Outgoing Postcards

This postcard is going to a Japan and Kawaii Lover. This is one of my favorite views of Mt. Fuji.

Japan always has the cutest postage stamps. I never get tired of looking at them.

This is for another Japan Lover. The theme of the card was J is for . . .


The used postage stamps were typically Japanese.

The original program that was using to upload photos needed to be updated and stopped working on my iPad. I found another program that would allow me to upload pictures from my cell phone. As soon as I paid for the new app, the original was updated after a three month hiatis.

Glad to be back to blogging.

Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #22--Obi Paper Rings (Project 44)

This challenge was another color challenge and we are tasked to be inspired by the autumnal colors of red and orange. There were a variety of different projects that I was considering but I was asked to make some goody bags for a friend's holiday party for children (of which, some had food allergies). I decided to make some dollar rings after watching this video (clicking on the link will take you to a YouTube video).

Deciding that these rings weren't enough, I decided to make some more rings using Japanese Decorative Papers. These rings could be customized to fit my big fat Fred Flinstone fingers and since I didn't have to worry about framing the "one" from the dollar bill, I could make them any size I wanted.

Top View

Side View

I had these papers that featured Japanese Maple leaves which are a symbol of the changing seasons in Japan. There are some metallic elements in the paper that make them shimmer. I also decided to make a ring featuring Kat's favorite plaid paper (which also matches my light switch cover in my bathroom).

I made a whole bunch of these rings and actually wear them on my ring finger on my left hand. I call these Obi Rings since they resemble the obi (sash) that is used to fastened a kimono.

Image found here

On My Bookshelf

Today's book is a continuation of my stencil and Japan discussion. The Art of Decorative Paper Stencils by Kanako Yaguchi isn't a book really about stencils; instead, it really is a book about Kirigami (which is Japanese paper folding and cutting).

The author provides patterns based on designs from her worldly travels. She then presents 6 projects that use these "stencils." The book is divided into three sections: tools and techniques; designs, folding and cutting; and projects.

The beautiful of these designs is that the author provides folded and full sized patterns. A great book for reference material and for playing with paper.

Iron Craft Week Three

I was so excited when I saw the title for this week's challenge on Iron Craft--Just bunt. I was thinking baseball and you know how fanatical I am about baseball. My world came to a crushing halt when I read the description--bunting and garland.

I have to say--I am not a big bunting fan. When I think of bunting, I think 4th of July and those red, white and blue streamers and swags, etc. When I think of garland, I automatically think about Christmas and stringing popcorn and/or cranberries and then the ants that get attracted to such live edible decorations (at least in Texas where I grew up).

I was actually going to skip this week due to a lack of imagination and a backlog of custom orders. Then, I got a shout-out and then boasted that Thing1, Thing2 and I were going to represent the male crafters of the world--I felt a little pressure to come up with something.

I decided to revisit the tradition of 1000 cranes. In Japanese culture, it is good luck to receive 1000 folded origami cranes. Usually, 40 cranes are tied on a single string and you give out 25 strings. Most people add a few extra cranes just in case someone miscounted. A newer tradition is for families to give new parents 100 cranes to hang over a baby's crib. In this tradition, 9 strings of 11 cranes are suspended from a larger crane.

(Here you can see the detail of three of the different strings of cranes. Glass beads are used to keep the cranes from sliding down the string. Traditionally, three separate types of beads are used on a 100 crane project--pewter, brass, and pearl. Each signify a traditional wish for the child).

Here are my cranes hanging around my bulletin board.

I apologize for the spooky lighting for these pictures. It looks like an Alfred Hitchcock movie but I couldn't get a good picture without the shadows.

Even More Japan Journal

Since it has been a while since I have shared pages from my Japan Journal, I decided to add two more pages.

One of the aspects that I enjoy about Japan is the orderliness of the people there. Also, people are very nice and polite to foreigners. Signs appear in several languages and the expectations of people are clearly delineated.

The first page deals with travelling on the subway and riding the escalator. The second page is the subway map. These maps are everywhere in Tokyo and most hotels will give you a map every time you leave the front door.

Travelling in Japan

The Tokyo subway map

More Japan Journal

Here is another set of journal pages from my Japan Journal. The left page features a direct to page ink technique using cosmetic sponges and ink pads. I like the random effect that is caused using this technique. The right side feature two double mounted pics but also the common theme of this journal--a sample of paper that I purchased on my trip.

