munaluna

japan pictures!!

2010-11-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

Here they are at last, pictures from my Japan trip back in mid-July!! These are just a little glimpse of what there was and a tiny portion of the hundreds of pictures taken. Please enjoy :)

We went to a gigantic fabric store, most of them that I visited would have these entire batches of sample fabrics that were so neatly folded. This was perfect to just have a tiny piece of the hundreds of beautiful fabrics available...I spend the most money on these samples!! It's not surprising that I spent the most time looking through fabrics for hours (good thing my friends that came with me love fabric too!)
Here are just a few pictures of the pretty textiles:

My friend Ayako and me!! Here we pose in the hotel lobby (so pretty!!)

Ayako and I went to the official pastry bakery for Totoro cream puffs!! They were amazing; they were so meticulously crafted and filled with either vanilla, chocolate, or peach!!

There was an adorable housewares shop closeby to our hotel - there were so many beautiful teapots, bowl, you name it!! Here are some adorable owl porcelain figurines :)

I've been back for a while - just lazy :P

2010-11-14T09:27:00.000-08:00

wow...I am so terrible at blogging these days! I suppose I will start off with how the Japan trip went: AMAZING!! I've never been to a place where people are so nice...everyone was extremely helpful if we were lost and needed to get somewhere important (like a ramen house!) The streets are all so clean and the subway is impeccable!!! All of Tokyo is connected through sufficient underground trains and it was so incredibly quick to get from one end to the other. But one thing that completely put me in heaven were all the OWLS...owls are very popular in Japan and have been for quite some time, so I came back with a suitcase full of owl goods. And to top it off, I got to see a REAL-LIFE owl!! It was for sale (you can have one as a pet!) for about $4,000 USD or something to that pricepoint. If I were able to own an owl in the states and have the money (more of the money part) than I would have got it! I will add the pictures a little later when I've got more time on my hands. I'm going to be in crazy-woman-production-mode until the weeks prior to Christmas. I'll be taking part in a small fundraiser on Dec. 5, then will be in the BizBaz and Renegade Holiday shows! Knowing that I'll be so burnt out and need a month to recuperate doesn't sound that much fun but it'll be all worth it :) Details up soon!!

Japan trip

2010-09-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

I'll be leaving for Japan in a day - yay!! It will be my first international trip, so this is very special to me (finally that passport from year ago will come in handy!) Thankfully I have a few friends in Japan so I won't get wondefully lost and will be able to go to the places locals go :) This trip will be extremely short (3 full days) so I have packed the activities to the brim! What does that include??

* Ghibli Museum
* Totoro pastries
* owl gifts
* kawaii textiles
and...of course
* RAMEN

My plan is to have ramen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - it's definitely my ultimate favorite dish to eat! I just hope it doesn't make me look like a piggy afterwards :D

I will be sure to take tons of pictures, so stay tuned!! See you all in a week :)

owl bitch coasters!!!

2010-08-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

I've finally updated my etsy and added the popular owl bitch coasters! Each set comes with 6 adorable coasters that say "where's my drink, bitch?!" - very subtle, right? :D I've also added the green robot plush - so cuddly I LOVE it!!!

flickr slacker

2010-08-16T07:43:00.001-07:00

I don't even know why I have a Flickr link on my blog - I'm terrible at updating it!

munaluna at Indie Mart

2010-08-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

Another fair is coming up next weekend! I'll be selling my array of cuteness products at Indie Mart on Aug. 21 @ Alamo Square (9 - 3 pm) Be sure to drop by to see the new products - and of course the owl bitch coasters will be available for purchase!

bitch cards on GASP!

2010-08-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

Our bitch cards have been featured on 8asians.com GASP! blog! Check it out here :)
You can purchase them on my etsy - yayyyy!!!

sakura baby slings

2010-08-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

This post has nothing to do with munaluna BUT it's got a lot to do with me! I think everyone knows I'm baby crazy so this post is dedicated to that. Somehow I came across a baby sling company called Sakura Bloom, and they make the most beautiful and luxurious slings...they're a bit on the pricey side but I think if you ever invest money in something, better to make it something you love using/wearing. A chunk of my next paycheck is to purchase a couple of them - here are some photos :D

sneak peek

2010-08-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hi all! So today was just one of those days to do some serious online fabric shopping...I always have tons of fun looking for new fabrics for my robots and boy did I find some nice ones! After looking around a while, I came across PINK and white striped fabric - FINALLY! I've been searching so long for pink because there's a need for some girlie robots! There's also a pretty yellow and white too, but I couldn't find the swatch for it. Here are the swatches for some...hope you like :D

