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los angeles

Business Features Features Self Decoration

Miseducated presents Tokyolux-Style T-shirts 2020

11/19/2019

With Audrey Kitching as the brand frontrunner, I designed a lot of the designs you used to buy from the brands/stores Tokyolux, Coco de Coeur, and Lazy Bones Vintage.

It was rumored that she stole ideas — she would give me sketches occasionally and I would create them or I would send her my ideas. The cats and roses, for example, were created by me. I designed and created those. These designs were all completely original and well-loved. I do not have examples of her stealing. We created.

Tokyolux was featured in fashion magazines around the world, donned by celebrities, and sold in stores on Melrose in Los Angeles. It was all so fast. Then, as fast as it started, our doors were closed.

I never got the full story from any party but I was told orders were not being sent out and the brand image was damaged.

I will say that Audrey has continued to be kind to me so I will not speak on recent articles about her dealings with others. This isn’t about that! She has always been kind and giving to me, both in person and online.

I went on to do Audrey Kitching Los Angeles, and after that, Crystal Cactus (which I have not been involved in the “design of” since the very beginning).

I have so many designs that I was unable to create, use, or complete. I am at a time in my life where I would like to make these available to the public and those who loved Tokyolux.

These are both new and original designs never before released on new shirts, clothing, and accessories. I am now opening a division of Miseducated for t-shirts and fashion. These are one of a kind designs. made in house, solely by me. Some of our clothing will feature Pop Cult icons from our pin collection. Others will be similar to the designs you loved and adored from Tokyolux and Coco de Coeur.

Preorders for the first design are here. Stay tuned.

Event Features

Hello Kitty Con 2014 Media and VIP Event

11/04/2014

Miseducated Official Hello Kitty Con 2014 Press

Hello Kitty Geffen Center MOCA Los Angeles

Well… although I had just had a major surgery I felt that it was important for me to push myself out of the nest aka laying in bed in pain because, hey, it had been long enough. It’s time to force myself to be myself again and stop wasting away on the occasional apple slice. So I figured I’d heal with a bang and off I went to LA!

I must say the airport customer service was amazing to wheel me to the plane, THANKS DELTA. I would have been extremely slow moving and in considerable pain but would still have made myself walk had they not offered to wheel me around. I was so shocked at the amount of customer service I received just because my stomach was stapled!

So I arrived in LAX and felt a bit sad my best friend Kimi would not be waiting for me as she is every other flight (it was a super quick business day week trip and I couldn’t stay through the weekend) but I was still extremely happy to be back in the California sun and air and meet up with my Indy friend who arrived a couple days earlier.

I slept decently in a lovely home overlooking LA being watched over by the Hollywood sign and the next day we were off to the beach and to explore areas we hadn’t explored before. I never get to go to LA for tourist attractions so we went to Venice, Little Tokyo and other assorted neighborhoods. Her brother Danny Detox lives there and is in the band The Ex-Gentlemen so we also ended up a few other places to meet him.

Hello Kitty Twin Stars Artist

Hello Kitty Con 2014 LA

Hello Kitty Maneki Neko Shrine

me2

The last evening there was the HELLO KITTY CON 2014 aka the first Hello Kitty Convention ever in the United States. Miseducated was invited to the Press Event and VIP Opening Party so off I went to snap a huge stack of photos and gather goodies to feature!

Hello Kitty Con Target Carnival

I must say I filled up my SLR as well as my phone camera with many more photos to take! I did get tired early due to my surgery but I met some new and old friends (was very impressed with Stephiee’s work on the fashion installation, it made my eyes bleed holographic glitter and several of the outfits glittered back begging to come home in my suitcase), filled up all of my cameras, got media packs and enjoyed connecting with Christina of California Focus Magazine.

Hello Kitty Con Booths Megabloks, SPAM, Re-ment

As I said above, Lovely Kitty Wonder: A Hello Kitty Fashion Installation, was a very-impressive eye-candy-filled feature curated by Stephiee Nguyen of JapanLA Clothing. With shockingly sweet creations carbonated with cute couture by 13 designers including Ophelia Overdose, Abigail Greydanus, a-morir, Fiori Couture and Doll Eyes, it was a no-miss.

