Have I been away for this long?

Time flies...it's been a week since my last entry for this blog. Oops! I have heard a gazillion time that you should keep your blog updated frequently if you want your blog to be successful. Frankly, I do want my blog to be successful, but not in a way of adding more advertisements or earning millions of dollars. I just want to keep it as a positive environment to share things I like with the people who are interested.

I believe blogging provides many people an outlet to express what they normally don't say and encounter "people" you don't meet during your regular life who wonderfully share the same interests as you do. For example, I enjoy crafting but I wouldn't tell people at work that I embroider or cross-stitch or collect vintage lace during my free time. I may mention it briefly in down time conversation at work but I wouldn't talk about it everyday. Anyway, I registered another blog, MochiMaMa Atelier, yesterday. It will be a place/e-shop for me to demonstrate my handmade craft works. I have been brainstorming on my projects these nights and hopefully it will be up and running soon!

Now, switching the subject to beauty. LA has great weather but it's so dry. I was dying to look for a great moisturizing mask to hydrate my skin. I've discovered the Laura Mercier Intense Moisture Mask and it's awesome! First of all, it's only $32 for 3.7oz, a big aXX tube which can last for a long time.

It is an intensive hydrating mask that immediately moisturizes and firms dry skin. Wheat protein and a blend of plant extracts including hydrocotyl and cornflower firm. Sodium hyaluronate, sweet almond oil and sunflower seed oil also moisturize. Grapefruit, root and saxifragra extracts instantly brighten skin.

I normally put the mask on first, spread a thin layer over your face and neck. Then, I prepare a hot towel and leave it over the mask and let the steam works. All the good ingredients will penetrate into your skin for just 3-5 minutes. Then I wipe the mask off (or you can wash it off if you like) and my skin feels like baby's bottom soft. It's a GREAT mask you should keep in your beauty cabinet if you have dry skin like me :)

Ms. Little

My new mini companion from South Korea.

I can't resist the sweet face.
I admire the craftsmanship.
I adore the details - tiny red paws, handmade wooden box, detailed lace ribbon necklace and charm.
"But, do I need this? No, I don't need this, BUT..." (after a few minutes...tic toc, tic toc, tic toc...)
I surrender.
"Charge my credit card please!", as I said to myself in front of my iMac.
~The End~

Let it Grow...Let It Grow...Let It Grow

What a nice day! We had a mellow and slow-tempo Saturday, it's very rare in these days that I can spend a day worry free. I should say 3/4 of the day worry free, but it doesn't matter. When it's hard to come by, you'll learn to cherish more.

We were wandering at Target to get household stuff. We came across a lot of Easter decoration. The aisles were filled with pastel colors, Easter Bunnies, Easter Chicks...you name it. Then, we saw the kitchen herbs grow kit. Firstly, it seems like an interesting idea to plant something (I have a granny in me). Secondly, I start to think about putting my home grown herbs into my cooking. For example, lightly fried potato with thyme and sea salt (shh...and butter :p). My old boss who came from Southern Italy taught me this authentic and local dish. By the way, she didn't cut the potatoes on the chopping board. I still remember that she was holding the potato in one hand, and the other hand was holding a tiny sharp knife and cut the potato from the outside towards her palm. She said that's how Italian does it.

Anyway, this grow kit includes 5 different herbs: fresh basil, parsley, chives, thyme and tarragon. I can't wait to see the little sprouts and see them grow.

I don't want 2b a cavewoman!

As I get older, I feel that I know so little. I know what's happening in my life, but just within my own circle. I read newspaper, I read magazines, I read books, I watch the news, and yes I am proud to say the following...but so?!

I would have no problem telling you all the states in America. But if you ask me to point out Andorra or Tonga on the world map, I have to be honest, I have no clue.

I recently discovered a magazine, Monocle (by the way, what a brilliant name! A monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct the vision in only one eye.) It is a global briefing covering international affairs, business, culture and design. It's a great magazine if you have $10 USD to spare. You will learn what the real life is like in foreign countries with surreal and superb quality pictures. At least, it's 100 times better than reading about Britney not wearing underwear again (eewl...with picture too >_x!!!)

Yum! Yum!

Saturday was a fun day. Erin and I went to our friend's new apartment in K-Town for a BBQ party. We drove separately coz she had to leave early to meet up with her man for movie. I met a few new people and the party was a blast. When I left, there was a huge sobriety check point on Vermont...I saw a few people got busted. Again, don't drink and drive.

Few highlights from Saturday:

This is great to eat with hot sauce.

Shrimp body became sashimi.
Shrimp heads were fried and became tempura.

lacet romantique

lace

Noun

1. a delicate decorative fabric made from threads woven in an open web of patterns

Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was not made until the late 15th and early 16th centuries. A true lace is created when a thread is looped, twisted or braided to other threads independently from a backing fabric.

