Toys for the soul :D

This post is longggg overdue because some of these toys were released like a year ago, but I was surprised to realize that I never posted them. I guess I just like to keep toy releases and random stuff that I like here so later I can look back and find them easily. I've been toy deprived lately so this might possibly be the longest toy post I've ever done.

Anyways, on the last three of days of my winter break I decided to (finally) spray paint my shelves. I noticed my room had way too much pink going on, which was strange because its my least favorite color...so I finally went out and bought some spray paint! I was reminded of how much I hated spray painting, but good thing I just bought this spray gun handle. Have yet to try it out, but it looks like it will make my life easier the next time I spray paint anything.

Took this around 2 years ago. It was for a class presentation so obviously I cleaned and organized it =P it never looks like this on a daily basis. Most of these toys are sitting in my studio now.

Took off the shelves to prep them. My wall had a lot of holes in it and I literally had INCHES of dusts to clean off. Yuck.
 The red thing on the wall is my "IN CASE OF EMERGENCY BREAK GLASS" bank.

Priming and painting the two mini shelves white. These two came out perfectly smooth.



Finished! Im planning to spray paint the green pig another color (maybe orange) to give it more contrast. Honestly, I think the previous pink shelves gave off a nicer contrast because my wall is a pale light purple, but... I still prefer green!

And you can see a few new additions to the toy family. Bought Ciao Ciao (pink thing) and Truffle (yellow thing) on karmaloop with giftcards. I was planning to put them in the studio, but their colors provided a nice contrast with the green shelves.




Spray paint gun handle I just bought on amazon for $5.99. My fingers get tired easily whenever im using spray paint/varnish etc. Oh and its made in USA! That sounds 10x more reliable already.




So I came across noodoll 's plush designs and they are adorable!! Love the simplicity of their designs.







<333 :d=":d" fan="fan" new="new" noodoll="noodoll" of="of" p="p">


I like the character designs of these, but im a bit put off by the quality of these plushies. They look wonky and cheaply made.


Unicorno series 2...for some reason I like that simple white one with colorful dots.

I don't know why but Tokidoki stuff doesn't appeal much to me anymore. I used to be a HUGE fan of Simone Legno's work...but recently my love for tokidoki has died a bit =(




Tokidoki recently had a new collaboration with Sephora called Royal Pride. I have no use for the eye shadow set, but I love the puppy that comes with it!! Sadly, i will not pay $28 for it.





I've been seeing these around for ages, but I couldn't remember exactly where I've seen them (probably in design magazines?) Finally found them at fab.com!! It's...EXPENSIVE...but I will get one for sure if I ever become rich (and have my own house).



These came out quite a long time ago...but i like them! Looks 1000x better than the first series. Nice color combos too.



Saw these pretty awesome robot designs on fab.com. I think they're made with some found objects cause each of them are uniquely different.



Sushi pillow!! Ugly but amusing.



Still in search of David Choe's munko whales that are under my budget... The first time I saw them, they didn't appeal to me at all, but the more I look at them the more awesome they look. These were released a few years ago, but they're quite hard to find second-hand online.




New (?) Amanda Visell figure. Not my favorite, but the idea is quite cute.




This came out soo long ago, but I just found it for an awesome deal!! I'll probably buy it right after I finish writing this entry. I have a thing for these skeleton costume designs on figures.



Call me nerdy or what, but I want all of these!!! Awesome redesign of FF characters!




Found these cute control pac man toys on fab. Love the oldschool feel.



Transparent Danbo?!?! I don't even remember where I found this, but its pretty awesome.



Cute reindeer thing :D reminds me of spam dressed in reindeer suit o_o



Speaking of transparent things. Transparent cat donut toys!! Find at kawaiitoysjapan store.



Speaking of cats. Mustache cat headphone jack!!  I would totally buy this if I had an iphone. You can get this at strapya world (online shop)





Saw this awesome lego exhibit at toy-people.com. If im not wrong, this was in Hong Kong. I would totally steal one and smuggle it back here.



I've been seeing these lego containers online a lot! I think they look super fun and would brighten a room easily. I would get a few if I saw them in stores (I hate paying for shipping).




