designer's library

The Abundant Table

Alright ready. I know, I know. I always seem to be on semi-permanent hiatus from my blog. Well I got ton of things on my mind, namely getting my website updated. I believe, as of today, the index page is still announcing the NSS in May 2008. Nice. I should point out that on page 90 of Craft Inc, I wrote that you should "Update your site frequently with news or new products." And clearly, I am leading by example. I also tell people to always have their business cards on them, yet I am always writing my contact information on the backsides of other people's business cards when I meet them. I'm awesome like that.

Ironically, next week you'll find me on as a guest blogger on design*sponge. Obviously, have the time and energy to blog, just not on my own blog.

As for the above cookbook, "The Abundant Table: Recipes from the Bishop's Ranch Kitchen", which I illustrated, is finally out. So far I've made the pancakes (hey, I'm starting off easy) and they are delicious! I can't wait to try out the rest of their healthy recipes. And I have to say that Laura Crookston Deleot, the graphic designer, did a wonderful job! Such a pleasure working with her. Here are a couple of images from the book:

(the inside cover)

(introductory section)

You Work for Them - Limited Edition Journal

I'm officially out of my limited edition silk screened journals! But don't despair, You Work for Them recently asked me to make them a limited number of the Pleat Journal in a special color way: yellow, blue, and red (primary colors, my faves). The original journal was in orange instead of red (but it looks similar on-screen). It's just $32.00, comes with a hand-screened cover, and 144 pages (textblock from Italy). And there are only 20 available. I will likely do more limited edition work this year, but not journals like this any more. So get one before they run out!

Lines & Shapes, Vol. 2

I'm so happy to be a part of Maria & Lena's Lines & Shapes, Vol. 2. Other artists featured in the book are: Jim Green, Maditi, ThussFarrell, and Stephanie Waddell. It was great exploring the book's theme, "Block". I decoupaged wood blocks with graphic symbols and strung them together to create flexible wood block sculptures (see image above for one of the sculptures).

Below is an image that didn't make it into the book which shows almost all the blocks.

This image is in the book. I share a studio with a 3 other artists/designers, including Lisa of Good on Paper, and this is an image I shot of the blinds on her front window. I love black and white stripes!

The book is only $21 plus shipping or you can get a subscription so that you get all volumes. If you need visual inspiration, you should definitely have these on your bookshelf!

Pattern Magic Vol. 2

Alright. Since Lisa's told me that she's "tired of looking at the computer wires" on the previous post (and really, so am I)--I've finally put together a new post. Things have been super busy lately and because of all the work I've been producing over the past month and half, it's given me some carpal tunnel issues. Great. So I've had to limit my computer work, like blog posting.

But anyway, I got this book called Pattern Magic Vol. 2 a few months ago. While I don't plan on making any of these pieces (I don't know how to sew and the wearability of some of the pieces are totally questionable--like the bottom image), I was intrigued by the sculptural and architectural forms of the clothes. Really beautiful pieces.

Core Memory

I just got this book, Core Memory: A Visual Survey of Vintage Computers. It's really visually inspiring (and supremely nerdy), but I love seeing the organization of wires, switches, and buttons! Who knows...I just might make a trip out to visit the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley to see all these computer dinosaurs.

Filing

Here is another office supply/organization book. I was thinking yesterday about why I'm so fixated on paper and office supplies...and I think it had something to do with how my mom used to bring me with her to work during summer vacation. (I know, Asians sure know how to give their kids a swell summer break.) I used to sit at the IBM Selectric (that's a typewriter for all you kids) and I'd pretend to type up all kinds of important documents. She worked for the military (clearly, they were on high alert with me behind the desk) and I guess spending a summer in that environment probably has some basis for my love of industrial furniture and office supplies.

Anyway, enough of that.

I got this book is called "Filing" at Tortoise Life a few months ago. It's one of my favorite design books. Produced by the Hara Design Institute, it is a result of Makoto Orisaki's project called "Haptic" (originally produced for the Takeo Paper Show in 2004) which was about chaos and organization. It's written in both Japanese and English. Thank goodness!

First off, the book is just very simple, beautiful, and inspiring. It features organizational design from primarily Japan. Some of the best designs are by the Hara Design Institute (Kenya Hara), who helped develop Muji's brand and products. So there is alot of Muji-esque work.

Here are some of my favorite images and captions:

"Actions that create texture: The sticky notes express the staggering scale of this indexing task. Maybe there is a hint here to find a new solution."

