Recently I've been...

Trying to ink faces that don't end up looking retarded. This is one of the better ones. Can't make a decision on the hat though. Makes me appreciate all the talented inkers out there like Johanna Basford, Sarah Blake and Mr Frivolous. Clearly lots more practice needed.

Lovely Letterpress

Decided to beat the public holiday crowds and head out of Tokyo to Chofu today to check out  Tegamisha's handcraft market and came away with some lovely letterpress goodies and a sweet bird shaped candle wrapped in ornate paper and string. There were so many nice designs I could have gone mad buying paper bags, stationary sets and notepads and had to restrain myself from buying some illustrated underpant notelets by Japanese Illustrator Keiko Shibata but kind of wish I hadn't now. 

Mogu Takahashi Exhibition at Cafe Drole

Popped down to the Mogu Takahashi exhibition 'Kawaii Ugly San' at Cafe Drole in Nakameguro yesterday which was full of doodle-style wall displays and random colourful objects dotted around the cafe. I really like Mogu's work for its playfulness and free-flowing style. She also makes really cute postcards, notecards and clay tags - Kawaii desu! Mogu is off to Europe next but Drole Cafe is still worth a visit for its quirky décor and oishii cakes. Definitely in the run for being one of my favourite cafes in Tokyo. There's also a second Cafe Drole in Daikayama which I discovered when I got lost on my bike on the way to the exhibition - seem to find a lot of things by getting lost in Tokyo!

A to Z Cafe Omotesando

Elissa eating her 'body friendly lunch'

Loving Yoshimoto Nara's A to Z cafe in Aoyama, a joint project with Graf Design Collective. Sat on the roof terrace and cooked like a true gaijin (it was completely empty) but it was worth the heat for the view over the quirky Aoyama architecture. Tried the 'body-friendly' lunch, translated on their website as 'lunch and try a hot body in a friendly and open space'! Inside is mismatched furniture, decorated with Nara's iconic characters and has a mocked up workshop (a room within a room) in the middle of the cafe showing some of Nara's others works. Cafe/mini gallery/bar. Pretty interesting place to hang out day or night. 

Photo by www.theworldsbestever.com