talktothewindandsun

kyoto/osaka in january 2012

2012-02-01T23:50:00.000+09:00

i visited a couple from sydney who are on holiday in japan to osaka and kyoto. well, it has been 4 times to visit kyoto since i came back to japan last year...does this mean i should move there? the more i go...the more i find the city interesting and encounter new people...the more i feel i wanna go back there again.
my friends both seemed to enjoy strolling around both osaka and kyoto...even in the coldest winter!
in fact, i was the one who have to be sorry not being able to walk with them as much as i wanted to...i think...i got strained leg after walking lots and lacking exercise...(how come? i used to be the queen of riding a bike...everywhere...)
well, kyoto is always beautiful! osaka is always fun to shop and dine out! we all back and forth between osaka and kyoto but it was not bad at all. i found it maybe an option to commute a couple of times rather than finding hotels in osaka and kyoto.
very nice plan they made!

film... peanuts 1960's collection!

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000+09:00

so much fun! also, the music is wonderful.

new rubber stamp: grandma matryoshka

2012-01-29T00:18:00.000+09:00

grandma!
i had this drawing as a young girl...for a while...then, i say a lovely vintage photos of old ladies probably taken in somewhere in europe with scarved wrapped around their heads....i thought they were really sweet...then, i had my great grandmother's old old photo. she wore a pair of circle glasses...so i drew it on this rubber stamp design....
now, i should think if making granpa matryoshka....
available at talktothesun

patterns...

2012-01-28T21:51:00.000+09:00

lasse hiletala

erik bruun

some origami paper i bought at the local stationary wholeseller and some posters i found in the book called scandinavian style (japanese publisher).

food....in winter!

2012-01-27T00:04:00.000+09:00

this sweet pudding is made from the famous eggs produced by tosajiro chicken in kouchi.
not too thick and not too sweet so it is nice sweet to have tea break in the morning!

baby choco...is a tiny tiny chocolate! about 5mm each in a plastic case like the photo.
it has been in japan for decades...
it was my childhood sweet for 3 o'clock tea time or snacks to take with me for school excursions!
i got this special winter pack from a friend of mine who won at the supermarket event....

some people won't like this...ikura-don. it is a seafood.
this particular one came from hokkaido....
very famous for lots and lots of fresh seafood.
it was wrapped in a cotton cloth (like a cheese cloth) in a heat resistence box...

day23,24,25,26: one drawing a day

2012-01-26T00:12:00.000+09:00

i had a great day visiting the forest!
for one day...i was just in front of my sketchbook...thinking what kind of necklace to make!
in my sleep, i dreamed that i was talking to my grandfather...and i remembered how he liked to smile and talk to the poeple he met everyday...he was such an easy going person who could speak to people freely.
so cold for a few days...-1C,-2C? i have not used to this weather yet!

benten ike

2012-01-25T21:44:00.000+09:00

one of the 100th best ponds in japan is located about 40mins drive from my house! it is named after one of the 7 gods in japan called benten. the water in this pond comes directly from the mountains so really fresh and clear! people still drinks this water!! all naturally filtered...we are going back there when it is much warmer and sunnier to see much better colour of the water!

forest in winter

2012-01-24T21:37:00.000+09:00

luckily it has not been snowy for a while...we went to the mountains for a drive.
air was so sharp and clear. nice to see some green colours even in the middle of winter.

to USA.

2012-01-23T21:15:00.000+09:00

another custom made rubber stamp. the logo belongs to the customer and i carved into a rubber stamp!

day18,day19,day20 : one drawing a day

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000+09:00

it's been pretty busy lately sorting things!
it was really lovely to have a visit to a local florist whom i knew from my previous work. she reopened her shop near my neighbourhood and now she has a grand piano to invite music students or people who wants to practice playing the piano.
she has a workshop...so i am thinking of joining it sometime!

photos on my iPhone

2012-01-21T00:18:00.000+09:00

playing with some photo editing applications on iphone.
fun!

let's not to waste your colours

2012-01-20T01:28:00.000+09:00

i finally tried to make handmade masking tape?
i read a few blogs about how to make them and i wanted to try...
i recently updated how to make original sticker using a rolld of adhesive craft paper tape.

this time, i used the sheet of paper i usually have around my desk...the piece of paper which i use when i stamp on little cards or on the corner of cards in order to avoid making a mess on my desk. they have nice shapes and colours...

i basically put some double sided tape on the back of paper where the inks are remained...

then, cut along the double sided tape....

now, there are 2 stripes of paper with double sided tape on the back.

cut into any sizes you like...or cut by hand...and you get the washi tape look...

finally, it will be a sticker look like a piece of masking tape!

gift wrapping

2012-01-19T23:38:00.000+09:00

*large white label stickers from any office stationary shops
*3cm wide pin stripe masking tape from mt masking tape
*waxed envelop from seria-100yen store or any stationary shops
*versa craft ink pads from my shop talktothesunsupplies
*hand carved rubber stamp from my shop talktothesun

(note)
to use waxed paper...some stickers are not able to stay well. i tried several different ones...if you wanna draw on waxed paper, please use water proof oil based markers and pens. i also stamp on it directly but in this case i use water proof oil based inks (need to leave it to dry for a while...)

*large white label sticker cut in square from any office stationary shops
*shocking pink masking tape from a homeware shop...(forgot the name)
but similar items are available from mt masking tape
or some othermasking tape companies in japan
*versa craft ink pads from talktothesunsupplies
*origami paper from midori
*hand carved rubber stamp from my shop talktothesun

(note)
the way i wrap this one is really simple....it was the way some japanese traditional incense were wrapped or japanese old fashioned letters were wrapped. first, fold the paper 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 but both sides must be over wrapped 2-3cm to cover the inside. then, after becoming like a flat tube...fold the top and the bottom of the opening enough to cover as an envelop. then, reopen it and put your item inside.
hold it not to open and wrap with making tape to cover. finally put the sticker.
this way, you actually no need to cut anywhere or glue....just need to make sure to keep the shape where you fold. so there will be a limit size of item you are going to put inside. if the item is bigger, then, find a bigger piece of paper!

2 DVDs i watched recently....

2012-01-18T23:32:00.000+09:00

pina

the moomin

(it is a series of japanese old TV animation series.)

making a set of simple stickers...

