Design sponge has an awesome guide for shops in Tokyo - not my normal type of store, but there were some really interesting shops in the list.

Tokyo Shopping Guide - Design Sponge

I also really like this site - Japan Craft Journal - tons of shopping tips for the crafty.

So this morning I sat down with Illustrator again - and this time I didn't have too many problems!! I'm so excited! Check out what I traced from my sketch book in 30 minutes:

So Illustrator and I are STILL not friends. Everytime I want to try something new, it's a no go. I'm in a never ending cycle of tutorial searching and found these guys a few weeks ago.

Good-Tutorials - Illustrator Tutorials

from vectips which I discovered with the magic of google.

Magdalena Bors - or my second favorite photographer (after Husband). I love the scenes she's set up in some of these photos

found via craftzine

I am drooling over these gorgeous pieces from Kyoko Hashimoto Jewellery. Not sure where to find her stuff for purchase on the web, but I LOVE IT!

Again - I have no idea where I found these lovelies on the web....

=): Yellena’s Blog

I'm getting bad about this, but I cannot for the life of me remember how I found this blog.

But Yellena's art is just gorgeous! I love the sea life feel of some of her paintings.

A wonderful collection of old stuff that is auctioned off on Ebay (some were won by the author, other not). I found several old fabric samples and just cool images from the past on this blog.

Including the one pictures below:



Original production sample of "Sea Things" fabric designed by Ray Eames. Schiffer Prints, 1951.

REFERENCE LIBRARY


Found via craftzine.com

the Fat Quarter Shop's Blog, The Jolly Jabber, posted this great article on how the fabric printing process starts:

Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber: Rick Cohan on Making Fabric, Part I

I'm hoping that Part 2 is posted soon!

ARGH! tech ignorance is so frustrating sometimes!

The method of production Apple appears to be using on their new MacBooks is not a new process or technique - computer controlled milling machines and laser cutters have been around for decades. I have a milling machine in my spare room that my husband bought over five years.

It's being touted as revolutionary AGAIN by the Macheads who refuse to do any research on the internet about the claims of their favorite company.

Anyway - see for yourself:

Apple's upcoming "Brick" is rumored to be a manufacturing process, not a product - Core77

I got my cards from her blog giveaway last night in the mail! Aren't they pretty?