MarketSF craft fair

2010-08-07T21:14:00.001-07:00

Another fair to check off my list! It was a lot of fun - not as much foot traffic as I thought but I got to meet so many talented artists and had some great conversations! I think it was more of a party for the crafters :D The day couldn't have been better - a bunch of my friends dropped by, made acquaintance with some incredibly cute dogs, AND I got to carry around one of my fellow crafter's baby!! AMAZING - babies are like portable heaters which is great because I have the worst circulation ^.^I'm going to finally get some rest now...

conclusion

2010-08-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

I think I am still recovering from Renegade - I started getting a cold so I loaded up with a ton of vitamin c and honey tea...now today I am just dealing with a slight cough! hoot hoot!

So from my experience from the fair, I've concluded a few things - and things that I need to accomplish to further my company:

1. get driver's license
2. get a car
3. have a baby

Funny how there are only three things on that list...the top two are the important ones to accomplish! Let's see how long it takes for me to take them off my list...as for #3 of having a baby - I'm just baby crazy and have been for so long! Maybe next time you meet me, I'll have a cute little baby in my arms (cross fingers!)

fun at Renegade!

2010-08-02T22:09:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog! My first craft fair was just this past weekend at Renegade's San Francisco! It was AMAZING - I can't describe how elated I was meeting my fans in person and of course making new ones! There were so many people there and it was so much fun making new friends! It's definitely something that I will be doing more of - I'm ADDICTED to fairs now! You will see me at all the other local fairs here, so be prepared! Here are a few photos to share :)

munaluna at Renegade Craft Fair

2010-06-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard, munaluna will be a vendor at Renegade Craft Fair in SF this year! All the info is on the flyer above. Come by and say hello - it's going to be so much fun :)

wedding ideas

2010-06-23T07:28:00.001-07:00

Ahh, it's been so long since my last blog post - you're in for a treat! A lot has been going on, I got a part-time job doing "normal" work while juggling munaluna, getting ready for two art fairs...going to Hawaii in a week...and of course thinking about wedding plans! My fiance and I want a very small wedding and after looking at wedding magazines and blogs, I've got some ideas for the big day! Below are some photos I would like to incorporate to real life :D

baking day

2010-05-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

Today I made lemon squares for the first time and they were DELICIOUS! I had some leftover lemons, so I decided to make this treat. To my surprise, only two lemons were needed for a huge batch of squares :D This means I have enough for one more batch...

giveaway winner

2010-05-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

A winner was selected for the stationary giveaway! Congrats to Leanne on Twitter! :D

another giveaway!

2010-04-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm in a giving spirit these days cause here's another giveaway! These popsicle notecards
are one of my favorites and I'd like to share it with one of you :) If you blog about this post on your blog or tweet about it, you'll qualify! Just send me the link to it and this pack of cards may be yours to keep! This giveaway ends on May 3!

giveaway winner is...

2010-04-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you for everyone who participated in this giveaway - I hope we can all stay in touch! Unfortunately, there is only one winner for this giveaway...and the winner of the illi tea towel is Britt!! Congratulations!! Please message me your mailing address :)

Follow me - giveaway!

2010-04-06T16:23:00.001-07:00

I'm having a giveaway - some lucky person may win an illi tea towel! All you have to do is follow my blog and this towel can be yours! This giveaway ends on April 19!

walk in the park

2010-03-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went out to take pictures at a nearby park. The first few photos were taken with a Nikon D50 and the others that look like polaroids were from using the ShakeItPhoto app on my iPhone - that app is so much fun! I almost didn't end up going out because I couldn't stop taking pictures from home :p It was so nice and sunny out though, so I had to take advantage of this uncommon sunlight in San Francisco :o) I simply couldn't resist!

