Journal

Risshun — The Beginning of Spring
Risshun — The Beginning of Spring
Today marks Risshun, the first day of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar. It doesn’t mean that winter suddenly disappears, but rather that the season has quietly shifted beneath the... Read more...
Today, 3rd February, is Setsubun in Japan
Today, 3rd February, is Setsubun in Japan
Setsubun is a traditional day that marks the boundary between seasons — the moment when winter quietly gives way to spring. Rather than a single celebration, it represents a time... Read more...
A Busy Weekend and Looking Ahead
A Busy Weekend and Looking Ahead
Last weekend we traded at both St Nicholas Market and Tobacco Factory. The quiet lull after Christmas seems to be easing, and it felt as though the markets were beginning... Read more...
A Quiet Day at Home
A Quiet Day at Home
Today was a quiet one, without anything particularly exciting to report. A small household problem needed attention — a blocked drain caused by plant roots slowly finding their way where... Read more...
Upcycling a Denim Jacket with Obi Fabric
Upcycling a Denim Jacket with Obi Fabric
Today I worked on a custom order using a denim jacket brought in by the customer, adding an obi fabric panel to create a completely new piece. I’ve been wanting... Read more...
Fourteen Years On
Fourteen Years On
Fourteen years ago today, I traded for the very first time at Anjuna Market. I was selling hand-painted jika-tabi, laid out on a simple mat on the beach — no... Read more...
A Finished Obi Hoodie with a Special Story
A Finished Obi Hoodie with a Special Story
Today I finished a custom order for one of our obi hoodies. This time, the piece was made for a fellow trader from St Nicholas Market. She chose a particularly... Read more...
A Quiet, Rainy Day at Tobacco Factory Market
A Quiet, Rainy Day at Tobacco Factory Market
Today was our first Tobacco Factory Market of the year. From the morning right through to packing up at the end of the day, the rain was relentless, and the... Read more...
Coming of Age and the Furisode
Coming of Age and the Furisode
In Japan, mid-January marks Coming of Age Day, a time when young people are celebrated as they step into adulthood. One of the most recognisable sights on this day is... Read more...
A Cold Morning and Looking Ahead
A Cold Morning and Looking Ahead
This morning in Wales was minus one degree, with the landscape covered in frost. Despite the cold, the early light was beautiful, with a soft winter glow spreading across the... Read more...
The First Custom Order of the New Year
The First Custom Order of the New Year
The first custom order of the new year was a printed jumper created from an original design. The request was beautifully specific — an orca as the central motif, with... Read more...
The First Journal Entry of 2026
The First Journal Entry of 2026
The new year has quietly begun, and after a short pause, we’re slowly easing back into our rhythm. The Christmas markets feel like a distant memory now, and the studio... Read more...