THANK YOU to the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE for featuring an article about my recent trip to tokyo. there are SO many amazing places to see in tokyo. i listed 7 of my favorite spots (just the tip of the iceberg) and some of the photos that i took there.

you can see and read the full article HERE.

tokyo, japan
february 2016 

i LOVE boro textiles. there was such an abundance of them in tokyo. turns out, the next best thing to buying boro fabrics is SKETCHING them ! so satisfying.

tokyo, japan
february 2016

two of my favorite things rolled into one: notebooks + shibori. i found these amazing shibori notebooks at the beautiful shop in tokyo called POSTALCO. we spent a long time there drooling over the goods and i left with many treasures. 

i bought these items in japan SIMPLY for the packaging.

they will never be opened.

amazing smelling soap + a bag of rice.

tokyo, japan
february 2016 

i bought these very large sumi brushes at the oedo flea market in tokyo. i’ve been painting with them and can not believe how much INK they hold. painting with them is such a treat.

there is nothing i love MORE than a flea market wherever i am in the world. the OEDO market in tokyo was one of the best . . .

everything is laid out and merchandised so meticulously. 

i love the japanese fabrics and scraps . . . 

and the abundance of boro textiles.

this is the famous shibuya crossing, a five intersection crosswalk in shibuya. all of the lights turn red at the same time and THOUSANDS of pedestrian cross the street from every direction. it looks like an army of ants on a mission. this magnificent sight is known as “the scramble.” their are a LOT of pedestrians in japan . . . 

there is also an abundance of bicyclers in japan . . . 

but the most popular mode of transportation in japan is the train.

i was SO HAPPY to see the japanese version of WILMA’S WORLD being sold at TEGAMISHA. it is the most BEAUTIFUL bookstore. and it’s not just a bookstore: it’s a café, a shop, a gallery, and a workshop. on my next visit to japan, i plan to spend and ENTIRE day here. it’s magical.

the japanese equivalent of fast food.

shoes OFF !

mashiko is a small pottery village just north of tokyo. 

the biggest destination there is the shoji hamada museum. it was incredible.

this is shoji hamamda‘s wheel where he threw all of his many pots.

and this is his residence and his eames chair . . . he and charles were really good friends !

we learned how to “SLURP” our noodles properly.

steamy fresh.

a good egg.

this light fixture at the beautiful store minä perhonen.

colourful notebooks from postalco.

japanese graffiti.

just part of my lunch. i don’t know what a lot of these items were, but it was YUM !