amazing desserts with Sakura flower!

Look what I found just now!! A sweets with Sakura flowers in it! Looks so adorable! Isn't this so beautiful?


Here's Sakura tea to go along! This is a special kind of tea for ceremony such as wedding or Yuinou (formal engagement reception) in Japan!

sewing time

Hi girls. I haven't uploaded any handmade work photos these days, but here they are!
I've been quite busy with my online shops as I get orders every single day, but trying to find a time to sew as I really like this activity. When I'm creating something out of fabrics, I can devote myself. You know what I mean...
The latest bag is using really "chic" fabric from Hawaii. I love the combination of black and pink. This fabric was one of my favorites, but I finally used it for the special order I got from my Japanese customer.
The second photo shows totes with another fabric from Hawaii. These bags were sold out right away last year. But I managed to find the same fabric once again about a week ago. So they're back again!!
The third one is "strawberry pouches" and they all will travel to the US very soon. I'm now working on a different color with similar fabric for the same shop. Yum yum! :D

Sakura everywhere!

Yes, Sakura is seen every-where in Japan at the moment. It's the most beautiful time in the year.

Sakura has a beautiful smell, too. It's so hard to describe with words but it has special kind of it. All Japanese can tell it's from sakura without seeing the flowers!
Enjoy the beauty of Japanese spring with my photos!

Sakura Saku

This photo was taken on March 18, 2006 at the park next to our house here in Kamakura. Saskura flower was ready to bloom. You can see the flowers are kinda popped out.
And this shot was taken on March 21, 2006, just 4 days later. Look some of Sakura flower is blooming!! The news says it's a bit earlier this year. Sakura is a national flower of Japan, and we all LOVE sakura so much. People are waiting and waiting to see when it'll start blooming. When it's at its the best time, we always have "Hanami Party" under sakura trees. Very nice!

Spring flowers

I know lots of people LOVE spring. So do I!! So many lovely flowers to cherish. On Sunday, I and Jade took a long walk through our neighborhood as my hubby was out of house on business with Chinese guys.
I took about 100 photos!! So much to love out here!!
What's your favorite color in flower? My daughter loves pink and purple. I love pink and white.
Oh, there're so many photos I'd love to share with my friends. Umm, I'll upload some every day, then.
Tomorrow is our national holiday and I'm off from work! Yes, this is a treat, right! Another walking to the beach-side, I guess!

This is where I live - Kamakura beach side

As many of you know, I live in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. We moved in here about 4 yrs ago from Central Tokyo after getting sick to be surrounded by high-rise. My husband chose this area, and he was right about it!

Kamakura used to be a capital of Japan in 12th Cen. Many famous writers, politicians and other celebrities love to live here as it's surrounded by beautiful beaches and mountains.
Also you can cherish Mt. Fuji from our area. Over the weekends, many people visit here from Tokyo Metropolitan area and other places. It's a kind of sightseeing spot, too.
Today, I only post the beack-side of Kamakura area. I'll post about the mountain-side of Kamakura when I take some shots!!

spring flowers from my garden

Here are some shots from our garden. Japan is now enjoying gentle and warm spring. The season is a blooming season of flowers. You can enjoy sweet smell when you walk on the street.

UME flowers in our garden is now having its best time with so many pretty flowers.
In June, we'll make UME liqueur to enjoy the UME fruits. Oh, and UMEBOSHI, sour ume pickles!! You need this to make a good Onigiri (triangled shape rice ball)!! I love spring. I feel so freshed and new!

Jade's new bag

Sorry for my long silence! I've been very busy with my online shops, taking/placing orders, shipping and so on. But I'm trying to find just a bit of free time to enjoy my handmade work each day, too!

In Japan, new class starts from April at every school. So March is the time to say goodbye to some friends and teachers. From April, my daughter, Jade will be in a new class called "Lion Class" at her nursery school. For the class, all kids will need their own bag to put their stuffs like clothes, communication notebook, toothbrush, cups and so on from home to school and vice versa. Yap, they'll do almost everything by themselves from this "Lion Class".
So I made a cute backpack for her. She chose the fabrics and I did the sewing! What a great combination!! She chose pink Hawaiian fabric, and I added this cute Hawaiian tape. She really loves the bag and now she's so proud that she puts everything she needs at school by herself, carry them to her class and put them into her basket in her locker in order just by herself!! Kids are growing up to be smart!!

DECOLE goodies!

Hi! Hope you had a great weekends. We went to see a play at Kamakura Kids Center on Saturday, and it was such a great fun even for adults. The temperature is pretty nice here now even though we had so much rain last week.
Anyway, I'm introducing some goodies from DECOLE at my shop, Atelier JADE.
I know lots of people have waited and waited for a long time after e-mailing me. But finally I got some items from Decole. Thanks a lot for your patience, and I hope you'll love those cuties!
http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~atelierj/

Chirimen Crepe Fabric

I'm now introducing several kinds of Yuzen Chirimen Crepe fabrics after so many requests from my customers for Atelier JADE http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~atelierj/
Yuzen Chirimen uses a traditional stencil dyeing technique ever since 8th century in Kyoto area. It is traditionally made of silk, but these days it's made of rayon or polyester.
The texture is so delicate and gentle. And the traditional patterns are so gorgeous. But please take good care of it as it will shrink if you soak in water (hot or cold).
You'll experience totaly new fabric with beautiful colors and gorgeous texture. Traditional "kanzashi", bag and other small zakka things have been made of Chirimen for hundreds years in Japan. Enjoy the Japanese tradition in modern way!