Takara Town

Welcome!

Welcome to the official Takara Town Blog! 

If you like what you read, please leave a comment. 

To visit Takara Town click below :

www.takaratown.com

Swap-Bot Long Term Blog Pals Swap

As many of you know I love Swap-Bot.com. It is a place to make freinds and trade stuff. So now I am in a Swap where my swap partner and I both do a blog post and answer questions that we have asked eachother. It is basically a pen pal thing, but without the snail mail, and just on our blogs  instead. 

So here are the questions: 

First Set of Questions: 

1.What thing have you not done that you really want to do?

There is one thing that is at the top of my list, and that is to go to India, and backpack around for at least a month.  

2.When do you feel most like yourself?

When I am traveling

3.What makes you smile when life gets you down?

Cute stuff. All I need to do is go into my studio, and look around at all the cute things I sell on my website like jars that are covered in fake whipped cream and sparkle, and I am happy agian. Kawaii things make me happy! 

4.If you could take a single photograph of your life, what would it look like?

It would look like a photograph of a hoarders house! My life has been jam packed with people, adventures, art, fun, and many many different jobs.

5.What is your most beloved childhood memory?

6.If you had the chance to go back in time and change one thing what would it be?

I would not have dated a couple of people....! 

7.What do you love most about yourself?

My ability to overcome anything, and stay positive. 

8.Where would you most like to go and why?

The place I want to go that I have not been is India. My favorite place to go for amazing culture and food is Japan. My favorite place to go and relax, and have fun is Greece!

9.What do you imagine yourself doing ten years from now?

I hope that I still have my website and that I am making lots of cute Decoden things, but I also hope that I have bought some land, and have a small family farm with some goats and a big veggie garden! 

10.What do you have that you cannot live without?

My Cats!

Second Set of Questions: 

1. What is your favorite dish that you like to cook or prepare yourself. You can pick something sweet or savory. If you never cook or bake, what is your favorite food instead. Include a recipe if you like. 

My favorite food to make and eat is Okonomiyaki! It is really easy to make, but tastes amazing! 

2. What country do you most want to visit next ,and why?

India. I have always been intrigued with India. Like Japan, India has a culture that is totally different from my own, and that always interests me. I find the art, archetecture, clothing, and food all very inspiring. 

3. Please choose a cocktail which best represents who you are and please explain why?

Champagne Cocktail. I choose this because it is fizzy and sparkly just like me! 

4. What is the last thing you purchased online?

A new gold lip ring for my lip peircing. 

5. What is your dream job?

I would love a job that allows me to travel all over the world, similar to a flight attendants job, where you travel but you still have a home to come back to. The only reason I am not a flight attendant is that you have to live near or in a big city, and I do not like city life.....

6. What skill do you wish you could magically acquire overnight. 

Singing or playing an instrument

7. Describe your hometown. 

I am from a town that was called Hangtown back in the 1800's. It is the town that neigbors Coloma which is where gold was discovered in California. Hangtown is where they would bring the gold rush era criminals to hang them. Their is still a dummy of a dead guy hanging from a noose on Main Street in Hangtown ( now called Placerville)

8. If you could know the answer to any question what would the question be? ( Please choose anything besides " what is the meaning of life") 

I would love a diagnosis for my back problems. I have a very bad back, and am in pain every single day. I have been to many doctors but nobody has been able to diagnose what my specific problems are. I would love a diagnosis and how to solve this problem. 

9. What is the last book you read. 

My life as a White Trash Zombie!

10. What are your top 10 favorite objects that personally own?

In no particular order: 

Nintendo 3ds - cause it is helping me learn Japanese!

All of my Decoden Craft Supplies!

A purse that I just got at the thrift store which is black leather, and the handle is a golden metal jaquar! 

A Japanese Pottery tea cup, which my freind bought me in Japan. It was very exspensive and something I never thought I would have! 

