Prudence Lansell

TENSO - REVIEW

2012-01-19T18:34:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for an affordable forwarding service for Japanese online shopping for a while now... and recently came across Tenso, a Japanese forwarding service that also assist with the actual purchasing (most Japanese online stores won't take foreign credit cards)... So when I saw the mina perhonen collaboration with PASS THE BATON I thought why not give it a burl... $90 later ($75 of that is handling and postage fees) and only one third of the items I requested arrived (they'd sold out because it took them 7 days to act...).... that's one seriously expensive bread plate... but it's so beautiful I almost don't mind the price....
So if you're thinking of using this service I'd load up your basket with items that aren't likely to sell out quickly cos once you start the process you're committed.

VIC ST LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

2012-01-14T23:41:00.000-08:00

I love me a bit of vic st, it's down and dirty and full of Viet cheep and cheerful deliciousness..... and today it was loud and in your face for lunar new year festival... so fun/yum!

TREATS

2012-01-14T23:20:00.000-08:00

Some treats I've had my eye on...
Striped knit scarf - COS. mina perhonen remake plate - PASS THE BATON. Yue pocket back pack - POUR PORTER. Striped 3/4 sleeved top - COS. Cable knit jumper - COS. Merino and silky dress - COS.

KIITOS

2012-01-14T23:00:00.000-08:00

My picks for Marimekko Spring 2012 available from here ........ yet to be released are the bags... ohhhh my goodness the bags... I'll have one Toimi Tote for ma birthday please!

2011-2012

2012-01-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

I have always felt that to make the most of my annual leave I've had to go big cities overseas... more bang for your buck.. but this Christmas/New Year break has me all turned around! It's all about the mountains/beach with a house full of people ya'll.... and jenga!
We don't have a big immediate family and so Christmas has always felt kinda small and low key, but this year my step siblings all came (the house swelled to 11 people) to mum's house in the Grampians and it was great! eating, playing games, naps, drinks and more eating... Then it was off to Angelsea to stay with some new friends, who are so fun and lovely!! I snaffled this little guy on my last day of work! Mum's house Christmas morning at 5am, watching the storm head off towards Melbourne Taking a turn around the garden
Boxing Day sunrise, it's hard to see but there were about 50 kangaroos chomping away in the paddock
more boxing day sunrise Leon picking boysenberries and a beautiful tea cup I got from my sister Arrived in Angelsea, such beautiful skies day time carni 2nd morning in Angelsea, the boys went for a ride and I walk along the cliffs and the beach all morning. I don't think I've ever been more relaxed! I have always loved pussy willow (not sure if anyone else calls them this..)! so soft! wonky toes and a very pretty rock After arriving back in Melbourne, we were both a bit down. We'd had such a great mix of family, friends and relaxation that it was sad to feel like it was all over.... So we headed to Brighton beach and watched the sunset... while it was very pretty.....it paled in comparison to Angelsea (the water felt tepid with the sweat of all the people). Also invites are going out today..... and some mina treats for Christmas.

ERM TREATS

2011-12-10T18:56:00.001-08:00

Last Thursday I went to the the launch of two new erm books of some serious local talent..... the amazeballs beci orpin and marc martin ...... soooo freakin exciting... managed to snaffle a signed copy from beci (yessssssssssssssssssssss.........)! You can pick up these beauties in-store from Perimeter Books and online from erm books. I thought I'd include another erm book, Kat McLeod's... published last year... again..... its a total cracker!

SATURDAY DAMAGE

2011-12-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

We visited Ganim and Gorman this morning to do a spot of Christmas shopping... instead I picked up this potato stamped plate and a beaaaauuutiful velvet devore skirt for myself......... yep...I have zero self control.

CHRISTMAS AND FRIDAY

2011-11-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

A lesser lover of Christmas would have been drained of their holiday spirit years ago.... but not this moi..... I'm still completely jazzed by it....... it makes me remember long summer holidays of being dropped off at the Halls Gap pool at 9am and picked up at 5pm... the sun damage gives me nightmares, but oh to spend the entire summer in a blurry haze of chlorine affected vision again.... twas bliss.
I've been faffing around with Christmas Tree ideas this year... and after 2 fails (my hat rack came dangerously close to being thrown off the balcony) I've settled on a very simple mt tape outline... I'd say it's ok only..

