Happy Holidays

I can't thank people enough for choosing my jewelry as their holiday gifts.  

It makes me so happy to imagine those pieces are placed under the trees right now.

Wish you happy holidays from Brooklyn.

Love,

yayoi

my pink bead ring

We met our niece recently.  

The last time we saw each other was last year in Japan.  

She becomes 8 years old and she is already nice, warm and caring person.

This sweet pink ring is what she gave me as a present.  

It's so amazing one child can make all of us so happy.  

For the first time, you were a little shy to us for the first thirty minutes after you saw us.

I hope you are having fun at school now.
When can we see you again? 

CancerCare

So this holiday season, I wanted to do something new.

I decided to pick one organization to make a donation from my customers' purchase.

CancerCare is an organization that gives free, professional supports anyone affected by cancer.

When my father passed away at a hospice, I thought about other people who suffered from cancer without any family support.  

From his early stage, my family often went to hospitals with my father to talk to his doctors and we shared all information.  When he was in bad shape, there was someone who rubbed his back.   My father was blessed to have his family around him when he stopped breathing.

I asked a nurse at a hospice if there were any patients who had no family or relatives and she said "Yes, many."  And I've been thinking about it since then.

I found CancerCare when I was researching online.  They are one of top rated charity organizations.  5% of your online purchase from Yayoi Forest online store will be donated this organization.

Let's shop for good cause this holiday.

about a cat with diamond eyes

In every winter I miss Tetsu, my cat.  

It was when I was working at an advertising company in Tokyo.  A beautiful girl transferred a call to me, saying "I think your sister is crying".  My sister said Tetsu had died.

I thought of his fluffy gray hair, and remembered how he was not cute.  He was basically mean, but he could become sweet only when he was hungry.

I didn't cry on the phone, but I was thinking why my sister had to call my office to tell that.

Now when I meet my friends' cats, I am always impressed by them because they are cute like cats should be.  

Tetsu was always throwing a scornful look to me and tried to escape from me when I wanted to hold him.

But I still miss him, and I still make cat theme jewelry.

This time I gave him diamond eyes to show him my respect for his beautiful eyes.

Cat Stud Earring / 14K gold + Diamonds  $350

my love

To be honest, I had lost my love for reading and listening to music for a while.  Especially since right before my father's death, I didn't have a space in my heart for anything not, how could I say, real?  Don't know how I can explain it now but you may know what it is.

I moved my studio to this new place and now I have PANDORA, listening music all day while working on my jewelry.  Now I realize that I had been missing great talents out there.  I didn't even know about Regina Spektor.

Her voice is like an instrument, her lyrics inspire me like reading novels.  

She makes me cry just because her songs are so beautiful.

catbird designer Q&A

 

Catbird, a truly lovely jewelry store in Brooklyn has featured my favorite things in their blog.  

See Nate Russel, my favorite city in the world Kyoto, and of course jewelry!  

I want to keep this image that they've created forever. 

We are growing trees

I made another new ring, called Growing Tree Ring.  

On your birthday, on your promotion, and when you have a baby I would say that you are a growing tree.

I wanted to have some vintage feeling in it, and I love the combination of 14K rose gold and black & white diamonds - hope someone would love the ring like I do.

the day of love

I sometimes imagine how nice it would be if I have a tiny old jewelry shop in a small village.  

People buy small gifts each holiday season for their families.  When their son has a girlfriend he buys a silver ring for her.  Then the day comes, he comes to buy a diamond ring for her to propose.  Then the first baby, now he buys a delicate gold pendant with a baby's initials.  When the baby becomes old enough to get marry, I will resize a diamond ring from his grand mother for a new bride.  I'll be there for people's moments and see the history.

It would be the happiest job in the world to me.

Damian came to my studio one day and he bought a necklace for his girlfriend Paloma a few years ago.  He continued to purchase several gifts for her since then and when he asked me to design a diamond ring, I was beyond happy.

How lucky I am to be a part of their one of happiest moments.  

I was speechless when I saw those photos.  It's the perfect day of love.

