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.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

New store and my submissions to craftgawker

I´ve been busy lately, braiding until my hands are sore and also finding time to explore new venues online... well, not really, I don´t have the time, but I use the late evenings and nights...

I´ve submitted 2 tutorials to www.craftgawker.com that has been accepted. Lots of page views on my blog was the result. And I´m a little bit proud... :) Click on the green craftgawker-logo one the right side to get to my gallery.

Soooo many hearts! :)

I´ve also opened a second online store on Pipler.com. They make it easy also for sales abroad, so I thought it might be a good idea to get more international customers. Etsy is nice, but big and a little bit frightening, so I thought Pipler might be a nice starting point. Epla is still the bulk of my Norwegian customers, but we´ll see how things develop.

Check out my store, will you? http://www.pipler.com/shop/krysantemum-design.html

My storefront!

Oh, and there has been a lot of orders from friends... these thin wrap-around-the-vrist style bracelets are a hit! Plus the spiral bracelets for little girls birthdays...

Wrap around bracelets. I also make anklets in the same style.


Friday 16 March 2012

Fredagsfavoritter fra Epla

I´ve made a list of light colored earrings from Epla.no, check it out:




Friday 9 March 2012

Tutorial: Make your own spiral bracelet!


Kumihimo spiralfletting med 12 tråder - lag et armbånd
Kumihimo tutorial - spiral braid with 12 threads - make a bracelet

Du trenger til et armbånd (eller to barnearmbånd): 4 tråder i 1-1,5 mm tråd ca. 75 cm lange, i en, to eller fire farger, og 2 tråder ca. 150 cm lange (kantfargen). Flettingen passer i 8 mm endestykker.
Du trenger også: 2 endestykker 8 mm, en lås, en perle på perlestilk og 4-5 o-ringer 5 mm.

You´ll need for one bracelet (or two child size): 4 threads in mousetail size, aprox. 75 cm (2,5 feet) long, in one, two or four colors, 2 threads aprox. double the length (edge color).  It fits in 8 mm endcaps. 
You´ll also need: 2 endcaps 8 mm, one clasp, one pearl on a pin and 4-5 jumprings 5 mm.

Sett opp trådene som på det første bildet.
Set up your braid as in the first picture.



Her er startoppsettet. 
De 4 lengste trådene (røde på bildet) settes rett ut til høyre og venstre. De 8 trådene i midten settes slik at det er 2 ledige hakk mellom hvert trådpar øverst og nederst.
Start setup: The 4 long threads go to the sides, and the other 8 in the middle as shown above.



Den første tråden som flyttes er den nederste, innerste tråden til venstre. Flytt den opp på utsiden (til venstre) for de to øverste trådene til venstre. Fra 19 til 29.
Move the first thread: The inner, lower one goes up to the left of the upper left threads. From 19 to 29.


Den andre tråden som flyttes er den øverste, innerste tråden til venstre. Flytt den ned på innsiden (til høyre) for de to nederste venstre trådene. Fra 31 til 17. Flytteregle: Ned - opp - ytterst, opp - ned - innerst.
Move the second thread: The inner, upper thread (of the 3) goes down on the innside of the lower left thread. From 31 to 17. Chant: Down - up - outer, up - down - inner.


Nå flytter vi over på høyre side og tar den nederste, innerste tråden og flytter den opp på innsiden av de to øverste høyre trådene. Fra 15 til 1.
We´ll move to the right side and start with the lower, inner thread and move it up on the innside of the two upper right threads. From 15 to 1.


Så går den øverste, ytterste tråden til høyre ned til høyre for den nederste tråden til høyre.
Fra 3 til 13. Flytteregle: Ned - opp - innerst, opp - ned - ytterst.
Now, the upper, outer right thread goes down to the right side of the lower thread.
From 3 to 13. Chant: Down - up - inner, up - down outer.



Nå snur du fletteskiven 90 grader mot klokken slik at de to trådparene som var til venstre kommer rett ned.
Turn the braiding disc 90 degrees anti-clockwise. The longer side threads will be up and down now.


Flytt den venstre av de to nederste trådene opp til venstre for de to øverste trådene. Fra 25 til 7.
Move the lower left thread up to the left of the upper threads. From 25 to 7.


Flytt den høyre tråden av de tre trådene øverst ned til høyre for den nederste tråden. Fra 9 til 23.
Move the upper right thread down to the right of the lower thread. From 9 to 23.


Snu fletteskiven 90 grader mot klokken slik at du kommer tilbake til startoppsettet. Gjenta til armbåndet blir så langt som du vil ha det.
Turn the disc 90 degrees to get back to the start setup. Continue braiding until the braid is long enough for your project. 


Båndet vokser under skiven.
The braid grows under the disc.

Når du er ferdig med flettingen: Løsne båndet fra skiven og surr litt tynn ståltråd rundt endene.
Klipp av overflødig tråd og lim et endestykke på hver side. Sett på o-ringer på en side, og lås/ perle i en o-ring på den andre siden.

When you´re done braiding: Loosen the braid and secure the ends with some thin metal thread wrapped around all of the threads. Trim the ends and glue on two endcaps, one on each end. Attach jumprings to one cap and clasp + crystal with a jumpring to the other cap.



Her ser du to armbånd med pålimte endestykker, lås og perle.
Picture shows two bracelets with glued-on endcaps, clasp and pearl.


Resultatet! Disse armbåndene er flotte presanger til store og små jenter. Vi gir dem bort i barnebursdager med stor suksess. 
Final result! These bracelets make great birthday gifts for big and small girls. My daughter gives them away - great success!

Tuesday 6 March 2012

More custom orders

I´ve been getting several custom orders lately, so I´ve been braiding a lot.
Two child bracelets were rush orders for a birthday party, so I didn´t even have time to take pictures of them! I´m planning to make more of them, they are popular birthday gifts for litle girls.


This is a foot chain in thin braid with sterling silver details. I hope the owner will wear it a lot this summer!



A friend wanted a thin, long bracelet to wrap twice around her vrist. I´m planning to make a variety of this, even longer, to wrap 3 times around and it can double as both a foot bracelet (two times around) or necklace.


This is a necklace made for someone who loved the bracelet I´ve made in this color/ pattern, but never uses bracelets. She wanted the 16 thread braid for a short chocker-style necklace instead.

Thursday 1 March 2012

Kiju

Happy kiju dad!


I wish I was there with you today....

Your daughter L