Recently I've been pretty flat out on the weekends doing wedding stuff, it's getting fun seeing it all come together.... so far it's looking like a fun mess of food and colour... should be a good day! Anyway I had a 'wedding free' day on Friday and it was so lovely.........I walked with Leon to work, had a sneaky hour of playground time with a dear friend and her bub, then popped in to the Design Files open house (purchased a few wee treats) then walked home, hung out with mum for the arvo and had finished the day off with a yum dinner with my sister (she made sticky black rice with mango... ughhhhhhhhhh delish!)..... perfection!
below are a few snaps and highlights from the Design Files open house.

RECENTLY

2011-11-26T20:34:00.000-08:00

Location scouting with sweety. Designing wedding invites

Double Marimekko. Ramen - Ya

DIY wiring job. Jury Duty snacks

Melbourne sky on Thursday. Paco's Tacos.
There have been a serious lack of posts recently..... been a busy mo-fo... wedding prep is time consuming/stressful/super fun!

OJI-SAN

2011-10-28T23:02:00.001-07:00

I'm a little bit star struck.... today I met and chatted to Oji-san... who was so very generous with his time and knowledge! It was such a lovely afternoon at KUMU. Many Thanks to Bree for putting on such an amazing event!

Slowly unwrapping today's purchases.

Diamond hooks, Bean hooks, Frame Bottle opener and a Large towel hanger, so so beautiful.

Time to decide where to display these pretties!

S/S 2012

2011-10-27T15:18:00.001-07:00

Getting pretty bloody excited about Marimekko's s/s 2012 collection..... One of each please!

This is my favourite....

Not so keen on this front outfit but the large check cardi on the right is super cute
So bright and fun.

Blue and white chevron singlet dress!
Images from here and here

SYDNEY

2011-10-25T01:32:00.000-07:00

A few shots from a lovely weekend in Syndey.... my top three highlights... sticky rice and mango at chat thai in chinatown... the thick delish stock at gumshara ramen and the salted caramel gelato from gelato messina...... all food!

plane and sky and stickers on a wall

inflated umbrella iglo by keg de souza as part of primavera 2011

bondi and our little bedsit

gumshara ramen and a girl with nice posture in front of the opera house

janet echelman's 1.26

TOO MUCH

2011-10-19T13:46:00.001-07:00

omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg *spew from excitement* This week has been the most amazing week... First I won the Marimekko book... then MR KITLY posted a link to my blog...... then I won Hello Sandwich's new book giveaway and Ebony kindly posted my link.... then this morning I got an email from Beci Orpin with kind words about my blog.............. it's toooooooo much amazingness.......... time to go and buy a lottery ticket me thinks....
ps. I'm off to Sydney for the weekend, hopefully going to see Janet Echelman's Tsunami

♥MARIMEKKO FRIDAY♥

2011-10-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

Today was sooooooooooooooooo freakin amazing..... not only did my navy Petja Dress arrive in the mail this morning... but when I got home this afternoon after a super fun day with my lovely friends, there was another mystery Marimekko parcel waiting for me........it took me a while to click, but about a month ago I had entered a magazine competition where you could win suurur - make your own marimekko by saying why Marimekko is amazing in under 25 words..... AND I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!! BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.......... *exhale*.................. best start to a weekend ever..... and tonight is a sneaky friday date night with my sweety..... far out I'm one lucky duck!

SUNDAY TREATS

2011-10-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been the ace-est.... Friday was really lovely, lunch and then drinks with some work friends.....Then on Saturday we saw Norwegian Wood, so so so sad but very pretty.... and came home to find MR KITLY is now stocking bits and bobs from minä perhonen...................... news that kind of took my breath away........... So this morning we popped in for a chat and picked up the treats in the images below!
Ps. MR KITLY has an exhibition of Oji Masanori and Ona Rina works coming up AND (this might be more exciting that having minä perhonen stocked in Melbourne.......) Oji-san and Ona-san are coming to the opening of the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such design royalty.... such beautiful pieces... and such a perfect setting! It's too much right!?

