PILI Exhibition

Head back on to the 1914 Huanshan Creative Arts Center to take in the Art of PILI Exhibition....   PILI of course are a cross between dolls and puppets made and quite popular all over Taiwan and a few Chinese speaking countries....   PILI has grown from performing in night markets during the Chinese Holidays...  to their own popular TV SHOWs and Serials.... and soon capturing the 3D movie going crowds with their very own 3D film...

The exhibition boasts so many of the original puppets/dolls used in their many serials....   so this is quite exciting to see for the shows' followers....  Original art, illustrations and planning sketches were also on hand...  various intricately designed weapons....   elaborate settings....  and of course, the glorious costumes are enough to marvel at....    even if one is not a follower of these shows, it will still be quite an amazing exhibition to see - just to revel at the artistry and craftsmanship's of all the people who make these dolls/puppets come to life!!!

a few mass produced merchandise, based on the much loved characters, were also on display...

Thanksgiving Week in Photos!!!

well... you are not going to see any Turkey here as I did not get to have any -- for the umpteenth year in a row.... I cannot even remember the last time I really got to celebrate Thanksgiving with Turkey and all the trimmings... the closest I got to it was watching Julia Roberts and company celebrate Thanksgiving in a Heartwarming scene from the movie: "Eat, Pray, Love"... anyway, the week sure was busy enough... and it is not letting up yet..... so am sharing a few photos here....

Since coming back from Manila last Tuesday - it has been NON-STOP digging, unboxing and cleaning up a bunch of dollies for an upcoming project, taking place early in DEC.... those of you who know me well, knows that with the extent of my collection, this chore is HELL.... I have to open up boxes after boxes, trying to find just the right ones for the project... so day after day, it was this chore and communicating with the powers that be - who am working with... the last few nites, I have even stayed up till the wee hours of the morning, just to get more done... with only Rihanna's new, ultra cool CD, "Rebelle Fleur", keeping me awake and going.... it is tiring and frustrating, that's for sure... but it also has been GREAT... like seeing OLD FRIENDS... each one bring back good memories and FUZZY WARM FEELINGS... So my days are spent with nothing but this chore - am almost done but not quite.... the only break I get is when I go to Jewel's home for meals... just to get out... and maybe a run or the gym at nite... just to stay somewhat fit... plus it does take my mind off some other pressing matters - family/love ones-wise...

"Hey Jewel - aren't you supposed to be here to help? hmmmmmm...."

Another highlight for the week is the Post Thanksgiving lunch I had with Sue (Juliana was going to meet us but had a work engagement to attend to, sadly...) in honour of Thanksgiving, I chose Swensen's... yes, all the way from San Francisco... just to geta bit of that Nostalgic Homey feel for the holiday... yeah, that and the chocolate covevered, creamy Ice Cream desserts... hahahahahaha - COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

and today, I did manage to get to Church... and treat myself to some, down home Pinoy lunch... a couple of my FAVE Ulams (dishes): Tocino & Pinakbet...

so that is about it for this week... hope you are all had a nice Thaksgiving Holiday Weekend... now back to work for me again.... tonite will be another all niter.... :((

LA Robber is in the house.....

the latest acquisition to be added to my tokidoki Obsession is LA ROBBER: version 400%... bigger, bolder, and better to play and photograph.... just check out the photos of him with my other baby, Susie....

FUN LINKS:
-LA ROBBER X SUSIE
-tokidoki Obsession
-tokidoki

DOLLY TIME!!!

Okie Dokie - been asked enough times that am breaking down... am FINALLY starting a BLOG to highlight all the dolls that comes the R&D way: Susie, Angels, Mensajero, Momoko, FR, Nikki & Odeco-chan, Jenny, and many, many more...

We will keep you current on Upcoming & New Releases, Magazines, Pictorials, LINKS of Interests, etc.... So pls STAY TUNED and SUBSCRIBE so as to not miss out on the latest NEWS & Photos of your Favorite Dolls.

