Stay Cool in Style - Lovely Folding Fans

One of the best habits I picked up during our time in Japan was carrying a sensu - or folding fan - during hot summer days. We're in the midst of a blazing heat wave here in Toronto, and this being our first summer in years without AC, I'm so thankful to have a few fans to choose from!

In places like Japan and southern Spain, fans are considered a summer essential, not just a pretty souvenir or wedding favour. Here are some lovely ones I found on Etsy, should you be looking for a way to cool yourself in style this summer:

Handpainted Silk Fan - Gilbea

Handpainted Green Bubbles Fan - Paloma Sia

Yellow Sun Hand Fan - Olele

Stay cool! And don't forget to enter our Birthday Giveaway - you can comment to win until tomorrow, Wednesday, at midnight!

Kumihimo: Japanese Braids

Colourful Braids - Matome

With friendship bracelets experiencing a resurgence in popularity, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the Japanese art of Kumihimo.

wafuku.ko-bo-hisae

While this braiding technique began as a type of finger-loop weaving, there are now a variety of looms and stands used to create intricate round or flat cords.  Here's a lovely little video demonstrating how a round cord is woven.

Kumihimo - Wafu Works

The most common use of kumihimo is for obijime - the thin woven belts used to tie an obi in traditional Japanese dress. Historically, kumihimo has been used in samurai armour, sword hilts, and ornamentation.

Obijime - Tokyo135

In modern day, more and more artisans are adopting the braiding techniques of kumihimo to create unique jewelry and accessories.

Kumihimo Necklace "The Savannah" - Sand Fibers

Want to know more? Here's a wonderful article exploring the history of kumihimo and the different techniques used to create these gorgeous braids.

Want to see more? I'm enchanted by the kumihimo found here.

DIY: Origami Samurai Helmets

Happy Children's Day!

Why not fold up some sweet origami samurai helmets?  Fold up an army of helmets like we did, if you're feeling adventurous.  Or make a big one and let your imagination run wild. Or even make a teeny one to decorate your lunch.

Monday Morning Eye Candy: Koinobori

Sagamihara Koinobori - Eddie Wong

Olympus Blue Imager

Katori Tatabana Park - Wikitravel

Moyasama

protoplast

Koinobori, or carp streamers, are a common sight in Japan this time of year.  Flown by families and children alike to celebrate Children's Day on May 5th.

Monday Morning Eye Candy - Hina Matsuri

March 3rd is Hina Matsuri - Japan's Doll Festival, otherwise known as Girl's Day.  What better way to start off your Monday than with a little Hina Matsuri eye candy...

Hina ningyo  - Source

Hina ningyo - La Felicita

Hina Ningyo - Dreams of Japan

Hina Ningyo - Art Dolls Only

Wagashi for Hana Matsuri - Tamachi Baigetsu

Monday Morning Eye Candy: Seijin-no-Hi

Today is (was) Seijin no Hi - Coming of Age Day - in Japan.

Photo - d'n'c

The second Monday of January is a national holiday - set aside to celebrate all those who turned 20 (the age of majority) the year before.

Should you be in Japan on Seijin no Hi, you will be delighted to catch sight of young women dressed in furisode - long-sleeved kimono - often with large fur or feather collars.

Photo - Ericity

For many young women, this will be the first formal kimono they own.  Many more will rent their furisode or wear  their mother's.  The long sleeves are symbolic of being single and of a marriageable age.  Once a woman marries, she no longer wears the long sleeves of a young, single woman.

William Soo

It is, however, more than just a ceremony in a pretty dress. There are formal pictures to be taken.  The excitement of seeing your friends all dressed up.  Reunions at City Hall with your friends from Elementary School and Junior High.  It's a bit reminiscent of the Western Prom or Debutante Ball.  But however you see it, it sure is beautiful!

Photo - Bloompy

And yes, this is a celebration for both young women and young men - though, these days, the men's traditional hakama are often replaced with a suit and tie

Yubinuki: Japanese Thimbles

While cruising around the internet, researching something altogether different, I've come across something quite wonderful.  Yubinuki.  Japanese thimbles.

The Shishi Girl

The Shishi Girl

Visit The Shishi Girl for more info on this delightful Japanese craft.  And Ma Mercerie for tutorials and inspiration.

Make Your Own Furoshiki

As we looked at yesterday, a furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloth) can be both beautiful and functional.  Whether you're looking for a lunch bag alternative, a eco-wrapping technique or simply want to inject a lovely bit of Japanese culture into your everyday, the furoshiki is for you!

Making your own furoshiki, really couldn't be easier!  There are only 2 difficult steps - the first is deciding which fabric to make your furoshiki from, the second is deciding which size to make.

