Showing posts with label furoshiki. Show all posts
Showing posts with label furoshiki. Show all posts

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Fresh from Tokyo May 2013

Despite all my efforts to divorce myself from fabric, textiles, etc.  I guess there still is lint in my blood after all these years.  A life spent with fabric cannot be undone.  Color, texture and all things fabric still catch my eye and I have learned to enjoy the experience and even appreciate it, now...
As seen in Tokyo:
Wonderful, bold, graphic summer colors on furoshiki tote bags.  These triangular ones (hanging) are shoulder totes, made of 2 pieces sewn together.  The folded pieces below are handkerchiefs and tenugui (hand towels).  They are made of light summer weight cotton and are ubiquitous in the spring/summer.  I love how there are seasonal prints.  My eyes are happy to see changing colors with changing seasons.  Things look fresh and different and I never get tired of seeing new design motifs and textile art.
This is "Japanese Marrimekko" to me.  Flat, bold shapes of color in cheerful combinations.




For Mother's Day, these little planter jars were on display.  Filled with glass or plastic marbles, what appears to be a recycled jar makes a great little desk top or table top gift.  Japan is great with keeping things from being super-sized.  So things always look "cute".  By the way, this is a living plant. 
Other small plants.....

Friday, August 24, 2012

Summer Handbag from Japan

During my recent trip to Japan, I kept seeing these furoshiki-scarf-handbags.  From Tokyo to Kyoto to finally Hiroshima; I had to get one.  It is a very clever idea and practical too.  Took me a few days to catch on that this bag is perfect for travelling, it is flat and both the fabric and the handle are reversible.  It is a single layer of cloth, not two pieces sewn together.  The handle is a nice firm/stiff band and is very secure in hand.
Now I wish I had purchased the larger size too.

Found a source for the handles on Etsy.com.  Did a search for "furoshiki handbag" and there was one seller.  Their scarves seemed too lightweight for my purposes.  But the handles are leather and in solid white, tan and red.  Am anxiously awaiting the handle's arrival.  I have the perfect "nobori" banner to make into this bag. 

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Day 10: Kurashiki and Aloha Hiroshima

We really made good use of our JR Pass by taking the Shinkansen everywhere we could go.  A short ride got us to Kurashiki, a town that was formerly used as a film set for old samurai movies.
However it's been gentrified with paved sidewalks and modern restaurants and shops.  Susan was disappointed that the old town with narrow streets and alleys, full of tiny shops was not as she remembered five years ago. 

The lovely river that flowed down the center was lined with willow trees and wisteria which was probably in bloom last month.  The side street was very cute and quaint and we found clothes that fit us! This was quite an accomplishment as Japanese clothes do not fit typical American bodies, yes, even us.

Our soba lunch was delicious; in a small family restaurant.  We both had thoughts of getting back to reality and home.  From this experience I can honestly say that Japan is not expensive if you eat local-style and travel by train and subway. 

The furoshiki bag/purse idea has been growing on me since Tokyo; got a small one to use for evenings and it also packs flat too.

Wayne made reservations at a tempura restaurant and pre-ordered our dinner.  Wow!  How special and there were only eight seats.  He bought out the restaurant just for us four.  A sweet young couple own the place and do all the work.

After dinner we joined Cheryl at a street fair "Yukata Matsuri".  It was crazy busy with food and toy vendors lining the shopping areas.  People were walking all over the place because the roads were closed.  Lots of fun.

The walk back to the hotel was not as long as I anticipated and being Friday night, there were lots of young people out enjoying the evening.

Back to Hawaii tomorrow--we are prolonging the vacation by traveling from Hiroshima to Narita by Shinkansen; should take us about 4 hours with one transfer.