Miso Pretty Gum

I'm a big fan of Miso Pretty. I have never seen a design by Fiona Hewitt that i did not love. Every illustration is just perfection.
You can imagine how excited i was when i found these pretty chewing gum boxes! (8 candy coated pieces per box)

Where? Economy Candy Market in the Lower East Side. If you love candy and are in the area, you should definitely make a stop. The store doesn't only have the miso pretty gums, it is filled to the brim with candy! It is a joyful attack of color and sugar all around.
And i bet that if you were raised in the US you will recognize a lot of the candies from when you were a little kid. I have other childhood candy memories.

Yes, it was one of the stops on the save the world shopping spree when my friend was visiting NY.

Edit: I just found out the Miso Pretty Gum packs have pretty illustrations on the inside too!

Saving the World

Sorry for my lack of posting, i was out saving the world.
Or maybe not really. Just enjoying some time with one of my girls from back in Amsterdam, who is visiting me and New York City.
There's a lot of shopping, coffee breaks and yummy food! And of course a whole lot of laughs and chitchats!
Maybe in the end that makes the world a bit of a better place. Ha. Me, saving the world?

Top left - One of many NY coffees
Top right - Sneaker shopping on Fulton Street Downtown Brooklyn
Bottom left - Lucky Cats in Pearl River Mart
Bottom right - Mini cupcake at the Cupcake Cafe

Ismoyo in Japanese!

So finally i can reveal what i was cryptically talking about last week! I am featured in NYJapion! A Japanese newspaper here in New York. My felted cupcake cuties even made it onto the front page!

I think it is so hilarious since i can't read a word of it! I was contacted by one of their reporters and he came over to do an interview and make some photos of me and my crafts.

A picture of my revamped letterpress drawer is on the second page, with an article about Cosplay.

Why is it that you have to have your photo taken just a week before your appointment at the hairdresser? I really do look better now. Is it really me or just a bad picture? I know... i'm too vain. I don't want to be.

The complete story is currently online on the NYJapion site too. I used google translate to get some sort of English version (scroll down). Even with this translation it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. And why does "Ismoyo Green" translates into "chair MOYO Green"? It does make me chuckle and the newspaper is a wonderful keepsake for me.

It's out this week, distributed free in Japanese grocery stores and restaurants throughout the city.

More inspiration

I think another reason that i am finding my groove back is due to the inspiration a walk through Williamsburg gave me. I admit, for a long time, i didn't really like the Brooklyn, Williamsburg vibe. "We are here and we are so creative" But the other day one sunny afternoon brightened my creative mood. I saw more streetart than i have in a long time and i ran into the best garagesale ever! I will show some of my thrifted finds next time, for now i leave you with some random inspiration i ran into.





I noticed that the overall feel of the streetart (graffiti and stickerart) in Williamsburg is less optimistic and happy. There is a more negative, angry feel coming from the streetart here than i felt back in Amsterdam. It was not something you particularly felt from the people on the street, just when you looked at the walls. Maybe i haven't searched enough, or maybe i should just go for another search-for-inspiration-walk soon.

Natural Inspiration

Another reason that i'm so busy lately is that i have the pleasure that my parents are visiting from overseas. A lot of fun spending time with them, trying to do that as much as possible and at the same time get all my work done.
Yesterday we went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. I so love it there. It's gorgeous. We picked a great day to go, during the week, so not too busy and the weather was perfect, sunny but not too hot.

I was snapping pictures of all things pretty that caught my eye when i realized all the gorgeous patterns nature provides us with. Sharing some of the photos with you for inspiration.

Don't ask me for the names of all the plants/flowers, i am a nature lover, but not an expert and i was too busy making photos to write down the names on the little name plates.

I love how these large shiny green leaves look.
Oh, there is even a small piece of desert in the middle of Brooklyn. Who knew?

Not bored yet? Okay, one more for your viewing pleasure.

