pinku

More Japanese craft books on EBAY!

Click here to visit the auctions and see more designs from all the books!!!
Here are the covers of the books up for auction on EBAY:

Can't resist yarn..

As soon as I read the Knitter's Review article about handpainted yarns from Uruguay earlier this week, I just had to visit their online store. I immediately decided to buy some and put it in my cart, but while I was looking at other stuff in the store, someone bought it ahead of me!!! So if you don't process your order quickly, you will miss out. Luckily they must have prepared for the online onslaught and while I was still on their webpage feeling very sorry for myself that I missed out on the colour I wanted, they relisted another 10 or 20 colours and increased the amounts available for most of the other colours. I was over the moon. So I ordered some pink merino, out of which I hope to make my very first sweater of my own design (don't hold your breath though).

I just revisited the store and they only have one page of colours left for the merino, which seriously shocked me considering there had four pages of colours only a few days earlier. It's great news that people are buying directly from the women's cooperative kettle dyeing the yarn - it feels so special that the yarn is flying all the way from Uruguay just to be with me. Be sure to keep an eye on their webpage - their prices are reasonable and their overseas shipping is capped at $8.50 for up to 8 skeins and each skein of worsted merino (100g) is only $7.50 - bargain. Can' t wait for mine to be delivered (along with that ipod shuffle I also broke down and ordered......)

Hisashiburi no pink fix!

Brought to us by the very talented Tyler Ensrude, is this very disturbing picture of a Japanese man with a pink hat, pink gloves, and handbag carrying a pink doll! Please note this is the first pinku entry brought to you from my brand spanking new (well slightly used actually) 15-inch G4 powerbook. Am very excited to have a new toy!!

35.3 million people

That is population of Tokyo!!! <frown>

I'm embarassed to say it, but I thought it was more like 12 to 15 million. Surely I would realize how unlikely that is after my trip to work the other morning when the train was packed sooooo hard that even though I had a seat, two girls had their bags on my lap and were leaning over me - it was very intimate. <frown> Am proud to say I knit the entire time (to retain my sanity) - I think that really made them angry.

35.3 million......

I think that really is too many people - especially in one of the most earthquake-prone cities in the world. It is the world's most populous city after Mexico City with a population of 19.2 million (no contest really). Read about it all here.

Tokyo has had a population of over 10 million since 1950. The population is set to rise to 36.2 million by 2015. I mean Tokyo is a pretty exciting place to live, but it is very overwhelming. Most people are here because of work (like me). Japan's been good to me over the years, but I will be happy when we finally save up enough to leave (hopefully next year).

<updated: I now realize that the population figure covers the total Tokyo Metropolitan area - not just the 23 wards BUT still 'how many people live all the way out in Okutama!!?'>

I leave you with some silly drunk photos of Darin and myself. We had a great time drinking last night with the old crew from Mississippi. Natsuko had the coolest hat - we all had turns trying it on.

daz and the hat

kat and the hat

ummm, yeah this is kinda embarassing.

1000 comments!

News item 1: Wow, I just received my 1000th comment - how exciting! Amidst all the exciting excitement, I decided immediately to send my 1000th comment maker a special present (don't know what it is yet, but I'll find something in my overflowing stash at home!!!) So, the 1000th Pinku comment maker is Kimberli!!!!

It was great to meet Kimberli a couple of weeks ago when she popped into our SNB gathering!! Originally from New York, Kimberli was visiting Japan on business.Thanks for coming to see us!

News item 2: I bought a Stitch-It Kit by Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching fame. You see I was buying a book for a friend on Amazon Japan, but you need to spend 1500 yen to get free shipping, so I just HAD to buy something to take us over the 1500 yen mark. Out of everything on my wishlist - this was one of the few things that could be delivered within 24 hours.....It arrived today and it is very cute. Am looking forward to doing some stitching this weekend. Have been desperate to embroider some t-shirts forever.

News item 3: I have been getting quite a few emails about yarn stores in Tokyo, and actually the Tokyo Stitch + Bitch has put together a list of yarn stores that we visit most often. Today I made it into an excel file and plan to make it available somewhere on this page. So if you want check it out by clicking here to download the Excel file !!

News item 4: I have deleted the flower swap blog, but have saved all the photos of finished pins which I plan to put up on Pinku soon. For some reason I can't upload the photos right now, but hopefully Typepad will be working later!! I know that some people haven't heard from your swap partners - I am so sorry! Email me if you still haven't received your flower and I will send out a group reminder to those people!! If you haven't made your pin and sent it, then get to it! Otherwise we'll have to list the names of the people here on Pinku who don't follow through with their Swap obligations!!!

