Oscar Predictions

I'm watching the red carpet ceremony now and anticipating who will win an Oscar tonight. Mainly because I want to win my office Oscar pool! Here are my predictions (not necessarily who I think deserves to win). The main categories only:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn
Best Actress: Kate Winslet
Best Director: Danny Boyle
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis
Best Original Screenplay: Milk
Best Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz with Bashir
Best Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Documentary: Man on Wire

Now I'm going to order my pizza, get cozy and watch the show.

Picnic Time

I'm loving these biodegradable plates, bowls and cups from Branch. They are sturdier than your average paper plates, more attractive and good for the environment. You can purchase them in packs of 50 (for cheap!) for all those picnics and outdoor parties you'll be having in the spring!

Be Happy for Heaven's Sake!

"Angry Ninja" sure is popular today. He got into another Etsy Treasury today and he's still mad! Thanks Blissified!

ETSY Treasury

Yippy! My "Angry Ninja" was featured on an Etsy Treasury put together by An Englishman in Palm Springs.

Korean Designs at MOMA

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Museum of Modern Art is featuring products by emerging Korean designers. Here are a few of the items that I'm coveting right now:

Spoon and Chopsticks Napkin Set. Only $3.00 for a set of 30!


Korean Meal and Kimchi Magnet Sets. Magnets feature bowls of bean-paste stew, fried fish, rice, fried egg, and an assortment of different types of kimchi.



The online shop includes more than food-related items (I'm just a Korean food junkie). Check out the entire selection at the MOMA online shop.

Black-Eyed Ninja

After taking it easy for a month from my Etsy shop, I finally added a couple of new Ninja dolls! Here's one of them. Poor thing has a black eye!

Don't forget to get your free Grand Slam today

Tea and Biscuits

Nothing is as delightful and calming as tea and biscuits while I work or watch a movie. Currently, I'm loving Lupicia Teas from Japan and LU Biscuits from France. The decaf Muscat tea is my favorite before bedtime and I'm addicted to Le Petit Beurre (butter biscuits). Luckily, LU biscuits can be found in my local grocery store but Lupicia teas can only be bought through their Web site or at their limited store locations.


Lu Biscuits


Lupicia Teas

Tales of Mere Existence

My friend Revis introduced me to these series of comics called "Tales of Mere Existence" by Levni Yilmaz and I'm addicted. Each one is a gem! Check out the whole series on the official site.

At Last...

(Time Magazine)

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Illustrated by Etsian Paul Chung)

The excitement of Barack Obama's presidential inauguration is so tangible that I can feel it in the air! This year's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is especially meaningful because without him, there would be no President-Elect Barack Obama. My heart is full of gratitude.

Paramour

I recently had a birthday and Karen gifted me with this bag made by the multitalented Quixie. I shed a few tears upon receiving the gift because I know Karen had wanted this bag also. Her generosity really touched me. You can check out more of Quixie's products on her site Paramour.

La Galette des Rois

During the first weekend of January, I went up to San Francisco to hang out with my dear friends Sophia and Fabrice. Sophia and I mostly ate and shopped while Fabrice worked on a presentation for work. One evening while watching Monty Python's "The Life of Brian," Fabrice held out 3 slices of a pastry I have never had before. It was la Galette des Rois (cake of the kings), a traditional french cake eaten during the holiday with a hidden figurine inside. The person who finds the figurine is king for a day. I carefully ate the delicious pastry hoping not to break my teeth or choke on some foreign object. Lo and behold, I found the figurine in my slice! Sophia put a gold paper crown on my head and we examined the figurine. We couldn't tell if it was a dog or a cow at first but came to the consensus that it was a cow based on it's big nostrils. I think 2009 will be my lucky year!


Can you see the hidden figurine?


The cow is free!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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One of the joys of the new year is being able to start a new slate. I love getting a new planner/calendar and anticipating the upcoming year! I was very tempted to get the Little Otsu Planner but I had already purchased my calendar refills. Oh well...Next year!

Knotty Knitters

I'm a member of the Knotty Knitters, a knitting/crafting group at work. We meet every thursdays during our lunch hour to knit, but mostly to talk and catch up on the latest news regarding work, family, relationships, etc... all the things that make life interesting and exciting. The talented members include myself, Karen, Heather, Lisa and Kim. This year, I gifted each knotty knitter with Pink Knitters Soap from Karen's Soaps on Etsy. I love the soap! Not only is it perfect for knitters, it also smells really great! She has tons of really wonderful soaps so please check them out.

Monkeyhouse "Wild Wild Kingdom" Show

My first show was a success! I sold both my dolls on the first night, which I wasn't expecting but very grateful for. In fact, I was standing with some friends when I saw a man pointing to my doll and telling his girlfriend that he wanted to get it. My friend told him that I had made the doll and we all introduced ourselves and talked a bit. I even got a picture of him with my bear!


George of "Citizen L.A." with the "Bear Gone Wild"


Monkeyhouse Toys and Gallery

Some of the dolls on display.




Special thanks to Mayra, Kelly, Kim, Matt, Amy and Roy!

Wild Wild Kingdom

Two of my handmade dolls will be on display at Monkeyhouse Toys and Art Gallery for the "Wild Wild Kingdom" show.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of my dolls so I can't upload them here as a preview. One is entitled "Bear Gone Wild" (bear is wearing a leopard-print bikini) and the other is a little boy dressed as a white bunny carrying a carrot.

Opening reception is this Saturday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. This is my first show so it'll be exciting to see what other fabric artists are creating!

Boy Toys

My "Sleepy Ninja" was recently included in an Etsy Treasury by crafter/blogger Meg of Elsie Marley. Check out her blog when you get a chance. She's got some great craft and decorating posts.

Save the Date!

This event sounds really fun! I'm planning to drop by for the festivities to ring in the Christmas holiday. Artist Kelly Thompson will have a table at the art and gift bazaar and graciously invited me to sell my plushies with her artwork. I'll be by the bazaar to lend a hand. Read more about the event here.

O.k., now I have to make a bunch of ninjas before the event!

A Want, not a Need

The Francois Dress from Rare Devise is so lovely!