Lovely Kitty Wonder by Japan LA

Lovely Kitty Wonder by Japan LA

Lovely Kitty Wonder by Japan LA

Lovely Kitty Wonder by Japan LA

Lovely Kitty Wonder by Japan LA

Lovely Kitty Wonder by Japan LA

Did you know there was even a FREE tattoo parlor? Not enough to inspire this non-tattoo kind of girl to get a tattoo but such a wonderful idea! I genuinely thought about getting a Kitty holding Colette’s name. Sadly I was not able to take advantage of the amazing, free ink artists due to my indecisive and tattoo-less nature.

Free Hello Kitty Tattoos at Hello Kitty Con

Hello Kitty Con Still Lifes by Dabs Myla

I couldn’t help but take quite a lot of photos of these amazing paintings (and ceramics not pictured!) by Dabs Myla because my Mister is a contemporary realism artist that paints still lifes and creates ceramics so I felt it would be the utmost importance for him to see a Hello Kitty still life and tea set in all of their glory.

I must also say the place that gave me the biggest heart throbs was the vintage shop with actual vintage items for sale and a lot of old Sanrio photos. I also almost gagged on glory as I tried on the Hello Kitty x Chan Luu Kitty Con limited rainbow crystal jewelry finding myself unable to leave without them. As when I went to Puroland, a few tears came out for my childhood superstar. They even had my 80s Kitty TV! Sadly I did not get a chance to look at the price. I was trying to get a good collection of photos and explore everything before everyone else showed up and started crowding in. So please enjoy! I can’t very well explain it well enough to do justice, this was all for the photographs baby! It was just the event to push me out of my pain induced coma to go into a happy induced daze that reminds me what I’m doing and why.

Near the end of the VIP party (and after my backpack was filled to the brim with Kitty White goodies) off I went to have dinner in Little Tokyo with my dear friend Emma.

Vintage Sanrio Store

Did you get to go and what was your favorite part if so?? Maybe next time we can meet for a rainbow donut and a cup of blooming tea!

Event Features

Sanrio’s First Hello Kitty Con 2014 in Los Angeles

10/07/2014

Hello Kitty Con

Miseducated was invited to a media preview and opening party of the 2014 Hello Kitty Convention for Hello Kitty’s 40th Anniversary located at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (The Museum of Contemporary Art) in Downtown Los Angeles on October 30th – November 2nd. I was a little hush hush about this because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it but it ended up being right time, right place, free flight. So alas we are very excited to feature this event because, as you know, Kitty is my absolute favorite character! I can hardly read the below information without going into a whirlwind of heart-pounding glee. See you there?

This milestone event will place Hello Kitty fans at the center of the ultimate interactive experience, inviting them to immerse themselves in a never-before-seen environment where the world of Hello Kitty is celebrated, explored and experienced. Tickets for the highly anticipated Hello Kitty Con 2014 are available to purchase now at Sanrio.com.

sdcc2014_behindthebow

Designed for enthusiasts from around the world to come together and celebrate all things Hello Kitty, Hello Kitty Con 2014 will present a full lineup of activations ranging from integrated workshops, lectures and panel discussions; special appearances and signings with Hello Kitty head designer from Tokyo Yuko Yamaguchi and more special guests from Japan; to interactive art installations and daily artist signings; the Hello Kitty Friendship Station Pop-up Shop offering convention exclusives; the Hello Kitty Super Supermarket featuring a curated selection of vendors offering products and experiences available only at the convention; a Hello Kitty retrospective and vintage shop selling rare collectibles from the past; product and collaboration previews; a tattoo shop; photo opportunities, and much more. Hello Kitty will be on hand for special appearances and to hug fans as part of her global Share a Hug with Hello Kitty! campaign throughout the four day extravaganza. The Hello Kitty Con ticket also includes free same-day admission ($20 value) to Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty, the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum, as well as many more free activities and goodies. “Hello Kitty Con 2014 is a testament to Hello Kitty’s remarkable ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds in many ways, on many levels,” said Janet Hsu, President and COO of Sanrio, Inc. “It is a celebration of community and a labor of love for Sanrio, and we are thrilled to share this experience with fans.” Celebrating more than 15 years of partnership, Target is teaming up with Sanrio to offer fun, interactive and immersive activations at Hello Kitty Con 2014. To kick-off the convention, Target will co-host the VIP preview event on October 29th, where attendees can take photos with Bullseye and have exclusive access to game stations and prizes. Passionate Hello Kitty fans can visit “Hello Kitty & Bullseye Adventures presented by Target” during the convention to experience a visual and physical narrative that follows Hello Kitty and Bullseye through a series of fun activation areas.

