Browsing Tag

Sanrio

Shop Visual Splendor

Shop is OPEN With New Pin Street Collaboration

11/26/2017

It’s official! The shop is back open! Pin Street invited me to do a collaboration and design a Kawaii Shop. It’s pretty much one of the coolest lapel pin collaborations I’ve seen. It totally reminds me of the “Quilting Bee” pixel club and so many of the old website clubs we used to have in the late 90s/early 2000s! What about you?

What is Pin Street?

Pin Street is an on-going collaboration between about 16 pin designers who are releasing new shops every month! Each pin has the same size specs so they will line up nicely but each is as unique as the Illustrator.

The Kawaii Shop is designed by me and is the 37th in our series. The last collaboration pin. It is a limited run, as the others are. The metal is rose gold and it is in all pastel colors as well as a glittery pink cloud with rose gold stars. I feel like I’m floating on a glittery pink cloud anytime I walk into a kawaii shop so it was a necessary feature! It also is a throwback to the old Times Square Sanrio store and Puroland with the rainbow on top!

If you’re interested in visiting the shop and checking it out, just click the link in the menu or HERE and stay tuned for a Cyber Monday sale~

Shipping now!

Follow @pinstreetshop on Instagram to keep up with the street!

Event Features

Hello Kitty & 99 Friends show at PIQ, NYC

04/26/2016

hellokittyand99friendsatpiq

A lot of amazing artists are participating Hello Kitty & 99 Friends show at PIQ which is located in Grand Central in New York City! The artwork is currently available in store and via contacting the store, ask about the list of artwork here: customerservice@piqproducts.com. We were all asked to select a Sanrio character from a list of most of the characters they’ve ever had! I somehow got Sugar Bunnies even though I was invited late. I was more than happy to join in.

I got to spend the weekend and reconnect with one of my BFFs from college, Lauren!

I got to spend the weekend and reconnect with one of my BFFs from college, Lauren!

Some of my favorite pop surrealism artists had work in (including Toki Doki) and there was a lovely graphite drawing by Camilla D’Errico (favorite) and a cute dinosaur work by Mab Graves.

Not only is there rad artwork but there's also cute toys and goodies!

Not only is there rad artwork but there’s also cute toys and goodies!

My phone very sadly was dead by the time I got to NYC (I flew in 2 hrs before the show) so all photos below are by Clutter Magazine. Check more photos on social media with the tag #piqhk99 !

piqhhellokitty995994_0

piqhhellokitty995965

This is the work I made -- I got the Sugar Bunnies!

This is the work I made — I got the Sugar Bunnies!

piqhhellokitty995949_0

piqhhellokitty996033

Photos above by Clutter Magazine.

Visual Splendor Vlog Wear the World

Wear the World: Pinky Paradise Vanity Contacts

12/09/2014

tumblr_lvqujeDdsu1qed2dl

First off let me say I do not condone the use of vanity contacts unless you have extensively read about how to wear, care for and use them safely. If you’re in any doubt please see an eye doctor and take the lenses to learn more about them. These lenses are a one size fits all so if you have a different eye shape it can cause complications.

Next, I finally uploaded a little review of the contacts from a NON-SEASONED contact wearer. In other words.. this was my first time wearing contacts. It wasn’t too tough or painful so I would have to say for a quick photo shoot these will do wonders! They are lovely, easy to wear and come in tons of colors and designs. If you’re looking for a good selection of lenses at an exceptional price check out Pinky Paradise. I know I’ll be getting a few more colors for fun next time!

I’m pretty new to VLOGGING on YouTube so if you’d like to be friends or collab in any way please let me know. I’m enjoying the ease these days of having a new phone to shoot and edit video on the go. The above video is one of the older tries! Beware the audio is a little slow! Ooops. Bad import.

Pinky Paradise Cosmetic Lens Closeup

Pinky Paradise Lenses

Pinky Paradise Lenses and Cat

Accessories by Sanrio and Sugar Junkie!

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.

e1d17E3EsBLx

Self Decoration Wear the World

Wear the World: Rose Wholesale

04/08/2014

rose

So recently a rad clothing store by the name of Rose Wholesale with inexpensive wholesale prices asked me if I would review or model a few of their clothes. I of course said I’d be willing to give them a look if they could pick out something they thought was fitting to me (their stock size is ENORMOUS and I got lost in eyecandyland). They sent me a galaxy mini dress and a gradient cotton candy, fuzzy sweater. I love both items and have worn them at least a dozen times with no issues, wear or tear. The products, although inexpensive, hold up well in the wash and during normal activities (I still haven’t worn them during a marathon swim and will not be doing so because I am not a marathon swimmer!). I would highly recommend their shop to anyone looking for some unique and special items to cute-ify their wardrobe this spring at a very affordable price. My Mistereducated even has a sweater from there (several years old!) and will be doing a review from a man’s point of view as well.

All in all I’d have to say they have a great selection for both male and female and no matter what your style is you can find something to wet your tastebuds! I’m also wearing contacts by Pinky Paradise whom I will be reviewing next by vlog and my accessories are by Sanrio and my partner in crime’s brand, Sugar Junkie, whom we will be doing a feature on in the coming weeks! Stay tuned and stay cute this spring whether you marathon swim or sit and read your favorite book under a cherry tree!

IMG_9711

rose

rose2

sj

If you have a company or product you think we would love, apply to be reviewed.

Mew for Today Visual Splendor

Mew for Today: Kawaii Tarot Cards

02/27/2014

testworld

Who says the occult can’t be kawaii? For a long time I’ve loved tarot card art and the amount of dedication it must take to finish such a large deck. It’s a stretch, something totally new I never considered really doing. I know this is the next step!

So my next huge personal project is designing an deck of TAROT CARDS >> This is big for me to admit. Dedicating my next year/s to producing extensively designed mixed media tarot cards (78 in a deck) that will be available as very limited large prints until the entire deck is complete and then they will be made into decks of cards included as a lovely kit complete with a book written by a friend on interpretations.

I’ve also recently become obsessed with cute tarot cards such as those by Sanrio, Aya Takano (THE BEST: top of my wish list), the numerous cat and animal tarot cards, etc so I had to feature them! I’ve always wondered how I can add a totally different style/take into the world of the tarot.

The first of my new prints will be on show RAW located at the Murat on [official date announced!!] March 19th (buy a ticket ($15), you wont regret it! if not in the area comment and receive a free print at $30~). “XXI The World” is the first card and, as stated, will be first available at RAW.

ayatakanotarot

ayatakanotarot2

ayatakanotarot3

twintarot

Hellokitty_Tarot_Cards2

Le Game

Le Game: Install Hello Kitty Online on a Mac

12/18/2013

hko_logo_blueShadow

Any Hello Kitty fans (fans + geeks + gamers) probably know that Sanrio Digital only plans to continue making Hello Kitty Online for Windows operating systems. So, if you’re really a geek like you say, you probably have a Macintosh or two in your house just wishing to load Hello Kitty’s Dreamland on your desktop. So what’s a girl to do? Well luckily we don’t have to go to all the trouble of setting up a partition using BootCamp and then purchasing a copy of Windows to install (I use Parallel on my desktop Macintosh which also asks for you to install Windows and to log in/out by shutting down and starting up) because CrossOver cut out the middle man and allows us to install Windows applications through their Macintosh application. Wee!

Want to know how to install the goodies needed to play HKO? First get CrossOver for Mac and start a trial OR purchase the full version. Once CrossOver has been installed open the application and start a new install. Select from the last list of “Unsupported Applications” then open the “Community Supported Applications” folder and locate “Hello Kitty Online” which will install all required files including Internet Explorer (for in-game content such as the auto updater and item mall).

After you finish installing everything and downloading Hello Kitty Online content be sure to click Finish in the installer and then the game will finish installing via CrossOver. After it installs open in windowed mode (I always have had issues with Full Screen mode) and either patch the game to check for updates or create a new account (you need a Sanrio Town email account to play) and start playing!

World_Map

References

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.