TOTA Press { handmade letterpress card subscriptions } --- CARD DESIGNS

* MARCH 2013 * flight

INSPIRATION
Little blurb + photos coming soon!

inspiration MARCH 2012

INSPIRATION
Little blurb + photos coming soon!

More card photos on our Facebook page - FEBRUARY 2013 album »

inspiration FEBRUARY 2012

INSPIRATION
Happy new year - it's 2013! It's the commencement of holiday hooplah {...I hope everyone had a nice holiday season with family, friends and loved ones~} and a fresh start to a new year. Let's take a breather and make this one another good one. Oh and this month's design? Look for 2013 in roman numerals! One set in gold, silver and black {Gatsby-style celebration colors!} and the other in neon day-glo red {bright color for a bright start!}...cheers everyone.

More card photos on our Facebook page - JANUARY 2013 album »

inspiration JANUARY 2012

INSPIRATION
Happy holidays December everyone~! For some reason, my December designs - perhaps as a reverse reaction to all of the EVERYTHING going on around - have always been quiet and subtle. This year, I think it's happened again. Inspired by and using the Japanese pattern of matsukawa bishi - a pine bark diamond pattern - it's a nod to the conifer tree of Christmas. With one card with shades of pine green and the other in red {with a blind hit too}, I extend to you, your family + friends a wonderful and relaxing holiday season...see you next year!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - DECEMBER 2012 album »

inspiration DECEMBER 2012

INSPIRATION
It's getting to be a lot like winter! Well, it is winter for sure...so this month's cards are inspired by the stiches that make up a warm, thick winter sweater - as we seek the warm + the cozy with the falling tempertures...that and the deep, rich colors of fall/winter fashion. I loved this Barney's ad {below} for The Row - the colors, the lines, the luxury all coming together. With one card having those deeper jewel tone colors and the other with indigo blues and a blind press, I bring to you November's design~

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - NOVEMBER 2012 album »

inspiration NOVEMBER 2012

INSPIRATION
....And now it is autumn! I came upon the work of Robert The's book works, where he uses books to create art. And I loved this one {below} where he cuts out a leaf shape through the thickness of an entire book. And finding some beautiful origami with maple leaves on them, this month's cards is a collection of Japanese maple leaves with some highlighted foliage. One has black ink to really highlight the red colors, and the other has a fade gradient of blue to highlight the red colors...in a different way. Enjoy the end of the season before the winter freeze comes~

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - OCTOBER 2012 album »

inspiration OCTOBER 2012

INSPIRATION
Very recently, one of my best friends got married to her special someone. To lead up to the festivities, a group of our girlfriends rented a cottage in the Hudson Valley and spent a fun little getaway. The ride up showed peeks of fall foliage - just the very tad beginning of leaf edges turning red. The actual wedding was in the Poconos' woods - and how peaceful and perfect it was to see this amazing couple tie the knot there. It was pouring rain about 1 hour before the ceremony and we all got a little worried for the outdoor ceremony...but then, the sun came out...and for their vows, the air was crisp and the sun showed brightly through the forest. It was too perfect. So with one card with the summer-end greens and the other one with some fall colors coming in, I bring to you a leafy design for September~

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - SEPTEMBER 2012 album »

inspiration SEPTEMBER 2012

INSPIRATION
Did you see Moonrise Kingdom? I'm a big fan of Wes Anderson and after this movie, my admiration for him and his craft went one notch up. I don't know if this is his best one per se, but I do think it's another original creation that only his own kooky and imaginative mind {along with Roman Coppola's} could come up with. So with the spirit of the movie in mind with the shapes of summer clouds, I bring to you this month's cards. One card is done with the pink and green khaki color highlighted in the 2 protgonists of Moonrise Kingdom...and the other is a combination of sky blues. Happy summer dreaming~

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - August 2012 album »

inspiration August 2012

INSPIRATION
Summer is here! It's July and the temperature proves it. I've had a few things going on this month that has brought me to the same place at day and night, which was the base inspiration for this month's cards.

I had the recent pleasure of being part of some dear friends' wedding {yes, a lot of weddings this year!} at the Brooklyn Navy Yards. As I was there in the morning helping the bride & groom {who I might add did an AMAZING job handmaking many of the parts and pieces of their special day} with the last details of the celebration, I got to step out on the roof terrace that has a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline. For the wedding itself, all of the guests were treated to a perfect sunset as we danced, ate, and cocktailed the night away. I wish my friends a lifetime of happiness and big heap of congratulations on them tying the knot! I thank them for sharing a memorable NYC night filled with love, friendship, family and so much fun~

Another pleasant discovery was new sculpture, Watertower, by Tom Fruin in DUMBO - it's BEAUTIFUL! See these photos during the day and at night and you cannot tell me you are not awed. I love this idea of public art for all to see, absorb and enjoy. It's a nice welcome to the NYC summer, I must say.

And just simply, I find the window flooding with sun during the day and at night look up at the lit windows. I LOVE NYC in the summer. When I'm not there, I miss it. And this month's cards show it. With one card with citrus yellow and orange colors {day!} and one with black frames accented by a warm yellow {night!}, I wish you all a good good good summer.

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - July 2012 album »

inspiration July 2012

INSPIRATION
Have you ever been to Hawaii? Have you? It's beautiful. This month, my old roomie from Brooklyn got married! In Maui! And I was able to swing a trip there for my first visit to the paradise island. With all their beautiful beaches, the surf, the oceanside wedding...how could I not be inspired by the water and waves.

With the wedding in such a great location, my husband and I got to head out a few days before the wedding to explore the island. We started our first day in Paia, a little town on the north side of the island. We drove to Makena from there and visited Big Beach, which might have been my favorite beach there. The 2nd day, we started the day with a drive up Mt. Haleakala - we missed the famous sunrise but got there shortly after and got to see the sun rise above the clouds and reveal the land below. We were over 10,000 feet up in the sky! After that, we did the drive to Hana, on the east side of the island. I learned there that the road to Hana is quite famous for the beauty and hidden nature secrets that the relatively untouched side of the island has to offer. And it didn't disappoint. My favorite discovery was the Venus Pool which was right near the cottage we stayed in. In the morning, when the tide is low, there is a strip of rocks that breaks apart this lagoon from the ocean. The water is crystal clear in the deep pool, that you can jump/dive into. 3rd day, we drove the southern road from Hana to the west coast of the island, Kanapaali, to meet everyone for the wedding festivities. The wedding - the bride, the setting, the ceremony, the party...everything - was beautiful. There was a calmness being by the water, while at the same time feeling a huge excitement as a momentous occasion was happening before our eyes. Congrtulations to my 2 lovebirds :)

The bride took a photo of the Maui sunset during the post wedding days of her stay on the island. For one of the cards, I took the colors from it - a gradient from a deep peach to a dark purple - as those were some of the gorgeous colors I got to visually experience too. The other card celebrates the traditional maritime colors with a lighter to darker blue gradient plus an accent of red! Enjoy the waves...