Sanrio and Target will offer limited-edition, co-branded product available only at the convention. A further offering of exclusive Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary product – from apparel and cosmetics, to accessories and toys – will be available beginning September 14th at Target stores nationwide and at Target.com. Hello Kitty Con 2014 will also offer fans the following:

DISCOVERY: Hello Kitty-fy your life by participating in workshops on Hello Kitty scrapbooking, flower arranging, nail art, DIY jewelry making and more; panel discussions on topics ranging from Hello Kitty super fans, Japanese pop culture, Lolita culture, Hello Kitty as muse and more; and lectures featuring a first time Q&A with Hello Kitty head designer from Tokyo Yuko Yamaguchi, Simone Legno, artist and creator of the tokidoki brand; and Dr. Christine Yano, co-curator of Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty; among others. Tickets for workshops are on sale now at Sanrio.com. Panels, lectures and signings will be handled on a first come, first served basis.

EXPLORATION: Stroll down memory lane in the Hello Kitty Product Retrospective showcasing classic vintage products — including the first Hello Kitty product ever created, the original Hello Kitty coin purse (on display for the first time in the U.S.)! Stroll through Hello Kitty’s Friendship Village and visit the Hello Kitty House to discover a life-size home decorated in Hello Kitty inside & out and wander through various Hello Kitty photo opps.

SHOPPING: Pick up limited edition Hello Kitty Con exclusives, special items from around the world and collaboration products in the Hello Kitty Friendship Station Pop-Up Shop; sift through authentic, rare, collectible Hello Kitty products in the Sanrio Vintage Shoppe and visit the Super Supermarket for exclusives, limited edition products, gifts and goodies from special Sanrio partners & collaborators including SEPHORA, JapanLA, Loungefly, Dylan’s Candy Bar, SPAM® Brand, Major League Baseball, Chan Luu, Perfect Square/VIZ Media, Upper Deck, and many more.

ART: Enjoy interactive art installations and photo ops created by artists POSE and Dabs Myla; and instruction from artists Camilla d’Errico, Esther Kim, Dabs Myla, and Martin Hsu, who will be on hand throughout the four days to lecture & teach Hello Kitty Art Classes. Five leading tattoo artists have created custom flash artwork & will offer FREE (real!) tattoos at the Hello

Kitty Tattoo Shop – throughout the convention, on a first come, first served basis. Sanrio Tokyo’s resident nail artist and Hello Kitty Nail Art book author Masako Kojima will be on hand giving fans a chance to Hello Kitty-fy their nails. The JapanLA Art + Fashion Shop will feature super limited art prints, figures and artist tees from favorite artists including 64 Colors, Buff Monster, Crowded Teeth, Joe Ledbetter, Miss Kika, and more.

FASHION: Check out super fantastical Hello Kitty fashion on display at Lovely Kitty Wonder: A Hello Kitty Fashion Installation curated by Stephiee Nguyen of JapanLA Clothing. See one-of-a-kind creations by 13 designers from all over the globe including Ophelia Overdose, Abigail Greydanus, amorir, Fiori Couture and dolleyes.

FOOD: From Hello Kitty sweet treats to L.A.’s yummiest food trucks, there is no need to leave Hello Kitty Con when your stomach is rumbling.

