!

Summer is fleeting by me.

Have a lovelyl weekend.

ArtBeat 2008

Okay. I think I love Somerville, Massachusetts. And the people. Thanks so much for putting up a fabulous day filled with happy people, great food and fun music.

It was a scorching day. We complained enough about the heat, but we managed with many bottles of water, Italian ice, smoothie etc. etc. Truthfully, I take heat over wind. Any day. We got to enjoy seeing some familiar faces: Kendra, Susie, Keith, Jess, Beth, Rachel, and always my favorite, Ann & Dabney of Mogo. I also had a good neighbor, Jen of Sweetest Pea. I've always loved her chubby stuffed animals... but now I adore her parents who are the natives of Davis Square.

If every show was this much fun, I think I can do this for many years.

And last but not least, thanks to J who puts up with me. I'm hoping that we'll be able to recall our market days as our fondest memories when we are too old and feeble to put our own canopy up. (But, dude, we are just getting started.)

Happy Sunday to you... and wishing you a great week ahead.

ArtBeat in Somerville

See you at ArtBeat in Somerville!

secret is in shampoo-ing

I tried looking for a good hair salon here but I stopped looking after some failed attempts. I just let my hair grow wild till my next trip home because I just like going to Japanese hair salon. As long as they don't force wild Japanese hair trends on my big melon, the experience is incomparable.

Getting my hair thoroughly but gently washed is heavenly. LIttle massage session is always included.

It's terrible for people who has to see me looking unruly for some time and/or hear me threat to shave my hair off, but it's always worth a wait, at least for me.

bird carving

I accidentally stumbled upon a small group exhibit in Kyoto, showing works by a local bird carving class. After talking to a tall, quiet man, who happened to be the teacher, I found out that the techniques they used were based on American folk-art of decoy-making. (Find out more here of the background.)

I'm just discovering the world of bird carving. I'm thinking about taking the class during my next long trip home since the class is held close from my parent's house. Dad may join me, too. I'll be learning American folk-art in Japan. I have no problem with that.

Lessons I learned from gusty wind

I was at SOWA last Sunday. There were lots of happy people shopping and the weather was perfect... Everything was great except for the fact that it was scary windy.

J gave up the idea of going into work and held tight on to the part of the canopy that looked like it was going to snap off and cause it to fall apart. He's the most patient human being I've ever known. Without him, I'd have been under the tent before the end of the day.

We were able to hold on to everything until we were attacked by the strongest gust of the day, knocking half of my goods off the table and damaging the tent. Thankfully, no goods were ruined. The tent is still useable with a bit of repair. I'm most appreciative of fellow vendors and shoppers alike who came to the rescue to chase after my runaway goods. Thank you.

Lessons learned:

1. Show up at the assigned time so that we'll hopefully get a space that's right in the middle of vendors. I was one of the last to get there that day and the spot was where the wind went wild all day.

2. Figure out the way to anchor all goods on table.

3. Be thankful for the weights (though it's a pain to lag around).

4. Next tent will have to be from E-Z Up with internal frame structure.

5. Be good to my man.

Despite of all the chaos, a visit with Sara was a real treat.

She also pointed out the typo like a good sister should. I've looked at the label countless times and the typo didn't even register.

Greeging card?

I don't know how I live with myself. But I do.

a man on the screen

Whichever home I am at, I'm bound to miss the other.

**********************

When I was away, J and I talked on Skype. Catching each other online was sometimes tricky, but it was free. It beated talking on the phone. Even more so, since we finally discovered a little video camera icon (after a year of not noticing it). I was able to talk to him while I watched him on screen. The image above is what I saw in Japan on my parents old computer (which didn't have camera... so the image only came in). I sat through a happy, silly hour with Jude entertaining me with my forgotten toys in my work space. What else is this new (or not-so-new?) technology for?

My father happily replaced their painfully slow computer to a brand new one while I was there, loving the idea of being able to see his daughter and son-in-law almost anytime they wanted. Since I've been back here, I've been talking and seeing Mom and Dad everyday. I didn't realize what a difference it made to be able to see each other on screen. It is the next best thing.

