Blast from the past '02

Look what I dug up from my past!! I've been a big No Doubt fan since high school and I finally got to go to my first No Doubt concert in '02, Summer Sonic in Japan. I made this with the intension to give to Gwen when she was in front of me (I made sure to get to the front and stay there, it was absolutely awesome!) but unfortunately I didn't take into account that I would be drowning under the sudden wave of human bodies. So, yeah, never stood a chance... haha! Anyways this was me at 21.

Life Drawing: Burlesque

This weekend was jammed packed with drawing around the Melbourne city. First we started off from Melbourne Central slowly made our way to The Block. Then we were waiting in anticipation to see the Zombie march but unfortunately we were in a totally different street and before we knew it it was over. Though I was lucky enough to bump into a few zombies on the street. Then our last stop was the Burlesque life drawing. Shown here is one of the models, Jess Daly.

Check this out!!

Hubby's exhibition!

DRAWN Again: Group Drawing Art Exhibition
I'm taking part in my second group drawing exhibition at Brunswick Street Gallery. There are a lot of great artists taking part and should be a lot of fun!

For this exhibition, I created a series of 7 graphite drawings based on natural spirits, inspired by a local park I walk through almost everyday. I'll leak a few details and pictures after opening night so stay tuned!


Exhibition Details
29 July to 11 August
Brunswick Street Gallery
322 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (corner Argyle St.)
Melbourne, Australia

Opening Night
Friday 29th July
6pm onwards

Look forward to seeing you there!

Having Coffee

Having a coffee with friends is very delightful but decided to make it a bit more eventful using the materials we had at hand; empty sugar saches. A whole world opened up to us...

Tough Times

This is for all the people out there who are having a tough time and to the people who can help.
With recent events, a lot of things are out of balance and this is a time where it's important to stick together.

When I was growing up in Japan I had a wonderful Japanese teacher who taught me all I know and helped me to advance.
One of the Kanji I remember is person or people. It is one of the first group of Kanji you learn in school in Japan.
Its a very interesting character because it is extremely simple but says a lot.

Contemplating and Harry Potter

Because the holiday seasons I've been able to get some time to myself and think. Been thinking a lot and while in this thought process I've also been going around taking reference pictures with my trusty camera.



I am a big Harry Potter fan. I've been rereading all the books and watching all the movies, or at least to the latest one that's available on DVD. The books had been a big journey and now with the movies I am repeating history!! (well, my history). So I was thinking to myself what scene stuck with me the most?? I had to think very long for this one. It's the whole experience and the world you get caught up in that makes me love it so much. But if I HAD to pick one scene it would be when Harry first goes to Diagon Alley. That place is just amazing it has everything in that alleyway. The next I love is the stairwell of Hogwarts. Ok, so I didn't pick a particular scene or event but those places grabbed my attention but that just explains what I said before that I loved the world and atmosphere.

Now I ask what was your favorite part of the movie??

Photo Experimentation

Time to do something fun. with my little phone camera this is what I came across today...

In the park:


In the kitchen:


At the kitchen table:

Book of the Day: The Giving Tree

Now I know it says The Book of the Day in the title but this is one of my all time favorites. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. It's a bout a boy and a tree and how much the tree loved the boy. I remember very clearly when I first had someone read this book to me. It was in kindergarten and the teacher was reading it to us. It hit me very hard. I recommend this to anyone whether you're into books, children's books or not. It's a very touching story and you're bound to remember it for a very long time.

This year's end of year panto!

This year's panto was absolutely fun to be apart of. I was able to meet new actors to the Adelphi Players and enjoyed performing aside them. This year, as I announced in a previous post, was 'Dick Whittington and His Amazing Cat'. I was able to wear a beautiful aqua blue gown and discovered I could dance in it :) Nothing got caught anywhere and nobody got injured. All came to end with our last performance on the 20th Dec 2009. I hope everyone was able to enjoy the performance as much as I did. Hope to see everyone next year.


Photo of the cast.

Ideas for New Year's Day: Origami Dolls

Here I go again on my journey of paper folding (origami). It is always a treat to create something and enjoy looking at it. This is a little doll that will be making her debut on a card very soon. She is sitting here right in front of me and feels like she's got a life of her own!! Many years ago when I was only a little girl I was in front of the TV. This was in the middle of the day but they were showing some sort of a Japanese horror film. If I understood it well enough then I think it was about a Japanese Doll being abandoned because the owner felt there was something wrong with it. Something wrong with it all right! It started floating in the air and chasing the owner around the back streets. Eventual the doll got it's revenge and then was found and picked up by a little girl. And I am assuming it starts all over again. This sort of story is very common in Japan so much so that they have a shrine where you can bring your dolls to rest.

I used paper from the Cristina Re collection. It's very lovely paper and they have paper with double sides, each design complimenting each other.

Panto '09: Dick Whittington

I always participate in the end of the year Panto with Adelphi Players and this year we will be doing 'Dick Whittington'. The show will be starting this week Saturday 5th December 2009!! Here, I am showing the costume I will be wearing in the show. As a little girl I always wanted a dress like Aurora from Sleeping Beauty and remember wishing for one. I think I got my wish. I also get to wear it several times in December!!!!!

James Jean Signing

This was a pretty awesome opportunity to meet someone I really admire. Went to a signing of James Jean with Rob and Sixto. Though, I never really know what to say to someone you only know through their work, I did managed to say thank you. It was great!! James Jean seemed a very humble person and patient. From all I gather I would say he's a very cool person. Thanks for coming to Melbourne, James!!
We were very lucky to get a copy of the kindling Book. It is very beautiful and bigger than I expected.

Some photos of us!!


James Jean and me.


James Jean and Rob.


James Jean and Sixto.


Outside Outre, moments before meeting James Jean.


Inside Outre, after our signing.

Afternoon on the beach

Our friend came down from Canada and we were all at the beach talking. Now my hands take special interest in sand and this is what came up during our conversation.

Happy New Year!!!!!

It is 2009! I started my new year by greeting many many people on the streets of Melbourne. It's already been a crazy week starting with all good and bad coming and tumbling in. I'm predicting a busy year.
Happy New Year everyone!

New Space

Summer is approaching and and many things are happening at once. I will be moving into a new studio space which is very exciting. It will be in a very charming building where I will be working most of my time. New details will be updated on my website in the near future.
There will also be a pantomime during December with sets that I had the opportunity to design. The production is 'Red Riding Hood' from the Adelphi Players. I also have a little part in it as Bo Peep. Pictures of the production will be up as soon as the show starts!

CBCA Conference

I went to the CBCA conference this year! It was great meet Shaun Tan and Neil Gaiman in person. Though it was a very brief encounter because we were getting our books signed and there were so many people. I was very nervous to even getting my book sign and it was just one of those times when I couldn't think of anything to say. All I managed was "that's so cool". mmmm..... Wish I had come up with something... Other than that all was great. There was a publishers expo held outside of the conference and I was able to go around and introduce myself. I was also lucky enough to meet editors who gave me insight on what they look for in an illustrator and always seek new talent. It's great practice and opportunity to go these places and grasp that chance. Even if I don't get anything out of it this time the more I do it the more chance I have next time.
Here are a few quick shots I managed to take.