Hanayashi Exhibition

Hello Sandwiches!

If you remember this post, you'll know I've been in love with Japan's oldest amusement park, Hanayashiki, for a while.

I went back the other day in the rain with Luke and perhaps it was the way the colours seemed to glow in the rain, or the way the spooky rain-induced emptiness made the entire experience even more surreal, but it was even better than I remembered.

I'm working on a series of photos, drawings and paper collage works for my next exhibition at On Reading Gallery in Nagoya. 

The exhibition runs from 8th - 20th April, and I'll be hosting a workshop on Saturday 11th. Hope you can come along!

Here are a few pics for you in case you can't make it.

If you have the chance, please enjoy a day at Hanayashiki and soak in all it's retro-ness!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Hello Sandwich Turns 6 Today!

You guys, Hello Sandwich turns 6 today!

Thank you so much for sticking around and reading and commenting and liking photos and just generally being so awesome and supportive!!!

At the start of the year I received some gorgeous emails from readers saying how much they enjoyed the blog. It was absolutely heartwarming. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for visiting this little spot on the internets.

Love you guys!
Love Sandwich
xoxo

Lately in Tokyo (January and February 2015)

Hello Sandwiches!

Have you had a nice start to the year? I love January and February in Tokyo. Nice and cold. Spots of snow. Hot wine. Heated train seats. Spiced apple cider. Brushing my teeth with water from the hot water tap. Wearing hokkairo. Pompom gloves. I don't want this weather to end.

Here are a few pics from the last little while.

Hanging out at Matt's fancy apartment playing records, plane spotting and making ham and cheese toasted rye sandwiches (with the fancy depachika stuff).

Walks to Tomigaya with this guy and our cheeky chu-hi roadies.

Some research for my new Tokyo Guide.

So many of the props from my new book came from this little Shimokita treasure trove.

Winter light, you're the prettiest.

A good day for it.

Lunch break in Gakugeidaigaku with Duncan.

Detour on my morning nature walk with Gracie.

And we got some beautiful snow again this February.

One of the many reasons why I can not possibly ever leave this country. Love heart postage stamps? Stop it!

Mornings spent letter writing. This patchwork card perforates into puzzle-like pieces.

An adorable reply letter from Yuzuko-chan.

Moto-chan's kanpai birthday drinks in her shop after closing hours. Takuya-san! You've outdone yourself with the amazing sangri, yet again. Akadama 4LYF!

A hungover winter picnic with Luke. And nikuman to aid in hangover recovery.

Walks in Shinjuku gyoen with Luke.

L: "That's the scene from my business card"

E: "How were you sitting when you painted that?"

L: "Let me demonstrate"

L: "I should host tours here"

Oh, Japan!

THIS is mushroom packaging in Japan. I mean, c'mon!

Hello Sandwich + Tiny Sandwich. 'It's Sandwich Magic'.

Grace took me to this fantastic new place for lunch. All good research for the new Tokyo Guide.

Another cafe Grace showed me many, many moons ago. This is always my go-to comfort food place.

My cousin was in town recently. Took him to lunch in Shibuya. This was the view.

Bisaiji-san. Love this girl. She wears handmade mushroom earring.

I bought one of the said handmade mushroom earrings.

Mami-chan and I participated in Bisaiji-san's 'Eclair decoration' workshop. Such happy colours.

Bisaiji-san found this edible black hair like Chinese ingredient that she suggested would look 'grotesque' when applied. Ha ha.

Mami-chan and I also popped into Yumi Kitagishi-san's beautiful exhibition at galerie doux dimanche. When I win the lottery, or get a TV deal, the first thing I'm buying is one of her works.

Her latest work features mini original stamps.

Luke and I headed to Commune gallery to see Tetsuya Yamakawa-san's ridiculously beautiful photography exhibition.

And although it only lasted a couple of days this time, Luke and I re-started a drawing-a-day based on a random kanji. Above: onion and below: Accumulate / pile up (books).

I am, and forever will be a 'tsundoku' hito.

Cherry blossom season is around the corner, Sandwiches.

Hope you're staying warm until then.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Sandie Bizys Vintage and Retro Auction!

Sandwiches!

MamaSando is closing down her Annandale studio and is having an auction of all of her beautiful vintage and retro treasures! Seriously, there are sooooo many cute things it's ridiculous! Mum is also selling some of my hand painted timber ice-cream props! (Haha Mums can be cheeky!)

The auction is on February 15th at her Annanandale studio and is also available worldwide online over here.