Jolted out of bed

Being awoken in the middle of the night by an earthquake sucks! That's what happened this morning at 4:46am. It was noisy and frightening. It was dark and much to my dismay - raining!! Both of us jumped out of bed (at least we weren't thrown out of bed I guess) and were hovering near the door - I opened the sliding door to our veranda to secure an exit if necessary. It was miserable. My heart was beating so fast that it was really difficult to get back to sleep. I kept thinking about how I didn't have my contacts in, where we should go and lie if it is bigger next time, what else we should put in our 'getaway' bag. Right now there is just a pair of Darin's old shoes and a fruit knife in the bag - I know...not much of an emergency bag. First thing I thought was that we need a raincoat. Then we should add some food, water, a flashlight, lighter, maybe our sleeping bags, extra woolen hats that I have knit but don't wear, a pair of shoes for me, extra undies and other clothes - damn, this bag is going to have to be a suitcase.

Count your blessings if you are reading this and don't live in an earthquake-prone area!!!

Overwhelming moments

This is nothing serious, so don't worry. I have just been feeling a little overwhelmed by the number of 'UNFINISHED' objects lying around the house. What with getting married, travelling, and other stuff, my knitting projects just seem to be literally left in the basket. So I needed a boost and that started with my 'Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers' and then after a trip to my LYS, it continued with the 'Butterflies are Free' skinny scarf from Stitch n Bitch Nation. This was a quick, very satisfying knit and it makes me happy when I wear it. I used some Bouton Dor chenille - they only had red, light blue and yellow left at the store, so I bought the red and light blue. Yellow just seemed wrong. I did the edging in a slightly narrower guage brown wool yarn, so I think I might crochet another layer of edging.....maybe.

Since Valentine's Day here fell on a Monday, Darin and I decided to go and discover Chofu (the city next to ours) on Sunday. We made some seriously awesome discoveries - namely a REAL onsen that we can bike to, a very cool little temple and cute surrounding area with little shops selling manju, and we finally made it to the Mizuki Shigeru shop in Chofu. We have also heard there is a pretty cool cafe inside the Chofu airport. The cafe is appropriately named the propeller cafe - that's next on our 'to visit' list.

Can you spot my latest FO?? I am standing outside Jindaiji temple in Chofu.

Close-up of the butterfly

The warning signs in Japan are hilarious!! Check out this one - 'beware of perverts/molesters!'

This is the first time I have seen one of these: a vending machine selling fresh vegies!! I think they need to repaint it!! Darin got kind of excited when he spotted it - I think he thought it was one of those elusive porn vending machines!!

Last but not least here's a picture of me with 'My Sweet Valentine'!!!

ps Thanks to the girls that bought my books for sale on Ebay. There is one left - a really cute knitting book to make kid's clothes (aged 0-24 months). I won't be relisting it - it'll just go into my hefty stash if no-one beats me to it. I will also be putting more up next weekend - this time they'll be 2nd hand Japanese knitting book auctions.

Armwarmers with attitude!!

I  am a lucky girl because our friends, Claire and Jess went home to NZ over the new year and more importantly, Claire - a rockin' Tokyo SNB girl - brought me back two skeins of yarn called 'Naturally Merino & Fur - that's right 30% possum fur and 70% merino!! I was so psyched. I soon realized that the yardage and guage was similar to that of Noro Kureyon and that I could knit up some 'Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers' from Stitch n Bitch Nation!! I really like this pattern. These were a quick knit and the onlything I am not happy about is that the temperatures are rising in Tokes and soon it'll be too warm to wear them. Shouldn't complain about that though.

I call this photo 'hand on my heart' (you know like the Kylie song)

this one is called 'attitude'. darin says I should have smiled, but a girl's gotta have attitude while wearing these

And, this one's a close up of the yarn knitted up - see the light bits of possum fur - these are so warm!!

Now I am going to change the subject, but I have put five Japanese knitting/handcraft/DIY sewing books up on Ebay on sale. They are all brand new, so they have 'BUY IT NOW' options. I really do love all of them, so go and check them out but be quick because this time it really is first in, best dressed. I have another five books that will be auctioned as they are 2nd hand and from my own collection. There is one really cute one with crocheted animal patterns, one with Hello Kitty felt patterns, and some more cute Japanese knitting books. Keep your eyes peeled here!!!!!

