Early September Weekend in Tokyo

Sandwiches!

Helloooooo!

OMG! See that beer above? It's a sign that this humid Tokyo Summer is on the way out. FINALLY! MAN I hate Tokyo in Summer. I wish I could escape to another country every year in July until the end of August.

I drank this 'tall boy' beer on Saturday arvo (I'm getting back into Aussie slang, yo!) to celebrate selling out of my Hello Sandwich Tokyo Guide zines! Thank you so much to everyone who bought a copy. You guys are the best! Mistakes and all, I hope this little one-man-show handmade zine leads you to some places that make your next trip to Tokyo even better. Thank you also to the lovelies who have emailed about a re-print, but as with all of my zines, I print a limited amount and once they sell out, that's it. Things are always changing in this incredible city so it's hard to keep a hard copy updated and current. Maybe I'll make another one next year. But, in the time being, I will be selling a few last allocated copies at the Tokyo Art Book Fair on Monday 21st October. Please come along and pick one up if you'd like one.

There are also a few stockists in Australia who still might have a copy such as

Metropolis Books and Perimeter Books in Melbourne. Kinokuniya in Sydney will also be stocking it soon, too.

A shop logo I designed is featured this new BNN book!

Um...ha ha...have you ever seen me in real life with my hair out? There are only about a handful of people on this planet who have seen me without a top knot in the last 6 years! Ha ha. I'm going to wear that bun, too much blush and strong MAC lipstick every day right till the very end. I always wear either MAC's Lady Danger, Ruby Woo or, on occasion, Morange or a limited edition crazy pink or coral.

Do you remember this cutie Nina from NZ who I met at one of my workshops in Tokyo? Love this lady to bits! She sent me this cute pic of her reading my new book 'Hello Tokyo' which is in stores in Australia and NZ now, and in the coming months will be available in bookstores worldwide.

Nina also sent me this snap of my book in Unity Books in Auckland. ありがとうNina!!!

And here is a big stack of my books in Sydney's Dymocks. I wish I could be there to see my books in store in person, but these photos from friends are making it a lot easier. If anyone spots the book in a shop and can be bothered taking a photo to send me I would love you forever and ever! And, ahem, extra points for "styling" 'Hello Tokyo' on top of all of the other books and taking a photo! ha ha. My email is hellosandwichblog (at) gmail (dot) com. Or if you use the hashtag #HelloTokyoBook I'd love to see it!

I'm embarrassingly late to the party but I went vinyl shopping in Shibuya with my friend Matt for the first time yesterday. I'm totally addicted. He taught me the cool ways to flick through records and we had so much fun in there. Not enough time though before we had to head off to our friends birthday party on this (below) Shinjuku rooftop beer garden. After months of feeling so ridiculously sweaty in this humidity the end of Summer is so energising. We bought 'roadies' (Go, more Aussie slang), and drank them on the Yamanote-sen to Shinjuku style. I'm not often on the Yamanote-sen, or any other JR lines for that matter, so hanging out with our beers, listening to the Yamanote-sen jingles, I couldn't stop smiling. Those jingles are so nostalgic and remind me of when I used to come to Tokyo with Mr Y before we moved back here. 

Rooftop all-you-can-drink parties. I die!

This poor fella might have have really taken advantage of the popular all-you-can-drink 飲み放題 system in Japan.

Matt offered to send him to the station, or put him in a taxi but he politely refused. There was talk of getting the police to help him to safety and off the road, but our Japanese friend Shige said "It's Tokyo, it's normal, just leave him".

Mikoshi weekend at my local park.

Each year the mikoshi stops outside my apartment and they break for a drink from the truck that waits literally directly below my apt. Dreamy Tokyo life.

You can see the video here.

Love you Japan!

Oh! And have you guys signed up for Periscope yet? I'm 'Hello Sandwich' over there, obvs. And in the next little while I'm going to start streaming daily Tokyo Life over there! F U N !

xoxo

Hug Mug magazine picnic shoot!

This picnic shoot for Hug Mug magazine was one of the best photo shoots I've ever worked on!

Thank you so much Maki-san and the Hug Mug team!

xoxo

Hello Tokyo excerpt in Inside Out Magazine!

You guys!

I really want to use #blessed but I'll save you from that. But seriously, sometimes I have no idea how I have such supportive people in my life. Yesterday, the day my new book 'Hello Tokyo' launched, I received an email from the Managing Editor of Inside Out magazine with the subject line 'Happy 'Hello Tokyo' Release Day!!'. I can't even manage to remember my own deadlines, so it baffles me that such an overachiever like Lee Tran Lam who does more in one day than even a super human can, is able to remember my book release date.

On top of that, and surely it's not in her job description to be making PDF files to send to people who are in the pages of their beautiful magazine, but attached to her email was a PDF of the cover and the 'Hello Tokyo' story. Like - seriously! How does she do it all?

By the way, Lee Tran Lam not only is Managing Director of Inside Out magazine, but does this radio show, makes these amazing zines, writes this popular food blog, produces this podcast, and is probably developing a cure for diseases in her free time.

OMG - Live update! Just as I was looking for the above links I clicked over to LTL's page and found that she had mentioned 'Hello Tokyo' on her page and instantly started crying! This lady is sooooo sweet! I (thought I) had resumed control over my emotions and phoned her to thank her, but of course as soon as I heard her happy voice I started crying again! ha ha! Professionalism points to Sandwich - ZERO!

Anyway, please go and pick up a copy of this amazing mag. And also Yen and Frankie who have also been so kind as to write about 'Hello Tokyo' in their new issues. Thank you so much Lee Tran, Sophie and Annie! xoxo

I feel so lucky to have moved away from Australia, but still have the support of such brilliant people.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

The making of 'Hello Tokyo' video

Sandwiches!

I made a little movie of the making of my new book 'Hello Tokyo'!

Hello Tokyo: Handmade projects and fun ideas for a cute Tokyo-inspired lifestyle

VIDEO MUSIC by: Lullatone

'Outside sandwiches' from the 'Sounds of Spring' EP

https://lullatone.bandcamp.com/album/the-sounds-of-spring-ep

Lullatone's Shawn mentioned that he snuck in the name 'Sandwich' as a little message to me, but I'm sure he's just being charming as always.

But in any case - if you don't already have this album you must rush over to their website and download it right away! Sooooo super cute!

PHOTOS: BOCO

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Hello Tokyo on sale today!

You guys!!!

Today is the day!

My very first English language book is on sale today! 'Hello Tokyo' is out with Murdoch Books Australia who (in conjunction with my literary agents Curtis Brown) were so incredibly wonderful to work with. They really let me put my own voice to all aspects of this book, allowing me to direct everything from the pagination, design, styling, projects, chapter breakdowns, and even selecting the right paper stock and gold foil for the cover. The book is like a hard copy of this blog, with stories about living in Tokyo, projects to create a cute Tokyo-inspired lifestyle, and pages on collaborations and past projects I've worked on.

I'm so excited to share some sneak peeks of the book, and behind the scenes of the book with you.

THIS amazing team!

Murdoch says:

This book by Japanese-based Australian blogger/crafter/designer/zine publisher Ebony Bizys (aka Hello Sandwich) is a cute and quirky guide to living a handmade lifestyle, filled with projects and ideas inspired by Ebony's life in Tokyo. Capturing the charm, humour and originality of her eclectic and highly successful blog, Hello Sandwich, this book features craft projects and inspirational styling ideas, and gives the reader a glimpse of Japanese culture.

Hello Tokyo is the quintessential Hello Sandwich publication. It captures Ebony's fascination with the myriad treasures of everyday existence, ranging from personalised crafts such as handmade stationery and clothing accessories, as well as decorative items and storage solutions for the home; to recording your daily life and travels with a camera, journal or even a blog; to hosting, theming and styling a fun party or picnic.

Author bio:

Ebony Bizys is an Australian craft artist, designer and blogger based in Tokyo. Before moving to Tokyo in 2010, Bizys worked at Australian Vogue magazines for 11 years, most recently in the position of Deputy Art Director at Vogue Living. Since moving to Tokyo, Bizys has art directed a Japanese book, designed a Japanese fashion website, been commissioned by Vogue Japan to make artwork for their publication, collaborated with Japanese masking tape brand 'mt' on workshops, and has appeared in many Japanese books and magazines. Bizys also holds regular craft workshops, blogs for Vogue Japan and promotes Martha Stewart Crafts in Japan. In July 2012 she released a craft book with publisher BNN. She records her daily life on her hugely successful cult blog Hello Sandwich: hellosandwich.jp

And, OMG if you see 'Hello Tokyo' in any bookshops, PLEASE shuffle it to the front of any stacks! Ha ha! Is that too naughty? I secretly do it for my friends books when I see them in Tokyo bookstores. And, ha ha, okay, I just might have done it a few times with my Japanese book!

