Cherry Blossom Festival + small quick survey!

I love the Cherry Blossom Festivals celebrated here in Southern California! It's full of wonderful Japanese cultural stuff and is just amazing to check out at a neighborhood nearby. This year, IK has been honorably chosen to run a small booth at a Cherry Blossom event on April 6th, 2013!!! Check out the event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/484835891565403/
The location is at the Cultural Alliance of Long Beach.

I'm pretty jazzed up as we get to showcase our work, and Spazzy has a few things he wants to show from his artistic side (which is most of him)! I'm so happy he is coming out of his turtle shell ^.^ He gets so shy. I hope everyone will like his paper crafts! He did this Eevee the other day:

Also excited to see some familiar and new faces! Especially excited to see my big lolita sister and shop Kawaii Goods! She'll be selling as well ^___^ So please do join in the festivities if you're in the area! It shall be fun!

On another note, I made a short survey regarding our shop and your thoughts. I'd love to know what exactly you like in it and what you'd like to see more of. We have lots of plans in the summer, so this will help us improve our items and the shop more. But mostly we'd like to make you sweeteas happy ^.^! So far it has been collecting interesting results. I'm extremely flattered a lot of people enjoy my original creations than fan art stuff. That really...really...means a lot to me :']

Survey is here and completely anonymous: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GKB8SC6

Thank you in advance sweeteas!

Chibi

Chibi's little hiatus (for the past two months! Woah!)

Hello! I know I don't blog much on here, but I frequently update the Facebook page of what is happening ^_^ So some of you may have notice I haven't been posting new items, photos, or sneak peaks for the past two months. Well lots have been happening just those two months O_O

Lolita survey~ fun fun!

 I feel like doing a little survey~ Something a little personal from the whole crafting and food adventures I do ^.^ Got this cute Lolita fashion survey from this blogger: http://dippedinchoco.blogspot.co.at . Let's start!

Quest for Tokidoki sale!!! + Chibi's special friend ^_^

I heard the news couple weeks ago that Tokidoki was doing a warehouse sale on some of their stock! I kept debating whether to go or not due to the distance and me freaking out at driving to new places and getting lost ^_^; I wanted to get something for Spazzy since his birthday was coming.

Ace of Cupcakes!

(pic above: a view of Charm City Cakes, Melrose, CA)

Being an Elite Yelper definitely has it's perks! For those who don't know yet, "Yelp" is a popular website dedicated to everyday people to freely post reviews of restaurants, stores, and other places for others to read up. So being an Elite (had reviewed several places and was chosen to become part of this exclusive team), I was invited to attend a wonderful event hosted by Katie B., one of the Yelp Ambassador, to a private cupcake decorating session with her and a few other Yelpers. I'm very happy that one of my high school friends who is an Elite Yelper was invited too! We were provided cupcakes, coffee, and...DUFF GOLDMAN!

IK's first time in the Artist Alley!

Sorry for the uber delay on an update of how Anime Expo went for us! As we have announced, it was IK's first time to be premiered ever at a convention and artist alley! I've always been just taking some of my crafts to lolita meets that LemonTree11 hosts. Thanks to our lovely sponsor MugiBunny.com/FairytaleBoutique, we were given the chance to showcase what Imperfect Kawaii has to offer!

IK featured on KawaiiKrafting

Yay! My shop is featured on today's Kawaii krafting blog:

http://kawaiikrafting.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/imperfect-kawaii.html

Shocking News!

Hello everybody! Hope everyone has been well and you have joined our Giveaway on Facebook and/or Tumblr ^_^ I will host one here soon...possibly near the holidays when it comes :]

I have wonderful news and explains why I haven't been blogging when I said I would @_@ sorry!!! I will be selling at ANIME EXPO!!! For just one day, lol, Saturday. It is all good ^.^ Our shop will be filling in for Mugibunny that day since she has something to do. I'm very excited and nervous. It is my first time vending at a convention T~T I'll be under guidance with KawaiiGoods. So yes, I am currently extra busy making more charms to show off my "skills". I sometimes feel like I'm in Cupcake Wars or Sweet Genius while I'm crafting. I honestly do talk to myself in my head as if I'm a baker competing heehee. I will try to post some pictures of what I've done here, Deviant Art, and Facebook. Hope it tempts some people to come visit me and look at my work in person ^____^ yes?

