Blog

Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:08:00 GMT

Spirited Away is one of my all time favourite films; I've recently watched it again with a child who'd never seen it before. He was transfixed by this fantastic world of monsters, pigs, spirits and dragons, it was such fun to revisit this film.
Hayao Miyazaki also made My Neighbor Totoro which I am also very fond of, so much so that I named my dog Totoro!

image via here

Adam Sorensen Landscapes

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:47:00 GMT

I came across Adam Sorensen's work today; really enjoying his use of colour in these paintings.
They recall traditional Japanese woodblock prints in such a contemporary way. They're quite dark and epic but almost cartoonish too.

images from here via lost at e minor

Lucky New Year!

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:25:00 GMT

Happy New Year!

Last week saw the beginning of the Chinese New Year. It is year of the Dragon which is considered the luckiest in the Chinese Zodiac. The legendary creature is so auspicious; it is a potent symbol of power, and strength.

In Japanese folklore too, Dragons feature extensively.
Luminous Pearl Princess is my favourite Dragon Goddess from ancient Japanese mythology. She was the daughter of Ryūjin, the Dragon ruler of the seas. He lived in an underwater sea palace and had magical jewels which controlled the ebb and flow of the tides. These stories are incredibly rich and intricate...below is Princess Tamatori stealing Ryūjin's tide jewels, (by Utagawa Kuniyoshi) image from here.

New In Store and Xmas Trading Hours

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:52:00 GMT

New In Store At Yoshi Jones We've been busy stocking our Newtown store full of a fantastic new clothes, accessories, jewellery, toys and homewares.With Christmas only a few short weeks away, come in and pick up gifts for everyone in the one place. • Toys and games from Seedling to engage kids in creative play. Give the kids Kokeshi Dolls to decorate, Memory Games, Spinning Tops, 3D Puzzles and lots more. Starting at just $6.50, these fun gifts will entertain long after the wrapping paper has been torn off! • Vintage Kimono Panel Dresses, Wrap Skirts, Halter Tops just to name a few! New styles have been added to the Vintage Kimono Range with classic and flattering shapes in sublime colours. Limited quantities of these one-off pieces, so be quick! • Cute pouch bags, clip purses and our new Slim-Line Obis have arrived in store. Vintage Kimono prints and embroidered fabrics make these pieces the most unique gifts. • New cosmetic zip bags are great for the tidy traveller. • Lampshades and Bases to brighten up any home; great for giving to friends or family or as the statement at your Christmas Party!

Extended Christmas Trading Hours Monday 12 & 19 Dec 10.30am - 7pm Tuesday 13 & 20 Dec 10.30am - 7pm Wednesday 14 & 21 Dec 10.30am - 7pm Friday 16 & 23 Dec 10.30am - 7pm Thursday 15 December 10.30am - 8pm Thursday 22 December 10.30am - 8pm Saturday 17 December 10.00am - 6pm Saturday 24 December 10.00am - 6pm Sunday 18 December 11 am – 5pm Closed Sunday 25 December & Monday 26 December Tuesday 27 December 10.30 - 6pm Wednesday 28 December 10.30 - 6pm Friday 30 December 10.30 - 6pm Thursday 29 December 10.30am - 8pm Saturday 31 December 10.00am - 6pm Closed Sunday 1 January & Thursday 26 January Monday 2 January 12pm - 5pm Regular opening hours resume Tuesday 3 January
Newtown store 134 King St, Newtown NSW 2042 ph. (02) 9550 1663

Rainbow Leather

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:47:00 GMT

Leather Bags in Rainbow Colours! Limited Edition; Be Quick!

Introducing our new range of fabulous leather bags, they have just arrived and are sure to be popular. Stock is limited, so you'll need to be quick! Available in store and online now, all you have to do is decide which are your favourites.....prices start at $169.

Japanese Paper Dolls

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:09:00 GMT

Japanese Paper Dolls by Futami Isogawa; now in store

Exclusive to Yoshi Jones!
Come in to the Newtown store to see Futami Isogawa's beautiful Japanese Dolls.
These exquisite sculptures are available to purchase from $50-150

Japanese paper, or washi, is perhaps most famous for its use in origami, a traditional Japanese art of paperfolding. The Japanese paper dolls on display in this exhibition are hand crafted using authentic 'chirimen' paper. Chirimen paper is preshrunk and hand made with a luxurious feel.

