new japan photo cards | 100th post | a giveaway

I have a (reasonably) new series of cards—all images that I took around Kyoto whilst in Japan over 2006/2007—that have just gone up in my store. They have been beautifully digitally printed, bonded to high quality 200gsm card (nice and thick!) and come with an envelope—ready to be written on and sent, given as a gift or kept to be admired.

AND...this is my 100th post...yippee! In honour of that fact, I have decided to have a giveaway. I will be giving $30AUD credit in my new store to one lucky winner chosen at random. If you would like to enter my little giveaway all you need to do is leave a comment on this post about either:

1. Your favourite Moyou product
(and perhaps why it is your favourite—design, colour, shape, etc.) OR

2. An idea for a new Moyou product that you feel would fit nicely amongst my existing range...

I will draw a winner at random after 5pm (ADST) Monday December 29, 2008.
Good luck!

new stockists | wooden & acrylic rings

Hello...I'm back! I'm sorry for my recent absence and the long silence between posts. The last 3 weeks have been incredibly busy in the lead up to Christmas business–wise, with the winding down of the university academic year and with filling orders for some wonderful stores now stocking Moyou products.

You can now find a beautiful range of Moyou products at the fabulous new National Portrait Gallery Store (right here in Canberra!) & also at the Tamworth Regional Gallery Shop. If you are ever in the vicinity of these fantastic stores, be sure to stop in for a look!

I have been busy working on this new addition to the Moyou jewellery range—a selection of gorgeous wooden & acrylic rings. Currently you can only find these lovely pieces at the National Portrait Gallery Store, the Tamworth Regional Gallery Shop or directly through Moyou at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston.

new moyou store—in australian dollars!

I am excited to announce the arrival (and unveil) my new Moyou store. If you head on over to take a look you'll already find a great list of items there—all in Australian dollars! All of my fabric by the metre, fabric packs & a range of wooden earrings are listed & waiting to be purchased :)

congratulations...

I would like to send a BIG thank you out to everyone who participated in my little birthday giveaway. I am looking forward to having some time to sit down and peruse the lovely blogs that you left comments about. After a fantastic weekend of markets I have finally made it back to my computer and drawn a winner...

Comment Number 4 | redmag of Waiting in the Capital who said:

'Happy blogiversary.....choosing only one fav is hard....I'd have to say at the moment I'm really enjoying checking in with nanette over at rummage.typepad.com. Her photos a devine, her posts are smart and its lovely to read about someone who is enjoying living in Canberra when there are soooo many people who complain about it.'

Congratulations! Could you please email me your contact details and I'll get your little Moyou gift pack packaged up and sent out to you as soon as possible. Thanks again!

fabric packs | order | final day of giveaway

Whew! What a busy week it has been. I feel as though I'm constantly *go go go*...and life it is set to stay that way until Christmas arrives. Ah well, I do love what I do and I certainly wouldn't have things any other way.

Today I've been busy preparing more stock for the coming weeks of markets. Tomorrow, if you're in the area, you'll be able to find me at the Queanbeyan Artists Market. It is being held at 'The Q' (Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre) from 11am–4pm and should be a wonderful day out. On Sunday you can visit me at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston. Hope to see you there :)

I also finished this earring order for Moose: Art for Living and posted it off today. Very shortly you'll be able to find these lovely wooden laser cut earrings here, along with my hand-drawn range of jewellery.

And last, but definitely not least, you only have a couple of hours left to enter my bloggy birthday giveaway. If you would like to be in the running to win a little Moyou gift pack all you need to do is leave me a comment here with the name of a favourite blog and why it is so special to you by 8pm (ADST) tonight: Friday November 14, 2008. Good luck!

screenprinting in progress

Just a quick post to show you a few pictures (please excuse the quality of these images...I took the photos on my mobile phone) of the fantastic screenprinting day that I had today. I love printing! My screenprinted linen tea towels are back in stock (in a lovely new colour as well!)—yippee!! Well, they will be after tomorrow once I've labeled & packaged them all :)

a lovely interview, an etsy treasury listing featuring moyou & two giveaways |

A lovely interview |
Over the weekend I was interviewed by the lovely Amy (of Doobleh–vay) for the wonderful Scoutie Girl blog. Amy is writing a new feature for Scoutie Girl titled Brief Introductions, where she chats with indie designers & artists. I was lucky enough to be invited to participate and the interview was posted yesterday—you can find the whole post here if you would like to read more :)
Thank you Amy & Scoutie Girl!