And another note, I may be moving to a new location (not too far from where I'm at right now). So more news on that. If that's the case, Spazzy will be holding the shop in his room LOL so orders can still be processed and we can still work for the convention inventory.

Now I leave you a little commercial like photo of our Happy Packs! They're at a happy price and a great sampler to buy to try out some Imperfect Kawaii taste ^.^


You can purchase at any IK shop~

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Imperfect Kawaii is now 3 years old! Wowwie!!! It feels less then that to me. I have loved this journey of owning a small underground business. I made so many different kinds of things and met so many sweetea of a customer and fans~ So in gratitude, I present a BDAY Celebraton of a giveaway ^_^

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
As you can see in this photo, the prizes include:
-Rilakkuma paper sized plastic file
-Korilakuma memo head pad
-Hello Kitty carnival themed keyboard stickers (glitters*)
-Chef Panda mechanical pencilhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
-CUSTOM CHARM of whatever your hearts' desire! And may be for mobile, earrings, keychain, ring, necklace, or as is. Max 1 inches tall or less.

I enjoy buying things that are useful, so I hope these items are useful and awarding. The catch is, I only made it available at two locations we are most active on and have quite a handful of followers. Perhaps one day we will hold it on Blogspot like the good ol' days. Please follow these links if you'd like to enter for a chance to win and follow the guidelines described ^_^ Good luck~

Facebook

Tumblr

So what has Chibi been doing for 2 years...

Oh my, I just looked at the last entry...since 2010! So basically during the 1st year I've been a seller on Etsy ^_^; SORRY!!! But now I'm back and ready to blog (sometimes when I can). I do recommend following the shop on Facebook and Tumblr as I update there the most since it's pretty accessible on my iPhone.

For the duration of the past years, I've been in school and on and off jobs ^_^ I'm currently a happy little Nurse Assistant and still going to school forever for my Bachelors in Nursing Science for my Registered Nursing. Haha...it's a tough crowd out there. Other than that, school is the same and I have work sometimes as a nurse aide.

I still update Etsy quite sometime, but I've also made an official web shop
http://imperfectkawaii.weebly.com
I put a lot of items that I make there first before Etsy ^_^ It's not a fancy site or anything, but it helps people see what's in stock if they're ordering locally ^.^ I've been making tons of clay stuff, interesting commissions over the years! and some more decoden stuff. You could see those on Facebook or DeviantArt~

Annnnnd one more new thing that has happened to my life. I've became a part time LOLITA FASHIONISTA! And I dearly love it! It has made me more comfortably with my body to the point I wear anything be it in lolita or casual~ It has also allowed me to meet other wonderful lolitas at meet ups, even my role model who also owns a shop called Kawaii Goods. Mochi-chan(owner of KG) and I have been close friends ever since my first lolita meet up and encounter with her. Along with this phenomenon, I met LemonTree11 aka Oli! She sells lots of fluffy bows and I became an addict. She allowed me to expand my business at meet ups she hosted. It was great and I'm happy a lot of people liked my crafts =^_^=

Welpz, I've been away because of school, work, social life,got a smart phone and dunno if there's a fancy app for blogspot heehee. I will try my bestest to update this blog more often like events, new line of items, etc.

I will also conjure a video of all the creations I've made over the past several years ^_^;

Also, I call my followers Sweeteas whether you're a male or female, you'll always be my sweetest cup of tea~ I've also became a tea addict thanks to Spazzy my boyfriend haha.

Chibi☆彡

p.s. The two awesome lolitas I mentioned earlier:

WOAH!

