Janie XY

I am a huge collector of a lot of things. Plush creations being just one of them. Especially when they are really cute and handmade. So when I saw these items at Unique L.A. I had to get them. These are handmade plush by Janie XY.

Her booth was almost decked out like a fruit stand. Which matched a lot of her plush items. There were quite a few items to choose from: 2 types of bunnies, whales (small and large), 3 different color cats, eggplants, strawberries, oranges, pears and tomatos. All with names tags and a short bio on them. There was even stackable ice cream cones, which was really cool. The plush ice cream cone had different types of ice cream scoops that go on top of it (each piece sold separately). A magnet is under the material on the tops and bottoms, which helps them to hold together when they stack on each other. It wobbles a little when you have 2-3 ice cream scoops on the cone.

The item that really drew me to her booth was the round plush rabbit, Lars. The moment I saw it on the table I picked it up and gave it a squeeze, then a tiny shake. Thought there was a jingle bell inside, but I was wrong. The girl behind the booth looked at me and said, "It's really cute, huh." Then I said "This would be perfect if it had a bell inside it." She replied, "She can make it with a bell inside." But I was fine without one in it. Found out that the actual creator of these plush items had stepped away from the booth for the moment. So I didn't have a chance to meet the creator. I picked out Lars the bunny and wanted one of the cats, Ramses. There was a gray and pink cat too, but I liked the bright orange color of Ramses. As I was about to make my purchase I was told that if I got another item that totaled $40, I would get Ramses free. So I picked the orange, Nancy.

I may have to get one of the whales through her Etsy store. Thought about getting it when I was at Unique L.A., but I didn't have time to go back to her booth. I did notice some differences with the pics on her items in the Etsy store with the ones I purchased. The orange has a shape and face similar to the tomato. Might be that the pics have not been updated on the site yet. Even with that I think these are some really great plush items.

Kauzbots

Went to Unique L.A. a few Saturdays ago. Been looking forward to going to this for the past few months, since Felt Club was not being held this year. I started to check out the Unique L.A. website and saw photos from a summer show they had earlier in the year. There was this one pic of a booth with these plush robots that I had never seen or heard of. They were called Kauzbots, robots with a heart.

Checked out the Kauzbots website to see more info on them. There are 10 different robots that all begin with the letter "K" and each support a different cause:

Kalvin (dark gray) - Hearts of Gold
Kruz (blue) - Lifewater International
Kale (green) - Arbor Day Foundation
Karthy (yellow) - TACA (Talk About Curing Autism)
Kiefer (black) - IRC (International Rescue Committee)
Karson (red) - AIDS Walk
Kourage (purple) - George Mark Children's House
Khloe (white) - NCOHF (National Children's Oral Health Foundation)
Kaprice (pink) - Breast Cancer Network of Strength
Karissa (orange) - Share Our Strength

10% of the sale price from each robot goes to support its specific cause. Same goes for the apparel and keychains. They all have the same body shape, but different colors, material patterns and antennas. There is also a pocket on the back of all the robots. Inside of the pocket is a little plush heart.

When I got to the booth and saw them, I just had to get me one. Picking out a robot was a tough decision. Do I choose by color or cause? Went with color this time around. Chose Karissa. But as I was waiting to pay for my purchase, I decided to get one more and picked up Karthy. I got a Kalvin keychain too. It looks like a miniature plush version of Kalvin. Found out that the keychain will no longer be produced in that style due to manufacturing complications. Instead they will be in the form of the robot's heads.

Love these guys... how can you not love 'em. They are cute robots that support a cause, which can make a difference in the world. Think my next robot will be Kale. Basing my choice by cause this time...

The Killing of a Chinese Cookie

Did you know that the fortune cookie was actually invented by the Japanese?
It does not even exist in China.

Just went to a screening of The Killing of a Chinese Cookie, earlier this evening. It's a documentary on the history of the fortune cookie. It's a film by my former studio partner and high school friend, Derek Shimoda. He directed, produced and wrote this funny and entertaining look at the mixed up history of the fortune cookie. From its early beginnings in Japan (and its debated origins in San Francisco or Los Angeles) to a permanent staple at the end of a meal in a Chinese restaurant. There are interviews with many people, one of them being Giant Robot publisher Eric Nakamura.

Derek had been working on this for a year and a half, I think. He got to travel to quite a few different places like Japan and San Francisco. The film was released last year, 2008, mostly at film festivals. It is now available on DVD through Amazon.com and for free online at snagfilms.com.

There was also a cook-off before the screening involving fortune cookie inspired desserts. The winning dessert would be featured on the Geisha House menu for a limited time. There were 3 judges: Eric Nakamura, Brian Kito (Fugetsu-Do Confectioners) and a person from Geisha House. Winning dessert was a cheesecake-like dessert and it was very tasty too.

