pinku

Pink Fix for the week (or maybe two)

I once told my friend Amanda not to be sad about being back in Japan (she had just returned back from a trip home to Australia), coz Japan has really cute seasonal beers! This seemed to make her feel better, and this year's spring beer makes me feel better. I took this photo of the pretty pink ume flowers today - I can't wait for the cherry blossoms.

If you haven't already, bring some pink into your life already!!

Japan needs the fab 5!

I had never heard of the fab five until our recent trip to Australia where everyone was talking about them. Determined to find out what the fuss was about - I have downloaded pretty much the first whole series of 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'. Sometimes cruel, sometimes just plain rude, but on the whole a bunch of fun. It's a nice break from Japanese tv, that's for sure. I won't even tell you about the nonsense that was on tv last night....

Anyway, darin took this photo on a recent train ride and I think we have a Japanese candidate for the fab five!! Kyan, what magic could you work with this hair? Is there a product that could help?

the rest of my photos

I finally found the time to resize and post the rest of my Australia photos. They are in no particular order. If I could change one thing about the typepad photo albums, I would make it much easier to change the order of the photos.

In knitting news I have been madly working on my first ever knitting design. Will update when closer to completion - it is a lacy knit and I have working hard not to forget yarn overs - it is SO easy to do. I also don't like fixing mistakes in the pattern coz sometimes I have no idea what goes where. Have you ever had the same problem?? ......I hope so.

click on photo to go to australia :)

A beautiful story...

There is a great article in today's salon written by Carol Adair, one of the many people in a same-sex relationship that recently got married in San francisco. You should read it.

tokyo bar attracts knitters

Attention Tokyo S +B attendees, we may have to make a trip to Pierrot to find (recruit) new people to come and hang out with us. This place looks really cool and 'supposedly' it is unaccountably popular with Tokyo's knitting community in their words!!- well of course it is....it's in Shimokitazawa after all (they say it's the young or you could say 'less mature' version of my hood 'kichijoji').

Went to Yuzawaya last night to do a quick 'haven't been for a while' check. Nothing much had changed, but there are now some spring/summer yarns available, but they seemed a little pricey. Luckily there were some imported cotton yarns on sale for 100 and 200 yen (had the balls in my hand.....sweated a little.....and then decided to put them back). STOP SPENDING, kat! My tooth...or should I say lack of tooth was killing me, so I just quickly looked through some of their new spring/summer knitting books (*Fortunately* I didn't really like anything that I saw). I did come across the craziest, wackiest knitting book for dog outfits - I didn't have my digicam with me so I took a couple of shots with my phone - check them out here.

Now don't get jealous...

...but my new mobile phone glows in the dark. No seriously - Japanese mobile phones have THE best useless functions. After having one of my wisdom teeth out on Saturday I decided to treat myself to a new phone. I really wanted one that has chaku-uta, which is basically ring-tones that are real songs - I mean they sound real BUT vodafone doesn't offer these phones and I figure that one that glows in the dark is the next best thing. It's the Vodafone 302T. I had come to a point where I would charge my phone all night, make one phone call the next day and the battery would be virtually dead. I know that companies make these phones with a limited life to force you to buy a new phone, but hey it's fun to play around with all of these useless functions and totally necessary if you live in Tokyo.

Now you can get phones with tvs and phones where you listen via your bones - what is our world coming to!!!! Below is one of the great functions of my phone - you can add borders and writing to your photos and impose them on silly backgrounds - how fun. A little puri-kura machine right here in my phone. Only in Japan.

* Forgot to add - will be trying out a moblog, so check out the 'undoubtably' silly photos in the photo album creatively named 'photos from my phone'. My phone is equipped with a 3 megapixel camera....just don't know how I'm gonna get the photos off my camera - too big to send and I'm too cheap to buy a 5000 yen USB cable AND I already have a digital camera...oh well.

I *heart* spring!

It's coming - I just know it, I can smell it in the air and the sun is setting later. Spring is bright and happy - a celebration that we have left cold, cold winter behind.

The end of winter has also seen me become an aunty again. Rin KIKUCHI was born on February 12, 2004 after his mummy (my Japanese host sister) had to have an emergency ceaserian section operation. Both are now well and I can't wait to meet my new nephew soon.

Rin-kun, this is your Aunty Kat speaking. Welcome to this world - not all is perfect but I think it is pretty fun all round. Now be a good boy for your mum and I'll come and see you in Aomori soon. By the way, did you like the blue hip hop jumpsuit that I sent you - I'm sure you'll be a hit with the girls in that one!!. Also when I get around to finding the yarn I need, I'll be knitting you up the cutest little apple cap (thanks for the pattern, Jen) which is perfect since you were born in the apple capital of Japan.

