Karel Capek Japanese Teas

Ever a sucker for cute packaging, these Japanese teas have got me. Yup - I'm hooked. Who could say no to a cup of tea from a tin like this?

Butter dish from Claska

Well Internet, I don't expect you to get behind this as much as I do, but here it is. I had a love affair with a butter dish in Japan. I saw it in about three different shops and finally bought one in Nakameguro. It has a cold, white enamel base and a beautifully soft wooden top. I might not even use it for butter but it really is a stunning piece of work.

Furoshiki Love

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One of the things I love about Japan is the attitude towards thrift, care and re-use. Furoshiki are Japanese pieces of cloth used to store and carry things, and they are just so lovely. 

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Totoro postcard

Such a lovely idea - Hayao Miyazaki films made into a set of postcards, including my very favourite My Neightbour Totoro.

Update: it seems the link isn't working - I originally found these here.

Kyoto Garden

Well Internet - turns out I snuck away to Japan for a week with my Mum and my sister Em and am only just back.  I thought I'd show you some of my photos over the coming weeks - we had such a wonderful time and even though I've hit the ground running at work again, I have so many happy memories sustaining me.

This is the most beautiful garden shop/florist I've perhaps ever been to in Kyoto - simple, green and gorgeous. I can close my eyes and be back there in an instant...

Japanese Matchbox Labels

I found these magnificent Japanese matchbox labels, and thought they'd be a lovely tribute to what's happening in Japan - thinking of you all daily, and hoping desperately for happy resolution to such a tense time.

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Help Japan

Like most of us, I've been deeply upset by the earthquake in Japan. I've donated to the Red Cross appeal (which my work gift-matches, effectively doubling my donation, which is amazing). In case you're feel like helping the beautiful country, the artful Swedish photographer Hilda Grahnat has set up a shop called 'Help Japan' which sells some of her prints and postcards. I'd thoroughly recommend donating or buying some of her prints: you are both helping Japan, and supporting a beautiful artist at the same time.

Image from our incredible trip to Japan in 2009.

Ginko Papers

Was browsing the other day and came across this delightful paper shop called Ginko Papers - Shinzi Katoh stickers, stationery packs and general deliciousness. Try it if you dare!

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Tokuya Melbourne

Some very cute containers

Last Friday I was in Melbourne for work for the day, which was most excellent timing. I had recently read on Twitter (sorry - can't remember who tweeted, but thank you!) that a brand new Hyaku-en store had opened up in Melbourne. Many of the stores like this in Japan are from the brand Daiso, which is a high-quality, low-cost Japanese brand. Tokuya is (from what I could tell) made in China but Japanese design. And everything in the store is $3.50. Eeee!

Hula girls ribbon with hula skirts which come off the ribbon. Cuuute!

I only had about 15 minutes in the shop, which wasn't nearly enough. Although it's nothing on real Japanese Hyaku-en, it is a good, smaller sample size. There is lots of stationery, kitchen goods, hardware, cleaning products, beauty products and more. The kitchen section is very good, with lots of bento boxes, chopstick cases and little plastic animal-headed toothpicks. (Having bought about 40 plastic animal-headed toothpicks in Japan, I told myself no more. But really, can you ever have too many?)

Aroma pens, pencils and and cute little pens.

Hedgehog procession! "It walks side by side always together. It is a start of happy time"!
"Good sheep: it splashes in a lot of lovely child sheep. It follows one after another later"
"The Handmade Letter"
I can't go near hyaku-en without a Miffy purchase. This one is going to look especially grown-up in meetings...

Overall verdict? Most exciting and thrilling to have an Aussie hyaku-en. I didn't buy as much as I wanted, partly limited by time and by the fact that I only had a handbag with me. But it is a lot of fun, and if you love hyaku-en in Japan, you will adore this. Go, explore and love!


Tokuya: Basement, 236 Bourke St, Melbourne. (Near Target).
If you're heading to Melbourne, or if you live there, please tell me and I will ask for you to be a stationery mule! Seriously. I will pay cost + postage and maybe even treats to willing buyers!

Tokyo Zakka Shops

Loved this picture from Upon a Fold - took me right back to lots of zakka shops I visited in Japan and so many swoony bits and pieces I couldn't fit in my bags!

Big in Japan

Found this beautiful new-to-me blog and was absolutely hooked. What an extraordinary set of photographs, ideas and art works. Love, love, love!

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New Stationery Binge

So yeah, I caved and went to Kinokuniya the other night and didn't leave empty-handed. Oops. I haven't been there for a while, and they've changed the stationery lines they hold. This is bad news for the actual writing paper section - lots of bright colours and ugly designs - but excellent news for the mini notelets section. Cute, zakka-style notelets and to-do lists abound!

All blurry images by me. Sorry. Stationery-excitement jitters.

Also, I should let you know that I've decided to put a few ads on the old blog. I have written about and highly praised the Book Depository before, and wholeheartedly endorse their service. Becoming an affiliate partner means that you can click through and buy things from my blog if you'd like. Or you can choose to ignore it all together - whatever is comfy for you.

Junzo Terada

I recently went to Brisbane for a few days (where I met the lovely Kylie) and wandered around a very new-to-me city. I loved the Ron Mueck exhibition at GoMA and found these little sticky notes in the gift shop. (I can't not stop at a gallery gift shop. Sometimes I visit it twice: before AND after the exhibit...) They are by Japanese artist Junzo Terada and I promptly bought them on Book Depository for a trifle.

Sadly, like many Chronicle Books sticky notes, they don't stick!! Has anyone else had this problem? So if you're after some pretties (and they are super pretty) and a pretty big dose of frustration, these are for you.

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Akanbe!

When I was in Lorne last weekend, I found this incredible basket which turns into a BLANKET! I am still getting over it, to be honest. Picnic basket, craft organiser, baby things - the list of uses could be endless, really. I didn't end up buying it, but I have been thinking of it for a while.

'Akanbe' or あかんべ is actually a Japanese facial gesture, where you pull one eye down while you stick out your tongue, so this little bag is even cuter.

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Modern Compact House in Tokyo

This house just blows me away. In busy Tokyo but sheltered away with private and spacious insides. Love, love, love.

All images from here via here.

Leaves of Grass: Post it Style

Just adore these post-it notes which make your books sprout with ideas! Such a cute notion.

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3D Fruit Post-its

Third Drawer Down have the cutest paper notes ever. Thee apples and pears are from D-Bros and look positively edible!

All images via here.