzing still the next day, when I was in the exam hall, trying to answer my Macroeconomics paper. :op

I leave you with 'Falling Away From Me' by Korn

xoxo

Wegra @ Bijou Bazaar

Chic Charity

2009-02-28T19:17:00.006+08:00

We were pushed to postpone this weekend's ARTrage Lab @ Soho KL installment, a sister event to 14 + 15 March 2009. Why don't you make way to the nearby Somo @ Mont'Kiara Shoplex tomorrow instead, folks! ;o)

We leave you with On and On by Erykah Badu, just because ...

Sounds Unite's New Date

2009-02-26T13:49:00.004+08:00

Date: 15 March 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 1pm - 7pm
Venue: SOHO KL, Solaris Mont Kiara

Bands Performing:

+ ESTRELLA - http://www.myspace.com/estrellaband
+ SEVEN COLLAR T-SHIRT - http://www.myspace.com/scts
+ PUREVIBRACION - http://www.myspace.com/purevibracion
+ THE OTHERSIDE ORCHESTRA - http://www.myspace.com/theothersideorchestra
+ 40 WINKS - http://www.myspace.com/winkwink40
+ WHITE PERCUSSION UNIT - http://www.myspace.com/whitepercussionunitroc
+ RASHDAN HARITH - http://www.myspace.com/rashdanh
+ FA'AN

SOUNDS UNITE: ESTRELLA & SEVEN COLLAR T-SHIRT UK TOUR 2009 PRE-DEPARTURE GIG

2009-02-23T13:23:00.004+08:00

KNUKE and Laguna Music presents

SOUNDS UNITE: ESTRELLA & SEVEN COLLAR T-SHIRT UK TOUR 2009 PRE-DEPARTURE GIG

In support of the much awaited UK Tour, we are organizing a music showcase featuring none other than ESTRELLA and SEVEN COLLAR T-SHIRT and friends (Supporting acts will be announced soon!). This event is to give you guys (n gals) a taste of the big Tour.

Details are as below:-

Venue: SOHO KL (behind Cold Storage)
Date: Sunday, 1st March 2009
Time: 1.09pm- 7.09pm
Supporting acts:

PureVibracion
The Otherside Orchestra

and many more!!

Entrance: RM 15 (at the door)
Doors open at 12.59pm

This event is supported by

Bijou Bazaar (www.bijoubazaar.blogspot.com)
(our sister event ARTrage Lab will be supporting the event folks!)

ARTrage Lab @ Soho KL
28 February - 1 March 2009
Operating Hours: 14:09 - 22:09

and

SOHO KL (http://www.sohokl.com/)

So please come and enjoy this wonderful experience! Spread the love! For more info and updates visit:

http://www.knuke.org/

See you guys there!!!

KNUKE::Laguna Music
Bijou Bazaar: SOHO KL

Manchester : Must Haves

2009-02-22T03:44:00.006+08:00

What are Mancunians (females of course ) now are delirious about? Well, suffering from credit crunch or not, are you just going to passed by those shops and missed these wonderful pleasures of life? I'm certainly not. From high fashion retailers such as All Saints to value retailers such as Primark and ASOS, everyone can get their hands on these mush haves!

Here are the must haves from top to bottom :

1. Pearl neacklaces and bangles - ASOS

2. Plimsolls - ASOS

3. Long vests - All Saints

4. African leggings, skirts and tops - American Apparel

5. Quilted bag - Marc B , Topshop

xoxo

millie devotee

Vivienne Westwood + melissa shoes

2009-02-20T20:22:00.024+08:00

I'm sure you would agree with us that designer Vivienne Westwood is an embodiment of the modern yet undeniably feminine + fearlessly non-conformist British fashion. She was largely responsible for bringing modern punk + new wave fashions into the mainstream.

If we were to ask you to name one of the most unlikely partnerships she could ever establish, your choices is bound to include the Brazilian shoe brand melissa, well known for its innovative use of plastic + its policy for 100% eco-friendly.

