Pendant Packaging Process

I certainly am having a great week! My Geisha under Glass pendant sold really quickly, while I slept in fact. Now that's a great way to start the day!

As I was packing it to go in the post I realised that I hadn't done any swing tags for my jewellery and that my current swing tags for my bags are too big.

The pendants are all packed in a sweet little tin and the pendant nestled in kimono silk. The customer has a choice of coloured, black or red silk. They did also have a choice of a clear or kimono covered top.


I played around for a while. During the process I discovered that I have somehow misplaced all of my woven labels that I would have liked to have incorporated. I continued to obsess and came up with a swing tag I liked, only to realise that attaching things to a round tin is not so easy. It looks pretty cute (sorry, I didn't take a photo of it before I sent it), but I still wasn't totally happy.

Now, this is what I've come up with. All of the lids will be covered in kimono fabric and my name included. For the short term, I will have to use these labels I've printed onto fabric through my computer, but once I get more woven labels, will use them. The woven ones have Kimono Reincarnate written in red on a black background - much more striking. Or... even better, if Gocco can print finely enough, I'll print my name in black onto recycled red kimono silk. In my business, I'm trying to use recycled materials as much as possible.

And this folks is why I never seem to get anything done. I had this afternoon off and rather than list some things in the store, do some washing, clean the kitchen and answer some emails, I've created one tin, one tin only.

Geisha Under Glass

My first glass pendant to go in my store. More pendants, each different, to follow soon.

In My First Treasury!

This is turning out to be a very good week! First there was yesterday's win, and today, I was featured in my first Treasury! Mmm... note to self, good luck comes in 3's, so I must buy a lottery ticket....

I'm especially chuffed about this Treasury because it's beautiful and I feel so honour to be included. You can see it live over here.

It was woven together by the amazingly talented Steffen. As if being a fabulous architect by day isn't enough, she creates and sells on Etsy by night. I've been meaning to feature some of her work for a while now. Just look at these works of art!

She sells these and more over at her store, 3 Girls and a Goat.

Has Anyone Seen Where I Left Autumn?

I swear, Japan just skipped a season! Within a few days I have gone from dressing in cool clothes and feeling quite warm, to dressing in warm clothes and feeling quite cool. From wearing... well not much... to bed, to flannel pjs (Tickle Me Elmo if you're interested). I was waiting until this weekend to change over the wardrobe from summer to winter, but tonight have had to scramble to find things warm enough to wear. I think gloves will be in order for my morning bike ride to school from now on.

This wardrobe change over is going to be a big one. It will be the last change over before we move. Rather than just putting away the summer gear, we're going to have to decide what will go back to Australia with us next year, what will be recycled/remade and what may just have to be thrown out. There aren't any charities to donate the clothing to here, which is a real shame.

And some really good news.... I won the nappy bag!! This gorgeous nappy bag is made by the very generous and talented Sable Fyre. I can't wait to see it in person, but will have to wait. I've asked her to send it to my Australian address to save her on postage and for me on shipping room when I move back.

So, now I have some of the baby clothes, the nappy bag... what else was it I needed - oh that's right a baby!

This is... what I'm surprised I like...

... well kinda like... well OK - trying to like...

yoghurt.

"The earliest yoghurts were probably spontaneously fermented by wild bacteria living on the goat skin bags carried by nomadic people." From Wikipedia.

Really, it sounds so appealing... no wonder I didn't like it..

I've hated yoghurt all my life. I've decided that now I'm an adult (well have been for many years now), that it was time that I learnt how to eat yoghurt. I'm sure I'd like it a lot more if I could add berries to it, but I'm allergic to them...

So for now, I'm eating a little tub of yogurt every month or so. Yesterday I added a few sultanas (raisins) and Special K to it and made it the whole way through the little tub. I was so proud of myself.

Thank you to Victoria for this week's theme and to Angela, the fabulous hostess of This is...

Oh Darn it!

Does anyone have any sock darning advice? I used to darn my socks when I was a kid, but haven't for many years. I can't quite remember how to do it and what type of wool to use.