FUN: Ticket holders can enjoy free activities including crafts, games, giveaways, a Hello Kitty pumpkin patch, photo booths, special sneak peeks at upcoming Hello Kitty projects, and many more superfun surprises throughout.

SOCIAL (#HelloKittyCon): Fans can stay connected with all things Hello Kitty Con through a variety of social elements aimed at both convention goers and those not attending the event. Hello Kitty’s millions of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram friends can share photos and access contests and behind-the-scenes footage to connect with their Hello Kitty fan community.

HKCON_Globe1

Sanrio will also host a contest giving fans a chance to win a VIP trip to Hello Kitty Con 2014. Hello Kitty Con 2014 will run concurrently with Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty, the first ever Hello Kitty museum exhibition in North America, taking place across the street at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) from October 11th through April 2015. Hello Kitty Con ticket holders will have access to the museum exhibition, where they can explore a retrospective of rare and unique pieces from Sanrio’s archives and an art exhibit featuring 40 mixed-media works by contemporary artists, throughout the duration of Hello Kitty Con.

Tickets for Hello Kitty Con 2014 are available for purchase now on Sanrio.com. Further details and updates on Hello Kitty’s 40th Anniversary celebration can be found here, where fans can visit throughout the year to stay connected and informed about Hello Kitty Con 2014, Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty at JANM, exclusive products and more.

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Artist & Designer Features

Camilla d’Errico is No Ordinary Love of Mine

04/08/2013

As is pretty obvious by my own work and features here, I am involved in and very supportive of the Pop Surrealism movements in Los Angeles and Tokyo. Having seen Camilla d’Errico‘s work at Hello Kitty’s 35th VIP Aniversary Party in LA I just had to promote and feature her work and really wanted to understand a little bit about what makes such a beautiful mind, as communicated on canvas, tick.

How long have you been painting?
I’ve been painting (exhibiting) since 2005.

Did it ever become your main focus?
No, painting has never actually been my main focus, though it took center stage in 2007-2008. I’m a comic book artist, first and foremost, but after I first started showing in galleries, and my work was well loved, I was propelled into the Pop Surrealism movement in Los Angeles and I went with it!

What has been your favorite exhibition?
My favorite would have to be the Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary show in 2009. It was fabulous and so many artists interpreted Hello Kitty (I love HK btw) and it was a very well organized and fun show.

What inspires you most?
I’m mostly inspired by manga and anime.

What has been your favorite painting you’ve created?
No Ordinary Love because it has very special meaning for me. It’s about love, and not giving up on love, but holding onto that hope so dearly … until you are able to be reunited.

Do you have any crazy stories about one of your pieces?
It’s not crazy, per se, but I find it hilarious. My painting, Mountainhead, is a Helmetgirl with the biggest helmet you’ve ever seen. There are bits and pieces of everything on that helmet, completely overpowering her small frame. I painted that for my sister AdaPia because she is always thinking, plotting, planning. In fact, she’s my business partner! So I always like referring to her as Mountainhead.

Favorites
Color? teal
Food? steak
Animal? pug
Music? really into Dubstep right now
Magazine? Shojo Beat
Movie? Spirited Away

Do you have any advice for readers interested in turning their hobby into their main focus?
It takes a lot of determination, focus and willpower to move from hobby to professional. I suggest doing a lot of research about the specific artistic field you want to go into. That’s easy nowadays with Internet, but it’s good to also meet people in person – go to galleries, talk to the curators, owners, directors. Get a good feel for what’s going on. Also, make sure you know and define your own style. Be confident and comfortable with what you are creating. And in the beginning, it’s always a good idea to start slowly; don’t leave your ‘day job’ until you’ve built up a good client base or a collector base. And never give up, even when things seem bad; it’s just a learning phase and you’ll come out stronger.

What do you feel is a recipe for success?
Skill + talent + passion + determination + work ethic and a good dose of people skills!