New drapes

The NY apartment finally got some drapes! That was a struggle i must say. I definitely was planning on making curtains myself, was looking for pretty and suitable fabrics for awhile now. Just couldn't find what i wanted. Or when i did they were way too expensive for our budget. Started looking around for ready made drapes. Oh, how i disliked everything i saw! How come American drapes are so ugly? And i don't want those frilly things on top! And those fabric choices! How could you? Do people actually want those in front of their windows? Drapes have such impact on a room, i don't understand. Hope i'm not insulting any one of you. If you happen to have American pre-made drapes with those frilly things on the top, i'm sure they fit in your interior perfect and yours are much prettier than all those i saw in stores. ;)
Anyway, i ended up getting these brown sheer drapes with flocked print on them. Not the most original of prints, but for now i'm happy with them. They were affordable and my hubby approved. I got them for the living room and Love mentioned we should get the same for the bedroom too. So i did. Had to adjust the length a bit, so i did get to do a bit of sewing on our drapes in the end!

Ikea Pop Up Room

Last Thursday I was shopping for a dress (more on that in a later post) when i looked out of the top floor window of Filene's Basement on Union Square and noticed this HUGE box on the square! Oh yeah, happy days, Ikea is coming to Brooklyn! To promote this, Ikea is putting these Popup studio appartment settings throughout the city.
I will definitely not go to the new Ikea on one of the first days. I have such a feeling it might be a bit too chaotic for me. I'll be wise and wait a while.

Too hot

It's too hot here in NY. I can't get myself to be productive.
Luckily it seems that tomorrow the temperature will go down a bit. This is too much.
I know i'm behind on my collage posts, i will post pages again tomorrow.
And... and i'll be here tomorrow with a BIG 500th post giveaway! So if you want some free goodies, stay tuned.
I'm out. Got to get myself some ice cream to cool down.

Gansevoort and streetart

Just the other day we met up with some old and new friends and had a very delicious dinner and cocktails at the restaurant of the Gansevoort hotel and afterwards went upstairs to the rooftop bar for even more cocktails! Lots of fun and a bit of a hangover the day after... oops...




Me and Love arrived a bit early so we went for a stroll through the meatpacking district and came across this huge piece of wallart! I don't know the artist, but how i love and appreciate discovering great streetart. Which reminded me of my walks through Amsterdam on the hunt for new pieces. And how i still have a lot of unshown discoveries on my hard drive. So added to my to show on my blog list. Maybe a couple pics on a weekly blog post or something.

Free Hair

I had such a wonderful afternoon today. Lately i haven't really given myself any down time. Working almost constantly. Not complaining about it, work is good. Not having work is something to complain about. But sometimes you need to sit still and do nothing. Today was that day.

I got a free haircut at the Bumble and Bumble University! I used to go to have my hair cut regularly back in Amsterdam, but ever since i came to New York i haven't had a haircut. Wow. That's like 6 months. My hairdo was in desperate need of a cut!

Bumble and Bumble has special model search evenings every once in a while, i signed up and was invited to one back in November. Got my appointment for today. I was cut by a very sweet hairdresser from Florida. He reminded me of a friend of mine from Amsterdam, so it felt comfortable. The hairdressers are not totally inexperienced, but they are there to learn new tricks and cuts. There is also an instructor keeping an eye out that everything goes as it should. So it felt safe. You do sit down longer than at a regular (payed) haircut, but i didn't mind. This was my relax and do nothing time. I ended up with a wonderful looking long layered razor cut. I feel Fabulous again. (only thing i didn't especially liked was the amount of products that was put in my hair, not only with me, i saw it happening around me too, so i do need to give it a good wash tonight)

As soon as i was outside on the street again, a car honked, was it my new hair or the fact i was talking on the phone and almost walked a red light? My husband said it must have been my new hair!

Christmas in Queens

Hope everyone had a wonderful bright Christmas celebration.

I so adore all the lights on the dark nights, i just had to take pictures of all the gorgeous decorated homes in the neighbourhood.

My evening with the Rockettes

I'm so behind on telling my stories. Yesterday i have uploaded a bunch of new pictures on my computer, so i'll be updating over the next couple of days!

Last week i was invited to join a company outing of a friend of mine. There was dinner and cocktails (cherry margaritas) and the opening night of the Rockettes in Radio City Music Hall. We were all very excited. I never been before, but love the theater and love dance. We arrived a bit tipsy and giggly at radio city. There was a long line outside, but we managed to get in fairly quick. Maybe it was because we expected too much or maybe weren't in the Christmas mood enough yet, but it just lasted a bit too long. I enjoyed the Rockettes famous dance line up, but we all did get a bit bored with the rest of the show. Some of my friends co-workers even fell asleep during the show. (that could have been due to the margaritas too) I do think it is a wonderful show to go to somewhere in December when you have little kids to take with you.

