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!

[shmls promo] updated cardlettes

it's my habit to always revisiting my old designs and updating it ever so slightly to make them perfect. 

case in point, these cardlettes at etsy now with rounded corner. more over, thinking as customers has lead me to split these designs to 4 different postings at etsy to make shopping much more convenient. most of them are printed on 100% post consumer waste paper!  60% off the original pricing is the icing on this newly and improved cardlettes cake. 

in the world where you can tell your friends your number, dialed in their cell phone, then have them to call you so you can have a miss call of their number, why would i ever produce this product that seemingly not needed anymore? because the act of giving a card with your information on it in a glassine envelope is much more civilized and elegant.

happy friday!

what's your worth?

Ahh... running a studio...

As a business owner, pricing decision is really important. As a right-brain-operated business owner (me), pricing is as confusing (and at times painful) as trying to solve rubik's cube. In the movie Spanglish, Téa Leoni's character said something to the effect that pricing too low shows how much you didn't value yourself or if it's too high then you just took advantage. Well, but really there's no winning in this situation, isn't it? Unless you can read mind and know exactly how much your customer/clients/buyer would like to pay.

And this is how I feel about pricing.

For products, the decision can be reached a little bit easier. Do the research, look into expenses, find a formula out there to calculate how much you are supposed to charge, and then  compare the pricing to the competitor. Even then, there will be people who will question your pricing just because they are comparing what you have to the same products with different factors (where its made, quantity, quality, etc etc). What about as a designer when your time and talent is the product? How do you determine? How do you justified the meticulous work that you do behind the scene?

Negotiating seems to work for me for now. And repeating "it's business not personal" seems to have keep me sane (for the time being). This is the only solution I have for now. I'll write more once I learnt more. I do, however, have found the solution for the rubik's cube. So may be ... may be ...  that one of those business for designer books can help me (... may be).

img source can be found here.


Happy Friday!

great small things

i still feel like i need a short break, but this short 4 days week surely helps. i leave you with the mini terranium garden by terradctl at etsy. things surely aren't what they seem on the first look is it?

happy friday!

Trade show or not?

Above image is a glimpse of my booth with the last 2 items being new products (that were very well received!) coming up soon. The 2010 NSS (National Stationery Show) was ended last week, and now I have enough time to look back and reflect. I don't want to write up report on what's going on at the NSS, for there are plenty of other blogs that you can read about that. However, I want to share what I have learnt and hopefully this shed a different light and point of view on the trade show.

Well, the NSS is really where the buyers and manufacturers meet up to find out latest trend and products. For me, a lot of work went into the show (not only physical work, but also emotionally and mentally). after all this is my first trade show. Here are some points that I'd like to share:
1. Give yourself enough time. I had 6 months to prepare just for the show, which is plenty of time. However, I should have been more decisive, and early decisions can save money. Every single details of the booth should be scrutinized. This may be a given, but trust me, there's always something that's missing or wish you have done. For me is lighting. I wish I had some light spotlighting my booth!
2. Meet your expectation with the reality of the world. The economy is not very good right now. That should be in your mind. However, that's not the only thing. For me being a new comer in the world of stationery with limited amount of exposure is my reality. So I consider this show as a good show since there are many people responding to my designs (which I consider as my strength). I didn't make a million dollars worth of orders, however, the contacts that I get are really priceless. The contacts are the ones that is hard to come by, and no matter how much you pay, getting that targeted customer is really important. That leads to...
3. Be nice! I'm glad I get to talk to people. Not only the buyers, but also designers, my booth neighbor, and suppliers. It's unnecessary to be rude to anyone (and there are some rude people at the show). I believe that you never know who you run into, or at the very least, how karma will get back to you.
4. Support group! If you can bring someone with you, it'll be much better than being alone. Not only during set up, but having someone to talk to during the show that's on the same side as you is nice. I had my sister helped me during set up and the first day. We had a good time. The next 3 days I was alone, so I had the chance to compare and contrast the situation.
5. Have fun! I was nervous on the first day, but the next days, I was able to relax and had fun. It's hard specially with the thought of how much was spent on this show. But after I was relaxing and having fun, I was able to enjoy the process. I met so many people that otherwise I won't be able to, I learnt so many tricks of the trades, and much more other things that otherwise I won't be able to learn sitting in front of computer in my own little world. All of these I did while I lost my voice on the day of set up until the end of the show.
Lastly, realized that the real work happens after the show. Following up.. orders.. new items.. and the cycle goes on.

Now I want a piece of cupcake and a nap. Happy friday! and enjoy the long weekend for you state side readers!

thank you...

... for mothers and mother figure in the world. for your love has been received and understood.

happy mothers day.

Travel bug

saw this and thinking what a cool store! and the items they have (above are passport holder and travel kits) have definitely tickled my travel bug. (didn't i JUST got back from a vacation? but...)

Find us here...

Buyers welcome! Press welcome! or stop by to say hi is also welcome! For questions, you can contact me here.

