Asian Buzz

Changes

2011-07-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

I started this blog back in Aug 2006. I was posting daily but that gets hard after a while. I asked a few fellow Asian business women to join me in posts. The daily post soon became weekly post. Joyce has left the blog and I am starting a full time job. Rather then shutting down this blog, I will leave it up for my four other bloggers to post when they can. I will try to post when I can. Thanks for reading with us!

Lilie - A Planet 4 Creation

Food, food, food and blogging about it

2011-07-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

We love eating, and what do we do in our spare time? We read about eating. Yup! That's my family. We're the sort of family that sits around at one meal contemplating what we will eat at the next meal. Sometimes we have meals planned a day or two ahead. We leave nothing (or not very much anyway) to chance.

I have a few favourite websites and blogs.

Rasa Malaysia is a good one. Being Malaysian, I often miss Malaysian food and having left home at 16, I never did learn to cook Malaysian food all that well. I am at the mercy of restaurants outside Malaysia. I also love reading Masak-masak with its gorgeous pictures of food. The current post has pictures of mouthwatering macarons. Mmm yum!

Our tastes are not limited to Malaysian fare, though. On a more diverse front, there is Eating Asia, a food blog that takes you through many parts of Asia, sampling the delights each region has to offer.

My husband's family is Filipino and I have never learnt to cook Filipino food either. I am learning now and aside from my mother-in-law's kitchen, I glean inspiration from blogs like Burnt Lumpia, pinoyfoodblog and Matakaw-ako. You know what? There's a whole list of Filipino food blogs here. My favourite, though, is Adobongblog. It is written by a Filipina living in New Zealand. Since I am in Australia, I can more or less assume that the ingredients she can obtain there are easily found in Sydney as well.

A little offbeat is Chopstick Cinema. Every week, a movie is chosen and reviewed along with a recipe. This year curries of Asia is the focus and every week there is a new curry recipe provided. It's interesting. A little off-beat but excellent reading. if you have not watched many Asian films (like me), then Chopstick Cinema is a great guide to some lesser known Asian movies. Beware, though, as the movies may not be that easy to come by if you do decide to watch them yourself!

Living in Sydney also means I have an active interest in restaurants around Sydney. I regularly read Grab your fork. Currently she is writing about her trip to Malaysia. Ah a foodie's dream. She, along with a handful of other Australian food bloggers were invited on a guided eating tour of Malaysia. One can only dream!

Asian Beauty Products and BB Creams from Sasa.com

2011-07-04T23:45:00.000-07:00

I am starting to see BB creams in Sephora and other beauty stores. Beauty Balm creams have been popular in Asia for a while. I have used them for about 2 years and I love them. They are basically tinted moisturizer with sunscreen. They usually have light to medium coverage and are great for days that you don't want to wear makeup, but want to even out your skin tone. If you want to get some from brands that have been making BB creams for years, you can check them out at Sasa.com, while they are doing a sale!

They have many Asian and American brands like IsQueen, My Beauty Diary, Lifecella, Clinique, Estee Lauder and JUJU cosmetics. I recently ordered a ton of sheet mask and creams. Here are the sleep masks. Note the safe packaging. Everything arrived in flawless condition.

I have heard tons of awesome things about the Vitacream so I got one of those too. I have used it for a week, every night and my face has been very smooth. I use the masks every other day too, so I wouldn't know what really works I guess :)

I recommend trying some IsQueen or My Beauty Diary masks. Also, take a look at Tony Moly brand items. They are super cute and the reviews I have seen are positive. This is one of the peeling creams.

As for BB Creams, I have also read tons of good reviews on the Skin Food brand. There are just a lot of choices on Sasa.com. It may all seem overwhelming at first, but don't worry! They have reviews on the product pages. Also check out the "crazy sales" as a starting point. They have tons of cool Japanese make up too. I don't put on make up much so I haven't tried any, but please feel free to explore. Have fun shopping!!

~Joyce, Happy Cloud Moments

Summer Collage Art Camp in Los Gatos, CA

2011-06-27T23:12:00.001-07:00

For those of you who reside in the Bay Area, check out my collage art camp located at Twin Soul Art Studio, a creatively friendly studio space in downtown Los Gatos, CA. This week we are doing Story Cabinets, where my students use imagery, photos of sentiment and graffiti art to create a narrative inside this custom made cabinet. In the cabinet are smaller doors, mini shelves and a shadow box that allow for the imagination to crawl freely around during this week of camp. A few of my students are doing multiple large projects this week and have embarked on collaging their acoustic guitars since their recent upgrade. For now I can only post the happy faces from my camp, since the projects have not been completed, but I will post the finished products on my blog in a week or so. Since this camp is now in session, feel free to inquire or sign up for my next camp scheduled for July 11-15. The class info is on my website: Twin Soul Art Studio. You will have the time of your life!

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs, Twin Soul Art Studio

George Takei

2011-06-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

I love George Takei. He's an big gay-rights activist, posting awesomely hilarious videos about the cause. Here's one of my recent favorites about the proposed Tennessee "Don't Say Gay" bill.

He also has a series of promotional videos for his upcoming Broadway musical Allegiance. Can't wait for the musical to come out!

And dude. He's Sulu!

warmly,
denise (of the new denisecollier.com, formerly akemi designs)

One for the Fabric Addicts

2011-06-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hello. My name is Celia and I am a fabric addict (and yarn addict, but that is another story for another day).

Not too long ago, I discovered Japanese and Korean fabrics. Since then, I have been keeping an eye on Etsy, Ebay and fabric stores for more of these gorgeous fabrics. I don't just mean fabrics with oriental prints, but also fabrics which are just plain gorgeous or cute.

There's Cosy9 fabrics on Etsy who ships from Korea. He has lots of very cute fabrics. Take a look at this giraffe one

What about this one for an apron, or some kitchen cloths?

I think this one is calling out to be turned into a cushion.

I have also found that I don't have to go so far to get my fabric fix. There is a lady who lives not too far from me who sells Korean fabric too. Perhaps something for my superhero crazy son? For me, I am still trying to work out what I can do with this gorgeous crane fabric.

And what about RetroMummy? She used to have an online store stocking the most gorgeous Japanese fabrics but I thinks he only sells in markets now. Even if you can't get to her stalls, her blog's a pretty good read, and there are always lots of pretty pictures.

What about the simple fabrics? Like this very pretty linen from Great Textiles

or this lovely herringbone fabric, also from great Textiles

So many beautiful fabrics out there and not enough time in a day to get sewing!

Hong Kong Style BBQ

2011-06-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

Did everyone have a good time for Memorial Day? How were the hot dogs and burgers? You know...I had a BBQ too, but it was more Hong Kong style than American style. We had hot dogs too, but no burgers. Why? Because we don't grill on the metal grate. I don't think burgers will do very well on our apartus... the fork.

Everyone has to grill their down food! Other common BBQ items are pork chops, chicken wings, sausages, shrimp, corn, sweet potatoes, steak and squid. Yes. Squid. Very yummy! This is the pork chops...yum!

You might have noticed the grill lines on the pork chops. Well, we got lazy and put the grate back on :)

This is our hot dogs and meat balls. We like to glaze everything with honey!

We grill shrimps and mussels by wrapping them in foil and adding some black bean and garlic sauce in it. Sometimes, we also do veggie packs too.

My family likes to make fruit salad for BBQs. Basically, it's apples, pears, pineapple, potato and whatever else you want to put it. Just not mushy stuff like banana. Then, add mayonnaise or miracle whip and mix! Some people likes to put some black pepper or egg or fruit cocktail too. My sister-in-law put some dried cranberries this time.

Another dessert is watermelon! Very sweet and juicy! We also made a dessert soup with mung beans and seaweed. It's very good to drink mung bean soup and eat watermelon to counteract the "heat" of all the grilled food. Hong Kong style BBQ is best with tons of people who like to sit around the fire and grill. Hope you enjoy the food pictures!

~Joyce, Happy Cloud Moments

The Bangkokian

2011-05-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Bangkok! My name is Pinn and this is my first post. I'm a crafter turned school teacher who lives in Bangkok, Thailand. I love to spin, sew, knit and draw whenever I have time. I think I love crafting so much because I'm always pleasantly surprised to see the stuff I can actually make using my own 2 hands. I also love to shop around for handmade goods by others as well as vintage items. I've been really lucky that there are plenty of good shops here in Thailand.

I'd love to say I know exactly what to write about, but the truth is, I've been sitting here writing and deleting half a dozen posts trying to capture the crazy, smog ridden frantic carousel pace of being in Bangkok and send it to you over the net. But, alas, I can not. My words and prose are just not up to the task. What I can do is tell you about the fabulous places I've hand picked from some of the best hand made shops and blogs in our city of angels. I hope they will illustrate better than I can the atmosphere of this mind boggling place. (Plus, if you take a shine to one of the items you can totally order it over the netz without having to leave the comfort of your own home :)

So grab a glass of Thai iced tea, possibly a plate of Pad Thai and enjoy!

An eclectic mix of cool new designs and jaw dropping vintage finds: andwhatelseisthere has everything you could hope for during a day out on the town.

Run by a circle of friends who expertise in various fields of design and tailoring, this shop offers hip design and excellent quality. Vivien and Ami who run their etsy shop also takes care of designing the clothes while their friends Jib and Isawan design and create uber cool leather bags and totes.

Edgy, cheeky, cool, hip, andwhatelseisthere is all these things. But let's face it, what I love most about this shop is it's unapologetic glamour.

This place lets you have a sneak peek in to the older days of Bangkok when women were mysterious and alluring and it was definitely OK to wear false lashes and striped catsuits. Over the top was the social norm.

Sadly these days Thai women more often choose cute and conservative rather than full on glam. But let's take heart that some designers still favour that seductive side.

These pieces will definitely play to that femme fatale in all of us.

