Little Red Riding Hood all finished!

If you go to my website in the portfolio section, I've added a new section where you can view my illustrated version of Little Red Riding Hood! I worked on this for the whole of my last semester and boy was it lots of work. But I think it gave me a good idea on what to expect when illustrating a picture book and I know that when I do get a chance to do so I'll be ready :)

Shop Update!

Woo I finally got around to putting some items up in my shop :D

Here are my favourites:







Oooo they are so cute!!! Check them out at my etsy store

I got tagged!

I forgot I got tagged by Jess and just remembered :D

The rules:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blog.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

Hmmm what don't you know?
1. I enjoy the sensation of epilating and feeling those little hairs being pulled out
2. I have a horrible habit of picking at the skin on my lips when they get dry and then they will start to bleed
3. Although I am 172cm tall I have very little hands for my stature
4. I don't listen to music very often and I don't own an mp3 player or even a CD player of my own (I borrow my sister's)
5. I love to read and when I have the time I can read about 12 books in a week
6. I hate having photos of me taken but I like looking at photos of myself
7. I have really shaky hands...not so good since I'm an illustrator :P

I think most people have done this meme so I'll just tag everyone who wants to do it :D

Made on the Left market report

So yesterday I participated in my first craft market! I had spent the last few months in between doing uni stuff to prepare for this market and the past week I've been having little sleep to make sure everything got done on time.

To be honest I was dissapointed. I didn't make as many sales as I thought I would, not that I had huge expectations but I thought I would be more successful. A lot of people commented on how wonderful my things were but they didn't want to buy anything. I think with the whole economic crisis that the media is shouting about, it has scared the customers into thinking they can't spend any money in case something huge comes along. Another reason could be that my target audience wasn't there. A lot of jewellery was being sold, they weren't so interested in the other things as much. And also my prices may have been to blame. Too high perhaps. I had raised them from my original thoughts after getting advice from other crafters, but I think I would lower them to what I had originally intended. Maybe that will make a little difference at the next market (which will be Unwrapped on the 4th December 5-9pm). But I did make more than I would have if I had still been working in my old cafe job so it's not a total loss! Plus the experience was great and it was nice meeting people. There were some people there who recognised my work from the grad exhibition as well! Also I was next to the loveliest girl Anna Vedelago who makes the greatest looking neck pieces out of vintage neckties you must check her out! I would have bought one but I am so dirt poor at the moment I can't spend anything extra these days, it was very hard at the market I kept seeing such nice things everywhere!

So despite the dissapointment, I can't let it get me down! I have to strive to get better and know that someone out there will like my things and will want to buy them!

Here's a couple pics of my stall, I had one with me but oh my gosh it was so terrible! So you'll have to be content with just table photos



I had my Buhni cushions, brooches, 1inch badge sets, Xmas cards (the one with the wombat putting a star on a tree) and original paintings for sale. I know my display looks super lame using cardboard! I had ran out of time to think of anything fancier. I'll try to get a proper display for the next market if I can and also work out a way to show the cushions better - anyone got any ideas? They're so bulky to work with!

Graduation Exhibition

Last Thursday was the night of my Grad Exhibition! I spent so much time (and money!) getting ready for it and now it's finally over. It was a good night I think, seeing everyone's work was great. I went pretty early to set up my area and just hanged around with a friend until it opened and then slowly people started to trickle in. The first hour was for industry people to come in and check out the work. They say you should go and introduce yourself to them but how can you know who is who? I wish they had worn a badge or a sticker stating who they were and what field they worked in! So I was too chicken to risk introducing myself in case they were in fact a student or worse, somebody's parent! It was great some of my friends came and were finally able to see what I had been working towards for the past 3 years. I haven't really shared my work with them so they were pleasantly surprised with how much my work had changed since highschool (about 6 years ago haha). Oh and I won an award! I got the award for Most Improved in illustration...kinda makes it sound like I was a crap illustrator before but now I'm good? Haha oh well, it is true though. I've put in a lot of work and effort this last semester and really upped my game. Even I surprised myself! Now enough of words, you're here for pictures!


My banner and table! I wasn't completely happy with my banner but with time constraints it was the best I could do :P


My table with my portfolio and little promo items for people to take as well as the finished copy of my Little Red Riding Hood booklet (I'll post pics of it soon!)

I took some more pictures of my favourites but I won't clog the blog, you can pop over to my flickr for a better look!

So now I've finally finished my Illustration degree! But I will go back next year to do honours so I'll still be studying for another year :P So close to being completely finished with uni!

Website is up and running!

Woohoo after ages of tweaking and fixing and practically tearing my hair out when things wouldn't work....

My website is finally online!

http://www.niina-aoki.com

It's quite plain and simple, I don't have the skills to make it look any flashier than it is lol one day I'll either learn more or just get someone to make me one but this will do for the time being :)

Enjoy browsing!