Also - a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful MamaSando!

xoxo

Hello Sandwich Valentine's Day Choco Bag Tutorial Video

Hello Sandwiches!

Duncan-san and I made this little Valentine's Day video for you! We used many Martha Stewart Crafts products to make this Choco Bag. Enjoy!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

De Morgen Hello Sandwich story

Hello Sandwiches!

Here is a little story about my photographs and experience in Antwerp that was recently published in the Belgian newspaper 'De Morgen'.  It was written by Robin Broos.

(Thank you so much Robin!)  

You can see the story online over here, too. 

WAT U NIET MEER ZIET

Australisch-Japanse blogster ziet Antwerpen door andere ogen.

Soms hebt u de ogen van een buitenstaander nodig om de pracht van de alledaagsheid te kunnen zien. De Australische Ebony Bizys (34) woont in Tokio en was onlangs in Antwerpen. Op haar blog Hello Sandwich wijst ze op details uit de Koekenstad die u al lang niet meer opvallen.

“Wanneer ik reis, probeer ik het minder toeristi- sche pad te volgen”, zegt ze. “Op zoek naar oude winkels-op-de-hoek en gewone appartementen waar de locals wonen. Dat vind ik interessanter dan musea.”

Toch zit volgens Bizys de rijke geschiedenis van Antwerpen in elke straatsteen vervat. “Ik raakte ook gefascineerd door winkelgevels. Retroshops met kanten gordijnen en pastelkleu- ren. Mijn oog viel op straatnaambordjes en ver- keersknooppunten. Er staan hier zo veel borden! In felle kleuren, in sterk contrast met de neutraal gekleurde gebouwen. Ik kan genieten van die doodgewone details.”

Bizys heeft de stad ook op de fiets doorkruist. Een populair vervoermiddel, ook in haar thuis- stad Tokio. Toch zijn er grote verschillen. “Ik leek opvallend trager te rijden dan de gemiddelde Antwerpenaar. Iedereen rijdt hier zo snel, in mijn buurt is dat toch heel wat anders. Fietsen in Antwerpen is ook, wel ja, hobbelig. Er zijn zo veel fijne achterstraatjes te ontdekken, maar vaak zijn dat kasseiwegen. Ook te voet had ik er moeite mee. Waarom had ik ook alweer hoge hakken meegebracht naar Europa? (lacht)” 

En hoewel Antwerpen een stad van verdeling kan lijken, leek Bizys vooral de verdraagzaamheid op te vallen. “Hier voelde ik me als een kind in een snoep- winkel. Alles was nieuw en opwindend. Ik heb geno- ten van de creatieve scene in Antwerpen. Het voelde onpretentieus en relaxed aan. Het leek een aange- name plek om te wonen, een plek waar je makkelijk wordt aanvaard en gevoed als een creatief persoon.”

Bizys’ blog is te lezen op hellosandwich.blogspot.com

Behind-the-scenes of my new book!

Sandwiches!!! It feels like so long ago now but I still haven't shown you the pictures of the behind-the-scenes tomy new book. Those who follow my instagram would have had a sneak peek, though.

I definitely have the best photographer on the planet. I practically called her in tears the morning the van was due to arrive to collect the props after she saw a picture of the props and said 'hmmmm, they MIGHT fit, just try!' ha ha. Within 30 minutes she has pulled up outside my apartment to collect a few of the boxes so that everything would in fact fit. Next level service!!!

THEN when I arrived at her studio she had pulled out all of the props from her own collection that she thought I might be able to use!

Cutest balloon props.

Props from the house of yours truly.

The best team in the world!

Hilarious! Love you, beastie!

My photographer lost her head!!!

Re-usable studio slippers.

Hello. Sandwich.

'This is coffee'.

The teeniest organic juice boxes left by the world's best photographer each morning!

Obento lunch break for three in the studio.

Obento lunch break for eight in the studio!

And sometimes lunch breaks looked like this. Instagram cuties!

On location for the picnic shoot. You only had to think of something and there was someone there to help you. So incredibly lucky to work with such a brilliant team!

Picnic shoot. 'It's a wrap!'.

Cutest little feet underneath the party scene table.

Bye bye studio!!!

Napping on set after a 14 day shoot running on just three hours sleep.

Cutest Akiko-chan!

A sneak peek from the picnic shoot!

Obento sneak peek!

And finally, the view from otsukare Moët drinks in Aoyama. (Photo by my beastie).

I can't wait until the book is out with Murdoch books later this year, Sandwiches! I hope you'll like!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo