I feel like I'm getting nothing done lately...just running around in circles each week. But I just had a look at the photos I've taken in the last month (it seems I take my camera with me almost all the time) and I realise I have been doing things, just not what I was planning on doing. So instead of making ceramic things, refining new designs and doing lots of printing I've been walking the dog, cooking winter food (it seems I also do a LOT of cooking), shopping at the market, hanging out in my local Masonic hall and then doing other, non-fun work. But that's OK, because Melbourne in winter is pretty nice.
Patterns: Watercolours (& fabric packs)
Because screenprinting requires a different separation for each colour, I tend to think about design/patterns in a certain way. As I'm also a massive fan of minimal colour palettes (two or three colours maximum), this has been just fine. But lately I've had a hankering for a change, so the other day I bought a set of watercolours. Here are a few patterns I've been playing around with (ie: me going colour crazy).
On a different note, I've just posted a couple of fabric packs in my Etsy shop. Snap them up while you can...
Japan Things
One of the things I most love about travel is noticing the differences between the place I'm visiting and home - the architecture, the light, the plants, the people. I find this stuff fascinating, even if the 'travel' is just going to a country town an hour away. Going slight further afield, say from Melbourne to Sydney or Hobart is great, as each city is so different in terms of climate, architecture and more. And going overseas blows my mind - I notice everything, am fascinated about how & why things are the way they are.
All this year I'd been reading about Japan (well, I'd read bits of Hello Sandwich's Tokyo Guide and also Tokyo Precincts and Monocle's Tokyo Travel Guide, all highly recommended, along with a few general online travel guides and some blogs) and I knew what to expect generally. But when I got there, there were all these little quirky differences that I loved. So I decided to write them down, so I wouldn't forget them. And as I know a few people going to Japan soon, I thought I'd share them in case they're interested.
JAPAN THINGS:
Thank you. I don't speak Japanese but I already knew one thing - "thank you" is "arigatou". But when thanking you (which happens a million times a day - everyone is so polite!) people actually seemed to be saying something else. It took me a while to figure out it was the more formal "arigatou gozaimasu" (pronounced "goes eye moss" with a silent "u").
You get hand towels at eating and drinking establishments. Sometimes it's a real towel (face washer sized) and it's hot. Sometimes it's a small wet napkin in a plastic bag (like you used to get on planes!) It's always nice.
You don't need to press the button at traffic lights (and often there is no button). Well, this was the case pretty much everywhere we went. Occasionally you need to press the button at night but generally the lights just cycle through, as there are always pedestrians everywhere.
People wait for the green light at traffic lights. Yep, no crossing on the red! Generally, anyway. Why rush?
Crows. Or maybe ravens? There were loud, squawking crows everywhere we went. Initially they freaked me out (is it an omen?!) Then I got used to them. Apparently they're very smart, remember faces and do swoop people, so don't be mean to them, as they'll remember you next time!
Footpath = road. It's not the case everywhere, but in lots of places we went to there's no footpath and you just walk on the side of the road. It's how it's always been so it's very safe, but it took me a little while to get my head around the idea.
So many pot plants. It's definitely not the case everywhere, but in the first area we stayed in Tokyo, there are pot plants all over the place. There often isn't room for everyone to have a garden but you can still have greenery this way. Excellent!
The train station music/jingles. They're unique, to say the least. According to the sister of someone I know, the tunes have "baroque foundations and excellent augmented triads." So kawaii.
Stripes. So much striped clothing. Who would have thought you could have so much variation with stripes!
Folded toilet paper edges. Everywhere - in all the AirBNB places we stayed, in little bars, restaurants, even in department stores. Everywhere. And public toilets are everywhere and clean, amazing. But finding a bin...well, that's another story.
Toilet flush confusion. Sometimes it took me way too long to figure out how to flush a toilet (push a button here? Push a button there? Hover your hand over a sensor? Pull a lever?) that I'd accidentally hit the flush sound effect button. Yep.
Craft beer. OK, I knew Japanese craft beer was a bit of a thing. But it's actually a super big thing and there are so many great local artisan brews. If you're into beer, prepare you palette and your wallet - they're excellent but can be pricey.
