Minka Farmhouse Envy, Shop Update & A Bloggie Break

A minka is a Japanese farmhouse. Often dismissed architecturally because of its associations with poverty and rural backwardness, it has been enjoying a renaissance of appreciation in recent years. I love minka architecture and was overjoyed to find an article on one in this month's Architectural Digest. This one has been relocated to have fabulous views of Mount Fuji - ah, that view through the living/dining room windows is very nostalgic for me!Built of timber without nails, the wood is ingeniously fastened and lashed together. Smoke from cooking would blacken the central wood pillar giving it a beautiful patina of age. The rood was steeped to deflect snow. This minka, being restored and renovated, also has a Japanese style soaking tub made from Izuishi, a beautiful flecked gray-green stone. Outside is a karesansui, or dry landscape - which looks just stunning in the rain as the rocks change color.

Images from Architectual Digest
(Did you know they have whole articles from the print magazine online now? So great for research!)

No minka vacation for me, but it certainly is easy to dream about one looking at the article's gorgeous pictures! But I did get a small shop update done -- Yeah! My Etsy shop now has cupcake magnets, some of my hand crocheted coffee cozies (more to come) and more 18thc. French inspired earrings, like the Antoinette earrings.There's still time to take advantage of the summer Etsy special: June 26th - July 26th: Every order $20 or over (excluding shipping) gets a mystery freebie added to it :)

And now I really need to take a short bloggie break to get caught up on everything! I'll be back to blogging in a few short weeks!