making stencils

2010-03-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I printed out pages full of my munaluna owl to make a stencil. In order to make a stencil from paper, you have to make the paper translucent, in which I used vegetable oil to completely soak the paper and let it dry. (I let the papers dry on an oven rack!) After it dries, it will be clear enough that only the printed part will be opaque - this way, only my owl will be transferred to my emulsion covered screen! I normally just make paper cutouts of my designs, but for my computer generated ones, I use this method. It's all eco-friendly too - no toxic materials are required :) With this multi-printed owl, I plan to make napkins and maybe print it for tea towels too...still considering it :o)

early morning breakfast

2010-03-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Today I felt a little ambitious for breakfast - I normally have something very simple and easy to eat (is that possible?!). Yesterday, I steamed some dumplings for lunch and thought it'd be nice to have that in the morning for a change. So, I steamed frozen wonton and siu long bao (soup dumpling) on lettuce leaves (so they won't stick to the plate) and made some jasmine tea. With the sun out and the birds chirping, it was so relaxing...I recommend you try it sometime :)

Lavish

2010-03-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

Lavish ordered a number of things for their store, which you can see in the picture, before I delivered it! It's so nice to find another home for my tea towels and of course robots! Hopefully I can go and take pictures of them in the store :)

Lavish
508 Hayes Street
(between Octavia & Laguna)
San Francisco. CA. 94102
415.565.0540

perfect black tunic

2010-03-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

I went out with my friend, Tomoko (who is such a talented graphic designer) and we indulged our eyes at Anthropologie today. There were so many cute garments there but one dress literally almost made me pee in my pants (not literally!) - this black tunic dress is EXACTLY identical to one that I had sketched many months before and was looking everywhere for something similar in stores! It's so simple and versatile - you can wear it like a dress or with a top underneath (which is the way I would wear it). Striped shirts like the one above would be perfect or a bright colored top for contrast. Must...get...now...(ugh!)

new stationary

2010-03-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

Finally, a couple new additions to our stationary section! I'm quite excited about them because they are the designs from my new tea towels - the heart and popsicles. The heart one is my favorite at the moment - it's clean and simple with a great vintage feel. I can't wait to use them myself :o)

100+ sales!

2010-03-09T22:53:00.000-08:00

I think from day one on etsy, I couldn't wait until I'd reach 100 sales - and that finally came true this month! For some reason in my head, I felt as if 100 was the hump and once exceeding that, I would be out of the "do people like my products" zone :p Maybe it's more of a reason to exhale and be enthusiastic of a new year of business! I'm grateful every day that I can do what I love most :)

My Owl Barn's Anthropologie Necklace Giveaway!

2010-03-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

My Owl Barn's Anthropologie Necklace Giveaway!: "Use your imagination ;)"

One of new favorite blogs "My Owl Barn" is having a giveaway - a Anthropologie owl necklace! Either blog or tweet about the giveaway to participate and hopefully win the ultra cute necklace!

little present

2010-02-22T10:13:00.001-08:00

My fiance and I went over to his parents' place over the weekend to celebrate Chinese New Year and as I was looking around in the kitchen, I saw this little ceramic owl! I literally screamed like a kid from excitement just seeing it, and then my future father-in-law said that it was for me! How sweet of them - my new friend makes me smile whenever I see her :o)

dress up

2010-02-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

My favorite place to shop for clothing is Anthropologie and I nearly fainted (in a good way) when I saw this outfit on their website. It's just so cute with the striped cardigan and blouse...I also think the shoes are pretty darn cute :) Along with the outfit, I found two other pieces that really caught my eye...gotta love Anthropologie!

birthday!

2010-02-18T15:47:00.000-08:00

So munaluna turned one year old today! I feel so terrible because I almost forgot - I remembered after writing a check to pay the tax collector - what a way to celebrate, right? Anyway, I wish I had some kind of cake to commemorate this day! I've got big plans for this new year - you'll see more munaluna floating on the web and hopefully in a store near you :) Stay happy and healthy and most of all - creative!

valentine owls

2010-02-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

What a lucky gal I am! For Valentine's Day, my fiance surprised me in bed with a Swarovsky box, and in it were these lovely owls...they're so adorable! They remind me of how my fiance and I are together - always looking out for each other. I truly love him to bits! It must be easier for him to shop for me now...just anything with owls is a very safe bet :p

tea time

2010-02-13T22:00:00.000-08:00

Most every day, I enjoy a few cups of tea - and using this tea set makes the experience much more enjoyable! I got this owl tea set (comes with two small cups) a year ago for a Christmas present to myself and I'm so glad I did! The first time I saw them was in an Anthropologie catalog, then months afterwards, I spotted them at the window of a Chinese gift shop so I had no excuse but to get them. If you're not really a tea person, I urge you to get a cute tea set and maybe it'll change your mind :o)

