Yasumi Says | PUEBCO INC Homeware Goods

PUEBCO seems to be fast becoming one of those familiar brands that so many lifestyle stores proudly display on their shelves. And it is definitely worth keeping on your radar simply because they have a heap of interesting stuff that not only look good, but also provide practical or solutions to our homeware demands.

Established in Tokyo in 2007 by Hirotoaka Tanaka, PUEBCO boldly states that they; “Create what we want to create. Find what we want”, and that "To only pursue sales performance is to loose track of our vision'".

The outcome is wide range of functional homeware and lifestyle solutions with utilitarian appeal backed with a genuine desire to offer consumers well made items with integrity.  PUEBCO incorporate updated, repurposed and recycled materials into their product line-up. They take inspiration from factory brands, workshop communities across the globe and their globetrotting bazaar finds.  For example, their vintage mirrors are made using salvaged window frames from India - apparently in parts of India, before a house is demolished, the window and door frames are saved for use elsewhere. Their Standard Mug is made in a remote Chinese factory out of locally sourced clay and without an ‘unnecessary glaze.

Each item that they stamp their name on fortifies PUEBCO's philosophy that well designed, well-used products are always beautiful. Finally, PUEBCO score points with me for their typographic style and packaging too - love those cotton swabs.

A selection of PUEBCO products are available at Goodhood.

You can find Yasumi at - Worship Blues | Twitter | Insatgram

Yasumi Says | OPENHOUSE Magazine, The Life We Share

Bottom three images by OPENHOUSE Magazine stockist NEO.

I know when I've found a gem of a magazine when I reach the end of it and realise that I've read every single article, gazed at every single photo within it and yet find that I'm reluctant to bin, recycle or take cuttings from it. Then, I find myself reaching for it, referring back to it, getting lost in its images time and again and. This is how I feel about OPENHOUSE Magazine.

OPENHOUSE caught my eye because it had Tadao Ando's Casa Wabi emerging from the clean white cover of its 5th edition. In a nutshell, this is a bi-annual printed publication, from Andrew Trotter and Mari Luz Vida that takes a look into the homes/ private spaces of bright, creative people from around the world. It celebrates aspects of gastronomy, architecture, art and design.

Issue 5 features an interview with Bosco Sodi about his visionary artists retreat in Mexico. Designed by Tadao Ando, its doors are open to us via the pages of the magazine to gaze at it in all its sun scorched,  monastic, minimalist and poetic glory. Another noteworthy article from this edition is HK Farm's introduction of a fascinating side of Hong Kong as an unexpectedly resourcefully agricultural place.

In my opinion, this is a magazine to watch out for on your daily grind. Selected excerpts from the current issue are available on their website here, as well as a list of worldwide stockists.

You can find Yasumi at - Worship Blues | Twitter | Insatgram

Yasumi Says | A Slight Obsession with Japanese Manhole Covers

When I'm in Japan I often keep my eyes to the ground while I cheat on my wall spotting obsession with a spot of drain spotting.

Stylised manhole covers in Japan vary in design depending on the locality, utility and manufacturer of the cover. They nearly always feature a motif symbolic to the area, which could be a local landmark, plant, animal or even a local legend. The most common theme are trees apparently.

I've read that the trend begun in 80s, at the desk of a bright spark Construction Ministry bureaucrat who was trying to raise awareness for big money sewage works by making them more palatable and appealing to grumbling taxpayers. A few regional design contests later, the manhole trend boomed and soon municipalities up and down the country were all at it. Apparently there are more than 6,000 different designs gazing out of the tarmac of Japan today.

I love how artistic expression can be found even in the most mundane of places in Japan. The manhole covers are so fun and also allow each region to express themselves individually. I have focussed on the less colourful covers here but there are some really vibrant ones out there. Take a look at this mighty fine (so fine it might blow your mind) collection of manhole covers collected by S. Morita who's dedicated years travelling across Japan photographing them.

You can find Yasumi at - Worship Blues | Twitter | Insatgram

A Slight Obsession with Walls

I've never quite got my head round why people associate staring at walls with boredom. I happen to like staring at walls. All kinds of walls, especially where I live. We have more than our fair share of graffiti here but, these are not the only kind of walls that get my stares. Walls with interesting texture, colours and even context can all make me double-take, stop and stare.

