Mina Perhonen

I have sworn myself that I wouldn't buy any more cloths the rest of this year, but when I stopped by bird I could not resist Mina Perhonen's khaki dress with oversized black shell buttons. I can wear it as a tunic dress or as a spring coat so....this is going to be a holiday gift for myself.

It's rare to see a boutique in New York has Mina Perhonen, finding Mina in Brooklyn was a great surprise to me. Needless to say, this line is very well known in Japan for it's beautiful prints/embroidery and cutting.

Now I have to go back to work. I am in the middle of creating new collections for January show. This year again, I litteraly won't have a holiday. But just thinking of wearing this dress with black leggings and boots in January, I think I will be able to work hard the rest of December.

swimming subway B

I take subway B train to go to 47th Street where so called "diamond district" is.
B train crosses the river to get in Manhattan from Brooklyn. When the train comes out from underground and goes up to the bridge over the river, I feel like the train comes up for air after duration of a dive.

I am just looking at the river's water ripple. As the light comes, it's reflected on the water.

On the bridge, I can accept the fact that there are just good things and not-so good things in anyone's life.

the movie - the day the earth ....

One of my favorite necklace made a debut in the movie this month, "THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL”. I can finally say this officially after I saw the trailer online and made sure that beautiful, talented actor, Jennifer Connelly was actually wearing it.

May I tell you the story how it happened? One of the stylists from the movie shopped the necklace for herself at Elisa B. then they have contacted me to get some for the movie. I have to confess now that I didn't know about this famous movie from 1951, but I was jumping for joy for sure. It's just a nice feeling that someone was looking for something you created.
According to Victoria, my friend who has already saw the movie, Jennifer Connelly is wearing the necklace from the beginning to the end, just like the stylist told me.

In case you are interested, it's $588.00 in 14K gold and a diamond, and $134.00 in silver (without a diamond). There is an owl in the tree in the dark night. I intended to created a calm night in a forest in this necklace. Good night.

This Thursday, holiday trunk show @ catbird

I am having a holiday trunk show at Catbird in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Dec. 11th (I have corrected the date), Thursday from 5:00pm. Digby and Iona designer, Aaron will be there, too.

Catbird carries very selective local jewelry designers from Brooklyn, and there are pieces you don't find anywhere else. During the trunkshow, Catbird will be having delicious holiday refreshment and there's more, they are giving generous 10% off!

My regular Williamsburg walk usually starts from Catbird, then the bookstore across the street, after that ugly luggege (the vintage shop), and have a dinner either at Dumont Burger for the best burger & best milk shake in NY or Japanese diner, supercore. Oh you can't forget literally hidden Japanese restaurant Zenkichi. Anyway, come and have fun night-out in Williamsburg on 18th.

wedding night

Attended this beautiful wedding party in Chinatown. I have never eaten this much at any wedding receptions before. It made me so happy to see the beautiful couple.
Mmmm dreamy night...zzz.....

honey ryder

Just want to let you know that Honey Ryder in San Francisco now has my new collections.  It's a lovely and gorgeous store - according to people in SF, I wish I could visit SF in the future!  The tree earrings with diamonds are part of what they have.  If you are in San Francisco area, don't forget to check the store out.   

Living Library

I became to know about Living Library from a morning news show.    

To make it short, people are books at this library.  You visit, you select a book, which is a person, and you can talk to he/her.  Books (people) are varied in age, sex and cultural background.  

The Living Library was born in Denmark, and it is spreading in Europe.  I was amazed about this simple and unique idea.  It is the great invention to make a peace.  I also believe that getting to know other people is the most important education for kids.

Moreover, I am impressed of people who have organized this library.  Easy to think of an idea, but it is so hard to make it actually happen. 

The good news is Living Library is going to be happened in Kyoto, Japan as a two-day event.  

You know what?  Kyoto is new New York in Japan.  People with various backgrounds are gathered there.  It will be so exciting to have the Living Library in Kyoto.

FIT party

The other day, I attended FIT's Japanese student association party.  

There were many Japanese people who have attended FIT in the past and other Japanese people who currently work in the fashion industry. 

 I went to FIT eight years ago, and to be honest, I didn't like to go to school at all.  I really thought about quitting school once.  But-.

But now looking around me, most of my friends are from FIT.  They are also jewelry designers like me and we support each other.  They are the ones who come to my tradeshows and help me out, they are the ones I can call when I am sad and angry.  We are much closer now than when we were at school.  

I think we should have FIT's jewelry designers' party now.  

panda, panda, panda

Panda, I don't know why, but I always like you.  I found you on the wall of coffee shop in Brooklyn.

smell of autumn

From autumn to winter, I enjoy smelling cold, crisp air and crunching through fallen leaves on the street.  In this difficult time, sometimes I have to hear bad news.  But I know that the good one will come along later to anyone.  Let us appreciate small good things around our lives, and keep trying to be hopeful.

web store is open now

My web store has been open.  Please check it out.  Email me with any questions.  Cheers!

election night

Rockefeller center was full of excitement on the election day.  

I was very excited to see the outcome and I woke up at six in the morning to check news.  