(another thing I love about andwhatelseisthere is the photography. This picture captures perfectly the heat and dust of Bangkok, but is the model sweating? No. She's lovely and cool as a cucumber. Luv!)

This piece makes me want to dance all night in prints and high heels.

Gotta love the tailoring.

This bag is called "Hunk" And I definitely heart this one.

If you loved these designs then head on over to their etsy shop or check up on the latest updates and inspirations at their blog : www.andwhatelseisthere.com

Another shop that shows Bangkok at it's best is Quote studio. This shop features cute and versatile bags and totes that come in shapes and materials that make you go "Huh?" (In a good way!) Plus, these babies are super versatile, most of the designs can be transformed in to several types of bags and totes. The designers behind this brand, Vicki and Jim run a small studio in Bangkok where they design and hand make their bgas from scratch!

My favorite design from them has got to be this neat little tote. It looks darling folded in half to hold a few key items and it can unfold to full length for more storage.

Another great one is the Crisscross bag.

You can carry it using the cute criss cross style handle like in the picture or you can use the canvas strap to carry it messenger bag style.

If you love quirky, you'll love these carseat bags.

Made from carseat material this little bag is so puffy and cute, how could one resist?

OK, I hope that two shops is enough to give you a taste of what it's like here. Both the dashingly new and the rare gems left over from the golden era. If you want you can come on over to visit me at my blog (I'll try to keep it more up to date from now on.) Till next time, take care!

Carnival Party with Etsy Details!

2011-05-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I did it again! I love planning parties for my kiddo! Similar to last year, my daughter and I decided on a specific theme for her 10th birthday party...CARNIVAL. Do you know how fun and creatively expansive of a concept that is? Well, in less than two short months of planning, which dwindled down to just a few days of setting up the designated room, I came up with the funnest party for twelve 4th graders! What made this carnival so visually addicting were the centerpieces and posters created by various Etsy artists. I am so grateful the marketplace of Etsy exists, for there is an undeniably infinite resource of talent on there, it's INSANE. I hope these photos will inspire you to plan your next party in crazy detail!

Carnival Posters by Missy of Boopsie Daisy

Custom Cupcake Toppers by Marilee of Marilee Jane Designs

Custom Cookies by Karen of Sugar and Flour

Marshmallow Plushie by Becky of Scrumptious Delight

Custom Doll "Crayons" by Missy of Boopsie Daisy
Hot Pink Cotton Candy by Becky of Scrumptious Delight

Custom Doll "Creamcake" by Missy of Boopsie Daisy
Green Cotton Candy by Becky of Scrumptious Delight

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs, Twin Soul Art Studio

Jason Lee

2011-05-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Jason Lee has an amazing flickr photostream that show pictures of his two daughters. Now these aren't your everyday snaps of little kids. What sets his photos apart from the rest of us is his creativity, mad photoshop skills, and more patience than I'll ever have (not to mention his girls are super-duper cute).

Jason Lee also has a blog where he shares glimpses of his kids' world. You can't help but smile when looking at those incredible pictures and read the accompanying posts. That family has a lot of love, and a lot of fun.

Though no where near as awesome, here's my most recent photoshopped photo of my kiddo and me:

Now go out (or stay in, if you're lazy like me) and take some fun photos!

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

Having the hots

2011-05-09T01:23:00.000-07:00

Well.. this probably isn't quite what you expected to read.

From time to time, my husband and I crave hot food. Not temperature hot, but chili hot.This is expected for me, having grown up in Malaysia with curries and lots of hot food (though, I must confess I was not much a fan of hot food till I reached my late teens and then something changed, and I still don't know what that is), but Chris was never brought up with hot food and yet, like me, the craving hits and then nothing will satisfy it like a good dose of Szechuan food.

To the uninitiated, Szechuan is a province in China known for its hot and spicy food. Liberal use of chilies, garlic, ginger and szechuan pepper feature in their cuisine. many dishes are topped with peanuts or sesame seeds. Among the better known dishes are kung pao chicken, mapo tofu and dandan noodles. However, szechuan cuisine extends far beyond these three dishes that have made it onto the menus of most Chinese establishments.

Our favourite place to eat when we're hit with the "hots" is a little eatery in Eastwood, just northwest of Sydney. You park at the multi storey council car park there and walk across the road to a little doorway that looks like it leads to a hole in the wall. Walk up the stairs and you will find yourself in a large-ish dining hall filled with people enjoying their "hot food".

What we order is pretty standard
Tripe and ox tongue in chili oil

Fried chicken in dried chili

While we proclaim that this is as delicious as Szechuan food gets, our little four-year-old does not agree with us. "It makes my mouth hot", he whines. Fortunately for us, they do have a few dishes for the non-chili-eater. Their dumplings are delicious and they have two varieties of that - one with a light soy sauce dressing and one in soup. Master 4 declared that the soupy one is "waaay better". They also have a tasty dish comprising of steamed egg with a meat sauce topping. Master 4 enjoys that dish with some rice on the side or a side of spring onion pancakes - fried crisp and delicious.

So next time you have a craving for something hot, try your local Szechuan restaurant. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have been enjoying "the hots".

Otakon 2011 ... Are you going?

2011-05-02T09:26:00.001-07:00

If you are an anime fan, you just need to check out anime conventions! The people in costumes, the merchandise, the speakers and the whole atmosphere are just amazing and mind blowing. If you live in the Washington DC metro area or around Baltimore, you are in luck. One of the biggest anime conventions in the East Coast is going to be in the Baltimore Convention Center from July 29th thru July 31st. The question is... are you going to Otakon 2011? Well, in case you are undecided, let me show you pictures from the last Otakon and tell you about my experience.

First, the cosplayers. They put so much time and effort into their whole outfits and hair! Check out this happy couple. I love Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy X!

This is the Espada #3. Awesome costume! It's actually a guy! I love when guys dress up as girls. :)

Naruto! I really need to catch up on this series...

Edward chibi version? The greatest part about this one is that he is really short, just like Edward!

I wanted to buy everything there....but I bought mainly t-shirts because I was trying to be practical. If I have a big shelf, I will definitely start collecting figurines!

There were so much awesome stuff! Gundam figures, other anime figures, fan art, wall scrolls, key chains, phone charms, swords, costumes, wigs, stuffed animals, handmade kawaii hats and more!! Just look at these pics!

Otakon is not cheap though because is a three day weekend event. But, it's worth going because it's so big. I went to Katsucon a few months ago and it was a lot smaller. So, get your costumes ready and I will see you at Otakon 2011 in a few months!

~Joyce, Happy Cloud Moments

Guitar School App on iTunes and Android Market!

2011-04-25T08:45:00.001-07:00

Hello, app lovers! My fiance and I put our creative minds together almost 5 months ago and developed a guitar instruction application for beginners that was released on April 20th. As of today, the app ranks number 14 in the iPad Music Section on iTunes, and is in the top 100 in the music section in 16 stores worldwide! We are very encouraged by this. To sum up what our application entails:

Description:

Learn guitar basics through this comprehensive application that includes detailed diagrams with audio samples, an overview on guitar tuning, six basic chords, strum patterns and four basic songs for the beginner.

Guitar School Version 1.0 features:
-Easy navigation and menus
-Comprehensive guitar basics, which include six basic chords and how to use them
-Detailed descriptions, guitar and chord diagrams
-Strum patterns and audio examples
-Guitar Tuner and other tuning methods
-Four songs to perfect the basic skills you learned

Website: www.guitarschoolapp.com
Available on iTunes Store
Available on Android Market
Follow Guitar School on Twitter: @guitarschoolapp
Become a fan: www.facebook.com/guitarschoolapp

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs, Twin Soul Art Studio

Today's Levitation

2011-04-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

My new favorite photoblog is Yowayowa Camera. Although the word yowayowa is Japanese meaning "weak," Tokyo-based photographer Natsumi is anything but. Her photos are self-portraits capturing herself in mid-air, or "levitations" as she awesomely refers to them. So fun!

My favorites are the ones where there are other people around. She looks like she's got superhuman powers in everyday life.

I'd love to fly through the Muni station for my daily commute like her.

Love this one, as she tries to stop this man walking along.

Inspired by Yowayowa, I took a pic of my husband levitating over the weekend. I'd love to try a self-portrait like this one of these days.

Check out all her daily levitations!
http://yowayowacamera.com/

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

1000 cranes for Japan and more

2011-04-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

When I last posted, I wrote about the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Little did I know that there was going to be more earthquakes and aftershocks and there would be nuclear reactor trouble. As I mentioned, I have colleagues in Japan. I work closely with them and I cannot imagine what it must be like for them to be brave every day and come to work and sit in endless meetings about IT projects and operational efficiency when the safety of their drinking water and food is in question. I came across this blog today - Curiously Crafted Creations, and they have a project called the 1000 Amigurumi Crane Project. Read all about it here. There are also others who have written patterns and are selling their patterns to raise funds for Japan. For example, there is this pattern: Picture courtesy of Garilynn If you are lucky enough to snag one, she is also selling the knitted cranes on Etsy. Go take a look!

What about this gorgeous shawl?
Picture courtesy of Beebonnet

And look at this:
Picture courtesy of Kay Gardiner

What a lovely idea! Also sold to raise funds for Japan. I am sure there are lots more and this is just a few of them. If you are a member of Ravelry, take a look around and I am sure you'll find plenty of people are wanting to help andyou can help by buying and promoting their patterns. If you like crafty things but are not crafty yourself, why don't you have a look on Etsy and see if you can find something nice that someone is selling to raise funds for Japan?

I was inspired by all these lovely people. 50% of all my pattern sales from this month will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Japan appeal. If you have been mm-ing and ah-ing about any of my patterns, perhaps now is the time bu buy one, or two, or three.

