In less than a month, I will be traveling across Japan. I cannot wait! While shopping is not the purpose of the trip, I will visit a few design shops. One of the stores that is high on my list is Fog Linen Work. I discovered this superb raw linen collection last fall.

Even though you can buy the collections at selected retailers across the United States and Canada, it is not the same as shopping at the designer’s shop. I cannot wait to see up close the kitchen linens designed by Yumiko Sekine.

A Must-Have Magazine

I read on La Tartine Gourmande about the latest magazine that Fog Linen Work produced. It features creators around the world that introduce their life with fog linen. The concept is awesome. You can check out a digest to get an idea of the bilingual magazine (japanese and english).

As far as I know, each creator took the set of pictures. You will get a glimpse of the creative universe of Maria Alexandra Vettese, Ryan and Alissa of Horne, Julie Baine of Pod, clay artist Rae Dunn, photographer Marisa Shimamoto, photographer Jennifer Causey, photographer Jenny Hallengren, Sally Yang of DWR, textile designer and illustrator Lena Corwin, stylist Elodie Rambaud, designer Lotta Jansdotter, and food photography and stylist Beatrice Peltre.

MORE:
+ Around the Fog magazine – march 2010 issue 945 yen
+ Fog Linen Work
+ other photos: La Tartine Gourmande

You might also like these posts

A team, Jo and Kathy designed and printed personalized printed cotton shopping bags from their studio in Sussex. I like the drawings.

There are 4 lovely background colors: Primrose Yellow, Sage Green, Raspberry Pink and Azure Blue. You can write your name or a small message. The long handle bag is made with 100% natural cotton.

+ Personalized Printed Cotton Shopper Bag £9

You might also like these posts

I have been a fan of the Reisenthel Carrybags since their launch. I own a nice carrot basket. These basket bags are not just great for shopping. You can use also them for picnics. And since I first introduced then in early 2007, the price has gone down.

Now that I have seen the cheerful patterns that feel so much like spring and summer, I wish for a new one. I am torn between the “Color Dots” and “I Like Shopping”. The “I Like Shopping” fits better with the orange carrybag and the green bottle bag I already have. But I love the elegance of the “Color Dots”.  What do you think?

SOURCING:
+ For Americans: Color Dots or I Like Shopping Reisenthel Collapsible Bag or Market Basket at Amazon.com $39.99 USD
+ For Canadians: Color Dot Reisenthel Carrybags at GoneShopping.ca $49.99 CAD
+ For Canadians: I Like Shopping Reisenthel Carrybags $49.99 CAD

You might also like these posts

Since last month, I am the host of a home deco segment on a French-speaking Web TV show called On Est Ensemble that is hosted by Philippe Régnoux. It is a fun experience and the team I am working with is awesome. It is a talk show co-produced by the Communauté Sépharade Unifiée du Québec and KAYAK Media.

On Est Ensemble is produced every month. The March episode is now online. My segment starts at 21:31 minutes. Elie shares a recipe after my segment. If you understand French, you will not want to miss his recipe. It is absolutely delicious. I will translate soon his latest recipe.

Women’s Fashion Shop

I also wish to thank Billie Boutique for lending me the beautiful clothes I am wearing. I selected a Tara Jarmon skirt to go with an adorable green top (maybe by Marlene Birger). The dressing rooms at Billie Boutique are stylishly girlie.

+ On Est Ensemble

You might also like these posts

Yesterday, I shopped at another supermarket than my usual one. All natural, preferably organic, peanut butter was on my grocery list. I want 100% peanuts, that’s all! No added sugar, no added salt, no molasses, and no added oil.

Since that grocery store carries many organic brands that I did not, I started to read the ingredient list. I was shocked to see how many organic peanut butters contain other ingredients than peanuts. Do not be fool by the front label. Do not assume when you see organic that the final product is healthy or healthier.

Reading the nutrition facts is one half of the equation. You also need to look at the ingredients to know what is inside. In winter, we often replace fresh tomatoes by a can of tomatoes since the canned tomatoes bring more taste to our recipes. It is not a problem since tomatoes need salt anyway. But you need to know to adjust your recipe.

You might also like these posts

Shwowp is a project launched by two extremely talented persons: my husband Jérôme Paradis and Tara Hunt (@missrogue). As a consumer and a blogger, I am very excited by what they wish to accomplish with Shwowp. I cannot reveal you more at this point but I know that it will interest you. But I wish to invite you to sign up to be the first to learn how they will put the Wow into online shopping.

