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Cute kawaii characters in Hong Kong: Kuromi cake, Rilakkuma bear toys. Miami, Florida for Art Deco Weekend!

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This is a cute and happy post. First, I’m thrilled to announce I’ll be in Miami Florida… for Art Deco Weekend (Jan 18-20)!

As you can tell from this site’s design, I’m obsessed with Art Nouveau and Deco design. The Miami Tourism Board is generously flying me in and hosting my trip, so that I can report on the annual celebration of all things Deco.

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Get ready for flapper dresses, Bettie Page fashion show, 1920s VIP gala, and South Beach architecture. Videos and photos to come, on La Carmina blog and Huffington Post. (Above photos by Shannon Cottrell, from my LA batcave shoot with Seby.)

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Since we’re talking art, let me share some of the kawaii designs I spotted in Hong Kong.

Adorably-decorated food is still big in Asia (remember my book, Cute Yummy Time?). This bakery was selling a $20 US cake in the shape of Kuromi, the rival of My Melody.

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On “Women’s Street,” you can buy cute accessories for ridiculously low prices. However, you can tell these are knock-offs… Doraemon and Hello Kitty are a tad deformed.

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My beloved New Town Mall in Mongkok has entire stores dedicated to Rilakkuma bear and friends.

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Sogo, the Japanese department store that carries the Hello Kitty fashion collection, also has a brand for dog-lovers.

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Cute-faces are as popular here as in Japan. A giant smiley is not an uncommon sight.

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Panda bears are a Chinese national treasure.

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You can purchase the very same Japanese brands in Hong Kong for lower prices. That’s my justification for going shopping-crazy here…

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Hong Kong’s a great place to pick up gifts for friends. The quality and design are outstanding for the price (these items are probably $10-20 US each).

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Don’t forget home decor. In K-11 art mall (Tsim Tsa Tsui), you can get an elephant stool…

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Or a wah-faced cat lantern.

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Bookstores carry adorable DIY craft guides. Since there are step-by-step photo instructions, it’s ok if you can’t read Chinese.

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Um. Sad robot pandas. Cutest recycling bin ever?

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If the makeup packaging isn’t cute enough, the store added happy Post-It notes. (My favorite cosmetics chain is SaSa; their pink signs are everywhere.)

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I bought Basil Farrow a rubber ducky from this Causeway Bay shop.

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Basically, if you’re into kawaii characters, you’ll go bankrupt in Hong Kong… they’re everywhere you go.

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I leave you with a peek inside the Bros Products boutique.

For more cuteness, check out my Hong Kong, China and Macau posts.

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Are you a fan of kawaii character design? Who’s your favorite cute character? I’d love to hear your Florida tips in the comments and on my Facebook — it’ll be my first time in Miami!

SHARE & COMMENT

29 Comments

  1. Jodi
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 2:36 am | Permalink

    loveeee it there..lucky u

  2. Alastair
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 2:49 am | Permalink

    Awesome snaps. Truly talented mate.

  3. Theresa
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 6:15 am | Permalink

    Can’t wait to see the pics. Hope to be showing there someday

  4. Brooke
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 6:15 am | Permalink

    You will have a lot of fun in Miami. Try to go South Beach if you have a chance, and eats lots of delicious food=D

  5. Kat
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 6:15 am | Permalink

    Have fun down here!

  6. Dustin
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 9:04 am | Permalink

    <3 u!

  7. Lilin
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 9:04 am | Permalink

    Lucky you :)

  8. BF
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 9:04 am | Permalink

    where where where?

  9. Beatrice
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 9:05 am | Permalink

    I want the wah cat.

  10. Michael
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 8:31 pm | Permalink

    Beach no good for you-too few clothes to wear!!
    Bikini on sand not your kawaii style!!

  11. Joel
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 9:38 pm | Permalink

    Thank you ,Joel

  12. Cassie
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 9:40 pm | Permalink

    So exciting!!

  13. Feathers
    Posted January 8, 2013 at 11:24 pm | Permalink

    Florida has alligators and alligators are wonderful. My friend went to a place in Florida which is a bit like a zoo specifically for alligators and sent me a postcard.

  14. yepi
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:03 am | Permalink

    so cute, i like it, thanks, i want all them

  15. wendy
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:40 pm | Permalink

    wowww

  16. Ellie
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:40 pm | Permalink

    Love the cute stuff!

  17. Lana Ray
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:41 pm | Permalink

    Lovely.

  18. berryblue
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:41 pm | Permalink

    oh my god cute overload

  19. Cathy
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:41 pm | Permalink

    I love your hair

  20. claudia
    Posted January 12, 2013 at 2:55 am | Permalink

    i wonder what the name of the bookstore is i love DIY stuff!

    • lacarmina
      Posted January 12, 2013 at 11:13 pm | Permalink

      I think this was Eslite, they have a good selection. The one in Elements mall TST is great too.

  21. Yepi Friv
    Posted April 2, 2013 at 1:47 pm | Permalink

    I love all of them. These are so cute things

  22. Y8
    Posted May 7, 2013 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

    Some people don’t want to write on ideas like yours.

  23. Yepi Didi
    Posted May 27, 2013 at 7:25 am | Permalink

    so cute!

  24. ana marie dawal
    Posted December 4, 2014 at 7:36 pm | Permalink

    hello i want to have may own botique here in the Philippines,is their anyway i can reach a supplyer of bros products?pls help!

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