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - June 2012 album »

inspiration June 2012

INSPIRATION
Oh, this month was designed with an abundance of inspiration! As mentioned last month, I got to make a short but sweet trip to Tokyo to celebrate my grandmother's 99th birthday! And during the few days, I got to check out an exhibit at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum called KATAGAMI Style - Paper stencils and Japonisme. It was fantastic and I learned so much! What did I learn? So, katagami are stencils that were used to dye patterns and motifs on kimonos and other traditional fabric goods. The stencils were made of 5-6 sheets of rice paper sheets that were adhered together by the juices of persimmons. Then the paper would get hard {it almost looks like leather, actually} and artists would hand carve, sculpt or punch-out a pattern. The exhibit had many many vintage katagami stencils which were AMAZING in perfection to think that someone carved them by hand! Now, an additional interesting part of the exhibit was how these katagami patterns influenced modern design. In the 19th century, katagami stencils got exported and the world used them as inspiration for design. Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Americas all have objects {furniture, houseware, jewelry, etc.} that have strong ties to the vintage stencil patterns. The exhibit showcased specific katagami stencils with these objects to show the similarities and interpretations that went across the globe.

Another thing I discovered was the significance of the kiku or chrysanthemum flower, which is that it is a symbol of the Japanese Emperor and the Imperial family. It is used in the family crest and has been used in many of their possessions. Sometimes the chrysanthemum would be depicted with long petals and sometimes with many many layers. I used the latter version for this month's cards as they reminded me of pom poms or fireworks, which are both fun things :).

I realized that my monthly designs are {unknowing until now} an extension of this exhibit I got to see. I use traditional Japanese patterns and motifs and make them my own inspired by the season and what I see/do. And this month's card designs, especially, are my interpretation of some of the beautiful chrysanthemum katagami patterns I got a chance to see so close. One set has a few shades of gray with an accent of light gold - and the other is more bold with jewel tones of teal and purple with grays. Enjoy! I had a lot of fun with this month~

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - May 2012 album »

inspiration May 2012

INSPIRATION
Sometimes, my past cards become the base inspiration of my current designs. The month of April, for TOTA Press, is about sakura or cherry blossoms - as seen in 2011 or 2010 editions. And this spring, I was at the source as I spent 1 very short and quick week in Tokyo with my family...so even more the reason to have this month celebrate the national flower of Japan.

The sakura season in Japan is a mere 1 week to 10 days. The blooms are brilliant and beautiful but part of that comes from their delicate nature - falling when spring showers or a gust of wind passes by. But people in Japan gather, drink and feast under the trees and celebrate the arrival of spring~. I was lucky enough to catch the last few days of the Tokyo season - see some photos here - before a full day of rain brought many of the sakura petals to the ground.

Furthermore, the reason I was in Tokyo at all was to celebrate my grandmother's 99th birthday! How amazing is that? Almost a century of living and experience, and what's even more amazing is that she looked beautiful in a formal kimono and made a toast giving thanks to her family. She is independent and in full health...and someone who I have the utmost admiration for. She raised 6 children (including my mom), has been a self-sufficient widow for over 40 years, survived the famous Great Kantō earthquake in 1923 (the most destructive earthquake Japan experienced until the recent Tohoku earthquake) which brought Tokyo down in flames, has lived to see 6 grandchildren grow up and has met her (so far) all 5 great-grandchildren. The 99th birthday in Japan is somewhat more celebrated than one's 100th birthday in Japan - and this was an occassion that brought every family member together in one place (not an easy thing to do!) in pure joy.

So this month's cards celebrate the beautiful sakura season and are dedicated to the beautiful existence of my strong grandmother. I bring to you an array of sakura blooms in light peach and mint blue/green colors - inspired by some spring fashion color combinations I have come across recently. Cheers to you grandma~ and happy spring to you all~!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - April 2012 album »

PS. Apologies for the delay in posting my inspiration descriptions for the last months. I'm catching up now~!

inspiration Apr 2012

INSPIRATION
Remembering one year later...50% proceeds from this month's senbazuru 1000 crane cards were donated to city of Ishinomaki in the Tohoku region. Thank you subscribers for making it possible to donate even just a little bit more.

For the significance of the senbazuru pattern, this is how I described them last year for the fundraising edition:

The design 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 wishing for a speedy and solid recovery. This is my hope for the people, my family and friends in Japan - as they have experienced such a devastating tragedy.

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - March 2012 album »

inspiration Mar 2012

{image courtesy of architecture for humanity)

INSPIRATION
So for me, the holidays and January rush by and it's actually February that brings the reality of a new year. In some ways exciting and in some ways overwhelming, it just hits me that it's...wow, 2012. I'm not a big believer of new years resolutions, but I do think that it's a time to shed a layer, be positive and move forward. So this month's cards use the traditional Japanese pattern of yabane, the feathers of an arrow, to signify how ready I am to move on and move forward! Yabane has traditionally represented "moving forward". {Addendum: my aunt, a subscriber, told me that she sent this card to a friend's daughter who just graduated college and starting a new job...to wish her congratulations and sending her best wishes to move forward in work, success and life! How nice...}

Also there are a few other peripheral inspirations, such as a nod to cupid's arrow {for Vday! It is February after all} and to a recent Barney's email ad with some great words and a strong image. Sidenote: I really like the new look & feel that Barney's revamped website and marketing efforts have been given...

This month's cards feature 1 card with the yabane pattern in diagonal in a bright orange and the other vertical with blue and yellow inks {with their overlapping areas in green!}. Cheers to moving forward with 2012...

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - February 2012 album »

inspiration Feb 2012

INSPIRATION
Happy 2012! The year of the dragon! I am a dragon, myself, so this is a particularly special New Years for me. The dragon is fierce, strong, mystical...and I wish you all a year of bold moves and wonderful amazement! My mother gave me a few nengajyou {Japanese New Years postcards} with different styles of dragons and I love them all - particularly the ones with simple shapes in a shimmery matte gold. Inspired by the ridges on a dragon's back, this month's cards have chevron-y patterns {in 2 ways}. Enjoy and may your new year start with a bang~!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - January 2012 album »

inspiration JAN 2012

INSPIRATION
December is THE holiday rush/craze month. And although part of me loves to see the city and streets sparkling with tinsel {figuratively and literally}, part of me looks forward to all of this to just settle down. And I think that's why this month's cards are pretty subdued - it's not that I'm not in the holiday spirit...it's just more that I want to bring some calm to the season with a more subtle design. Last December's design was based on evergreen trees - this month I bring back the evergreen theme but present it in a different way.

I love evergreen trees - they have a robust smell and forests of them look beautiful. This month I visited Mendocino - and the roads leading up to it have these ginormous (sp?) redwood tree {in the conifer family} forests...and it takes one's breath away. You stand in these forests and it's so peaceful and quiet. One of my favorite things is when a dark area, shaded with the enormous trees, then gives way to a warm sun spot, and you look up to the blue sky. If you find yourself in these neck of the woods {ha...ha...silence}, some recommendations are the drive on Route 128, some local wineries in the Anderson Valley, Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, strolling through Guerneville and grabbing a bite at Boon Eat + Drink or [Big Bottom Market].

