Studio TOTA

sun goddess {karen walker}

2010-03-11T11:03:00.004-05:00

Check out this ad campaign for a designer, Karen Walker's, sunglass/eyewear line...fun stuff.

{Photos courtesy of Karen Walker Eyewear}

precious

2010-03-08T10:05:00.003-05:00

Yesterday were the Oscars - and despite not having had a chance to see a lot of the nominated movies, I watched a good part of the show. {Looks like I need to check out The Hurt-Locker, yes?} One movie I did watch was Precious - and despite it being a super intense and heartbreaking story, I liked the movie. A few weeks ago, I was on a transatlantic flight and spontaneously bought Push at the airport newsstand. I read it in one sitting and was captured by the difficult complexities of Precious's life. On top of that, reading the cover article in the NY Times Magazine, The Audacity of 'Precious', and learning about how the film came about, I had to see it. I think all of the attention the cast and crew have received are super worthy - I love when something totally new can be seen on the big screen. Now on to the other movies~

{Photos courtesy of here}

pulse nyc 2010

2010-03-04T15:19:00.003-05:00

Tis the season of the big art fairs in NYC - and this morning I got to check out the Private Preview of PULSE New York. Above are some shots of the space located right along the West Side Highway and Houston. The big industrial space is filled with galleries from around the world representing up-and-coming artists of all sorts of mediums. Photographed below are some my likes. The bottom photo is a "self-portrait" as a camera captured passerbys {me!} and interpreted them into crayon color swatches. PULSE goes on until the weekend so check it out for fun~

taste of 7th st

2010-03-02T10:04:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend, Scoop St. had a really great idea group deal called Taste of 7th St. Promoting the idea of "collective commerce"," this deal was a ticket pass to try the foods of some great eateries on 7th Street in the East Village. Below are bad blackberry photos {in the order of my attendance} of the locations: Caracas Arepas Bar, Luke's Lobster, Porchetta and Butter Lane Cupcakes. For $18, I got to fill up on an arepa, mini lobster roll, snack porchetta sandwich and 2 cupcakes. I will definitely be frequenting Butter Lane for their really cute cupcakes where you can choose your bottom cake {vanilla, chocolate or banana brea} and icing {list of 12+ icing flavors including caramel, french vanilla, mint chocolate, etc.} Mmmm....great idea Scoop!

brook&lyn

2010-02-25T07:14:00.003-05:00

Check out these super cute things found at a friend of a friend's shop of pre-loved items, called Brook&Lyn. The little mouse is a ring holder and the foot form is a paperweight! She also has shoes, accessories and clothes - and from the selection, a really good eye for rare finds~ {thanks A for introducing...}

{Photos courtesy of Brook&Lyn}

i ♥ ny {christoph niemann}

2010-02-23T07:30:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend I was at Rizzoli and to my utmost pleasant surprise, I saw this book - Chrstoph Niemann's I LEGO NY - on the front desk. As a big big big fan of Abstract City, especially of this visualposting just about a year ago, I didn't even hesitate to grab a copy {this one as a gift to a fellow Niemann fan}. Here are a few excerpt pages of this board book that is a perfect little gift for a fellow NYer. Can you tell I'm excited? ;)

{Photos courtesy of amazon}

february 2010 {tota press}

2010-02-22T07:43:00.003-05:00

Although I hope that your 2010 has started on a good note, our heart goes out to the families, children and friends of Haiti with the devastating earthquake that has awakened so much tragedy and challenging moments on this small island. This month's card is a simple motif that is made up of many many many origami cranes. Senbazuru - or one thousand cranes - is a tradition of folding 1,000 origami cranes to grant a wish, such as hoping recovery from illness or injury or wishing for a long life. With those thoughts, our version of senbazuru as this month's design has been handpressed on each and every card to wish for health and longlasting recovery for the people of Haiti.*

The red + blue card are for the colors of the Haitian flag and the 2-toned blue card is to honor the UNICEF blue and their color of hope. All profits from this month's subscriptions will be donated to UNICEF for their efforts in Haiti. This donation from TOTA Press is on behalf of our subscribers as it is from their support that this is possible. So thank you to our subscribers...

And we want to share the message to you that every kind gift counts. For those interested in donating, please go to www.unicefusa.org or other websites that are contributing funds to the cause of Hope for Haiti Now.

*Note to subscribers: Senbazuru is a wish for anything - not just for recovery. These cards can be used to wish a couple continued happiness, a person to land that dream job, someone a good day and much more...on that note, happy writing~

Many much more photos on our Facebook page - February 2010 album »

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visualizing music

2010-02-18T11:56:00.006-05:00

This video Vanishing Point {stills photographed here} reminded me of Edward Tufte's work as a statistician and his books such as Visual Explanations. I'm always awed by people who can represent quantitative information in a beautiful way - and I feel like the creator of this video, Takuya Hosogane, might be quite good at that.

