Every Jewish mother (or father or uncle or bubbe) needs a Passover apron!
And a pot full of monster matza balls!
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 Kimchee on Day 3 Back when I was in grad school many moons ago, some academically political thing happened to our department (as often does in academia.) I’ve long ago forgotten what it was all about but it caused a group of us East Asian Languages & Literature grad students to get together and discuss strategy. There we were, one unified bunch of Japanese, Chinese and Buddhism students, fervently discussing, copiously taking notes and enjoying the munchies our hostess placed before us. Who knows what else was on the table, but I can tell you this: there was a small bowl of kimchee––homemade, garlicky, gingery kimchee that none of us could resist. We polished off what was in the bowl. She brought out more. I suspect we went through all the fruits of our hostess’ labors that night. The topic of discussion, and to some degree the people, have long faded from my memory, but I can tell you this: I got the recipe and have been making it ever since. Even when I lived in Israel I’d make it, and even traded jars with a friend who prepared her kimchee using the recipe of her own Korean mom. My recipe is easy and possibly a shade less authentic than many I’ve seen online (although I have seen one very similar to this) but this remains my favorite. So as promised on twitter and facebook, here it is!
Enjoy!
This week I had the honor of being selected the Doer of the Week at Martha Stewart’s “Dreamers into Doers” website. I talked about how and where I work, and how I got here, and what inspires my design approach. Above is only a snippet — but you can read the whole thing here. This wonderful journey started last year when two wonderful online friends urged me to join Dreamers. Then, in January, I got the incredible opportunity to go to New York to learn, network, and otherwise canoodle, with 78 creative enterprising women from the Martha Stewart “Dreamers into Doers” online community. Hosted at the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia headquarters, the two-day event included informational and inspiring workshops by MSLO super-staff, special guests and Martha herself, two elegant lunches and a cocktail reception (would you expect anything less than elegant?), and of course, being part of the audience at the show. The offices and photo shoot studios, which once housed railroad boxcars (the Starrett-Lehigh Building was originally a freight distribution building and housed a railroad), now are painted in a clean white palette against which color and form take shape — we saw staff working on fabric patterns, graphics and and decorations, and managed to peek into rooms of props and floral arrangements. As a designer, I found it exciting to get a tiny glimpse of the creative process thats takes place there. Equally as inspiring , though, were the wonderfully creative people I got to meet, some after becoming online friends with some of them through the year, and others for the first time — women who combine passion and fun with determination and focus, and who have formed a sisterhood. Am I lucky to have found this community or what?
The holidays are long over and we’re gearing up for … what’s up in February? Well, Valentine’s Day, National Pie Month, Chocolate Lovers’ Month and coincidentally (or not?), National Dental Month! Also Purim and Chinese New Year. But it occurs to me I never shared here our exciting radio spot! Rotem Gear tees were featured by style reporter Kara Birkenstock (“Your Gal Kara“) in her “Last Minute Gifts” report on 935FM, along with some really posh shwag. Kara calls us a “really eclectic site with ethnic, retro and pop culture tees and products that are very reasonable.” Have a listen! Even though it was a holiday feature what she says is valid year ’round! (Our segment is at 3:00.) So after our long hiatus, what’s new at Rotem Gear for February? Brand new for Chinese Year… our adorable Asian Year of Rabbit line. Every year we add a new Asian zodiac design and I personally think this is the cutest one yet. We have it on adult and kids’ shirts, and also a few special gift item like an iPhone case.
People born in 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 are rabbits. Looking for some other Year of the Rabbit gifts? Try my CurryPlum shop, where I share my favorite Asian internet finds. Rabbit-themed sin products are featured on the home page. And here’s a nice little bit of synchronicity: February is also Adopt a a Rescued Rabbit Month!
Eco-friendly totes are everywhere, and they may be practical, convenient and keep plastic bags out of landfills, but Enter June 15, Inc. and their have-to-have eco-chic totes. I first noticed them last year at the Mar Vista Green Fall Festival and then again at the WISH Charter School Holiday Boutique a few weeks ago, where we both were vending. And yes, I succumbed. In the short time I’ve had mine – the turquoise with cane handles and red bird print – so far, every time I’ve used it, I’ve been asked where I got it. I just happened to look as I was writing this post and the June 15 bags are all on sale! Owner Sandrine (who by the way is a lovely person) makes these bag out of jute, a natural sustainable fiber and splinter-free rattan cane made from sustainable palms. For me, the combination of rustic, tough material and punchy graphic design make them uniquely uber-attractive, and just perfect for a designer like myself. And did I mention they are sale right now?