Lavish

2010-02-08T16:15:00.001-08:00

Today I went to see the buyer for Lavish - a super cute store for the individual. You can find all sorts of pretty accessories and cute embellishments there. Next month, they'll be carrying my tea towels and of course...robot plushes! :)

Lavish

508 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 565-0508

bag-o-rice

2010-02-07T17:44:00.000-08:00

Today I went to get some rice so I can make more rice beanie bottoms for my robots - the one I got came with little handles to make it easier to carry. I don't know why, but I thought it was one of the cutest things :p

*notice my cozy slippers - makes quite the perfect outfit :D

l e m o n s

2010-02-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

One of my good friends gave me a bagful of homegrown lemons the other day so I decided to put them to good use by making lemonade - something about those lemons made the PERFECT lemonade! I'm so thankful for her generosity and I'm sure she'll be glad to know that none of them had gone to waste. What would you do with ten lemons? I was thinking about lemon cupcakes, lemon tarts or even lemon cake...

one year celebration!

2010-02-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

Happy February, everyone! February is such a great month but what makes it extra special for me is munaluna is turning one year on the 18th! To celebrate, I'll be having a sale - 15% all orders for the entire month :) Please drop a line and say hello or maybe find something you'd like for yourself or friend!

Wink SF

2010-01-29T13:52:00.000-08:00

Today I had an appointment at Wink SF - a cute little shop in Noe Valley that sells so many fun gift items. (They even have mini Totoros!) It's definitely the kind of store I like shopping at - I wish I knew about it earlier! Sometimes I think I am a terrible SF native... :p Wink SF will be carrying a number of my tea towels soon so please check out the shop if you're in the area - you're bound to find something cute!

4107 24th St
(between Castro St & Diamond St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 401-8881

www.winksf.com

new tea towels

2010-01-28T20:23:00.000-08:00

Finally, the time has come for new tea towels! I had so much fun printing these out - you can find them in the shop now :) Here are a few pictures...hope you like them!

macaroon!

2010-01-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

Did someone say macaroon?! Here is a new tea towel design - when I was thinking about what colors to use, I found it very helpful to make a small swatch of colors in the order to print them. I think I like the swatch just as much as the final product :D You'll find this towel on my etsy once I take a good picture of it!

my new friend!

2010-01-20T21:32:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone! Here's a new post to share with you! One of my good friends visited back to San Francisco and I was grateful enough to spend some time with her. When I met her, she greeted me with this adorable crochet owl - that she made herself! It really touches me whenever I receive something handmade from a friend - it just adds that extra touch. I am completely in love with my new friend and she is now sitting with my other doll :)

knitted goodness

2010-01-18T20:16:00.000-08:00

I've been sick with a cold and have yet regained the energy to work on munaluna, so that made it perfect to finish up some scarves I've been working on. After learning how to knit, I started making scarves for everyone - then I thought of how cute it'd be to knit little scarves for my plushes. My little friend Abby is the first to have a scarf!

getting ready for Valentine's Day!

2009-12-30T22:20:00.000-08:00

Valentine card deck

parking cards

So I was thinking of things to make for my shop since Christmas is over...the next commercial holiday is Valentine's Day! I love all the pinks, reds, and hearts and all-over fuzzy feeling I get when that time of year comes :) I remember working on a Valentine theme card deck months ago, and printed them out today - brought many smiles to me today :) Along with the cards, I also made parking cards - something you write on when you want to tell some ungrateful human being to not block the driveway OR for just being an idiot! They're for fun but most importantly for sending out a message without being abrasive :o)

lasting love

2009-12-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Today marks my parents 35th wedding anniversary - can you imagine being with one person that long? and with four kids? They really encompass everything about a loving couple - through thick and thin, they were there for each other. I can't help but smile thinking about how lucky I am to call them my parents :)

*photo is from Anglofille's flickr

paper goods at Cherish

2009-12-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

love theme card deck

The other day, I met Lani from the stationary store Cherish on 115 Clement to show her my paper goods and she loved them! Soon you will find them somewhere in the shop - I'll have to visit soon to take pictures :) What made the visit even better was meeting Tomoko Maruyama, who is such a talented and gifted graphic designer!

