Finished :)

Finally finished the colour on my tattoo! It was awesome to finally have it semi complete :) Mica was thinking about adding clouds to my piece but I didn’t think I could afford any more pain nor could my finances! I was already $300 over my budget and I would think the clouds would be at least another hour! In 2 hours, she coloured in my cherry blossoms and touched up a bit on my dragon. Hopefully, this time my tattoo will heal easier than the first time. Right now, my skin is getting dry and itchy but I think I’ll only use the ointment til this weekend before just applying a body lotion. Kay and Tash were suppose to keep me company but both girls didn’t get up til just before I left. By the time I finished and was back at the condo, they were still getting ready! Since the two of them were slightly hungry, we decided to head over to Crystal Mall for some si long bao :) Yummy and I picked up a fresh mango coconut tapioca drink from a little dessert place in the food fair, not as good as the one at the night market tho! It was a nice and relaxing Sunday before Kay and Tash ended up heading into Vancouver and Richmond.

Asian Dragon with Cherry Blossoms Part 1

Wow, what a session! Mica (an amazing and super talented artist) sketched a freestyle dragon with cherry blossoms on my back and at first, I wasn't sure about the sketch but as soon as she inked the outline, I was in love! I didn't realize how long this session would be since she had only drawn the outline and in hours 2 - 3, she started adding details like scales and shadowing on the design. After 4 hours in 30C temperatures (but I'm pretty sure it was 35 or 40 outside!) and with my period arriving the very same afternoon, I could no longer lie there finishing off the piece! I was hoping to do it in one session but with so many details, I could not go on and my face was starting to look pale as most of my blood had been removed from my body! It was an amazing experience and with the pain, I manage to breathe and concentrate on the beautiful painting in the room. Yoga has def helped me with this since I manage to block out and sit through the strenuous pain I was feeling as she added the scales on the dragon! I am very happy and grateful to have Kay with me during this experience as forever bonded us and made us stronger as a unit. She even pushed her shift 2 hours ahead so she could stay with me until I finished the session cos she wanted to be here for me. Also, wanted to make sure I got home alright. I love her to pieces and without her, I don't know how I would survive. I'm really happy to finally get this done (it's been a 10 year process) and I can't wait until Mica adds the colour and finishes off the little details! So Exciting!

Super Excited!

Wow, Kay and I had a great day! We spent the afternoon together as she did not have any plans til tonite. First off, we headed over to my 12pm appointment at Monkey King on Kingsway to see Mica, a guest tattoo artist from Japan, - Detroit Diesel Tattoo Works) she's only here for 3 weeks to discuss my back tattoo and to look over her photos. Wow, she is super talented and does amazing work! I am so excited, I'm booked in for Wednesday at noon and I'm hoping to do it all in one sitting! It's possible to break it up to 2 sittings but I want it done all at once, I've been waiting 10 years to get this done! After our tatt appointment, we headed over to Coast Capital Insurance Services on Broadway / Cambie cos my auto insurance was due today!! Yikes, I'm cutting it pretty close! But I didn't want to wait til Monday to renew it cos I mite need to use my car tomorrow! As we sat down to speak to the insurance person, we realized that I only had basic cover and did not renew my liability insurance cos last year, I was suppose to go back to Coast Capital to renew it but I misunderstood and thought the other insurance company had done it for me! Apparently, the other insurance company could not sell me CC's insurance as they are not related to them therefore THIS ENTIRE YEAR, I've been driving around without liability!! How lucky am I that I did NOT cause any accidents! WOW! I am very shocked but not to worry, I made sure I had liability insurance before I left the building! Kay was getting very hungry cos she had not eaten before we left the house so we decided to try this japanese udon restaurant on Broadway. She said Tashna has eaten here before and it was pretty authentic and yummy. Wow, we ordered HOUSE MADE GYOZAS and they were SUPER GOOD, very light and full of flavours! The noodle soup came with a rice ball (japanese style fried rice wrapped with seaweed) and 3 pcs of gyozas! It was a lot of food but luckily I ordered a soba wheat soup noodle dish and it was much smaller than Kay's larger udon soup! Her soup base was pretty yummy and I think I will def have to try that one next time! Once lunch was finished, we decided we should walk off our lunch! Hahahaha.... we decided to check out the lulu store and Change cos I needed to get measured into the correct size bra. Wow, what great service and selection of bras! I've had so many women tell me to go to this store for my next bra plus there is a huge sale so I decided to get measured and to pick up some pretty (and to fit!) bras for myself. Wow, I couldn't believe how well these bras fit me and the very informative SAs were very helpful in explaining why the sizes in other stores did not fit as well as these ones did! I came out with 4 bras and a matching panty for only $110!! I'm set for a while now :) I've never had any "pretty" bras so it'll be nice to wear these under my tops and I know how pretty they are :) After bra shopping, I could tell Kay needed a nap cos she only had 4 hours sleep, chit chatting on the phone all night! We decided to head home so she could nap and mom and I headed out for some errands. After our errands, mom and grams cooked a lovely seafood meal with ling cod and geoduck from Alaska! So yummy! It's not bad staying over at my mom's :)

Roadsworth: Crossing The Line

This looks like a really interesting documentary and would love to catch it if it ever showcases in Vancouver!