But somehow, once you get past the shock + the unlikely air of this collaboration to take a look at the reasoning behind the concept, the "plastic meets the quintessential British designer" story is very likely to grow on you.

Vivienne Westwood's third Anglomania design for melissa shoes is now available priced at £70. We've been stalking the one above for the past week over the net. *drooling* 'Lady Dragon' is a plastic peep-toe slingblack which comes in five colourways with heart motifs alongside a glittery version featuring Vivienne's signature Orb.

Angloamania+ Lady Dragon melissa shoes are currently being retailed in *cough* Harvey Nichols you know where. (I wonder if them peeps going on the UK tour would mind transporting those shoes home for me if I give them the dosh? :op)

A little history on melissa shoes...

Back in 1979, Brazilian shoe giant Grendene developed the PVC sandal known as 'jelly shoes'. Since then, the company has developed an ecologically-aware production process in which every product is recyclable + challenged the world's perception of plastic by fusing its thermoplastic technology with the talents some of the most innovative designers on the planet.

Alexandre Herchcovitch, J Maskrey, Karim Rashid, Judy Blame, Brazil's legendary Campana brothers, revered Brazilian stylist Isabel Capeto + award-winning architect Zaha Hadid have all joined forces with melissa shoes.

http://www.melissaplasticdreams.com/

http://www.viviennewestwood.com/

We leave you with 'Her Morning Elegance' by Oren Lavie

Have a brilliant weekend, folks! :o)

xoxo

Tribal Neckpiece

2009-02-19T21:02:00.004+08:00

I so want to own this multi strand neck piece!

Perhaps, when I get home tonight, I should dig for old tees to be refashioned into the neck piece?

o_0

and we leave you with 'I'm Yours' by Jason Mraz

Happy Thursday, peeps!

xoxo

Ke United Kingdom?

2009-02-16T11:31:00.013+08:00

My Favourite Soprano - Rashdan Harith

We had the pleasure of listening to Rashdan Harith play acoustic again last Saturday. Remember Rashdan from the first Bijou Bazaar @ Jeumpa D'ramo + Bijou Bazaar @ KLue Urbanscapes 2008?

We've grown to love Rashdan, we reckon he's a great singer, love the power in his singing + his ability to be consistent. Someone whispered that he's just been given an offer of a lifetime; for us to know + for you to find out. We're excited for him + would definitely pecah our tabung, when it materialises.

Oh ya and Rashdan is also a part of KNUKE, responsible for Estrella + 7 Collar t-Shirt UK Tour in March/April 2009. If you peeps are in the UK or Europe, reading + are lost on who the two bands are, do visit their MySpace:

Estrella - http://www.myspace.com/estrellaband
Seven Collar t-Shirt - http://www.myspace.com/scts

Don't miss this opportunity to catch up with what's new in Malaysia's local music scene, make a date with them. You'll be able to purchase other local independent musicians' EPs + albums too at the gig. Trust me, the talents today are brilliant! ;o)

Happy Monday, peeps!

xoxo

Wegra @ Bijou Bazaar

p.s. The video was songlap-ed from 'I Eat Music' by http://www.friedchillies.com/, we love them, we think they're cool, do check them out!

Bijou Bazaar @ Soho KL this Valentine's weekend

2009-02-13T23:56:00.014+08:00

Bijou Bazaar @ Soho KL
Date: 14-15 February 2009 (Sat+Sun)
Venue: Soho KL, Solaris Mont'Kiara
Operating Hours: 2:00pm - 10:00pm

Who'll be with us this Valentine's weekend?

