Kawaii=Cute in Japan

KAWAII
~*♥cute♥*~

by: BetsyEtsy (on etsy)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kawaii.
Since the 1970s, cuteness (可愛さ, kawaisa) has become a prominent aspect of Japanese popular culture, entertainment, clothing, food, toys, personal appearance, behavior, and mannerisms.[1] Foreign observers often find this cuteness intriguing, revolting or even childish because the Japanese employ it in a vast array of situations and demographics where, in other cultures, it would be considered incongruously juvenile or frivolous (for example, in government publications, public service warnings, office environments, military advertisements, and commercial airliners, among many others) don't ya love that, even the govt is cute?

(Pendant by Kimora Lee Simmons)

(from abracadabulle's photostream on flickr)

I've been a fan of "kawaii" ever since i was a small girl, but just heard this word for it in the last couple years. I use to collect Hello Kitty & have a box full of "stuff" that i bought in the 80's. There was a Sanrio store in Ft. Wayne, IN at the mall, i would save my allowance & when we went to visit my Grandma we'd make "the stop". I'm sure i drove my family nuts carefully pondering each & every item!

i made this pillow when i was in 7th grade home ec. My friend drew the picture for me & i did the embroidery. The poor pillow even survived a flood in my parents basement, see the lovely water stains?

http://www.sanrio.com/

check out the above link for Hello Kitty overload!!
Personally, i don't want to be all kawaii (i AM 40, after all!), i don't want my house decorated in hello kitty, nor do i want to dress like i'm 4, but i do like some bits&pieces of it, i ♥ cute, what can i say? My art room has kinda become MY Neverland (RIP MJ). It's the place i can put all my cute stuff without feeling like a dork! i have a daughter now, so i can always blame it on her!

Print by character designer: Silvia Portella. You can find her work on etsy under the name: bukubuku

this is my Blythe doll, she was here waiting for me when we got home from our cruise. i HAD to have her 'cause everyone else wants one, right? i don't think i understand the whole Blythe phenomenon... i don't buy clothes for her, don't take pictures of her (ok, i took the one above) & don't take her with me on vacation, but i do think she's cute & she is in my art room.

Do you know of Danielle Thompson, the super talented blogger/artist/momma? (& Blythe LOVER) There is a link to her blog above & if you're also into kawaii AND crafts, check her out at: http://www.kitschydigitals.com/

She has the cutest digital scrapbooking kits, paper goods & embroidery patterns (i have the cupcake patterns).

Hope you enjoyed the sweetness, now go brush your teeth & after that... come on, you know i have to... VOTE FOR ME!! July 6th is the last day to vote... So ELLIE & the rest of you.... please with a kawaii cherry on top?!