Nihongo











Every Saturday I study Nihongo (Japanese language) for five hours at TAFE. Eek! Five hours seems like a very long time but it is actually extremely rewarding and word is that my Japanese is improving. Yay! It's an amazing class. It goes for 6 months and costs only $250. My sweet teacher Tomi Sensei makes up little songs to help us to remember things like how to transform verbs.

If you can't dedicate five hours every Saturday to Japanese study but still want to learn Japanese, I think the next best thing is signing up to Japanese Pod 101. Here you can download podcasts, translation notes, kanji worksheets and cultural notes. Or sign up for daily Japanese emails on Yookoso.

Another good tip is to make yourself some good flash cards. The above pics are some verb cards I made when I first started learning Japanese in 2004. The girl in the cards is meant to be me! Oh dear my hiragana was so terrible in those days - Gomen! (Sorry!)

Ganbatte ne! (Good luck)

Japanese Books



















Isn't this book 'Zakka ka-do no tsukurikata' just divine! I love Japanese books! If you like Japanese craft books, you'll love Crafting Japanese.

Prefer to flick through a range of Japanese books in person? You might like to pop on over to Kinokuniya or if you are in Melbourne try Kangakanga. Better still, take the QF21 flight to Tokyo and visit Book 1st, Book 246, or for an oldie but a goodie try the 7th floor of Shibuya's Tower Records.

Want to visit these Tokyo stores but don't read or speak Nihongo? Don't fret! Just visit Superfuture and print yourself off some maps. Enjoy!

For more information about Tokyo's bookstores please click here and if Japanese Art and Design books are more your thing please click here.

Oh and I'm still finishing off my Tokyo Guide, but when it is finished I will be sure to post the link here and you can download for more Tokyo tips!

Love love
Hello Sandwich.
xxx

Little Rubber Stamps









Okay so it's pretty obvious now that I have become obsessed with stamps over the weekend! But aren't these stamps by Hola just so sweet!

It's tempting to get a custom monogram stamp or a 'Handmade by...' stamp online from Etsy.

It's also rather tempting to carve your own rubber stamp or to start out by carving a stamp from an eraser. But please people...be sure to carve away from yourself! eek!

Happy stamping!
And P.S. I promise not to post about stamps again tomorrow! (>_<)
Love love
Hello Sandwich
xxx

The Small Object









The Small Object is the magical world where you can find selection of super sweet rubber stamps and stationery items designed by the lovely Sarah Neuburger.

Sarah says about her designs: 'Artwork and objects that can make something mundane even more wonderful. Like rocks falling out of paintings, anything is possible. Tiny, small things are possible that can make big, giant things happen. Little folks sleeping in our floorboards and mice wearing tuxedos. It can happen. I am most certain'.

Doesn't she sound divine! Be sure to visit Steno Pad (aka Sarah's blog) for inspirational craft project tips.



Wouldn't this Triangle garland look cute in your home?





Oh and how sweet would this fabric chain garland be for Christmas and Birthday celebrations!?





Imagine if you made these picks for your bento! Kawaii!

Download Treats















Don't you just love a good PDF download? Especially when its something as lovely and crafty like the above! It seems too good to be true right? Well it's not! And today I bring you some special download treats for you to enjoy over the weekend.

Please click here to download some cute wallpapers from Frankie Magazine, here and here to download some super sweet stationery from The Small Object, or here, here and here for some gorgeous things from Martha Stewart.

Happy downloading and happy weekend!

Love love
Hello Sandwich.
xxx