Around Our Apartment

As I wrote in my previous blog post that hubby and I had moved back to Tokyo after having lived in Kurayoshi city in Tottori prefecture.

Our apartment is certainly smaller than our house in Kurayoshi. We have a smaller kitchen (about a third of the size of the previous kitchen). And the apartment consists of 3 rooms, a bathroom and a toilet (both are smaller of course). Our apartment is on the 5th floor! Yep, we have to do some serious exercise going up and down the stairs. Phew! I sweat a lot every time I get home. Especially now that it's summer time.

Despite all of those, we have quite green neighborhood. Surprisingly in Tokyo, you can still find green residential areas like ours. Lots of trees. Mostly ginkgo trees. Also there are small plots of land where residents who like gardening can plant flowers. Supermarkets are near and can be reached within 5 minute walk. The post office is also almost of the same distance, or a bit less than 5 minute walk, which is great for my business. I can ship order faster. Streets are paved. I like paved streets. There are some playgrounds for kids to play.

To catch the train that goes to the heart of Tokyo, I must take a bus to Kokubunji station and from there I can catch Chuo Line that go through Tokyo. So our apartment is located quite nicely and convenient.

We've Moved!

Hello there!

It's been ages since my last post. There's so much happening. In short, my husband and I moved to Tokyo last May.

Well, we had been talking and discussing about moving back to Tokyo for months. It's not that we didn't like living in Kurayoshi, but it seems Japan's rural areas are ideal only for a short stay like when you need an escape from everyday routine of city life, enjoying nature and just having a relaxing time. It's tranquil and calm. But not for living and working. Especially if you are a self-employed trying to start a new life from zero, or if you don't drive and highly depend on public transports to get around. First of all, starting a business for a tiny business like my husband and I do, there's definitely no market due to very small population (e.g. Kurayoshi has about 50,000 people). Secondly, I don't drive so I almost completely depended on my husband to drive me to craft supply shops or supermarket. It was quite frustrating to me not able to get around easily. I'm used to taking public transports such bus or train. In short, we were afraid that we wouldn't survive in the countryside.

It was a huge decision because we didn't want to leave our parents (my husband's parents alone). The concern was that if they needed help, we would be too far. However, living nearby without income was not good either. We would depend on our parents financially because our income was not enough to support us. So after a lot of discussions with them, all of us including our parents agreed that the only solution was to move back to Tokyo.

During Golden Week in May, my husband and I went to Tokyo on apartment hunting. It was quite an exhausting trip. For three days non stop we checked out apartments in outskirt of Tokyo. We were aiming at those areas because the rent is still affordable. Fortunately we found one. It was within our budget and not too small but not too big either.

Right after we'd come back to Kurayoshi, we began packing. We'd thought 3 week time we had was enough. But no. There's incredibly so much to sorted out and packed. We decided to leave lots of stuff in parents' house because no way it could fit in our small apartment We were super busy. We almost didn't have time to tell some people we knew in Kurayoshi that we would move.

Things have calmed down now that we got through the hectic process of moving. But my sinus seems to take a long time to recover. I have had this problem since the apartmen hunting in early May until now. I guess I was too stressed out with the moving that my sinus began to act out. So it's been almost 2 months. About a week ago I decided to take up yoga again after almost 6 years not doing it. Just surya namaskar and some poses that help me fighting this problem. My sinus is not going aways completely yet but it's improving. I hope it goes away soon. Will do yoga more regularly now. It really works!

Anyway, my husband and I hope that our moving gives us more opportunity to make a living as self-employed people. We hope our businesses become bigger and more stable and able to support our lives. Wish us luck!

Hand-stamped Batik on My Etsy Shop

Most of the batiks on my Etsy shop are hand-stamped.

Not a few think that hand-stamped batiks are not handmade or hand-crafted, which is incorrect. Hand-stamped batiks are so handmade. It does not involve machinery and it requires a lot of time to make.

The difference between hand-drawn and hand-stamped is when applying pattern on the cloth. With hand-stamped batiks, patterns are made by hand with a copper printing block dipped in hot wax. This process speeds up the whole process of making batik. The dyeing is done by hand too.

Most hand-stamped batiks have contemporary designs. Some have traditional designs.

