yayoi forest blog

Happy Holidays

2011-12-24T13:33:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-23T17:24:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-29T21:39:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-03T21:05:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-23T18:44:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-21T14:14:00.001-04:00

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

2011-10-14T16:44:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-08T16:18:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-09-03T03:06:00.000-04:00

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

2011-09-01T02:25:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-26T18:31:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-20T16:17:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-09T14:54:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-08-02T13:14:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-20T01:38:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-07T01:02:00.000-04:00

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

2011-06-05T19:57:00.001-04:00

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

2011-05-26T00:48:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-05-07T23:19:00.000-04:00

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..

2011-05-06T23:07:00.000-04:00

Now for all Chihuahua lovers in the world.

brooklyn cool cats

2011-05-05T23:29:00.001-04:00

One of the cats wears a champagne diamond necklace.

Jut added to my online store.

star knitter

2011-04-28T22:11:00.000-04:00

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

My Favorite Season

2011-04-26T23:43:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-23T03:22:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-09T00:37:00.000-04:00

Satomi took this photo at ABC's entrance.

It's finally starting.

This weekend!

2011-04-08T10:32:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-03-25T23:11:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-24T13:32:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-23T00:25:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-19T00:26:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-18T01:08:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-14T01:09:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-11T18:48:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-11T06:22:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-10T20:05:00.000-05:00

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.

another snow day!

2011-02-21T10:50:00.000-05:00

We already had enough snow in NY.

But this morning accumulated powder snow on branches made trees in the city look like spring had finally come.

at Capsule Show

2011-02-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

The second day at Capsule show New York. Tomorrow is the last day, yay!

hello, it's me.

2011-02-19T13:06:00.000-05:00

Hello, how are you?

I've been working so hard since last holidays.

Making orders, do a show, make orders, do another show, make more orders....

A continuous loop goes on, I haven't noticed that two months have passed already since the year started.

How was your Valentine's Day?

I had a hamburger for Valentine's Day (not saying it ironically), one of my best hamburger I had in the past few years.

One new comer to a wall of my studio.

Nathaniel Russell's silkscreen print.

I had to have it, it describes how my brain has been doing.

Whenever I look at the wall, it inspires me.

updates on my wall

2011-02-03T09:56:00.000-05:00

Finally NY Gift Fair was over. It was a long 5-day show.
Thanks for retail buyers who attended the show under really bad winter weather.

Now I'm going to start working on Valentine orders.
But before that, I tried to make Yayoi Forest Jewelry Facebook page this morning.
And yet, I haven't been successful for making one.

Is it only me? I found it was so confusing to set up a company page there.
Now there are several Yayoi Forest related pages on Facebook, and I'm now deactivating one by one.
What am I doing... Sorry if you have received an invitation but the account was deactivated now.

babys!

2011-01-25T21:27:00.000-05:00

Stepping out from a restaurant in cold West Village, I saw them in a showcase and I melted.

The combination of a middle-age face and a baby size body!

new year resolution

2011-01-03T16:52:00.000-05:00

Love Catbird's new year's resolutions images! Look, there's my happy face necklace.

Today I was writing my resolutions on subway. If I can complete all of them, my life will be improved dramatically.

new year, new chopsticks

2011-01-02T23:27:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

We started with new year's food on January 1st. (Thanks to my father in law!)

thank you 2010

2010-12-31T15:42:00.001-05:00

Good bye 2010, you were not too perfect, but you were so lovely.

Wish all my friends and customers happy new year.

wanna be a cat

2010-12-28T19:07:00.000-05:00

Ningyo Yamada

Cold night. I miss holding a warm cat in winter.

His name was Tetsu.

One day my sister called my office in Tokyo to tell me he had gone and she cried on the phone.

He was laid to rest in the cemetery by my mother and sister.

If I can't get a cat now, what if I myself become a cat for two days.

For just two days, forget about everything - old invoices and tax things and just sleep deep as a cat.

snow day

2010-12-28T02:47:00.000-05:00

Hope you had a wonderful holiday.

I slept and slept during Christmas after making a lot of orders from stores before holiday. Thank you so much customers who picked my jewelry for your holiday gifts.

