Daiso Goodies

Daiso? Oh my yes!

2010-12-11T22:26:00.000-08:00

I wish I could show you some of the awesome I picked up at Daiso today. Sadly, I cannot run the risk of Christmas spoilery. Suffice to say, however, that Daiso is chock full of potential stocking stuffers right now. And I am very pleased.

Delightful!

2010-06-10T02:34:00.000-07:00

Your basic break-and-shake lightstick, now in fabulous rainbow colors! Groovy, man. And at $1.50 for a big bright beacon, that's more value than you can shake a stick at.

I'm sorry.

It's all in the cards

2010-06-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Miss V is keen to learn Japanese. This card (or "karuta") game is designed to teach students to sight-read certain hiragana characters. A little pricier at $3.00, but if it helps her master her kana on sight, I'm all for it.

Punch it up

2010-06-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

These little decorative hole punchers can get pricey fast at stationery and craft stores. But not so at Daiso. $1.50 for each one. Woot woot.

Great. Like I needed more stationery.

2010-06-07T01:12:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, but these envelopes were just too pretty to pass up. Especially at $1.50.

Look sharp

2010-06-06T00:42:00.000-07:00

A cute little pencil sharpener.

And it's useful as well as decorative!

Added bonus: vaguely Engrish directions of amusement, including the injunction "Do not use violently." $1.50.

'Bout time this got updated

2010-06-05T18:44:00.001-07:00

And now for the glory of...
...SPOON STRAWS!

OK, not very exciting. But well appreciated in our household. $1.50.

It's pop culture night

2010-03-03T17:32:00.001-08:00

Yes! Totoro! On a nightshirt! Awesome pop culture cuteness, and only $7.00!

That, my friends, is a major score.

Fill the room with Chocorooms!

2010-03-01T21:55:00.001-08:00

Amazingly cute and deeeee-licious! (They also make great decorations for chocolate Yule logs or birthday cakes with a forest theme.) $1.50.

We interrupt this Daiso blog...

2010-01-21T18:20:00.000-08:00

... to bring you something unrelated but highly amusing. (Because I have the sense of humor of a 10-year-old boy.)

I am biting my tongue SO HARD right now. $2.19 at Uwajimaya.

"AAAAHHH PUFFERFISH!" --Miss V

2009-05-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

Even if it weren't about her favorite creature on earth, Miss V probably would have fallen for this little porcelain pufferfish anyway. As it was, her squeals of delight could be heard across the store. I'm not precisely sure what it was meant to be used for, but we're going to use it as a sugar bowl. $1.50.

Millions in yen for just $1.50!

2009-05-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Not a bad exchange rate for Asian Monopoly money, ne? I plan on turning these into earrings and (possibly) some spiffy-looking cards.

Too much cuteness to bear

2009-03-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

What are these? Why, they're unbearably cute sticky notes! Each bear is about 3cm tall and there are about 10 notes of each color. I have been running around the house putting up little bijou notes everywhere (most of them bad puns like "Pink Bear E" and "I can't bear that"). $1.50.

More origami goodness

2009-01-23T01:17:00.001-08:00

Time to pick up more origami paper.

Ultra-kawaii rabbit-patterned paper, $1.50.

I'm sure you're wondering, "What exactly is it you make with all that origami paper?"

SO glad you asked.

This particular "Fox and Fireflies" card is not for sale. I may make another, similar one if there's enough interest. (Unlike Daiso, it will not cost $1.50.)

Woot woot!

2009-01-21T15:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a word from the good folks at Daiso Seattle LLC, I have a website for you to visit:

http://daisojapan.com/

Right now it looks like the company is only dealing with bulk orders (bento boxes in packs of 10 and glow sticks in containers of 30, for example), but it's still a pretty good way to get your Daiso on if you're too far away from the handful of stores in North America. Yay!

Neko mug

2009-01-09T23:09:00.000-08:00

Miss V has actually owned this one for quite some time; I just keep forgetting to photograph it.

Kawaii kitty mug! There were several models available, including dogs, pigs and polar bears, but Miss V fancied the cat mug most of all. I believe it was $1.50.

Fruit drops

2009-01-08T17:40:00.001-08:00

After watching a particular scene in Graveyard of the Fireflies, I can never quite look at Japanese hard candies the same way again. *sniff*

Nonetheless, Sakuma's fruit-flavored drops are very tasty. And at $1.50 a tin, I can't complain!

Sweet little china container

2009-01-07T01:02:00.000-08:00

As though we didn't get enough goodies for Christmas. Well, we did, but they weren't DAISO goodies, now were they?

Daiso has a large volume of china and glassware in its stores. Up to now I've demonstrated enough willpower to pass by the cups and teapots and so forth... but today I broke down.

Isn't this lovely? I don't even know what I'm going to do with it yet, only that it's made of china, it sports a pretty red floral pattern, and it wants to be filled with something. I don't know, maybe earrings. $1.50.

ETA: As it turns out, this container is just the right size to hold the bounty of Imp's Ears recently sent me by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (thanks, BPAL!).

Retro fun with paper and pens

2008-12-04T18:41:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought this would become a dead blog, it's time for another update. The advent of the Christmas season and the need for fun and inexpensive stocking stuffers meant we made another trip to Daiso. I found a little something that will probably be familiar to people of my generation or a bit earlier:

Yes, a mini-Spirograph clone! And it can be yours for only a dollar fifty! I've been having fun making patterns and astounding my niece with their complexity.

Cheap fun!

Little icebergs

2008-08-30T14:07:00.001-07:00

(Tevye voice) You may ask... what is this?

I'll tell you.

