ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND YOURS!!!

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A DOUBLE CHOCOLATE KISS...

What's good Chocolatiers? I have 2 items on the list for this Chocolate shot.

First: A look at the Diptych Gicleé print entitled: 'Rising Starrs' I created for the KANIZA release. Each panel measures 5.5" x 8.5" and were printed in an edition of 50. I'll have 20 sets at the launch at ToyQube for 40.00USD per set (Launch Price). The rest will be available at the CHOCOLATE SOOP SHOP on the 15th of Dec.

For a more detailed image and more info on the 'Wish Kidd' click here.

Second: Check out the interview I did with Keith on the ToyQube site. I finally had a chance to sit down and answer of few questions about toys and my design work with the man himself. It give a little peek into what I about so I hope you find it interesting. Click the link for the INTERVIEW

NYC! 5 days and counting...

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A Little Dacosta TV...



Make sure to check the CBC.ca/bc site tomorrow morning for the 2010 Mascot reveal.
Update: 2010 Mascots revealed www.vancouver2010.com

CONGRATS to Meomi Design on a great job. 

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I love this type of 3D animation. I hope to be producing this quality of work in the future.

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New York Bound...

Hot off the press is the KANIZA release poster. I was up late last night putting it together. It gives me great pleasure in the strangest places ;) to announce the details of the official Toy Qube event.

KANIZA Cluster 01 Release Party
December 08, 2007
ToyQube & Gallery
133-31 39th Ave. #F36
Flushing, NY 11354
TEL: 718.939.8605
Time: 4:00pm - 9:00pm

For a list of artists who will be signing, please check out the Toy Qube site for more info.

I can tell you that I’ll be there to help with the celebrate the occasion. So with flight book and digs locked, it’s next stop, the Big Apple.

Hope to see you all there.

SOOP's ON!!!

I'm happy to bring you the news that the CHOCOLATE SOOP studio and CHOCOLATE SOOP shop are up and running.

Stop by, check it out and get yourself a little something...

www.chocolatesoop.com

Dacosta
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When you wish upon a star… Makes no difference who you are…

Waddup Chocolatiers!!!

I know it’s been a minute since I last sent out a shot to you all, but I’m back with some updates.

I finally got the production pictures of my little guy from the KANIZA Cluster 01 mini set put out by Toy Qube. Thanks to Klim @ BIGSHOT TOYWORKS, who supplied the snaps, I can bring you the first close-ups. Entitled ‘Wish Kidd’, he’s the little celestial brother of DCTO. Also shown in the picture is the blue chase. I’m not going to tell you what’s under the hood. I’ll save that for you to find out when the series drops next month. No date locked for the event, but I should have those details very soon.

More good things… Coming this month, my interview on the Toy Qube site with Keith. Of course I’ll send out a shot when that gets posted. Also, the launch of the CHOCOLATE SOOP online shop will be happening very shortly. I plan on loading up with my limited edition print works, apparel, stickers, customs, and more goodies as they come out. So now you can get DCTO and other gear direct, along with exclusive SOOP Shop contest-giveaways.

Oh yeah. I have another surprise coming for you in the next couple of posts, just in time for Winter.

So while I reload, I leave you with the ‘Wish Kidd’



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...AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Fred Lo of CANADA and Alice Matthews of AUSTRALIA

!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!
to the 2 winners of the DCTO SDCC'07 Toy Qube colourway 'Ghost'



A big thanks to everyone that signed up for the giveaway. There are a lot more contests coming in the near future. So stay tuned CHOCOLATIERS. New uber limit custom colourways, new paint designs, collaboratins, prints, and lots more Chocolaty Zensations...

Back at you soon

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1 down, 1 to go...

1 of the winners of a signed DCTO 'Ghost" colourway has claimed their prize.

The other selected person failed to respond in the allotted time. This leaves 1 spot open.
I've selected another name and sent an email with a new 48hour deadline of 18:00PST Friday 10th 2007.
So check your mail to see if you're a winner.

