Happy New {Lucky} Year!

You might already know my interest in crane origami. I love them so much not just for their shape, expecially when I put one into another creating a sort of a chain, or for the pattern of the beautiful washi paper ... I really like them because of the greeting message they carry [do you already know the Thousand Origami Creanes significance? You have to].

What a best symbol to put the past year behind us and get ready to start the new one with some good resolutions, purposes, projects...
I wish you, my dear readers, a Happy New Year full of love, happiness, health and challenges. Of these last ones, I'm sure I'll find many!

P.S. There is a typo into the greeting card! I'm sorry, as you already know my English is a way too imperfect, and I spell very bad ;)

How To Be A Modern Geisha #3

Red of lips, red of passion, red of the momiji pattern on the light kimono precious fabric. We might say that red is the colour of Christmas, but also the unmistakable touch of a geisha.

Previous episodes (#1 #2):

 Credits: 1. 2.

Leaf Anathomy

Here comes the snow and the season turns finally into winter. Again. If you can't stop missing the hot colours of the previous season too, here's a small leaves guide of my favorite trees my parents got in the garden this autumn. Who's gonna guess what's my favorite one? Here is a piece of help.

How To Be A Modern Geisha #2

Second step: choose a colour (well...black is binding) and let your geometrical abilities win the day. Patience will give you the perfect result!

Missing pieces here: #0 #1

Credits: 1. 2.

Japanese Vintage

Thanks to Valentina I had the chance to discover something very inspiring concerning my first real love: architecture. There's a 26 sq. ft. tiny house in Yokohama. This is not a real deal, I know, the matter is that this house is a restored one making Takuda Tsuchiya (Studio No. 555 famous genius) talking about "Japanese vintage" for the first time ... something we couldn't even imagine before!

 

Inspired by this house, it seems the right time to let you know I'm moving to a new flat into 3 weeks. That's the smallest house (I'd like to call it "doll's house"), but the cutest ever. There is wood, wood, wood everywhere and the panorama is simply fabulous. I'm so excited and grateful that I can't wait to share some pics with you ;)

Credits: click here

How To Be A Modern Geisha #1

Different names, same mood. Who wants to be a Modern Geisha? Then, you'd better start from shoes!

 

1. 2.

Happy Birthday to Moustaches

How To Be A Modern Geisha #

Moustaches's 1st bithday is almost near and I can't wait to celebrate with you. My will is to lauch a new column entirely about the Geisha Style.
What is the so-called style about? How can we take inspiration from this elegant and mysterious type of woman?  Is it still possible to be a geisha nowadays?

Let's figure it out together in a 5-tips weekly guide!
Stay tuned ;)





Credits: 1. 2.

Ginko leaves

A flood alarm leds me to be stuck at home helpless watching the falling leaves. That hurts my heart, expecially because I've waited so long to see the ginko leaves turning yellow.
Here's an 'ode' to my favourite tree ever: the one and only that makes me think every time to the beautiful Japanese Autumn. Something that I miss a lot, something irreplaceable.

pictures of 1 year ago

1. 2. 3.

November Pumpkins

We don't celebrate Halloween, but we do love pumpkins anyway. Even though for you, my American readers, a yellow pumpkin is even more than a simple ingredient, we turn out to reduce it to an inviting dish of 'gnocchi' (small Italian dumplings) or a new gelato taste, without forgetting my favourite pizza ever: the pumpkin and mushroom one!
But... what if Yayoi Kusama eventually inspires my mother? The result is flower baskets full of decorated orange veggies, fire-red leaves and lots of dots!
Dear November, welcome back :)  

Happy Birthday

Few days ago it was my 26th B-day! Without any doubt I confess I'm a lucky girl and all the presents I received were adorable, useful and super cute.
But there is something I particularly adore and that's a present from a Tokyo based friend of mine. It arrived weeks ago by mail and it was all well wrapped in a Japanese furoshiki. There was a brooch inside, but what I liked the most was its packaging, colours and its elegant simplicity.
If you look for an original way to wrap a present with, here you are a selection of my favourite craft ideas. Enjoy!

1. 2. 3.

Frushi

Talking about food, I'm actually far from being vegan of vegetarian. But I'm unbelievably curious, and that's the reason why I usually love trying different tastes, recipes and never-seen-before plates.
Forget about sushi, the new cuisine frontier's called: frushi (fruit&sushi). The taste is delicious and the colours... limitless!

