My World Through Colored Lenses

Color inspiration

2010-09-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

Once again, these people make me want to start my own color movement.....inspiration is a brewing for me!

http://www.letscolourproject.com/

Check it out and have a colorful day.

Rainbow braids

2010-09-09T20:44:00.001-07:00

Saw this in the Free People catalog and thought this is ridiculously cute....kinda reminds me of My Little Pony hair. To see more how to recreate this look and to hop on the braid trend, click here. Wishing I had long hair now.

Fun with String

2010-05-18T11:28:00.001-07:00

Recently I was inspired by some online images I saw of these cool string globes. I loved the airy-ness, shape and modern feel to and thought, I can totally makes something like for our bedroom. Our bedroom needs a little love since I've been spending most of my time obsessing about the nursery. Anyway, here are some shots of J and I's attempt at some DIY crafting.

I bought a round balloon and dipped the string in glue and Jason helped me twirl the string around and around the balloon.

We did this for a while and let it dry for a few days, popped the balloon and then spray painted all the string white to give it more stability and hardness.

Next we hung it from our ceiling next to our bed. Now we have something very special in our bedroom to look at that we both created.

Custom Striped artwork for Baby C

2010-05-17T07:00:00.001-07:00

T-minus 2 weeks until our due date and the nursery is finally ready. A while ago, I posted about painting stripes on the wall (click here), I decided against that b/c it was going to be a little bit too overwhelming, so I decided to create a large striped mural instead. Here is what I did, which was super easy and really fun.

First I used painters tape to block off some areas to add stripes. This process was pretty random. Next I mixed up some paint colors that I wanted and started painting between the tape.

Next, I pulled off the tape and this is what I got! Like it, but don't love it yet.

I let the paint dry overnight and decided to use the fun masking tape I got in Japan to add some more stripes and colors.

And viola! This is the custom piece that is in the room now hanging next to the Eames Hang-It-All. I like how this side of the room now balances the other side. I also like the fact that the stripes aren't too overwhelming and just add a little more color into the room. See this post for additional nursery pics. Whatcha think??? BTW....this is the pull-out sleeper we ended up getting from West Elm. Got a great deal on it as a floor sample and fits the space perfectly.

Color in action

2010-04-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

How gorgeous and playful. More images here.

Let's Colour Project

2010-04-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

Now this project looks interesting.....The Colour Project.

It's a worldwide project to transform grey spaces with paint. Check out some of these beautiful images and look at more beautiful images on their blog.

Colorgasmic!

Baby C loves color. Nursery almost complete

2010-04-09T17:16:00.001-07:00

With only 7 weeks to go, Baby C's room is nearly complete. Still need to pick a rug, but overall I am super happy with the outcome of the room being fun, colorful and modern. There are so many meaningful things in the room that the baby is going to be surrounded by and I just can't wait for him to grow up here.

DwellStudio for Target crib, red Eames elephant from my awesome work friends, curtains and bedding sewn by me and my friend Bari, CB2 mobile, IKEA bookshelf painted by my wonderful husband.

I love the red in the back of the bookshelf that ties the room together and make the items on the

bookshelf stand out even more. Top shelf are Haba toys from Uncle Alvin and Auntie Sara.

2nd shelf are shoes I worked on when I was working in kids footwear. The leather elephant I found in Tokyo while I was there in December. 3rd shelf are toys from when I was young and the blue toolbox I thifted for $4.

Thanks Uncle Alvin and Auntie Sara for the awesome toys.

Lemon Poppy Thins

2010-03-26T03:51:00.000-07:00

Hey all, it's been a while since I last posted anything on my baking adventures but yesterday I decided to try another new cookie recipe for my girls weekend getaway. Lately, I've been in the mood for all things lemony and these turned out delicious. The texture is chewy, yet crispy and I will definitely make these again.

Prep time: 25 minutes

Baking time: 10 minutes

Makes about 60 cookies

2 1/4 c all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 Tbsp. lemon zest

1 1/4 c granulated sugar

12 Tbsp. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 c. fresh lemon juice

1-2 Tbsp. poppy seeds

1.Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.

2. With a mixer, beat lemon zest and sugar on medium speed. Add butter. Cream with sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy, another 2-3 minutes. mix in lemon juice. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined and no flour pockets remain. Chill until firm, about 45 minutes.

3. Preheat over to 350.

4. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough to 3/4 inch balls; roll dough in poppy seeds. Place 2 inches apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets.

5. Bake 10-12 minutes, rotating half way through baking, until edges are set. Transfer to a rack and cool.

Furniture lust.....

2010-03-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

So as most of you know, my biggest design project at the moment is the nursery. The design challenge is that it is our only other bedroom, which also doubles as my closet and the room also has a door to the backyard. AUGH! The space is tiny and it really needs to function as the Baby C's room, a guest room for when moms come to help out and just a nice calm room for me to hang out with Baby C when everyone is gone. So I've been on a big hunt for a sleeper/daybed that is modern, has clean lines and is not going to overwhelm the tiny room. This is what I've found so far, what do you think? I'm kinda anti-futon because I associate it with my younger years. When J+I moved in together we had 3 futons between the two of us. Anyway, I'm completely obsessed with finding the perfect piece for this room, but with my budget, I might just end up with a futon. Here's to furniture dreaming.

American Modern Daybed based on the George Nelson design from 1948 shows the "less is more" concept in action. Nelson's timeless straight forward daybed design has been expounded upon with today's manufacturing techniques and FSC-certified solid Maple wood. The Modern American Daybed features open slat design for circulation, removable back cushions for added space, and removable covers by Maharam for easy cleaning.