My rubber tree plant, which has somehow managed to stay alive all these years

My 1972 Winnebago Brave, which has been my home, and will now be a fun way to go camping! 

My Ethan Allen Coffee Table which is from the 70's and is shaped like a large gear, and it actually spins! 

My Record Collection

A window I found in a trash pile in Greece. I strapped it onto my backpack and brought it home to hang on the wall. It is painted in that iconic blue color that you see everywhere in greece ( especially santorini where I found it). 

 

New Mont Blanc Maker by Decollage Brand! Great for Japanese Fake Sweets, or Dollhouse Miniatures.

This is a wonderful new item that I am so happy to finally be selling in my shop! It is the long awaited Mont Blanc Maker from Japan! This is a heavy duty tool for making fake Japanese sweets and cakes! Do you know what a Mont Blanc Cake is? If not see the pictures below. These cute confections are found everywhere in Japan, and they are super fun to make from Clay. 

This is the Mont Blanc Tool! New from the Decollage Collection of items for make Japanese Fake Sweets, this item is durable, and will make the cutest Mont Blanc Cakes around! 

Click Here to read all about it or to purchase!

With the Mont Blanc Maker you will be able to make cute fake sweets like these! You can use a paper cupcake liner for the bottom, or make one from clay. For the whipped cream use super realistic looking Decollage Brand Whipped Cream Clay ( Click Here for Whipped Cream Clay )

Or you can use your Mont Blanc Maker for other things, like Doll Hair, or for making a some dollhouse miniature food, like this plate of spaghetti - Yum! 

If you are wondering how to get that great powdered sugar look on the top of your cakes, just use some ground up white chalk! It is super cheap and easy! For something a little extra special try using clear or white sparkle powder with the chalk or instead - oooh! 

This Mont Blanc Maker comes with six plates for making all different thicknesses of strings, and ribbons. Try using the flat one for making bows, or fettuccine pasta! 

These Mont Blanc Makers can be used with many types of clay, but I especially love the texture of lightweight paper clay! Mermaid Puffy clay is just perfect! Click here to check out all the clays you can use with it!

Click Here to read all about it or to purchase!

Do you have more ideas of what you could make with this Mont Blanc Maker? Comment below!

 

Eye Spy something Kawaii! Top ten cutest falsh eyelashes with bows

 Fake or False Eyelashes with Bows are the cutest thing around right now! I just have to have a pair! But there really are not to many people selling them right now so I made a list of all the best spots to pick up a pair. I also included a couple of tutorials for you crafty chicks out there! 

These are my absolute Favorite: 

#1:

False Eyelash Pair with Cute Red Bows available at Modcloth

 

So Kawaii! 

If there is one thing I need in life, I am pretty sure it is these. 

#2:

Gingham Black Bow Flare Fashion Eyelashes

#3:

These are pretty good too, don't you think so?

#4

Or you can learn how to make your own ( Click Here ) like this chick did! She shared her pics, and how she did it on her blog! 

#5:

Or head over to E-Bay for some direct from Japan! ( Click Here )

They have them in many colors, and in several styles like ginham, and polka dots. 

 

#6

These are also from E-Bay, and I really like the ligh pink! What is your favorite color?

 #7:

Here is another tutorial which teaches you how to make a pair of bow eyelashes for yourself. ( Click Here )

Here instructions for tying the little itty bitty bows is really good.

 

#8:

I know these are not really bows, but I just had to include some of these funny flower ones too! 

What do you think of these! I would love to see them on an actual person. My guess is that they would be to heavy, and would weigh down your lashes, and look creepy! (Click here to check em out)

#9:

These are from that save website, and they look a bit more reasonable...well maybe! 

#10 : 

These are so great, I really like the combination of pink bow with a rhinestone in the middle. The lashes themselves looks sorta crappy though! These are also from e-bay. 