2012-01-17T13:00:00.000+09:00

soda, sand, coral and stone grey inks has been some of my favourite colour inks recently. if i use on white paper, they are pretty bright. but once i use on craft paper, they look retro and nostalgic.

i had a roll of craft paper tape (the back is adhesive like a postal stamp...).
i sometimes use them for gift wrapping with handwritten messages or words on them. this time, i made a small sticker size of 3cmX4cm or so...

easy...
-some good length of craft tape/strip of paper(you can put glue when you use it anyway)
-some rubber stamps
-inks
-scissors or anything to shape and cut the paper

1)stamp images all over the tape
2)cut it 3cmX4cm or any sizes you would like to use as a sticker.

these cheap scissors are available at 100yen shops, tokyu hands ($7 per item there) or any stationary/craft supply shops in japan.

day13, day14, day15 : one drawing a day

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000+09:00

movie: fantastic mr.fox

2012-01-15T12:00:00.000+09:00

i didn't know about the author of the original book and didn't know about the movie.
i recently saw the making of the movie...so i decided to see the film. it is based on the children's book? it was really interesting seeing all the different animals living underground to escape from their enemies...the son who was trying to be like a grown up...and i enjoyed the details of the scenery created from miniatures. i love this type of animations!
this film is going to be one of the films i am going to show for the kids who are coming to my workshop for the special day. i am sure they will enjoy it.

i rediscovered the book titled "scandinavian design". this thick paperback book contains marimekko and other great scandinavian designs.

a few things i am enjoying during this winter.

2012-01-14T23:06:00.000+09:00

this tree is all about my house. other trees lost leaves, some turned in brown and red and some remained with green leaves. this red really gives the garden a sign of life!!!! luckly to have this tree.

sparkling plum wine! this is really easy to drink and nice with japanese winter meals...
i had this with udon noodle and some grilled salmon for dinner.

uniqloXorla kiely

2012-01-13T23:44:00.000+09:00

as you all know...uniqlo is one of the most basic, practical and minimalistic clothing companies in japan. i buy most of my t-shirts from here because they are reasonable and last quite long time.
i found a selection of scarves collaborated with orla kiely...! here is one of the articles i found on the internet written in english about the news...

day12 : one drawing a day

2012-01-12T22:58:00.000+09:00

day 12: i walked to the post office...on the way home...i called my family to pick me up as i was freezing....although i wore many many clothes on...! the snow is not piled yet...so only a tiny amount of snow floating in the air and really heavy north wind was blowing...

day10/day11 : one drawing a day

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000+09:00

day 10...
really yesterday...i was sleeping that long without walking up. i guess waiting for more than 2 hours at jaws attraction in USJ and walking all day in osaka for shopping....did make me tired after all even though i had such a great trip.

day 11...keep eating the rusk i bought from gateau festa harada located at hanshin department store at osaka station.....really yummy. i should have bought more to eat for my own tea break rather than sharing with others...(i get selfish when it comes to the topic about "sweets".

universal studios japan

2012-01-10T23:24:00.000+09:00

we had a long weekend here in japan.
we were at the universal studios japan in osaka.
such a freezing winter weekend...but survived except me at night.
i had to excuse myself for staying outside for the parade around 7pm though.
after i waited for 2 hours to get in to the jaws attraction and got a splash of water from the jaws attacking from the right where i say on the boat...

all movies and attractions are dubbed in japanese. so i was a little bit laughing at some expressions in japanese which always does sound really cheesy...
(recommend to check if they have language audio service before you go...)

it was winter...so maybe not as much as people in summer.
so maybe lucky to get in some attractions.

i really liked the elmo paper cup...so cute.
i am not a fan of spiderman...but the attraction was pretty fun.

i am not really a type of person who enjoys the theme park like USJ...
or most of hollywood action movies...
so i was a bit surprised that i found a few things were quite fun.
it was great for the 8 y/o boy i was with....he was a bit shy but in the end...so eager to lead the group and decide where to go!

new year!

2012-01-10T16:19:00.000+09:00

already 2012?
i am writing this post, hearing neighbour kids saying "yahoo" toward the mountains to hear their echoed voices outside my house. what a quiet country life i have here in japan...i hope your new year started smoothly!!

from january to march in japan, we think it is the busiest months of all... "january just goes, february just escapes and march just takes off"...
then, april...is the month of 'new start' especially for business and schools.

finally done! the end of the project since may...!
here are some images of my sketchbook.
in the end, i made at least 20 rubber stamps for this project.

a few things i tried to make each page....

layers and layers of colours
repeating the same image all over the page
colouring over the stamped image
use different kinds of paper for each page
didn't plan anything for every page before i started

the project itself was a journey of discoveries! i am going to try again next year for sure. it might be fun to apply for this sketchbook project as a family sharing pages with each family member to create one sketchbook!

here are 2 things i bought recently...

these funky origami paper (designed and made by midori - one of the japanese stationary companies ).

also, masking tapes.....here are new deisgns from mt masking tape (available all around the world nowadays!!) they have these lovely postal stamp design and vintage envelope design! neon colour masking tapes are also useful...

then, i made these packaging with origami paper, white stickers, craft paper and masking tapes. my packaging this year will be full of colours!

wanna make some original origami paper?
the most easiest and laziest way is...

find a block of note pads left somewhere in your house

draw on it, stamp on it or paint on it.

to make a proper origami animal...it is important to have a proper square...i only suggest this because i am not good at cutting paper with shart straight lines.

here is the sample....

i hope you all have happy, crafty new year.
(thanks, rachael for sharing this post!)

day7,8,9 : one drawing a day

2012-01-10T08:00:00.000+09:00

lazy to get back to work after 3days of holiday!

DIY: infinity scarf and hand carved rubber stamp...

