5 May
I found the cutest kit for making chocolate lollipops at the 100 yen store. Teeny, bite-sized and with faces!
24 december
I will let this Japanese gift bag speak for me in this case.
*Please note: Large socks are ready!!!
21 December
Another thing living in a Japanese claw machine. I couldn’t believe this pillow.
Please note the cleavage. Some people here like pillows to hug in the shape of boobs or laps, or sometimes whole body pillows. I don’t think that ever caught on in the States. The girl working at the claw machine place looked at me really strangely when she saw me taking this picture.
17 December
My Giveaway Day winner is TheChimes…cuteness is coming your way. Thanks everyone for stopping by!
Here is what I found in another claw machine at the mall—Hello Kitty dressed in bunny suits.
16 December - Daikon Man
You see lots of daikon in the supermarkets in Japan, and I’ve always found them a pretty attractive vegetable.
But I couldn’t believe how cute they became when they underwent the Japanese Cuteification Process and were transformed into dolls sitting in a claw machine at the mall.
My friend R tried to win me one when he saw how much I wanted a Daikon Man of my own.
This guy hung on to the edge, like he didn’t want to leave the machine, but a few more Yen made it happen, whether he liked it or not.
And now he’s all mine!
12 december - Giveaway Day!
Happy Giveaway Day! I’m Karen, an American living in Japan who loves sewing. I will ship anywhere if you win my giveaway, so please enter, no matter where you live.
What I have for my giveaway is a little sampler of some cute Japanese sewing stuff. First, I have for you the latest issue of a greatly beloved Japanese sewing mag, Cotton Time. This magazine always has fun stuff tucked inside—meaning it’s usually sealed up at the newsstand with twine or plastic.
I opened this one up so I could fill you in on the contents. The issue I’m sending you includes a 2012 calendar with a cute sewing project each month. You also get instructions for the bag project you see on the front cover with fabric included. Of course it’s all in Japanese, but you know how sewing is an international language? You can probably figure it out and drool over the cute projects inside the magazine!
You’ll also get a set of 8 pieces of Japanese cotton fabric, about a fat quarter of each.
I’m also throwing in some fun stuff from the 100 Yen store (= a dollar store), as well as a Yoshitomo Nara postcard. Even grape Hi-chu candy, which is the best.
Finally, you’ll get a set of cute sewing-themed stationery from my new online store, Kukoshop. You can also visit, if you like, by clicking “shop” under the banner.
Ah, Japan. So much cute stuff everywhere you look. Cute fabric, cute kids, cute dog outfits, cute packaging, cute English. It makes an ugly winter day bearable.
So—to win this loot, let me know in the comments what “cute” means to you. I will choose at random from your answers. Click the word “comments” below to leave one for me.
You can also enter the giveaway by liking my Facebook page here. (You’ll be entered twice if you do both!)
Good luck—I’m off to check out some blogs!
11 December
Even the post office in Japan is cute. I got something in the mail from my friend Haruko the other day—these stamps just killed me!
7 December
Another cute piece of fabric from Hamamonyo. I wish they would sell to me for the shop! They only sell to brick & mortar stores. Someday, Hamamonyo; someday…