Through-out this shopping adventure I learned a couple of things:

1. ModCloth has the cutest pair of these ( See #1) But they are sold out - ugh!

2. Ebay has the largest and best selection. They not only sell many different colors and styls of bows, but they also have many different styles of lashes, including feather lashes. 

Here is a good link for E-Bay: Cute Eyelashes

3. I really want to sell these on my website! What do you guys think? Would you buy them?

 

 

 

New Kawaii Kamio Brand Letter Sets from japan for Sale! ( ships from U.S)

I just got back from Japan, and I think you will be happy to see some of the cuteness I brought back with me! I brought back the following cute Kamio Brand Letter Sets: 

See all of them here: All Kamio brand Kawaii Letter Sets

Candy Colored Teddy Bear Letter Set by Kamio Brand of Japan!

Purchase Here : Cute Kamio Letter Set

Sweet Yummy Super Kawaii Donut Letter Set Sheet from Japan by Kamio Brand! 

Purchase Here: Super Kawaii Deco Suites Letter Set

Alice in Wonderland Theme Kawaii Letter Set by Kamio Brand of Japan!

Purchase Here: Kawaii Alice in Wonderland Kamio Letter Set

Trick Box Letter Kawaii Letter Set from Kamio of Japan

Purchase Here: Romantic Kawaii Letter Set

 
Kamio Letter Set from Japan - Super Kawaii! 

Purchase Here: Kamio Letter Set 

 

 

Super Cute Deco Pocky Sticks!

Introducing another great item from Japan - Deco Pocky! (Also called Decotte Pocky)

Deco Pocky Official Website 

 チョコレートやトッピングで色々なデコポッキーをつくろう！

Introducing Deco Making Pocky recipe! Make Deco Pocky chocolate and various toppings on!

If you enjoy creating cute decoden stuff, you will probably enjoy making these totally cute snacks. 

Here is a little preview of the fun tutorials they provide on their official website: 
( all tutorial instructions are in Japanese with the translations below. I am learning Japanese now, so I want to start including Japanese text in my posts! ) 

 Deco Pocky!  - click here to go to the Pocky Website

2色のチョコレートペンでラインを引きます。

Draw a line with two chocolate-colored pen.

星のシュガーをならべます。

Arrange the sugar of the star.

星の上にアラザンをのせます。

Place a star on argent.

星と星の間にアラザンをならべてできあがり！

argent finished side by side between the stars and star!

 

 Super Kawaii Pocky Tutorial - click to visit pocky website! 

種のポッキーを交互にチョコレートペンでくっつけます。

Pocky chocolate Kuttsukemasu alternating the two pens.

チョコレートペンで名前をかきます。

Write a pen name in chocolate.

チョコレートペンで虹をかきます。

Write a chocolate rainbow pen.

チョコレートペンで雲をかきます。

Write a chocolate cloud pen.

アラザンやトッピングシュガーで飾ってできあがり！

Finished and decorated with sugar topping argent!

 

 Advanced Deco Pocky Tutorial - Click to visit Pocky website! 

 

 

種のポッキーをチョコレートペンを使って交互にくっつけます。

Kuttsukemasu alternating with the five types of chocolate Pocky pen.

チョコレートペンをぬったアーモンドクラッシュポッキーを両端に積み重ねます。

Stacked across the almonds coated with chocolate Pocky pen crash.

ハート型にカットしたいちごをならべます。

Arrange the strawberries and cut into heart-shaped.

いちごの間にホイップクリームをしぼります。

Squeeze the strawberry whipped cream between.

スライスアーモンドやアラザンを飾りつけて、できあがり！

Decoration and argent with a sliced ​​almond, finished!

 

 Here are some great photos I found around the web of more Deco Pocky: 

How Kawaii! I found this here: 

  Super Cute Blog!  

The girl who wrote this blog made these herself, in four hours! She says " I am genuis" and she is right, they are great arn't they! 

 

 

 I found these ones here: 

 Tobidasu.wordpress.com 

I found this one here: 

 Sweet Deco Tumbler Photos 

(They also have some great Kawaii Deco Nails to check out!)