For our version, we turned to a lovely Japanese print picked up a few years ago in Japan (sorry, we don't stock this one and don't even know who made it - if you know, please let us know!)

Having only a half metre cut, we went with a 50cm x 50cm furoshiki.  This size is perfect for wrapping around your bento / lunch or other smallish things.  If you're looking to wrap a wine bottle (or 2), or to make a furoshiki that can double as a bag, you'll want to make something closer to a 100cm x 100cm version. 

To make your furoshiki: 

1. Cut a square of your desired fabric. (Or just use a fat quarter, should you have some of those lying around looking forlorn!).  You'll want to choose a fabric which is thin (easy to tie) yet strong. 

2. Finish the edges.  You can serge, go with a rolled hem (depending on your fabric, I s'pose) or do as we did and do a simple hem with beveled corners.  Check out this tutorial for more specific instructions on those corners.

3. Give it a good press and you're good to go!  (I said it was easy!)

Otsukai tsutsumi - basic wrap

4. Have fun trying out all sorts of different wrapping styles.  You can refer to this handy guide or even check Youtube where you'll find furoshiki demonstrations.

Yotsu musubi - 4 tie wrap (2 hidden!)

Don't forget to check out our selection of fabrics (and Shinzi Katoh bentos) on Omiyage.ca.  We think you could make some fab-u-lous furoshiki out of our Kokka Giant Strawberries:

Or for something a little more traditional, why not some of our Maiko prints:

And if you're looking for that perfect gift, why not whip up a matching furoshiki and chopstick / utensil wrap (tutorial here)?!

Happy sewing... and wrapping!

Do You Furoshiki?

Image: Mottainai

Let's get a little furo-chic this morning by taking a look at the Japanese furoshiki.

Essentially a square of fabric used to wrap... well, just about anything! The possibilities seem almost limitless.  But could we expect anything less from the country that brought us origami? 

Ministry of the Environment, Japan

The furoshiki has been around for a long time (a long long time, to be exact!).  But the name has been around since the Edo Era, when the cloths were used to transport clothes and supplies to the local bath house (sento) for your nightly soak. Furo meaning bath.  Shiki meaning spread. But now furoshiki are used for bundling up so much more than clothes!

Elegant when used as wrapping. Perfect for securing your lunch. And of course, clever when disguised as a bag!

Fashion Kowaza

Fashion Kowaza

Planning a trip to Kyoto?  Make sure to pop into this shop. Their designs are sure to inspire you to try it yourself!

Certainly, there has been a bit of a renaissance for the furoshiki over the last few years, and it's had some good press in the Western World.  Why, there are even books on the subject!  But have you tried it for yourself?

Tomorrow, let's make our own furoshikis and see what all the fuss is about!

Learning the Art of Japanese Paper Dolls

One of my favourite cultural experiences during my years in Japan was taking a Japanese paper doll class.  Not to make those lovely little dolls we showed you yesterday, but 3D washi ningyo (paper dolls), sometimes known as anesama ningyo (older sister dolls).  Dolls which have a 500 year history in Japan.

These dolls are exquisite while slightly haunting with their blank faces.  They say the faces are left blank so that the owner / creator can imagine the face for themselves. The lovely papers used to dress the dolls are manipulated into resembling kimono silks.  A gentle twist or fold adds movement, personality.

Gathering together a small group of co-workers and friends, we made the short trip from Nagoya, our homebase in Japan, to nearby Seki to make our own paper dolls.  Chisako, the doll teacher, was lovely, exceptionally welcoming and ensured that our overall experience, as well as our final products, were wonderful.  To take a cultural class like this was something of a rare treat as many of the traditional arts are only taught in Japanese, especially once out of the tourist hot spots of Tokyo or Kyoto.  Each one of us left with warm feelings towards the experience, the teacher and the process, as well as a gorgeous washi ningyo of our own. 

Chisako is a paper doll artist whose dolls have been exhibited in both in Japan and overseas.   To read more about Chisako's doll classes (taught in English) and Chisako herself, take a look at this etsy article or check out her blog.

Should you ever find yourself in central Japan and on the hunt for a cultural experience attainable in English, why not try paper doll making?  It certainly will leave you with a more meaningful souvenir than an airport tchotchke!

If you aren't likely to make it to Japan anytime soon but our simple paper dolls have you hankering for something a bit more challenging, you're in luck!  Chisako sells e-books in her etsy shop, explaining how to make various styles of washi ningyo.  You can even buy kits including the papers and (most of the) other supplies needed to make your own washi ningyo.  Visit the shop here.

All images via japanesepaperdoll.wordpress.com