I'm about to get out my winter socks as today is the first day that it feels like winter is on its way. From memory, a number of them have holes, and in Japan, the land of no shoes inside, you can't really get away with holey socks.

That reminds me of a Dad story. Dad was on an international flight and had taken off his shoes. He was walking down the aisle when one of the attendants noticed a hole in his sock. She laughed and suggested to dad "You should ask your wife to darn your socks". Dad returned the laugh, this time at the thought of asking mum to darn his socks and replied "Can YOU ask her, PLEASE!?!" Mmm... In my mum's defence, she does a lot of mending and darning...

Photo by Pitel

With the way the Aussie dollar is against the yen at the moment, we are trying to be more frugal. It's the perfect time to send back as much cash (yen) as we can, every bit will help us to set up a new home next year while I'm hopefully with child, and my husband is looking for work. It's mostly the little things, like darning socks instead of buying new ones, which is better for the environment anyway. Last night, we went out for dinner but ate in the food court of the shopping center instead of splurging at an Italian restaurant whose salmon cream pasta I love. I've decided that my pathetic attendance at the gym is a good reason to stop going and save quite a packet on their fees each month.

What about you? What are the little things you do to save some pennies?

Preparing...

Well, I know I should wait at least until I'm pregnant, but I really want to win this gorgeous nappy bag by Sable Fyre. It does have polka dots on red after all!

Rain Boots

It's a dreary, drizzly day here in my part of the world today. I don't mind a bit of rain every now and then but rain on a school day means that I can't ride my bike to school. That means that I have to leave earlier in the morning to walk there. Because I'm not riding my bike though, it means that I can wear a skirt.

Today's rain is the slanting kind. It doesn't matter how you hold your umbrella, you're going to get wet. Boots were in order, but the only boots I have are my heeled knee-highs, fabulous, but not great walking to school shoes. Once I get to school, they have to come off anyway, and go into my shoe locker, as I change into my "indoor shoes". My indoor shoes (in case you were wondering) are black Mary Jane crocs.

As I was skipping over puddles on the gravel path and clopping down the bitumen road on the way to school, I was dreaming of rain boots. A while ago, Jenny showed us her fabulous red wellies. I've been jealous ever since.

Here are some funky boots to brighten any rainy day.

1. Rain Boots, 2. Little Red Rain Boots, 3. New Boots and No Rain!, 4. Rain boots!, 5. rain boots, 6. Rain Boots take two (2), 7. Rain Boots, 8. Rain boots in a sunny day, 9. Fun in the Rain

Whether I'll be Loving Friday or not still remains to be seen.... recently my final class of the day has become my least favourite of the week. I'm not sure why, but suddenly the dynamics changed and now I can't get anything out of the students. Until a few weeks ago, this was one of my best, and most enthusiatic classes! Regardless, this is my little bit of BLOGTOBERFESTING for the day.

In Store

Bad storekeeper, bad storekeeper! These pendants have been waiting ever-so-patiently (they are Japanese after all), to go out in the world and I've been a bad storekeeper by not listing them. Well that was remedied tonight - they are finally in my Etsy store. I've only done about ten of this style and should be listing the glass pendants as well, soon.

This is... my favourite movie

This week's topic was a hard one, but every time I thought about the movies I love, there was one that always came up. Like Water for Chocolate. It's a story about a passionate love and desire denied. It's a story of food and talented cook who expresses herself through her cooking, so much so that everyone that consumes her creations is also consumed by her emotions.



I have the book (back in Australia) as well. Each chapter begins with a recipe, food that I long to cook one day.

Here's a bit of a taste (pardon the pun) of the movie in its original Spanish. A bit of a warning, vegetarians may not want to watch parts of this...

I've always had the benefit of subtitles when viewing it, but couldn't find any on Youtube, but you can see the same scene dubbed in English, this time a little longer and with nudity here.

I really do miss being able to watch foreign films, I can't get the English subtitles at the movies and on DVDs here. I'll be feasting on them when I return to Australia.

Another couple of my favourites are Amelie (and oh how I want her hair!)....



... and Delicatessen

Thank you to Hokey for this week's theme to Angela, the fabulous hostess of This is...

