It's no surprise that I just love paper and Kawaii Japan characters! These are my latest paper creations for a little upcoming project - Japan Patisserie and confectionery Fujiya mascot Peko-chan, a ketchup smiley face 'Omu-raisu' aka Omurice a Japanese omelette filled with rice and meat and decorated with cute ketchup faces served with lettuce! They are famous at

maid-cafes!

Yes I love mail, receiving it or making pretty packages to send.

That's why I was happy and inspired when I heard about Newspaper Taxi's 'We Love Mail' project! All you have to do is send a letter to them with a little loved stationery treat inside. All the mail will be displayed in their shop window and you also go in the draw to win the WHOLE stationery loot at the end of the project! Oh my!

 

I first heard about Jazz Domino Holly's 'Queen of Crafts: Modern girl's guide to knitting, sewing, quilting, baking, preserving and kitchen gardening' from her monthly DIY column in one of my fave UK magazines' Company. I must say it is the BEST craft book I have read (in English) for a long time. It really is a great read and Jazz puts a 'new generation' spin on each crafting genre. The book design alone is oh so wonderful with cute squiggles, illustrations and chic, arty typography. Fave projects include; knitted bows, pincushion cakes, Thunderbird quilt, button biscuits and 'Make Tea Not War' tablecloth. It also covers all the basics on knitting, sewing etc. and includes how to's on organizing your own craft clubs, crafternoons and quilting bees. Jazz will you be my new craft BFF?

I really enjoy arranging and styling things. Here is a little collection of some of the wonderful things Kit has in her Mini Mart craft corner; pattern paper, polka dot bows, coloured straws, self-made pom poms, felt shapes, party toy trinkets, neon thread and lolly containers. I like how some of the things remind me of the crafty times that Kit and I have shared together.

There was lots of crafty Kawaii fun going on yesterday at the Mini Mart for my Kawaii Pop Rosette Workshop! Thank you to the talented lovelies who attended - big hugs.

The workshop began with a little introduction to their DIY Kits that included some self-made confetti paper (more on this soon), Kawaii Pop collage sticker set, How to DIY and some pattern masking tape that I made. Off course I also talked a bit about my fave craft tool - washi tape.

We had an overwhelming response from the crafty and creative community for the launch of the Mini-Mart Pop-Up shop on Wednesday night. For those who attend a big thank you for coming and supporting us, it was a great night and so lovely to meet and chat with some of you about Japan and crafty things!

Thanks must also go to Fbi Radio and the Rocks Pop-Up Project team for hosting the event!

Exciting news!! Next week (Saturday 15th October) I will be hosting a Kawaii Pop Rosette making workshop at the Mini Mart Pop-up shop! Eeeep! It would be lovely if some of you could attend. Each workshop participant will get one of these specially designed for the day Kawaii Pop DIY Kits, which includes all the materials need to make your very own Kawaii-Pop themed rosettes!

Spots are limited, so get in quick if you want to attend this crafty celebration xo

The day has finally come! Eeeep! The official launch for the Mini Mart Pop-up shop! Hosted by The Rocks Pop-up Project and FBi.94.5FM. The launch kicks of on Wednesday 5th of October (this week!) at 6pm. So please if you can, do come say hi, have a drink and check out some of the self-made stationery, party goods and zines we have on sale. I also made some little goodie bags that come with a free Japanese gift for the lovely peeps who purchase our handmade wares!