Failure, my friend.

Hiya~ I've got a new bit of art to share with you all! As cliche as it sounds, most of my art just sort of flows out of randomness and takes shape as I work, and I rarely start with too much of a solid plan. This piece however, came together after quite a bit of careful planning and rough sketching of what I wanted it to look like - for me, a new way of working. I think the main reason being I had this line in my head that I once wrote as part of some lyrics for an unfinished song "Stitch my failure all together, sew new wings and fly forever." I always liked the use of 'all together' rather than 'altogether', for some reason I think it does change the meaning ever so slightly. (Virgo much?)

The line has been running through my head again lately, because... well... I dropped the ball. Big time. I made a pretty stupid mistake. No one was hurt and no real harm was done, however it was certainly one of those moments where you repeatedly kick yourself afterwards. Definitely in my top 3 'what the eff was I thinking (or not thinking)' moments. Let me tell you, my behind is more than a little bruised from the proverbial self-kickings. Needless to say I've been berating myself (as you do when you balls up a perfectly good plan) with the 'how and why' of it all. In hindsight it all seems burningly obvious, which makes it a slap that keeps on slappin'. I won't go into details because my back is sore from cringing, and those who know me well already know what went down. I've chalked it up to my mind being filled with so much other information that it squished out a little common sense. I've talked about this theory before.

So, that brings me back to my new artwork. "Fly With Me".



It was very much inspired by a need to release a little guilt, the anger at myself for my error in judgement. But I do believe that if not for our failures, our successes would be empty and somewhat meaningless. In fact, with no extreme to compare it to, there would be no such thing as success, we wouldn't even need a word to describe such a situation for it would just be everyday life. What a mundane existance that would be.

So thankyou, failure. But please leave it a little longer between visits next time, if you may be so kind.

Tiff xx

Cocoa Jumbo Collage Fest!

Ace of Base is cranked, my fingers are covered in glue and my tea is stone cold. I blame Japan, and it's endless supply of art & craft niknaks, feeding my obsession and draining my yen. But it's an oh-so-fun way to starve!

Here's a little seal playing in akiba, he really loves it there. He has an obsession with novelty USB sticks so he's lovin' life.... he's like... like a seal in a USB store! Crazy!

Today I'm off to Kichijoji to explore, I still haven't been there yet and I hear it's totally neato. Will let you know what I discover!

Tiff

xx

Good things come in efficiently-delivered packages!

OK. So the Japanese postal service, like just about everything else here in Japan, is extremely efficient. Pros: When they say a package will be delivered between 9am - 12noon, it usually arrives on the dot of 9am. Cons: My room is on the third floor, so when I hear that doorbell ring, I have to RUN (no exadgeration) down 2 flights of stairs in order to reach the front door before they decide it's 'undeliverable' and leave! Luckily, on all occasions I've (just) made it and signed and received my package ~ phew~!

This morning I received a lovely little package from my mum back home in Australia, containing a book titled 'a life in frocks' by Kelly Doust - my mother knows me well! Not only is it about a woman's love of beautiful dresses, but it's also filled with wonderfully whimsical watercolour illustrations by the talented Zoe Sadoskierski. I've just finished reading Russell Brand's second booky wook (highly recommended!) so this will be a nice change of pace. I love having a book on the go, even though I don't often find much time to read it!

Amazon.jp also sent me some packages this morning ~ thanks amazon! Well I paid for them of course, but at least they were thoughtful enough to deliver them so promptly - I only placed the order late last night - there's that extreme Japanese efficiency again! ;)

The packages from amazon.jp are design books by MdN with goody-filled CDs attached (big thanks to hello sandwich for the intro!). I will be sure to share more creations as I experiment with them all! For now, here are a few little bits of play using elements from some of my existing illustrations [never say never and tokyo daydream #2] combined with a few of the MdN paper and tape bits.

And here's a peak inside the books ~~ cho kawaiiiii ne~!

mata ne!

Tiff xx

DIY postcards... my new obsession

Hiya~ it's official, I should not be allowed anywhere near ITOYA ever again. At least not if I want to eat and pay my rent. ITOYA is the most amazingly delightful, trinkety, smorgasboard selection of stationery and DIY goods that you could ever hope to get your crafty little mittens on!

After seeing so many gorgeous 'happy new year' postcards lately (a tradition here in Japan), many of them hand-made, I was super inspired to start making my own postcards for friends and family back home. But not just new year's greetings, also general everyday 'how you been' type postcards featuring a little bit of original art.

I was then reading my favourite blog hello sandwich and absolutely fell in love with her digitally collaged nangenjo (new year's postcard) designs.

Completely obsessed with the idea of DIY postcards, I have started collaging like crazy using patterned paper, bits of flyers and cute print outs, deco mt tape, stickers, and little hand drawn illustrations. Fun fun fun~!

Here's some of the loot from today's ITOYA frenzy...



I'll be sure to post some finished designs soon!

Tiff xx

New Year, New Inspiration!

Greetings all on this fine day - the very first day actually, of 2011. The sun is shining and the streets are quiet. I can hear the hushed hum of silence... a few doors creaking and bin lids closing as people contemplate emerging from their party-induced comas... (and instead opt for a movie, a blanket and some ice-cream inside!).