Are you Miseducated?
Totally! When I was growing up, and even throughout college, everyone tried to persuade me not to go into comics because it isn’t a lucrative career. It’s barely enough for anyone to live off of, unfortunately. But I was obstinate and I wanted to be a comic artist above all else and I persisted in my dream. So first of all, I’m Miseducated because I didn’t do what I was told would be best for me, and also because I’m a self taught painter. Some of my fine art teachers told me I had no skills as a painter, no style … and as much as I am humble, I do get a kick out of knowing I’ve proven them wrong!

Gallery

Visual Splendor

It’s time to go back to California.

08/02/2011

I know this is months late.. but I figured I’d finally post this long, rambling blog.

So it’s time to take another trip to LA. To inhale the orange groves, fresh air and to fawn over the hot pink mountains burning from the sunset in the distance.

I love California, I should, I was going to move there immediately prior to becoming pregnant with my good luck charm, Colette. I’ve found (which I never thought would happen!) a very peaceful and lovely home in Indianapolis so for now California and I will meet up only occasionally for events and business trips.

One of my favorite little inland suburbs to stay in is Redlands. It’s about an hour drive from LA and is one of the cutest towns I’ve ever seen. My friends in LA complain about the drive… but I often stay there because one of my best friends calls it her home and I just cannot say no to a relaxing day of sunbathing and evening strolls.

Rainbows and sunshine fill the rooms, lighting up maneki nekos as though you had arrived to the cutest Cat Doll Shop in Japan. Speaking of the Cat Doll Shop, I would trek to Akiabara just for the shock of cuteness and my oh-so-annoying squeals of excitement. (My husband prefers I do not squeal when I am overtaken by cuteness which I remind him must be a symptom of my OCD because I simply cannot deny myself the pleasure of exclaiming over absolute, full body rush, cuteness.)

I met up with Stephanie of DollyBeast and off we went to Melrose to thrift shop for some finishing touches for our Sanrio outfits. It was rather hard to say no to the many puffy, pink and polkadot 80s prom dresses. I have to miss out on the 80s prom because I’m a mommy and I cannot stay gone longer than a weekend.. physically. I constantly have withdrawal for the sweet little family I have. It must be that insatiable sweet tooth. 😉

So off we go for shopping for ooh-ing, awe-ing and what-the-fuck-ing along Melrose. Stephanie and I are both huge foodies, if you can imagine that, although I’m ATTEMPTING a diet currently which I am SURE was not impressing to the bacon queen. <3 So she takes me to MILK knowing that the food would take me to a higher place. Did I mention they have macaron icecream sandwiches? Isn’t that your dream? Our readers are always telling me how much they appreciate all of the macaron articles and want more more more!

I still regret NOT eating one but I was starting to feel a bit sick (of course, I didn’t realize until later that I had actually forgotton to take my medicine) and anxious but I brushed it off.. I strongly did not partake in the icecream aside from Stephanie’s delicious Thai Tea milkshake. Thai tea and thai coffee make me very happy, it’s the only time I enjoy my coffee and tea NOT BLACK. (I’m boring, coffee is my drug and I love the bitter taste.)

After walking along Melrose and finding a special store Kimi and I always loved was changing it’s style we got a little tired and decided to head to Jamie of Japan L.A.’s apartment to prepare for the oh-so-amazing Sanrio VIP Party. We were joined by her precious kitties and Chibi (Persian) really enjoyed my Strawberry King costume to the fullest..

Chibi has his own wardrobe, a banana split costume that Stephanie just had to show me knowing I love cats and nonsense. Chibi was a great model and so we had a photoshoot with the banana split costume and with my scepter that he loved. He could not stop trying to climb into my bag so I assume Hobbes must smell quite interesting! What’s better that all of your friends being cat people?

(I heard all of you dog people exclaim: ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN THAT.)

So we proceeded to deck ourselves out in Sanrio cuteness and prepare for Liz (whom most of you know as Miss Kika) and her husband Nara’s arrival.

After too much giggling and eyeing each other’s costumes we were off to the Sanrio VIP Party to indulge in our shared obsession. Sanrio.

