Featured on Not A Stupid Blog

Fun blog name. Thanks for the feature!

Not A Stupid Blog

Gift tags for your knitted and crocheted treasures

Anyone out there knit? or crochet? both? Me too! I finally created a line of gift tags for gifts that have been knitted or crocheted. The lucky recipient of your knitted gift will be so impressed with your attention to detail, and will be relieved to have care instructions included to keep the gift in fine condition for a long time.

I really enjoy making gift tags because they are small, relatively easy to make, and most importantly, use up all those little bits of papers from previous projects that I can't bear to throw away. These tags are printed on a cotton blend, eco-friendly paper made by Neenah Paper. It has a very subtle, velvety soft touch to them. The strip of Japanese silk-screened paper creates added dimension and luxury.



And of course, also being a graphic designer, I couldn't help but use three different typefaces/fonts in the printing. Each one brings a different feel to the gift tag, from modern to traditional to contemporary.

Grab these up in my Etsy shop!

Etsy activity

My shopping cart is a totally broken on my website. And I fully admit that my coding skillz are not up to par to tackle this. I've been toying with the idea of focusing more on my Etsy shop for sales and using the main Akemi Designs site as a portfolio of past works. So this past week I've updated my site and will continue to add more things to the shop. I've also joined the SF Bay Area Etsy Street Team and hope to become active with them. Their etsy items can be seen here.

As Memorial Day is just moments away, so is the kickoff for the barbecue season that will continue throughout the summer. You will surely go to several outdoor parties. Why not get yourself some gift tags to adorn those bottles of wine, champagne, or a bottle of Lambic ale that you bring for your hosts?



Shop now!

Wai-Ching clothing

I discovered Wai-Ching on the offbeatbride.com and instantly fell in love with her clothing designs. I love her use of bold colors, decorative and detailed stitching, silk fabrics, and a deconstructive yet polished edge that intrigues like no other. My favorites in her collection are the Yowying dress, Samsara dress, Delirum pant, Holeng skirt, and the stunning Green Victorian Skirt. I have a few weddings to attend this year, which would be a perfect excuse to get something. But oh, what to choose?!

I had the good fortune of interviewing Chrissy Wai-Ching and learn a little about her and her creative process for her custom clothing.

How did you become a designer of couture clothing? Were you always interested in fashion and sewing?

Chrissy Wai-Ching (CWC): I've been sewing and creating since I was about 5 years old. My grandmother is an avid quilter so she showed me the ins and outs early on. I later studied fashion, art, and textiles and started my own line when I realized how hard it was to find unique, beautifully made clothing.

What inspires you?
CWC: Mostly nature, and organic shapes. Also the female form.

When designing a piece, do you start with the idea of a shape, color, or fabric? Or is it something more abstract?

CWC: Usually I start with a feeling or mood and then play with the fabric and see what comes out!

On average, how long does it take to create, say, a dress, from conception to completion?

CWC: There is currently a 3-4 month wait for the pieces.

There is a multi-cultural flavor in all your pieces. In what way have you taken your global experiences and turned that into clothing?

CWC: I'm blending the different elements that I have seen around the world and manifesting them in clothing/art. I like to take flattering and interesting parts of traditional costumes and update them, make them modern hybrids.


What sets you and your clothing line apart from the others out there?

CWC: The level of detail and handcrafting, the fit and use of materials. Also, the handdyeing and sustainable fabrics.

You live in Seattle now. How does living in the Pacific NW affect your work?

CWC: We are surrounded by majestic natural beauty. It is a source of nonstop inspiration.

What was your favorite item you designed?
CWC: I especially love the Zolotova Dress because it uses all the scraps from other pieces, so it is completely sustainable. It is fun to play with colors in that design because of the high level
of detail and silk collaging.

And a few of quick questions... what is your favorite...

...color? red
...food? red grapes
...hobby? running
...singer/band? Ltj Bukem

Thank you so much for the interview and your time Chrissy!


and psst! She also has a men's line too.

Kristen and Trenner

Lucky for me my family supports my artistic business endeavors. This includes my extended family. My second cousin is getting married this June in beautiful Camarillo, CA and asked me to create her wedding invitations for her. She had a good idea of what she wanted and I went with that to make this invitation suite. It's a square pocket enclosure style invitation with a leaf motif with shades of green to match the sage green color scheme of the wedding. The RSVP, reception card, and URL card rests in the diagonal pocket. The card itself is secured with a band of Chiyogami (Japanese silk screened) paper. The 100+ envelopes were hand addressed to the guests.

Here's another view:

Transparency in design

My good friend Lisa is one of my best customers. I am grateful that she always gives me the opportunity to try new designs out, whether it be for her friends' bachelorette parties, bridal showers, or even her own wedding. She hired me to create this Bachelorette invitation with a floral brocade design printed on a transparency and the text printed on a soft-white cotton blend paper rich to the touch. Black double-faced satin ribbon is asymmetrically tied around that hints of lingerie.

New Header

I changed up the blog header, giving it a more Japanese flair. I took this photo last year in the Japanese Tea Gardens here in Golden Gate Park. I spent that morning photographing my cards to use in my catalog. The setting was gorgeous, misty, lush, and mysterious. And I looked a bit crazy with my bags and boxes of stationery and invitations and propping them on various rocks, moss, and benches while visitors roamed around the grounds. Hopefully I didn't disrupt the tranquility there.

I've been working on a lot of custom designs as well as a good deal of graphic work. I'll get more photos posted soon.