I saw loads of Moody stuff when I was out in HK. I got a spinning bear and some phone charms that light up, so Hong Kong I started wearing my phone around my neck. Here is a link to Mori Chax the artist behind Moody. I also came across a whole raft of links that include some beautiful sites. You know, I don’t think Moody really wants to hurt his friends, he just can’t help himself. Sounds good eh?
Author: dots and spaces
Invitations
I am off to The Badger Press again this weekend to work on the invites, I hope there’s enough paper…
In the meantime, I got an invitation of my own to get a Gmail account and soon dots mail will be travelling via the new account. I have around 20 invites still to give away, so if you want one, please send me little note with your email address and I will send you an invite. Please don’t fuss if you don’t get a reply, it simply means I will have run out. I’m very impressed by the service you get and the way it all looks and works, especially the threads. The POP3 server also means that I can hook up entourage and get the mail directly to the ibook, its very impressive.
ilovechas
Charlotte Hatherley has a new single called bastardo with a great cover by ilovedust who am fast becoming a fan of. They hail from Southsea, which is just down the road from me and look like they have a lovely setup there. Anyway we saw Charlotte at the wedge and she sang great and had a superb little band including her sister on keyboards. There’s an album called Grey Will Fade which is on order. It was a lovely gig, and chas had the kim deals about her, which is always good to see.
Garden State
Caught this little gem on Sunday night, starring Zach Braff from Scrubs , Garden State is his first film as writer/director and has the main character, an actor living in LA return home for his mother’s funeral in New Jersey, the Garden State. The soundtrack has songs from Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkle, The Shins and Coldplay. Its a promising debut, and has some real humour and strong performances from the lead characters. The Garden State also reflects the main character’s emergence from psychiatric medication, as he rediscovers the places of his childhood and the friends he left behind. Zach Braff has a Garden State Blog that keeps you up to date with news and is written in a witty and disarmingly honest style. It made a nice change, I’ve seen quite a bit of rubbish at the Cinema recently, there doesn’t seem to be much on at the moment.
Picture this…
Also new on Version 2.1 are photo albums. If you click on the images, yada yada yada. Cardigan Bay photos and Hong Kong pictures up for starters. See what you think, can you let me know if they load up very slowly and I will do some tinkering.
V2.1 and the new year
As you might be noticing, we’ve had a little shift around, now that I’ve upgraded to a snazzy typepad +plus account. I have donated my free account to Emma, and we’re waiting with keen anticipation for her new blog. I’ve had a bit of a tidy up, already after a year it was becoming a bit of an untidy library, with posts lying around everywhere. There’s even a new google button just there on the right, so if you’re looking for anything specific from this site, just pop the keyword into the box and hit go.
Had a good break, thanks for asking, back to work with a bump and a cold that I’m only just emerging from. I’ve only been on a few rides since christmas and plan to do much more. I’m even looking at some big trips – London to Brigton again, London to Birmingham maybe…keep you posted. Also big year in lots of other ways…if you don’t know already. Hopefully moving house soon, another trip to Hong Kong in March, maybe a trip to see the boat and a little get together in the summer.
I hope you’ll visit, don’t be shy and leave comments. laters…
Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has visited the site this year. Hope that you’ve enjoyed all the things you saw and all the places you were carried to. I won’t do anything as tedious as review the year, but I will tell you its been smashing. Everyone has been very kind and supportive of the site and its become a little mecca for illustrators and designers, which is a lovely thing. I have some big plans, including a great big new years re-vamp, also some fun things being organised to keep you all entertained.
Anyway…in honour of The Martin Family Christmas doormat – “Ho Ho Ho – Merry Christmas”
Back Home
Back in the UK with lots to tell everyone about my travels and great to catch up with my loved ones. On Monday I got a little older and got some great birthday presents – Belleville Rendezvous and of course… School of Rock. I am very pleased, also new mitts, and I can’t wait to get out on the bike this weekend – I haven’t had a chance since getting back. Anyway, all were impressed at Tai Chi and the kids are coming down sometime for prezzies. Here’s a photo of the figurines collection, which expanded quite a bit – there’s the Michael Lau KISS piece and a couple of Army of Death figures, QeeBear and CIBoys. I have some more, but I have kept these for a rainy day, some may even find their way into the presents pile. Oh, and pride of place, Wai’s Worm Bank – which is the coolest gift – I was made up. So now I’m busy getting ready for Christmas…and I have washing up to do.
Some new links, go check out Yakuta for new imakethings mobile stuff – which reminds me – I have a new mobile number – if you ring the old one, you get the new one, or email me. You can buy original imakethings artwork too, just visit the site (I should get commission)
Last post from Hong Kong
So my last weekend in Hong Kong and I’m quite tired from work and exploring. I think I’ve started to miss home a little more and it feels right to come home now. Work went really well, and I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.
So I spent today on Hong Kong Island, because I really haven’t spent that much time there – tomorrow I’m hoping to go to Aberdeen to see the little boats (if there are any left), and after an evening out with friends, I’ll pack my bags for the off on Monday.
Work has been great and everyone has been so friendly. I’ve learnt much about the nature of business in Hong Kong and have been really impressed by the professionalism and expertise of all the people I’ve worked with. I been taken out for so many meals – I must have tried a bit of everything, including hot pot, japanese ice-cream (with sweet potato and iced green tea), Vietnamese, all sorts of Chinese food, including street food cooked on the corner of the road. I do crave good traditional English food, and will have a lasagne as soon as I return.
Shopping has also been great fun, especially for toys and figurines – I must have half of Mong Kok in my bag, and am really pleased with my prize possession – my own Michael Lau toy. I went with Wai, for whom it was a matter of pride that I pay the best price, moving me on from shop to shop until he was satisfied I couldn’t get it cheaper. Its seems that there are two kinds of shopping here in HK, either designer expensive or fun and inexpensive – of course I’ve gone for the latter. There are malls everywhere, and I’ve got lost almost everytime I’ve been to Harbour City.
I’ve taken lots of photos and even a few little .mpg movies, which are more for the sound – you just can’t show the hustle and bustle, people talking, the noise, the movement – when I’ve walked through markets I’ve just been amazed by the variety – looking at the fish market today, where most of the goods were still flapping, then the fruit and veg places overflowing with fresh produce, neatly stacked on top of each other. I’ve really enjoyed the experience of being here – its quite something.
So, probably post again once I’ve arrived back home, but for everyone reading that I’ve met in HK, I just want to say thank you, its been cracking.
Lights in Hong Kong
Its Monday night at the beginning of week 2 and I’d have hoped to have added a few more posts than I have. I just have not had the time – come on guys – would you waste the time in your hotel or spill out onto the streets of Hong Kong? Here’s the postcard…
I’ve settled into routine at work and am enjoying my time with the other designers and staff, who are just the friendliest bunch I’ve met in a long while. I’ve been taken out most nights, shown some great places, from the crowds of people, all the shops of little vinyl figures in Mong Kok, to the peace and tranquility of the giant buddha at Lantau. Hong Kong has many lights. I’ve been taking as many photos as I can, and taking it all in. For a designer, this place is amazing, and I’m amazed by the variety of fun things in shop windows. Now that I’ve started to get off the main drag, there’s so many markets and stores that just have so much to see. Food is great, and there’s a great variety on offer, on Saturday I had Cantonese Chicken, so hot that tears ran down my cheeks, not surprising considering all the baked chillis on the plate.. On Sunday I had to rest, catch a movie and take stock, and now I’m back into another week.
The photo was taken in Harbour City – the big mall down the road, they’ve put a few decorations up.