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!

taking a breather

After working hard since october of last year, and taking a short break in january, now i'm taking a long break. the studio and the shop will be close starting from monday (march 8th to april 9th). the image from anthropologie's march catalog totally capture of where i'll be for the month. upon return, i will unveil new items for the shop, and this year, i'll be in NSS in may.

while i won't be blogging while i'm off, i'll still update my twitter. so i'll see you in a month!

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!

sometime a break is definately needed.

i'm in the middle of product development right now. at times i wish i have a little creative spirit next to me and not only feed me with inspiration after inspiration, but also helping me with execution part of it. what to do when you have all the inspirations in the world, but it haven't been executed or produced as well as you want?

that's the case last weekend. i have been working -almost- non stop since october of last year with very little rest. last week was my breaking point, i experienced the worst block of my designing experience and now still trying to work through it this week. usually when i get blocked, i plowed through it. this time, it was so bad, i rather work on spread sheets than designing! then, i decided to go to bazaar bizzare at the new people building in san francisco, to help my creative juices running. the event was really good, and the new people building didn't dissapoint. i just had to get 2 most adorable things there, a cuddly fat frog from wool buddy and mini figurine from mrdeadfish (picture above) to add to the nick nack i have on my working table.  i specially enjoy the art in between the floor when you take the stairs, as well as mikito ozeki, a japanese paper cut out artist with installation at the superfrog gallery.

well, this should get me going and craving to design, as looking at different artists usually make me do. but this time it didn't. then i found my source of my block. it's the endless lists that i made in my head. even after i wrote them down, they lingered and added on. so knowing that, i'm taking a break for a few days and be back to the grind on monday. 'there's no glory in working oneself to death, sometime a little break and pampering for oneself is needed.' i repeat this sentence over and over so i don't feel guilty of not getting everything on my todo list done. and another saying that i love 'when feeling overwhelmed, diligently do what's in front of you. after a while, things will be done before you realize it. of course, take a meal break once an a while and enjoy it.'

so have a good weekend all! hope you get your rest!

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. 

Sneak peak

3 sweethearts postcards coming this summer. my intention for these postcards are for everyday. however,  i was inspired by the feeling of valentine day that's coming. this is what i thought the feeling of love should be, from the heart and then flying outwardly like fireworks!

have a wonderful weekend!

ahh i found her!

Sanna Annuka. I found this wall hanging art randomly a few days ago without knowing who the artist was. And while browsing this blog, the coffee tins above tickled my fancy. Turned out she's the artist of the wall hanging  art that i've been admiring. Ahh the beauty of technology.

let there be... muffin?

today marks the exact day when i went to get the business license, and made the studio all official. so i've decided that today is the studio's anniversary. for me, anniversaries and birthdays are important. it gives me a reason to stop for a minute, look back, and pat myself on the back. with a young company, always in a time crunch and trying to catch up, this is a true luxury. 

also, i'd liket to say thank you for all of your support. this year, i've received a 900+ fans on my facebook page, opened up shop, and started this blog. of course, in between, i've designed and produced series of items. so i think today i will sit down, and have a cocoa hazelnut banana muffins to enjoy the hour. then back to the grind. there are many things that didn't go through last year, and many things planned for this year. as always, i'm looking ahead with a bit less of a naivete and a bit more optimism.

happy friday!

image: courtesy of here.

my obsession

top image is taken from the anime bokura ga ita (we were there) by yuki obata. middle image is taken from hachimitsu to kuroba (honey and clover) by chika umino. and lastly, bottom image, (and my most obsessed with) is taken from NANA by (my most favorite manga author) ai yazawa.

all three animes and mangas that pushes me to think and design better.

on that note, i've been itching to stop by NEW PEOPLE, a 3 story japanese experience where they have a rotating art show, in san francisco japantown. with projects piling up, having one of delica's bento sounds like a brilliant idea.

happy friday! ^^

cuteness overload

i just got back from my supposedly vacation turned to a whirlwind trip to asia for a week. while the jet lag is still here, i can't wait to share with y'all cuteness overload i found on my trip. so enjoy, and have a good long weekend.

announcement: etsy store will close indefinitely. right now i'm concentrating on separating the shops to 2 distinct shops. my direct shop is currently open, and this is where you find more stationery items. my goal is to turn etsy store to be a more of my experimental handmade limited edition items kind of store. more announcement will be made when the store re-opened. you can still convo with me via etsy.

images: top: heart donut from dunkin donut. snapped at incheon airport. middle: from prints singapore. bottom: from artbox, korean based stationery company. link is for their uk online store. 

the last remnants of 2009

Let's talk shop!

The 2010 calendar will be discontinued on January 15th. Without a discount, it's still a bargain! All of 2009 Holiday cards will be pulled from the etsy store as well as the shop on January 15th also.

I have added a special section on shipping at the shop.175designstudio for an easy single stop to find information on when the purchased items will be shipped, as well as order announcements.

Lastly, I'm taking a much needed break on January 5th to January 17th after a flurry of studio and shop related activities during the last 2 months. Etsy store as well as shop.175designstudio will be open during this time. All order placed on these dates will receive free standard domestic and international shipping.

The new year has started off with a bang for me. Hope it's the same for you!