word game / 文字遊戲

今天沒有時間速寫，我倒是找到新的娛樂，從紐約時報上挑我喜歡的字剪下來，造自己的句子，再看看眼前的風景，這樣也生出了圖像。

Not having time for doing a sketch today prompted me to look for new entertainment. I clipped words that spoke to me from the New York Times to make my own sentence. And what I saw right in front of my eyes offered possibilities for an image. 

有些字串本身就有意像存在，不需要多加發揮，這真是個好玩的遊戲啊！

Some word strings evoke visual images without my having to add more ideas to them. What a lovely game! 

Power of Making / 創作的力量

上個星期去了維多利亞和亞伯特美術館，目前有個手作的展覽在進行中，展出的作品琳瑯滿目，從相機到腳踏車到衣飾，我特別喜歡客座策展人丹尼爾查尼寫的一段話：

「創作是我們解決問題、表達想法和改變世界最有力的方式，我們創作的物品和創作方式為我們自身寫下定義，也透露我們想成為的人。

對很多人來說，創作是生活所須，對其它人來說，創作則是他們選擇的職志，是他們思考、發明和創新的方式。而對某些人，能創造某件物品並且說『是我做的！』本身就是件開心的事，創造的力量在於它滿足了上述每一個人類的需求和渴望。

手藝和獨創性達到極高水準的藝術家可以創造出令人驚豔之物，但每個人都有創造的能力，不論是創作生活必須品或高技術作品的知識，都是人類最珍貴的資產。」

Last week on my visit to Victoria and Albert Museum, I found an ongoing exhibition on the power of making. There are various handmade objects on display from cameras to bicycles to clothing. I am especially impressed by the introductory comments by the guest curator Daniel Charny:

Making is the most powerful way that we solve problems, expressing ideas and shape our world. What and how we make defines who we are, and communicates who we want to be. 


For many people, making is critical for survival. For others, it is a chosen vocation: a way of thinking, inventing and innovating. And for some it is simply a delight to be able to shape a material and say 'I made that'. The power of making is that it fulfills each of these human needs and desires. 


Those whose craft and ingenuity reach the very high levels can create amazing things. But making is something everyone can do. The knowledge of how to make--both everyday objects and highly-skilled creations--is one of humanity's most precious resources.

本日一物：你在我心裡─手作小筆記本─15 cm x 10 cm─32頁

object of the day: i carry your heart with me--handmade notebook--15 cm x 10 cm--32 pages

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82503396/i-carry-your-heart-with-me-handmade?ref=pr_shop

i carry your heart with me / 你在我心裡

來到倫敦之後，一直要重新經營My Little Room，雖然外在的誘惑很多，我每天儘量抽時間做新商品，可是我選了一個很複雜的開頭，我想要做月曆，卻又想用能打動我的主題，前一陣子重讀康明斯的小詩「你在我心裡」，便立志要重新詮釋它。雖然我沒有特別喜歡貓，但最近看到許多美麗的貓，就想把新環境給我的影響放到新作品中，今天終於完成了，這可是我花了好幾天、犧牲出去玩的時間做的，不過我很開心，這代表我的心靜下來了。

After coming to London, I've wanted badly to reopen My Little Room. Though there are tons of temptations outside, I try to spare at least some time designing the new item every day. However, I chose a pretty complicated beginning. I'd love to make a calendar, but I wanted to go for a topic that would speak to me. A while ago, I came across e. e. cummings' i carry your heart with me again, and I was determined to re-illustrate it. I don't take a special liking to cats, but lately I've seen many beautiful cats. I figured I should add the element of my new living place to the work. I am glad to have finished it today. Well, this is the result of my sacrificing days for fun, but I am quite happy because that means I can concentrate on drawing again.

我隨身帶著很多人的心，今天小方和我說他想我想到快哭了，我和他說，我們都在交新朋友，等我們各自收集五百個朋友就會再相見了，那時候我們的心會很大很大吧！

I carry many people's hearts with me. Today Von told me that he misses me so much that he feels like crying. I told him that our mission is to make new friends, so when each of us meets about 500 friends, we'll see each other again! By then, our hearts will have become ENORMOUS!

本日一物─「你在我心裡」2012年懸掛式月曆─19.8 cm x 27.3 cm

item of the day: i carry your heart with me--2012 wall calendar--19. 8 cm x 27.3 cm

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82168157/i-carry-your-heart-with-me-original?ref=pr_shop

Luco IV

進入第二天的工程，今天是由可愛的妹妹佳璇登場幫忙。

On the second day of work, it is the lovely Erica that serves as my assistant.

本來想隱身於幫助手們拍的照片裡，謝謝小蕙幫我拍的一系列近照。

I wanted to remain invisible by not appearing in any photo, but it is nice to have a series of pictures taken by Huei. 

王子的臉再度復出！但是他和捲髮人有點微胖，，應該是我內心的渴望，不過也是希望客人吃飽，不用擔心體重啦！

The disappearing face of the prince makes its comeback. Well, he and Miss Curly are both chubby; maybe it reflects my inner desire for a chubby prince, but never have the dream come true. Another reason is that I hope the diners won't have to worry about their weight here. 

助手群們越來越龐大，沒睡飽的嘉芸也跑來幫忙。

I have more and more assistants as the noon time approaches. Even the fatigued Prince comes to help. 

