Japan Week: Arts/Textiles

There are many forms of Japanese art, from calligraphy to bonsai to woodblock printing to ikebana.

I regard kimono as works of art and I have enjoyed collecting and displaying the pieces you see above. Japanese textiles are among the most beautiful in my opinion. The kimono is the traditional garment of Japan. Today, they are primarily worn by women on special occasions or by geisha. Yukata are casual cotton kimono that are commonly worn in the summer during festivals.

The season often dictates the pattern of a kimono. For example, patterns with cherry blossoms would be worn in the spring and patterns with maple leaves would be worn in the fall. Younger, unmarried women wear kimono with long sleeves that are often brightly colored while older women don shorter sleeves that are modest in color. Today, men wear simple kimono that are in darker hues, such as blacks, dark blues, and browns.

Silk screen paintings and wood block prints have also fascinated me since I was a child. I remember looking at books of traditional woodblock prints and adoring their beautiful simplicity. The vibrant colors, flat surfaces, and geometric patterns all appeal to me. My favorites are the scenes in nature or of landscapes. I am sure that most of you would recognize the Hokusai wave or the image of Mount Fuji, which are among the most popular of woodblock prints.

To me, the allure of the traditional Japanese arts is their connection to nature. They love to use straight lines and defined outlines in their work, but are not afraid to make something off center or asymmetrical because that is how it is often found in nature.



Come back tomorrow for a post about Japanese food! Yum!

Japan Week: Matcha/Green Tea

Matcha is a high quality ground and powdered form of green tea. It is very healthy for you to consume and has been proven to be rich with antioxidants, boost metabolism, and lower cholesterol. Matcha is healthier than regular bagged green tea. It can taste bitter to some people, but I enjoy its earthy flavor. I am someone who loads up my coffee with cream and honey because I like it sweet, but for some reason I prefer my matcha to be completely natural. You can definitely tell that you are putting something good into your body.

Matcha is essential to the Japanese tea ceremony. It takes great discipline to perform this ritual since the movements and steps are very calculated and rich in tradition. A bond is to be made between the host and the guests as they silently appreciate their company, the tea, and the aesthetics of the room. It is a time to reflect and contemplate. If you have the opportunity to take part in a tea ceremony, I hope that you will take advantage of it. The host is usually dressed beautifully in a kimono and there are a limited amount of guests allowed to create a more intimate atmosphere.

More recently, matcha has been used to dye or slightly flavor other foods, such as soba noodles, ice cream, desserts, pastries, and alcoholic beverages. It gives these products a beautiful shade of green. I have even seen green tea frappuccinos at Starbucks.

While matcha is not everyone's cup of tea (pun intended), you should give it a try because the health benefits are wonderful!

Japan Week: Nature

I have decided that this week will be Japan Week! I will be sharing some photos inspired by Japan. Since I was a child, I have been intrigued by the Japanese culture and sense of design. I have poured over books about Japanese art, gardens, food, music, the language, and the people. I honestly do not know why I have such a connection with this culture, but it truly brings me joy and endless fascination. The Japanese simplistic, yet strong aesthetics will always inspire me when producing my own work.

Today, I chose to share some images featuring nature. Nature is an important element in Japanese design. It appears in kimono patterns, food, art, etc. and is incorporated into the daily lives of Japanese people. They are a nation that embraces each season and chooses to take advantage of all that nature has to offer.

Ikebana is a specialized type of flower arranging and is considered a disciplined art form in Japan. There are certain rules one must follow and each element is added with intention. I honestly did not follow these rules perfectly and was just trying to demonstrate the concept of ikebana in my arrangement above. I love the whole idea of "less is more" and I appreciate that ikebana can highlight a specific flower without distraction. Ikebana is also focused on the natural shape and deviates from the Westernized symmetrical bouquets and arrangements.

These aren't the clearest of images, but in a moment of serendipity I came upon the end of a tea ceremony at Duke Gardens a few months ago. The ladies looked breathtaking in their kimono. The tea house is one of my favorite spots in these gardens. There is a certain serenity about the area and I feel relaxed when I visit.

It is my dream to be able to visit Japan with my husband some day... perhaps this is what some of the gardens will look like?

Pet Profiles: Meet Sassy

Meet Sassy!

Sassy is a sweet kitty and looks wonderful for her age! She is all about food and sun bathing. I love that she is "smiling" in the photo of her with Pikachu. They look like long time friends! I don't often photograph cats, so it was interesting to work with these felines. They certainly are photogenic creatures, even if they don't care for the camera! :)

Sassy is owned by two of my good friends (twins!) and she is very loved. Their mother has a big heart and volunteers with a cat adoption service. She often fosters kittens like the ones you see in the second half of the post. These little guys have been spoken for, but you can check out the Alley Cats and Angels website if you are interested in adopting a cat!

Pet Profiles: Meet Oliver

Meet Oliver!

I love his spunky personality! This little guy was rescued from a terrible fate. He was raised in a puppy mill and had never been outside from the shed he was crated in. Oliver is now in a very loving home where he is obviously adored! As you can see, he is quite fashionable and has an abundance of toys. The large party hat pinata is from his two year birthday celebration. I hope that more people adopt or rescue canines so that they can celebrate many birthdays to come. Look at how happy Oliver is in his forever home!

Blue & Gray

Even though winter is on the way out, I thought I'd share one of my favorite color combinations:

Blue & Gray.

They are such a great pair! My eyes never get tired of seeing these colors together. I think I will continue wearing them into the spring.

The Weimaraner puppy is named Pepper. I ran into him at the lake one day and was instantly inspired to do this post after seeing his gray coat and blue eyes. Thank you to his sweet owners for allowing me to photograph him.

Yes, his eyes really are that shade of blue! :)

Pet Profiles: Meet Penny

Meet Penny!

She is both our neighbor and one of Yui's favorite playmates. Who knows what breeds are in Penny? Basset hound? Beagle? Dachshund? German Shepherd? All I know is that she is an awesome little dog! Her daddy is the manager of a guitar shop, so that is why I photographed her next to the cool bass guitar.

Penny is an exuberant dog that is full of life. She also gives great kisses!

My Stuffed Mushrooms Featured in Romantic Living!

I am so excited to have my stuffed mushroom recipe featured in Romantic Living! I have made these mushrooms countless times and they never disappoint my tummy or taste buds. This has been mentioned before, but my husband despised mushrooms prior to trying these and now he loves them. Each little bite is packed with so much flavor!
This Romantic Living issue will be in stores until March 27th. So far I have found it at Target, Walmart, Harris Teeter, and Lowe's Foods. To see my mushroom recipe, you can find it here.

Also, I have updated the recipe section so that is easier to navigate. You can see it here or by clicking the 'Recipes' tab at the top of the blog. Now go eat something delicious!