By the way, Paloma writes a blog about planning a wedding in Brooklyn based on her own experience. 

http://thelostbrooklynbride.com/

photo:  Ellie Photography http://elliemphotography.com/

Trunk Show on Fashion's Night Out Day!

Coming Thursday is Fashion's Night Out Day.

Three NY based Japanese designers (including me) will be having a trunk show.

We all learned new skills after coming to NY and started our handmade fashion business, and we still make by our own hands.

Please come to see our new collections for the new season.  

And all items are 10% off only that night.

rose gold ring for him

I made this special ordered rose gold "Brooklyn Ring" for my very special customer.  

I remember when he came to my office to order a diamond necklace for his girl friend.

Now they are getting married at a botanical garden in Brooklyn soon.  

I'm just feeling so happy for them, they are very sweet together and I'm honored to make wedding rings for them.

By the way, this rose gold ring looked really good on him.  Rose gold color has depth, and it will look even better as you wear.   

Job's jobs

I feel very sad that Steve Job resigns CEO of Apple.  

One, both my parents had cancer and I'm just worried.  

Two I just have enormous respect for what he has been doing.  

Just see Steve Job's 313 patents here on the New York Times.

To me they are so beautiful, with those hand drawn product images.

Every design detail has a reason to be so - and that's why I love it.

taxi driver

Just finished exhibiting at a trade show.  

At the show I met too many people who told me that they closed their business.   

They are fine now, but I know how hard it is to decide closing your own business.  When you have a small business, it is like raising a baby I guess.

Last day of the show, we packed everything at my booth and got in a car from a car service company.

I was ready to sleep right away in a car.

The the driver started talking to me.

Again, he said he closed his business and became a driver.

He was so depressed until he met this 22 year old girl from Shanghai.  

He met her in Flushing right after she came to the States to study and they got married, now they are expecting a baby.  

He showed me some pictures with his iphone and she was really, so beautiful and they looked so happy together.  He said she became a light in his life and she was giving him the best gift, a baby.

I thought myself that it may be the happiest thing.  

The picture above is for good luck.  Someone told me that this is one of "power spots" in Tokyo and keeping this picture will bring you good luck.  

I know.  But I know that sometimes this thing really help you to make you feel better.

Yes, I do keep this photo in my iphone. 

Jane Berkin

Some stores kindly pass me the news what kind of customers bought my jewelry.  

I like to hear how the customers were excited when they bought my jewelry, one guy even proposed his girlfriend right at a store with my ring.

And I'm also secretly excited when someone I adore bought my jewelry.

This time Jane Berkin and Lou Doillon.  They are gorgeous needless to say and what can I say, if I can be a woman like Jane Berkin when I get older, that, would, be, so-- nice.

Just imagining how Jane Berkin is wearing the wing ring...

soft open!

Finally, I have completely moved to my new space.  Now we're soft open as a studio and as a showroom.  I've added new wedding & engagement rings also.  

Walk in welcome!

Written by Forest

313A Atlantic Ave. (between Hoyt and Smith St.)

Brooklyn, NY 11201

646-675-2134
noon - 7pm*

*closed Aug 12-17th due to my trade show schedule

new studio

So I've moved into my new studio. 
The space still needs a lot of work and at the same time I have orders to fill. 
The first thing I did after moving was to set up my workbench. 
Even though the room is still dusty and messy with scattered boxes, I have to save my work space anyway so that I can at least do my work.

My friend came in and helped me painting walls and cleaning rooms. 
I was surprised how quickly things can be done when you have a partner to work with.  

Sweat ran in rivulets down our necks - I didn't have an AC until yesterday.  I jumped up and down when FEDEX guy came in with a big box of AC later that day.

Tomorrow, I'm making some new pieces for the an upcoming show.  But I have to remind myself not to overwork.  NY is just too hot right now to work like a horse.
 

this day in July

I've been preparing my move to a new studio.  

It will be in Boerum Hill Brooklyn or I should say Bococa (I can't get used to this name), and I'm thinking of having a small showcase space there for customers can walk in.

It's exciting, but at the same time I'm a bit scared to make this step.  

