Treasures from Japan

Some treasures I brought back from Japan to show you. After the fourth trip to Japan these last few years I started to be selective about what I buy there. I got to know what and where are the good places to shop for vintage textiles and traditional Japanese artefacts. I also found good department stores and restaurants. One of my favourite department stores has to be Tokyu Hands. Tokyu Hands is a variety department store. I love browsing through the stationary and plastic box sections. If I'm looking for clothes I like to visit UNIQLO. UNIQLO has everyday clothes for everyone at reasonable prices. 

When we visited the pottery artist Kiso-San I got a few pieces from him. I just love the smoky blue glaze he uses for his work. The small bowl on the top right came from the Japan Folk Craft Museum shop. I got two of them. They are great for noodle soup. 

The last couple of times I was in Japan I saw gorgeous handmade baskets there. The one I wanted was very pricey so I didn't get one until this time when I saw this rustic basket called random-weave at the Amuse Museum shop. I fell in love with it and regardless of the price I had to have it. The young shopkeeper told me he was going to miss this basket because he had been eyeing it to get it for himself! I assured him that it would go to a good home. 

Lis and I went halves on this 14 meters of katazome double stencil print from Noguchi-San indigo studio. This silk fabric was stenciled both on the front and on the back. Noguchi-San specializes in double stencil. Such a treasure to have a piece of his work.

These bags are to keep tea ceremony utensils, cups or tins. We were shown how to make them during the tour. I made the blue one from katazome and dyed it in Noguchi-San's indigo vat. I made the cord using kumihimo cording technique. The light bag I made using kimono silk since I came back. I got two fantastic books in my library to use as a guide. 

An iPad not a purchased in Japan. This is a Birthday gift from my family, but my birthday is not until the end of August and I really wanted to have it NOW! So they gave it to me on Mother's Day instead. I made a bag for it using a Japanese postal bag. 

A piece of vintage indigo cotton fabric. It's big enough for a single bed cover. I'm so thrilled with it. Another one of those that needs to be shown as a whole piece to appreciate it...

A stack of vintage indigo fabric and some moon pieces I dyed during the tour. I have used some of them on my BORO vest posted here.

Some colourful vintage Japanese fabric found in various shops in Tokyo. Not sure what to do with them, but I got them in a moment of weakness. I might make a scrap quilt with them. I have got quite a collection of them from ZiguZagu as well. 

Just an update on the Bike Babies. They are coming home next Sunday, woo hoo! I'm so looking forward to have them home again. They arrived back in Singapore today after almost 5 weeks away. I can't wait to see those little faces of Bella and Finn. 

Until next time

Nat