1 year later?!

Hey, everyone!

So it has been almost a whole year since I've last updated my blog. ALMOST A WHOLE YEAR. Where has time gone? I'll admit, I was suffering a little bit from PTSD from that hospital trip over a year ago. In the mean time, I have been working on new products, always looking to improve my designs. I don't have a whole lot to talk about since my thoughts are all jumbled up, but I suppose I can provide a few pictures of what I have been working on. Visuals always help. (n___n")

I have been participating in Fullerton's Farmers Market every Thursday since it opened up in May, I think.

Every week, I go and set out my things, hoping someone will take them home. Since this photo was taken, I have added a considerable amount of new items. I am also selling the bear face shirt for men and women. Every day, I try to find things to improve my display. I am hoping to eventually move to Frank and Sons.

While duct tape bows are growing in popularity, I decided to put my own spin on them.

Most of the time, I've seen duct tape bows just folded and scrunched up in some mish-mosh, and sometimes I see small shops consigning them for $7! Imagine paying the amount you'd pay for 2 rolls of tape for a scrunched up piece of tape! Blasphemy! So I've decided to make the bows look like my butterfly-folded obi when I wear yukatas in the summer. It's kind of a cute, merry spin on the duct tape bow scene, and I only sell these for $3 a piece.

I have also been working on sewing up some cute fabric bows. Most of these will sell for $5-$7 each.

Bows have always been a big part of my life since I was a kid. I especially love a pronounced, slightly over-sized bow in people's hair. Some bows that I've seen retail for so much -- I guess that's the price you pay for beauty. I have always been budget-conscious [I grew up broke in a family that struggled for money, which led me to learn to make my own clothing and accessories], and I am also budget-conscious for YOU, the consumer. I don't put any less love into these... in fact, I want you to have them for these prices. The patterns and prints come and go like fashion does, but in essence, the bow is such a timeless piece.

I have also recently [FINALLY] had time after my schooling has ended [I took a class to help me get paid more at work], and I have developed some cutesy sweet bows. These ones were inspired by the things many Sweet Lolitas wear. They're fluffy and made of terry cloth, aka TOWEL!!! <3

I have also very much loved dolly-kei and mori-girl looks. This one could also work for vintage, Victorian-inspired, Bohemian-like looks. I am trying to diversify the products I make... I don't want to just cater to super sweet Lolita-like looks... I am all about J-fashion, no matter what it is.

Come to think of it, perhaps I shouldn't market myself as simply kawaii-inspired, and maybe I should market myself as being part of a J-fashion scene. I don't know. (^_^;;) Meep?

I have also worked on making affordable Gothic-inspired fashions.

Back when I was in high school [OMG early 2000s], I used to dress very darkly... A part of me still loves it and appreciates delicate, not-too-over-the-top Goth fashions. [This one here is $4, btw.]

I have still been working on clay creations. However, it sort of seems like I am at a stand-still with those due to working on a variety of hair goods. I am slowly but surely designing new decoden-inspired and goth-inspired earrings, as well as a variety of rose earrings [they're so popular that I sell out every week].

As far as my personal life goes, which I rarely talk about with anyone, my love life has been interesting to say the least, and I have made a ton of lolita friends in the last 3 weeks alone. At the same time, I have just found out that I was gluten-intolerant, which was causing me to swell and get 20lbs heavier. Sad. One of my friends just went through the same thing a year ago, and now she looks so thin and happy. I was wondering why, if I exercised frequently, I would gain 20lbs instead of lose it. Now I know.

If you compare this photo with my recent ones [all above ^^^], you can see how my puffiness went down quite significantly. It's so crazy what 3 weeks of going gluten-free can do to you. And my theory is that, perhaps all my life, I had been gluten-intolerant and that was why I was always the "fat sister." [That alone is another story... might sounds like I have self-esteem issues up the wazoo if I ever told anyone.] I can't believe what a difference my diet made, especially in just my face. I have lost about 4 inches off my waist, and a couple pounds... However, I had something with gluten in it on Tuesday [I didn't know! :[ noooooo...], and I re-puffed up. It felt like 3 weeks down the drain. So I am continuing acupuncture treatment to help me deflate, and I am resuming a very careful nit-picky diet. It has been a tough journey, but I am getting better everyday, I think.

