Mean Green Sewing Machine

I came upon the John Lewis Mini Sewing Machine in GREEN, my favourite colour (you like what I did there), on my last day in London.  I'm not much of an impulse shopper but I could not leave the department store without it, so I stubbornly purchased a GREEN sewing machine in London and lugged it back to the US in my carry-on sized luggage.  The only problem is 1) This sewing machine is made for a 1st grader and 2) I don't have a proper voltage converter so I can't use it in the States.  Either way these are petty issues that can be resolved.  I tested the machine tonight with my power adapter (not to be confused with a voltage converter!) and the needle moved really, really slow which I assume is because US voltage is WEAK.  So now my mission is to find a cheap power converter so I can finally hem the millions of straps, skirts and dresses that don't fit me right and provide an accurate review of the machine's performance.  Still HOW AWESOME IS THIS GREEN SEWING MACHINE?!

Illustration Inspiration: Natalie Ferstendik, Rene Gruau, Panik & Martin Wollerstam

I stopped collecting stuffed animals, books and other large items in middle school because my family moved a lot, almost every year, and my mom was a moving nazi, trying to keep our personal possessions to a minimum.  This may be the reason why a lot of the things I keep are pieces of paper, pictures, postcards, letters, birthday cards--things that take up very little space.  Ironically, my closet at home is stuffed with boxes, large folders, albums and binders full of these flat things I can't get myself to get rid of (and banned my mom from touching).

This habit of collecting paper things followed me to London when I studied abroad and became worse--I was collecting everything: museum tickets, free magazines, club and gig postcards, vinyl covers, neighborhood maps, etc. as a source of creative inspiration.  Simple in idea, a sheet of paper can be a million things, look like anything and serve many purposes.  Here are a few artists I discovered--from collecting a few cards in London when I visited recently--whose illustrations are really inspiring:

1) Natalie Ferstendik - I bought this greeting card (first image) from a small store on Columbia Road because I thought the girl in the card reminded me a lot of myself.  The detail in her hair and flowers and the colors are absolutely beautiful (my scanner doesn't do the glossy card justice)

2) Rene Gruau - I picked up this exhibition reminder (first image) at the Somerset House where the Dior Illustrated Rene Gruau exhibit recently opened on November 10th

3) Panik - I found this postcard (first image) for Street Artist Panik's collection at the Pure Evil Gallery in East London

4) Martin Wollerstam - Club promoters were passing out flyers (first image, excuse the shitty scanner job) for WetYourSelf night at ultraclub Fabric

All images besides my postcards were taken from Google

Our Successful Somewhat Traditional Thanksgiving Spread

Passed out in a food coma roughly around 10 pm last night while watching Elf (again), so I assume Thanksgiving dinner was a success... or, I'll take waking up to a demolished kitchen covered with every dish, utensil, pan and pot I own as proof that it was a festive, feastful night.  Being that I am Chinese, I opted not to cook a turkey (I'm starting to turn into MY MOTHER) and just bought two whole roast ducks from Chinatown.  It made the most sense considering our dinner party was only for 7; however, the rest of our meal was rather traditional: homemade stuffing, rosemary chicken, sweet potato fries, garlic mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, corn and for dessert, PIES.  I video-chatted my siblings and family in Hawaii twice so it practically felt like I was home.  I want to thank Ben, Sean, Zack and Jason who manned the kitchen and made another Thanksgiving a success!

  Check out the 2 lb Sweet Potato from the Union Square Farmer's Market

Homemade Sweet Potato Fries with Lemon Garlic Aioli by Chef Ben

 Jason sauteing the stuffing ingredients while Sean probably stole a taste of the duck

 Can barely hold back my excitement

 After feast food coma

 Jason's Maple Creme and Kabocha (Japanese Pumpkin) Pie!  DELISH!