February 08, 2012

Goodies from Japan

A package arrived from my friend Megumi yesterday. I'll show you what was in it, because there were some unique items. Of course everything was wrapped so adorably that I had to take a picture before tearing in. All right, I didn't tear in, either. I very carefully removed tape and opened flaps, because when you're dealing with teensy bunnies and cupcakes, you owe it to them to be gentle.

Inside I found miniature Deco Rush decorative tapes that you apply by using a pen-like gizmo. Pull the pen along, and it deposits tiny pigs on your paper. Or swap out the cartridge when you feel the need for flowers and trees.

This character was also included. His tag says "MoPet: It is living in your life!" Yes, this hedgehog is now living in my life. He looks like he's made of Cheetos, but it's actually microfiber material. The guy has a pocket in his belly so you can put your fingers inside and swish him around your desk to do some dusting. I fear for his health because it's very dirty behind my computer.

Next, check out these erasable felt tip markers. Did you know there's been a revolution in erasable pen technology? These erasers use friction to heat up the thermo-sensitive ink and make it disappear. So your eraser never wears away or leaves crumbs behind, and the erasing is flawless. I'd heard about these a few months ago and bought the FriXion gel pen version from Amazon. My teacher friend went nuts when she saw them, because now she can mark down grades with a pen, but erase cleanly if needed. Until yesterday, I didn't know they came in a marker version! Looks like you can get the whole Japanese FriXion line at JetPens.com. Apparently Pilot made a special uglified version of the gel pen to sell in the US, because the Japanese version is way prettier than mine. Or maybe it's just newer.

The last item in the package was an amazing little flipbook, but I couldn't figure out how to fan the pages while taking a still photo. Trust me; it's quirky and fun. Just like Megumi.

56 comments:

  1. Color me jealous! What a great package to receive :)

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  2. Aww... Megumi always sends you the cutest things!! How fun!! I love those markers!

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  3. I picked up a FriXion gel pen at the fabric store. It's great to mark fabric and then steam iron off the markings.

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  4. How cute! Those pens sounds amazing, being able to erase would be awesome. :)

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  5. Cute but if the marks from the markers go away with heat, then will they disappear in the Summer or if you left it in your car like those new receipts?

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  6. YOu have an awesome friend! Those are some great stationery items

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  7. I work in a junior high school in Japan, and my kids are obsessed with those pens! Every girl in the school (and lots of boys) have the full set of 24!

    They also have versions which smell nice! My erasable red pen, (which is great for marking tests!) smells like strawberry!

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  8. What a great goodie bag! So jealous. I love my FriXion pen but I hate that it is a gel pen, I would love a felt, which would give me a steadier line on my fabric.

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  9. You lucky girl! You pretty much won the lotto in my eyes. This is why I need to head to Japan. Or maybe not 'cause I'd surely come home broke.

    Don't you just love those translated tag lines on Japanese products. They're always good for a laugh. Enjoy your goodies!

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  10. Oh goodness I miss Japan and all their amazing adorable gadgets!

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  11. I want to be Megumi's friend, too! It's all adorable.

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  12. Ok, where do I find one of the hedgehogs?

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  13. I don't know!

    Panda8ngel, I don't know the answer to that, either. I've only had these pens in winter so far.

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  14. Great package. The decorative tapes are awesome! :)

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  15. By coincidence I just read about them on this blog http://elsiesgirl.blogspot.com/2012/02/it-sounds-too-good-to-be-true.html - I thought your teacher friend might want to note her comment about erased marks occasionally reappearing in the cold! Would be awful to think better of a comment only to have it reappear:-)

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  16. L-O-V-E those eraser pens. Way, way cool!

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  17. Oh lucky you! Everything is fab but the hedgehog is my fave :-)

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  18. all so great! especially the decorative tapes & the cute hedgehog! enjoy them!

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  19. Wow! So many people have seen even those wrapping paper!? "Hi! I'm Megumi!" to How About Orange fans! It's always hard, but fun to keep my eyes open to find things which will satisfy my friend! Hope you enjoy them all!

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  20. Quirky? I've heard of that word, and looked it up in the dictionary. Hmm. Probably true.

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  21. Soo lucky you are, getting awesome gifts from Japan and all!!! I love all those things specially the second one, that decorative tapes !!<3

    San
    beesandsans.blogspot.com

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  22. Wow you are so lucky! :) I just got a letter from my penpal in Korea and I can't wait to show it on my blog.

    xoxo, Jjanga
    www.sayhelloandsmile.blogspot.com

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  23. The FriXion ink is thermo-sensitive, so it will vanish in high temperatures (like in a notebook left in a car during the summer), but returns when placed in cold temperatures, such as in a freezer.