Vincent linen twin sleeper from CB2

Sisterhood of the traveling maternity dress

2010-03-16T08:13:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I know I haven't posted in a while. Today's post is pretty generic, but here's a shot of me from the computer camera. I'm at 30 weeks and feeling GREAT. Can't say that I mind being pregnant at all.

The dress has a fun story, I bought it a long time ago on super sale, despite the fact that it was too big. It was a DEAL and I love me a deal. So, one day I wore it and a friend asked me if I was pregnant and at the time I wasn't and was completely mortified. Anyway, I decided it was going to make the perfect maternity dress one day and gave it to my dear friend Bari who was pregnant at the time. She loved it and lived in it during her pregnancy and then gave it back to me and now it's my maternity staple. Now it's the sisterhood of the traveling maternity dress. If you're next in line for being pregnant, let me know because this dress is yours, I promise it is the most comfortable thing on earth and WILL look good on you! :)

Color Codification

2010-02-23T15:55:00.000-08:00

I saw this work by Lauren DiCioccio on 20X200 and thought wow, I love it! Unfortunately they are sold out of the smaller print, but I'm contemplating the larger print for Baby C's room. It goes with the striped walls, right? Anyway, the artist calls this body of work "color codification dot drawings." To make each painting, she lays a sheet of frosted mylar over a magazine page, then assigns a color to every letter (numbers are shades of grayscale) and apply tiny dots of paint over every character on the page according to my color-code. Making the paintings is a lot like solving a cryptogram and the result is a legible blur of dots in the form of the article’s layout, a kind of Braille for the color-inclined. Nice work, Lauren!

To stripe or not to stripe, that is the Question

2010-02-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

Above are some images I was inspired by and now I've been completely obsessed with stripes for the last few days and trying to decide if I should "stripe out" a wall in Baby C's room. Should I make my lovely husband indulge in my manic-ness about Baby C's room. I'm thinking that it would be on just one focal wall. What are you thoughts????

Be Mine.

2010-02-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

J and I aren't big into Valentine's Day because we believe we don't have to have a day to show our love for one another. Regardless, we were in the spirit and individually came to the conclusion that we would make each other something. Interestingly enough, we both created pieces that were framed. Mine Valentine's gift was inspired by this Etsy site and J's was inspired by his fascination with coding and integers. I love how similar, yet alike we can be sometimes. Happy Valentines Day to all my friends and family. May you see love today and always.

Within the code, you can find, "I love you, Winnie." J can be very sweet sometimes. :)

My piece was made from a recycled bible and hand stamped. I love the way it turned out and how the hearts jump out from the black background like butterflies.

Blue Heaven

2010-02-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

I totally gasped when I saw this post this morning on decor8. Absolutely stunning, beautiful and color-lustful! Color can make all the difference in the world, can't it!? If I had these chairs, I would design my whole room around them. Yeah for color updating the iconic Hans J. Wegner Wishbone chair. Can't wait to see the other colors that they come up with, 12 more colorways for their 60th anniversary.

Quote of the Day

2010-02-11T15:36:00.001-08:00

Marimekko Spring collection

2010-02-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

I have always loved the iconic colors and patterns of Finnish company, Marimekko. Bold, simple, and always colorful. Check out their latest collection of prints, here. I can't believe I don't own anything from them yet....if anyone wants to get me a gift....this is my hint. :)

Paint chip observation

2010-01-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

I've been starting to think about decorating for Baby C and of course, the right color is a must for his room. I've been seeing a trend of color chip samples as decor. Check it out. Maybe instead of painting, I'll just get a punch of paint chip samples and create something. It's kind of a sustainable, creative way to use something, right?

Concept can

2010-01-26T14:21:00.001-08:00

Convex logo substitutes colorfully spayed can. It reduces energy and effort to separate toxic color from aluminum. Pretty cool, if your brand as recognizable as Coke, why not? Love the simplicity of it. What do you think??? Found on Designspotter.

Crayola's Law

2010-01-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

What did we all do before the internet came along to give us information like this? If you've ever wondered where you can find, say, a statistical analysis of how the number of Crayola colors has increased from 1935 to the present, wonder no longer.

I love the visual communication of this data...wish all information was this visual. It would make my life a little easier.

Found via weathersealed.com

Raw color

2010-01-21T10:43:00.000-08:00

Nature is so amazing, just look at the beautiful colors that can be created naturally. Who needs florescents?

Color and patterns for baby boy

2010-01-19T11:00:00.001-08:00

So I've been a complete flake when it comes to blogging lately, but I've had good reason. I've been a little preoccupied. I'm expecting and super excited since we found out we're having a little boy. Since I'm now starting to think about the baby's room, I've come to realize that baby boy room decorations are really limited! There's tons of cute girl stuff, but for boys it's a different story; it's either pastels, dated patterns or bad cartoons. I don't want to bring my little guy into a world of pastels, I want him to be greeted in a cheerful colorful room. Is that too much to ask?

So the other day, my dearest friend and new mamma, Bari, took me to the fabric store to pick fabrics out for Baby C's room. We'll (I mean Bari) will be making crib sheets, a bed skirt, curtains and maybe some other notions. But this is what I picked out. These fabrics colors and patterns make me giddy! I am in love with it and am pretty sure Baby C will love it too!

Can't wait to show you the finished room....might take a while as I don't have to be done until late May.

PINK BOLDNESS

2010-01-19T10:57:00.000-08:00

My good friend sent this image to me...I love how this person decided to step out and be different, especially among all the neutral colors. AMAZING and BOLD! I am a major purple lover, but pink will never die!