+ Art Syndrome - http://www.art-syndrome.com/
+ Chocolah - http://chocolah.blogspot.com/
+ Dotiro - http://www.dotiro.com/
+ Glampot - http://glampot.blogspot.com/
+ LaQoo - http://laqoo.blogspot.com/
+ Mia & Mika - http://www.miaandmika.com/
+ Mimpi by Murni - http://mimpimurni.blogspot.com/
+ Old Blossom Box - http://oldblossombox.blogspot.com/
+ Soak Republic - http://www.soakrepublic.com/
+ Taste Buzz - http://www.tastebuzz.net/
+ Taste Invasion - http://tasteinvasion.blogspot.com/
+ Wada's Wardrobe - http://wadaswardrobe.blogspot.com/

... and more! FeedMyLamb! will be there selling wall decals for them wanting to pimp their wall. We've got fashionistas from Jeumpa D'ramo days back with their pre loved items to let go + Yuna will be joining us as well to let go some of her pre loved items + sell her EPs as well! So, them looking for her EP, make way to Soho KL this weekend y'all! ;o)

Saturday 14 February 2009
Acoustic Session 3 pm - 6 pm

+ ARABELLA - http://www.myspace.com/babyprogressive
+ ALMOST IYLIA - http://www.myspace.com/iyliafahmi
+ SOUND OF ACOUSTIC - http://www.myspace.com/soatheband
+ BO AMIR IQRAM - http://www.myspace.com/boamiriqram
+ RASHDAN HARITH - http://www.myspace.com/rashdanh
+ OUR ROYAL FAMILY

The Mix Land 8 pm til late

+ fitrelic
+ hebbo

- http://themixland.blogspot.com/

Acoustic Session, Saturday, 14.02.2009

2009-02-11T16:39:00.005+08:00

My friend was teasing me that the songs I was posting on my Facebook's wall were revealing too much about how old am I, *cough* am forever 21. Apparently I started being defensive about it + imagine how glad I was to find 18 year old Iylia (well, he's only 3 years younger) doing a cover of Sonnet by The Verve. :op

He sent 2 of his original work, which caught my attention. I love 'Til The End', about a relationship but mentioning Facebook. Cute! I wouldn't know how to post an mp3 file here, so you'll have to be at Bijou Bazaar's Acoustic Session Saturday, 14 February 2009, between 3 pm to 6 pm to listen to the song.

And he promised to sing Sonnet by The Verve.

w00t! w00t!

So I leave you with Sonnet by The Verve. ;o)

Hope to see y'all there!

xoxo

Wegra @ Bijou Bazaar

How to get to Soho KL, Solaris Mont'Kiara?

2009-02-09T14:38:00.010+08:00

You heard right, we'll be in Soho KL, Solaris Mont'Kiara this weekend. Join us if you want a budget or even a bling, bling Valentine's weekend. ;o)

Macam2 ada ... but first how to get there?

How to get to Soho KL from Jalan Duta?

Take the Jalan Duta exit into Jalan Khidmat Usaha, where the Kompleks Kerajaan will be on your right + Masjid Wilayah is somewhere on your far left. Drive past Mahkamah Tinggi KL + Menara MATRADE right down to the Persiaran Dutamas T-junction.

Take a left into Persiaran Dutamas, stay on your right. Take the first right, shortly after, into Jalan Duta Kiara, you'll see an appartment, which I don't know what's it called, on your right at the junction.

Drive past the bridge over Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan and stay on your right. The cluster of buildings on your right, soon after the bridge is Solaris Mont'Kiara. Take a right and you will see Soho KL as you drive in.

If you are from Petaling Jaya, it'll be best to take the LDP and take the Bukit Kiara exit. From there, you can either make your way to Plaza Mont'Kiara or if you want to aviod Mont'Kiara's traffic, you can head towards Plaza Damas.

How to get to Soho KL from Plaza Mont'Kiara?

As you turn into Jalan Kiara, you'll find Plaza Mont'Kiara on your left and One Kiara development on your right. Stay on Jalan Kiara, you'll drive past Mont'Kiara International School on your left, Wendy's restaurant on your left. Stay on Jalan Kiara's curve to the right and as you drive further up, you will see both Solaris Mont'Kiara + Soho KL signages pointing to your right, take that right. :o)

How to get to Soho KL from Plaza Damas?

Coming from PJ, you'll see Plaza Damas on your left on Jalan Sri Hartamas 1. Stay on that road and drive right to the end where Duta Nusantara development will be on your left. At the junction, right at the end of Duta Nusantara, take a left into Jalan Khidmat Usaha. Stay on the road until you see a traffic light junction + take another left, into Jalan Duta Kiara, you'll see an appartment, which I don't know what's it called, on your right at the junction.