An etsy treasury listing featuring Moyou |
November 8th saw this little kuma (available in my etsy store) hit the front page of etsy in a lovely treasury listing compiled by 3fun (who creates amazing felt jewellery). Yay!

Giveaway One |
The fabulous Modish blog is currently holding Part I of their enormous November giveaway. This lovely batch of handmade goodies is valued at a huge $778 and you can enter the giveaway here.
Entries close on Sunday November 16 at 11:59pm (PST).

Giveaway Two |
Don't forget to enter my birthday celebration giveaway if you'd like to be in the running to win a little Moyou gift pack. All you have to do is leave me a comment here with the name of a favourite blog and why it is so special to you by 8pm (ADST) Friday November 14, 2008. Good luck!

moyou | happy blog birthday & a giveaway

*...happy birthday dear moyou blog...happy birthday to you!*

Today marks the one year anniversary/birthday of my little blog. A milestone well worth celebrating, I believe. From my very first post one year ago to my 93rd post today (almost 100!)—I feel as though I have had quite a journey in the space of a year...and I'd like to celebrate this with you by way of a little giveaway (what better way to celebrate a birthday than with presents!?)

How to enter Moyou's blog birthday giveaway |
To join in my birthday celebrations (and be in the running to win a little Moyou gift pack) all you need to do is leave me a comment on this post with the name of a favourite blog and why it is so special to you by 8pm (ADST) Friday November 14, 2008.

Please feel free to enter more than once if you would like, but you will need to leave a different blog reference with each comment to be entered into the draw multiple times. I will draw a winner at random after 8pm on Friday evening. I look forward to learning about (and reading) some lovely, new blogs and wish you all the best of luck for the draw!

Moyou RedBubble Sale |
As a final birthday celebration I am having a sale in my RedBubble store for the next 3 weeks (until Sunday November 30, 2008). The prices of cards have been drastically reduced, and at such a wonderful price they would make lovely inexpensive Christmas gifts.

100th comment

I love comments on my blog, I really do, and I am ever so grateful that people take the time to read and to comment. It is nice to know that you are there. So for all of these reasons I have decided to give $10USD credit in my etsy store to the 100th commenter on my blog.

So without further ado...the recipient of my 100th blog comment is the lovely Melanie of Kimono Reincarnate. Congratulaions Melanie, and thank you to everyone who has stopped by and left a comment. I really appreciate it!

lovely sites & an etsy treasury listing featuring moyou

I have just discovered that some lovely blogs and an etsy treasury listing featured Moyou last week and I'd like to share them with you.

I knew something must have happened because my views for this pair of etched wooden earrings (available in my etsy store) jumped up exponentially overnight. I was lucky enough to find that I had been featured in the treasury listing shown below and it had made the front page on October 31st. Yay!

October 30th saw Moyou featured in posts on two separate blogs—what a wonderful day! A lovely post on Creativadoration titled 'Screenprinted Fabrics, Mate' featured this screenprinted fabric (available in my etsy store), as well as other Aussie designers including Umbrella Prints, Aunty Cookie, Of Paper & Thread, & Hollabee. A second post on Tiel's gorgeous blog, Tsk Tsk, titled 'Thinking Local' featured this pair of acrylic laser cut earrings (available in my etsy store) as well as the work of six other fantastic Aussie designers. If you're interested, please feel free to pop over and have a look at these lovely posts—you won't be disappointed!

moyou | here & there

I must apologise for my absence over the past few days. It has been a busy (and slightly interrupted) week. Busy with orders, preparations for the anticipated Christmas–rush, & with final classes & assessment preparations for university; & interrupted by a public holiday here yesterday in the ACT.

In the meanwhile a few lovely things have taken place that I would like to show you...

Modish opened their Modish Holiday Marketplace on November 1st, 2008 & I was lucky enough to have secured a place in the November Jewellery section. There are so many wonderful designers & stores to see on the Modish Marketplace in a variety of sections including jewellery, art, bags & purses, eco– friendly products, home goods, papergoods and more. You really should pop across and take a look!

And then November 2nd brought about a lovely write-up on the wonderful Esta Sketch blog. I feel so lucky to have been included in a gift guide post, with a pair of my alphabet-o etched wooden earrings being featured. Thank you!

black & red laser cut earrings | a new range | new shape

I have a new colour and a new shape in Moyou's delicious laser cut earring range to unveil...

4 patterns etched into 2 shapes (the rectangle, as previously seen in the red tint acrylic range and arctic ice acrylic range, and [the new] oval shape), in red tint acrylic and black acrylic. These gorgeous accessories are so very light and so beautifully patterned—you won't find anything else quite like them!

A selection of these lovely earrings have been added to my etsy store or, if you're in Canberra, feel free to swing by the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra this Sunday to see them in person :)

new (reduced) etsy shipping prices

Following on from my etsy pricing dilemma post yesterday, I have made some adjustments in my etsy store. Due to recent fluctuations in currency values I have reduced my shipping prices on ALL items to maintain competitive pricing in the current market.

The big news |
Every item now has FREE postage within Australia!! (and international shipping prices have been drastically reduced!) So if you're thinking about Christmas presents, or would just like a look, please feel free to visit my shop.

etsy pricing dilemma

I am struggling with online pricing (etsy in particular) with respect to the recent fluctuations in worldwide currencies. I have been watching with interest the way that various independent designers/makers/artists have been attempting to cope with this issue but I'm not sure which way to jump.

Initially I thought it best to adjust my prices on etsy to reflect the price of my goods in Australian dollars...but this is proving to be a very difficult task as the dollar fluctuates by the second/minute/hour/day and I can't keep up. I thought about reviewing it weekly but I'm not sure that I would be happy with that outcome either. It seems fine to adjust my prices in this way at the moment given that everyone wins—Australian customers receive Moyou goods at a reasonable Australian dollar related price and American customers receive Moyou goods at a bargain US dollar price...but what happens when the Australian dollar begins to creep back up? How will customers feel about fluctuations in my pricing? And at the end of the day I wish to cater to a wider global market, so should I keep thinking in Australian dollars or do I need to be more 'global' in my pricing too?

At this stage I seem to be leaning more towards keeping my etsy prices stable and current with the US dollar. I realise that this may discourage some Australian customers from purchasing through etsy at this point in time (given the state of the Australian dollar and its relative worth) but I hope to be branching out more directly within Australia in the coming months and I am always contactable via my blog and email for direct inquiries and orders. This being the case, I feel that keeping a more 'global' perspective for online selling is perhaps the better path to travel for now.

Oh pricing! This could be a question for the ages...it has kept me going around and around and around in circles. I would love to know what other people think about this matter and how you are dealing with it, so please feel free to leave a comment :)

wooden etched earrings | a new range

Wow, Friday here we are again!
Another busy week and another addition to the growing Moyou range...

Adding to my current jewellery range (including red tint acrylic etched earrings, wooden laser cut earrings and arctic ice acrylic laser cut earrings), I now have 3 patterns etched as a fill and 2 patterns etched with lines into beautiful beech ply sourced from a sustainable plantation. Very light and intricately patterned, these gorgeous earrings are sure to add a splash of style to any outfit.

You can now find these beautiful earrings in my etsy store or, if you live in the area, come along and see me this Sunday at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra :)

Koto (Japanese harp) concert | Kitano Tenmangu market | Japan post day

Koto (Japanese harp) concert
Friday October 24, 2008
7:30pm–8:00pm

1. Koto in Japan

Beautiful koto (Japanese harp) music will be played in the lobby of Nishiyama Ryokan, a traditional Japanese–style hotel in the center of Kyoto (close to the Imperial Palace grounds and Shijo–Kawaramachi shopping area), for half an hour on Friday evening. This concert is free of charge, so if you are in the area please feel free to drop by and enjoy the wonderful music of this traditional instrument.