No place like home

2009-12-08T15:44:00.001-08:00

I'm in Japan for work, but no matter how long or how far I travel, there is no place like home and Skype. Cutest thing is that Maya knows the Skype ring, freaks out when I call and loves to watch me on the computer screen. Love and miss you, Jason.

Everyone needs a little Peanut Butter and Chocolate in their lives

2009-11-18T15:48:00.001-08:00

I've been on a baking kick lately, last week I made pumpkin creme cookies, this week I baked Milk Chocolate-Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies. It's my creative outlet, so I've been thinking of trying a new cookie recipe a week, what do you think? I'll keep you posted. Until then, here is the amazing recipe. These will not disappoint.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen sandwich cookies

Be sure to use regular peanut butter — not old-fashioned or freshly ground — for the best consistency in the cookie batter and the filling.

Cookies

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (packed) dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 1/3 cups (about 8 ounces) milk chocolate chips

Filling

3 ounces high-quality milk chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina), chopped
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
6 tablespoons whipping cream

Preparation

For cookies:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat powdered sugar, dark brown sugar, and butter in large bowl to blend.

Add peanut butter; beat until creamy. Gradually beat in vegetable oil and vanilla extract, then egg. Add dry ingredients; mix just until blended. Stir in milk chocolate chips.

Drop cookie dough by level tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake cookies until puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly, then transfer cookies to rack to cool completely.

For filling:
Place chocolate, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and kosher salt in medium bowl. Bring whipping cream to boil in heavy small saucepan. Pour hot cream over chocolate mixture; stir until mixture is melted and smooth. Chill until filling is thick and spreadable, about 1 hour.

Spread about 1 rounded teaspoonful chocolate-peanut butter filling on flat side of 1 cookie. Top with second cookie, forming sandwich. Repeat with remaining filling and cookies. (Cookie sandwiches can be made 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)

Oxford obsession and my amazing find

2009-11-18T09:30:00.001-08:00

These oxfords were found on Free People.

My new beautiful Italian leather oxfords thrifted for $5. SCORE!

Since summer I've been obsessed with oxfords and knew it was going to be my must have for this fall season. I've seen them styled with everything from skirts to the boyfriend look. So I searched high and low to find something classic and, of course, affordable. Well, I found them in the least expected place for (drum roll please.....) $5!!!! I was at the Dress for Success sale back in early October and low and behold these beauties were there. Made of genuine leather from Italy, barely worn, pristine condition and in my size! We know those Italians can cobble some shoes. Anyway, there's nothing like a great find. Thought I'd share.

xoxo Winnie

Just a reminder....

2009-10-25T18:39:00.001-07:00

Daily reminder

2009-09-17T13:50:00.001-07:00

Right on!!! Thanks Solene for the reminder.

Necklushes

2009-09-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

Another successful craft night with the ladies. This time we made Necklushes, which are scarf/necklaces made of fabric. They are super easy to make and they look great. I wore it yesterday and I had several people requesting that I make them one, so I might start a little side business. Place your orders soon for the holidays. Love, Winnie

FOUND!!!!

2009-09-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

As you all know, we have been in the midst of a bathroom remodel, which we are doing finishing work this week. I eluded to something we found during the demo and decided it's too good not to share.

These pictures were found in a brown bag hidden under the floor boards of our bathroom. J was reaching up from the basement and the brown bag feel straight on his head. For a split second, he thought maybe it was a bag of cash. These aren't cold hard cash, bit not a bad find. I think they are GORGEOUS!

We are making PROGRESS!

2009-08-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been an interesting 9 days without a bathroom, but Jason and I have come out stronger. We worked well as a team until late at night and we now have a working bathroom only 2 days behind schedule. There's a lot of finishing to do, like hanging the mirror, shelves, painting and trim, but at least we don't have to use the "Schultzy." Here's some more progress images.....can't wait to show you the finished product! Until then, here's the tease.

So you remember the demo that happened, that was the easy part. Remind me in person to tell you what Jason found in the floor boards when we demo-ed. It's an awesome story, but better if I showed you in person.

Can you believe it, proof that I do dirty work, covered in construction dust.

My awesome husband

My acrobatic husband.

Let the Demolition begin...

2009-08-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

The "Schultzy" for the next week or so. It's deluxe, flushable toilet, working sink. I've even added some reading material and some flowers to make it more cozy. HAHA!

The fun part...demoing the bathroom. Bye, bye mismatched toilet and tub.
Bye, bye ugly faux wood floor. I will not miss you!

My best hire, my husband. He took the week off work to do this. He's so amazing! Isn't he adorable?

So I've been dreaming about a new bathroom since moving into the house 5 years ago and we're finally doing it. Here is the progress so far. Today will be day 5. I think we'll have a working toilet and tub by Monday. Can't wait to post the results!

High Adventure

2009-08-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

Let the adventures begin.

Some of the lovely ladies. My friends and co-workers!

The Deschutes River. The river was packed.

Laura and I taking command of the boat on one of the many rapids.

This weekend to celebrate Jason's graduation, I planned a full day white water experience on the Deschutes River. Can you believe he's never been white water rafting? We got 23 of our friends to join in the fun. An unforgettable day in Oregon.

Bike babe

2009-08-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

I love the matching Brooks saddle and handle grips.
I got into naming my bikes since I got back from Amsterdam.
Her name is Scarlett.

This Bianchi was Jason's friends dad's bike,
Jason fixed it up and made it a single speed.
It's light weight, uncomplicated and just plain fun to ride.

Jason and I rode our matching Schwinns to a wedding reception.
I love the detachable basket in front.
I'm bringing some Euro influence back to PDX.
This bikes name is P.D, short for PDXy a combo of PDX and sexy.

