Wednesday, May 19, 2010

A Shout Out~

Hello Hello~

My best friend just started blogging! Yay~ Please give her blog some love! She just dedicated a post to me! Isn't she a sweetheart? Well, it's definitely given me a push to post an entry~
I will start off my sending my bff a little shout out!
Elizabeth! Can you hear me? Can you HEAR me? :P
Liz, my dear, you know you're amazing right? When I first met you, I just knew right off the bat I had to be friends with you! You have this unmistakable energy about you and you bring out the best in me. And I am truly blessed to have a friend like you. I love you dear from the bottom of my heart and I hope our friendship will grow even stronger throughout the many years to come!
You dream of becoming an artist, but let me tell you, with a voice like that, you have the talent to turn it into reality. Go, go Liz! You have my full approval and support! :P 짱이에요 우리친구, 사랑해요 우리친구!

Arizona 2007


I've been lagging behind on my posts again. A lot has happened in my life. First and foremost, I am now working full-time! Working is hard work, but I'm learning so much in the process. Not only am I improving on my skill, but I'm also learning so much about myself.
Everyday is a new experience!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Please Enter the Giveaway~~

Hello~
Monique, the creative genius behind Voleur de Bijoux is hosting a giveaway from moi (andwabisabi) on her blog ! Go to her blog and enter for a chance to win any 7 cross-stitch designs from my animals and insects sections The giveaway is going on until May 8, 2010.



Please leave comments on her blog (not mine) for a chance to win these fresh, simple, and cute designs! And while you're at it browse through her breathtaking jewelry shop!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Sending you lots of Gracie love! <3>



Hehe! Now time for some shameless advertising!
Here's what I've been working on these days~ Enjoy!

i <3 u mommy lots
Something sweet for mommy! <3

The following are a part of my NEW Cross Stitched Stud Earring Jewelry Displays.
Fresh and fun, this would make a great gift for your loved one and/or yourself! What a darling way to display your stud earrings when they aren't worn by you!

Cross Stitched Stud Earring Jewelry Display

Cross Stitched Stud Earring Jewelry Display
These patterns are Original Andwabisabi! © Grace Kim 2010. Do not copy.
These items are also in my shop
Have a lovely weekend! Happy creating!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Curious? Take a peek!

I decided to share my work space with those whom are curious. This is where all my masterpieces come to life. hahaha jk :P It's where I create my illustrations, embroidery illustrations, design work, and of course, my andwabisabi line.

my work space

my work space

my work space


my work space
I've also updated my shop (andwabisabi) with new patterns! Take a peek!
For the remainder of April, customers who purchase $35 or more will get 10% off their entire purchase (amount will be refunded through paypal) Code: "twitter" at check out.
I have a twitter account! Follow me on twitter! I look forward to your tweets!
I wish everyone a wonderful weekend! Happy creating!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

All is well... and warm!

Hello~ Hello~ I have missed you!
A lot has happened since I've last written. So I really don't know where to start, but all is well!
I have been learning how to knit and I've also grown an interest in creating miniature food out of polymer clay.
These are two crafts that I once tackled before and abandoned. Well, it looks like the second time around is the charm!

So without further ado, my ivory cable scarf! I will have to wear it when winter comes.

scarf


scarf

Isn't it quite lovely? I'm very happy with the way it came out! There is something just lovely and precious about cable scarfs. I'm partial to them and I find them quite endearing.

As for the minature foods, I haven't got around to taking pictures. I shall share them when I do!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Pika Pika

:) Hello Blog. I'm sorry for neglecting you. It seems like the more time I have on my hands, the less I'm able to do. This is why a person needs to stay busy! haha

Well let's see! I am re-learning how to knit. I totally suck at it and I've accepted the fact that the only thing I'll be able to knit is a scarf! My goal is to complete one scarf by the end of this year, instead of starting on 8 different ones. That in itself is a big task for me, haha

The weather today is not particularly gloomy nor sunny. Maybe it's just cloudy.

Guess what I've been doing these days. I've been trying to make Rainbow Rice Cake. Though I had to ditch the rainbow part because the steamer was too shallow. They say rice cake is easier to make than regular cake. Yeah right, that is a bunch of bogus. I tried making it with my friend 3 times and we failed miserably. I tried making it again alone, I got rice cake, but I wasn't particularly happy with the consistency. Maybe it's cause I used the packaged rice flour, instead of soaking rice and grinding the rice down to rice flour. ~__~
I'm so determined to do it until it's right. Right now I'm at attempt #6.


rice cake

It looks alright, doesn't it? Looks are deceiving. Well it's ricecake, but it's not at the level of consistency I'd like it to be.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Oh Sunny day!

The sun is out again! Phew~ saved me just in time! As you know, I fail emotionally with the rain. And with a week of rain I've been so waiting for the sun! Thank you!

Little Red Riding Hood
Finally managed to take a photo of my finish. I finished it in early December 2009.
Isn't it adorable? hahaha! ^^;
Excuse the funky angle, I was trying to keep the glare to a minimum.
Little Red Riding Hood by andwabisabi

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

"I'm an Animal"

"I'm an Animal"
Haha. Yes. I'm in a group show at the Black Maria Gallery (3137 Glendale Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90039-1805) If you live close-by, come and enjoy~
Opening night is this Friday, January 15, 2010 at 7:00PM ~ 10:30PM
It ends on Saturday, February 13, 2010


“YOU COULD SAY IT’S MY INSTINCT
YES I STILL HAVE ONE
I DON’T SECOND GUESS IT”

-“I’m an Animal” Neko Case 2008

As the new decade begins it seems time to stop in the forest, stick our wet noses in the air and try to sense what’s approaching. Guest curator Aaron Smith says it’s a group of female artists that are moving fast, bringing with them imagery that is beastly and beautiful, funny and ferocious.