This entry was sure a handful! I will update you all soon. Lots of love~~~

Wedding Dress Commission!

The big day was July 23rd, and I had this wedding dress all set to go by a week before! Haha, a little bit of a short notice -- I had 1 month to complete the whole thing, but alas, I have done it!

What I had made:
- Corset top
- Gypsy style skirt [option 1]
- Sarong style skirt [option 2]
- Lace-up arm cuffs
- Bridesmaid skirt
- The belt to the alternate bridesmaid dress

Time for pictures! And explanations! :D

This is the corset top with the gypsy style skirt. It looks sort of loose here, but the bride was very busty, so it looked better on her. More pictures of her to come!

This is the corset top with the sarong style skirt. She wanted two skirt options because she was having a beach wedding, and she liked the gypsy style, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to look more beach-appropriate.

The bridesmaid skirt. My niece was the maid of honor, so she picked out some random dressy top for this later on. It has lace elastic for the waistband, and it is an interesting pink satin!

The waist tie for the alternate bridesmaid dress. [She left her gray tank on, haha.] She was leaning towards wearing the skirt though...

Corset detailing. The bride had chosen an interesting type of lacing. I really love it!!! :D It's so cute!

Here is the corset arm band. This looks so cute for an nontraditional wedding! I think this was my favorite part and the most fun to make! :] I want to make more of these in the future.

So I had fun making the wedding outfits and accessories... the bride bought me all the patterns I needed and material, and she let me keep everything. Amazing, huh? I'm not sure if I would make a wedding dress again, but this was so much fun! :D

A Collection of Treasuries

On Etsy, there is this option to make a treasury of items that you like, and it is almost like a mini promotion for the items that you choose. I had not realized so many of my items were listed in these treasuries of different people, and that makes me pretty happy! So I would like to thank those that have included my jewelry -- it's people like them that keep me going!

Here is a list of treasuries that I found that had my jewelry listed in them!

Out with the new, in with the old
Rice Ball!
Death is not the end...
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Did someone say chocolate?
TRUST ME - I am a HEART DOCTOR!
I Never Wanna Grow Up
Sweet Summertime
Bright Summer
Miyazaki Masterpieces
My Neighbor Totoro

Thank you for your support! :D

Crazy new things!

I apologize for the lack of a better title, but it has been so long since my last post that I don't even know where to begin.

I had gone paintballing for the first time on Memorial Day, and seeing all the splattered paint had inspired me to make more colorful crafts. The night before, I had sewn some barrel-slips. I'm not sure what material the outer layer is, but it feels like a backpack strap. The insides are lined with either flannel or old t-shirt, and they strap onto your gun with a large elastic hairband.

I took my boyfriend to his first swapmeet yesterday [I grew up going to them, but he has never been to one] to get inspired by some antiques. Instead, however, I ended up finding a great pair of cropped jeans for $10 and seeing a plus-sized Mexican Barbie-type of doll. After seeing that doll, I didn't know what to think - it had a tiny waist, but everything else was "large" for a "Barbie." Meh.

Recently, I have been purchasing sets of Lalaloopsy dolls to create a scene-in-a-box to photograph my items in. I haven't done any shots with any of my items, but I finally created the scene, more or less. I hope to create more. Here, I'm having fun with Crumb and her mouse, using scrapbook paper for walls, and wooden miniature cabinets that I had purchased and painted from Michaels. There's a Re-ment set of food behind her as well. :]

Continuing on my craftastic journey, I began to bake again all weekend following my graduation. [Oh, yea! I graduated from Cal State Fullerton. Commencement ceremony speeches and other things were a little bit of a drag, but I'm just glad I'm out of there!] So I decided to bake vanilla pudding cookies with chocolate chips and add some homemade Bavarian cream to it. That strawberry in the picture was picked by my mother and I at Cal Poly Pomona. Haha, I've been keeping busy since I've been done with school!