I didn't get to take any pictures inside Radio City since i only carried a clutch which didn't fit my camera. Very unlike me to go out without camera.

All in all, it was an experience and in a way it was an unforgettable evening. I did have fun and lots of laughs. My evening with the Rockettes.

Art Cove Drawing

I was exploring the new neighbourhood when i was thinking about how long ago it was that i last actually drew something. I should really draw again. All of my creativity once started with drawing and nowadays i spend way too little time doing just that. Well i haven't been spending time creating a lot else than digital illustrations, but that was due to the circumstances of moving around all the time, and not having my crafty supplies nearby.

Anyway, i was walking and thinking when i looked up and across the street from where i was walking and saw this small shop called the art cove. It looked a bit dusty but had an 'open' sign on the door. So i crossed the street and wondered in. It truly was like a cove. Small and filled from top to bottom with crafty supplies. One of those places where you could just discover anything unexpected but oh so needed.
A sweet old lady appeared from the back asking me if she could help me with anything. Yes, i'm looking for a small sketchpad. She knew she had to have one still somewhere. But where was it? Ohoh she knew she saw it just the other day. A lot of stuff was moved around and lifted to see if there was a sketchpad waiting for me behind or under it. She was a very determined lady and finally she found it. Is this what you are looking for love? she asked me. After all she did to dig it up i couldn't even say no, and i didn't want to, because if felt like faith that this little cove was here just when i was thinking about drawing again. She rang me up and i walked out happy as can be.

Next on my list of things to buy for the new apartment is a scanner/printer combo. Left mine behind in Amsterdam. Didn't fit in my suitcase.

Japanese Bookstore Kinokuniya

A couple of weeks ago i walked by Bryant Park and saw this announcement. Look who is coming to Bryant Park? Kinokuniya Bookstores. I knew about the store at Rockefeller center, guess that one will be closed then.
Kinda forgot about it, till i read this article today from the NY times letting me know the new bookstore opened last weekend!
Can't wait till i have some spare time to plan a visit and browse the shelves! Where are the craftbooks please?

New residence

The new place is wonderful! High ceilings, lots of light, wooden floors, closet space, great area, terrific views.
But i don't want to clean no more! Spend the last couple of days with cleaning tools as my bestest friends... Did you know white vinegar is a great cleaning detergent? Gets the toughest stains out almost everything!
Anyway, the place is starting to shine. Yesterday a friend came over with a bottle of champagne. Ooooh!
Sunday a trip to Ikea is scheduled, so we will actually have some furniture in here too. ;)
Got to go, chase a great deal on a tv i just read about!
Tada.

Fashion Avenue Afternoon

I realized i have forgot to show this! Pictures of an afternoon of fabric store shopping with my mom when she was in town.

There are so many great shops in the NY fashion district filled to the brim with gorgeous fabrics. From very cheap to extravagantly high prices (but oh so pretty).
I think i gave her a good variety of wonderful stores.
We started out at Paron Fabrics. You got to love their Annex too (all fabrics half prize!).
Next headed to B&J Fabrics. Their on the second floor of the building, so go in to the building, and take the elevator up to get to the store.
Of course had to take her to Mood Fabrics since she knows that from the Project Runway shows.
To throw in a little bit of variation we also stopped by at M&J Trimming.
I mentioned that store on my blog before after my first shopping experience there.

On top of the world

On top of the Empire State Building.
I had a lovely week with my parents in the city. Thanks for the sweet comments and emails during my bit of blog absence.
But now i'm here again. In full swing. Hard at work. Which is a good thing. Got a lot of blog updating to do, so much i don't even know where to start. Guess i will start tomorrow...

If you ever find yourself in NYC and you're somewhat like me you don't want to do all the touristy things. But let me tell you, do make the trip up to the top of the empire state building if it's a clear night.
It is worth it. We went the day after the labor day weekend and it was real quiet, hardly any waiting in line at all! This was my second time up there and again i really loved looking at the lights. Sooo many sparkling lights, it looks magical.

Earn your angel wings

Earn your wings at the lovely Angel Street Thrift Shop on 17th street. (all the shops proceeds benefit individuals and families affected by Substance Abuse, HIV, AIDS and Mental Illness)

Can't believe i never found this wonderful shop in the city before.





Got these great vintage patterns. Don't we love McCalls and Simplicity from the old days?








