Babushkins here we come!

I created these guys quite a few years back. I called these Russian dolls, the Babushkins. And at the time I wanted to make a story out of them but somehow didn't get round to it. Maybe it's time for a revival...

Introducing the Mixxie Kids

So far, I have managed to create more faces and have even given them a name called the Mixxie Kids. But not sure what I can do with them other than create a pattern with their heads for now.

Make your mark the cute way

It's been a while since I have been able to be crafty and creative. So by setting up an Etsy shop, I thought it might give me more motivation.

But the question is, what can I make? How about customised rubber stamps?

We all need to make ownership of our own possessions, so why not make it in a cute and adorable way! So I started off illustrating generic boy and girl illustrations. But when I gave it some more thought, I came to the conclusion that I could possibly expanding on the idea and create more faces.

Cupcake icing

Cupcakes addict. Just experimenting with icing and ready made sugar flowers. Not bad for a first attempt.

Tokyo dreams

Finally, sometime away from one big smoke to another! Here we are in Tokyo. Having the spent the last 4 days here, there's been much to see and do. Having exhausted ourselves on their complex metro and subway system, it is now time to go back but here are just some of the coolest and in some cases kawaii highlights.

Cyber environment

For a month, I'm working at Cyberport, Hong Kong. It's a very desirable place to live - for the mega wealthy but for the rest of us working class, it's considered to be a bit of a nightmare commute for Hong Kong standards. In a more remote part of Hong Kong island, Cyberport was built to represent a Silicon Valley of Hong Kong. But sadly, with inadequate transport links, it is not the most desirable place to work. But I would say, they had some 'cyber' themed Chinese New Year decorations around the vicinity - which 'cutified' the scene and made it less stuffy.

Claim to fame

I got an important parcel in the post yesterday. I had been waiting for it for months. Actually, tell a lie, I only found out that the publishers were going to publish the article a couple of weeks ago. And finally it came and I unwrapped it to see it in its flesh and glory. And how did it come about?

When I was back in the UK last October, Taiwanese publishers, Suncolor, picked me out of a few UK artists and asked me for an interview when they were on their travels in London. I suppose the saying goes, you've got to be at the right place at the right time!

Gone with the old and in with the new

So, it's been tough training for the 10k run next week. But I think I can do it. Over the past few months, I had been accompanied by my favourite ipod shuffle which my boyfriend bought me this time last year. It's cute and dinky and fits very nicely in my pocket. In fact, it fit so nicely that I forgot to take it out of my pocket when I put my tracksuit bottoms into the wash this evening. Anyway, it still looks the part even if it's gone bust!

I bought the skin in Korea for it - it's pretty robust because it's still in tact even after the wash. I'm not too worried about not being able to use it again though because I can reapply it to my next one.

Window shopping

Ok. So I've been lazy with the blogging lately - and you can see why! I love these cute window displays and I am quite spoilt for choice in Hong Kong for kawaii.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

First there was Christmas, New Years and now comes Chinese New Year. The exhibits and souvenirs are coming thick and faster than before and it's not going to be long before Valentines either.

I'll be glad when things calm down a bit once my birthday comes around.

A quiet baking moment

Sunday afternoons are just made for relaxing...and making shortbread. Actually, it's the first time I've ever baked cookies in Hong Kong but there's always a first time for everything. Found this cute idea in a new book I bought. Button shortbread. Actually looks better than it tastes!

A new shopping experience

It's been a while since I have been interested in daring the crowds at Causeway Bay on a friday night after work. I've heard so much about these new 'cubic shelves' which you can hire to sell things. Apparently, the concept came from Japan and now it's the latest craze over here in Hong Kong. The concept is simple, you hire a shelf unit for a minimum of a month and the shop will help you take care of the transactions. Prices start from around HK$380 per month depending on the level it is. Natually, the most expensive are the ones at eye level which could fetch as much as HK$1388.

I've taken a few snapshots to show you what's on offer. But I have no idea what is selling like hot cakes yet...

The kind of thing that are on sale are things like jewellery, Rubic's cubes, toys, clocks and even plants.



This last one is jammed packed full of Hello Kitty memorabilia - most likely to have been imported from Japan.

Christmas break

Apologies to everyone as I really haven't been nearly as hard working on updating my blog for a long time now.

This year I've really not made much of an effort with festivities as I may have done in previous years. I wish I were in London or New York but alas, I decided to stay in Hong Kong but kept away from the crowds. Got a whole week off work and a delivery of some goodies that I had been expecting to receive for weeks now! Planning on designing some more t-shirts in the new year. Unfortunately the Artline inkpad didn't work so I am thinking of trying a few home made recipes and techniques I found on the internet the other day.

http://www.curbly.com/Chrisjob/posts/1355-Print-Your-Own-T-Shirts-Using-Homemade-Stencils

http://www.threadbanger.com/post/490/diy-screen-printing-how-to

http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/artrecipes1.html

T-shirt printing

At last, I have had time to catch up on some crafting! It's been a whole month of manic work and wedding plans since I've been back. But it's great that I had a Saturday night in to relax by myself this weekend. So, seeing as I bought a whole bunch of different inks and paints to experiment my rubber stamps with, I thought I'd put them to good use. Surprisingly, I think the Artline ink pad works quite well. I've ironed it at the 'cotton' temperature so fingers crossed, it will still be there when I put it in the wash.

Treasure maps

Was rummaging through my things in the drawer and came across some lovely maps of Paris that I had bought around 4/5 years ago. They came in a pack of 10 fold out maps and were illustrated by French illustrators, Philippe Bucamp and Magali Tessier. I remember I bought them from this gorgeous european book shop in Covent Garden. I hope it's still there.

Asian Dolls

I went to Tate Modern today and I found this cute image of dolls in a book. It's given me some more food for thought for a set of dolls that I have been trying to create for ages....

Yummy warm muffins

Went to Spitalfields yesterday afternoon - at least what's left of it. Leon, the trendy coffee shop is still there. Look at these yummy muffins! Mmmhmm....

Making a mess of things...

You don't have to use ink pads to get inking. I've tried using some old block printing water colour inks to experiment with. I think the results aren't too bad. Now my next step is to get some more permanent inks for printing onto fabric.

Nesting dolls

Look what I found! Packed away in boxes in my room, were these little treasures that I had almost forgotten about. Ok, so they're not antiques... but they're pretty cute! Especially the Indian and Caucasian dolls. They were a range done by Oxfam a few years ago.

Visiting an old friend

It's great to catch up with good friends and I always seem to draw inspiration from an ex-colleague whom I'm known for around 5 to 6 years now. We spent the whole day together at her new home in Harlow.