pinku

Anticipation

Did you ever play a game at school called Anticipation or was it called Concentration? For some reason this morning, I have been having flashbacks to playing a game of that name in primary school, maybe during our music lesson. I remember sitting in a circle and everyone clapping in time - once on their legs and then with their hands. If you remember it, let me know.

That was totally NOT what I was going to write about today. I was going to write about the weather - a wonderfully fascinating subject, I know. You see, the cherry blossoms are about to bloom in Japan and I absolutely can't wait. I feel like a kid before xmas - the anticipation is high. I walk through Inokashira Park at least twice a day and lately I find myself obsessed with the cherry blossom phenomenon.

I stole this photo from our neighbour, Josh. Hope you don't mind. This is a photo of the park yesterday.

Within a week, it should look like this

Exciting, huh!

My guestimation is that there will be some sakura blooming this weekend, but next weekend is when all the action will happen. It's supposed to rain this Sunday so hopefully not too many sakura have bloomed because they are delicate things and the rain would just knock them off the trees (this would be absolute disaster for our hanami party due to be held April 9). You see I come from a subtropical part of the world - Brisbane Australia where the weather is dare I say the best in the world (i.e. if you like mild winters, warm summers, drinking beers on a big wide open veranda, swimming outdoors and going to the beach). I was spoilt, but I never knew it until I lived in places that have freezing cold winters where you have to have overcoats, scarves and gloves (never really owned any of these in Brisbane). I must say though that I enjoy 'four seasons' and the anticipation that comes with it, BUT in the end really, I just wanna wear a t-shirt all year round.

I leave you today with some cute Japanese links. After cruising some crafty blogs recently I see that the 'zakka' or sundry goods (sounds so lame compared with zakka, I think I prefer knick knacks - that's a cuter translation, isn't it) made by Decole, a Japanese company, are attracting a bit of attention. They are very cute. Their company website is cute as is all their stuff. Here are some of the facts I learnt while doing some research. They are a company based in Nagoya. They are known for their original wooden 'zakka', which is mostly made in China. You can download their spring wallpaper for your desktop here. Scroll down to the bottom and right click on one of the photos and save it to your desktop.

Here are a few online stores selling Decole products (none of them seem to ship overseas - which is not surprising as I have never (to date) found a Japanese online store that ships overseas):

Happyknot - a Decole specialty store. Only in Japanese and only ships within Japan. A lot of their stuff is sold out. It seems very popular.

Page-1 - another zakka store, with a wide range of Decole products. Clearly states in English that they do NOT ship overseas.

Not Decole, but this ladybug bag by the Dutch company, Nadia Toys is my favourite - I want one! Actually these cherry cases are also pretty cute.

Happy Spring!

Another swap??

I had a meeting at work this morning and all I could think about were the brightly coloured striped knee-high socks that I want to start knitting. I finally turned the heel on Darin's 2nd sock, so I am on the home stretch - thank goodness. Is there anything better than listening to music and knitting a sock on the train??!!

So Claire and I made it to the When Masters Were Young Film Series put on by the Japan Foundation on Sunday. We did the double feature and saw Insect Woman and the Tokyo Wanderer. I definitely enjoyed the Tokyo Wanderer more basically because it was a lot more fun - it was colourful, entertaining, had a great theme song, and Japan in the 60s looked fabulous (signage masters). Now the Insect Woman did grow on me (I particularly liked Imamura's use of stills throughout the film), but even though it was described as a serious comedy, it's hard to get past scenes where a father sucks pus out of his daughter's wound (for a reason that I have yet to understand), and other scenes of.......well it's hard to describe, but I'll use Claire's exact words because they really describe it perfectly.......scenes of tit sucking incest. She also described these scenes as social realism, but I like the first description better. I think I'll just leave it at that.

Whew...well I am going to leave you with some fabulous pink fixes that Stacey sent to me - they are so great - thank you for making my day a little pinker!!!

ladies at the Denver Zoo

dreamy wall of pink yarn

Fatima to Stacey (pink flower swap)

Stacey says, 'These dogs were outside a little shop called The Barkery on Balboa
Island in Newport Beach, California. One of them was named Taco-Bella!'

Stacey to Fatima (pink flower swap)

ps Hope you all had a nice Easter! I have been thinking about another swap - do you all have any ideas?? - at the moment I am leaning towards a swap of pink hair ornaments (bobby pins, barettes, hair ties, etc) What do you think?

