David ran a great errand for me - to Bingoya, a folk crafts shop in Tokyo that I love. We FaceTimed while he was there which was fun. I think he actually enjoyed it and I was sure to make quick decisions;).
There are multiple vendors within the shop, over several floors, selling handicrafts from all over Japan. Pottery, baskets, textiles, chopsticks, paper goods, kokeshi dolls, etc.
Lovely colorful sashiko thread from Hiroshima prefecture:
Bundles of various kasuri (woven) indigo, also from Hiroshima prefecture:
Yardage:
Bingoya also carries some lovely tenugui:
Meanwhile here in Raleigh, I am cat sitting and going back and forth to the townhouse I have rented. Most of our household goods will arrive this week in two "PODS" - and then the unpacking will begin!
xo
Cynthia
Well Cynthia, you are moving forward! I’m excited for you, yet understand your melancholy in leaving Tokyo, with all the incredible places you’ve come to love, and you many friends there. I think you made excellent use of your time there, especially considering most of it was in the middle of a pandemic. I so enjoyed the many cultural experiences you treated us to. How nice to get one last shopping trip, via David, at a favorite store.
ReplyDeleteIf I haven’t said it before, welcome home!
Bingoya looks like a fun and interesting place. Such beautiful and interesting fabrics. I'm so impressed that your husband went to the store for you and then called so you could "shop" with him. (Or direct him in your shopping, maybe?)
ReplyDeleteOh, the unpacking! I hope it goes smoothly and that you have help moving your things into your new townhouse. Best wishes to you!
Now that is one store I'd love to visit with a full wallet! Those tenegui are gorgeous! Enjoy the process of unpacking and being reacquainted with parts and bits of your life that you haven't seen in a few years.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm certain I need another trip to Japan! I've enjoyed your post from there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great shop and how lucky you are to have a partner willing to shop for you! Good luck with your unpacking!
ReplyDeleteNice to have such a good personal shopper for those few last treasures.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to find treasures - and lovely to have your own personal shopper!
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet for David to help you out that way! Looks like some amazing textiles!!
ReplyDeleteOh, what wonderous love you two have! You will have sew much fun with those goodies!
ReplyDeleteI'm drooling over all that gorgeous indigo!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like such a delightful shop, and it must feel good to be able to "go shopping" there again. Those indigo fabrics are drool-worthy.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds exciting that your PODS are arriving soon, but it also sounds daunting to have all that unpacking to do!
Looks like a great shop. Get all the goods while you can! What all did you have your husband buy for you and was he horrified at how quickly a fabric bill can run up?
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful shop. So many beautiful things including the fabric you asked your husband to buy for you. Hope your pods have arrived by now so you can begin to settle down in your new surroundings :)
ReplyDeleteI never tire of seeing the beautiful craft shops of Japan.
ReplyDeleteLovely indigos and tenugui fabrics especially the cat print and the bunny :)
I bet it will be nice to start getting your things unpacked and organized.
we're glad to have you back stateside!
Lovely, lovely fabric. I'm so glad you got to go shopping one more time in Japan - via your husband. Look forward to seeing what your create out of this fabric. I think it will be enjoyable emptying those pods. It's so much better than sitting around waiting. It will also be great to sit down and sew in between unloading.
ReplyDeleteThe shop looks so interesting ~ wish I had found it when we visited Tokyo, but my SIL that was living there at the time, is not a crafty/patchwork type of person. Your hubby is a keeper, I am not sure my hubby would brave going into such a shop.
ReplyDeleteJust reading this now...enjoying your exciting life xo
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