Japanese Dreaming
For the longest time I have been looking for some fabric to make Amelia some cushions for her room… and tonight I found it on a Japanese fabric site. Only to discover that it has sold out! Ahhh!
My parents and my brother’s family all leave for Japan this coming weekend for fun and frolicking at the World Hot Air Balloon Championships followed by some touring around the country… and I can not tell you how incredibly jealous I am. So to keep smiling I am planning a big family trip to Japan in 2010. Yes, it seems ridiculously far away but it’s only four years and Lily will be a good age to travel with and it gives me a lot of time to do a bunch of special projects which will all add to my special “Holiday to Japan Fund”.
On the agenda? Well, already there’s Studio Ghibili and fabric shopping and mountains, trains, temples and food… and… and .. and… but now to bed and to sleep.
We have a similar long-range plan to visit Japan! And of course Studio Ghibli is on the itinerary!
The Ghibli Museum is magical. Every little detail is so perfect, even down to the wallpaper in the ladies washrooms!
I love your plan. It is a dream of mine too to go there one day. That is only 3 years away…not long at all!
A trip to Japan sounds like fun.I stayed in a hotel for one night near the airport in Narita but that doesn’t really qualify as going to Japan…
I’m really glad you signed up for the NoBloPoMo. I am enjoying your entries. A trip to Japan sounds like a great plan to stick to.
So, so beauiful. You made the best of choices. Hope you can get it. Let us know where if you don’t mind.
Great idea. Our Family Japan holiday kicks off early Sept, 07…four years in the planning.
Have you tried the Superbuzzy website for Japanese fabrics?
oh me too! me too! Japan, studio ghibli, kimono’s, cherry blossom, and all that stuff! i was planning to go soon too. and how bizzarre and fun does that World Hot Air Balloon Championship sound!?
Well, the trip to Japan must be fun since it’s planned 4 years earlier.
😀
BTW, the fabric is cute. I’ve just had a sun flower cushion given by a friend to add fun on my couch.
Don’t laugh but I bought something similar to this fabric at Spotlight last week. Not sure about the colours though. I can’t resist a strawberry or a cherry print and they are everywhere at the moment!
Hi Claire, we’ve been to Japan last month (Tokyo and Kyoto) and fell in love with that wonderful country. May i suggest you a travel guide? It’s this website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e623.htmlIt is really useful, it helped us immensely when we were planning and chosing the places we wanted to visit, even more than the Lonely Planet. Another thing I’d remind you is that during the Cherry Blossoming, Golden Week and New Year, the touristic places can be really crowded and it might be difficult to stroll around with two toddlers. We stayed in a nice hotel and if you need some information I’d be glad to help you. I think the holidays we plan way ahead are the best ones!
Hi Claire, I have been reading your blog for years and although so many things you have gone through have struck a chord the one thing I felt compelled to respond to is your pending trip to Japan! I travelled to Japan in April 2005 with my partner and then 21 month old boy. We were there for 3 weeks during the ‘Sakura’ season (cherry blossom) and found we had no difficulties with accomodation or getting around. We pre-booked everything via the internet. We travelled with a backpack each and a stroller (McClaren, I mention this because they are so light weight and functional) and sent any items we purchased back to Australia to lighten our load. In 3 weeks you can see so much of the country, we managed to travel from Tokyo and Fukuwoka going off the beaten path to a country area called Takayama which I mention because their regional crafts, textiles, pottery and food are beautiful. We found the Japanese very accomodating because we had a young child and had many people approach us which was wonderful. The variety of food enabled us to accomodate a young toddler easily without mum and dad compromising. I could write for hours but wanted to let you know that if you would like any further info on the ‘Ryokans’ or areas we stayed at please feel free to email me. I also wanted to add I love reading your blog thankyou from another creative mum.
hi, I was so pleased to read your blog and couldn’t help leaving a comment. I’m japanese, living in america. I enjoy japanese craft books like you and am waiting for two more to arrive from my mom in japan. I hope you can make to japan in 2010!your blog is one of my favorites!
Hi there i am inspired daily by your amazingness…as an Aussie living in Japan for the last 3 years I have become oh so aware of how difficult it is for all my friends back home to get there hands on the super cuteness that we play around in everyday – to help them and the millions of other out my Japanese partner and I are launching an online shop http://www.tokyomade.com coming very soon – we support Japan-based designers by promoting and selling their amazing things and as time goes on we will be adding more and more cute, crafty, cool and yummy pieces. In the meantime if there is anything we can do to help you out…let us know, all the cuteness is at our finger tips and it is the least we can do to give back something for all the inspiration you splash our way.Hope that your parents, brother and his family have an amazing time here – I know they absolutely will!
deanne
ps superbuzzy http://superbuzzy.com/ has super yummy fabrics – but I am sure you already know that. I have not stumbled upon any great Aussie/Melbourne suppliers of J fabrics but if I do – shall let you know…I’ll ask around (actually I’ll get Masao to ask around because my business Japanese is not so flash)