I know that I am not the only wall watching wanderer around. Mat seems to be equally enthusiastic about them and also prone to snapping them when he can. There must be others out there! Perhaps you? If you too are stricken with this most curious infliction and are on Instagram, why not share your wallspots with us. Use #wallspotters + share the enthusiasm.

You can find Yasumi at - Worship Blues | Twitter | Insatgram

A Thank You + Happy New Year

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, December 2014

It's been a little quieter around here for a while. We've been taking some welcomed down-time to recharge and enjoy our families, friends and to plan for the new year. Longer sleeps, slower days and taller drinks. Me + Hollie even managed to spend a few days away the beautiful city of Edinburgh. A city full of independent businesses, welcoming people and never-ending hills.

From myself, Nik, Yasumi + Hollie, we would like to thank every single person that clicked, read, commented, emailed, tweeted, interacted and skimmed through these pages on Buckets & Spades in 2014. It's been a fantastic year for all of us, definitely a significant one for this blog. I'd also like to say a massive thank you for supporting all the brands, businesses, photographers + designers we've featured and worked with throughout the year, without these guys this blog couldn't happen.

Thank you for stopping by in 2014!

Mat.

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Yasumi Says | Thoughts On Fading Places

The world over small countryside towns and villages are falling into decline as the bright lights and the tempting promises of the big cities draw in more youngsters. 

I’ve seen evidence of fading countryside towns in every place that I have visited but for some reason seeing it in Japan really packed a punch. Perhaps the reason for my melancholy is partly because  when we visited Akayu, it was emanating natural beauty and at the peak of its sakura (cherry-blossom) season. Yet behind the blushing blossoms were a few stark reminders that the town is fading, more businesses are closing, fewer people are choosing to live here. Empty pachinko parlours, abandoned visitor centers, forgotten homes, none of this tells a happy tale of the little town.

I find myself naturally and inescapably compelled by abandoned places. I am drawn by their emptiness and their secrets. Exploring some abandoned places evokes immense trepidation and a claustrophobic mix of anxiety, fearful inner disquiet and at times utter sadness. I always hope that something good will come to each place that I visit. - Yasumi.

Yasumi has written quite a bit on the abandoned locations that she has visited, check them out here. Also recommended, Japanese-made socks by Anonymous Ism.

You can find Yasumi at - Stranger London | Worship Blues | Twitter

Yasumi Says Packaging + Design | Kimura Drinks Co, Fuji Cider

Continuing on her set challenge to go forth and seek out eye-catching packaging and design related sights Yasumi is back with something to feed our curiosity.

Yasumi Says:

Japanese are crazy in love with Mount Fuji and since the mountain was added to the World Heritage list in 2013, this love has gone into overload! Perhaps this has affected me more that I realise because here I am being drawn in a moth like fashion to bottle labels featuring that shapely mountain. Fuji Cider is made by the Kimura drinks company and I should let you know that unlike the apple tipples that are known and loved in UK,  Japanese cider is a fizzy soft drink that is usually lemon flavoured.

Kimura Drinks have a bunch of interesting sounding thirst quenchers in their catalogue including green tea cola, salt cider and even a wasabi ginger ale. - Yasumi.

You can find Yasumi at - Stranger London | Worship Blues | Twitter

Packaging + Design | Limpa Metais Coração

I've set one of our contributors a challenge to seek out eye-catching packaging and design related sights with international appeal. Since Yasumi is prone to bouts of wanderlust, this should be a doddle for her and should make an interesting read for us. Today she's sent me some info about metal polish (of all things).

Yasumi says:

This is a classic metal polish and preserver strikingly emblazoned with a dramatic bleeding heart that caught my eye on my recent adventure. Limpa Metais Coração manufactured by Solarine in Braga, north Portugal since 1928. The company also produce silver and furniture polishes all packaged in these rather awesome looking tins and more practically, are renowned for their excellent cleaning capabilities.

If you would like to learn more about the Solarine brand or stare at their tins with me here is their website - Yasumi.

You can find Yasumi at - Stranger London / Worship Blues / Twitter

Store Visit | Trainer Heaven at K-Skit Japan

Many Japanese are crazy about anything “exclusive” be it food or fashion. So it is no wonder that the market for trainers is massive out there. Big brands have long since cottoned on the exclusives market and continue to drop Japan exclusives at regular intervals.  Add to that the Japanese obsession with collecting rare items and you have one heck of a place to go shopping for trainers.