Hydrangeas and ivy. Unfortunately we couldn't time our holiday to coincide with cherry blossom season (just missed out) but the hydrangeas everywhere more than made up for it. They're one of my favourite plants but I had no idea they came in so many varieties and in such vibrant colours. And ivy, often variegated, also seemed to be everywhere. I used to hate ivy and thought of it as a weed but now I'm going to have to find some and pot it in an indoor hanging basket ASAP.
Let me know if you've been to Japan and have more things to add to this list!
Studio Space: Fog Linen Work
Today I'm so excited to share the first international studio visit - when I was in Japan I visited the very zen workspace and shop of Yumiko Sekine of Fog Linen Work. Unfortunately, Yumiko was overseas when I was in Tokyo but some of her trusty staff showed me around and made me feel welcome.
The four-level space was custom designed and built just for Fog Linen and the business seems to fill the space perfectly, with a retail space on the ground floor, event space on the second floor, office on the third floor and a meeting room and storage space on the fourth floor. Never before have I seen such neat filing & storage - I felt like I was in a Muji or IKEA showroom!
FOG LINEN WORK: HISTORY
Around 18 years ago Yumiko visited Lithuania, one of Europe's major growers of flax and producers of linen products. She was disappointed to discover that while being a major exporter of linen products, you could not buy everyday linen products in Lithuania. She contacted a number of linen manufacturers and soon began production of her own product designs in Lithuania.
Fog Linen Work now produces a large range of beautiful and functional everyday linen and household products including kitchen wares, clothing, trays and wire ware.
FOG LINEN WORK: Q&A
How long have you been in the space and where did you work from previously? 5 years. We were in another building in the same area before moving into current space. My boyfriend is the architect and he designed our current building.
How many people work in the space? I have 8 assistants, so 9 including me.
You designed and built your current four-level workspace in Tokyo. Can you talk a little about this - how did you decide how much space you needed, how many floors you needed? There was a height limit and it couldn’t be higher than now for this area and space. When we bought the space, we knew we can make a 4 storey building. So I planned 4 different things to do for each floor. 1st floor : store. 2nd floor : event space. 3rd floor : office. 4th floor: meeting, storage.
How many hours a week do you spend in your workspace? 60 hours ~ more?? Sometimes I work by myself during the weekend.
How, if at all, has the space influenced the way you? We have moved office 6 times since I started my own business. New spaces always brought something new. Before we rent the space, though this building is designed for us. It fits perfect for our store and made good balance and mood.
Which inspire you (personally or professionally)? Travelling.
FOG LINEN WORK: LINKS
Website: www.foglinenwork.com
Shop: www.shop-foglinen.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/foglinenyumiko
Facebook: www.facebook.com/linenwork.fog
And don't forget to follow Studio Space on Instagram - @studiospace_ #hellostudiospace
LEVEL 1: RETAIL SPACE
LEVEL 2: EVENT SPACE
There was a tea ceremony being held in the event space on the morning I visited. It was all set up when I had a look through and the class arrived just as I was leaving. What a great morning they would have had!
LEVEL 3: WORK SPACE
LEVEL 4: MEETING SPACE & STORAGE SPACE
BUILDING EXTERIOR
Oh, Japan
So I've been on holiday in Japan for a couple of weeks and oh my, I wonder how it is that I've never been before - it's soooo amazing! So many people but so much order, so much politeness, so much good food, so much good coffee, so many adorable pot plants everywhere, so much matcha everything, amazing hydrangeas and ivy everywhere, home of the best sweets ever (mochi!), so much good and simple design in the right places. And the home of Muji - going to the flagship store was a semi-religious moment for me (sad but true!) And I cannot wait to share the latest instalment of Studio Space, and the first international workspace. Here is a really brief edit, in photo form, of some of my highlights so far. Now I'm off to Nippori Fabric Town, home to more than 80 fabric stores. It's going to be a good day :)
Patterns: Teeth & Legs
I've had a sore tooth all week, which has totally sucked. But it's inspired me to draw the offending tooth and turn it into a pattern. Can you tell I'm a fan of simple colour palettes and imperfect lines?
So here are a couple of sore tooth inspired patterns and below that - some hairy legs I drew last week, which I kind of think would make a cute tea towel. I hope your week has been better than mine and your teeth are happier than these!