here is hazel

I don’t know why I took this long to redesign the logo for La Garçonne (my menswear inspiration collective, not the online boutique), but voilà! Here it is!

My aim was to design a logo that was: a) easy on the eyes and b) had both masculine and feminine elements, which is really what characterizes a garçonne in the first place. I think I achieved both those things in this logo, using the two fonts, Learning Curve and Lane.

The only problem with this is that it does not work well in smaller scales.

So it is not perfect, but it is definitely an improvement from the previous one!

I was going to take up Project 365 again this year, and take a disposable camera photo everyday for a year. But, to my utter disappointment, I could not obtain a disposable camera in time for the first day of 2011. :(

So I decided to change it up a bit and draw everyday instead! Maybe I’ll post some of my drawings when things get dry around here, but you can expect to see each one for each day on my old, abandoned Project 365 blog.

Any of you taking up a Project 365 of your own?

So, here we are. A few steps away from another year of our existence. Twenty-eleven. 2011. The future.

Honestly, I’m sort of sad to see 2010 go. It’s been a good year for me. I’ve been doing a lot of self-discovery these past months and I feel that I know myself better now. There’s still some things I’m not happy with (such as my absolute laziness!), but I’m working on it and I’m excited for what’s to come.

To my friends, new and old, all of you: Thank you. So much. You guys made my year! I’ll never forget summer school, our “Spontaneous Fridays”, all the work we did for the yearbook/newspaper, our time in New York, in the thrift stores, and especially in the school basement, down in the Art room. OMG, we’re graduating this year!

To all the cool bloggers and online peeps: I know I’m terrible at commenting, but know that I’m always lurking your sites and reading your posts. Keep em’ coming! Next year I’ll try to send you guys stuff! Thanks for visiting. :)

Screw New Year’s resolutions, just have a happy 2011!!!

I told myself that I would do some art during the holidays, so instead of taking photos of what I got for Christmas, I drew them! It’s times like these that I fully embrace being part of a big family. Lots of presents and lots of laughter!

Okay, now I’m starting to sound sappy. But this was seriously one of the best Christmases we’ve had, as far as I remember. No one was being a Scrooge and whining over what they did/didn’t get.

I guess we’re all growing up.

Edit: I caved and took a few photos.

The red, Keep Calm and Carry On book (which is a weekly planner and a hipster essential) is from my dear sister, the photo album underneath from Amanda, the chocolates + $30 Chapters gift card from Beatrice (my Secret Santa), the mittens + $15 green iTunes gift card from my older brother, and the canvas bag under all of those…

…was from my other Secret Santa, Sonali. She painted that Dumbledore quote on there, which is a testament to how awesome and talented she is :’)

When she handed me this, she hinted that there was a second addition to the gift which would come later.

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…is really difficult. Especially for people who have only baked using boxes of Duncan Hines brownie mix and under the guidance of their parentals.

Oh hi, that would be me!

I have no idea what I was thinking tackling this notoriously impossible dessert to give as a Christmas gift to my friends. Even David Lebovitz, a pastry chef dude living in France, only succeeded after seven go’s [goes? gos?] at it.

I blame my copy of I Love Macarons (which I’ve had since last summer) for taunting me with its cute imagery and colorful cookies.

But yes, I have attempted it. And have failed—multiple times.

And just to clarify: it’s not the taste that is the problem—it’s the whole look of my macarons! Mine are often misshapen, cracked on the top, a tad burnt, lacking a pied (the “feet” or little frills at the bottom), or sometimes a bit undercooked inside, which causes the shell to deflate. :(

As of today, I have made five batches of macarons. None of them perfect, but it’s getting there, I think. On the bright side, with each failed batch, I’m learning a lot and getting better at using my toaster oven.

Helpful links:

• Macaron Templates - Scroll down, print out, and trace on parchment paper. Don’t forget to flip before piping!
• Basic Macaron Recipe
• Christmas Macaron Recipe - Mint with mint chocolate filling.
• Macaron Making Tips
• I Love Macarons book notes - Good if you’re using the book to make them!

Notes to self:

• Never use green food coloring for macarons. Ever. Again. The results are disastrous and you will be left with lots of wasted ingredients.
• Mix meringue until slightly firm for easy piping and less deformed macaron shells.
• If there is no pastry/piping bag in sight, use a large, sturdy Ziploc bag. Then cut a small slit on one corner. Use a deep cup to aid in filling the bag.
• Leave oven door ajar to prevent overheating and cracking.
• Adding butter to chocolate ganache is good!
• When attempting to make butter cream filling, use a hand mixer not a stand mixer. It will never work with the latter no matter how long you mix it. TRUST.
• Wear an apron next time!
• Purchase an oven mitt with actual finger holes to prevent anymore first-/second-degree burns.
• Make lots and lots of filling so that some macarons don’t look sad and flat…
• Buy more kinds of food coloring/toppings/flavoring (blue? yellow? pistachios? rose water?)
• No one likes mint-flavoured macarons except you.