Showing posts with label Kinokuniya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kinokuniya. Show all posts

Monday, February 27, 2012

It's not easy being green


On Sefarina's (http://windleben.blogspot.com/) advice, I bought some little houseplants to sit on the windowsills to absorb some of the summer heat bursting through the glass. Unfortunately, after yesterday's 38 degrees, the poor plants themselves have got a little scorched and I have had to move them temporarily off the windowsills to recuperate! They are still giving a lovely display of cool, soothing green though, as you can see.

I had a good week in Sydney last week. Free of the distractions which come with a home office, I got some good work done on what I hope will become a novel and I also got to visit my favourite bookstore of all time...Kinokuniya. I loaded up on craft books, so hopefully over the next couple of weeks I will have some finished projects from them to show off to you.

We always say that Sydney is warmer than Melbourne; Sydney is closer to the equator, more humid, more tropical and so on. But these last couple of days have turned all that on its head. We had some very welcome rain this morning (and more on the way, judging from the skies) but it is so humid here in Melbourne. I would quite like to be back in Sydney in my air-conditioned room, with the hotel swimming pool just down the hall...Ah well, it's only summer here until Thursday!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Awaydays No.3

No, I can't read a word of Japanese. That's how much I'm in love with these books. I bought them anyway.

Who doesn't want to embroider a hedgehog?

Or a smiling rabbit?

So beautiful


Yes, I know the clothes' patterns will need to be...ahem...adjusted or shall we say up-sized?


I love the crochet book best of all





I would love to know what the rabbit's caption is!


As I mentioned yesterday, while on my rambling travels in Sydney, I found the most. beautiful. bookshop. ever. Kinokuniya. Oh yes. Originally Japanese (as you may have guessed), they now have shops throughout the world. Apparently their store in Sydney in the largest bookstore in Australia. It's surprising that I was able to leave.

I found the most beautiful Japanese craft books that have completely renewed and reinvigorated my interest in:

1. Japan (and so, all things Japanese)
2. Embroidery
3. Clothes-making (and so, using my sewing machine)
4. Drawing (and so, making my greeting cards)

Who knew that a visit to a bookstore could be so inspiring?