On another (shopping) note; i read on the back of an ikea folder (not the catalog, i just have the folder) that they are opening a store in brooklyn. how lovely! got to wait till spring 2008 still, but it will be closer than having to travel all the way to New Jersey!

New York budget

that i love to thiftshop is already established here. but some things you just don't buy vintage.
makeup. don't go there. putting blush from the sixties on? not me.
that's where Cosmetic Market at 9 East 39 Street comes in. If all the bargains won't do it, the lipstick door handle will lure you in. Clinique, Chanel, Lancome, Max Factor, L'Oreal, all the brandname products at exceptionally low prizes. I can't understand why anybody here would pay full prize for makeup or perfume anymore.

Right next to it is Jacks .99 cents world. Don't you love .99 cents stores? If you do, you will love Jacks. (there's another one i already knew over at 32 street, very large!) a lot of necessities and household items and i go there to get the name brand veggieburgers, exactly the same as in the grocery store, but way cheaper!

Another good thing is that just around the corner there is one of the NY library branches. yeah i love books. lending books is good, but i hate reading a wonderful book and having to bring it back. i want to keep it. that's where the NY library comes in with their used book sale section. Oooooh!!! Books for .75 cents or a dollar. Loving it.
what made my day even better was that when i got home from the city my people took me on my first visit to Joann's! Woohoo! you know i've been reading about this store on other blogs so many times. and what made it a real surprise is that i was only told we would go to a fabric store. i was already excited about that, but when we drove up the parking lot and i saw the sign i was a happy puppy!
of course i had to buy some pretty fat quarters and some other lovely on sale fabrics. will take a picture of the loot and post soon!

Issey is feeling Spacey

Issey is feeling Spacey.

Kevin Spacey.

That's one of the reasons i love New York.
Never know what surprises the day will bring. You get up in the morning, not even sure what you will do that day. And all of a sudden, in the afternoon the wonderful Kevin Spacey stands in front of you!

To those waiting for me to reply

My apologies. Issey moved again. Now in Long Beach NY. Right up the beach. But still no internetconnection. Got to walk to the local starbucks to read my mail but don't seem to be able to send anything. :(
I haven't forgotten about any of you and most of my replies are ready to be send in my outbox. Just got to get them through.
I'm not totally missing in action, believe me, i'm really working on it.
Luvluv, Issey
(if you know me like that and have my phone#, give me a call)

Edit: I think i got all my emails sent now. Phew...

Renegade Craft Fair

I got to tell somebody!
I was one of the winners in the Adorn Magazine Raffle at the Renegade Craft Fair! Yeeeaaaahh! Lucky me!
hihi thank you adorn! already loved you.

I had a wonderful day at the fair, looked at pretty handmade items all over, spoke with sweet creative people, enjoyed the sun, got spoiled with being picked for a bag of free goodies, plus bought some things i believe i really couldn't do without, got lot of business cards and new ideas. Thank you Renegade Craft Fair!
I had to pick up a pocket mirror from my favorite mirror. And you know that now i want to have my own ismoyo mirrors too! ;)

Very adorable little animals at Fern animals. Had to make a stop at their booth obviously when you have a maiden name starting with Fern.

Cherry box had loads of wonderful stuffed animals. So pretty and cute!

Of course Etsy was representing. They were kind and very generous too, giving away free folders, stickers and buttons.

I started and ended my day at the craft fair at the booth of the sweet smitten kitten. Ooooh everything was soooo adorable. Picked up a loveley necklace with a pretty flower hanger. Love it!

So much more. ohoh just can't show & tell everything now. I will of course make pictures of the things i've bought and the large pink (!) adorn bag stuffed with goodies! Stay tuned...

Style shopping

This post belongs to the NY shopping series; Inspirational Book Shopping, Cute Shopping and Creative Shopping.

I love everything with a great design on it. I am a sucker for great packaging. But i am still on a budget. So i thift shop, go to el cheapo stores, outlet stores. I don't like to pay the highscore, i get a thrill of finding bargains!

Check out my new Oscar de la Renta sunglasses. When i bought them my justification to myself for buying them was that they were gorgeous and below 10 bucks! (@ TJ Maxx) When i got home i gave myself another reason by accident! I wasn't home for more than 5 minutes when i sat down and heard a crunching sound... Oops! I just sat on my old sunglasses!! Yep. They broke. So i really had a reason to get new sunglasses! Hehe. (I do feel bad for breaking my other glasses, they were great too)

The TJ Maxx store also has a great discount pamper yourself area. (also great for finding gifts) I adore lovely smelling soaps, especially when they have cute names and packages. These three i couldn't leave behind at the store.

