Otto's blog

Mini Teaset Rack

9月

21日

I bought this minature teaset for my daughter last Christmas, but she didn`t have a good place to keep the pieces, so last weekend I made this rack for her. When I gave it to her, she was so happy (which was a nice change; when I give handmade gifts to my wife, she often looks unhappy...).

Grammar:
- buy/make/cook 何か for 誰か
- give/send/take 何か to 誰か

#アート #趣味

Okinawan Orchid

8月

7日

I haven`t done a woodblock print for a while. In fact, it`s been ages since I did any framable art. This is a 16 x 9cm print of an orchid, based on one I saw in Okinawa.

Grammar:
There are a few ways to say 久しぶり in English:
- I haven`t 過去分詞形 in/for ages/a long time/a while
- It`s been ages/a long time/a while since I (last) 過去形
- It/this is the first time in ages I`ve 過去分詞形

#アート

A Spot of Gifu Sightseeing

5月

11日

#アウトドア #アート #旅行

How to Make a Christmas Wreath

12月

16日

#アート #芸術

Money Box

8月

27日

#アート #趣味

Why Did the Teacher Cross the Road?

4月

26日

#アート

Ununique

2月

16日

At the 2016 Nitten exhibition, I saw the painting on the left. Do you understand the joke? Originally, the monkeys represent "See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil."

It`s a good idea, but not an original one. If you go to Naiki, near Ise Shrine (伊勢神宮), you can see the three monkeys in the photo on a shop`s roof ( 屋根). Please look for them next time you visit Naiki!

Vocabulary:
- originally (副詞) = 元々
- original (形容詞 ) = 独自

#アート #文化 #芸術

2016 Nitten Art Exhibition

2月

13日

Last Sunday I went to the Nitten exhibition of Japanese art in Nagoya. Afterwards, I bought a few postcards. It was hard to choose [チューズ]- there were lots of nice ones.

The exhibition is at The Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art in Sakae, which is easy to get to by subway. However, if you want to go, please hurry - tomorrow is the last day!

Grammar:
- "easy to ___ (動詞)" = ___ やすい
- "hard/difficult to ____" = ____ 難い

#アート #文化 #芸術

Merry Christmas

12月

25日

#アート

Toy Ford Mustang

7月

8日

I was so impressed by the 1967 Ford Mustang that I saw in Ichinomiya, I decided to make a toy version. As usual, I used recycled components.

In the background you can see the other similar ones that I`ve made. I wrote about them here: http://jp.bloguru.com/otto/158699/one-mans-trash-14

If my kids want, they can drive this one like Steve McQueen in Bullitt. It`s okay.

Vocabulary:
- As usual/ever/always = いつもといっしょ
- Same as usual/same as ever/same as always = いつもといっしょ

#アート #趣味