The Never-ending WIP

I hope to one day finish this dress, but for now, it continues to be a work in progress. Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking, attempting to sew a dress without a pattern. I had a wrap dress that I based it on, but don't really know what I'm doing. The bodice and shoulders are too big and my seam ripper and I have been spending lots of time together.

It's turned out much busier than I'd planned, but I do love the floral fabric I've used and am hoping it might distract people from all the mistakes.

For now, here's where it's at. I still have to make the ties for the waist, hem all of the skirt and try to fix the bodice. One day it will be finished....

The Hum of the Machine

I just love the sound of my sewing machine. There's something so relaxing about it. I have to admit though, I haven't heard it for a while. But tonight, it's out and playing again. I hope to have some results to show soon....


I also ducked out to the craft shop tonight. Very exciting - there are some new Shinzi Katoh prints! AND, they are Christmas releases. I picked up two, an Alice in Wonderland and a Little Red Riding Hood. I'm particularly excited about the Red Riding Hood, I haven't been able to get my hands on any of her for ages. I hope to photograph them properly and have them in the store tomorrow. Here's a sneak peek....




Well, I'm back to my sewing!

Room with a Garden View

When I was in Kyoto last week, there was one day that I was in serious need of some zen-ness. I hopped on a bus that took me up into a little mountain town, Ohara. For a long time I sat alone in the large garden of a temple where the sun illuminated the small Japanese maple leaves. Water ran down the slope, playing notes on each rock in hit.

After a while I explored the area a little more and was drawn to this old house. Once again, I sat and absorbed the nature around me. From one side I marvelled at the beauty of a 700 year old pine tree.

While enjoying the view, I was served traditional, bitter, matcha tea, perfectly complimented by a very sweet Japanese manju.

The red carpet was set out in an L shape on the tatami matting. To my side, the garden continued with a bamboo background.

After a quiet half an hour spent like this, I felt like I'd had a full eight hours sleep. It's fantastic for the soul and I really have to remind myself to do this more often.

This is my zen contribution to Big Cat's BLOGTOBERFEST.

This is... what I'm currently reading

This is also me a day late. And actually, this is what I was reading until this morning, when I finished it.

I bought it when I was in Kyoto last week. As the book was set in Kyoto and I had the Geisha makeover planned, it seemed like the perfect book. I found it really interesting. Unlike Memoirs of a Geisha, which I also love, Geisha of Gion is an autobiography and gives a lot more detailed insight into the life of a geisha.

While I've been lurking on a few blogs in the last couple of days, I've been strangely relieved that other people's book reading time has been reduced as they read more blogs. There is so much interesting reading on this big wide web now, that my bookshelf has been somewhat neglected. I know I only got through this last book so quickly because I was internet-less for a few days.

Thank you so much also to everyone for their kind words on my last post. I had a couple of days (helped by a perfectly timed long weekend) of hiding under a blanket, watching dvds, eating chocolate and getting lots of cuddles from my dh. I'm ready to happily face the world again and I hope to mend my relationship with my sister.

Thank you to Miss K for this week's theme to Angela, the fabulous hostess of This is...

Be Nice To Melanie Day and Making Babies

I'm declaring today official "Be nice to Melanie Day". Things didn't go well with my sister's visit and I'm now left feeling sad, frustrated, hurt and disappointed. I'm going to hide under a rock for a few days and cry. I don't understand why, at the age of 35, I'm still scared of and am seeking approval from my big sister. Wayne is being wonderful, giving me lots of cuddles.

On a more fun note, I've been making babies! Nooo.... not that! Online, playing with a baby making gadget thingy. I'm not sure it's the best idea though, seeing the possible results of our child is a bit scary. It might put me off. Here's what apparently we could get.

You can see it moving around and talking and play with the function here.

Going Geisha

We had a ball being transformed as Geisha, or actually as "Maiko", apprentice Geisha. The Maiko's outfits and hairstyles are more vibrant so that was how we decided to go.

We first changed into our pink geisha slip and proceeded up a very steep flight of stairs to be transformed. The makeup was the first step. We applied a thick cream as the base and were then painted by the make up artist with a very thick white face paint like substance. Close up, the eyes looked very strange, first done in red and then in black.

