So it was my birthday on Thursday, which is normally not something I relish, but oddly as I get older I get more comfortable with the idea. Celebrations began (unprompted by me I hasten to add) on Sunday, with friends bringing over enormous cupcakes with candles, and lots of other nice goodies. I had lunch with a friend at The Wolesley on Tuesday, where we were lucky enough to spot Dominic West and Damian Lewis drinking brandy together, and on the day itself I got breakfast in bed and the shiniest present ever.
See how shiny? You can see my mug of tea! I’ve been less shiny, and somehow lost some emails and things in the transfer process, so huge apologies to those I owe an email, especially the de-lurking variety…
Since I’ve been given some lovely lovely things this week, I thought I’d share the love, and have a little giveaway. How about winning a japanese craft book and a couple of half metres of japanese inspired cotton to play with?
The book is called ‘bagu no hon’, which just means (roughly) ‘book of bags’, and it contains patterns and full instructions on how to make lots of lovely bags. Of course they’re in japanese but that’s half the fun.
I’ll post anywhere, so if you’ve been too nervous to dip your toe into the japanese book world, or even if you have a collection already and just need one more, (believe me they are addictive) leave me a comment below to enter the draw.
I’ll pick a winner when I come back from my holiday!
Ooo good giveaway! I love the fabric and would definitely be in the toe dipping camp for the book
Belated Happy birthday!
OOOO scary, not entered the world of Japanese crafts, I have seen many beautiful things inspired by them on blogs but not been ‘there’ myself!!!
Would love to give it a try and see what happens!
Love
Lyn
xxx
xxx
Happy Birthday Jo! What a lovely giveaway. I don’t own any Japanese craft books but have been very tempted by them, they just look so beautiful! Enjoy your holiday.
Happy Birthday! It sounds like you got nice goodiefor your birthday! I have eyed Japanese craft books, but have always been scared to try them (esp. since I never know what’s actually inside them). But if the books include patterns and are as cute as you say they are, I would love to dip my toes in the water and try them out! Have fun on your holiday!
I hope that you had a happy birthday and that you have a lovely sunny holiday in Madeira. I love the fabric and the bags in the book look like they would be a lot of fun to make. I would love to to be your draw.
Thanks for the great read.
Jane 80)
Happy Belated Birthday!! My daughter’s birthday was yesterday – we ate too much cake….. hope you enjoyed yours!
A very happy birthday to you!
I have been coveting japanese craft books since I first saw them about 6 months ago – they look gorgeous!
What a super shiny new toy!
I’ve never tried japanese craft books but the pictures always look really inspiring.
Bon voyage!
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a lovely day and some great presents! xx
Happy birthday! My daughter, Nova, turned one on friday. Such a wonderful season to have ones birthday
I’ve been drooling over japanese craft books lately – or rather the gorgeous covers of japanese craft books.
I can’t believe I didn’t know such wonders of delicate and aesthetically delicious perfection existed.
I’m dying to start a collection.
Happy birthday! Thank you for holding a giveaway!
I would love to win the book and fabric — what fun to try to figure out (or drool over) the patterns and see if my bags come out looking like the ones in the book!
Happy Birthday Jo! Hope you have a FAB holiday! x
Hi my name is Dawn and I lurk! Happy birthday hope you had a fab day that was all about you, when you have kids it becomes what they think a birthday should be. I have a memory of my husband standing on a chair in TGI’s when my daughter was four (clapping her hands) as brightly coloured young people shouted a happy birthay song. Would love to win hugs Dx
Happy birthday, Jo. Seems like you had a wonderful days. Chloe Patricia
Would love the fabric and love to give the patterns a try.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
Happy Birthday!
????????? (according to google that’s japanese for Happy Birthday!!)
Erm.. I sent you an email via your shop about 10days ago, is that one that got lost? I could resend it?
Anyway – that looks like a great book and I don’t have that one. Others, many others on bags etc, but not that one!