Unique Dining Experience at Ninja Restaurant in New York

2011-04-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a unique dining experience in New York, you gotta try the Ninja restaurant. I have heard from a couple of friends about this place and they always say, "I don't want to ruin the surprise. Just go and see how it is". After having a 3 hour dinner there, I do believe that you should go experience it for yourself and be pleasantly surprised. If you don't want to ruin the surprise, stop reading now and just make your reservation.

Before I got there, I did manage to find out that there are 2 entrances into the restaurant. The regular one and the dangerous one. We chose the dangerous one. Choose your path wisely!! Even the menus are cool! When our ninja (aka waiter) pulled it out, she does it really quickly with flair. Like a real ninja :)

There are a few choices of set menu items. My friend and I shared a Sasuke meal. It was $68 when I went last year. First, we had the appetizer, Batto Jitsu. It has tuna and beet in ginger sauce and a bowl of tuna confit with Sira-ae sauce. It definitely looks very cool! But... it wasn't that great to me. It's not a fair review though because I don't like beets.

Next we had spicy tuna roll and shrimp tempura roll. I like these! The spicy tuna didn't feel that spicy when I ate the first 2 pieces. Then, the heat started to kick in and by the fourth piece, my mouth was burning! I really like the little white balls on the outside. I think it's something like rice cake. It is crunchy and adds to the texture of the rolls.

This is one of the best fish dish I have ever had. This is skate fish & ume. The fish is deep fried. When I saw the oil on the plate, I was a little bit apprehensive. But, the ume-plum butter sauce was so good! It has just the right amount of tartness. I think that's why it didn't feel as oily as it looks. It was served with cabbage that was very good too. It's lighter than rice but compliments the fish very well.

For the last course, we had a 22oz ribeye steak with wasabi, pepper saiko, miso and teriyaki sauce on the side. It also came with a side of taro and cauliflower gratin, which was very creamy and just great. We were pretty full by the time the steak came. But, it was so good! All the sauces were great. It was the first time I had steak with wasabi. It was interesting. Definitely fun to have all the sauces to try.

Then, it was dessert time!!! This is the pina colada. I like the description: variety of fruits and vanilla ice cream "sinking into mysterious pineapple and coconut pond". More dry ice fun!

My friends each ordered Kunoichi course. First up was the "Aburi" Shrimp Salad. It was on fire!!! It looks cool, but my friend said it was just... "Good".

Second course was the same spicy tuna and shrimp tempura rolls that we got. Third course was the roasted salmon with red pepper garlic sauce with grated apples. Yum!! The sauce was very good.

Fourth course was the Volcano. Looks so interesting right? On the outside, it was an onion. On the inside was really tender beef brisket. It was good too.

We ordered 3 course meals, so we got 3 desserts. The rose in the middle is part of the rose chocolate. The chocolate mousse was very rich, but not too sweet.

This is the bonsai. Looks very cool! But, definitely didn't taste that great. The branches are fried dough I think. And the brown stuff is just chocolate. Not very sweet, very bland. The pina colada was definitely the best.

During dinner, the ninjas will periodically come and scare you. Some may put a sword to your throat. Even when they come in to check on you, they do it in a sneaky way. This guy was fun! He saw us taking pictures of random stuff and he was like "you want to take pictures of something more fun?" So, he pretended to assassinate all of us. The whole staff was very fun and nice. There was even a magician!

All in all, it was a fun experience! Most of the food was great and it was just very fun. I think kids will really like it there. I like all the semi-private dining rooms. They even have tiny rooms for 2 people. All the ninjas look like they have a lot of fun working there. The whole place just feel very positive and fun and they really make it feel like a ninja castle. Even the front door was cloaked in mystery. For a big restaurant, the door was really tiny and it only had one sign that says "Ninja". Can't wait to go back :)

~Joyce, Happy Cloud Moments

Please Enter the Giveaway!

2011-03-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

There is still time to enter the giveaway. All you have to do is donate online at RED CROSS, Japan Society of New York, Save The Children or other like organization. There is a $10 donation minimum please. Once you make a donation, please send me email with receipt of the donation confirmation with the subject line: "Chinese Zodiac Pendant Drawing". My email is asianbuzzblog AT yahoo DOT com.

My Rubber Stamp on Etsy

2011-03-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

I was looking for Asian dolls, either crafted out of wood or fabric, but instead I found this rubber stamp store on Etsy owned by Woei Hsian and Eunice Wang. Timing is something we can never quite control and when you stumble across something useful or purposeful, it makes the experience so worthwhile. I've been looking to have a custom stamp made of my Twin Soul Art Studio logo, one of the countless things I have on my to-do list. So, perfect timing!

Some background on My Rubber Stamp:

Eunice graduated in Australia with a Degree in Graphic Design while Woei Hsian has a Degree in IT from The University of Arizona. She worked for a few advertising agencies before she started their online store. They are constantly thinking of WHAT'S NEXT. She says, "Our mind just won’t stop, it’s all about ideas, creating new designs, improvements, daydreams, surprises & creativities."

"We believe in adding little details that would make a big difference. We’ve always wanted something better, something special for the little one. To bring the joy & to think of the smiles from their faces when they received the gifts that were made from us, all the hard work pays off instantly."

"We love to create something useful & practical for daily usage, a little something to cheer up a stressful day, or even something educational to let the children learn while they play."

All Images from My Rubber Stamp

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs, Twin Soul Art Studio

A Giveaway For Donations For The Japan Earthquake Relief Fund

2011-03-21T05:59:00.000-07:00

My heart goes out to Japan with all that they are facing. I've bought yarn from Fiberphile who is donating 10% of the sale of Sakura to Save The Children Fund here. I've donated to Save The Children Fund. I've copied a fellow Ravelry knitter and I'm donating a rare skein of Blue Morpho for a random draw to people who forward their donation email to me (details HERE or HERE).

I've decided to donate a set of Chinese Zodiac Brass Pendants to those of you who donate to the Japan Earthquake Relief. You will receive 12 pendants (one of each of the 12 animals or your choice of 12). Pictured above is a set. The retail value of this prize is $60.

If you are interested in entering the drawing, please make a donation to RED CROSS, Japan Society of New York, Save The Children or other like organization. There is a $10 donation minimum please.

Once you make a donation, please send me email with receipt of the donation confirmation with the subject line: "Chinese Zodiac Pendant Drawing".

My email is asianbuzzblog AT yahoo DOT com.

I’ll close the drawing on Saturday, 4/9 at 12PM EST.

I’ll use the random generator to pick a winner and will send you the pendants within a week of raffle closing day.

Thank you so much for your support!!! Please email me with any questions you may have.

Of earthquakes, tsunamis and natural disasters

2011-03-13T15:01:00.001-07:00

I had quite a different post planned. However, in light of the recent earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, that post is now scrapped and replaced with this one.

As you know I live in Australia, where we recently experienced heatwaves and floods, and our neighbour New Zealand experienced an earthquake. I prayed for a better year ahead for all of us, but it appears that Mother Earth is unhappy, and we have seen yet another natural disaster - this time, in Japan.

I was in a conference call with colleagues around Asia, including Japan, when the earthquake was first felt. We heard screaming and one colleague had time to tell us there was an earthquake before the line went dead. It was many minutes before we received an updated by way of instant messenger saying they had just experienced what most of them felt to be the worst earthquake of their lives but everyone in the office was safe and accounted for. Phone lines were down. Train lines were down and they could not go home that night. Those were scary moments, and obviously more so for them in Japan than for us over the phone line.

We watched it on the news. My four year old son was shocked by the footage of the tsunami. He does not understand why it happened. I don't understand why it happened. It just did.

What can we do, being so many miles away? There are various organisations collecting funds for the Japanese victims of the earthquake and tsunami. We can give. Give generously. We can pray. I am sure every little bit counts.

Looking for somewhere to donate? Try these:
http://www.japansociety.org/news (Japan Society)
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm (Save the Children)
http://www.redcross.org.au/japan2011.htm (Australian Red Cross)

Korean Cosmetics and Skin Care

2011-03-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

When I travelled to Hong Kong last year, I got hooked on a few Korean brand skin care and cosmetics. The three most memorable brands to me are Lioele, Coreana and Missha and I just want to talk about these briefly.

Coreana

One of my favorite products from my Hong Kong haul is the Coreana Water Active Cream. It's more like a gel and it just feels so good on my face. It's easy to spread and just a little goes a long way. It took me about 3 months to finish a jar and I use it day and night. It's awesome for summer because it's so light and it makes my face feel so soft.

As much as I love Water Active Cream, I do need something a little more moisturizing for the winter. When I bought the Water Active Cream, I got samples of the Coreana Special Care Moisture Essential Cream and a matching Serum. I tried it and the serum felt really oily. But the cream was nice. So, I asked my mom to get me one for the winter. It also has a gel-like consistency like Water Active Cream but it feels a little bit thicker. It leaves my face nice and soft and not greasy at all. Just awesome!

Here's a picture of the actual cream. Both have a light sweet scent. And I love the frosted colors of the jars! Yes, I am a sucker for packaging. I would tell you the ingredients but it's all in Korean. Anyway, if you can get your hands on these, give it a try!

Lioele

I love Lioele for its romantic packaging! Yes, I am a sucker for packaging. I don't even use blush that often, but this one is just too cute. So I bought it. It looks very bright in the jar but it's not that scary. It's a very flattering color.

I also have the water drop BB cream. If you don't know what BB cream is, it's just like tinted moisturizer, but with a cooler name. This one is very light, both in color and texture. You can check out a more in depth review at InsideOutElle.

Missha

Oooo Missha. How I love your crazy discounts. I am not crazy about their cosmetics, but their BB Cream is pretty good. Check out all the stuff I got with my friends over Christmas!

Here are my current favorites from Missha: B.B Boomer, Perfect Cover B.B. Cream and M Shimmering Blusher. The BB Cream is a lot heavier than the Lioele one and has very good coverage. I put on the BB Boomer and the the BB Cream and add a little bit of the blusher for some shimmer. It's a very light color and works well as a highlighter. I have also tried their makeup removing oil which is excellent.