Portland is one of the most bike friendly cities. So this summer Jason and I have been biking a ton. We bike to all over and it's always an adventure. It's a great way to get a little exercise and see the city in a whole new light. Here are my two bikes. The red Bianchi was a Valentine's day gift from Jason and the green Schwinn is my Sunday cruiser which Jason also has a matching version of it. Cute, I know!

Reason #151 I love Oregon

2009-08-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

I can't even believe I've lived in Portland for 9 years now. It seemed like yesterday that a college friend of mine packed up a U-Haul and moved out West. There's just so much to see and do here, that it'll take at least another decade to discover. Anyway, J "discovered" this Oregon utopia and we ended up camping there over the 4th of July. Mind you, I don't typically do nature, but J loves it, so I slowly loved it too.

Few things we look for when we camp.
1. no overcrowded camp spot with screaming kids
2. a place where Maya doesn't have to be tied up
3. swimming holes
4. nature
5. peace and quiet

This spot definitely meets all our requirements.

Here are some of our pics from our fun adventures in Oregon. It's our secret camping spot, so I'm not telling you where it is on this blog. Yeah, it took us 9 years to find it.

We call this Backpackers Delight, surprising good. We even filtered our own water from the stream.

One of the many swim holes, the water is amazingly clear.
Our goal was to find all the swim holes and jump into them. I think we succeeded.

Maya loved our camping trip too.

My creative outlet

2009-07-28T11:40:00.001-07:00

Most people who know me, know that I love to bake. It's my creative outlet and nothing is better than getting a reaction of when people try your tasty treats. This post is dedicated to my brother Alvin who reminds me that my everyday adventures are exciting to others. Thanks for the reminder. Love ya!

I made two keylime pies last week. One as a practice run for the "real" one I made for my friends Eric and Rene's wedding on Sunday. They both turned out fantastic, so I've been told.

Click here for the recipe. The secret ingredient is the almonds in the crust. Delicious!

CrafTuesdays

2009-07-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

So a few friends of mine have started a weekly event to get some design energy out. Our first project was potato stamping, inspired by this article we saw online. Here's a glimpse into our evening.

Cutting out our pattern in the potato.

Practicing our pattern on our material.

Stamping.
Don't talk to me, I'm in the zone and will mess up if I break my concentration,
especially after a glass of wine.

Color-gasm

2009-07-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

Oh Kanye....I don't really think you write your blog, but I read it anyway because occasionally there's some really inspiring stuff. Like this post today. I love the smart use of color and visual happiness that it gives me. Looks like the sun is radiating from within the building, which is designed by Rojkind Arquitectos, located in Querétaro, Mexico.

Tricycle Town USA

2009-07-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Portland is a city of bikes, but this is interesting. Seen at 1st Thursday in the Pearl District. I love the locked up tricycle and the knitted bike post!

Explorer

2009-05-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

I love this little inspiration. Click to see the image.

Silliness

2009-03-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

This made me laugh this am. Click on the photo for a up-close view.

Fashion HOT OR NOT?

2009-03-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

I read this on trendcentral.com: In times of financial uncertainty, values of precious metals such as gold and platinum tend to stay high even if the market for fine jewelry takes a downturn, as we're seeing in this recession. One piece of jewelry worth investing in, The Paracord Survival Bracelet, while not made from the earth's most precious natural resource, can potentially protect its precious inhabitants. Made from 15-26 feet of highly durable 550 lb. test paracord (originally used by the US military as parachute suspension lines), the bracelet can be unwound for use in multiple situations - from tying down a mattress to your car roof to securing a tent or temporary shelter to throwing a line to a person fallen overboard - in a pinch. Traditionally worn by US military personnel, a growing number of civilians are also now sporting the woven nylon bracelets (or some variation of it) in the chance that they find themselves in a bind. (Plus, even if you don't expect to find yourself in an emergency situation, its surprisingly hip look makes it look like the kind of high fashion accessory that would be sold in a concept boutique like Opening Ceremony or Oak.)

My question: Fashion HOT or NOT?

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, I actually never really celebrate Valentine's because I think it's a made up commercial holiday which makes single people feel lonely and makes people in relationships feel the pressure to express their love on a certain day. Anyway, I saw this and it reminded me that it was, indeed, Valentine's and that LOVE should be expressed any day. Click on the image for a better close up of Russian artist, Yulia Brodskaya, who creates these beautiful images out of ribbons of paper. They are so perfectly crafted that it is hard to believe that they are hand made. The paper sculptures are an inspiration for what could be made with everyday materials accessible to all of us. I bet they are more amazing in real life. Check out more of her inspirational work on her website.

Affordable art?

2009-01-27T16:05:00.000-08:00

Long gone are the days of cheap prints and band posters hung by sticky tack. Now a days, my tastes have evolved to be a little more "adult." I'm paying a mortgage and bills now, those qualities puts me in the "adult" category I think. Anyway, I digress. I found this website that has great original art for CHEAP. $20 for a limited edition print. The people who run this site scope out new and emerging artists and have a nice selection for you to choose from, prints, photos, etc. Check it out www.20x200.com.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-21T09:40:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know, I know....I haven't posted in over a month, but I'm back and better than ever. Maybe not, but that sounded good, right? Anyway 2009 looks like it's off to a great start. Yesterday's inauguration was inspiring and I think all of us will remember this historic moment for the rest of our lives. As it relates to color, I thought a lot of color cues were cues of optimism. You be the judge. The red, white and blue could not have been brighter on this day.

Circle Scarf

2008-12-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Leave it to American Apparel to do what they do best: create desirable basics. I was surfing their site and found this amazing piece: The Unisex Circle Scarf. One item that does it all. Can't wait to check it out in person.