And of course, the everpresent Christmas tree is a pine tree. I found some really beautiful images from Poppytalk that has holiday images of my aesthetic - see here and here. So, in Japan, pine or matsu is one of the symbols of New Years. Combined with bamboo/take and plum/ume, the 3 together symbolize eternal happiness. For New Years, it is customary to place a pair of kadomatsu {gate pines} before every front gate or door to welcome happiness to the home for the new year. And that I wish for you and your families!

With the double meaning of the holiday evergreen here in the US and the gate pines in Japan, I bring to you a set of cards that uses a traditional Japanese motif with 2 sets of intersecting pine needles. Yes, subtle, but do you see it now? The one printed on kraft paper uses metallic gold {yes! a nod to the holiday shine~} and white inks. The other one is printed with a neutral light green and off-white inks. Spreading holiday cheer for the end of the year to the start of 2012 for you all!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - December 2011 album »

inspiration December 2011

INSPIRATION
The fall and beginning of winter brings about the season of cultural and performing arts...and I love it. I find that as every year passes, it gets harder to make the time to see everything, but we try and do what we can. And so far I've got to see some fantastic things that I'll share with you below. This month's cards uses the old Japanese pattern of mimasu {three nested boxes} that I have recently learned to often symbolize actors/performers in Japanese culture. With my own play of the pattern, I bring to you 2 sets of cards with cascading boxes.

First off, ballet season has started! Last year around this time, I discovered the beautifully-shot portraits of NYC Ballet dancers. This year {as the amazing dancers are getting publicized}, I found out WHO is responsible for them: Henry Leutwyler. What a treat to go through his website. Check out the whole collection of the NYC Ballet dancers....breathless.

So, I finally got to see the buzz-worthy show, Sleep No More, a {sort of} adaptation of Macbeth showing in Chelsea in the {sort of} McKittrick Hotel. Went there for the 11:15pm showing and got home at 3am. To be completely frank, it was a little tiny bit too weird for me...but the concept, the commitment of the performers, and the 4 or 5 floors of intricate/creepy/beautiful/imaginative space they created for the audience to run around in was really something. And so in that way, I was intrigued by the white mask we wore for over 2 hours and am so glad to have the opportunity to see it. I don't want to give anything away {you really have to go in with no expectations, I think..} but it brought back a childhood favorite of mine: the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book series {yes! remember those?!} If you can score a ticket, go for it.

On a more child-friendly level, I also recently saw {with mom} Cirque du Soleil's Zarkana. If you didn't know already, CdS is a big favorite of mine. I love the mix of art, athleticism and beauty that each of their shows brings about. Usually their shows are in intimate big tops - fun! Zarkana takes place on the vast stage of Radio City Music Hall...so TOTALLY different vibe. It's almost like the quirky little show {I know, I know, it's a big big production} moved to the big city...and I actually loved them just as they were. But with that said, there were 2 scenes I really loved - first was a 1-minute scene that looked like an exerpt from the world of Magritte with men in suits and bowler hats floating upside down with umbrellas; and the second was a woman who created these amazing sand paintings with her hands.

The mimasu pattern is based on the masu, a square wooden box used to measure rice in Japan during the feudal period. The mimasu pattern was apparently used as a family crest for a renowned Kabuki actor's family in the Edo period. The symbol adorned the family's costumes and ceremonial attire...basically a kind of publicity, yes? Anyways, with that kind of foundation, Japanese people still sometimes use mimasu to symbolize actors and performers. With this season of various kinds of shows and performances and seasons kicking off, I thought it would be a nice way to introduce a piece of Japanese traditions, which was new knowledge to me too. With one set in blues and the other in yellow + pale green {inspired by some colors I've been seeing in the autumn squashes seen at the local markets~}, I hope you like this month's addition!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - November 2011 album »

inspiration November 11

INSPIRATION
The air is crispy - can you feel it? The leaves are changing color, the weather bounces from warmer and colder days, and it's that lovely season of autumn. This month's cards are called ochiba, which is the Japanese word for falling leaves.

When my mother comes to visit from Japan, she always brings me beautiful paper items that she finds in Tokyo. She knows my love for paper, printing and textures...and selects things that reminds her of me. There are 3 recent ones that especially inspired this month's design. One is a money-holder-type envelope that is used for giving gifts. It's a rich brown color paper that has a chrysanthemum and Japanese maple leaf printed on it. The other one is a postcard that has falling Japanese maple leaves screen printed on it. The last one is another postcard with deckled edges that has a hand-printed motif of acorns and leaves. They are really beautiful - thanks Mom!

I've also noticed some amazing autumn-inspired graphics {here and here, for example} created by Terrain, a shop and nursery located in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Not only do I admire their selection of home products, but I love their styling aesthetic in marketing their products and services.

Please look closely at the cards - they have a subtle gradient of colors, just like how I see them in the trees now...With a more mellow fall color selection {compared to last month}, I bring you 2 cards that fully embrace the fall season~!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - October 2011 album »

inspiration October 11

INSPIRATION
Aaaah~ It's September already. Did the summer whiz by for you too? My goodness. Well, I do love autumn though. I love this in-between season where there's a faster pace of energy that kicks up, while people still have some summer relaxed vibes in there. There's Fashion Week in NYC, kids are going back to school, summer vacation planning is over, and my all-time favorite sports event of the US Open is going on~! As I surf through the web, leaf through magazines, and see the store windows...I am seeing some beautiful fall colors debuting - and that's another thing I love about this season. There's some vibrant but rich, subdued colors...and this month's cards are about those color palettes.

There are 2 photos {this one and this one} in from the Neiman Marcus catalog that really jumped at me - the styling, the whimsical energy...and the COLORS. I really, almost literally, took the colors of these looks and translated them into this month's cards. I spent a lot of time with my palette knives and inks to create these rich hues! How did I do?

As for the design, yes, this month is more on the abstract side. I've had a really fun summer with some super quality trips on the west coast bay area with my best friends. Let's see, some of the highlights includes camping on Mt. Diablo, discovering some hidden gems in Napa/Sonoma {this one and this one, in particular}, learning to ride a Segway {really? yup...}, shucking some oysters in Tomales Bay, going to a CLUB {wow, it's been years...}, running around on Ocean Beach, spending an anniversary weekend at Nick's Cove, spending a slow afternoon here...and so much more. As I look through photos and think about the fun memories created, it's one of those times when I realize how lucky I am to have such amazing friends {including my partner in life~} who have been by my side through thick and thin. As we grow older, it gets harder to create time-off together, but we really did it this summer. And as we experience and discover things, we really richen {is that a word?} and weave more layers to our strong bond and relationships. The pattern of this month's cards tries to represent that - the overlapping moments that creates different colors and shapes. {Thanks guys~!} And parallel to this, we all got to see some places and sites that really showcase the mix of colors that the west coast landscape has to offer. So, that's what the design is all about...:)

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - September 2011 album »

inspiration September 11

INSPIRATION
August is time to have your swimsuit out and splash the summer waters! Just the other weekend, I was invited to a home that had a wonderful pool and it felt so nice to wade in the waters with the warm sun. This month I took the traditional Japanese seigaiha pattern that takes after the shapes of waves to celebrate the summer beachtime~