Japan Journal

While I was away, someone asked me about the travel journal that I made before going on my last trip to Japan. I had intended on filling it up while I was there but, of course, that didn't happen. I have all of the pages designed--all I have to do is execute them.



Most of the pages will feature Japanese arts and crafts. Similarly, many of the pages will feature backgrounds that show paper samples from my trip. This is the first in the series of my Japan Journal. It features materials that I purchased at Tokyu Hands.



If any knows the title of the characters that are featured in the stickers (or the artist) I would definitely appreciate it if you could let me know. I know it is a popular character, possibly from children's books. For some reason, they just make me smile. I would definitely like to get more of these stickers. Any help locating the name of the characters or the artist would be great.

Shigoto-Hajime 2009

According to Wikipedia, celebrating the new year in Japan also means paying special attention to the "first" time something is done in the new year. Hatsuhinode is the first sunrise of the year. Before sunrise on January 1, people often drive to the coast or climb a mountain so that they can see the first sunrise of the new year. Hatsumōde is the first trip to a shrine or temple. Many people visit a shrine after midnight on December 31 or sometime during the day on January 1. If the weather is good, people often dress up or wear kimono. Other "firsts" that are marked as special events include shigoto-hajime (the first work of the new year), keiko-hajime (the first practice of the new year), hatsugama (the first tea ceremony of the new year), and the hatsu-uri, (the first shopping sale of the new year).



So, this post celebrates the first weekend project of 2009.

It all starts with a clean studio.


A clean glue station.

A Clean Work Station

A Clean Cutting Station

A Cleaner Works-in-Progress and Drying Station


The first real order of business was to make Rice Starch Paste. I always make small batches of paste when I know I will be needing it. It never lasts very long and I end up throwing it away after every project. Therefore, I make the smallest batch each time. I get my Rice Starch from Talas and follow a different set of instructions that are not listed on the package.


I use 5 Tbs of rice starch for 1 cup of hot water. I make a slurry with the paste and 3-5 teaspoons of cold water. If you put the hot water directly into the dry paste, it seizes up and you never get out all of the clumps. After adding the hot water, you put the pan on a low heater and whisk until your arms fall off. When the paste thickens and turns translucent, take it off the heat and let it cool. It will thicken even more. If you want a thinner paste, you can use 3 (or 4) Tbs or rice paste. I prefer the thicker variety, personally. Keep the paste covered when not in use. I will last 3-4 days. If you do not have a lid for your paste pot, you can cover the paste with cold water and place a piece of cling wrap or wax paper on top (in order to prevent a skin). When you want to use it again, simply pour off the water (which should be riding on top of the paste), stir and Bob's your uncle. Some people put their paste pot in the refrigerator but I never have done that. I am afraid that I might get it mixed up with my morning oatmeal.


Put the kettle on, we are making paste

Making the slurry.

The final product cooling.


P.S. I always use a plastic container from my local Chinese food restaurant. I have a fancy for good Hot-and-Sour soup and keep the container. The small container (pint) is perfect for glue pots.

Japan Journal Entry

The United States has 99¢ stores. Japan has ¥100 stores. Here is my haul from the store:

• ATCs in Pink and Lime Green (for a swap)
• 6” origami squares
• 2” origami squares
• Cellophane Bags (The bags are patterned. The liner is the color. Plaids, Hearts and Polka Dots
• Scissors
• 6” x 8” self healing mats (2)
• 3” x 7” self healing mats (2)
• Craft Blade
• Glue Stick
• 5” Lucite ruler with steel edge
• Hello Kitty Zip Bags (for a swap)

All for ¥100 each.

Even More Japan Pictures

I am notorious for getting lost. When I was growing up, I was used to getting directions like "go to the red barn and turn left" or "go to the Dairy Queen, cross the street until you get to the Hardys and walk five minutes and it will be on your left."


The concepts of North, South, East and West are totally alien to me. How in the hell am I supposed to know where the sun is at any given moment and from which direction it came? It's not as if I am mapping the trajectory of the sun when I need to go somewhere.


When I am in foreign places, I always take my camera with me. This way, I take pictures of the major signs so that I can look at the digital images on my camera to know where I am supposed to go. This have been quite helpful when I am in a country where I do not speak the language. I simply go the picture in my viewfinder, show it to the person that I have stopped for directions and point. Usually, it works.