Lego love

2008-11-25T16:15:00.000-08:00

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac has collaborated with The Lego Group to create a virtual fashion show.

The four-minute show, for spring/summer 3001, features a rainbow catwalk and Lego figures dressed in the latest De Castelbajac collection, and even features a Lego Anna Wintour and Kanye West-a-like, replete with baseball cap and shutter shades, in the audience.

The animated short was directed by Fabrice Pathier, with sound design by Laetitia Batut and music by The Aspirins for My Children. It previewed during Paris Fashion Week. Check it out at www.jc-de-castelbajac.com .

Real men wear PINK.

2008-11-25T10:30:00.001-08:00

Pink on guys is nothing new, but pink on guys playing sport is rare and pink shoes on the soccer field!?!?!? Check out the new Nike Mercurial Vapor Rosa worn by a European soccer player and the fun video on nikefootball.com.

What time is it??

2008-11-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

I've never worn a watch. I don't know if it's because I don't want to be a slave to time or if it just doesn't look right to me on my wrist. Well, go figure, but after seeing this LED watch from Hiranao Tsuboi of 100% at design tide, I would start wearing one.

Nike Remix

2008-11-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks Sarah Illenberger for your remix of the Nike shoe. Always refreshing to look at something you see everyday in a new light.

Beautiful design work from the Netherlands

2008-11-18T16:40:00.000-08:00

A colleague of mine from Europe got to see the IJM studio in person and passed on this gorgeous website. I love that each photo is designed through the use of color. If you have time, click through their beautiful images and prepare to be inspired.

Blowing it up

2008-11-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

I've been fascinated lately with Chinese artists. I ran across Cai Guo-Qiang's art and was truly inspired by his large works of art where he "draws" with gunpowder. If you have time, check out his video and read more about his work in the NY Times Magazine in an article called the Pyrotechnic Imagination. There's a type of energy in his work that is unique to his technique. If I were an art collector, I would definitely invest in a piece of his work.

Late Halloween Post

2008-11-09T17:17:00.000-08:00

I love dressing up. Any excuse and I'm there. This year I was inspired by my Paris trip and went as a 20s flapper and dressed Jason up too. We found his outfit for $10 at the yearly Caitlin Gable rummage sale. I love historic clothing and how clothing can define a time period. Did you know that the term flapper referred to a "new breed" of young women who were seen as rebels in their time? Random knowledge for you. Anyway, I'm also considering wearing more red lipstick now that I had to buy a tube of it.

Don't forget you can click on all the pictures to see it better.

Super creative : Barbie Jewelry

2008-11-09T17:04:00.001-08:00

I've never really been a Barbie girl, but here's an interesting way of looking at Barbie. There have been a fair about of posts on some of my favorite design blogs about this, but incase you haven't seen this I thought I'd share. I love how she repurposes ordinary objects into something truly unique. Okay, at first it's a little creepy, but the more I look at them, I think it's just hilarious.

Check out Margaux Lange's portfolio and let me know what you think.

TAGGED

2008-10-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks Melissa for tagging me. I don't even know 7 people with blogs, so does that mean I'll have bad luck the rest of my life??

7 Random Facts:

1. I was named after Winnie the Pooh, my parents didn't know any good English names I guess.
2. My great-great grandfather was the first emperor of the Republic of China, Yuan ShiKai
3. I'm the 1st generation born in the US
4. One regret I have is not living in NYC
5. I love bar games: darts, foosball, pool
6. I can't stand other people's feet
7. I've bungy jumped 3 times and skydived once, all within a week span in New Zealand.

Hope you learned a few new things about me.

Now it's your turn: Kate, Tiff, Martha, Kayko, Kristin!!

Check it out.

2008-10-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

This website is a good way to release some creativity and to simply play.

http://thisissand.com/

It looks like the web is inactive, but click on the tiny grey box on the upper left hand corner to active the fun!

I love wrought iron!!!!

2008-10-13T16:54:00.001-07:00

In London, I got the chance to check out the V&A museum. I was obsessed with the wrought iron. I've never seen it in any other museum I've been to and I guess we just don't have a lot of it in the states. I love the textures, patterns, movement and craftsmanship of all the pieces.

Modern take...

2008-10-13T16:36:00.001-07:00

Okay, I apologize for the delayed post on my European trip. I was in London, Paris and Amsterdam for 10 days on a marketing trip for work. Yes, it sounds pretty glamorous, but I promise you that I did work. My favorite part of the trip was Paris, probably because I got to spend the most time there, the food and drinks were fab, the people were super chic, and the sun was shining. The above was a really cool building I walked by in Paris that was super inspiring to me. At first I thought the metal was scaffolding, but after inspection the metal is actually decorative. I love that they keep the integrity of the original design and gave it a modern face-lift. Also, the fact that you can see both original and modern at the same time is a nice touch.

Classic Notre Dame doesn't get old either. The detail and craftsmanship is breathtaking!

Another year.....

2008-10-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend I celebrated another birthday. Without the pressure of a milestone birthday, this day turned out to be one of the best. Only God could have orchestrated the perfect fall weather we had this weekend. We hosted brunch at our house where Jason and I cooked up a storm because that's the way we like to do things....frittata, scones, banana bread, mimosas, coffee and irish cream, and of course a birthday wouldn't be complete without cake. Jason really out did himself this year with what he called the mile-high Mexican cake, which was 4 layers of chocolate cake with Mexican chocolate buttercream ganache frosting homemade with love. With another year come and gone, I have to reflect at how great a year I had and how very blessed I am with all the people who love and support me who live near and far. Thank you to all the cards, phone calls and facebook posts on my special day. Here's to another great year.

Another reason I love Portland....