"A label turns anything into a file: Apply the label to a stone used for weighting pickles, writing on it, 'cabbage-leaf kimchee' or 'pickled eggplant', and the stone become a file. It's a pity that so few objects originally designed as files are aesthetically pleasing."

Oh I also just bought Designing Design by Kenya Hara. The covers look so similar. It's gotta be good, too.

Vintage Office Supplies

I have no idea what the title of this book is and I can't read a lick of it, but it's full of images of vintage office supplies. Very inspiring if you're an office supply nerd like me. If you want to get the book, just give this ISBN number 978-4-87758-656-0 to Kinokuniya.

These images are the book's dust jacket. I love the desktop shot!

Finnish Summer Houses

I just got a copy of the Princeton Architectural Press Spring 2008 catalog yesterday. Dude, check out the image on the cover! Look at that wicker railing! The image is from a new book coming out called Finnish Summer Houses by Jari Jetsonen and Sirkkaliisa Jetsonen. Included in the book will be 20 villas, cottages, and cabins by architects such as Eliel Saarinen and Alvar Aalto--so you know it's going to be good. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Mundane Journeys by Kate Pocrass

On our visit to Park Life last week, Grace and I came across this little jewel of a book called "Mundane Journeys: A Field Guide to Color" by Kate Pocrass. It's a cool little guidebook of San Francisco that takes you on a tour of the "easily overlooked, everyday details" in the city--from sending you to a corner on Geary and 18th to admire posters to going into building to stare at the floor numbers. It gives you an alternative, color-infused look at the city and an appreciation for the endless discoveries around you if you just paid more attention. Best of all, supported by a grant from the SF Arts Commission, the book is only $5. We found the book late in the day, so Grace and I didn't have a chance to embark on any mundane journeys. Darn.

To learn more about Kate's project: go to her website. She also gives bus tours and if that wasn't enough, she has a hotline you can call if you're just itching for a new mundane mission. Seriously, every city should have a guidebook like this. Hopefully Kate will expand into other cities!

On random side note: I keep imagining that the cover of this book should have a photograph of a flower-filled grassy meadow or a couple wheat stalks against a clear blue sky. Why? Because the title "Mundane Journeys" makes me think of "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handy. Maybe there will be a sequels to Kate's books like Mundaner Journeys and Mundanest Journeys...(I know mundaner and mundanest aren't proper words. Just play along.)

What a month.

Ok, this month has been nuts. I can't believe how quickly it all went by. Seriously, it's been one thing after the other. It started off with my daughter's birthday on the 1st, followed by the book launch party on the 2nd, then a slew of parties (kids and adults), store openings, meetings and lunches, the Modern Economy sale in Los Angeles on the 20th, the Biz Ladies meeting on the 23rd, and a quick stop on the 26th at the Western Interiors home show. And oh, did I also mention that I started taking a Japanese language class this month, too? See, I am crazy. Now the end of the month greets me with Halloween for the kids and a deadline for my quarterly sales tax return. I swear, I get no breaks.

One of the best things about this month is that I got to meet some really cool ladies (whose work I was already familiar with) like Abbie and Annie (to name a few). And also by chance, I met a really fantastic PR consultant from NYC, Susan Harkavy, who is just a wealth of information. (By the way, I look forward to getting to know you ALL better--the regulars I see at all the openings/parties--with every event I attend. It's nice to know how supportive the Bay Area art/design/craft community really is.) The second best thing is hanging out with friends both old and new. I had non-stop chatty fun on the road trip to LA with Carolina, Jacinta, and Robie (my friend since the 7th grade). I was reminiscing pretty hard with my ex-UCLA arch school friends like Louise and Yun Yun at Modern Economy as well as an undergrad friend (Allison of Splendora) at the Rare Device opening. And it was rare treat to drive around and talk one-on-one with out-of-town friends like Grace and Lauren last week.

With so much going on, here are 2 things I forgot to mention this month:

1. My walnut notecards were featured in Better Homes and Gardens. And 2.) If you haven't bought Craft, Inc. yet: in honor of Chronicle Books' 40th anniversary, they have teamed up with Amazon.com to offer exclusive anniversary specials, including a 32% discount on Craft, Inc..

Yes, it's been a month like no other. So, now I must go back to settling the Modern Economy sale, filing my sales tax return, and answering my emails (sorry for the slow response guys). And frick, I need to update my website too. *sigh* I really need a vacation.