A minor issue: My mother is so amused by looking at herself move in a little screen, I can hardly carry a conversation with her. I am hoping this phase will pass.

Have a lovely weekend.

days roll on

I am back from home. Being there gave me a chance to properly grieve and take on my share of our loss. Grandpa's death certainly has sunk in but still hard to swallow. Exhaling sometimes causes a knot in my throat. I usually cringe my teeth and fight. But I sometimes don't even try. Not to worry. I don't weep all day. Days roll on. I'm just realizing that it takes awfully long time to feel okay losing a close one. No need to rush. And that feels about right for me.

I've got some pics from home to share in next few posts: A surprise carved bird exhibit, a man on the screen, my hair cut and maybe a scandalous cracked cow if I'm good.

Thanks again for your kind words. And thanks for sticking around. I hope you are well.

caving in

Suddenly I got the urge to go home the other night. So like always, I checked online, just to look. But this time, there were some available dates that I could manage, in between shows, using my mileage.

I decided that I'd go home. There was no emergency but I wanted to be there while grandpa was still at home. I mean, while his urn was still at home. His urn will be there for 49 days from his death; then, the family will get together once again to burry him in his grave. So in a sense, he is still at home. And he seemed to have called for me.

For the first time, I realized our gentle way of sending loved one off. It may be cumbersome, but it gives us enough time to say good bye, giving me a chance to make this trip for grandpa for the last time.

Truthfully, somewhat relieved but deflated voices of my parents got me, too, I think. Their lives revolved around giving care for my grandpa especially for the past few years. So their loss weighs more. I probably won't be much of a practical help, but I'll be where I am most needed.

knitknit

I'm a fan of Nguyen Le of KnitKnit. I like her quiet sense of humor (like this and this) and clean but warm design (like this) in her original goods.

Her new fleece berry bag caught my eyes this morning. She writes "My favorite feature on this bag is the bound buttonhole handle." And, I cannot agree more!


********************

I'm having a slow start here... but must get off my butt. Get ready for SOWA tomorrow. Test ride my bike after a tune up. Pack up for a trip that was planned on a whim. More on that later.

Have a lovely Saturday.

robin egg blue

On my way back home from my errands, I found a hatched egg shell right in the middle of a small field. I was clueless as to why it was there and what kind of bird egg it was. Thanks to my neighbor who told me that it was a robin egg. I read up on American Robins on Wikipedia. Thanks to vocalization sample of Robin's dawn song on Wiki, I also found out that a guilty bird who's been waking us up at the ungodly hour of mornings was, indeed, a robin.

We now have a face and a name to go with our early morning cursing. But don't get me wrong. I do love watching them forraging on the ground during the day. I could almost love their goofy ways. And such pretty egg shell color... mmm...

a shallow potato nut

I went to a nice BBQ this weekend. We ate more meat than we've ever eaten for the past six months. It was hosted by a great big family with lots of sisters, all grown, with lots of small nieces and nephews. They were so fun and funny together. They had the world I wish I had. I'd love a big family who lived close by. I'd love lots of sisters. I'd love to just call and see who's cooking and drop by. I'd love nieces and nephews to play with but return them when I get tired.

And all that longing stopped when I had a bite of this purple sweet potato that was slowly cooking in a covered grill. Moist and so sweet. And very, very purple. Sensory overload. This potato below was a leftover that they kindly packed for me since they witnessed me shamelessly gobbling them down while I moaned with joy.

I longed for what I didn't have all afternoon. But appreciating what I could get my hands on took care of my unreasonable longing. I don't know what that says about me. Wait, I do. A shallow potato nut. Sounds about right.

I'll be hunting for purple sweet potatoes at local Asian markets nearby.
My appetite is back. Have a lovely week.

grieving in distance

Longing for grandpa still sneaks up on me but I'm slowly shifting to celebrate his life rather than mourn his loss.

Although to be away from your own family during the grieving process is nothing I can recommend to anybody, I was somehow saved from feeling completely isolated. I was mentally there every step of the way through his wake, funeral and crimation. I emailed a long list of many many thanks to grandpa to have it enclosed in his coffin. My mother also sent me a picture of him, all dressed in white, surrounded by fresh flowers and all the things he loved. He had a look on his face as if he was taking a nice long nap. And, really, that's what it was. How strange but comforting thought. I couldn't have felt more relieved seeing him.

