Shoot For the Moon
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
After the slow, languorous pace of August, we’re really hitting the ground running in September. I took a quick glance at my calendar and found myself staring down a barrage of events, starting with this weekend: the mid-autumn festival falls early this year, running from September 10-12, and I, for one, will be busy attending celebrations and calling my parents. I’ll be back in two weeks, once things have calmed down a bit; meanwhile, everyone eat a mooncake for me and enjoy the festivities!
Out of the Box
LARGE MID-AUTUMN GIFT BOX - K. MINAMOTO ($72.40)
Mooncakes and the mid-autumn festival go hand-in-hand. Personally, I’m just planning to run out to my nearest Asian bakery and pick up a couple lotus pastes with egg yolk, but if you want to get a little fancier or you’re gifting a set to a friend, allow me to suggest Japanese confectionery store K. Minamoto’s immaculately-packaged gift boxes. They come small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes, but I’d shell out for at least the large, which includes moon cakes with red bean/black sesame and white bean/chestnut fillings, tsukiyo no utage (an apple-flavored jelly), and usagi san (adorable bunny-shaped cakes stuffed with a white bean and yuzu citrus paste.)
Signet of the Times
MOONCAKE SIGNET - SOFT GOOD STUDIO ($230)
In my mind, signet rings have always been the domain of moneyed, high-powered executive types whose familial wealth dates back a couple centuries — so basically not something I’d ever wear. My family certainly doesn’t own any priceless heirloom jewelry passed down through generations. But Oakland-based artist and jewelrymaker Emilie Jehng’s Soft Good Studio is working to change those perceptions; her custom-made signet rings often feature Asian motifs and characters, and can be tweaked to whatever shape, size, material, or design you desire. She’s created a special mooncake-shaped ring for the mid-autumn festival, adorned in the center with the character for longevity and cast in silver to symbolize the silvery moon.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
FULL MOON MIRROR - ADA CHEN ($250)
I wrote about Ada Chen’s very cool illusion mooncake earrings nearly two years ago on the dot. Though I didn’t end up getting the earrings (quirky novelty jewelry is fun, but my tastes run slightly more understated), I did buy Chen’s Full Moon mirror, and it’s by far my favorite thing about my room. Wreathed in wispy, trailing clouds, the design is laser-cut from acrylic and takes inspiration from Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess; legend has it that she’s been living in her lunar abode with her bunny companion ever since she made off with the elixir of immortality. Forget the Ultrafragola — if you’re looking for a way to upgrade your mirror selfies, I highly recommend.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!