There are a few sites that sell Korean brand products like PrettyandCute.com and I think you can get a bunch on Ebay too.

As a side note, I have having a big destash sale at my supplies shop! Items are up to 75% off! Take a look if you have a moment :)

~Joyce, Happy Cloud Moments

Etsy Shop: The Rice Babies

2011-02-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

The The Rice Babies is an Etsy store of playthings inspired by children and story books. So simple and sweet!

All images from The Rice Babies

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs, Twin Soul Art Studio

Japanese backpacks

2011-02-21T16:09:00.000-08:00

In Japan, the traditional leather backpack school children use is called a randoseru, which is derived from Dutch word "Ransel" meaning backpack. I've been thinking that it would be pretty fun to have one as my commuter bag if it could hold my laptop. Sure, all Japanese people who will see me will think I'm silly to wear a child's backpack when I step on the Muni metro, but really, it seems to functional as well as beautiful, it would be silly not to! Of course, there is that problem that it really isn't in my budget to spend on another bag... If I find myself with a raise perhaps this will be my next purchase.

The red vinyl Randoseru pictured above can be purchased online and in retail stores by Hideo Wakamatsu.

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

Hello, my name is Celia

2011-02-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

... and I am one of the new contributors to this blog.

I usually post in my own blog here - Celia Knits. As the name of my blog says, I knit.. and crochet, and weave, and sew and dye, and cook, and bake and... well, let's just say I love craft! I love it all so much, in fact, that I have my own store called Celia's Basket and we ship worldwide. I also have my own Ravelry store for my patterns (look for Celia on Ravelry). I make everything in the store myself - hand-dyed yarn, hand-made stitchmarkers and drawstring bags, and hand-dyed fibre. Soon, I plan on introducing a new product - bookmarks - because I love to read as well!

So, who am I?

I am Malaysian Chinese, and I now live in Sydney, Australia with my husband and son. My little 4 year old is my muse and I love sewing and knitting for him, especially since he is still appreciative of my hand-made clothes for him. This will not last long, I have been told, so I am enjoying it while it lasts!

I plan on sharing with you a little about our life in Sydney, a recipe or two, and perhaps even a pattern or two for those of you who are avid crafters like me.

I leave you today with a picture of my little muse wearing one of my latest patterns

and a recipe for Rocky Road - a favourite in this house! I adapted this from Retromummy's blog. Corrie aka Retromummy also happens to run the Retromummy store which sells the most gorgeous fabrics including a selection imported from Japan. Go take a squiz!

Okay, enough talking.. here's my version of Corrie's Rocky road

Ingredients
About 375g good quality dark chocolate (semisweet)
3/4 cup roasted hazelnuts
2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup dried cranberries raisins
3/4 cup halved raspberry gummy lollies (you can use jelly babies in a pinch)

Method
Line a cookie sheet or large baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Place chocolate in a large heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Stir till chocolate has melted.
When chocolate has melted, remove from heat.
Stir in all remaining ingredients quickly.
Pour out the mixture onto the lined tray.
Using the spoon, push the mixture out so that it forms an even layer on the tray.
Place tray in the fridge for an hour to set.
Transfer greaseproof paper and rocky road onto a cutting board and using a clean dry knife, cut into squares or rectangles.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

I'd say it will keep for a week or two, but mine has never lasted that long due to the many "hungry" mouths around. Enjoy!

Celia - Celia Basket

Hot Pot, the Asian version of Fondue

2011-02-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! May this year bring you joy, health and fortune! Chinese New Year's Eve is traditionally celebrated by having dinner with your family that we call tuan yuen fan (團圓飯). It means to gather into a circle... or something like that. Traditionally, dinner will include chicken and fish and an abundance of other food. Being in America, it's harder to follow traditions. So, my family gathered together to have Hot Pot.

What is hot pot? I usually tell people it's the Asian version of Fondue. You have a pot of soup and a lot of different ingredients. You put whatever you want in the soup. When it's cooked, put it in your bowl with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy! We usually use a special pot with 2 sides, 1 for spicy and 1 for regular.

Every family has a different set of ingredients they like. For us, we have many different types of fish balls, beef balls and pork balls. These are fish balls with fish eggs inside. Very tasty!

Sometimes, we usually have a mix of chicken, pork, enoki mushrooms, green mussels, pork belly, thinly sliced beef, tofu, turnip, lettuce, nappa, water cress, bok choy, udon noodles, instant noodles, vermicelli and more!

Hot pots are so popular that you can have hot pots at big restaurants in Hong Kong! These pictures are taken when I went to Hong Kong last year. It's awesome to have people prepare everything for you and they have all kinds of different soup bases but spicy to herbal.

These are fresh meat balls and fish balls.

This is tofu skin. Very, very awesome. There are different kinds of clams in the back.

As you can see, hot pots has a big variety of food and it's a great way for everyone to gather and talk and enjoy good food. And it's awesome for winter! If you live in New York or California, you can find hot pot restaurants too. Give it a try!

Happy Lunar New Year!

2011-01-31T02:25:00.000-08:00

It's not today but close. It's Feb 3rd this year and the year of the rabbit. It's also the lunar year 4708. Here is a handy link to color pages for the current Lunar New Year that I use every year.
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/chinese_new_year_coloring.htm

I traditionally go to my girls' classes near Lunar New Year with a tray of prosperity for the students to try, do a simple craft, talk about the Lunar New Year celebrations and read a book. This year I won't be able to bring in the tray so I'll just bring in some of the typical "junk" food & candy from a local Asian store.

Image is from http://chinesenewyearcards.blogspot.com/2010/12/chinese-new-year-2011-cards.html

Lilie - A Planet 4 Creation

Happy Thoughts Creations (You Guessed It, Asian Fashion)

2011-01-24T09:11:00.000-08:00

Right when you felt the only place you could find quirky, one-size-fits-all modern, Asian fashion was on some random website discovered by very specific Google word searches, Happy Thoughts Creations sneaks out to say, "Hello! Here I am!" Can you believe it? There's a store that retails those funky, off-the-shoulder tops and shirts with animal prints on them! To top it off, it's shipped within the United States. Happy Thoughts Creations is an ETSY store and we all know that Etsy is a quality, trustworthy and very convenient marketplace to shop!

All images from Happy Thoughts Creations, calisunshine2010

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs, Twin Soul Art Studio

You are what you wear?

2011-01-17T09:47:00.000-08:00

I love the Sartorialist's recent photos of fashion in Seoul, Korea. A bit of retro with some contemporary touches for a refreshing look. I've been dressing up a bit more in my day to day life. I find that when I look put-together, I feel put-together. I know that sounds shallow, and be that as it may, but I think that it shifts my thinking a little bit. That if I can at least focus on my outfit, then I can focus on other things in my life as well. Fashion is an opportunity to present yourself to the world, and the fun thing about it is that you can change it depending on your mood. When I'm feeling light and airy, I'll wear more lace, flowing skirts, and a shaggy hairstyle. Night out on the town? High heels and lots of black with just a splash of color in accessories. And it's always fun to mix your wardrobe up in new and unexpected combinations to keep it exciting.

My favorite online store is Yesstyle, which has been talked about here before. They have a brick & mortar store here in SF, although the selection is small, but constantly updated. You can find all sorts of interesting outfits to suit many moods. I could easily spend hours browsing the myriad of looks. It's great for clothing ideas.

Do you believe that clothes can convey your personality? Do you think it should? Or do you think that clothing is/should be merely functional?

Robot teachers

2011-01-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

Here we are in 2011 and I was just reading an article listing some things that babies who are born this year won't know about (among them are watches, paper maps and encyclopedias). So here's something they may experience that their earlier generations won't: robot teachers. At least that is what's happening in some schools in Daegu, Korea. The Korea Institute of Science of Technology (KIST) developed 'Engkey,' to teach English to elementary students. The robots are remotely controlled by teachers in the Philippines, who can see and hear the students through a remote control system. The robots are designed to read books, sing songs and play alphabet games with the children.

Although this project is still in the experimental stages, if it goes well, it could expand globally and become a school standard in the near future.

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

Elegant Gemstone and Pearl Jewelry by MuyinMolly

2011-01-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all you Asian Buzz readers! Let's me introduce you to the beautiful jewelry by Molly aka MuyinMolly. Molly is a full time Etsian making beautiful and elegant gemstone and pearl jewerly and has been working hard for the past 4 years! Her shop is so successful that she even started selling on her own website.

Molly has a great range of birthstone jewelry. They are probably the most popular items in her shop! She uses sterling silver and 14k gold and offer many, many styles. I love all of them, but if I have to pick one, I will pick a ring. Or a round pendant. Ok, I want two.

Check out the beautiful pieces she did for the holidays. This is only a small portion of her holiday orders. It's amazing to me that she can churn out so many quality pieces in such a short time.

Besides her birthstone collections, she has some fun items too. I am usually a sparkle kind of girl, but I just love these safety pins that she makes. For a long time, I didn't know why she was selling safety pins. One day, I actually clicked on the listing and realized they are earrings!

Molly also creates an awesome collection of classic bridal jewelry. Every piece is oozing with elegance and beauty.

Want something a little different than the class white and cream pearls? She also have beautiful and fun colored pearls! The pink is pretty but the orange is so fun. Which one do you like?

Having a jewelry shop on Etsy is not easy. Molly has done it for 4 years and has done it well! She has over 5500 sales and 100% feedback. If you want to know more about her, please check out her blog and become her fan on her Facebook fan page!

~Joyce, Happy Cloud Moments

Brass Collage Hair Pins

2010-12-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

The newest addition to my collage repertoire are brass collage hair pins. Unique with a fine art twist, these pins add a little quirk to your already unique sense of style. Stop by my Etsy shop and let me know you heard about the goods on Asian Buzz and you will receive 15% off any item in my store. Happy New Year to all of you!

