Paper Crane Shower (折り鶴シャワー)

Do you know the story of the 1,000 origami cranes (千羽鶴)? It's a famous story in Japan about a girl named Sadako Sasaki (佐々木禎子), who tried to stave off her death from leukemia as a result of radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during the World War II by making 1,000 origami cranes. She folded 644 and died before she could reach her goal, but her classmates went on to fold the remaining 356 cranes in time for her funeral.

Her story of folding paper cranes has resonated around the world as a universal symbol of peace. Cranes also represent a gesture of caring and sympathy. In Japan, many elementary school students learn how to fold paper cranes in school, often before a trip to Hiroshima, and as a class fold 1,000 to bring with them.

I made 100 (but not 1,000) cranes for my friend last weekend. Not because she is hospitalized or anything like that but for her wedding! It's become more and more popular to use paper cranes as wedding decoration here in the states. But do you know about Paper Crane Shower (折り鶴シャワー)? In Japan, the crane is also a symbol of honor and loyalty, so it makes perfect symbol for a wedding. In the past 2 years, it's also become more and more popular for the newlywed in Japan to do Paper Crane Shower (折り鶴シャワー) instead of Flower Shower. I like this idea very much, You can ask your family and friends to make the cranes for you, or with you, it's a good chance to get your family and friends involved and bring them closer. It also save some money, and you can have the cranes in any color you want. M friends told me that little kids also had fun picking up the cranes after the wedding.

A thousand paper cranes is also traditionally given as a wedding gift by the folder, who is wishing a thousand years of happiness and prosperity upon the couple. It can also be gifted to a new baby for long life and good luck. Hanging a Senbazuru (千羽鶴) in one's home is thought to be a powerfully lucky and benevolent charm.

If you are going to have a wedding, maybe you should think about doing this Paper Crane Shower (折り鶴シャワー). You don't have to make 1,000 of them, 2 to 3 hundred will do!

Amazing Mail!

Couple weeks ago, I won a giveaway from **EYE-SNACKS** , and when I received her package this week, I was so touched! She sent me not only the cute prize I won, but also a handmade textiles/fabrics embroidered, stitched greeting card specially made for me and my baby!!! How nice is it! Since I haven't have my baby shower yet, this is the first baby gift I have received!

Thank you so much Ingrid! You are a total sweetie with a very generous soul! I can't wait to repay such kindness!

Edible Crayon「Crayon Luxirare」(食べれられるクレヨン)

{images via luxirare.com}

Yes, you are seeing it right! These are Edible Crayons! These are not the normal crayons we see everyday, but made of dried fruits and dried seeds, such as peas, green beans, dried kiwi, green fruity pebbles, dried pumpkin seeds for green crayon ingredients. Each crayon was made with color divisions. Yes the flavor is based on colors, not actual flavors...

I don't think it's on the market yet. If it was, I definitely would buy some and draw with my niece and my baby! I think I can control my urge not to eat my crayons, but I can't promise we won't lick our drawings!

My Baby Shower Invitation!

Oops. Somehow the month of August flew by without many posts. Why? Cause my 8 month pregnant belly doesn't allow me to sit in front of the computer too long. Actually, my big belly doesn't allow me to keep doing anything too long. Here I am at 33 weeks today. It definitely feels like the bump got a lot bigger just in the last 2 weeks. The baby is healthy, and I've just been feeling a little more uncomfortable than before, also a bit more tired and low energy. So far so good, this baby has been treating me pretty well, not much hard time. I'm starting to feel like I'm running out of time to do all the things I want to do before the baby comes, and yet I don't want to be running around just checking things off my list. I'd like to enjoy being pregnant and spend time with J and friends. Actually J and I just got back from Montreal Canada last Sunday, we wandering around town and enjoying some fancy meals. It might be our last trip before the baby comes.

Also, my mother-in-law is throwing me a baby shower this month! Actually, there is no such thing as baby shower in Japan, nor in Taiwan or Korea. We do announcement, but nothing before the baby comes. The invitation is designed by myself. I know it might be a little bit strange to design your own baby shower invitation. But I am a designer and I like to design, so why not design my own baby shower invitation, right? I am happy that I could also apply my Masking Tapes on the invitations!

Creative Photos of a Sleeping Baby.

{Space Odyssey}

{Surfer Girl}

{Super Baby}

{Circus}

{Elephant Rider}

Wonderful photo series by Adele Enersen, a copywriter on a maternity leave, features pictures of her sleeping baby girl dressed up in cute outfits. These are so cute make me want to take some of my own when my baby is born. But I am not so sure whether I will have the energy, cause it's definitely some excellent pre-planning there.

To see more, visit her blog.

Please do it at home! (家でやろう!)

I’m not a conservative person (at least, I don’t think I am) but some of the things I see people doing lead me to think that either people’s values are changing for the worse, or that I’m getting old and conservative. What prompts me to write such things? Well, my daily subway train journey has prompted me to write this: loud music from headphones, sitting improperly (taking up too much space), applying make-up, eating and drinking, throw garbage on the platforms, talking loudly, and putting their belongings on the seats next to them..., didn't we ALL learn these things when we were in kindergarten and elementary school? Where are peoples' Manners? Public Decency? and Respect for Those Around You???

Japanese are famous for their manners (マナー). Even big cities in Japan like Tokyo and Osaka have less crime and more general politeness than other large metropolises in the world. There is crime and there are rude people in Japan…but considerably less than in cities overseas.

The high level of politeness in Japan means that the bad manners that one most commonly encounters are things like smoking or eating while walking, putting make-up on while riding the train, music turned up too loud on headphones, not giving up a seat on a train or a bus to the elderly, and using cell-phones near the silver seats (seats for pregnant women, elderly and the disabled) on the train where they’re supposed to be turned off. So, from 2008, Tokyo Metro Subway company started a series of good manners posters shown above.

I don't know if posting posters alone will help (probably not), but I do wish New York City MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) will do something, or at least have some posters like these to remind people to improve their basic manners. I even think the MTA should hire people monitoring our behavior, and by doing so, we can keep the trains, platforms and train stations nice and clean. They do so in Taiwan, they don't even let you chew gum in the stations, and you can see their trains and stations are still very nice and clean after so many years of service.

Wall (壁)

{image via Unstitched}

I wish I could have a wall like this for our coming baby boy, so he can draw freely...but I think it's difficult to do so in our tiny NY apartment...

Suitcase Stickers (スーツケースステッカー)

{images via thecheeky.com}

I don't think it's a good idea to use these stickers on your luggages if you are traveling by air, but I do appreciate the creativity! These cheeky stickers are designed to stick to anything, they will draw attention to your bag, making it easily identifiable and sure to make you some new friends. Just be ready for the full body-cavity search if you bring these to the airport!

Happy Friday!

Yesterday I finished folding 50 of the Origami Boxes and hand cutting 750 pieces of the heart shape Chiyogami Stickers for a custom order. I am very happy to know that people want to use my origami boxes as party favors!


The other happy news is that my Cute Japanese House Wooden Rubber Stamp is featured in Etsy's treasury page! This is the first time my goods get featured, I feel very good about it.

Have a happy Friday and happy weekend everyone!

Bookshelf Porn...

Wow, can't believe there is a site entirely dedicated to bookshelves! It's amazing! This is really a pron site for someone like me who has a thing for books and bookshelves! I always like to see bookshelves in other people's houses, it's so fun. From this site, you can see all kinds of bookshelves, it's also a good place to get ideas when you need to decorate your home too!