first ever blog award!

jojoebi sent this award my way...way back in january, and it made my day! i couldn't believe *i* made the list of people who inspire *her*! i love reading about her latest sewing project or montessori activity and am not only impressed, but always inspired to create things. she's got some great things (over here) and has an adorable son to boot! thank you jojoebi!!



i think there was some rule like, "list 6 things and tag 6 people that inspire you" which i couldn't come up with at the time and so i never posted. but then, today i was out shopping and remembered the award and figured it was about time to make that list.

people/blogs/sites that inspire me, in no particular order:

☆design*sponge
i LOVE the before/after posts and all the sneak peeks into people's apartments. i love seeing how other people live.

☆nienie
i came across her blog last august 2008, after the accident. i might have spent the better of an afternoon reading all her archives. i love her photos and the stories she tells. she is an amazing woman.

☆c jane
nienie's sister. i love her sense of humor. she always makes me smile.

☆gypsy feet
photos of feet. feet of people everywhere. it's great!

☆sherm
i stumbled across her blog somewhere along the way too. turns out she's a professional photographer (weddings, engagement photos, etc.) and her photos have a certain style that i really like.

☆sycamorestirrings
i stumbled across her blog one day and have been hooked ever since. she could possibly be credited with jump starting my sewing craze.

☆vintage fern
it's hard to believe she's only a few years older than me, with 3 daughters! that aside, she's super crafty. lately she's been doing a lot of quilting and it makes me want to get behind the sewing machine.

☆everyone else over at the SCRAPDOWN
not much explanation is necessary. bring on the quilting and sewing!

☆HARIKEN
i went to a live paint event he did in shibuya today. he's a funky illustrator and never fails to inspire me. his style is a bit different than mine, but just being around someone so passionate about their art inspires the artist in me.

☆gala darling
the best way to describe her, in my mind, is unapologetically gala. she lives her life according to her standards and does it with bright pink hair and an even brighter smile. she was the inspiration for things i love thursday.

☆sushizume
she is one hot hooper. if it weren't for her, i wouldn't have three hoops or be looking forward to hoopy days in the park now that spring is making its way to tokyo.

☆flickr.com
eye candy for a person who never tires of looking at photos.



things/places that inspire me:

☆tokyo
plain and simple.

☆loft
today they had a bunch of artists' work on display (all weekend in fact for those near shibuya) and i bought a couple postcards. it's really just floor after floor of colorful inspiration. kitchenware, furniture, curtains, notebooks, markers, lighting, clocks, etc etc.

☆tokyu hands
the everything-you-could-possibly need store. lots of DIY supplies - the supplier of 5,000yen of "stuff" for my next project undertaking. stay tuned! ;)

☆tomato
fabric fabric fabric! fabulous store in nippori.

☆francfranc
interior design type store. today i bought a set of fake flower magnets to spruce up my kitchen. photos to come. maybe.




in other news, lots has been going on this month: high school graduation, the school ski trip, the middle school end of the year party, middle school graduation, a congratulations party, the all employee farewell/welcome party, and tomorrow i'm off on the employee trip (overnight at an onsen!). i've got hundreds of photos. i just wish i had more bloggy energy to make them into actual posts. maybe next week.


p.s. today is the first official day of spring! yay!