Lavenders

This is my first time to grow lavenders and they always make me feel relaxed! I was out all day today and just got back home. It's supposed to rain tonight and I rather stay at home. It will be a quiet night but the sound of rain....

You will see more beautiful lavenders here and here...

Have a great weekend everyone! ox

Corner View / Places of reflection

The corner view this week is places of reflection.
I went to the Union Square green market this evening and
saw honey bees inside a glass case at the store. They were so lovely and working very hard to make delicious honey!

Now I am getting busy again and I have to work hard to fish my projects... I feel like I am one of the bees inside a glass case...

Please check out Spain daily to see other corner views!!

Stay cool..

Unfortunately, my AC is not really
working well, so I have to get another one...

In the meantime, I would love to
join them to stay cool...

Fireworks

I have been very busy lately and I still have to work over
the weekend but I would love to take a little break...

It's 4th of July weekend and there will be a big fireworks
show in NY! I am planning to go hiking in NJ tomorrow and
come back in the evening. If I am not too tired, I am going
to see the fireworks!

Have a great weekend everyone! oxox

Corner view / staple foods

This week the corner view is staple foods.

I can't live without rice.... Onigiri (rice ball) is one of my favorite Japanese food! I usually put salmon flakes or a little pickled plum inside and wrap seaweed around onigiri. It is great for picnics or a simple snack!

Bon Appetit!

Please check out Spain daily to see other corner views!!

Tomatoes

This is my first time that I grow tomatoes and they are so lovely! They are getting bigger and the one of them is ready to eat!! yay! Cris sent me a great pizza recipe while ago, so I am planning to make it soon!

Have a great weekend everyone! ox

Corner view / music

The theme of corner view this week is music.
I like to play piano but I am not really a good player,
so I rather listen to this piano music which is my favorite.
It makes me relax and at the same time, I can enjoy underwater...

please check out Spain Daily to see other corner views!






My napkins are featured on Daily Candy today.
Please also check it out!

Squirrel

Look what he did!! He stole my tulip bulbs which
I left them near the window and he ate them all!!
He comes to my balcony and digs up my plants
all the time.... What should I do??

Bok choy flowers

It's already Friday! Time flies by so fast these days....

We had lots of rain this week and it's supposed to be rain again tomorrow.

I'd rather stay at home and relax...

Have a great weekend everyone & happy Father's Day! ox

Corner view / Street fashion - late 70s

kindergarten uniform








The theme of corner view this week is street fashion.
I was inspired by jgy corner view this week.
She has posted some photos of her daughter carrying
a Japanese school bag, randoseru. I still remember that I was
carrying red randoseru while I was in elementary school.
So, I am still in the mood for the late 70s and I decided to
post some photos of my early childhood.



This is a photo of me and my grandmother in my hometown.
She was lovely lady and I remember that she always wore kimono.

Please check out Spain daily to see other corner views!

A weekend in the country / 3

I took a little walk in the forest in the early morning.
I felt so refreshed...



+ Lovely epe gave me "the beautiful art award" on Monday. Thank you epe!
The general rule for this award is to pass them on to other bloggers that inspire you. It's very difficult to choose ... but I would like to pass the award to
Jane (great corner view )

Claire (lovely sewing projects )
concrete and honey , isabelle (beautiful images)
gracia (beautiful art)

++ My napkins have been featured on Design*Sponge! Thank you Grace!

+++ Thank you for tagging me, Kristina! I will definitely do it!

Corner view / out your back door or window

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes!
I had a great day!





The theme of corner view this week is "out your back door or window".
These are the photos I would like to see from my window
since I only see ugly buildings....
How nice if I hear bird singing in the morning & frog singing
in the evening instead.

Please check out other corner views!
jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie,esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,
caitlin, joyce, ani, couturecoucou, kim, a day that is dessert,
epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t.,jeannette, outi,
schanett, ritva, dongdong, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer,
dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, ruth, dianna, isabelle,
amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, jenna,
skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria,
crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie,
la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, samantha, kyndale

A weekend in the country / 2

I was in the country over the weekend and celebrated my birthday
early over there. My lovely friend, Frank who is a great artist + teacher
living in the country, invited me to his house in upstate which it took
me about 2 hours from the city. We went hiking and spent whole
Saturday afternoon in the mountain. I saw some chipmunks which
were super cute! The colors of leaves, mosses and fungus were
just gorgeous and inspiring me a lot!

After our hiking, we went his friend's house for birthday dinner
in the evening. His friend and my birthday are almost on the same day.
So, we celebrated our birthday together. I really enjoyed the delicious
dinner with great people. Frogs were singing in the pond and
I saw some deers running in the backyard. What a beautiful place!







looking up


looking down

A weekend in the country

I am going to visit my friend in upstate tomorrow morning and
then we will go hiking together in the mountain.
It's so nice to get out of town and get some fresh air!

Have a great weekend everyone! ox

Corner view / the beach

The corner view of this week is the beach!
This is my hometown in Japan and a photo of me and my brother.
I grew up in the rural countryside on the Southern coast of Japan
surrounded by beaches and mountains, which became my playground.



My parents house is one block away from the beach...



My father used to take me out fishing when I was a girl.

I always love the smell of ocean....


Please check out other corner view participants.
jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie,esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,
caitlin, joyce, ani, couturecoucou, kim, a day that is dessert,
epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t.,jeannette, outi,
schanett, ritva, dongdong, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer,
dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, ruth, dianna, isabelle,
amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, jenna,
skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria,
crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie,
la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, samantha, kyndale

ladybug

I am afraid of insects but ladybug is the only insect which
I am not afraid of and always makes me smile!

