Tenegui toes

When I lived in Japan I developed a bit of a tenegui addiction and I built up a rather impressive collection of them. A tenegui is a piece of cotton fabric that can be used as a tea towel, headscarf, gift wrapping fabric or used as a piece of art. In Japan, many tenegui are printed with pretty designs and they often depict images relating to the season of the moment.

My friend Michiko came over from Japan recently and stayed with me for a few days. One of the lovely gifts she gave me was this fabulous red tenegui. It depicts a woman's leg and foot with a black comb. This was seen as a very provocative image in days gone by and may well have been the leg of a male kabuki actor who portrayed women in kabuki theatre.

I love the use of negative space which is seen as just as important as the main image in Japanese design. Red is also my favourite colour! Now I just need to find the perfect place to hang it in my apartment.

Japan House

The other day I paid a visit to the wonderful Japan House which has recently opened on Kensington High Street. It's the new cultural home of Japan in London and includes a gallery, theatre, restaurant and retail floor thoughtfully curated with Japanese products. Even from the outside it has a Japanese aesthetic - low key and undemonstrative.

The ground floor houses the retail section and I immediately homed in on the brightly-coloured printed paper items. I love the origami paper and mini envelopes, as well as the paper-covered bins above and the brightly coloured, embossed tea canisters below.

I always love the blue and white colour palette used in Japanese design and there were these lovely little cups for sale (used for sake or soba), as well as the patterned tenegui fabrics below, of which I became a bit of an addict when I lived in Tokyo!

The simplicity of Japanese design was even applied to the way that items were displayed. Everyday home items were showcased as museum pieces, such as these woven soba utensils below.

A beautifully simple tray and bowl are displayed so dramatically and lit from above using stark white light. This silver lunch box sits next to its blue and white furoshiki fabric wrapping.

There is also a large area to relax on sofas and armchairs. Drink a calming cup of green tea bought from the counter at the front, and take in your calm surroundings.

The work of Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto is also on show. On the ground floor he has created an exhibition that uses everyday items. By placing small-scale human figures next to these items, they suddenly change context and become architectural spaces. He believes that the inspiration for architecture can come from anywhere, whether it's a kitchen sponge ('People live in nooks and crannies') or a pile of staples ('A house like bookshelves? Or bookshelves like a house?'). A plastic fruit bag ('A transparent cave') or a circuit board ('Complex, or simple?'). Can you spot the mini white human figures on each piece?

Downstairs in the gallery space, Fujimoto has an exhibition of his ongoing projects and works he is known for but also current experiments for the future.

Many of his forms are very organic and you feel that his thought process is ongoing as he builds his pieces in paper and card. Many of his pieces consider the social interaction of humans and show constructions on many different levels where architecture and nature blend together.

Some new additions

A few weeks ago I mentioned on my blog that I had bought some fab new cotton fabrics in Tokyo.

Most of the pieces I bought are furoshiki or tenegui fabrics and each one was chosen because it had a fun element to it. The torii gates have been very popular in the past, so I was glad to find more of that, and who could resist the dancing ninjas?!

I have finally started making them up into cosmetic bags and here is an example of a few of them.

The prints are so much fun to work with and I enjoyed finding the right lining to match each fabric.

They have all been added to my store recently and you can find them here. I use mine as a cosmetic bag, but they could also be used as a handbag organiser or as a gadget pouch for chargers etc.

I love the torii gate fabric on this purse. It has an orange and white polka dot lining.

Torii gates can be found at the entrance to a shinto shrine and are often painted a bright orange colour.

 The dancing ninjas are so sweet! I decided to give them a black and white polka dot lining.

 This Fuji fabric purse is so much fun and it was given a red and white polka dot lining to match the sun peeking out from behind the cloud.

A taste of Japan

I recently mentioned my imminent trip to Tokyo, which is very exciting. I will be selling my bags at the International Bazaar at the Tokyo American Club and decided to add some coin purses to my selection. They all have a taste of Japan and are made from tenegui and furoshki fabrics, both of which I have a slight addiction to. Don't ask......