See video here:

Vanishing Point from Bonsajo

{Video stills courtesy of Vanishing Point}

hearts to you

2010-02-12T07:26:00.002-05:00

This weekend is ♥ day and I wish you all a fun weekend...whether it be with friends, a loved one, family or your dog who gives you unconditional love and kisses. Found some yummy looking treats at Bergdorf Goodman, including chocolates from Vosges and Charbonnel et Walker or candy hearts from Papabubble. XOXO to you~

we're hit!

2010-02-10T15:51:00.003-05:00

After a fake-out warning of snow last weekend {at least for NY-ers}, today we are hit with a white blanket over the city. Here are some snow photos {from my back window}, urban style...pretty in it's own little distressed way. Or for more picturesque views {that's plenty here too!}, check out the NY Times reader submissions...

morgane le fay

2010-02-08T10:48:00.002-05:00

I'm on the search for some dresses recently, and I discovered a {new-to-me} designer Morgane Le Fay. Apparently a shop that started in Soho back in the early 80's when Soho was REALLY Soho...they have established themselves to presence on Madison Avenue now. Their style is to create mysterious pieces that can be worn in various ways - use a sash as a tie piece around the waist or bring it up and over your shoulder to create an asymmetrical accent. Creating maybe a dozen cuts of outfits, they are executed in some basic hues to create a full collection. "Our sole concern is for fit, ease, and elegance - not for age or background."...which was seen as the dressing room was comprised of totally different types and ages of women. On a fun note, Morgane Le Fay debuted costumes for the world premiere of Peter Martins new ballet for the New York City Ballet last fall - which I can totally imagine seeing all the flowing chiffon and silk materials used in their pieces. Here a few snapshots - and check out their website for a better look at their beautiful collection~

duck duck green

2010-02-02T07:33:00.002-05:00

I'm planning a baby shower for my sister and so I'm taking notice of all the cute baby things out there~ {and there is SO much!} On that note, I wanted to introduce my friend's online shop Duck Duck Green that sells everything eco-friendly for those newcomers to this world. My friend and her partner are moms and have collected their favorite things - and even created some items for their own line. Photographed above is their cozy kit that includes everything soft and cozy for the little one. I recently bought a few gifts and the packaging is so great topped by their cute branding touch - photographed below. I also read their blog and they had this great digital scrapbooking idea to create an email address for your baby {exerpt here}:

When our kids were born, we created an email account for each of them. We email them on special occasions, or whenever we feel like sending them a little message. Birthdays, we send a happy birthday message & attach a jpeg of their invitation. When we send baby photos to family members (almost daily, I admit) we CC our kids. First steps, video clips of dance parties, Halloween costumes. Or most often, we’ll just send an impromptu love note.

We also gave their email addresses to our family and close friends so that they can say hi when the mood strikes.

Every so often, we’ll check their email accounts. It’s already so much fun to read about all the little moments we’ve had with our kids over the past two years. It’s sort of like a photo album meets journal meets scrapbook. I love to picture our son, 10 years from now, reading a note from his uncle on his 2nd birthday. Or our daughter watching a video of her first birthday cake.

Great idea right?

{Product photos courtesy of Duck Duck Green}

happy feet

2010-02-01T08:28:00.001-05:00

Bundle up out there {or you'll end up like me, a stuffy sinus mess!} With the frigid weather back, everyone/thing needs those extra layers...and why not your chairs? These chair personality socks made me smile. Argyle or athletic tubes...I think I would do a mix and match for a kid's room or put them on your boss's chairs to fun up a Monday morning?

{Photos courtesy of Charles & Marie}

dancing poem {lou doillon for vanessa bruno}

2010-01-27T11:53:00.004-05:00

Found this...love it.

From Style.com:

Lou Doillon returns in the second installment of Vanessa Bruno’s ongoing video poem directed by Stéphanie Di Gusto, which goes live tomorrow on the designer’s Web site. Kitted out in Bruno’s designs, Doillon performs impromptu choreography in talc and goes for a quick frolic in the dunes, all set to a composition especially for her by the Canadian pianist Gonzales. “There’s something really primal about Lou; she has great freedom,” Di Gusto told Style.com. “We just left it up to her, and at one point, she just let go. There was talc all over the room.” We got a sneak peek, below.

chamber music @ the met

2010-01-18T09:55:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, while it drearily rained outside, I spent a few hours at the Met Museum where there was a chamber music concert at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium right inside the museum. With a program of Mozart, Ravel and Brahms pieces, the intimate auditorium space was filled with soothing music from string instruments and piano by Yefim Bronfman.