拿顏料滿場亂走時，我發現餐廳裡頭新的風景─從吧台的小窗往內看，廚師和老闆專注地工作，我們被賦予試吃的重要任務，在品嚐過後要給建議，如果問題重大，廚師們要立刻重新烹調。其實廚房裡才是最需要裝飾的地方，因為廚師心情佳，煮的食物也會可口！

While moving around to get paints, I discover a new scene--seen from the window behind the bar counter, the cooks and Jade are busy cooking. We, on the other hand, are shouldered with the sacred  mission of sampling their food and coming up with suggestions. If the problems are significant, the cooks have to try again immediately. Actually, the kitchen should be a beautiful place because if the cooks are in a good mood, I believe the dishes will be yummy!

下午，我開始變得自我要求嚴厲，看很多地方都不順眼，還邊拍照邊檢討。

In the afternoon, I begin to be very exacting. There seem to be so many tiny details that displease me. I even take photos of the wall, trying to find out how I can do better. 

連神經細膩的嘉芸都覺得我進入某種歇斯底里的狀態。

Even Prince, who is so much more careful than Erica, finds me kind of hysterical in trying to make the painting perfect. 

應佳璇媽邀請，大家來簽名，你找到了佳璇的名字嗎？

At Jade's invitation, everyone leaves their names in their favorite corners. Can you find "Erica?" 

佳瑜簽在另一邊。

Natalie signs her name on the other side. 

佳璇媽也來塗幾筆過過癮！

Jade tries her hand at painting. 

藍色白點星球本來是沒有戴皮帶的，但曾經讀過美術系的兩位廚師們不斷給我意見，在此也要謝謝他們。

The blue planet with white polka dots did not wear any belt in my draft, but the two cooks, who used to be art majors, keep offering me advice. I'd like to give acknowledgement to them here. 

Luco餐廳位於政大附近，七月十七日開幕，以下為餐廳資訊：

Luco Cafe 

地址：台北市指南路二段45巷10號一樓

電話：(02)8661-1397

Luco Cafe is located in the neighborhood of Cheng-chi University. It will be open on Sunday, July 17. Below is the information you might find useful: 

Luco Cafe 

1th F. No. 10, Lane 45, Chi-nan Rd., Section 2, Taipei 

(02)8661-1397

Luco II

儘管畫草圖的過程令我榨盡腦汁，到了上色的階段似乎就容易許多，但也有可能是時間有限。今天的挑戰和草圖回合比起來真是蛋糕一塊啊！

Despite the brain-racking process of producing the most ideal draft, our wall-painting project took on a swifter pace when it comes to coloring. (Or maybe we were running out of time...) Today the challenge has become so much easier. There are only two alternatives to choose from... 

The Lover’s Dictionary / 戀人字典



在圖書館發有作者親筆簽名的「戀人字典」，二話不說就借了回來，故事以無名式的敘述者，用生字列舉的排列，書寫戀情裡的種種。

I accidentally spotted the book The Lover’s Dictionary with the author’s autograph, and I knew right on the spot that I didn’t want to miss this book. The story is narrated by a nameless character with the structure of word entries from A to Z on his relationship.

在「頌歌」此篇，敘事者提到初發芽的關係裡，「我仍然懼怕對話中的每一段空白，害怕一切就這麼結束，我們已走到無話可說的盡頭。我仍然試著讓你留下好印象，我希望你也能讓我印象深刻，我才能把你的了不起當成故事說給朋友聽。」

Under the entry “anthem,” he mentions in a budding love affair, “I was still scared by every gap in our conversation, fearing that this was it, the point where we had nothing left to say. I was still trying to impress you, and I still wanted to be impressed by you, so I could pass along pieces of your impressiveness in stories to my friends.” p. 13

這讓我想到上週末，和小方提到十天後我們要一起去的旅行，他像少年的歌德道：我好想你，還好時間過得很快，今天是星期天，星期一，星期二，星期三，星期四，星期五，星期六，星期天，星期一，我就見到妳了，我好期待和你一起旅行。這個小故事讓我可以得意地在朋友中傳誦，走在路上沒事想到也會偷笑喔！

This reminds me of my phone talk with Von last weekend. The conversation centered around the trip we are going to take together in ten days. He murmured with a sentimental touch resembling that of young Werther, “I miss you so much. Luckily time passes by fast. Today is Sunday. There are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Then I’ll be seeing you. I am so looking forward to traveling with you.” I am very proud to pass this story of Von’s impressiveness to my friends, and I can’t help giggling with a bright halo above my head while walking on the roads!

Defensive / 防

今天早上練書法，寫「防」字時老把耳朵和方靠得太近，難怪有時候容易受傷害，太接近方體，會被銳利的角度割到，所以從現在起，必要時我得保持距離。

When I was practicing calligraphy this morning, I failed to pay attention to the distance between the two parts (meaning ear; square) in the word “defensive.” No wonder I am easily hurt sometimes by the sharp angles of a square. From now on, I have to keep my distance when necessary…

Slow Movement / 慢活

吃了一個多月的胃藥，上個星期決定轉看中醫，醫生一把脈便說，這不是腸胃的問題，是頭腦轉太快了。所以我目前正在重新學習無所事事的藝術。

After taking medicine for my gastroenteritis for more than a month, I made the decision to switch to seeing a Chinese medicine doctor last week. Upon feeling my pulse, the doctor cleared all my confusion right away, saying that it was my brain that caused all the discomfort. It moved too fast for my body to catch up. That’s why at this moment I am relearning the art of being a “vegetarian.”