Birthday Party

I am at birthday party of my son's friend. This place is called "timezone". I have never been here. It is like a game centre, full of various games. My son  received a card, then he can scan his card on red or yellow colour game machines, and he can play games as much as he want for a hour. This is a great place for kids, and adults, too.

Mizuhiki Earring Studs

These are different version of Mizuhiki earrings. I have just made a knot using three colours of Mizuhiki, and glued them onto earring studs. I am going to take them to Hanasho tomorrow. It is quite interesting how to combine the colour of Mizuhiki to make earrings, I think.

Bridge to Brisbane

Bridge to Brisbane is a fun run held in Brisbane, Australia each year around the beginning of September. I walked 5 km with my son, my husband did 10 km. My son was so enthusiastic, he tried to run, I just could not catch up with him. He was not like that two years ago, he is growing. There was a funny dancing walking group, they kept dancing and walking with 70' disco music and costume. I didn't feel so tired after the race, but, now I feel like my legs are jelly.

Crochet Hair Tie

This is called a scrunchie, which is a hair tie, and you can use it as a bracelet, too. This is very popular in Japan, called "shu shu", but, it is hardly seen in Australia. I made a crochet one. It holds your hair so smoothly and looks gorgeous. It is quite stretchy, and is made from silky touch bamboo & wool  yarn.

Massed Expression

I am learning Ikebana which is Japanese flower arrangement. There are lots of different type of Ikebana, mine is Sogetsu. Each curriculum has various themes, this is "Massed Expression" in curriculum 3. I had to compose arrangement by assembling the materials together into a certain shape. When I saw the text book, it looked easy, but, it wasn't. However, I am really enjoying the Ikebana lesson.

Origami Paper Flower Earrings

This earring has a hand folded origami paper flower adorned with a white pearl bead. They are very tiny and beautiful. The flowers are sealed with several layers of protectant to keep their shape with better durability. A gold plated earhook is used. These earrings are lightweight, delicate and very feminine!

Morton Island

We had a lovely weekend at Tangalooma Resort on Morton Island. We saw whales and dolphins, and a beautiful sunset today. This island is made from sand, the third largest sand island in the world, very unique, isn't it? It is not far from Brisbane at all, but, I felt like I was in a tropical island in the pacific ocean. There are lots of activities available. Definitely, I recommend this place to visit while you visit Brisbane.

Japanese Patchwork Pouch with Plum Flowers

My mother loves patchwork, her room is full of her patchwork items, from a wall hanging to a pillow case. Whenever I come home, she is always making something. She likes to use Japanese Kimono fabrics. Some of her items are available at Hanasho, West End. This pouch has been patched with different type of flower patterns, and lined with a light purple poka-dotted pattern cotton. It has a magnet closure under the three plum flowers.

Kuro chan

Since Kuro (black) chan was a small kitten, she or he is always wondering around our unit. I and my son are trying to become a friend with her or him, Kuro chan never let us allow approaching to her or him. Once we stepped toward to her or him, Kuro chan just ran away. We are so suspicious for her or him, I guess.

Mizuhiki Earrings

I love Japanese traditional craft. These are hanging earrings with Mizuhiki balls. Mizuhiki is an ancient Japanese art form that uses a special cord which is created from rice paper, that is tightly wound, starched to give it stiffness, and then colored. I have made it into a ball, and attached to an ear threader made of sterling silver.They are available at Hanasho in West End, Brisbane.

Drop Off

I have never dropped off my son alone  at school until today though he is old enough to go to school by himself. I was not sure what I have to do at school pick up zone, and I thought I would be stuck in a queue. My son's school is quite small, there was no car at the zone today, and I found it is very easy. Every morning, I parked my car a bit further away from school, and walked to school with my son. Probably, I'd better drop him off next to the school gate.

Crochet Cup Holder

This is a disposable coffee cup I have made on 2009, and listed on my madeit shop: www.madeit.com.au/moonflower

This product was quite popular, and featured on madeit newsletter a couple of times. Unfortunately, green yarn (I really liked this colour.) ran out. Now, I am making a brown one instead.

Spring is coming...

たんぽぽ　Tanpopo

Even though eight years have passed since I moved to Brisbane, I still cannot get used to having spring in September. In Japan, we have spring in April, and there are beautiful cherry blossoms, so I could feel fresh and bright in spring. However, here in Brisbane, it is quite warm and weather is mild throughout the year. Though I love winter here, it is a bit hard to feel the difference between the seasons. Without doubt, spring is coming in Brisbane.

Origami Flower Ball "blue star"

This is my first item I listed on my etsy shop on 2009: http://www.etsy.com/shop/wakki "Origami" is the Japanese art of folding paper into shapes  representing objects. This is calld "Kusudama" means modular origami ball. It is made from 22 individual flower pieces which are sewed together into a ball shape.This flower ball is called "blue star".