Tic-toc-tic-toc....


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'Ghost' WINNERS selected.

An e-mail has been sent to each of the 2 winners of the DCTO SDCC TOYQUBE Colourway 'Ghost'
Check your mail to see if you are one of the lucky winners.
The selected winners will have 48 hours to respond and collect their prize.
If they either choose to decline (which would be just silly) or don't respond within the time given, altenate name(s) will be drawn.

Thanks to everyone who partisapated in the contest and making the launch of DCTO a success. There many more up coming events and giveaways in the works, so if you didn't win this time there will be plenty of chances in the near future.


Dream Big!

Dacosta

Quick Shot!

DCTO: Jibun Project Toy fo the Week!!!!

Just wanted to send out a quick shot to let you guys know the DCTO select as the toy of the week on Vinyl Pulse. Big thanks to Jack and Francine for the nod.

Nice...

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'Ghost' Winners in a minute...

The dust has settled...

It's 1 week since SDCC ended and well I have to tell you that recovery has been slow. 4 days of straight talking over the madd crowd took it toll on my voice. But dispite that, SDCC’07 was amazing. I had a great time meeting all of you who were able to make it out. Did a lot of signing. I wish I had a lot of picture to show but my camera broke just after I got on the flight down. I had to depend on the generosity others and so I'm waiting for images to be e-mailed. I’ll go through the images and picking out a few good ones to show. Can't wait for the SDCC'08!

Shouts and big love to the Keith, and all the Toy Qube gang for having me at the booth, John and Amy, Carlos, Toyin, BEN, Brandt and Kathie, Klim and Scott, Mr. Jude, Sam Fout, Kozik, Steven Daily, Cameron, Tiede, MAD, Jesse Hernandez, Jermaine (Keep those hands clean kidd) Marka, Andrew Bell, Angry Woebot, Eric So, Mr Gooding, Kim, Simon, Luke, Kirby and Whitney, Dustin, Justin, Ada and Angie, Jester, Jack Huang and Pokéfriend, Matthew Crouch, Maria Kwnog, Jack and Francine, Dana Harvey, Yves, Tragnark, Don Kratzer, Robert Mamonluk, Leecifer, Blake, and anyone else I forgot please feel free to remind me as some of it is still a blur...

I Did manage to remember to bring back a blank DCTO full of Sigs.



In the next post I will announce the 2 winners of the CHOCOALTE SOOP mailing list giveaway. Tomorrow 2 signed copies of the SDCC Toy Qube exclusive colourway 'Ghost' will be given away.

See you then...

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PS. Puffy comments will not increase your chances of winning, but they will make me feel good...

DCTO Release and SDCC07…

First off. Thanks to all those who made it out to the DCTO Release Event at :VOLTAGE:. The rain kept some away but it was a great turn out. Thanks to Christian and Erika along with Jennifer for hosting the event. Lots of prizes were given away and new friends made. Straight up, good times. Can't wait for the next one...

So with only a day before the SDCC, the madd rush is on to get my things together for the flight. I’m looking forward to hanging at the TQ booth#4937.

You may know, but I’ll tell you anyway, but I was asked to contribute a design to the new mini set designed by Keith Poon (ToyQube) and Klim Kozinevich (Bigshot Toyworks). I’ll be signing some blanks alongside artists: Andrew Bell, Keith Poon, Klim Kozinevich, Sam Fout, Steven Daily, and Jesse Hernandez. So come on by and see us. Also, I had the honour of naming the set (KANIZA-Cluster01) and doing the packaging design. Here’s an advanced look at the figures, the first cluster of star artists in the line-up, and the comp for the pack-aging layout. Let me know what you think. (be gentle...)

Check out TOYS R EVIL's blog for more details on SDCC07





See you out there…

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2 Days to the Vancouver DCTO Release Event…

Wow! Time is just flying as the BIG day approaches. So many little details to think about, arranging all the elements so that they all come together a same point and time in space.

