happy thanksgiving

Thursday, November 22, 2007 No Comments

oh mondays

Tuesday, November 20, 2007 No Comments

Oh do I hate Mondays. I wish the weekends were longer. I was on such a roll with designing new blank notebook covers and putting them all together. With Jengs Shop, an idea now in existence, I’ve been more focused. I guess I have to be since I’m the designer, the creator, the manufacturer, the shipper and the accountant. No, It’s not overwhelming at all :) I’m learning as I go and had no idea that it would be like this. Anyways, back to the fun and creative stuff…I’ve got some new ideas that I’ve been playing with and I hope to be sharing my new creations by the end of this week or early next week so keep an eye out for a little shop update. I’ll announce when it get’s closer.

Below is a picture I took this weekend of our dog, Junior. He’s a pekingnese and I think about 16 years old now. He’s blind in one, poor guy got in a fight with his dad many many years ago and his eye got scratched. Isn’t he a cutie.

Category: everyday life

happy friday

Friday, November 16, 2007 No Comments

I can’t believe that it’s Friday already. Where did the week go? I guess time just flies when you’re having fun… I also can’t believe it’s winter already, well, it sure feels like it around here.

Thanks Giving is coming up…that means that Christmas is just around the corner. Oh no, there’s still so much to do! I have yet to design and create my Christmas cards, I need to start on those because I want them in the mail in about two weeks. I was thinking about screen printing them. I’ve been reading up on it and bought some of my supplies yesterday but in the rush of things I actually forgot the most important part, the photo emulsion – silly!

I’ve been making more blank books today and I just want to thank everyone that has made a purchase from my Etsy shop, JengsShop. I am extremely pleased with the turn out there. I get so happy each and every time when I check my email and find out that someone out there actually wants something that I’ve created. It’s a really wonderful feeling. I sorta do a happy dance inside, every single time, and I don’t think it’ll get old (I mean my happy dancing). For those of you who don’t know about Etsy, well you should, because it’s a really great place to sell and buy handmade products worldwide. There are really talented people that make really wonderful things there. If you haven’t checked Etsy out, you should, you’ll be amazed with what’s available. And maybe you’ll just buy handmade this Christmas.

some Binding

Sunday, November 11, 2007 No Comments

There are a handful of things that I love to make and create and I go through my phases. Well, this weekend was bookbinding. I put together a few hardbound books. It makes it easier when you work in steps, and in batches. There’s the cutting and folding step, the gluing and assembling step, the drying and waiting step, and then the photo taking step (my favorite). You have everything that you just made, after hours of labor, all together. Nice and pretty.

I will be adding these sometime this weekend or upcoming week to the shop.

Trunkt.org

Saturday, November 10, 2007 No Comments

I don’t know why I never said anything before, but I’ve been a member of Trunkt since the beginning of October. Trunkt is full of fresh creative talent from all over the world. I’ve recently created a showcase there, well, to showcase the wonderful paper goods that I found browsing through. But there are also many many categories with amazing artists to be found there. You might recognize some talented Etsians there too. You should check Trunkt out if you haven’t yet.

Here’s a little sample of my showcase.

some more goodies this week

Tuesday, November 6, 2007 No Comments

Hello. It’s been a while and a bit crazy here, sometimes everything just happens all at once. So here’s what I’ve been up to.

I’ve been updating the site Basso56, it’s an italian restaurant here in NYC. My friend, Greg, and I created the website about a year ago and we have to update it once in a while with new pricing, reviews, images, etc.

I’ve also been updating the site for Butch Hogan, he’s a photographer, also here in NYC. I created the website about 2 years ago and I have to constantly update it because it’s his portfolio. He’s always working on something new and his website should show for it. Butch Hogan’s a busy guy.

I’ve had to work at my “real” job since last Monday, that’s eight days straight, only because we had inventory on Sunday, so I had to prep everything for it before hand. Can you believe it? Anyways, it did suck, but it’s over now. I finally get a few days off…to do some real (and fun of course) work.

I got to make some new notecards to be sold alone or as a set with their matching notebooks. How cool is that? It’s really cute. I wish you can tell from my pictures (but you can’t) and see how crisp these prints are. I love my printer. The colors are so vibrant and the line edges are so perfect. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to take better pictures. Well, this one is in my shop. I will be adding more tomorrow. Have a great night!!

home sweet home

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 No Comments

So, goodbye to wearing flip flops all day long, lounging by the pool side in warm weather and just being completely stress free. Yes, we’re back into the swing of things now. Our trip to Florida was really really relaxing, we had a great time with my dad, but it is always nice to come back home.

We went to the nearby pond on Sunday to feed the ducks and geese.

A loaf of bread was left in the fridge before we left for Florida. (probably about 2-3 weeks old by now) So instead of just tossing it in the trash, we went to the pond. It was fun, there was a family watching the geese, so MF and I shared our loaf with the two little kids. They had a blast, kept asking for more bread. The pretty birds swarmed in, slowly surrounded us and some were actually fighting for food.

We also walked around the pond and took in all the wonderful trees and their changing colors. It’s actually fall. Where did the summer go?

Have a great Halloween everyone, and be safe!

Illustration Friday: grow

Thursday, October 25, 2007 No Comments

Above is my illustration for Illustration Friday. I drew it out using a pen, took a shot of it (no scanner because I’m not home, on vacation), and digitally colored it. It’s a plant my mom has growing in her yard. I hope you enjoy it.

It’s a cloudy day here in Florida. No swimming for us today =( Hopefully it’ll be a nice one tomorrow because we’ll be leaving here on Saturday. I can’t believe a week has gone by, well almost. Soon we’ll be home…back to NY…back to our normal lives…back to the hustle and bustle of our daily routines.

Cape Coral and a little etsy

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 No Comments

… Pina Colada anyone? … Ok I’ll have one. :P
MF made us pina coladas tonight. mmmm. It was yummy.

And on another note, Thanks to emilini and her wonderful etsy treasury of musical instruments, my violin photo made it to the front page.

Thanks emilini. You can see her amazing jewelry collection at her etsy shop here.

Cape Coral, Florida

Tuesday, October 23, 2007 No Comments

It’s been three days since we got on the plane and left New York … with cool & moderate fall weather. When we landed and walked out of the airport the air was stifling. I always forget how hot it gets down here. We’ve been spending most of our time at the pool side, nothing of great excitement but much relaxation. MF’s swimming is coming along, he has progressed from his snorkeling gear to just regular goggles. He’s soooo cute…and soooo silly.

I haven’t been feeling anxious yet, about doing nothing all day long, because I’ve been reading this book, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See. It came out in ’05 (I’m always behind…=P ). I still highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read it yet. I just can’t stop because it’s such a wonderful read. Knowing the traditions of Chinese women is something I lack being born and raised here in America. I can only piece together and create images to understand and learn the traditions through stories, movies, and going to the museums. From when my mother was growing up in China, then in Hong Kong, and besides her coming here at a young age, her life was pretty modernized. Her family’s not strict on tradition.

This story is about a young girl named Lily and it follows her through her life to being a woman. It is absolutely beautifully written, filled with facts, stories, much sorrow and happiness, and with so much, it all flowed together so easily that I’ve been reading it at record speed, trying to find out what happens next. And to think that I only bought it by chance. (I had to reach a certain amount to get free shipping when I was buying another book on buy.com – by the way…the cheapest place ever to buy books!!)

Have a great Tuesday.