Because I'm not in Tokyo, if you happen to be able to take a snap in any bookstores and either email me the shots to: hellosandwichblog (at) gmail (dot) com or use the hashtag #HelloTokyoBook I would LOVE to see it!

Hello Tokyo: Handmade projects and fun ideas for a cute Tokyo-inspired lifestyle

Amazon says:

Hello Tokyo by Japanese blogger, crafter and designer Ebony Bizys is a cute and quirky guide to living a handmade lifestyle, inspired by Ebony s life in Tokyo. Capturing the charm, humour and originality of her eclectic and highly successful blog, Hello Sandwich, Hello Tokyo presents over 30 craft projects, as well as other tidbits and a peek into Japanese culture. Learn how to make hand-sewn cushions, charm necklaces, a memory walking book, corsages and a 'party-in-a-box' as well as handmade stationery including notebooks and envelopes, quirky post packages and gift tags, and much more. The projects 'make everyday life more pleasurable through the daily use of cute handmade items'.

You can find the book at:

Kinokuniya
www.kinokuniya.com.au

Booktopia
www.Booktopia.com.au

Bookworld
www.bookworld.com.au

Dymocks (in store or online
www.dymocks.com.au

Myer

David Jones

And at all good book retailers especially Metropolis, Ariel and Kunstler!

Hello Tokyo will be available a month later through:

Waterstones
www.waterstones.com

Amazon
www.amazon.co.uk

Book Depository
www.bookdepository.com

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo

Jiji-chan

Last night I knelt in front of a butsudan, lit incense, rang a bell, and prayed to my Japanese grandpa who passed away a month ago, almost to the exact week that my father passed away two years ago.

Memories of Jiji-chan grating daikon in his regular seat at the dining table are so vivid. If I close my eyes I can see him walking slowly with the aid of his walking sticks around the park next to my apartment. He was always dressed in a beautiful shirt, a hat, and more often than not, suspenders.

With tears in her eyes, his granddaughter, Satomi-chan told me how he loved three things in life; food, sleeping and Baba-chan.

Baba-chan told me how Jiji-chan would often say 'we should invite Ebony over for dinner' before looking up at my apartment through his bathroom window and then say 'oh, the lights are off so she must be out'. Jiji-chan was like the grandpa I never had.

Although I promised myself I wouldn't, I cried. We all cried. We offered Jiji-chan wine, beer and Nihon-shu. We looked through photo albums of when Jiji-chan was a teenager. We smelt his fragrance. We held our drinks up and said 'kanpai' to him before he makes his journey to his hometown Aizu.

Meeting Jiji-chan was a miracle in my life.

Jiji-chan, the amazing name you were given by the monk upon departing this earth is a testament to the wonderful things you did in this life. You'll never be forgotten Jiji-chan.

xoxo

Hello Sandwich Tokyo Guide Zine (Third Edition)

Hello Sandwiches!

I'm so sorry for the super long gap in between posts.

Thank you all so much for ordering the Tokyo guides! We sent out 700 copies on the first send out! 

Hello Sandwich HQ looked like this just before the postman arrived to collect the zines!

Here is a little sneak peek of the inside of the zine.

Inside the zine you'll find all of the places I regularly visit, making it a local's guide to Tokyo.

This time I've also included a 32 page book-in-book supplement where I interview lovely shop owners, suggest tips on enjoying the perfect picnic in Tokyo (from where to pick up a bento, to setting up in the best spot in the park), record store listings, gallery suggestions and even some hotel room friendly craft tutorials.

Thank you to those of you who were interested in a PDF version, but I won't be releasing a PDF of the guide. There's something lovely about an actual zine to hold in your hands, and because things change so quickly in Tokyo, I print a limited run for each edition.

There are only just a few of the Hello Sandwich Tokyo (Third Edition) Guides left so please pop over here to order your copy if you don't want to miss out.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo