Mizu Mikado 水帝

Summer of Art

2011-05-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

A recent trip to New York City and practically a million graduation parties later I finally have time to put up for sale all of the items I've created. What does this mean? Well, June 2011 is going to be plenty busy with me putting in new inventory. Much of it is artwork and some accessories. I love summer. The weather is perfect to break out some supplies and get to doing work outside.

Unlikely Creative Space

2011-04-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

Ideally, I would be doing my artwork at home with some soothing music in the background and plenty of table room to work and possibly eat. My home life isn't exactly so ideal. My niece, though I love her, has overrun all of the table space in my house with toys and crayons and food bits and whatever else two year olds tend to leave in their wake. I'll have to take my art supplies elsewhere to

Photography Randomness: It's full of stars.

2011-04-10T21:37:00.001-07:00

Okay, maybe not literally full of stars. This was taken at a local church. I was amused by how the ceiling, with it's complex designs and soft palette, was juxtaposed to the hard geometrical shapes and colors of glass stars.

Crafting at Work: Now With Hair Stuff

2011-03-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

I firmly believe that if you can't find what you're looking for, make it yourself. Now there may be a difference between the idea in your head and the execution, but at least you made something closer to what you actually wanted.Since my last entry it came to my mind I wanted a statement hair clip to wear to work. Other than the color I get from my blouse or my earrings, my work wardrobe is

Crafting at Work

2011-03-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

No I don't do it on the clock. I'm talking about during breaks and random lunches and things like that. Sometimes I just want to keep my hands busy. I'm still trying my hand at sewing. My work still feels like beginner results, but a least I'm seeing results. My first at work project was a rose. I actually took 3 daisy shaped fabric flowers I made and twisted them into each other to form

Worth it!: R and B from Lush Cosmetics

2011-02-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, I'm on a quest to find beauty products that are worth it. I know I'm paying a lot for a little pot of this or dab or that. But I spent all this time looking for you, you little tiny thing of great value. On top of that you work! All hail those products that are totally worth it.Even with the movement to buy more eco-friendly beauty products, there are still duds. They mean

Habbee Balentinz De-HACHOO

2011-02-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Nothing says romance like some Nyquil and a box of tissue right about now. Or a giant bowl of pho/ramen with lots of Sriracha in it. I'm not being picky. I would love to be able to breath through my nose within this week. My nose is glowing red like a Valentine's day box too.Nevertheless, Happy Hallmark Heart-Shaped Candy Day! Don't forget to hoard all the good stuff tomorrow when there's

Yoga Progress

2011-02-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

Since I started doing Bikram yoga in November I've lost about 10 pounds. That doesn't seem like much. However, I have noticed that my once form fitting workout pants are threatening to fall off my hips. I bought these pants back in November. My next set of workout clothes are going to have drawstrings.On top of that my instructors have noticed I'm doing postures (the yoga 'poses') with

So Much Reading!

2011-01-18T12:50:00.000-08:00

For Christmas I got what I asked for: Comic books. Collected in either paperback volumes, hardcovers, or a giant coffee table book that has an entire series put together. I don't have enough shelf space in my room to justify collecting issues. If I read a book, I read everything. Not one or two highlights or volumes. I want the whole hog.When do I find time to read? The old fashioned way,

What's come over me?

2011-01-06T12:47:00.000-08:00

I must be in a serious sewing phase. I'm getting a big thrill trying to sew things on my own. Now I understand why seamstresses and tailors charge as much as they do. This is serious work on your fingers and your back if you're not careful. Right now I have a whole bunch of fabric I never thought of getting even a few months ago. I am in the middle of a sewing project to give monogrammed,

Happy New Year! And a Coupon Code!

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

Happy New Year! Here's to starting over again and getting resolutions resolved!This year I resolve to save more money and experience new things. The saving money part actually ties into the second resolution, as I want to go to New York City before this year is over. So here's a new experience for me, the Etsy discount coupon:Happy Birthday to Me, Un-birthday to You!When you buy something from

New Item!: It's a...Bag?

2010-12-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

Your eyes don't deceive you. Why yes, it is a bag!I saw this cotton drawstring bag online. The first thing I thought? I can make this into calligraphy! I bought one, along with bottles of fabric paint to experiment with. Honestly finding the right ratio of fabric paint was harder than the actual calligraphy. You can't make this paint too runny or it'll go through the fabric. But it can't

New Item!: Flower Clips

2010-12-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

I just listed a sweet little set of flower clips. The fabric scrap I used was so small but it was too beautiful not to use for something. Much tinkgering and cursing later I made some classic fabric rose buds. Check it out!Roses Red Shoe Clip SetAvailable on Etsy now for $12.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-18T15:18:00.000-08:00

It's a busy time for all of us. I just wanted to wish all my readers and everyone in the greater blog ether a happy and safe holiday season. If you're traveling, never forget to bring extra underwear. Just trust me on that one.