I found these here: 

  Drop Dead Kawaii  

 Okay and finally, from a great Decorated Pocky contest, and here at lots of pictures from the entrants to get you inspired to make your own: 

The Winner! (above)

 

 For the Love of Pocky! 

This following section was made so that you can go completly nuts and geek out on all that is Pocky: 

 Pocky Wiki Page 

 Glico Company Website 

 A website with a whole section dedicated to Pocky! 

 DIY Pocky Recipe 

 Bonus: 

 Kawaii Pocky Free Online Game 

And why not finish this post off with a couple of Japanese Pocky Commercials! 

Decoden Blink Artist - Hiroko Yamada owner of "AtorieKiko"

 

                           

( blinkies are from featured artists blog!)

This is part one in a series I am doing about the Japanese Blink ( Bling ) Artist School! This is an amazing school in Japan where students are taught and become certified to create beautiful Decoden Art Pieces. 

My first featured artist is : Hiroko Yamada of "AtorieKiko" (Shop Name)

After studying illustration at the Nagoya University of Art Design, She joined a company in Nagoya at the Planning Office and was in charge of handeling product development. Yamada enjoyed working there for 5 years but left to pursue her passion of Deco Art.

 

Once qualified as a professional artist from the  Blink Japan Society of Artists  she became an Independant Artist creating and selling her artwork. 

 

"AtorieKiko" ( her store ),Opened in March of 2009 for a limited time in Nagoya Kanayama.

Yamada later expanded production and had to move to Saitama to open a studio wear she could produce and fufil all of her online orders. She now works from her production studio in Fujima City, Saitama Prefecture. 

 

Yamada now works as a special instructor giving lectures at the Professional Artist Association of Blink Japanese Artists.

  Full gallery online can be view here: http://www.a-kico.com/works.html  

  Here is a link to her Blog which spans back from 2009 to the present can be read here: http://kicolog.blog.shinobi.jp/ 

I read that works are created using Swarovski Elements crystals, and I believe this applies to everything she makes!

She will begin accepting orders for Deco Suites ( Fake Sweets) in January of 2012! 

 

These rhinestones are in my favorite colorway 



 And her dog is everywhere, in the shop, on the website.....so cute 

 

Now lets take a look at this bulldog in bling: 

Read more about this project here: http://kicolog.blog.shinobi.jp/Entry/163/#comment1

Contact Information

atelier KICO (Atoriekiko)
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays + α (HP, guide the site's blog)
Hiroko Yamada
4-12-12 Minami-ku, Nagoya city Hosho 〒 457-0828
Fujimi, Saitama
080-3680-4983
info@a-kico.com

 

Kobe Yasai Tomato Cheese Cake!

Sometimes you find something online that just blows your mind:

 

I think many people will imagine a tomato dishes and Italian speaking, was introduced to Europe in the Age of Discovery since the South American native vegetable surprisingly.  Is transmitted to the Edo period in Japan, but seems to be eaten from the Meiji period, as did fixing time is difficult.  Thereafter, breeding is made, now, "Momotaro" is many things out of a high sugar content, represented by. Among the vegetables, nutritious tomatoes are carotene , vitamin C ,lycopene include more. Particularly strong antioxidant lycopene, as well as young women, making it the leading cause more actively choose to include all generations are concerned about health. Spread in western Japan, are quite common to use a tomato meat sauce or curry, etc., this is the tomato, "glutamate" on the grounds that it is a vegetable rich in amino acids and contains a lot of flavor ingredients The. Melts in the mouth with soft fluffy, creamy cheesecake, spread tomato refreshing apple flavored jelly and then faint. Please feel Served with Italian basil and mint accompanied by your favorite tomato and cheese go great together.

