Shopping at Daiso and MailArt
I stopped by the Alderwood Mall’s Daiso store to check on their current supplies. But it’s not the supplies that you may be thinking of…
I went to Daiso in hopes of finding some etegami tools like washi, ink and water colors because Deborah Davidson of dosankodebbie’s etagami notebook is holding a 2010 MailArt Call on the theme of “Food and Recipes”. How cool is that? I’m going to give it a try. She states in her blog that she will send one in return for your mailart! I say “go for it”! We bento foodies have plenty to express donchathink? So what are we waiting for? Let’s do it. Bento-etegami! :)
And after all my excitement… I didn’t find anything suitable for a proper etagami at Daiso. On the bright-side, I did see a lot of bento stuff. Can you believe I didn’t buy a single item related to bento at all! Well, there was a cute chopstick set… but it’s a gift so it doesn’t count!
I did manage to snap a couple shots of their current stock. See anything you already have or want to have? They have some cute bento stuff; most of them only $1.50!!! That large bento box on the bottom shelf next to the empty space was only $4.00! What? And I still walked away. But I have this urge to go back and get it. It’s a sickness I tell ya!
Anyhow, please go and visit the etegami blog to view Deborah’s gallery of beautiful Mailart. Very inspirational and I hope to someday see one of my etegami posted there. But first I need to get some art supplies.
Okay – Jealous does NOT even begin to describe how I’m feeling!
Does Daiso stock nori punches? I don’t think I saw it when I was last in a Daiso (which was too long ago) but I might be wrong. Heck, I don’t even know why am I asking as I have no access to any shops even remotely stocking bento gear here across the atlantic
I’ve not seen any “nori punches” but they do have small paper punches which I use for nori!!! hehehe.. Star, heart and teddy bears!
Thanks so much for spreading the word about the Food/Recipe mailart call. Don’t worry too much about getting the “right” etegami supplies. Any medium and technique you feel comfortable with is fine, as long as it’s postcard-sized. I’m so excited you’re going to participate!!!
You are so welcome. I’m excited to do some art outside of the bento box! And there’s a huge bento/foodie community that I’m sure would love to flex their creative muscles!
Thanks for clarifying the criteria for etegami.
Etegami is a great art. I can’t wait to see what will you draw for bento-etegami Debra
Ganbatte!!
Ok… I live in Italy, nobody here knows what is a bento (except very very few fanatics like me!)… The “nearest” Daiso is in London (Japan Center), but has very very few bento boxes. Oh, you’re sooo lucky to have such a beautiful place, filled with cute (and cheap!) bento boxes and accessory!!!!
This is SO weird- I was just looking at the Daiso website the other day. I was excited because the page in Japanese was talking about how it’s one of the “Dollar Store” equivalents over there, so when I saw a US site for shopping, I was thrilled! But the US website isn’t like that at all- the bento boxes are almost $20.00 on the website. So that was kind of a bummer. Still,
Melanie, the boxes on Daiso’s website are usally 10pks. So for 20$ you are getting 10 bento boxes
Most people don’t pay attention to that fact. They only ship in bulk now.
I am so jealous. I live outside St.Louis Missouri and there are no stores for bento out here. I wish Ichiban Kan would open their online store again. I love bento stuff but my finances are limited.
I am in awe of the bento items! I wish we had a store like that anywhere near me
So sad! I would have a very hard time controlling myself!
So very jealous! I so wish we had a Daiso or Ichibankan here
I so miss the Ichibankan web store… I have yet to figure out how I’m getting my goodies for our bento workshop in June – probably bulk ordering from Daiso since that seems to be the only mail order they have (unless I’m not on the right page… lol)
You mentioned using a shoebox for your photography on bento zen – did you make a lightbox from one, or just use a reg shoebox? I am intrigued! And my photography needs help! lol
Hi Tammy, No, it’s not really a light box. I use it because of the color… a nice dark brown. I recently bought a shop light which brightens up the “photo studio” (read: kitchen counter) and thus my photos are now a little brighter than in the past. Thanks for asking. Someday I’ll have a true lightbox.
Exciting! Now we are all looking forward to your art as well! Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Wowie, that is one well stocked bento store! So jealous!
Actually maybe it’s better that we don’t have a Daiso, I could get in a lot of trouble!
Aside from pangs of acute bento box longing from these great Daiso pictures, your post has me very intrigued about a whole new art form!
I’m excited to see what we bentoists will come up with in the creative realm of etegami–thanks for sharing this great information and wonderful etegami site! Let’s welcome spring with new green shoots of creative expression
Thank you for posting about this mail art blog. I often wonder about coincidences in life and seeing how I just purchased postcard blanks and watercolors on a whim (!) to see what new direction I might take with my art, and then to be introduced to Deborah Davidson’s site. Wow!
I lived in and taught English in Japan for a year, went back last summer for vacation and to visit old friends, and DID NOT take full advantage of the ‘Daiso hyaku-en-kan’ (100-yen store). I think I need to take a trip down to Alderwood soon. There was actually a Daiso north of this one, bought things there IMMEDIATELY when I came back from Japan, but it sadly closed shortly thereafter.
Hmm…I wonder if YOU could start an E-commerce business with stuff from DAISO. If it were within the law, it might be profitable for you!
Hi Abram, Where are you located? If you are north of Alderwood… there is a HUGE Daiso (2 floors) across the border in Richmond BC!