Daiki Tanaka's teapot & flower vase

I returned to the U.S. from Japan last weekend.
I enjoyed shopping and got some nice stuffs.

In Kyoto, one of the biggest pottery festivals in Japan is held along "Gojozaka" early August and I visited there with my friend.
This teapot and small flower vase are what I got.

Daiki Tanaka made them, who began making pottery six years ago.
The flower vase comes with a lid and I think just displaying it would be nice as well.
Its height is about 6cm(2.5").
The teapot is less than 15cm(6") high and quite simple.

He is still young and unknown to fame at present, but I believe it won't be long before his works are known to pottery fans.

Japanese cafe #3

Again, I would like to introduce some unique cafes in Japan.
I don't know if it is common in your country or not, but cafes you can relax like you are at your home are getting popular in Japan.
Some people are using their living room as a cafe only on weekends, and some are offering space you can read your favorite book lying on the sofa.

One of examples is "ie-ie".
As "ie" means home in Japanese, the cafe's theme is "home".
This cafe-cum-living room is couple owned and operated.

The wife loves Japanese antiques and has been displaying her collection in the living room.

Some antiques are for sale and you can buy them at a reasonable price.

The old house renovated by the husband is the space like visiting grandma.

There is nothing special about it, but I think it is the point that can make guests feel comfortable.

The other one is so-called book cafe.

At "beyer", you can read your favorite book.

You can read sitting down a chair.

Also, you can lie around on the floor or sit on a zabuton.

In Japan, people used to live without chair and still now, some people don't have any chairs or couches in their living room and sprawl on carpet watching TV.

Thus, it is comfortable for Japanese to read a book lying on the floor.

Visiting there, I was the only guest at that time and it was so comfortable.

The cafe is on the second floor and the staff comes from the first floor only when guests ask them.

I think I will be able to introduce some other unique cafes later.

ARABIA Stencil cup & saucer

As you know, ARABIA FINLAND has been creating a range of unique designs for 130 years and I am a big fan of this manufacturer.

The design for this cup and saucer is called "POLKA" and is one of the stencil series.

This is another type of the stencil series.

I don't know what is represented in this design, but I love its delightful pattern.

I own this book and sometimes look it over to comfirm the name or age of my favorite item.
But it includes just a part of the whole lines of products and I usually can't find the information I want to get. How many designs does ARABIA have?

You can see the design history of ARABIA by age here.
I love the products designed especially between 1950s and 1970s.