For Japan: After Day 2

48 hours
206 people
450 tickets
$4500.00 dollars for The Japan Red Cross Society!

Thanks again for another terrific day!  Things have slowed a bit today.  I'd like to ask everyone's help in passing the word!  Feel free to post this on your Facebook, blog, tweet, even smoke signal :)  If we can get 100 tickets everyday until March 23rd we'll be able to meet our goal of 1000 tickets or $10,000.00 raised.  That would be an incredible task!

Just link to this: http://tinyhaus.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-japan.html
You can grab an image here: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/5531130505_9f7349774e_b.jpg

For Japan: After Day 1

24 hours
155 people
343 tickets
$3430.00 dollars for The Japan Red Cross Society!

Thank you EVERYONE for your overwhelming response!  This was beyond anything I had hoped for.  We reached our goal of 200 tickets in under 12 hours.  Let's shoot for 1000 tickets by March 23rd.  I really do think we can hit that mark.  More information here: http://tinyhaus.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-japan.html

On another note I've maxed out my gmail sending capacity for March 16th.  Hopefully it will  reset in the morning or by the afternoon on March 17th.  For the people who bought tickets late tonight you'll get your confirmation email in the morning.  I have received your payment, you can always check in the link above for your name and number. THANK YOU for your patience.  Now for some sleep.
Thank you again,
Diem

For Japan

I've been sitting here for an hour thinking about what to write and how to write it... for the past few days I've been glued to the news about Japan's earthquake and tsunami disaster.  It is so shocking to see such devastation and chaos.  I am in awe at how the Japanese people have persevered through these difficult days.  People stood in line, paid for items, kept their cool, helped their friends and neighbors.  Every single person kept their civility.  Such strength is inspiring.  My heart goes out to everyone there and I hope that perseverance will get them through the difficult days/months ahead.



I'd like to make a humble offering and raffle off a crayon family portrait for the Japanese Red Cross Society.  The winner will get up to 3 crayons carved to their specifications.  Ticket sales start now and will go until midnight PST on March 23rd.  The winner will be announced on March 24th.  I will use Random.org to pick the winner.  I'm hoping for at least 200 tickets, but I won't limit the number to 200.  The more tickets I sell the more we can raise for Japan!
*** THANK YOU EVERYONE!  THE RAFFLE HAS ENDED, I WILL POST WHO THE WINNERS ARE SHORTLY.  WE'VE RAISED A TOTAL OF $6590.00 FOR JAPAN!***

Ticket Price: $10

Prize: A family portrait of carved crayons (up to 3 crayons) *Update* There will be 2 winners selected of 2 different recipient.

Selection Process: when you pay for the ticket I'll email you with a number.  A random winner will be picked via Random.org.  I will post the results of the drawing on March 24th.

Donation Proceeds: 100% of all ticket sales will go the the Japanese Red Cross Society.  I will pay for all fees and shipping costs.

If you're interested in participating in the raffle please Paypal $10.00 to (email removed, the raffle has ended)
Please make your payment as "GIFT" and make a note "FOR JAPAN".  PLEASE DO NOT write anywhere on your payment the words "RAFFLE" or "LOTTERY".  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  I'm sorry I can't take any other forms of payments.  Paypal is the easiest and fastest way, it's also the best way to keep records.

THANK YOU!
Diem Chau
*Update* HOLY COW!!! We broke 200 in half a day!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!  This is so unexpected, I don't know what to say.  The emails keep coming and I'm in tears writing this.  Let's shoot for 1000!  Since so many people have signed up I'd like to offer a second family portrait, so there will be 2 winners total!