Today (snow day!) I somehow end up watching Joan Rivers documentary.
Age 75 and she is still continuing.
I will be dreaming my age 75 tonight.

cold!

2010-12-14T16:30:00.000-05:00

This week will be freezing cold in NY. Today, even the highest is only 24F.

It equals to -4C, and again it's the highest, mother!

Under this cold weather there is no space for fashion for me - puffy black coat, gray sweater, long warm boots, muffler and hat. No skin exposure, but here are tiny hidden sparkles on my ears saying I'm here!

perspective

2010-12-12T01:12:00.000-05:00

At jewelry district in NYC one lady was speaking to someone about her trip during the holiday.

"I'm going home in Switzerland this winter. There is my once-a-year event. I go skiing there, where I'm like this tiny in the big nature. Then I can get my perspective back."

I envy her.
But I've been here for ten years. My perspective was grown here, so I wonder if there is any perspective I should retrieve now.

Maybe I go Grand Canyon just to refresh.

sample sale this Thu & Fri!

2010-12-07T23:19:00.000-05:00

Come and enjoy our sample sale this Thu & Fri.

Past samples and discontinued items will be there with special prices from three NYC based designers.

(Judith Haas jewelry will participate only Thursday.)

sample sale!

2010-12-05T13:30:00.001-05:00

We are having a sample sale coming Thursday and Friday in Soho with a hat designer Tsuyumi and a jewelry designer Judith Haas. Our past samples and discontinued items will be up to 75% off.

date: December 9th and 10th (Thursday and Friday)

time: 12:00 - 7:00

place: 594 Broadway #1203S (between Houston and Prince), NYC 10012

glossy magazine

2010-12-03T13:21:00.000-05:00

Yayoi Forest's Oxidized Star and Diamond Necklace has been featured in Glossy Magazine.

One of my favorite pieces! Thank you Glossy Magazine.

a letter

2010-12-02T23:11:00.000-05:00

I'm making this necklace right now. It's a letter to myself.

I'm me, myself today and always.

New Jewelry Added!

2010-11-28T15:37:00.000-05:00

Enjoy new collections at Yayoi Forest website!

For occasional news and promotions, subscribe to our newsletters!

a lot of thanks

2010-11-25T17:59:00.000-05:00

Can you see the heart?

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

winter in NY

2010-11-19T19:03:00.001-05:00

"You gotta have a lot of things you can have fun in NY!"

You would say that to me, but but but, there are only two places I exist in my life; my studio in Brooklyn and Jewelry District in Manhattan.

I'm running streets to get things done around 47th Street and 6th Avenue; casting, buying gold chains, seeing a stone setter, buying 1.5mm black diamonds and go back for another casting.

Someone told me that there is a team of undercover police in this jewelry district but I still don't know which guy is one of them. I'm coming here so often that I might recognize them in the future?

And this year, again I am watching this big Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

It reminds me that it's been another year already, and at the same time it makes me sentimental thinking of my father who gracefully passed away last year, and my mother and sister living in Japan.

It's the season that people in NY are even nicer than usual and that makes me want to be a better person.
You opened a door for me and told me that my big fat cotton bag was lovely. You made my day.

Lovely and sentimental, that's a winter in NY to me.

season of studs

2010-11-13T18:27:00.000-05:00

In winter, I tend to wear stud earrings.
Wearing a wool scarf around a neck, it's comfortable to wear something small attached to the ear.

When winter sun light comes, the earring shines with reflected light. I like watching a woman who has a nice and modest glitter around her face.

My current favorite is my own gold starburst earrings.

dona dona

2010-10-27T19:01:00.000-04:00

It must be the busiest month for jewelers.

I've been sending orders out to stores that are getting ready for the holidays.

During finishing those rings, I was singing dona dona song.

This Yiddish song is popular in Japan.

As kids, we sang this song as a joke when we were on a school-bus comparing us to calves that were carried on a wagon to a market.

I felt like I was seeing those rings off at the gate of our home.

They are on an old wagon and will be on a trip shortly.

When I found English version of this song today, I was shocked that this song was a bit cruel in English.

Wow, the third verse, how realistic is that.

Dona Dona

1. On a wagon bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye.
High above him there's a swallow
Winging swiftly through the sky.

How the winds are laughing
They laugh with all their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through
And half the summer's night.

Dona dona dona dona
Dona dona dona down
Dona dona dona dona
Dona dona dona don

2. "Stop complaining," said the farmer
"Who told you a calf to be;
Why don't you have wings to fly away
Like the swallow so proud and free?"

3. Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why.
But whoever treasures freedom,
Like the swallow must learn to fly

Original Yiddish text by Aaron Zeitlin & Shalom Secunda
tr. Arthur Kevess & Teddi Schwartz

what I was doing last week

2010-10-13T17:16:00.000-04:00

I've been doing a construction work for a ring.

Lately I'm into layering jewelry. I like layering short and long necklaces, layering some bangles in silver, brass & rose gold, and layering rings in different gold colors and a small diamond ring. I like to do one of those at a time. Never do all at once.

My customer happened to order "seven diamond ring" and her wedding ring together and I have decided to reconstruct the diamond ring to raise the top diamond part so that both rings can be worn together comfortably. I made one piece in silver and checked if they worked together when they were layered.

It needed some time to do this construction but it was fun.

No wonder there are many jewelers who used to be architects. If you can do a technical drawing for a bridge, it should be a piece of cake.

I would love to see other rings will be added in the future to those two rings. I love Italian older ladies wearing many many rings together. It's a history of you.

wedding rings

2010-10-08T11:44:00.000-04:00

I like making wedding rings.

I feel warm when one ring is small enough to fit comfortably inside of another ring.

Congratulations on your wedding.

warm night

2010-10-07T00:30:00.000-04:00

Don't know how to read a Chinese name of this "hand-pulled noodle" place in Chinatown.

At this tiny place packed with customers, we had warm soul food from China in a cold night of NY.

another "unusual engagement rings" column

2010-10-04T01:16:00.000-04:00

My jewelry designer friend Satomi has emailed me that both of our rings were featured at Glamour website as "5 pretty and unusual engagement rings we're loving right now."

We met last year and became friends.

We have similar back ground; both Japanese, started learning making jewelry after coming to New York and we speak in the Osaka dialect. In my case, after living in Tokyo & NY and married to a Tokyo-grown husband my dialect is almost gone though.

Thank you Glamour for picking both of our rings.

Satomi's ring. See our similar background?

working, working... and shopping desire

2010-10-02T19:16:00.000-04:00

It's been a while.

After my last update, I became sick, very sick.

I had a fever of 103F and I had to stay on a bed for a week.

Then I had another trade show in New York, then now I am working very hard to catch up the orders.

I'll soon update my new collections on my website. Thank you so much for emailing me to ask for my new collection images, I will really do it.

I once lost my appetite and fashion desire after my sickness, but now I eat too much and I'm back to daily online shopping habit.

Speaking of fashion desire, today I found Melissa X Alexandre Herchcovitch shoes on Atlantic Avenue.

What a great collaboration of two great Brasilian designers. I'll go back to the store again next weekend and if I found them again, I consider the shoes are linked by fate...and I'll get them.

They are not enamel leather, they are plastic as many of you know about Melissa's shoes.

That means my friend Victoria would approve them for me to wear.

Plus they are $140 but they don't look like only $140.

after the show

2010-08-31T00:41:00.000-04:00

Now one show is over, and another one will come in three weeks.

It's always so nice to see my customers (in this case store buyers) at a trade show.

I don't usually see a lot of people in a day. Most of days I am making jewelry alone at my studio listening to radio like an old man. I think at a show I'm seeing faces that a normal person would see in a half year.

My jewelry will fly to many many locations in the U.S. by the end of November. I hope each of them will do well there and most importantly I hope you will like it.

What I want now is good oldies band music, something sweet and tender.

When I'm fully recovered (I'm not sick, I'm just too exhausted after a show), I need my hair cut, I want to chat to my friends at a coffee shop for hours and I hope I can enjoy the last summer moments in a park.

hot brooklyn jewelers!

2010-08-05T08:56:00.003-04:00

Yayoi Forest is picked by Refinery29 for The 3 Hottest Brooklyn Jewelers.