    You can see it come and go without erasing in this video: http://youtu.be/QBKASI0TLrk

    These are really fun pens!

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  24. Please tell me where to get the MoPet Hedgie. He's so squee I can't even take it!

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  25. I want to run out and buy some of the FriXion pens right this moment! The only thing that kind of weirds me out is that the ink is still there, though invisible, after heat is applied. In my head, I see myself marking fabric, making a dress, and then wearing it on a cold day. Imagination me looks down with a gasp to see that there are little squiggly lines all over my dress from the FriXion.

    Now, I know this won't happen because I'm not going to draw all over my dress fabric, but the "haunted" recipe cards seem like a real possibility!

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  26. I nearly wet my pants when I read the line 'It is living in your life'! The last time I went back to Japan, I found a trade sign of a cafe saying 'Cofee & Japan'. So... they sell 'cofee' and Japan...???
    Anyways, I'm having a 'Goodies from Japan' Giveaway (stuff I brought back from Japan) on my blog; please come and have a look!
    http://www.small-good-things.com/archives/2177

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  27. One of my friends was encouraging me yesterday to check out "the big blogs" instead of just reading my friends', so I basically opened everything that was nominated for a Bloggie this morning, and . . . you're basically the only one I like.

    So hello! I've already Pinterested (is that a word?) about half your blog.

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  28. Aw, thanks! And I vote that Pinterested should be a word.

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  29. What a fun mix of items! I will be checking out those erasable markers. I'm always a sucker for new writing utensils.

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  30. Wow -- that erasable pen -- it's like having Photoshop on paper!

    I want to deposit pigs on paper!

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  31. Hey, what's the name of the store that's written on those gift bags, or Megumi (if you're reading) where did you shop? I'm going to Japan at the end of March and I must get those Deco Rush tapes!!!

    Thanks,
    Teresa

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  32. I don't see a store name on the wrapping, unless it's in another language...

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  33. This is my first visit to your blog and I must say I love it. I'm not much of a commenter but I felt compelled to tell you just how much I love your style. Thanks so much.

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  34. I love stationary goodies from Japan. Whenever I go to NYC, I visit a store called Kinokuniya (1073 Ave of the Americas, near 42nd st)
    I wonder if they might have things like the decorative tape there. I'll have to check next time I visit.

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  35. the decorate pen tape is so cute!

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  36. Well, the wrapping paper is not really special. The green one is from Ito Yokado, but I didn't ask for a special bag. Just they put the tapes and pens in it. The rest, the brown paper one, the plastic bag, and the pink wrapping paper were from 100 yen shop in Japan. Either DAISO or Seria. Those 2 shops are very popular here.

    Kinokuniya must have Deco Rush, I guess. You can check Amazon.co.jp as well.

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  37. Oh my god. I need all of these stuff! I love Japanese goodies. I'm jelly.

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  38. Always very cool, these things you show us. While we are all going to order those gel pens immediately, of course we are all dying over those little Deco Rush tapes. I hope you'll let us know if they land on an English-language online shop--your post probably did them a huge favor!

    Elizabeth E.
    opquilt.com

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  39. I could so easily be entertained for hours with these goodies! Wish I had those erasable felt tip markers when I was a kid :)

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  40. Wow, this package was so much fun! I need to get some of those goodies for me...or find myself an overseas friend. :)

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  41. I have the nice Japanese marker pens and they're really nice, though a few are already drying out.

    I saw a video about them (sorry, can't find it) where someone made a lovely drawing, then put the paper over a steaming kettle, and the ink all disappeared. They then put the paper in the freezer and the ink returns.

    Something to keep in mind if using them on fabric or other items...

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  42. Is there anywhere in the US to get those decorative tape pens?
    arobimom at gmail dot com

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  43. i love to get my japanese goodies at www.tokyopenshop.com. they have the frixion pens too! :)

    not sure they have the decorative tape pens but i do know they carry cure japanese masking tape.

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  44. Sugoku kawai! you have a great friend!

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  45. Hey,

    Thanks for the great advice! I found the Deco Rush tapes at Maido (http://www.mymaido.com/content/4-about-maido) in San Francisco. I bet if you called them, you could have them ship them.

    Thanks again,
    Teresa

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  46. i love the decorating tapes !!

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  47. A note on the Deco Rush tapes: Elizabeth visited Maido in San Francisco and confirmed they will do mail orders if you need some tape! See her blog post here.

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