Hand(y)bags

Having lagged behind a fair wee while, I thought I may as well write about my days/stint in England where I found a little love in creating these miniature drawstring bags.




The Bernina had struck again. She's a legend. And I miss her whilst being in the Asian continent. If only!

A mix of two themes of fabric (on the most part) coupled with a bold satin ribbon and touching it up nicely with a small motif - personalised or not [please note that some of these motifs are somewhat scruffy]. Most friends/family who are lucky enough (if I don't mind saying so myself) to have received one have considered using these to stores underwear, shoes, travel. I, myself, use the bags for travel storing clothing of all sorts, underwear, plug sockets, make-up...an ongoing list.

Easily identified, bright, fruitful and utmost handy(bags). Yeeha.

Viet Van Tho

Apologies for delivering such a scattered blog, but as spontaneous and disorganised as I am in everyday life, it gets reflected on here. Thanks for staying tuned in.

Of my 7 weeks here so far, Hanoi's swept me in nicely and quaintly. I've felt the weather changes, had my head deep in the books, strutted myself infront of a very appreciative bunch of Vietnamese students, woven through day to day traffic - still praying for my life on every ocassion, eaten a mass amount of decent food and in contrary have eaten a fair amount of mediocre (bordering rancid) foods, I've craved nourishing pies/mum's homemade dishes/and a well-earned English breakkie. I've been overcharged and undercharged and have given and received an abundance of hearty-warm smiles. Amongst these hectic notions, I've swiftly meandered the streets of Hanoi namely in and around the Old Quarter - the area which boasts the traditions and architectures of little old Hanoi i.e. the icing of the Hanoi cake.

On my choppy gallivants around the Old Quarter, I've stumbled upon many-a-many art galleries - some are cool, some not so cool. These are small galleries (or shops!) which are easily accessible and house paintings of local Vietnamese artists.. I've been drawn in once again by only a selected few artists/styles. I'll first subject you to..

Van Tho This Hanoi University of Fine Art educated artist is an old timer and is fairly prominent in Hanoi. I like how they describe the social realist artist - Van Tho as a combination of three notorious artists wrapped into one.
- Van Gogh - Matisse - Picasso. My, my..lucky Van

[Though is it an advantage to be akin to such great artists? Or do we suggest that being unique and wholesomely new hones a better value? Art is arguably a form of inspiration afterall].

So why do I vouch for Van Tho so much? Well, he draws up facial portraits for a start whilst also managing to capture characteristics of his subject. The thick paint usage lays poised on the canvas with a bold attitude, sleek; in its colourful palette of goodness. Scrap the paintbrushes, this man Van uses a trowel! Van's paintings flow with sharp but contrastingly soft corners. This man has a consistent obtuse style that fails to tire me. On the whole, I think in his 70+ years of age, he's not doing too badly for a modern artist. A defiant winner.

..and this is why I'm in Hanoi

…amongst many other reasons.

Having traipsed through Vietnam (Việt Nam) rather aimlessly in 2009, I gave a spare two years of monolithic thought into returning to latch onto those gleeful days. And now here I am drawn almost magnetically back to Hanoi (Hà Nội) – the discrete capital of the country embellished in the South-East Asian peninsula that is so skillfully sandwiched between three varying countries and two majestic seas; one of which is highly disputed at this minute in time.