First release in 2019

My first release in 2019 is Phoenix pendant designed with Arabic word.
This is my customer request.

First I drew many sketches which are just motif shape.

Spreading wings, long tail, looking up, all details are consists of phoenix.

Next step is filling word in like puzzle.
How much I can deform the shape or letter...
I know this is phoenix so I can see this is it but for others?? I always ask myself.
Then I choose which shape looks best finally.

These step take long time. Sometimes I give up or put it in behind.
Someday I may think of.

This time I chose this one.



From right wing to left wing, you see the word which means phoenix.

For main capture photo is like below.

 

It jumps in flame when rebirth, I use this back ground, like fire.

You saw my sketches, now you see this is phoenix, right?(^_-)-☆

 

This pendant is available on etsy.

 

Look back 2018

January:
I joined handmade event in Osaka, it was the first time to have my own booth for satokomatsu.
Sales was... but I learned display, how to explain my concept, and I met buyer from department store.

February:
My fiancé and I decided to ask lower to apply fiancé visa.

April:
Busy with collecting documents for the petition and work at office.

May:
In Japan, there is so-called "Golden Week" holiday.
We went to Fushimi where is famous of sake distillers, enjoyed Japanese tastes.

June:
Finally my fiancé and I gathered all documents and submit USCIS.

July:
From event in January, I got a chance to join the event in Hanshin Department store in Osaka.
It was held for whole 1 week. Many friends visited me, I really appreciate it. And feel our bond.
I got confidence about my jewelry concept.

August:
Worked on orders.
Met my old friend from Portugal after 14 years. 

September:
I joined another handmade event in Osaka.
I met customer from web shop and who visited my booth in January(they remembered!)
Got some orders!

October:
Visited Nagoya Boston museum in Aichi. They closed in this month.
Later busy at office.

December:
On 19th, finally USCIS approved our case!
Now I'm waiting for packet from embassy.


I hope you will have a great year!

Escher exhibition

I visited Escher exhibition in Osaka.

He is one of my favorite artist.
He is well-known as an impossible objects and tessellation artist.
I don't remember my first encounter (maybe from art textbook) but remember I got his book in Italy.

Most of his art is flat like woodcut, lithographs, mezzotint.
However his works make us feel them 3D,or even more than 3D, almost next level of gravity.
Maybe because he has a background of architecture?
Every perspective is very accurate.
Still, we get confused which side we focus on.
That makes us not sure about the world how we see.
What we believe right may not be correct for others.
Are we right?

What we believe justice is wrong for others.
That makes conflict.
What makes it right is just majority.
How many people can get benefit from those conflicts?

At the same time, his expression would influence me a lot.
Reality is flat but doesn't look like just 2D.
How to make people feel more than one world is my next assignment.

   

How are you?

I really left this page for long time...

Last post was 'questionnaire' , now current situation is...
we submitted our petition to USCIS last month! Finally!

We prepared lots of documents, filed them to the mutual folder of both of our lawyer and us, we waited, waited, waited for the farm prepare to send to USCIS for a month.
We guessed they are busy, maybe taking care of us too...
but almost 4 weeks, it was enough time to reach the last straw to me.
I sent message not to assistant but lawyer herself directly.

Probably it worked.
Suddenly they moved on our case.
From my previous work, I'm used to send claim mail...

Anyway we got case number, what we can do now is just waiting for NOA2.

In meantime, I had a pop-up store at Hanshin Department store in Osaka for a week in early July.
For me, it was a great experience and compared to daily sales, it ended up great.
I could meet some old friends, coworkers, and new customers.
Attending exhibition is not the first time but selling MY products by myself is very excited thing.

I try to upload this blog more often!
Have a nice weekend!
 

Handmade event

Wow, time flies!



Last post is about Creema Craft Festival.
Now already 3 weeks have passed.

It was the first time to participate event.
My booth is like this.

From my experience, making height is necessary, I remember.
And visitors sights move left up to right down.
I chose smallest booth, it was actually very small(^_^;)
My friend from former company helped me whole 2 days.
Both of us have jewelry event experience, we know how to display effectively and security.

Let's stop beating around bush, sales result was very poor.
Okay, I could guess, it's first time, world is NOT so sweet for me.
Even though, I could enjoy conversation with people. meeting new creators and atmosphere.
This is not really sour grape expression.

Actually many people visit here feeling like flea market so price average is cheap.
Compare to others, like me, jewelry designers with silver didn't sell well because price is much higher.
One example, the booth next to me, they were selling handmade earring with only $5.
I don't blame them, just they know Osakan customer and this event better than me.
Generally for handmade event, sales in Tokyo is the best, next in Nagoya, worst is Osaka.
Customer in Osaka is more severe about price.
I understand.