2012-01-08T22:39:00.000+09:00

infinity scarves or snood scarves are popular!
many materials can be used after i searched several websites and blogs.
i decided to use double cotton gauze fabric with 2 colours. i would like to use it for other seasons as well.

here are what i prepared...
*rubber stamp block
*tracing paper
*sketchbook or paper
*stamp cleaner
*carving tools
*scissors
*ink pads
*fabric markers
*fabric it is varied depending on how long and how wide your scarf will be.
           ex. my case...i used double cotton gauze and it is not a stretchy fabric.
   i made the scarf longer...2pcs of 60cmX100cm panels of fabric.
           i recommend to decide the length and width of fabric by your
           preference....how you would like to wrap around your neck....
*sewing machine
*cutting board
*needles, etc.

step 1) design rubber stamps.
           i wanted only a few simple shapes so....
           i drew a few circle, square, triangles on a piece of paper.
           then, for the geometric shape...i folded the paper and drew lines like
           in the photos.
step 2) carve the rubber block.
step 3) stamp those rubber stamps on one of the pieces of fabric
          (i stamped on grey fabric...)
step 4) draw lines to make it look like pin stripes using fabric markers
        (i drew lines on pink fabric)
step 5) set inks by heat...use an iron to set the inks. (very important)
step 6) sew 2 pieces of fabric into one piece of long fabric. then, sew into a scarf

i am pretty lazy to make this shape on computer or take from idea books...
so i fold paper and draw the lines!

lines are traced onto the rubber blocks.

for this design, i simply carved the pencil lines and got rid of waste corners.

here are other rubber stamps.
versa craft ink pads which can be used for paper, fabric, unglazed ceramics, wood...etc.

they are fantastic ink pads!

here are some more photos of the fabric pieces after stamping.

for some parts, i stamped twice to layer the colours.

here are some photos of the scarf!

because i used 2 different colours of fabrics...when you wrap around the neck...
it looks interesting...!

hope you enjoy!
sorry everyone...i am not a sewer so i used some references how-to to get some tips to sew! i decoded on the size of the scarf by myself though...wrapping piece of fabric around my neck or model...to see how much i need...then, i realised i could use my favourite scarves to refer to the ideal length?

also, i was thinking...that it might be an option....
if you can get plain cotton scarves or t-shirts texture scarves from the discount stores...(as long as they are strerchy fabric, you can wrap twice at least around your neck.) you can easily stamp it and customise into an snood scarf as you don't have to worry about sewing properly (if you are not a sewer but a stamp lover. my case...i barely managed to sew it if it had lots of small details to sew and i had my friend came over to do this project together! always great to have friends and crafty people so we can help each other to finish project!)

the past week....

2012-01-08T16:00:00.000+09:00

the weather was pretty grey...and i was sorting some paper work and started carving rubber stamps again!

also, my kid's english workshop once a week started. 2 boys at the age of 8. they have become as cute and naughty as they can ever be!
after 7 months of having them since last june, i have noticed some remarks in them. one boy is really intuitive and understands things visually and emotionally gets involved in things to do with hands...like drawing and creating. the other is rather logical and understands things related to numbers and orders...he loves writing and doing some simple math in english...
it has become a bit of challenge for me now and then. because there is a huge gap between them what makes them to "get it". luckily, they both seem to support each other. it is amazing to see 2 of them teaching themselves time to time. one teaches him where to colour or how to fold a piece of paper. the other gives him a few hint when it comes to the question "what's the date today?" in the beginning of the workshop.
they both have remarkable talents and really wonderful characters. i have known them since they were born...kids grow up so quickly and always surprises me!

here are some of rubber stamps i made for 2012!

mini elephant rubber stamp (available here)...

got idea from vintage cups and saucers.

for birthday cards and birthday invitation cards for little girls and boys.

day6 : one drawing a day

2012-01-07T20:32:00.000+09:00

day6.
spent half a day stamping and sewing an infinity scarf.

day7.day8.day9 will be updated later when i come back from my long weekend.

day5 : one drawing a day

2012-01-06T12:00:00.000+09:00

i am a day behind to post this day5 drawing.
there are so many convenience stores...or stores where you can buy delicious already-made obento (bento) boxes. i got this from my mom's friend who visited me the other day. she got it from the popular shop where you can buy already-made homely dishes.

some new items were listed!

2012-01-05T22:13:00.000+09:00

i have had a wonderful day in tenjin, hakata, fukuoka on new year's eve, visiting a friend of mine who was about to leave for singapore. it was lovely to see as she is one of few japanese friends i was working with at markets in sydney. now, she is moving on her next step. it was so exciting to have heard what will be waiting for her there.

i also went to lupicia to get some tea packs. this time i got a few packs of tiwanese jasmine tea, green tea with roasted genmai and black beans, green tea with roasted chestnuts and mango flavoured tea.

well, i started working on carving new rubber stamps. also, i have listed some new jewelry.

day 4: one drawing a day

2012-01-04T21:00:00.000+09:00

i guess my mind is still somewhere else after 2days of break from making rubber stamps and other things from last year. i have slept really long time as if i had a flu.
now, i am back to work again. but not quite as i cut my finger quite sharply with the knife!

still enjoying new year!

2012-01-04T15:30:00.000+09:00

i visited one of the most famous shrines in my hometown yesterday afternoon to celebrate new year. well, as i expected lots and lots of people and lots and lots of food and snack stalls along the narrow paths.
i wish for my family's best luck for this year...then, i got myself a lucky charm for safty driving as i recently got a driving license and i am still horrified to drive alone!
then, i drew "excellent luck" out of the written fortune lot. you can see the little hut on the bottom right of the photo, that is where you can pick one written fortune. it was unexpected to get it as i usually draw "ok". so reading what says in the written fortune, i thought of what to do for this year! mmm, i hope that there will be lots and lots of adventures waiting for me this year.

day3 : one drawing a day

2012-01-03T23:25:00.000+09:00

i had a nice cup/glass of irish coffee.
it has been such cold winter (at least for me ) and i kept drinking tea. i was cleaning a cupboard and found a packet of irish coffee. it was a nice change to have something hot to drink.
also, i found a set of bodum red plastic spoons. they should come with a set of coffee cups and saucers but i cannot find them....! i probably need to do some more cleaning tomorrow to find them.

day 1 and day 2/ 365 : one drawing a day

2012-01-03T01:30:00.000+09:00

each year i make a few new year's resolutions...
if i succeed one out of 10 resolutions, i think that year must have been good for me.
this year...as i enjoyed my sketchbook project last year, i decided to draw more...
so i decided to start...one drawing a day for this year.
something from every day.
here are jan 1st and jan 2nd, 2012.

the famous quote in 2nd photo is taken from the famous samurai who used to rule this region and who brought the peace.

new packagings for mini rubber stamps.

2011-12-31T14:56:00.000+09:00

from 2012, the series of mini rubber stamps which i used to package in a little paper matchbox will be packaged differently!
as most of my basic designs sold over the past years are made to order. so each time i receive an order, i will wrap in a paper bag or paper box every time.
the packaging styles are:

wrapped in a while plain paper bag
wrapped in a little origami paper
wrapped in a craft box
wrapped in a handmade paper box
etc.

each time the packaging will be unique even if you ordered 2 pieces of same mini rubber stamps! this is to share gift wrapping ideas and make each rubber stamp more personalised. (for people who would like to wholesale, i will put in a same box.)
the large rubber stamps will be packaged in cotton bags or craft paper bags as before.

furthermore, there will be upgraded version of these mini rubber stamps...with handles...at the request. each handle will cost $2 each. then, already made mini rubber stamps with handles will be also available from 2012.
i am also making some DIY kits at talktothesun as well for next year. the rubber blocks, carving tools and inks will be all available at talktothesunsupplies for next year!

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-12-29T18:56:00.000+09:00

the very last page of the book.

with a hand carved alva aalto vase rubber stamp, a piece of masking tape and coloured pencils.

a few more days to new year!
i hope you all have a wonderful new year's day and a fresh start!

happy holidays! seasonal wishes from japan

2011-12-24T10:00:00.000+09:00

hi everyone!
happy holidays!!!
to whom in winter, please stay warm.to whom in summer, please enjoy sunshine and beaches.
i hope you are all having wonderful holiday season!!
i cannot believe it has become almost 8months since i came back to japan and having a winter for christmas and new year.

for me, i decided to work while most of everyone is having holidays but have a short catch up break after the new year's day and in march. (hopefully travelling to sydney and melbourne for a few weeks then.) it is such a fun time to spend time with a family and friends so i am off to some lunches, dinners or cuppa tea. one of the awaiting plans in january is to go to the universal studio japan in osaka. i will be staying with some friends and visiting a friend who lives there. i can hardly wait for this break!

other than my work, i am finishing my sketchbook project and looking for something exciting for next year! now i am busy cleaning the house...i found my great great great grandfather's drawing books filled with his ink drawings. he was not a painter but a samurai himself then. but he seemed to be one of the family members who loved arts. so it was a big surprise to find them which were all drawn on the piece of very fine and thin japanese traditional paper! i don't know what to do with them yet. i especially liked his tiger ink drawing. the rest of my family made a little traditional heater contained with handmade vegetable and bamboo charcoals and it keeps me warm.

what have you all been doing for this holiday?
i wish you all the best and crafty holidays!!

(the picture was taken in newcastle, nsw where i had the last year's christmas! it was such a nice summer christmas holiday!)

instand felting project

2011-12-17T15:55:00.000+09:00

this simple felting project only requires a tiny kitchen sink and heaters to dry (if you live in a cold area like my house!!) it only takes 20-40mins!
(*sorry...i think i have lots of english mistakes...hopefully you understand...)

all you need....
1) wool tops
2)hot water
3)soap
4)sewing thread
5)scissors

how to make it...
1)usually wool tops are fluffy and soft fiber and come about 5cm thick and long...cut it to maybe about 1metre long and then tear the wool top in half or 1/3.
2)use hot water and soap...pour some hot water in the sink and rub gently by hand for a while till it gets thinner and fibers should look mashed together. (it does not have to be tight and tougher like when you make a felted bag or scarf...because it looks nicer to keep it a bit fluffy. the wool will shrink and become a thick soft string like a yarn.
3)after drying it naturally in front of heater or under sun. cut it into 20cm - 30cm long piece.
4)make a ribon shape without tying a knot.
5)tie the centre of ribbon with sewing thread and a make a loop to hang as a decoration.

featured!

2011-12-11T02:11:00.000+09:00

one of my rubber stamp sets called "winter street" was featured here. a blogger leanne who creates her beautiful creations and sell on her etsy store "folk". thank you leanne! her romantic style jewelries all look wonderful. take a look!
also, there are many people who sent me messages through etsy stores and emails lately about this set. in some of them...they were from customers i met at markets in sydney last christmas...they came to find me there and they found out i was not there for this christmas...which made me cry! i terribly miss sydney and melbourne where i had been running market stalls for 3 years.
about the set, i called it "winter street" because i first made them in october! but as there are some photos shown...if i use other colours...it can be summer street...!(just to mention...i don't want to make something only for one season...usually.) i love making rubber stamps....i hope you will enjoy using them to create something totally new!

circlular rubber stamps

2011-12-10T00:33:00.000+09:00

my continuous trend.
i have been drawing and carving some more circular rubber stamps.
i originally started making circular rubber stamps when i started making some wooden brooches. i used those rubber stamps to stamp on the brooch. these new ones are made a few days ago. same with some i made last month. they are empty inside the circle so people can write their own messages.
i am uploading 2 more soon and hopefully will design something for spring to come!

newly listed items on talktothesun

2011-12-09T00:56:00.000+09:00

here are some items relisted on monday 5th.
hand carved rubber stamps are both trees. i have been working on more designs lately to create more variations. those 2 trees are about 8cm high. pretty nice to use on fabric as well as a piece of paper!
necklaces...as always...i like to use raw brass as i like the way the metal darkens but pretty reasonable materials to work with. these two marine style charms are really lovely to wear for both men and women!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87816190/tree-with-2-leaves-hand-carved-rubber
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87816205/tree-hand-carved-rubber-stamp-lrs-t
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87815615/bon-voyage-pendant-working-hourglass
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87815775/bon-voyage-pendant-working-whistle

custom made rubber stamp for madeline

2011-12-08T04:06:00.000+09:00

a cute girl with lovely smile!
it is actually really the first time i carved a rubber stamp of a person with a pair of glasses. happy holidays for her and her family!
i always have customers who communicated with me patiently and it does help me to work on custom made rubber stamps easily, much effectively and faster! as i am always paranoid with making mistakes...especially spelling of names, having these wonderful customers who also share their time to make custom made rubber stampz is really special for me.