Hello bloggers! I'm so very very sorry for the massive hiatus on here! I kinda miss blogging and I enjoy showing you all fantastic products I've created. It's been some years now @_@ So very sorry! If I get 100 followers on here (lol) I will do a generous giveaway.

Currently I'm trying to fix this blog since I've left it untouched for a long while...so hang on tight ^_^ For now, if you have a facebook, like Imperfect Kawaii's page :D Something exciting is coming up sometime on the weekend and YOU DO NOT wanna miss that! So I'll write another post on what exactly I've been up to and why I haven't touched my blogspot in a long while T_T;

Hope you all have been extremely well!

Chibi☆彡

And here is the facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/ImperfectKawaii

Kelly's Keychains Giveaway

One of my biggest idols is having a giveaway ^_^ I'm so excited and have hope to win :] or get noticed by her, haha. Here's the link to the giveaway!

http://tinyurl.com/kellysfbfans

and you can shop TODAY at her Etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/egyptianruin?ref=seller_info

Hair Accessories commercial spoof

Here's a new commercial from the Imperfect Kawaii channel ^__^ all about hair clips and things! Also stay tuned in the end ;]

Fawn Necklace Giveaway...

from Licorice and Lollipops Jewelry :]

One of my friends from Etsy is holding a giveaway!!! Her items are all awesome ^__^ check out her shop and enter her giveaway for a chance to get the cutie Fawn necklace<3

http://licoriceandlollipops.blogspot.com/2010/07/free-fawn-necklace-blogshop-giveaway.html

Updates!

Wowwie, sorry for not blogging for a while ^__^ Well, we'd like to show you a preview of our upcoming website!!! We're so excited ^_^ We will no longer be selling on MySpace. Here's the preview:

Donations towards our new home

♡Wowwie! Sorry we haven't been updating our blogspot ^__^;;; We've been focusing on DeviantArt for some reason. It keeps on switching! Haha. We still love our Blogspot of course :] Do you still love us?

♡Some of you may know that we have an official webstore besides Etsy. This store is on MySpace, heehee. We have decided that it may be best that we venture away from the MySpace world and actually create our own world for our little creations and for all our customers and viewers to go to without feeling any obligations to sign up with MySpace or Etsy. Paypal is a must though, heehee ^_^ So, we've decided that we shall soon open up our own official webstore without using a social network. We will still use Etsy though :D We love Etsy!

♡Spazzy and I (Chibi) are both college students. As much as we enjoy crafting and making comics, we're very busy with school and finding a job ( don't get us wrong, we love our IK job but we have big plans in the future ;] ). So we decided to ask for donations towards our fans =^_^= Any donation amount is fine! But we've decided to do a little something for people who donate more than enough!

♡♡♡For every $5 you donate, you get a free cell phone or figure charm commission (size of about a penny to quarter)! Please do refer back to our DA portfolio http://imperfectkawaii.deviantart.com for what we can do for you! In a message on paypal at donation or email us, please let us know what you'd like me to make for you ^_^ any color, animal, thing, kawaii faced! I just ask no copyrighted stuff or buggies ^.^; Working time is about 3-7 days and we'll let update you on how your charm is doing and when shipped :] If you live locally and don't have paypal, when I see you is fine ^_^ We're only doing this till we have enough to get our new home (which is like $60)! Donate as much as you want, even a penny! Click the donate button under our little letter ^.^!♡♡♡

IK team meets Simone Legno of Tokidoki!

WARNING! Somewhat long story ahead, but some pics! Just scroll to look at the pics xD

I finally got a chance to meet Simone Legno!!! The creator of Tokidoki :] Taken place at South Coast Plaza at Costa Mesa ^__^ It's good to be in Cali!