Event Features Visual Splendor

Sanrio Small Gift Big Smile LA VIP Party

12/12/2010

What are the two most amazing obsessions of mine that were combined perfectly for the Sanrio anniversary events this year? Sanrio characters (duh) at the CARNIVAL. Can you imagine it? It was like a little taste of Harmonyland right here in the states! It was curated by BUBBLEPUNCH and Japan L.A. for Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary POP-UP Tour.

beam me up

Celebrities in attendance that I saw exploring the Sanrio carnival alongside us were Bridget (Girls Next Door), Tarina Tarantino, Justin Beiber (lol) and HELLO KITTY MAMA. All of your favorite contemporary artists were in attendance as well and so were their Sanrio-inspired masterpieces. Actually there were a lot more wonderful people in attendance but I was so out of it this night that I didn’t get to take everything in as I would have liked to.

Thanks for the photos, LAWEEKLY and Huffington Post.

Upon walking around and eyeing the food trucks (it’s an LA thing) we walked around the carnival and I ran into some more of my sweet online friends Maria of Locketship, Stephanie or Twinkiechan, Yume Ninja and Chubby Bunny. I sadly missed Shrinkle because I left early — we’d planned to meet up again but everything was just too crazy! The pop-up shop had me running around like a maniac, drooling all over the limited goods that you can’t even get in Japan.. it really brought me back to Puroland a teeny, tiny bit!

the sanrio carnival

I got to meet so many of you that I was overwhelmed with happiness and so sad I didn’t take more photo ops! I actually didn’t take ANY… which means I have to wait for the girls to upload their photos before you can even see what I wore, LOL. Oops. I felt like a total failure flaking out at the VIP Event but I was in SO MUCH PAIN you can’t imagine. I couldn’t enjoy myself so I tried to meet all of the friends I could and run around spotting all of the adorable décor.

I also met some of my absolute sweetest friends and co-workers which was the main reason I had decided to go. Hihi Caro whom I work with in design for SWEET STREETS is one of my absolute new favorite people. There are so many genuinely nice people in this world, and there are ALWAYS new friends to meet. (You can never have too many friends! – Hello Kitty) It’s so refreshing to find such positive, motivated and inspired girls to share my love of cuteness with.

The always adorable and sweet Audrey Kitching and I met up for a short time, she had the flu and since I’m only here for the weekend our craft trip was cut way short. After whining to each other about the inconvenience of our schedules this weekend she gave me a present filled with Tokyolux goodies from the new line we worked on and we hugged in relief to finally be together after everything we have been going through side by side.

strawberry king spotted

I would have to say the night was a complete success although I still regret not getting a red carpet photo with adorable Maria due to my anxiety and rushing around.. and I never have regrets! Maria is a really sweet girl and her jewelry (Locketship!) is as sweet as she is.

After I could no longer stand it I got a cab home alone and proceeded to experience the most horrifying night of my life (ha!). If I told you.. (which I will in another article) and you probably wouldn’t even believe me. One of those nights where everything that could go wrong went horribly wrong. I was so frazzled by the end of the night that I immediately passed out on Kimi’s (Kimikat of Rainbowlicious) couch with her cat Pekoe curled up next to my feet.

audygift
Diary

The Night My Anxiety Consumed Me

12/10/2010
MLPYou can't make everyone happy.

One of my new year resolutions (and I’m starting now) is to be more open and raw.
I, much like yourself, want to achieve psychological happiness and in doing that I am starting another new year resolution.
I am finally going to the psychiatrist to deal with all the things I have never dealt with.
I want to make sure I’m much more sane before Colette is a toddler and knows what’s going on!
I have anxiety and depression but I’ve been ordered to the psychiatrist for the zillionth time to get diagnosed and treated..
.. and I’m finally doing it.

Kitty Car

My dreams have come true. I have made it to cute central, USA to meet so
many of my long-time internet acquaintances kept and lost through the years.

I was feeling fine all day.. chugging coffee to stay awake, made it through airport security with no nonsense (for the first time!).
Now I’m finally ready, finally here waiting outside with a bunch of excited and adorable girls.