After a long hiatus, Eco-Reco is back! Well, at least for this week. Eco-Reco is what I call my recommendations of eco-friendly crafts, gifts and design ideas. This holiday season, I’ve come across some eco-recos that I’ve enjoying using and that I feel I must share, so this week keep an eye for them!  Candy Cane: Peppermint & Pine. Tingly and holiday happy. As many of my friends know, I am a big fan of Soaptopia — a local wonderland of hand-crafted, organic, natural soaps and body products. Soaptopia is an experience from the moment one walks into the shop — the creative displays, the delightful fragrances, product names’ punny humor (and you know how much I like puns!), the friendly people (and sometimes friendly dogs!) make one want to relax and stay a while in its hippy-chic, eclectic-yet-fun ambiance. Soaptopia is having all sorts of holiday promotions, so check out the website if you are not local; if you are in LA, you owe it to yourself to find this jewel in the West LA ‘hood of Mar Vista. Soaptopia is located at 12228 1/2 Venice Blvd, in MarVista, 90066 (just east of Centinela Blvd. While you are there, step a couple of doors down for a great cup of organic coffee at the Venice Grind.
A wonderful photo from last year, courtesy of “Ima on the Bima“ Rabbi Phyllis Somer. She and her boss-rabbi were frying latkes for their shul’s Chanukah celebration wearing Rotem Gear aprons! I guess we know who did most of the work! This interview of me, in recognition of Small Business Saturday, and to illustrate one person behind a small business, is gratefully reprinted from MommyBlogExpert:
Prior to researching the impact of small businesses, I had no idea of how staggering the statistics would be. Yet, when I checked the website of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today, I was blown away to discover that in 2009, 99.9% of all businesses were small companies with fewer than 500 employees. The fact that a full 52% of those small businesses were home-based which was even more amazing. With small business being the backbone of the American economy, as American Express points out, it’s easy to see that during down economic times such as now it’s really important for consumers to show their support for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs whenever you can while doing your holiday shopping. Who are these faces behind smaller American enterprise that we should patronize whenever possible this holiday season? They’re passionate business owners like Jean Roth, whom I met through our mutual involvement in Martha Stewart’s Dreamers Into Doers (DID), the online community that celebrates talented and creative women who turn their dreams into careers they love. Sitting down to get to know Jean, I learned that about 8 years ago she started working freelance as a graphic designer. Today, she works solo running a successful graphic design company in Los Angeles called Rotem Design Studio and its Internet-based t-shirt and apparel store known as Rotem Gear. As of now, she has created and merchandised more than 400 original designs for her brand, including the designs pictured in this post which are among her personal favorites.
Jean’s journey to entrepreneurship has been an interesting and circuitous journey indeed. Seeing her design work, it was immediately apparent to me that her background and education, including a master’s from UCLA in Japanese Language and Literature and a B.A. in Asian Studies and the experience of living in Israel for 8 years, has had a great influence on her design work.
How this talented designer got from point A to point B to where she is today is fascinating. She explains, “People often ask me how I got from being a specialist in Japanese language and culture to a designer and editor. The linear answer is that my Japanese skills landed me my first marketing job years ago in a Japanese audio-electronics firm and later a stint in the Public Information and Cultural Affairs section of the Japanese Consulate General in L.A.”
As her career progressed Jean started exploring computer graphics while working at a software company in Tel-Aviv. It wasn’t until she returned to the U.S. and starting working at local architecture and design firms that she really started learning lay-out, graphics, and paying attention to the principles of design. Rotem Design Studio and Rotem Gear are the culminations of all that diverse experience and exposure to various cultures.
Jean believes that her work truly reflects what design and communications should produce — words that evoke images, and images that convey ideas and emotions. She concludes, “All of it — the media, the marketing, the intercultural experience — has come full circle for me and makes its own special sense.” What are the top challenges you face as a small business in general? And in the current economy during the upcoming holiday season?
“Not surprisingly,” Jean answers, “the main challenges are financial. Sole proprietors and freelancers are particularly vulnerable, as we must pay our own self-employment tax and are not eligible for group health insurance rates.
“During the holiday season,” she continues, “especially when the economic climate is not at its healthiest, it can be difficult to know how much to invest in marketing/distribution costs and inventory, especially since the holiday season is so critical to small retail businesses like mine. This year, while still nothing like 6 years ago, has been better than the past three years so far, so hopefully that is a good sign for small business owners like myself.” What’s your favorite mom and pop store or online business? Please leave a comment and share why it’s important for consumers to support your favorite small business this holiday season.
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I’m grateful this Thanksgiving Day for the wonderful interview and insights Janis was able to bring to it. You can read her blog at MommbyBlogExpert.
To learn more about American Express’ Small Business Saturday effort, “like” it on FaceBook!
A few weeks ago I posted that one of my hamsa scarves was featured in an Etsy treasury. This was my first such features so it meant a lot to me (plus I was in such taelnted company.) I’ve been selling on Etsy for a couple of years now, not very actively perhaps, and compared to many there, my little limited edition shop there has not gained a tremendous amount of attention (my fault entirely, as my own efforts are focused more on my main shop and graphic design biz.) So needless to say, I’m so happy to see both a tee and a scarf included in TWO MORE Etsy treasuries complied by Etsy peers– one last week, focusing on the theme of love, and one for Chanukah!
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