2017/07/22

圖解中國民居

圖解中國民居
話說自從無印良品開始賣書之後,其實也沒有太大期望,因為心想還是賣一些日式家品悠閒書或雜誌罷,但是竟然給我發現 這本有趣的書籍!

雖然我不是建築師,但對中國民居也實在有點興趣. 奈何很多建築書不是太商業味(超靚實景相),便是內容沈悶非常,而且昂貴.

那天,還是隨意看看,卻被這本書封面的插圖所吸引. 仔細看看內文,清楚簡潔地把主要中國民居的特色、佈局、結構等一一紀錄. (抱歉因版權問題不方便打開內頁)而且紙質及插畫十分樸實,很有味道.

內容除了我們熟悉的四合院,  江南水鄉民居,圍屋,土樓之外;更有竹樓,碉房,吊腳樓等較有特色的民居.

作者是一個很有心的中國學者王其鈞博士,請務必看書中的前言和後記,可以對作者的心思有更多認識,以致在細看內文時會更珍惜所獲得有知識。 

喜歡看書,是因為可以隨時穿梭時空及地理的限制,藉作者的解讀而學會一些新的知識或趣味. 初時我以為這本書售價應該不少於二佰塊錢,事實上卻出乎我意料之外的便宜,雖然我興高採烈地即時把它據為己有,卻也同時感到一陣悲哀.

我在想:是我們對閱讀這一回事已變得沒趣從而影響了書籍的售價? 還是重來低估了一些有水準但沒用名氣來包裝的作品呢?!

2017/07/18

一個廁所板

上星期,廁所板突然宣告死亡,咁啱唔得閒,唯有勉強捱到今日。係好熱嘅中午,唔係同客睇, 買自己嘢就梗係鎖定目標,想快快趣搞掂啦!可能你會覺得好易啫,買番同一個型號就得啦 ; 咁又唔係喎,因為從來我都覺得D廁所板跟個馬桶一套,除咗有冇油壓之外就冇咩選擇,而且淨係得白色, 悶到發慌! (以前好多色揀) 

所以今次又發揮"可可實驗室"精神,去揾世上有冇未被發現嘅"珍品"啦?! 

如果俾你揀: 
A)$800 白色Roca油壓板
B)$480 新進白色德國油壓板
C) $250 湖水綠歐洲普通板 
D) $180 白色唔知咩牌子油壓板

你會點揀呢? 

好明顯我揀咗 C 啦, 不過仲有下文, 係塊板用不銹鋼鉸,木蕊(重也), 而且係十年倉貨,返嚟要再自行清潔膠紙及汚漬…...好啦,講到呢度我應唔應該放棄呢?

放棄咗就冇呢篇文啦,冇錯,買咗.....而且超值,因為:
1)Jacob Delafon 
2)意大利生產 
3)靚色靚料 
4)金屬配件一D都冇生銹 
5)原價700 大洋
6)絕版 


心滿意足:D
以上就係我嘅非常選擇啦:P


Jacob Delafon WC cover

2017/07/16

做個 " 愛國" 的設計師

2014年10月26日, 發放了一篇 做個有承擔的設計師, 把好不容易累積了的中國流覧本網誌數量付於流水.可惜, 但無悔.

今天, 終於把流量稍為穩定, 更剛剛發佈了"可可雜貨舖", 在期待着吸引多些讀者之際, 我還是決定要寫這篇網誌; 即使, 我的期待或許將要再次落空.

 剛剛在電視上看了一個關於劉曉波先生的特輯.那一刻,我竟然能感受到身為"中國人"對國家没有看待人權, 人民沒有真正自由的那種傷痛, 真的很痛!!!

一個帶着崇高理想, 以和平心態去期待國家變得更好的學者; 卻為此而賠上自己, 甚至最愛的一生,  値得嗎? (我敢説在他心中一定認為値得!)

自問對什麼政治, 國家...不算熟識; 但人權, 自由, 理想和愛, 是正如你我一様, 天生便懂得, 也應該可以隨時享用. 可是, 在2017年的世代, 中國在高舉什麼一帶一路, 讓全國接軌的同時; 另一邊廂卻仍然像"野蠻人"一樣. 思想守舊, 腐敗, 專横...視人命如草芥!


劉曉波先生和劉霞的付出, 其實, 這オ是真正的愛國, 只是國家不愛國民罷了. 

以言入罪, 軟禁, 網絡封殺, 囚禁異見人士......這一切並不會隨着他的離世而終止; 但可以肯定的是, 人可以被囚, 心卻不可以! 只要有這個信念, 他(們)的付出必不會白廢!

2017/07/13

Cocoa Grocery Launch!

Cocoa Design Life Grocery banner in Redbubble

Although it is not our original intention when the first date we blog here, 
it is our desire in certain extent. 

It was started almost ten years ago, when we had discovered Spoonflower; as most of you may know that, you can create your own fabric pattern by using of any media and technique; which is fun and creative. But unfortunately, they are quite "limit" in manufacturing; even though they team up with Sprouts Pattern and Roostery later on, wall paper and fabric oriented products are still their only main stream. So, it's a bit of frustrating when some potential pattern that can fit into our daily life product but can't be made.

Well, I have to confess that I spend too little time to further explore this issue until this year, the world is changing so fast especially in e-commerce, numerous of build-on-demand platforms had already been mature and doing well in the market. So, here we are in Redbubble

Usually, throw pillow is a standard product, 
Coffee Fantasy throw pillow in Redbubble
Coffee Fantasy
 

but we want something else such as this one :D


Coffee Fantasy iphone cover in Redbubble
iphone case

The best offer in this platform is the possibility of pattern re-sizing and orientation to different product under the designer's control. This is what I wish for so long.


Coffee Fantasy fabric design in minky fabricYou may ask then why we are still built our Cocoa Fabric shop in Spoonflower, because it do provide a number of good quality fabric choices that others don't. 

Like this "minky" fabric, so......fluffy and cute !

Therefore, before a real creative online "Grocery" is found on earth, these are still the best channel for us in the mean time.

So, take a visit to our shop if you have a minute, 
we will upload more design in the coming future. 
Enjoy !

2017/07/06

City_aurora

City aurora fabric design

 
Collection : City dream
Pattern : Aurora

Original :  Photo of light trace in the city
Style : Modern, Western
Tone : Warm
Effect : Graphic illusion



2017/07/05

Inside Out

view from inside or outside
Inside Out

Abandon vs Freedom
Lonely vs Tranquility
No way out vs Change
Death vs Move on
To love vs Be loved


It all depends which side you are standing!


2017/07/03

Minolta XD : My third camera

Minolta XD SLR camera
First of all, I have to apologize for your waiting to the review of my third camera, because it had already gone to somebody years ago, and that's why I need to find a photo online and thanks to WIKI.

O.K., here it is, my Minolta XD, actually in black. Yes! it's model no. is XD in Japan version :D

As far as I've remember I bought this in a kit set together with a standard lens of 50mm, which cost me a total of HK$1,600 something. My first 135 camera in almost 30 years ago; well, that's why there is no more "Minolta" today; but Konica Minolta. 

It's handy, rigid, easy operate, affordable price range that suits me as a design student. When I save enough money, I bought another Minolta zoom lens 70-210mm; followed by a Fuji 19mm wide....is that strange? Ha ha! 

As you know, wide angle is expensive but I do need one for my interior shot, and I was lucky because by the help of Ricketeer's friend who modify his second or even third handed Fuji mount to fit into my XD, Voila' !

1 Body + 3 Lens became my companion and partner for almost five years. So, they were my good memories of my "Good Old Days!" Thank you Minolta :)