i {heart} work : StitchandSew (jp)

good morning! with gray skies covering downtown los angeles this morning, i've been feeling a bit.... modern minimalist. (if that even is a category of how one can be feeling in a day. haha!) anyway, i've always enjoyed work that provokes a feel of nature and/or reminds me that the simplest little details combined together is what can make a product/design/(fill in the blank) stand out from the rest.

StitchandSew (jp) combines this idea beautifully in their products/projects and describes themselves as:

'we are interested in the relation between living and the objects we use everyday. taking that into consideration, we rethink and redesign these items in the hope of a new sense and ideas in life by using besides practical functions of goods.'

i really love their philosophy on how they approach their work. it definitely shows in the execution + makes me want to go 'use' one of their products right away in my everyday life. :)

// StitchandSew

shopaholic : books actually (singapore)

along with it's wonderous food stalls and mix of cultures, i came upon a store that i wished i had found earlier during my trip to singapore this past winter. i love design and although find that most of the work i do is based on the computer, which i do enjoy, my passion lies within hand created work. hand drawn type, screen printing, letterpress printing, etc... you name it, i probably love it if it's analog. that goes with music recording too, but that's a whole different post.

the store that i'm raving about is called books actually and they actually sell books of all sorts, but the thing that got me excited about their store is that they print + produce their own work as well! simple, elegant, and yet has a charm that reminds me of a time lost in our fast paced world. if you are ever in singapore, stop on by. you will definitely be spending some time (and hard earned cash) at this delectable store.

// books actually

fashion*obsession : steven alan

 

during a coffee meet up with a friend, i passed by this adorable boutique and had to go find out what they had. little did i know, this store would be one of my latest finds! steven alan not only had adorable clothing for woman, but men too! although not sure if it's my beau's taste. hahaha~ they carry clothing, shoes, bags, and some other little things. the look reminded me of a hybrid between anthropologie, lucky jeans, some urban outfitters, and burburry. here are some items on my 'must-have' list, but there is so much more so go and take a peek!

// steven alan

design info : design indaba

while looking on different sites researching one of my favorite packaging designers, taku satoh, i came upon this interesting site called design indaba. i even love their slogan: "a better world through creativity." definitely my kind of flavor.

not only do they have info about graphic designers, but also creatives from film, architecture, etc. if you're interested to find out what people from around the world are doing/creating, check out this site! after writing this post, i'm going right back to exploring it some more.

etsy treasury : designDiapason tote featured!

hi hi! hope that all has been well~! i was very pleasantly surprised today when coming back from a trip to see that paperbullet had featured my totebag in her treasury entitled: Butter and concrete. on etsy! (if the treasury is still up, you can find it by clicking here.) if not, here is an image of the listing:















she was kind enough to notify me that she did list my item. thank you again for listing the tote. :) i'm sure the tote is really happy too~ what a great way to start the week! <3

interview w/ the designers republic ian anderson

one of my favorite design studios, the designers republic's ian anderson, was interviewed by the drum's editor richard draycott in regards to what he's been up to since closing up shop. after watching the interview, i'm excited to see the work that this design genius is yet to create. :)

{via: visuelle}

so excited! : etsy stalker

i just had to share some very happy news with you today! out of the blue, i received a msg from ms. curator beatrice stating that my ampersand tote on etsy {designDiapason} was featured in their ampersand exhibit on etsy stalker~ wow!

things like this really help me through tough times, especially mentally, when i wonder to myself if starting my own company is really the right path. there are times when i think, "maybe it's better if i were to just go work for a company, get a steady pay check and stop dreaming..." but when things like this happen, it makes me truly believe that chasing one's dream(s) is so important. i've been dreaming and running towards this goal for so many years now and i can't give it up. i just can't.

so thank you beatrice and the many others who, regardless if i've known you for all my life, a moment, or have never met you, your support is what keeps me going. your positive energy and influence is what allows me to pursue this dream.

the launch for the new company is underway and currently shooting to have the store up and running by the end of february/early march. depending on how production goes for the products and the photo shoot, things might change, but that's what i'm aiming for at this moment.

to whatever natural energy is out there right now helping things to move along in a positive direction, thank you so very much. it is not taken for granted.