New Item!: Flower Clips

2010-11-30T21:16:00.000-08:00

So after much experimenting and talking with the fabric (or myself, depending on the situation) I created a retail version of my shoe clips that I wouldn't mind parting with.Purple Haze and Golden Waves Shoe Clip SetActually yeah I do mind parting with it. I put a lot of work into these little things. But I know that wherever they end up it will be in a good place.

Wait, I Sew? (Flower Shoe Clips)

2010-11-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of female friends. This isn't 'vaguely know them on my Facebook page' sense, but in a 'I see these people quite regularly to hang out' sense. With the holidays/birthdays approaching and me short on money, I decided to venture into a new arts and crafts project, shoe clips.I searched around for something I like, but nothing to my satisfaction. I mean, does everyone have to make

Trying new things: Bikram Yoga

2010-11-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

AKA 'Just standing here burns calories' AKA 'hot yoga' AKA 'dear Lord please shower before we start please weird lady next to me.' At the suggestion of my boyfriend I decided to try out doing balancing stances in a 100+ degree room.Why did I choose to do this? I need the exercise. Running/jogging/walking gets boring. Gym gets expensive. I have working out ADD.I'm doing okay for my first few

Walk around looking classy and feeling comfy

2010-10-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

The first time I ever saw someone walk around outside with a pair of Tom's Shoes I remarked, "Since when were we allowed to wear old man slippers outside the house?" Then I started seeing them being worn in San Francisco with increasing frequency, in more styles and colors. My boyfriend's sister starting talking about how great Tom's were and the charitable pair they make for every shoe sold.

I'm in a Blog!: Mystic Wynd

2010-10-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

I received a message earlier this week from Mystic Wynd that she featured my Japanese calligraphy in her latest blog entry. An Asian inspired post filled with pretty things and facts about Chinese and Japanese culture. Go check it out!Delightful Discoveries - Domo ArigatoThank you so much, Mystic Wynd! You made my week!

Wait, I Sew? (A Purple Flower Hair Clip. By Myself)

2010-09-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, I do. Very badly. Traumatic experiences with a grandmother who could literally sew everything while watching soap operas. One day I convinced myself I want a fabric flower hair clip. After about two days of searching I couldn't find what was envisioned in my head. I found many things too small, too big, too flashy, or just too awful. Of course, all of these things were too expensive.

Going Mad for SCDP, and Looking Like I Stepped Off the Set

2010-09-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that I love AMC's Mad Men. My parents would have flashbacks about their own parents either watching this, wearing that, or using some such item. Seriously if I were an older woman I would be stalking Jon Hamm. The picture on the right was from this season's episode three, "The Good News". Tailored suit and Ray Bans? Oh, Mr. Draper :swooning noises:I am obsessed with this show,

San Francisco Food Cart Festival 2010

2010-08-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

What have I been doing away from my blog? Among other obvious things, eating.You've probably seen some crazy gimmick food trucks/roach coaches/stands run by crazy old ladies before, but San Francisco seems to take it to another level. Name your country, sweet, or gimmick of choice and there's got to be a food cart or food truck in the city that suits your tastes. Yesterday was a jam packed,

New Item!: Cool - Tsumetai

2010-08-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

What I would give for having a nice Olympic sized pool by my house. So hot I'm melting. Actually all this week it's been so cold in the San Francisco Bay Area I had to break out my winter tights already. Thankfully the weather is warming up for the weekend.I just posted a new ACEO if you wish to purchase a bit of original art. Check it out!Cool - Tsumetai - Original Tranding Card (ACEO) Sized

New Item: Heat/Atsui/熱い Art Trading Card ACEO

2010-08-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

My house is getting quite a few renovations to say the least. In order to renovate one area all of the stuff inside is, of course, being thrown into my room. This might be why I'm going art cards (ACEO) this month. Small, stately pieces of art that I can make in some very small spaces.I actually thought of this one in a bar, watching a mixed martial arts event with my boyfriend. There were

New Item: Chagami Pack, Now with Pressed Flowers

2010-07-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest experiment into utilizing my flower press, 5 Oatmeal Sheets with Pressed FlowersI know people say don't take pictures during sunset, but I like the warm glow it casts on my paper. This is the first real test of pressed flowers on my paper making. I may have been a bit overenthusiastic with the drying. As you can see in the picture on the right, the paper pulp couldn't "cling"

Party All the Time

2010-07-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

Still trying to recover from the weekend festivities, folks. My sister and her family moved back up to the Bay Area. After a little coaxing from my mom, I made a 'Welcome Home' banner to greet my sister, brother-in-law, and niece. I made it with some card stock, paint, punched-out shapes of butterflies, my flower hole puncher, ribbon, and a geranium I pressed myself.On a side note: I have been

LIVE Video Game Tournament Finals Tonight!

