J's keychains for her students:-)

:-)

Thank you J!

New!

 

New Little Odd Forest handmade goods in the yellow hut!

 

Bear, Rabbit, Fox-inspired eye-masks.

 Laptop sleeves, owl-sling bags and quirky fabric-made wall hangings!

Tokyo! Last Day-

   

Pollock's tools- paint, oil, sticks, brushes (though he doesn't use them for their hair), plastic sticks and just about any materials he felt would be useful as an extension to his movements while painting.

While this retrospective did not include his later, mega-scale paintings, it was still good learning experience to see his earlier works (signs of torment already evident in his earlier pieces).

I've always respected his instinct-driven approach to art-making, and his attitude to, as the exhibition writes: present ugliness.

For someone living in repressive America in the 50s, that's something.

 Utter fearlessness to be our real selves.

And I find that was what Pollock strived for in his art-making. Pity he didn't quite applied much of that principle in real life.

 

And before heading off to the airport, 

one must stop by GHIBLI MUSEUM.

A SLICE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. 

Goodbye Tokyo!

New!

Crochet pouches by Amy Lim:)

With a slot for cards on its exterior!

Tokyo! Day 6- Going back to Tokyo with Pal

 Saw a lady in a fur collar and beautiful red-hued kimono. 

 Ace of Base song rings when I saw THIS sign. Strange Store! 
Pity it was closed for the day!

 Cross-section of a demolished house.

 A man tying newspapers. He was surrounded by shelves filled/spilled with all kinds of toys. And this is his house.

Power.

 Aronzo Shop.
And its lizard-like mascot:P

 A friendly face with wrinkles. Old and happy!

 A dog's cemetery.

Nah, it is actually a lawn display for the shop you see to the far left:)

An abnormal Hello Kitty. Perhaps a collaboration between Hello Kitty and another artist/designer.

 OINK.

Tokyo! Day 5- From Kofu to Minobu

 

 A cozy crochet-&-knitting shop managed by a kind elder lady, who was standing by the counter, showing another elder lady how to knit a scarf.

A heater standing by two chairs.

Faded out.

Upon arriving at Minobu, a small town located 2 hours away from Kofu, 

was greeted by a large plastic crow dangling from a tree.

SPOOooky!

Walked by a house, whose ledge was lined with soft toys.

It seemed like no one was around Minobu.

 Walking through the deserted streets reminded me of...

HOUSE OF THE DEAD. 

Though I must add, it truly is the wrong season to visit the town. Everyone was hibernating in their homes, hence the rather deserted appearance. 

According to the icons, I think the shop sells food and cigarettes.

 

 

But I couldn't quite make this one out:

Waterproof bulbs?

Warning of heavy snowfall available?

Hmm.

Tokyo! Day 4- Sleepy Town, Kofu

 

Just 2-hours away from Tokyo (by bus) is the lovely retro-&-sleepish town of Kofu,Yamanashi.

First day, rain and cloudiness hides the magnificent mountains surrounding the town.

Kofu Castle, its threatening, formidable entrance. Steep giant steps to hinder their enemies' speed when invading the castle.

 Holes along the walls for archers to shoot you down.

 Strangled dinosaurs.

 A deserted restaurant, with a dish of molding food towards the left.

 

And to the right, a strange set-up of what looks like a cemetery.

Creepy cool.

 

 This reminded me of Edward Hopper's house by the railway painting.

Twins!