Japanese fashion magazines (+ free gifts)

“MORE“+”Cath Kidston“

You know those girls’fashion magazines often offer various free gifts come with them.

Especially the Dec. issues, each mag has got a gorgeous free gift that I can not resist, so I end up buying it…..

Clockwise from the bottom left, Charlotte Ronson’s pouch, MILKFED’s pouch, Cath Kidston’s pouch, Aesop’s Rose Hair & Scalp Moisturizing Masque, Banner Barrett’s charm and Maison Martin Margiela’s pouch.

“marie claire“+”Aesop“

“spring”+”MILKFED“

“sweet“+”banner barrett“

And others like a key chain by Marc Jacobs or a Kitson’s tote, many of them are collaborated products with poplar fashion brands.

When those free gifts are so too pretty, the temptation always win over me…..

Q-pot.baby Debut! (new babyline start)

Q-pot.baby was started in November 2007! You must have a look at cute yummy rompers, bibbs, etc.

babies may grow up sweet tooth! But my purpose is accessories and mobile straps.
They are made for moms and kids can use together.

I couldn’t resist strawberry macaroon …it’s a foul(>_<)!

Hand made candles “vida=feliz”

A very sweet candle-making book has just been released!
It shows you how to make candles of a doughnut, a baguette or a rose and a Ranancuras, which all look so very real.

I was given a doughnut candle as a gift, but it is just too lovely to light &let it melted…
There are also the candle-making workshops, but they would be fully booked straight away every time. It would be a miracle if you can join the workshops !

vida=feliz

Seven-Eleven back to 60s (classic toy car series)

“ALWAYS sunset of the 3-chome:”, the sequel of the mega hit movie “ALWAYS sunset of the 3-chome” has just been released.

Now the Seven-Eleven is running a tie-up campaign with this movie and offering the related products.

The movie is set in Japan around 1960‘s, so there are various stuff of that time, such as the remade, retro looking packages of confectionaries, or the choro-Q cars of the models of the time and so on.

Trailer

Collectable 6 type of choro-Q in the “blind box”!　I bought 2 boxes! I’ve got Mazda T-2000 and Mazda Carol360.

I never saw these real cars but imagine if my granpa ride on …

link

MoMA Design Store, Tokyo OPEN!

On the second of November, the MoMA Design Store was opened in Omotesando. This is their first store overseas.

There, they have a lot of products that you cannot get from their online shop.
I found that Anemone Pen, which is also very popular at 8tote’s real shop!! (@o@)

MoMA Design Store
5-10-1 GYRE 3F
Jingumae Shibuya Tokyo

MoMAstore - MoMA Design Store Open
GYRE

“MICHIRU ABE”: a bag brand

This is a new card case form Michiru Abe. She started a bag brand “MICHIRU ABE” in 1993. You can get her works at Beams.

BEAMS TOPICS : MICHIRU ABE

Suica penguin part2 (I love Suica Penguin,too)

I’m not a big collector of Suica Penguin goods but I do love the Suica penguin. I got some stuffed Penguins, a Penguin pass holder, a ballpoint pen…

Asakusabashi - Shimojima,Kiwa,Mokuba

large map
If I take you to look around Tokyo, I would take you to Asakusabashi.
Well, if around the JR Akihabara station is a “town of OTAKU nerds”, then the next stop Asakusabashi is a “town of handmade”.

You can get beads and accessories materials, ribbons and other hand craft stuff at　wholesale price.

Because Asakusabashi is wholesale-stores area, you can also find many other goods like commercial wrapping papers, display supplies or artificial flowers.
Of course, many stores accept a purchase for retail, so I often visit Asakusabashi for shopping.

I’d recommend “Shimojima”

Come out from the East Exit of JR Asakusabashi, walk to the left along the Edogawa　Street , then next to a bakery there is 8-story shop building. That’s Shimojima’s 5th shop.. This one has the largest variety and number of goods of all Shimojima’s.
As it was close to Halloween, there were full of Halloween goods.

If you are into beading accessories, then you should not miss visiting “KIWA”!
Come out from the East Exit of JR Asakusabashi, walk to the right along the Edogawa Street, then you see “KIWA” right away.

There are always so many people busy with getting their beads and accessory parts.

Or if you like ribbons then check “MOKUBA”.

They have so many ravishingly gorgeous ribbons.
You can purchase from one meter. Take a roll you like to the counter and ask them to cut it to your desired length.

Shimojima
KIWA
Mokuba New York

What is your lucky charm?　

We’ve just started selling “lucky charm totes” at the 8tote’s brick-and-mortar shop in Tokyo!

The baby pink tote comes with a dangling English antique key arranged with lacy ribbons. Of course, each key is unique. Isn’t it romantic?

We do have a lot of our own lucky charms in Japan, too. So I did a little search around my house.

Yes, I’ve got this “MANEGI　（招布）” tapestry in my bathroom. See the six, colorful calabashes? 　Six (Mu ) Calabashes (Hyotan) = MUBYO, and the pronunciation is same for another word that means “free from sickness” in Japanese.

Lucky charms bring us Good Luck & HAPPY SMILE ;)

FUROSHIKI : Japanese traditional “eco bag” ?

Have you ever heard of “FUROSHIKI”, Japanese traditional “eco bag” ?

Typically a square of 45cm x 45cm, or 103cm×103cm (There are also different sizes).

It is quite handy piece of cloth as you can wrap any shapes of any sizes, small or large, and when you don’t use it, you can simply fold it pretty small.

Most FUROSHIKI have patterns of Japanese plants or traditions on them, however there are some geometric patterns or cute, modernized-traditional patterns nowadays. I heard that Mick Jagger has got a FUROSHIKI in Kyoto, too.

Kakefuda Kyoto - Famous Furoshiki Store

In Focus: How to use “Furoshiki” [MOE]
How to wrap with FUROSHIKI
KAKEFUDA (kyoto)
KOMEFUKU