I can hardly breathe.
Wait! I’m missing Colette.
Why did I come here?

I can feel it.. my anxiety taking over.
I need a drink.
I need to just start talking to someone and forget about it.

I do not realize that I have actually forgotten to take my Prozac all day.

I converse with the sweet and talented people I am lucky enough to be graced with (I was with Stephie and was so happy to see the sweetest of the sweet Audrey, Miss Kika, Cicely, a long-time web friend, Twinkiechan, and sweet as ever Maria of Locketship) and my anxiety begins to consume me.

I cannot be side-tracked.

It does not occur to me why this is all happening because sometimes I have panic attacks.

After beginning to get sick and unable to get my shit together I have to excuse myself.
I have to take a cab back to LA.
I can’t stay another minute.

I arrive at a friend’s apartment, I change out of my outfit, I leave.
Kimi is picking me up and she’s here.. somewhere.
I walk outside and she can’t find me. The street is split.

I go back inside to look at the directions and try to explain.
She can’t find me.
Why wont my brain work?
I keep having panic attacks and I finally tell her I’ll just leave and walk
until I see a busy street.
So off I go, suitcase and suitcase-sized purse in tow.

I need to leave the key in case I get lost..
I don’t know this area and there are no street lights.
I drop it in an orange cone as I leave after making sure no one was around.

I walk all over and around, not familiar with the area.
More darkness. More houses.
My phone is dead and I cannot even reach Kimi anymore.

I walk back to the apartment and try to get the key because I’m starting to
get really upset and worried.
I cannot reach it. Under the cone was a metal pipe and the key has fallen down it.
You have got to be kidding me.
I make the worst decisions in this state of mind.

I start crying and getting sick.
Why can’t I keep it together?
How am I going to get ahold of Kimi?

I see a man on the sidewalk.
His eyes are shrouded by a large, black top hat that sits on top of his long, black hair.
“Did you call for a cab?” , I ask pleadingly.
He looks me up and down and tells me that I do not belong here.
With my suitcase and large purse I stick out like a sore thumbnail.
I beg the cab driver to let me ride with them to their destination and then take me to mine.
He says no.
I can see in his eyes that he’s not prepared to deal with a crazy girl and her suitcases.

I stand back, understanding and proceed to go back up the sidewalk.
He tells me to wait.. get in.

On the way to the mad hatter’s destination he tells me all about why I
should go with him to Rainbow Bar & Grill.
How it’s probably the safest place for me with a suitcase because a lady just got shot in front of it recently.
There will probably be lots of lights and news crews there.
I politely decline.
I’m already on the verge of having some kind of breakdown.

On the way to Rainbowland my phone finally turns on.
I have just enough battery to try to make a call.
I get through and Kimi tells me where to meet her.
Home Depot on Sunset Blvd.

Taxi driver takes me through all of the lights again on a trip that I am not mentally present for.
The lights blur beside me and I wonder if this is all going to end.

Finally we arrive at Home Depot and she’s no where to be seen.
There are sketchy characters running around in the sheds on display.
I ask if I can wait here and the cab driver tells me it isn’t safe.
Another panic attack comes on and I start crying.
She’s not here.. my phone is dead.. where is she?

I ask if he can take me to a gas station..
When we arrive I tear apart my suitcase in the back of his car.
Glitter and tulle fly everywhere.
Tarina Tarantino bags of jewels litter the floor.
I don’t even care. I’m not able to remain in tact. I cannot find my phone charger.
Surely I didn’t leave it in her apartment?
Did it fall out of my suitcase?
Polkadot heels fly out the window.

I tear everything I have apart.
I pour my purse out into the seat.
I do not even wince as my dead grandmother’s necklace falls to the ground.

I begin to give up.
I begin to get very overwhelmed and unable to focus.

I start to pack everything up and there, stuck in a mass of stockings, it is.
My phone charger.

I leave everything I have and run inside to ask if I can charge my phone.
After what seems like endless hours of trying to turn it back on with no avail it gets enough power to work.
I call Kimi.
She’s finally found the apartment.