But I could grab a seriously big chance.
I got event offer from department store in Osaka!
It'll be hold in July, for 1 week.
I'm sure customers' expectation is different than people coming here.
That's much higher expectation.
I'm nervous in meantime very exciting.
I've never worked for department store even when I was working for company.

Without company name value.
I take responsibility for MY jewelry.
I have my own pop up store.
Whoa!

I can't tell you the detail yet.
It's coming!
Keep in touch!


 

Creema Craft Party 2018

In these days I've been very busy because I join handmade creators' event Creema Craft Party 2018!

This is the first time to participate handmade event, I don't know what I need and how much I should prepare for this show.
Earlier I was feeling there is not much merit for having booth as we also have to think about display and stock.
The merit of selling on internet is that we don't have to have many stocks and display, other materials, don't have to think of "in case".
So I didn't have much goods after making one sample.
When I sold sample, just use photo for order later.

I changed mind "not participate real fair" gradually.
First, this event booth fee is reasonable. (other big event is more expensive)
Second, hold in Osaka. (I live in Osaka)
Third, definitely meet more people at the fair.
Last, good practice for having booth in NY in future.

Luckily I have some experiences of fine jewelry fair like international jewellery fair in Hong Kong, Vicenza, Basel, Las Vegas and Tokyo.
Handmade event is much smaller and not fine jewelry (and not only jewelry), it's different type but I thought my experience could be useful at some points.

For this show, I worked a lot.

I'll bring about double of these items.
I've never seen almost all items gathered!

All items are available on my etsy store.
However, just in case, if you are in Osaka or visit Osaka in this weekend,
I think it's fun to come and see this event.
There are about 3000 creators' booths.
Very unique, handmade stuff, you can dig out.
And my booth is A-234, waiting for somebody comes!
  


 

New hobby

I love handicraft since I was child.
Knitting, crochet, beads...etc.

Exactly this timing in last year, I found one more favorite by accident.
Tatting lace.
Unlike crochet, this method is making knots with bobbin.
Generally using very fine thread.

Last year I met one person who making tatting lace jewelry.
It was the first time to see such fine, small, sensitive and cute product.
By then, I've been familiar with crochet lace,
I got eager to try tatting lace.
She kindly let me know where I can get material, how she learnt tatting.
Maybe that was next weekend, I bought bobbin for tatting which is called shuttle.

Since then I love tatting lace!

My level is not making own pattern yet so usually I make motif from book or free pattern on internet.
This thread is mostly for embroidery, a bit harder than cotton thread.

This is my finest thread, DMC80.
For crochet lace, I use #40 and lizbeth is slightly finer than Olympus #40.
I enjoy my new hobby very much!


 

Debut on magazine

Officially I can announce that satokomatsu got published on magazine!

Bellydance Japan Vol.42

Published today!

 

A few weeks ago, I received email from editor, for me, that's all of sudden.

Since then we had been mailed each other, like small Q and A.

I'm glad they work hard to collect my information.

 

2 items are on magazine.

One is this Arabic name pendant with tassel.

 

The other is Arabic name key chain.

Both are available on etsy.

 

I really appreciate they found me and I could have such nice opportunity.

In Jan, I join handmade market in Osaka, I can show this article.

Must be nice promotion!

 

 

 

Free shipping worldwide

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Free delivery campaign has started!
No promo code, just choose item over US$50.
This promotion is until Nov 30th.

Please visit my shop on etsy!

To design jewelry

I've been working on fine jewelry design all these weekdays.
And haven't finished yet...

At office, I design OEM and company's new products.
These are not satokomatsu work.
From my 8 years experience in fine jewelry industry, I'm working as a jewelry designer.

Customer shows us rough sketch or image, we make design.
After confirmation, we start production.

Sometimes their sketches are very vague, no other information, we imagine what they expect.
And occasionally they change design completely.
Bring us their image photo or more sketches.
Every time more info comes to me, I feel I wasted our time.
Why you didn't tell us first?

This time their request is decorative, colorful design line. (means several designs)
Difficult to draw, takes time.
And the most irritating thing is they also call themselves designer!
Are you??

If you request your original jewelry, it's okay you can't draw.
Designing is our job.
Just please let us know your ideal image.
Information, the more, the better.
That's the best way for both of us.

(This is irrelevant to customer design.) 

 

Idea is invisible

Currently I'm working for jewelry company which I was in before going to NY besides satokomatsu activity.
Difference is now I am part time worker.
Like before, I design jewelry.