2008-10-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Killer Vintage Shops. For those of you who know me, you know that I love to shop! Everywhere I go and travel, shopping is a MUST. I've recently decided to be a little more green by trying to purchase reused clothing before I buy new. Portland is the home to vintage shopping and I definitely have my faves, but this store takes the cake. It's well merchandised, clean, the owner is super nice, the prices aren't ridiculous and the selection is one of the best I've ever seen for a vintage clothing shop. I stumbled across this gem last night while out with my friend Alaina hopping between Doug Fir and Ronton's on East Burnside. Yes, we were drinking and that could have added to my excitement as well. So, if you get the chance to check it out go to Rock and Rose http://www.rocknroseinc.comand let me know what you think.

You say tomatoes.....

2008-09-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

Jason, my husband, has a green thumb that I will never have. This is the results of his dedication to the garden, from planting, watering, nurturing and loving, we have heirloom tomatoes coming out of our ears. The names of the tomatoes are Jersey Devil, Green Zebra, Marble Stripe, Cherokee Purple, and Black Plum....who knew. We (as in Jason), harvested and canned until we couldn't can anymore. I'm sure we will enjoy them for the rest of the year. If you are interested, I'll hook you up with some wonderful salsa or pickles. Even better, if you have recipe ideas, let me know.

Home Sweet Home

2008-09-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

I am finally home for a while after a whirlwind of trips all over the world. I don't deny that I am a lucky girl! All trips were equally gratifying in its own way. You read all about Mexico in my previous post, then I was off to "exotic" Florida to visit my inlaws. It was nice that the whole family could get together again after 3 years and also great to get to know my nephew Nicklas better. I love being called Aunt Winnie. Here's a picture of my favorite little man.

Then I was off on a work trip to Europe. Sounds pretty glamorous, but I swear I worked during those 10 days....London, Paris and Amsterdam. I learned more about the business I work for and it was great to talk to the consumers, buyers and retailers that actually buy the product I work on. Nice change of pace from the office environment.

Now that the travels are all said and done, I'm looking forward to fall: celebrating a lot of birthdays, including mine and Jason's, cooking and baking more and just being here at home.

I love Herve Leger

2008-09-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

So most of you who know me, I love wearing dresses. The best fashion advice I read was "if you don't want people to know the circumference of your thighs, wear a skirt or dress." I love this motto and it makes getting dressed so much easier since you don't really have to think about separates when you slip on a dress. Needless to say, I cannot coordinate separates now.

Anyway, I was checking out all the NY Fashion week images and designers and ran into Herve Leger. I went to the website and found some really beautiful dresses. I love the lines, colors and the ready-to-wear factor of these dresses. If I had a few grand to spend, I think I would buy one of these dresses. But where in Portland would I wear something this fabulous?

It starts with a few....

2008-09-05T08:58:00.001-07:00

So here I am in Florida on the 2008 Callough summer vacation, which included a stop to magical Disney World. I've been a few times before and every time I'm amazed at how well Disney transcends all boundaries: age, race and religion. After a full day of rides and shows, we head to the amphitheater for Fantasma, one of the most popular shows at Disney. We were there about 45 minutes early to get good seats and as we waited for the show to start, I was impressed that there were 2 boys about the age of 12 that were trying to get the whole audience to do the "wave." I thought, no way this is going to work, I would have given up by now; but these boys were persistent. After about 10 minutes, enough people had caught on to what was going on and it was amazing to see the whole crowd (about 1000+ strong) doing the waves caused by 2 young boys sitting in front of us. Made me think. It doesn't take many to make a difference.

Perfect Summer Weekend

2008-08-29T08:43:00.001-07:00

Cabin on the river + 3 days + good friends + sun + good music + no agenda = the perfect summer weekend. I'm gonna bottle this up and open it in February.

It's not too late to make a difference

2008-08-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm back from Mexico, I've learned that donations are critical in helping the people in Oaxaca. If you're still thinking about supporting me in Mission Oaxaca, it's not too late to donate.

Donations can be done 3 ways and they'll send you a tax deductible receipt.

1. You can give it to me in person.
2. Online at www.centerforsharing.org/makeadonation.htm with my name in the subject line.
3. Snail Mail: Mission Oaxaca c/o Center for Sharing, 723 W. Clark Street, Pasco, Washington 99301. Please make sure that my name is in the subject line.

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to share with you my wonderful experience in Mexico. I know I'll be going back there soon.

Portraits of Mexico

2008-08-18T16:31:00.001-07:00

Just when you think you don't have room in your life for another relationship...you meet more incredible people. Here are some photos of some of the wonderful people I met in Mexico, even if it was for a small moment in time.

This is Pastor Beny. He's only 24 and his whole family is in ministry. He was a gracious host.

This is Lucie. She came up from Jichitan to help us build pisos. Her family lives in really a rural area where there is no schooling so she lives at Casa Isabel (http://casaisabel.org/) while she attends school.

Carlito and his grandpa. He is the cutest kid. I love this shot. There is no doubt they are related.

These kids were running after the truck when we were leaving the house.

This is a native Zaportec woman in Jichitan. She is selling her goods at the market.

These kids lived at the first house we did the pisos. When we showed up the little boy didn't have pants on. They helped haul buckets of water for the cement mixer.

These girls have a really sad story. I met them at church on Sunday. Their mom is a single parent and left for Mexico City in search of work, leaving the older sister who is 11 to care for her younger siblings.

Gorge (Jichitan local), Beny (pastor from Oaxaca), Clay (sponsor from Oregon) and Brea (teacher in Woodburn) in Juchitan all sharing the same heart to serve others in Mexico.

