these are my treasures

little hairy dress by Marion Michell (aka Marjojo)

I am so sad i will not be able to make it to see Marjojo's art exhibition coming up next week. It is at The Art House in Wakefield, UK. If you are in the area, i hope you'll go see it! Marjojo will rock your world. The opening is on Wednesday, May 26th, from 5-9pm, with Marjojo giving an artist talk at 7pm. The exhibit is up from 26 May - 21 July 2010.

Marjojo, you are an incredible artist and i think you are a superhero.


dimensions: 8 x 6 cm


paper shoes, each shoe width/length: 4.2 x 7.5 cm; height: 4cm & 7 cm


little wild girl, dress dimensions: 12 x 9.5 x 8 cm




beautiful works by Marion Michell

monna's hair

Ting yelled at me for my last post. i sheepishly felt loved again. A couple months ago, while getting my studio space in order, i came upon a newspaper bundle. I opened it and saw two ponytails of Ting's hair. scared the heck out of me. Quickly remembered that i had found it at home last year and secretly took it back with me. Isn't it so beautiful? i am torn about returning it (so it can be donated as it was intended years ago) or keeping it for myself...

So i've been taking it easy with studio work. making more wimpy starts and not finishing much still. I don't like it at all. I decided i need to treat this whole process as work that i have to do regardless if i feel like it or not. EveryDay. well, except for Mondays, cuz the full-day studio weekends are more exhausting than day job work and i'll definitely need a break in the evening. and Thursday evenings cuz we have to watch Survivor (and a movie). And probably Fridays since that is usually our clean-up day. Well. that aint so bad, is it?

Tea time!


pencil and acrylic on paper, 12.7 x 10.2 cm

A drawing done earlier this month. One thing i'm happy with that came out from these few weeks of take-it-easy studio time. But i know i can do more so i will I Will.

i miss you studio

i used to wake up to this every morning at our old apartment

It's strange to be in such a prettier place now yet still be missing some misshapen things from before. :/. This was the living room turned into my studio:





Note: wig collection hung on wall (i didn't make them) inspired by Marjojo's My Mother Has Golden Hair

and you guys remember my awesome shelves built from just bricks and wooden planks?




unfinished bits and pieces on worktable

These photos were taken by John, a few days before moving out of there to our new house. Still in the midst of unpacking and getting the studio space set up...

late beginnings

Early last September, dear wonderful Barbara gave me a dozen eggs fresh from her chickens at home. Sam I Am lays the green eggs. I love all of them so and tried to save the eggshells. Their colors and shapes are so pretty to look at, even the broken ones...





I tried wrapping one of the eggshells but it did not turn out right at all. Felt like i was suffocating it. They are beautiful naked as is, aren't they?

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Today i meet again the guy who reminds me of K. It's been years. Did not recognize him at first but his voice sounded familiar, only louder than what i remembered. He looked changed and not so much like K anymore.

It was good to be home for the holidays and be with the family even though i kept telling people how exhausting it was. My cousins are more and more heroic to me. I wish for more time together with them and my sisters. Soygu looking younger with Sharrlyn and my parents have stopped aging. Called home after driving back late Friday night to let them know we've arrived safely, and i could hear the noise and chatter in the background. Next morning, i woke up thinking of everyone and feeling so lonely. I especially miss my sisters and cousins. Don't want them to ever grow old.

hello new space!

So i've been busy trying to reorganize my workspace again. I've built a wall of new shelves with these cute little bricks and 8' wooden planks (placed on top of bookcases)! It's still all kind of messy but at least there is space in the middle of the room to breathe and stretch out.

I don't really know where to pick up right now. am not able to write about the promise spoons or continue with things i had in mind to do. want a nice old bike to ride around and enjoy these last few days of summer. this morning was freezing. looking forward to some hot sun tomorrow and pretend i am heading out to the beach.

tamarind bloom

The inner veinery of tamarind pods that Conor @ RedCatBlackCat sent me earlier this year.

Look what else my good old buddy saved for me after eating the sweet sour tamarind pulp:


Tamarind seeds! Click for larger image to see the lovely blue gem among the pebble of seeds. As if everything else isn't enough already. :).

I love it all, Conor. *You* are wonderful. The red dragonflies on the card you sent have also been flying in my head lately...


I have these around me as i am finishing up with my promise spoons. Want to do something with the tamarind veinery afterwards. i wonder what.

happy mother's day everyday

my favorite picture of my mom and me

Today my mom called and i found myself yelling at how conservative and messed up her thinking is. I want her not to be ashamed. Her daughters are not dirty and unrespectable.

I look at this picture now and don't know why i always have to be yelling so much. This is essentially who we are to each other, isn't it?