new necklace and earrings for winter

2011-12-07T00:24:00.000+09:00

i have been working on a few necklaces and earrings slowly!
after some changes in consignment sales...now, i have 2 new places replaced by one place. they are gift stores located in one of the most famous places in my hometown. so my jewelry will be displayed with traditional crafts and gifts...feeling a little bit strange. but thanks to the owner of those 2 places.

these 3 new necklaces will be available only on my etsy store.

the sketchbook project: 2012

2011-12-06T03:50:00.000+09:00

"slow food slow life" hand carved rubber stamp
a plain rectangular shape rubber stamp
i actually got some new coloured ink pads...which was for me exciting!

winter is here...time to get together with friends and family...dining together sitting around the table...i personally like "nabe - pot dish" on the bottom right.

finally....2 pages left....since i rebined with some recycled paper...tracing paper...brown paper....and with my inexperienced book binding skills...this sketchbook seems to have a funny looking...then, i started working on from the very last page to say "thank you" using my thank you rubber stamp and wood block. then, kept working on random pages every time i opened the sketchbook.
5-15mins to work on each page...with rubber stamps i made....
it has been really fun!
i don't have any ideas what to draw or how i use my rubber stamps yet for the very last page...but i will eventually fill the space with something!

custom made rubber stamp for innes shoe co.

2011-12-05T00:45:00.000+09:00

a little custom made rubber stamp.
shop here.

custom made rubber stamp for poppy

2011-12-04T00:20:00.000+09:00

one of my delightful jobs i i have been working on...
whenever i get an order from a customer who is a mom and wants to order a special rubber stamp from talktothesun. i always asks a few questions who the model is(mostly customer's child)....what she likes...etc. then, i get some pictures to get the most information from those photos taken by the model's mom or dad...
imagine...how they are going to use the rubber stamp once it is delivered to them...
it is a fun process working on it thinking of someone who are actually using it in a few weeks.

other than work, i am planning on a short trip to beppu where is famous for hot springs in kyushu with my mom...it has been a decade or 2 since i actually travelled with my mom...can you believe that? i traveled a lot but i never really traveled with her since i was little. so it is pretty exciting to do something different!

hydrangea - hand carved rubber stamp set

2011-12-03T03:44:00.000+09:00

finally...finally...i made a set of hydrangea rubber stamp...i had kept telling myself to make some...which i never did till now...i had many photos and illustrations in my lap top and sketchbooks for quite sometimes...like many other things i have in my to do lists. now...i have more to carve!
this set is available from here.

custom made rubber stamp

2011-12-02T22:10:00.000+09:00

personalised rubber stamps are great for gifts.
2 ways i work on making this type of custom made rubber stamps.
1)using an image...make it as realistic as possible still keeping the rubber stamp simple.
2)using some photos of one person...make it a cartoon character.

i am also happy to work on pets and some objects like a furniture people would like to personalise it as a rubber stamp.

thanks to martha strewart.com

2011-12-01T03:38:00.000+09:00

this is the best idea ever....i am not a party person...i cannot organise things well. so i rather help others who organise parties most of the time...
while i was reading some blogs. i found this link and i thought...i gotta tell some friends who are thiking of throwing parties. (hey, i am in japan and it is winter here...so we don't really need cold drinks...but we need to have some nice pot dishes gathering around the table...) but i actually thought this floral ice cube idea would be great to use part of floral arrangement on a lovely japanese table settings...i have not tried yet...but it would be wonderful to try and set a table with these floral ice cubes to feel winter...
http://www.marthastewart.com/348299/floral-ice-cubes

the sketchbook project:2012

2011-11-30T01:29:00.000+09:00

with left pieces of memo pads.
with rubber stamps i used as the product info and notice for the last 4 years.
(funny to realise my carving skills!)
with one of my most favourite rubber stamps i carved in the last 4 years...this elephant.
all 5-10minutes instant work.

in the last 3 days...i really had a very stressful moment unexpectedly concerned with my mother. she had been devoting her life for her beloved job and she are now unable to keep it for a while by a force outside. when this kind of things happen in one's life...we want to blame on someone...or something...for me, i felt furious! seeing me being furious...my mom decided not to take it to somewhere serious...because i was furious for her...she said...by seeing me furious...it did give her time to think the current situation with her cool head....of course she was upset...but she stood up and she made her decision in a few days...to leave but not hate her own beloved job. now she is hunting another spot...to reopen...what a strong woman she is.
luckily, she have reconnected with some of old customers by this incident...they all understood the situation and gave her a hand now. i really hope that her business is not only for her to support her life sustainably but also her customers'...i mean all business or studies or whatever we do are for ourselves but it is to be useful, to be happy for others as well.
i had a lot to think and a lot to talk with her this week. i am now back to myself after being furious for 3 days. i mean...beging upset, furious...or any negative feelings never make me move forward...but glue me in the past and it darkens my glasses and unable to see and narrow down the opportunity...i really learned it very clearly this time.
i am with her and reset with a new spirit. i know what is important and what means to me and for my family.

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-11-29T02:42:00.000+09:00

2 more pages to go!
apple rubber stamp.
coloured pencils.
pen.

thinking of human relations and a word power of thank you.

eric carle - 40th anniversary of hungry caterpiller

2011-11-28T16:42:00.000+09:00

custom made rubber stamp

2011-11-27T16:36:00.000+09:00

new rubber stamps for a customer.
air balloon.
eiffel tower.
carved from hand drawn pictures.

the sketchbook project:2012

2011-11-26T15:27:00.000+09:00

more pages!
geometric shape rubber stamp (hand carved)
mug cups (drawing)
gift tag rubber stamps (hand carved) with hand writing

the sketchbook project: 2012

2011-11-25T16:01:00.000+09:00

6pages more left!

they are my last 7/8th pages!

the sketchbook project:2012

2011-11-24T15:18:00.000+09:00

new pages added!
recycled paper
3 handcarved rubber stamps
masking tape

the sketchbook project:2012

2011-11-23T15:25:00.000+09:00

2 new pages.
plant rubber stamp (hand carved)
flat shoes rubber stamp (hand carved)

no scissors. recycled. cozy for winter.

