The Herbal Lore of Siam

The Herbal Lore of Siam /thlos/
has drawn inspiration from traditional Thai herbal remedy recipes and the classic combination of Thai/Western Art Deco period to create natural beauty products devoted to well-being and the pleasure of taking care of oneself. The thlos products are made of 100% organic herbs. No chemical added.

Created by a.angkana
Expected Launching Date: Feb 1 2010 at http://thlos.com


Note from author:
December was always my favorite month of each year but last year it ended badly.
There're lot going on since Aug 2009, mostly due to family stuff. However, I'm hanging in there. Thlos project was created last year and initially was scheduled to have a big launch in December. Since the deadline's passed, I'm not certain I'd still want to push it forward ....we will see....

WEB experience

AUG 3 2009


Hi friends. I'm back. Feel guilty I should have written to you more often but I've been super busy. Here's a recap of what I did back in July.

I've been into WEB learning stuff, especially SEO (Search Engine Optimizations), Open sources - wordpress, and E-commerce business. I've heard about those fancy tech terms for a long while but never paid attention to it until a few months ago. I have to admit I'm officially a wordpress mania. LOL. Learning the technical stuff helps me build a better understanding of E-commerce business. Though I've come up with several new business ideas through the learning process. I've made a list of things-to-do which is long enough to cover my AUG-SEP schedule already.


appleangkana.com is my BABY. The web site has been updated frequently. It now offers several sections: product reviews, design resources, and even freebies! I'll start communicating through appleangkana.com from this point onward. I'll keep updating my life on this blog as usual and will be writing on a.angkana on a regular basis. So, if you miss me, you know where to find me :) Oh..I need your inputs too. I need to know if a.angkana web site is user friendly. How do you feel about navigation bars? Do you find what you look for easily? Give me your 2 cents (or more!) Write to me at apple@appleangkana.com

Brand Applique is not doing so great. Other ETSY sellers complain about the slow market too. Some said things will pick up when Summer's over. Contrary to domestic market, a.angkana product sales look promising. So in case you want to know what I'm selling in the local market. Let's meet it.



Guys.. you can leave now. But girls this is your lifesaver.
It's the handbag dust cover. Design is very simple but the dust bag is made of water-proof/UV protection fabric. It comes in various sizes. That the largest size can fit LV Speedy family. The coolest thing about the bag is it'll protect your expensive handbags from humidity and light, which original dust bag that comes with handbag can't do the job. How great is that! Anyway, that's why it's doing so well. I'm selling them in a specific community site where people who love name brands trade and purchase expensive merchandise.

My goal this month is to launch a second product in the local market as well as launching the rest of pattern arts/Fall collection at Brand Applique shop. Soon Brand Applique will offer various pattern arts for DIY projects. They'll be all digital arts people can download and have fun with their creative projects. I'm planing to launch pattern arts for various occasions as well. The direction I'm going to will completely eliminate the issue of international shipping and delivery time. I'm excited just to think about it already. Don't ask me why I'm so hyperactive.. it's my passion, friends..

Don't forget to check a.angkana website on August 12 for a surprise freebie. It's going to be awesome for people who love handmade stuff. (for dudes..I'm not going to give away gadgets or laptops.. ok? just girly stuff.. you may not be interested.. but you're more than welcome to visit a.angkana)

be back next month!
apple

Featured Artist

July 13 2009


Click here for the interview with Brand Applique

In The Spotlight

June 29 2009

This month, Brand Applique store has gained visibility in the cyberspace.
The letterpress 'TO' cards got featured in the Storgue Spotlight
Etsy Finds: Look what I Found!

And recognized by ThisNext

81 viewers have marked Brand Applique store as their favorites.

Open letter to Richard

May 28 2009

I've received this email from Richard after I sent out an invitation to my store. Love his words so much I want to share it with you. Richard, hope you don't mind the open letter.

Quoted (Richard)

....Good to hear from you, congrats on starting your new business. I went through your web site and enjoyed it and found it interesting. I like the words “Brand Applique” especially the french word “Applique”.
Things around are pretty much the way they were when your were down this time last year. The economy has to pick up soon,
Its a gutsy thing to start a business during these times. However many businesses were started up during difficult times. A fellow named Leo, during the depression started an ad agency, and his friends said the within time he would be selling apples on the street. That person was “Leo Burnett” and to this day apples are given out on each LB floor of 35 East Wacker.

So best of luck and much success.

Apple's correspondence:
Hi Richard,
A million thanks to your encouraging email. I know it's extremely difficult to start up a business during this time. Obviously I had 2 options - either sit back and do nothing, hoping for the global economy to recover soon OR doing something. And I think you know my character and the option I was going with. There's a great possibility my business may fail, and I may go bankrupt. But put a positive spin to this, whatever the outcome is, I've immensely learned about running the business. The business itself requires all my time to stay alert in the global trend and networking. It's a hands-on experience - better than taking MBA classes and learn from text books. It's a great investment in term of learning and experiencing the real world, yet gaining revenue would be a plus to that. Of course, I'm nervous too, but where there's a will, there's a way. Several successful business started up during difficult times. I just need to experiment it until I find my niche market and vice versa. I'm also lunching products in a local market - they'll be all fashion related. Thai girls are trendy and willing to spend extra bucks to make themselves look fab. I've created products based on domestic and international trend - both are different niche market. I'm more worried about international market though. As the big drawbacks are to become a trusted seller and an issue with the cost of international shipping. Nobody wants to buy a product from a store that has no review and located in a foreign country...huh... That's my homework - to break the barrier.
We all learn from our mistakes. I'm learning too. Nothing comes too easy unless we're willing to take a risk and learn from our mistakes. We're given only one life. Live it.

Grand Opening - Brand Applique'

May 25 2009

Brand Applique store is now open. Although I designed the products, I have to admit they look really cool. (I'll keep some for myself.)
The cards are printed on the most expensive papers available
(thick card stock that has a very cool texture) to enhance the design. Modern. Clean. Period. The cards are so versatile you can use it for any occasion.

Don't forget folks - Shop away until you drop!

Here are products currently listed.

Link to Brand Applique

Link to my plus space

a.angkana&brand apliqué

May 12 2009

a.angkana's website is back in the game. After facing big failure to have it run properly because of limited internet speed in Thailand (standard upload&download speed is 1 MB as opposed to 5 MB in the US), I had been trying to figure out a way to build a blog-style look. Finally my website has had a new face lift. whoopee!!

I'm also launching my on-line shop at ETSY.com The official grand-opening is set in the next 2 weeks.
During the time, I'll let you get a glimpse of it by visiting Brand Appliqué page

please revisit my plus space when you can. I'll keep updating it on a regular basis.

Don't loose hope

May 5 2009

A lot of us have been in the same boat. It's a boat of hope that will never sink as long as we stay optimistic.
We may have to work harder, go out there and hunt down on any possible opportunity, then we will be ok.

I'm sharing this with you. The inspiration.

What? Am I officially 35 (!)

APRIL 9 2009

35 years ago, I was born into the world on this day, the ninth of April. Since then, I've been fond of the '9'. It has always been my lucky number. I had made a big birthday plan for this special day but it went down the drain because of Politics crap (again).
The anti-government rally is going overboard. At this exact moment they're making a demonstration but not in the allowed area. They're stomping down several streets, which happen to be in the heart of the city causing traffic chaos and streets shutdown. I was on my way to meet up with Tim and Toon for dinner & drinks but had to run back home for safety's sake. Nobody knows how nasty it's going to turn out. Anyway, I've completed my mission today - things I wanted to do on my birthday. At least I'm not wasting my entire day on that silly demonstration.
Thanks to you who remembers my birthday. Thanks for the text messaging, emails, phone calls, e-birthday card, and live birthday song over the phone - they all have made my day. some little thing that made me smile - better than expensive presents. Happy birthday to me.. in the next 5 years, it won't matter and I would stop counting... Alas.