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/manabou/agli_tomato_4/?scid=af_ich_link_tbl#agli_tomato_4

Kawaii Swiss Cake Roll Tutorial - Japanese Book Review : Chao Roll Deco Building More!

As if the Swiss Cake Roll was not pretty and cute enough as it is, now you can make the cutest darn cake rolls ever with the help of this great book:

Chao Roll Deco building more! 

Roll Cake Patterns, By Junko

 This is a beautiful Hardcover Book with 87 pages of wonderful pictures, recipes, and inspiration! 

This is the second book by this author who released the first book in 2010. After an insane response from readers who loved these patterned swiss roll cakes, this second book was released in 2011 featuring cute animal patterns and ultra kawaii kid patterns!

Some of the designs include; Relax Bear ( Rilakkuma Bear), Pikachu, Kappa Flower, Panda, Rabbit, Smile Faces, Trains, and much much more!

Relax, Pikachu, Kappa flower, panda, rabbit, Smiley Face, trains, etc. 

Here is a close up showing how to pipe the little smile faces! So simple, so cute. 

 

I love just the plain polka dots on the right too! How perfectly kawaii is that! 

The Author, Junko has a Blog which she started in March of 2008 called "Cake Cute Twist a Little". 

Not only are these cakes really really cute and kawaii, but they are also super tasty. The author took great pride in making sure these recipes are moist and delicious. 

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a video promotional for this book from the author! 

Each Recipe comes in an easy to cut out format, so you can take it out of the book, and keep the book super pretty while you are cooking with your recipe. 

Notice the creamy center! When I make these cakes, I love to use my own version of whipped cream which is only very lightly sweet, and has gelatin mixed into it to keep it stable. I am not sure what this author is using for her filling?

I usually make my rolls to be a little thinner with more of a spiraling inside, but I am very intrigued to try to make them in this style. I think it works so well for putting fruits in the center of the cream! 

Same design with two different colorways. This book will inspire you to take her designs and turn them into many different styles to suit your own personal preference. 

Okay people in case you have not been inspired enough for one book, now lets check out all the amazing toppings she puts on the these bad boys!  Ears, really - how freakin'cute is that!?

This is a beautiful topping! 

My Favorite :

Pink cake, with little bunnies, filled with strawberries and cream, then topped with strawberries, blueberries, candy bunnies, and chopped pistachios! 

As usual delicious and beautiful. 

This picture actually also got my thinking about how much those strawberries look like little gnome hats...I am getting inspired here people! 

Alright are some images of the back cover so you can get all the info you need to go out there any get a copy for yourself! 

Okay and one more parting shot for ya  : 

Here is the promotional video for this book: 

 

Thanks for reading. If you like what you read please leave a comment! 

                              

Japanese Craft Book - Miniatures from Clay - Miniature tutorial

The first miniature craft - made ​​from clay and familiar material - Paperback

Author: Kumi Oikawa

Pages: 128

This book is about how to make miniature food from clay, with really great photographs to help you understand how to make them. 

This is a great book for teenagers, and beginners! 

The front cover alone is filled with many great pictures to inspire you!

I especially love the roll cakes! This book is all about using clay, and other items to make your miniatures. These cakes are a great example of this. You can see how small peices of foil, which you most likely have in your kitchen, are cut into little rounds to hold the cake. 

The tissue paper to hold these miniature tulips is perfect! It looks like tiny newspaper. Any tissue will do, but if you can find something like this in your next box of chocolate candy save it, and use for this application. 

To make tulips : shape with your hand, and then snip the petals in with a little pair of scissors! I like to use the little cosmetic scissors - you know the ones for your eyebrows? Yeah those...they are great! 

Here is a picture from the book that shows the clays and tools they use. 

Here are some great inspirational way to make tiny little plates from clay. Any flat plastic can be used to press the clay flat. It does not have to be clear, but it is much much easier to be know the thickness of the plate to be, if you can see it. 

Anyway you smoosh it flat, then using a little cookie cutter, or shot glass, or something else you can find around the house you cut out the plate so it has clean edges. 

