Japan Craft Journal

2009-12-21T23:39:00.007+11:00

come home. this japanese magazine is so lovely. lovely. now that i am back in japan for a month holiday i bought the latest copy. and fell in love with the magazine all over again. it's full of great home decorating inspiration. and good ideas for decorating your crafty nooks. there's quite a building furniture projects. some wooden ones. and some made out of pipes. very clever. i'm anxious for h-kun to give these a go.in this issue comes with a really nice notebook designed by orne de feuilles. there is also a couple of pages about nippori textile town in tokyo with a cute little map. and there is a section on how to remake a men:s white dress shirt. with a few great ideas.

if you are interested in seeing more photos or purchasing this magazine, please click here.

Just our thing

2009-12-09T20:27:00.004+11:00

Jennifer over at Moving Hands has just posted about a book she picked up at her local library in Tokyo.

The book is a guide to all the crafty stores to be found around Tokyo. What a lovely idea. It looks like it's all in Japanese, which might not help most of us, but the pictures look enticing nonetheless.

Now I'd love a local library where Japanese craft books were available in abundance to borrow.

Japanese craft shopping in Bangkok

2009-05-16T20:46:00.003+10:00

I was recently in Bangkok and stumbled across several stores selling Japanese goodies. I thought I would share my sources, if you find yourself in that neck of the woods.

Bangkok has two Kinokuniya book stores. But only the branch inside the Isetan department store sells Japanese craft books and Magazines. This has taken me two trips to find this out. So don't bother checking out the branch in the Siam paragon unless your after english titles. The prices are higher than the Yen jacket prices . But still quite reasonable and nothing beats flicking through these gorgeous books in person.

Kinokuniya (Inside Isetan)

2nd floor, Central world plaza

Bangkok (nearest BTS - chidlom)

Another great shop is Loft. This japanese store can be found in many cities across the globe. Lots of cute stationary and kawaii items. You will also find Blythe dolls and holga cameras here.

Loft

3rd floor, Siam Discovery Center

Bangkok (nearest BTS - Siam)

Muji

You will find a Muji concept store within the Zen department store. Beautiful clothes and homewares with a simple, natural aesthetic.

Muji

Inside the Zen department store, Central world plaza

Bangkok (closest BTS chidlom)

Only the linen in the image below is Japanese. But the cottons which are manufactured in Thailand are lovely too. You will find a good selection of fabrics at the Fabric house. I stumbled onto this store when exiting Kinokuniya. The prices are extremely reasonable and the quality is superb. Cottons 85baht a metre and linen ranges from 375-295baht a metre.

The fabric house

2nd floor, Central world plaza

Bangkok (nearest BTS chidlom)

2009-04-18T11:16:00.003+10:00

i will be closing down my little shop of japanese goodness. next tuesday. because i am leaving japan. moving back to canada. with my japanese fella. i will miss country. and culture. immensely. if you are interested in a bit of japanese culture ... wander over to my blog: http://goodness.typepad.com . i have been posting about things i love and will miss from japan. from a to z.

Kobe Shops

2009-03-31T10:34:00.007+11:00

i was in kobe on the weekend. just for a few hours. but i made the most of it. i got out that book from the last post. and found some shops to visit. my favorites being a pair of sister shops. they are both small. full of charcter. and styled just perfectly. just what i like.

the first is called rollo stock. and is the kind of shop i would love to own. they have a good mix of imported (and some japanese) fabric, trim and buttons. oh, i am in love. everything is just perfect. it was hard to stop spending my money.

here is the tape section. mostly imported from europe. oh, i am in love with all of it.

the second shop is around the corner. and was opened after the first shop got too busy. this shop is called rollo. and this shop has mostly antique buttons and beads. my gosh.

h-kun and i had a wonderful time looking at all the little treasures. in this busy little shop. and i found a few to bring home. well, a few more than a few. i hope to get back there again someday.

if you ever get down to kobe. make sure you stop by these shops. you will not be disappointed. to get there take the JR train to the motomachi station. you can find a map of how to get there on their website.

http://www.tit-rollo.com/

2009-01-27T00:35:00.006+11:00

come home magazines are one of the best things at the book shops over here in japan. they're full of so much inspiration. and the design is so natural. so simple. and so inviting. well, they put out a shop and cafe guide book for japan. and there are so many great finds in there. hidden gems.