I missed Simone Legno, creator of Tokidoki, at the Melrose Tokidoki store opening because it was pretty cold and I didn't want to cause my boyfriend to drive a kazillion miles just to get an autograph. Luckily last month I found out that he was coming to Costa Mesa. I just had to meet him! It was going to be at a place I was most familiar with (sorta) and who knows when he'd be back to visit :[ So my boyfriend and I planned our trip ^___^

We came in our Tokidoki clothing, of course :]

We made it safely to the big mall ^_^ The line wasn't too long. Once Sephora opened, the crew gave us all wrist bands with numbers so that we can go ahead and roam around the mall (it was barely 10am and Simone is to arrive at 1pm) and come back to our spots. We were number #22 and 23 ^__^ I've made some purchases in order to get a free frenzy ($25 purchase). It's so weird I didn't intend to buy anything, but this week I lost my L'oreal mascara :[ So, I decided that it'd be cool to get the Tokidoki Mascara! Haha. But it wasn't enuff to get the freebie, so I purchased some Cactus pups finger nail buffers xD They're so cute! As for the freebie, we got Bastardino ^.^ I let my boyfriend have it because he loves the doggy :]

After shopping in Sephora and oogling at the cuteness of the stuff, well, me oogling at it and squeeling with excitement, we decided to walk around the mall ^_^

When we got back, there was A LOT of people, more than before. There was a photo session going on with SANDy ^_^

Not even 1pm yet, and Simone Legno appears O_O He waved to everyone and went into the store to sit in his booth. He had so many markers that he brought by himself in his own Tokidoki bag ^_^ We're lucky to be in the first group to go in, even before 1pm he already started drawing for everyone! Everyone was to go one on one with him =^.^= I was so uberly nervous and excited and happy! So many thoughts went through my mind. I've also brought my first Mini Munny that I made around 2007 or 08 and was inspired by him. I wanted to let him have it for being such a sport of making his fans so happy and also taking the time to draw everyone their fave Tokidoki charrie.

My heart was beating so fast as we came closer to getting to his booth. Wubzies (boyfriend's official nickname since we dated) was trying to calm me down and one of the crew lady was cheering me on that it's our turn soon =^__^= Then...it was our turn. I gulped and blushed and went up to Simone. He greeted with a simple hello and a warm smile. I was so shy and spoke really timidly. He then got my name which was written on the post-it. He...he got my name RIGHT on the first try when he said it. I was in shock! Not a lot of people get my name right =/ but he did! I was like OH MY GOSH. Every person gets to have one sketch and one signature anywhere. I chose the unicorn cause I don't have anything with the unicorn on it, and I asked the signature to be on my Mozzarella vinyl figureenie ^_^ He grabbed his sharpie and went ZOOM ZAP CHEWY! He was drawing really fast! It wasn't the type like he wanted to get done fast, but like he was used to drawing all of them xD It was so impressive!

Then...I took out of my bag the mini munny I made, Riko, and said all shyly,"I...made this for you." A smile came across his face and he looked at it for a long while and said thank you =^_^= Then picture time!

Eep! I didn't know how happy I really was during this event! My dimples are showing in this photo above and throughout the whole way going home X__X My boyfriend was very lucky on his sketch :P We're only suppose to get ONE charrie, and he got two because he could not make up his mind. He requested to Simone for Adios to walk Bastardino xD! Wubzies was very happy too :]

After he got his sketchbook back and got his picture taken, Simone said bye to us, and then...he looked to me and said,"Thank you for the present ________(my name, haha, I like it anonymous on here)". I felt like dropping on the floor since he remembered my name. But instead I was like hyperventilating until we got to the parking lot...well not even, cause it continued on the rest of the way home xD Me and Wubzies were in so much wow! It really, really, felt like a dream! We finally met Simone Legno of Tokidoki! The creator of all the stuff we wear and adore! I still feel like omg. The day ended with some In n Out for linner :]