This summer has taken me around to some gorgeous coastlines of the west coast, such as Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Tomales Bay in the Bay Area and even to the cliffs and canyons of Los Angeles and Malibu. The edges of the west coast along the Pacific Ocean are really something and completely different from the east coast. Although there are some sand beaches, everything is more rough and jagged. There are steep cliffs that plunge into the ocean where the waves crash against the rocks. One can stand on the beach and see massive hills covered in wild flowers and mountains full of tall redwoods. It's quite dynamic and I find myself oftentimes in awe of the showcase of nature. One thing though...the water is too cold! But there are the surfers taking on the waves - with wetsuits of course. And I've really come to appreciate the surf culture here - the young, the older, men, women, everyone seems to be welcome to this sport. I love the surfer's mission - ready to fight the direction of the water to then become one with a wave. A visit to the surf shop Mollusk was a nice little discovery. Among the cute tees and great looking surfboards, I found a really eye-catching print called Out to Sea by Serena Mitnik-Miller with a different pattern of wave shapes. I loved it so much.

Back at home, my family is also enjoying the summer beach. Just last weekend they headed out to East Hampton for the weekend - and got a break from the NYC asphalt heat. My niece loves swimming in the water - at only 16 months! So from both the west and east coast, this month is about the blue waves...one of the cards. The second card is a subtle monochromatic version of the wave pattern with a dark gray to light gray gradient print. One of the cards is more fun and the other is a little bit of chic...well, at least that's what I think. Enjoy the rest of summer~!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - August 2011 album »

inspiration August 11

INSPIRATION
Happy birthday us of a~! It's the season of picnics, bbqs, camping, vacations, long days and all that goodness! Happy summer everyone. This month's cards are some warm messages for this warm season - with a special collaboration project with Japanese calligrapher, Aoi Yamaguchi.

When I first "met" Aoi, it was by seeing a mural she had done for an artist fundraiser event {that I participated in with my Thousand Crane cards} to benefit the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. She had written "RISE JAPAN" with large calligraphy brushstrokes...these monochrome black letters on the wall, superimposed on a big red circle, was so strong and dynamic. It truly carried the energy of that night, which brought a community together to help people in need. As I have been so fortunate to get to know Aoi, I have been introduced to her array of work, which includes large-scale installations, beautiful unique calligraphy pieces, collaborations with creators of music, dance and other mediums of art...and so much more. She's a busy busy lady~!

This is the first time I am sending out cards that is someone else's creation, and I'm so happy to share Aoi's art with more and more people. The messages - "No one else can sing your song the way you do" and "You're nature's greatest miracle"...aren't they just so pretty? - and the calligraphy are original from Aoi. Thank you Aoi for sharing your beautiful talent with all of us! On that note, for those who are new to her, a little bit about her...

AOI YAMAGUCHI
Japanese Calligrapher

Born and raised in Hokkaido, Japan in 1984, Aoi Yamaguchi has been trained to master the basics of calligraphy by learning under the Master Zuiho Sato since the age of 6, while refining her knowledge and skills. She is a recipient of numerous awards including the First Place prize from the Minister of Education at 44th Asahi Calligraphy Nationwide School Exhibit, Superior First Place at 33rd National Students Calligraphy Exhibition and others that are known as the supreme prizes at competitive public exhibitions. As a noteworthy event, she was nominated to represent the country of Japan and participated in calligraphy exchange sessions in China. Her works show her exploration in juxtaposing the traditional Eastern classics and her contemporary artistic expressions, as well as her unique ambition of transforming two-dimensional art of Japanese Calligraphy into the art of physical expression through performances. In 2008, she founded a Japanese art crew, Surreality in Reality (SIR), based in the San Francisco Bay Area, aiming to provide opportunities for local Japanese artists to share their artistic creations internationally. Currently living in Oakland, she has been working on her unique calligraphy installation, exhibition, live performances, custom logo designs and art works globally, as she pursues her career to preserve traditional arts with music in the modern world.

www.aoiyamaguchi.com
info@aoiyamaguchi.com

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - July 2011 album »

inspiration July 11

INSPIRATION
So, now I'm really feeling the change of season. April and May were more change of the season for the mind, but now it's actually getting reflected in the shoes and outfits I'm wearing. :) And now, my mind is catching up in realizing that half of 2011 is over! Isn't it just so crazy how time flies?

I've been noticing bins and arrangments flowing out of the door of flower shops, as well as the colorfully bright blooms taking up lots of space at various farmer's markets. This month I was totally inspired by the shape of the calla lily bloom. So simple and so pretty. You have all seen that photograph, Calla Lilly, by Robert Mapplethorpe right? Gorgeous. Being inspired by the cup and yellow spear of this flower, one of this month's cards is that also uses the pattern of traditional chiyogami.

I also got a quick glimpse of the Alexander McQueen exhibit, Savage Beauty, at the Met Museum. I was amazed by the shapes, colors and fullness of his designs. Although a loose connection, I definitely had his art and fashion in mind while designing this month's cards.

Another discovery this month is the book Pachanga, by artist Belen Mena. It's a collection of graphic patterns all inpsired by different butterfly wings. So I took this concept, but applied it the calla lily design I had and created the 2nd card. I used the shape of the calla lily teardrop and created another design with different colors. The result is almost like a combination of a tear drop and a paisley. I wanted to keep the minimalist look and kept a lot of white surface. I hope you like them!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - June 2011 album »

inspiration June 11

INSPIRATION
East coasters have been suffering through a bad bad BAD winter. And now there is the reward of springtime {sans allergies preferably, of course}. I feel like my state of mind, body, and energy have all shifted to something new. So this month's cards are a representation of exactly that...a little nudge, move, push into a new season.

You'll see from this month's inspiration images that it's a little visual mix of things...a new patch of grass growing out of the concrete, an interior detail I captured at an outdoor restaurant, some new leaves pushing through some winter-tortured branches, patterns I saw in the sidewalk as I'm spending more time outdoors...and such. One of the cards from this month has 2 sets of lines that are perpendicular to each other - creating a crosshatch pattern where they overlap. The other card has one set of vertical lines and another set of lines just slightly shifted to a diagonal. If you look at this card closely, there is almost a visual play on the eye as you shift the angle {...hmm, hard to explain}. I wanted to do a minimalist style design after some more graphic based designs these past few months - I hope you like them. OK, now, go out and enjoy the new spring happiness~!

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - May 2011 album »

inspiration May 11

INSPIRATION
My heart sank when the news of the Tohoku region earthquake and tsunami news came in. Watching the footage was unbelievable and shocking. Losing so much in such a quick moment...I couldn't even imagine what was and is going through the minds of the people experiencing such a tragedy. Between the earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear power plant issues, they've been affected by so much - too much at once. But I have hope, because Japanese people are strong and resilient {and organized}. The whole nation is being challenged right now, but I am everyday wishing for a strong and solid recovery.