So in total regard for full disclosure, I share the following pictures:


My hotel was within walking distance from this subway station.


I love the way that the stations were numbered. It is easy to know if you are going in the right direction.


I always take pictures of the intersections. It really helps





In Japan, if you want to stand on the escalator you stand on the left side and let the moving traffic (i.e., the people who want to walk up the escalator) move on the right hand side. The Japanese are so polite that they post the above signs so that everyone knows how to act correctly on the escalator. In New York, people just yell at you to get the &*$*$ out of the way.

More Japan Pictures

So here is the second round of pictures. Ito-Ya has a very specific "no picture" policy but I was able to sneak these while the cashier wasn't looking. As I was checking out, the cashier said "I know you take picture. You spend lots of money--so I don't tell on you.

So much for being sneaky.

The front of Ito-Ya Store #1

The back of Ito-Ya 1

The front of Ito-Ya Store #2

The English title of Store #2

Bolts of paper mentioned in an earlier post.

A wider angle of more paper

I Know--I'm a Slacker!

Yes,

I have heard all of you complaining about not having pictures posted--yet. I am still recovering from jet lag and have to leave for a weekend trip to Indianapolis to meet some friends for a Purdue football game. I still haven't unpacked from my trip to Japan. I'm just going to pack an different overnight bag and deal with unpacking when I get home from this weekend trip.

So now, for some pics. I will post several pics over the next couple of days so that you don't get overwhelmed.

Enjoy!

Tokyu Hands Shibuya

Tokyu Hands Nagoya

Pens at Tokyu Hands

More pens at Tokyu Hands

Still even more pens at Tokyu Hands

Stickers at Tokyu Hands

Beginning of Stamp Display

My favorite new item--Shredding Scissors

Crafting in Japan (Part 3)

I am finishing up my trip to Japan by spending two days in Nagoya. If New York City is to Cleveland, then Tokyo would be to Nagoya. While it is a large city, it isn’t as cosmopolitan as Tokyo. There are fewer English speaking assistants here and non-Japanese are more novel than accepted.

After seeing some of the sights, I decided to visit the Nagoya location of Tokyu hands. To my pleasure, it was only 5 floors of a single building. There were still quite a few items to look at but there wasn’t the overwhelming sense of alarm that accompanied the trip to the Shibuya branch in Tokyo.

I primarily decided to walk each aisle and then return to the sections that I wanted to purchase items. There were no Print Gocco items to be found. There were numerous cutting tools that I would have liked but was afraid to bring them home in checked baggage. There were several plastic handled scalpels that looked promising. There was also a pair of scissors that were levered so that a single squeeze would maneuver five separate parallel blades so you could shred paper by using scissors. If you cross cut the shreds then you would have confetti. They had them in a variety of different sized from 5 inch lengths to 18 inch lengths.

There were numerous paper products that raised my interest. There is a decorated masking tape that shows some promise. I know that there is decorated scotch tape products in the U.S. but this masking tape (i.e., paper tape) really caught my eye—especially for scrapbooks or journals. I would think that an adhesive backed paper tape would be more beneficial that an adhesive back plastic product. Another product that caught my eye was a set of adhesive tabs that were cut out in the shape of animals. These were made in Japan but I think that they would really catch on in the U.S.

Finally, I bought some more paper products for my next swap. I also decided to buy some stamps to commemorate the New Year. I believe that 2009 is the year of the Ox and I think that I will send out Happy New Year cards that are based on the Chinese New Year.

Finally, I decided to get a Hanko made while I was on this trip. A Hanko is a carved stamp that is used as a signature in Asian cultures. I had to get my name translated into Kanji characters. Once I was able to do that, I had to find someone willing to make the Hanko for me (a non-Asian). I found a very nice man who was willing to do it for me (and put a rush on the manufacturing of it). Usually, he takes two weeks to carve out the stamp. There are machines that are faster but he has been making Hanko for 52 years and he is a fifth generation Hanko maker. I will use the Hanko to sign my cards and products.

As a thank you, I decided to give him one of my journals that I had case-bound by hand. When I travel, I always carry extra product with me (e.g., extra handmade cards, journals, etc.). I had one journal left so I decided to give it to him as a thank you for rushing my order. He was so moved by my gift, he gave me my Hanko for free. I immediately stamped his journal with my Hanko and expressed that his journal would always signal my first signature. Once he realized what I planned on doing with the Hanko, he was even more grateful for my gift.