Lace is a great material to work with. Without forcing it, it brings out its own unique sense of romance. To me, the essence for lace is either romance or delicacy. I enjoy and am in love with antique lace. Here is my art expression with lace below:

Another Super Star

Another super star, BoA is landing here soon. For her debut US album, "BoA," BoA enlisted the help of top US and Asian hit-makers to bring a unique blend of chart topping hits to the table. Garrett returns with the club banger "Energetic" where BoA celebrates breaking limits and letting her hair down! Brian Kennedy, who has created hits for top recording stars including Rihanna, produced "Obsessed" while Henrik Jonback, brought his Pop expertise to the table with the chart topping "Eat You Up," "Look Who's Talking" and "Hypnotic Dancefloor." Jonback, a new producer, has written several hits for Britney Spears including "Radar." Bloodshy & Avant , who produced "Did Ya" and "Touched, have produced several hits for Britney Spears, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Jordin Sparks, Kylie Minogue and more.

Not to mention, she's only 22 after 9 years of her fantastic music career in Asia. Utada Hikaru's Exodus is a great album but not for the US market. I think BoA has a fat chance to make it here. Why? Her sex appeal, dance move, music choice and A++ fool proof Hollywood musician team.






New art book to my collection: The Garden of Eye Candy

Between the boundaries of fine and popular art and high and low culture, reside Id driven impulses and alter egos as toys, cartoon characters, and iconic images. From the whimsical to adorable, erotic to innocent, to the dark and gothic, they lure us into their lush worlds of fairy tales, dreams and inspiration. “The Garden of Eye Candy” introduces us to immaculate illustrations that enshroud the viewer’s perception and gives flight to the imagination with each adventure and every character presented. “The Garden of Eye Candy” introduces an international roster of artists - the fore runners of these Surrealist inspired creations - in a luxurious and exquisite box set. With contributions from Cabizbaja, Candybird, Dolly Didit, Jaime Zollars, Kennys Work, Kukulaland, Lisa Petrucci, Amy Sol, Melanie Florian, Mijnschatje, Noferin, Brandt Peter, Danielle Lamberti, Kokomoo, Majeakann, Mark Bodnar, Rmyers Art, Saul Zanolari, Luke Chueh and more.

Craft Project: My Very First Handmade Stamp

It took me a couple trips to JoAnn, Utretcht and Blick; and countless time on eBay to search for stuff that I need to complete this project. Although it doesn't look perfect, I am very happy with the result. There's definitely room for improvement. I can't wait to start another one, but my neck and eyes hurt now. I will continue tomorrow instead :)

Handmade Nation

I met with my dear friend, Erin last week on a very tiring Friday night. Honestly, I was so tired and was thinking to ditch her. But, I didn't because I felt bad. We have been trying to meet up for quite a while; and then different things happened. Anyway, we've come to a conclusion that we don't see each other often enough. So...we decided to join some classes together. I've looked into some cooking classes, but they are really expensive, so we gave up.

Accidentally, I was reading Daily Candy and found out the Urban Craft Center in Santa Monica. I checked it out today and it's a really cool place with an unique concept. They call it "a communal space for creative chaos". They believe deeply in the craft community and all that it offer us, both as a social movement and as a way to bring purposefulness and conservation to our lives. The UCC studio is a place to nurture creative energy. It is a bright and lofty with lots of tables and seating. It also has an extensive craft book library and shelves full of tolls for craft projects. Erin and I are still picking classes, and I can't wait to play and learn there.




Besides, I learned a new book and documentary called the Handmade Nation. Handmade Nation documents a movement of artists, crafters, and designers that recognize a marriage between historical techniques, punk, and DIY (do it yourself) ethos while being influenced by traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, feminism and art. Fueled by the common thread of creating, Handmade Nation explores a burgeoning art community that is based on creativity, determination, and networking.



Check out their website here: http://www.handmadenationmovie.com/

Here is the teaser of the documentary film

Softies - Adorable Stuffed Creatures

I've been this busy before, but never this stressed. Now February 2009 is over, I looked back at my desk calendar and saw that my February schedule was jam packed. I was not only busy, but competing with time daily with a lot of unknowns. I poured my heart and soul to do my best because I promised a very important person in my life. If I can pull this through, I know that I can and will be able to do anything/endure other hardships in the future. Truly, tears help; but this self brainwashing/healing technique is even better. If you are encountering any obstacles in your life, try it. You will be amazed how strong a person can be under adversity.

Enough of being Ms. Debbie Downer, I discovered a magazine named STUFFED. It is a very cute magazine dedicated to the softies community. I am hopeful that I will have some time in the near future to start on a few of these projects, most importantly, my stamp carving project.

Here are the 2 artists I like from this magazine, great stuff.

Lisa Thoms (q.d.patooties) : http://qdpatooties.blogspot.com/
q.d.patooties' etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5150290

Lori Brown: http://www.themorninglorivine.typepad.com/

Lula Issue 8 is out. Thanks to MochiPapa for ordering me a copy. <>!