Italian men are hot!

I mean I guess I knew that Italian men were hot and sexy already, but look at this dude! (ps thought I better add that this is a joke - I just found this photo super funny) Actually he kinda looks like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Carribean.

It's a little belated, but you can check out my photos from my recent whirlwind trip in Switzerland and Italy (Milan and Verona) HERE. If you only like photos of people, then you will be highly disappointed. They are mainly of scenery because I was travelling alone!! Yay, for solo travel. It was a really quick trip - Switzerland was all business and my main impressions were: cold but pretty, and expensive but have good chocolate. I only spent two days in Italy and although everything was on sale.....I bought nothing (I kind of can't believe that myself). My impressions were: exciting and lively, great food and way more exciting and warmer than Switzerland!!

PS I will be putting up some Japanese knitting/sewing/general graft books for sale on EBAY this weekend, so keep an eye out. They should be up by Sunday.

Some thoughts

Many thoughts go through my head everyday. I think even more because I live in Japan and am constantly bombarded with things that confound me. Here is a list of a few of today's thoughts:

• Today I went to the gym to use the elliptical machine in my lunchbreak and I chose a machine with empty ones around it on purpose, so I could focus. Then a cute, perky, little Japanese girl (I forgot to mention she had pigtails) bounds onto the machine next me after I have been exercising for more than 10 minutes (this equals sweaty and red-faced) and starts going really fast. Is there anything worse than this? Very demoralizing. Afterwards I realize that she's just warming up and on a much lower level of intensity than me.....but still.
• Many Japanese OLs (office ladies) change into comfortable shoes when they get to the office. But they are not just any old comfortable shoes - they were the same sandal type things that nurses in Japan wear (which I completely understand) and to be completely honest, they are totally daggy. Do you remember 'Working Girl' the movie? Melanie Griffith did just the opposite and wore sneakers to work and then changed into high heels - doesn't this make more sense considering most office workers just sit at their desk all day. I don't know why this bothered me today.
• I just read an interesting article about kokusai kekkon (international marriage) in Japan - you can read it here. I think about this sometimes considering I am 'internationally married' and my parents also did the same. I love it, but at the same time it's expensive and there are BIG compromises that need to be made (i.e. which country are we going to live in??).
• One really happy thought today is that is my little brother's birthday - Happy Birthday Chris!!!
• Another happy thought was about the crocheted flower, stitch markers and Maynards Wine Gums I received from Cara!! She doesn't know this but I am obsessed with really like Wine Gums. She also didn't know that on the way home from Europe I had a couple hours to shop in Heathrow Airport (I was sweating I was so excited....buying magazines in English, etc) and was elated when I discovered that they sold Maynards Wine Gums. Of course I bought some, and decided to eat some on the plane. I controlled myself and saved half the packet and stuffed them into the holder thing on the seat. When I got home that night, I realized that I had left my half packet of wine gums on the plane - I was devastated. Cara's wine gums arrived the next day - perfect timing!!! Thank you so much.
• Umm, to all those that have sent me pics of your flower swap flower, I have received the pics......but just haven't had the time or energy to edit them and post them. Sorry - maybe I'll do it tonight. I am thinking of taking down the flower swap blog, but creating a separate flower pin photo gallery on Pinku. Those of you who still haven't made and sent your flower - you can start to feel super guilty right now. It's shameful really!

Movie Meme

The Nipper has tagged me again!!! Thanks girl! This time it's all about the movies.

1. The last movie you went to see in a theater:

This would have to be Terminal with Tom Hanks. Actually I didn't really want to see this movie as I actually don't really like Tom Hanks, but that was the best choice I had at my local movie theatre when I wanted to 'get out of the cold the other day'. It was entertaining especially if you watch it while eating a tub of strawberries and drinking a mini bottle of red wine. The best movie I saw recently was Steamboy the latest 'anime' flick created by Ootmo Katsuhiro of Akira fame. It's a fantastic movie!

2. The last movie you watched at home:

Well, we rented the Mothman Prophecies yesterday (not knowing anything about it but we should have known considering it featured Richard Gere - in the later years), but I fell asleep about five minutes into the movie, so I guess that doesn't count. I think the last movie I stayed up the whole way through was American Splendor, which was super entertaining. Highly Recommended. Special mention is The Office - although not a movie - we watched it movie-style (at least three episodes in a row). We just finished watching the 2nd season (thanks, Rae!!) and although it was still really funny, I felt that it was a lot sadder than the 1st season. Is there any other tv show which makes you cringe so much??? In desperation we downloaded the Christmas Special yesterday and watched that too. Won't give away the ending for those that have not seen it yet.