After the concert, I visited the Temple of Dendur and the Impressionist section of the museum - how can you not see some of the great art while you are there. These are some paintings that particularly caught my eye on this specific visit...

Mada Primavesi (1903-2000) - Gustav Klimt - 1912

The Bath, Javea - Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida - 1905

{forgot to capture info!}

{Photo of Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium courtesy of here}

january 2010 {tota press}

2010-01-14T11:19:00.002-05:00

Inspiration

Happy New Year! Cheers to another start of a new year, where we can restart/reboot ourselves to plan and hope for a year full of goodness. All Japanese families gather together {New Years is the biggest traditional holiday - almost the equivalent of Thanksgiving here in the US} for a meal heavy on symbolism to wish for a joyous, healthy and prosperous year.

Symbolism is a huge part of Japanese history and culture. During my last visit to Japan, I visited Nikko in the Tochigi prefecture, which is the home of Toshogu, a lavishly decorated shrine and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - justified by its beautiful grounds, rich history and presence of significant cultural relics. It rained for my visit, but I still enjoyed an inexplicably peaceful walk through the site and learning so much about it. One of my favorite new discoveries was one relatively small object - a helmet which was part of a Samurai war armour that Tokugawa Ieyasu gifted to his grandson, Tokugawa Iemitsu. The helmet {on display at Taiyu-in in the complex} had a large gold dragonfly on the top center. Dragonflies fly directly forward never deviating from its path; Traditionally known as katsumushi or the "victorious insect", the dragonfly was a favorite symbol of strength among Japanese warriors. This philosophy - to be always forward-moving despite any distractions or barriers - was the message that a grandfather wanted to give to his grandson. Despite this being more for war fighting {which is not something I believe in}, I was fascinated by the symbolic creature prominently adorning the helmet. And at the time of a new year, I wanted to borrow that message for all of us to shed the past and move forward with strength and positive energy. So, 1 of the cards has a red dragonfly as a small accent motif with hopefully a bigger meaning.

The 2nd orange card is meant to be a light-hearted design that was inspired by the fireworks, lights and party garlands {I am a long-time fan of the Fabulous Garlands by Sophie Cuvelier} for a fun new years party. The orange was the color choice to honor 2010, which is the year of the tiger {for the Chinese Zodiac}. May your year be fiesty, grand and exciting like our celebrated animal~

May this year bring you amazing experiences, joy, laughter and happiness in all ways~...cheers!

Many much more photos on our Facebook page - January 2010 album »

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subway architecture

2010-01-13T09:24:00.001-05:00

Came upon this feature of subway architecture through a random blog stroll. I'm a big fan of the NYC subway station art {tiles, installations, mosaics, etc} ...but I am absolutely impressed with the imagination and vision to create these stations photographed here. Subways/metros and their stations are such an integral part of urban design and is something that really represents that city's personality. I appreciate Design Boom for putting together this overview~

Photographed here from top to bottom: 1. moscow – komsomolskaya station; 2. prague – line a, 3. tokyo - iidabashi station; and 4. stockholm tunnelbana. See more here.

{Photos courtesy of design boom}

brief encounter

2010-01-11T19:46:00.003-05:00

Over the weekend, I saw the play Brief Encounter at St. Anne's Warehouse - and what a great stage production! Based on David Lean's 1946 film {same title Brief Encounter} about a doomed love affair between two married people, this specific production is by the Britain-based Kneehigh Theater. With actors performing in front of originally created black-and-white film clips, they are trying to honor the spirit of the film that inspired it from the 1930s. The talented cast plays multiple varying characters, sings while acting, and does a lot of the stage setup themselves {moving set pieces, producing sound effects, etc}, which I loved. I really admire the creative direction taken by Emma Rice to put on stage her very unique take of the story - that all can enjoy. It's no wonder that this performance got extended {the reason why I was able to go check it out!} for more people to experience...

