Neko Box - Autumn Cats

This Neko Box is all about autumn cats. From the Japanese cultural aspect, this box includes some knowledge about Community cats and Temple cats.

The first thing that caught my eye in this box was the ornament cat. It is designed to bring good luck and fortune into a person's life (need!).

The mini Maple dish was the cutest thing ever! It comes in 3 different colors mine was green. 

The sleeping cat dish is very charming and would be a great way to display snacks. There are three different designs, the one I got I dubbed “the smug cat”.

The happy cat bowl makes me happy, it holds soup and rice really well and is pleasant to look at.

I have to admit, I still have not opened the Autumn Flower Cloth but the material is really beautiful and light.

Finally, the postcard. That card is giving me ideas for a mixed media painting and I can’t wait to start when I have time.

Zakka Kit - Edo Cats

The theme for this Zakka Kit is Edo Cats.

          I’m always interested in what supplies this box has because I can use them in many ways. The first thing that came out of the box was the Edo Fabric Pouch. I can use it to store a few pens that I need when I go to work or on a trip.

          Next up is the Edo Cats postcard by Galen Sta:Ful. This card can either be used as a print or as a postcard.

          I love the tiny note cards they sometimes include in the boxes, I sometimes use them to add special thoughts to my journal. The Cat Notecards are by Classiky and Mihoko Seki.

          I’m drowning in small notebooks but I still love it when I get them...yes I may be addicted. This is a Sou Sou Patterns Notebook by Galen Sta:Ful.

          No Zakka Kit is complete without Washi Tape and this box is no different.

          Finally, this double-sided pen from Mitsubishi. It is brown with one end being thick and the other thin.

Neko Box - Japanese Folklore

          I really love my cultural boxes because I learn something new every time I open them. This Neko Box is all about Japanese Folklore. As usual, the box comes with a little booklet that gives information and some Japanese recipes for me to try. 

          Along with the recipes and the dose of culture, there all also beautiful items. Take this cute and beautiful Soba Bowl by Izawa which is used for holding noodle dipping sauce, snacks, desserts, or miso soup. I got the Talking Monkey design but you could also have gotten the Frog design. 

          Next is the Tenugui cloth by Senshu Towel. It can be used as a bathroom hand towel, face cloth, a kitchen towel or a travel towel. The cloth is good quality and I can’t wait to use it.

          I’m trying to learn how to use chopsticks and although these are not as pretty as the ones we got in a previous box they are still very elegant and I can’t wait to put them to good use!

          This small Wabisabi dish is simple but cute. It is by Yamako and can be used for snacks, desserts, side dishes or just decoration. 

          The lucky charm ornament by Yakushigama is really cute I got the Treasure ship but you could also get the magic hammer. 

          Finally, this beautiful art print from Neko box. It features characters from famous folktale Momotarō. This box made me curious to go read some Japanese folktales!

Neko Box - Mountain Train Journey

          This box is all about the mountains of Kyushu and the Luxury slow trains. The reason that I love this box, apart from the awesome stuff in it is the amount of cultural information they add in. I love learning about new things and I know whenever I open a Neko Box I will learn something.

          The Kurume Kasuri Woven Coaster by Wamomen comes in there different colors and I got the Navy one. I love how different this is. The coasters that I have are all either cork, wood, or metal.

          I loved this next bowl, it is called the Rabbit bowl and it is by Asahi Kyoyo. It is a lightweight resin bowl used for soups, rice and noodle dishes.

          The vintage gold spoon by Tsubame, having not seen the other design, I’m going to say that I got the Matte Gold. It can be used for tea or soups.

          Next up is the Vintage Floral cup by Saikai Touki; it is made from ceramic and can be used to hold tea, coffee or for scoops of Gelato.

         Patterned mini dish by Yamada Seni, I got the bird design and it is pretty and sturdy. It can be used for snacks, side dishes, dessert or even for storing small accessories.


          Finally, the Neko Box Artprint and I’ve already got ideas for this print. I really thing it would look good in a mixed media compostion.

Neko Box - Minimalist

          I have been really happy with all my Neko box Subscritions and this box is no different. The theme for the box was Minimalist, and I love the information in the booklet about Japan or places in Japan.

     The first things I took out of the box were the bowl and spoon, both by Minorutouki. The bowl is a Wabisabi bowl, and the spoon is a ceramic Broth spoon.

          I’m not a tea drinker but this is a perfect size cup for drinking Arabian Coffee. The Minimalist Tea Cup is by Miyama. 

          My favorite things in every Neko box has to do with culture and in this box, it was this Lucky Zen Daruma by WaZakka. You are supposed to color in the left eye and make a wish, then display it somewhere that you can see it. Once the wish has been fulfilled then you color in the right eye.

          Another item that screams culture to me is the Red and White Furoshiki (wrapping cloth) by Yamada Seni. 

          Finally, an art print by Neko Box. I love to use these as inspiration for painting or as part of a mixed media composition or even as part of my journal.

The Zakka Kit - August

          So let us take a look at one of my favorite box subscriptions, The Zakka Kit - August 2018. The theme for the box is Inu, which means dog in Japanese. 

          This first item is a self inking Dog Stamp by Kodomo No Kao. The ink is pink and the dog is really cute.

          The next item is the Shiba Inu washi tape from ACT x Friendshill. It features Shibata-san in various cute poses. 

          I loved the Shiba Inu stickers included in the box. They are by Mindwave.

          I love using double sided tape and this next product made me very happy. It is a dot liner glue tape by Kukuyo. These were two case colors blue or pink and I got the pink.

          The mini dog notecards and envelopes are really cute. They are by Classiky x Toraneko Bonbon, and they will make great gift tags or can be used to hide moments in your bullet journal.

          The dog roll stickers are by Classiky x Toraneko Bonbon and they would be cute to add to gift wraps or even on journaling pages. 

          And finally, two pens, one is a Sarasara Clip Vintage Pen by Zebra and the other is a Coat Highlighter by Tombow.