Kitano Tenmangu market
Saturday October 25, 2008
7:00am–5:00pm

Kitano Tenmangu, also known as Tenjin–san, is a Shinto shrine in Kamigyou–ku, Kyoto. This popular shrine hosts a large sprawling flea market in and around the shrine on the 25th of each month. This market, like To–ji, attracts large crowds and sells just about everything—from antiques to furniture, from food to plants, from household items to secondhand kimonos and obi.

1. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 2. Flea Market, 3. _MG_3152, 4. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 5. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan

You can get to Kitano Tenmangu by taking bus #10, #50, #101, #102 or #203 to the Kitanotenmangu–mae bus stop.

(*Please Note: These images by Jim Epler, txipiflick, MShades, and donnaidh_sidhe have been used under the Creative Commons license)

fabric packs & fabric pieces | a new range.

I have just finished updating my etsy store with assorted fabric packs & fabric pieces from my new fabric range...*yippee!*.

Whether it is a single piece of fabric you are interested in (for a certain project that you have in mind), or a yummy collection of beautiful co–ordinates that you're after, I now have an array for you to choose from.

These pieces and packs would be great for any small crafty project—suitable for anything from patchwork to purses. Let your imagination run free!

yellow leaves, blue sky | colour inspiration

red tint acrylic etched earrings | a new range

Woah! Another addition to the growing Moyou range.
Can you tell that I love to diversify!?

Adding to my current jewellery range, I now have 4 patterns etched into red tint acrylic. Very light, very bright and very cheerful. The red tint acrylic is great because it isn't a flat, solid colour. As it is a tint the colour changes depending on the light that you are in. I took these photos outdoors (in the shade) on a sunny day. They're so vibrant!


You can find these lovelies in my etsy store...or (if you're in the area) come along to the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra :)

And last, but certainly not least, I'd like to send a big thank you out to everyone who has left such lovely comments about my new screenprinted tea towel range and my fabric by the metre. It has been great to know that they are well received...thank you!

fabric by the metre | a new range

I can't contain my excitement!! I have another new range!!

I have been waiting to do this for quite a while now and it has been in the works for a month or two—designing, ordering, shipping, printing, posting. And today it arrived! I can finally unveil my big surprise (that I have alluded to in previous posts).

...I'm proud/excited/happy to introduce to you...
moyou fabric by the metre!

The fabric is a lovely natural 62% Hemp/38% Cotton blend and I have designed two concentric geometric patterns which are printed in warm grey & aubergine (separately) with environmentally friendly, solvent free ink.

If you are interested in purchasing some of this delicious fabric you can find both designs in both colours in my etsy store.

Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) | Kurama no Hi Matsuri (Kurama fire festival) | Japan post day

Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)
Wednesday October 22, 2008
7:00am onwards (until approximately 5:00pm)

Jidai Matsuri is a festival celebrating Kyoto’s history which showcases an amazing, colourful costume parade. It is held annually in Kyoto, Japan’s Old Capital, on October 22. The first Jidai Matsuri was held in 1867 to celebrate 1,100 years of history in Kyoto. It also celebrated the opening of Heian Jingu (Heian Shrine)—a 2/3 scale model of the Old Capital’s original imperial palace. Heian Jingu is a Shinto shrine that was built specifically to enshrine two imperial spirits—the spirit of Emperor Kammu (reigned 781-806), who founded Kyoto in 794, and Emperor Komei (reigned 1847-1866), Kyoto's last reigning emperor. Now, over 140 years later, Jidai Matsuri is still one of Kyoto’s largest and most important festivals. For many, the highlight of the festival is the wonderfully colourful costume parade consisting of approximately 2,000 participants wearing authentic historical costumes spanning eleven centuries.

1. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 2. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 3. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 4. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 5. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto

Beginning at 7:00am, the festival opens with the imperial spirits being transferred in mikoshi (portable shrines) from Heian Jingu to the Old Imperial Palace. At approximately midday the costume parade begins at the Old Imperial Palace and from here slowly winds its way on a 2km route (5 hour journey) back through the streets of Kyoto to Heian Jingu.

1. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, Japan, 2. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 3. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 4. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 5. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto


Kurama no Hi Matsuri (Kurama fire festival)
Wednesday October 22, 2008
6:00pm onwards (until approximately midnight)

Kurama no Hi Matsuri (Kurama fire festival) is held in Kurama, Kyoto–shi, a village North of Kyoto city just into the mountains. This festival is celebrated annually on October 22 and is considered to be one of the most unique and eccentric of all of Japan’s autumn festivals—and I have to agree that it was amazing, like nothing I have ever seen before! Participants in the festival carry burning pine torches of ever–increasing sizes (the final torches weighing more than 80kg) through the narrow winding streets of Kurama up to Yuki–jinja (the local shrine), which is situated in the village below Kurama–dera (Kurama temple). 3m tall bonfires (watch fires) are also lit (at 6:00pm) and attended to throughout the night. The festival closes with two mikoshi (portable shrines) being paraded through the streets.

1. Kurama Fire Festival, 2. Untitled, 3. Kurama Fire Festival

All forms of Kyoto’s public transport are exceptionally busy on this day (with two incredible festivals being held). If you do travel up to Kurama by train I would recommend getting there early and leaving before the festivities end, as trains do stop running around midnight and they will be incredibly crowded. To get to Kurama take the train from Demachiyanagi station on the Eizan Line—Kurama is the final stop.

(*Please Note: These images by txipiflick, whatsound and rikib80 have been used under the Creative Commons license)

wooden fence | colour inspiration

screenprinted linen tea towels | new colours & a new pattern

Just a quick update today to give you a sneak peek at some new colours (and a new pattern) that I printed last Friday in my linen tea towel range.


I now have 3 different patterns printed in black, burgundy & chocolate brown (with environmentally friendly, water–based ink) on 100% linen in a gorgeous natural colour. I will be adding all of these designs to my etsy store and will also have them with me at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston.

back into things

Today is my first day back at home and in the office, so to speak...and I'm not sure whether I'm coming or going. I feel as though I've hit the ground running but I'm trying to take it a little bit easy as I'm not feeling 100%. My short break was wonderful and busy. I managed to get through everything I had hoped to plus a little more, which is always nice!

It seems that quite a lot has happened in my absence as well. I've had a few orders arrive in the post and hope to get those together to photograph, upload and show you later in the week.

Scoutie Girl |
I would like to send a big thank you out to Jan (and Lisa) of the fabulous Scoutie Girl blog. On Thursday last week (October 2nd) they wrote a lovely feature about Moyou. Below is a screen shot of the post but you can also find it here if you are interested.


Modamuse|
I would also like to send a huge thank you out to Nancy & Jessica—the wonderful designers behind Modamuse. On Friday last week (October 3rd) they featured Moyou in a great write–up. Below is a screen shot of the post but you can also find it here if you are interested.


Thank you so much for the lovely words and exposure! A big thank you also to everyone who commented on my last post and my new range of wooden laser cut earrings. I really appreciate all of the fantastic feedback—thank you, thank you!

One last bit of info for the day. I am participating in the October Indie Goodness Giveaway over at Scoutie Girl. If you have never come across this fantastic site before I really would recommend popping over for a look—it's great! This particular competition closes on Saturday October 11 at midnight (in America) for anyone who might be interested in entering. Good luck!

wooden laser cut earrings | a new range (and a short break)

Once again my usual pattern of posting has been interrupted but it's for a very good cause. I couldn't wait to show you this gorgeous new range (you can find them in my etsy store)...I'm so excited!


It is with much pleasure that I introduce to you my new wooden laser cut earrings. I am SO pleased with the way they turned out (and I couldn't help myself, I just had to keep a pair!). The laser cutting is beautifully fine and scorches the inside of the wood where the cuts are made so you get a stunning two tone effect. So lovely! Three new patterns and a new medium. Yummy!