2 cutie plants and a fog linen tray

SS09 and SS11 minä perhonen catalouges... these are so so so beautiful... the SS11 is a huge envelope of goodies... including the postcards below... swooooooon.

STILTS

2011-10-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

I made STILTS!!..... a couple of DIY home improvements for the desk and the kitchen!

さいきん

2011-08-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

weekend at mum's and anniversary flowers
new marimekko cup and solo work picnic
marrimekko gift and flowers

Cutler & Co suckling pig and Andrew's burger
Anniversary dinner and Anglesea day trip
Poached pears and custard crumble and my new salt waters

SNEAKY SATURDAY NIGHT INDOOR PICNIC

2011-07-30T02:49:00.000-07:00

One way to remedy a winter funk....... indoor picnic with my sweety!

OUT OF HAND

2011-07-26T01:12:00.000-07:00

New books and tshirt treats..... and the last of my Mina Perhonen buying spree.... I promise.
particle of mina perhonen

Mina Perhonen 2011-12 autumn/winter collection

Paradis Jersey Tee - Mina Perhonen.

BABY BFF

2011-07-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

I'm not super great at finishing things off.... and I like to go fast on my sewing machine.... so here are some untimely and messy treats for two of the cutest little girls going around!

JOLLYGOO ZINES

2011-07-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

Hiki's (Jollygoo blog and Uguisu online store and blog) zines.... they are soooooo lovely! Uguisu is a beautiful online store that offers many cutie treats that are usually quite difficult to source outside of Japan. Thank you Hiki-chan!

SNEAKY PRE-PAY-DAY TREATS

2011-07-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

Images from Aubin and Wills

DRESSES

2011-06-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

I love dresses....sun dresses, shirt dresses, tunics, sacks.... the lot of em....but wedding dresses, I don't know.... they're tricksy... and kinda scary. It feels like large white ugliness is hard to avoid, but below are some that I like... maybe even love a little.

left - Toni Maticevski - this was my first choice but unfortunately it has a monster truck price tag. (image from Elle)
middle - Akira- Spiral Shibori Long Dress. I tried this dress on a couple of times.... and really wanted it to work, but it looked like I was hiding a baby under all that fabric (which isn't the case mum)... shame though... (image from Akira)
right - J.Mendel- Such a lovely dress, though you might need to be super thin to pull it off... which I ain't. I like how her torso looks like it's been wrapped in pretty bandages. (image from style.com)
This dress is pretty much perfect! It's vintage feeling with some nice quirks.... and matched with those shoes... apricot flats!! mmmmmm. (images from Once Wed - click for more photos)

left - Super cute Jenny Packham dress. A little bit of glitz. (images from Brooklyn Bride - click for more photos)
middle - WEEEEE she's wearing pink brogues with her dress.... outstanding! Lovely lovely vintage dress. (images from Once Wed - click for more photos)
right - I love this simple short summery dress, if it was knee length I reckon it might suit me a bit better. (images from Once Wed - click for more photos)

and most importantly I'll need to be able to dance like this guy..... ain't no dress gonna get in the way of my aggressively dorky dancing! (image from bonjour!)

2011-06-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

Cheeky Monday night dessert.......... Black sticky rice with palm sugar syrup and coconut cream.

KYOTO - MINA PERHONEN

2011-06-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

Saving the best till last...... It's hard for me to say just how much I love Mina Perhonen... I could show you in a dance but we'd all end up with blood noses..... I feel so lucky to have been able to visit this multi level building of bliss.... armed with enough Japanese to have the cutest conversations with the loveliest of staff, it was easily the highlight of the trip!