You know you love it!

Pink that is...Wow, the pink fixes are flowing in (well, two this week anyway). Today's pink fix was sent all the way from New York by my friend Angie (hi Angie - see you real soon!!). It is really cute and I love that she cut it out of the New York Times and sent it to me via snail mail (how much does everyone love old school mail now that everyone emails). I am ashamed though because the two main things I get in the mail are bills and things I've bought online (I blame it on living in Japan :P).

Anyway, here is some pink to brighten up your Thursday or possibly Friday!! (click on pic to make it bigger!!)

Spring - you had better buck up!

Nothing very exciting to report today. I am about to turn the heel of Darin's 2nd sock, and soon I should be able to finish the mohair shrug project that has been languishing in my WIP basket for a while. Then I can start on some fun spring projects which will include Iris from Rowan 35 using the kettle-dyed merino from Uruguay (yum!) and those knee-high mulit-striped socks (from SNB1) using the cascade fixation that the nipper sent me in my first ever swap I think more than a year ago now.... You know living in Japan I could buy a pair in a second, but it just wouldn't be the same, would it??!!

Spring officially started on Monday AND the weather was great, but the weather has turned cold again. Very depressing. The cherry blossoms are going to be about 10 days later than last year. I am just thinking that this annoying rain better not be a part of the Spring/Summer weather coming up. I must admit it does annoy me when people walk around with umbrellas in crowded Tokyo when it is raining HARDLY at all. I mean seriously - you would have a hard time even getting damp.

Some exciting events coming up over the next few weeks:

The Japan Foundation Film Series Part II: When Master's were young - 1960s - I have my eye on The Insect Woman and The Tokyo Wanderer.

Kawasaki's annual Fertility Festival to be held on April 2/3 this year

Of course, MASSIVE Hanami parties all over Japan probably from around April 2 (the sakura are due to be in full bloom around April 7).

And another CLOTHING swap (woohoo):

Back by popular demand, bursting closets and an urge for spring cleaning is the second "Your Clothes Friend" clothing swap! Too many clothes and too little room?  Tired of wearing the same thing to work every week?  Want to donate clothes and money to a good cause but are unsure of where to go?  Come and swap with me!  Bring your clean clothes that you no longer want to the cafe, add them to the pile of treasures and feel free to try on and take as many items there as you like!

The last event in December generated several bags of clothing for donation and every one of the 65 women went home with something new for their wardrobe.  Remember, as Coco Chanel said, "The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you!"  If you don't like something in
your closet, don't hestitate to bring it along to the swap!

All season items will be accepted but should be in clean, functional condition.

Sunday, April 17th at Cozmos Cafe in Shibuya from 3-6pm.  Entrance is 2,000 yen, including one drink and a 500 yen bar list will be available.  A map for Cozmos can be found here: http://www.cozmoscafe.com/

Remaining clothing will be donated to the Salvation Army, Saalaa Women's shelter, and Goonj (a charity based in India). Money raised from the door will go to Oxfam Japan, HELP (a Tokyo based
women's shelter), and the Red Cross (tsunami victims).

And to finish off, a pink fix sent in by Jenna - Spring in San Mateo! Thanks Jenna!

VIPS (as in rips) for a day

We had one of those weekends where we really shouldn't have forgotten our camera. It was one that should have been recorded.....It was also one of those weekends where you wake up the day after and there are new names and phone numbers recorded on your phone but you don't remember how they got there and then checking the photos on your phone and you have no memory of taking those photos. Supposedly at one point I fell over in a train. Classy, I know.

This weekend we got to rub elbows or at least stand close to people a lot more famous than us (not hard considering we're not famous at all). Our buddies Mike and Julie were visiting from Shanghai to hang out with their buddies/family (this band). Mike, being the legend he is, managed to get us VIP passes to the show on Sunday. Darin and I had such a blast. We had no expectations, and hadn't listened to their latest album, but they put on a SHOW!! I am sure that everyone went home feeling they got their money's worth - fire, confetti and a Queen cover - what more can a girl (or boy) want. There is also nothing like a VIP pass/free beer/oh and a loving husband to make you feel special. After the band left the building, we hung out in their dressing/waiting room, and the wife of someone famous (i.e. if you are a Party of Five/Lost fan - can you guess??) was handing around shots of Tequilla. I only have short bursts of memory after that but I am told that I wasn't a complete fool - that's good to know.

