Kawaii Dogs

I have not forgotten about Kawaii NYC- but there has been little news in the world of Japanese coolness as of late. But that was until I saw this!!!!
This dog was featured in the International Dog Show 2010 in Tokyo. If my cat would hold still he would so look like this.
These other looks are a bit extreme- even for me- but VERY kawaii!

Happy birthday to me!

This list has been shockingly successful in the past so here is what I would like this year for turning 28 on March 26:

1. How cool is this watch? I love all the colors but purple/rainbow, azur/ rainbow, and blue/bubble are just too kawaii!
2. A gift certificate to dick blicks- a huge art store! I am in desperate need of acrylic paints and drawing note books... which reminds me
3. A mole skin notebook is always nice, and cheap!
4. I pair of FRYE boots. So classic. Black and a size 6.5 please!
5. BOOKS. I'm poor and they are luxury items. Hook me up with a gift certificate to AMAZON.com and you will make my day.
6. For those of you with an extra $4000 laying around I have been fantasizing about a Cartier Love Bracelet for years and years. C'mon- you know you love me!
... I'll update if I think of anything else (thanks in advance!)

Is size an issue?

to be perfectly honest I never bought an issue of V Magazine. But previews of their size issue on Models.com having me chomping at the bit to buy. In particular this spread. I look at it and think- my lord I wouldn't have a single complex if all models in magazines looked like this! All I can say is please buy this when it comes out January 14th- and send letters! Tell V this kind of thing gets two thumbs up!!!

Getting my fix

It's been nearly a year since I went to the Mitsuwa shopping center in New Jersey. I was craving Japanese food, kitsch and books so I ventured down to the NYC Port Authority where Mitsuwa offers a shuttle service. Finding the shuttle wasn't easy, and word to the wise if you are going to take it be there EXACTLY on time because the driver isn't waiting around for anybody.
As I wandered around the stores I found it very frustrating to be broke. Importing from Japan isn't cheap. I held back from buying dishes and Hello Kitty charms in favor of a magazine featuring the 2010 kawaii hair styles (a must since American hair cuts always look so drab). Then I had some beef with cabbage and chocolate rice cakes for dessert. The problem with Mitsuwa is very few people speak English. You can only get this specific dessert there and even after all my poking and careful pronunciation the sales woman STILL almost gave me the wrong thing. There seems to be a very constant theme that the buyer shouldn't touch the object until the given time. Things are put behind glass and out of reach. Everything is clean and lovely but takes 10 times longer to get when you can't select it yourself. In the end I left early mainly to keep myself from the temptation of buying. Still a great trip!

Kawaii Nails!

Ok I have to give my mom credit for finding out about the Tokyo Nail Expo. 50,000 people attended this event! I wish we had nail art stateside, even here in NYC it's usually only seen in it's most tacky form. Enjoy the pictures and the film clip from the expo.

my motion graphics haiku

Haiku from Halli Gomberg on Vimeo.

Holiday Wish list

After a few years of great feed back here in my annual wish list for the Holidays. I don't discriminate, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas- it's all good! Here in no particular order are what I'd love to receive. Oh and ps- if you want something special just email me and let me know!

1. Beige perfume by Chanel
2. Gardenia perfume by Chanel
- these are both exclusive fragrances that have to be bought at the store or at a Chanel make-up counter. The scents date back to private perfumes Chanel made for her friends and best customers. SOoooooo amazing!

3. Mexican art work. I like day of the dead, or those cool tin cut outs called mlagros. Plus they're pretty cheap which is always a plus in this economy. Check out this site for some ideas.


4. If you have a few grand laying around I would dig a Cartier Love bracelet

5. A gift card to Amazon.com, American Apparel, Saks...... just about anywhere with books or clothes.

6. Japanese Cell phone charms- I want them all!

Kiichi Tsutaya Coloring Pictures

Just when I think i know everything awesome about Japan another amazing tidbit comes out. The Tenri Cultural Institute of NY happens to be wedged between my class buildings. On my way from one class to another I saw the most beautiful illustrations in the Tenri Gallery. Turns out its an exhibit on Nurie- Japanese picture coloring. Nurie is the phenomena that lead to what we now know as Anime or Manga. It originated during the Meji Era when the government decided to incorporate western culture into Japan. Just as young children were encouraged to trace Japanese characters and learn their alphabet, they were also given coloring books to trace with fabulous "western" pictures. These pictures were usually of sweet faced young geisha and girls, with westernized large eyes as idealized by European drawings.

One of the best nurie artists was Kiichi Tsutaya. He drew girls with large heads, foreshortened bodies and chubby legs. This may sound odd- but just as Michelangelo's "David" is anatomically incorrect but looks good- so does Kiichi's girls. His coloring nurie books sold like hot cakes, typically selling 1 million books a month. I would encourage everyone in Manhattan from 9/25-10/3 to give this exhibit a look over. the art is beautiful and a nice flash back to a time before photoshop and the politically correct blah of today.