We visited Seattle's International District a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to go to
Uwijimaya on a hunt for Japanese
washi paper tape. Inside the store is
Kinokuniya Bookstore where they sell pens, tape, papers, books and other stationary supplies from Japan. Seattle's store is much larger than the one in
Beaverton, Oregon. Above are samples of the tapes I bought and below is an example of their neat gift wrap paper.
This tape is transparent and is great to use in journals, cards, gift wrap, etc. Check out
Jo Reimer's technique to make your own
Washi paper tape with a
Xyron machine and tissue paper. I can't wait to start creating my own tapes.
At the time, I was reading Jamie Ford's new book
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. His novel chronicles life in Seattle's Chinatown and
Nihonmachi, or
Japantown, before and during WWII and the internment of it's Japanese residents.
The
Panama Hotel described in his book still exists and celebrates it's 100
th birthday this year. The owner, Jan Johnson, gave us a tour. Thirty-five Japanese families left their belongings in the hotel basement for safe keeping while they were interned. Many of these families never returned to Seattle to reclaim their things. The hotel Tea and Coffee House is a mini-museum with old photographs and other items of interest. The hotel reminds me of Patterson Hall, the dorm I lived in while attending
UW. We plan to stay there on our next Seattle overnight trip.
Yesterday, Jan Harris and I took the train to Seattle for the day. Gwen Delmore met us at King Street Station. 
We took the tunnel bus toward Pike Place Market. Our Photo Crawl began.
We met Dawn Shepherd Nguyen at the market for a day full of friendship, sunshine, good food and photo shooting fun.
Gwen made little 5x5inch eight page journals for each of us. Thank you, Gwen! Over lunch, we used our Pogo printed photos, collected ephemera, markers and memories to create our little books. 
A Photo Crawl is a great way for art friends to enjoy a day together.
At the end of the day, we returned home refreshed and thankful for friends, springtime weather, flowers and fresh market produce . 