April in Japan is the month of beautiful cherry blossoms. TOTA Press's April 2010 cards was also inspired by sakura. It is a traditional symbol of spring - as their beautiful pink blooms really brighten up the spirits of people with the promise of a new spring season. So to embrace this spirit of hope and to honor the tradition of Japan, this month's design is of sakura petals and flowers. One card is on silver metallic paper printed with gray to create a more monochromatic look. The other - on pearl white paper - is a gradient that changes from deep magenta to dark gray.

These card are simply dedicated to Japan and its people - and to let them know I am thinking of them. I hope that you keep wishing for a speedy recovery for them too...

One of the photos is taken with art by Junko Maegawa - something I purchased at the RISE JAPAN fundraiser for Japan. Beautiful piece~ {of print + hand illustration} for a wonderful cause...

Many much more card photos on our Facebook page - April 2011 album »

Also, thank you to all of you who supported the Thousand Cranes project to raise donations for the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. Raising $3778.13, I'm so grateful to be able to make such a donation from you to the people of Japan! See photos of cards »

inspiration Apr 11

INSPIRATION
There's been so much snow this year...everywhere! And despite those sometimes pretty days, we're ready for spring. March 3rd is Hinamatsuri or Girls' Day in Japan, which is also an invitation for spring to come to us all. This month's cards celebrate the 2 events with patterns created from an assortment of dots~!

I wanted to create 1 card that remind us about all of the snow that has fallen upon us this winter. It's stirred up lots of conversation and I couldn't help but imprint that in one of the cards. Using the dot pattern, there is a blind print, a light gray and dark gray print, accented by a cool blue - reminding me of the footsteps in fresh snow {that lasts for just a short time but} is so pretty.

March is also the month of Hinamatsuri which is a Japanese Doll Festival, when families with young daughters celebrate the day to wish for their daughter's future happiness. When I was a young girl, my mother would decorate our living room with a red platform where she would place beautiful dolls dressed in ornate kimonos. She did this for my sister and I - to show us the pretty tradition, as well as, wish for our happiness :). What I also remember, from those days, are the really pretty food treats that also came out to celebrate the holiday. My FAVORITE is konpeitou, which are little sugar candy sprinkles that come in many pastel colors. Other staples are hishimochi - a 3-tiered diamond-shaped rice cake in pink, white and green - and arare - little pink, white and green crackers that are both sugary and savory. With the traditional colors - pink, white and green - that are in many of the decorations that celebrate this day, I created a motif using the dot pattern. This 2nd card is something that, on the one hand, is a nostalgic reminder of my childhood - and on the other hand, is an anxious anticipation of the spring season that is to greet us soon!

This month's photos were taken in my printing studio...
Many much more photos on our Facebook page - March 2011 album »

inspiration Mar 11

INSPIRATION
Sometimes I feel as though February is the real start to the year. I stop confusing the year {"I signed the check writing 2010...oops."}, things feel a bit more settled, and the motivation to make this year count feels more solid. Maybe that's just for me...? It's also the month of ♥ which is always fun. As you might be able to tell, I like to be inspired by the season, but I also like to keep the card designs open to interpretation. So...this month's design is about breaking into the real new year and has a hint of celebration to love.

The month of February's official flower is the violet! I've always loved little pots of violet flowers on a windowsill. They come in various shades from pastel mauve to deep deep eggplant purple. For the first card, I used the colors and shape of their bloom for a little collage of this month's flower. I created a sunburst-like effect to inject some line-art energy into the card design. Look at the cards from a different angle and the design changes - some lines get darker and some get lighter - which was an unplanned but fun result.

The second card is printed on recycled brown paper + uses the same sunburst patterns but this time overlapping. Also inspired by the upcoming spring fashion season - where a little splash of red paired with neutrals creates a visual pinpoint - I printed an accent of a bold red burst. This design is more about idea of our hearts growing with that ever-so-special feeling of love. So with that, I wish you all a special month of celebrating the opportunities of good change, love, and just sprucing up the every day.

{This month's cards are photographed with pages from the book, China Chic by fashion designer Vivienne Tam...a little nod to Chinese New Years in there too!}

Many much more photos on our Facebook page - February 2011 album »

inspiration Feb 11

INSPIRATION
...and it's 2011~! Happy new year to all of you!

I hope that you had a nice year end and fantastic start to this new year. I am in Uruguay, South America, to spend my holiday with family. It's such a beautiful place with so much to experience - I always think that Uruguay is a place that is really under the radar {in terms of travel destinations}. Uruguay is a small country but with its vast coastline, it has lots of beachtowns and cities - including its capital, Montevideo. And within a relatively short drive, I get to see and breathe the countryside, that houses the nation's main industry of farming, cows and agriculture. My visit has included highlights such as, the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, the Bouza winery, relaxation at Cabo Polonio, Jose Igancio beach, new years at Punta del Este, and much more. It has given me the opportunity to learn more about the history, culture and lifestyle here. In ode to my travels, the first card celebrates the colors of the Uruguayan flag, blue and yellow. Easier to show you than to explain, please check out some of the photos I have taken along the way here >>

Through my stay here, I have also gotten to see many different sunsets. Whether it is the sun going down on the buildings of Montevideo, the sun sinking into the horizon of the ocean, the sun glowing and disappearing behind tall grass in the countryside...it's peaceful but dramatic at the same time. And it reminds me of how the sun is setting on 2010 and the sun is rising to 2011. And with that, the second card is inspired by the rays and colors of sunsets and sunrises. I wish you a wonderful year full of life bringing you fun stories, laughter, new challenges, travels, time shared with family and friends, and much more. Cheers to 2011~

Many much more photos on our Facebook page - January 2011 album »

inspiration Jan 11

INSPIRATION
'Tis the season! This end of the year has been overwhelmingly busy...it always is though, isn't it? Clients wanting to wrap things up before the year end, having a holiday gift shopping list hanging over my head, and since I'll be away {in Uruguay} for the holidays, I just have less time and more things to do. But I'm excited~

In the midst of needing to get 'here' and 'there', I see the fun holiday displays in shops and have particularly noticed the creative Christmas "trees" that have been going up this year. Perhaps in the effort to be kinder to the environment - or just more creative talent - I feel as though stores are exploring new ways to show the Christmas holiday spirit. I recently attended an indie magazine launch party {go Anthology!!!} hosted at a West Elm store and got to see all the super cute home accessories they are selling with the holiday shopping season in mind. What I also really liked was the different types of holiday trees they created on the shop floor. There was 1 tree that was made entirely of old hardcover books, 1 tree that was made from newspaper and chipboard pieces, 1 tree made of found hardware objects, and more. Without the glitz and the glam, the holiday spirit still comes through...and I really liked the subtle style that created the warm and fuzzy mood of the holidays.

When everything and everyone else goes into hibernation, the evergreen is always growing strong. Despite the snow and the frigid temperatures, the evergreen trees stay a deep beautiful green. Also, the matsu evergreen is a symbol of luck and happiness in the new year for the Japanese culture. People decorate their homes with the matsu evergreen for new years. And so this month's cards are a modern motif inspired by the matsu evergreen. With a very green set of cards this month, happy holidays to you~

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

inspiration Dec 10

INSPIRATION
Halloween is over and the holiday season is ON. The push for holiday shopping and decorating and everything else gets earlier every year - but it seems that stores wait AT LEAST until they get their Halloween merchandise tucked away. Anyways, windows start filling up with red and green shiny materials...and it's holiday advertising GO time. Don't get me wrong, I do love the holiday season. I love the sparkly happiness and the warm and fuzzy feeling with family and friends and loved ones. And that is what this month's cards are inspired by...the coming season of all of that.

