I have not heard of Koralie until I saw the cute toy figures she's designed for Kidrobot, like the one from my last posting. My husband has met and worked with her and her equally talented husband- Supakitch, and I heard that they live just a couple blocks from us!
These pictures are from her exhibition in Paris called "EmanEssence". I really love the intricate folkloric details in her work, her characters always have some serious braids and head dresses, they are definitely not ladies that you want to mess with!
I hope that I'll get to meet her and her husband in the neighborhood soon.photos: metroplastique.com, and Koralie's Flickr page
Kidrobot's Fatale Dunny series is out today. You might have seen mine on this blog before, I really love this series not because I'm in it but all the ladies are very creative with their accessories! Here are some of my favorite ones, Koralie's (above) is my no.1 fave, it was love at first sight, I also love the custom Munny that she did for this show.
Mine (under the name CW)
Catalina Estrada
Amy Ruppel (I promise the front is very cute too but I love the wings!)
I called it Big n Small because as you can see the mama bird has her baby bird, and the big Dunny has his baby Dunny pull toy! The original Big n Small Dunny was a custom hand painted 20" Dunny that I did a few years back (below), I was so happy that Kidrobot decided to make a 3 inch version of it. This Dunny is part of the Dunny Fatale series that will be available next week.
I know that thousands of blogs have already posted them, but I must write this post because they are the best DIY gifts ever... for those who live in Japan! These toy block sets are brought to you by Muji and Lego. They are not just some Lego blocks, they also come with paper and little joints so that you can create Muji-esque characters with the materials provided. Look at that squirrel, and I love the color of the paper, the only thing that's bad is they make you buy the hole puncher separately. photos: muji.net
Went to the opening party of the MUNNYWORLD exhibition, it's only open for 3 days, from November 13-15 at the Eloquent Delinquents Gallery, 41 Wooster Street, New York. The party was also to launch the new DIY toy characters- Trikky, Bub, Raffy and Rooz. Kidrobot asked some of the world's most talented artists/designers to create their own 20" Munnies and friends, they are all so amazing that I can't say which one is my favorite, but here are some highlights.
Guys, remember to get this Kidrobot Krunk-a-Claus Dunny by TADO on Thursday, November 12! It is absolutely the cutest thing ever! Love his 'nog and his wooly beard!
The Magic Mouse. Apple finally got it right with this super light-weight wireless AND buttonless mouse! You can scroll and swipe pages with a click and a double-click anywhere on the surface of the mouse. I am so psyched about using it with a laptop!!!
New York (Peony) by Gregory Krum. Greg is a good friend of Chad's and I have always been a fan of his photography, just found out that he's released a new print on Jen Beckman's 20x200.com, I had to get it right away (because these limited edition prints sell out quickly!), guess it's an early holiday gift for myself! Peony is one of my favorite flowers and hey we happen to have that same vase at home, I love it, it's so perfect for me!!!
Spencer Squirrel Nut Cracker. Not all squirrels are created equally cute, this squirrel happens to be the top 2% cutest. I don't ever crack nuts or have the desire to, but now I do!
Momofuku Cook Book by David Chang and Peter Meehan. Who doesn't love Momofuku, right? And Peter is the hippest food writer in town, his collaboration with chef/owner David Chang, is a book that is full of creative ideas and delicious Asian recipes, and a great restaurant memoir (read the full review here). Bravo!
I'm not an anglophile (although my friends would tell me that I kinda am, unfortunately), I can't help but really want this "Made in England" rolling pin. Maybe it's because it's ceramic with beech handles, I think I would still like it if it says "Made in America", just that Kathleen Hills thought of it first...
What's not to like about James May? He hosts the coolest car show on earth- Top Gear, where he gets to drive lots of incredible cars (and sometimes wreck them) for a living!
He gets even more likable when we get to his personal projects that involve his favorite childhood toys, his love of gardening and wine (which he constantly gets teased at by his Top Gear co-hosts). He and hundreds of volunteers helped created a garden made entirely of Plasticine modeling clay for the Chelsea Flower show back in Spring.
And his most recent project, which is the dreamiest job ever, is to build a house entirely of lego blocks and gets to live in it for 3 days! It's a 2 story house located in a vineyard in Surrey, England, the house comes with a bed, toilet, kitchen, the whole nine! I'm curious to see if there will be any cool furniture inside. It's due to complete this weekend, and if I live in England I would definitely go see it in person, I would have even volunteered to build the house!
When he's not hosting some car show or playing with childhood toys, he even finds time to go fly to the edge of space, 70,000 feet above ground in a U-2 spy plane, see the clip here: sources: telegraph.co.uk, geeksugar, denbiesvineyard.co.uk, youtube
So Chad is in Tokyo for the Munny temporary store opening at the MoMA store, here are some pictures of the space. As the sign says there's also a Munny show, wonder if this Gloomy Munny (below) is on display, it was made for the very first Munny show back in 2005. For that same show, I did one with my friend Siu Yin Chau (below), his name is Ping Pong Chimp. The reason why I decided to do a ping pong themed Munny was because of the lollipop that reminded me of a ping pong paddle, (the accessories that come with your Munny is a blind assortment meaning you don't know what you're getting until you open the box). I bought some pretty fancy yarn for this little dude and was hand knitted by a first class knitwear designer! I was bummed that it wasn't sold for much (the money was donated to the people affected by the Tsunami), but I had fun doing it. photos: Chad, Kidrobot
I had a leather E.T. when I was a kid and wish that I never threw it away (or my parents gave it to a cousin) because it's one of my all-time top 5 favorite toys! I've been looking for the cutest looking E.T. replacement and this one is it! I found him when I stumbled upon Fine Little Shop and it was love at first sight, funny that the glow on his finger is yellow, not red. Chad and I have been trying to edit down our toy collection in our home, but I am pretty sure that E.T. is going to make the cut!
I had a great time in Toronto and I will list all the reasons why tomorrow. The highlight of the trip was to get to hang out with Katie and Mike of TADO. Chad and I went to Magic Pony for their art exhibition and toy release party last Thursday and they did not disappoint their fans, they spent nearly 5 minutes drawing on each mini figure, see the picture below. The folks at Magic Pony were so thoughtful that they served plenty of cupcakes, watermelons, and fried chicken at the party! This was the best toy release party EVER! The show is called "Lily: The Tiniest Cannibal", all the artworks (which include paintings, prints, stuffed and crochet toys, and wooden figures) and toys feature Lily, who was raised in the forest, and her cannibal monster gang. The mini figures are super cute, now I have to bug Chad for the entire set, my favorite is the egg, it is a nesting set with 2 mini eggs inside. I was delighted to see some Gocco prints because it's important to have accomplished artists like TADO supporting the medium that's facing extinction. photos: Magic Pony, Kidrobot and Wonting
I have not heard of Koralie until I saw the cute toy figures she's designed for Kidrobot, like the one from my last posting. My husband has met and worked with her and her equally talented husband- Supakitch, and I heard that they live just a couple blocks from us! 
photos: metroplastique.com, and Koralie's Flickr page