2010-07-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

During the course of the week I've been watching quite a few exciting events. The World Cup, obviously. World Series of Poker, as well. But there's also a not so little fighting game tournament going on right now, in fabulous Las Vegas, NV.Evolution Tournaments runs a whole slew of video game tournaments, broadcast live online. Their crown jewel is this weekend's Street Fighter IV tournament.

What Do I Do With a Goof?

2010-07-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

See this piece on the right? It says 大喜び (おおよろこび pronounced 'oh-oh-yo-ro-ko-bee'). What does it mean? Delight, or glee.Yes, glee. Like the TV show with not teenagers singing their parents' high school pop songs with some newer songs thrown in for fun.Anyway. I made this piece to sell. I wanted to show a little bit of humor and pop culture in my otherwise super classy shop. (I'd like to

I am Loved!

2010-07-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

You love me! You really love me!200 of you decided to officially display that love on Etsy. For that I am really honored. Thank you all so much!I have to ask though, who is #200? I want to give a little something to him/her in appreciation =D

I think my horoscope read my mind this morning.

2010-07-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Here's what the iGoogle Astrology application greeted me with this morning:Watch your pocketbook now because you may obsess over a fantasy of purchasing something that could change your image. But money cannot buy happiness, even if you're hooked by the idea of acquiring a piece of artwork, a tech toy or new clothing. Looking at material possessions as the source of satisfaction could frustrate

New Item: A Gingko Leaf

2010-06-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've spent all of my literate life spelling this plant's name wrong.Anyway, I just listed a new painting, Gingko Leaf. A Chinese symbol of wealth because of the leaf's color and resemblance to ancient Chinese currency. The yellow of the art board I used and the flecks of silver on it really called to me.

Shop Updates: Black and White

2010-06-26T16:09:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone's having a good weekend so far. I've been spending the day with my washer/dryer set trying to get piles of clothes cleaned. While waiting for the dryer cycle to function I decided to unveil my new shop banner and avatar set.I know, black and white, right? Usually I'm a very colorful person. I did find something refreshing about black, white, and a dash of red. It's like wearing

To the Gloved One

2010-06-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hope you're shamonin' the heavens. Music has never been the same since you departed this day, last year.Here's an article from Time magazine that really gets to the heart of the matter.Michael Jackson's Career Resurrection

Rest Well, Old Friend

2010-06-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's hard to let go. Time passes and at some point they just tell you 'Leave me here, I'll be fine. Go on now. Don't worry about me anymore.' You don't want them to go but at the same time you can't bear to see them suffer. I can't believe I'm saying this about a paint brush.I've had this student grade sumi brush for about 7 years now. I learned calligraphy with it. I practiced

See you in Vegas!

2010-06-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

...Or then again maybe not. I will be away for much of next week in fabulous and flashy and glittery and showy Las Vegas. I haven't taken a real vacation for about two years (thanks job hunting) and it's high time to let my hair down.My Etsy shop will still be open while I am away, but if you decide to buy something while I'm gone expect your package to ship out on June 18, 2010.No, I will not

I'm in a Treasury!: Up Close and Personal

2010-06-10T14:51:00.001-07:00

Many thanks to SimplyInvitingCards for featuring my Star calligraphy in their treasury! Every item in this list shows off some of Etsy's best macro shots. You know that funny little flower icon in your digital camera? Yeah that one. Flowers and cloth are great ways of practicing with your macro feature. If you get really good you can take macro shots of bugs and other little things that

I'm in Treasuries!

2010-06-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Seriously, this is an overwhelming amount of love to discover while I was out this long Memorial Day weekend. I honestly don't know where to begin thanking everyone for adding my work to Etsy's Treasury East galleries. What makes Treasury East different from the (defunct) West and Main? First, Treasury East is permanent. Second, you can create however many galleries you want. What stays the

See you at Con!

