satay ayam

well, it seems like my plan to post everyday has fallen apart. my excuse is that i have been in indonesia for a few days, and especially at first didn't have an internet connection. also have been sleeping not very much and getting up very early for the last few days. i'm actually here on a research trip, but it's aways great to be in jogja. and the food is fantastic. this is grilled chicken on skewers with peanut sauce, and rice steamed (?) in a banana leaf. super yummy.

seoul

oh, i am quite behind on posting photos from so many different things...if my life had a little more free time in it, i would so much like to properly post photos right after each event! but for now i have given up on anything like a timely chronicle...and i will just share here somewhat randomly. these are a few pictures from last month's trip to seoul, korea, with my seminar at the university. the colors of the textiles are all so lovely, bright and distinctively korean in the color combinations, gorgeous silks, including these worn ones.
and the food, super yummy! this is actually just all the little side dishes that accompany the main course, in this case yakiniku in japanese, (grilled meat) not sure what the korean name for it is. but i love the way the table is just covered with white dishes--and this was just one section of a long table.

yellowgoat

i'm catching up on my sleep after a red-eye flight brought me back to japan on sunday morning. i'll be honest, there have been a few naps, snacks, and catching up on bad tv.
i feel like i have a lot to catch up on, but at the same time i feel ready to focus on a few projects. like this little boat, i'm working on charting my course. i hope to get back to daily blogging as part of a time-balanced life.
all the photos in this post are works by yellowgoat; i love this ring that holds a photo, and can even be a tiny pictureframe on your desk.
and here's something sweet for your valentine.

tadaima!

...mean's 'i'm back' in japanese. this is actually a photo of the chicago skyline through the clouds while the plane was landing.

on one of the many flights i was on in the last 2 months, they let me sit in this section. that was when i was still on crutches, so i think they just took pity on me. it was grand.

i have a lot to catch up on now that i'm back in japan (including sleep; hopefully i will stop waking up at 3 am soon...) but one of the fun things i have planned for today is to visit a bookstore (like this one, showing yarn by avril right there on the shelves with the books) and check out all the new japanese craft books out for fall! and then perhaps a nap.

flying

i'm doing a lot of traveling this month and next, which means posting here will be sporadic for a bit longer.

this picture captures the best parts of traveling, the lightness and freedom, at least that's what i am thinking now through the fog of some of the most extreme and complex jet lag i've ever experienced.

it's a photo by tricia mckeller, and part of the back to school market up right now at poppytalk handmade.

selvedge shop open in london

i first discovered selvedge magazine earlier this spring, when i was shopping for magazines to read on the long flight to japan. it's a beautiful magazine, and i am absolutely sure that their new shop in london will be filled with equally lovely things.

i'm in japan!

it was a long trip, but i made it. after my connecting flight was delayed 4 hours (!) in san francisco, the flight itself was rather pleasant. and i have to say, i think i interacted with the nicest and most helpful united employees ever throughout the day. of course, the fact that the plane was less than half full helped a lot, as i had a row of 3 seats by the window to stretch out it.
i brought a stack of magazines after i realized that i would be flying during the day, and sleep might not be an option if the movie selection was lacking. (it was, but i watched 2 anyway). one magazine i splurged on was selvedge, a gorgeous textile publication from the UK.
it was totally worth it, and i want to share a few finds from it's pages later this week. but for now, here's the lovely easter craft spread from this issue and from their website.

and now for the jet lag update: i woke up after 5 am, which is infinitely preferable to a few sleepless hours between 2-4 am, in my opinion. today i'm off to the handmade market in kyoto!

portland recap part 3: shopping

here's a little peek inside the lovely garnish store.
owner and designer erica lurie creates her own line of very pretty clothes, and also does custom work. i love this little framed example of fabric swatches.

while we were wondering down alberta street, we also visited bolt fabric and next door close knit (how great is it to have an independent fabric store and yarn store next to each other!), ped x shoe store (i am a sucker for campers), tumbleweed (with kids version grasshopper next door).

portland recap part 1: food

first stop: broder cafe on clinton street. this wonderful scandinavian restaurant does it right, from the proper brunch (above),

to delicious hash with trout.