Ja-ne,

kyasarin obachan yori

knee-high socks rule!

The Internet (I really think it does deserve the capital - I) is a dangerous place. There are so many talented people out there, and a morning spent checking out everyone's blogs makes me wanna go and make stuff - it's awesome.

I came across these socks in crafty rachael's blog. I wanna make them. I have already surfed the web looking for a place to buy this yarn - clearly it is not available in Japan and I just don't wanna substitute - the colours are so pretty. I think I am gonna go with pink, reds and purples - I mean my site is dedicated to the colour pink, so it really can't be avoided. Actually I was swimming at lunch and while I was plugging away doing lap after lap I decided what outfit I could wear with these socks in the Spring. Cute little denim mini.....ummm well that's as far as I got.

I actually shouldn't be making any yarn purchases at the moment. Awhile ago I bought a whole bunch of Lang yarn to make a sweater.....so I might have to supress this urge to make the *cutest* socks EVA..damn.

After coming home from Australia, I thought I had no projects then I realized that I have to finish off a little crochet bag I am making and I have to also finish off a little crochet cap as well. Will post pictures soon.

Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road!

Finally got around to resizing the second half of our photos from Australia. I have put up the first gallery including photos from Melbourne and our trip along the Great Ocean Road. Hopefully I will be able to put up photos from the first half of our trip including Brisbane and Stradbroke Island by the end of the week.

Our Valentine's Day this year was H.O.T - no I mean it was literally hot around 41 degrees in Melbourne. Luckily we spent most of the day at the Globe WorldCup Skateboarding Event at the Rod Laver Arena (the same place where they hold the Australian Open Tennis) which was air conditioned and indoors. They were planning to open the roof of the arena, but it was just way too hot.

The next day we set off on a journey along the Great Ocean Road. If you travel to Victoria, this is not to be missed. Our day was filled with koalas, kangaroos, surf lifesaving contests, beaches, rainforests, fish and chips, amazing scenery and sunsets. You just gotta go.

click on photo to go to album

Australia the beautiful!

Well, darin and I are back in Japan. We only flew in last night, so I haven't had a chance yet to sort through my photos and the first half of my photos are still on my brother's hard drive in Australia!! The past ten days really flew by (knew they would) and I truly couldn't have had a better time. We basked in the sun (maybe for a little too long considering both of us have already started peeling), ate steaks, drank cold Aussie beer in the sunshine, went for long drives and walks, spent time with my family, and spent a lot of time on the beach.

The following three photos are from our last day in Australia. We rented a car and drove along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. It was spectacular.

The famous 12 apostles - absolutely stunning BUT they don't tell you about all of the flies that live there. People taking photos were literally covered in flies!!! funny!

we didn't end up making it to any zoos while in Australia, and thought that Darin may have to leave without seeing some of our famous kangas, but during the last couple of hours of our Great Ocean Road trip, we made it to the Anglesea Golf Course, which is famous for its kangaroos that live freely on the golf course. There were hundreds, possibly thousands just roaming all over the course - I wonder how many have been hit by golf balls!! A definite must if you are in the area! We also saw three koalas in the wild!

On the way towards Geelong in Victoria, we were driving through Torquay when the sun set - I have never seen such a big, beautiful sky!! A fabulous way to end the perfect holiday!!

Pinku goes tropical!!!

Oh golly!! Dear visitors I haven't been posting because I am on a secret holiday. Well, actually it was only a secret prior to coming - now it is secret no more. I am in Australia (Brisbane to be exact) visiting family and friends with dazza AND the weather is awesome. I am seriously sunburnt which I know is not something to be proud of, but my god it is the height of summer here and we have already spent three of five days at the beach.

Photos to follow. Having problems uploading photos to the Internet and we don't have another memory stick so here's to hoping that we will be able to solve this problem soon. Also this is the first time that we have had access to cable internet and to be honest I love not checking my email.

So, just to make you jealous we just spent two absolutely perfect days on Stradbroke Island which is a short trip from Brisbane. The skies were blue, the weather warm, the beer cold, and the beaches white. We saw a pod of about 60 dolphins frolicking in the water and had many great swims.

Gotta go now and enjoy the rest of my holiday. I am currently doing NO crafting whatsoever - I love holidays.

Will be back in cold miserable Japan next week, so no doubt we'll be back to regular posting then.

cheers,
kat

Knitting with WASHI??!!

