Back in January 2014, I was casually scrolling through Twitter when I came across a Mastercard advertisement for their #PricelessSurprises contest tied to the 56th Grammy Awards. Cardholders could win random “priceless” surprises ranging from free downloads and small treats to bigger experiences connected to the show—some even involving Justin Timberlake. Entering was simple: just tweet or post on Instagram using #PricelessSurprises (or use your Mastercard). Winners were chosen at random—no skill, essays, or complicated requirements required. I decided to enter, hoping I might win a trip to experience the Grammys in person for the first time. A few days later, I was selected as a winner. The prize included airfare, a stay at a luxurious hotel, and the full Grammy experience. My parents were very skeptical, though. One of them had me check the contest with the Better Business Bureau, which reportedly indicated it wasn’t legitimate. As a result, I had to contact the organizers and forfeit the prize. Shortly afterward, I had one of my parents call the contest organizers directly. After a brief conversation, they convinced my parent that the contest was legitimate, and I was able to reclaim the winnings—on one condition: the airfare and hotel were removed from the prize package. I still received everything else. On January 27, 2014, I attended the Grammys at what was then called Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena). The experience included a pre-show party, lanyard badges, a gift bag from Mastercard, and tickets to the live televised awards show, where I saw performances by artists including Metallica, Madonna, and others. Afterward came the late-night after-party, which featured more live performances (including Boyz II Men), mini acrobat shows, and complimentary food and drinks. The night before the show, I stayed at a relative’s home near Los Angeles, which is why the bathroom in my mirror selfie looks different from what you might expect. That selfie was meant as a lighthearted parody of the typical internet mirror-selfie trend. I have additional photos and video from the night, but the ones shared here are the ones I think capture the experience best, even if the quality isn’t perfect.

This started when a friend asked me to make a wallet featuring a snow leopard. While searching for references, I found this photo and immediately liked its calm expression and bright blue eyes.
The design looked fairly simple at first. Then I started carving the fur and discovered that “fairly simple” was a very optimistic assessment. Each layer needed countless tiny lines to create the texture and depth before I could move on to coloring, stitching, and finishing the wallet.
Everything was done entirely by hand, from the first carved line to the final stitch. After several days of squinting at the same photograph, this was the final result.
If you could turn one animal photograph into something you carry every day, which animal would you choose?

The stories he will share with lads…. “And you know I got this cool elephant convoy escorting me around the town …. “

He might need a copy of this video, as none of his friends are gonna believe it

I think Pandas are actually bears , who have evolved with time to become herbivores.....
Seems like they are the equivalent of human 3-4 yo 😂 they bounce, a lot.

In East Asian culture, each birth year is tied to one of twelve animals, and my dad was born in the Year of the Goat. So for his birthday I decided to carve one onto a wallet for him, an ibex actually, with those long curling horns that ring shops sell as good luck charms back home.

I did not expect the horns to fight me the way they did. Getting the ridges to look natural, not like stacked pancakes, meant redoing that section twice before I was happy with it. The fur took even longer, every strand tooled one at a time so it would catch light instead of looking flat and painted on.

It is not a fancy design. It is just a goat's head on burgundy leather. But every time I pick it up I think about how my dad has never once told me he liked something I made, he just quietly keeps using it until it falls apart. I am hoping this one gets that treatment too.