During this election, I started thinking how I can make an action to make the world better place.  I feel many people thought the same.  

And I just want to congratulate all the first voters in the U.S.  

It's the great thing that you have direct presidential election in this country, not many countries in the world have it.

I truly envy all the young Americans who had this opportunity this year.

new owner

I give my clothing to my sis once in a while. I didn't have a chance to wear this dress at all after I bought it and it went to my sister's closet. I forgot to check who the designer was, but it is worn by my sister in front of Kyoto fruits shop now!

at sushi counter

It's a cucumber on the sushi counter. You sip sake and pick the cucumber as nibblies.

lacy ring

This was the first ring I sold to a store about five years ago.  I still remember that it took hours to take this photo with a tiny digital camera.  Not me, my husband did it by the way.  We argued so much during this photo shoot, I even cried, but it turned out a beautiful photo I think.  

Whenever I see this piece, I remember when I started out.

Creating something is both lengthy and time consuming process.  It's sometimes so overwhelming and you don't know what to do anymore.  But I just try to think, left foot first and right foot next - just one step at a time.

tea break

Today a lady offered me a half of her chocolate at a casting company.  I wanted to cut sweets off, but I just couldn't refuse it.  I found this picture in my iphone; a pumpkin cheesecake on my knee on the street in Soho, in front of irresistible Balthazar.  Whenever I go out to work I think I have a cup of tea and something.  Especially in winter...why cold winds make me want a cup of coffee and a short cake?

because I love what I am doing

Today I encountered a guy who were playing beautiful spanish guitar music in a subway train.  His music was just so beautiful and kept me completely riveted.  Just by hearing it, I could tell that he truly loved playing his guitar.  He was very relaxed sitting on a plastic seat, and created amazing music.  I think it's the strongest thing that you work on something because you love it.  It was my fist time to see someone playing music at subway not for money.

Coming back to Brooklyn, I watched Project Runway.  I love seeing the designers being passionate for creating.  (Victoria, I assume you love Korto!) Each time after I watch the show, I can't stop wanting to create something new.

today, tomorrow, forever...

This necklace is one of my new collections.  There are two diamonds, black and white and it says "today, tomorrow, forever".  It represents a clock that will not stop.  

After moving to New York from Japan, I started thinking about time a lot.  Each time I go back to Japan to see my parents, I realize I have been away from my home for a long time.  New faces, new buildings, new kinds of emotions I have never expected to have, all of us are walking to the next stage of our lives.  I have learned that time heals, time effaces, time gives.

food allergy and super white laundry

I have got allergy from Mango (I guess) the day before my friend's wedding.  

I called a doctor and I was told to go to his Bay Ridge, Brooklyn office.  

Very depressed to go out with my swollen face.  Bay Ridge is a place I have never been to, but I felt calm when I got off a train and saw the town.  

 I took this picture at Bay Ridge - super white laundry hang on a long line - I think I may like this person who did this laundry.

my sis and father

My sister is a librarian and an actress at the same time.  

I couldn't stop myself uploading this picture when I saw one online.  

She is the one in the blue dress.  I mean, this big hair!  Wow!  Go my sis!

She played one the sisters from Chekhov's "Three Sisters" a few week ago in Japan.

It was a big thing for our family - for the first time my father went to see my sister's stage.  

He had refused to see it for more than 20 years since she started acting.  Just thinking of the fact that he decided to see her playing makes me cry.

sunday night

Will you be my friend, Gus?  

Sunday night, after a glass of wine and cheese with my great friends and their two cats.

plastic bottle chandelier

At this park, these plastic bottle chandeliers appeared suddenly.  

They are so beautiful when light hits the colored water inside bottles.

under the bridge

Saturday afternoon, we encountered this beautiful wedding at Dumbo Brooklyn.  After the wedding ceremony, three more couples showed up here for their wedding photo shoot.  

People from various countries cross in New York.  Watching international couples and attendee in their ethnic costumes made me feel great to be here in Brooklyn.

behind story -a night in the forest

I used to live in this place in Osaka.  

Behind our apartment there was a small forest.  

One day our cat ran away to the forest and we thought we would never find her.  

But the cat came back next day - becoming totally different wild, scary creature.

I, as a three year old girl, was wondering what the forest did to the cat.

I constantly dreamed about this story since then, and now I am actually not sure if it really happened in my life or I created a part of the story in my dream.  Anyways, I am somehow obsessed with a night in the forest.   

The scenery in this earring is about an animal looking back the forest where stars are chasing after him.

interview with flashfilm

Check this cool fashion online-magazine "flashfilm".

The great thing about this Japanese online-magazine is they write both in English and Japanese.

Not only that, their archive of jewelry designers' interview is amazing.

It was interesting experience that I answered in English and they translated into my native language, Japanese.

Thank you flashfilm!

sunday

Sunday afternoon-

when old building was removed to build a new condo in Brooklyn,

this beautiful withered ivy was shown.

in the mushroom

My mother and I found this mushroom library at a botanical garden in Kyoto.

I saw a mother reading picture books to her daughter in this garden.

I would come here everyday if I live here in Kyoto.

It was a perfect dreamy afternoon.