Journal

Quiet Work Behind the Scenes
Quiet Work Behind the Scenes
Today was a good day for catching up on work for the online store. It was one of those slow, time-consuming tasks — not very glamorous, and honestly a little... Read more...
A Long Day in London, and a Good One
A Long Day in London, and a Good One
Today, I travelled to London to collect my renewed passport. It was a long journey — nearly three hours each way by coach — but it turned into a really... Read more...
Today’s Tobacco Factory Market was a quiet one for me.
Today’s Tobacco Factory Market was a quiet one for me.
Light rain drifted in and out throughout the day, and the sky never quite decided what it wanted to do. Just like yesterday, it was a chilly Sunday that made... Read more...
A Cold, Rainy Day at St Nicholas Market — and a Meaningful Encounter
A Cold, Rainy Day at St Nicholas Market — and a Meaningful Encounter
I spent the whole day at St Nicholas Market today, where the rain made it feel much colder than the forecast suggested. Despite the weather, it turned into a memorable... Read more...
A 30kg Delivery on Its Way from Japan
A 30kg Delivery on Its Way from Japan
Today I arranged a collection for a 30kg shipment coming from Japan. Inside are carefully selected pieces I’ve been waiting for — vintage furisode, traditional kimono, and embroidered sukajan jackets.... Read more...
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...