Update.

Ileava has a new project.

We now have a store~! !  The store is Ileava and co.


It is in Seibu Department Store in Shibuya, Tokyo.
So, come visit us when you are in town!

We are now preparing for the holidays. So many pieces that I would be happy to receive as gifts!!


Here are some of the views of the store~

this a view of the back wall portion before the holidays

Now I clearly know I need more and better picture of the store~ stay tuned!

And this is going to be.....

It is really happening and it is really just around the corner.
The long check list gets checked off but the list continues to grow.

Here is a peak at the displays we are making. This will get cut up and attached to another board. 

Stay tuned for the final out come.

Thyme

We have been growing herbs in our little balcony and this little guy is our thyme.

I love how the leaves are so tiny and the shades of green are just right.

The other day I decided to sketch it and really see how it grows.

It was almost like when I was in elementary school where I had to draw the plants growth over summer break and note how the plant changes.

There two coming out, and then another come out from here, and that merges to here but this is connected to here.....

The sketching and note taking actually made a big difference. There is a pattern to the way plants grow, and I din't fully understand till now.

It is probably something that anyone who knows about gardening or growing plants knows, but it took a good long sketching time for me to realize. But I'm glad I made the time to do it.

It really made it feel that I need sketch more often.

In my art school days, I remember going out to different buildings and houses to sketch. We would measure with our eyes, and see if the height or the length has a patterns or repetition, how it was designed...

It would be fun and good to get in the habit of doing~

tiny flower

a very nice and loving uncle had commissioned me to make earrings for his little niece.

I hope she liked it.

meteor shower

I heard the peak to see the meteor shower was sunday, but unfortunately I couldn't go anywhere to see it.

I remember years ago when everyone was talking about the meteor shower a few of us drove up the 5 freeway, away from the LA lights to see it.

That was really something!

Tonight was clear so I had to see if I can see at least the brighter shooting stars. I got my anti mosquito incense ready and watched for the meteors from my balcony.

I saw 2, which I guess it is good considering the condition I was in with all the city lights and street lights around me.

Maybe next year I could go to our usual camping place in the mountains around this time in August. Lay down on the streets and watch the stars the planets ( maybe it won't line up the same) and ooh.... I hope the moon is not up......

I will just have to try again tomorrow!

Great news! 

We are excited to share that ileava is going to open a store in Shibuya !

We are planning to open in September which is just a month away. 

we are in preparation mode, thinking about our store to look like this and to have that, and need to buy this and want to make that...

Time seems to be never enough.

But I cant wait for the moment I can post the photo of the completed store here~!

little fish, gold fish, swimming in the water

There are so many things that are cute, cool and beautiful in Japan.

My friend had brought rice crackers (shrip crackers to be exact) confectionary the other day to the studio.

On the package it said "catching goldfish". Inside, there were shrimp crackers shaped in goldfishes and circular crackers as bubbles in water and a spoon like cracker that acts as a net to catch the fish. 

There is a tradition in the summer time where there are carnival like festivals and one of the common games is trying to catch goldfish with a net that is made out of tissue paper to make it challenging to catch with.

The crackers were such a playful idea and yet very seasonal. These are the things I love to find out about Japan, so fun!