So without further yada, yada, yada - I give you all: R&D Spotlight

Random Happiness in Pictures

A few Shots of TOTAL JOYs as demonstrated by a few people, and a doggie, while in Manila...Aaaaah Youth! BEA: One Happy Little Girl!Nanay (Cousin Rounette) and Ace - finding their instruments of Happiness!!!Personally delivering to a couple of HAPPY SUSIE & DOLLS Lovers (Joan & Pole) and witnessing their total JOY in getting their SUSIE Dolls! And Shaq reunited with his Master Ace, after being separated for 4 months while Ace does his OJT in the US.

Bastidors

During one of my rummages through Antique shops in Manila, I came across these wooden male Angels... I was told they are called Bastidors and that they were originally made (for altars in churches and homes alike)and popular in the 19th Century Spanish Colonial Times....

So far, this is the only INFO I have gathered on them: Originally the faces are made of IVORY or Porcelain... and as you can see, there is a torso, articulated hands and arms... and a skirt type lower body -- as most were dressed in robes...The ones I got above are definitely reproductions -- as it is all made of wood... they appeal to me not only because they are MALE ANGELS but also because they fit right in with my very own MENSAJERO bois...
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY INFO ON THESE THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME???

she's baaaaack!!!!

Presenting: Dynamite Girl Susie
after a year HIATUS, our baby is back... she's not only as good as before but even better...

after we suffered the BIG LOSS that I Blogged about back in NOV, I almost gave up hope in continuing on with Susie... after all, how are we to produce her when her molds were stolen from us along with everything else... Am so THANKFUL for my dear friends , Jason Wu, David Buttry, Percy Newsum -- for giving Susie another lease on life... and for making me realize once again, how this world of dolls, are filled with really nice and caring people.

Extra SHOUT OUTS to Mary, Larraine, Juliana & Pat Henry for always keeping me on the right track... I appreciate all the pep talks that kept me going.... and going... and going....

And of course, all of you who have supported Susie & us, R&D, all these years... We APPRECIATE EVERYTHING and LOVE YOU ALL!!!

More Updated Photos Here.

mini Pleasures : Part IV

while hanging at the bookstore in Kaohsiung, to pass the time, I picked up this book called Apartment Therapy... I always am drawn to see what wonders people are doing with their home, no matter the size they do have, and this is one of those books...

Lo and Behold, while flipping, I came across this familiar looking doll in one of the pages... prominently displayed... why if it isn't our very own, Picnic In Provence Susie doll... Totally made my day, and put a BIIIG SMILE on my face -- that's for sure!!!
Just goes to show ya, there is always something to SMILE about.
Have a GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE... and SMILE!!!!

Look who just turned 50!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Barbie!!!

Can you believe, Barbie is 50 already.... and she just groove with the times and never gets old or outdated... the fascination and love for this Vinyl Goddess (by young and adult collectors alike) just keeps getting stronger...

Happy Lantern Festival, 2009

Hope that those of you who do Celebrate this Festival - got to have a lot of fun!!! This was our quiet celebration...
Susie enjoys the Lantern Festival with a papaer lantern, welcoming the year of the Ox, from Mitsukoshi Department Store.

You Call That An Exhibition??? Geez!!!

SOGO Department Store in Taipei, Taiwan just had a two week exhibition marking the 7th Anniversary of the momoko doll... I knew not to expect too much as most of the people there that I have dealt with in the past, does not know much about holding exhibitions... and I was right not to... LOLs!!! 7 years of momoko and they had 6 measly display cases... with each one holding two or 3 the most... one even had only one in the case...

As much as I was glad momoko was in the spotlight - I cannot help but feel SAD as it was hardly a good representation of how popular momoko is... (not even close to what JAPAN did to commemorate her 7th Birthday) All the while I was thinking - why did they not ask us to help??? surely there is someone in Taiwan who has a larger collection to loan.... if not us.... Oh Well, That is that.....

Anyway, below is the last EXHIBITION we helped mount in Taiwan... it was for the Chinese NY, 2007.... the theme was Susie & Global Dolls - so we had a variety of dolls represented -- over 500 dolls!!!!