Cherish
115 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118

(415) 379-7300

robot craze

2009-12-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

Last week I brought some robots and tea towels to a store in Hayes Valley called MarketSF, which is a pop-up shop here for the holidays! Three robots have sold already as well as a bunch of tea towels! The robots have been popular for Christmas gifts as well as to decorate nurseries :) You can find the robot plushes at MarketSF (560 Hayes @ Laguna) as well as my etsy shop!

time to decorate

2009-12-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's already December - that means Christmas is coming up! After thinking of ways to spruce up the house, I came up with the idea to make Christmas tree ornaments. This will be the first time my fiance and I will have a tree so that inspired me to make them and add them to my shop! Also new to the shop is this Popsicle Tree tea towel - it's by far the most joy for me to make because of the fun colors and design :)

tiny curtains

2009-11-25T10:54:00.000-08:00

I think I've hit a creative block (hate it when that happens) and it's got me so frustrated, especially with the holidays coming up. I'm trying to come up with "holiday" designs but I'm really not into that - I like "year round" designs :)

Anyway, I was digging through some of my mom's old fabrics and stumbled across the cutest print of pink and orange leaves - looks so vintage and so yummy! My big project now that my fiance and I moved into "our" place, is to make curtains for all the windows. So, I decided that the print would be perfect for the small window in our kitchen. Here are a couple pictures - I apologize for the photo quality (taken by iphone) My sweetie left for Korea yesterday morning on business and took my camera. He'll be missing Thanksgiving and I miss him so much already...guess it's time for me to be productive :o)

hoot hoot!

2009-11-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

Call me a little obsessed, but I really do love owls - and to prove that, here's a picture of the crochet owl rug in my home! If you're interested in purchasing a wonderfully made rug, check out peanutbutterdynamite on etsy - you can request a custom order too! Doesn't that sound downright appealing?! :o)

I'm going to add along this picture of the an owl ornament I received from a friend from Germany - aren't the owls just sweet? I have it hanging on our bedroom doorknob :)

If you're ever in San Francisco, give me a ring and we can talk about owls while we read or knit! (I've picked up knitting recently and can't seem to stop...)

crochet owl rug

2009-11-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

I know I've been quite MIA from blogging lately, but this is something I NEED to share! I was checking out my etsy and came across the handpicked items which featured everything with owls - I LOVE owls :o) There was a crocheted owl rug by the lovely peanutbutterdynamite that caught my eye instantly and I knew I needed to have it so I purchased it before someone else could snatch it! I can't tell you how excited I am to receive it and I'm having so much fun visualizing it in our new place :)

still here!

2009-10-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

cuteness score cards

Hello everyone! Sorry for not posting for...over two months (yikes!) I took a temporary clerical job and that took all my time to work on new items. However, here's a new addition to my paper line - cuteness score cards! They're little cards that you can rate your crush based on attributes such as their eyes, smile, laugh, hug, and charm :)

follow meee

2009-07-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I am going to tell you all something I thought I'd never say...I'm on twitter. I'm doing it for the sake of spreading the word of munaluna out. If you're on there and you like owls, plushes, and babies, you're most likely going to hear from me! Be prepared :o) Also, I added a munaluna page to my facebook - look munaluna up and add me as a fan!

oh baby!

2009-07-15T22:31:00.000-07:00

After designing my owl character, I decided to create more animals - it's just been taking me a while to come up with them. Slowly but surely, they're be making their way into my shop. The latest addition is a cow with hearts, which I've made into onesies and bibs. I don't know how I tell myself I won't have a baby until five years from now...babies make me smile! I think I should start a collection of baby items for our future little ones!

elli tea towels

2009-07-10T22:47:00.000-07:00

illi tea towel in mustard

illi tea towel in green

Sometimes it's takes a while to come up with new designs for my work - I tend to go through periods where I can sketch endlessly and sometimes I go for a month without new material. I suppose I have to be truly inspired before adding new items in my shop. Here is my latest creation!

Epic Pet Wars

2009-06-23T18:00:00.001-07:00

I don't know if you've heard of this game, but it's huge on Facebook and iPhone. It's called Epic Pet Wars - you choose a pet and you battle other pets! The characters are ridiculously cute and I had the pleasure to recreate some of them into plushes - a dream, isn't it? I've made a few earlier but was comissioned to create the Moost character just recently. Here they are!

egg-a-day

2009-06-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling a little down today because my fiance is on a business trip until Saturday - I try to keep busy whenever he goes away but nothing can fill the hours with happiness when he's around. To make things worse, we're getting my ring resized so it doesn't twist around my finger and that won't be ready until Saturday...I really miss wearing it. It brings comfort to me and makes me smile whenever I look at it - it reminds me of my sweetie...