I think that I made a new lifetime friend.

Crafting in Japan (Part 2)

For my last full day in Tokyo, I decided to go and have a full breakfast buffet at the hotel. I wanted a full meal in my ample stomach so I could stave off the hunger pangs that I was sure to develop while conquering the mega DIY store called Tokyu Hands.

The are several branches of Tokyu Hands including three in Tokyo alone. I decided to go to the biggest store available—the store at Shibuya. This was a relatively easy decision for me because Shibuya is at the end/beginning of the Ginza subway line. The only thing that I had to do was jump on the orange line (Ginza line) and be sure that I was heading in the right direction. All of the subway stations are numbered. I was already at station 7 and I needed to go to station 1. At every subway station, there are illuminated signs that show the current station and the next station. So as long as the numbers were getting smaller, I knew that I was going in the right direction.

The last time that I was in Tokyo, I went to the Tokyu Hands in Shinjuku and I was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff. So, for this trip, I donned my life preserver (really my backpack), plugged into my MP3 player and convinced myself that I was ready for this adventure.

In all honesty, I was still unprepared for the enormity of the store. The store is a free standing structure which is incredible in the commercial real estate market of Tokyo. The main structure is Building A which is the center structure and is connect by a series of walkways to the other TWO structures (Buildings B and C). The biggest problem is that you can only access Buildings B and C from Building A and the walkways only connect on certain floors. In other words, you cannot access Building C from Building B. If you are on floor B6 and want to go to Building C, then you have to go to B3 to connect to Building A, and then go up to A4 to connect to Building C.

Between the three buildings, there are 25 different floors which include a restaurant on 7A. There is anything you want for a house/apartment at this store. Think of the bastard child of Home Depot and Wallmart on steroids and you get the idea.

Of all of the 25 floors, there was one quarter of a single shelf dedicated to Gocco supplies. They had 14 boxes of ink, 5 packages of small screens, and about 20 packs of 4 pack bulbs. The bulbs in Japan are averaging about $2 a piece. In other words, a four pack was running about 800 yen (about US $8). The paper selection was a disappointment in that they didn’t have a wide selection of full sheets of paper. Of the sheets that they did have, I already had the same patterns. I did buy some origami squares that I hope to incorporate in to a holiday card.

So, for the most part, Tokyu Hands was a bust.

On the Prowl in Tokyo

I had to postpone my trip to Tokyo Hands because I found a new possibility for another Japanese paper source. Since I knew that I had an extra full day to explore Tokyu Hands in Tokyo, I decided to try and locate the well-known paper store called Ozu Washi Hakubutsuho. There is the store proper, an exhibition room and a paper museum. They also have classroom instruction in origami, paper making, and paper dying.

I will spare the detailed directions (you can get them by going to here. The store is huge, clean, and accessible. The papers are all out in the open and you are allowed to touch the paper without asking for assistance. They only request is that you ask for assistance to take paper from the bolt.

In most Japanese paper stores, the paper is usually tri-folded onto itself (very much like a bolt of fabric). The paper IS NOT creased though. When you roll the paper you never really notice where the paper has been folded. When I store my paper in my flat files, I fold it in half without creasing it. Sometimes the weight of the other papers creases the paper but because Japanese papers are so fibrous and flexible, the crease is unnoticeable once paste/glue is applied to the back. If I get a crease in a sheet of Japanese paper, I will then use it to my advantage by using it as a crease in a card or on a box.

I was smart for this trip to Japan in that I took my paper swatches with me to see what colors/patterns that I already had. So for this trip, I only ended up buying 10 sheets of paper. These were patterns that were unique to this store so I was happy with a light hand.

As I was reading other blogs, I noticed that some of the sewing blogs have a fabric swatch Friday where every Friday, the show samples of their favorite fabrics. I think that I will have a similar posting series where I will highlight several examples of the papers that I have acquired from around the world.

Crafting in Japan

After surviving the jet lag and the obligations of my duties here in Japan, I finally got to go out for some fun (crafting fun that is). My first big unencumbered foray in the crafting world of Tokyo was one of the mega-craft stores: Ito-ya.