2010-05-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

My blog is going on a little break while I attend FanimeCon in San Jose, CA this weekend. I promise pictures of when I travel down for the day.Don't forget to visit Kimonomomo's booth at the dealer's room! Exclusive calligraphy and artwork is for sale with her beautiful kimono. Check out other events (cosplay, videos, anime marathons, panels) and enjoy all of it on your 39th hour of eating

I Made a Treasury!: Doink Doink

2010-05-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

I grew up with Law & Order as my 'big girl' show. It was my first encounter with how crime fighters really fought crime, without super powers or magical devices. Okay maybe DNA sequencing could be considered a magical device but that's not magic, that's science! How unique an ID do you want unless you're a twin but even then--Anyway, Law & Order. Sam Waterston is like that kooky uncle that at

Project: MP3 Player Belt Clip (Conclusion)

2010-05-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

Last time on (not) 24 there were scraps of cloth glued to foam, held together comically with laundry pins. After much gluing and stitching and OMG-I-pricked-my-fingertip-again, it is done. It is glorious. All right it's rough around the edges but I'm proud of what I made. What was that? The weird headphone thing sticking out? Actually, it's a tiny speaker. I use this mp3 player at work.

I Made a Treasury!: Even Spring Gets Chilly

2010-05-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

Things at work aren't all sunshine and rainbows at the moment. It's just rain, and cold, and wind, did I mention rain? I'm patting myself on the back for keeping my emergency weather supplies in a small nook of my work area. The supplies? An umbrella, a rain coat, and a scarf. The weather in the San Francisco Bay Area can change literally at any moment, so don't get caught without having

I Made a Treasury!: Chinoiserie

2010-05-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

In my college days I took Asian Art History class to fulfill my humanities requirement. (That sounded like a lot more fun to me than 'Intro to Anthropoligy'.) It surprised me to learn a lot of what I considered "Asian" art are actually European and American interpretations of ancient Chinese art. It was a huge trend back when the mythical East was considered a magical land, not the other side

I Made a Treasury!: Matte. Sheen. Flat. Rough.

2010-05-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

I thought just a few minutes ago, "Well, not everything that's pretty is sparkly." As a counter treasury to my Shine, Sparkle, Glitter, Dazzle treasury listing I decided to make something much more subdued.I went for a lot of interesting textures since I couldn't just find the brightest thing available. Sometimes it doesn't show through in the thumbnails but they do show in full view.

I Made a Treasury!: Shine. Sparkle. Glitter. Dazzle.

2010-05-18T14:06:00.001-07:00

I'll take "Shiny Objects" for $500, Alex. Seriously if that were a Jeopardy category I would do fantastic in it. I was inspired by my browsing through Think Geek, an online retail store devoted to pretty much all things nerdy. I need to shop for my dad and for my brother-in-law for Father's Day. What better thing to give than some high tech doo-dad with blinking lights and practical uses?Of

I Made a Treasury!: Greetings from Team Goon!

2010-05-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

This time around I made a treasury listing for one of my Etsy teams, Etsy Goon Squad (aka Team Goon). These are the Etsy members affiliated with the (in)famous Somethingawful Forums. We're not all smarmy trolls and people who unironically make fun of the Internet. It's just hard to stop that habit at times. Congratulations to all of the sellers that have their items featured!Click here to

WIP: May? It Must be Con Season!

2010-05-12T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hello guys and gals. I've been a calligraphy machine churning out enough inventory to sell for Fanime, the local Japanese anime/video game/manga convention held during Memorial Day weekend in San Jose, CA. Thanks to Kimono Momo for lending me a small area of her dealer booth to show off my art against the backdrop of beautiful kimono.At the moment I'm waiting for some smaller trading card sized

Aftermath Notes - Etsy Meet and Greet in San Francisco

2010-05-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Cinco De Mayo San Francisco Etsy Meet and Greet came and went. Shoutouts to the members of the San Francisco/Bay Area Street Team, as they were out in practically full force. I met all sorts of sellers and talented artisans who really have their act together. Their ambitions and drive to get out there and open up to more potential customers is awe inspiring. All the groups were talking

I'm in a Treasury!: RED

2010-05-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

Before I went to bed last night I posted a new piece of art depicting tulips. I wake up and discover it's already in a treasury (I'm on the bottom right corner)! And the curator's first one! I feel so honored.Maybe it was a good idea to post at a random time. Please go check out Myamigo's very first treasury.Click here to visit the RED Treasury

Music on My MP3 Player

2010-05-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

Now that I have a sweet case I made for my MP3 player, I have been jamming to some mighty fine tunes lately. If you are a big hip hop fan with some eclectic mixes thrown in like I am, take a listen to B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray.The album dropped this week and every track is hip hop, indie, and overall fun. Easily album of the year material. For you emo music aficionados, a

New Item: Stationery for your Dad or Grad

2010-05-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

I looked at my shop for a moment and realized it was a bit too girly I would say. A major complaint from my guy friends is there aren't enough crafty things for dudes. So here's some stationery I made with my male friends, relatives, and loved ones in mind.Stationery - Steel Blue Tea Paper Chagami Set for US$10

Cinco de Mayo - Etsy Meet and Greet in San Francisco!