the menu also has swedish meatballs and aebleskiver, the tiny scandinavian pancakes. i am willing to bet they are both excellent. clinton street was an old hangout when i lived in southeast portland, and it's nice to see that dots (ohh, the late night cheesy fries and velvet paintings) and clinton street video (i spent many nights picking movies from their small but excellent collection, back when we rented VHS tapes) are still around, and also cool new places like broder.

i also had the pleasure of introducing my friends to an old favorite, nicholas lebanese restaurant. this is the food to which i compare all other lebanese and middle eastern food, and it's hard to beat. i would have photos, but we were too busy stuffing our faces with pieces of the gigantic homemade pita bread straight from the oven, with all the tasty treats that come in the mezze combination. heaven.

a lovely weekend

i took a day trip to portland on saturday, and it was truly wonderful. a full day of crafts, local shopping, and delicious food. i don't want to leave anyting thing out, so i'll tell you all about it tomorrow, when i am less sleepy. for now, here's a little bunny i saw there.
some bread rising today, which was an early preview of a perfect summer day.

i'm going to japan!

and i am ever so excited!! i've decided to move back to japan for a year, and teach english while i ponder my future. hee hee, that sounds so deep. sometimes (mostly in the middle of the night) i wonder if my plan is a little too wacky, but i really do believe that it's a great idea that makes sense for multiple reasons, and i am so fortunate and thankful that i have this opportunity. i'll be flying to osaka in 1.5 weeks, and staying with my lovely friends in kobe. i'll be teaching part time at the wonderful conversation school where i worked while i was an exchange student in '06-'08. and of course i will continue to explore japanese handmade crafts, and also to make felt.

however, as i am packing and organizing my things, i have decided to have a little blog sale. starting with these japanese haori coats, which are traditionally worn over a kimono. they could be worn as a jacket, or used as a source for beautifully patterned fabric. i'll post a few more times today and tomorrow with other japanese fabric. email me directly if you are interested, feltcafe@gmail.com, and i will update each item to note when it is sold.

plum haori coat, pattern of waves (detail at the top of this post), crepe fabric. $35 plus actual shipping cost.
purple haori coat, polyester fabric. $20 + actual shipping cost.
red stripes haori coat, silk, $45 + actual shipping cost.

road trip

i stopped for a little road trip treat.
i came into portland when the late afternoon sun was lighting up the town.
between two trips to powell's books (ahhh, wonderful powells) i had really yummy (and super healthy-organic and vegan) lunch at the blossoming lotus in portland's pearl district.

chicago

last week i was in chicago...
for the renegade craft fair (as seen advertised on this blue line train!)
felt cafe shared a booth with my dear friend angela of les glaneuses, gleaner and repurposer of jewels.
my handfelted merino, naturally dyed baby booties were the hit of the weekend. this one is dyed with indigo.

i love visiting chicago, and i love the renegade craft fair. unfortunately, we had the worst weather over the weekend. seriously, like the most rain the city has ever seen. which makes for a less-than-ideal outdoor market, as you might imagine. however, i have to say that all things considered, it was great. the folks that came out to shop were an excellent bunch–obviously very dedicated and super supportive. and on sunday it even stopped raining for the last few hours!

because of the rain, i didn't spend as much time checking out all the other venders as i would have liked, but i got a chance to chat with a lot of wonderful and supportive creative people, and it was great to see that even as renegade continues to grow, it still feels like an amazing community of independent crafters. i hope to share more info here about other crafty folks this week, after i unpack and sort through the cards i collected.
but i cant wait to post this mug (above) from circa ceramics. as i am busy today making lists of the million things i want to do and and drinking coffee (of course!!) i am loving this new mug more and more (and not just because it's filled with coffee). i've known about circa ceramics for quite a while, as they are a popular etsy seller, and use cool print gocco technology to print decals that go onto their ceramics. i love their bold retro designs and colors, and after meeting them in person i also have to say they are THE NICEST. you can get your own circa ceramics piece in their etsy store.

a little time away

i just returned from a camping trip with an old friend in the hoh rain forest on the olympic peninsula. it's one of the most beautiful places i've ever been.
and in a few weeks i will be heading off to chicago for the renegade craft fair! i am so excited to be participating in this fair again, which has continued to grow over the last few years. it's on september 13th and 14th on division street between damen and wood–stop by and say hi!

and now for something a little different

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

i think this video is lovely. i'll be back with more craft-related posts soon, promise.