So I've been busy at work - finished an order of plushes, which I will post later...but for now, feast your eyes on this little egg I made today! I've always had a fixation on eggs since I was little...I think I eat an egg everyday!

big news!

2009-06-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

So what is the big news? I got engaged over the weekend! We've been talking about the next steps in our relationship for so long so I knew it was coming but I certainly wasn't prepared for the surprise of my life! It was so beautiful - I can't put all the emotions and happiness into words. My fiance (wow! I'm not used to saying that!) and I went to have a lovely dinner at Le Colonial, a beautiful Vietnamese restaurant and later was surprised by getting picked up by a Maserati that waited for us after we finished! (This is when I started to get VERY confused and knew something big was going to happen) The driver brought us to the Fairmont Heritage Place, which is right in Ghiradelli Square and there we made s'mores at the outdoor fireplace on the rooftop terrace...the view couldn't have been more picturesque - absolutely no fog and the sun was setting on the horizon. My love then brought me to the canopy and it was there that he asked me to marry him...my reaction was first shock followed by crying! I somehow managed to say YES through it all! I love him so much...thank you for letting me into your life...

Ovetto Recycling Egg

2009-05-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

I found the next thing I have to get: the Ovetto Recycling Egg designed by Gianluca Soldi. It was solely created to separate your recycling goods AND it's made of 100% recycled polypropylene. Sure, you can simply recycle your plastic and aluminum using two cheap trash cans but this is designer and it looks fantastic in your kitchen! I love eggs so there doesn't have to be much of a valid reason for me to get it :o) I just need to save up $250 for it...

store display

2009-05-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! What a productive day I had - first I went to drop off an order at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art here in San Francisco - then went to do some major lady socializing with some friends until the evening! I thought I'd be pooped from all that but everything's gotten me in high spirits. I reached out to many retailers and got a good number of responses. Yay yay for new business! Above is an image of what I saw earlier at the museum store - my scarves in the store front - beautifully displayed hanging from a tree branch!

awe-summm

2009-05-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

What a lovely day today! I was tagged by Karin from "Kayi Dreaming" for being "awe-summ" Here's 7 things that make me awe-summm:

1. I love eggs.

When I say "love" - I mean full-on crazy in love with them. As long as I can recall, I've loved them - the shape, colors, and of course the taste! When I was studying printmaking, I'd make egg-inspired prints...this makes me wonder why I haven't created any egg designs for munaluna...I should get on that!

2. I have a twin.

Oh yes! This is true - I have a twin brother. I'm glad my twin is a boy - I wouldn't want to be fighting over clothes and anything girly =P Another thing, it puzzles me when people ask me, "Are you two identical?" Look, I'm a girl and he's a boy...you're really asking me this?!

3. I'm a perfectionist.

At least when it comes to my work. From start to finish, I have to have things in order and the end results have to be the highest standard. I can't imagine putting something in my shop giving only 50% effort...just doesn't feel right...

4. I'm an innie.

This means I'm an introvert. I bought this book called "The Introvert Challenge: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World" - felt like I was reading my autobiography!!! This book changed my life in the sense that I now have a clearer understanding why I am the way I am.

5. I love to bake.

When I find the time, I bake! Nothing beats a homemade chocolate chip cookie! It's hard to find really good cookies in the market...

6. I'm obsessed with playing Restaurant City on Facebook.

If you've got a Facebook account (which 99.99% of humans do these days) you have to HAVE TO add this game. You run your own restaurant and can hire your friends to cook and wait your tables! Also, you get to collect ingredients to make all kinds of different recipes! This is what I've been busy doing... :o)

7. I'm a cafe-going person.

I love going to cafes. I'm definitely not a bar person - I don't recall actually going to one voluntarily! I think I go to one at least once a week. Nothing beats the smell and taste of good coffee...along with the company of a good friend =)

treasury

2009-05-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

One of my tea towels is featured in an Etsy treasury! Click here to view it! Thank you, Karen =)

It is Mother's Day today so I want to wish all the mothers a Happy Mother's Day! You all deserve the best =)

busy bee

2009-05-08T07:44:00.000-07:00

I've been quite busy lately with orders - I think it's been my busiest week since I started munaluna! However, the workload makes me feel energized and alive. It's better to be busy with tons of tasks than have nothing to do at all. I went to visit a nursery the other day and came back with these photos - just wanted to share =)

new scarves

2009-04-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

So I decided to make scarves that are skinnier and longer than ones I made previously - they're easier to wrap around and tie up! People have been asking me why I don't have the pink scarves in my shop anymore, so now I have some up! Here are pictures of an owl one and leila scarf in rose.

