more summer days.

From my sketch book, more things i like about summer. ahh summer, when things slow down just a little bit due to the heat.
Being in California, I can do all these things all year long, but there's something about summer that makes me smile a little.

Happy friday!

summer days

ahh summer!

lately i've been woken up by the sound of birds outside my window. it drives me crazy (i need more sleep)! however, in the spirit of summer, this week and next week i will feature summer from my sketch book. this week, i'm featuring my most favorite thing about summer: fireworks! and it's fitting since it's the 4th of july weekend this week. so with that spirit, happy 4th and enjoy your summer!

Happy friday!

the other side of the world.

The first week of being back to the office has proven a challenge for me. Not only I have to recover from jet lag, I was faced with mountains of to do lists. With NSS coming next month, launching new products for the store, product catalog is being produced, studio's site is being made, new handmade items coming up for Etsy store, I feel like planning another vacation now.

But for now, these eye candies should do the trick.  These are some of the inspiring things I saw during my trip to the tropics. From top: a café design with traditional but modern feel; tea aisle in a grocery store; patterning in front of a restaurant; another patterning for a mall, and lastly a stack of batik fabric.

I'm logging off now, happy friday. It looks really sunny over here, hope's the same for you!

monster usb

this week i had to transfer a huge file over to a printer for my client's project. due to the file size, the file transfer via ftp failed, so i had to send dvds (3!) to the printer. now, i was thinking it's probably more environmentally friendly to send them USB and have them send it back to me, or send it to my client? they are reusable and can be adorable as the one in the image above. the question is when are they going to make one as cost effective as dvds?

happy friday!

it's a good thing all around.

It isn't only valentine this weekend, but also chinese new year. I love new years, especially this one since there are many meanings behind the festivities. Here are the things that remind me of them, by way of etsy. have a prosperous and wonderful year of the tiger!

images: (fr top to bottom, right to left) flower brooch or pin by tago design, popmat placements-banguet by publiqueshop, chicken dumpling by lasso the moon, dumpling coin pouch with zipper by capri's handmade, delicious feeling by helen dardik, little fish pieces by little sappling toys. 

a bit of red a bit of blue

i'm ready to move on from christmas reds to winter blues right now. and lately, i'm attracted brighter non pastel colors.

image credits: top: heart by ban.do, middle: work by anu tuominen found via here. bottom: mandala series by studio MIKMIK, can be purchased here.

christmas and things

some of my fav things for xmas:

1. ornaments.

2. cookies. while i do make cookies from time to time, but i love them specially from this store.

3. mittens and gloves.

4. last but not least... of course, charlie brown.

image is from my wedding album taken by this talented photographer.

happy friday!

hem... doughnut...

thanksgiving is literally around the corner. and pumpkin has been in my head since the beginning of autumn. this doughnut recipe is a great alternatives for dessert after a day of heavy meal. but then again, there's nothing wrong with a great  traditional pie.

image is from here.

-have a happy weekend!

happy weekend!

it's been a long and odd week for me. so i was craving for something creamy and chocolaty to settle my mind. So i found this french dessert recipe and beautiful photograph to follow, which brought me smiles, not only because it's sounds so yummy, but beautiful enjoyable photos from the site.

enjoy and have a happy weekend!

another coziness

on the other hand, if tea is not your thing... a burger is definitely comforting in a cold weather (or any kind of weather really).

image is from here via here.

cozy

tea cup and saucer with great loose tea... hemm... just the coziness i need for this cold weather.

happy weekend

have a great weekend! i'm craving cute things, and look what i found while browsing on flicker. ^^ and makes me craving cream puffs. a small dessert after a long week sounds good for me. here's the recipe from martha. enjoy!

holiday pouch for you

during the month of november and december, all purchases, both from my shop or etsy, comes with these zen like pouches. made using unbleached muslin, custom button and recycled t-shirt yarn, these pouches are sewn lovingly by me. i've been wanting to do something with fabric for a long time. so i started learning on how to use my sewing machine back in the summer. while i've made a slew of odd things from my sewing quest, i'm happy to say that pouches has been sort of my specialty. i love pouches for they are very useful for my everyday life organizing obsession, from packing my undies for a short trip to organize my purse. these are also useful for packing those cables, chargers, and other electronic accessories.

offer ends in december 31 2009 or until supply lasts.

linen paper and thread

this book can be purchased here.

first 3 (in what hopefully to be many) successful pouches that i did on thursday.

sewing has always intrigued me, but i have no skills on it. when i was young, i broke so many sewing machine that i thought i was jinxed. however, i love the process of sewing, from the idea, pattern, and to sewing. so a few months ago, on weekends, i would learn how to use my computerized sewing machine. so, i was very happy when i successfully sewn these 3 type of pouches! how do i define success? well it's very simple, i've sewn it straight! (ha!) in my studio, there were many many fabric wasted because i couldn't sew straight. and when i finally was able, i was joyous. i wonder if this is how toddler feel when they were able to walk 2 or 3 steps?

hopefully eventually i will be able to create something more elaborate with my sewing machine. in the meantime, my house will be filled with these pouches as i'm trying to better myself with the skill.

so here are some of the books that helps me motivated (and inspired) to dwell in the world of sewing and crafting:

lotta jansdotter's simple sewing

printing by hand (sewing AND printing!)

bend the rules sewing.

last minute patchwork and quilted gifts

have a great weekend!

-sharon