My Makes · Travel

New crafty projects + a musical Tokyo flashback

Last week, I finished a triangular shawl of candy apple red merino wool that was such fun to make. The shawl follows a highly-textured, classic fan pattern that worked up fairly quickly with a 4.5mm hook. It's soft, squishy, and the color is no end of cheerful. My timing on this one couldn't be better.… Continue reading New crafty projects + a musical Tokyo flashback

Travel · Treasures

Adventures in origami 2.0: Tokyo paper crawl (shopping)

After three years of being away from Japan, I'm back for a week of good eating and cultural appreciation in the amazing capital city. Much of my fun in Tokyo will center around some of Japan's signature arts and crafts, including many forms of creativity that use paper. One of my favorite ways to use… Continue reading Adventures in origami 2.0: Tokyo paper crawl (shopping)

My Recs · Travel

Adventures in origami: some places to visit in Tokyo**

This week in Tokyo has been a whirlwind of discovery and delight in Japanese handicrafts, particularly paper and paper folding. There are so many places to learn more about origami and find amazing materials. One of these places is Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan, in the heart of Tokyo, near the Kanda-Myojin Shrine. PHOTO: Storefront of Origami… Continue reading Adventures in origami: some places to visit in Tokyo**

Travel · Treasures

My foray into the world of Japanese anime dolls

"Foray" is the operative word for my brief incursion into the foreign, but fascinating (and vast) anime doll craze. My niece is into Japanese anime drawing, so I thought she would love a 3-D model from which to base her sketches. What better place to get one than in Tokyo. I am a fish out… Continue reading My foray into the world of Japanese anime dolls