1. Chantal J.
2. Cindy R.
3. Cindy R.
4. Brian D.
5. Brian D.
6. Victoria J.
7. Victoria J.
8. Andy I.
9. Antje H.
10. The World's Best Ever
11. Soni K.
12. Donnabelle C.
13. Donnabelle C.
14. Heather H.
15. Lotta A.
16. Kenita G.
17. Robin
18. Robin
19. Sherri aka Alvin
20. Noel
21. Wyly A.
22. Wyly A.
23. Wyly A.
24. Donald B.
25. En Faust
26. Erin S.
27. Jonna W.
28. Pomme-Pomme
29. Geoff C.
30. Geoff C.
31. Geoff C.
32. Dennis R.
33. Dennis R.
34. Jeff E.
35. Jeff E.
36. Jeff E.
37. Ellen Z.
38. Ellen Z.
39. Ellen Z.
40. Ellen Z.
41. Ellen Z.
42. Ray / Ballerz
43. Dina N.
44. J. L.
45. J. L.
46. J. L.
47. J. L.
48. J. L.
49. J. L.
50. J. L.
51. J. L.
52. J. L.
53. J. L.
54. Betsy B.
55. Betsy B.
56. Betsy B.
57. Betsy B.
58. Susan M.
59. Susan M.
60. Susan M.
61. Elizabeth T.
62. Erin L.
63. Julie C.
64. Julie C.
65. Nathan V. N.
66. Eurie C.
67. Eurie C.
68. Eurie C.
69. Eurie C.
70. Eurie C.
71. Courtney H.
72. Jeremy A.
73. Alan G.
74. Mario F.
75. Natalie R.
76. Gail H.
77. Gail H.
78. Gail H.
79. Gail H.
80. Gail H.
81. Alexander L.
82. Juan A.
83. Juan A.
84. Steven T.
85. Laurel A.
86. Zena C.
87. Sara L.
88. Eben D-M
89. Elizabeth B.
90. Jeannie L.
91. Jeannie L.
92. Joey V.
93. Lisa L.
94. Andre Z.
95. Steel Toe Studios
96. C. L.
97. C. L.
98. Ellen F.
99. Beth M.
100. Lotta A.
101. Julie A.
102. Julie A.
103. Julie A.
104. Julie A.
105. Holly M.
106. Holly M.
107. Holly M.
108. Holly M.
109. Holly M.
110. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
111. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
112. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
113. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
114. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
115. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
116. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
117. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
118. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
119. Jenny Z. & Dan D.
120. Lirong L.
121. Emma D.
122. Monica I.
123. Kim N.
124. Alex G.
125. Stephanie M.
126. Stephanie M.
127. Kasey G.
128. Ronald B.
129. Eric G.
130. Brian B.
131. Brian B.
132. Brian B.
133. Heather K.
134. Heather K.
135. Heather K.
136. Heather K.
137. Heather K.
138. Heather K.
139. Heather K.
140. Heather K.
141. Heather K.
142. Heather K.
143. Richard L.
144. John Y.
145. John Y.
146. John Y.
147. Kaila B.
148. Jonathan T.
149. Hilary A.
150. Leslie G.
151. Sean & Candace G.
152. Sean & Candace G.
153. Sean & Candace G.
154. Sean & Candace G.
155. Shane C.
156. Shane C.
157. Shane C.
158. Amy H.
159. P.A.S.B.
160. P.A.S.B.
161. P.A.S.B.
162. Monica C.
163. Monica C.
164. Monica C.
165. Andrew B.
166. Jason/Southernwayfarer
167. Jason/Southernwayfarer
168. Jason/Southernwayfarer
169. Jason/Southernwayfarer
170. Jason/Southernwayfarer
171. Jason/Southernwayfarer
172. Jason/Southernwayfarer
173. Jason/Southernwayfarer
174. Jason/Southernwayfarer
175. Jason/Southernwayfarer
176. Sally B.
177. Laurie B.
178. Natasha C.
179. Kathryn P.
180. Kathryn P.
181. Amanda P.
182. Amanda P.
183. Amanda P.
184. Ashley C.
185. Erika C.
186. Laura S.
187. Erica V.
188. Erica V.
189. Erica V.
190. Kamala K.
191. Tom P.
192. Aron P.
193. Aron P.
194. Aron P.
195. Aron P.
196. Aron P.
197. Aron P.
198. Aron P.
199. Aron P.
200. Aron P.
201. Aron P.
202. Melissa M.
203. Sierra N.
204. Raedy P.
205. Raedy P.
206. Raedy P.