GR2 Post-It 4 Show

GR2 had the opening of the Post-It 4 show on Saturday. Heard there were something like 1300+ pieces submitted by 150+ artists. My camera's battery was dead so I had to take pics with my iPhone, which isn't that great. GR2 pre-show pics here and here. Pieces were priced from $5 to $40 for single post-its and $40-$300 for post-its made up of multiple pieces. This was a great chance to get a piece of original art from an artist at a really great, inexpensive price. All are "cash and carry." So once you bought it, it comes off the wall and you take it home right away. You could only purchase one item from each artist, since some only submitted one and others may have submitted more than one.

I got there about 5:30pm and there was a handful of people already there. At this point you could really get up close to the wall and see the artwork... that would change in the next half-hour at opening. Once Michelle put the sign up sheet out to purchase art a little before 6pm, a line formed quickly. I was last on the first page of the list.

The place got packed really quickly and you could hardly move or get close to the wall to take a good look at the post-its. Michelle started calling names from the sign up list and pieces started coming off the walls. It took people a while to get their pieces because some were still looking and making their decisions right then. Pieces are coded on the back. Unless you know the artists' work or they signed their piece, it could be difficult finding something you wanted. It took about an hour until my name was called.

This was such a great show! Even after I left, about 8pm, there was still a huge crowd there waiting for their chance to make a purchase. I got a David Horvath, Sun-Min Kim, Mina Horvath, APAK, Saelee Oh, Gary Baseman and Le Merde. I got all the ones I wanted to get, although the Baseman one was my second choice. First choice was a post-it with his Toby character in it. I went back the next day and there are still a lot of great pieces left. All of David's were gone. There were a couple of Sun-Min's and Mina's still available. I think I got pics of all of their pieces here.

Friend or Foe

Saw these guys online this past weekend and I just had to get me a couple of them. So cute... They are Friend or Foe blind pack charms from Poketo. About 2.5" tall. Each is a unique and handpainted stuffed charm, so no 2 are alike. There are hundreds of different characters to chose from. But since they are blind packed, you don't know which ones you'll get. $12 each.

I ordered 2 on Sunday and they arrived on Thursday. One looks kinda like a lucky cat, while the other resembles a pig. The material they are made from feels like painters canvas. The whole charm looks to be handpainted too. I'm putting the piggy one on my backpack since the other one is white. Don't want to get that one dirty too fast.

Think I am going to get me 2 more of them later.

Handbags

Haven't been at the studio for a while, with all my daytime job deadlines and the usual stuff that happens at the end of the year bogging me down. I had to stop in over this past weekend to get a couple of supplies. Decided to work on something at home instead of the studio, just in case I get the urge (or time) to work on it. Going to need to pick up one other item from the store if I do get to working on it though.

When I stopped by the studio I saw a couple of handbags that my studio partner, Ty, finished up. They look really nice. The gray one has a zippered pocket in the middle and separates the inside into 2 compartments. The black one is a little longer and doesn't seem to have any compartments. Not sure if he made these for someone or for a show. I never know for sure since he is usually there when I am not, so we very rarely see each other.

We really have to get working on a collaboration of some ideas that have been floating around for quite a few months. Gotta find some time soon... hopefully by the beginning of the year...

Zombie Coconut

While I was sitting at my computer last night checking my email, twitter, some forums and blogs. I was inspired to do this sketch. Zombie Coconut. Inspired by Justin and Bianca's Fresh Like Coconuts site (FLC). It came out pretty good for something that originally started as a rough pencil doodle. Then I started to get into it and tightened the lines some and inked it in. Had to use a fine point Sharpie, since my regular Sharpie went AWOL on me. Added a maggot friend on his head too.

Think I am going to take this into Illustrator and simplify it a bit... tone down the detail a little and give it some color. May even try a mini painting of this.

Luchador Mr. Toast

I have got to get one of these! Luchador Mr. Toast. A DesignerCon exclusive. Edition of 25 at $25 each available this Saturday. If you are not able to get one of these, Dan said that he may get some more made at a later date. But those will have a different color mask.

Kitson Exclusive Uglydoll Ket

David Horvath just posted on his blog that Kitson has an Exclusive Uglydoll. Ket Kitson Edition was just released this week in stores and online. The regular version will be released in late 2010 and be a different color from this one. Ket is the first Uglydoll to be a confirmed in the 2010 line-up of Uglydolls. The rest should be revealed soon.

Ket was first seen at the Dehara & David Have Mono Show in Tokyo, Japan back in September of this year. There were 2 black handmade versions for this show.

I stopped by the Kitson store on Robertson, while on my way home from work, to see if I could pick one up. Wasn't too hard to spot. They were in a clear cube holder, on the floor. Not too far from the entrance aisle walkway. Might go back later this week and get at least one more.