I'm so very very happy to have gone to this event! I'm glad Wubzies made sure we went :D haha. That day was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! Meeting Simone, getting a really good quality mascara!, being with my boyfriend, In & Out, seeing my boyfriend be really happy!, encounter an ol' buddy at Frank & Sons, another ol' buddy at Wubzies' house, finishing up my vocab, coming home without mommy going snappy, and now, bloggy this day and remembering it! It still feels too good to be true that we met him. I really owe it to my honey-bunchies! He just wanted me to be really happy, and glad it's the whole day with nothing gone wrong ^_^

This is the best day of the year yet! I'll never forget this =']

Featured Seller: Miss Mercy

I haven't been doing much with my shop, but did run an awesome spectacular contest! I've been busy with school and trying to get a job. I want to become a lady. Anywho, that fact is important because, I somehow got some sales and had some monies ^_^ I was looking to see if a friend of mine said when she'd be going to Germany. I went to her shop and was like OMG NOOO!!! It was sooner than I thought! I vowed to myself to buy at least one thing in each of my closest Etsy buddies' shop! This was a good chance to buy before she would go. But, what captivate me most was this bunny ring as I'm wearing =^_^= perfect for Easter and I do adore the fluffyness :] I just had to have it! Even if I am always on budget, but it's good to treat myself to something besides sweets ^_^ Also she was departing from USA :[ but for a happy ending of course ^_^ heehee. I'm honored to introduce to all my readers (if any, har har) Miss Mercy! My shopping experience with her is amazing! When my bunny arrived through the mail, I was so happy! It was carefully packaged and inside was like a party favor ^_^ I even got a lollipop, her cutesy business card (omg, you have got to see her Etsy banner!), and plastic bows for my hair :] Everything so cute and simple! I simply love her style. Her items are always very unique! I've known a lot of fellow kawaii kitschy sellers who take cute stuff and put them together, but wowwie, her stuff is amazing! It's so full of detail and life. I window shop a lot at her shop xD Blah, I can go on forever about her shop! Let's take a look at our interview with her ^__^!

1. Introduce yourself:
hello :) my names is meghan rose perrings am currently 29 years of age and a proud army wife! i guess you can technically say that i am a little gothic lolita girl at heart in appearance and personal style - but i love creating and crafting all sorts of fun items for many lovely subcultures in fashion. i am still a little girl at heart and love the simpler things in life- small things make me happy :D

2. What do you sell in your shop(s)?
in my shop on etsy i sell a variety of items (mainly jewelry- but i do throw in a few handbags, shoes, purses and home decor from every now and then) that reflects my small view and love for the fashion world! i love lots of style of fashion subclututres and admire all the different aspects of each. my shop mainly focuses on cute whimsical girly kawaii japanese inspired lolita items and well as vintage kitsch and pinup and retro horror and gothic steampunk from time to time. being a gemini i have ALOT of various interests that take me all over the map in my style and i love the eclectic nature of it all. you never know what you might find! or that i might create!



3. Where do you get your ideas and inspirations from?
i try to get my ideas and inspiration from my life in itself. i am still a little kid at heart and love shopping and lifes simpler pleasures. i try to be fun and whimical when creating and enjoy the process as much as the finished items themselves. i focus alot on my childhood and all the happy memories it contains for me as i still try to see things thru the eyes of a child now and then. i try to create pieces that i would want to wear myself and that others hopefully will enjoy as well. i focus on the fun side of life and try my best in making interesting and different pieces.

4. Besides crafting, what else do you enjoy doing?
i have so many varied interests! i love traveling and history as well as historic inspired costuming! i am a huge medieval nerd and spend weeks on end every summer at renassiance festivals all over dressing up and particapting in the festivies! i love the forest and reading. as well as shopping of course and flea markets! i also am very into vitnage old scholl horror films and classics. i love vitnage and retro items and the histry they can tell us. i have been a various archaeological digs that i enjoyed immensly. and last but not least spending time with my wonderful soldier husband!