I try to think of happy things such as new interior with old furniture, having more engagement rings there, and a girl I'm working with at this new space.

My father's birthday has been passed.  

I happened to see his handwriting in my address book the other day, and I decided to pretend that I didn't see it.  

I still can't get that there is a trail of his life in this world but he is not here anymore.  Sometimes I wonder if there is a remaining piece of his soul in the air and it makes me cry. 

My sister says she sometimes feels his presence at her place in Kyoto, but he hasn't come to my apartment in NY. 

It's heartbreaking to see someone loses his/her parent.  I truly felt grateful for what people said to me when I lost my father.  And now I don't know what to say, and if I say something I always feel regret for what I said.

love for Japan: Danny's case

Today I want to share Danny Choo's blog post with you.
I knew his name as an Japanese Anime lover, Otaku, and Jimmy Choo's son living in Japan.  But until today I never knew how he came to Japan from London.

Now Danny is a director for Culture Japan and he even does a host of his own TV show in Japan to introduce Japanese pop culture.
Anyway, I want you to read his blog post "How discovering Japan changed my life," it's very inspiring.

If you ever fell in love with another culture outside of your country, or if you had a hard time to learn foreign language I bet it will bring tears.

I especially love the part that when he came to Japan for the first time he was sitting in Shibuya watching the Hachiko crossing all day long dreaming about living there while listening to the bustling sounds and conversations.  He even recorded the sounds of Shibuya and captured all the hustle and bustle of the crossing including conversations of people.  After he came back to London, he listened to the sound he recorded and it made him feel like he's in Japan.


I still remember the time I was sitting in front of Metropolitan museum dreaming about living in New York.  I'm happy for Danny that he found his dream place to live.

the first day

We had "Welcome BBQ" for Yassan, Satomi's just-married-husband from Japan.

He moved to NY from Kyoto where he had his own business.  He closed his successful business, sold his machines at his factory and came here to be her husband. 

I was thinking back 1999 when I came to NY.  

No friends and nowhere to belong.  Though it was very refreshing to me to experience like that as an adult first, it sometimes hurt me.  

I felt like I became a baby, I produced nothing and I sometimes had to make sure that I was not invisible.  

I must say I was lucky enough to find what I wanted to pursue.  It was after I moved to NY that I decided to study jewelry design at FIT. 

Everyone has his or her first day.  If this is your first day, welcome to New York!

weekend!

Pancakes on the weekend make people happy.  

I've been wearing my ring with 7 stones because I need myself a good luck tomorrow!

now for..

Now for all Chihuahua lovers in the world.

brooklyn cool cats

One of the cats wears a champagne diamond necklace.

Jut added to my online store.

star knitter

Mariko Mikuni, she is the star of knitters in the world.  My heart skips a beat when I see a new talent. 

I can't wait to get her books from Japan, and I don't even knit at all.

I wanted to paste her link here, but surprisingly she doesn't even have her website.

photo: Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shimbun

photo: Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shimbun

photo: Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shimbun

photo: Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shimbun

photo: Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shimbun

My Favorite Season

Feeling so happy in Spring at Brooklyn Botanical Garden.  

My name Yayoi means March or spring in old Japanese - yes I was born in March.

I have found this old Japanese poem about spring.

Evening sky,

Cold light,

It's the season of Yayoi

by Mantaro

surprise cake

 

I have to tell you first that our charity event for Japan was so successful and we donated $20,910.45 to to Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief.  

It was so amazing to get together with other designers for a good cause.   

Thanks Satomi who originally proposed this great idea to us.

We spent so much time to prepare for the event and I had to catch up with orders right after the event.  It was like running 24 hours a day.  I feel like all volunteers are now my teammate from a running club.

Today, all organizers and volunteers got together to celebrate our success, and we had this beautiful cake baked by a patissier Ayako Kurokawa.  

It was a best cake I ever had in NY.  She is not just a patissier, she is a true artist.  

If you check her website you know what I mean.  

Cheers for her talent.

show window at ABC

 

Satomi took this photo at ABC's entrance.  

It's finally starting.  

This weekend!