On another happy note—I will be taking a short break from tomorrow. I am having a 6 day part-business/part-vacation sojourn in Adelaide (via Melbourne). It is unlikely that I will be able to update at all while I am away but I will be back on board (full steam ahead) come Tuesday next week. Have a lovely week/weekend. See you in a little while :)

tree with moss | colour inspiration

I have some exciting news!!...
Moyou is now being stocked by Moose: Art for Living.
You can find a range of Moyou hand–drawn earrings and pendants, as well as many other fabulous designer finds, on this fantastic Australian online boutique.

etsy treasury & a lovely blog

Thanks to posts written over the weekend by two lovely girls—Bianca of Hollabee and Danielle of Of Paper & Thread—my attention was drawn to a fantastic etsy treasury curated by Martine of Greenolive. A wonderful collection of textile design finds. Thank you Martine for including my Alphabet-o-Graphic screenprinted tea towel in this gorgeous treasury!


And what better time to introduce you to Martine, her blog and her work than now!? Greenolive incorporates Martine's textile and stationery design and includes products ranging from scarves (which Martine loves!) to brooches, necklaces and designer stationery. The Greenolive blog is updated regularly and Martine is currently working on some amazing 'Silk Selvedge Scarves' made of vintage kimono silk. Exquisite! You will also find that she has a lovely etsy store and a beautiful collection of photos on flickr. I am especially taken by the stunning photos in her Kimono Silks set...definitely worth a visit! :)

etsy treasury

This will just be a quick post today as time keeps slipping away and I feel like I have more and more to do. Thank you for the lovely feedback on my new tea towels—I really appreciate the positive reinforcement!

This morning I spent quite a lot of time on the phone (organising various business bits and pieces), and getting my head around some freelance designing I'm currently working on (hopefully I can tell you some more about that as the project progresses)...but that is keeping me well and truly out of mischief.

Following my morning of organising, I went to go on a short business mission in my car...only to find that it had been broken into overnight so more of my day was consumed with tidying it up and reporting the break–in to the police. Thankfully nothing much was stolen (only about $0.50 in coins, would you believe!?) and they didn't manage to steal my car, even though they obviously tried. I just feel so very lucky to still have it!

On a happier note (or two):
>> The very lovely Danielle from Of Paper & Thread curated a beautiful etsy treasury listing yesterday (her first one!). Congratulations Danielle...and thanks so much for including my Alphabet-o-Graphic Screenprinted Linen Tea Towel.


>> The fabulous Julie (aka Market Girl)—wonderful organiser of Canberra's Handmade Market—wrote a lovely post about my new range on the Handmade Market blog. Please feel free to pop over and have a look :)

screenprinted linen tea towels | a new range

Yippee!! I couldn't wait until Friday (tomorrow) to post about my new range because I'm really excited. It is so nice to be printing again! I've really missed it. So without any further ado, may I introduce you to my new screenprinted linen tea towel range...


I have printed 2 different patterns in black (with environmentally friendly, water–based ink) on 100% linen in a gorgeous natural colour. Both of these designs have been added to my etsy store.

I would love to read your feedback about this new range and these patterns, so please feel free to leave a comment here on my blog. And keep your eye on this space because I'm sure there will be more tea towels (with new patterns and new coloured prints) coming soon.

Heian Jingu sencha service | Kodai–ji night time tea ceremony | Kitano Tenmangu market | Japan post day

Heian Jingu sencha service
Sunday September 28, 2008

Heian Jingu (Heian Shrine) is a Shinto shrine located slightly North–East of Kyoto city centre and is renowned for one of the largest torii in all of Japan. On Sunday September 28, masters of Japan’s six Sencha (Japanese green tea) tea ceremony schools will hold a solemn ceremony in Heian Jingu. The ceremony will not be open to the public, but once the ceremony has finished (from 10:00am–3:00pm) the masters will offer tea to visitors for a cost of 2,000 yen.

1. Heian Jingû 09.JPG, 2. Heian Jingû 11.JPG, 3. Heian Jingu Tori

You can get to Heian Jingu by taking bus #5, #32, #46 or #100 to Kyoto Kaikan Bijutsukan–mae and walking a short distance up the road (less than 5mins).