Congrats on the new laptop, hope you have a lovely holiday.
Cheers,
AJ
happy belated birthday! Hope you have a fab time away.
What a generous giveaway! I’ve not ventured into Japanese craft books yet because I found them a bit daunting. But lately I’ve noticed websites with sections devoted to translations of a lot of these books! I’d love a chance to try out this book, thanks for the shot at your giveaway.
Happy birthday you! Your lunch sounds most yummy (in many ways). And a new computer – someone knows how to make a blogger happy!
ooohhh now i want to try these crafts. count me in
Oh! I’m obsessed with Japan. A japanese book would be soo fun!
Happy Bday!
Happy Birthday!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66yahoo(dot)com
Happy birthday!!!I wish you a great, great day.
Awesome giveaway, I love japanese books and especially bags book. Please count me in.
Happy Birthday, hope the hols are great. Would love the fabric, sucha nice set of designs.
I would love to do more fabric items………
I think my daughter would love this…….
Very cute! I’d love to see what kinds of bags are included!
Love ALL Japanese craft books. Happy Hols and hope you are keeping well through these days of expectancy! ;o) Judy
Well Happy Birthday to You!!!!
aren’t you sweet to share the goodness? Japanese books — I’ve drooled over there only on the screen — haven’t had any in my hands yet. I have a feeling it can get addicting. fast. Thanks for the fun giveaway!
Kim
klbarth@comcast.net
A very happy birthday! Sounds like you had a wonderful day
The Japanese craft book looks really lovely. It is so kind of you to hold a giveaway on your birthday post.
Look at your shiny MacBook Pro! It’s like a mirror. If you didn’t get my previous e-mail, let me know.
Happy birthday to you?
… and have a wonderful holiday!
happy birthday – bit late, i know!! what a nice idea to share the joy.. thanks for that great give-away!!
Oh I’d love to win! I’ve never owned a Japanese craft book but have perused a few and they are just fantastic!
happy belated birthday!!! i love anything with japanese craft! they’re so cute just to look at
and i love making bags!
thanks for the awesome giveaway!
very belated happy birthday! i’d love the chance to win my first japanese craft book
A Happy Belated Birthday and I hope that you are relaxing on your hols. I would love the chance to win as you’ve always made the Japanese craft books interesting on your blog- I’ve even dabbled with a bit of window shopping on YesAsia! Fingers crossed!
So that was your birthday in my calendar (I have to say Jo’s birthday was not really conclusive enough. I lost some info in transfering from one type of handheld to another.)
My best wishes, and a very happy belated birthday to you.
Seems that you have quite a few more readers than I knew, judging by the comments.
Many Happy Returns.
The Japanese craft book looks very interesting – love to be included.
Happy birthday! Hope you’re having a fabulous holiday. Thanks for this giveaway. I have a couple of japanese books for children’s clothes but none on bags. The bags look really nice. Please include me in the draw. Thanks!
Hi what a lovely gift this would make I have tried to get hold of book from Japan but could not find a uk supplier it would be fantastic if I won, hope you had a restfull and fun holiday
God bless
Nicole x
Happy belated birthday! It looks like you had a rather nice birthday. Mine is fast approaching. I’m wondering if I’ll get a cake for once, as mum will be in town…
I haven’t even seen a Japanese craft book in person. I’ve been told that there’s some Japanese shops in a town that’s a wee ways away, but I have no clue if any sell anything like that. So far my one exploratory expedition only landed me in a Japanese supermarket…
Many happy returns of the day to you. Shiny presents are BEST!
I enjoy reading your musings. Thank you for sharing.
Jo darling, happy birthday (which I believe I’d already celebrated on Facebook)…but how did I miss this post? I’ve now read the one above it and previously the one below it…but somehow not this one! The one where you give away fabulous minimalist books and scumptious fabrics and show off your lovely birthday goodies. I must have been temporarily suffering from giveaway blindness…I must go and sharpen my radars. x