Squirrel Cameo

Something is coming. Can't say too much. Cute thrifted squirrel will be included. She will have a cameo.
This is her pre-appearance.
I'm still here. Just working hard and prepping lot of cute and creativeness!

Blue Bird Friendship

I recently talked about my parting problems when selling vintage finds. It's not only me. I see it happening around me now too.
Remember Ukkie? He quickly became good friends with the wise blue owl. I warned him that most of the vintage finds here in our home are only on a temporary stay with us, as house guests until they go to their new homes. But he got attached anyway. So now blue owl has sold and found a new home and Ukkie is a bit sad.

Sunday Owls

I love Sundays as you might know

The entire week feels like I've got no time to loose, everything is in a rush and then when Sunday arrives i wake up with such a calm feeling. This is my day. I can take a walk with no specific destination or hang on the couch the whole day. Or, if i happen to choose so, i can even do some work. But in a very relaxed way. It feels like everything i do get done on a Sunday is a bonus.

This last week was a busy one. Did you notice the lack in postings on my blog? Not that i had nothing to show or tell, just didn't set time apart to write. oh oh. I have been working on some new illustrations, but nothing finished yet. Trying to set up some new ideas for the future. Did a lot of thrift shopping and found some wonderful goodies that are either already up in my shop, or will be very soon. I did list a lot of new items in the shop, mainly vintage finds and a couple of Japanese craft books (oh, thank you Shibooya for your sweet post about the books you bought!)

What's up with the owls? I don't know really. But there's always time/room for cute owls in my book! Especially when they come in pretty blindboxes like Nathan Jurevicius' Peleda wind up toys! Or when they are dark dark brown candles found in my local thriftshop!

Incorporating pigs into your decor

Really? Pigs in your interior? In my creative space they found their place. These tiny capsule toys now live in my revamped shadow box letterpress drawer. Cute enough?

Murry Murry and the Misses

I found these cuties hanging around deep in Chinatown. Too cute not to take home right? My friend named the green one Murry Murry (which sounds like the cutified version of my friend's name) and i then named the pink one Misses Murry Murry.
Any one know these characters? I usually know which kawaii brands releases which characters, but these i had not seen before. There is no brand on them, so they are either from a very small company, or they are bootlegs. Either way, i love them, wish i had designed them myself!

Re-Ment Lucky!

How lucky am I? Yes, i know. Finding this in the mail?
Remember showing the treasures i got from the mushroom paradise blind box?
I won a giveaway from Holly over at Berrysprite, whoohoo! A new re-ment box! How cute is this Mushroom Lunch Menu set? I'm happy!

Dreaming Big

Hooray Obama. Hooray for dreams.

Sticker from stickerset i got from Boston Bag Lady on Etsy. Cute shop, lots of items on my wishlist!

So cozy

How adorable are these felted teacup cozies? I would love to drink my tea in the morning with a soft happy face keeping my cup warm. (from one of my Japanese craft books)

Bitter with Baggage

No, i'm not talking about myself. I am talking about the title of a very inspiring photobook. Not new, it's published back in 2003. I remember walking through Amsterdam with a friend when i was telling her how i would love to make a cute book filled with photos of propped stuffed animals and sweet text to accompany the photos. She told me she had seen this book filled with photos of little Easter chicks. I should check it out she told me. Years later i walk into one of my favorite NY thriftstores, browsing the bookcase and what do i see?

Bitter with Baggage seeks same - The life and times of some chickens. By Sloane Tanen.

Samantha looked around the playground in amazement. Her mother had been right. She really was the smartest and the prettiest.

Caroline's eggs hadn't even hatched and already Victor's eyes were wandering.

Re-ment Cuteness

Remember my love for miniatures? I picked up two new re-ment boxes the other day!
I couldn't resist the Merry Strawberry line. My blindbox contained the Strawberry Kitchen.
Can i have a real life size teapot like that please?

I have a feeling i will have to go back and get another box. How cute is that strawberry TV? You can even 'flip' through channels! And that berry dresser? Too adorable!

This set comes from a series i don't know the name of, i can't find it on the re-ment site, maybe it's an old series. Nevermind, it is very cute. The flowers are pretty and did you see what is on the stool? A Russian doll image and it says "Happy Chair". Don't we all want a happy chair?

Belated holiday gifts and video edited

My Love visited friends and family in Europe during the summer and of course he was so sweet to buy me some gifts. Unfortunately he forgot to bring them all when he came home! But receiving belated holiday gifts send over in the mail is a lot of fun, so no hard feelings.
He knows me so well. He picked up these pretty nesting dolls.

And remember i wrote about my love for capsule toys? Looks at this! Blind capsule egg from The Littlest Pet Shop! I never saw these before. I was excited already before i even opened it.

My excitement was even bigger when i found this little squirrel tin inside! Oh, wait, there's something inside it! Ooooh. A tiny tiny squirrel hanger (how do you call these phone embellishment thingies?)

Love and I bought ourselves a great video camera, which he took with him on his trip and he made lots of wonderful footage. We picked one of his instrumental tracks and i edited some of the Amsterdam footage over it. Take a look at my video editing skills! hihi ;) If you like the music you hear, Love has a myspace with some of his music.

