Wedding purse

I have been invited to a wedding at the end of July (apparently people do still get married!!) so since I’ll be wearing a pair of sandals with a bit of gold in them I decided to make myself a matching purse with some Japanese “kimono” fabric I purchased recently at a stall in a Japanese “matsuri” held here in Milan last month….

It is small but capacious enough, and it is also reversible!

Reversible kimono fabric purse

 

this is how it is shaped…

 

the reverse…

and this is how it looks….

Role Models #2

I’m not a football fan. Not at all! But yesterday evening I watched a bit of the Women Football World Cup final and saw a mouse defeting a giant.

2011 Women Football World Cup Champion: JAPAN

Japan became the first Asian nation to win the Women’s World Cup, beating the U.S. 3-1 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. The team, small in stature compared to the Americans, fell behind twice but battled back to tie both times, their final goal coming with just three minutes left in extra time.

The women’s team, whose Nadeshiko nickname comes from a pink frilled carnation symbolizing grace and beauty, had increasingly received attention from the national media as it climbed throug the tournament, making up for its lack of size with pinpoint passing and a swarming team defense.

Japan Nadeshiko celebrating their victory

Japan’s players used the disasters as motivation throughout, watching pictures of the devastation from their homeland before some matches. The team displayed a banner reading “To our Friends Around the World — Thank You for Your Support” before the final.

“I can’t believe it,” said Sawa, Japan captain and a veteran of five World Cups. “We have got this result because we never stopped fighting until the end. This has been my goal and now I can take home the gold medal.”

Their result is even more impressive when you think that, after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami disaster, they faced huge difficulties at training together, not to mention their budget… or lack of it, as it often happens in women sport (read more).

Anyway, this is another clear example that size doesn’t matter… Arigatou and well done Japan!

Japan Nadeshiko celebrating their victory

Joe Hisaishi in Concert for Japan

Do you want to make me the happiest person in the world? Here’s your chance…

Joe Hisaishi Charity Concert for Japan

Remembering Matsushima #2

Waiting for O-bon fireworks at Matsushima Bay, Miyagi, 17-08-2009

Remembering Matsushima

Matsushima Bay, Miyagi, Japan - 15/08/2009