It’s that time of year again where we have to show some appreciation and love for the most important woman in our lives, our mum! The 3rd of April is Mother’s Day and the one day of the year you get to say ‘Thank you mum ’ for all those years of love and support.There is however so much available online and most find it difficult to decide on which special gift to get their loved mum on Mother’s Day.
We have therefore come up a suggestion of how to spoil your special mum and brighten up her day with this beautiful Nordic soft lambswool throw.
This should give you some inspiration; just make sure you don’t forget.
Special Mum’s Gift for Her Available Now at Lilyhippo!
Have you become a huge fan of Momiji unique dolls yet? Had the opportunity to hide a secret message to your friend? If not, then the first time you collect or share one of these adorable 3 inch, hand painted dolls, you will definitely be hooked!
We are sure you have heard of Hello Kitty (full name is Kitty White), who is a fictional character that resembles a white female Japanese bobtail cat that sports a cute red bow and has been around for more than 30 years. Originally targeted at a pre-teens, and first appeared on a small coin purse made of vinyl; the iconic character of Hello Kitty has become loved by every one of all ages.
There has been a magical collaboration of both these new and old worlds and Momiji has created 6 new collectable dolls that have a Hello Kitty accessory. The names of these six new Momiji dolls are Gigi, Astrid, Stella, Chihiro, Aya and Kipi. An excellent gift for your special friend who lives near or far.
How can you resist this wonderful combination to be the owner of one of the more stylish, practical, fun dolls to date?
Stay updated by followwing us on Twitter or Facebook page for more developments of Momiji Hello Kitty
Since we like some Japanese we just thought this Japanese Garden looks amazing and might be a great inspiration for those who like collecting the Momiji Dolls.
This one being the Tsukiyama Garden which is built on ponds, streams or rivers to give them a more natural landscape scenary.
Momiji Dolls or Friendship Dolls as they are also referred first came to life in the year 2005 in the little village of Warwickshire, England. Inspired by friendship and the secrets they share; it is a great bonding experience between two people.
The uniqueness of these dolls is at the bottom of every Momiji doll is a small slot, big enough to hide a message to your friend or loved one. Each doll comes with a blank folded card to start you off. The fun begins when they are send back and forth and no one but you and your special friend know about the secret notes inside.
Complete Set
These cute, 3 inch tall dolls are hand painted and made from heavy resin and come in a collector’s box. New styles are created all the time, so older styles are retired early and become a collectors item very quickly. Price range from £10 for a single doll and up to £90 for a complete set such as the Random Collection. Momiji are found all over the world, in gift shops, toy stores, clothes, comic, bookstores and even music shops and are fast on their way to be the next collectors craze.
The dolls are separated into mini collections, the first being the RANDOM dolls, then came the CELEBRATION dolls and don’t forget the DESIGNER line.
Go ahead, have some fun, spread the love; start off someone else collection and I’m sure they will start off yours. Peace, Love and Happiness extended to all ages.
Valentines Day doesn’t have to be an expensive event. Making it special and unique is worth more than any overpriced dozen of roses in my eyes. I was especially attracted to what I found to be a perfect gift for the love of my life, the person I always call my “Soul Mate”. What could be more perfect than the Soul Kokeshi Doll? Unique and perfectly matched for someone I truly consider my soul mate! The “Soul” doll comes with a message that says “Your soul is a good one, I know when it shines in your eyes. I like dexy’s midnight runners.” It’s the perfect message for the person I feel has the deepest, kindest soul. But what I love even more is that you can personalize each doll with your own message! Turn the doll upside down and a tiny card is available to complete your message to that special person in your life. It hit me instantly as the perfect gift for someone I call my soul mate.
The best part is, if you’re not truly that “deep” yet in your relationship, you can find other unique dolls to give the one you care about. It fits as a gift for both kids and adults and yes, even men! My guy is going to be getting a “Soul” Kokeshi Doll with a special message that reminds him how very much he touches me to the soul.
I’m thinking of getting my adult kids each one too, as I always get them something small for Valentine’s Day. I’m thinking of getting a different one for each child as they all have such different personalities! My twins, although boy/girl, will get the ones that I feel represent their personalities best and my oldest daughter will be surprised with something that matches her style. I can’t say how happy I am to find something so unique and priced right for this Valentines Day. I won’t go broke giving a special message to the ones that truly are “the ones I love”.
When looking for unusual gifts you cannot wrong with Japanese art. Japanese art comes in many different forms and some of the most popular are the kokeshi dolls.
Dolls
Kokeshi dolls come in a wide range of styles and personalities. They are often used in the house as good luck and to ward off evil spirits. These wooden Japanese dolls have a one hundred and fifty year tradition and are enjoyed and collected by many. The only trait shared by these adorable little dolls is that they have no arms or legs, but that hardly stops them from being the belle of any ball.