2010-04-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

I may have lost my mind in doing this but I've decided to attend the official Etsy Admin Meet and Greet in San Francisco. Here are the event details for those interested in going:Date: 05/05/2010 at 7:00PM (Cinco de Mayo yeah!)Location: Crossroads Cafe - 699 Delancey Street San Francisco, CA You can take the MUNI rail line to get there by bus, or walk from the 4th and King Caltrain station.

I'm in a Treasury!: Mother's Day Greetings and Gift Ideas on the Handmade Highway

2010-04-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

My goodness as soon as I posted my own Etsy Treasury I learned that Handmade Highway featured me in their first Treasury East gallery! Treasury East galleries are permanent, unlike the main treasury and the Treasury West galleries. There I am on the bottom left corner with the plum blossom mini painting =D =DToday has definitely been an awesome day. High fives all around! :hfive:Click here to

I Made a Treasury!: Golden Glow

2010-04-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Just got back from lunch and lo and behold Etsy's Treasury page opened up just long enough for me to create a brief list of things I like. It just so happens butter yellow has been on my mind. What better way to put two and two together than to have my favorite sellers show off their yellow/gold items?Congratulations to all who made it in and the alternates!Click Here to Visit the 'Golden Glow'

New at the Shop: Bloom - Saku

2010-04-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

Posted a new item at my Etsy shop. It uses a new 'canvas' for me called shikishi (しきし pronounced 'she-ki-she'). A few accepted translations for this smooth cardboard surface is 'sign board,' 'autograph board,' and 'art board'. If you ever go to a Japanese restaurant you may see celebrities sign autographs on these boards. Very good for inks, watercolors and light washes. I liked the balance

Work in Progress: Fun with Paper Punches

2010-04-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

I've been searching everywhere for the perfect cherry blossom shaped paper punch. What I saw at the store and online were just vague flower shaped punches. I know, I'm being far too picky. But I don't want to just be satisfied if I'm going to get arts and crafts supplies. I need a durable product with a lot of mileage. Good thing places like Crafty Japan sell the exact paper punch I was

Asian Pacific Islander: Movements of Heritage.

2010-04-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

Need something to do on 04/22/2010 (Thursday)? Live in the San Francisco Bay Area? Oh good, because I have an event just for you.API: Movements of HeritageLocation: San Francisco State University, Cesar Chavez Student Center, Jack Adams HallDate: Thursday, April 22nd, 2010Time: Doors open at 5PM and show starts at 6PM. Show is expected to end at 9PM. Charge: $12, all proceeds go to Hepatitis B

Project: MP3 Player Belt Clip (part 2)

2010-04-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

Previously on (not) Lost I decided to create an MP3 player case with my limited sewing skills. What I lack in the sewing department I make up for with gumption and determination.I second guessed myself on sewing down the corners of the case. It's a detail that doesn't have to be there, really. Then I recalled asking my grandmother why she insisted on hand stitching the seams of her already

I made a treasury! Feathers and Wings and Fluffy Things

2010-04-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Etsy opened up a new treasury suite called Etsy East. I, of course, took advantage of it as soon as I could. Congratulations to the members of the Etsy chat team that got their item featured!Click here to Visit the 'Feathers and Wings and Fluffy Things' treasury I made(up until Sunday)

Project: MP3 Player Belt Clip (part 1)

2010-04-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

I own an iAudio 7, a hand-me-down mp3 player from my boyfriend. I need something to keep me sane at work and working out. For the past month I've been looking around Amazon and Etsy for a specific sort of carrying case/belt clip for my mp3 player. Since I couldn't find anything that fit my needs, I decided to be brave and do it on my own.I am in no way a tailor or professional sewer. My

Paper making: Shammy? Towel? Sponge?

