James Marshall Prints

These prints kinda blew me away - so vivid and striking. I love them (and one also looks like a 'K'!). Have a wonderful long weekend - see you Tuesday!

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Void Watches

At last! A watch that doesn't make me yearn for minimalism! As you know, I was given a beautiful Mr Jones Watch last year, so I really don't need one, but these Void Watches are so soothingly beautiful. Mmm. Wooden panels.

A Gust of Wind

This beautiful installation is called A Gust of Wind and is by Paul Cocksedge. Each piece is a curved, curled piece of Corian and is suspended to look like paper. Just love this.

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Back again!

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Dear Internets,

I'm sorry I haven't been around much. It turns out that wedding planning and starting a new job is a somewhat lethal recipe for your blog. No complaints - life is good, but things are certainly falling through the cracks a bit. Recently I forgot three friends' birthdays (and I pride myself on remembering things like that!) which was a bit mortifying. Anyway, I'm back, and I'm trying to get back on the blog wagon, but things might be a little slow for now.

Love Kate

Glow Stick Animation

This is so beautiful. The animation (yes, animation!) technique involves a team of animators "painting in the air with glow sticks, frame after frame to create entire sequences of animation, usually taking a whole night to shoot".

Mind blowingly beautiful.

Horsey Bikey

This Horsey Bikey is pretty delicious. It definitely makes bike riding look more fun, that's for sure. (Sorry if I've alienated any cyclists out there!) Thanks again to Ali for the heads-up: she really should get half credit as author of this blog, lately!! If you haven't read her eloquent film reviews, you really should start.

Autumn Story Chalkboard Animation

Well this makes my heart race a little faster. A most whimsical and compelling chalkboard animation illustrated by Lucinda Schreiber and co-directed by Yanni Kronenberg. The hauntingly lovely music is from the Firekites' album 'The Bowery' and is called 'Autumn Story'.

Beautiful Paper

Have you seen these beautiful shots over at Upon a Fold? Justine, you find such lovely goodies!

Seaweed Arms

Love this (very) short film and music - kind of amazing.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. This from my lovely friend Soph. Enjoy Marcel!

Hungover Owls

Very excited about the new Owl film coming out, and these Hungover Owls are only adding to the thrill!

Colouring In Fashion

How cool is this? A dress that you can colour in? Yes please!

All images via here.

New laptop case

Since getting my new work laptop (13 inch MacBook Pro, if you must know), I have been worried about scratching it travelling to and from work. Enter some pretty dark grey felt, some fabric from the Captain, and I have a slightly wonky but well-loved travelling companion.

Urban Outfitters. Again...

Yes, I caved again. These Urban Outfitters plates and bowls are so cute, and at $20 for 4, I thought they would make fun snack plates for parties or just for fun. The last one reminds me of the movie Up - whee!

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Mini Cardboard Creatures

These gorgeous little creatures are supposed to encapsulate human emotions and boy, they are so super cute. Wheee!

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Gentle Tones

I don't think I'd ever be in a position where I could plot out a colour scheme like this, but gee it's pretty to look at. Those bay windows are amazing - just beautiful!

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!

Things Organized Neatly

Well if this isn't a blog after my own heart, I don't know what is! A whole collection of things organised neatly - superb, calming and just delightful. Enjoy!

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Graduation Day!

Yes, I thought books were the only possibly appropriate image for today. I get to put on an ugly bonnet hat, have my thesis topic read out, and officially graduate. Wish me luck!