When I got married, my mother wore a kimono with a large motif of the tabane-noshi {or bundle noshi} embroidered in gold and colored silk. She told me that the significance of the pattern was to symbolize family and people coming together in unity to celebrate a happy occassion - in this case, a wedding. The motif is of different patterned fabrics being tied together in a bundle - and this bundle signifies the unity of different things coming together. I thought that was such a beautiful symbol that represented the feeling that comes about during the holidays. Thanksgiving is approaching this month, and it is the beginning of that time that we celebrate family love {and by "family" I mean your parents, siblings, relatives, close friends, significant others and the list goes on...} Therefore, I thought it was a great motif to feature in this month's cards and to share with you a little bit of Japanese symbolism.

So as you make your plans for Thanksgiving and then jump into the holiday madness, I hope you appreciate this ode to family...perhaps even send them a card to say thank you {for spending 6 hours to make a big turkey or for hosting a fun family gathering or just for being there for you ALWAYS} and have a wonderful kick start to your holiday season~

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

inspiration Nov 10

INSPIRATION
Our summer was not so bad but we did have some TRULY HOT days. And it made me want those crisp clear autumn days where we layer up a bit and enjoy the city air that seems to miraculously cleanse itself {at least it seems}. In a similar but different way than last month, I wanted to play around with another autumn color palette. And this month I printed with brown, which is a rare color for me to use. I find that browns are a tricky color to work with - a little bit of a wrong ink mix and it just starts looking bad.

This month I was really influenced by the warm tones and quintessential autumn colors that we start seeing in the pumpkins, squashes, apples, and fall harvest at the farmer's market. Some recent fun discoveries were heirloom tomatoes {now I know why a tomato is a fruit - these things are SO sweet!} and purple peppers {green, red, orange and yellow, yes...but purple? how cool...}. So I'd say the colors of this month's cards came from these visual inspirations.

And then I've always loved the shape and beauty of the gingko leaf - a little bit like an umbrella or a fan. These leaves turn from a young bright green to a golden yellow. I have some Japanese fabrics that have a gingko lef motif - and they are always in that autumn golden yellow color. I love the fan-shaped simplicity that can always be identified as none other than a gingko leaf.

This month's cards bring these things together...one card is a golden yellow leaf accented by a blind press {no color} to represent the coming fading of tree leaves as we enter into the chillier months. The other card celebrates the autumn palette of purples and browns with and up and down ginkgo leaves. Enjoy these beautiful fall days, as we know they don't last as long as we want...

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

inspiration Oct 10

INSPIRATION
August came and went. And Labor Day brings the start of school...my dear friends are getting all organized with bus schedules and making lunches for their little kiddos. Big hat tip to all those parents out there who are not only needing to get themselves together for the "summer is over, let's get serious now" change of energy but also have to get their kids prepped and ready for the new year. I feel as though out of all of the seasons, the most clearly defined one is * autumn * when September arrives. So this month's cards hopefully captures the bouncing spirit of moving into a new season with the beautiful colors that are associated with it.

What do I love about fall? The start of the cultural events' season...yes, the films with the goal of grabbing an Oscar come out {remember the 2009 hopefuls?}...City Center hosts the Fall for Dance Festival...NYC Ballet dancers are getting ready for the stage curtain to rise on September 14th {you HAVE TO check out these beautifully strong images of the talented dancers - some below}...NY Phil has had their summer outdoor performances, but the real deal is beginning in a bit...and the theaters are getting filled {don't miss out on the talented group of Brief Encounter, formerly at St. Anne's Warehouse and now on Broadway at Studio 54}...oh, so much to see, and not enough time. But I hope we all get to see some things here and there.

Fashion week is here yet again! And although the fashion of next spring/summer are getting debuted, it made me look at the editorials and images that were captured last spring for the fall/winter 2010 season. And I took a particular liking to the use of bold colors {such as that fur vest by Band of Outsiders} with the beauty of neutrals {like that blazer from Dries Van Noten}. So I tried to use some colors that said both "bold" and "neutral" and came up with these somewhat muted but strong colors.

So there you have it. The summer relaxed energy is ready to get replaced with the hustle and bustle of the fall. And this month's cards are dedicated to that energetic spirit with the colors of the season. Enjoy!

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

inspiration Sept 10

INSPIRATION
Summer is in full fledge - and I'm loving the time outdoors. Sure, it's quite hot on some of these days and we've had some wet weather...but just something that keeps us on our toes, no? This month's cards celebrates the happiness that summertime brings us all~

So, the weather. We've had the sun rays on our backs and rain. One card uses the line motif with yellow diagonal sun rays and gray vertical rain drops. Together, they create a nice modern duo yes?

And picnics. I love laying some big flat sheets in Prospect Park {done twice already this summer!} and setting up a little portable grill to cook some chorizo "dogs" with a homemade chimichurri topping. Packing up some summer fruits, opening up a nice light bottle of red wine, and picking on some cheese. Don't get me wrong, some cheetos or pringles are always welcomed additions ;) Perusing around, I found a really fun product from Dutch designers, ontwerpduo, called picknick which is a creative modern twist on the red and white tablecoth.

This tablecloth is wishing you a good dinner if you take a closer look. You can read the words 'eet smakelijk' (enjoy your dinner in Dutch) from the tablecloth, which are woven into the fabric. When you take a look at the tablecloth from a distance it seems to be the traditional picknickcloth.
{from the ontwerpduo website}

Next nice weekend day, see you at the park?

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

inspiration August 10

INSPIRATION
This month celebrates TOTA Press's 1st anniversary~ {pop cork...pour champagne...CHEERS!} Yes, numero uno - and it's been a special year. First and foremost, I'd like to thank the old and the new friends of TOTA Press who have supported us during this pilot year. This fun year was all {and I mean ALL} possible because of the subscribers. The feedback I've received over the year has been positive and encouraging - and you have no idea what joy that means and brings to me.

With a touch of the upcoming 4th of July fireworks in mind, the main concept behind this month's design is the Japanese painted circle called enso. This is a calligraphy-style circle that has neither an opening or closing...it is a continuous circle. "Some artists paint ensō with an opening in the circle, while others complete the circle. For the former, the opening may express various ideas, for example that the ensō is not separate, but is part of something greater, or that imperfection is an essential and inherent aspect of existence..." {from wikipedia}. I don't mean to get too philosophical, but I feel as though this symbol is truly meaningful to me at this time. I'm at the close of the first year, but definitely still at the beginning of this TOTA Press project. I have ideas!...oh yes, many ideas. And we'll see what can really actualize. But the point is, the circle is just opening for me. So with an abundance of gratitude for your support to date, I ask you to come along for the continuing {roller coaster} ride and will appreciate your everpresent support and love <3.