What I feel in these days is as long as designer is belonging to company, if his or her idea also belongs to company.
When I was full time worker, I didn't think of, because I didn't have any other job and I felt myself was with company.
Literally I worked FOR company.
Company doesn't help me but work helped me when I had difficult time in my life.
For them, it doesn't matter whoever designs best seller jewelry.
They care about only sales.

Now I feel they can use our idea as much as they want.
Like our idea comes from never ends spring.
Drawing time is in office hour but thinking time and resource idea always don't come from during office hour.
From our personal activity and experience.
Those can't be replaced by anybody.

Why I thought of this is our retailer posted my drawing on their poster as their own designer's work.
In this case, idea is theirs, they sent us very rough sketch, I redesigned for real jewelry.
I submitted them to confirm.
At this point, my paper belongs to them?

Another case, I was designing for years for only one customer, one stone.
I proposed hundreds of design according to his request.
Sometimes due date was suddenly set on next day or even on that day.
It ended up totally simple product, no need to be designed.
Set on readymade mounting.

The biggest problem was I didn't meet the customer face to face, one sale was between us.
I feel he took advantage of me.
What was my effort?
No explanation to me.
Okay, maybe I couldn't satisfy him.
But I feel I wasted my working time, I could've worked on other things.

Idea is invisible, I hope company evaluate properly.
Otherwise nobody wants to show their idea to company. 



  

Swallow necklace in Hiragana

Yesterday I released swallow necklace designed with Hiragana, Japanese letter on etsy.

 

This is designed with Japanese word  つばめ which means swallow.

They say this bird brings happiness since male and female are always together, this suggests loyalty and hope.
In Japan, when they nest at the edge of eaves of our home, that means lucky for us because they know the safest house.

First, I thought of つ designing wing shape.
Simple curve is good to describe elegance wing.
Then problem was ば and め.
What a complicated shape!
Especially ば's dots!
I was almost about to omit those two dots.
And め is one of difficult letter as similar with ぬ. (Can you recognize?)
How to keep those letter shapes and in meantime, designing bird outline was the most difficult part of design.
Also most interesting part.

Now you can see the letter つばめ?

Somebody says it's like word seek puzzle.
Yes, you can enjoy seeking word!

When you are wearing this necklace, you can explain or third person may notice. "what's that?"
Let's start conversation.
In a sense, I call my jewelry conversation starter.

Wish this necklace brings you happiness!


 

Name pendant

This weekend I worked on my jewelry order.

A while ago I listed Arabic name pendant with removable tassel on minne which is Japanese handmade site like etsy.
Right after uploading, I got new order!

name pendant with tassel

In worldwide, Arabic name design pendant is not rare, it's very common language.
But in Japan, still Arabic is unknown and sounds exotic.
One of my jewelry, name necklace in Arabic is popular in Japan.
So far, all of customers have Japanese name.

For making this design, I referred Learn Write Arabic Calligraphy by Omar Uddin.
Of course, to make jewelry, I arrange, every line should be connected each other.

This script is very classy and tassel adds elegance.
When you feel fringe is too long, you can remove it easily, it's attached with clasp.

Every single time I make somebody's name pendant, I feel each name is unique and beautiful.
And I like my name(^_-)-☆

 

Busy days

After Craft Beer Holiday, I was very busy, been working for 11 days on the trot.
Besides my jewelry brand, I'm working for jewelry company which I worked for before, had big jewelry fair on last weekend.

It was held for 3 days at Herbis Hall in Osaka.
One of the biggest jewelry event in west Japan.

This event is held twice in a year, every time more than 1000 people visit.

 

I'm salesperson here.

 

After show finished, we organized at office, prepare merchandises for many customers.
Then finally tomorrow is really weekend.

I can work on my order, for my customers.
It's been long days!
 

World Smile Day

Today October 6th is World Smile Day.
This is on the first Friday of October every year initiated by Harvey Ball.
He is known to have created the Smiley Face in 1963.

I made smile pendant with Arabic word which means "smile".

Can you see two smileys in top?
When you find them, you can't help smiling :)
They say "Arabic is a happy language, because it has smile in letters".

This is what I'm designing.

In these days, there are many terrible news,
but smile is very contagious.
I would like to make people by my unique jewelry, by wearing it and seeing it.




 

My latest jewelry

A few days ago, I released new items on etsy.
Florida state pendant and Texas state pendant.

 

Both are designed by letters, can you read it?

Usually, I design with Arabic letter but this time, I use English letter.
And 20% of all proceeds will be donated to American Red Cross for helping people affected by hurricane.