Here is the first shot of the ‘Ghost’ getting its glow on.



I just thought I’d give out some info for those coming out Friday. Everyone in attendance can enter the draw for 3 chances to win one of the regular colourways: Temple Red, Emperor’s Yellow, Sumi-e Black. Additionally, each purchase of a DCTO figure will be entered in another draw in which 2 people will win 1 of the 2 rare colourways, Stone Garden Grey and Sakura Pink (GID). And of course, the RSVP draw for the SDCC07 'Ghost' exclusive colourway.

So come on out and get in on the fun.

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T-minus 19Days, 16Hours, 1Minutes...

Ok Chocolatiers, SDCC07 Raffle and the first official DCTO Giveaway details.

Plus the DCTO:Jibun Project Release Event.

First off here is a look at the SDCC exclusive DCTO (Sporting the vanilla box) done for Toy Qube entitled ‘Ghost’. For those able to attend SDCC07, We’ll be holding a raffles for a couple of signed DCTO.



For those who can’t get down to pick one up in person, I’ll be giving away 2 signed pieces of ‘Ghost’ to the 2 Chocolatiers mailing list (That’s 1 each) So if you want in make sure you are on the list. I'll announce the winners as soon as I get back from San Diego.

The Release Event:
With venue and date locked, I am able and very proud to announce that the DCTO: Jibun Project Release Event 'ZEN of CHOCOLATE' will be held in Vancouver Friday July 20th, 2007 @ :VOLTAGE: the Number 1 Toy Boutique this side of Canada. I’ll be there signing DCTO and sipping Green tea. If you are going to be in town make sure you RSVP for the prize draws. You can be the first to get your hands on a SDCC07 Toy Qube exclusive colourway before anyone else on the planet. So starting Saturday July 7th, head to the DCTO project site and RSVP to enter.

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T-minus 33days, 14hours, 52minutes...

Sorry for the long moment of silence Chocolatiers. I've learned that hold ups and delays are par for the course. But I’m happy to tell you that DCTO is in full oceanic motion headed for our shores and will be here shortly. --assuming the ship doesn't sink--

The Official launch is slated for SDCC07, and yes Lou, I will be there with bells on. You can find me at the Toy Qube booth (#4397). I’ll have the ‘Ritual Brush’ DCTO there for sale as well a Toy Qube exclusive. In addition to DCTO I hope to have another surprise to show.

In the meantime, here are the proofs in the chocolate pudding.





In the next post I'll be announcing details of the CHOCOLATE SOOP’s first official DCTO contest exclusively for the Chocolatiers on the shots list, so if you know anyone that might be interested in winning one of these little Zen Masters let me know.

Word!
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FYI: MAY 14th, 2007 marked the day I officially became Canadian!!!

YEAAAAAHHHHH!!!

...Just thought I'd put that out there for those of you who might care.

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And so it begins...

Well I have to say that since the launch of the DCTO site the response has been overwhelming. There have been a lot of e-mails coming from all over the world asking about the project and I just wanted to say thank you for all the great feedback. I'll be updating the store list this weekend.

So now that the dream is in motion I should probably start planning the launch event ;) Posters, display pieces, prints and stickers and hopefully some T-shirts. So here is a sneak peek of the mobile that will be there. This is only the 10” mock-up at 1/6 scale. As the sign starts to come together I’ll be snapping some pictures and posting them for you to see.







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Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm,

Hippity hop yo! The madd Easter bunny has dropped in and left a ton of tasty chocolate treasures. Here’s a new 1280 wallpaper design made from a print graphic entitle ‘Choco-Rabbot’. I’ll be showing this and many other pieces at a CHOCOLATE SOOP show I’m working on.




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DCTO is LIVE!!!

Well “they” say better late then never…

This is the Shot where I tell you that after much toil the DCTO: Jibun Project site is LIVE!
I've managed to load it with a few goodies and I'm hard at work whipping up a new batch of delicious wallpaper and prints and photos ‘o’ plenty. So please be patient and there will soon be more Zen treats for all. And as always, comments and feedback are welcome.