3. How many movies do you own?

Hmm, I would say about 30 or so - thanks to the super cheap black market dvds in both China and Thailand. I think it is important to mention that only about 25 of those work!!!

3a. What was the last movie you bought?

Hmm, well we bought 9 dvds in Thailand including Supersize Me (stopped working half way through), Napolean Dynamite (what an awesome dance scene), 21 grams (loved Amores Perros but could this movie be more depressing???!!!), Anchorman (stopped working half way through), Before Sunset (lots of talking but good), 50 First Dates (we love Adam Sandler), Princess Mononoke, Old School, and I can't remember the last movie!!!

4. Got Netflix (or a similar service)?

I wish. Japan used to have something similar, but that didn't last. Darin and I did have Netflix for a while in the US and I loved it. When we move back, we will definitely be subscribers!!

5. List five movies you adore/mean a lot to you:

Trust - Hal Hartley movies are brilliant and this is the first one I ever watched. I love the crazy banter and the whole feel of these movies. Martin Donovan is also pretty cute.

The Goonies - the ultimate adventure movie. It has everything and it reminds of the years when I used to buy teen heartthrob mags (e.g. Bop, Teen Beat). Did I ever tell you how obsessed I was with River Phoenix. I even have a hand-made River Phoenix scrapbook.

Stand By Me - this movie rocked my world. I can remember my parents decided that they were going to go to the Casino for the night and in order to make sure we didn't complain they took us to the video store and we could choose any movies we wanted. I cried for Chris Chambers, fell in love with River Phoenix and bought the soundtrack - I could sing it to you to this day.

Full Metal Jacket - the first war movie that I liked a lot.

Welcome to the Dollhouse - to be honest it wasn't as funny the second time I watched it, but it was still awesome. It perfectly depicts the pain of growing up and the music is so special.

Special mention: Sling Blade, Pulp Fiction, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (can't believe Darin fell asleep!!!), Dirty Dancing (maybe that should go in the guilty pleasure category - it was on when Darin and I decided to get married and he does the most awesome Patrick Swayze dance impression of the last scene), Star Wars, ET, etc. Wow, that was a hard list to compile. I am sure that there are a bunch of other movies that I could include, but I just can't remember them right now.

6. Name your guilty pleasure movie (or genre):

Definitely teen movies - you know the ones that always have a music scene where they try on different clothing - damn I love those movies. It is a particular movie recipe that I fall for every time. Just watched Wimbledon on the plane and loved it and I am proud to say that here!!

7. Name 3 people to whom you're going to pass these questions on, and why:

I don't know. If you read this and want to answer it email me and I'll send it to you. A cop-out I know, but a cop-out it must be.

I have a nearly completed knitted item to post in the next couple of days - exciting, huh!

Nobody asked me but I'm gonna do it anyway!!

Grooming products

Shampoo: Pantene/Vidal Sasson/Sala (whatever's on sale)- and I really love the BIG 600ml pump bottles they use here in Japan
Moisturizer: Olay - Complete Defense Daily UV moisturizer (SPF 30) - gotta take care of that skin.
Perfume: None....previously Obsession by Calvin Klein. I love lip glosses though and recently splurged on some Lancome Juicy Tubes!!
Razor: one of those ones for girls
Toothpaste: usually some type of Colgate

Electronics
Cell phone: Vodafone V302T by Toshiba (I love how it lights up!!)
Stereo:cool big black monster 80s stereo that I bought 2nd hand for less than $30                         TV: my tv was even cheaper than the stereo - bought it for less than $10 off someone leaving Japan, but we did splurge on a home entertainment system with like five speakers coz, you know, you like HAVE to have one.                                                                                                               Computer: Compaq Armada M300 laptop with refurbished insides. It's an old beast alright and it's mighty heavy but I certainly got my $500 worth out of it - had it for nearly three years. Now I am eyeing off one of these.

Home
Sheets: cheap Martha Strewart fitted sheets in a variety of colours of gingham. (Used to live decadently buying Sheridan sheets for my queen-sized bed in Australia)
Coffee Maker: got one free from the guy I bought my vacumm off! Darin loves his coffee. We love Kaldi Coffee Farm!
Car: Don't drive, and I don't have my license. Have taken lessons and will get my license when I live in a country where I NEED to drive.
Stationary: Hmm, the only stationary item I love are my uni-ball Signo extra-fine pens (0.38mm) by Mitsubishi!!

