One of the many things I love about being alive is, there is always a chance to learn something new, or start over again. There are infinite number of things one could make or get "into". I have an odd capacity for curiosity and often fall into new hobbies and interests, or even lines of work by mere accident. To be honest, I'm pleased when it happens to me as, despite having a very calm and "normal" existence, it makes me feel as if I'm flying around life's corners on th

I've been sitting here thinking about how to start again. Over the last two years I've made some life changes, and took a break from what I was doing in order to focus on some personal administration work (I became a Japanese citizen), and then made major adjustments to the basic infrastructure of my life. I bought a farm west of Fuchu, and spend every weekend fixing it up, growing things, and enjoying the sunset in the mountains. All of those adjustments feel like normal lif

When I was 23, and a new immigrant to Japan, I wandered into a craft supply store near my apartment and was agog at the wide array of...

If you've followed this blog from the beginning, you'll notice a few differences. First being: it's on a completely different website...

Our Iteration of a Tokyo Necessity... The "farmhouse blanket shawl" On my way home recently I became trapped in a Tokyo commuter train...

I was watching some old clips of an Anthony Bourdain series called “Raw Craft” this afternoon. There is a quote in the intro that made me...

The Tsubame Trousers Autumn has finally crept in. Per usual, the winding down of another year has me wallowing in nostalgia. I’m not sure...

Welcome back to my several part series on the life of one of the best people I know: Teruo Hirokawa If you haven't read the first part of...

“Hurt an artist, and you’ll see masterpieces of what you’ve done” - unknown This is not the first thing I wanted to talk about here, but...

If you haven't noticed (via love and wool), my favourite thing in the world is fairisle knitting. I love stranded colour work. I adore...

In the last six months of my life, (which I’ve decided to call “The great depression”) I have noticed another emotion bubbling to the top...

Scenes from a Tokyo Tailor Shop The "Goat Coat": Part 1 On Sunday I get the privilege of spending 8 hours making coats. It's the only day...

Another Sunday came and went. The inevitable drum beat of change is overwhelmingly loud once again. I fucking hate that sound....

"The Goat Coat": Part 3. Tailoring comes on Tuesday this week. What a lucky bit of alliteration. I decided to keep an open mind on my...

It's been a minute. Between making jumpers and preparing for autumn, and all of the micro-jobs involved in having a small studio, and...

The Teruo Hirokawa Files: Part 1 The Beginnings of a Master Tailor I have no idea where a person should begin when telling the life story...

Hi. I’m so glad you are here. I'm Cassandra. Please join me in taking up space. Lift your shirt, and let us gaze at our navels together....