The dolls are imbued with a sense of movement and natural feminine grace, and each pattern carries a unique meaning. They would make a striking addition to a sophisticated interior space, and are ideal gifts for friends and family.

Yoshi Jones Clearance Sale This Saturday 9-3‏

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:14:00 GMT

Yoshi Jones Studio Sale This Saturday Only!
2 Gladstone Street Enmore corner of Wilford Street

Saturday 22 October 9am to 3pm
One day sale clearing out previous season summer, end of lines and samples, prices start at $25!
Dresses, skirts, tops, men's shirts plus fabrics....Come along for excellent bargains

Warrior Shoes now in stock at Newtwon

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:42:00 GMT

Warrior Shoes, Now in Newtown Store

We have exciting news to share; we've finally taken our first delivery of the cult Warrior Shoes!

Established in 1927, Warrior Shoes are a Chinese heritage athletic sneaker.
The brand's origins, quality and functionality have garnered it a following among the most innovative fashion circles,
being carried by landmark stores internationally, including Collette (Paris), Patta and Restored (Amsterdam)
and WoodWood (Berlin).
The shoe itself is hand finished, extremely well made and durable. Winning numerous industry awards for
production and quality and priced at $79 and $89; these fabulous shoes for men and women will be popular.
Come into our Newtown store to take a look for yourself.

Amy Jones' Art Featured in Our Window and Shop

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:20:00 GMT

I immediately responded to the work of Amy Jones (no relation!) when I went along to her exhibition at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Camperdown.

Amy used fabric from my Vintage Kimono collection to construct beautiful artwork; when I saw it I knew that her work would look so fantastic in the Newtown store.

It is excellent timing to display her work as Spring is traditonally an important time in Japan to celebrate new beginnings, it's when the cherry blossom trees come into bloom for a fleeting week; the hanami season. The store is buzzing with new season energy and we are very excited about the new stock which is arriving every week!

I am so pleased to feature Amy's work as she is a Newtown based artist whose paintings and craft based works are influenced by the Japanese landscape. Jones has particularly responded to the deliberate manner of planting, and the sculptural nature of Japanese garden design, seeing an echo of the artistic process – selection and discernment of colour, composition and form.

Jones’ Installation “there are no birdies in my garden”, is a response to inner city life – attempting to recreate part of the whimsical beauty of a garden, whilst surrounded by a concrete jungle.

The sculptures are available to purchase for $19-45 in our Newtown store.

Jones currently teaches painting and drawing classes privately, and at the Hazelhurst Gallery in Gymea.

Boltanski; Heart Beat Art at Teshima

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:12:00 GMT

Powerful work!
A collection of heart beats, from all over the world.
Like fingerprints; heart beats are unique. Captured, the human memory seems to live on...

I have been reading about "Les Archives du Cœur"- The Heart Archive; work by French artist Christian Boltanski currently showing at the Teshima Art Museum. I wish I'd had the time to go and check it out myself when I was recently in Japan.

Boltanski collects recordings of human heartbeats, the installation is then kept at this site permanently, on the uninhabited island of Teshima. Visitors are invited to donate a recording of their own heartbeat in a little booth join the archive with the 15,000 others.

“I am interested in what I call ‘little memory’, an emotional memory, an everyday knowledge, the contrary of the Memory with a capital M that is preserved in history books”, Boltanski says. “This little memory, which for me is what makes us unique, is extremely fragile" says Boltanski (via Serpentine Gallery)

Teshima Art Museum is shaped like a drop of water, a floating droplet on an island.

"...two oval openings allow the air, sounds, and light of the world outside into this organic space where nature and architecture seem intimately interconnected. Inside one finds an ever-flowing fountains and an ambiance that changes from hour to hour and season to season, revealing countless appearances as time passes."

More information about the exhibition available on the Naoshima Fukutake Art Museum website; Benesse Art Site

Antique Japanese Postcards

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:39:00 GMT

These antique postcards from Japan really charmed me when I first came upon them a little while ago, I have had them sitting in my folder to revisit again; here they are to share with you. Aren't they adorable?