Although I have a degree with a wide range of possible career paths, I still have no idea what to do. Originally, I decided to pick this major to start a career in teaching, which is pretty dead right now. With few job openings, I've just stuck with Etsy and my part-time office job. I'm hoping another opportunity comes my way. On a brighter note, a friend of mine offered to take my photos for me. I did graduation on a budget, borrowing a cap and gown from another friend, which means I couldn't decorate anything [my friends were surprised!].

And finally, I went to a Japanese memorial service, which celebrates the lives of all who passed away in the month of June [they have these services monthly]. My boyfriend's family made it a joyful event, spending a day in Little Tokyo, buffet included. We stopped by a kitschy little shop, where I found these key caps that looked a lot like my dogs.

Aren't they cute? Although I had a pretty awful evening last night [trying to avoid thoughts on family life, but let's just say it can get violent], today made my day. My other family is so much fun, and when we're together, anything is possible!

Now, onto sewing a wedding dress...

Summer is coming...

This warm weather lately has made me feel especially good and crafty. I grew really ill in January, and although rather traumatized, I'm recovering well. In fact, I probably am recovered -- I'm just traumatized. I ended up in the hospital then, ended up quitting one of my jobs, and it took almost a month to get back onto regular food-eating... However, I don't think I've ever been happier.

I graduate from CSUF next month, and I'm so excited. After doing two craft shows, I'm taking a break to finish up my final studies, and then I can proceed with my life in crafting. Of course, my parents would like me to go to grad school, but I would also like to see where my passion will take me.

Since then, my brother has moved out, leaving me an empty room that I have converted into my workspace. I even finally bought a TV! Since being traumatized, everything has me anxious or nervous to some degree, so I find myself mellowing out to classical music lately... I sound like a total loca, I know, but if it gets the job done, then hey, it can't be that bad, right?

I just wanted to share a few photos from my last craft shows, as well as a few things I've been working on. My plans for the summer are to post tutorials and other fun things. Who knows, it may keep me busy! :D Not that my day-job isn't already... HAHA. Quite honestly though, being stuck in a tiny office with no windows within reach and very little human interaction takes a toll on the mind.

But away from the bland and not-so-fun stuff, and onto the good stuff!!!

That was from when I had set up shop at the Pink Parlour Festival at the end of March. It took a whole hour and a half for someone to bring a table, and I was lucky that I brought my own chairs because the chairs they promised us never came, sadly. However, it was a worthwhile experience, and I made many new friends! A couple of helpers and I ended up taking a silly photo at the booth two spaces away:

That unicorn had me screaming, "It's so fluffy, I'm gonna diiiiie!" :D I loved Despicable Me, and unicorns are so cute. Hehehe... Especially that one that probably had a million germs on it.

Every year, I participate in an event called the SOC Pancake Breakfast [which reminds me, I need to find their address to send them my percentage donation!!!]. This event funds sports and scout groups for the local Japanese American community, which also extends to other communities. I always see familiar faces, and each year I do better. This year was a great surprise, and I helped a friend launch her Etsy site, as well. Check it out if you're into Kindles or Nooks or other E-readers!

With tax returns coming in and the success of these two events, I couldn't be more appreciative of being alive right now. Even after the trauma, the homework, all of the projects and doodads that it takes to graduate college... all of the blood, sweat, and tears honestly paid off. I just need to pull through the next month and get things done!

I'm so thankful to my friends who have helped me along the way. :] Whew, a much need update, so until next time, see you all later!

LONG TIME, NO SEE!

Hello all!

It has certainly been a while. I got extremely ill in January, but I'm trying to forget about that. I finally quit one of my jobs, and now I definitely have more time to focus on my Etsy - which feels good!!! Currently, I'm preparing for two craft shows - a large one and a small one. The first show is the Pink Parlour Festival at the Santa Anita Race Track, and you can find information here. The second show is a local SOC Pancake Breakfast, which is much smaller, but the beer pancakes are totally worth it! :] Mmm!