Check the article and you can get 20% off for the three jewelry pieces which they've picked in the article with a coupon code, Refinery29 (until SUNDAY, Aug 8th 2010).

Three items include Oxidized Silver Cuff Bracelet, Rosecut Diamond and Oxidized Silver Necklace, and Filgree Double Finger Ring with Black Diamond.

Thanks Refinery29 an viva Brooklyn!

lone cat

2010-08-02T01:35:00.000-04:00

Blue background makes look like the cat is a loner. I want this painting in my bedroom.

At an elementary school in Brooklyn.

smile face + sad face

2010-07-31T16:43:00.000-04:00

I had lovely customers from Iceland the other day.
She had special-ordered smile face & sad face earrings with me before she came to NY with her son. It's always nice to meet my customers in person!

While I was making smile face and sad face earrings at my jewelry bench, I suddenly remembered about Alma.
Alma was my English teacher, and I remember she was originally from Pueto Rico and moved to LA when she was a child.
I went this English language school from thirteen to seventeen once a week after school and she was always there.

Most of days she was smiling cheerfully, she looked like the happiest person in the world. She loved making us laugh at a class.
However I sometimes saw her sobbing at school, and later I found out that she got homesick.

One day she told me "Don't be afraid to express your feelings." I was fighting back with tears all day, and she noticed something was wrong with me. But I didn't want to cry in front of other students. I tried to explain about it, but my English was so poor and I could say nothing to her.

She loved kids so much and it was my first time to be invited to my teacher's apartment for a party.
She ordered sushi for us. Next day she had terrible stomachache because she ate leftover sushi for her breakfast.

The last time I saw her was when I visited her place in LA during my trip in the US when I was in college. She took me to a midnight drive, to me everything she showed me was like an American movie.

If I could meet her again, I would be able to surprise her that I'm now a jewelry designer living in NY.
I tried to look her up online, and I found nothing about her. When I was a teenager, I thought every American woman was like her because she was the only American I knew. But now I know that she was truly the one and only in the world.

1Q84

2010-07-22T01:03:00.000-04:00

I've been reading Haruki Murakami's 1Q84, his newest novel.

It's a three-volume hardcover, I don't want to read too fast, but I can't stop it.

I try to read it only when I'm in my bed before I sleep.

It may be a reason why I dreamed of a beautiful girl from high school.

Shortly after we graduated from college, I heard that she married to a guy who wouldn't let her go out from a house.

She couldn't come to any of gatherings.

She asked him, and he always said no to her.

It was a long time ago and at that time it wasn't supposed to be called violence if it's not physical.

Mixed with Murakami's novel story, my desperate dream of her was dark like a wellhole.

I felt very thirsty in the morning and prayed for her that she's happy now.

yes-no box

2010-07-15T23:48:00.000-04:00

There's only a month to the next tradeshow.

I make some samples and then I think it would not fit to my line. It repeats.
The thing is that I don't know if I like it until I actually make one with my hands.

I imagine a YES-NO box, which tells me if the piece in the box is right or wrong.
Right, there is no right or wrong in this field.

I wish I had a small cabin in a wood so that the only thing I can do it to make things with my hands.
In reality, I pay bills, cook two meals a day, and go online to check what shoes Whitney Port is wearing.

on his birthday

2010-07-09T01:57:00.001-04:00

July 7th was my father's birthday.

I tried to think of something about it and then I stopped.

I stopped because all I could think of is that I still couldn't believe that my father is not here or anywhere. It makes me feel so strange.

And I feel strange about the fact that I live far, far away from my family. I hope someday someone will invent something that we can transport to the other end of the globe in one hour.

white cat in a gray building

2010-07-07T12:31:00.000-04:00

The entire diamond district in Manhattan is now closed for their summer vacation.

People were running around in the block to get done their business/errands before their closing.

I met a beautiful white cat with green eyes in an old building filled with jewelry tool companies.

Finding a cat in a cold building has an oasis effect (to me).

not so traditional wedding rings

2010-07-07T12:11:00.000-04:00

Refinery29 has a post for not too traditional wedding bands.

