Welcome to my blog.

After a few random posts I've decided to dedicate this blog to my life long project of Japanese food
and culture (and my life in general, especially my travels).

Since my first taste of sushi back in 1997 I've been interested in, and frequently been making
Japanese food.
My interest in the country and culture started long before and continues to evolve.
I was lucky to finally visit Japan in October 2008, again in November 2019 and hope to be back soon.
In July 2012 I visited Japantown in San Fransisco, the next best thing!
I was lucky to be back in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 thanks to the fact that we now have family living in California.
Both small and big adventures will from now on, as time permits, be shared with you.

I will post other recipes and pictures too, mainly cooking projects, plants and art projects
(including my new love - making kumihimo braided objects).

I hope you'll find it interesting, and feel free to leave a comment or ask questions!

I write mainly in English, but there will be some Norwegian too, especially posts about things
that mainly have Norwegian interest. Tutorials are bi-lingual.

Sunday 30 October 2011

Happy Halloween!

From me to you:
Nekobasu!


I need to get better carving tools.... but at least we have a Japanese theme pumpkin!

Best day of the year in our house... we love scary things and to make fun of them. To get some candy + creative outlet also helps.... :)



Winner = me! 1

I´ve entered some draws at different blogs lately and has been lucky to win,
not once, but twice....
So, I´m showing off my new-won stuff:

I´m now the proud owner of an Anniemal clutch. I love, love, love butterflies,
so it´s perfect for me. I can´t wait to get an opportunity to use it.... before my daughter steals it, she´s already tried once...


Inside it has cute little stars!


You can visit Anniemal and get your own clutch here:
Anniemal butikk på Epla

Soon I´ll reveal what I won at Babyrames draw.....

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Basic kumihimo 8 strand - grunnteknikk 8 tråder

I´ve been asked to post some more kumihimo tutorials, so that´s what I´m going to do.... The spiral braid is coming, I just need some daylight to take pictures. While I work on that one; here´s the basic round 8-strand setup.

Jeg har blitt spurt om jeg kan poste noen flere kumihimoflettinger, og det skal jeg selvfølgelig. Mens jeg venter på dagslys for å få tatt bilder av spiralfletting poster jeg grunnteknikk for 8 tråders rund fletting:

Basic 8-strand cord, round braid
Grunnteknikk 8-tråder, rund fletting

You need 4 cords, 2 (1,5) mm thick, aprox. 80 cm long and a small piece of thread to tie.
Du trenger 4 (sateng)tråder, 2 (1,5) mm tykke, ca. 80 cm lange og en liten trådstump til å binde sammen med.



Here´s the disc, and cords cut in the right length. Cords lay double and are secured by another thread.
Her er skiven og trådene kuttet i riktig lengde, ca. 80 cm for et armbånd. Trådene ligger dobbelt og knytes sammen av en annen tråd.


Pull the cords through the hole in the middle and secure each thread in the indicated slot on the front side of disc.
Dra trådene igjennom hullet i midten og sett dem fast på forsiden av skiven i riktig posisjon mens du holder fast på baksiden med en hånd.


Setup for 8-strand round braid. Spiral pattern.
Oppsett for 8-tråders rund fletting. Spiralmønster.


Move the lower right cord to the right of the two upper cords (16 to 1).
Flytt den nederste høyre tråden opp til høyre for de to øverste trådene.


Secure the cord.
Sett fast tråden.


Move the upper left cord down to the left of the bottom cord (31 to 18).
Flytt den øverste venstre tråden ned til venstre for tråden i bunn.


Turn the disc 90 degrees anti-clockwise. Move the lower left cord up to the right of the upper cords,
Snu fletteskiven 90 grader mot klokken (mot høyre). Flytt den nedre høyre tråden opp til høyre for de øverste trådene.


.... and the left upper cord down to the left of the lower.
.... og den øverste venstre tråden ned til venstre for den nederste tråden.


Turn and repeat: right up, left down.
Snu og gjenta: høyre opp, venstre ned.


Look at the braid grow under your disc.
Den flettede tråden vokser under fletteskiven.

Friday 7 October 2011

Packing kumihimo kits...


Finally! Yesterday the last items for my kumihimo kits arrived; some Kraft boxes that fits the braiding disc perfectly. I´ve decorated them with washi-tape and my new calling cards.

Now I need to sit down and finish the instruction sheet, and they´re all ready.
5 boxes are for my first ever kumihimo course, 2 is for my Epla shop and one is for a friend.
I still have 4 Kraft boxes, so I´ll have to order some more braiding discs if this turns out to be popular.


My mum is opening a shop/ workshop in Lillehammer, in main street Storgata, next month.
I will have my kumihimo products there + I can come for courses if someone is interested.
More info coming on that, with pictures! I´m currently working on displays for my bracelets + a new line of earrings to go with the kumihimo and my mums felted products.