The first floor is the main shop which holds current collection pieces including fabric yardage! The space has extremely high ceilings with beautiful light pendants, just lovely in be in. The third floor is arkistot, a much smaller space that shows archived pieces. The display racks were shovels suspended from the ceiling, which allows them to have clothes hanging and have garments folded on the shovel mouth.... so smart! Then the forth floor is piece, another stunning space with views that looked out over mountains. This space is dedicated to re-working archived fabrics into anything your heart could desire...... button, bags, cushions, doilies, scraps etc. I would want for NOTHING if I worked in piece........ ohhhhh to craft away with these fabrics all day long........ I could go on and on... but I'll let you look at the photos (unfortunately it wasn't possible to take photos inside). Enjoy!

A blury Prudie disappearing into forth floor piece.
And here's what I purchased.

Little packages of scraps (I bought 9)

A Fragment of Journey.

Mina Perhonen ?

'flower bed' length.

'fujisans' handkerchief and 'paradis' - lavender doily.

mini bag 'mingle' and mini bag 'flower bed' - green.

dress 'paradis' - pink.

dress 'star fence'.

On my last visit I was given a present..... a little bag of buttons ......It may have been because I spent the best part of $1500 here, but I'd like to think it was because the retail staff and craft ladies liked me so much that they felt like we were the best of friends..... either way the gesture proved too much for my delicate sensibilities...... and I cried. It was all bowing from the hip and domoarigatogozaimashita-ing....... in my head it seemed a sweet and appropriate reaction..... but I'm afraid a witness (Leon) might tell you that it was messy and embarrassing.

Until next time my sweet Mina Perhonen......

KYOTO - MORE TREATS

2011-06-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

Marimekko 60th Anniversary special edition magazine with free Unikko Tote!

Yurio Seki's Salvia magazine #17 - Swedish band weaving

Mirai-chan by Kotori Kawashima. Such an amazing face and eyebrow combo....

Torafu Architects airvase book. I bought a bunch of airvases as well for some potential wedding decorations!

Just in case you couldn't see it on the cover..... this book came with a mina perhonen airvase...... I will never be able to bring myself to use it!

Needless to say I stocked up on mt....
A pretty little postcard from Keibunsha.

Check shirt from Ships and the cutiest rucksack from Bag'N'Noun.

Hitoshi Yamamoto polka dot gauze and Tomotake coaster - red current from Keibunsha. Kodue handkerchief with gold embroidery and Fog Linen Work coaster from Angers.

KYOTO - HOTEL AND FOOD

2011-06-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Care of Aesop we found ourselves staying at the very swish Screen..... a welcomed luxury on our last night, many robe hours were had....

This bed was over 3 meters wide..... room 102 designed by Akihiko Shimada.

View from the rooftop bar

Graf in Osaka.

Graf Fudo Lunch Set - delish!

Graf 2nd floor gift shop, beautiful spot with such beautiful handmade gifts.

Efish, we thought the food here was ok only, but the river breeze on a muggy afternoon more than made up for it!

Lunch set from Tsubame, just around the corner from Keibunsha.

Meal Muji.

A sneaky konbini dinner in the hotel.

We picked up this cute magazine on the first day, it lists some of the best home style cafe cooking in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe..... so YUM!

Apologies for the lack of food shots..... I devoured the meals before Leon had a chance to take any photos.....

KYOTO - KITCHEN TREATS

2011-06-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

Time for some treat sharing.....
First is a ceramic school/shop Haku in the Masudaya Building on Gogo-dori, such a lovely little space! A class was just getting started when we visited, so so cute!

Above - Haku's shop signage, adorable.
Below - Angers, not a great shot... but my goodness this shop is full of all kinds of treats.... 3 floors of treats! Stationary, Books, Ceramics, Kitchenwares, Sori Yanagi products, Rina Ono + Takahashi Kougei products, Fog Linen Work, Marimekko ...... AHHHHH it's too much....

Below- Keibunsha....... this place is well worth the 30 minute bike ride (my recommended form of transport in Kyoto). It's such a delightful mix of books, stationary, kitchenwares, handkerchiefs, magazines.

Rina Ono + Takahashi Kougei Cara series and ceramic ginger grater from Angers. Cup from Haku.

Sori Yanagi cutlery and tongs from Angers.

My very first Weck jar , little milk bottle, Moderato sugar bowl from Angers. Suribachi from Loft.