They've picked Yayoi Forest rings including Yayoi's Lacy Ring and Melting Love Ring.

daily candy pick-up

2010-07-06T11:38:00.002-04:00

Yayoi Forest's Silver Melting Heart Earrings are picked up for today's Daily Candy "I'll Melt with You".

You can check those earrings in person at the lovely store, Catbird in Brooklyn.

happy 4th

2010-07-05T19:38:00.000-04:00

I hope you had a wonderful July 4th weekend.

I survived the weekend without no water in the building, but somehow I've got nice design ideas during the weekend.

jewelry of love; Geinsbourg, Capote and others.

2010-06-29T12:58:00.001-04:00

On EAST SIDE BRIDE blog, Brooklyn jewelry store Catbird has done their guest blog.

They picked world famous couples and curated perfect pieces of jewelry for their love.

For example, my Melting Love Ring was picked for Marlene Dietrich & Edith Piaf.

You'll enjoy reading it and I'm sure it inspires a lot of people to find their wedding jewelry.

If you are looking for a jewelry for your anniversary, you should check this post, too.

It's a fun journey to find a unique piece that suits your own story.

black cat

2010-06-28T01:52:00.000-04:00

I'm actually really good at mimicking cats' meows.

I can pull them out from their habitat with my meow.

I love black short hair cats, sorry that some people call you unlucky animals.

the word of a mermaid

2010-06-17T20:49:00.000-04:00

I want to share my friend, Ningyo Yamada's beautiful paintings with you.
She used to major jewelry design at FIT like me, and now she creates beautiful worlds with her hands in Japan. My favorite one is "Tako Chandelier" (Octopus Chandelier). Enjoy as a mermaid in the dreaming sea.

looking back my sedona trip

2010-06-16T00:29:00.001-04:00

Sedona!

The purpose of the trip was to get inspired from the gigantic nature.

Living in the city, I sometimes feel like I'm trapped in a cage and need to break a door to make something totally new.

Instead of watching a street of New York, I wanted to see things from the top of a mountain like a bird's point of view.

I used to think that I didn't have time to go for a trip, but here, I made it for 3 nights 4 days trip to Sedona.

My goal here is to do as many as sketches I can!

Many people seem to feel something spiritual in Sedona, and I completely did not.

I thought something related to my dead father might happen but I didn't see him either.

Instead, I had a dream.

In my dream my friend Lauren was doing something I always wanted to challenge.

She told me "Why don't you do it, too?"

At the top of Cathedral Rock, I thought of Native Americans who used to live here and disappeared later.

Did they meet their girlfriends at a mountain to have a date?

Was there hidden secret spot to look sunset at the time?

double finger ring

2010-06-10T18:34:00.001-04:00

I wanted to make a double finger ring which is delicate in design, feminine, and most of all, wearable everyday.

It has five stones with options of rubies, black diamonds or white sapphires.

Sterling silver dipped in black rhodium.

You can try the rings at either Catbird and Sucre in NY. (Please check their stock availability first.)

wish you were here

2010-06-10T17:08:00.001-04:00

Back to NY from Sedona.

So refreshed, and I swear I'll gun my engine to make my new jewelry now.

color of summer

2010-06-01T01:36:00.001-04:00

The weather was good during Memorial day weekend.

I officially call in summer (finally!), washed remaining light sweaters with my hands and brought all my summer dressed out. Good bye black and gray, hello to colors.

Looking at the color of grape soda, I think of Amethyst for the next collection.

brooklyn window-cat collection

2010-05-28T20:46:00.000-04:00

Hello!

White MacBook

2010-05-28T01:43:00.000-04:00

I went to Apple's Genius Bar today.

I use 13 inches white macbook and there was a crack on the bottom casting of a notebook.

Within 15 minutes the bottom (keyboard side) was replaced, and my computer looks like a new one. (If you have cracks on your white plastic macbook, you should bring your notebook to Genius Bar also. Check this article.)

It started rain when I was at Apple store, and I was imagining while I was waiting for the rain to stop at the first floor.

What would it be like if I'm a member of iPad product development team?

It will make me very proud to create such a sensational dream machine.

I might be with tears just for watching people from all over the world enjoying iPad happily at a store.