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs, Twin Soul Art Studio

Holiday paper crafts

2010-12-20T10:51:00.003-08:00

These days here in SF, the weather has been wet and windy. Last night there was even a strike of lightening with a clap of thunder (fairly uncommon here). Seeking the solace of the dry indoors, I've been spending my time making holiday paper crafts with the help of Canon Creative Park. They have really cool printable templates to cut and glue. Some of them are really time-consuming, but the end result is totally worth it. My daughter has been delighted with the paper advent calender going on three years now.

All decorated!

It's best to use cardstock, but regular paper should work in a pinch, depending on the complexity of the design. Be sure to check out all of the various designs. Not only are the decorations great, but there are fantastic projects to make for gifts, from calendars, to models, to awesome cards.

Happy Holidays!

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

Mizzonk

2010-12-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

Mizzonk is a unique shop offering outstanding hand-crafted home accessories, furniture and limited-edition artwork. Located in Maple Ridge, B.C., Mizzonk is the mastermind of Roger Chen and Wan-Yi Lin. Respectively, they have a BA in Architecture and MFA in ceramics/sculpture.

Their beautiful work is inspired by nature and every piece is very tactile and organic in theme.

Blueberry - handmade versatile holder

Pancake - tabletop accessories:

Twisted Eight - tabletop sculpture:

Rhythm of 20° the Turn - framed artwork

A Perfect Arrangement - interactive artwork

Mosaics series furniture:

The Mizzonk workshop is located in beautiful Canada but their work can be found on the website as well as many fine shops in the U.S.

(all photos are from Mizzonk's website)

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

Hello From Happy Cloud Moments

2010-12-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

Hello~! My name is Joyce and I am the newest writer for Asian Buzz. First, I want to thank Lilie of A Planet 4 Creation for this opportunity. I will be writing about Etsy shops, Asian makeup reviews, and Asian food and travel. Now, a little bit about me. I have 2 shops on Etsy: Happy Cloud Moments and Happy Cloud Supplies. Why Happy Cloud? It's a direct translation of my Chinese name.

Happy Cloud Supplies provides cute and unique beads and findings. I am a bead hoarder. Yes, I admit it. I hoard them and then I run out of space so I have to sell them to get more money to hoard more! I have some limited stock items from traveling to Hong Kong and China.

Happy Cloud Moments has Swarovski crystal and sterling silver jewelry. Like most girls, I just love sparkly things and Swarovski crystals are some of the sparkliest things I have seen. My creations tend to be simple and classic pieces that you can wear every day.

For both of these shops, I am offering buzz readers a special coupon code! Use "AsianBuzz10" for 10% of your whole order! This code is valid till December 31st, 11:59pm. Ok, enough about my shops! When I am not busy with my shop, I play with my dog named Momo. He's an energetic and sweet Havanese. I write about him and his cousins at Mimolo. He's just the bestest and cutest dog ever! I know I am biased but I can't help it. He is always warm and fuzzy, never sheds, never slobber and always smells good! Ok, he smells a lil weird after he runs sit out in the sun, but he's still cute!

I have many other hobbies and interests like anime, video games, reading, cooking, paper crafts, eating, and traveling that I write about in my personal blog: Happy Cloud Moments.

I look forward to sharing the Asian culture with you! I will be writing about an awesome Etsy shop operated by a fellow Asian artisan in my next post, so stay tuned!

~Joyce, Happy Cloud Moments

JustJENN Designs

2010-12-06T00:26:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs to follow is justJENN rants & raves ! She has 2 boys about the same ages as my two girls. She also has a stationery store justJenn Designs Here are a few of my favorite items:

circus notepad $8.50 (you can customize this pad) My girls each have one of these pads and they get used during car trips!

'bacon love' cards one folded card+one envelope $2.50 or six folded cards+ envelopes
$10

O.G.* - *Original Grandma...the book $3 This book is based on Jenn's grandmother and her many interesting sayings & adventures.

NOTE: Images are used with permission from JustJenn Designs

Lilie - A Planet 4 Creation

Peggy Li Creations 20% off coupon for the holidays!

2010-12-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

I've had a great time being a contributor here at Asian Buzz! I've loved seeing all of the great products and ideas coming from my Asian brothers and sisters.

As my goodbye, I'd like to offer a 20% off* coupon for the holidays. Just use code "asianbuzz" at http://www.peggyli.com/ until 12/12/10.

Handmade jewelry by Peggy Li Creations has been seen on TV's "Private Practice", in the pages of Lucky Magazine and more.

Happy holidays!
Peggy

* Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid on custom orders or orders placed before 12/12/10.

Would You Like to Blog for Asian Buzz?

2010-11-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

We are looking for a new Contributor to post the first Monday of every month. There isn't any pay but we do have some benefits. If you are interested, please email us with the link on the right side of the blog.

Thanks!

Lilie - A Planet 4 Creation

Twin Soul Art Studio Collage Gifts on Etsy!

2010-11-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

Are you excited about the holidays? I put up my decorations the day after Halloween. I love the fact that holiday music on the radio started earlier this year on November 15. In celebrating the holiday season early, please stop by my Etsy store to get a jump start on shopping for gifts or yourself!

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs, Twin Soul Art Studio

2010-11-17T08:41:00.000-08:00

Kanji by Kazashi

I'm Asian and bad at math

2010-11-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm not bad at math, but I wouldn't say I'm a brainiac at it either. This is a bit of a shameless plug for the company my husband works for, called Shortform. It's a site where you can sit back and watch pre-selected videos based on genre (e.g., comedy, feel good, popular...). You can also create your own channel and add videos from youtube or facebook and share it with your friends, I decided to make an Asian/Asian-American themed channel featuring awesome/cool/funny videos that help break the Asian stereotype ('cause even a being called a "model minority" is still offensive and racist). I'm still curating my channel, so be sure to subscribe to keep up to date with new videos.

Follow Shortform on Facebook and Twitter!

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

(Follow me on Twitter and Facebook)

Asian-inspired quilts and blankets

2010-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

With the cold months coming up, Etsy.com is a great place to look for warm and cozy things made by amazing artisans.

The first one I found is Asian Arts and Quilts whose work is quite beautiful and deserve to be displayed to show each quilt's fantastic detail.

Geisha in peach

Flying cranes

Next are luxury blankets hand-crafted by Lindalu. One side is a pretty silk brocade and the other is lined with faux fur... perfect for snuggling and keeping warm.

Next, by jennstr4, is a "quillow" which is a quilt that can be folded into a decorative pillow... love the dual function of her design.

Be sure to visit each shop to see more products offered.

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

Free Shipping Nov & Dec!

2010-11-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

The website is pretty much closed. Meanwhile I've been moving items to the Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AP4C For Nov & Dec I will refund your shipping costs (Sorry US customers ONLY) if you purchase 2 or more SALE earrings, necklaces, pendants or Christmas items. Don't worry if the listing doesn't have "SALE" in it pretty much all the earrings, necklaces, pendants & Christmas items are on sale there. Not valid for charms, supplies or BCA items. Get your holiday shopping done early!

Sparkles N Glitter on Etsy

2010-11-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Catherine's Etsy shop Sparkles N Glitter is filled with tons of cute jewelry, cards and gift options, made by hand. If you want to add "a touch of bling to your life", this is the place to do it!

My favorite items are:

Ba Ba Black Sheep Ear Studs

Forkful of Spaghetti Necklace

Pop Tart Cell Phone Case, hand sewn by Catherine herself!

And if you're curious about how to make one of these adorable cell phone cases for yourself, she provides a hand tutorial on her Sparkles N Glitter blog.

Enjoy!
Peggy

Asian Design Products: GamiWorks on Etsy!

2010-10-25T09:51:00.001-07:00

I already started my holiday shopping, have you? Just remember that Etsy is THE PLACE for finding unique, handmade lovelies for everyone on your shopping list. And, in keeping with the theme of all things Asian, I am resurrecting an Etsy seller I posted over one year ago, GamiWorks. Everything about her shop is Asian-inspired, the newest items in her shop are pocket mirrors and purse hooks.

All products and images from GamiWorks, www.gamiworks.etsy.com.

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Fred Korematsu Day

2010-10-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

The first day named after an Asian American was signed into California law by Gov. Schwarzenegger last month. Fred Korematsu Day will be celebrated on January 30, 2011, so mark you calendars!

Korematsu was a Japanese-American interned during WWII, but not after first refusing to comply with the government order on grounds of it being unconstitutional. He took his fight all the way to the Supreme Court in 1944, where he was found guilty and temporarily sent to Tanforan Assembly Center (which were converted horse stables, also where my family was held), and then transferred to internment camp at Topaz Lake, Utah.

40 years later, in 1983, Korematsu v. U.S. was finally overturned. In 1998 Korematsu was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton. Korematsu spent much of his life fighting for rights not only for Japanese-Americans, but civil rights for all. He passed away in 2005, but his legacy carries on.

For more information:
Korematsu Institute
View the official signing this Thursday in Los Angeles

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

2010-10-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

Kanji by Kazashi

5am je t'aime

2010-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

5am je t'aime is a cute online boutique that offers affordable Asian-inspired fashion. The pieces are fun - on the young side, and easy to mix and match.

I like how there are photos showing the garment by itself and then modeled and styled with different accessories to display the garment's potential.

The boutique is based in California so shipping anywhere within the US and Canada is pretty inexpensive.

(All photos are from the 5am je t'aime boutique)

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

K-Town the Next "Jersey Shore"?

2010-10-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

By now we've all heard/read/seen something about the MTV reality show "Jersey Shore", a reality show about "guidos" and "guidettes" in New Jersey. Now there are rumblings of a West Coast version of the show, set in LA's Korea Town. Produced by model Tyrese Gibson and described as a "spoof" of Jersey Shore, the show has been shot and is currently being pitched to networks for possible pickup.