We've been working so hard to make this happen.  

We end up having more than 660 pieces from 70 designers - all by donation.

Shop beautiful things and support Japan at the same time!

ring of love japan website

Jewelry Designers heart JAPAN!

 

Jewelry designers, Satomi Kawakita, Toyo Kurokawa and I have been preparing for this upcoming event.

We called for jewelry donations from designers in the U.S. to support children who have been displaced from their homes because of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

 

Shoppers can buy those donated pieces with very very special prices at this event, and we will donate ALL PROFIT to Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief.  

 

Can't thank enough for fellow jewelry designers' generous support and ABC Carpet & Home who will host us for the event.

 

We'll reveal more details soon.

support kids in Japan

I have just added this knot charm to my online store.

It's $35 and 100% retail profit from this piece will be donated to Save the Children's Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief to support children who have been displaced from their home.

Unfortunately, there are kids who lost his/her entire family because of the earthquake and tsunami.

This piece can be worn as a necklace and a bracelet. 

The knot charm is made of sterling silver. 

It comes with a handmade silk cord which I purchased in Kyoto Japan, one of the most beautiful city in the world. 

Each item is handmade, it may take up to 10 days to ship.

Join me to support Japan.

getting there

Finally, the first charity piece has been done.  
Will be online soon, and all retail profit will go to Save the Children's "Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief."  

stepping forward

Today I...


1. Met two designers to discuss about a possible project to raise a fund to Japan by donating our jewelry for an event.
2. Finally bought YSL Radiant Touch #8 at saks.  My eye area will be brighter tomorrow.

this my feeling

I found old tarts in my giant bag today, the tarts I bought on the day the earthquake hit Japan.
It's been 5 days, and I totally forgot about them until today.


This feeling I have now is similar to the feeling I had after 9-11.
I thought it could be me again and again.
I could be there, and I could have been gone when the Twin Tower collapsed on 9-11.


It's been more than 10 years now since I moved to NY, and I still think I could be a Tsunami and earthquake victim in Japan.  
Feeling of guilt to live a life, it doesn't make any sense but I can't stop feeling it.


I'm taking a positive step now by making a charity piece.  
I found that my other jewelry designer friends were thinking the same thing.  
We could do something with those special pieces.  Step by step, slowly we are moving forward.


"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples." — Mother Teresa. 

slices of an apple

 

I was reading this column today.  

A Japanese newspaper reporter walks the affected area and talks to people there.  This is a guy he meets.

This guy went back his home from his office two days after Tsunami.

He couldn't contact his wife at all after the earthquake and tsunami because there was no way to call her.  

When he finally came home, the house was empty.  

He saw slices of an apple on a dining table, which his wife should have prepared for him as a snack before Tsunami hit the town.  

He ate them, and went out to search her.  

Some people told him that his wife drove to escape from Tsunami.  

At last he found her car lying on its side and she wasn't there.  

He said she was most certainly engulfed by Tsunami.

I have to remember, there are people exactly like us everywhere on the earth.  

When there is a bombing, there is a terrorism, there is a disaster in any places on the earth, now I see people like me, my husband, my mother and my friends there.

helping hand to japan earthquake

People who want to help can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.  

You can also go to www.redcross.org and donate to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. 

By the way our family members are fine.  Thanks for your kind thoughts.

earthquake

I hope people in the world will extend their helping hands to the sufferers of Japan's earthquake.  If you understand Japanese, you'll be able to watch NHK at USTREAM here.  

art and artist

We went to see our friend Peter's father's beautiful exhibition at Chelsea Art Museum.  

It's always nice to see how one artist's creative arrow on a map changes it's angle as time goes by.    

Every decade, his works are shining in their own way.  I hope you'll visit the museum during this exhibition, too.

 

If I were a painter, I would be painting based on a theme of life and death now.  After spending a time with my father at a hospice, that's something in my mind always.  Now I think both life and death are beautiful and graceful, and that wouldn't be my thought of life and death if it were 10 year ago.

I always liked art history classes, and now I want to read the text books from college again to study artists' back ground and their works.

Read about this exhibition here.