{Photos courtesy of NY Times and here}

art of the samurai {met}

2010-01-07T07:33:00.000-05:00

This is the last week for the Met Museum exhibit called Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor. I went to check it out as I know there is so much rich history, culture and artistry involved with anything samurai - Japanese warriors who were members of the feudal military aristocracy. Aristocracy, being the keyword, samurai held a high and respected role and led lavish lifestyles for their time. The Met collection {apparently the first comprehensive exhibition devoted to the arts of the samurai in the US} featured samurai helmets, armor, clothing, swords and their cases, saddles and artwork. The objects date from the rise of the samurai in the late Heian period, ca. 1156, through the early modern Edo period, ending in 1868, when samurai culture was abolished. Every item is hand crafted with artistry, which shows the high respect and honor that was given to these warriors. You get to see many pieces that are practical warrior tools that also embody many layers of symbolism. Various helmets were crafted for indiviuals that represented their philosophies and beliefs. There was a helmet that was in the shape of a swallow's tail {bottom image} that was not only aerodynamic, but also represented the speedy force in how a swallow flies. My other favorites from the exhibit included a video that showed how 15 people and 6 months are involved to create 1 sword, as well as jinbaori {surcoats that warriors wore off of the battefields} that had amazingly modern motifs despite them being created in the 16th and 17th century. I recommend the exhibit for anyone who wants a glimpse of this realm of Japanese culture {up at the Met until Jan 10}.

{Photos courtesy of Met Museum - photographs were not allowed for this exhibit}

more feasting {adour}

2010-01-05T08:01:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and so my family and I celebrated her special day at a special restaurant here in NYC - Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis Hotel. The concept of the restaurant is to create a classic-turned-modern menu that pairs well with wine - so the decor {interior by the Rockwell Group} of the space complimented that idea with a few largely prominent wine vaults as well as glass walls with grape + vine etchings. The food was phenomenal - everything cooked to perfection and the presentation being small works of art. And speaking of art, there is a beautiful large installation mural by Nancy Lorenz {top middle photo} that caught my mother's and my attention. With thick organically flowing gold gesso and mother of pearl inlays, the relief piece creates the mood of the dining room. Adour is definitely a special occasions kind of place and if you have the chance...bon apetit to you~

Main Dining Room

Poached Lobster Entree, Chocolate Leaf Dessert & Birthday Hazelnut Souffle

Beautiful Decor of the St. Regis Hotel

new years feasting

2010-01-04T07:05:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!!! How did your 2010 begin? Thanks to my dear mom, my day 1 of this decade began with a traditional Japanese new years feast full of symbolic foods. My favorite is ozoni {toasted mochi rice cake in a clear soup}, but we all also enjoyed black beans {mame = which also means "health"}, chestnuts, seaweed {konbu = associated with the word yorokobu, meaning "joy"} lotus root {renkon = when sliced it lookes like a wheel with spokes and gaps, and wishes for a "clear, good future"} and nishiki tamago {an egg dish that separates the yolk and the whites, where yellow symbolizes "gold" and white symbolizes" silver"}. All Japanese families gather together {New Years is the biggest traditional holiday - almost the equivalent of Thanksgiving here in the US} for a meal heavy on symbolism to wish for a joyous, healthy and prosperous year. So I share some photos from our table and wish you all a super year {of the tiger!} with amazing experiences, joy, laughter and happiness in all ways~...cheers!

happy holidays~

2009-12-24T07:20:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays to everyone~ At this time of wrapping up the year, I want to thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I hope you, your friends and family all have a super holiday season and a new year full of good times~

I leave you here with some photos of my favorite Christmas find...ornaments made of pages from Pride & Prejudice from Brookish.

{Photos courtesy of Brookish}

edgy-er pearls

2009-12-22T18:27:00.000-05:00

Pearls have always had a difficult time being cool. But perhaps that has changed with Thakoon's debut jewelry line for Tasaki. I like the simple line of pearls and can imagine it subtly dressing an outfit up. It definitely has a more youthful feel and look forward to checking them out in person {coming out in April 2010}...

{Photos courtesy of fabsugar}

roy haynes @ birdland

2009-12-21T08:49:00.003-05:00

This weekend I got surprise tickets to see the legendary jazz drummer, Roy Haynes, at the Birdland. He is apparently known as "one of the seven wonders of modern jazz" - and it is amazing that at 24, Haynes was the drummer in Charlie Parker's group on Birdland's opening night, December 15th, 1949. So, fittingly, this set was the cornerstone of Birdland's 60th Anniversary celebration. Get this, he's 84 YEARS OLD! But he played like he is decades younger - and how appropriate that his band's name is "Fountain of Youth"...inspiring~

{Photos courtesy of Josef Polleross and Carolyn Appel (JALC)}

must-have handheld of 2009

2009-12-16T00:17:00.005-05:00

I watched this little parody of an iPhone and thought it was pretty well done - and so true! No waiting for pages to load, no contract, no losing reception - there's no substitute for the good old paper. Created to celebrate the the 40th anniversary of the Sun, this video is a fun way to fight the paper cause...