Chopsticks from Keibunsha. Wooden spoon from Labour and Wait (I stumbled upon this sneaky shop within a shop in B-shop in Fuji Diamaru). Bamboo Spoon from Graf (Osaka). Darker wooden spoon from Keibunsha.

Wasara bowls (pre-wedding trial!) from Karefuneya.

KYOTO ROUND THE TOWN

2011-06-16T00:54:00.000-07:00

I've got a lot of love for Kyoto, such a super great place.... You can walk two a breast which greatly decreases the chance of mis-comms (a girlfriend or boyfriend getting frustrated with the other because they couldn't hear/understand what the other was saying..... I've had some trouble with mis-comms in 'single file cities' in the past....). There is a huge long list of cutie cafes that serve super yummy set lunches. It holds my favourite bookstore of all time, Keibunsha. You can spend a lovely sunny day riding a mamachari along Kamo River...... and you can shop all of the Tokyo big store treats (Tomorrowland, Ships, United Arrows, A.P.C, Angers and most importantly the Mina Perhonen 3 floors of bliss on Kimachi-dori! - I'll do a separate post on just how much bliss I experienced a bit later....)

I thought I'd start things off with some general round the town snaps.

sun smart kids on Kamo River

rain on the way

out the window of uniqlo

sneaky lunchtime lunges

2 MORE WEEKS

2011-05-22T01:25:00.000-07:00

Akira Minagawa, you can do no wrong.... man oh man I'm gonna shop the shit out of you Kyoto Mina Perhonen.....

dress "paradis"

dress "star trip"

dress "sometimes lucky"

dress "day dream"

dress "multi stripe"

coat "sometimes lucky"
socks "sometimes lucky"

blouse "star fance"

dress "wind dance"

dress "famille"
all images from Mina Perhonen

スプーンとフォーク

2011-05-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

A beautiful book I picked up from Tower Records on our 2009 Japan trip, Spoon and Fork.

FRIDAY TREATS

2011-05-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

Came home with a couple of winners from the City this morning... A nice roomy knit and some pastel nail polish!
Gorman - Champion Jumper. How bloody beautiful are these colours together?? Marigold, Blush and Taupe..... delish!
Kit Cosmetics - Nail Polish, Phase In.

DON'T MIND IF I DO....

2011-05-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

Sunday arvo cake tasting...

TREATS I WISH I OWNED...

2011-05-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

Mina Perhonen, images from Mina Perhonen.
Rittenhouse - Polka Sundress from Incu online, images from Incu.

Hansel from Basel - polka dot bag , image from Needsupply (also available from Monk House Design).
Junya Watanabe x Porter - Day Pack. Image from Beeweb.

New Kid - Elma Kook T-Stap, image from Need Supply (also available from Urban Outfitters).
Siwa - Backpack, Image from Mjolk (also available from Cibi).

Oji Masanori + Futagami - Frame, Cresent and Eclipse Bottle Openers, image from Oji & Design (also available from Mr Kitly).
Rina Ono + Takahashi Kougei - Cara Series, image from Mr Kitly.
Oji Masanori + Futagami - Tough Knife Stand, image from Oji & Design.

Castle - Velvet Pom Pom Cushion, images from Castle.
Kilim Cushion, image from Fashion Loves People.
Toast - Water Hyacinth Floor Cushion, image from Toast.

Wood Wood - Nelin 111 Dress, image from Wood Wood.
Zero Maria Cornejo - Sahara Dress, image from Creatures of Comfort.

Uimi - Theodore Blanket, image from Story.

NOWHERE RESORT - SAJIMA

2011-05-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

Wow..... now this is one special place and so far it's on the top of the list for honeymoon options!
Nowhere Resort have 3 locations, Zushi, Hayama and Sajima...... all lovely, but Sajima would have to be my favourite.....who can go past a triangle house that butts up to the ocean?
Not only do you have this incredible house to yourself.... but you can request to have a picnic (lunch) or bonfire bbq (evening) organised for you.... get a tour of local produce markets..... go on half day hikes around the area or take a sea kayak tour where lunch will be served on a nearby island!...... It's too much right?........ I think I'd die of romantic adventure fun!

day time

night time

ridiculous views

more ridiculous views

all images from yasutaka yoshimura architects , via designboom.