Kids at Pimpollo. These were the kids that were couldn't understand that I was Chinese and American. We tried to tell them that I was in the gold medal Olympic swimmer. We had a lot of fun hanging out that afternoon.

This kid was helping his father deliver water to houses in the community.

My love for food

2008-08-17T10:50:00.001-07:00

Everyone by now knows I love food. That's probably why I married a chef and probably why I'm sick right now. But I will try almost anything once....though I did pass on the grasshoppers. This post is dedicated to Mexican food.

flan

oaxacan chocolate icecream

Lis is excited about eating the mole, which is typical Oaxacan food.

limes in the market

mole

the ladies making homemade tortillas over a wood burning stove

tortillas with the famous Oaxacan cheese

this lady is making chiles rellenos, the best I've ever had

We also had time for fun

2008-08-17T10:44:00.001-07:00

This is the pedestrian friendly street in Oaxaca. The buildings have a lot of European influences.
Santa Domingo...a church in Oaxaca
Me, Beny and Mixie at Monte Alban, a Zaportec ruin.
That's me on the steps.

I'm back with a case of the Mexicos

2008-08-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

After a week in Mexico, I'm finally home. It has felt like I've been gone forever. Anyway, I brought home with me a nasty stomach bug. So, I apologize if this post doesn't make a lot of sense....I haven't eaten solid food for almost 2 days and the trip home was BRUTAL! At least I'm in the comfort of my own home. Here are the pictures that I promised. They definitely speak louder than my posts. Thank you for all for your support and I especially thank my wonderful husband who supports me in everything I do. I love you.

Day 1 of making pisos. This is our mostly women team riding in the back of the pickup with all the supplies: cement mixer, wheel barrows, buckets, shovels and great attitudes. From left to right: Izmerna, friend of the church; Mixie, piso supervisor and the muscles of the group; Lucie, girl from Pimpollo.
This is a great example of what the floors look like. We're just adding the cement on top of the dirt floors. This was our first piso and this is the kitchen area. Yes, it's outside.

This is just evidence that I did actually do some manual labor, for those of you who thought I'd be sitting around drinking margaritas.

This is what the average home looks like in Vicente Guerrero. Made out of tin, not like anything here in the States.

This was the last piso we did on Friday. This is the whole family....yes, it's a huge family. Not really uncommon here.

To learn more about my trip or to donate, visit http://missionoaxaca.org/

3 F´s: Family, Friends and Food

2008-08-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

One major thing I´ve learned here in Mexico has been the importance of family. Coming from a Chinese family, I´ve been taught that family is always first. After this week, I´ve been reminded that not only is family important, but friends are treated like family too. We have been blessed with amazing Mexican families that have taken us in as their own. I´m touched by the generosity and selflessness of the people we have met. I can´t say that I could prepare a meal for over 20 people at once, but maybe I´m up to the challenge when I get home.

For the last 3 days that we have been doing pisos, a local family cooks for the whole crew and their own family. It´s been a lot of fun to be immersed into the culture through family, friends and food.

Tomorrow I´m heading home...it will be bittersweet.

Machismo

2008-08-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

Today was day 2 of piso building. I think I´m getting to be a pro at this. Yesterday we built 2 pisos: one kitchen and one outdoor space. Today we built 2 pisos for one family. The difference between today and yesterday was that yesterday´s team consisted of mostly women and Pastor Beny. It was highly efficient and we had a lot of fun. Today´s team was a few more men from the household that we were building the pisos. It was a more interesting dynamic because the men (who were all shorter than me) didn´t let me do any heavy lifting. It was hilarious trying to pick up a bucket of sand or rock and having someone steal it out of my hands the moment I even lifted it. Can´t wait to post some pictures.

I love the summer Olympics

2008-08-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this is a little late post, but the opening ceremonies was off the hook!! The best ever. The amount of people doing the performances, costumes, fireworks...I thought they did a great job showcasing China. I was glued to the tv. I haven´t talked to anyone else about it, but what did everyone else think?

So it´s been interesting watching the Olympics here in Mexico, what a different perspective. I love that they showcased archery, since a 14 yr old Mexican girl won it. Sorry, but that is a boring sport to watch. Also, I don´t understand anything they´re saying, so it sounds like: "blah, blah, blah...Michael Phelps." Looking forward to coming back and seeing the US perspective!

Maya-bear

2008-08-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that I have a dog named Maya that I completely love. She´ll be 3 years old in October and is my first dog. I´ve taught her tricks, take her on walks and have recently taught her to ride along side me on my bike. Since being in Mexico and seeing all the scavanger dogs, I keep thinking how good Maya has it. She´s not out on the streets looking for food, fending for her life, and pregnant with her 4th litter. Yes, Maya is a dog that I love, but she´s not a human. So to me, putting dogs in doggie day care for $25 a day is a little overkill. Do you think it make us humans feel better about ourselves?

China (pronounced Chi-na)

2008-08-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to visit Pimpollo in Jichitan. It´s like an orphanage, but people don´t adopt these kids. These kids were dropped off and abandoned, sometimes the parents come back for them, most of the time they don´t. The sight was almost too much for me to bear, unsupervised children and children who just need a little bit of love, affection and some structure in their lives. There´s too much to write about, but the one thing that I love about these kids, is that they are completely honest and have no filters. First thing they did was stare at me and asked everyone around me where I was from. I don´t think they´ve ever met someone Chinese. They couldn´t understand that I was American and Chinese. Americans can be Chinese too, hmmmm....I can see how that can get confusing for kids, but then I thought, it can be confusing for adults too. So this post is about traveling to other countries as an Asian American. I´ve always struggled with identifying myself with being American and Chinese. This experience makes me think more about it. Good, bad, indifferent....still thinking about it....Thoughts?