Rody X Molly collab figure. So cute! But i bet its hard to find :(





Omg these banana erasers crack me up every time I look at them. Im planning to buy a pack of 20 on ebay (for a very cheap price). I will be passing out banana erasers! The first photo just cracked me up again. Look at that green banana's facial expression. Oh god. *dies*



Piggy bank thing found on fab. Nice and simple :)



The 'new' (not really) Uglydolls comes with a mini one!!! How awesome is that?!?! I have yet to see them in stores though. Might just HAVE to get myself one.




Latest Lunartik mini series. Still don't own a single lunartik yet (I will some day), but I really liked how they come in a mini coffee cup container. Very creative!



Bad Apple figure by Goin and Mighty Jaxx. I'm 50/50 about it, but its interesting...



New domo series?? I've been seeing him around too often that he doesn't appeal to me much anymore, but this series look pretty epic.



HAHAH I want to make these cookies!! They're cooking molds/stamps by fred's kitchen.



I will buy this for my house...in the future.



Bacon and egg phone case!! HILARIOUS. It would make me hungry...



Love Sentimental Circus characters...I want that piano one.





Sanrio x 7 Eleven Hong Kong series. AMERICAN 711 Y U NO HAVE AWESOME STUFF??
Some of these are kind of boring, but there are a few a like. There are actually more to this series but im lazy to post everything. Just check out hello kitty junkie's website.



Gingermarshall, special series by 64 colors. I think they're individually hand painted thats why they cost over $100 each. They're all sold out now, but I thought the design was really cute. Especially the gingerbread man!!
 

Random 3D printer stuff I came across somewhere... wish I had the money to get myself a 3d printer. The idea of printing almost anything into a physical 3d object still sounds mindblowing to me. It's almost that story about the kid with his crayon and everything he draws come to life. I don't know, its a similar concept?



WOW longest post I've ever done in my life. I feel like I just aged a couple of years. Well I guess I made up for the lack posts from the last few months :D now I don't have to post until next year!!! HAHA kidding.

Lazy day(s)

Been having a very lazy and sleepy winter break...winter term is starting after next week (AH what happened to my break?!) so I felt like I really needed to blog something. I've been too lazy to take out my camera so these were all taken with my horrible itouch cam =/ Haven't been keeping up with the toy designer world much and didn't have much time to surf the internet for interesting stuff during school days so my blog has been...dead.

Christmas went by fast. Sad thing about growing up is that you no longer have presents to unwrap on boxing day. The nice thing about being old is that you receive money instead of things you don't really need.

Just a short update, its not much. *yawns* im feeling very sleepy right now.






Came across photographer Vivian Maier's exhibit at Powells bookstore's gallery. Honestly the most beautiful photography exhibit I've seen (well I haven't seen that many). I love that the subjects of her photos were all just very simple daily life happenings and objects, but she captured them in a way that was very moving and beautiful. I had a bus to catch so I had planned to take a quick look at the exhibit, but I ended up standing in front of each picture for way longer than I had anticipated. It was amazing. (
btw I think its ironic that I took a picture of this exhibit with such a horrible cam quality and then even instagrammed it hahah what has the photography world come to.)

 Anyway, you can learn/see more about her works and life here




So I finally moved my large work computer into my room (was in my studio and then in my sisters room). Definitely helped me work more efficiently and its way more convenient...I have no idea why I didn't think of the idea earlier. I had to remove a shelf connected to my desk in order to fit the monitor. Now I have two mouse and two keyboards on my desk and I kept mixing them up. Currently still trying to connect both computers to 1 keyboard and 1 mouse.




Saw this really cute book at Powells on sale. The art was very simple but cute (more of a graphic design type of art than illustration). I might have to buy it if its still there when I go back. The artist also released a few other based on other stories.



Got this mini mailbox (its actually a coinbank) from my aunt in HK. The size matches pretty well with Mr.Cloud! But the color and christmas design is a big no so I just spray primed it white earlier today (forgot to take picture). Im bad at spray painting anything so hopefully it'll dry okay by tomorrow.




Perhaps my best 'christmas present' (bought by myself for myself hahah). I got him for such an amazing deal!! The price almost seemed to good to be true but I was willing to take the risk. Fortunately, the seller was an honest (and ridiculously generous) person. YAY.



Love his glasses and random accessories. He comes with a mini macbook air and a ghostB.



My awesome bed sheets from HK! Okay, its kiddy but can't deny its cute.



This is actually from along time ago...my to-fu cushion cover. I left it in my studio for awhile but never used it. Finally decided to bring it back into the house.