One place that should top a trainer fanatic’s shopping destinations is K-Skit in the Kichijoji area of Tokyo. This is a heaven for vintage and rare finds. The towering shelves are laden with shrink wrapped second hand trainers, all lovingly cleaned and near spotless. 

[image source for 3 above]

The aircon is tuned to an optimum temperature to keep the trainers in the best condition. However, what you see is what you get; there are no stockpiles of sizes. If luck is with you, you might just find that long looked for pair in your size. If not, it is still a great place to visit for any trainer fan.

It's worth taking a further look at K-Skit here. - Yasumi.

You can find Yasumi at - Stranger London / Worship Blues / Twitter

Scandinavian Design | Flensted Mobiles

Christian Flensted is a mobile maker of distinction. He has been making mobiles since 1953 and has since earned the title “Uromager”, a term which escapes direct translation in English but basically means a maker of mischievous things that are always on the move.

The making of mobile is a traditional craft in Denmark yet outside of the country, many seem to regard mobiles as a childish object. I am quite fascinated with grown-up things with a childish heart so Flensted mobiles really appeal to me.

Mobiles are deceptively simple things. Yet the attention to balance, shape and colour are essential to the beauty and movement of the object. Having a mobile in a personal space is somehow soothing and quite hypnotic. It definitely feels the energy of your home and creates a sort of poetry from it.

“The mobile’s life is hanging by a thread,

But there is still life. You can prove it:

If one day you should think its heart is dead,

A friendly whispering will move it.”

Having seen a Flenstead mobile in my in-laws home in Japan, I no longer view mobiles as things that only hang above cots. They are intricate decorative objects that add subtle rhythm to any space. - Yasumi.

You can find Yasumi at - Stranger London / Worship Blues / Twitter

Yay for HAY

HAY is a Danish furniture and accessories company that both designs and manufactures a range of  functional and stylish goods. Whilst HAY products have an undoubtedly contemporary look and feel there is a strong nod to the Danish style of the 50’s and 60’s and this is can be most strongly felt in their range of furniture. As a fan of Verner Panton, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner Danish greats who have all designed chairs that I shamelessly long to add to my collection, I have a lot of respect and admiration for HAY’s ambition to encourage a revival in Danish furniture design.

Furniture aside, I particularly like their stationery items and their eye-catching rulers have a special place on my wish list. Bold, playful and covetable for the stationery aficionado, HAY’s printed beech wood rulers are a welcome departure from the shatterproof wobbly things I used to take to school. With so much to offer and with such a strong commitment to design and create products that are simple, useful and modern I am finding more and more to like about HAY. - Yasumi.

HAY Stockists - Goodhood, Liberty London, Conran Shop, Skandium. 

You can find Yasumi at - Stranger London / Worship Blues / Twitter

Say Hello To Yasumi + Luckies Scratch Maps

I'm very pleased to share with you all that Buckets & Spades has a new contributer, say hello to Yasumi of Stranger London and her first post!

I am prone to flights of fanciful wish list making; it doesn't matter what season it is either. I often flit from one website to another seeking out interesting things. So when Mat asked me to usher today’s list towards Buckets & Spades, I was both delighted and humbled that my curious nature had got approval.

Now, I am not much of a gambler, more of an occasional “if I feel lucky” kind of dabbler, though I must admit to having a thing for scratching off the top foil on scratch cards. It feels so satisfying somehow. I also love world maps and was that weird kid who would memorise capital cities and which country shares a border with which. So when I spotted Luckies Scratch Maps on the Journal Shop’s website, I did a happy jig in my head (trust me it is safer that way).

They are basically massive scratch cards and a fun way to log your globetrotting adventures by (satisfyingly) scratching off the top foil of the place you have visited to reveal a colourful map beneath. I really want one, I fancy the Deluxe Edition that I saw on Luckies website. It is black and gold and oh-so-scratch-ably lovely. Luckies are a UK company that seem to spin out some really unique novelty items aside from these brilliant maps so it is well worth visiting their website for some great gift ideas.

Luckies Scratch Maps available here.

Thank you Mat for allowing me to hijack your blog today! You can find Yasumi on Twitter here.

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