Happy New Year! (Geishun - 迎春)

Happy New Year!  Celebrating the lunar new year tomorrow!  Very exciting!

Geishun means to welcoming spring and I think of flowers....

I love flowers, especially during the cold, grey winters.  It is amazing to see it is snowing outside and I have tropical flowers blooming at home, warming up the decor.  Today, I make this orchid planter and bring to my parents as new year's gift.  This project is super easy and elegant, what do you think?  My mother loves it...

 

Orchid planter project:

wood salad bowl - I use what I have at home,

Orchid purchased from garden centre - depends on the size of your planter.  I use 3 strands of orchids.

floral foam - to secure the orchid in desired space.

sheet moss - soak in water and then cover the floral foam.

Plum blossom

Plum blossom is my favourite subject to paint, although I have yet to master the skill.  It feels great to finally able to pick up the brush and paint.  It is meditating.

Plum blossom is a flower that blooms in the winter.  When all other flowers cannot survive through the cold and snowy weather, plum blossom righteously stands through the wintery storm. 

Persistence, brave, strong, courageous... and subconsciously, I keep on painting these 5-pedal flower over and over....

Takui wedding

A sneak peak of our new stock photo; courtesy of Sandy Tam Photography.

labour of love

Project for the past 3 months - a counter top display.

One thing comes to mind - it must be SIMPLE in design, it must conform with the concept of takui.  Nothing fancy, no colourful graphics... I want to showcase the beautiful colors of takui bags.  Natural, unbleached material... something that is well-made; so it will be "reused" again and not end up in the landfill as most corrugated card box displays would be.  I want to give my retailers this gift for supporting me since the start, I want to thank them.  I hand-made the display one by one, from planing the birch to sanding, making the joints and etc.  Somehow, I find the process, meditating.  I enjoy every minute of it.  It is a labour of love.  Every bento display is slightly different, each has its own character, whether it is the knots from each individual piece of birch, or the joints - it has to be made to measure.

ps.  the lid actually slides into the box to make the backdrop of countertop display.  Received many compliments.  I hope you like it too.

what is takui?

"Takui" stands for simplicity.  If you own a takui bag, you know that it is a very functional item with simple design in mind.  Lots of thoughts to make sure the handles are more durable, much easier on the hand when carrying weights... therefore, we construct the bag with just ONE piece of fabric, running seamlessly at the handles.  We know, you will appreciate our thoughtfulness.

"Takui" also stands for familiarity.  Takui bag celebrates the traditional shape of a plastic bag; something that is so familiar to all of us.  It is easy to understand, easy to use.

"Takui" strives for being your better alternative, a better alternative that leads to a better future.  Afterall, what is the "best"?  "Best" comes with tensions....

Life is supposed to be simple and easy, and that's "Takui".

applaud to the Art Gallery of Alberta

January 31, 2010 

2 more days

The Grand Re-opening of the Art Gallery of Alberta.  If you are in and around Edmonton this weekend, stop by the new art gallery located at 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square... and please also check out the Shop AGA (the gallery shop)... because takui bags are debuting at the gallery Grand Re-opening!  How exciting!

ps. I wish I were there to celebrate!

stop resisting the change and learn to go with the flow

Learning to go with the flow does not mean to be a follower.  Stop resisting the change and go with the flow is a great lesson to learn and master. 

Change is uncomfortable.  It is because we all try to control our lives within our prediction; creating the security and certainty.  We go to school, we graduate, then we find a good job, find a partner, get married, start a family, have kids, luckily we can afford to buy a house, hoping we can keep our good jobs for the rest of our lives, retire and die.  Does this sound familiar?

We create "comfort zones" for ourselves; as evident as the side of bed we sleep in.  Have you ever wondered why you love the left side more than the right, or the vice versa?  Is there something wrong with the other side?  The answer is no.  But it is our routine, it is our familiar ground, our turf and we have control over it.  We are COMFORTABLE.  

Someone once told me:  when we try to keep things the same, we often end up holding onto people and situations that we shouldn't, and ignoring the possibilities for transformation that are presented to us. 

Numerous events occurred in the past year, and they all point to breaking away from the predictable life (just like the one above).  No matter what I have done to resist the change (because I am scared), it seems that the higher power has pushed me into the same direction.  3 months ago, I decide to take the risk and leap into the unknown.  I no longer want to see fear robbing away my life.  I need to grow and challenge myself and I want to become a person that I always long to become but I just never have the time to do so (previously).  There is no better time than any time.  The longer I delay the decision, the longer I work for someone else's dream that I remotely believe in.  I will never know if I never leap.  I give up a comfortable pay cheque, I learn and become more efficient and resourceful.  Life become simpler but refreshing. I get to know my "real self" in this experience and most of all, I am working on what I love.

We can't stop the wave, but we can learn how to surf, right?