What I’m Into Vol. 2
Fall is just around the corner and I’m ready. My favourite seasons are the transitions. Fall and spring are made for people who love change. So to say a big welcome to fall, I chopped off my hair and made a new “What I’m Into” list. Hope fall treats you well.
Now that I have framed all my photos in my house in gold and black, of course I would find the image above and decide wood frames are better. I love the cohesion of all thin mid tone wood frames with custom matting. I’ll be posting about cheap unique custom matting soon so make sure to check back and on TikTok @koyjoyjoko
Continuing the wood theme, I am interested in making a house number sign like Japanese carved wood signs. Intricate and difficult but worth it.
Fall is the beginning of rainy season where I live which means staying indoors. I will be spending cozy time making decorations like these for Christmas.
I just want a good sandwich. I’m sick of cooking proper sit down meals. I just want a big bite of a killer sandwich.
On a lighter and final note. Moss agate is beautiful. This ring is by Capucinne for $435CAD in sterling silver. And is on my wish list of presents to buy myself.
What is Dopamine Decor?
A crazy new idea that comes after the huge minimalist throw all of your belongings and own only twelve items. Yep, dopamine decor means surrounding yourself or decorating your home with items that give you a dopamine high. Think Marie Kondo’s konmari method of only keeping things that bring you joy. Instead those things need to give you a dopamine hit when you look at them and there is no expectation on limiting the number of items you own. It’s like an anti trend way of decorating. Don’t choose things because they are on trend but because you want to keep looking at your space over and over again. No farmhouse minamalist scandi rainbows here. Let your true personality shine through and stuff buying what everyone else has. Be sick of copy paste home decor. The photos are items around my own home that give me a dopamine hit when I see them. Note: the items don’t need to be the most expensive or fanciest items you have.
Huge Cheat for Finishing Seams
I am a beginner, self taught, seamstress with no patience for following patterns to a tee or using them at all. However, I like sewing quality pieces that will last a long time. Which makes finishing seams incredibly important. I use French seams, rolling hems, and bias binding a lot but sometimes these methods take too much time and fabric. As established, I want effortless, beautiful finished seams. Iron-on Hem Tape is the answer. With a quick iron and a squirt of water, all difficult to finish seams are seamlessly enclosed.
I bought this pack of 5 colours on Amazon for $15CAD. Not a bad deal for saving lots of time. This is very hand when sewing thick fabrics like canvas where rolled hems or perfect matching bias binding can be impossible. Using the hem tape, the raw edge needs only be folded once which reduces bulk.
The hem tape is very light weight. Even using it on light see through fabric, like the shirt above, the hem tape is unnoticeable.
Unique Online Bookstores
There are so many books published in the world. So, it sucks seeing the exact same books for sale at all the “local” bookstores. Which are really the same bookstore with different names (Chapters, Indigo, Coles). Or the most interesting books are in used book stores, but they rarely have interests newly published titles. Forget about Amazon too. Some books on Amazon are sold at extremely high prices for no reason. I have an example of this for a book listed down below. Also, below is a list of online bookstores that have refreshing offerings on book titles. Some I have purchased from and others I will be purchasing from. All these online bookstores have worldwide shipping.
Counterprint
Counterprint is a UK based bookstore that specializes in design books. They even have very cool kids books. The first image below shows all their categories of books.
Addieway
Based in the U.S., this is also an art centred bookstore. Except this one has many biography books. You need to act fast here, since the titles may be used copies and only one may be available.
Japanese Creative
I ordered books from this company because Amazon sucks. My dad loved my Tokyo Storefronts book which I ordered from Amazon for $40. I went to order a second copy as a Father’s Day gift and the price went up to $50. I was miffed since the book is $30 everywhere else. This is when I found the Japanese Creative Bookstore. The book was $30 and shipping was $30 but I saved $20 on the book compared to Amazon. I was able to find and buy three extra cool books as well.
Nihon Kosho
These books are very old and all in Japanese. Even though I can’t read them, they are inspiring. They make amazing presents on the expensive end, but worth it for a bibliophile, like myself, or someone who has everything thing. I bought an original manga for my dad’s birthday and I was impressed by the shipping and service.
Phaidon
This is interesting. Phaidon books are available at most bookstores, however, on their site, you can order signed copies. I had no idea, the sheer quantity, they publish. All their books are always high quality. I have many cookbooks from them.
Colour Theory in Home DIY is Important
Researching art and projects for my home decor has taught me an important lesson I want to share.
Colour theory is the line that determines amateur from professional.
When a professional starts a project, they take into account colour theory. Colour is important for creating cohesion between a projects parts. This includes painting furniture, sewing projects, knitting. Anything with colour needs to be thought through so it looks good.
I cheat and use colour palettes other artists have already thought about. Below are examples I made to show the colour palettes I pull from images I like.
To use these palettes for a project ex: multi coloured sweater, I will use coloured yarns from one palette. It is not necessary to use every colour from a palette.
Disco Ball Light Fixture
Instructions on how I made disco ball inspired light for my entry way.
Materials used include cardboard, masking tape, saran wrap, paintable silicone, paint brush, expanding foam, acrylic paint, clear gorilla glue, mirror squares.
Draw an out line of the shape you want. Then cut out that outline and the space for the electrical light base. Build up the base model to the exact 3D shape you want. Make sure there is enough space for the light bulb.
