Paisley St Claire

Japan: Shinzi Katoh

Readers of design blogs and zakka-lovers would be no stranger to the amazing work of Shinzi Katoh.

I have been a massive fan for a long time. So, I was extremely excited to meet him when we were in Japan. Mr Shinzi Katoh showed us hand sketches of some of his early work, the designs for next years diaries, his upcoming collaboration with Pixar's Toy Story and the fabulous paintings he is currently working of for an exhibition that will tour Japan.

We were very priviledged to meet Mr Shinzi Katoh and his lovely team - it was truely a highlight of our entire trip. I don't usually post photos of myself and my family but this one is too exciting not to share. By the way, my husband and I were not deliberately trying to dress like twins.

 

Unfortunately, the Shinzi Katoh studio shop and muesum isn't open to the public anymore but they have a Shinzi Katoh Cafe and Shop in Osaka which is well worth the visit for fans travelling to Japan. 

Japan: cat parlor

Its no secret that the Japanese can be a little bit quirky. So when in Tokyo, we decided to do as the Tokyoites do and go to a cat parlor (they call it a 'cat house' but I think cat parlor is cuter). This one is at the top of Tokyu Hands in Ikebukero and is called Nekobukero (a little play on neko - meaning 'cat' and Ikebukero - the suburb). The fascination for me was to see people (most in there were adults) super excited about the prospect of getting to hand feed and pat ordinary household cats.

We spend our time watching cats sleep and trying to coax shy ones from their hiding spots. After about 5 minutes, a lady comes and jingles a little tamborine. Cats come running from everywhere - there were more cats in there than I had thought. She then hands out a little handfull of cat biscuits and we proceed to entice cats to eat from our hands. I'm no going to lie - it was fun - and I'm a dog person. 

Japan: natural beauty

I mentioned in my last post that we have just come back from Japan (we've been back less than a week). We've been a few times over the last 5 years and each time is different. Different because we visit different places, our children are older each time (note: I'm not saying that it gets easier), we're comparing to the other times we've been there and we're searching for something each time - the happiness we felt the last time we were there. This time was also different because we we experiencing Japan only a few months after the tragedy and devastation of the Tohoku earthquake. For me, it felt very different this time - maybe a combination of all of the above.

Something that remains constant for me is the natural beauty of the country. We travelled high in the mountains to one of the most amazing places I have ever seen - Shirakawa-go. We stayed in the gassho house in the first picture.  

We also travelled further south to Kyoto - the bamboo forest was breathtaking.

These last photos are from a temple in Kita-Kamakura, about an hour and a half on the train from Tokyo.

All photos taken by me (and Husband). Please check with me first if you want to use them. x Paisley.

Settle in and get cosy... I'm coming back

Its been a long time with no blogging and I'm feeling a huge lack of creativity in my life. It's all wrong.

Good blogging takes up time. Just slapping up a picture and saying 'I like this' is not enough to make a blog vibrant and interesting. And while I feel I have very little in the way of spare time, blogging makes me happy. It forces me to seek out beautiful objects, art, fashion and the amazingly creative and clever people who dream up these things.  Not enjoying beautiful things (even if it is just being able to look at them on a blog or in a magazine) makes one's life boring and bleak. So we don't all have time (or perhaps the talent) to make a glazed pottery bowl, knit a cushion cover or make our own earrings, but we can appreciate those that do.

I'm going to get out of my dreary, uncreative rut and I'm going to start by blogging again. I know a lot of people enjoyed reading my blog and I am really flattered by that. I hope that you will get into my blog again, write comments and say 'Hello'. It feels good to be back.  

Insanely fabulous rug by Sonya Winner.   

By the way, I've just come back from Japan so I'll probably bore you with my holiday pics first. :)

feeling a little blue

Feeling a little blue never looked so good! I have totally fallen in love with those loafer heels. All from Anthropologie: loafers, cardi, wallet, ballet flats, and skirt.

BHLDN

 
 
I so adore everything BHLDN does. Quintessentially feminine. Shop here.

'I heart Tokyo' bag featured in Home Beautiful

I was very excited to see my I heart Tokyo shopper tote featured in this month's issue of Home Beautiful. Japan is always in our hearts, now more than ever.

The most perfect NYE dress ever?

I think this could be the most perfect New Year's Eve dress ever! It is absolutely gorgeous. Its vintage though, so be quick if you want it. Shop at Midnight Flight here.

Happy New Year!!!

Sale! 50% off everything at Jaime Beattie!

I'm having a sale of all my accessories in stock on my website: www.jaimebeattie.com.au. Check it out quick - 50% discount on everything! Sale ends 31 January 2011 while stocks last.

Happy New Year!!

Jaime aka Paisley St Claire

Today I'm loving...

Today I'm loving... these lace porcelain bowls by New York based, Hideminy. If I could afford them, I'd buy the whole stack.

I'm inspired

I know its been an unusually long time since I have blogged - I admit the transition to full time non-designer work has been quite challenging. Unfortunately, Paisley St Claire has been one of the things that I put to the side in an attempt to master the new routines.

However, I saw these prints on etsy today and I was suddenly motivated to share and blog again. They are just so charming and happy and nostalgic. Visit Italian artist, Sara Olmos' etsy store for more.

Abigail Brown

UK based artist, Abigail Brown creates the most charming little creatures from fabric, buttons and bits and pieces. I think the delicateness of the birds make them seem all the more real. Beautiful. Visit Abigail's adorable website here.

Aspinal of London

So you may have noticed I have been a bit quiet lately? I've actually decided to take a break from being a designer and go back to the corporate world. The good news is that I'm enjoying more than I expected. Of course, along with a new job comes the excuse to buy a whole new wardrobe... including accessories. These beautiful leather accessories from Aspinal of London would be perfect for stylish office professionals.  Shop here.

Today I'm loving...

Today I'm loving... the Anthropologie mix and match bedding viewer. Just click on the swatches to see what the sheets and quilt covers will look like together. Cute!