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 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....

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

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.

"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".

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!