xangetsu studio

2011-09-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

I decided to add in my illustrations and so even though I'm still working on various types, I like to get it more focus on one particular style to see how well it gets received. I can't decide which is more interesting and fun to work with - acrylics or watercolor color dyes. Both have their own demanding way of being applied. The illustrations so far have been placed in pendants, under glass. I have illustrations of little 'clover' kids, The Giving Cat, and the little kokeshi kitty. They're all fun to create, and very relaxing.

a new toy

2011-03-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, it's been another year since I posted anything on this blog. Seems like I get caught up in so many other things, the blog is so neglected. I prettied it up but yet don't return to fill it. With a day job, running the household, doing a few side jobs of web design and of course, the crafting, I'm pretty runned down most of the time. I have so many articles, books, other blogs, and magazines I need to catch up and read and study. I need to learn and craft a buyers packet, fix up the studio in the house I bought last November, try to get more involved with the area's crafters and craft shows. Oh and I'm also learning how to garden (just planted some strawberries) from Noel (my SO). I also just got some new toys --my Android and Square Up-- and the reason I got it is because Marcy (Moon's Creations) over in Stuarts Draft posted how she love Square Up, the little credit card-taking device for smartphones. It's a little square that attaches to your smartphone, sign up an account (no cost for sign up) through squaredup.com, and download the app and voila! you are all set for taking credit card orders without any handcranking, dialing-in routine. Caution, though, not all smartphones are compatible with the app. My original Droid Citrus didn't gel with it so I upgraded to the HTC Incredible. There's a list of compatible phones on the website but they also say there are more they haven't listed. I haven't used Square yet, I think I should do a couple of dry runs before my first craft show of the season. If you want to read more about Square Up, Hello Craft writes more about it. (photo credit: Hello Craft)

displays and more display kokeshi

2010-08-11T18:55:00.001-07:00

i'm still not set up permanently so i've ceased doing the hanging ornamental dolls for now because i can't seem to get the hand drill down straight into the head portion of the dolls, even when using a vice. my real drill is in storage, along with other tools and supplies. anyway, the display dolls are actually just as much fun to create.

valentine girls collection

2010-02-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

I have about 10 "Valentine Girls" collection but I don't think I could get them out in time for Valentine's Day if anyone ordered for them. Oh you know the reason: weather. Hopefully, we won't be buried in heaps of snow this week, as we already were over the weekend. The Valentine Girls Collection is so-called because they all have a heart somewhere on them, whether on their kimono or hair, or both.

hApPy nEw yEaR:: 新年おめでとうございます｡

2010-01-13T18:11:00.001-08:00

2009-12-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

More and more! These little kokeshi doll displays just came upon the scene. They stand at approximately 2 1/2 inches tall, standing (glued) on a little square. I made 7 of them and three of them - Yasu, Saori, and Aemi - were just listed between yesterday and today.

kokeshi doll charms part 4

2009-08-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

just thought i would simply change the doll ever-so-slightly and only made a few of them at this time. the bottom end has a faux asian coin and a colorful little bell. this was taken with my newer digital camera ( a samsung) and i was still messing with the lighting. i thought it was a bit too bright as you can tell the shadow is pretty strong.

kokeshi doll charms part 3

2009-05-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

i started a new collection in the honor of japanese empresses. these doll ornaments are bit more fancier than the previous ones, with long ribbon 'tails', and gems in their hair. there are four named after actual empresses and the fifth one (with pink hair) is a fictitious harajuku princess. i didn't have any particular empresses picked out in the beginning, it was merely based on their appearances, if they had photos. some i could not find any photo for because the time period of their reign. actually, some reign, others were consorts.

kokeshi doll charms part 2

2008-10-19T06:56:00.001-07:00

wow it has been so long since i posted anything here but i have been building up my business in between many events, and full time work. i finally jumped on a niche of creating kokeshi doll charms, displays and pendants with a particular look. while these are used with pre-cut wood pieces, one day i would love to start creating them from scratch - meaning actually turning wood on a wood lathe. i don't know how to do that and i have to be taught but i can't wait! then they will be truly original.

kokeshi doll charms

2007-02-14T06:09:00.000-08:00

i made quite a few of these wooden kokeshi doll charms, using pyrography, watercolor dyes, and varnishes. right now I have two sitting on my etsy shop, will add more in the coming days. i figure one can use them on their cellphones, purse straps, rearview mirrors, whatever and wherever.

fall vase

2007-01-24T16:31:00.000-08:00

here's a papermache vase I did a while back and just getting around to posting it. using silhouettes of real leaves from the backyard and 4 colors from spray can paint (including primer), it took shape and a feel of a more 'ceramic' piece. finished it off with 2 coats of gloss varnish. I love papermache stuff like these - if it accidently gets knocked off the table, it doesn't break. good for homes with little kids.

faceless

2006-11-06T18:41:00.000-08:00

I started back to painting on canvas inbetween doing the clocks and other crafts. This is first of the collection of 'unrealistically-shaped' women, which was fun to do, but when it came to their facial expression - I had nothing so I left it blank. I didn't feel it was up to me to determine how they were feeling. Maybe they're annoyed. Maybe they're happy. Those who look upon them can decide.

no button dilemna

2006-10-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

well since everything vintage is in, so are the buttons i found in the sewing box at my parents place. i like to believe i put them into good use - into my crafts (common among DIYers). first i did it as pins, but then decided on magnets. well, it's vintage buttons on the trendy pink and brown colors of felt. pretty mainstream, i think. but they ended up looking pretty cute. i am definitely not a sewer, and haven't a clue how to use a sewing machine, but I can stitch here and there. i made a total of nine button-felt magnets.

tick tock part three

2006-09-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

this one was actually the first clock i did, and the wood was premade - you know, one of those already shaped and sanded for clock-making. The hearts are handmade paper with pieces of twisted strings in them, and the numbers in 3-D paint - better known as puffy paint.

tick tock part two

2006-09-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

now I just finished another clock - this time done with a premade little wooden suitcase. It's about 5.25" long and 3 .5" in height. The movement used in this one is the same size as the one previous (see below) so I didn't have to change the drill bit or anything. The hands, of course, is a bit shorter. I used a leaf stamp in gold but it was smeared while applying the varnish with a foam brush but I think it gives it a unique look. Which is why I didn't add any numbers or dots markers.

tick tock part one

2006-09-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Well, here's something I didn't have in my sketch book of ideas, but it worked out very well. Originally it was a mirror stand. Now it's a clock stand - prototype - and the paint job isn't the best but it works fine and has an interesting look to it. The "head" portion can be adjusted up and down. I have three more and so off I go into the workshop!

meow!

2006-08-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

Are you one of the people who received a "cat's meow" postcard and know the answer to the question? The first 20 people with the right answer will receive a free little gift! So hurry, send the answer to xangetsu AT mail2Studio DOT com!

2006 fall show calendar

2006-08-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

ok, here's my schedule:

sept 30 - oct 1 bowc fall bazaar
oct 28 edison hs craft show
nov 11 vienna show
nov 19 fall extravaganza

hope i can create bigger items, as of now i have lots and lots of little items. which is good because people are always looking for holiday stocking stuffers - like on the left, a purse charm made of wood, beads, and an image of a woman, using a woodburner.

living for art

2006-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

As I start this off, I've got too much things to think about and they're all going into a wrinkled, scribbled, coffee-stained notebook, sitting along with the sketches of designs that may or may not come about in the near future. I love flat pieces of wood that I can paint on, or burn into, and there's this one piece sitting in the workshop with a funky shape that's perfect for clock-making. Whatcha think! I'm going to get it.