the first half of the book is focused on tokyo. full of pictures. and maps. since most visitors to japan spend a bit of time in tokyo ... i scanned some of those pages and put them on flickr. see the flickr button to the right. everything is in japanese. but if you see something you like then just ask the hotel staff. or your friends over here. and they can point you in the right direction. i hope. there are also some shops in kyoto, kobe, fukuoka, and the tokai area. if you'd like your own copy of the book, just let me know. i can hook you up. quite easily.

and this is the come home magazine. that inspired the shop and cafe book.

these magazines are lovely. lovely. full of so many ideas for your home. for your clothing style. mixed with a bit of crafting. and cooking. i love them. and so do many others.

*** since some of you are interested in getting come home magazines. and others might be. here is my email address. alittlegoodness@gmail.com . if you email me then i will get back to you with prices and such. **

100 yen stores

2008-12-27T17:22:00.008+11:00

I had read about 100 yen stores on a few people's blogs, so when I came out of the subway and saw one just up the road I went exploring. (Look for the red logo - you'll come across them here and there.) The store was great. It sold very basic items from potato peelers to stationery, and everything in between.

I couldn't resist quite a few stackable plastic containers - the perfect size for storing threads and other sewing bits and pieces in my studio.

They weren't the most practical thing to bring home in a suitcase, but they made it safely - stashed with this colourful Japanese candy that is simply too pretty to eat.

I also found my way to Daiso - possibly the mother of all 100 yen stores - on Takeshita Dori in Harajuku. See Marceline's blog for excellent directions and details. It was very busy when I was there and I was already laden down with a few shopping bags; so I found it hard to make my way around the store. I did pick up some cute coloured paper packs, which I plan to use making some things out of a Japanese craft book I picked up on paper cutting.

Okadaya

2008-12-11T11:52:00.008+11:00

Last time I was in Tokyo I struggled to find Okadaya, despite good directions (this seemed to be a pattern with me). This time I was determined to find it, after reading good things about it.

I took a photo of the well signed store (how could I have missed it) so anyone else trying to locate it knows what to spot. This red sign is what to look for when you come out of the East Exit of Shinjuku station.

Okadaya is in two buildings - each of about 6 levels. One building contains fabric of all descriptions, the other contains all the extra bits you need to sew, knit, bead, and craft your little heart out with.

My favourite floor was the craft book floor (right at the top). I think it had the best craft book selection I'd seen anywhere, with multiple copies of each book. Sadly, there was a "no photos" sign up so I can't show you the proof.

For the knitters there was also a whole yarn floor.

Dressmaking patterns

2008-12-04T22:09:00.006+11:00

Has anyone seen these patterns? I spied these at a few shops in Nippori's fabric street, including Tomato. The images and styling were very cute. The patterns were for fairly basic children's garments so would be ideal for beginners.

If anyone knows whether you can buy them online, please drop us a line at Japan Craft Journal? It would be a great resource to share. I think I recognised one of the images from a craft book. Maybe they are related.

Update: An anonymous blog reader has very kindly left a link to the site for these patterns. Thank you, whoever you are!

Tomato

2008-12-04T10:49:00.013+11:00

Yes, Tomato is that good. Thank you to all the bloggers who talked about this store. It proved well worth the visit. I've never seen so many women buying fabric. Home dressmaking is alive and well in Japan.

Nippori is easy too get to - just take the JR Yamanote line. This map is just outside the East exit of the station (head for the North exit first, then signs to the East exit will appear). If you click on this map you can see it in more detail.

Whether you are a dressmaker, a crafter or a quilter, you are bound to be happy with the selection on offer. My favourite floor was the 4th floor. The 5th floor was also interesting with great bag handles, braids and the like.

There was oodles of linen in all weights and colours. The 100 yen rack near the front door was very popular. It was a complete crush around that area and it was hard to get a close look at the fabric for all the women standing in front of it.

Six floors of craft

2008-12-02T20:07:00.007+11:00

Yesterday I sought out Yuzawaya, after reading Suzy's post on her blog Floating World Views. Yuzawaya is about 6 floors of craft supplies. It has some wonderful Japanese stationery on one of the floors, oodles of fabric, and everything else in between. I could have spent hours marvelling over the cupcake baking equipment but I had a twitchy husband with me (who hates craft stores).