So here are the only photos that could be salvaged from my phone....

Pink Fix

To the best of my knowledge, this is not a sakura (cherry blossom) tree but an ume tree (plum blossom). Darin took this picture of this crazy tree near our house - seems kind of impossible don't you think.

BTW, thanks for all your very kind comments about the keepsake shawl. It's so pretty I don't know where to keep it. I think I will fold it up in tissue paper or something - at the moment it is draped over our sofa.

All about knitting

Well, there are only about 13 minutes left here at work, and I just don't wanna work anymore today, so I am going to answer the knitting meme that Gidget tagged me for.

1. Do you knit continental or English?
English, but I tried to knit continental for a while as I was having problems with my wrists (they were hurting!!). I liked knitting continental a lot as not as many hand movements are involved, but I still have a problem with purl stitches, so I might ask the Japanese girls at tonight's SNB how to do the purl stitch well. Maybe it's just practice.

2. How long ago did you learn to knit?
I first learnt to knit/crochet in high shcool or it could have been primary school, I can't remember. I didn't really get hooked again (no pun intended) until October 2003.

3. First FO?
I am pretty confident that it was a garter stitch scarf in acrylic pink and white stripes!!!

4. Favorite yarn?
Hmm, this is a hard one. I really loved knitting socks with Koigu. I also really loved the luscious extravagance of Fleece Artist Silken that I used for my keepsake shawl. I also really loved knitting with the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

5. Favorite pattern?
Wendy's toe-up sock pattern because it is clever, straightforward, and I love knitting socks during my commute.

6. Favorite pattern source?
Well, since I live in Japan I would have to say Japanese pattern books/Japanese fashion. There are so many that I can't list one. I am also inspired by everyone's blogs - I see an FO and immediately want to make it too.

7. Favorite needles?
You know I really loved the Inox bamboo double points that I lost....that's why I ordered another pair!! Um, really like bamboo in general, but will use whatever is necessary. I rarely use straight needles and own like 3 pairs.

8. Nicest thing you’ve ever knit?
That would definitely have to be my keepsake shawl (Flower Basket shawl from IK Fall 2004) - see post below.

9. Most hated project?
I don't really have a 'hated' project as such. I guess there are things I like and don't like about every project.

10. Who are you going to pass this on to?
I think this thing has already been around the Internet and back again, so if you want to do it - I tag YOU!!

See ya - I'm off to the Tokyo SNB!!! Yay! Triple yay!

Keepsake Shawl (aka flower basket)

ok. So I have FINALLY gotten around to taking, editing and posting photos of my keepsake shawl (aka the flower basket shawl from Fall IK 2004). I finished it all over a week ago, but I am never home at the right time (for good lighting) to take photos. Yesterday I was doing some window shopping and the weather was REALLY cold and pretty miserable. All of a sudden the clouds disappeared and there was sun. I ran home determined to take the photos. While getting dressed, the sun disappeared. Since I haven't take FO photos in ages, I decided to dress up. I have enjoyed dressing up ever since I was a little girl (my mum can vouch for that). Every now and again I will go through everything in my wardrobe and try it on. So for the shawl photo shoot (involving me and me), I donned a dress I bought off ebay a while ago. It looked really cute in the ebay photos, but when it arrived it was a little disappointing. The fabric was like some nylon\viscose or something and the thick black straps and front tie just looked terrible. I never wore it. Yesterday I discovered that the dress is a lot cuter, when you hide the straps, make it into a strapless dress, add a big crinoline, and don some red high heels, and of course a 100% silk handknit shawl. Anyway here's the photos (BTW most of them have been retouched and not very well probably - it's fun playing in photoshop):

Some people have blocking tables, I use cardboard from the garbage!!!

The blocking process turned this shawl from a bundled mess of silk to a shawl to be proud of. It is made of Fleece Artist Silken sent very kindly as a part of a swap with Stephanie!! I blocked the shawl using a lot of pins and some raspberry scented linen water (yum!!).

Yarn: one skein of Fleece Artist Silken (200g) undyed and natural. Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl pattern from Fall 2004 IK. Needles: can't remember the size. Stared off with bamboo circulars, but I found the yarn would snag, moved to bamboo straights then ended with too many stitches to handle on those needles, and finally ended up using metal 80cm circulars - perfect.

I did quite a few more repeats than the pattern calls for and had a bit of a scare when I realized that I might run out of yarn before I finished the edging, but it worked out perfectly in the end. I meant to finish this shawl for my wedding, but I proabably wouldn't have worn it anyway, and this silk shawl doesn't deserve to be dragged around Thailand all scrunched up in a backpack. I think everything worked out for the best!!!

A close up of the stitch pattern

The Flower Basket shawl pattern is like magic. The pretty edging just appears at the end and it is beautiful!!

Here I am in my get-up - not the best picture of the shawl, but it sure was fun getting dressed up (he,he)

The shawl when tied in front!

Close-up of the side.

So that's all the shawl pics I have for you. I would like to apologize to my very understanding husband for being a bit of a bitch and harassing him with lots of questions on how to use Photoshop (I'm not very good and he is). Sorry...

Finally, Sunday was a good day because I received my yarn (merino worsted) from Uruguay. It just feels so special to receive a package from South America. It is super soft, and I can't wait to knit it up. Not sure what I will make, but I just bought, 'The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns' by Ann Budd, so I might try and make a sweater up as I go along. It also really does smell like vinegar.

Who says you need to knit yarn??!!

I've been shuffled!

ok. This is kind of gross because it involves poo, but since some of you want to know. The diagram is telling you how to best position your poo, so that you can take a sample for the stool test. I said it was gross. This is the first time I have done this - I turned 30 at the beginning of the year so now they test me for adult diseases (namely CANCER....GAN in Japanese). There are a lot of tv shows about GAN in Japan.

Moving on to more exciting...or you could say happy topics. My life has been successfully shuffled. My Ipod Shuffle arrived yesterday (two weeks and two days after I placed my order) and I am so excited. I haven't owned a portable music machine since my last cd discman AND that was a long time ago. I had forgotten the joy - even the crowds at Shibuya station couldn't bring me down. Life-changing. There was only one point during my morning commute that disappointed me: I was listening to my songs in shuffle mode and was very excited when the prelude to Missy Elliot's song 'Toyz' came on and I even turned up the sound for the beginning of the song......BUT at the end of the prelude it SHUFFLED - NO!!! I guess the prelude is recognized as a song by the shuffle - very disappointing. Apart from that though, I am over the moon. I might even get a frisk mint case for my shuffle - I am scared it would get thrown away by mistake though...

Japan wins gold for cuteness!

Most of  you know this already, but here's the proof that Japan is all about cute. If you can show me another picture that makes poo look this cute, then I'll be damned. Darin and I were given this pamphlett before we went to  our physical showing us how to.....well you can guess.

ps Thanks for all your great advice about my posture. I have a couple of pilates and yoga videos, but might buy more to keep the interest. I wish I could go to a class BUT it is really expensive here - about $30/class. I think for me it is about doing it regularly and not giving up. The only real new year's resolution I have EVERY year is to become more flexible (I really haven't met anyone less flexible than me) - now I just need to motivate....and this warm spring weather might just do the trick.

One more poo-related pic - this is the cute English translation that came with some pills that they gave us after we drank the barium. This was the first time for both of us to do this test and it was pretty eye-opening (click to make bigger):

Spring Warmth

Today the weather is wonderful in Tokyo - it is supposed to reach 19 degrees (celcius that is) in some areas. It's sunny, fine AND although I still haven't found my sock knitting, I did go back to my work LYS and they had ONE skein of the Navy blue Lang Jawoll Superwash left and it was on sale. So although my inox double points are gone at least this project will get finished - big relief!!

Darin and I went and had our yearly physicals today and it was the first time I had to drink barium and do a bunch of stomach xrays. Man, I seriously nearly puked - that stuff is a nasty thick consistency. Also if you don't like to know about women's health issues you should probably stop reading now...... No, it's not that bad really. I just wanted to mention that today is the first time that I have done a self-applied pap smear!! Every other time a doctor has done the test, but in Japan they give you a little tampon-like applicator thing and away you go - very interesting. I wonder if it is as effective. According to the doctor everything looks good for both of us except he mentioned that my posture is a little on the not so good side. I figure I will start working on some strength exercises as I have been mainly focusing on cardio for a while now. Any recommendations for a straighter spine and better posture??? I am thinking - more ab work, yoga, and back strengthening exercises...

Missing sock knitting

Am so bummed right now. After a fantastic weekend of relaxing in hot springs, hanging out with friends, relaxing, blocking my keepsake shawl, etc, I sat down on the couch on Sunday, set up my laptop ready to watch about three episodes of Lost, and went looking for Darin's second sock. The first one is done and I was confident that I could turn the heel yesterday and be on the home run this week (I love my work commute knitting). ANYWAY, it's gone. I couldn't find it. How do you loose sock knitting for goodness sake? I remember knitting it (I think) on the train home from work on Friday afternoon. So I am going to call every place I visited Friday night onwards. I guess it only contained one skein of Lang Jawoll in navy blue, but I don't know if I can get another one. I also really liked the little Inox double points I picked up in Switzerland. Damn.

Winter finale!!

It's really snowing here in Tokes. The park was so pretty this morning. It's great news coz we're going to head to the local hotsprings tonight to soak in the rotenburo (outdoor hot tubs) surrounded by snow. Then we are going to throw back some beers dressed in the cute Japanese style pajamas that they hand out to everyone!!! I am not a fan of winter, and hopefully this'll be the last of the snow, but good on you winter for going out with a bang!!

Winners and Losers

First let's start off with a winner - Taeko!!

And now for the loser....that'd be me. Ah, it's not that bad really...BUT did you ever have one of those days when you feel like a complete dag. Well yesterday didn't start off like that - I was wearing a nice outfit for work with my new knee-high black boots, but because they are a little too big, the balls of my feet began hurting to the point of me not wanting to leave my desk to use the toilet (see...it was pretty serious). Anyway, I decided that there was no way I would/could walk home in my boots so I put on my running/gym sneakers just as I was about to leave work. I felt like such a dag - everyone looked. My feet were smiling big smiles though. And wouldn't you know it, as I am running to get on the train I run into a guy from work and as we are talking he looks at my shoes....cringe.

I'm over it now though and have recovered to become a winner once again. How you may ask? Well, I FINISHED my wedding/keepsake/flower basket shawl. Finished is such a magical word really. I did NOT run out of yarn and I have cast off. I stayed up until nearly 2am (just.could.not.stop.knitting.when.so.closed.to.finishing) and I am so glad I did. Photos won't be up for a few days as it needs SERIOUS blocking. I think it is pretty cute though. Stay tuned.

Spring Kirin

The Tokyo SNB was last night and what a turnout!! Everyone was undertaking some fantastic projects and I got to see the Noro patternbook firsthand (thanks Rae!) - I coveted most of the patterns...but the last thing I need is more projects... I am about to start the edging of my flower basket shawl...am I am very scared that I will run out of yarn (you may see me cry on this blog yet...) Fingers crossed. Other exciting news is that one of our craftiest members, Pinn is working on a design for Knitty. We know you'll love it. We also had a raffle/lucky dip for the free copy of SNB Nation that we received from the publisher and the winner was TAEKO!! Yay Taeko. It was a very appropriate result actually as Taeko was one of the first Japanese girls to come to the Tokyo SNB. I wish I had taken more photos, but as usual I get so caught up drinking, eating....and yeah knitting, that I didn't. I do have a photo of our book winner though, but that'll have to wait until tomorrow since I unwittingly brought the camera to work with me today...

Even though the forecast for the next three days predicts some snow - it is supposed to be 17 degrees celcius NEXT Tuesday. I can tell that Spring is trying to fight it's way past Winter and it is close to winning the match - GO Spring! Here is Darin's spring version of the Kirin beer logo (that's what we drink in Japan). Aren't the colours cool!?!

This is one of those times when...

...you wish you had your digital camera on you!!! You remember that the other day I posted a photo of a disturbing man in pink, well today I am going to show you some photos of something cute....but possibly disturbing.

I really think that this is the only place in the world where you will see a man in his 60s at Starbucks with his dog dressed in full kimono WITH obi, fur trim for the neck and a headpiece. I am sorry the photos are so small (they are keitai/cell/mobile phone photos), but I had to share anyway.

Finally, thanks to all those bidding on my craft book auctions on Ebay - there are still four days to go, but it is just so exciting! I still have more to put up for sale, but I just take so damn long to post one auction that five takes me all day long - don't know what my problem is!!! I really enjoy sending the books out and I always try and include a little something extra from Japan. I might not get and be able to pass on the shipping discounts that Amazon receives, but a whole lotta love and time is spent finding, listing and sending these books. From one craft lover to another!!!            ps. If you haven't read it yet, the Academy Award write-up on Salon is hilarious!!!