Sorry if my spelling is weird...but I'm British!

It was a while back when I asked on the Etsy forums for some feedback for my shop. I felt very brave and was steeling myself for the critiques about to come my way. What I didn't expect though, was that some of my American Etsy reviewers would critique my spelling.

"You spelled jewelry wrong on your banner", said one reviewer. Oh no! Panic set in. After checking, I realised what was going on. My British spelling was throwing people off. And it still does, on occasion.

So here I am, giving you a heads-up that I won't be changing my spelling of the following words (sorry,  it just doesn't feel right):

organise
realise
oxidise

labour
colour
favour
behaviour
favourite

aluminium

jewellery
jeweller


Mata ne!
Victoria


P. S. And I also measure in cm and mm.....
P.P.S Even Blogger is pointing out my errors on this post by putting helpful red dots underneath!

End of Year Sale

I'm having an end of year sale on my Facebook page. Lots of OOAK jewellery available with free shipping.
Thanks for looking.

Victoria

Click below to visit my Facebook page:

bikudesigns END OF YEAR SALE

Ikebana for a sunny day

New work on its way

Before I move on to new work, I thought it was time to view my collection as it stands.
Hope you like it:)

Hiroshima Trip-The Food

Some of the wonderful food we had on our trip to Hiroshima this year.

Peaceful Images from Hiroshima

Hubby and I took a trip to Hiroshima earlier in the year and found the experience very moving. When days are stressful, I can easily recall these images to mind and realise that I have a very lucky and fortunate life.

Japan Team Featured Item- Togei ceramics

This week's featured item is from Togei- Ceramics and vintage finds. As a collector of Japanese ceramics, I was interested in Dave's work as soon as I saw it. These cups would definitely fit in perfectly with my collection...just not enough space left in the cupboard:)

You can check out his other ceramics work and his vintage kimono collection in his Etsy Shop.


As always, the dynamic Japan Team blog can be found here.

Japan Team Featured Item

This week I have chosen a piece of work from one of my favourite jewellery designers in Japan. Yuji Kono makes fabulous organic-inspired pieces in silver often with enamel touches. This piece shows the commitment Yuji has to excellent craftsmanship and design. I really want to buy something from him but I'm so spoiled for choice and can't decide!

For more information about our talented team members you can check out the Japan Focus Etsy Team blog here.

Japan Team Featured Item

This week I had to work fast to get the Japan team item to you all. I've been in Hiroshima and Miyajima all week without internet access so today is the first chance I've had to have a search around for something inspirational.
This week's item(s) is from Blue Bonbon Yuuco. I love these prints as they remind me so much of a favourite Richard Scarry cat book I had when I was small. Ahhhh! Hope you like my choice this week. See you all next Saturday with another fantastic Japan Team Item.
If you want to find out more about the Japan Focus Etsy Team you can check out the blog here.

Mount Fuji as seen from my terrace

This post is going to make me sound like I am not the sharpest tool in the box, but I wanted to share something with you that I noticed last week.
We have been living in this house for around two and a half years, regularly using the terrace attached to our living room (which is incidentally upstairs!) for drying laundry, sitting in the sun and recently taking photos for my etsy shop. Last week, on a particularly beautiful evening complete with characteristic Japanese red sunset, I wondered to hubby if we could see the mountains from the terrace. When we looked, we could see THE mountain of Japan silhouetted against the red sky.
Since then, I check every morning and evening and tip a nod to Fuji-san, now thankful for our wonderful view.

Monks passing

Just as I was out on the terrace this afternoon photographing some items for my shop, I heard a distant drumming sound. And then closer...and closer still, until I could hear the distinct sound of taiko drums coming up the hill. Just then, a straw hat popped up from behind the neighbour's tree and two monks came into view chanting their prayers as they passed our house.
Hubby and I like to have at least one 'Japan Moment' everyday, which can be quite a challenge in such a cosmopolitan city as Tokyo. And today, we didn't even have to leave the house to find it.

Going to work

Not sure why I took my camera with me this morning, but I found myself snapping as I walked to the station. Not everyone knows what the 'normal' parts of Tokyo look like. Everyone assumes that the city is built up with sky scrapers and flashing neon everywhere. Well, not where we live! Folks, that would be Shinjuku, Shibuya or even Roppongi and surprise, surprise...Tokyo can be quiet and even serene in places.
If I go to the top of street I can see Mount Fuji in its majestic glory during the winter and the chirruping birds wake me up every morning in our tiny stone garden. The sun streams across our terrace every morning and the sound of the rustling trees from our neighbour's garden can be heard in the kitchen. The biggest city in the world? A bustling metropolis? Sometimes I just feel like I live in a tiny village.