Camera challenge.......

2008-08-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say I left my battery charger at home and my camera is dead!!! Such a Winnie thing to do. Good thing we have more cameras between us. Probably won´t be able to post any pictures until I get home. Good thing since I´ll need to time to really gain some perspective on this whole experience. Today we had to Jichatan, a 4 hr drive south. Benny and his mother (local supporters and the most warm people I have met) are driving us down there to see Kristin from the orphanage. We´re only planning on staying one night and then driving back to Oaxaca with Kristin and 2 girls from the orphanage to help us build the pisos. Benny says that we have enough $ to build 6 pisos this time. For those of you who don´t know, pisos are cement floors. Some of the people who live here have mud floors and the cement floors helps with hygiene, cleanliness and their overall health since they live basically on a landfill. So, that´s $100 per piso to drastically change the way a family lives here. Can´t wait to start some manual labor. Adios for now!!

HOLA

2008-08-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. After a very long flight: PDX, Phoenix, Mexico City, Oaxaca, I'm safely in Mexico with all my baggage. Just at an internet cafe and wanted to give you an update. Things are going well. There's 4 of us there-me, Mixie, Lis and this guy name Clay, who is supporting alot of the projects here finacially. We went to 3 different churches today. It was amazing to not understand anything, but still feel God's presence...you know what i mean. We also visited the site where we will be building the pisos. The city is built on garbage, literally!! It's such a weird site seeing the landfill behind all the homes. And talk about sustainability. These people repurpose everything. I saw a mattress springs repurposed into a gate. I haven't gotten sick yet and feel great. I had the BEST mole ever for my first dinner here and had a great chile rellenos for lunch oh and lots of tortillas. It's a little frustrating since i dont speak any spanish. I just hope god is going to use me in another way...just not sure how. Tomorrow we head to juchitan. Sorry so short and the typing is so aweful, the keyboard is weird...gotta run. more later.

Update on the Mexico...T minus 6 days.

2008-08-04T15:46:00.001-07:00

So I leave this Saturday for Oaxaca. YIKES!! That came up quick. Still not sure what to expect, but am keeping a open-mind and heart about the upcoming trip. I told you in my previous post that I would keep you updated on my fundraising and it looks like I'm almost half way there to my goal. It's been an amazing journey so far and I've had some really amazing conversations with many different people and have felt that I've been given the opportunity to share a little bit of my faith, which I normally don't do. It's a great new feeling. I'm also really thankful that my work is matching $10 to every volunteer hour that I contribute, so that's a huge help. Go big corporations! Anyway, thanks for all the support. This has definitely confirmed what I already know about my family and friends: that they are an amazing support system for me. Thank you all!

Indian Wedding Celebration

2008-08-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Last night we got the chance to go to a Indian wedding celebration called a Garba. It was great to get to know this culture more and for Anil's family to share such a beautiful celebration with everyone. The saris were beautiful and the music and dancing lasted the whole night. What a joyous celebration.

Summer Camping

2008-07-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

This weekend we decided we needed to get out of the city and into nature. So we packed up the car, the dog and our friends, Brad and Alayne and headed up to Mt. Hood to one of our favorite camping spots on Clear Lake. It's amazing what a little fresh air can do for your soul. Just remember never to trust me to steer a canoe in the right direction.

One of the many reasons I HEART Oregon

2008-07-28T16:08:00.001-07:00

Last weekend Jason and I took our Twin Schwinns for a cruise down to Cathedral Park in St. Johns. Every year they have a free jazz festival that we go to. Nothing beats listening to jazz with my favorite Portland bridge as a backdrop on a warm summer evening.

I love my job

2008-07-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Some people's jobs sucks the life out of them, but not mine! I'm one of the lucky few who actually loves the work I do and especially where I work. Today was no exception...the campus was electric and this is who we saw: Lebron James! What an amazing young athlete.

Girls Night Out

2008-07-23T09:27:00.001-07:00

A few weekends ago we celebrated Jen's upcoming wedding by taking her out on a girls night out. Jen is one of my most historic friends in Portland. We met at our 1st job in Portland and have been friends ever since. She is one of the most caring, loving and intentional women I have ever met and my life wouldn't be the same without her. She is definitely one of the people who has defined my life in Portland. We celebrated one of her last nights as a bachelorette and had a lot of laughs. All the best to you on your upcoming wedding Aug 2. Love ya!

Fundraising anxiety

2008-07-17T20:57:00.001-07:00

Today I am writing a fundraising letter for a missions trip I'll be taking next month to Mexico. It makes me so nervous to ask people for things, but my heart is really passionate about traveling with a group of women to help people in need. Also, I have less than a month to raise $1000.

Check out www.missionoaxaca.org to find out more about the missions trip and I'll keep you posted on how my fundraising is going.

Kelvin Colour Today

2008-07-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

I just checked this book out at the library and it's a beautiful coffee table book that examines how color is used in various mediums. Definitely inspiring.

This is the description: Kelvin investigates today’s evolving perception and application of colour. Structured into chapters that each focus on a single colour, the book documents some of the effects of the deliberate use of colour in recent top quality design work. Alongside images of clear and distinctive colour allocation, Kelvin also includes more intricate and playful examples that illustrate contemporary colour combinations. This ensures that the reader is introduced to the subject of colour in an instructive as well as an associative and experimental way.

Colors are selected for you

2008-07-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

I love this clip of Meryl Streep in the Devil Wears Prada explaining how colors are selected in the fashion industry for you. Trend forecasting plays a vital role in my job and believe it or not, key industries like fashion, automotives and furniture tend to lead not follow.