When Tsunami happened in Japan in 2011, I was living in Osaka, we didn't have any direct damage, though many people even in Tokyo, they ran out from various stuff.
Convenience stores were almost vacant.
There was electricity shortage.

I heard this time, people in affected area, they live in black out for maybe coming weeks or months.
What can I do?
As a making statement jewelry?

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

Mother Teresa　

If you have any interesting, please visit my site.
Florida pendant
Texas pendant

 

My jewelry making process

I show you how to make my jewelry.
My jewelry is, mostly "word picture" design, shaped with word.

First, decide a motif.
Here I picked up penguin.

The upper left is Arabic word that means "penguin".
Draw penguin sketch, try to fit the word, this way, that way, turn round, separate, combine...
Once come up with good balance, I draw it precisely on graph paper.
By then, it takes sometimes half year, sometimes 10 minute, sometimes seems never (T_T)

Attach designed tracing paper on metal sheet, drill holes, start to cut by hand saw.

My favorite time! This cutting process is like meditating moment.
My design has lots of curvy line, I break saw once in a while.

After cutting out, file the all edges. until cutting marks are disappeared.
That makes it look shiny.

Sand with paper from coarse to fine grid.
I drop some water to avoid clogging.

Buffing with Leutor (micro grinder).
It gets very hot quickly, I hold it wrapping with leather.
Around here becomes very dusty, I need mask and goggles because it spins very fast with splashing polishing paste.
If I go out after this work, I should change cloths, wash my face, makeup again (^_^;)
I wash it with toothbrush to remove buffing paste, wish I had ultrasonic.

Only plating, I ask plating factory where deals with fine jewelry, I can trust their quality.

This is the photo I use on my etsy page, Penguin pendant.Taking product's photo is another difficult thing.
I'm always looking for good idea, balance, small tools.

Basically this is how to make my jewelry.



 

Vancouver trip Day 5

On this day we visited Vancouver aquarium where I wanted to go.

This is located in Stanley Park, it's hard for us to get there from bus station because none of us are good at reading map(^^ゞ And paths in park are winding.

 

Nemo! (Clown fish)

 

Sea anemone. Looks like many ballet dancers are sucking in black hole, waving their legs! (only me?)

Actually those are beautiful, not horror.

 

Garden eels! This is the most creatures I want to see the most!

Their movements are very adorable.

At their souvenir shop I looked for garden eel goods, couldn't find.

My necklace is the cutest! (Does somebody recommend this to the aquarium??)

 

Another great exhibition is jelly fish.

Like most of illustration, I expected they are swimming in umbrella shape but in fact, swimming up side down.

Just seeing them makes us feel cool.

 

We enjoyed aquarium a lot, then moved to Gastown.

Famous steam clock. (Smaller than expectation)

Every 15mins, it sounds "Westminster's chime".

For me, that's very familiar sound as we used to hear this chime in school every day, every hour.

Only in Japan??

 

The Flying Pig

Dinner!
We skipped lunch this day, while having coffee in Gastown, decided this restaurant checking on yelp and very close to that café.
Salmon sampler! This smoked salmon melts in mouth and caramelized salmon is very tasty. Salt and Sweet balance is great.

Seafood pappardelle is also good for seafood lover. It's Frutti di Mare(*^_^*)
Staff kindly explained that pappardelle is pasta when we ordered, okay okay, I know well about pasta.

After dinner, outside was still pretty bright, we walked around a bit.

We had a great time on day 5 too!

 

 

Stars

Already end of June!
Half of this year has passed! Wow! Time flies!

In Japan, rainy season has started.
When it finished, summer starts.
During rainy season, we have Tanabata, that's the event related to the stars.
It's based on the legend.
To make long story short, two stars which representative for couple can meet only once a year on July 7th across the milky way.
Unfortunately, this legend is in lunisolar calendar, so nowadays the date of Tanabata is in Rainy season, the clear night sky is very rare. 

Next week many Japanese are aware of weather if the night will be clear or not and can see the star or not.

This is my star design pendant.

Designed with Arabic letter نجم which means "star".
Not like others, I used straight line a lot instead of curvy line.

Hope this year we can see the stars on the night of July 7th.

 

Word picture

Some may wonder what "word picture" is.

Forming pictures with different combinations of letters.
Sometimes it's used as an educational tool because the image and the word are similar, making the word easy to remember.

For example, this is my first product.

This is "LOVE" pendant in Arabic.
Not just unique heart, this is including the word حب  this means love in Arabic.
You see the letter in this shape?

I think this is very unique idea when it came up on my mind.
Curvy line is beautiful, could suit with jewelry...
This is the start of my jewelry.