Hello Kitty Meet the Artists Party

The Meet the Artists Party at the Hello Kitty Exhibition at Royal/T was on Saturday, 7pm-11pm. Went with my co-worker's blog partner Cecy and her friend. She was going in as media to interview the artists that were there for their mommy blog and I was assisting her. Just like being her Executive Assistant for the show. Since she wasn't very familiar with the artists, and I was, I could help her out by identifying who's who and give her background info.

There was a line to get into the pop-up shop in the front and another in the back to get into the gallery. But since we were media, we got in without any line waiting. Even got to go into the VIP lounge area for free beverages and appetizers. Some of the artists were in that area chillin' out before stepping out into the main gallery area.

I got to meet so many of the talented artists that took part in this show: Camilla D'errico, Angry Woebots, Deph, Misha, Dan Goodsell, Melissa Contreras, Peekaboo Monster, Gary Baseman, Jason Han, Thomas Han, Luke Chueh, Buff Monster, Natalia Fabia and Melly Trochez are the ones that I can remember at the moment.

Live painting started earlier in the day with Peekaboo Monster at 2pm, Angry Woebots at 4pm and Camilla D'errico at 6pm. Then there was the artist jam session during the Meet event where all the artists in attendance collaborated on one canvas. Paintings were auctioned and proceeds went to charity. There was also Live T-shirt Screenprinting at the event with art by: 64 Colors, Crowded Teeth, Buff Monster, Plasticgod and Mark Dean Veca. New print releases by Angry Woebots, Camilla D'errico and Peekaboo Monster, plus some of his custom The Birds resins too.

Would have taken more pics, but I was recording some of the interviews on my iPhone. Just in case Cecy missed writing anything down. She also purchased one of the Three Apples exhibit books to get the artists to sign. They are putting it up on their mommy blog, thatsitmommy.com, as a fan giveaway prize package. I picked up 2 watercolors by Dan Goodsell. He posted a bunch of them on his blog, but the 2 that I really wanted with Keroppi and Tuxedo Sam were already gone. Those 2 are my favorite Sanrio characters. Ended up getting one with Chococat and another with Sweet Coron.

Ultimate Alliance 2: DLC Pack

Looks like the first DLC Pack for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is coming out this Thursday, November 5th. 800 Microsoft Points and $9.99 PSN Store. The Pack will include 5 new characters to the game: Carnage, Psylocke, Cable, Black Panther and another soon to be announced character. Also the Juggernaut pre-order DLC, that was a Gamestop exclusive pre-order, will be available on that same day. 160 microsoft Points and $1.99 PSN Store.

I pre-ordered this game at SDCC back in July just to get the DLC for Juggernaut. Still have not gotten around to play this yet. Trying to finish another game before I start this one. I really loved the first one, even finished the game too. Can't wait to start playing this one.

**JUST ADDED**
The mystery 5th character in the DLC Pack is none other than mutant master of magnetism, Magneto.

Character Sketch

Found these 2 sketches a few days ago in a pile of papers pressed within a sketch book. The first one was my initial detailed design, in pencil, for this character. I know I had some really loose and rough thumbnail pencils that I worked on first, but those may have been on some small pieces of scratch paper. I seem to use those, since I have them on my desk at all times. I try to recycle some of the waste paper from the printer/copier. Should really use my small sketchbooks more often... some of these pieces of paper get discarded afterwords. Especially if they have writing or phone numbers on them from notes or messages.

I knew she was going to have 6 arms (thought about 4 too) and armed with guns and blades. Her look was going to be very Amazon warrior-like with some hi-tech pieces to the uniform. She was part of the Strikforce team I posted in a previous sketch I did. That's about all I had as an idea for her at the time. It is quite a few years old and I vaguely remember some of the other characters that were created for this. Think her name might have been Shiva or Armada or Riot... Shiva sounds more familiar though.

The second one was going to be a much tighter, stylized pencil study of her with design tweaks. Only thing is that it was abandoned... never did finish working on it. Not sure why...

GR Biennale 2 @ JANM

Little late in getting this post up. It has just been really busy for me at the moment, with work and happenings around town. But anyways... I went to the opening of the Giant Robot Biennale 2: 15 Years Art Exhibition and Celebration. Got there really early, about 4:30pm, and decided to walk around J-Town a bit. Had not been around there for a long while and some of the stores and eateries I used to go to have changed. Even the area I used to work at during my college days has been developed into a parking lot for the Metrorail. So as I walked through the Village I bump into Justin, Bianca and his mom. I met them at SDCC this past year. I guess I should say Justin and his mom only, since Bianca wasn't there. Made a quick stop at the Yogurtland nearby to pickup a Tokidoki character spoon. 2 are out now: Mozzarella and Latte. 2 others come out Nov. 23: Donutella and Captain Coco.