So many trips and visitors this month and last month. One of the best was being home for Mother's Day two weekends ago. My mom and i, we just sat around and chatted and chatted. For once, not about my unstable future, but their great past of survival. My poor dad did all the cooking for us - first one to wake up and made breakfast, continued on to make lunch and then red bean ice cream and then dinner and more food for me to take back with me. sweet day for all of us.

And i finally got the details in chronological order of what my parents went through during the Khmer Rouge suffering. I hope that my mom will decide to write a memoir of it. I know there is still so much left unsaid and more to their story than i'll ever understand.

spoons crazy

Inspired by my spoon collection and prompted by Paula asking if i am making spoons or collecting them (thanks, Paula!), i have started crazy making spoons these past few days. Oh how happy it makes me! I think i am going to make spoons for the rest of my life now.


the first two that i made.


string over paper on wire, 23 x 7.5 cm


paper on wire, 19 x 5 cm


paper on wire, 25 x 5 cm


This one is my favorite so far. John doesn't care for it but i love it very much.

happy birthday, Michael!

best DaGa these guys could
ever have growing up. ♡ !

sweet

Baby's homemade chocolate covered gummi bears, last ones left.

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The other night we took turns laughing in our sleep. Neither of us could remember what was so funny but John sure could giggle like a little girl. ahah. :D.

happy birthday, Grace!

I wish i could say i made these and sending them your way for your birthday...but lucky me, i got them first! :D. John and i both enjoyed them very much. Now there are only J and M gingerguys left with the lovely heart between them. aren't they too cute to eat?

And i just love the paper you used to write on. so pretty with the silver writing on it. and the little red pen too!



And...as if all this wasn't enough (and it's not even my birthday), look at the beautiful handmade scarf that Grace made for me...



It is so soft and cozy. Can you tell i am thinking sweet wonderful thoughts of you, Gracie? i am. hope you are enjoying your day with your love...

happy birthday, May!

little May dressed in flowers
reading (?!!) on a bed of flowers

I love this picture of May. She looks so cute and sassy and smart, doesn't she? but i think the book is upside down or something. ;).

Happy happy birthday, MayWong. My world didn't really begin until you were born. ♡

happy birthday, Ma!

wearing a hat that my mom made for me. John calls me blueberry.

I wish i could be home today to have cake with my mom. It seems like it's been a long while since any one of us has been home to celebrate our parents' birthdays. Next year, Ma!!!

Thanksgiving Day (last Thursday), we were on the phone with Ting, telling her how much she sucked for not being home with us that day. heh. just kidding, Ting. we just missed you. So my mom started tearing up the minute she got on the phone with her little baby, and it just about breaks my heart even now just thinking about it. It is so strange to have someone who could yell at you until you wish you were never even born and then the next moment, she is your light, your soul...

happy birthday, Ma! ♡ i love you.

tiny lovely

I was going to wait to post about this but i just can't wait. Finally caught some good daylight yesterday and got to take the pictures.

Look what i received in the mail last Monday!


...arrived just like that, so raw and delicate...love the little clasp on the box...

It is from *Erin*, whom i have yet to meet in person but whose presence has already touched me ever so deeply. Thank you, Erin, for this, and for magically appearing into my life. :).



[click for a closer peek]



I think of the hands that went into tearing these pieces and pieces of paper that look like fine leather and feathers...



and then underneath all that softness...



...a dragonfly i've been looking for, and a tiny tiny lovely blooming:



I saw it and it speaks to me ever so softly, echoing my thoughts.



and the dragonfly...like the one my dad had caught for me to fly with when i was little, because where i was born, there were no toy stores around at the time.


the dragonfly in silent prayers...

trailing

So i've been out on the trails again today. It's so stupid that it took me four years to discovered these nature trails right on campus where i work. But i guess better late than never. I was lamenting how i wish i could have discovered them at least earlier this spring/summer instead of right now when winter is about to set in.

But today, having come across various beautiful dried things, i think this new autumn beginning on the trails is not so bad at all...(thanks to Marjojo and Catherine for their writing/commenting on the beauty of being outside at this time of the year. It prompted me to quit moping around the house and finally go out for a walk like i keep saying i would).



Found these dried stalks last week when i was on one of the trails. I love them little pellet things bunched up together like that to become leaves.


...in a vase i made sometime in 2004, vase size appx. 5.7 x 9.7 cm

planet red*

My shelftop of little things and the big red planet candle that i bought all the way from Denver.

*For your curiousity, Uschi. :).

happy birthday, Ting-dong!

Look what i got you! don't know what it is really but it's super bright and squishy and smells a bit funny, so immediately i thought of you! :). love love.