I had a few minutes to spare last night before an appointment, so I popped into my LYS - couldn't help myself. Anyway, they were selling knittable WASHI (Japanese paper)!! There were two types - unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me - one looked a lot like rafia, but was much softer and more pliable, and the other was a 50% acrylic/ 50% washi mix - how interesting??? I might have to make myself a Japanese paper top for the summer - how cool!

I also found a new online yarn store called Pierrot for those of us here in Japan and it looks good. They have one yen auctions and their 100% cotton is on sale for 169 yen and there are also quite a few free patterns. There is also a nice range of natural yarns - some are coloured using vegetable dyes... Ooh - this looks good.

Here's a pic of some 100% washi yarn!!!

Pink chairs!

Pinku is doing sophisticated this week with a fine pink fix contribution from Miss Martine.

Also, Pinku was very happy to be kindly mentioned in the Bondi Books blog - thanks Josh! Bondi Books is the newest second-hand English bookstore addition to Tokyo. Visit the store (it's way stylish) and make a day of it, have a cuppa with Josh (we have to do that some time), buy some books (of course), visit the park, row a boat, and enjoy KICHIJOJI coz it rules! If you live in Tokyo and haven't been then you are really missing out!

Things we miss...

I have spent quite a bit of my life living away from the country where I was born and grew up (that'd be Australia). What I have learnt is that living overseas gives you balance - it makes you more aware of the world around you and appreciate where you came from.

I was going to write a long post about living overseas, but I don't want Pinku to get too deep - there's a time and place for all of that. What I REALLY wanted to talk about this morning is how I love peer-to-peer file sharing. When you live in Japan (without cable tv), your television choices are limited. Just to let you know I do enjoy a bit of the ol' Japanese tv (especially food shows), but every now and again I love to download some American tv - Sex and the City, the Simpsons, the Family Guy, and we even downloaded the first four episodes of Paris Hilton's 'Simple Life'. Now I'm not sure whether I would've watched this in any other country BUT here it is fun and makes you feel connected to the 'real' world.

Last night I downloaded the latest episode of 'Sex and the City' which is in its final season. I don't think there's anything wrong with downloading tv - I wouldn't have to pay for it at home, so why should I here!!!

I love you, Kazaa.

When it rains, it pours...

Yeah, you know this saying, right? Well sometimes I don't clean at all and then sometimes I can't stop cleaning, and sometimes I have nothing to write about and then other days I can't stop....when it rains it pours...

Um, anyway...have you seen 'Lost in Translation'? I haven't, but I want to. I have had my doubts about this movie in terms of Japanese stereotypes, etc BUT everyone we have heard from RAVES about this movie. Hmmm, I still have my doubts, but I am keeping an open mind. If you have doubts too and even if you don't, then read this article that appeared in the Guardian and today's Sydney Morning Herald. It doesn't RAVE about the movie at all, but presents a different perspective from a Japanese/American woman.

Got my needles!

My Denise Interchangeable needle set arrived yesterday. It is so exciting! I am actually in the middle of a crochet project at the moment so I didn't test them out, but I will be very soon.

I looked around on the Internet for a place to buy the set, and after looking at a couple of online stores that charged a lot for international shipping, I went straight to the Denise website. It was SOOOO easy! International delivery is no problem - I ordered last Thursday and they arrived on Monday - sweet. The best $44.95 + $15 (for international shipping) I've ever spent.

Thanks for the suggestion Jen!!

Neck belt and finished tank girl

Well a prolonged trip to Yuzawaya ended up in the birth of a new craft project - the neck belt. You heard it - a pretty belt for your neck....still have to find a cute buckle and put it together, but you'll get the idea from the photos. Also two photos have been added to the pink fix album - check it out!!

Also was happy to finish off tank girl this weekend. It's a little chunky, but it fits perfectly. Sirdar Denim Chunky wasn't my first choice, but it was on sale and one of the few non-winter yarns....but I guess that it is so chunky that it could be considered wintery...oh anyway - I'm done!!

LYS - Yuzawaya!

Welcome to my LYS - Yuzawaya. It has eight floors....not all yarn - thank goodness. Only half of one floor is filled with yarn and that makes my head spin. The other floors cover every craft that you can think of, and there is not only craft related items, there is also a lingerie floor (that's right!!!) and the roof has a track for remote-control cars.....we don't go up there very often..

Yuzawaya is cool coz they have a biker jacket for some lucky staff!!!

on-sale yarn bins

some bouton d'or laika on sale

more yarn