Little Bit More about Tara Hunt

In case you do not know, Tara Hunt published a wonderful book about the power social media earlier this year. Her book is titled The Whuffie Factor. I encourage you to read it. Tara tells us why and how to build social capital through our actions and the conversations we have in social networks. It is a marketing book that can be useful whether you are building a startup, you own a small business or you work for a large corporation. It would make a wonderful affordable Christmas gift.

SOURCING:
+ More details on Shwowp
+ The Whuffie Factor by Tara Hunt $16.50 USD

You might also like these posts

I like the style of the string shopping bags. At moment it feels European while at other time it feels bohemian. I wish to know if you find them more practical than the Envirosax or the RuME bags? I am thinking of trying them. Here are three models that caught my eyes.

+ Stretch Bag by Artecnica is made from recycled billboard. There is also a leather version vinyl $16 USD, leather $95

+ Black Organic Cotton String Bag starts at $6.95 USD
+ ECOBAGS EarthTone Cotton String Bag Set with Hemp StuffSack 5 bags $29.95 USD

Do not forget to tell me what type of reusable shopping bags you use.

You might also like these posts

First of all, I wish to say that I hope that reusable produce bags become as popular as the reusable shopping bags. Each time I go to the grocery without them, I feel bad. They are great for shopping but I also feel that the vegetables stay fresh longer.

Many brands made them. I introduced the ECObags last year. I still like those, they kept their shapes and sizes after several machine washes.

Steward Bags

At the start of the summer, I received a complimentary combination pack of reusable produce bags from Steward Bags, a Canadian brand run by a couple. I recommend that you get one or two combination packs of reusable produce bags (five small bags, three large bags). I keep the vegetables in the reusable bags in the fridge. Since some bags may be in the laundry basket, I need more for shopping. You will see a small bag is enough for many items on your shopping list.

I made the error to dry machine them once. They shrunk a bit but they kind of extend like an old pair of jeans when you insert fruits or vegetables. Therefore, it does not really matter.

Steward Bags was founded by the Baileys, who are both teachers in Ontario.

October 24th, 2009 Update: Steward Bags will have a stand in the New Product Showcase area at the Grocery Innovations Canada 2009. The show, which will be at the Toronto Congress Centre next Monday and Tuesday. I wish that retailers will decide to sell that green alternative in their stores. Bringing our shopping bags was not natural at first. Now, the cashiers ask us if you need a plastic bag?

SOURCING:
+ Combination Bulk Special $25 CAD

You might also like these posts

Arthur Quentin is a must-shop place in Montreal for anyone who likes to cook or to entertain. You shop there when you are looking for quality and European imported tableware. No need to say that I like this shop a lot.

Their new collection for autumn includes this warmer dish to make chèvre chaud (warm goat cheese). It is a good idea to stock a couple for Christmas or as an hostess gift since you will impress with this $20 gift. They also carry a version for brie or camembert cheese.

Table linens at Arthur Quentin are awesome. They carry 100% linen tablecloths and napkins. Made in Belgium, I like the yellow and white Clément collection (starts at $280 CAD). A cheaper option for casual entertaining or for your everyday usage is the French Country Tête à tête and its matching napkins ($44.50 and $17.50).

+ Arthur Quentin – site only in French

You might also like these posts

Haus Maus

As you may know, Holly  of Decor8 writes a second blog where she talks about her new life in Hanover. In Haus Maus, she chronicles little differences like this communal bookcase. People donate the books. If you take one, you need to replace it by another book. I like this idea.

On another post, Holly talked about the fact that people often travel in bicycle instead of taking the car. Sure that the narrow streets of Europe make driving cumbersome, but it is more than that. I envy them.

Design*Sponge

In fact, the idea of this post starts when I saw the Arbour Wall picture in Brisbane earlier today. You will find 72 city guides on Design*Sponge. The pictures are from the:

• Brisbane guide
• Manhattan guide part 2: the meatpacking district

If you plan a visit to one of the covered cities, they are a must to read since each guide is written by a resident.

You might also like these posts

+ Sale Letterpress & Offset Cards at Egg Press. The I Love You Mother is just in time for Mother’s Day.

+ For one week only, you can get a box of 10 letterpress cards for $10 at Night Owl Paper Goods. This offer is valid on a large array of cards.

You might also like these posts

For us living in Canada and the United States, we can take pleasures looking at the nicely styled pictures. They offer a source of inspirations that we can integrate in our home.

You might also like these posts