The quilting fabric collection was very extensive, with all the Japanese lines I recognise from home. Their fat quarters were rather impressively displayed in little, orderly drawers.

See Suzy's very concise directions on how to find it. I didn't take them with me so wasted much time looking for a shop that was only labelled in Japanese characters. This is a great one stop shop for any crafting supplies you might need.

Pocket guide

2008-10-27T11:19:00.006+11:00

Tentative discussions about a quick trip to Tokyo before the end of the year have arisen in our house.

If I get there, I'll be sure to pack Marceline's little A6 guide to all the cute shops she found her way to in Tokyo. Her guide covers craft, fabric and sewing supplies, stationery, print Gocco, kawaii, toys and homewares. Directions are included, as well as some images. Marceline details what she found in each store and her overall impressions of each store - helpful information indeed.

You can pick up a copy of Marceline's guide at her web shop.

(Above image from this book - one of my faves.)

2008-10-14T17:16:00.009+11:00

this is a great book. a great basic bag book. with bags of various shapes and sizes. there are 34 projects. 34 great projects.

i've been wanting to make this tote bag. forever. and i finally had a chance. thanks to my friend's birthday. i don't usually follow patterns. but decided to this time. and i am so glad i did. the bag turned out super cute. i even made the bias tape. crazy. i know.

the pattern was easy to follow. and the diagrams with numbered steps was so helpful. since i don't read japanese. this was super helpful. it helps to have a bit of sewing experience though. for sure.

this bag is next on my list. a super cute eco bag. i need to find some more free time. or wait until another friend's birthday though. dang it.

you can find this bag. over in my little shop. if you are interested.

isbn 978-4-415-10656-4

sashiko - part 2

2008-09-29T19:33:00.005+10:00

This book takes a more contemporary approach to sashiko, applying it to zakka items (projects for the home). Again published by Ondori ISBN 4-277-34107-1

This is a great little book and really demonstrates how a line of running stitch can enhance the most simple of projects.

It contains a picture heavy 'how to' as well as clear instruction and patterns for the numerous projects.

But what really sold be on this one was the inspiration it provides for embellishing ready made items. Like a couple of lines of running stitch on a knee of a pair of kids jeans or a simple flower in the corner of a tea towel.

It's amazing how a outline of running stitch can add texture and pull a project from being pretty ordinary to something extraordinary.

Stylish Dress Book

2008-09-26T08:49:00.011+10:00

With the weather turning warmer here in Australia all I can think of is cute summer dresses so I pulled out my favourite Japanese womenswear book purchased recently.....its called Stylish Dress Book (ISBN 978-4-57911185-5).

Its full of cute tunic tops and dresses all photographed beautifully and brought to you by the same people of girly style wardrobe

designs range from simple tunics to wear with jeans or leggings to the fancy tunic dress

pattern sheets are included at the back of the book and come in sizes 7, 9, 11 and 13 with all patterns designed for a height of 160cm which suits my 157cm stature perfectly. The size 13 has a bust measurement of 93cm, waist 74cm, hips 98cm to give you an idea of measurements which I think is about an australian size 10 but please correct me if I'm wrong as I'm just going by what I wear and measure (i.e. currently larger than this but normally a 10). But these aren't figure hugging designs and I'll be adding a few cms here and there and come back to you with the results.

zakka sewing

2008-09-25T08:58:00.009+10:00

At last a craft book on Japanese zakka with english instructions!
All 25 projects have been designed and made by well known Japanese zakka crafters living in Japan.

The book was styled by Yuki Matsuo and photographed by Yoko Inoue both Japanese living in New york. They have done a beautiful job, the book is visually stunning!

Each of the charming projects are accompanied by plenty of photos as well as step by step instructions. I particularly love the inclusion of the zakka fact, which offers an insight into Japanese culture and inspiration behind each of the projects.

There is also a great 'how to' in the front of the book which makes this book perfect for the beginner crafter. With tips on transferring patterns, basic sewing techinques and embroidery stitches.

You will also find each of the crafters credited along side their project as well as information on their websites. There you'll find more eye candy and a whole new world of blogs to discover.

Most of the projects use natural fibres like linen, wool and wool felt. If you have difficulty sourcing the supplies you need, you will find an extensive list of online stockists in the back of the book. As well as where to shop zakka in Japan.

I got my copy from the book depository but it's also available over at Amazon. For more photos of the projects and free instructions for the squirrel tea cozy. Check out the books website at zakka home.

Some of the designers

sashiko - part 1

2008-09-20T08:15:00.005+10:00

Sashiko embroidery is essentially a running stitch with a proportion of 3:2 with the largest stitch showing on the right side. Over the next few posts I will be sharing some of my books on the subject showcasing both traditional and contemporary patterns.

This particular book is published by Ondori ISBN 978-277-31159-5

It has quite a clear 'how to' showing you both technique, the materials you will need and how to trace the patterns onto your cloth.

There are full page patterns of the more traditional patterns ready for you to trace.

As well as instructions for projects that you can make using your embroidered cloth, such as coasters, napkins and book covers.

Tote bags and sweet clutch purses.

As well as Zipper box shaped pouches and drawstring bags.

More translation assistance

2008-08-22T14:29:00.007+10:00

For more translation of Japanese sewing terms you may like to look to Jennifer's Moving Hands blog or to Korallin's posts on the blog Label Free.

Construction methods for garments are fairly universal, so I also find my favourite English patterns give the helpful instruction needed to whip up those favourite Japanese designs with more confidence.

Too good to use

2008-08-22T13:56:00.009+10:00

Even beyond craft blogging circles I heard many mentions of the famous Ito-ya stationery store in Ginza. It was high on my list of places to visit in Tokyo. Who could resist a stationery store that takes up 3 buildings over several floors?

The store was wonderful and I spent more than an hour there filling my shopping basket with an assortment of cards, sticky notes, mini notepads. All of it is almost too good to use.

This is a photo of the much smaller store in Marunouchi (just near the Peninsula Hotel which is an easy landmark to spot).

If you find yourself in Ginza though, just look for the giant red paperclip. It's hard to miss and worth seeking out.

traditional tie-dyed fabric.

2008-08-17T22:11:00.005+10:00

this last weekend h-kun and i visited arimatsu. a town near nagoya. where shibori originated. the traditional technique used to tie-dye fabric. started 400 years ago and is still carried on today.
the fabric is used for kimono. yukata. and many modern day items such as cloths, placemats, scarves, etc. and there are over 100 patterns.
to get to arimatsu take the meitetsu line from nagoya station to arimatsu. it takes about 30 minutes. you can pick up a map of the area at most of the local shops. near the station is a street that is lined with shibori shops as well as the above building. which has an english video explaining the history of shibori and various techniques. there are also a couple of women demonstrating the hand tying there. and if you speak a little japanese then you will be entertained as well.
the craft is carried out mostly by older women. who are full of patience. it's simply amazing. amazing. it will take them 4 to 6 months to finish a piece of cloth for one kimono. patience. and consistency. the whole process is a wonderful one. full of tradition. passed down from generation to generation.

a little translation help.

2008-08-16T00:35:00.007+10:00

so. a customer of mine. used to live in japan. and sent me this lovely link. (you may need adobe acrobat to open it.) that will help all of you with translating the sewing terms in your japanese sewing books. amazing. simply amazing. there are some great explanations. and a laldies' sizing chart, too. please go and look at it. it will save you time. it will also save you banging your head against the table one too many times. really. thanks, sara.

really. if you have a japanese craft book. you will want to click on the link. if you want help with the basic sounds of the japanese alphabets. you will want to click on the link. if you want help. you will want to click on the link. it will help you. i promise.

Cute Felt Fruit and Vegetables Book

2008-08-07T17:35:00.005+10:00

this is a brand new book. and a perfect one. indeed. food made out of felt is becoming a popular thing in the creative blogging world. (*note: the projects are not felted. but made from felt.)

56 pages. 34 projects. lots of vegetables. and fruit. there is also a sandwich with all the toppings. pancakes. a japanese bento box. cake. and an ice cream cone with lots of flavours.

they are a good size, too. up to 20cm. perfect for your little ones. or for your window sill. perfect.

and the instructions. are very clear. there are a few pages of photo instructions. and a full page of step-by-step clearly labeled diagrams for each item piece of food.

i need to make some. soon. very soon. and with this book i will now have no problem. at all. whoohoo. ISBN 978-4-529-04604-6 or you can find it here.

2008-08-05T23:12:00.007+10:00

so. we asked for your ideas. and you gave them to us. amazing. all one hundred and forty of you. overwhelming. in a good way. thank you for embracing us. thank you for inspiring us. thank you.

one of the major themes. was books. you want book reviews. book reviews. and more book reviews. that will happen. slowly. in weeks. and months. to come. along with some of your other ideas.

now. the lucky gals. who will received the japanese goodness. if you read my blog. you will know that h-kun is the lucky number chooser. so we didn't break tradition here. he chose three lucky numbers. yes, three. 45. 77. 140.

45. tina. you stamps and tape.

77. indy boo. you get the fabric.

140. two little buttons. you get a surprise package of goodness.

please contact us with your name and address. as soon as you can.

also. a huge congratulations to one of the japan craft journal contributors. corrie. and her husband. on the arrival of their adorable twins. whoohoo.

live report

2008-08-03T18:49:00.004+10:00

Ayumills of Pink penguin is currently travelling in Japan. Somehow in between visiting family, meeting up with bloggers and buying fabric. She's been finding the time to post. Click here to read all about it and while your there check out her great tutorials.

"Craft books" they cried

2008-08-02T14:28:00.005+10:00

It's so exciting for us to see all those lovely comments coming in. And it comes as no surprise that so many of you want to see more of the craft books.

I'm sure many of you know of the site: Crafting Japanese, which is dedicated to collecting images and reviews of as many craft books as possible. It's well sorted into crafting categories for easy searching, plus you can use the site's search engine to pinpoint a particular ISBN number.

For those of you who love the craft books but weren't aware of this site, I have a suspicion I might have just made your day!

for you.

2008-07-31T21:08:00.014+10:00

hello. to those of you who have just found us. i hope you enjoy this journey that we are on. through the japanese crafting world. so. to get you started. and us, too. here is a little giveaway. enough for two lucky gals. one gal will get the tape and stamps. and the other gal will get the fabric. which are some of my recent favorites from over here. whoohoo.

now. if you would like to have your name thrown into the hat. for the above items. just let us know what you would like to know about japan. or japanese crafts. that will help give us some inspiration for future posts. for you. and feel free to spread the word. the hat will stay open until tuesday night. japanese time.

also. if you are looking at starting a collection of japanese fabric. books. stamps. or tape. or you would like to add to your stack. just wander over to my little shop of japanese goodness. and you will get a 10% discount off your order. (before shipping.) if you mention these words: japanese craft journal. whoohoo. the offer is only available while the hat is open. until tuesday night.

More on book shopping

2008-07-30T22:08:00.007+10:00

When I got to Tokyo the first shopping outing was to follow Corrie's directions (which she had previously posted on her own blog) and head straight to Kinokuniya in Shinjuku. More than fabric or trims, it was the inspiring craft books I wanted to stock up on.

It is an amazing store and I came away with a lovely collection (I only wish I'd had more time to explore the children's book section too).

What I did find also, was that the craft books seemed to be available in smaller bookstores as well.

I fell across this store in the very smart shopping complex, Tokyo Midtown, on the way back to our hotel. I ended up buying as many craft books from this tiny store as I had from Kinokuniya. And then I purchased a few more from Okadaya - ones that I hadn't seen at Kinokuniya.

Kinokuniya is the biggest and arguably the best, but you might just find in other stores a few books you haven't seen before or that have sold out elsewhere.

a little language help.

2008-07-29T12:41:00.013+10:00

i live in japan. and feel blessed. it is an amazing country. full of so much crafting goodness. though they study english in junior high and high school. it is sometimes difficult to find somebody that speaks english. so. it is always good to have a bit of japanese up your sleeve. for while you are over here.

pronunciation:

the vowels in japanese are pronounced the same as the vowels in the words JUDO and SPAGHETTI. the vowel combination AI sounds like eye. the combination EI sounds like the ay sound in the word may. you can sound out the other vowel combinations.

general words and phrases:

konnichiwa - hello

kudasai - please

sumimasen - excuse me or i'm sorry. this is a very useful phrase.

gommen(nasai) - i'm sorry. (adding the nasai makes it more polite.)

wakarimasen - i don't understand.

arigato (gozaimasu) - thank you. (adding the gozaimasu makes it more polite.)

kore wa doko desu ka? where is this?
___ wa arimasu ka? do you have ___ ?

fabric shopping words and phrases:

ichi - one, ni - two, san - three, shi - four, go - five, roku - six, nana - seven, hachi - eight, kyu - nine, ju - ten.

cenchi - centimetre

meta - metre

examples:

nana-ju cenchi kudasai. seventy centimetres please.

ni meta kudasai. two metres please.

ichi meta go-ju cenchi kudasai. one metre and fifty centimetres please.

san ten go meta kudasai. 3.5 metres please.

the metric system is used in japan. many fabric shops only take cash. my local fabric shops sell there fabric in 10 cm increments. but other shops may differ. if you would like to know how to say something else in japanese ... just let me know.

Now you're asking for it

2008-07-29T09:28:00.004+10:00

Marceline from the blog, Asking For Trouble, emailed me with a link to her Tokyo Shopping Guide. Marceline must be one very organised shopper, because this appears to be one very fabulous shopping guide.

Thanks Marceline, this is wonderful. I want to go to Loft now.

Image from here.

Fabric shopping

2008-07-28T22:46:00.005+10:00

Suzy (who was lucky enough to live in Ebisu for a time) left a comment in the last post leading to an entry on her blog about fabric shopping in Tokyo.

Thanks Suzy for your tips, and for letting us know about your post.

Suzy has also included links to some other posts.

Ebisu

2008-07-27T23:47:00.008+10:00

It's hard to escape designer labels in Japan. I was very keen to seek out the shopping districts that were distinctly Japanese, with little shops selling Zakka style wares rather than French or Italian handbags.

Some good advice in the Tokyo Luxe guide was to make Concierge your best friend. Good advice indeed. The Japanese are so divinely helpful and will go out of their way to give you the information you need. After chatting to our hotel's concierge on several occasions, showing them pictures in craft books and explaining what I was seeking, they directed me to the area of Ebisu (and Daikanyama).

Ebisu is just two stops from Rappongi on the Hibiya Line and the cute shops start just near the station.

Many of the shops had little seats or potted plants outside - it made them look so inviting. As well as little independent shops selling French inspired wares and clothing, there were some well known brands in this area - Cath Kidston and Caramel Baby & Child to name but two.

There were also many cafes and restaurants that looked like good places to rest the feet and grab a quick bite.

I only discovered this neighbourhood on my last afternoon in Tokyo. I got the sense there was a lot more there to discover but, alas, I ran out of time. If you go exploring there, let me know what you find.

You can see more images of stores in this area at our flickr group, "Japan Craft Shops".

Kinokuniya....my favourite bookstore

2008-07-27T21:57:00.003+10:00

I visited the Tokyo branch of Kinokuniya several times on my last visit to Tokyo because there are only so many bags of books you can carry on the train back to your hotel. They have the best collection of Japanese craft books in the city. Take the elevator to 2F for craft books and walk to the back wall. Be prepared to pull out all the books since the titles are almost always in Japanese and I have a trick of half pulling out several books at a time to check covers then push them back and move along the shelf....this is why you need time here. When you're done take the elevator to 3F for magazines like Cotton Time and Cotton Friend which are located in the back right corner of the store!

You'll find Kinokuniya in Shinjuku and its open everyday 10am-8pm....perfect for some after dinner shopping. Take the South exit and walk towards Takashiyama, walk behind Tokyu Hands and its there straight ahead of you via the walkway.....and this is how they wrap your bags in the rain...practical and cute.

travel tips for crafty types

2008-07-27T20:41:00.015+10:00

Luckily for me, Corrie had only just been a couple of months before I left. So I was able to get some good advice before leaving. I thought I would pass on some of what I learnt when I was there. If you have anything to add, please leave it in the comments section for all of us to read.

Most ATM's don't accept foreign issued cards. Even if they display the Visa or Mastercard logo. The only two I know of that do are Citibank and the post office.

Think about taking a small Roley bag or trolley on your shopping excursions. All that fabric and books can get heavy!

The train system can seem daunting at first. But once you work out which line you need to get on, it's quite easy! All the ticket machines are bilingual and onboard announcements are also made in English. I found this site such a time saver, just put in your destination and it will give you the line and fare. Another option with the fare is to buy the lowest fare of Y130 and just top up your ticket at your destination using the adjustments machines before exiting.

If you get to a Yuzawaya store ask about their discount card. You will get a 10% discount across the store. It's free to join and the staff didn't seem to mind that we were using an international address on our application form.

Fabric in Japan is sold by the metre. Which is approximately 4 inches longer than a yard.