Business
Perhaps you wish good fortune on a business acquaintance, then for unusual gifts you may consider manekineko or happy cat. It is believed that the happy cats raised paws are lucky for business. A happy cat with a raised right paw is said to bring money and a raised left paws is beckoning to customers.
Consider the shichi- fukujin or seven gods of good fortune as unusual gifts. These little Gods bring long life and good fortune.
Home
The shodo, or Japanese calligraphy, also makes wonderful unusual gifts. The simplicity and beauty of the style stands out and makes an elegant edition to any home. Hung on a wall in a frame even your name takes on a new meaning.
The oshi are an art form made with pieces of kimono material and chiyogami or Japanese colored paper. These three dimensional pictures are definitely a work of art.
The sensu, or folding fan, are also highly collected unusual gifts. Made from many different materials including silk these delicate items are also practical on a hot day.
Children
Chitimen are a type of small purse or bag made from kimono material. These colorful items are often given to children who delight in them. For a boy perhaps a shogi or Japanese chess set with hand carved pieces.
Japanese art makes for some of the most beautiful unusual gifts and is often greeted with delight by the recipient.
The kimono is a type of traditional Japanese clothing. The word kimono literally even means thing to wear. Today these beautiful garments are usually worn only on special occasions. The kimono is made from very elaborately adorned silk and can cost upwards of ten thousand dollars USD for a full outfit. Kimono for both men and women are fashioned from a single piece of cloth, called a tan, and come in one size for all. Shaped like a “T,” these garments are fitted by folding them in a certain way.
History
The kimono was first seen in Japan in the 8th century A.D sometime between the Hein period and the Edo period. They were fashioned after the Chinese clothing of the time. The kimono went through many changes over its long life from the use of a kind of half apron to an obi. Trousers were added to it and the sleeves grew in length.
Types
Both men and women wear a kimono though the men’s kimono is traditionally made from dark and somber colors and has much shorter sleeves. However, for both men and women, there are many different styles for various occasions. Unmarried women wear a furisode on formal occasions. The furisode has floor length sleeves, while Geisha generally wear a susohiki.
Wear
To dress in a kimono is an art in itself. Mothers traditionally taught their daughters how to dress in one, though today most hire a kimono dresser for special occasions. For those who wish to learn this unique art, there are schools that teach it. Each layer of a kimono must be put on in a strict order and, when the accessories are included, this process can take hours to complete. The kimono itself for instance is always put on with the right side over the left as the other way of left to right is reserved for the dead. The hair adornments and obi are always last and the socks first as bending in a kimono is not easy or recommended.
To wear a kimono today is a rare art. There are still special occasions where one is required though most Japanese wear Western-style clothing. Sumo wrestlers are required to wear traditional dress at all times and Geisha and other traditional dancers also tend to wear them daily. However at most formal tea parties, weddings and a young girl’s coming of age ceremony are the only times they are seen.
Looking for valentine gifts- its again that time of the year to show some love to loved ones. With a huge selection of Momiji dolls you are bound to find something that matches the personality of your ones we love. Momiji dolls are a perfect valentine gift .
In 2009 a limited edition of the set of 3 love dolls were produced. The 2009 King Soo Love dolls were designed by Malaysian artist Kong Soo. Momiji are message dolls. Inside each doll there’s a tiny folded card for your own secret message.
Every Season there is at least one trend that all us fall in love with. Last season, there were exclamations about utilitarian jackets worn over floral dresses at Louis Vuitton, and the seemingly unfinished and shorn masterpieces from Prada and Jil Sander. I was so impressed by these designers’ creativity, I couldn’t decide on just one trend to highlight. So, over the next couple of days, I’m going to break down the a few of the best velvet that I have discovered in the fall of 2010 here.
Altuzarra. Photo : WWD
My personal favorite is velvet, which seems to have replaced leather as the new cashmere!
From the fearless use of the material in Joseph Altuzarra’s collection of impeccably tailored crushed velvet skirt suits, echoing the days of Tom Ford at Gucci, to Anna Sui’s tactile, rich take on a flapper, I was completely wowed. Below are a a few standout looks of the 2010 Velvet
Giorgio Armani. Photo : Style.com
Anna Sui. Photo: WWD
Momiji Velvet Flock it dolls
We are all for traditional collectibles but there is now these modern collectible very pretty dolls which are Japanese inspired and designed by Joana Zhou. These dolls are girlish and make cool collectables. It can be that you are feeling like dancing or just happy, thinking of that little sister. You need to take some time and say hello to the world of Momiji Dolls.