With my version of the Japanese en circle printed on natural and blue papers, again, I thank you all for your continuing support for TOTA Press!

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

inspiration July 10

INSPIRATION
It's officially summer! What did you do for Memorial Day weekend? I stayed local {I love the quiet city of holiday weekends!}...so with a blanket, picnic, mini BBQ and frisbee in hand, I spent one of the days entirely in Prospect Park in Brooklyn with some close friends. On the actual Monday off, I had hamburgers and fries with my family, which is always fun. This month's cards are stripped down to simplicity, while using a new technique {for me} of a split fountain-type ink setup to create a gradient effect of summer colors.

The nice weather has prompted some strolls through the City that made me notice some new art. Specifically, there was the Affordable Art Fair {AAF} New York City Spring edition that took place. My eyes keep going to the art with subtle color changes. This created the abstract look of one card with the horizontal lines with the ink changing from blue to green.

Also, I'm noticing the summer skies full of beautiful colors. Dusk in Prospect Park, the sunset along the East River...I get to see these amazing yellows, oranges and mauves - and that created the card design with the diagonals.

With a minimalist design, these cards are true blank cards that can really be used for any sort of occassion. So send a thank you note or a hello! note - and perhaps you can make someone's summer day that much better.

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

inspiration June 10

INSPIRATION
The weather seems to be a bit confused right now, but that's spring right? When I was designing this month's cards, I had a few visits to some of the parks here in NYC, including Central Park and Riverside Park. And I was awed by all the different shades of green that the spring season was giving us. The color of new leaves is so refreshing and so this month's cards are all about that. One card is printed on white paper and the other is on a natural craft paper - with a few varying shades of green~

A quick uptown and run {106th and 5th Ave to be exact} and it's almost like you are not in NYC anymore~ There are these beautiful gardens in Central Park - and right now there are endless tulips, lilacs, azalea bushes and much more in bloom. And on a recent weekend, I passed by Riverside Park that was full of happy New Yorkers and families as they rode their bikes and walked around the Hudson River-side part of the City. My mom tells me that it's healthy for your eyes and mental state to see lots of natural greens...I think I'm all set ;)

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

inspiration May 10

INSPIRATION
You mention April to me...and what comes to my mind are sakura cherry blossoms. The mix of pinks - from really light shades where they are barely pink to a more rich plum pink - is something that can only be seen in the beginning of spring. And although last month's cards were created in the midst of late season snowfall {and rain and rain and rain}, we are now definitely getting a stronger promise that we can say goodbye to winter~ And with that, I bring to you this design of line-art cherry blossoms for this month's cards.

Right now I am visiting the city of San Francisco. Walking around the Nob Hill area, there is a little park that had a few but beautiful cherry blossom trees that are JUST starting to bloom. This reminded me of a few springs seasons ago, when I went to Kyoto with my parents and experienced the real deal in terms of cherry blossoms. We went to many of the old temples that had carefully curated gardens with willowing sakura trees over a pond and sakura trees lined up by a pathway. When we walked around the city, there were also grand sakura trees in the gardens of homes that made me wonder how long these trees have been standing there. In Japan, everything {the schoolyear, new hires for work...} begins in April - it is the equivalent of Septemeber here in the US. So when the cherry blossoms emerge in April, it is not only a welcoming of a new season, but also a symbol of new beginnings. And I love that something so simple and pretty can have such a strong sense of seasonality.

Personally for me, there just happens to be some new beginngings. One of the things is that I'm becoming an aunt for the very first time. So for happy times for our family and happy times for all with a warmer season, I bring to you some cherry blossoms on this month's cards in varying shades of pink, just how they are.

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

inspiration Apr 10

INSPIRATION
It's March and still snow in the forecast? This year, the east coast has gotten more than a full dosage of snow. But as the bright sun shines and the white melts away quickly, there seems to be some signs of spring approaching. With that anticipation in mind, this month's cards are inspired by that burst of light and color that the spring season seems to bring to us.

I've had a few days here and there where I've been awed by the bright sun shining through the trees, off the snow and onto the glass facades of our NYC skyscrapers. It seems to be most noticeable that moment you walk out of your apartment building or come up the stairs of the subway, and I find myself uplifted by the bright rays {even if my boots are still jumping slushy puddles...well, baby steps}. As the sun goes down a tiny bit later every day, I daydream about putting my flip flops on and doing summer strolls through the street while trying out a new gelato flavor~

As a designer, I also know that March and spring are here because my work load includes wedding invitation designs! June brides {congratulations to you~!} are getting their planning underway and wedding invitations are a fun step in the process. I recently completed an custom-designed and hand letterpressed invitation package for a couple getting married right here in NYC in June. As I peruse through websites and magazines for inspriration, my eyes are filled with soft color palettes, light fabrics, garden parties, bright flowers and more.

Winter is beautiful in it's own way, but at a certian point we are ready to move onto less layers and more time spent outside. So I bring to you a burst of yellow on natural craft paper, as well as a sprinkle of lavendar on the classic white paper and share the hope of March bringing some spring to us all very soon.

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

inspiration Mar 10

INSPIRATION
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 »

inspiration Feb 10

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. I started my 2010 with a traditional Japanese new years feast {thank you mom!} full of symbolic foods such as ozoni {toasted mochi rice cake in a clear soup}, 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.

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.

Right now, the Met Museum has an exhibit "Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor", which I went to last weekend. Here, you can see a collection of Samurai helmets, armour, clothing, swords and their cases, saddles and artwork. Like the symbolic dragonfly helmet, you get to see many pieces that are practical warrior tools that also embody lots of symbolism. Every item is hand crafted with artistry, which shows the high respect and honor that was given to warriors. My 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.

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 »

inspirationJan 10

INSPIRATION
Happy Holidays everyone~ It's that time of year where we wonder where time has gone and we are going in all directions to end the year right. 'Tis the season and NYC lights up to embrace the holidays and so this month's cards are delivered with some gold and silver shimmer in a subtle style.

I recently walked through Midtown and perused the holiday windows of Bergdorf Goodman - as they are always my favorite. This year's theme is called "Compendium of Curiosities" which I think is a loose interpretation of the Alice in Wonderland stories - there were windows that featured the red and black of playing cards, the rabbit coming out from underground, strange illogical adventures and more. I have to say that compared to other years, the windows {BG and others} are a little bit more "modest" {in a high-end luxury kid of way} but I think that might be an overall trend for the holidays this year...I still enjoyed seeing the glowing streets all lit up.

Also, just recently, I returned from a trip to Japan - and I am ALWAYS influenced by the beautiful aesthetic in the everyday, the understanding of simplicity, the care that goes into the tiny details and the respect for tradition while embracing innovation. Some highlights included a trip to Nikko where I stayed in a hot spring ryokan, the food {both the taste AND presentation}, visiting some 100+ year letterpress and paper shops, a vintage kimono shop and traditional paper fan store...the list goes on. Some trip photos »

I tried to capture that sense of simple beauty in this month's cards while keeping it festive {it is that time of the year!} with shimmer paper and metallic ink. Cheers to a warm, safe, fun, relaxing holiday season to you...