I finally used a generator to develop a QR code for smart phones!


This way, if you're interested in buying from a smart phone, you can! :]

I'll be posting more pictures of some new stuff hopefully soon! <3

Imagining that I am a featured seller on Etsy... Hehe...

Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Kat, and I was born and raised in sunny California. A philosopher had once stated that strange people are known to exist in two forms -- the rich as eccentric and the poor as whackos. I think it is rather fortunate that I am a whacko. I live with my parents and 5 furry siblings, two of which are human, and a suicidal hermit crab in a genetically modified pineapple under the sea. My neighbor is an angry squid that loves music.

Occasionally, I am a musician, but otherwise, I am a working student. I am studying the fields of the liberal arts, music, and art, and my taste in art is quite uncanny. I love all things vintage and all things strange.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I enjoy exercising at the local gym and taking strolls along a local dirt road. Sometimes I rekindle my relationships with instruments that I had formerly played frequently. Creative photography is something I enjoy, as well, but I haven't developed as much skill yet. I love to cook, and even if my cooking turns out to be a disaster, I don't take it too hard. I am working towards a bachelor's degree, and I work a normal college student-type job.

What first made you want to become an artist?
Thankfully, I've had such creative parents that have influenced me as a child. My siblings and I grew up without a ton of money, so my father always used old things to create something new -- he'd take a hamper and turn it into a wagon that was roomier and sturdier than a Radio Flyer, and he also made us bikes out of parts from the junkyard. My mother was a graphic artist for a short time, but seeing her work all around me really brought color into my life.

As I grew older, my work has been inspired by strange things, retro fashion, and toy foods that I grew up with, as well as miniatures that I used to see in Re-ment collections and doll houses.

Please describe your creative process.
I rarely sketch, and if I do, it's on a receipt or scratch paper lying around because I feel like I must hurriedly do it before I forget. I tend to see the finish product first and then think about how I will put it together, and oftentimes, I just create as soon as I get home from class or work, which has me working until the wee hours of the morning. Some things are a week-long process, such as glazing items in between work and school hours during the short time that I am home, or letting epoxies and glues cure during the hours that I am away from home. Once a product is finished, I go about making the packaging for it, or packaging it in something I have already made.

My mornings are filled with checking emails and taking packages to the post office, sometimes accompanied by a local delivery after work. I am always excited to see a buyer and taking in insight from them about new product ideas.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
There is this tiny wooden chair that my dad had made me just as soon as I was able to sit up, pretty much. I believe he had made it from reclaimed wood, and he signed it to me and dated it. He also had me put a few large stickers on it to make it my own. I've had it for basically my whole life.

Name your top five books, movies, musicians, and websites besides Etsy.
Books: Always Running [Rodriguez], The Catcher in the Rye [Salinger], The Pill Book [Silverman, 1994], Norwegian Wood [Murakami], Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness, and Surgery [Griffith].

Music: Pretty much anything pre-1960s, 80's pop and rock, The Phantom of the Opera, Yanni, and some Metal.

Movies: I don't know -_-"

Websites: well, I do like tumblr...

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Don't give up too quickly and don't focus too much on promoting your items. The first sale always comes when you least expect it. Also, take good photos and write good descriptions.

at work, creating my line of winter stuff! and a narwhal. ♥

What are your favorite features on Etsy? What new features would you like to see?
I love the business tips and reading about featured artists. I also like that my sold orders reflect much-need information. I think that the listing process could allow for some more tags.

How do you promote your work?
I use Facebook, and I sparingly blog. I also use Deviantart, which really gets my work out there. However, the best promotion is actually wearing my work. It's usually a great conversation starter that results in sharing a business card or two... and occasionally gaining a sale. :]

My melody hiding in my ruffles!

In ten years, where would you like to be?
Healthy, hopefully married, hopefully still running a business and doing the things I love in a sweet fixer upper of a Victorian house, perhaps making furniture at this point, living with my precious husband and a dog.