You can then use something like a bottle cap, or essential oil jar to make an impression which will shape the plate into a slight bowl, or give it a rim. 

Here is a really simple and fun way to make a tea cup. This picture is very rustic, but if you were to put a little more time and effort you could achieve something very nice! 

Step One: Shape clay into a ball. 

Step Two: Find a rounded ball point pen to smoosh into the ball of clay to make the cup.

Step Three: You can fill with brown clay to mimic coffee, but for a more realistic effect use some glaze. 
I like Sculpy brand glaze for this. All you gotta do is use a razor blade to scrape some brown pastel chalk into some Sculpy glaze, and stir and stir and stir until it looks like coffee! Then fill the cup with that, instead of the clay, and wait at least 24 hours for it to dry.  

I love some of these easy ideas for working with everyday items, like making this plate from a coffee creamer! It is a great project to do with kids, that is super simple, and cheap. 

If you want something more permanent and sturdy, use this little plate with some mold maker. Once you have the mold made, use polymer clay to make a sturdy and cute little plate. 

Here is another idea of how to make a plate from something you might already have. You can find these little drinkable yogurts on the top shelf over all the other spoonable yogurts at the grocery store. Just cut off the bottom and walah! 

Using the same rounded ball point pen cap as before, you can shape a wine glass! Try using transparent clay for a frosty glass, and don't forget to finish the edge with scissors for a very clean finihsed look. 

This is one of the easiest little teapot tutorial I have ever seen. 

Here is some transparent clay mixed with color to make little frosty glasswear. You can also color with paint. 

This is a great little tutorial on how to make a miniature cucumber for your Japanese Deco projects or dollhouse. The clay is slightly color with a pen, but agian you can use paint or pastels to color it. The clay it semi-transparent, which I agree looks best. The the outside is painted and finally sliced! 

You can also use this method to make a kiwi slice..! 

Once sliced use a Sakura Pen ( fine tip permenent marker) to add some detail! 

 

Next this book teaches how to make the cutest teeny tine raspberries. Simply form with your hand, then use a needle or toothpick to impress little seed texture to the surface. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this book preview! If so please leave a comment. 

Padico Silicone Whip Cream for Decoden - Review

Padico brand fake whipped cream is my favorite stuff in the world world! 

It comes in three "flavors" ( please do not eat!) ; Strawberry, Milk, and Chocolate. 

Oh, and I almost forgot - now they also have clear!

Although the clear comes in a great usable tube, I prefer to squeeze it out of the tube into a pastry bag, then sprinkle a whole bunch of pretty glitter inside, then mix! To mix just massage the bag until it is all mixed. Then cut the end off and tape a pastry tip onto the outside, and you are ready to go. 

If you do plan to use the whipped cream in the tube ( which is great!) each box comes with a little tip that screws right onto the tube and will give you that pretty pastry bag real whipped cream look when you use it. You can also purchase additional tips incase you lose yours, or if you want a larger tip. Tips come in three sizes. 

Best of all when you are done using the whipped cream, you just unscrew the tip and put the cap back on. Let the tip dry, and then pry out dried silicone and it is ready to use agian. 

When you are using a pastry bag, you need to use the entire amout you put in there, because it will dry up and cannot be saved. These tubes are great for saving whipped cream, and not having to fuss with measuring out the perfect amount everytime. 

Agian, even though the tube is great and reusable, sometimes you just gotta take it out of the tube as seen above. Sometimes the chocolate is to dark for what you want, so you might want to make a lighter cocoa color. All you gotta do is add some of the Milk flavor to the Chocolate flavor! 

You can also save a little cash, and try adding paint to the white to get more colors like strawberry and cocoa. This is a nice way to get multiple uses out of your Milk tube. 

See here how a little paint makes a really pretty Green Tea flavor! Beautiful. 

You can buy Padico Whip Cream here!