Tsutaya Daikanyama T-site

At the moment I'm renewing the Hello Sandwich Tokyo Guide PDF and adding lots of cute places I've found since living in Tokyo. I hope you'll like the PDF guide when it's released within a few months. It's a lot of fun visiting new places to include in the guide. Yesterday we visited the new Tsutaya Daikanyama T-site. Oh my goodness this place is incredible!

Bookshop, Magazine shop, Stationery shop, DVD Shop, DVD and CD rental shop, Lounge Cafe, Starbucks, Family Mart, Cute camera shop, Electronic bike shop...It's such a lovely place to spend an afternoon.




In this section customers can listen to any rental CD before borrowing! Some customers had bought their Starbucks coffees from the cafe downstairs and were relaxing with delightful views at the listening stations.



There is a fancy lounge (coffee is ¥900!) where customers can read books and enjoy a sandwich and a glass of wine. Naturally, on a Sunday this place was packed with a long line up to get a seat. On the plus side, while you wait in line customers can browse the menu on ipads which are given to each customer.




Continuing on the ipad theme, when you're in the DVD rental section you can search for your DVD on many ipads located amongst the shelves. Once you type in your DVD of choice you are taken to a screen which precisely locates the exact location of the DVD. Very convenient. Very Japanese. I made a Tsutaya rental card and got four rental DVDs for ¥1000.The great thing is, if you select to return the DVDs by post you receive a small velcro + zipper postage paid pack to simply pop the DVDs in when you're done. And it's free to return them by post. Amazing!



The outside space, even in winter, is enjoyable. But I can't help but think how lovely it will be to dine at one of the restaurants with outdoor seating sections when the weather warms up.






If you bring your cute little puppy you can tie him/her up at mini puppy stations. Adorable no?



If you're in Tokyo and have a spare afternoon, do pop on into the new Tsutaya Daikanyama T-site for a relaxing afternoon.


Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Kazumi-chan's new book!

When I arrived home yesterday after a lovely bike ride with friends along Kandagawa to Kichijoji, I found a little present from Kazumi-chan! It was a copy of her new book! In her book Kazumi-chan shows us how to make seasonal craft for the entire year long. Cute Christmas wreaths, birthday party crowns, hanging mobiles, paper flower sticks and much more. Her new book is designed by Segawa-san who also designed our new wrapping book.





My eyes lit up when I saw a little paper cup with the name 'Ebony' written on it!!! Ureshiiii!!! And a little secret is, that in my new book I put a little 'Kazumi-chan' on one of the wrapping ideas too! I loved this little secret exchange!

You can pick up Kazumi-chan's new book online here.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Hello Sandwich in Tokyo Bookshops

Some Japanese craft books that I was lucky enough to be included in!














It was just incredible today to walk into Libro Shibuya, Sanseido Shimokitazawa and Shimokitazawa Village Vanguard and see our new wrapping book sitting next to another book I'm on the cover of! This book was on the shelves too! It was such an honour, too, to be on the same shelves as my lovely and amazingly talented friends Udagawa-san, Killigraph-san and Yuzuko-san! You will love Yuzuko-san's new embroidery book too! It's the one on the right with the little smiley face. It's amazing!

Kawaii Wrapping Materials Book Giveaway

Sandwiches! It's here!

The Japanese craft book I made with two other authors is on sale in a few days! You may have seen the sneak peek video of behing the scenes making.

I'm so excited I can finally tell you all about it.

I worked with an incredible bunch of people. Tachibana-san, Killigraph-san, Shimizu-san, Kyou-san (she has designed patterns for mt tape!) and Boco-chan. Together we made かわいいラッピング素材BOOK.

It' s a book filled with all the cute materials you need to make cute wrapping and comes with a CD-rom with templates for envelopes and boxes of all shapes and sizes made by Killigraph-san. The templates all fit to an A4 sheet of paper so it's super easy to print and if you'd like to make them bigger you can easily enlarge on a photocopier.

The CD-rom also has heaps (some aussie slang) of beautiful patterns designed by Kyou-san so you can print out your templates with patterns. And I made a collection of collages that you could print out on your templates too. One of the collages is a scatter of my craft pom poms and another is a little arrangement of flowers from my local Ozeki supermarket in Shimokitazwa. I thought it could be cute to see these printed on an envelope or mini box.

All of the patterns you see in these pictures (plus many more) are provided as image files on the CD-rom. Together we also made heaps of labels, stickers, seals and sticker strips so that you can print out on sticky back label paper and have fun decorating your packaging! There are hours of fun in this one book!

As I was making the wrapping for the photoshoots I took photographs of the steps and work in progress. These are all shown in the book so even if you can't read Japanese, it's very easy to follow the how-to-make instructions.

Our book goes on sale on 13th October. If you would like a copy you can order one online here.

AND. I would LOVE to giveaway a copy to a lovely Hello Sandwich reader. All you have to do is leave a comment below and I will draw a winner on Thursday 20th October!

Update: Thank you all so much for entering the giveaway and for your super kind words! The giveaway is now closed.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Yuzuko-chan

Do you already know the amazing Yuzuko-chan?

She makes books that teach us how to illustrate! She shows step by steps so we can attempt to be as cute as she is. She is happy when we give it a go :) (Although it's hard to make illustrations as adorable as hers)

Not only is she the cutest illustrator ever, she is such a gorgeous, bubbly, lovely person. When she made her latest book she wrapped up a copy and delivered it for me as a present with an original drawing for me!






Yuzuko-chan's latest book さんぽの時間 (roughly translated as 'Time for taking a walk') is adorable and allows us to explore many different lovely Tokyo walks through her beautiful drawings. You can pick up a copy online here.

More good news for us is that Yuzuko-chan has also shared one of her walks in each of MOC magazines issues! The latest one MOC 2 is just out now.

Yuzuko-chan invited me for a drawing together date with cups of tea! I can hardly wait to see you again Yuzuko-chan!

Love Love

Hello Sandwich

xoxo

Japanese Craft Book Sneak Peek Video!

Sandwiches! I made a little video from the shoot of the Japanese craft book I made with two other authors. The book will be out in the middle of October - can't wait to show you.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Handmade Zakka & Craft book

I am so excited about BNN's newest craft book "Handmade Zakka & Craft'. I haven't actually seen a hard copy yet - my copy arrives from BNN tomorrow!

BNN says about this book:

With everyday material and a little creativity, you can make fun, original, and cute objects.
This book introduces you cute and easy ideas to make everyday life more colorful!
Learn the fun of creating room ornaments from paper and thread, accessories from felt, the most exciting party items, and picture collections to enjoy with families! Children also love reading this book with you.






The book features craft artists from not only Japan but all around the world. I am so honoured to be a part of this book! Thank you Tomo-san, Mio-san and Chisa-san!（お疲れ様です！）

The book is released on 21st September and you can buy your copy here!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo