Filtering by Category: products

Fat Quarters ... So That's What They're Called!

Added on May 24, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Seeing our selection of Japanese fabric, a customer, who turned out to be an avid quilter, exclaimed, "Oh, fat quarters!"

...which raised about 3 question marks on the top of my head. Fat quarters???

I asked and she kindly explained. "In the quilting world, these are called fat quarters," she declared, pointing at the fabric "end-cuts". For lack of a better term, we had coined the word "end-cut", which had simply been a direct translation of the Japanese hagire (端切れ), to refer to these strips of fabric. (We had previously introduced them in this blog post.)

A standard roll of fabric is 44" wide. Fabric is normally purchased by the yard (36"). So a yard gives you a piece of cloth that's 44" x 36" big. If you want a regular quarter, then you'll get a cut that's 44" wide and only 9" long. Now, a "fat quarter" is when you cut the width in half and a yard-length in half as well...which gives you 22" x 18"...which is still a quarter of the basic yard, only "fatter". Apparently, quilters prefer fat quarters because they are able to cut bigger chunks of fabric for their purposes.

Now, our Japanese fat quarters are a little chubbier, measuring around 22" x 20" ...which makes sense because 20" is about 50cm. And because Japan uses the metric system, these cuts are probably quarter meter (as opposed to yard)!

Later on.... Feeling like a child with a new toy, I put this fresh knowledge to the test. Another customer came to buy a Japanese quilting book. Said it was a present for his mother who loves quilting. So I mentioned casually, "Oh, we have fat quarters too." He knew exactly what I was talking about and said he would bring his mom to the shop next time! Joy! I almost felt like an "Insider"...but reality is I am still just a "name-dropper"! (^_^)

Many patterns available at the shop.

Chirimen Eyeglasses Case

Added on May 11, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Those of us who carry around a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses in our bags know how important it is to protect them from getting scratched or bent. Here is something functional yet pretty!

Hard-shell case with felt lining. Outside, it's wrapped in chirimen rayon fabric in colourful patterns.

Which design do you like?

$9.95 each (CAD) plus HST where applicable. Available at the shop or by mail order.

Hand-Made Tissue Box Cover

Added on May 9, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Using colourful Japanese fabric, we thought we'd make the ubiquitous tissue box a little bit more interesting! :-)

The design is simple. To install the cover, two buttons on either side are just looped into the opening where the tissue sheets are pulled out.

They come in different designs...

...and have plain inside linings which are actually elegant in themselves. So if you prefer a more subdued tissue box, just turn the cover inside out!

Hand-made here in Nova Scotia using Japanese fabric.
Available at the shop or by mail order. $18.00 (CAD) each, subject to HST where applicable.

Choco Truffles In A Can

Added on May 8, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Does your Mom have a sweet tooth? Our chocolate truffles in a can could be the perfect Mother's Day gift! They're no ordinary cans either.

This is a tea canister that we've wrapped in Japanese paper with a chiyogami accent and an ornamental mizuhiki (Japanese paper cord) crane ornament. Makes an elegant gift! Each can contains 10 different truffle flavours.

Or, you may prefer the cute lucky cat cans....in two styles. Same contents: 10 different truffles inside.

The chocolate truffles are made by Truffini of BC, Canada. They are very popular in the West Coast but apparently very few places have them in the East. By the way, they are the same guys who make our Matcha Chocolate bars. We happily taste-tested each truffle too and can confidently say that they are good! http://theikebanashop.com/blog/shop-log-taste-testing

Here are the truffle flavours. (Note: Caramel Mocha not included in the cans.)
http://www.truffini.com/truffleflavors.html

And when the truffles are gone, re-use the cans!

Available at the shop. Chocolate made in Canada. Cans made in Japan.

Long-Life Crane can 14.50 ea
Lucky Cat can 11.50 ea
All prices in Canadian dollars and subject to HST where applicable.

Bento Tools: Wiener Cutters

Added on May 1, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Transform your cocktail smokies with wiener cutters!

Here are a few tips:
1. Put the sausages in the freezer for about 20 minutes before using. This "hardens" them up so they are easier to cut.
2. Add a thin layer of cooking oil on the sausage before cutting. This helps make a smooth extraction.
3. Slice off any tied ends of the sausage.
4. Grill in pan or boil the sausages after cutting.