Certainly, there seem to be a lot of beautiful people in the cast of "K-Town", and they already have their own Twitter feed and Facebook fan page.

Will this show be a blanket of racist sterotypes or just prove that stupid behavior knows no racial boundaries? Or will this be an insightful view into Asian culture in America? Will you be tuning in?

Read more about the show on Salon.com., "MTV's K-Town pilot gets buzz".

Peggy

Asian Knitting & Spinning Bags

2010-09-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

I know I have mention Peg's Procrastinations before here. She is on vacation right now but will be back next week. Her Knit Sacks To Go are really neat in that it has a built in row counter, 2 pockets, a key ring and you can hook it so it has a handle like a bag! Pictured below.

Peggy started to get requests for a larger knitting bag since sweaters and other large projects are hard to fit in the Knit Sacks. She came up with her 10 Gallon bags. It has 4pockets on the outside and a inside pocket. Again you can hook the strap to make it like a bag with a strap! Pictured below is the one I have. I liked it so much I'm going to get another one!

While at Sock Summit, Peggy noticed that a lot of knitters are also spinners. I'm a knitting spinner too. She thought that their spindles needed a bag too. She came up with a spindle sack. She added stabilizer so the sack can stand up on it's own to help with spinning on the go. There is a tab and a carabiner on the outside that the cord can be hooked to to make a wrist strap. It's pictured below.

Peggy is a wonderful seller. She is willing to customize her sacks to fit your needs. I needed a taller spindle sack for one of my tall spindles (yes, just like knitting you can't just have one spindle sack!). Make sure you go through Peggy's sold items to see what fabric she has used in the past. She is also willing to work with you to find just the perfect fabric for your sack! Just convo Peggy about your needs.

Photos were used with permission from Peg's Procrastinations!

Lilie - A Planet 4 Creation

Sabrina Ko photography

2010-09-20T08:36:00.001-07:00

My good friend Sabrina Ko is my photography partner-in-crime. Although we both have our day jobs, photography is something we both love and cultivate in our spare time.

Sabrina enjoys fine food, travel, and dogs (namely the Fluffy Puppies), which you can see reflected in her flickr photos.

She has a great eye for landscapes (and use of light):

Sabrina also takes stunning floral images:

And she captures the emotions of people...

...and doggies!

I always am excited to see new photos posted by Sabrina. They are elegant and timeless, just like her.

2010-09-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Kanji by Kazashi

Lunch in a box

2010-09-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

The kiddos are back in school and getting to know their routines. As moms, we're packing lunches daily for the young ones. Often it gets monotonous coming up with what to put in their lunches. For those who use bento boxes, there is a neat site called "Lunch in a box" that offers tips and ideas on different ways to pack a bento lunch. If you're not familiar with bento, the FAQ is very informative and explains the basics of packing a bento-style lunch.

I hope you'll have fun and save time packing lunches using the tips on "Lunch in a box".

(photo above belongs to lunchinabox.net)

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

Quiet As They Come

2010-09-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

There is still some summer left, and if you need a new book to read, I highly recommend "Quiet As They Come" by an old high school classmate of mine, Angie Chau. From her website:

"Quiet As They Come is a beautiful, brutal and humorous portrait of ordinary people caught between two cultures. Set in San Francisco from the 1980s to the present day, this debut collection explores the lives of Vietnamese immigrants as they struggle to adjust to life in their new country. As a result of history and circumstances, three families are forced to share a Victorian house in San Francisco's Sunset District. With one family to each bedroom, each closet brims with desire and suppression, secrets from the past, and dreams for the future. While some are able to survive and assimilate, others are crushed by the false promise of the “American Dream.” As the families branch out, their lives illuminate the distinctive struggle of refugees; people who have found shelter yet continually search for home. You will never be able to forget the people you meet in this unforgettable collection."

I remember Angie as being a rocker "cool chick" in school, so I was definitely moved and so impressed by the depth of the accomplishments of getting her own book published. Congrats, Angie!

Please please help support my friend and author! But don't take my word for it -- please visit her official website at AngieChau.com and even more importantly, read the excerpt posted there from her book. It is gripping and the perfect teaser to what will be a very satisfying read. I've got my copy and can't wait to dig into it further.

You can also see what they're saying about "Quiet As They Come" on Amazon.

DESIGN YOUR OWN Zippered Lunch Tote

2010-08-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

I've featured Blissful before here but I can't help featuring them again!

My girls are going to start school again next month. Fast I know but they also get out at the end of May with time off in October and March. On my list of school supplies are new lunch bags. Yes, they still have last school years but they put up with LOTS of abuse over the school year.

My favorite is Blissful's!!

One, you get to pick the fabric.

Two, its machine washable.

Three, its large.

Four, its insulated.

These purple & pink ones are coming for my girls!

NOTE: Images are from blissful and used with permission!

Lilie - A Planet 4 Creation

Collage Exhibit at KALEID Gallery in San Jose!

2010-08-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to exhibit my collage work at a gallery that features about 60 local artists, ranging from student work to new to seasoned artists. You might pay $1 for an ACEO print or $4000 for an original painting. Kaleid Gallery is located in downtown San Jose on 4th Street; a place where you will find just the right amount of art with enough visual energy to make you a patron for life. Join us on Two Buck Tuesdays, the 3rd Tuesday of every month, where you can shop for cool $2 items from various artists. I took my art class to the gallery on a field trip and it was fun to expose the children to random artists. If you do stop by, let me know you were there in my comments book!

Until my next posting...

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Arigatai

2010-08-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

Arigatai is that Japanese word for grateful, something that I am full of these days. Less than a week ago I was in a high speed car crash that could have easily taken the lives of all 5 of us in the car (including my daughter and year old niece), but by our lucky stars we were able to walk away with only minor injuries. I won't go into the horrifying details, but suffice it to say that these days I'm feeling eternally thankful that we are all okay. The above photo is of my daughter and her little cousin, taken just a couple days before the accident wearing their matching Tea Collection dresses. I'm grateful that the children bounced back quickly and are back to their happy selves.

This is a good reminder to cherish life.

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

2010-08-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

Kanji by Kazashi

Asian-inspired wall decals

2010-08-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Wall decals are fun! If you don't overdo them, they are a quick way to add a modern element to your decor. I found some great Etsy sellers who offer some Asian-inspired designs among their collections.

Bamboo silhouette from Single Stone Studios:

Longevity symbol fromBlank Canvas Designs:

Buddha wall art from Wall Star Graphics:

Asian symbols from Ghetto Vinyl:

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

Poketo at Target August 10

2010-08-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

Target continues to push the envelope by collaborating with edgy, of the moment designers. Recently they worked with Eugenia Kim and coming in August, they are going to feature design house Poketo!

Founded by Angie Myung and Ted Vadakan, Poketo strives to bring art into everyday life. Starting with limited-edition art wallets made of vinyl, Poketo's ability to choose unusual and ecletic art from around the world makes them an interesting choice for mainstream Target.

You can view a preview of their collection at the Poketo site!

Asian Fashion: Cutie Code

2010-07-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

If you love dressing differently, adore bright colors and have a youthful spirit, these are the words that describe the fashion at Cutie Code, an online Asian clothing store that will remind you of the quirkiness of Tokyo!

All images from CutieCode.com.

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Bruce Lee Screen Test

2010-07-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love Bruce Lee? When I strolled through the Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle, WA on a visit about 6 years back I couldn't help but walk by his gravesite, adorned with flowers, handwritten letters, even nunchucks. It's clear that this was a man who continues to inspire.

I came across this awesome video of Bruce Lee in his screen test for the Green Hornet. It's a bit long, but definitely worth watching the whole thing. Not only is he calm, cool and collected during the interview, but amazing during his martial arts demo (in a suit no less!).

For more Bruce Lee goodness, check out the official website.

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

2010-07-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

Kanji by Kazashi

Savor Seattle Tours

2010-07-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in Seattle, look up Savor Seattle Tours and be immersed in its fun culinary scene. Founded by Angela Shen, Savor Seattle Tours was launched when she fell in love with the city's food and culture. Each tour offers many tastings, while visiting specialty food shops, and neighborhood restaurants. The tours differ in food themes, but all focus on organic and sustainable food sources.

Let Savor Seattle guide you on a journey for the senses.

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

CFDA Award Winners

2010-07-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Back in June, the Council for Fashion Designers of America announced their annual award winners for excellence in fashion. Check out some of the great Asian-American designers honored:

Swarovski Award for Womenswear
Jason Wu

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design
Alexander Wang

Swarovski Award for Menswear
Richard Chai

(Yes, Jason Wu was the designer who created Michelle Obama's inauguration dress.)

Congrats, guys! Way to represent!

Peggy

Collage Workshops in Los Gatos, CA

2010-06-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Summer just started and we are having so much fun! We have an art studio in beautiful downtown Los Gatos, CA called Twin Soul Art Studio. For the past two weeks our studio offered collage art camps for kids and teens. My students learned the thoughtful art of collage composition and how pop art, confectionary detail, the fashion industry and music & media plays a significant role in modern and personal interpretation of collage art. If you live in the Bay Area, please contact me for details regarding the summer collage classes. You will love it!

Twin Soul Art Studio is located in downtown Los Gatos:
644 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Suite 11
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Email: info@twinsoulartstudio.com

All photos are the property of Jeanne Yee. Please do not use without permission.

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Cheerleading doesn't get old, just more in style...

2010-06-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

My friend passed this article along to me. It's about elder women in Japan who found new life in dance. But not just any kind of dance...cheerleading! It's so inspirational to see incredibly active senior citizens, and even more inspirational to see their youthfulness shine through. It's a good reminder to us young 'uns that age doesn't have to define you.

Be sure to watch the video and see these ladies in action!