The void is still there. i don't quite know how to fill it. But making things just for making sake always seem to work for me when I'm sad. So that's what I'm doing. I'm also cooking tonight. I'll have a platter for him. And I think things will be okay. In time.

I've also been lifted by your words. More than you can imagine. Thank you so much.

6/9/08 5:49am

Self made man.
Lost his parents and his big brother before he was twenty.
Very traditional Japanese husband and father but typical grandfather who spoiled us rotten.
Always truly loved us, supported us and missed us.
And was proud of us just for living our lives.
Loved fine meals and took his family along.
Many great stories from the past.
Never forgot people who helped him.
Quick with his wits and calculations even in his sick bed.
Constantly worried about his daughters even into their adulthood.
Loved his wife and just wanted to be with her.

He went peacefully with his two daughters holding his hands with his son-in-law by his side.

I sunk knowing that he was the one of few in this world who loved me for who I am. But I try to think that his love is not at all lost but is now planted inside me.

What wrenches me the most is the distance between us. But after talking to my mother, I know that we all are at peace, relieved of the fact that grandpa is now free of pain after putting up a good long fight.

おじいちゃん、有り難う。ご苦労様です。 I'm gonna miss you.

b. 11/29/1927

congrats to P & M

Katy's right! It's a beautiful, scorching day today!

....

I wanted to send a special congratulations to one of good people I got to know through Po who's getting married today! She had ordered a special Po for her husband-to-be to give it to him in the morning of their wedding. I'm praying that Po did not cause any problem and that they are having a beautiful day as I write this.

They both are runners and they got engaged after running 52 miles (!!!). Cookies they hold are their choice of snack. (Their new family name is smudged.)

Wishing them many years of great run and laughters!

cuddle me

Dark sky and dense air are finally getting to me. I don't mind the rain, but if I go without the sun for more than few days, I start to get a bit cranky. I wouldn't mind getting cuddled like this today.

Po with Nico above is one of two custom orders I worked on for my favorite client. I was so happy about how they came out, I almost wanted to keep them myself. Well, that's a good sign, right? I'll be shipping them off before I change my mind.

I've got to snap out of my miniature creature land. Eh... maybe few more days won't hurt.

Hope you indulge yourself in whatever pleases you this weekend.

rainy day outing

A rainy day marked with a lunch with Tracy of Happy Owl Glassworks and her baby, Maisy, was a very good one. They'll be starting a big cross continental road trip next week while running business, attending craft shows (Renegades in Brooklyn and San Fransisco) AND shooting a short film in California. It's going to be one big trip I'll be following through her blog this summer.

Good times we had... especially in front of those cakes.

back from Philly

We made our way back to Boston Tuesday afternoon. I'm almost caught up with administrative stuff. I am thinking about writing a more detailed post about this year's Art Star Craft Bazaar which turned out to be a fabulous show at a great location... but for tonight, I'm going to let the pictures do the talking. Click here for more photos of good people and satisfied customers over the weekend.

THANK YOU so much for such a memorable weekend with non-stop fun!

Before I go

Because I have this unexpected time in my hand before I leave for Philly, I'm posting this Po I made last night. She's coming with me to Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend.

Little Ms. Piggy I made the other night...

Now, Po's got a good grip on her.

And I'm loving my little numbering stamp. I bought it for 100 yen at, where else but, a 100 yen shop.

I'm excited about the bazaar, but I'm also looking forward to seeing the family.

Have a lovely weekend!

Ready for a flight?

This week has been a bad blur for me. But, tomorrow, we'll be (not flying but) driving down to Philadelphia for Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend. Hopefully this lame week will be forgiven and forgotten. See you in the city of brotherly love!

Don't miss the sale here or here by Happy Owl till the end of the month. Also Teeny Tiny pendants are awfully cute!

And a personalized book for a little girl over here. Found via Kirin Notebook who illustrated the book.