The main store of Ito-ya has spilled to overflowing and had to open up a second and third annex. The main building has all of the regular type of materials that you would find in a first class paper goods store: a mixture of Office Depot and Crains stationery. The main store has 9 levels of stationery goods: 8th floor—Framing Service; 7th floor—Art Supplies; 6th floor—Paper shop; 5th floor—Diaries and Address Books; 4th floor—Work Style Selection; 3rd floor—Office Supplies and Files; 2nd floor—Social Stationery; Main floor—Fountain Pins and Luxury Gifts; Ground floor—Greeting Cards and the Basement—Casual Stationery and Gift Wrapping Supplies.

The Annex (Ito-ya 2) has scrapbooking supplies, art papers (Cavalli, etc.), Bookbinding Supplies and Craft Books.

Ito-ya 3 has been closed since I was here in February 2008. Its contents have been moved to the 6th floor of the main building. Located here are all of the Japanese papers (washi) that Ito-ya has historically been known (including Yuzen-shi and Chiyogami).

So this time around, I thought that I would spend my money on more Japanese style papers. Yet, that didn’t really happen. While I did buy some Yuzen-shi, most of my money was spent on non-Japanese paper that I can’t seem to find in the U.S. I have an affinity for fake hide papers that are paper backed. I am sure that you have seen the type of paper that I am talking about—fake crocodile, fake snakeskin, etc. Because of the heftiness of the paper and because it is paper-backed, I tend to use it to cover journals. I found a fake leather paper here in Japan that will fit the bill as well. I bought it in 8 different colors and two sheets of each.

Yet the biggest surprise was going to the second floor of Ito-ya 2 and finding Gocco supplies. The inks were 315 yen each (about $3.15). If you buy over 14 boxes of ink, you get them for 300 yen each. So, to say the least, I loaded up. They had boxes of bulbs but they only came in boxes of 4 bulbs. I forgot how much they were.

The funny aspect of the whole experience for me was when I went to the information booth to ask for Gocco supplies. In my very broken Japanese, I asked “Gocco ku-da-sai (Gocco please)?” and in very practiced English the young woman replied, “We have no Gocco machines.” I started to laugh as did she and asked: Furansu-go ku-da-si (French please)? At which she replied in French. Apparently, the staff has been trained in 8 different languages to say “We have no Gocco machines.”

You have to marvel at the preparedness of the Japanese. Tomorrow is a foray into the second major craft store—Tokyu Hands.

Greetings from Japan

Hello everyone,

I am glad to say that I am posting from Japan. I arrived in Narita airport after 14 hours in the air and I have to say that I am happy to be out of the airplane.

The trip was uneventful once we got in the air. We had a 45 minute delay on the tarmac at JFK due to mechanical difficulties (something that you definitely don't want to hear knowing that you will be flying for 14 hours).

I filled up my first page of journal with some Travel Haiku. Examples include:

Baby walks the aisle
Daddy holds her hands up high
I want to trip them.

Up, down, all around
He has to pee once again
Give him catherer

Crossing Russia now
Will wave to Sarah Palin
Say Hello neighbor

Well folks--that is all for now. The Jet lag is starting to kick in. I might go and take a nap before the adventures begin.

On my way

In the midst of everything that has been going on, I decided to make a journal for my trip to Japan. Before going to bed last night and before packing (I was absolutely crazed about waiting until the last minute to pack) I cut some Davey Board and covered it with paper so I could put it in the book press before going to sleep.

I woke up six hours later, cut some paper, and spiral bound the book. I chose the cover paper because it was Japanese inspired (it actually isn’t a Japanese Yuzen) but mimics the style but it is a synthetic paper that has fiberglass fibers (ala mulberry paper) running through it. Since it is going to be handled often, I decided to use this type of paper. Since it was a last minute project, I chose not to use book cloth because the only book cloth that I had was unadorned and I didn’t have time to decorate it. In hindsight, I could have decorated the book cloth later.

The endpages are Chiyogami prints that I brought back from my last trip to Japan. I love the color combination in relationship to the cover. You open the book and there is the shock of surprise of the red print.

The title of this journal will be “10 Days in Japan.” I will share some of the pages with you when I return. I will be blogging while I am in Japan so that you can follow my adventures. I will post pictures upon my return. While I will be taking pictures while I am there, I am not taking my laptop.

Thanks for all your well wishes for my travel. After fourteen hours on a plane, I will see you from Japan.

Journal Front Cover

Journal Endpage