Handmade as Gifts

Happy Monday, folks! We’re entering the last month of the year very soon. You must be busy with gift-shopping or have been flooded with shopping catalogues?

Speaking of gift, a friend of mine recently asked me help make a plushie for her. She wanted to give it as a present. I was delighted to have the opportunity to promote giving handmade items as presents and so dived into sewing.

It was only after I presented the plushie to her that she told me it was intended as a birthday present for our common friend. The birthday girl had wanted to support my work. So in our birthday request tradition, she had asked for a plushie from me after seeing this at my place. But she thought it was better to keep it from me for the time being. I was surprised and touched when I found out their little “scam”! Thanks, chums! It was a sweet gesture!

Vintage & Girly - Myrtle & Lace

Love love these bags from Myrtle & Lace. A touch of vintage and girly-ness! Isn’t the little mirror under the flap of the first bag cute?

[images: Myrtle & Lace]

Cookie Cutter Handmade Journals

If you follow my tweets, you would know about the new Enid Blyton journals I made recently. Otherwise, here’s a quick look. I had to work a little to source for the older versions of these books. But I love that they give these journals a nostalgic touch.

A few of these journals together with the fabric-covered embroidered ones are available at Cat Socrates in Bras Basah Complex, #03-39b. Otherwise, I also have them in my Etsy shop.

I wish I could come up with larger quantities but the truth is, it’s just me and my 2 hands. But I guess, it’s what makes handmade items special, isn’t it? Each is lovingly handmade with sweat and toil but lots of joy!

[Tokyo Trip] - Love Affair with Food

Hello everyone! We have come to the last of this series of Tokyo related posts. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I had fun reliving my time there. For this last post, I’m sharing some random food photos which I captured of my gastronomic adventures. Why not? Since food is a universal love affair (though we’re impartial towards Japanese food. Haha)! Enjoy!

Till the next time I visit the land of the rising sun, I’ll be obsessing over all things Japanese from here and will be peppering my posts with them :p.

[Tokyo Trip] - Hip Nakameguro

Nakameguro is fast becoming a hip suburb in Tokyo and indeed I thought it lived up to its name. Lots of amazingly beautifully decorated shops dot the quiet area. A sense of calm and joy filled me as I strolled those streets. I was satisfied simply feasting my eyes on the interiors and decor. A river that is lined on both sides by Sakura trees run through it. I only wished I could see it when those beautiful flowers are in bloom.

Happy Friday, everyone! Have a good weekend and I’ll see you back here next week for the last few Tokyo-related posts.

[Tokyo Trip] - Loading my Luggage with...

Happy mid-week, lovelies! I’ve been going on and on about all the wonderful shops in Tokyo. Were you wondering what I got myself? I must say, going to Japan always stretches my wallet abit. I made sure I went there with a pretty empty luggage this time. Some of stuff I couldn’t resist were:

1. MT tapes. If you share this love of mine, you'll know that one can never have enough of them! Agree?

2. Stamps. I added to my growing collection on this trip!

Really love this cute one! Makes me want to jump into a tub too!

3. Handkerchiefs. There were all so beautiful, loads of designs to choose from! I kept seeing them in different shops! I exercised some restraint by allowing myself just 2.

4. Fabric. From where else but Tomato! It was a "must go" for me! (Too much of a chore to photograph them :p).

[Tokyo Trip] - The Music in Koenji

Ready to continue our little trip with me? I headed to the Koenji in the late afternoon and spent the earlier part of the night there as well. Aided by the cool evening wind and the considerable fewer number of people, this suburb is all charms! I strolled leisurely, checking out the beautiful shops and cafes that dotted the little lanes. Some happy music was playing softly in the air all the way, punctuated by the sound of the occasional cyclist that passed me, presumedly heading home for dinner. I wished I could walk on such streets everyday.

If you love second-hand clothings, you’ll like Koenji.

Cute cafe that sells baby’s clothes too

Super duper cute Hattifnatt Cafe that’s like a tree-house!

They serve yummy home-cooked style food and really pretty desserts!

Handmade menu and stool seat covers

We’ve been on this Tokyo journal for quite a while. Are you loving the city yet?

[Tokyo Trip] - Kichijoji

I’m going to show you some cool/cute cafes and shops I visited in Kichijoji. This time, the photos will do the talking :)

My stomach had just started to growl when I discovered Sometime Cafe that is way cool with its vintage furnishings and located in the basement of a building. Very decently-priced lunch sets that are oishii! Live music at night.

Karel Capek Teatime Shop is cuteness galore! The friendly shop assistant was offering very fragrant tea and cookies for samples. They also stock some kitchenware and cards. I don't ever want to leave this place!

After shopping in the area, I stopped by Il Cappetit, a sweet little cafe for something sweet. They also have a small zakka shop with many cute items (small but I still found things to buy)!

I hope you're not sick of this Tokyo series yet? I'm having fun though!