Beverages
Bottled water: Mori no Mizu dayori (the cheapest 2-litre bottle of water I found on the web here in Japan - about $15 for 12 bottles and this includes shipping direct to my desk at work - my work provides coffee, but won't pay for water??!!) I drink 2L everyday.
Coffee: Free coffee at work, which they tell me is the most expensive kind (Blue Mountain Roast or something) Just googled Blue Mountain coffee and supposedly this is why it is so pricey!
Vodka: usually Absolut, but we recently scored a cool Kiwi vodka from Claire and Jess - it is infused with some crazy fruit only grown in NZ (sorry can't remember the name.....and it is NOT the Kiwi fruit)
Beer: Will drink most any kind of beer. I do like a cold Stella though.

Clothes
Jeans: Tsubi and Seven for All Mankind
T shirt: my fav is definitely a reconstructed M&Ms tee that I bought at my fav shop in Harajuku - HANJIRO!!
Briefcase: Just bought a cute red one on sale from Agnes B!!
Sneakers: Addidas cream leather hi-tops
Watch: don't wear one

Favorite Places
This is a hard one: (off the top of my head) Brisbane (my hometown rulz), anywhere warm, most of South-East Asia, the Great Wall of China, Beaver OK (that's where Darin grew up...seriously), Stradbroke Island, and I just recently visited Italy (Milan & Verona) for a couple of days (will definitely be going back).

Necessary Extravagance
travel, yarn, expensive well-constructed shoes

This wasn't sent to me but I wanted to do it anyway!!! I am going to send it to Jess, Erin, and Stephanie because I think all three of these girls are super cool (i.e. intelligent, witty, feminine, cute, and artistically talented!!) and even though I have not met a single one of them, I have a feeling that I'd really like all of them.

Worst Blogger Ever

It's been 10 days since my last post....I do have good reason though - work!! I did make it to Milan and Verona and loved Italy, especially the food. Luckily in the few minutes I had spare in Switzerland I found a chocolate shop and a yarn shop!! Bought some sock yarn and am now regretting that I did not buy the new Rebecca magazine. I decided against it because it was only in German and am trying not to encourage more yarn spending. Must cutback. Must only use stash.

I want to get up some photos over the next couple of days, but in the meantime I will answer the music questionnaire that was passed on by the Nipper!!

1) Total amount of music files on your computer:
Not many actually - I would say between 150 to 200 songs, unlike the person I live with who has days, possibly months worth of music on his 'puter. I also have so many downloaded tv programs that I have no space on my hard disk drive - a great reason to get a new computer.

2) The last CD you bought was:
I have a feeling it was 'This is Not a Test' by Missy Elliot and that was a while ago - love that song Toyz. One of my favourite cds at the moment is the 'Pixies live at Coachella last year', which Darin downloaded from the internet. I also recently made a Christmas cd featuring Snoop Dogg, Johnny Cash, Boney M (a family tradition/favourite), Elvis Presley among others.

3) What is the last song you listened to before reading this message:
Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill

4) Write down 5 songs/cds (I added the cd option) you listen to often or that mean a lot to you:

1. "Get Into the Groove" - Madonna
2. "Dry" - PJ Harvey, but really the entire "Rid of Me" cd
3. CD version of the first two albums - Bikini Kill (couldn't choose one song, I love the whole damn album)
4. "Crazy" - Patsy Cline (Darin lent me a Patsy Cline cd the first time we met when I was 19)
5. Again this is another entire album, "Goo" - Sonic Youth

Just realized that this list is dominated by women...I think that's a good thing.

5.) Who are you going to pass this on to (stick to 3 persons) and why?

Darin, my big bro and my little bro. Whether they do it is another thing.

*******************************************************************************************

UPDATE:

My big brothers answer's can be found here.

Here are Darin's answers:

1) Total amount of music files on your computer:
2920

2) The last CD you bought was:
Some blank ones for burning

3) What is the last song you listened to before reading this message:
National Public Radio

4) Write down 5 songs you listen to often or that mean a lot to you:
This is too hard. Waaay too many, and they change constantly.

1 Right now I can't stop listening to this band Against Me!

2 Always Johnny Cash

3 Gotta mention the hardest working women in Japanese show business, the
mighty Yellow Machinegun - still going strong after 10 years!!

4 Any country pre 1980

5 I got some Queen recently and remembered that they're one of the best
bands of all time

5) Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?
Can't decide - this was hard!