My Love for Miniatures

I don't know when it started, but as long as i remember i have loved miniature toys. Cute miniatures especially. I am a long time collector of those capsule toys you get out of .25 or .50 cents vending machines at the grocery store or laundromat. That moment of excitement that you don't know what you'll get when turning the knob and your capsule falls down in the slot for you to discover!
An amazing variation on this feeling are the the Ferrero Kinder Surprise eggs. Doesn't matter i'm not a child anymore, i still love them eggs! And in combination with chocolate? What an invention!

You can imagine my deep joy the first time i saw a Re-Ment Blind Box. There is no chocolate, but the surprise miniature toys are fabulous!
This is my latest re-ment treat. Oh how cute are these mushroom paradise items! I ♥ so so much. It didn't matter which one i would get, but i did kinda crossed my fingers for that Mushroom shelf and clock.

Unveiling of my blind box contents.
The Mushroom Kitchen! They are brilliant. I would even love to have these in real life size and use them to prepare my daily meals!

I got mine at the ToyTokyo store, but you can view the full set at the official Re-ment site.

Cute is good for you

Looking at cute things makes you happy! Gazing at a cute image triggers the release of the hormone Oxytocin, which counters stress hormones and makes you feel - and give - more love.
No kidding, it's true.

Hope this photo gives you a release of Oxytocin, it's a supersweet gift from my friend Tess. She got it for me when i was in London. I so LOVE it! I always wanted a Sunshine Buddy! Sunshine Buddies work on solar power and nod their heads while keeping you company. This little monkey sits on my desk next to my computer and always makes me smile! (Oxytocin?)

Back to the 80's

I found the Rainbow Brite children's book at a local Goodwill thrift shop. It's filled with adorable drawings. And a small appearance by Lucky Sprite, my green childhood friend. Even though his nose looks like he has a bad cold, i still love him as much as i did when i was a little girl.

Happyness

My work in progress is making me happy today.
Prepping ismoyo illustrations to be transformed into felt appliques.

Getting ready

These are turning into a whole lot of these.

Cute stamps

Bought during my trip to Amsterdam. Cute tiny stamps with 3 stamppads all with four colors of ink!

(Hema is the name of the store. Sort of department store, large but not huge, fast changing inventory, great home decor items with lovely colors and designs and wonderful office/school supplies. I wish NY had a Hema!)

Playmates for kids?

Not sure if Playmates is a proper name for a kids coloring book. Makes me think about the girls next door and Hugh Hefner..
I picked this up at my last thrift run. It was only 25 cents and i love the cover. Hoped the inside would be filled with cute coloring pages, but not this time. The drawings were definitely done by a different illustrator then the one who made the cover.
Thinking about framing it.

My my melody

My Melody in the size i think she would be in real life. (15 inch top to bottom)
I was so lucky to find this huge sticker in the 99ct store around the corner. It's a bootleg, but a very good one. They only had one, otherwise i would have bought some more and gave them away here, i know there are more out there loving My Melody.
From all Sanrio characters i think Melody is my favorite. And i really love Little Twin Stars too. I'm old school like that.

The My Melody sticker will go on the fridge. But not stickered on there. I'm not sure it is repositionable. So i will use some poster tack gummy stuff.

On another note, sorry for my lack in posting. I have a lot to show and tell (as usual) and i have prepared some pictures and posts, so i promise more posts this week.

Mail surprises

Who doesn't like surprises in the mail? I know i do!

And i'm feeling very spoiled.
Should have posted this earlier since it arrived in my mailbox a while ago already. Dear Roxanne has sent me all these goodies for our cute and crafty swap. How sweet is the poptart cozy she made for my pink ipod?
She surprised me with cute Hello Kitty goodies and pink poodle erasers, pretty postal stamps, vintage handkerchiefs and a gorgeous clutch which she embellished with a little bit of sparkle on top!
And then the other day my mailbox was happily filled with a little package from my friend Tess from London. Oh, how i love tiny things! Look at these.
Small Pucca's, Hello Kitties and My Melodies! They all have a little hanging loop on top so i can make something with them. Ohoh what to do with them? I adore them. The pucca figurines have a little edge so they can sit on the edge of something. Too cute!
And she also added this Hello Kitty lollipop/popping candy too. I normally never open cute candies, just keep them and admire their cuteness. But in this case i'm tempted. Because A) i love popping candy + lollipops and B) it looks like there might be stickers inside. Of course i'm curious and want to look at those. If there are any.
Well, it says '48 stickers to collect' on the package...

Resolutions

Yes, got to loose a few pounds. Moving to a new country obviously (!) means having to try out all the new unknown candies and cakes and other sweet treats. Mmmm my belly likes!
But i'm not too worried about my weight. There are more important things in life.

Things like, don't take on too much at once. Finish projects sooner. Daily Blogging. Stay on top of my administration. Get better at everything i do.

So i'm starting all this today. But first i need to clean. I don't know what happens to me on January first, but i always have to clean and organize.

HAPPY 2008 EVERYBODY! All the best for the new year!

Pinbear you make me smile

It says:
Happy pinbear lovely cute style
Pin Bear is made from brown solid fabric

I am somewhat of a Kawaii freak. I know a lot of cute Asian brands making cute things. But i had never heard of the "Yellow Bus" brand. It's a Korean brand and i will definitely be on the lookout if i ever find anything else by them.

Pinbear makes me smile!