(APR 14 2009) Political Update: It's ended.. bravo! I think they must have been satisfied with their accomplishment - to show the world how uncivilized the country is. Bad apples. sigh...

Job Hunting

March 21 2009
I had been procrastinating on writing the entry. But thinking you may want to know what's happening in my life so here it is... I'm back on a job-hunting market again. There came a sudden and shocking announcement on the 10th of this month - the closure of Bangkok head quarter office; resulting from the worldwide impact of the recession, our business is in the luxury, high-end services which is nice-to-haves but not the must-haves. Most of us took the news in a calm and professional manner. On a positive note, out of generosity of CEO, we've got a decent surveillance package that'd keep us sane for a long while.

My last day of employment is March 31. After that, I have to start looking into my career path.. my goal.. and possibilities.. I always keep my options open and this time I need to get it into the right direction. Time is so precious I can't afford to loose a single minute wandering in a wrong direction. Nervous but also excited about my future as things always happen for a reason.

Since last week I started freelancing for an ad agency. The freelancing option works best at this time as I need some time to figure something out. In retrospect, I had turned down a few freelance projects - thinking I prefer to use up my energy on my business to someone else's. Surprisingly, freelancing was not a bad idea at all. I had so much fun on that project. The deadline was tight I had to be up all night to finish it. I got my adrenaline pumping and going, like I was high the entire time. I love that feeling! Now I know my passion for design will never go away from me...

and as always... unti then...

Reading obssession

It's started when I was in despair - the stuff that happened all at once within a 2 month period - my uncle's sudden death, mom's illness, and Tim's mom's unexpected and outburst sickness. The tragedy in family had endure as if it would have gone on endlessly. I was depressed.

Then one night, after a tiring day at work, while sorting out a pile of junk mail, I picked up a tiny book not bigger than my palm but full of such incredibly encouraging words of wisdom. Reading the book from front to back, my mind absorbed and digested every word so much it put off my distress. The experience shocked me as I'd also been a reader but why this time's so different than every other time? It could be the stuff I read was not my usual preferences (Economy, Politics, and News)
Reading the books I was blocked out of the dull and painful world - the feelings were so great I yearned for more. I wanted it linger and permanent so I continued on reading. I've been up late and into early morning every night keeping up on my marathon reading. I have sleep deprivation and look like shit but my soul fulfilled.
It's my uncontrollable addiction.

I want to be myself again. I had lost it in the past few months and lived in fear - being terrified of things that never happen. I want to be myself who never look back in the past, live the moment, and look optimistically to the future.

Until that time-----

I've lost my wisdom...

December 28 2008
5:50 PM

I had it removed on Friday, my wisdom tooth. The tooth did not bother me but according to my full-mouth X-ray, it's impacted so my dentist suggested the tooth to be extracted.

It was a complicated procedure - about 2 hours long. At some point during pulling and drilling and pulling (again) process, I was beginning to question my decision -- well, the tooth was doing fine underneath my gums for over decades ---and causing no troubles --- but why do I trouble it? Should I not trouble the trouble, until trouble troubles me?

Anyway.. after the surgery, I felt a bit silly with my decision --my jaw bone got swollen and I expected my facial inflammation in the next 24 hours.

It's December and this month has always been my favorite. It's the month people are giving and sharing happiness to one another. But it's also the time I sit down and look at my wish list - things to do before I die. The list is not long at all,
in fact, it has only one wish--- but I can't accomplish it yet.

Hope you're working on your wish list too. Don't loose hope and stay out of troubles. Some day we'll get to sit down and share our dreams altogether.


No matter where you live, I'm wishing you a very happy life in the year 2009.

Nothing beats 'good family, good lover, and good friends'

Happy New Year
apple

Taking a break

NOVEMBER 2 2008

Bits and pieces
Chicago trip SEP 18 - OCT 5 2008

Things I've figured out from the trip;
That Bangkok is now my home.
That my parents are my top priority.
That I was happy.



