Participate

Looking for things to do that don't involve sitting in front of your computer (novel, I know)?

First up, Pip at Meet Me At Mike's has an Envelope Project whereby you send her an envelope with little bits of lightweight and papery goodness, then she sticks the envelopes on the window of her store (in Melbourne), posts photos of the contents on a flickr group, then randomly chooses a participant at the end to receive ALL the items posted to her. Letters are welcome from anywhere.

Next, Janice at Little Miso has a Paper Hearts Project, in which participants make little paper hearts, possibly with secret little messages written on them, then pin them up where they can make people happy. Visit the blog for all the details and pictures. Instructions are below.

Last long weekend I worked 45 hours; I much prefer this weekend

Dear Monday, I'm glad
you're a public holiday
and I'm not working

Goodnight. Yawn.

It's 2 already?

A person of my vintage

Should be asleep now

Don't you love...

The satisfaction
Of liberating something
Stuck between your teeth

Zakka Box

I left a comment on the Inside Out magazine blog the other day about Zakka Box, a new store I'd sidled past and ogled through the window because it was closed. It turns out the Inside Out folk actually read their comments and Lee Tran (Deputy Chief Sub Editor) has written a review of Zakka Box today! I had an opportunity to visit Zakka Box in person on Saturday and it did not disappoint. I was happy to see that its stock is made in Japan (not just cheap Made In China replicas) and not horrendously overpriced, as many Japanese imports tend to be. Some of my favourite items were the wooden stamp sets, Japanese masking tape (yes, I'm addicted), the Bulb Cup by Tetsu Sumii and Soshi Takita (made from a recycled light bulb - the animation on the website reminds me of "Mr Sparkle" from The Simpsons) and the Shinzi Katoh homewares. They stock a lot of other cool +d stuff too.

The service is fantastic, there is free gift-wrapping and batteries, and your change and receipt are placed in a little tray on the counter, Japan-style. Seriously, I haven't had this much fun since I last visited the hakyu-en.

Go read Lee Tran's review for kawaii photos (and a reference to me as "eagle-eyed reader")!

PS My copy of Inside Out's July/August issue arrived today and it is worthy of many drools.

haiku and a bitch

Russh, Russh. Hurry love
Come to me. Russh, I wanna
Read you, be with me

(Apologies to Paula Abdul. Also, I had totally forgotten that Keanu Reeves was in that video, displaying his bodacious acting skill.)

Russh magazine used to be my favourite. I would anticipate it every two months and wish that it would come out every month. Somewhere, it has lost its charm (even as it improved its annoying spelling and grammar). This may be due to changes in editor or maybe it's just that they recruited Lesley Arfin as a columnist. The latest issue has a new editor (Stevie Dance) and I was looking forward to seeing her changes (there is a MAN on the cover) BUT my subscription still hasn't arrived! The magazine came out in newsagencies a week ago and I'm disappointed to not have received my copy.

Rant over.