“PEOPLE DON'T USE THEIR SMELLER,” Yosh Han says. She’s trying hard to change that with an eponymous collection of luxury fragrances available at department stores, such as Barneys New York, as well as holding perfuming workshops and creating custom scents. Han has blended fragrances for a novel, the opera and even time travel (she blended a series of scents inspired by everything from “Cavemen” to “Dystopia” for youth writing workshop 826LA’s Time Travel Mart).

In Weston Takeshi Teruya’s work, makeshift islands are constructed from objects of the built environment. The markers of borders — fences, cones and barriers — explode and implode on paper as Teruya explores the ways that borders shape spatial narratives, how they define relationships and access. But what Teruya calls drawings are actually intricate pieces crafted from handcut, handdrawn paper. Expanses of white, on closer inspection, are layered with detail.

BATTERED AND DOUSED IN BUBBLING OIL - why is fried chicken so delectable? Neither General Tso nor Colonel Sanders is quick to reveal the secret. Could it be ... MSG?

Today's leading Chinese American fast-food eateries, such as Panda Express, have a "No MSG" policy. KFC, meanwhile, continues to use MSG - monosodium glutamate - in everything from chicken to croutons. Yet many consumers associate only General Tso with this maligned ingrethent.

KEEP YOUR PANTS ON

Cassette Belt Buckles

"Everything is cute until it poops" says Allison Takeshita of Grumpy Girl, maker of the Auto Bird Turd Emergency Kit. A self-defined "lazy car-owner" Takeshita had enough of the "unwanted natural decoration" ruining her already dirty car. A former accountant, and no stranger to problem solving, she devised a solution that would cut the crap without the hassle of washing her entire car.

Imagine getting a box filled with cd's, handmade soap, zines, buttons, jewelry, and all sorts of "friggin' sweet" stuff. No, it's not your birthday; it's the Sampler, a monthly subscription service and the brainchild of crafter Marie Kare.

Yeah its cool, but the Sampler is also an ingenious marketing and promotional tool for indie businesses trying to spread the word about their products. Kare is careful to steer clear of submissions that are plastered with logos, business names and URLs. So, for $23.00 a month, you get a selection of curated goodies delivered to your doorstep.

Do you know anyone who is honest, loyal and faithful but completely stubborn? The Year of the Dog could explain it all. With Oliver Chin’s warm-fuzzy writing and Jeremiah Alcorn’s spunky illustrations, the year of the dog is cuter than ever.

Born of a stitch ‘n bitch circle, the Booty Bag covers all your basics and then some. Four crafty ladies got together and recognized the need for a different kind of emergency kit. The compact Booty Bag is the perfect solution for a dating rut, a spontaneous night out, or a calculated encounter with your obsession du jour. This kit includes a hand-sewn thong (in case you have a Bridget Jones moment), a mini flask, a tiny razor, a feminine wipe, gum, lube, two condoms, a safety pin and aspirin. For the tongue-tied, it even has a a little book full of pick-up lines and ways to ditch a dud.

Photo: Seng Chen; Model: Danielle Katzen

Allyn Scura and Scott Iseyama invite you to a veritable smorgasbord of antique and vintage eyewear. Wait—scratch that. With an inventory of more than 50,000 pairs ranging from the 18th century to the 1970s their offerings surpass any Vegas buffet we’ve ever seen. The difference behind allynscura.com is that virtually all of its eyewear is vintage but never worn. This means you can score Elton John eye goggles at Elton John standards without paying Elton John prices.