My favorite hand-stamped batiks are the ones from the North Coast of West Java Island, Indonesia. The prints are really cute and quite modern. And they are so colorful and yet simple. Some of the hand-stamped batiks on my shop also come from the North Coast of Central Java. I love those too.

 

These batiks are perfect for any sewing projects. They're cotton and very comfortable for spring and summer clothing.

My New Etsy Shop

Happy new year!

Well, I know it's way too late to say that since it's been over 2 months since the new year started.

I've been very busy lately. I opened a new shop on etsy selling vintage and supplies in December last year.

I had been thinking about doing that for many months before and decided it's time to do that. The idea came when my mother in-law show me some vintage kimonos and jacket kimonos that she had kept for many years. She said she didn't know what to do with them. So I thought why not selling them on etsy. That's how it began.

I also have tons of batiks that I haven't had a chance to make into a dress or blouse. Since I began making tsumami zaiku/kanzashi, I haven't had the time to sew.

I'm planning to fill up my shop with other supplies and more vintage. Can't wait to do that! But for now I have vintage kimonos and batiks only on my shop.

If you love Japanese vintage kimono or Indonesian batik, you might find kimono or batik you're looking for :)

Favorite Etsy Treasury April - June 2015

My favorite treasuries from April to June 2015 are as follows.

April Finds by Monica of Grandma's Dowry.

Saturday Night Blues by Ivy Starshine of Starshine Beads 

 Colorful Loveliness by Kitty Karma of Karma Kitty Jewelry 

 Love You Mom by Maiko Sucich of AmiAmiGocco 

Gifts for Mom by Yevheniya Shcherbyna of Woodberry UA

Life by Woolpaw

Captivating Corals by Ivy Starshine of Starshine Beads.

Enjoy these beautiful collections by very talented artists and crafters on Etsy. If you find some items are not in the collections anymore (when you click the links), it means the sellers may have withdrawn their works.

Favorite January - March Etsy Treasury 2015

I'm always honored when a work of mine is included in a treasury by a fellow artist or crafter. Many artists/crafters have included my works in their treasuries. I wish I could post all of them here but again I don't have enough time to do that, so I can only post some. But I DO appreciate all of them.

Here are my favorites:

The Cold Winternoses by Florence Jewel Shop

PINK PINK PINK by Lea Marino of Calico Juno Jewelry 

Handmade Beauties by Katarzyna Blachowicz of Kaila Jewelry 

When you find that the actual treasury has fewer items than the number of items shown here, that means the sellers may have withdrawn or sold their works.

Tsumami Zaiku Statement Ring Floral Jewellery

Some acquaintances had asked me what if I tried to make ring with tsumami zaiku. I thought that was not a bad idea but I never really thought about it seriously. Then about a month ago, after having received the kanzashi hair pins I'd made for her, a customer complimented the hair pins and suggested that I should try making a ring with tsumami zaiku. So, I thought this was the right time to seriously put this idea into production.

Since chrysanthemum is the seasonal flower in October according to tsumami kanzashi calender, I decided to make some Chrysanthemum rings. Some are made of habotai silk, silk crepe de chine and vintage kimono. The size is about 4cm (40mm or 1.6 inch). These flowers are mounted on nickel-free metal rings in various tones such as silver, gold, vintage bronze.

These rings will make beautiful corsage rings at weddings or on special occasions such as prom or other special celebrations. Check out these rings on my Etsy shop.

Yellow Green Chrysanthemum ring is made of habotai silk.

Teal Purple Chrysanthemum Ring is made of habotai silk.

 Orange Chrysanthemum Ring is made of vintage kimono.

 Purple Chrysanthemum Ring is made of vintage kimono.

Mahogany colored Peach Flower Bouquet Ring is made of the lining of vintage kimono and habotai silk.

Maroon and Mauve Flower Bouquet Ring is made of the lining of vintage kimono and habotai silk.

 Pink Chrysanthemum is made of silk crepe de chine.

 Aqua colored Chrysanthemum Ring is made of silk crepe de chine.

And oh, Christmas is coming, so I think why not shopping early for Christmas? So, from 27th September to 27th October there's a special offer: FREE SHIPPING! Yup, if you shop before 27th October, you can get free shipping for any item you buy from my shop. Use this coupon code EXSHP1 when you check out the cart. I will ship your order by Standard Airmail Japan Post. The order will be packed in a box.