Huomenta Table

2009-04-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

I've been eying this table for so long - it's finally on sale too! You can find it on the Anthropologie website here. Isn't it the perfect table? I've always loved yellow, especially for furniture - it brings so much life into the home.

weekend getaway

2009-04-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

MESA grill: spicy chicken - sweet potato hash with poached eggs and hollandaise

NOBU: yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno

NOBU: almond cake with edamame ice cream

entrance of Zumanity show

My boyfriend and I decided to go to Las Vegas for the weekend since he had to be there for business. It was nice to have some time to detach from our daily lives especially since work has been hectic lately. We didn't gamble or drink but still managed to have a wonderful time! Aside from taking strolls on the strip and listening to drunk people, we indulged in fine dining and watched the Cirque de Soleil show Zumanity =)

in touch with nature...at home depot!

2009-04-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend and I visited Home Depot yesterday to look at some appliances for when we move - we decided to venture into the nursery department and found a number of pretty things - here are some of the snapshots of plants!

more plushies

2009-04-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've been coming up with insane plush ideas so I decided to do something with my owl design. What about an owl with little accessories? In the picture, you'll see her with a leaf! I'm thinking of making a handful of leaves for her along with some sticks - which you can carry in a woodgrain pouch! I can't wait to finish more leaves and sticks so I can work on the bag! I've added the owl in the shop where she can find someone to live with =)

Next project: soy bean pod with soybeans...with button faces! I've actually made one and gave it as a gift for my boyfriend's colleague. He loved it =)

red velvet cupcakes

2009-04-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, my friend Bonnie (who shares the same love for baking) came over to make red velvet cupcakes. It was the first time either of us made the recipe so it was very exciting! We had barely enough red food coloring so our cupcakes weren't the deep red you normally see red velvet but I'm sure our cupcakes could not have tasted any better!

here's the recipe we used:

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.

Happy baking, everyone =)

giant robot's new friends

2009-04-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

My mom wanted me to make four mini robots in different sizes for her friend's grandchildren - this is what came out of that! I think I'm having too much fun making these little robots =) There is now a small robot plush available in my shop!

olivia scarf

2009-03-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

There's a new scarf in the shop - the Olivia scarf! I fell in love with the fabric so I wanted to make something out of it. The pictures of me with the scarf was taken at a nearby beach today - it was so pretty but so windy too! My hair is flying in most of the photos :P

plaid roboPOP plush

2009-03-19T22:44:00.001-07:00

I made a new and revised roboPOP plush today - when I saw the plaid material in the fabric store yesterday, I knew I had to use it for this robot! I've added more buttons and his limbs are detached from his cube body. You can see more of him in my shop!

new website

2009-03-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

At last, I have my own website! I spend most of the day making it look good - please check it out!

sweet treats

2009-03-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

Today I got to catch up with my good friend, Gerisa, who I met while studying at AAU. When we met for lunch, she presented me with homemade goodies - espresso macaroons and truffles! I couldn't have been more touched...she's a real sweetie. =)

After having ramen at Katana-ya, Gerisa brought me to her favorite snack place - the frozen yogurt shop, YoCup - the place is so cute and the staff couldn't be more friendly and sweet! Oh, and the frozen yogurt is very yummy =) Here's what Gerisa and I got to fulfill our healthy snack craving:

robot plush

2009-03-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

I know that my work tends to be feminine and delicate, but maybe that will all change after I made this big robot plush! I made it as a gift for my sweetie to mark our three year anniversary and he was absolutely floored when he saw it! Cute and squishy robots...the world can always use more of them :)

new tea towels

2009-03-01T18:42:00.001-08:00

There are new tea towels in the shop - they're printed on durable white cotton and are available in two colorways. I can't decide which ones are my favorites...it changes every day!

