#25Project: Sendai, Japan!

Here is something special now, a 25 Project all the way from Japan! When I visited this extraordinary country in 2015, I was welcomed with open arms and came away with the most wonderful memories, so it was such a thrill to see these photos land in my inbox!

The project took place on a farm in Sendai, where a space was being built for children affected by the tsunami in 2011. This building was built by the community and painted using my paints.

The Kubono Community Association, along with the children who will benefit from the space, used Chalk Paint® to add bright, cheery personality to the furniture and walls, really making it their own. I love how the structure of the building is very typically Japanese in style, and yet the colour combinations they chose, like Henrietta and English Yellow, are so playful!

Here are a few photographs from Sendai that I feel really tell the story of how this community came together:

I'm sure you'll agree that these photos are very special, and I feel very proud of my stockists in Japan for being such wonderful ambassadors and leaders in their community.

I want to give the last word to the community of volunteers involved in this project, who told me the following:

"In 11th of March 2011, we lost so many friends, families and so many things by the huge earthquake and Tsunami, but now we stand up for our bright future. We are appreciated for having experience such a kind project. Volunteers enjoyed painting and was full of smiles. We are so proud of being chosen the project as a representative in Japan, and we are looking forward to using this space."

If you'd like to read more stories like this from my 25 Project, search #25Project on this blog.

Yours, 

Annie 

The 12 Crafts of Christmas – No. 3: Origami Star Decorations

For the third of my 12 Crafts of Christmas, I'm sharing this fantastic origami star project with you. I learned this craft when visiting my Stockist Masashi Ogawa at Decoraeight in Japan earlier this year! I found the whole thing so fascinating that I invited Mr Masashi to run a workshop at the Open Day I held for my Stockists in Oxford in the Summer.

I love how Stockists from all over the world have taken this skill home with them, to share, develop and continue making the shapes and painting them in beautiful and interesting ways – I've seen so many different takes on the project! The image above is from Carte Blanche Upcycled Furniture – Stockists in New Brunswick, Canada. They used Chalk Paint® to create beautiful colour and textures, and once waxed they look just like they've been made from tin – it's really quite incredible!

My Stockists have provided a few ways of displaying and using the stars around the home. Try hanging them from the ceiling (like Cherrybeans), or hang them in the window (like Auberge des Rêves , maybe pop one star on the top of your Christmas tree (like 't Bakhuus, binnen- en buitendecoaratie) or you could even plant a succulent in to the centre, and use the star as a planter (see Farbe Verzaubert's project).

   

Thinking about trying this project at home? Remember to share your pictures with me!

Yours, Annie

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