207. Raedy P.
208. Raedy P.
209. Cris M.
210. Cris M.
211. Cris M.
212. Selene C.
213. Ellen W.
214. Melanie P.
215. Winnie K.
216. Winnie K.
217. Winnie K.
218. Aubrey D.
219. Robert S.
220. Robert S.
221. Robert S.
222. Courtney S.
223. Kasey W.
224. Kasey W.
225. Kasey W.
226. Kim B.
227. Kim B.
228. Kim B.
229. Andrew H.
230. Leslie A. B.
231. Chelsea H.
232. James B.
233. James B.
234. Liz B.
235. Liz B.
236. Liz B.
237. Liz B.
238. Leslie A. B.
239. Wendy S.
240. Wendy S.
241. Wendy S.
242. Wendy S.
243. Derrick L.
244. Alison L.
245. Alison L.
246. Trisha G.
247. Sue Ann H.
248. Sue Ann H.
249. Sue Ann H.
250. Sue Ann H.
251. Sue Ann H.
252. Pyng L.
253. Pyng L.
254. Pyng L.
255. Pyng L.
256. Pyng L.
257. Pyng L.
258. Pyng L.
259. Pyng L.
260. Pyng L.
261. Pyng L.
262. Paul M.
263. Paul M.
264. Steven S.
265. Steven S.
266. Angel O.
267. Angel O.
268. Angel O.
269. Susannah B.
270. Susannah B.
271. Joseph P.
272. Deborah & Shannon H.
273. Deborah & Shannon H.
274. James M.
275. James M.
276. James M.
277. Anonymous
278. Anonymous
279. Anonymous
280. Anonymous
281. Anonymous
282. Anonymous
283. Anonymous
284. Anonymous
285. Anonymous
286. Anonymous
287. Linda M.
288. Linda M.
289. Linda M.
290. Linda M.
291. Linda M.
292. Nola A.
293. Nola A.
294. Nola A.
295. Joseph C.
296. Susan S.
297. Susan S.
298. Susan S.
299. Elise M.
300. Lindsey H.
301. Yvonne P.
302. Victoria H.
303. Victoria H.
304. Ken K.
305. Ken K.
306. Ken K.
307. Ken K.
308. Ken K.
309. Angelia P.
310. Crossen C.
311. Meredith A.
312. Meredith A.
313. Meredith A.
314. Meredith A.
315. Meredith A.
316. Lisa K.
317. Amber F.
318. Alison M.
319. Alison M.
320. Theresa S.
321. Tim M.
322. Tim M.
323. Jaime H.
324. Jaime H.
325. Danielle G. & Family
326. Danielle G. & Family
327. Clare F.
328. Saya M.
329. Saya M.
330. Claudia B.
331. Claudia B.
332. Claudia B.
333. Claudia B.
334. Claudia E.
335. Laura T.
336. Kim T.
337. Bulut D.
338. Kelly L.
339. Demi R.
340. Demi R.
341. Demi R.
342. Demi R.
343. David R.
344. Maury S.
345. Maury S.
346. Maury S.
347. Maury S.
348. Maury S.
349. Hanna M.
350. Hanna M.
351. Jon S.
352. Kittytoes
353. Lauria T.
354. Bryana V.
355. Elaine B.
356. Elaine B.
357. Elaine B.
358. Elaine B.
359. Elaine B.
360. Michael P.
361. Megan A.
362. Kim T.
363. Betsy W.
364. Betsy W.
365. Frank N.
366. Jamie M.
367. Lisa G.
368. Lisa G.
369. Valerie V.
370. Valerie V.
371. Heather L.
372. Heather L.
373. Heather L.
374. Sue B.
375. Sue B.
376. Sue B.
377. Sue B.
378. Leanne D.
379. Elizabeth M.
380. House of Pinku
381. Nancy S.
382. Nancy S.
383. Nancy S.
384. Daniela S.
385. Kaila W.
386. Kaila W.
387. Apama M.
388. Troy K.
389. Troy K.
390. Troy K.
391. Troy K.
392. Romy Z.
393. Jennifer A.
394. Ruth C-H
395. Ruth C-H
396. Ruth C-H
397. Thien-Kieu L.
398. Thien-Kieu L.
399. Thien-Kieu L.
400. Maya V.
401. James R./Lauren D.
402. James R./Lauren D.
403. James R./Lauren D.
404. Matthew B.
405. Kathleen F.
406. Karen L.
407. Lien T.
408. Samantha T.
409. Samantha T.
410. Samantha T.
411. Samantha T.
412. Samantha T.
413. Lisa H.
414. Lisa H.
415. Lisa H.
416. Lisa H.
417. J. L.
418. J. L.
419. J. L.
420. J. L.
421. J. L.
422. Mira & Karl S.
423. Mira & Karl S.
424. Mira & Karl S.
425. Mira & Karl S.
426. Mira & Karl S.
427. Yuka P.
428. Yuka P.
429. Yuka P.
430. Jessica B.
431. Elizabeth D.
432. Lorraine R.
433. Lorraine R.
434. Jessica G.
435. Jessica G.
436. Dean G.
437. Dean G.