I tell her to come back, to come to the Shell on Sunset Blvd.
She’s on her way.

I pack up my suitcase, pay the man the miniscule fee he asks for and thank him.
We’ve developed a bond by now and he asks me to take his number.
He’ll be around until 2am in case I don’t find my friend.
There are always more amazing people to be found.

I sit my suitcase near the counter, plop on it and wait.
I buy a water.
I suddenly realize I forgot to take my anxiety medication.
So that’s all it was.. it happens to all of us, right?
We can’t be embarrassed or ashamed.
We have to move on.. if anyone doesn’t like you for who you are then they don’t really like you.
If they cannot stand you at your worst then they do not deserve you at your best.

Kimi arrives and we talk about music, raves and cats the whole way home.
She plays electro and we ride into through the lights of LA on a feeling of peace and an unexplainable feeling of belonging.

Event Features Visual Splendor

See You at Small Gift, Big Smile in LA!

11/10/2010
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So if you know anything about the creator of Miseducated you know that she is absolutely obsessed with cuteness of all kinds. Especially the kind she grew up with, the kind that wove a magical world for her to live in when she wanted to leave the real world behind. THAT’S RIGHT, I’M TALKING ABOUT SANRIO.

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My love for Sanrio knows no boundries.
I have a Sanrio domain and blog that none of you even know about! LOL!
I had to go to Japan and devote a lot of my time to Puroland, Hello Kitty and other Sanrio cuteness.
I spend all of my spare money on Sanrio.
My home has no Sanrio boundries.. (my husband just deals with it, LOL)
Now that I have a daughter I spend my spare money buying her cute Sanrio goodies.

Sanrio is celebrating their 50th anniversary at Small Gift in Los Angeles as well as other places around the USA with the Small Gift Mobile Pop-Up Shop Tour October – December 2010.

See me at both the Sanrio VIP Party (on the 11th) and the Sanrio Nerd Party (on the 13th) and don’t be too shy to say hello! If you can’t make it, stay tuned for reports on all of the cuteness!

Right now myself and a few friends are planning some VERY EXCITING and CUTE outfits, all Sanrio theme of course. We’re dressing as characters and I cannot wait to show you.

Learn more here at the official website.

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Event Features Visual Splendor

Sweet Streets LA Brings Kawaii Home to Play

09/25/2010
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I’m happy to show you a little glimpse of the amazing exhibition of Sweet Streets (a Harajuku Kawaii Experience!) in Los Angeles at Gallery Nucleus by my sweet friend, Caro. (Yes, I designed that shockingly bright logo.)

Sweet Streets features an array of magnificent artists inspired by Japanese street fashion. The event featured a fashion show with our favorite sensational shop, 6%DOKIDOKI.

Caro wants to bring the magic of Japan to the States and I’m absolutely thrilled about it. It’s one of my own missions in life and I’m so excited to join her in the inspiration melt-down.

I wish I could buy each and every Miseducated visitor a ticket to Tokyo so you could revel in the inspiration found in every corner and under every stone. Maybe someday? Thanks to Caro you can experience Japan and Harajuku style right here in the States!

All photos of Sweet Streets were taken by BigWhiteBazooka, Tadatime and LA Weekly. Do to my little pregnancy circumstance I could not tear myself away long enough to enjoy the exhibition but I’ll be better prepared next time.

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The photos below are by LA Weekly.

Sweet Streets II @ Gallery Nucleus
Lookie who it is! — our good friend, Maria of Locketship donning unicorns as cutely as possible~
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Some more cute friends you might recognize, the 6%DOKIDOKI shop girls!

Visual Splendor

Locketship Mad Tea Party Collection

03/04/2010
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Locketship Mad Tea Party Collection with original artwork by Amber Renee (of Miseducated). This set will be featured alongside Marialia‘s new Wonderland Collection in Fashion Week Los Angeles at Project Ethos LA (9107 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 450 Beverly Hills, CA) on Friday, March 19 2010.

Stay tuned in to Miseducated for more sneak peeks and information about getting your hands on these Collections in the future!