 Red fans and stylised parasols.

 Japanese hair slides and geishas.

 Samurai warriors and ninjas.

Happi coats and Japanese acoutrements.

Nice pear

Sorry, couldn't resist a pun! This cosmetic bag is the latest addition to my Etsy store. It is made from a Japanese tenegui fabric with a fun pear design printed on it. For the lining I decided to add a geo cotton print which matches the blue of the pears. This purse is the perfect size for cosmetics, or for gadgets that need a home.

You can find it in my store here.

Tenegui patchwork

I have finally found another use for all the tenegui I've been collecting. I often speak about tengui fabrics and how much I like them. They are Japanese fabrics that have all sorts of uses from napkins, to gift wrap and tea towels. The wonderful thing about them is that they often have very interesting patterns and colours and are usually produced in the traditional way, often with intricate stencils and an involved method.

This tote bag uses a combination of tenegui fabrics patched together, with a natural linen base and a cream cotton lining. There are two thick canvas straps that fit comfortably over the shoulder and you can find this, and other tote bags here.

The nice thing is that some of the fabrics from this tote bag have also been used in some of the clutch bags I made recently, which you can see below and can find on my Etsy store here.

Indigo blue

I've just added this pretty clutch bag to my Etsy store. It's something that would work just as well with a pair of jeans as with a cocktail dress, and I love the simplicity of the outside, combined with the brilliant flash of magenta lining when the bag is opened. The hot pink makes it easier to find items in your purse too!

You can find more clutch bags here.

New Summer Clutch Combo

I have just added these clutch bag/coin purse combos to my Etsy store. Each piece is made from a selection of Japanese cottons called tenegui. Tenegui are used for everything from napkins, to present wrapping and are hand printed onto soft, natural cottons, often using traditional Japanese motifs.

I have coveted these fabrics ever since I first moved to Tokyo three years ago and love using them to make clutch bags with. I thought this selection had a lovely summery feel and added colourful ribbons to each. I decided to make little coin purses to match the clutch bags and you can find them as a set at my Etsy store here.

Simple black and white

After focusing on the vibrancy of the obi fabrics for a while, I have decided to return to the more subdued colours of the tengui fabrics that I love.

Tenegui fabrics are something I discovered soon after moving here and was intrigued by. They are lengths of fabric that are sold throughout the year, but become more popular in the summer when they are used as head bands, napkins, or as gift wrapping for a present. There are hundreds of variations on design and colour, many of them depicting typical Japanese scenes or foliage. I love the fact that each of these pieces is also hand printed in the traditional technique. 

Needless to say, I have a rather large selection and am looking forward to making more clutch bags like these. The bottom one combines tenegui with a gorgeously simple coral pink and grey striped obi. You can see them here.

Tenegui apples

I went to a lovely tenegui shop today. I was very tempted to buy up the whole shop, but was very controlled and just got this lovely apple print which I'm looking forward to making into a cosmetic bag.

Tenegui are lengths of printed fabric which can be used for all sorts of things such as a towel, napkin, head scarf and gift wrap. I especially liked the "How to use" sheet I was given which demonstrates how to dress up your pet in one for a "daily adventure".....

Little and large

I recently created this matching pair of purses, made out of a fab tenegui fabric I found in Yanaka. 

Tenegui are Japanese printed fabrics that tend to be used as anything from dishcloths to napkins, as gift wrap, or just as a decorative item to hang on your wall. I have to say, I have a slight addiction to them and often find myself swiping them up when I spy a new design that I like. This is the most recent purchase and I love the combination of the bright tomato red and cream mixed with the retro styling of the bicycles. I have made a cosmetic size bag (which can also be used as a handbag organiser) as well as a coin purse size, which fits perfectly inside and is great for carrying ipod earbuds. You can find them on my Etsy store here. 

I also have the same design in black and cream, so watch this space for a new arrival.....