Sarah Williamson, Mashanda Scott, Nicole Adee Dreyfuss, Connie Wong, Grace Kim, Brianna Harden, Saejean Oh, Alisha Amirkhanian, Shannon Freshwater and Daniaelle Simonsen are the young women who create work that is fearlessly candid and filled with the beauty and danger of nature.

Aaron Smith is a painter who has mounted several solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, with reviews in the Los Angeles Times, Art Ltd. and the Chicago Sun Times among others. He attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where he is now an Associate Chair and was the first Artist in Residence at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Kimchi :)

I'm just listening to music and semi-relaxing. My mom and I did make kimchi. Unfortunately, my hands were occupied, so I wasn't able to take pictures of the "real process" Instead, here's a picture of the cabbages sitting in a salt brine.

김치 만들기 Part One



15 cabbages in all.
We started around 2:20PM and finished around 1AM. It's cause the brining part took so long!
Unfortunately, I don't have an exact recipe with measurements to share because we don't really measure anything, we just kind of eye it. The measurement of each ingredient also really depends on personal taste and how much kimchi you want to make at a time. We made kind of a lot. You may just want to start out smaller with 2 or 3 cabbages.
But these are just the steps you go through when making kimchi. Oh yes, and I'd recommend that you use some gloves if you don't want stained hands with burning sensations! :P

배추 김치 (bae-chu kim-chi)
Ingredients:
Napa Cabbage
Korean radish
Coarse sea salt
Garlic
Ginger
Green Onions
Fish sauce
Mochiko Powder
Red Pepper powder
Salt
Sugar
Raw oysters or shrimp
Water

1. Cut the cabbage in half and give it a dip in water. If the cabbage is very big, you can quarter them. (You don't need to wash it at this point, because you will wash it after it's been sitting in the salt brine)

2. Lift each leaf and sprinkle each individual leaf with coarse sea salt. The quick dip in the water will allow the salt to stick to the leaves. After you're done doing this for all the cabbages, put them in a large container with salted water. (Don't fill the container up to the brim with the water, just about half way) Let them sit in this brine for several hours. The cabbage will reduce in volume and turn darker in color. Remember to turn over the cabbages once in between so that they all get evenly covered in the salt brine.
3. In a medium saucepan, pour in mochiko powder (sweet rice flour) with water and simmer until the mixture turns into a thicker transluscent paste. Stir continuously to take out all the lumps and so the mixture doesn't burn onto the pan. Take it off the stove when it starts to boil.
4. After the mixture cools, stir in red pepper powder, salt, sugar, freshly minced garlic, minced ginger, and fish sauce. Incorporate well.
5. Once the cabbages are ready, rinse them under running water several times. About 3~4 times should do the trick. Drain the cabbages and give them a little squeeze.
6. Julliene some Korean radish and roughly chop some green onions and transfer them into a large container. Pour in the red pepper mixture and toss the ingredients together.
7. You can also add in chopped raw oysters or shrimp if you'd like. My mom makes it with raw shrimp. But if you feel uneasy about this, just omit it altogether. It's optional.
8. Mix all the ingredients together. Now spread the red pepper mixture thoroughly over the cabbage. Don't forget to lift each leaf and give it all a good coating with the mixture. Repeat this step for all the remaining cabbage.
9. Place the cabbages in a air tight contain or a glass jar.
You can eat it fresh or fermented, depending on what you prefer. To ferment, keep it in room temperature for 1 or 2 days, before transferring into the refrigerator/kimchi refrigerator. (Kimchi stays fresher longer in a kimchi refrigerator.) You will know if the kimchi is fermented when you open the container and see bubbling liquid and it smells sour. Also, don't fill the container or jar up to the very brim because it'll most likely leak juices while it ferments. And as you know kimchi stains are hard to get rid of.
I'm sorry that I couldn't provide any measurements.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Kimchi, and a bit of stitching!

Hello! Good morning!
It's fairly sunny outside today. It looks like a great day to make kimchi! hahaha, yes. I am making kimchi today!! These days we've run out of homemade kimchi so we've been eating storebought kimchi purely out of convenience, but of course homemade kimchi is the best. Weee! I'm so excited! As you know I'm like a kimchi killer and I cannot eat bab without kimchi! hahaha But it's not an ordinary task so I might be knocked out afterwards.
I hope the sunlight lasts so I can take a couple photos here and there.
Our next door neighbors have these really TALL trees that block a lot of sunlight that could have entered our house. Sometimes when the wind blows really hard, I get paranoid that the trees will bend over and topple over our roof and destroy. And I kid you not. One of the trees started tilting a bit and it already pushed the brick wall (that separates the two houses) and it's currently sloping at an angle.

I've also been stitching away with my andwabisabi characters! Here are some pictures:

Unibrow Body Builder Cross Stitch
Unibrow Body Builder Cross Stitch

Happy Milk Carton Cross Stitch
Happy Milk Carton Cross Stitch

Cute Giraffe Cross Stitch
Cute Giraffe Cross Stitch

Patterns by Andwabisabi!