Many much more photos on our Facebook page - December 2009 album »

inspiration Dec 09

INSPIRATION
The late fall is the end of warm, outdoor-friendly weather here...but on a happy note, it's the beginning of cultural wonderfulness that the City has to offer. As my mailbox is filled with brochures for the NY Philharmonic, the Met Opera, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Public Theater, NYC Ballet, Joyce Theater and more - I get really excited with all the upcoming programs and possibilities for my eyes and ears.

So far this fall season, I saw the Tokyo String Quartet perform Beethoven at the 92nd Street Y. The four members are so talented and amazingly nice people - and I enjoy their performances fully. Also, I went to see Regina Spektor {indie singer songwriter} sing many of her new and old songs at Radio City to a packed audience. I have been a fan of hers since her original days of smaller concerts in Brooklyn - and although at a much larger venue, she is an artist that stays true to her self and her music.

A wonderful visual discovery I recently had was Zaha Hadid's design for a concert hall at The Manchester Art Gallery in the north of England. “It is almost like being in a cocoon,” Hadid says of the curving, enveloping forms that now wind through the gallery. “If you are in a fluid space, the impact created is very different. The impression is more complex. You are perhaps more enclosed [than in a standard, rectangular concert hall], but in a soft way.” Not only a visually stunning space, but also a thoughtful concept that was executed through to the final design.

So with music and culture in my mind, this month's design is an abstraction of sheet music. The gray and black version has the horizontal layout of music with small circles {or the notes} bouncing off of them. The other purple card is a further abstraction of the design by printing it vertically. In this latter version, I also wanted to show the beauty of blind lettterpress that prints simply texture with no color. With a mix of horizontal and vertical play, I hope you enjoy the cards~

Many much more photos on our Facebook page - November 2009 album »

inspiration Nov 09

INSPIRATION
Wow...October makes an arrival with a hint of what's to come {winter} soon. But without getting too ahead of ourselves, this month's design is dedicated to the lovely autumn season here on the east coast. Introducing a new paper type {dark exterior with a light interior so you can still easily write on it}, the duo of cards create 2 very different moods.

This month was eventful. I had an amazing trip to the Euskal Herriko/Pais Vasco/Basque Country - both on the Spain and France sides - to celebrate my best friend's wedding. She got married on the coast of Guethary - a small, quaint and charming village between San Sebastian and Biarritz - with a ceremony along the sea and a reception at a local inn/restaurant. Trailing into the amour-filled wedding festivities, I got to travel to La Rioja wine region {having a glass of wine before lunch is fantastic!}, the desert dunes of Bardenas Reales, the film festival of San Sebastian, the countryside of Bidarray and much more. I could not help but notice the leaves changing colors as I strolled through vineyards and countryside. Food is such a significant part of the culture there {and for me personally!} and much of the cuisine and dining experience reflected the seasonal foods of the autumn. Everything was so fresh and I loved + appreciated the embracing of the new season.
Here in NYC, we have hints of fall too. Our days are getting shorter! But I did get to photograph some really amazingly pretty sunsets of the NYC skyline - taken from Queens. The bright orange sun lighting up the clouds and creating a sillouette of the skyscrapers is something we can never get bored of. Fall also means Fashion Week to show Spring/Summer 2010 trends. I can't quite get my mind that far advance, but in terms of trends, I notice SO much plaid motifs. Shirts, sneakers, scarves...and for types - tartan, buffalo, delicate, bold...all of it. So there is a little bit of deconstructed plaid that has made its presence on this month's design.
Also, I wanted to capture a sense of wabi-sabi that can be felt from a visit to the Noguchi Museum in LIC Queens. Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic that when defined is probably the beauty of things imperfect, modest and humble. Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, simplicity, modesty, and the suggestion of natural processes. The Noguchi Museum highlights a collection by the artist with pieces of stone, metal, wood, and clay. It is such a peaceful experience to walk through the museum and adjacent garden - and the falling leaves there is a definite mark of the fall too.
So with a single leaf - 1 dark and 1 bright - among falling squares, I hope that you all enjoy this transitional season...

Many much more photos on our Facebook page - October 2009 album »

inspiration Oct 09

INSPIRATION
Perhaps because of the pretty mild summer {yes, we had some hot hot days but overall it wasn't so bad}, it's hard to imagine that back-to-school-September is upon us. But alas, as people return to staying more local on the weekends, days get shorter, store windows take down their sundresses and replace them with jackets and long sleeves, summer is ending...and autumn is approaching.

Many things this month brought me to water. I strolled the High Line located at the former site of the elevated railway that ran along the west side of Manhattan. Among the preserved railway pieces and landscaped gardens, there are pockets of space created for sitting and taking a break - and I feel as though this park succeeds in celebrating the urban outdoors of NYC in a new way. One of my favorite moments is an art installation called The River that Flows Both Ways by Spencer Finch - a piece that subtly changes depending on the light that shines through and around it and is inspired by the industrial legacy of the Hudson River.
Any spare time there is, I think about my upcoming trip to the Basque country {both French and Spanish sides} for my dear friend's wedding. Inspired by their love for the ocean, the Basque culture and surfing, it is an intimate beach wedding in Guethary, France followed by a reception at a local inn that overlooks the coastline. Looking at photos + websites to help plan the trip, I look forward to taking in the food, culture, coastline views, wine...did I already say food?...and of course the celebration of this special time.
And recently on a weekday whim, I hopped on the ferry to go to Sandy Hook. The best part is getting to and from there - no car hassle, traffic or anything of the sort. Instead you get beautiful views of the city, while passing under the big 3 bridges in the East River...and even a far glimpse of Coney Island from the water side. The beach was not very crowded but I felt the energy of kids and families trying to soak in the most of the remaining summer long days. With a wave motif, this month's design is an ode to the spirit of water and perhaps not being able to see as much of it as the season changes - see you next year summer~

Many much more photos on our Facebook page - October 2009 album »

inspiration Sept 09

INSPIRATION
We are in the heart of summertime! I am a summer child and there is so much to love during this season in NYC. Some of my favorite things this summer: farmer’s markets, the ballet season, gelato, no more rain!, outdoor grilling...and so much more.

This month’s card is inspired by my family and nature. Being the debut card printed for TOTA Press, I think of my family - where not much is possible without their support. Earlier this month, my aunt gave me a beautiful postcard with the traditional Asanoha pattern dyed on a piece of fabric. The pattern partly reminded me of leaves that overlap each other in heavily tree-ed areas. It also reminded me of repetition patterns that one sees during the summer season...simple things such as vegetables lined and stacked up at farmers markets or skewers placed perpendicular on a grill. Thanks to my parents, I just learned that the traditional Asanoha pattern is an abstraction of a strong flowering grass. And because of its strong qualities, it has always symbolized "the strength to grow and endure." Apparently this is popular motif used for baby clothing becuase of what it signifies. Mysterious how things work out like that - a postcard from my family reminding me of the season and carrying the meaning of what I hope TOTA Press can achieve. Enjoy the summer~!

More photos on our Facebook page - August 2009 album »
August 2009 inspirations

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