In front is a large bar of Passion Fruit Lime soap. Tropically scented exfoliating bath bar with kiwi seeds! Oh my. Behind left a Warm Apple Pie Soap from Crabtree & Evelyn. And on the right there's Whipped Ice Cream bath soap by Sweet on You. It really looks like icecream too, even the feel of it. You just want to scoop it out! "I scream, you scream, we all scream for icecream." "The ultimate calorie-free bath dessert."

Bye Bye Brooklyn

I miss Brooklyn already.

I miss the baby bird that came to sit on my shoulder one morning when me and my love were drinking coffee in front of the house.

I miss the kindness. I miss saying and being said goodmorning too by people on the street.

I miss the sun. (even the heatwave!, it's cold and raining in A'dam!)

I miss the creativity.

I miss finding bargain treasures at an unexpected stoopsale.

I miss the guys from the band.

I miss walking through Fort Greene. (note: most pictures on the left were made during a walk through Park Slope though)

I miss the laughter.

I miss so much, but i especially miss
LOVE.


I don't know. Is it because I've been away a couple of weeks, is it that I'm going to move overseas in a while that I'm focusing on negativity in Amsterdam, to make parting easier? I don't know, the vibe here isn't what Amsterdam used to be about. People have a very short fuse here nowadays. Are getting more aggressive every day. Expect to deserve everything, just because. And if not, aggression. Wow. Be humble for a change. Be kind. A lot of things have happened lately to change to overall feel of the community. Let me ponder about this some more. I might post my thoughts about it another time.

For now, I just miss Brooklyn baby!

Creative Shopping

Yep yep. Did some creative shopping too.

The adhesive ribbons I've found at Target, I just couldn't ignore the brown with pink polkadots! Haha, I don't even know what "adhesive" ribbons are. Can I just stick it on somewhere, or should I iron it on? Haven't opened the package yet. But guess I'll figure it out.

I also made a trip into the city and esp the fashion district.

Oh how I love all the fabric stores! HEAVEN.
I know when I live here, I'll be spending a lot of $$ in that area. Won't be able to help myself...
Anyway, I went into M&J Trimmings. And oh, Walhalla! I needed a moment to catch my breath. Really. Walls and walls stacked from top to bottom with the most gorgeous trimmings. I didn't even know where to start looking. I wasn't planning on buying a lot since I can't do nothing without my sewingmachine. But hey, once inside, how could I leave without anything? I can take it with me in my suitcase back to Amsterdam right? Check out the cute ribbons I picked out! Can't wait to get behind my machine and make something using them!

Back to my shopping trip to Target. My hubby was with me and we walked passed the napkins and stuff. There were some great designs, so I had to stop to take a look. He was like, napkins? But he knows that I have to look at EVERYTHING that has a great print on it. So I explained the art of Decoupage to him and how you can use beautiful paper napkins to turn, for instance, old furniture into original new pieces. So he was like, well, then buy it! I took one of the small napkin packages out of the racks. He was like. Why don't you take the big one? So I took a pack of the guest towels. He was like, you better take two right? *love* So I did. One day I'll make him so proud by decoupaging these onto some project. Just don't know when or what, but at least I'll have the paper towels already! :D

The strawberry origami papers I bought somewhere in Chinatown. It has been a long time since I did any origami, but I think I'll have to start folding again! Or else I'll be able to use them in one of my paper collages or postcard projects. I'll find something to do with them.

M&J took my breath away

Made it to New York

I went missing in action for a little bit, i'm sorry. Had to finish things up in Amsterdam and prepare for my trip to NY. By now i have arrived. The journey was terrible, long tiresome flight, stopover in Philly, announcement that the entire ramp closed due to the weather conditions (thunderstorms). Finally, after waiting for 6 hours i got on the only flight that evening to NY. All others were cancelled. So i was lucky. And i won't complain, cause in the end I'm here and reunited with my love. So it doesn't matter how i got here. It doesn't matter it's too hot to be active. It doesn't matter I'm covered in huge red mosquito bites with a heat rash to complete my summer skin style. I'm not complaining. I'm just happy to be back in Brooklyn.