1. 2.

How To Use Washi Tape (pt.2)

I've been away for a while. I know. But lots of things have happened so fast that I still haven't realized the most part of them yet.
Some good news (baby news) and some "damn" news (house news), but, anyway... things are getting better and, from the other side there's just brightness and expectation and ... wonderful moments I won't miss!
So, thinking about the day when I'll be able to decorate my own walls ... here you are my second selection about funny ways to use washi tape!
Enjoy!

1. 2. 3.

Friday Saturday and Sunday

Best times of last week end. And this one is gonna be even more great ;)
Have a good day ;)

Waco Hashimoto

Have you ever thought about matching up your old kimono (a yukata is also fine) to a pair of Melissa shoes? Or do you prefer biker boots, maybe? With Waco Hashimoto you can see what happens mixing and matching different patterns, materials, philosophies...cultures!
The result is a salad that, as you can easily notice, perfectly fits with Japanese culture: old and modern are bound together!

Origami mood (pt. 2)

My mind usually works on connections. I've got a visual memory and I can easily collect a considerable amount of different images building a kind of 'relationship' between one and another. That's my ability, something I can do very well and something useful for my work too.

So, sometimes this is the result of a madly random connection: nothing but a simple aesthetical exercise.

1. 2.

New Kidivist Collection

Have you already seen the new Kidivist collection? This is the so called 'mosaic' one now available on Etsy.
Perfectly matching with a baby cradle or room, it also goes well with my beloved origami brooch (bought here), doesn't it?
Happy week end!

Weekly Inspiration

Half week is gone. Sometimes a good inspiration is just what you need to make your best out of a pretty boring second part of the week.
What about this one? Does any of you know the correct Japanese term for them?

Source: click here

Kokeshi Display

It sounds just like a big crush on something I don’t really need, but it’s worth enough to make me think about it all the time I start wondering about my future home furniture. Ok, I’m scaring you and myself too admitting that what I’m talking about it’s actually a simple kokeshi display.

I’ve already presented this way to collect Japanese wooden dools, which I adore and I want to make my house full of, but I’m looking also for different solutions that make me compulsively checking at Pinterest where I found out something to fall in love with.

Which one do you prefer?

 1. 2. 3. 4.

There's a little bit of Japan...

Two things of my dream-trip I'd like to share with you:

1. An amazing gift the Hiroshima elementary school sent to the City of NY soon after the 9/11 facts. It's a collection of small crane origami made by the scholars: a 'piece of hope' for the families of this tragical loss.

2. A purchase from the MoMA (this is one of many I made for my future home): MT masking tape to enlarge my collection! Nothing better to have something new to come back to work again, but with a more creative attitude :)

Summer holidays

Finally, after 1 hard-working year, my holidays starts on Friday and I can't wait to take that flight. It's all about travels... and cultures. EAST or WEST, that's the same when you have the chance to realize one of your dream: a roadtrip on the East Coast taking buses, trains and sleeping in the suburbs in some kind of hostels/motels or ... whatever it will be!  Honestly, that's not the matter, this is definitely where I belong!
So you, guys, I'm sure you won't resented me if I stay away just for a while... be patience, unfortunately I'll be back soon ;)

Have the best Summer ever!

Guess what..?

Let's try something different. Challenge yourself and guess the name of all these typical Japanese dresses, shoes and peculiar stuffs.

But, I mean, you don't have to prove nothing but your appreciation for this fancy 'collage' and nice combinations of an hipothetical Japanese-summer wardrobe. Ain't it cute?

From www.nomuramaya.tumblr.com

Instagram Queen

Take your smartphone, open Instagram, search for @tenko and let her photos to inspire your Sunday afternoon.
...and now my usual appeal to the Instagram Queen: Tenko, please let us know more about your pics and daily life! Tell us something bout you! We are so so curious...

So Summer!

Have a super happy weekend ;)

for more click the direct link here

Metropolitan Geisha

How to become a Metropolitan Geisha in 5 steps:

1- Avoid tanning (I know, it's summertime...)
2- Wear a pair of wooden zen sandals
3- Play with 'hairdo' putting your hair right on the top of your head, but in different ways
4- Preserve your melancholic mood

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