438. Frank V.
439. Frank V.
440. Frank V.
441. Frank V.
442. Frank V.
443. Frank V.
444. Jacie L. A.
445. Cameron H.
446. Cameron H.
447. Elaine M.
448. Elaine M.
449. Thorly J.
450. Marco L.
451. Barbara R.
452. Barbara R.
453. The Paredes!
454. The Paredes!
455. Jennifer M.
456. Jennifer M.
457. Genevieve T.
458. Genevieve T.
459. Genevieve T.
460. Andrew/Linda R.
461. Ashley M.
462. Liz T.
463. Jeff M.
464. Ada C.
465. Jennifer F.
466. David T. B.
467. David T. B.
468. Sean S.
469. Allison K.
470. Carol J.
471. Alicia K.
472. Kirk A.
473. Kirk A.
474. Kirk A.
475. Emily F.
476. Ian P-E.
477. Ian P-E.
478. Ian P-E.
479. Donna D.
480. Byron R.
481. Byron R.
482. Byron R.
483. Byron R.
484. Byron R.
485. Ron L.
486. Ron L.
487. Ron L.
488. Lucy R.
489. Colin G.
490. Kylie S.
491. Amelia H.
492. Matthew G.
493. Maggie R.
494. Maggie R.
495. Amy F-H.
496. Stephanie S.
497. Stephanie S.
498. Stephanie S.
499. Stephanie S.
500. Stephanie S.
501. Stephanie S.
502. Stephanie S.
503. Stephanie S.
504. Stephanie S.
505. Stephanie S.
506. Alexandra K.
507. Julie R.
508. Sonja R.
509. Victoria D.
510. Victoria D.
511. Cherry D.
512. Cherry D.
513. Cherry D.
514. Cherry D.
515. Cherry D.
516. Christina W.
517. Mimi B.
518. Mimi B.
519. Leah & Jackie
520. Leah & Jackie
521. Carrie N.
522. Carrie N.
523. Stefanie H.
524. John S.
525. John S.
526. John S.
527. John S.
528. John S.
529. John S.
530. John S.
531. John S.
532. John S.
533. John S.
534. Lark & Dan P.
535. Lark & Dan P.
536. Thomas K.
537. Brandon H.
538. Laura L.
539. Laura L.
540. Al M.
541. Al M.
542. Andrew G.
543. Viet N.
544. Lashante G.
545. Vane B.
546. Vane B.
547. Isabelle P.
548. Lisa/Villa Treasures
549. Thea S.
550. Kathleen H.
551. Anna P.
552. Heather A.
553. Heather A.
554. Heather A.
555. Jill D.
556. Helena H.
557. Terra S.
558. Terra S.
559. Terra S.
560. Elizabeth B.
561. Elizabeth B.
562. Nathan V.
563. Cheri & Peter K.
564. Cheri & Peter K.
565. Cheri & Peter K.
566. Diane W.
567. Nancy W.
568. Nancy W.
569. Nancy W.
570. Nancy W.
571. Nancy W.
572. Anne C.
573. Diane M.
574. Diane M.
575. Diane M.
576. Kirsty T.
577. Craig S. & Shari D.
578. Craig S. & Shari D.
579. Yoko N.
580. Yoko N.
581. Dyan A.
582. Dyan A.
583. Ahky's Auctions
584. Ahky's Auctions
585. Emily B.
586. Emily B.
587. Emily B.
588. Hanako N. & Prairie S.W.
589. Hanako N. & Prairie S.W.
590. Hanako N. & Prairie S.W.
591. Hanako N. & Prairie S.W.
592. Hanako N. & Prairie S.W.
593. Carmen S.
594. Carmen S.
595. Molly S.
596. Monica T.
597. Monica T.
598. Monica T.
599. Russell B.
600. Russell B.
601. Amy H.
602. Amy H.
603. Laura M.
604. Laura M.
605. Laura M.
606. Laura M.
607. Laura M.
608. Laura M.
609. Laura M.
610. Laura M.
611. Laura M.
612. Laura M.
613. Pei P. S.
614. Roz
615. Roz
616. Marianna D. N.
617. Gail G.
618. Gail G.
619. Gail G.
620. Gail G.
621. Gail G.
622. Gail G.
623. Gail G.
624. Gail G.
625. Gail G.
626. Gail G.
627. Michael N./Jenise S.
628. Kelly S.
629. Kelly S.
630. Kelly S.
631. Kelly S.
632. Caren B.
633. Caren B.
634. Caren B.
635. Diana M. J.
636. Diana M. J.
637. Kim M.
638. Jennifer F.
639. Alicia J.
640. Alicia J.
641. Alicia J.
642. Alicia J.
643. Alicia J.
644. Tiffany B.
645. Tess A.
646. Tess A.
647. KC P.
648. KC P.
649. KC P.
650. Mattie I.
651. Mattie I.
652. Mattie I.
653. Mattie I.
654. Mattie I.
655. Mattie I.
656. Mattie I.
657. Mattie I.
658. Mattie I.
659. Mattie I.