owl onsie

2009-02-26T21:31:00.001-08:00

oh, there are no words to how adorable this owl onsie is - everytime I print one, I want to keep it for myself! Maybe they'll be a good sell on etsy...I sold my first pink one today :)

vintage pyrex

2009-02-25T20:01:00.000-08:00

I think I found a new hobby - collecting vintage Pyrex! After looking at random things on etsy, I came across some vintage Pyrex and absolutely fell in love! I don't understand why Pyrex stopped making fun and colorful products - clear is just too boring! This is a picture of the bowl I have to have...

orla kiely

2009-02-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

oh, I can't tell you how happy I am to finally own some orla kiely products! I went to Target yesterday, forgetting about the limited edition orla line and when I stumbled across the gorgeous plateware, I think I had the slightest taste of heaven. There wasn't too much to pick from but I managed to get a few things that I absolutely love and can't wait to use!

cherry blossom

2009-02-22T01:10:00.000-08:00

I can't help but feel so happy and alive when I see the cherry blossom trees - they're everywhere! It's sad that they don't bloom year round so that's why I had to take photos while I can. I've made a promise to myself that wherever I plan to live in the future, that I have a cherry blossom tree in the front!

new! leila tea towels

2009-02-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I made some tea towels using my leila design - in three colorways! See them in the shop soon!

in stores!

2009-02-16T18:21:00.000-08:00

My scarves will finally be seen in a store by next week in Palo Alto! It's called Coupa Cosas Gallery and they support independent artists. Thank you, Christina for spotting me on etsy!

Coupa Cosas Gallery
536 Ramona st., Palo Alto, CA, 94301

(650) 322-0193

tree owl lamp

2009-02-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

So there's just one thing missing from my bedroom and it's this tree owl lamp, available at Anthropologie. One of these days I'm going to snatch one up before who knows when they'll be gone! Maybe having the added lighting will encourage me to read some more books :)

reflection

2009-02-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

So I'm waiting for my seller's permit to process before I make any more items for my shop. I was just having fun taking snapshots of things and took this photo of me wearing a scarf I made. I'll put it up on my etsy soon. I've also taken some time to sketch new designs...I can't wait to print them on fabric =)

simple beautiful

2009-02-01T16:18:00.000-08:00

I took this picture the day I sewed all my scarves - I thought the color of the thread with the bobbin looked amazing...maybe when I have time I'll have it printed and hang it on the wall.

pillows

2009-01-26T22:35:00.000-08:00

I've been slowly adding more items in my shop, most recently these pillows! They're 18x18 inches with an envelope closure. The blossom design with the woodgrain is one of my favorites so far.

Ooli pillow

2009-01-19T21:33:00.000-08:00

Just made this lovely pillow today. I had made color separations for it days ago and finally printed it - the colors really make the design sing. I have a feeling that Ooli will be one of my favorite designs for a long time. Take a look at it in the shop!

leila scarf

2009-01-16T11:42:00.000-08:00

Finally I put up some apparel on my etsy - scarves! I first printed the design for a pillow case and thought that it would look great on a scarf so here it is. Please check out my shop for more items!

new!

2008-12-15T12:12:00.000-08:00

I just made a larger version of my owl plush - I'm very pleased how it turned out, especially the munaluna tag. I have it up in my etsy shop now along with a new pillow using my Samantha design!

yardage

2008-12-02T00:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a new design I printed for yardage - I can't wait to use it for pillows!

owl plush

2008-11-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

I've loved owls for some time now, so I decided to make an owl plush - I'm quite pleased with the results. They'll be flying into my etsy shop soon!

little pouch

2008-10-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

The other day, I made a little pouch for some towels I'll be giving to my brother's friend. It took me a while to make it but I'm so glad I did. Little bags are perfect to present little things in - now I'm inspired to create more bags!!

how exciting!!!

2008-09-17T15:26:00.002-07:00

A couple days ago, I ordered an exposure unit, screens, inks and other supplies so I'll be able to start printing more textiles - I'm so excited!!

I finally put my towels through a wash cycle and they passed - YAY!!!

tea towels!!

2008-08-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

I finally sat myself down a few days ago and learned how to use my mother's Bernina sewing machine. I couldn't be happier with the way my textiles looked in the finished tea towel stage!! After more sewing and practice, I'll be selling them in my etsy shop!!