Life and Craft
In March, a new pattern appeared in my Instagram feed: Cloudbow. It was love at first sight. The image of this light, airy, blue and white striped peplum top filled my mind. I had to make it. Pattern and Yarn The pattern was featured in Issue 40 of Pom Pom Quarterly and the design is […]
As the cherry blossoms fall, other beautiful and exciting flowers such as shibazakura and tulips begin to bloom. I’m sure when most people think of Hokkaido, their first thought is of a snowy white wonderland. But did you know Hokkaido is also famous for its stunning flower fields? The famous lavender and sunflower fields are […]
Japan is famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms, known as sakura 桜 in Japanese, and its amazing festivals. The cherry blossoms in Hokkaido don’t begin to bloom until the very end of April, but they are the true sign that spring has arrived. Cherry blossoms are so small and delicate that they only bloom for […]
I’d been pondering for a while what to write about as my first knitting/craft blog. I’ve got many ideas, but ultimately before I share any tips, ideas and recommendations, I thought I should probably tell you how I got started first. This is my knitting and craft origin story. Learning How To Knit: Attempt 1 […]
In winter, Hokkaido becomes a magical white wonderland. From the end of December, light fluffy snow falls softly from the sky (and sometimes more heavily in a snowstorm), blanketing everything in a cover of pure white. Along with the snow, the temperature plummets into the negatives, and most rivers and even the ocean in some […]
Before coming to Japan, I rarely made mistakes and never got into trouble, though my mother might tell you otherwise. But since coming here, I’ve definitely made a few whilst out exploring. The first notable one involves myself, a bike and the police. Now, this happened during my first year living in Japan, when I […]
How did I end up living in the northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido? Well, let me tell you all about it! My First Encounter To begin with, I’ll tell you what first sparked my interest in Japan, albeit a small one initially. You might be guessing, anime or manga right? That’s close, but not quite! […]