Hotel Claska - Tokyo

During my days in Tokyo I was very often fascinated by the simple design of things, such as houses, gardens, ceramics.... and I often wished I had more space in my suitcases to bring many of these beautiful things with me.

Hiki showed me one of the places, filled with wonderful Japanese craft and design - Hotel Claska. I can only highly recommend to visit this place or even stay a couple of nights in one of their hotel rooms. It is not only a hotel and cafe but also has a shop on one of the hotels' levels with beautifully designed things. Hiki and I decided that this is a place where you would like to move in right away! Your eyes are just dragged from one corner to the next enjoying all the things so well put together. I got a beautiful plate and a tea cup which was designed by Akira Minagawa from the label Mina Perhonen. Hiki also showed me their first shops in Tokyo which are only a bus ride away from Hotel Claska. The interior design of these shops and the clothes themselves just blew me away. So so inspiring, we were even lucky as Akira Minagawa himself was in one of the stores talking to the customers.

Well, after we had spent some time at the Claska shop we went up on their rooftop to have a look over the city. It was cold but the sun was shining and you could look pretty far. We also saw a video shoot on one of the neighbor rooftops.

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A Saturday in Tokyo

You know what happens when you carry around two cameras you can easily end up remembering places and moments after you come back from a trip but having some digital, some analog captured and some are only in your mind...

I had a wonderful day with Hiki who showed me around her favorite parts in Tokyo. We were walking around different neighborhoods for almost 8h and I have seen places I would have never been able to find on my own or even known about. Thank you again Hiki!

Let's start with some images from Nakameguro which is where Hiki and I met in the morning.

Have a lovely weekend.

There are still a couple more Toyko photos waiting for you

Maria

>> Two links I found this week and I would like to share with you

> I laughed so much about this video

< And I am so excited about this movie to come out (and this song)

Hello Tokyo 1+2

On my way back from Germany to Sydney I had the chance to stop over in Tokyo for a couple of days to work from there and also explore the city which I wanted visit for a long time and about which I have heard so many great things.

I had the afternoons and the weekend to explore this amazing place and could still fill weeks to see more lovely corners, places and shops and most of all eat the great food.

The weather was quiet cold but I was lucky and always had a sunny and blue sky above me. Prepared with layers of warm clothes, mittens, woolen scarf, hat and two cameras was I exploring a few of the many suburbs here in Tokyo.

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After I landed on Wednesday I went straight to work and was blown away by the view I had from the 28th floor in the office. I just couldn't see an end of the city.

I was pretty tired from my flight so all I managed to do after this day was to get a great bowl of ramen soup at a place I got recommended by a local, it was soo simple but delicious - real soul food.

I will soon show you more images and also hope I get my analog photos quickly developed as soon as I will be back in Sydney. (Sad thing was that the good old pentax was acting a bit weirdly fingers crossed that the images turn out ok - especially from today which was the nicest day I had here in Tokyo especially because I spend it with the wonderful Hiki who showed me her favorite places here in Tokyo.

To be continued :)

Maria

A new year - be calm

Life is so fast lately. I am still reflecting over the last year and how much has happened I even haven't gotten a new calendar yet (which might also be a sign that I am still a bit stuck in the old year). Well, I might do a little look-back post soon, but for now I would like to wish you all a wonderful start into the new year.

I am in transit at the moment and on my way to Tokyo to spend the next week there.

Let me know if there is anything I should not miss out to do

Maria

*the images are from mid December when I spent a week in Perth

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I am just about to go to bed, tired after a beautiful day with so many people who thought of me, called, wrote me lines, sent a card .... friends who came over, chats over coffee, tea and cake, laughs. It's been a great day.

I made Nigel Slater's beetroot cake this morning and I wanted to take a picture but forgot and now it is all gone but it was so great, a perfect Winter cake....

It is great to be back home..

Corners from the new place

You know when you move into a new place it is a bit like having a white piece of paper in front of you. You can arrange your space totally new add bits here and there, pin up different things to the wall and make it your home. I moved into a small room in a shared house last Sunday (only for a couple of months) and I am still in the process of making it my new home.

It is a nice room gets great light, which was very important to me and has trees in front of it. At the moment I am getting used to this new place, its noises and sounds, such as cracking floor boards or light reflections on the wall when its getting dark.

On Saturday morning I woke up and thought I could smell coffee from the little cafe across the road, I was hearing the sound of cups on tables and chats from the distance. It was a very nice sound ....

I am off to Perth tomorrow and will fly home to Germany on Sunday.

Can't wait.

Maria

A couple of things I liked and saw this week.

>> this video

>< this song makes me happy

<< a breathtaking beautifully video about Iceland

Another weekend

A weekend of early mornings and runs in the park, tea in a cafe, chats to a lovely friend back home, reading emails from good friends, cafe time with friends, Spring sun and chilly evening walk home after a funny movie on Saturday and now cooking a warm soup

>> Mette's wonderful house idea

>> I can't wait to see Elizabeth's new collection, here is a first sneak peak

>> In love with Sessun's new Autumn/Winter collection, I think I also got a new hair inspiration

I booked a trip to Tokyo for January today. I can't wait!!

Let me know if you know places I should not miss

An already excited Maria wishes you a good start in the week :)

>>

You know the time when early in the week you already start looking forward to the weekend.

Well, we planned to go to a great farmers market and also wanted to check out some great antique stores here in Sydney, but by Friday night I could feel that a cold took over me and on Saturday morning all I wanted to do was stay in bed. And this is what I did. I slept and slept and slept and couldn't even read due to my headache. Well, after a whole day of rest I felt a lot better this morning and could even go to a friends house for a little 'crafternoon'. We got inspired by these and made our own dream catcher versions. I hope I can show you an image soon.

Some great links for you:

#1 I must say I am getting excited about Feist's new album 'Metal' which will come out in October - listen to one of the first songs from the album here.

#2 Gotye played two concerts at the Sydney Opera House this weekend, both sold out listen here

#3 I really enjoy the pictures on this blog so much

Have a great week,

Maria

7 Things about dressing

Elizabeth from the wonderful Primoeza blog tagged me to show 7 things about dressing. It took me a while to get this post ready but as I wanted to get my closet in order anyway, today was the day of getting the piles out, sorting, folding them and putting them back into my closet.

I could only bring a limited amount of stuff over to Australia and so I choose very carefully what to bring with me. Of course over the time you start buying things here and there but in the beginning I felt it was quiet a relief not to have too much stuff to choose from and that it is all about the mix. I realized today that I am really into color. I couldn't really tell my favorite color, navy-blue maybe but then I think of all the earthy tones I love, such as a nice forest green, a warm rusty orange or a mustard-yellow and I know..there is not really a favorite color.

Here are a couple of images from the stuff I like and treasure.

#1 I got quiet a few stripe-y items together over the years.

#2 I really love colorful jeans, and lately especially corduroy

#3 I am a collar lover! (Shirt from COS)

#4 and well plaid, too

#5 In Germany I love to layer up in Autumn and Winter and love to wear heavy-knit and jackets, well this was the only one I took with me and I think I did it because of the color :)

(Jacket from COS)

#6 I am 100% a flat shoe person

#7a I always have a bag with me as I am trying not to use any plastic bags you get here everywhere

#7b my best friend and always with me. My backpack.

I would love to tag Sophie, Trixi and Anne Louise