The Bum is to Wed

Have you heard? The Bum is to wed! So she and her designer fiancee have quite some work to do. We'll be sharing our designs and our breakdowns here for you to laugh and maybe learn from. 

But first, some wisdom about weddings i've picked up thus far.

1) If you want to customize a thousand things for your wedding - which, as a designer, you'll feel almost compelled to do - you can't be lazy. 


2) If you are an understated, minimalistic sort of person, your wedding ideas will likely clash with the  Lebanese way of MAKE IT SPARKLE.

Some of your suggestions will be met with an awkward silence, followed by "but it's your wedding!"

Everyone, from your mother to the florist, will remind you that the wedding is not just about you and your very accommodating fiancee. It's a public spectacle that needs to impress. Fine.

... I've learnt to pick my battles. 


3) You can't do it alone. I can barely plan a birthday party for five, let alone a wedding bonanza. Enter family and friends, doing what they do best. 

My sister in hospitality is helping with the catering and dining setup *no pressure, Majida*
My music-loving friend is helping with the music *no pressure, Rawane*
etc. 


4) Writing a blogpost about it really pushes you to get off your lazy bum and start. 

Wounded Animal

I don’t like you very much; 

see, I know you at your core.
You’re a wounded animal,
still whimpering and sore.

You'd bite a friendly hand
If it dared to come near,
for fear that it may harm you
like others you held dear.

With swift, exacting words
you tore through my skin.
They were undeserved,
but I took them with a grin.

In your fervor is an anger,
and a sadness too.

You’ve forgotten to be kind;
others weren’t to you.

I don’t like you very much
because you’re making me the same.
I’m aiming for your throat
before you speak my name. 

From the Embers

Mere months ago, 

my insides burned

with the dying, smokeless flame

of a betrayed ideal. 

Only a sliver remained

to be consumed. 

I had wanted it that way;
I’d grown weary

of its empty promises. 

How patient I had been,

How forgiving

of a reckless ideal 

that failed to deliver,

once… twice… thrice

with growing cost. 

I blamed her,

she who’d planted it there

in the first place -

peddler of false hope,

a foolish believer.

Not me though.

I lit the match,

I swallowed it,

and I watched
from an imagined distance

as my old friend burned,

consuming me with it
unwittingly.

How did you know

to sift through the embers

for a glint of hope


and build from it our home?

Ten short somethings

I like being small,

it helps me disappear.

I hate feeling small,

it's like I'm not here.

On my tombstone

I want it to read:

She didn't live life

by default.

I am

the sum

of the good things

I've done.

They are subtle drops

of nothingness

that trickle down

and dissolve

any somethingness.

Is it too late

to say hello

again?

Every fleeting figure

In a dark, dainty suit 

could be you...

I just want to say hello

and a proper goodbye. 

You aren't my favorite,

but I come in peace.

It was my shell

to ease out of,

not yours

to crush. 

When you've always

kept to yourself,

but them - 

you want to keep.

Even the Phoenix

must master its fire

or be consumed by it. 

DIY Meshkal Kaleidoscope

Five heads (and five pairs of hands) are better than one. 

For this project, Dania, Zeina, Rawane, Samara, and I worked together to mass produce 50 kaleidoscopes to be distributed as promotional items for Dania's movie, Meshkal. 

They had to have a similar rough feel to the kaleidoscope featured in the movie.

Like Meshkal's FB page for updates.

The result.

This tutorial will show you how to make your own kaleidoscope.

Materials you'll need

Cardboard tube 
* Ours were leftover tubes from print shops, previously used to wrap large sheets of paper around.
We cut them up to make several tubes.
* Alternatively, use kitchen roll tubes, fax paper tubes, or tubes in which neon lights are stored.

Acetate (1 A4 sheet per kaleidoscope)
* This will make the inner prism, acting as a substitute for mirrors.

Shiny objects
* Little beads (better option because they move more) or plastic confetti typically used in crafts.
* Transparent objects work better than opaque ones (though some can be added for color).

Transparent plastic wrap
* I purchased ours in a roll from a stationery store.
* Works better than calque/wax paper (more translucent options), because it allows more light to enter the kaleidoscope, making it more reflective.

Thick A4 paper, one-hole puncher, 2 rubber bands, tape, cutting board, cutter, scissors, pencil.

Additional suggestions:
* Patterned paper to decorate the outside of the tube.
* Stencil (laser cut on sticker paper) which can be stuck & sprayed on to the tube, as we had done.

The cap

Trace one end of your tube on the thick A4 paper & cut it out.
Punch a hole in its middle (you may need to fold the circle momentarily).
 Then tape it to one end of your tube.

The prism

 On the acetate sheet, measure 3 equal sides + smaller flap.
Width must be studied through trial and error such that the prism fits snugly into the tube. 
Then, score along the inner lines with a ruler & cutter, and cut out the edges.
Fold the acetate into a prism, using the flap to overlap, then tape it down.

The Sparkles

Insert the prism into the tube. Cover with a square of plastic wrap & secure with a rubber band.
Add the shiny objects & cover with another square of plastic wrap, somewhat loosely to allow for movement.
Secure with another rubber band. Trim the excess bits of plastic wrap.

You did it! Hold your kaleidoscope up to the light and turn to see different shapes & colors dance.

This is what you're aiming to see when you look inside.