NANI IRO

2011-04-28T15:17:00.000-07:00

Waiting for me when I got home last night was a parcel of Nani Iro fabrics...what a treat!..... my love for these spotty fabrics knows no bounds... and then the buzzer rang.... my Toast salt water sandals had arrived... double treat!

I know 2 little girls that should be expecting a spotty baby blanket surprise!

above - double gauze.
below - double knit.

PERIMETER

2011-04-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

My dear dear friends Dan Rule and Justin Ellis..... two of the nicest, handsomest and talented people you'll ever meet..... As one half of and collective and now two thirds of erm books they have been kicking goals for a while now..... and as of 2 weeks ago, have opened their very own shop!
Fitted out by the duo, they have created a space that is a breath of fresh air to Melbourne retail!
Please do pop in a visit them, or if you're an out-of-towner they have an online store.

Photos by Dan and Justine.

Perimeter Books
748 High St
Thornbury, Melbourne

おはよう

2011-04-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning breakfast...... shiosake, tamago and misoshiru.

HANAMI BLISS

2011-04-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

Around this time of year I get particularly antsy about not living in Tokyo..... it's hanami time you see... ohhhhhh my kingdom for an afternoon on a picnic blanket with my sweety under the blossom!

Image by catkin and teasel, read the full lovely post here.

Below- Apple blossom in Fairfield.

Only one more year till hanami honeymoon! WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Also here is the list of participants for Pray for Japan

AN EXTRA HOUR

2011-04-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

What a total treat...... an extra hour in my Sunday!
I have used half of my extra hour so far by making some yummy roasted vanilla pears..... I got the recipe from this lovely blog, but I halved the sugar and butter. The pears were home grown from my mum so they were extra delicious!
For the remaining 30 minutes I have left of my surprise hour I think I'll plan out my next quilt/baby blanket.
Hope everyone is doing something fun with their extra hour today!

A quilt slowly being made by me

2011-03-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

Cross detail on the back to hide my terrible sewing...... looked a bit cute so I did it on all corner joins.

I made the front piece for this quilt some time last year and then got stuck back into it about 3 weeks ago, I'm not the best sewer so I kept it pretty simple and there was no real planning, just patched it all together and it turned out square...... not sure how.
I'm waiting for our next Japan trip in June to purchase some super thick tape/binding from Fog Linen to finish it all off.
Or if anyone knows where I can get 10cm-ish bias binding from?..... It seems that it's only being made in mini sizes.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON EMBROIDERY

2011-03-24T13:46:00.001-07:00

I made this heart embroidery for a large frame I bought a couple of weeks ago..... got to the end and it didn't fit in the frame....... classic Lansell. So for now it's going back in the fabric box until I am less annoyed with it.

HOT CROSS BUNS

2011-03-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

The first hot cross buns of the season.

The above spread and the loveliness of Simply Breakfast blog have prompted me to do a proper sit down breakfast once a week so as to enjoy all of the beautiful lifestyle products Leon and I have............. and to eat a super yummy breaky with my turbo hotty soon-to-be husband..... WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Charity Exhibition - Pray for Japan

2011-03-19T00:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not much of a prayer, but I'm one helluva Japan lover! So here is my little collage that I'm sending in to the lovely folk at Paumes for their Charity Auction. This is a really lovely and fun way for people who may not have the cash to get in there and help!!

I found out about this Auction through AT SWIM-TWO-BIRDS's beautiful blog, have a look at her collage here and you can buy some of her lovely pieces here!

MR KITLY Help Japan Raffle

2011-03-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

I am feeling very lucky today, very lucky indeed. I was the winner of the MR KITLY Help Japan Raffle!
Let me take you through the loot....
First Picture:
Valeri Restarick salt cellar - purchased
Fog Linen maple scoop - purchased
Masanori Oji Futagami Brass Trivet Taiyo - won
Kamenoko Tawashi - won
Fog Linen Tea Towel x 2 - won
Fog Linen Tray - purchased

Second Picture:
D-BROS Hope Forever Blossoming Vase x 2 - won
Fog Linen Tray - purchased

I'd like to thank Bree (aka MR KITLY, I formally introduced myself this morning and she is one lovely lady!) for putting on such a generous raffle, she raised $790 in total for the Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief Appeal 2011. Such an amazing thing to have done!