After the stop, we went to stand in line at JANM for the opening at 6pm. There were only a few people in line there at the time, but the line didn't get too much longer until close to the time of the opening. Doors opened and we were let into the museum to view all the great art work for the show. They even laid out the red carpet for this opening with a Giant Robot backdrop that featured 62 issues of GR.

The main artists like David Choe, James Jean, Souther Salazar, Jeff Soto, Jack Long, etc. were in the upstairs part of the gallery. While the collaboration of Le Merde, David Horvath and Dehara was in the downstairs one, along with 50+ other artists. We started in the bottom gallery since it seemed that is where everyone was heading. There was a long line to get into that part of the gallery as the night progressed. Lighting was dimmer than I expected it to be in this area.

The figures that Le Merde, David and Dehara made were just amazing. The 3 Le Merde customs of My Friend Dave, Kaiju Ice-Bat and Kaiju Babo were... how can I put this... Gorgeous! Sun-Min's first resin, Sun-Min's Monster, were great to see! The eyes on some of them are a little cross-eyed. Loved seeing the colored blank My Friend Dave customs with handpainted details on them. Dehara's pieces always look great too. The collaboration figures they did were awesome you can totally tell which ones each artist worked on and the different heads they come with are a very cool addition. Sun-Min also had these half gourd-like sculpts hanging on the back wall too with her signature painted flowers. Those were pretty interesting to see.

There were so many pieces to look at in the bottom gallery that we almost forgot about the other one upstairs. But we had to make a stop at the food and beverage table in the main hall area, at least before the stage presentation started. There was some wraps, chips and salsa provided by Wahoo's and beverages provided by Honest Tea... delicious and satisfying. George Takei started off the presentation by introducing Eric on stage. Eric in turn introduced some GR staff (Martin and Michelle went on stage), then many of the artists taking part in the show. He even gave each of them a certificate from the City of L.A. After the ceremony, we decided to view the silent auction area, see the other gallery, plus meet and mingle with the artists. Got to talk with David and his sister Kerry, Eric Nakamura, Martin Wong, Jack Long, James Jean and a couple other people.

After the show we decided to try and get some noodles to eat nearby, but most of the places that I knew there were either too crowded or closed. Even Chinatown, although close by, was pretty deserted. So we grabbed a bite at the Denny's that I knew of down the street from where I used to work. Justin had 2 prints he purchased from the Three Apples show that he did not want to take a chance with on the flight back, so he wanted to know if I could ship them to him. I told him that I could, so I went back to their hotel to get them.

All in all, it was a very interesting night. Going to have to go back to view the show again. Just to spend more time to admire the pieces and take some better pics when it isn't as crowded. It was a little difficult in trying to get pics of the larger pieces. You are bound to get a few people not paying attention in your shots.

Three Apples @ Royal/T Cafe

Went to the VIP party for the Three Apples 35 Years Hello Kitty Celebration Exhibition @ Royal/T Cafe last night. Pics are not the greatest since I took them with my iPhone. I didn't bring my camera with me. The opening started at 7pm and there was a huge crowd there even before then. I got there about 7pm and didn't get in until somewhere around 8:15pm-8:30pm. Missed Kimora Lee and Paris Hilton. They left the party just before we even got in.

Place was packed with people and missed out on the goody bags just when we were about to get in too. Got to eat some Hello Kitty cake and appetizers. Other than seeing Kimora Lee and Paris Hilton, I saw a lot of the artists that contributed pieces to the show: Buffmonster, Luke Cheuh, Joe Hahn of Linkin Park, James Jean, David Choe, Gary Baseman, Angry Woebots, Tim Biskup and Tokidoki. Found out way later that Miranda Cosgrove, Dave Nevarro, Pete Wentz and Tera Patrick were there as well.

There is an Hello Kitty Pop-Up Shop in the gallery. Some items are exclusive to the show. A Hello Kitty plush doll box set ($100), 2 Hello Kitty vinyl figures ($12), plus there is the exhibition photo book with pics of all the artwork in the show ($35). Some limited edition prints of some of the pieces are available: Luke Cheuh, Gary Baseman and 4 others are available in limited amounts.

All of the pieces were amazing. There were already red dots on some of the artwork. Didn't find the price list sheet until just when I was about to leave though. Wouldn't have mattered much anyway, since the prices on some of them were way out side of my price range.

I will have to go back to the show another day when it is not so crowded. Could not spend as much time as I wanted to view all the artwork and items. Have to go back anyways to pickup that photobook. Need to save some of my money for the GR Biennale 2 show at the JANM on Saturday. The show runs from October 23 - November 15 with lots of fun events happening throughout the shows run at Royal/T Cafe.