Bellevue Art Museum & Art Zone

I'm very excited to be a part of The Mysterious Contents of Softness.  Eleven national and international artists are in the show.  It's Organized by Bellevue Arts Museum, curated by Stefano Catalani and made possible by 4Culture and City of Bellevue Arts Program. 


The Mysterious Contents of Softness
February 4  June 26, 2011
Bellevue Art Museum
510 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004

Members' Reception: Thursday, February 24 • 6 - 9 pm
Free First Friday Lecture featuring Diem Chau: Friday, March 4 • 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Artists Include:

Lauren DiCioccio I remember the first time I saw her water bottles.  I've not forgotten them since.

Angela Ellsworth  One of my favorite pieces from the show.

James Gobel

Angela Hennessy 

Rock Hushka 

Lisa Kellner 

Miller & Shellabarger 

Lacey Jane Roberts OMG I loved this work!  You have to see the pink fence.

Jeremy Sanders

Nathan Vincent 

And me!

I'm also featured on Art Zone with Nancy Guppy.  You can watch it below, my segment starts at 2:40.  If you have trouble viewing it you can go HERE.

Seattle Channel Video can be played in Flash Player 9 and up

I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to Stefano Catalani, Valerie Vozza and Nancy Guppy for their support and for thinking of my work.  You guys are the best!