As Japan's situation fades from the news I'd like to make a mini request......... if you have not already please do consider donating. Below are just a few fun ways to get involved!

Charity Exhibition - Pray for Japan. Put on by edition Paumes at their gallery, doux dimanche in Tokyo.

Handmade for Japan. A charity auction of amazing handmade ceramics and other treats.

I love you Japan

1638

2011-03-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

And so it is done... well nearly... sewing it together is taking a long time.
I go through fazes where I like it and then I don't...... it's fun looking and then it's way too busy.....
It's by far the biggest home project I've undertaken... 1638 felt balls.....
I ended up going with a geo because the random mixed up option was fit inducing.
Final sewn together photos to come!

new treats

2011-03-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

Some books that I got in the mail recently.
Ebony Bizys - ハローサンドウィッチ gift wrapping
Isabelle Boinot - Sumimasen
Fog Linen Work - Around Fog Linen
Fog Linen Work - Item Catalogue #11

All are definitely worth a look, the 2 fog linen books have made it onto my favourites list... such such such beautiful lifestyle products and styling.

Felt Ball Rug

2011-01-20T15:43:00.000-08:00

So the felt ball rug saga continues....it's not really a saga, more a painfully slow pruney finger drainer......
I have done 43 colours.... 17 to go.... although there is this horrid purple called Grape Crush that I'm pretty sure I'll leave out... 16 to go!!
I'm not sure which way to sew it all together...... Circular or Lines.... any opinions??

PICNIC BLANKET

2011-01-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

I bought this check fabric in Montemartre (I was lucky enough to be able to tag along with Leon on a work trip late last year!), after coming down the steps of Sacre Coeur you get to the yucky touristy bit and head left and there is a whole strip of fabric shops, defo worth a look!!......oh and just around the corner from that is an A.P.C outlet store where I bought a bright coral canvas and leather weekend bag!!. The gingham oil cloth I picked up from a decidedly less exciting area.... Malvern, but the shop itself is quite nice and they stock Nani Iro which makes it worth the trip!
Buying this fabric was about 5000 times funner than making this picnic blanket....... Oil cloth is a mole... never again shall I subject my lovely sewing machine to its stretchy ways!...... But now I have this lovely 1.5x 2.5m picnic blanket, which according to my measurements, will fit 7 bums, 2 babies and 1 picnic basket..... PERFECT!!

CHRISTMAS BOOTY

2010-12-31T18:51:00.000-08:00

Prada Milano (I'm a complete dunce when it comes to perfume, but this one smells real pretty!), mt maskingtape wrapping book, Design Goods Showcase, A Year of Mornings, Creators Desk, mina perhonen 1 textile, mina perhonen 3 print, The Young Homemaker and The Flavour Thesaurus...... and these are just SOME of the treats I got.....
Also, if you're interested in the mina perhonen books they are stocked at the lovely MR KITLY

CHRISTOPHER

2010-12-31T18:35:00.000-08:00

Christopher guarding Kyoto and London.

THE TREE

2010-12-23T20:24:00.000-08:00

My makeshift Christmas tree, a bit over the top?? Sure.

JAPAN TREATS

2010-12-21T01:09:00.001-08:00

Here are the treats! Extinct Animals in a bag, Tokyo in a bag, Kyoto in a bag, level 6 (eye ball melting) menthol eyedrops, grey UNIQLO cardigan, Cath Kidston masking tape, Salvia magazine and a navy UNIQLO cardigan.

FUTTE FUTTE

2010-12-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

3 weeks ago I was without employment (bliss) and thought it would be a great idea to make my very own felt ball rug... I'd been admiring them on various websites but was never going to be able to justify spending thousands on a rug (unless of course it's this one) so I ordered 60 colours of wool fiber and a wee Japanese tool (futte futte) to start this monster truck project..... A day after the materials arrived I got a job, a very good job which I love...... but now the super fun felt ball rug has been put on the back burner. I'm making about 30 balls a week..... zzzzzzzz. I'll keep plodding away....GANBATTE PU-CHAN...... EN....

