Japan House London visit part 3

Then I went up to the ground floor and browse around the museum-like shop...

Hand-made brooms.

Products from different companies.

Then I see more of the works by that copperware/metalware studio.
(small exhibition of Gyokusen Do)

A bigger pot next to this display has  price tag in 5 digit of GBP.
But it is a craft work or even art with copper, silver, gold.

A book of the craftsmaster's works

For more details of his work and the studio:
 http://www.gyokusendo.com/library/mokume
That is from the website of that copperware studio.

It is nothing like my original itinerary of the day trip,
but I really appreciate it ---
as I have been yearning for art-craft-design activities.
 ( well, I like glass and metal )

Due to the time limit, I found the bus stop for bus number 9.
This bus goes pass Kensington Garden which is near the Kensington Palace,
and Hyde Park. I should visit them next year or so.

The bus also went pass Royal Albert Hall.



 Seen while I was on bus...
Didn't see the name.


Got off the bus at Trafalgar Square.
Walked pass the Canada House, National Gallery.

National Gallery & St.Martin-in-the-field church.


My 2nd target today -- Japan Centre.
I wanted to get some food grocery there.


Part 4
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-centre-london-quick-shopping.html

Part 1
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-house-london-visit-part1.html
Part 2
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-house-london-visit-part-2.html

Japan House London visit part 2

It’s my first time to Japan House (near High Street Kensington station) since its opening this year.

It is a museum-like shop of Japanese items of national level craftsmanship.

It is free to visit. On the left inside, it is a mini indoor garden with a tree.
It is demonstrating traditional skill of supporting tree trunks with wood & ropes.

Browsing around the ground floor area is delightful.

I didn't visit the authentic Japanese restaurant upstair.


   Though I can not attend demonstrations / talks by the top Japanese professional craftsmen due to timing/distance, it is still nice to see a small exhibition - of the metal works by one of Japan's national cultural heritage - copperware craftsman 目玉宣夫* of, &, 玉川堂 (Gyokusen do).

     He & his work won a silver award in 1910 British-Japanese exhibition in London.
It is impressive that the Japanese keeps the diploma paper well and after 2018-1910 = 108 years later they brought the diploma back to England to be part of the exhibition.

    I knew their different workshops were and are full for these past 2 weeks and that day.
(The email reply I got said so)  Still, I tried to go in to observe the workshop.
I tried to get on the walk-in waiting list.  They have interpretors.

     The Japanese craftsmen of 玉川堂(Gyokusen do) travelled from Japan to UK.

The staff took me to pay and then I joined in.

    Step by step guides and examples.

Tools and materials are provided

Impressed by their professionalism.
They take their craft & craftsmanship seriously. The organisers are good to arrange such cultural events for a nominal fee only...

      Grateful for God's arrangement to let me enjoy a mini copper workshop  headed by a professional craftsman and manager/boss (?)  (They were cousins and related to the craftwman mentioned above)  from Gyokusen Do who flew from Japan.


Back to Part 1
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-house-london-visit-part-1.html

Part 3
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-house-london-visit-part-3.html

Part 4
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-centre-london-quick-shopping.html

Japan House London visit Part1

My coping strategy is usually fill my days with adventure of some sort.
A few weeks ago I booked a coach day-trip to London. 

In the morning it rained and have traffic jams along the way.

Arriving late in London Tottenham Court Road near the Planet Organic.
I walked towards Goodge Station having walked passed places
 where I can see Japanese food .

Usually I would have spent at least half an hour in Muji and maybe longer in Planet Organic.



(screen captured from google map )


(need to use underground route map)

Oops!
I have forgotten to bring my Oyster card
(stored value card for London public transportation)

With the self-service ticketing machine,
after checking how much it is to get return ticket (almost GBP10)
and how much it is to get a new Oyster card (GBP5),
 I bought a new card,
with extra GBP5 to store in it. (enough for the journey I need)

Destination : the nearest station : High Street Kensington.
(Yeah , Kensington, but that is a big area)

Well, I picked up an underground route map ...
and still lost some time inside them maze!!

Need to be careful which way each time you find a platform and get on a train.

Anyway I got there.

Walked passed Marks & Spencer and it's easy to find.

Part 2
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-house-london-visit-part-2.html

Part 3
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-house-london-visit-part-3.html

Part 4
http://sn-uk.blogspot.com/2018/09/japan-centre-london-quick-shopping.html

Baking experiment cookie 2: non-diary organic cookie with cinamon vanilla ginger

Baking experiment 2 with cookies kit.

Continue to use the 2nd half of the cookie kit from Scratch & Grain Baking but with a small variation.

I replaced dairy butter with coconut butter & coconut oil.

I used less flour, less sugar.

Smaller free-ranged happy egg. 

Egg whrisked with sugar, add sieved flour.

Melted coconut butter, vanilla, 

baking powder, then add flour.

Mix the two.

Added a hint of cinnamon powder 8 ginger powder. 

Dusted with sugar crystals.

....I did not use parchment "paper" or baking "paper", so as to avoid synthetic resin chemicals or alike. 

I only greased the glass tray with raw organic coconut oil.

The first time I took it out, it was not quite done. Maybe because I only put it near the oven door. 

I put it back nearer to the fire.

Again on top rack.

Nice scent fill the whole house.

It is more like 

a crossover between cookie and maccaron. Ha !

Ironbridge, short visit

My long time friends, a couple, took me to Ironbridge.
A World Heritage site which can be reached by car/coach.

Map-- Enlarge to see more details. **

This place has an interesting name.

A bird in hand. 

Older than the iron bridge.

Nice lunch menu. 

Nice interior decoration, including 

an iron work of the structire of the bridge

Accommodation available.

This view is outside

 an indoor market of Merrythought.

We spent some time browsing inside the market.

  The milk-bottle-like structures are 

   chimneys of a power station.

Around the Ironbridge world heritage area,
 there are many museums related to
 iron, tiles, china, Victorian old days, etc.
 
(Back then, stuff made in Britain were really of good quality and last long. That is before globalisation and over-emphasis of profit and fast return eyeing short term benefits of cost-cutting and blind belief in free trade  via which influx of cheap imported goods slowly killing off local good quality goods, businesses, craftmen, trade even industries. )

My old friends cannot walk much.
So we just did window-shopping in the interesting shops & market around the area,  had lunch & left.

It is a good place to spend a weekend.

Especially when it is sunny, warm and mild wind.

Good for family day out. Very educational, too.

mageficent motor show 2015

Nice to see old cars. First weekend in 2015 May.

 All by enthusiasts who have kept the vehicles inworking conditions.

Nice view on lawn. Seaside. Windy that day. 

Luckily I  went there early afternoon. Some vehicles left when the rain clouds get heavy.