Check out the CBC article. Roadsworth documentary site. Roadsworth official site with photos. Amazing work and makes the concrete jungle a prettier place to live.

Royal BC Museum

I am so excited about the new exhibit premiering on May 1st at the RBC Museum. Treasures: The World Cultures from the British Museum is a collaborative project with the British Museum and is displayed until September 30. Be sure to check it out before the "treasures" get shipped back to London!

Long Lost Friend

My long lost friend, I found him! Check out my very talented friend, Howie Woo :) and his toons!

Chanel in Central Park, NY

Wish I was in New York City to see this exhibit!

Gothamist
Art and commerce are now communing in nature: The Zaha Hadid-designed Chanel Mobile Art is now open in Central Park. Situated in Rumsey Playfield, the 7,500-square foot orb is filled with art inspired by elements of the famous quilted Chanel bag and visitors can also listen to an audio guide, narrated by Jeanne Moreau (the NY Times described the audio as "discussing everything from sex and love to the secrets at the bottom of a woman’s handbag"). Chanel, which has previously displayed the orb in other cities around the world, donated a low seven-figure sum to Central Park, plus will pay a $400,000 use fee to the city.

The exhibit is free and open seven days a week: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (last admission is 5:15 p.m.); Friday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m. (last admission is 8:15 p.m.); and Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (last admission is 7:15 p.m.). Tickets are available at the box office, which opens 30 minutes before the opening (and closes at the time of last admission), in Rumsey Playfield. The exhibit will run through November 9.

NEW YORK (AFP) — A mobile art exhibition inspired by the iconic quilted leather Chanel bag "2.55" created in 1955 by Coco Chanel opens Friday in Central Park. Fifteen artists have been inspired to contribute to the exhibition set up in a glass fiber mobile gallery resembling a spaceship and designed by Iraqi-born British architect Zaha Hadid. "Stay by my side and follow my instructions," orders French actress Jeanne Moreau in her languid voice over an audio guide recorded for the exhibition. Meandering through the pavilion, visitors discover installations by artists from around the world, even though few share much with the signature handbag with its gold chain. The inspiration for the exhibition is only obvious in one of the pieces -- a giant version of the open bag lying on its side. Other works include Frenchman Daniel Buren's bathing cabin and an installation by Argentine Leandro Erlich showing the reflection of buildings. Coco Chanel, who died in 1971, "worked with artists like (Jean) Cocteau or (Pablo) Picasso, and this pavilion continues this tradition," said a spokesman for Chanel and its artistic director, Karl Lagerfeld. Shaped like a large white snail, the structure ends with a giant Chanel bag and a "wishtree" by Yoko Ono, the widow of former Beatle John Lennon, where a wish can be written and hung on a branch. Central Park marks the third stop of a two-year global tour for Chanel Mobile Art that began on February 27 in Hong Kong. It will head to London and Moscow next year before ending in Paris in 2010.

Coolest Art Piece Ever!

London
London
New York, NY

The Telectroscope - How interesting, wish I could go see this exhibition!

Visit the gallery for more photos!

Pin Up Moms Unleashed!

A friend of mine (Kat Laflamme) had an art exhibit launch of her newest work, Pin Up Moms. Jas and I decided to hit the Drive for some dinner before heading over to the opening. Since, it was a really nice and warm evening, we decided to meet at the train station and walk up the Drive. There are so many restaurants to choose from but we decided to stop in at Red Burrito on 1st Avenue to try out their menu. This place is always packed and I've heard good reviews on it. Boy was it ever delish! Truly Mexican as I could tell and the price is right for the amount you get, there is so much food packed into the one burrito! Yum yum! After the quick meal, we headed over to Libra Room which I didn't realize is a martini lounge with live jazz band after 8pm. We arrived around 6:30ish and decided to have a drink before heading home. The martini menu is so cute! They had a Pin Up Moms theme on the menus, very cute and I ordered a Leo (I am a Leo) and the ingredients were red alize, peach schnapps and lime. Also, a Leo is exuberant, colourful, proud, and vivacious which sounds exactly like me :) It was so yummy! Jas had a glass of the house red. After our drinks, we decided it was time to call it a night since we both had long day and it was a work night.