Use masking tape to cover the model until it resembles a dinosaur foot.
Cover in saran wrap to prep for the paintable silicone.
This is the stuff I used. Cost $23 at Michaels with the 30% off coupon that’s always available online.
Put the model on parchment paper for easy clean up. Then brush the silicone on according to instructions. The silicone paints on white and dries a transparent yellow. This size of mould to one jar and 8 coats. Each coat took a day to dry.
Easily peel of the mould and prop it up using soup cans. The picture above shows how I messed up and used the mould inside out. Make sure your mould is the right way.
This is the expanding foam I used. It’s much more simple than the two part foam at art stores.
Spray in layers to allow expansion and drying. Only remove from the mould once fully dry.
Trim excess foam to desired final shape.
Paint desired colour. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect. It will be covered anyway.
I highly recommend gluing the mirror squares as the sticker backs will be over powered by gravity.
Tediously glue on hundreds (about 500) tiny mirror squares. But after this gruelling part, you’re done. Just put in the basic light fixture and glue the disco ball to the ceiling. Screw in the bulb. Stand back and admire your work.
What I’m Into Vol 1
Mood: Wabisabi ish - embrace the imperfect by leaning into it and relaxing.
Picture your house has just flooded flooded with a foot of water. Instead of getting sick with panic while calling emergency services, relax. Sit down. Fully clothed. Go for a swim. Breathe in and out. Enjoy this crazy experience that you didn’t plan. I just happened and you now get to swim in your house even just for a few minutes. Then call emergency services.
Opposites always come next. Right now it’s pastel and crochet. Next it will be glam and soft grunge. Wear a ball gown while partying in a stairwell.
A goal of mine is to sew my own summer wardrobe. It feels amazing to wear items built with your own hands. I am not a professional seamstress by any means. When I make clothing, there will be many things imperfect. I’ll just call them the Wabisabi details. As if on purpose.
My summer will be slow this year. I want to enjoy being in the sun. I don’t want to be in a rush. Stay at home, garden, make, play, and drink gin cocktails from a can.
Blue, red, and cream. Those are the colours of now. Not bright, not dull but lived in. Exactly like the picture above. The colours go together and are common.
IKEA is Better Covered in Copper
I took an unbelievably boring IKEA box with great potential and threw everything I had at it. I’m talking paint, foil, treatment, and topcoat. See photos for the transformation.
1. Paint yellow. This colour is important. It will be seen in the final piece, as the oxidation will eat through the copper and reveal the paint.
2. Cover in copper foil. This needs to be real copper, not imitation copper. Otherwise the later steps won’t work.
I used simple spray school glue to adhere the copper. Light layers is better. If the copper gets too wet it will clump and peel.
Use a paintbrush to smooth out the copper. Do not use your fingers as the copper will stick and tear.
Note that this step is super messy. Make sure to have a container to keep excess copper to save for later.
3. Rapidly Oxidize the copper. I used a solution of white vinegar and salt mixed to speed the oxidation of copper into copper oxide (which is blue-green in colour).
4. Make it antique. I used a water based polyurethane varnish for this step. The top coat reacted to the copper, miking it duller. This creates the antique and used look.
Great! All done. Here is the final look.
Bok Choi Eating A Lemon
In 2020, like many of us, I started to embroider. I bought a needle, hoop, and lots of thread. Although I ended up only embroidering 6 things. Well, I just finished my 7th piece. A scene depicting Bok Choi regretfully taking a bite out of a lemon and another lemon shocked at what he just saw. The pattern was adapted from the DMC’s Pok Choi Pattern, linked bellow. My embroidery scene pattern is also available down below.
Save the image below to follow along and embroider your own apron. BTW I got my own apron from IKEA.
Here is the link to the original DMC pattern.
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas 2022
This list is for mother’s who are fun, colourful, and living proof that goddesses do exist.
For the mom who has good taste… buds. It’s olive oil with a mission of bringing the best quality into your home. Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil Drizzle and Sizzle Set $35
2. For the new mom who refuses to cut her hair (I’m guilty). I love this clip because of the high quality. My baby has thrown my clip countless times and it’s still in perfect condition. Chunk’s Checker Claw in Black/ White $18
3. For the mom who loves whimsy. No one else will have a necklace like this. This necklace comes in a gold option too. Mondo Mondo’s Tropicana Necklace Silver $225
4. For the mom who wants to get out the door but still put her best face forward. The blush and lip oil are natural looking and hydrating to improve the skin. Merit’s The Color Set $56
5. For the mom who has everything. Go for something unique like a rare book. This company has many options you won’t find in your local book shop. Addie Ways Books’ Maryanne Amacher: Selected Writings & Interviews $40
6. For the mom who likes a story. These watches are hand made in London. Each design has a special guest artist to design the face. Mr Jone’s Watches’ Blowball £195
7. The mom who wants to match. It is so fun to wear matching shirts. My husband really likes wearing his shirt with me. The patterns come in regular length and cropped. Province of Canada’s Frankie Rugby Shirt $124 regular, $112 cropped
8. For any kind of mom. Schedule a photo shoot of the family with a local photographer. No mom in history has too many photos of her kid(s). That’s just fact. Try searching on Google, Facebook, or Instagram for “Your city” family photographer. Also try asking around for word-of-mouth recommendations.