Ending the post with some songs that I've been listening to on repeat o.o"



Most genius MV ever!! The concept is so ridiculously simple yet strong. Awesome video, awesome song.



The funny thing is that Brave Guys are actually a group of comedians who wanted to try out music for fun. The female vocalist (Shin Bora) is part of the Brave Guys gag team, but her voice is better than most female kpop singers out there. Unfortunately, they won't be making music anymore because they felt that being singers were too stressful and they were also criticized by hip-hop artists who felt that they were 'making fun' of hip hop music. Ironically, their music is more legit than most of the kpop stuff out there.


Another song by Shin Bora for a korean drama (hence the OST-like style). Good mellow song too :) her voice is great, it'll be such a waste if she doesn't debut as a solo singer.



At first the song seemed like another pretty korean ballad, but it really grew on me after listening to it again (such a pretty song!!). The video is simple (nobody gets hit by a car or dies of cancer), just a simple nostalgic type of story that matches perfectly with the song.

Okay time for me to eat dinner. Made steamed eggs with dried scallops =D best simple Chinese dish for a cold winter day. ( I wonder how many times I said the word simple in this post. Of course, simplicity is the best =D )

The Mental Process of 3d Modeling

(I moved this post here because even though its art-related, its not really practical cause I gave my art blog link as my temporary art portfolio for internships to review)

 Because nothing can express emotions better than rage faces (and because im a meme addict).


1.) When you are introduced to the new project

2.) Once you start working on project

3.) In the middle of the project

All kinds of glitches and the unexpected happens

4.) Finally done with model

5.) Time to render.

(Yes, you loose your wig and your bow during the process)

5.) Reaction after renders

OR

6.) Completion of entire project

7.) Looking at time and date

8.) Final conclusion of 3d modeling

And of course...

Still here...

I recently started my art blog so I've been updating more frequently there. I haven't abandoned this blog yet!! This term is pretty intense so I probably won't be getting a new post up any time soon.

Start of a new....collection!

Okay, its barely a start since I only have 2 in my 'collection' so far, but since the designer toy world is growing at snail pace (or maybe im just getting pickier)...I have decided to invest in something more 'practical'. It's funny cause since I was a kid, I've always been trying to start some kind of collection...rocks, crazy bones, pokemon cards, stickers, erasers, toys, and the list goes on. There's just something really exciting about collecting stuff....it makes me feel all giddy for no reason. Anyway, I bought my Art of Toy Story 3 book last year and I still look through it once in awhile for inspiration...and every time I go to Powells, you can always find me huddled in that back wall of animation art books in the Pearl Room. And so I bought my second 'Art of' book last week (Art of Pixar's Up), not the best 'art of' book but that's because the animation was more focused on storytelling. It was only $14 so I bought it without a second thought.

So I've come up with a list of books im planning to buy (it'll be like a treat/present for...myself...if my grades are good this term..and christmas and bday presents for... myself ...since im too old to receive gifts now ha!)


ART BOOKS LIST:



* Art of Ratatouille - Saw a used but in brand new condition one at Powells for $24, will go back and get it next week. It better be there. Btw the materials in this book are great.



* Art of Tangled - Not my favorite Disney film, but its got amazing background designs. I was really impressed when I skimmed through the pages. Really high quality print and great concept art.


* Art of Rise of the Guardians - Not a Dreamworks fan at all so I don't plan on watching the film. I flipped through the book not expecting much...but I had to admit I was blown away by how beautiful the pages were. Amazing concept art, great book layout and high quality images. Maybe its just me, but it's kinda got this Miyazaki vibe going on. One of the best 'art of' books I've seen so far. Too bad the actual rendered characters in the film weren't that appealing, they all have the typical Dreamworks smirk (which kind of drives me crazy)



* Art of Paranorman - Another film by Laika (studio in Portland, OR). Gotta support my fellow locals! I really loved how they showed the sculpting process which im extremely interested in.



* Art of How to Train Your Dragon - Can't believe im still saying this, but I still havent watched the film. I only know about its amazing character designer which is the main reason why I want to buy this book.

* Art of Spirited Away
*Art of Howls Moving Castle

* Art of Snow White or Pinocchio

* Walt Disney Animation Studios The Archive Series: Layout & Background

Okay im afraid to add more or else I won't be eating lunch, or buying new clothes, or toys for the next two years. Maybe I'll just live in a cardboard box with all my art of books...