June 29, 2010

One Village Coffee






{images via thedieline.com}

Check out this awesome packaging for One Village coffee, which was designed by Able! The bag was printed in white + two colors with a matte finish and gloss trapping over the logo. Because the budget didn't allow for more than one type of bag, a different label with a customized icon is used to identify each type of coffee.

I am so attracted by such design, so lovely, made me smile and I’d definitely gravitate towards this packaging would I peruse a coffee shelf in a store.

June 28, 2010

New in My Store---More Sticky Stick it Markers and Memo Pads




I've been busy adding new stuffs to my store, here are more cute sticky stick it markers and memo pads. I still have more things to add to the store, so please do come back and check again time to time!

New in My Store---A Boxful of Japanese Hand-screened Chiyogami/Yuzen Paper






A Boxful of Japanese Hand-screened Chiyogami/Yuzen Paper---there are 200 pieces assorted Japanese Chiyogami in a beautiful chiyogami box.

The box measured approximately 6.5 x 6.5 x 5.5 cm (about 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.125 inches), and the papers measured approximately 5.8 x5.8 cm (about 2.25 x 2.25 inches).

These beautiful papers are perfect for wedding and party invitations, place cards and thank you cards, scrapbooking, jewelry making, greeting cards, or, use them as little notes, and for any other craft projects. I'm sure you'll think of many more uses! It also makes a perfect gift!

These are Hand Screened Printed in Japan. I have only the blue one and the red one left. Leave me a message to let me know which one you preferred when you place the order. Thanks.

June 26, 2010

New In My Store---Sticky Stick It Note Pad



These super cute Sticky Stick It Note Pads are finally added to my store. I have been a big fan of Propeller Studio, they have the cutest designs ever! These little characters and their innocent English make me smile!

If you want to add some to your collections, you can click on my Etsy store on the right hand side, or you can click here.

June 24, 2010

Illustrated Cities



{images via Cosas Minimas}

I am glad I stumble upon her blog. The graphic designer and illustrator Blanca Gómez lives and works in Madrid, Spain. She created these whimsical and retro travel posters that feature the cities of New York, Paris and London---it's a project she did about illustrated cities for The Art Group.

The name of her blog---Cosas Minimas, meaning Tiny Things in Spanish. She thinks that name explains her work better than herself.

Love her style!

June 21, 2010

Teru Teru Bouzu (てるてる坊主)





It’s now summertime and it's currently rainy season (梅雨) in Japan. As usual for this time of year, it’s forecast to rain a lot for the next few days in Japan. It reminds me that my mom used to teach us to make Teru-teru-Bouzu (てるてる坊主) during the rainy season.

Many cultures have ancient rituals for invoking or for stopping the rain, and Japan is no exception. However, Japan is one of the few countries where these rituals are still part of the daily life.

If you visit Japan, especially during the rainy seasons, you can encounter some curious looking dolls, made of paper or cloth, hanging at the windows. The dolls are called Teru-teru-Bouzu (てるてる坊主); meaning shiny-shiny monk or shiny-shiny bald-headed; and are amulets for good weather, believed to have the magical power to stop or prevent the rain.

The tradition includes also a song associated with teru teru bozu, composed by Shinpei Nakayama (中山晋平), published in 1921.

1.てるてる坊主 てる坊主♪ 明日 天気にしておくれ いつかの夢の 空の様に 晴れたら 金の鈴 あげよ

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu, do make tomorrow a sunny day. If you do make the sun shine, I will give you the golden bell.

2.てるてる坊主 てる坊主♪ 明日 天気にしておくれ 私の願いを 聞いたなら 甘いお酒も たんと飲ましょ

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu, do make tomorrow a sunny day. If you made my wish come true, I will drink the sweet sake with you.

3.てるてる坊主 てる坊主♪ 明日 天気にしておくれ それでも曇って 泣いてたら そなたの首を チョンと切るぞ

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu, do make tomorrow a sunny day. But if the clouds cry (it’s raining), then I shall snip your head off.

Because it sounds very cruel to snip your head off, current broadcast is often cut out the 3rd part.

In some area, people put the Teru-teru-Bouzu upside down in order to wish for rain. It's called Rute-rute-Bouzu(るてるて坊主), Fure-fure-Bouzu(ふれふれ坊主), or Ame-ame-Bouzu(あめあめ坊主).



June 18, 2010

Alice in the wonderland



How amazing are these? Letter pressed and die-cut Ornaments/Tags inspired by Alice in the wonderland. Ready to hang on a tree or use as gift tags, as well as bookmarks. Printed on super thick coaster stock. These are designed by katazome artist (型染め作家) Mihoko Seki (関美穂子).

Katazome (型染め) is a Japanese method of dyeing fabrics using a resist paste applied through a stencil. With this kind of resist dyeing, a rice flour mixture is applied using a brush or a palette knife. Pigment is added by hand-painting, immersion or both. Where the paste mixture covers and permeates the cloth, dye applied later will not penetrate. As with many everyday crafts of Japan it developed into a respected art form of its own. Nowadays the stencils are sometimes sold as artworks, attached to hand fans, or used to decorate screens and doors in Japanese rooms.

If you like Japanese Masking Tapes, the chance is that you probably already familiar with her works.



{ Masking Tapes Designed by Mihoko Seki}

{ Stickers Designed by Mihoko Seki}

If you are interested, please click links above.

June 17, 2010

Recipe Tea Towels (レシピ ティータオル)







These limited edition, fluorescent screen-printed Recipe Tea Towels from Mozi are so cute and also proficient at drying dishes. On top of that, they provide some handy literature to inspire yummy culinary creations. Oh, and it's 100% linen! I love anything made of linen!


June 10, 2010

Well Used Space~










Here is an impressive 505 SF loft apartment right here in my neighborhood Brooklyn. This is a junior 1 bedroom + sleeping loft designed by PorterFanna Architecture.

This high ceiling, multi-level apartment has been fully designed by the owners/architects to emphasize light and maximize the use of space. Hidden computer desk, built-ins that also serve as staircase to the loft bed, hidden toy storage, crib in a walk-in closet... etc. They definitely thought of everything to make this small space work.

Crib? Yes, they have a little kid in the apartment.