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Long ago in a computer not so far away, I conceived a hoop dream to open a pizza restaurant with a wide variety of pizzas not normally found in the average pizza place, including dessert pizzas which I have only found on rare occasion since the days I used to see cookie pizzas, regularly (back in the late 80s, early 90s). And, rarely, are the dessert pizzas good. I had one “cherries jubilee” hot dessert pizza only once; and it was quite inspiring. So, after that “epiphany,” I conceived Lady Bonzai’s Pizza Internationale…not entirely sure about the spelling but liking the international feel of it.
Why Lady Bonsai? Well, I’m partial to women in many ways and would put a female mascot of sorts on a pedestal like a Venus de Milo. And, my astrology has a connection to trees. Bonsai trees are known for being groomed/refined and kept somewhat humble. Likewise, I’d want my businesses to be less “elite” and more welcoming, without sacrificing cleanliness and without expanding to…well, let’s say Starbucks levels. So, in a way, this is a small-business model that will not take up some ridiculous amount of space and remain somewhat small/limited yet strive to honor a variety of interests and cultures. If it thrives, it thrives based upon its quality and customer respect (which it requests to stay alive, just as a bonsai tree should be respected and tended with care), not its quantity. Although, unlike the bonsai trees I know (maybe some produce fruit?), I expect my business model to produce a decent amount of fruit in the form of exquisite treats and souvenirs (merchandise) that is tailored to the product (a souvenir that complements the pizza/tea/movie) or to the business theme/logo. So, for example, a “drive-in pizza” which comes with Lady Bonsai 3-D glasses or fake movie tickets. It’s just a small way of sending the customer home with something to remember their visit. But, if this becomes a hassle, too costly or wasteful, I’d skip it and focus on the product; that may just be a sign to “prune.”
Over the years, I’ve revisited the idea (with no serious business backing to even put this in motion, people) and corrected a few details. And, most recently, as I’ve played with silhouettes for various projects, I’ve considered creating a trinity of businesses under the Lady *Bonsai* “umbrella.” So, I present to you the following…
And, here are some related art pieces that came about around the time I had this canvas-backed vision. I was on a cocoa-mug silhouette frenzy for a while. I whipped up a bunch of variations on a sort of tapestry/valentine theme, sort of fusing Asian calligraphy/kanji and that “spell paper” concept with modern love notes, I guess?
Translation: LIT Friendship/Day/Composed (left) and Love/Night/Relaxed (right). The oddly textured green mug is supposed to be a jade mortar of sorts, symbolic of the hare that crafts the elixir of eternal life/youth in the Asian moon festival stories. This might be the woman who chases the hare to the moon, finally getting a chance to sip some magic…or the hare (herself).
Writingbolt's Creation 
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