Have a lovely day! ox

Early Summer

It's almost Jun and half a year has gone by already.
I can't believe that time goes by so quickly!!
The good thing is that Summer is right around the corner!! yay!
I am planning to visit my friend in the country next weekend
and I am looking forward to it.

++ I have been included in the 3 Birds Saturday Shopping List and
also Janick featured my linen placemats at creativadoration today!

Have a great weekend! ox

Corner view / cityscapes

traffic...



The theme of corner view this week is cityscapes.

one way signs + tall buildings + noise = New York City

Here are the participants in corner view which is hosted by jane.
Check them out!

ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie,esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,
caitlin, joyce, ani, couturecoucou, kim, a day that is dessert,
epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t.,jeannette, outi,
schanett, ritva, dongdong, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer,
dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, ruth, dianna, isabelle,
amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, jenna,
skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria,
crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie,
la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, samantha, kyndale

Summer dress

I received a package from my aunt last week.
She sent me some summer dresses which she made in different fabrics.

This dress is the one of them she sent me...

When everytime I go back to Japan, I visit her in Oita
and I always enjoy spending time with her.

I am thinking of her and miss her a lot...

My vegetable plants

one



two, three tomatoes..



Chingensai (bok choi)



I volunteer in JASA senior center teaching art class every Friday morning and the activity what we did today was watercolor. I always enjoy teaching and have great time with them.

My vegetable plants are getting bigger and what I am so excited about is that I grow them in the city and I can't wait to see some ladybugs and bees visiting my balcony!

Have a great holiday weekend! ox

Corner view / tea instead...

3pm...



tea time...



relax...

.............

....... and then ok, let's go back to work!

++ I don't drink coffee but you can find coffee corner views at Spain daily!

Stationery & furniture show

beautiful wholesale catalog + Italian cotton ribbon scraps from Angela



and then I made some objects....



I went to the National Stationery show (NSS) & International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) yesterday. Both of them were great shows
and I really enjoyed!

Thank you for the invites, Angela and Chip!

If you are planing to visit there, please stop by their booths!
Albertine Press - Booth# 1934 NSS
Momo Arts Deisgn Collaborative - Booth # 1873 ICFF




Beautiful old stamps from Angela. Thank you for the lovely gift!



After the show, I went to see Joanne who is visiting NY from Montreal with her family. I met her though our blogs and we have known each other for almost a year! I really enjoyed meeting her and we had a great time at Japanese cafe!

Button collection

My friend sent me some lovely gifts from Japan!
I got some yummy rice crackers, my favorite Earl Grey
tea bags and cute yellow buttons!! I am so excited to use
these buttons for my craft project!

Have a great weekend!

Corner view / outdoors

I always bring my small digital camera with me when I go out
and I take some photos whenever I find something caught my attention.....

There are too many buildings in the city but I still see some
pretty flowers on the street!

++ Here are the participants in corner view which is hosted by jane.
Check them out!

ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie,esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,
caitlin, joyce, ani, couturecoucou, kim, a day that is dessert,
epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t.,jeannette, outi,
schanett, ritva, dongdong, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer,
dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, ruth, dianna, isabelle,
amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, jenna,
skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria,
crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie,
la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, samantha, kyndale

Green

I have been very busy lately , so don't have much sleep.
When I am tired and get stress,
plants always make me feel calm and relaxed....

They are getting bigger day by day. mmmm yummy...


++ Oh, I love this video! Please check it out!

Line drawing

She is going back to the forest....







From my old sketch book....

++ I am planning to go to the National Stationery Show next Sunday to visit,
booth no. 1934. Thank you for the invite, Angela! I am so excited to see
a variety of beautiful letterpress greeting cards there!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Corner view / shopping

One of my favorites is Union Square Greenmarket which I often buy some fresh fruits, vegetables and plants. Especially, I love to buy all kinds of apples there.
They are very fresh and I love the smell of apples...






Right now, lilacs are in bloom all over at the market and
It's the season which I didn't know until I went there...

Here are the participants in corner view which is hosted by jane.
Check them out!

ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie,esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,
caitlin, joyce, ani, couturecoucou, kim, a day that is dessert,
epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t.,jeannette, outi,
schanett, ritva, dongdong, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer,
dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, ruth, dianna, isabelle,
amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, jenna,
skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria,
crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie,
la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, samantha, kyndale

Tomato plant

I am waiting for my tomatoes to become red and get bigger.
mmmm... I can't wait... Should I make tomato sauce pasta or salad ??

Mother's day giveaway at GoodLife {eats}

Mother's day is just around the corner!
GoodLife {eats} is having a mother's day kitchen event giveaway.
There are so many great prizes for lucky readers.
Here are the rules of the contest.




One of their prizes, I am donating my napkins and coasters
(green/ set of 2) for this giveaway!

Please go over to GoodLife {eats} to leave a comment
for a chance to win! Good luck!

(sorry, this contest is open to US residents only)

Corner view / modes of transportation

Horse Carriages at Central Park





Here are the participants in corner view. Check them out!

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie,esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,
caitlin, joyce, ani, couturecoucou, kim, a day that is dessert,
epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t.,jeannette, outi,
schanett, ritva, dongdong, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer,
dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, ruth, dianna, isabelle,
amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, jenna,
skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria,
crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie,
la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, samantha, kyndale

Early Summer?

The weather was gorgeous over the weekend.
It's almost 80 degrees!! Is Spring over already?

Honey bees

Hey bees, "come this way!"






Sadly, honey bee populations are disappearing from our planet.
This might be the one of the factors contributing to the problem.
(Thank you for the link of the article, del4yo! )

How can we help them? How about planting beautiful flowers
and plants in your garden?

Please also check out this website! Beautiful illustration!