Oh yes, and just to let you know, the first DCTO: Jibun Project contests is in the works (details soon). So tell all your Mom’s friends that DCTO is LIVE and make sure that they tell 2 friends and so on, and so on… and if your Mom doesn't have any friends then run down to your local toy boutique and hassle the heck out of them to load up on DCTO.

CALLING ALL CHOCOLATIERS! GO FORTH AND SPREAD THE WORD!

DCTO: Jibun Project

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DCTO in action...

Hey Chocolatiers. I throught I should drop this clip of the "Nanakorobi Yaoki" action. It's like Kung-Fu grip! but without the Kung-Fu ...and no grip on account of DCTO ain't got no arms...but you get what I mean.

Word!




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Final packaging…

As promised the final packaging design for the DCTO:Jibun Project.
I really wanted do a different colour box for each of the colour ways.
Let me know what you think. Comments and feedback are always welcome.

19cm x 19cm x 20.5cm


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What's in a Name?

I know I promised the final packaging design in the next post and I will be posting that very soon, but because I’ve received e-mails asking about the project, I wanted to fire off a quick shot that briefly explains the story behind DCTO.

DCTO (‘dik-toe’) Stands for (Dreams Come True Object)
Jibun Project means (My Project)

DCTO is my modern interpretation of an ancient Japanese Zen doll known as a Daruma doll which has been a symbolic talisman used for centuries in Japan.

The Daruma doll (pronounced "dah-roo-mah") is based upon an actual historical figure from the 5th century, Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism.

Traditionally red-cloaked and curiously limbless with unpainted eyes, a Daruma doll is used all over Japan for personal dedication to a new venture such as starting a business, beginning a new path in life, or given as a gift for celebrations like New Years, weddings and birthdays. Painting in its left eye shows commitment to a goal; once the goal is achieved, you then paint in its right eye.

The piece is designed to right itself when it is knocked over, reflecting the Japanese saying, ‘Nanakorobi yaoki’, "Fall 7 times, rise 8 times”, symbolizing relentless dedication and an undaunted spirit.

So there you have the short version of the motivation behind DCTO. There will be more details on the site which will be up any day now.

Here's the poem that appears on the back box. I wrote this piece back in 1991 (16 years ago. Yikes!!!) which seems to have finally found a home with this project.


-Dreams to Dreams-

by Dacosta Bayley

Dreams are a vision of the ideal

Visions become thoughts

Thoughts bring possibilities

Possibilities build realities

Reality is existence

To exist is to dream…



-夢から夢へ-
ダコスタ　ベイリー

夢とは理想の映像

映像が想いへとなり

想いが可能性をもたらし

可能性は現実を築く

現実とは生きること

生きることは夢みること ...



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First shots off the production line are in…

We are now in full production and as promised the first official image of the first 3 production shots off the line is loaded. Wow! I wasn't sure what to say when I opened the box. I thought holding the prototypes was amazing but the feel of the full on weighted (650g) 7" tall vinyl pieces has once again left me without words…

So without further ado, from left to right (and sporting a tweaked logo) DCTO: Emperor’s Yellow, Temple Red, and Sumi-e Black.




PS. Hmmmm…Did I forget to mention that there are 2 additional colourways around somewhere? I’ll have to remember to show you at some point in the near future. (hehe)

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Next update: Final packaging +

Happy Zen Valentine's Day
禅バレンタイン

Love is in the air and the sweet smell of chocolate is oh so enticing…
I just wanted to extend a CHOCOLATE SOOP greeting on this day of love to encourage all of you to imbibe in the moments when they happen.

…Not to spoil the mood with shop talk… but T1s are done. Final paint samples are on the way. So the first finished production images will be ready shortly for you see.

In the meantime, here is a little ZenV-day card for all you.

P.S. I'm all about the little dark chocolates filled with strawberry cream. *wink*wink*


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