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

2010-06-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Kanji by Kazashi

Asian-inspired wedding favors

2010-06-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

June is a popular time for weddings. In fact, a few couples I know are/were getting married this month. It made me think of themes they may have. Although being Asian, I've not been to many that are specifically Asian-themed, so I decided to look to see what options are out there.

One online site that I found to have some of the cutest, stylish favors is Beaucoup. Some of the favors have many color and motif choices. A few of my favorites are below.

Fortune cookies - they are beautifully decorated and can be personalized.

Personalized toothpick - unique with many images/colors to choose

Drop Tea - tea leaves compressed into heart shapes

Cherry Blossom Soaps - chic and fragrant favors

Ceramic crane chopstick rests - traditional and elegant

These are just a few - there's so many more lovely items. Visit Beaucoup to see what else they have to offer.

(All images belong to Beaucoup.com)

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

Eryn Brinie

2010-06-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was reading the latest issue of Lucky Magazine and there was a small feature highlighting a beautiful pale dress. The line is called Eryn Brinie, and it's a Korean-based brand.

What interested me even more was that the look of the website at Eryn Brinie was targeted completely to Western tastes-- I see them as a competitor of Topshop or H&M. From the website, "eryn brinie exemplifies European chic combined with New York's youthful spirit and modern sensibility."

Check out their international styles and tell me what you think!

Bento Supplies from Japanistic.com

2010-05-31T07:53:00.000-07:00

Do you have a Flickr account? I do and I like looking at the food pictures in the different groups. One of the groups I belong to is http://www.flickr.com/groups/bentoboxes/ There I ended up following the blog http://www.hapabento.com/ which finally lead me (I know this intro is taking a while) to Japanistic. In a quest to make healthy and varied lunches for my girls, I decided to try to make them bento boxes. Now I haven't quite made one yet but I'm working on the bento supplies right now.

Here are the items I want to get from Japanistic:

Fish and Car Egg Molds $5.25

Set of 6 Vegetable Cutters $12.95

Double-Decker Bento: Daniel and Danish $17.95

Large 2-Level Bento - Hobee the Bee $19.50

Double-Decker Bento: Benny and Friends $17.95

The bento boxes are BPA free and safe for the microwave & dishwasher! Right now shipping is only $2.95 and if you sign up for the newsletters you will will get a code for 10% off your first order!

NOTE: Images are used with permission from Japanistic.com!

Lilie - A Planet 4 Creation

Felt Food: The Way to Accent a Party!

2010-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

We just celebrated my daughter's birthday last weekend and I poured every ounce of my creative energy into it. The theme was SUGAR and every design element in the party room expressed just that. I found a fellow Etsian and crafter in Taiwan who makes amazing felted food and pastries. Her name is Margaret and her Etsy shop is OneNOnly88. The pieces are exceptionally detailed and made to perfection. Here are some of the ones I ended up purchasing as decor for the party table.

View of Party Table

Alternate View of Party Table

View of Party Room with Candy Bar

All photos are the property of Jeanne Yee. Please do not use without permission.

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Kimochi dolls

2010-05-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

On Saturday my daughter took part in a photo shoot for adorable, educational plush dolls called Kimochis. Kimochi means "feelings" in Japanese, and these dolls help children communicate and understand their feelings and emotions. Each character has a different personality (e.g, shy, bossy) and has a set of emotions (e.g. happy, frustrated) that fits in the character's pouch. My daughter loves her Cloud kimochi.

I spoke with Nina Rappaport, the small business owner of the company, on Saturday. She told me how things are really taking off with Kimochis, that these dolls are not simply toys but a way for children to communicate complex thoughts and feelings through play. There is a pilot curriculum being established among pre-k and elementary schools nationwide employing the Kimochi dolls with counselors and teachers with the students as a tool to help resolve emotional and behavioral problems. Additionally, as a result of creating good communication, these dolls can help increase confidence and build character among children.

And, boy, those dolls are really cute!

For more information, please visit the adorable and fun Kimochis website.

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

Thuy Diep

2010-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thuy Diep is an American fashion designer born in Vietnam into a family of tailors. Fashion was in her blood at a young age. Although her early career was in the financial world, Thuy Diep went back to school to study fashion at Parsons School of Design. Following graduation, she provided industry-related services to well known, high-end designers. She went on to work for several New York designers.

In 2006, she formed the label "Thuy", producing a beautifully-crafted collection of ready-to-wear women's clothing. Since the launch, her clothing can be seen in numerous magazines and on the red carpet. You can see the latest Thuy Spring and Fall collections at Thuy Diep's website.

(All images belong Thuy Diep)

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

AK 100 DVD set

2010-05-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Akira Kurosawa was a visionary Japanese director, as influential to film as an Orson Welles or Martin Scorsese. If you haven't seen his films, you may have seen the ones inspired by his, like The Magnificent Seven (Seven Samurai) or Star Wars (The Hidden Fortress) Criteron has gathered 25 of his films (including 4 never released before on DVD), plus an illustrated book and essays. Criteron is known for lovingly restoring classic cinema, and Akira Kurosawa is certainly deserving of such treatment.

He has a career spanning over 50 years, many of his landmark films featuring actor Toshiro Mifune, with such classics as Yojimbo, Rashomon, and Seven Samurai.

It's a pricey collection, but if you haven't experienced his films these discs are probably the ones to see them on.

You can purchase the DVD set on Amazon.

If you're wondering why the movie Ran (based on Shakespeare's King Lear) is missing from the collection, Criterion has it as it's own disc available on Amazon here.

Sweetest Charms on Etsy!

2010-04-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

My new obsession is miniature polymer clay food charms. I know with certainty alot of my fascination with sweet treats comes from the fact that I was raised in a candy store (I ate a Snickers bar and many refills of slushie every day). I found a wonderfully inviting kawaii Etsy shop that retails polymer clay and sweet charms. Some of these scrumptiously cute items include cupcakes, donuts, chocolates, cakes, strawberries, lucite and vintage beads and different components from around the world. Polymer clay artist, Lin, from Sweetest Charms aka Around The World sells superbly crafted charms and is located in the Philippines. I have corresponded with Lin about her products and not only is she sweet, but a real delight to work with.

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Art of Gaman

2010-04-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Check out this fascinating video by the Smithsonian about the Japanese interned during WWII, specifically about the crafts that they created while in camp. My great aunt and uncle Obata are featured in the interview!

If you can't see the video, click here.

Exhibit info including photos of the art can be found here.

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

Kang Dayoung

2010-04-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

I've always had an interest in photography and even more so recently. While perusing for beautiful photos on the net, I happened upon Kang Dayoung's work via Asian Photography Blog.

Her photos seem so lonely and peaceful at the same time. There's a surreal quality in her photographs as well. Please see more of Kang Dayoung's work on her website.

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

Eugenia Kim for Target this April!

2010-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Every fashion designer collaboration with Target is highly anticipated, no more so than for hat designer Eugenia Kim, coming this April!

Eugenia's quirky designs first hit it big on the likes of celebs like J. Lo. Normally priced in the hundreds, her designs for Target are sure to be cute *and* affordable.

Read the full story about how Eugenia got her start, her design inspirations and more at the Fast Company website, here.

Asian Books

2010-03-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Just a couple to mention. First is The Year of the Tiger: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac written by Oliver Chin and illustrated by Justin Roth. It's $15.95 and you can purchase it here.

My girls are in taekwondo but they would love this book: Julie Black Belt written by Oliver Chin and illustrated by Charlene Chua. It's $15.95 and you can purchase it here.

Images are from Immedium.

Lilie - A Planet 4 Creation

From Japan With Love

2010-03-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

I was shopping for kawaii (cute) items for my daughter's birthday party and found some really great finds at this Etsy store, From Japan With Love. Her products are shipped from Fukuoka, Japan and they are really cute!

Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/FromJapanWithLove

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Yashica

2010-03-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

While I always enjoyed taking photos, it was only within the past couple of years that I really began honing my skills by studying composition, lighting, and even taking some photography courses. I have a digital SLR and I told myself that I wouldn't get into film because that just seemed like a whole 'nother layer of complexity--buying and developing film, getting prints, figuring out what to do with all those prints, etc. But last week I acquired my dad's old cameras. One is an old Canon film SLR (single lens reflex) that he bought in Korea during his army days, the other is Yashica TLR (twin lens reflex) that belonged to his friend's father. Both of these old Japanese brand cameras are solidly built like tanks and are in great condition. Quality that you don't find very often these days.

I've never used a twin reflex before. They always seemed so mysterious (and cool!), with those lenses and knobs and cranks. The Japanese Yashica Mat 124 is similar to the more common German-made Rollieflex. I got a roll of film and loaded the Yashica camera yesterday, but I'm not sure I even did it properly. I only took one shot so far, so I can't show you the results yet, but my fingers are crossed that there will be a decent photo out of the roll when all is said and done.

The toughest part about using film is that there is no preview button of the taken image. You don't know what the image looks like until you develop the film. I also have to manually meter for light, which makes everything really complex because I have to rely on my knowledge of light/exposure/aperture. Lots of technical stuff. Technical stuff that I don't still yet know 100% (more like 75%). I'm afraid everything will end up overexposed (all white) or underexposed (all black).

And I'll confide in you that when I take photos with my digital camera, it's not uncommon for me to take 100+ photos in a day with the result of maybe one really great shot. So to now go from basically unlimited shooting to using a camera that has 12 exposures really puts on the pressure to get everything right the first time.

But man, it's really fun to use. There's something so satisfying about shooting in film.

Read more about twin-lens reflex cameras here.

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

2010-03-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Asian inspired kitchen cabinets and kitchen islands by Greentea Design

Asian American Film Event at NYU

2010-03-08T13:11:00.000-08:00

This is a bit of short notice, but if you are in the New York City area, this could be something you might be interested in attending.

The Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University (A/P/A) is having an event regarding Asian-American representation in the media. Filmmaker David Boyle and producer Mynette Louie will be speaking about their work in the films "White on Rice" and "Children of Invention". The event will be moderated by Jeff Yang.