2011-11-21T21:50:00.000+09:00

made a scarf from thrifted vintage fabric.
i read some post in several blogs and websites how to make a scarf from t-shirts some time ago.
i wasn't thinking to make one till i got this wool blended stretch fabric...it was thicker and it wasn't a t-shirts material and didn't strech the same way like those DIY ideas...but the result is it is warm and easy to wear!

i made a long fringe out of 150cmX30cm fabric on each side. then i tied knots to connect each end. i wrapped twice around my neck. the drapes create interesting shapes and the bows are shown like the picture.

references: (here, here, here, here, )

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-11-20T19:47:00.000+09:00

hexagon rubber stamps.

fabric swap updates.

2011-11-19T22:35:00.001+09:00

i have received one more fabric from one of the hand printed fabric swap partners!!
exciting!!!
lili who runs oneceuponatimeforyou.etsy.com from australia sent thic colourful printed fabric! really excited to receive everyone's fabric!
thank you, lili.

hand printed fabric swap -:part3

2011-11-19T19:00:00.000+09:00

for emily from the handmade experiment.
used 3 different leaf rubber stamps.
one little dot rubber stamp.
one diamond geometric shape rubber stamp.

DIY for year 2 /2nd grade boys

2011-11-17T20:13:00.000+09:00

this is the sample i made....

i have been having 2 boys visiting me every week to help them simple english and handmade projects. since japanese educational department started teaching english from year 5 from this year or last year...some friends of mine who have children around that age asked me to help them to study as to prepare.
now i am trying to teach them numbers...using various items or pictures. then, i was browsing some old photos of some DIY i did ages ago. i remembered i once made an advent calender with children...this time...they are older so colouring is not fun any more. they are delighted to use carving knives and tapes etc...so i gathered some paper i was not using for a long time...a map of london and england i got in 2000 and some tracing paper to start with.

as the target of this lesson was to learn counting from 1-25...so i didn't use another exciting pictures or images like real advent calender! it would be fun to use friends photos or family...characters they like....

it was fun to see the boys use vintage childrens' book pages and cut them...gluing or pasting with masking tapes freely...

materials:
*old map ( as each window is square...i found the grids of map is easy for children to measure where to make windows and to cut...)
*tracing paper (as to paste each date from the otherside of paper...thick tracing paper is easy for children to see number to place it in the right window and right side)
*book binding tapes i never really used...(those tapes are same with making tape...easy to cut by hands)
*water proof markers ( as we are using tracing paper...water proof markers are better to write on those surface)
*masking tapes
*old childrens' book about car ( map with cars...to add more pictures on the calender)

how to:
1)decide which page of old map you use...
2)make sure you have enough squares to make them into windows (need 25 windows but each window cannot be cut next to each other...need some space.)
3)mark each window with a marker
4)cut them
5)cut tracing papers to fit in each window (slightly bigger than the window)
6)write number from 1-25 on pieces of tracing paper
7)paste them from the back of the map (glue can be tricky to paste so use masking page or sticky tape)
8)choose images from the vintage childrens' books and decorate with masking tape. ( put anywhere you like...)

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-11-17T19:39:00.000+09:00

pencil and line. one of the largest rubber stamps i made.

a girl with a bird on her head.

new rubber stamps for card making...

2011-11-15T19:43:00.000+09:00

fun to make rubber stamps with handwritten texts.

hello. thanks. merci. will be available soon.
talktothesun.etsy.com

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-11-14T19:15:00.000+09:00

pages added.
with recycled paper. woven.

mushroom rubber stamps: matchbox

2011-11-13T18:23:00.000+09:00

mushroom rubber stamps are packed in a little matchbox.
(this set was renewed its design recently.)
3 mushrooms. 2 leaves.
shop here.

hand printed fabric swap:part 4

2011-11-12T19:05:00.000+09:00

for jessica from BornLippy.etsy.com.
used two rectangular rubber stamps.
one hexagon rubber stamp.

25 favourite things...

2011-11-11T19:37:00.000+09:00

25 favourite things...i especially like designs and products from strand. the lovely redXwhite bag is from them.

the sketchbook project:2012

2011-11-10T18:52:00.000+09:00

3 pages.
birds in the tree.
bird painting.
trees in spring.

shipping during christmas and new year season

2011-11-09T13:45:00.000+09:00

<>

all parcels are shipped from japan!
it usually takes 10-14 days via small packet air.
however, during the chrsitmas and new year season,
many shipments might take more days than those estimated days.
please think 2-4weeks...or more depending on the area in your country.
if you need to be delivered with in 10days, please upgrade your shipping method to EMS (with a tracking number and insureance).
the regular shipping method i use do not have a tracking number or insurance which is common in japan for international shipping.

Béatrice Coron: Stories cut from paper | Video on TED.com

2011-11-08T17:06:00.000+09:00

Béatrice Coron: Stories cut from paper | Video on TED.com

wonderful and amazing story...!

drawing on fabric...

2011-11-08T10:35:00.000+09:00

recently, i got a 2 sets of markers. if you use them specially on fabric you will enjoy drawing and making some original fabric without using silk screens or stamps to print on them...

they will set on fabrics (cotton, silk, linen, paper, wood, leather) with heat.
so before introducing them in my etsy store...i decided to do a test. (well, any cases, i recommend customers to do a testing on a piece of fabrics they are thinking of using...)

i used a piece of vintage silk japanese kimono...as i was personally thinking of doing some crafty projects anyway...i used a piece. the result is here. i took good care of ironing it to set the colour...otherwise, it will never stay on fabric.
these pens might be fun for children as well...as they are not required to use heavy inks and any specific tools to start with.

i personally recommend to use making tapes to tape it on cutting mat or some board to prevent from getting your table or desk firty and keep fabric steady.

i am looking for a reasonable fabric inks to paint like water colour at the moment...but i think these markers are great to use! easy and casual way to enjoy drawing on fabric...!

the multi purpose marker sets will be available on talktothesun supplies soon!

geometric...geometric...more rubber stamps to come...

