my very first kiss

.......photographed!

I had the privilege of taking some engagement shots for a friend of mine who recently got engaged this year. I have no experience doing couples photography or anything like that, and only dabbled in photography in the past for class or simply as a hobby. I was pretty shocked that she asked me, and we only had 30 minutes to shoot (in rainy weather no less), but she assured me that it would be fine. It was so much fun!

Here are some of my (very humble and noob-ish shots). Let me know what you think!













happy viewing!

the worst part about my job

i know i just spent a post talking about how awesomely flexible my job was, but one thing i have to say about how much it sucks doing graphic design: they will inevitably change their minds for the nth time after you've spent weeks of work on something.

in your atmosphere

i'm totally wanting a cat right now. i've been craigslisting cats at work for the past week and dreaming about fuzzy kittens napping in my lap while i work, sleeping with me with one paw on my cheek, and all around kitten-love. sigh.


in any case, i'm working from home today and i'm so blessed. it's not always the most fun of jobs, but i get to work from home, with bed head, pungent morning breath and pjs. what more could i ask? i'm drinking soy milk tea and eating cucumber cream cheese sandwiches. YUM!!!

miscellaneous pictures from over the past 2 months:


project. conjectures, anyone?



disneyland food.


friend, sista, disciple :)


my comfort place.

a love letter for you

i've been on a crazy hiatus due to papers/midterms/life. at least i'm only letting down like 1-2 readers :).

today i want to share this really cool muralist (is that a word), stephen powers.







i especially like this one:







how sweet is that!

Smile more please!

A print I made today to hang in my room.

Christina Yea

Check out these posters that Christina Yea created for New York Spring Fashion Week 2009! I love them!

the library initiative

I don't know about you but I love the library as a kid. The smell of the books, the hours book-browsing without feeling the pressure of some high-end book store employee breathing down my neck, the limitless possibilities of adventures! :) I would've loved it even more if it looked like this:




For nine years, Michael Bierut has led Pentagram's work on the Library initiative! It was a "visionary effort" to build new school libraries in the 5 boroughs of NYC. Talented architects designed them, private companies donated books/funds, and Pentagram provided graphic design, signage, wayfinding and a masterbrand.



“We were trying, on a corny and simple level, to say ‘this is a library with a surprise inside,’” Bierut tells us. “I also like any logo that works when typed in any font (or at least any font with caps and an exclamation point).”

Head here for more pictures!

So good you could eat off the (web)page

i have an obsession with food blogs.
(can't beat the real thing of course, but still super wonderful to read)

the way the food looks when being photographed. the feeling of almost being able to smell the sweet crust of an apple pie, the savory grains of rice in a dish, or the fresh herb scent swimming in pasta. yum!

two that i really like:

sprouted kitchen (http://sproutedkitchen.com)









seven spoons (http://sevenspoons.net/):





what are some of your favorite?

MAX WANGER

just wanted to share some amazing photos by max wanger of a married couple living in altadena, ca.












also check out the labor of love family!








i love the idea of family portraits taken in the intimacy and comfort of your home. i love the idea of home. i also love max's ability to capture the sweet sweet fragrance of home life.

store spotlight: daiso!

daiso is the best. i don't know if you have one in your area, but we have one down here in san diego and it's the best! lots of cute Japanese bowls, paper-finds, stationary, kitchen things :).




this isn't even the cutest of the cutest! i bought some cute wrapping paper that looks like it's a sashiko embroidery print. i was thinking they'd make cute envelope liner or something. not sure what to do with them.

all i want for christmas...

is some cute paper things from korea!



you can check out her (?) stuff and even buy this... for yourself. i won't be mad... go here, to nothingelegant's etsy page.

abchao: Room Revamping Hero.

abchao is my hero.

check out this before and after of her bedroom!




i'm really digging that wall color and roller window blinds.


and her daughter's room:





her kitchen:



dining room:




okay okay, i will stop before your eyes roll out of your head. :)
check out her blog at http://www.hashai.com/

jaw-dropping design!

my mouth dropped open when i saw these.
check out sanna paananen's work!

gocco me do!

if you didn't get that, it was a beatles' reference. love me do? gocco me do? okay, i know i'm lame.

it's been a good week of finds and goodies!

first, there was a yard sale right by my work place. if you know me -- i love yard sales. i love the idea of buying someone else's treasure for unbeatable prices. who doesn't? i'm asian, it's in my blood!


i didn't get too much, but what i got, i love!

1. a bench and some foam+cloth to re-upholster it!
total: $7!

i'll show you pictures once i finish it. it's strangely difficult to find a staple gun amongst college students. you would think people just have them lying around... to staple things.

you can't even see the bench because i piled the cloth amongst other bedding on top. that way, when you see the end product, it'll be that much more of a surprise!



2. a bunch of tea tins... for free!


the lady saw me admiring them, and seeing as it was the last day of the sale, she told me just to take them all :). i put a little sprig in one, i think i'll name him henry.


onto my other big news: i just bought a gocco printer! i'm in no financial state to buy one... but i did it anyways. i know, i'm bad. :( but hopefully i can make prints that people will buy! and then it will be all worth it!



my first print:






why is something so small so expensive? :(


i made a bunch of cards for a friend's birthday. hopefully she likes them!
the prints didn't come out as perfectly as i wanted, and there are many many flaws and areas where i had to paint in the ink with a brush.... but i am still pleased with the outcome :).

i couldn't decided whether or not to give my little bear a hat, so i just ended up drawing them in for half of the cards :).



maybe i'll make more and put them on etsy? will anyone buy them?

That very night in Max’s room a forest grew and grew ...

after watching an episode of glee and stardust last night, i could not - for the life of me - fall asleep! so i decided to try my hand at my first papercraft. i recently fell in love with marshall alexander's max (from where the wild things are). he is such a talented paper engineer!

i've been obsessed with all things - where the wild things are. everytime i see the trailer, i want to burst into tears. don't ask.

go to his site for the template!


step 1: print out template on paper



2. snip-snip-snip! note to self: buy x-acto knife.



3. look at clock and beat self up for not sleeping. i know, it's only 12:51, but i never sleep this late in the summer! working full time takes its toll ya know.



4. glue and admire!




how fun! like i said though, i do suggest using an exacto knife for these projects. i used scissors and it was fine, but i definitely know where all my mess-ups are.

do share your creations! :)