Drive past the bridge over Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan and stay on your right. The cluster of buildings on your right, soon after the bridge is Solaris Mont'Kiara. Take a right and you will see Soho KL as you drive in.

We are the chaos between the two atriums in Soho KL. :op

London Calling

2009-02-08T19:53:00.008+08:00

Yup! We had to choose a picture of Koko Kaina a.k.a Zee Avi at our inaugural neue Bijou, way back at Jeumpa D'ramo in April 2008. :op

Anyways ...

British Council is looking for that outstanding individual making ripples in the Malaysian music industry to send to the UK and take part in an international competition with the ultimate goal of being selected as the International Young Music Entrepreneur (IYME).

Open to music entrepreneurs aged between 25 and 35, IYME recognises extraordinary achievement and potential of young creative entrepreneurs working in the music industry.

The IYME 2009 Prize
The national winner will travel to the UK in May 2009 to take part in a two week tour of the UK music industry. This will include visits, meetings, and gigs in London, Brighton and Manchester, The Great Escape music industry conference and festival and a showcasing event to promote their national music scene.

The IYME 2009 winner will be announced at an awards ceremony during the UK visit. The prize will consist of a financial award of £7,500, which will be linked to the UK and tailored to the winner’s specific needs. The winner of IYME is decided based upon a presentation made by each candidate to an elite judging panel from the UK music industry.

Have you got what it takes?
Candidates must already be active professionally in the local music sector, as defined below:

Music sector definition
+ Record companies; Artists & Repertoire (A&R); producing, recording, engineering; music licensing, and distribution
+ Venue and/or festival programming and management
+ Artists management and agents
+ Music broadcasting
+ Music journalism and publishing
+ Music development & management
+ Music marketing; public and media relations
+ Music retail; online (including digital) and high street outlets

We recognise that a participant may be active as a musician or DJ, however their work as an artist should be secondary to their focus as an entrepreneur in the promotion of music in their country. Musical talent/output will not be factored into the judging procedure – finalists will be judged solely on the merit of their entrepreneurial abilities in the music business.

Eligibility
A participant must:
+ Be aged between 25 and 35
+ Already work in the music sector (as defined above) with at least 3 years experience
+ Be entrepreneurial and have shown their ability and innovative approach to the promotion of music in their country, particularly in a commercial context
+ Through their character, drive and abilities demonstrate their potential to be a future leader of the sector in their country
+ Have a reasonable command of the English language

Selection of winning candidate
A panel of judges comprising leading figures in the local music industry will interview short-listed candidates, selected on the strength of their applications, to identify the best Young Music Entrepreneur from Malaysia.

Successful candidates will have a passion for their creative sector; display originality and confidence in their work, and an entrepreneurial drive to succeed in their field; they will be risk-takers and forward-thinking leaders, striving to make a difference in their field and for the local music industry.

Take note, it’s not about how much money you’ve made in the music business, but about having a wider understanding of the potential in this market and what your role could be in building it. Candidates will be judged both on the evidence of their existing entrepreneurial skills and their potential to be an agent of change.

What do you need to do?

Applicants need to fill out an application form (72 KB), and submit this along with any supporting evidence of your relevant achievements to:

IYME 2009
c/o Arts Team
British Council
Ground Floor, West Block
Wisma Selangor Dredging
142C, Jalan Ampang
50450, Kuala Lumpur

or email your application to arts@britishcouncil.org.my

Closing date: Wednesday 18 February 2009

For further queries, send us an email at arts@britishcouncil.org.my or call 03 2723 7931 or 03 2723 7988.

Don't repeat our mistake last year, of not participating in British Council's gig when invited. (macam boleh menang but yeah) :op

If you’re passionate about the music industry, step up! Go for it! ;o)

... and good luck! :o)

xoxo

Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl - Broken Social Scene

2009-02-07T19:03:00.002+08:00

Have a brilliant weekend, peeps! :o)