Most of my Japanese friends have gone back to their hometowns to ring in the new year with family (as is tradition here), so today will be a quiet one - re-organising and getting things in order for the coming year and with one month down on my little Tokyo adventure, I'm looking excitedly toward the next few months in anticipation of new projects and experiences.

Here's a little peak at my final project for 2010 - a poster design for a party in Shibuya, Tokyo. I must say, this poster was a lot of fun to create! After a few requests for prints of the original design (without text) I decided to tweak it a little and create a print version too.

Well, I'm off to partake in the afore mentioned NY's day activity of movie and ice cream! Some Will Ferrell & Haagen Daz ~ perfect way to ring in the new year I think!
xx

Oh, Shibuya night

Hiya mates! As most people who are a little familiar with Tokyo will probably agree, Shibuya is "the shitto", the place to be, the run-a-muck central for youngens and youngens at heart. Sardine-packed full of cafes, restaurants, fashion, music, art and most of all... people! A few shenanigans in Shibuya is always an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday night!

Last Saturday, my lovely friend miss Chiaki Sparkles was guest DJ at 'edge-end' in Shibuya - a tiny little hole in the wall bar, (the kind behind an unmarked door that you'd never find without a Japanese friend). It's like somebody filled a shoebox full of acid and rainbows then threw it down in a pile of tangled christmas lights and indie records. However, what it lacks in windows and air-con it more than makes up for in amusingly off-beat nikko graffiti wall scrawlings (my favourite "wank is my life") and an extremely jovial atmosphere - the kids are cool but they sure know how to smile.

Here we are enjoying our canned combini umeshu... delish!


And below is one of my favourite shots from the night - she looks chou kawaii ne!


After Chiaki's gig we headed to beat cafe (above echo), a favourite drinking spot amoung locals and foreigners. I get the impression it used to be a little 'in-the-know' but it's so good word has got out and things get pretty packed on weekends (it seats about 2.8 people comfortably - yes, that's a decimal point). Gensho the barman is an absolute riot (pictured below with Sparkles), I've heard many stories about this guy's goodwill and heart of gold but he'd never let you know it, he'll instead make cheeky remarks in broken english and throw pretzels at your bottom. He is a bloody rad dude. He also likes to pose cross-eyed in photos and point to his name on the wall whenever it is mentioned (pictured below, top right corner of the wall).


The only downside to all this peach-flavoured fizzy fun was that I wasted most of Sunday sleeping, when I should have been enjoying the sun at the park. I'll make up for it this weekend.... loves n that x

Sweet potato chips and random ponderings!

Hiya sweet folk,

Today's delightful little discovery was toffee-glazed sweet potato chips! Or maybe it's honey... I'm really not sure but whatever it is it's crispy and crackly on the outside fluffy on the inside and truly magnificent eating... although every bite comes with a hint of guilt as you consider all the 'sometime foods' that have gone into the production of such a decadent morsel.... but well worth it as an occasional afternoon treat!




Today also brought the discovery of a small coffee shop that sells... coffee yes, but also.... vegemite and tim-tams! (Along with pasta, cheese and red wine!)... I was so giddy with enthusiasm that I almost blurted it out to anyone who'd listen (and more than likely not understand) but I refrained and stifled my silly little giggles. That is one downside to travelling alone (and there are many upsides!) ... you can't just turn to your buddy and gush about that van shaped like a dog... or the fact that the single banana you just bought at the grocery store comes packaged in cellophane and ribbon! I guess that's what the blog's for... venting happiness!

I'm lucky enough to already have made some friends here in Tokyo on previous trips, but of course they are working through the week and I'm still in that splendid twilight zone floating and skipping along somewhere between a leisurely holiday and the giddy rush of moving your life to a brand new city in a far off land (especially, when like me, you've threatened to do just that for the last 4 years).

So here I am... happily pushing the notion that in a few weeks time I need to start looking for an arubaito (part time job) way back to the deep depths of my mind, somewhere between my hiding kanji knowledge and the name of that guy that sings 'Ramona was a waitress' that I've been trying to think of all day. Bloody hell, he's from 'something for kate'. I know it. And yet it won't come. And I refuse to google it because I'm a stubborn weirdo who competes with herself. "I can't let me win or I'll lose!"

I am a firm believer that there's only so much room in your brain for all the info we try to cram in on a daily basis... so when you're in a situation of 'high alert' when you're traveling for example (making sure you're walking up the right street, watching that you don't knock an old lady down with your bottom as you both pass through a japan-sized shopping aisle...), I think your brain makes an educated choice on useful information and discards a few things it deems 'temporarily unneccessary'. Well, not discarded... filed to the very back. Next to the afore mentioned Kanji...

Tomorrow it's off to the ward office to declare myself as an ALIEN. I had my costume all picked out, I was going to go as roger from American Dad, but when my Japanese friend saw it all arranged neatly on my bed ready to go, she quickly explained to me that 'Alien' here just means you're a foreigner. Yeah ok, I'm absolutely joking about the costume but would I have been the first to attempt this joke? I think not. There's probably already been a gaijin wonderfully bogan enough (it would've been an aussie) to turn up to the office in an ET getup, just giving us all a good name...

Well I'm the first to admit that this entry is rather ranty and rought with tangents... but I blame the sugar rush from my glazed potato treats. Please now enjoy some more snaps from my aimless wandering. Ja mata ne!

Tiff xx

***UPDATE*** bloody hell it's Paul Dempsey. It just came to me while microwaving a bento box!