2010-04-05T20:14:00.000-07:00

Paper making requires adding and drawing out huge amounts of water from a mold. You add water so the paper pulp blends. But after you set the finished wet pulp in the mold and deckle, you have to get the water pressed out. This is where many paper makers become frustrated.The manufacturers recommend using a sponge. I did as advised and found the sponge too small to absorb enough water. My

Spring cleaning (sneezing)

2010-03-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

It looks like I caught the cold. It doesn't help I have mild pollen allergies. I sound like sandpaper and my throat feels like it too.Enough about that. I could just stay in bed and twiddle my thumbs. I did watch The Blind Side but my sneezing sort of ruined my enjoyment. I decided to at least do something while I'm recovering. As some of you can tell I got myself a new layout for my blog

In a funk

2010-03-18T11:50:00.001-07:00

All right I have been legitimately busy lately. A full time job and a full weekend doesn't leave much time for being creative. I'm sure you know the feeling. A hard day at work and all you want to do afterwords is eat dinner and catch up on your DV-R or Netflix queue. Now I have a different problem. I have the time to be artsy/crafty but now I have no inspiration. I know I have to draw/

WIP: Seeing things in the clouds

2010-03-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. Beautiful Saturday so far, isn't it? I got a creative kick from watching the clouds pass by during lunch. I still imagine clouds taking the shapes of animals or objects. If I stare too long at the clouds transparent forms start floating by. (I know, it's from the random things floating around in your eye. But that's not a fun explanation.) I decided that would be the

Weekly Calligraphy: More like calligraphies (calligraphii?)

2010-03-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

I've been a busy bee making ACEOs for The Little Black Boxes. Hoo boy is my arm hurting from all the calligraphy.What have I learned so far? For one thing my silver ink has no desire to be photographed. Another thing I learned is making texture with my heavy body acrylic paint. In Asian art the mediums tend to be flat, the most texture coming from charcoal. With European art things like oils

I'm in a Treasury!: Sayuri

2010-02-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Aurorart for featuring my Fude - Brush calligraphy in her newest treasury. Check it out!Sayuri (Lily) Treasury

Art Session: WIP shot.

2010-02-20T17:32:00.000-08:00

Working on some Tiki-themed artwork for The Hive Creations. This one is still drying but I love it already. There's the face of a tiki on the left, volcanic stone in the middle, and a really bright slice of pineapple.After some dinner and a break I'll be back to work making the final piece to this puzzle.

Gung Hay Fat Choy and Happy Fat Tuesday!, New Outlet

2010-02-16T13:24:00.000-08:00

My neighbor is Chinese and gave me a red envelope. She treats me like I'm her kid. I know red envelopes should only be for little kids but she's such a sweet old lady I couldn't help but accept the gift.Happy Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras y'all! My boyfriend is giving up sushi (his favorite food) so we're going to eat a big sushi dinner tonight. I decided to give up on online shopping for Lent.

Photography Randomness: Baby Breesus

2010-02-12T16:11:00.000-08:00

Yeah I'm a football fan. (That's gridiron football, not rugby football and not football football.) I am still glowing from the Superbowl and all the stories about Drew Brees(us). Every picture of his son is adorable =3Thank you AP/Yahoo! Sports for this image:

Weekly Calligraphy: Brush (Fude)

2010-02-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

[[Argh I'm late for this one but the weather was just nice enough the other day to finally use my camera.]]Brush - 筆 (ふで pronounced 'foo-deh')The Chinese writing system, and in turn the Korean and Japanese writing systems, used the brush as both a writing tool and a means of artistic expression. In my calligraphy reference book I found a wonderful interpretation of the character. Nearly every

Argh freakin' weather deities

2010-02-03T21:59:00.001-08:00

The one time I need to really do a photo session to post new items to sell and you tell me rain well into Valentine's Day. Grrr D=

Weekly Calligraphy: Maru

2010-01-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

I got this idea from watching World War II specials on History Channel one night. Naval ship naming conventions have their own bits of fun history. USS (United States Ship) are obviously for U.S. Navy ships. HMS (Her Majesty's Ship) are for U.K. naval vessels. 丸 (maru), or 'circle', are for Japanese ships. There are a few theories as to why 丸 is used. Source: Wikipedia * The most common

Tune in tonight and have a fun mental exercise

2010-01-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

I rarely talk politics, even to my closest friends. It meddles with people's convictions and values so it gets very messy. We can all agree at least to pay attention tonight, as President Barack Obama will have his very first State of the Union.When the speech is done, complete this questionnaire:1. What is your initial reaction? Are they generally positive or negative?2. Tune in for about

I'm in a Blog!: Satin Stitchery

2010-01-25T10:39:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Satin Stitchery for featuring my Dawn - Akebono calligraphy in their Sunday Shopping blog article! You can find the link to her blog below and read through her other wonderful posts:Sunday Shopping on the Handmade Highway

Valentine's Day: Trying something new

2010-01-24T17:29:00.000-08:00

I found these sweet little cherry blossom shaped art boards at Ichiban Kan. They make great Valentine's, don't you think?The first part of my Valentine's Day series is available for sale at my shop. Take advantage of my Un-Birthday giveaway while you're at it!