We went with the "semiwig" option, where some of our own hair was brushed and blended into the wig to give it a little more realistic look.

We got to choose our kimono. I of course went for a red and my sister, a pink. Over the thin cotton slip went another, this time patterned with long decorated sleeves. Another layer went over the shoulders to pad the collar area before the embroidered decorative collar was put into place. A geisha should have quite a straight up and down look, so I was then super-padded with towels under my breasts to give a flatten look to my (I have to say) more than ample chest. Next was the kimono, then a belt around the middle, then the (what I call a cheat) obi (it isn't actually tied, but rather in two parts and the pre-tied bow slipped into place). Finally there was an obijime cord with an obi brooch (obidome).

We had a couple of professional studio photos taken and then were allowed to go to take a few photos ourselves outside for a little while. Before going outside our kimonos were taken up and tied so that we didn't drag and damage the padded bottom. Essentially, that means you can see our red and white under slip (nakajuban) in the full length photos.

I would have loved to have photographed the whole process, but sadly wasn't allowed.

Doing one of these dress-ups is a terribly commercial thing to do, but a lot of fun and something I'd really recommend.

I have been terribly slack with my contributions to Big Cat's BLOGTOBERFEST, but I should be back in the swing of it now.

This is... my Favourite Kitchen Tool

... in my tiny Japanese kitchen...

... my husband! I like to pretend that I CAN'T cook, but that's actually a lie. It's just that for the last few years, I've hated cooking. I'm not exactly sure why, it started around the time that my food allergies kicked in, so that may have something to do with it.

I will go back to cooking one day. Actually, that's one thing that I'm really looking forward to about moving back to Australia, having a decent sized kitchen and having an oven! Ohh... how I've missed having an oven.

But in the meantime, it's been my wonderful dh that has done all the cooking. Many mornings he even makes my lunch for me to take to school. On weekends he'll cook breakfast and bring it to me in bed if I so desire. He does the grocery shopping and while I've been sick for the last year and now that I'm slowly coming to terms that I may not ever get back to how I was before getting sick, he has even picked up my slack with the cleaning.

So, how could I not choose him as my favourite "gadget".

Thank you to Sharon for guest hosting while Angela settles back in from her holiday.

Mended

Thank you so much to everyone for all the "get well" wishes. I'm happy to say, I'm all back together again.

Lately, I've been in a bit of a blogging slump, so Big Cat's announcement of BLOGTOBERFEST has come at a perfect time for me. I'm going to try to break out and get back into blogging regularly.

I have a busy month ahead of me actually, so hopefully I'll have something blogworthy to say. My big sister is arriving on Monday for a three week visit to Japan. It's her first time here, so I am very excited. I have a few days off next week, so we're going to Kyoto. I love the old Japanese capital and it's been a couple of years since I was there last. I might even see if I can talk her into getting done up as a geisha with me. It's a terribly touristy thing to do, but I have always wanted to try it.

Photo by Pokdeo

This is one place I'm sure to take here, the bamboo forest in Arashiyama.

Before she arrives, we're madly trying to prepare the apartment. I'm moving as much as I can out of my crowded workroom to make way for her futon.

Oh, and one last piece of news! I became and aunt today!

Hit By a Bus

At least, that's how I feel. Have a nasty, nasty virus. Every inch of my body is throbbing in pain, have a nice fever going on and can't keep down food. Hubby is being wonderful and caring.

Excuse me while I feel sorry for myself.

This is.. what I want to be when I grow up

Firstly;

a mother

In addition to that, when I grow up I want to be;

a jewellery designer
a fashion designer
a graphic designer
a marine biologist
a geneticist
a photojournalist
a journalist
a published author
a translator for Studio Ghibli
a teacher specialising in bilingual immersion education
a linguist
a speech therapist
an arts therapist
a sociologist
a psychologist
a perpetual traveller
a perpetual student
a philanthropist
a lady of leisure
a curator
a gallery owner

I have enough time to do them all don't I? The funny/scary thing is, I still haven't given up any of these dreams.

Thank you to Bug and Pop for this week's fun theme and to Handmaiden for guest hosting.