And I felt like I was touched by looking at all those customers at Apple store....then I realized that I was a jewelry designer and I didn't even work for Apple.

unusual engagement rings

2010-05-21T11:45:00.000-04:00

Refinery29 has an article of "20 engagement rings you'll love", and they picked one of my rings from Catbird store.

My engagement ring from my husband was a very chunky and big white gold ring with diamonds, and I wore it on my index finger, not traditional ring finger.

(Back then, I was working at an ad agency and I didn't even think about becoming a jewelry designer.)

I would recommend my customers to pick a wedding/engagement ring that is right for you right now even if that's an unusual one.

You would expect to receive an anniversary ring every few years (I would), and forty, fifty years later you will have a collection of rings which tell you your life story.

back to reality

2010-05-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

I always get sick after a trip to Japan.

This time I caught a cold.
I'm realized that my next show is coming soon and I need to create a new collection.

While I'm thinking of new designs, I feel pressed thinking I may have something more important to get done now. Then when I start doing another work, I'm pressured to create new collections.

I need my rehabilitation time to get back to reality slowly.

picture: Tofu I bought from China Town, my bridge food between Japanese food and my everyday food in NY.

bibs

2010-05-13T22:53:00.000-04:00

In Kyoto. People make those bibs by hand for Jizo, guardian deities of children.

Deities should be happy to be loved in this way. It's like Spring/Summer collection at a temple.

back to NY

2010-05-12T08:40:00.000-04:00

I'm back to the States.
I stayed in Kyoto with my sister and my mother this time.

It's just my personal opinion, but people in Kyoto in general looked happy. I looked their faces in the street and wondered what was different there. Children seemed free and active like real children. It was peaceful and beautiful two weeks.

I found Kyoto became somewhat international hippie commune.
It's fun to see how traditional culture and creative people are mixed in this old town.

hometown

2010-05-03T22:48:00.001-04:00

Everything slightly changed in my hometown.

But the biggest change to me is that my father is not here anymore.

I don't know where people go after their death and I still wonder where my father's soul is.

I visited his grave for the first time and I didn't feel his existence there as I expected.

He told me how happy he was again and again on the bed at a hospice.

He might found complete satisfaction in his life so that he didn't have to stay here after he passed away.

sushi-go-round

2010-04-28T09:33:00.000-04:00

My first dining out in Kyoto was here.

All computerized sushi place, and most of them were 100 yen, $1 for a plate. And they are actually very good.

You order sushi through touch-screen system, and your sushi comes to your seats on the conveyor-belt.

We paid only $18 for two of us. No need to tip at everywhere in Japan.

I'm sure I was the most excited customer in this restaurant.

tokyo!

2010-04-28T09:04:00.001-04:00

After 13 hours of flight, I'm here in Tokyo.

new jewelry

2010-04-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

Just updated new collections. I hope you will enjoy them!

Yayoi Forest Collections

for mom

2010-04-11T20:44:00.003-04:00

She told me once how it was to be in the mother's womb.
When my friend's daughter, Miyu was three I asked her if she still remembered about it and she said "yes."
She said it was very warm there, she was floating, and then she pointed a beige crayon saying the place was this color.
I think of cosmos when I see a pregnant woman.
There is a tiny universe in her womb.
I made this necklace thinking of my friend's (Miyu's mother) saying "It was one of the happiest time in my life to carry her inside of my belly. I miss my big belly so much."

Baby Necklace
14K gold, champagne color diamonds. 5/16" diameter pendant, 18" chain $350
(available also in silver with champagne color diamonds $165)

cat in the basement

2010-04-11T19:15:00.002-04:00

Whenever I see a cat looking outside from a window of a house or from the basement of a restaurant, I feel like I should speak something to a cat.

my previous life as a kitty

2010-04-01T23:21:00.002-04:00

Every April Fool's Day, my sister play harmless (I hope) jokes. And I fall for it every year.

One time, she called me at night and said "You have to check this out now, there is the biggest shooting star in the history!"

I ran out from my apartment barefoot. I was saying to my sister, "I still can't find the shooting star. Damn, I haven't watched TV for a while, I didn't know such a big astronomical phenomenon until now!"

Every year, I forget that today is the April Fool's Day.
Because my sister is the only one who still do jokes on that day.