The event is free and open to the public. You need to RSVP immediately.
RSVP at website: www.apa.nyu.edu/
RSVP by email: apa.rsvp@nyu.edu
RSVP by phone: 212-992-9653

Tuesdsay, March 9, 2010
Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU
41-51 E. 11th Street, Floor 7
7th Floor Gallery
6:00PM-8:00PM

Hope some you will be able to make it. Enjoy!

Dai - Dear Monday

2010-03-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

Minis

Petite Jeans by Allison Izu

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's every petite girls' dream! Jeans that come with a shorter inseam! Hawaiian native Allison Izu has tackled this design challenge with experience from her time at FIT where she realized that the fashion industry created patterns based on 5' 10" fit models. At 5'2" herself, she dedicated herself to creating a line of clothing with all aspects scaled down for women her size, including jeans with the choice of 27" and 31" inseams.

Manufactured in California from premium denim, I hope you can find a pair that will mean no more going to the tailors for hemming!

Visit Allison Izu's website.

Asian Jewelry on Sale 50% or more!

2010-02-25T10:06:00.003-08:00

A Planet 4 Creation is closing its doors for good in December 2010. Meanwhile all the in stock items are on sale at 50% or more!

Tooth Fairy Felt Pouches - A cute way to lose a tooth!

2010-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

My daughter got two of her teeth extracted a few weeks ago and is almost nine years old! Those baby teeth were not going anywhere. Because I wasn't expecting the dentist to pull out two teeth at one appointment, I wasn't quite ready for the double visit from the tooth fairy that night. In a last minute attempt to house her itty-bitty teeth in something memorable, I found random scraps of felt, a bag of googly eyes and took out my sewing machine. I ended up creating a rather fun-looking felt pouch in time for the tooth fairy's visit. My sister encouraged me to create 3 dozen of these things and now, I am selling them on Etsy. I have lots of fun prints and solid colors to choose from. If you know a child who has lost a tooth or is still losing teeth, consider purchasing one of these:

These pouches are available at my Etsy store: http://www.threepaperpigs.etsy.com

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Happy Lunar New Year!

2010-02-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

2010 marks the Year of the Tiger! You can make your own paper Tiger here. Hopefully I can make one of these adorable tiger models this week.

To celebrate the Lunar New Year yesterday, I decided to try my hand at making potstickers from scratch, which came out a lot better than I thought they would. My 6 year old daughter even said, "These taste like the ones you buy at the store!" which I think was a compliment.

Yesterday also was Valentine's Day. In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated by women giving chocolates to the men. The following month, on March 14th (called White Day), the men reciprocate by giving gifts back to the women. In our household we celebrated by having an indoor picnic breakfast in my daughter's room and then went on a hike with some friends.

How do you celebrate Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day?

warmly,
denise of akemi designs

2010-02-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

The Korean Maru Dining Table by Greentea Design

Rain Li

2010-02-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Rain Li is a much sought-after, Beijing-born cinematographer. She left home at an early age to England to pursue her dreams and found work as a model. She studied at The Arts Institute of Bournemouth. After her studies, Ms. Li trained as an electrician on short films, commercials then moved on to camera work, and later to cinematography.

Her film work includes Gus Van Sant's Paranoid Park, collaborating with Christopher Doyle. For music videos, she has worked with Justin Timberlake on Sexy Back.

More about Rain Li's work can be found on her website.

Enjoy!
Dai - Dear Monday

2010-02-05T09:46:00.000-08:00

Minis

New People Mall in Japantown SF

2010-02-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago I went to check out a new addition to Japan Town in San Francisco -- the New People Mall. Specializing in "J-pop", this ultra-modern mini-mall features a movie theater (showing Japanese movies) and fashion from Japan's Harajuki district.

The fashion is what you'd expect -- over-the-top babydoll dresses, lots of black, plus modern takes on Japanese traditional classics, like the split-toe worker shoe.

The top floor, called the Superfrog gallery, was closed the day we were there, but is supposed to feature a rotating installation of artists inspired by Japanese culture.

Very cool, very different, a little taste of Tokyo! Be sure to check out the bathrooms while you're there (and the multi-function bidets!).

Read about New People Mall in SF Gate.

Visit the New People Mall website.

Dreams Do Come True

2010-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

For lack of ideas about what Asian-related topic to write about, I couldn't help but share the good news about the grand opening of our guitar school and art studio in Los Gatos, CA. If you live in the area or are visiting, we would love to meet you!

Chris and I just had our grand opening last weekend and it was truly a blast. We celebrated the opening of Chris Bryant Guitar School and Twin Soul Art Studio in downtown Los Gatos, CA. We had two weeks to prepare the school and studio before the celebration, so you can imagine how busy we were after Christmas until the day of the event on January 10th. I took care of putting up all the wall decals (Dali Decals on Etsy) and my sister helped me design the Twin Soul Art Studio logo as a main focal point for the back wall. I prepared the appetizers for over 100 people and loved how everything came together. My family was a great support and they flew out from Hawaii just for the event. The weather brought sunshine, lots of traffic, happy hearts and awesome music. Chris put together a five-hour playlist of Indie artists - The Decemberists, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Brett Dennen, Tristan Prettyman, Meiko, Joshua Radin, Belle & Sebastian, Matt Costa, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, The Dandy Warhols, We Are Scientists, Bishop Allen, As Tall As Lions and Ben Harper to name a few! And, I was happy to also put up tons of gig posters by the talented and down-to-earth artist Strawberryluna on Etsy.

Twin Soul Art Studio currently features Chris Bryant's pottery and my collage art. In time, I will conduct collage workshops for both children and adults in the studio. This space will also be open to showcasing other artists' work as well as trunk shows. With the guitar school next door and a music album in the making, we are creating a wonderful artistic world for others as well as ourselves - a dream come true in infinite respects.

Chris Bryant Guitar School - Reception

Twin Soul Art Studio - Retail, Gallery & Workshops

Twin Soul Art Studio - Wall Decals by Dali Decals

Owners - Chris & Jeanne

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Happy MLK jr. Day

2010-01-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. My daughter has been learning about this man and his legacy for equal treatment of all people, and I am happy that we are so fortunate to live in a place where differences are celebrated and embraced. I came across this article where teens in the Bay Area share their thoughts about MLK Jr. and his message, and how it applies to their lives today.

I try to keep King's spirit alive by teaching my daughter that the world made of people who celebrate different things, have different perspectives and experiences, but that we are all Human. We all experience the same emotions and essentially, just strive to be happy.

How are you living Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream?

Sweet Republic

2010-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

In 2008, Sweet Republic opened its doors in Scottsdale, Arizona. The artisan ice-cream parlor was founded by Jan Wichayanuparp and Helen Yung, two former investment bankers who decided to follow their dreams.

Sweet Republic makes their frozen treats from scratch, using fresh, natural ingredients from as many local vendors as possible. Some gourmet flavors include Salted Butter Caramel, Earl Grey Tea, Cheese Course Duo, Basil Lime Sorbet. All are served in biodegradable packaging.

If you are in Scottsdale, Arizona and want a sweet treat, be sure to visit Sweet Republic.

(All photos belong to Sweet Republic)

Enjoy,
Dai - Dear Monday

Winter Sale

2010-01-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Japanese furniture by Greentea Design

The Winter Sale discounts are offered based on the collection the furniture is in. The Kuryo Collection gets the biggest discount at 30% off. The popular Maru Table Collection, made directly from reclaimed Korean floors has a discount of 10%. The Sakura lighting collection and Antiques Section are both 10% off as well. The rest of Greentea Design's line is 20% off. The sale only applies to stock pieces; custom orders are excluded from any discounts.

Sheila D Reversible Bags

2010-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Back when I lived in Los Angeles many moons ago, I worked with a talented web artist who helped me build my first jewelry website. I loved Sheila's eye for clean design and pops of color.

She now makes these nifty reversible bags out of colorful fabrics and textures at SheilaD.com. I especially love the Round Bags! Please check out her work!

2010-01-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

Minis

Perfect Blend of Function and Fashion

2009-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Onitsuka Tiger collaborates with the famously talented Simone Legno of Tokidoki. The partnership with Onitsuka Tiger brings together two unique facets of Japanese culture. Onitsuka Tiger's strong history of creating outstanding athletic products married with Tokidoki's modern interpretation of Japanese art creates the perfect blend of function and fashion.

Asics America: Onitsuka Tiger + Tokidoki

Onitsuka Tiger + Tokidoki Snowtopia

Onitsuka Tiger + Tokidoki FABRE BL-L

All images and descriptive text from AsicsAmerica.com (Onitsuka Tiger + Tokidoki Product Collaboration)

Jeanne - Three Paper Pigs

Ozoni

2009-12-21T07:59:00.000-08:00

My mom always makes a special Japanese soup for New Year's (Shogatsu), called Ozoni, a clear fish/seaweed broth with root veggies and rice cakes (mochi). Come January first, I will make my own attempt at making Ozoni and have some friends and family over to share in the first meal of the new year.

If you have access to a Japanese or Asian market (or try your local supermarket), you can get the ingredients to make this soup. Try it out! I've been Googling recipes, and it looks like you can make it as simple or complex as you like. I'll probably try something along the middle of the road in terms of ease and ingredients. Maybe one of these:
Dashi soup stock by Alton Brown
Ozoni recipe 1
Ozoni recipe 2

I haven't decided what foods to add to the soup, but it'll probably be some of these:
Japanese radish (Daikon)
Taro root (Satoimo)
Fish cake (Kamaboko)
Shiitake Mushrooms
Napa cabbage
Chicken
Carrots

Mochi will be oven-broiled to be crispy on the outside and gooey, sticky on the inside. These are added just before serving.

And to add to the festivities, hot sake will also be served.

Mmm!

Happy Holidays,
denise of akemidesigns