Valentine's Day Postings, Birthday Promo

2010-01-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

If you check out my Etsy shop you'll notice my banner and avatar have changed. Consider it a sneak preview of new items coming for this Valentine's day ^~My birthday is tomorrow! To celebrate I'm going to give away presents. See details below and at my shop for more information =DHappy Birthday to Me! A Very Merry Un-Birthday to You!My birthday is on January 25th. Besides being another year

Weekly Calligraphy: Osu!

2010-01-21T22:03:00.000-08:00

I admit this came from Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (Hey! Fight! Cheer Squad), one of my favorite video games ever. It's a rhythm game, but it's a very masculine rhythm game. The character I wrote for the week is a Japanese pun for 'Hey!' or 'Oi!' or some other one syllable call you use to get attention. The two characters on their own mean 'push'(押) and 'stealth' (忍). 押忍 (おす pronounced oh-s)Hey;

Weekly Calligraphy - Sushi

2010-01-14T21:11:00.000-08:00

I had a real craving for sushi one day. Also my camera did not like the weather lately. My pictures either came out too dark or too light (from the flash). This was the best of the batch.鮨 (すし pronounced su-shi)One of Japan's most popular food exports.

I'm in a Treasury! - Etsy Chat Team

2010-01-10T21:37:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the awesome jswrites of The Etsy Chat Team for featuring my 'Hoshi - Star' calligraphy in the Chat Team's Something to Talk About Treasury!Something to talk about

Weekly Calligraphy - Megumi (Blessing)

2010-01-06T18:41:00.000-08:00

Here's the first installment of my weekly calligraphy series. 惠 (めぐみ pronounced meh-goo-me)blessing; grace; mercy; benevolence; charity

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T12:43:00.000-08:00

2009 had its ups and downs, but like bad wine it just leaves a funny, lingering taste in my mouth. (And smells like vinegar!) Here's to 2010 and 2 more years until the (proposed) end of days!My New Year's resolution? To do a new piece of calligraphy every week, regardless of if I decide to sell it at my Etsy shop. If you have any words, phrases or even sentences you'd like me to write please

Thank You and Happy Holidays!

2009-12-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

I finally found some time to make a Seasons Greetings post!Thank you to everyone reading this for stopping by my blog, even if it's just to read this latest article. I update regularly, but not so often as to annoy you on your RSS feed. I post about things that inspire me along with stuff I sell. It's not one giant billboard/blog you see. I have a real life too.Thank you to my small but ever

I'm in a Treasury! - Kokerui (Mossy)

2009-12-18T15:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks once again to suiseki for featuring my Chagami stationery in her treasury!Click here to see the Kokerui ('mossy') treasury

Wait, pursuing your dreams and running your own shop is hard work?!

2009-12-17T16:13:00.000-08:00

Who would-a thunk of that?! A recent article by the New York Times covering the difficulties faced by Etsy's big blockbuster sellers rubbed me the wrong way. (That Hobby Looks Like a Lot of Work by Alex Williams) Congratulations! You made it! The arts/crafts you're good at are recognized by others and purchased often enough for you to pursue it full time! Consider yourselves lucky and

I'm in a Blog!: Notes From the Handmade Highway

2009-12-15T11:42:00.000-08:00

I'm a registered member of Handade Highway, a directory of sorts for people looking for shops to show off in their own blogs, for wholesale inquiries, and maybe just to check out what's out there. Their companion blog Notes From the Handmade Highway, listed me as their featured seller this week! I answered a few questions and they picked out their favorite items from my shop.tennyoceres on

Christmas Presents: Something small and sweet

2009-12-13T22:10:00.000-08:00

Erin and I were roomies during our college days. She's moved on to graduate (before I did!) and is now doing awesome things in concept art and video games. I decided to send a little Christmas Present with the Christmas card I mailed her.Erin has a huge thing for bats, and I have this terrible, unbroken habit of drawing cute characters. Sure enough there was a blank ACEO-sized card that was

I'm in a Treasury! - Tsukiakari

2009-12-12T11:17:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to suiseki for featuring my Tea - Cha series in their "Tsukiakari" (moonlight) treasury! They added a little bit of poetry to boot!Click here to see the 'Tsukiakari' Treasuryin the moonlightsubtle shifting patternsagainst the windowpane

Treasury: For the manly man in your life

2009-12-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

It drives me crazy when people think Etsy's only a girly girl place. There's stuff for dudes too! I confess the quality is probably better than the girl items ._.Congratulations to everyone that made it on my listing!Visit the 'For your favorite hunky studmuffin' treasuryHere are the Etsy listings in no particular order.http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36322914http://www.etsy.com