Looking for a hotel in tokyo? I would highly recommend the Kadoya hotel in Shinjuku. It's reasonably priced, central, clean and quiet. It also has free internet access in your room or you can use the PC in the reception area if haven't brought your own laptop. The post office is also directly across the road, perfect for grabbing some cash or sending home all that excess baggage!

Book review: ISBN 9784579111152

2008-07-26T23:01:00.014+10:00

This is one of my favourite Japanese craft books.

I haven't seen it mentioned on any other blogs so I'll post a few pictures here.

The book is all about working with felt to create appliques, flowers or garlands.

I particularly love the skirts. There are several Japanese pattern books that have patterns for simple skirts like these.

At the back of the book there are patterns and instructions for all the motifs, as well as patterns for the several bags featured.

There are a few more pictures over here.

Tomato, Tokyo

2008-07-25T16:19:00.010+10:00

One of the most talked about fabric stores in Tokyo would have to be Tomato located in the Textile town of Nippori. If you have a couple of days in Tokyo I would definitely make this your first stop. The ground floor is stacked to the rafters with what looked like clearance fabric, priced Y100-300 a metre. There were a lot of prints that have long disappeared from the online stores. The motto here is....if you like it buy it! Chances are you won't see the print again or it will be double the price. The other thing is to come with plenty of time to spare. Most fabrics are on rolls and stacked 5-6 rolls high on the shelf. It's difficult to see straight off what there is, you have to search. Take your time, I often missed a real gem that was later pointed out to me by my sister who was trailing behind. On the upper levels you will find higher priced quilting and fashion fabrics also worth a look. The U.S. quilting fabric on the top level averaged Y880 a metre.

The sister store next door stocks buttons, trims, felt, notions, stamps and knitting needles. Worth a browse..I found a few things here. Which I noticed were cheaper than when I saw them elsewhere.

Directions

Take the Yamanote line from Shinjuku. It will take you about 20mins and the fare is Y190 one-way. Once you are out of the barriers turn right and head down the stairs. Just follow the signs to textile town.

Tips

Minimum cut 1 metre

Closed on Sunday

Cash only

edit - I just came across this post by Tokyo mummy which has some great photos taken inside of Tomato and some shopfronts of other Stores in Nippori. Now you can see what I mean about all those rolls!!

Muji

2008-07-23T00:53:00.010+10:00

These stores are all over Japan, and are popping up in other countries too. If you haven't visited a Muji store, put it on your list. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Muji has very affordable and very pared back design. Their items are beautifully simple. I bought a clean-lined shirt in their Paris store at a very low price. It's one of my favourites and I wear it all the time.

As well as many items to satisfy the craft-lovers, there are also lovely things for the home, to wear, to give. The stationery range is particularly lovely - very understated.

And if you just can't wait 'til you travel to Japan, you can visit them online and peruse the catalogue.

They only ship to certain countries though.

Shinzi Katoh

2008-07-19T00:29:00.008+10:00

A Japanese Craft blog would not be complete without mentioning renowned zakka designer - Shinzi Katoh.

When in Tokyo I wanted to see what all the talk was about so I took a train to Ikebukuro to visit a small Shinzi Katoh store. The store is located within the Sunshine City shopping centre which is about a 10 minute walk from Ikebukuro station. Sunshine City is well sign posted and I found it easily. There is also a very large Tokyu Hands store there.

I first read about the Shinzi Katoh store at the flickr set of Jennifer from Moving Hands. Jennifer's photo set on "crafty shopping in Japan" has some great shops worth visiting. I only wish I'd made it to more of her recommendations.

There is also a Shinzi Katoh flickr group if you want to see more from the range.

A central source

2008-07-18T09:41:00.009+10:00

When I was planning a trip to Japan in 2007 I collected information madly. The craft blogs, more than any other source, had the information I was most interested in. I bookmarked blogs and travelled to Tokyo with a printout of many different blog posts that I stuffed into my bag and pulled out on the train or on Tokyo street corners.

Half the time I couldn't remember where I'd read some great travel advice. So this blog has been created out of a desire to have a central place that captures all that great information.

There are four contributors who have travelled to or live in Japan. We all love our Japanese craft and hope to bring you helpful information that will feed your love of it too.

We'd love your feedback and suggestions so feel free to comment or email us. Enjoy!