Celebrating three years of courage and creativity

In August 2009, I celebrated 1000 sales (that sale counter that we are all so obsessive about in the Etsy shop) with my visiting sister and two nieces. We did that 1000 sale dance (if there is such a thing) and I wrote a post in this blog. I was still working as a researcher in a state government back then. In 3 months, I had quit my day job an

d never looked back. 

This month, I just celebrated over 10,000 sales and it still feels unreal. All of my art is dedicated to joy and I hope you feel that joy every time you put on my creation. So I am dedicating this piece to three years of blessed creativity. A vintage lime green and yellow enameled brooch with black polka dot with vintage royal purple Lucite beads and Czech glasses.  This piece will continue to add splashes of color into the changing seasons for you.

2012 Spring Giveaway at Sora Designs

As promised let's kick off the first giveaway of 2012 (just got out of hibernation mode :-) I made this compass with vintage Formosa map (another name for Taiwan back in the 1800s). Well, this is just for me which it will remind me of my origins and all the families and friends. You can get one personalized compass like this too with the city map of your choice (I will work with you). Just comment in this thread with a city/town name if you were chosen to be given a map compass necklace. If you want to add a little story as to why you choose this city that's even better. 10 of you will be randomly picked to be given a map compass necklace of your choice (including people who comments on facebook fan page too. But for blog readers, you can post on both this blog and share at your facebook page for extra entries. Just copy your facebook post here. Sora Designs' fan page is www.facebook.com/soradesigns

2011 Thanksgivings Giveaway

It's been two years since I quit my day jobs as a government resercher and running Sora Designs full time. Thank you all for your support. I would like to give away 5 life size wishbone necklaces before Thanskgiving arrives . If you were the winner, you get to choose either bronze or antique silver finish for this cool wishbone necklace.

Here's how to enter: This contest has three ways to enter. You may enter via one method, more than one, or all three, for a maximum of 3 entries total.

1 - In the comments on this post, let me know which Sora Designs item would be the envy among your girlfriends if you were to own it.

2 - You can get an extra entry by posting this giveaway at your own facebook page. If you post this blogaway be sure to note that in your comment/email!

3 - Blog or tweet about this giveaway. Just be sure to link to your post/tweet in your comment/email.

The contest will close on Friday, November 18, 2011, at 5 PM Pacific Time. The winner will be announced on Monday, November 21, 2011 or thereabouts. Good luck to all!

The not-so fine print: You are entering to win one (1) Large Size Wishbone Necklace from Sora Designs as described in this post. This contest is void where prohibited. This prize is not transferable. This prize may not be exchanged for cash. Once contacted, the winner has 72 hours to claim the prize. International entrants welcome!

My Spring 2010 Trip to Taiwan- Part I

Ahhh, how I miss the hot springs in Taiwan. The ones that are close to my in-law's home is in Beitou which is near the Mt. Yang-ming in Taipei.

Here shows one of the traditional public hot spring bathrooms. Now there are so many trendy spas in the area.

The natural hot spring in Beitou. In some of the public part, you can actually boil eggs in the hot springs. I did it when I was a kid.

I almost ordered one of those wooden tubs and had it shipped to US when I was in Taiwan. The shipping is too expensive. I think there is a maker in Berkeley that sells this kind of wooden tub. I like how the tub is small but deep so you can soak your whole body and that's the whole point.

Summer adventure giveaway

I am hosting my first ever giveaway on this blog. I would like to hear about the adventure that you are planning for this summer or just dreaming... (it doesn't hurt to have a dream). The winner (randomly picked by me) will receive a working spyglass necklace to bring along to his/her next adventure! The last day to share your adventure and be eligible for the giveaway is June 30.

I will share my adventure that had taken place this March in Southern Taiwan. I grew up in Taipei and had rarely visited southern part of Taiwan. This time during my short 3 weeks stay, I visited Tainan twice where this photo was taken.

I will be sharing more photos we took during our stay soon. For now, I can only tell you that the weather was warm and the foods were hot and delicious. I am secretly planning our next trip. It's to visit Paris and a countryside near Bern this November when there are less tourists and no craft fairs here for me to vend.

see the improvement: 2010 Spring Pool Trade Show

If you saw my booth display last August then you will find this one a greater improvement. In order to carry my vintage dress form I drove this time to Vegas. It's 575 miles one way. But it's worth it. Driving there this summer will be a challenge though. Let's see if I can handle it.

Last peek of my cubcle before packing.....

ADSC09451, originally uploaded by tomi&tree.

It's been one month since I quit my day job as a researcher at the Judicial Council of California. I finally get a chance to unpack and reflect on my experience now that the holiday sales and wholesale orders are winding down in January. I have been in the academic and research agency and government for the past 14 years ( I was in school for 8 years getting 2 masters and one doctorate degrees). I am entering a new field without any formal training. It feels safer to have proper "school education" for what you do. That's my upbrining in Taiwan. You study hard and you get good scores at every entrance exams and then you get a good job. What we have never been taught is to explore our interests and passions in life. It's never too late though so I am "re-educating" myself, street style this time. I will be the jewelry desiger, marketing reseracher, account, public relations agent, crafter and entrepreneur all at the same time with the help from the internet, from local community college, from artist forum, and from those wonderful peers at Etsy community. I feel so alive now. That's how I feel.