Browse Category: design

Modern Mouse is now open!

Grand Opening

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Modern Mouse is now open for business and it’s located in a shopping center in Alameda.  It was kicked off this afternoon with friends, family, Haamoni drinks, and Teacake Bakeshop goodies.

Teacake Bakeshop

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It was so exciting to see all of Eleen’s products alongside the 40 other designers’ items.

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products

Everything was so cute and interesting that they make me wish I could quit my day job to do something more creative.

Eleen was kind enough to offer me a little space in her shop too but I couldn’t get my act together in time for today’s event.  But she was very cute in making me a nametag anyway with the name “Beakatude” underneath my name…funny.  I’m actually in the process of thinking of an actual name for my photog stuff so stay tuned.

Congratulations, Eleen!!!

Here are the rest of the photos.

Lights, Camera, Photoshoot!

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Last Thursday I agreed to take product photos for one of Eleen’s friends who also makes handbags.  She’s building a new website and needed photos taken of her bags.  Eleen warned her that I had never taken product photos before but Penny hired me anyway!  I don’t know how much others charge but I must be a bargain!

test shot

So, I borrowed Eleen’s 500-Watt light and supplies, rented a lens from Borrowlenses.com, and rented an umbrella from Adolph Gasser.  With Eleen’s foam sheets, I made a seamless backdrop and experimented with the set-up until I got it just right.  Here’s a test shot of a bag that I already had lying around the house.  Yay!  Not too much shadow and plenty to work with for whiting out the background with Photoshop.

planet penelope

This morning Penny came over and we spent 2 1/2 hours taking over 150 photos of her 9 bags in different positions and getting the details just right.  Here’s a sample photo of one of her bags.  Her website goes live next weekend (www.planetpenelope.com), which will be just in time for Eleen’s Grand Opening of Modern Mouse.

Speaking of Modern Mouse…I visited the space on Friday and it’s huge!  The products that she’s already received are really cute and I’m so excited to see them all on display next weekend.

It’s a zoo in here!!

Team Tiger

Attack!

We’ve always said that working in the hospital sometimes feels like being in a zoo.  So…for the Friday before Halloween, we dressed up as zoo animals.  Teresa and I have always called ourselves Team Tiger so obviously we were bright orange Cheetos with black duct tape stripes.  It was fun working in a sweatsuit but boy was I sweatin’!

The rest of the gang included two zebras, two monkeys, a big cuddly panda, and even a zoo keeper!  We also made ears and a tail for one of our grumpier nurses and he actually strutted around as an honorary tiger all day long.  We got a lot of looks and compliments for the tiger costume and there was certainly no subtly to our outfits.  It was fun but I’m glad we only have to do it once a year.  From ordering and waiting for the sweats to arrive in the mail to cutting a grip of stripes out of duct tape to sewing felt onto headbands, it’s a lot of work.  Maybe I can just wear this costume every year for the next 10 years.

Happy Hour

Afterward, we went out for Happy Hour with Dr. Mai, who was visiting from LA.  We went to Ben and Nick’s and had a great time catching up and being silly just like old times.  Come back soon, Mai!!

Here are the photos!!

The Marina District x2

Tipsy Pig

The Bangs live in the neighborhood called The Marina.  They have a gorgeous view of the GG Bridge and have lots of cute stores up the street from their apartment.  Unfortunately, it’s also deep into the city and parking is really hard to find.  As a result, we don’t venture out there much and the Bangs get sad that they have to come out to our ‘hood most of the time.

Pulled Pork Sliders

So, on Friday night, we went out to their area for Happy Hour and dinner.  Bang, Jes, and I took the bus over and we had an evening at The Tipsy Pig.  We snagged a table out in the patio (without a reservation) and convinced the manager to get us an order of bacon mac & cheese from the kitchen.  We also tried the pulled pork sliders and a couple of salads.  They were all pretty yummy.

Renegade Craft Fair

The next morning, I rode the same bus and met up with Vyl near her apartment.  We walked over to Fort Mason and checked out the Renegade Craft Fair.

Eleen

They had a lot of really cute things and we also went to visit Eleen at her booth that was tucked away in the back.  I picked up a few gifts and also got a cute elephant wallet from Eleen!  Yay!

Yay Eleen!

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My friend Eleen is doing so many exciting things lately and this is probably one of the coolest so far.  She was asked to submit an article about her DIY Wedding on Etsy and it was published yesterday!

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When she asked to use some of my photos I had no idea it was for this and I’m so honored to be a part of it!  As soon as it was posted, my smugmug portfolio has been getting a ton of new hits from all over the world.  It’s a little creepy but really cool at the same time.  Anyway, I’m still in love with my eleen bags and can’t wait to buy another one.

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Check out all her cute products on her Etsy shop or at the next craft fair.  Go to eleen.com for updates on her next whereabouts.

Sugar

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Check out these cute little individually wrapped sugar cubes!  I found them at the little French bistro down the street.  Makes me want a hot cup of coffee about now.