The Ramos Family

So we recently bought a fixer home.  The remodel seemed like a dauntless task but with a good recommendation from a friend we found the BEST contractor ever!  If you're in Seattle and you have a home project, I HIGHLY recommend Ramos Construction. I'll link to his website once it's up. 
I was talking with Jeff last week and he said he went to my website/blog and loved my work.  He wanted a set of family portrait crayons.  I was so excited and honored he liked my work that much.  This is a set of Jeff, his wife (and future baby ^_^) and Thomas the dog.


The Wife:
I wanted to make a bigger belly... it was hard given the limitations of the crayon.  I really like how her curly hair turned out.


Thomas the Dog:
He's a black lab.  I chose grey because the details show better on grey then black.  I also added a collar and tag detail after taking this pic. 


Jeff the Builder:
I like to think this is what Santa Claus would have looked like when he was younger.  Jeff rocks the beard.  I added pupils to his eyes after taking this pic. 

Neo Kitsch at ArtsWest

I'll have a selection of carvings in the Neo Kitsch show at ArtsWest in Seattle.  I'll be at the opening on Dec 9th.  It should be a fun show, please come if you're in town.  I believe Charles Krafft will be there as well... I've never met him in person, but I'm a BIG FAN of his work!


Neo Kitsch
December 5th-24th
Artists reception Dec. 9th, 6 – 7:30pm

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery
4711 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116

Making Money

I was recently commissioned to carve 10 crayons with 10 different world currency symbols on them. This was my first time working with text.  I was nervous about my lines and angles being off.  I mostly work with very organic shapes.


From left to right:
US Cent in Copper.  I chose this color for the ubiquitous penny.  The cent symbol sits atop a pillar of coins.
Mexican Peso in Scarlet.  Mexico's national colors are red, white and green.  The $Peso symbol also sits on one of The Pillars of Hercules.  It's theorized that the "$" came from the Spanish coat of arms where a ribbon wraps around the pillars.
Indian Rupee in Yellow-Orange.  This is the color of marigolds and saffron dyes.  Whenever I think of India I think of rich, vibrant colors.
Chinese Yuan in Dandelion.  Yellow was China's imperial color and is still associated with wealth and status today.  I used the Chinese word for Yuan instead of the Yuan symbol.  Since both Yen and Yuan uses the same symbol I wanted to differentiate them
Brazilian Real (Reais) in Green-Yellow.  Brazil's national colors are green and which symbolizes the country's lush forests and the country's wealth in gold.  This was the perfect combo of both colors!
US Dollar in Fern.  I chose this for the namesake of our beloved Greenback.
British Pound Sterling in Sky Blue.  Blue is one of 3 national colors in the UK.  I also think of the monarchy when I think of the UK.  Hence royals and blue bloods.  Royal Blue was too dark so I used Sky Blue.
The Euro in Orchid.  This was the hardest color to choose because the EU represents so many countries.  Tyrian purple was the color of wealth and royalty in early Western Civilization.  Modern day Europe comes from those ancient empires so I chose purple.
Japanese Yen in Carnation Pink.  Japan has many symbols, but perhaps one of the most popular one is the Sakura flower.  I chose pink to reflect the many hues of the cherry blossom.
Russian Ruble in White.  Russian Winters are well known around the world!  I think of the snow and blinding whiteouts.  Such harsh weather makes tough people.  The Russian Ruble doesn't have an official symbol yet, so I just used the most popular one.
Although I had a rainbow color scheme planned I also wanted each nation's (EU) color to reflect it's identity. 


A closer look at the Yuan vs. Yen


Peso vs. Dollar
There's a bit of a controversy on who had the $ symbol first.   Here are some of the many theories.  I'm going with the Pillars of Hercules theory and that we adopted it afterward.


One last look :)
Thank you Davis and Louise!  I hope you enjoy the new addition to your collection.