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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HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!
明けましておめでとうございます!!!

Well a new year is upon us and there are great things ahead for all.
On behalf of my wife and myself, I would like to wish you all the best in health, wealth and happiness for 2007

Here's a look at one of the CHOCOLATE SOOP prints I’ll be showing at the launch. It was inspired the Andy Warhol’s tomato soup can.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS
メリークリスマス アンド ハッピーホリデー
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Whoever said keeping a blog was easy, obviously never kept one.
I wish I were a clever writer with the ability to dazzle you all with witty banter and little an-ecdotal stories, which one could add to one’s coffers of life knowledge. But since that’s not going to happen, here is a look at 2 prints I did for the DCTO launch planned for early next year.

Also, I’m designing some wallpapers based on the DCTO: Jibun project and CHOCOLATE SOOP themes, so let me know what screen resolution you are running and I’ll try and put a selection of the most common ratios up for download.

Back soon with another update...

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Yes, yes I know. Where are the updates? I’ve been very busy with client work and other projects. I apologize for being so slack. As promised some images from the first photo session for DCTO (‘dik-toe’)

Madd thanks to the peeps at INFORM Interior design for let us their shop. We also made a visit to Nitobe Memorial Japanese garden at UBC (University of British Columbia).









Next update: Print designs...

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Youkoso! Welcome!

Wow! It’s been a crazy journey up to this point but I can honestly say it’s been worth it. We are just putting the finishing touches on the DCTO site and getting ready for pre-sales. We decided that the CHOCOLATE SOOP site would have to go up after we got the DCTO going since it is the first figure out of the gate.

I finally received the prototype a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you, Richard and the peeps at Wheaty Wheat did a wicked job on the sculpt. I mean it’s one thing to see it in pictures, but to hold it in my hand feels amazing.
I’ll have some images in the next post of the photo shoot we did just after DCTO arrived. The shots turned out great.

In the mean time here is the logo and box design:

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