1. heian_jingu_95, 2. heian_jingu_94, 3. Ornate bridge in Heian-jingu gardens


Kodai–ji night time tea ceremony
Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday & holiday between September 9, 2008 and September 28, 2008
Starts at approximately 4:00pm

On these evenings throughout September you could take a trip to Kodai–ji (one of the many amazing temples in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district) and enjoy a traditional tea ceremony and a light kaiseki meal in the stunning ancient garden setting of the temple. The garden will be specially illuminated for the event. After tea, visitors will be taken to the temple's Sho Museum and allowed to view the incredible collection of Momoyama–period (1568-1600) art. Coffee will be served after the museum visit.

1. Kodai-ji, 2. Moon viewing pavillion at Kodai-ji, 3. IMG_4916

The tour costs 5,800 yen and will last for about 3 hours (approximately 4:00pm–7:00pm). If you are interested in this tour, reservations are required the day before at Kodai–ji.

1. Paper Lanterns, 2. Bamboo Forest, 3. Zen garden at Kodai-ji

Kodai–ji is located in Higashiyama between Yasaka–jinja and Kiyomizudera. You can get there by taking bus #12, #46, #100, #201, #202, #203, #206 or #207 to Gion and walking a short distance past Yasaka–jinja.


Kitano Tenmangu market
Thursday September 25, 2008
7:00am–5:00pm

Kitano Tenmangu, also known as Tenjin–san, is a Shinto shrine in Kamigyou–ku, Kyoto. This popular shrine hosts a large sprawling flea market in and around the shrine on the 25th of each month. This market, like To–ji, attracts large crowds and sells just about everything—from antiques to furniture, from food to plants to household items and secondhand kimonos and obi.

1. 北野天満宮・Kitano Tenmangu, 2. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 3. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan

You can get to Kitano Tenmangu by taking bus #10, #50, #101, #102 or #203 to the Kitanotenmangu–mae bus stop.

1. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 2. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 3. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 4. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 5. Flea Market

(*Please Note: These images by Olivier Lejade, apc33, dimitridf, manarh, stendec, unertlkm, KimonBerlin, Tavallai, bmiller1710, EYLC, txipiflick and MShades have been used under the Creative Commons license)

vine skirt pattern | colour inspiration

Kyoko Hashimoto—amazing jewellery!

It's Monday...only for another hour—but still Monday. Enough time to get a quick post in before bed and another busy day tomorrow! Whew.

If you have never found this gorgeous blog before, you're in for a real treat. I just LOVE the work of Kyo (Kyoko) Hashimoto—her jewellery is so unusual and is absolutely stunning. Her blog incorporates so many lovely pictures showcasing her gorgeous work (I've included a screen shot of one of Kyo's beautiful posts to demonstrate this perfectly)—you can't help but fall in love!


You can find her work at a number of boutiques around the world and right here in Australia at Moose and Modamuse (fantastic online boutiques).
I hope you will enjoy these wonderful sites as much as I do.

making | posting parcels | placing orders

Whew! Another busy week has come and gone and lots has happened—so much that I'm not sure if I can remember it all! The earlier portion of my week was full of teaching and preparation for teaching, and the latter part of my week whipped by in a flurry of making, creating, emailing, organising, updating, filling orders, placing orders and posting parcels. The usual sort of busy–ness.


Sad News |
The sad part about this week was the death of my LCD flat screen computer monitor this morning. Rest in peace dear friend. She served me well for the last 6 years—faithful little monitor—but finally shuddered and went completely black at about 10am today, and no amount of pleading, cursing or coaxing could revive her. Thankfully my flatmate has 2 monitors so I have one on loan at the moment—thank you, thank you! Suffice to say I'm off to a computer fair tomorrow in search of a new monitor companion.

Good News |
Coming soon...
I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of a couple of orders, most notably a new batch of earrings/pendants laser cut and etched in wood (as an alternative to acrylic)—I can't wait until they arrive! I'm also waiting for a new batch of business cards and an order of 100% linen tea towels, which I hope to print on before the end of the month. *yippee*. That's a small sneak peek into a few new Moyou ranges that will be coming shortly—keep watching this space! :)