No one knows more about my challenges and triumphs of Mochi Studios better than my boyfriend, Lam. He’s been there for me from before day one, always with a helpful hand and sage advice and heartfelt encouragement. He’s the best person to have by my side and I love him for all that and more! I’m so thankful for all that he’s helped me with.

For Christmas, he gave me the best gift ever! A new Nikon D3000 digital SLR camera that’s perfect for me to take pictures of my work! (And of our many adventures as well! ^_^) It’s something that I’ve been researching on buying for myself for months but never had the heart to spend the money myself! It’s such a thoughtful gift! Thanks, love~!

I own a Minolta manual SLR camera but it’s a whole new world learning how to use a digital SLR! I’m just starting to learn how to use this baby but I’m already in love with its ease of use and crisp images! Lam even bought me a cool sling camera bag to carry it in! I can’t wait to take it with us on our many adventures and come home with brilliant photos and memories!

And to complement the camera my boyfriend got me, my bestie Eleen got me a cool light box for Christmas so that I can take better studio-like pics of my products! How sweet and incredibly awesome of her!

She also won the grand prize at the Bazaar Bizarre SF raffle of every Craft zine ever published and gave them to me as a present too! I love that magazine and find so much inspiration in those pages that I wished to be in one day. Before the holiday craft fairs, Eleen also helped me cut out felt for two dozen gnomes and has always been my favorite craft buddy and best supporter of Mochi Studios and I can’t thank her enough for everything!

Check out the lightbox + digital camera in action photographing at Mochi Studios of a custom order Fall Gnome for Melissa!

Thanks, Lam, for helping me with setting up the shot!

Close up on the embroidery~

And the embroidered wee snail on the back side~

There’s so much I still need to learn about how to use the camera, lightbox, and photoshoping images but thanks to my friends, I have the tools to grow into a better photographer! Thanks guys!