5. Is there any advice you can give to newbies who are selling handmade stuff online?
my best advise would be dont give up! if you have a passion for something and you love to do it- dont quit. selling esp when you first start out can be slow- but do all you can to get your name out there. as long as you love what you are doing you will always have a smile on your face!

6. In your opinion, is it competitive selling kawaii kitschy accessories?
i am sure techincally it is considered competitive- but i really do not see it that way. i am so so honoured to be amoung such amazing and wonderful crafters on etsy! lots of these sellers totally blow my mind with what they can come up with! its insane! granted alot of the supplies can over lap but i think there is a respect amongust us all that we care cretive enough in our own right to make wonderfully amazing items differnetly out of the same stock.



7. How do you promote yourself?
i try to network as much as i can online :) i also try to trade with other sellers every now and then if i can :) i have a myspace page and a twitter as well as a flickr account
www.myspace.com/licoriceandlollipops
www.twitter.com/licoricejewelry
www.flickr.com/photos/licoricejewelry

8. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
oh gosh- by then i will almost be 40! :D still happily married with a child or 2 :) and hopefully still crafting :)



9. What cartoon character do you like and why?
gosh thats hard! there are so many!! obviously i LOVE hello kitty and all sanrio characters. i grew up with them and i love them to death. i adore my melody and the sugarbunnies too :) i also am a huge san-x fan and have a HUGE collection of san-x. i love the not so normal charactures that they create- i love kogepan and nyankos as well as cheese family too! i also have to through these two charcters from watching these movies many many times when i was little that i still love to death - unico the unicorn from the adventure of unico and nicodemus the rat from bluth's cartoon the secret of nihm. and lastly- i love tokidokis too and have too many! but i cant help it - the charactures as so cute! <3 xoxox


And there you have it ^__^ Miss Mercy *applauds* Her shop is so prettiful! You'll spend quite some time on there browsing and oohing and awwing :] I know I have! Heehee.

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/missmercy

yay for 1 years!!!

It's been 1 year now since I've kept this little hobby of mine up, polymer clay sculpting and decoden. Even though I don't keep the stuff, it still makes me pretty happy to get request from others to see what I can do with their idea. What makes me even more happier is that their face lights up when they received the finished creature or thing ^__^ I've never gotten a frowny face yet! Heehee. I must admit, I'm still an amateur polymer clay charm maker, it's not as cute or really nice looking as all the polymer clay charm makers out there that I love and follow, but that doesn't stop customers coming to me :]

Imperfect Kawaii, is meant to be a secretive small shop, not to grow bigger. I have no intention in making the shop well known, maybe some day when I'm older (because nursing school is my first priority in a few years). Without having promoting the shop so much except in casual tweets, DA submissions, and a few chats, 242 items have been sold alone! My co-worker was impressed by the numbers since we don't promote our shop so much. We couldn't have done it or even keep going without our sweet customers! Thank you all very muchy ^_^ You are all a sugar cube to my cup of tea, making it extra sweet and delicious. In this matter, making this shop keep going ^.^ Hope you all stay tuned for more stuff!

Alwayz,
Shorty Hoshino

A gift from me to you!

It's our main shop's birthday on March 25th, and we'd like to give our buyers a little something more than just a freebie! We're giving away to our first 25 customers starting March 18, 2010 a Sanrio Surprise Baggy ^__^ What's inside? Here's a hint, but not too much!
You'll get:

-a few small kawaii memo sheets
-Sanrio character candy
-stickers
-Hello Kitty pin
-promo cellphone charm (not sold in stores!)
-and the cute Hello Kitty bag itself!

While supplies last! Only the first 25 buyers will receive this pack of Sanrio Surprise goodies!

Also, the owner of the shop has made a special video for everyone to see ^__^ It's a short storybook history of how Imperfect Kawaii began!

Hopefully this encourages you to send in a submission for our 1 year anniversary contest!!!

Thank you all for your 1 year of support to help us keep growing in our world! :] Couldn't do it without you sweeties!

Love,
The IK Crew