2011-11-07T20:26:00.000+09:00

i have been drawing and carving some geometric designs...
i started using geometric shapes for my simple pendants and necklaces since last year...then, now...it gets into my rubber stamp projects.
here, here, here.
also, i discovered a few techniques to carve rubber stamps...while i was carving some special rubber stamps. i mean sometimes lots of information are there on the internet and books..but i got it while i was seeing the carpenter....strange!

...i passed the provisional driving tests...which means i still have another month or two till i get the full driving license...yes, i must take a full driving license tests before everything will be over. (i guess japan has one of the best driving school systems...even though i found it quite stressful.) at least i need to celebrate the fact i "passed the provisional driving tests"...since my teacher thought i would fail the tests today...when he checked how i learned in the past one month yesterday.
i guess "i did it". from next friday, i will be taking lectures and practice driving on the actual road...(oh, before that, i have a test for parking backwards and take 3 lectures about first aid...). in the meantime, as usual, i enjoy riding my small portable bike to everywhere and walking around my neighbourhood where many leaves turned in red, yellow and brown!

more craft supplies!

2011-11-06T19:15:00.000+09:00

new fabrics and new ink pads will be added in a few weeks!

tiny feet photography by junko thacker

2011-11-05T19:47:00.000+09:00

junko - a professional photographer based in toronto - purchased these (1,2,3) rubber stamps from my shop a few month ago. she sent me an email to let me know how she uses those rubber stamps!
she posted about her thoughts here.
(more beautiful and lovely photos in her blog!!...sigh...!)

let's say "hello" and "thank you" more often...

2011-11-05T10:49:00.000+09:00

hello and thank you...
with smiles...
it might make your family's day happy...

hello and thank you...
with smiles...
it might make your friends' day happy...

hello and thank you...
with smiles...
it might make a waiter's day at the cafe you buy a cup of coffee everyday happy...

hello and thank you...
with smiles...
it might make your day happy...

i believe in simple gestures with kindness and smiles make things better.

inspiration-children stories

2011-11-04T15:00:00.000+09:00

via a cup of jo
how things can be as simple and abstracted as these posters?
i am totally amazed by these posters.
http://www.squareinchdesign.com/category/childrens-story-posters/

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-11-03T19:36:00.000+09:00

new pages.
tea cups, tea pot, question mark and geometric shape rubber stamp.
with recycled paper.

inspired my surroundings...

2011-11-02T19:32:00.000+09:00

i live in the farming neighbourhood under the skirt of mountains...i don't have to find parks and public gardens to look for nature....they are there even though they don't have any specific gardening styles or many beautiful roses.
i am now drawing more and more leaf and trees...to make a new collection of rubber stamps for spring or next year to come.
this set of rubber stamps is one of my ideas to start. i used it for my 1st fabric swap and it will be also available at my etsy shop.

yamaguchi arts and crafts - october 2011

2011-10-31T16:02:00.002+09:00

yamaguchi arts and crafts is an annual event to invite some selected artists from all around japan. it was my 2nd time to visit this event. there were more stalls compared to the 1st year i had been to. most stalls are ceramists, jewelers, leather makers, wood furniture makers and a few metal makers and glass makers.

there are few textile artists. there are no individual fashion designers or graphic designers who sell posters or their clothing...nor fine arts such as paintings...this point is a little bit disappointment.
although the high quality of products, there was something missing. so i hope it will add something more for next year. some local cafes and restaurants have their food stalls which was nice!

the best finding for me from this event was the chopstick rest made by "a piece of land" the ceramic artist from aichi prefecture. (i actually customised it into a brooch..to make it wearable.)
she really had wonderful philosophy and great quality...especially her ceramic candy jar coated with sterling silver and while dinner plates were beautiful.

handprinted fabric swap: part 2

2011-10-30T21:23:00.000+09:00

for lili from lazy days.
used one large floral design rubber stamp.
one large circle rubber stamp.

handprinted fabric swap: part 1

2011-10-29T20:16:00.000+09:00

for rachael from imagine gnats.
used one large elephant rubber stamp.
one triangle rubber stamp.

handprinted fabric swap

2011-10-28T19:56:00.000+09:00

this fabric swap is organised by leslie who writes the blog onegirl. my friend rebecca who writes blinking flights told me about it and decided to sign in. now i am working on design. since i use my own hand carved rubber stamps, i decided each 4 members in my swap group would get a different design (a size of fat quarter). i thought it might be much more fun to make it more personalised.
here is my swap partners.
jessica - BornLippy.etsy.com
emily - http://emilyflippinmaruna.wordpress.com
lili - http://lilis-lazy-days.blogspot.com
rachael - http://lilis-lazy-days.blogspot.com

rebecca also starts sourcing some inspirations! this post is quite cool!
lislie's post for her prints is inspring, too.

mmm, i am updating 2 of the hand printed fabric pieces soon.
i combined 2 old rubber stamps i made a year ago and new rubber stamps i made recently.
it is such a meditating process to make it...i mean i do enjoy making rubber stamps for half of my life. but i never actually stamped my rubber stamps into big piece of fabric...only small pieces of fabrics to make cards or small fabric frames. so now i felt like i found a whole new approach toward working on hand carved rubber stamps.

bookhou - wonderful handmade and design

2011-10-21T17:04:00.000+09:00

my bag arrived from toronto canada. the designer of this wonderful bag is bookhou.
i had my eyes on this bag for some months...i finally ordered a few weeks ago...
wonderful handmade item!
love buying handmade products.

2011-10-20T21:22:00.000+09:00

lui facebook page.
check her lovely jewelry collection.
plus, my hand carved rubber stamps is available here.

better homes and gardens november issue 2011

2011-10-19T22:57:00.001+09:00

please check itune store for BHG digital magazine or printed magazine at your nearest newsagency...for BHG november issue 2011. one of my rubber stamps was featured in the article simply handmade.
i have not got the magazine yet myself so i cannot put the image here...here is the link to the page. to see the details...you probably need to log in to BHG page. mine is part of handmade cocktail coaster idea. it gives you some tips how to carve rubber stamps and other great ideas to make personalised handmade gifts! wonderful section to get some basic and simple crafty ideas!

the photo: a set of new rubber stamps of 3 larger buttons! perfect for stamping on piece of fabrics....

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-10-15T21:00:00.000+09:00

recycled paper. inks. coloured pencils. my hand carved rubber stamps.

season for wool!!!

