✿Tea Ceremony

I had my very first Tea Ceremony and invited my own guests. 
This is the Tea House where I practice tea manners 2 to 3 times each month.
Tea Ceremony changes tools, way of setting and way of serving tea many times in a year depending on the season so it is really not easy to remember each way, that's why we practice.

           
My beautiful guests, Lauren, Pattie and Sophia enjoyed Maccha tea and tea sweets.

I did lots of simulation for a week and I was really happy that I did it fine.  

After the tea ceremony, we had obento lunch which my teacher made. There were at least 11 different dishes and dessert.

My guest Lauren brought me a beautiful gift with beautiful flowers which smelled very nice as well.

Look how pretty she decorated the whole box.  I shared the goodies with my tea mates afterwards and my husband ate most of them.

I had such a lovely time that day and I am really thankful to my tea master (teacher) Yuko-san for giving me the chance to serve tea to my guests.  

It was a really great opportunity to recognized myself how much I've learned in last few years.

✿My Family Visit

My family from Japan was visiting me and we went so many places in such a short time. 

We flew to Las Vegas and  went to Grand Canyon. 

I've been to Grand Canyon once long long time ago for a short period of time but this time we were on tour so we spent about 3 ~ 4 hours in different locations and it was nice.

 Other side of the canyon had beautiful view with clear sky.

The view of the Las Vegas Strip from the air plane in evening.

and then... Twin peaks in San Francisco.

We took a boat ride from pier 39, drove through the Golden Gate Park and Golden Gate Bridge, had Cable Car ride, etc... we were sightseeing a lot.

and then... we went to Sonoma and Napa.  

The days went so quickly and the day they left to Japan, I felt so lonely.  
It was a really fun time with my family ! 
I can't wait to go back to Japan again !

✿Trend Beyond 2013

Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland had annual "Trend Beyond" fundraising event last weekend.  

 This gallery and artworks are always inspiring in so many ways.

This gallery has a large studio space for artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities.  I see the true joy through those art works.

 One of the artist on runway wearing the pieces she embroidered.

Some of the clothes were from Erica Tanov 2013 spring collection, based on artwork by Creative Growth artist.
I've been wanting to meet Erica so I was really happy to meet her ♥

As last year, it was a great show and I enjoyed it very much.
You can see some of the show photos at Erica Tanov web site, here.

Last years "Trend Beyond", check out here...

✿Bunnies at Tail of The Yak

If you have been reading my blog for sometime, you know how much I love this shop called "Tail of The Yak" and this is the new display of this shop.  They have Easter display with lots of bunny and egg items.

Colorful bunny candles and surprised balls.  These surprised balls has 10 little toys inside but it's too cute to open though...

I love their candles has logo on it.

You can't see the logo but I made this piece with Tail of The Yak candle at Lauren's (one of the owner) calligraphy class.

If you would like to see the candle piece, here it is ...
Calligraphy Class

✿Custom Hat & Bag

I had custom orders of a hat and a bag the other day.
I have been making custom order items but I think I never wrote anything on this blog before. I think I will post some custom order items on this blog sometime from now on...
I have this hat style from before and she requested to use her own fabric and  extra small size for her small head.

This is a bag I made for the other lady. She saw me carrying the bag I made and she wanted the same bag in her own fabric as well.  This is actually the inside out and has lots of pockets. This bag is reversible so she can use it in either side.

This is the outside look. I did Sashiko stiches.

If you would like me to make something custom made, feel free to let me know.
My email is available at my web site !
www.momoca.com

✿Cake & Peony

My Tea Ceremony friends and I had a birthday party for our master, Yuko-san.

We did potluck and I had request from 2 people to make cake so I made this 2 layers of green tea sponge cake with mix of whipped cream and cream cheese.  I put cream and banana between the layer and kiwi and blueberries as topping.

I didn't make cake for over 2 months so I enjoyed making it.  

I always love making sweets ! (of curse, eating part too !)

There were lots of yummy Japanese food on the table and I ate so much that night !


It's been so warm here in Berkeley and the other day I did gardening and it was so refreshing !  I want to plant more flowers...

 Oh... peonies are blooming in my garden right now !

✿Momoca New Online Shop

Momoca has a new online shopping site now.

I told 3 people about my site a few days ago just to see how it would work and 2 of them bought my hats. (thank you!)

I make my hats with lots of care and love and every time I sell my hats (especially the favorite ones)  it's little sad to see them go... 

I wish my hats get lots of opportunity to be worn by the new owners...

so I will have to make more hats !

Here is my site !

Thank you.

✿Calligraphy Art

These are my drawing using calligraphy pen and ink.

It's letter size paper and I spent 6 ~8 hours for each one in last spring.

I often forgot the time when I was drawing those and my hands and eyes were so tired after that...

Those prints are sold at Collector Art Shop on College Avenue in Berkeley.

✿Garden Cake

My friend Saori had a birthday party for her 1 year old daughter.

She made such a cute cake like a garden and decorated with lady fingers and Oreo cookie powder.  She also cut out gummy candies as tulips. 

She also made this with yarn and branches.

She said she was inspired by the dry flowers I have in my house.

It was a really lovely party.  

Happy 1st. birthday, Ako.

✿I Love You

On Valentine's day, my husband and I were both working that day so we dicided to have a date on the next day...

After we dicided to have a date the next day, I wasn't expecting anything (like gift or anything...) on that day but when I got home, I saw a beautiful bouquet and " I LOVE YOU " letters on the floor which he created with his art cards.　He wasn't home yet so he prepared it before he left for work.

It was so sweet and lovely !  I was really happy and made me smile...

I took out my tripod and took picture of the letters and myself !

and... the next day I work up earlier than Jasko and I got an idea to add " TOO" 
for  " I LOVE YOU, TOO "  I also used his art cards for that...

For our date, we stroll the shops on 4th street in Berkeley and had lunch at Ochame Japanese restaurant.  After that we went to Rose Garden but none of the roses were blooming yet... we sat down at the bench in front of the rose called " Mon Cheri " which means " my darling " in French.  All the roses at Rose Garden in Berkeley has name plates.

It was such a lovely day !