crafty shopping in HK

Ah, Japanese crafts books are the best source for inspiration ...



A peek into the latest Cotton Time, which is filled with adorable ideas for Christmas




This amigurumi crochet book was impossible to resist. I've always wanted to try to make one, maybe this is the inspiration that I needed.





And this softie book is my favourite, it was love at first sight.



The knitting book I got from Siow Chin is also brilliant. I love all the patterns, especially the hats.






And finally, look at all the new fabrics I got ...

in hong kong (cont.)

View from my YMCA hotel room


Street market in Fa Yuen street (Prince Edward MTR station)




Bird street and market



Flower market

in hong kong

The last couple of days of the trip were spent in always busy Hong Kong ... I didn't do any sightseeing (still pretty much the same attractions as ten years ago) or visited almost any of the street markets that Hong Kong is so famous about.
Instead I did what everyone does when visiting HK: I went shopping :)
Although not as cheap as it used to be, there were still some bargains to be found, especially when considering the Euro value these days.

But first, I took a ride on the Star Ferry, my favorite means of transportation in HK. I stayed at the YMCA hotel on Salisbury Road, in Tsim Sha Tsui (I very highly recommend it, especially if you get a harbour view double room. It's incredibly spacious, very good rates, and the location is unbeatable) and the ferry is the best way to cross over to the other side.


Star ferry ride


Hong Kong, Central


On the pier at Central

In Central (the financial and banking section of HK) I finally met up with Joanna and Siow Chin. I find it very exciting these days to meet other bloggers in real life that I've known for so long, and especially such nice ones.



Siow Chin took me to lunch (humm, the best roasted duck I've had in a long time) and then showed me the fabric stalls around Li Yuen Street West, where I got some really cute fabrics (more on that later)





And following her suggestions, after lunch I jumped on a tram to Western Market, for more fabric shopping. The first floor of this market is full of fabric shops. They're a bit touristy, but one of the shops had a good selection of japanese floral fabrics so it was worthwhile going there.

After that, a quick stop by Cheer Wool, another of Siow Chin's recommendations. I was spoiled for choice here, they had so many yarn brands from all over the world (yes, even the Portuguese brand Rosários 4 that I like so much). I eventually settled for this very soft Italian merino wool for my Counterpane pullover, a few sets of needles and a cute amigurumi crochet book.





Of course, a trip to HK would not be complete without a visit to the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay. I lost myself in the japanese bookstore and the fabrics section (especially this last one). Just for future reference, the bookstore is on the 11th floor and the fabrics on the 7th floor (although everyone here spoke a little bit of English it was really hard to find the fabrics section)



Some other good shopping references: the computer shops in Windsor House (10th and 11th floors, no bargaining but also no rip-offs. Prices were a bit cheaper than in Europe and sometimes there are good promotions), the Esprit outlet in Tsim Sha Tsui (right behind the hotel I stayed in) with prices up to 70% off, the City Super in Times Square where you can get origami paper in their stationery section (the only place I found that sold this). Some of the HK clothing shops I really like are Giordano and Bossini for basics, I also found Club Monaco here (I had only seen it in Canada before) and even Muji and Uniqlo had some nice stuff.


Causeway Bay

By the end of the day I was so tired I went back to the hotel and watched the Symphony of lights show from the waterfront.

marie claire idées winter 07

Just got this yesterday, and already I'm feeling the urge to start on christmas decorations .. there are some cute ideas here (and on the latest Cotton time as well, but I'll show you that later), like this idea for re-using CDs into postcards, for example...



and I loved this fabric yo-yo mantle, although I'm sure I'll never have the patience to make one



and these patchwork stars for tree decoration



and this just because it's adorable (A. has been asking me to make one for the living room for ages, maybe I'll finally do it)

still from macau

Here are a few photos I took especially for some friends ...
(for T., who loves dogs)





(and for S. and I., who I'm sure would love to have a Hello Kitty credit card ;)