Betty Boop 1937

Betty Boop, Mickey and Minnie 1936

Mickey c. 1920-40s

New Year's Card 1911

Children's Expo 1906

Norakuro c. 1930s

Dancing Cats 1920- 1940s

These were found in a recent book by collector Hiroki Hayashi entitled
"Antique Cute Post Cards in Japan" (Nippon no kawaii ehagaki).

images from Pink Tentacle
via Dangerous Minds

Yayoi Kusama; installation art

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:29:00 GMT

I came across the work of Yayoi Kusama again recently and I remembered what a powerful aesthetic she has. Her installation art is incredible and I urge you to see it if you ever get the chance.

Fireflies On The Water, 2000.

images from here

From her official website:

Polka dots, the trademark of “Kusama Happening”. Red, green and yellow polka dots can be the circles representing the earth, the sun, or the moon. Their shapes and what they signify do not really matter. I paint polka dots on the bodies of people, and with those polka dots, the people will self-obliterate and return to the nature of the universe.

An excerpt from “Infinity Nets”, Kusama Yayoi Autobiography

Statement House, Statement Jewellery

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:33:00 GMT

I have been so busy these last weeks flying to Japan for a super fast business visit; my head is in a spin! I look forward to producing some gorgeous new garments later this year from the amazing fabric I've sourced there. Lots of bright prints for easy summer dressing.
I came across some images of this private residence, designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates and felt like I could do with a holiday, away from the city. I imagine it would be like living in a tree house.......

images of Glass/ Wood House via Kengo Kuma & Associates

Kuma's goal as an architect is to 'recover the traditions of Japanese buildings'; I like the restraint of his design.

Vendome Aoyama has released a range of jewelery designed by Kengo Kuma; very simple, beautiful pieces which seem to be inspired by his architectural work. The Oribe range is my favourite.

Architecture and Fashion

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:02:00 GMT

I've recently discovered a connection between two Japanese artists who I admire;
Tadao Ando the architect and Issey Miyake, my favourite fashion designer.

Miyake is one of the directors of 21_21 Design Sight ; a kind of museum, gallery and research space for design in Tokyo.
Ando was the architect given the awesome brief of "a structure which would represent Japan".

Regarding the design process for the building, Ando explains
"...it was said that, "If there were one nation in the world whose demise would have serious consequences it would be the Japanese." I interpret this statement to mean that we mustn't allow the characteristic Japanese aesthetic to die out. Aesthetics also include things like a sense of responsibility and a sense of justice. They also incorporate a respect for other people and for nature, an appreciation of the gift of life, and courtesy. They even extend to the ability to look at the world around one, properly."
via 21_21 Design Sight

21_21 Design Sight building; the roof is one sheet of folded steel which echoes the single piece of fabric that Miyake uses to make his garments. So elegant!

The current exhibition is on til Sunday 31: THE SPIRIT OF TOHOKU: "CLOTHING" BY ISSEY MIYAKE

Pleats Please by Issey Miyake via FIDM

His garments in the Pleats Please range are pleated after being cut and sewn so as to retain their knife pleats to perfection. Miyake is a true innovator of design!

Ando is perhaps best known for his Church of the Light, a small Church in Ibaraki, Osaka Japan. Slits in the concrete reveal a cross shape when the sunlight peaks through. The incredible concrete walls are 15 inches thick, and yet the space is equally defined by the light as the solidness of its structure.
Simple yet sublime.

photo by Sanghyun Lee via http://www.andotadao.org/

take a look at the website for more info re 21_21 Design Sight
http://www.2121designsight.jp/en/

Winter Sale

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:16:00 GMT

YOSHI JONES WINTER SALE!
Thursday 21 July til Wednesday 3 August.
Get up to 75% off a fantastic range of winter clothing!
Come to our store for winter bargains. 134 King St Newtown.

Blossom Wrap Dress was $349, now $179 - Box Pleat Skirt was $229 now $115

Pentagonal Petal Dress was $229 now $169 - V Neck Tunic was $179 now $100