2011-10-14T16:59:00.000+09:00

here are some photos of my felted bangles...i am taking it to the shop where i might be able to sell! it will be 2nd consignment to sell my products...life gets strangely busy...without specific patterns so it has been difficult to control everything in order at the moment!
the shop i am visiting isn't a boutique or shops where you nornally see handmade products...my 1st place is at the tea house. then, this one is going to be at the music store where people come and buy grand pianos and clarinets! the shop owner started sharing his huge store for people who hand craft. so i decided to visit him....my old friend is also working as a piano/clarinet teacher so that was how i got his contact. i still need to do more research to find more shops and places to sell locally...!!

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-10-12T21:00:00.001+09:00

recycled paper, my hand carved rubber stamps, alphabet rubber stamps, masking tape and some hand drawings...

nagasaki kunchi festival

2011-10-11T13:55:00.000+09:00

nagasaki is located in kyushu island japan. it has a very unique history since it became the only trading port in japan in edo era. then, japanese tradition still exists there as well. for me the kunchi festival seemed to be one of the craziest festivals in japan although there was no fireworks. it helds every 7 years...so it must have meant a big deal to locals! it is hard to explain so i have attached the link here to read in english. people have to travel neighbourhoods to neighbourhoods to see the spefic group with a decorated car. each has a theme from the history. so in one afternoon....i walked more than 20,000 steps to follow those dancers and cars. sorry my writing is abstracted...but it was quite different from many festivals dedicated for japanese shrines which i have seen in my hometown. please read the link! they have much better explanation. in a meantime, i had a great time to visit a couple of favourite places in the city...of course, mainly for nice meals. the nagasaki public art museum was pretty nice. the museum shop has a good collection of products. there is one thing i have annoyed...was the staff who kept giving me orders which direction i should walk as i didn't have much time i wanted only see some spanish collections they had...but she kept telling me to go this way and that way to see more....in the end...i really had to ignore her...
well, overall, the nagasaki is one of a few good minor cities to visit in japan after visiting fukuoka where is one of the main cities in japan which is located in kyushu island. nagasaki, kumamoto, ooita are other prefectures near fukuoka. besides, now there are shinkansen lines link to other part of kyushu from fukuoka (which also link to osaka and tokyo) so the train trip to kyushu isn't as bad as before. this time, my friend drove from our hometown taking about 4 hours. not bad.

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-10-10T21:11:00.000+09:00

3 more!
no theme is the theme i chose for the sketchbook project...!

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-10-09T20:50:00.000+09:00

all pages are created with my hand carved rubber stamps and commercial letter rubber stamps...and some drawings.

new pendant - flower

2011-10-08T18:00:00.000+09:00

some of new necklaces for october!
since i started going to the driving school in my spare time...i have less time for creating!
this pendant is lovely like old rose.
i have another one looks more like ancient tulip.

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-10-07T20:47:00.000+09:00

more...toward the end of year...less than 20 pages to go!

LOVE in a bottle - sterling silver necklace

2011-10-06T20:00:00.000+09:00

crystal quartz, lemon jade, moonstone...
a lovely necklace is packaged in a glass bottle.
each necklace is tied with a red thread.

some of the listing is here and here...
more will be listed in a few weeks.

autumn is around here in japan

2011-10-04T21:53:00.000+09:00

this year's rice have been all harvested in these couple of weekends!
the rice field in front of my house tells me to prepare for winter...i now recalled how japanese 4 seasons arrived for each season in my neighbourhood...the garden trees and wild plants around the neighbourhood shows it is getting colder!

on the other hand, it is a great season for mushrooms, fish...some winter vegetables....and new rice! yes, it will be a season for great japanese soup pot dishes and grilled fish. also, drinking maccha is much better in this chilly weather than hot weather.
there is a nice japanese tea company called lupica. they have a various selection of black tea, chinese and taiwanese tea, japanese tea, detox tea...
i purchased genmai-black bean-maccha mixed green tea, jasmine, black tea mixed with berries and roasted chestnut mix green tea. they are all really tasty and good for both cold and hot.
now, i pulled some tea pots and infusers which i hardly used for this summer as i was too sick to make a hot tea...now, they are placed nicely in the cupboard again to have a few cups of tea every day...

the sketchbook project 2012

2011-10-01T13:18:00.002+09:00

another page...
this is always what i think when i made a mistake with a new rubber stamp...

dumbo feather issue28

2011-09-29T18:15:00.000+09:00

dumbo feather is one of my favourite australian magazines.
i realised that i could order them online from their website, even though the price for international orders are a little bit more expensive. i particularly like this magazine because there are lots of readings rather than looking at photos. articles about people.

the other thing that i am taking 1/4 of my day time is to learn to drive. in japan, people have to go to driving school for a month or some months to get the provisional license (L-plate in australia), then, you go to the integrated driving school where your address is to get a full licence. hopefully, i finish going there soon and get a full licence before christmas...!

felted bag...for myself.

2011-09-27T00:24:00.000+09:00

i made the body of the bag a few weeks ago...but stopped for a while.
i finally finished adding the handles and the lining!
i wanted to make the shape a little bit wider but this bag is ok for everyday use.
australian merino wool (natural colour ones) so it still had a rough fibre and a bit of dust.
that was not a problem. i picked most of it while i was layering. 8layers of wool...taking me forever...then, i put some bleach to get rid of some colours to make a bit of shades. as it was not dyed wool...not really obvious. but you see different beige colour.
but this way is hard to put other colours...so i will use white next time and i will try to dye the bag! there is a chocolate brown one left so i am making some place mats and coasters for coming winter in a few weeks!

the sketchbook project:2012

2011-09-25T16:30:00.000+09:00

hahha...more...for the sketchbook project 2012.
but there are more pages to go!
1st one...after stamping everywhere...i added coloured pencil drawings on the top.
3rd one...i stamped a key image and drew myself with a black pen.

the sketchbook project:2012

2011-09-24T01:24:00.000+09:00

some more...for the sketchbook project 2012.
feather glued on the tracing paper...
positive photos glued on the tracing paper...so you can still see the images if you hold the page against the light.
then...i just had to use those masking tapes...love masking tapes.