She emailed me today saying "I went to see a psychic and she told me you were hello-kitty in your previous life."
For the first time, I found that today was April Fool's Day before I fell for it (who would?).
It was the easiest one ever!

new spring/summer hat

2010-04-01T22:55:00.001-04:00

This summer, I'm not going to buy too many outfits but I will add some important accessories to refresh my style.
My friend Tsuyumi has a beautiful hat line, and I'll wear this dark blue hemp hat of hers everyday!

I really want many people to try her hats because her hat makes anyone's head shape look perfect instantly.

You can see her beautiful new collections here.
They are all handmade in New York by herself, just like my jewelry line.

arigato

2010-03-23T18:05:00.001-04:00

My six-year-old niece sent this small box and a letter by my husband who were returning from Japan.

Inside of the box, there were sugar cookies - yummy!
When I saw this box, I was speechless.
It says "thank you" on top and look a this, a squirrel gives a flower to his girlfriend.

It's beyond Kawaii!! If I were a cat, I would sharpen my claws like crazy to release my excitement.

The letter from my niece is filled with "arigato" and "daisuki" (I love you).
Two words which make you smile all day long.

a night of kobe-beef with victoria

2010-03-11T19:49:00.001-05:00

After the trade show, we went out for a dinner at Megu to taste "restaurant week" menu.

So much to catch up and so much to eat. This can be the endless night for girls.

Kobe beef is nice, but we can still enjoy talking even with a cap of tea for hours..

Three is my number

2010-03-09T19:13:00.002-05:00

What's your number?

When I made number pendants in the past, 5 was the most popular pendant among what I sold.

I guess there are many people who's favorite number is 5 - at least in New York.

My number is 3, I was born in March and my name comes from old Japanese word Yayoi which means March.

Now we call it Sangatsu meaning 3rd month.

I love everything about March. Cherry blossom is my favorite flower, I like to smell of the air in March, I like to change my clothing in the closet from winter to spring.

That's why my number has been always 3 since my childhood.

I found "take a number sign" at Anthropology the other day, and I bought number 7 (universal lucky number!) and (of course) 3.

A casher person said "3 is my number, were there still some on the shelf? I have to get it."

There goes my rival in a team 3.

trade show

2010-02-26T11:56:00.001-05:00

I have just done a trade show in NYC. It was held at the most unique place I have ever been.
It was the former Ansche Chesed Synagogue (1849) now called Angel Orensanz Foundation.

The atmosphere was very New York; old beauty meets new designs from selected world-wide designers.
And there was a cat living in this old Synagogue. Just watching a cat relaxing on the floor comforts me.

something about us

2010-02-20T20:48:00.000-05:00

My Valentine's day song, Daft Punk's "something about us".

I have set this song on repeat since Feb 14th.

This song is not only romantic, but it sounds sad in the end like a French movie.

Really cool animation was done by Reiji Matsumoto. Nice collaboration between two great artists.

(14 music videos make one long story, I can't wait to watch all after my show is over!)

happy valentine's day!

2010-02-14T14:47:00.000-05:00

hello, in japanese

2010-02-13T19:49:00.001-05:00

dear japanese readers:

日本語を読むみなさま、こんにちは。寒い毎日ですね。

日本語でどうやったらコミュニケーションできるのかしらと思い、

日本語専用のブログを作ろうとしていたのだけれど、ここに時々日本語で書けばいいのだと。

今まで私のつたない英語を読んでくださっていた日本人の方がいらっしゃったら感謝です！

Yayoi Forestを始めてから、多分５年目か６年目か７年目になろうとしています。

最初は数個のジュエリーをお店に見せに持って行くことから始めたもので、一体いつから本格的にスタートしたのか、どこから数えてたらいいのか自分でも分からなくなってしまったのですが。

NYに住み始めてから１０年経ちますが

寝る前に日本のお笑い番組を見て

ジュエリーを作る時は松っちゃんのラジオ番組（もう放送は終わってしまったので、録音で）を聴いている

日本食大好き日本人です。

時々日本から英語でメールを下さる方がいらっしゃったので

日本語も読めるのだぞということでまずはブログに書いてみました。