New T-shirts finally!

It has been busy in the studio lately...we have been working on new t-shirts for spring! Things finally seem to be coming together. Designing new patterns is only one step in the process. Picking color combinations and the print location really takes time and I tend to forget that every time we make new shirts. It is nice to be making some progress, these will be out in the gallery by the weekend.

Isshingyo Sakura

We went to see this amazing sakura tree in Kumamoto. It's name is Isshingyo and it is well over 400 years old. We arrived at dusk, it was beautiful to watch the blossoms in the changing light. It was a little chilly, but well worth the trip.

Shidare Ume

The first signs of Spring! The Shidare Ume (weeping plum) just started blooming.

Day 4

Our last day was much better. We stopped in at Nijojo, the samurai castle. It was great and then we walked through the ume (plum tree) garden. After lunch we sent Matt and Marie off to Tokyo and Tetsushi and I headed home...It's nice to be back in Oita!

Day 3

We decided to walk to Heian jinja, but it turned out to be much farther than we anticipated...we were so tired when we got there that we didn't even go into the garden because we couldn't walk anymore! It was kind of a shame.

Day 2

We started our day at Kiyomizudera and then made our way to Koudaiji. We all enjoyed visiting the temples, it was quite a peaceful morning.

Day 1

We went to Kyoto for the final days of Matt and Marie's visit. We went for a little walk and then somehow ended the night with pizza...it doesn't taste quite the same as it does back home.

going away party

We stopped in at Sean's house for Kieran's going away party. After 1 year in Oita, he is moving back to Canada. It was a fun party complete with an unexpected KISS acoustic live by Ace and Matt!

Matt and the Colonel

He just couldn't resist this photo op with Colonel Sanders...

Walk

A peaceful morning walk at Choujabaroo...nice weather and nice company.

M&M

My friends Matt and Marie are visiting from St. Louis! We took a walk around the neighborhood today...it is almost starting to feel like spring.