Due to my family emergency, I'll take a break from posting my update until further notice.
My mind has been occupied with my mom and her surgeries since I've been back from my trip.
However, I do not want to talk about it.
I know I'll always have your support and I appreciate that.

So, until things're coming together again, the blog will be shut temporarily.

apple

Logo Design - Reflection

August 30, 2008

Logo Design
Client: Major Development Public Co., Ltd
Product: The first super luxury condominium in Pattaya 'Reflection'
Website: http://www.reflectionpattaya.com/


Reflection Version A - Reflection of its uniqueness




Reflection Version B - Reflection of its location





Reflection Version C - Reflection of its sophisticated architecture





And the winner is....

OOPS

Did not mean to be away this long...I just had a lot to do during these times - mostly catching up with my old friend 'da booze' .....Back in June, our sister company had a grand-opening party and our given brief was to design a catchy invite.
So here it is - the invite was silk screened on a sheet of canvas (placemat size), wrapped in aluminum canister. And the canister was packaged in a custom-made paper box. The challenge on this assignment was not only to create an eye-catchy invitation but we also had to stick with given production budget . Guess how much it cost to make each of them?











The answer is
It cost only $3US!!! - even less than a cup of 'grande' latte or cappuccino at Starbucks.

Then came JULY, seemed like my life in July was involved in only a couple of activities - partying and shopping. It was that
mid-year annual sales - you know like the ones in Chicago but more festive. Every mall I went lured me away with oversized FLASHY RED bargain signs and inviting numbers like '70% off' ...Omigod... some malls even had its sale going on until midnight. So that's that. Thanks to its marketing/advertising departments, I wasted my whole month on the shopping spree. Very productive(!)


Last but not least, my Chicagoan friends, I'll be in Chicago from mid SEP - early OCT for a vacation. Hope we can meet up and
paint the town red. See ya soon!

Chicago

There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall...


In memory of you....
Fall 2004




















The following was written on March 23, 2007 - part of my diary that'd never been published...

Bangkok, City of Angel
March 23, 2007

8 days ago:
8 days ago, we left Chicago. I was teared up while the plane was taking off as I suddenly realized it's happening - we're leaving and it's real. I was looking out the window, then said good bye to Chicago, my soon-to-be old and rusted memory....

'I'll never get enough of you'

Hua Hin Trip
May 4-5, 2008
Head counts: 5 little monkeys and 10 adults (try-to-be)
Mission: Living life

The outcome: Food testing tour

Journey #1 Hideaway Resort
image from the web site



The 'Hideaway' sign that looks more like 'Amway' from this angle.





surrounded by pool


One of those little monkeys (guess which one is it?)



Journey #2 'Bann Ta-Le-Dao' Resort
(The house of The Ocean and Star)

The entrance




Reading corner - perfect for the afternoon coffee and a quick nap


The route to our suite - which sits next to the sea...


yet has only a swimming pool cut in between


view from our suite


So long!

BIG+BIH = Awesome

April 25, 2008

BKK International Gift Fair+BKK International Houseware Fair
TRADE: 17-20 APRIL 2008 / PUBLIC: 21-22 APRIL 2008
VENUE: IMPACT, MUANG THONG THANI, BANGKOK
---------------------------------------------------------------

Just so you know I'd put 'too' much effort in order to get some pictures from the International Gift/Houseware Fair to post on the blog as promised. I went to the fair on the "Trade" Day, and then went back again on the "Public" Day. I dragged my (heavy) camera along, just to find out it ran out of the battery. (GOSH!) So, I had to take a day off from work and went back to shoot some photos. It's the first time my blog showcases some cool local design. As you can see how WOww they really are, especially houseware - took my breath away just to look at a one-of-the-kind collection - and unbelievably inexpensive. I wish I had my own place now so I'd fill the space in with those furniture. Unfortunately they did not allow us to take a photo of the masterpieces. I've recorded everything into my brain though. The fair is held twice a year - Summer and Fall. Surely I would find my way back there in October!!