Today may I invite you to visit the wonderful world of Japanese zakka in Emi Shimosato, a cosy shop run by Kyoko. Kyoko is a Japanese currently living in Northern Virginia, USA. Among the many charming handmade goodness in her shop (just look at the cute pin cushion, egg coasters + bird pouch!), she makes baby quilts with Japanese or Korean alphabets which are very popular in her shop.

Just a few (for there’re too many!!) very lovely pictures of books, calendars, diary, poster print featuring the works of French stylist Camille Soulayrol.

パリ、私のインテリア Ma déco à Paris, published by Editions de Paris in 2005

パリのクリエイター Créateurs à Paris, another Editions de Paris book published in 2005

2010 calendars + diaries

Poster print

Caught sight of this limo travelling beside us on Saturday. I read later that night that it’s more than 8 metres long, seats up to 9 and is for rent. It’s quite a challenge to take this picture when you’re in a moving vehicle while trying to capture most if its length all before we had to turn in to a carpark.

These fancy cakes, each made up of 3 rolls of making tapes, are part of a stationery series accompanying the release of a brand new Japanese book (published by Editions de Paris) which highlights Parisian pastry shops around Tokyo.

They were spotted at Graphia (in Japanese).

Leandro Erlich is a contemporary artist who creates showpieces that are interactive and engaging to the young and old alike. His art installations are based on scenarios everyone can relate to, but he adds that twist + mischief + illusion. See more of such interestingness on his website.

Swimming Pool (1999)
21st. Century Museum of Art, Kanazawa, Japan

Bâtiment (2004)
Nuit Blanche. La Cour de l’Observatoire de Paris, France

Hair Salon (2008)
2nd Singapore Biennale, Singapore

I’m sad to say I actually missed the whole biennale event and of course including this hair salon setup (mirrors are fake!) while it was held here in my home country…how could that have happened?!!

[Images courtesy of Leandro Erlich. Hair salon images courtesy of Haupt & Binder]

I’m captivated by the candid depiction of cluster titled “Bike Stack” by bicycle artist Taliah Lempert, whose bicycle paintings have appeared in major newspapers + magazines, including Japanese bike magazine, 自転車人.

The drawings sold in her shop are not restricted to paper prints but prints on tees, caps, baby onesie and a colouring book for kids.

Lately I’ve been receiving a fair amount of work-related stress…but well, I’m hanging on for things to turn slightly better. Anyway it was good that I had posts scheduled a head of time so that posting here was not interrupted during the past couple of days, while I took time to relieve the mental discomfort.

One night while I was doing the dishes I reminded myself of bloomize’s blogiversary on the 17th. Hmm…so here I am on the 22nd wishing to thank all you delicated readers and friends. Thanks for making contact with me. Thanks to my advertisers for seeing the potential. Thanks also to the nice + warm people (especially to June at Folding Trees) who count it worthy to mention bloomize on their websites. Thank you!! xox

[Paper bag is a Gagbag]

More superpoower:
Wombat poo paper
Reindeer poo paper

A super pretty metal box from the Miranda series by Decole. I like the fact that it has a long handle.

Found it in Superkid at Rakuten.

Sharp with confidence and in style with these glass sharpeners from DUX, Germany’s oldest sharpener maker since 1908! Don’t you just love German stationery?