Christmas Presents Batch 1

2009-12-06T20:04:00.000-08:00

Whoo boy good thing there's rain today. I was forced to stay indoors and paint. The first painting I did was for a good friend who's a huge Sonic the Hedgehog fan. I did Sonic in my personal favorite form, Super Sonic. Back in my middle school years Dragon Ball Z fanart was my life. I drew Goku so often that now I don't even need reference images for his Super Saiyajin form. Early Super

Lotus Series 4 of 4, Presents (continued)

2009-12-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

Last one for this series! I'm glad they're all up at my shop now.Art - Lotus Series v1 - 4 of 4 - Mixed Media on PlywoodLooks like my Internet Secret Santa list has exploded. I'm keeping my vow to give handmade presents, though for my SS these will likely be paintings or drawings. Hopefully my Santees won't find out about this blog and spoil their surprises! =o

Lotus Series - 3 of 4, Presents

2009-11-23T15:59:00.000-08:00

Another painting before Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the madness only known as 'The Holidays.' Art - Lotus Series v1 - 3 of 4 - Mixed Media on PlywoodI'm sure I'm not alone in my decision to send some handmade presents this year. Running a craft shop has given me plenty of extra materials to put together for fun gifts. Maybe it won't be as charming as my niece's construction

Lotus series - 2 of 4

2009-11-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

Now up for sale at my Etsy shop.Artwork - Lotus Series v1 - 2 of 4 - Mixed Media on PlywoodThis piece is a big departure from the first one. While the first was very graphic and symmetrical, this piece seemed to grow from the single large paper petal in the middle of the flower. Lighting has once again made the lime green background far too saturated.

Going up for sale - Lotus (series)

2009-11-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

After weeks of hard work and putting paint marks on my coffee table I'm officially ready to put these babies up for sale.It's a pain to take pictures of something that I intentionally made so bright. Too much light and its "Oh God my eyes burn!" Too little light and none of the colors stand out. In my mind it's better too bright than not bright enough.Here's the first one already up for sale

Freezing

2009-11-13T19:45:00.001-08:00

Jeez it's cold! Brr! I think the weather decided to skip fall and go straight to the winter chills. I had to break out the thick flannel pajamas and fluffy socks. But that doesn't mean I can't be busy a-makin' things. I'm in the middle of making more bookmarks for the Vegan Craft Samples bag for January. I'll be posting pictures once it's all done. n I've also been making artwork! Check

I'm (officially) in a Sample Bag! - Vegan Craft Samples

2009-11-02T14:29:00.000-08:00

Vegan Craft Samples, as its site name implies, sells loads of wonderful little samples in a reusable cloth shopping bag. You can get one of my bookmarks along with lots of other goodies. Did I mention that all proceeds to go charity? Go check it out and order a bag or three before they sell out!Purchase a Holiday 2009 Sample Bag for US$25!

Busy Bee, Vegan Sample Bag, Wholesale

2009-10-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

Been a while since my last post. Rumors about my death are untrue. But with toddler for a niece wanting to get my hands on my craft stuff during her visit to my house all October it's hard to even check up on e-mail.I will be participating in the Vegan Craft Samples holiday 2009 giveaway bag. Thanks to my Etsy shop I was offered by Heather, who runs the VGS show, to participate. I will be

I'm in a gift guide!

2009-09-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you to the lovely people at Trunkt for putting one of my personal pieces in their gift guide! I'm a gift guide virgin and I'm very honored to be part of this prestigious group.Trunkt's 'Free Spirit' Gift Guide(I'm second from the bottom, on the left. Yeah that little white square.)

By the by...

2009-09-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

...I made it into another art book! Hooray! =DThis book's theme is 'paranormal' to correspond to the October release date. Preorder the book now before its 250 copies are sold out!http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/858441

Lotus - My moment of zen

2009-09-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

I make a point to block off at least one part of one day in any given weekend to have a moment of zen. Some people go to the gym, others go to a night club or bar, I decide to put the supplies I bought over the week to good use. The Asian Art Museum visit still lights a fire in my soul. The statues and depictions of Buddha over a lotus captured my imagination. I could also hear my Asian art

Tidying up, more bookmarks, and another art book

2009-09-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping busy this weekend updating my DeviantArt page and my Trunkt portfolio. Both suffered quite a bit of neglect since I got started in another job contract. I never realized that my bookmarks took up such a big chunk of my artwork. They're also really easy and fun to make.Speaking of making bookmarks, I've also managed to make a real good mess on my coffee table making more of

Diary 2010 Project

2009-09-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

For those who don't know, I designed the diary pages of July 19 and September 11 2010. Over 100 artists took part, so every page is literally never the same.