Smith and Butler

Smith + Butler, a gorgeous men's/women's boutique in Brooklyn now carries Yayoi Forest Jewelry. There is a room in the back of the store and you will see motorbikes!

I actually have a motorbike license (medium class 400cc), I challenged myself to ride a mortorbike when I was a highschooler. It was my "rebel against authority" just because it was prohibited to ride a motorbike according to school rules. After all I never purchased a motorbike, but I guess I was satifsfied to get the license after suffering hardships at a driving school. I remember I cried on the way to my home then, I could not even lift the motorbike - I wonder why they let me have the license.

Smith and Butler carries many Brooklyn local designers and artists like me. If you have chance to stop by Carrol Gardens area, check it out.

Smith + Butler, 225 Smith Street (at Butler Street), Brooklyn; 718-855-4295.

TSUYUMI and Matsumoto

Went out for dinner in Williamsburg with Tsuyumi, a hat designer. She also hand-makes all pieces and we have common retail stores that carry our pieces. I believe her hats make you look pretty somehow. I am lucky to have such a great friend to encourage each other.

Another thing that we have in common is that we both listened to Matsumoto's radio program. Hitoshi Matsumoto, a very popular Japanese comedian had this radio program "Hososhitsu" which we both used to listen to when we were hand-making our merchandises.

I personally call him Japanese Conan O'brien. Matsumoto even writes scripts, directs movies, and he became popular even among other countries after people started uploading his TV programs on youtube.

Turn on the computer (yes, not a radio anymore) and when Matsumoto's voice is coming out, you are up to work! We were both programed in that way after we listened to it for a long time.

He made us laugh when we were working hard to fulfill orders, and laughs created good energy to start Monday morning.

Finally the radio program was ended this month after 7 years of airing. We were just so sad about it and we miss him so much! Now we are looking for another comedian's radio program to replace it, but we can't find anyone who is as funny as Matsumoto...

being a woman

I think being a woman works well with being a jewelry designer.

I like a scene that a woman bends down to pick up something and a pendant top slips out from her V-neck sweater. When the pendant is made of antique coral and delicate gold chain, I just want to know everything of her background. Did you get the necklace from your grandma? Did you find it from your past trip? Are you always wearing it 24 hours? Then what's the story behind the necklace?

Women button at the collar one day and unbutton the first and second one from the top the other day - it's just about the balance, your feeling inside, and the reasons you can't just describe.

In that way, I just know when I want to wear short 16 inches chain necklace and longer 20 inches chain necklace.

I always like "room eleven", especially the song "bitch". Whenever listening to this song I want to embrace being a woman. This one is TV commercial version, and I think it catches the essence of the song.

Viva women!

T-shirts

The other day we headed for Brooklyn Flea, and we found nice T-shirts makers there. It is called Species by the thousands. I like their soft organic material and their graphic is so- cute! In my imagination, it's something that a skinny brooklyn surfer who likes to read would wear. Summer is calling.