Available in four shapes: octopus, crab, tulip and penguin. Made in Japan.

Available at the shop or by mail order. Octopus, $3.50 each. Crab, tulip and penguin, $4.50 each. In Canadian dollars and subject to HST where applicable

Old Kimonos Recycled Into Beautiful Bags

Added on April 25, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Mottainai is the Japanese word that refers to that feeling of regret when something is wasted. It is this spirit that drives Aiko Handbags to create these beautiful bags and pouches out of used kimono and obi fabric. Each one is hand-made. Aiko carefully selects and matches different fabrics to come up with tasteful yet functional bags.

It is a tradition in Japan to never waste a beautiful kimono. Even when it became too damaged and stained to wear, many would unpick the kimono and use it to make other accessories such as bags, pincushions and brooches, in order to preserve the beauty and hard work that goes into the creation of each and every kimono. That is what we strive to do every day here at Aiko Handbags, to preserve the art and beauty that is the kimono in modern, useful and practical ways.

No two purses will ever turn out the same. The pattern on the fabric will never fall in the same place twice and the amount of fabric in that particular pattern is very limited, yielding only one, occasionally two bags.

So who is Aiko? She is a young mother who hails from Nova Scotia but who has a great love for Japanese culture. She chose the name Aiko (meaning "well-loved" or "beloved"), a beautiful and feminine name that expressed her feelings about each and every handbag she creates.

I've had a love for Japanese culure since I was in school, starting withanime, manga and J-pop, then growing into more traditional Japanese culture, such as kitsuke (the art of dressing in kimono), tsumamikanzashi (hair ornaments), and I chose to work with kimono fabric out of a simple love and appreciation for this beautiful textile, and a need to share it with others.

Small pouches for cosmetics and what-not.

Clutch bags made from obi (left) and cotton summer kimono (right).

Bigger carry bags too!

See more of Aiko Handbags at the shop. All hand-made in Nova Scotia.
Please contact us for availability and pricing.

Hand-Made Koi-Nobori Family

Added on April 20, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

This koi-nobori family hanging decor is hand-made from Japanese cotton fabric.

We hand-cut Japanese cotton fabric into little bits and stitched them together to create the scales!

Made in Nova Scotia, Canada. Available at the shop. $65.00 (CAD) plus HST where applicable.

Hand-Made Goodies

Added on April 17, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Here are a few of the hand-made goodies that can be found in the shop right now. All made in Nova Scotia!

Swaddled babies 3.50 ea. Could this be that extra something you are looking for to add to the box of gifts you are bringing to the baby shower? (^_^)

Sleepy bear hair clips 2.50 ea. This is the second appearance of our sleepy bears...this time on cut polka-dot barrettes.

Owl lavender sachets 4.50 ea. Back by popular demand! Keep it in your purse, put in the closet or leave it in the car. The lavender fragrance will not fail bring a cheery calm. We heard that some people tuck the owls under their pillows for a better night's sleep! The lavender is from Nova Scotia too!

Mini owls 3.50 ea. They're just fun to look at.... and while we're at it, maybe pick up a bit of wisdom too! (^_^)

All prices subject to HST where applicable.

Calligraphy On Birch

Added on April 16, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Shodo artist Yukari Haverstock uses Nova Scotia birch bark for some interesting calligraphy. We have a couple available at the shop!

Yama = "mountain" Original calligraphy on birch bark. $28.00

Yuu = "stillness" Original calligraphy on birch bark. $30.00

All prices in Canadian dollars (CAD) subject to HST when applicable.

Koi-Nobori Carp Streamer

Added on April 9, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

May 5th is celebrated as Children's Day in Japan. People display koi-nobori (carp streamers) for their sons. (No, no discrimination...there is a Girls' Day too--celebrated on March 3rd for daughters!) The koi-noboriare like wind socks in carp design. The carp is a symbol of strength, perserverance and achievement.

There is a Chinese legend about a carp who swam up a waterfall and turned into a dragon. We are sure there are many variations to this tale but the carp as symbol of effort and success is constant.

We have our koi-nobori up in the shop as well! We have some available for sale. You can use them to decorate your child's room too!

And, we also have "mini" ones!