pinku

SAKAGUCHI Tomoyuki

Wow, Darin found this Japanese photography site and sent me the link. Glad he did. If you have ever wanted to experience what a Japanese hood is REALLY like - check these photos out. They are sweet. Although this is not where I live I bet I could take some really similar photos (meaning content rather than quality!!). It is truly amazing how interesting Mr SAKAGUCHI makes ordinary, ugly, modern Japan look. Big Japanese cities are generally ugly, but these photos make me feel privileged to have experienced living here - it truly is like nowhere else in the world.

Also check out the 'MADO' (meaning window) photos in Mr SAKAGUCHI's portfolio - they are my favourite and tell the full story of what it is like to ride a Japanese train during rush hour.

SUH-WEET....

Auctions = dangerous!

Golly - I have discovered Yahoo Auctions Japan!! Ebay never took off in Japan, so it's all about Yahoo auctions. Anyway, I was lurking for yarn and.....anything really, and I ended up bidding on some Japanese crochet books from the 70s - they are so cute. I won the auction last night for 600 yen and this baby is on the way to me!!

Oh, by the way - do you like sushi? I love sushi and want some for lunch today!!! Sometimes living in Japan rules.

Inaugural Tokyo SNB pics

Trista and Pinn

Amanda

Jen and Rae

Pinn's hands in action making the cutest little woolen pants!!

The cutest baby bootie EVER - Jen's handiwork!

Hanjiro Sale!!

So, one of my favourite stores is having a moving/opening sale. Hanjiro is a massive second-hand clothing store in Harajuku. They also have a few other branches with one in Daikanyama. They are moving from their old location above the now 'dead' Aux Bacchanales cafe across the road to the 3rd and 4th floor of the YM Square Building next door to the big Harajuku GAP. Sale begins Jan 31 and is on until Feb 8. Check it out!!!

Cold crafty nights!

Thanks to everyone that came out last night for Tokyo's Inaugural S+B. It is always great to see what everyone is making - very inspiring!

Jen's baby booties were the hit of the night! Pics to follow! Next S+B will be on Feb 17 - same time, same place - see you there!!!

It's a tape thing!!

Here a just a few images from the upcoming Rowan books, 'It's a Tape Thing', and 'Denim People'. I absolutely L.O.V.E the cotton tape crochet patterns. They're hot!! Check them out here.

Crafty Update 3

In crafting news - although I haven't posted any photos recently my hands have been busy. For a couple of weekends the weather was all cold and dark, which means it is PERFECT for staying indoors, rugging up and knitting your little heart out.

I am starting to amass a true yarn stash, and I keep meaning to organizing everything but most of it remains in Yuzawaya paper bags. Everyday I stare lovingly at these knitting needle cases - I really want to buy one - mainly because they are soooo cute and also because I am too lazy to make my own (I don't have a sewing machine ok). I also love the knitting needle case pattern by Midnight Knitter. Anyway, usually one day a week I put all the bags back in the cupboard and then I start a project and out it all comes - it's everywhere!!! I love coming into a room with all these exciting crafting ingredients lying around.

So, lately I have finished a cute net crochet scarf made out of some leftover Hamanaka superfine merino wool, a cute crochet cap using Noro Mosaic, a red hat made in the round with cables using some BRIGHT red Filatura di Crossa wool, and I am currently knitting the Tank Girl top out of Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch book. Everything except for my current project, of course, was completed following Japanese patterns - I'm learning more everyday.

It is so much fun starting a new project. I get really excited about trying out new techniques etc. Also Maggie Righetti's Knitting in Plain English arrived yesterday and I LOVE it! It is filled with so many great tricks. It's like she's in the room with me letting me in on all these little knitting tricks. I love how she writes, 'I give you permission to use.......'. It would be have been so much fun to attend one of Maggie's knitting classes.

LAST but not least, tonight will be Tokyo's very first stitch + bitch gathering. I am really excited. Will let you all know how it goes.

THE photos of F.U.N.

Matt and Kim going at it!

Martine karaoke-ing - you go girl!

Enjoying the show!

Tyler and Daz

You belt it out girl!

On the way home....

Happy 'to be an Australian' Day!

We had the great pleasure of celebrating being Australian yesterday with a bunch of great Aussies and one great American. Daz and I finally got to meet Kim,Matt, and Martine. They were all 'great' value.

I have some really 'special' pics from karaoke that I will put up tonight, but here's one to give you a hint of the great night we had.

French toast in Japan

Lately I have been making french toast for breakfast on the weekend, and it is so delicious. I make it at home, because the get-up-late-on-a-Sunday-morning (usually hungover) -and-go-to-a-cafe-and-eat-a-scrumptious-breakfast culture doesn't exist in Japan. I lament this. Sure there may be places to eat a cafe/diner breakfast in Tokyo, BUT I am not gonna travel an hour to get there.

So anyway, I have been making french toast with either a baguette or wholemeal English muffins - both are really delicious. I let the bread soak for quite a while in the mix (eggs, milk, coconut milk, yoghurt, vanilla essence - whatever sounds yummy really and is lying around), cook it in a pan with real butter and then top it off with cinnamon and maple syrup!!!! Fresh fruit and yoghurt makes this dish complete. I think I like it better than pancakes, but not better than crepes. Not convoluted Japanese crepes by the way, but homemade crepes with a simple topping of lemon and sugar.

One thing that Japan does have is a lot of TV programs about food - I find myself sitting in front of the tv mesmerized making those "heeeeeh" sounds and exclamations of "oishisoo".

The last food-related comment for today - we all know eating McDonalds everyday will make us sick.... one guy decided to prove this statement....read what happened!!