Geo

2010-12-11T14:34:00.000-08:00

Some drawings I did with my MUJI textas, not the best quality textas (you can see some of the colour is fading after a week in the frame...) but using anything MUJI makes me happy! Stretch is headed to Tokyo tomorrow for work, I'm sending him off with a near empty suitcase and a comprehensive list of treats to bring back.... MUJI wooden christmas gifts of course and if he has time I asked for some presents from CINQ. They have such lovely little treaties!

POTATO STAMPING

2010-11-01T21:31:00.001-07:00

Potato Stamping one afternoon.

2010-06-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

Scandanavian hand knitted blanket, just before finishing.

2010-06-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

Cloud Mobile. I made this for my lovely friend's baby January Jane White.

2010-02-26T16:33:00.000-08:00

The lovely Nella Themelios and Kim Brockett popping my Measuring Tapes into capsules! See full post here.
Below are the deats for the exhibition.

Mon 1 March - Sat 6 March Craft Victoria: 31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Tue 8 March - Sat 13 March Captains of Industry: Level 1, 2 Somerset Place, Melbourne (off Little Bourke St)
Sun 14 March - Sun 21 March Alice Euphemia: Shop 6, Cathedral Arcade, 37 Swanston St, Melbourne
Mon 22 March - Wed 31 March The Thousands Shop: Level 6 Curtin house, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne

2010-02-07T22:50:00.000-08:00

Insert Coin Here is a group exhibition curated by Nella Themelios and Kim Brockett. The exhibition is part of the 2010 L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival cultural program.
Measuring Tape is a fashion object that examines the process instead of the garment itself. The act of construction often sits in the background, rendered as supplementary rather than fundamental. Influenced heavily by the masking tape craft culture of Japan, this work has the air of the handmade with the material itself forming its integral measuring units.

2010-01-07T16:12:00.000-08:00

left to right.

Shinkansen activity book, Tokyo a certain style, Ed Emberley's Little drawing book of BIRDS, Ed Emberley's Little drawing book of THE FARM, Land Land Land, Wanderlust, Charley Harper's ABC's, Tokyo Zakka Patrol, Charley Harper's Birds & Words, An Awesome Book - Dallas Clayton, A Year in Japan Birthday Book - Kate Williamson, , Tokyo By Tokyo - Claska, Petit Pattern Book Scandinavian Style, Petit Pattern Book Kids & Toys, A Forest - Marc Martin, I Can Fly Golden Book, A Year in Japan - Kate Williamson, Personal Empires - And Collective, Roji Wandering back Alleys, Maps - Nigel Peakes, And Collective Book 2, Yurio Seki, Bleu Blanche, Travel Scrapbook, Masking Tape Book, Stamp tour in the World, Collection Book, New Standard of Japanese Bookstores, Little Yellow Little Blue - Lionni, Soups and Fork, Tokyo and My Daughter - Takashi Homma, Japan 1/Japan 2 photo albums, Everybody Poops, Hella Jongerius, Little One - Paul Ann Rand, Sparkle and Spin - Paul Ann Rand, My first Nursery Book, Olle Eksell, Muji, Morinoe Hon, Creative Space, My first Japanese picture Map, This is Australia - Miroslav Sasek , Japan Houses, This is HongKong - Miroslav Sasek, Up & Down New York - Tony Sarg, Charley Harper An Illustrated Life.

2010-01-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

IWAKUNI FESTIVAL

2010-01-05T15:58:00.000-08:00

FUJI SAN

2010-01-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

ROPPONGI HILLS TOWER
VIKING DESSERT OSAKA
MUJI MEAL YURAKUCHO
OSANBASHI PIER YOKOHAMA
CLASKA ROOFTOP GAKUGEI DAIGAKU

2010-01-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

2010-01-05T13:58:00.000-08:00