It's an ice cube tray. BUT! It is no ordinary ice cube tray, for it is SOOPER COOL! You open the bottom, fill it with water, squish down the top (water squirts out WHEE through the holes) and freeze it, and it makes three iceberglets. Little faceted rocklike ice cubes, each about the size of a juggling ball. So if you want that drink "on the rocks," we can do that for you. You know, just as long as the drink is apple beer. $1.50.

Purse boxes

2008-08-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Ever bought a hot apple turnover at McDonald's? You know those paper thingamajiggies it comes in? Here's the upscale version:

The scanner doesn't pick it up well, but they're metallic silver and gold. We're going to use them as presentation boxes for our Etsy sales. Four to a package, $1.50.

Sticker dolls

2008-08-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since our last installment, but with Miss V back there's yet another excuse to go to Daiso. Here's one of our latest scores:

When we saw this we thought it was a single sticker doll, with maybe another set of clothes on another card. Nope. There were eight sticker dolls, each with her own outfit and accessories. This one appears to be a dream job/identity series, with a soda-fountain waitress, baker, florist, schoolgirl, princess, stewardess, idol singer and tennis player. As with so many other items from Daiso, they're very cute. $1.50.

Cookies!

2008-07-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

I am all set to make some really cute cookies. Looka these!

Are they not the best cookie cutters ever? OK, at least the best ever if the thought of elephant-shaped cookies sets your heart all aflutter. (It does mine.) And pig cookies, with pink frosting and tiny candies for eyes? Well worth a dolla fitty, if you ask me.

The joys of bento, part 3

2008-07-23T23:47:00.000-07:00

Speaking of bento lunch bags...

Here's mine, all wrapped up from the store.

And an action shot of it, all dolled up with my bento box cozily nestled inside. The ties make a very nice carrying handle. Cute, ne?

The joys of bento, part 2

2008-07-16T01:04:00.001-07:00

I couldn't resist: I had to pick up a little bento box.

This one is simple but cute, with a traditional loose-fitting lid.

And the lid comes off to reveal a covered compartment...

...with another one hidden beneath it. $1.50 for the whole shebang.

Traditionally, a packed bento box and a pair of chopsticks are neatly wrapped with a furoshiki (a decorative square of cloth) or placed in a lunch bag before taking to school or work. The loose lid is often secured with a band so it won't shift in transit.

Bento boxes may look small at first glance, but you'd be surprised how much food you can pack into even the smaller models like this one. This bento box, approximately 4 x 2 x 2.5", is the right size for a child's lunch or a robust adult snack. The key to success, as far as I can tell, seems to be creating small, attractive, bite-sized portions that fit into the compact space.

There are a number of bento-related websites. Personally, I enjoy the Cooking Cute website (there's some amazing, occasionally out-of-control creative bento on display; though I don't think I'd have the time or inclination to make these lunches, they're fun eye candy).

The joys of bento, part 1

2008-07-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a pack of two egg molds: one heart, one star. They're designed to make shaped hard-boiled eggs for your bento box. You take a freshly boiled and peeled egg, put it into the mold, lock it down and put the whole mold into cold water for about 10 minutes. When the egg comes out, it's taken on the shape of the mold. Cute, ne?

$1.50 for the whole kit and caboodle.

Daiso origami paper!

2008-07-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

I don't expect anyone else to be as excited about this as I am.

I go through a lot of origami paper, mostly for cards and other paper crafts, so I was THRILLED to find assortments of origami paper at Daiso for $1.50. Usually I'm lucky to find origami paper in packets this size for between $3 and $7, so I'm very pleased.

Fixing mistakes was never so cute!

2008-07-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

Seriously, are these not the CUTEST erasers you have ever seen? Curry rice? Tempura shrimp? Ramen? Desserts? It just doesn't seem right to get rid of mistakes with them. There is some serious kawaii going on here.

Each mini-bag of erasers was $1.50.

Nice girls do

2008-07-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

OK, ladies, remember what Mom told you about washing your underthings?

That's right, you put 'em in a mesh bag before cavalierly tossing them into the laundry. This one is apparently designed for a slip, but it should provide protection for most delicate items. Dolla fitty.

And that's not all...

2008-07-10T13:19:00.001-07:00

They also have small smackerels to nosh upon.

Blueberry hard candies, $1.50. I especially like how the bag says, "We've found a taste we would like you to know. Please try it." So I did. Pretty tasty, actually.

Thirsty?

2008-07-10T12:43:00.001-07:00

I was. Thankfully Daiso doesn't just have housewares...

...it also sells drinks! Tomato juice drink and melon soda, both from Sangaria, each $1.50.

The tomato drink was take-it-or-leave-it meh, but I'd buy the melon soda again in a heartbeat.

Feeling artistic?

2008-07-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

These:
came in a three-pack. They are flip-top watercolor paints, each about the size of a lipstick. There are plenty of other color options available; I just happen to like spring green a lot.

In the pack there were also labels to wrap around the paint tubes, presumably if you wanted to put your name on them, but I quickly found they wouldn't stay put on the smooth plastic. Minor design flaw, but I can live without the labels.

Cute hoot

2008-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Another irresistibly cute item, especially since I'm fond of owls. According to the display at Daiso, the word "owl" in Japanese also sounds like "no problem" (I'll have to take their word for this; my Japanese is severely limited). So in addition to being a nifty pocket handkerchief, this is meant to be a good-luck charm for "night owl" students reviewing before an exam.

Bremen stationery

2008-07-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

I saw this the other day and thought it was too cute to pass up--a little stationery packet, slightly Engrish in quality (the fairy tale is known as "The Bremen Town Musicians" in every other English translation I've seen), with paper, envelopes and small stickers to seal the envelopes shut (not shown). I've already sent several letters using this set; it was one among 20 or so different styles, all $1.50.

All the better to entertain you with, my dear.

2008-07-05T02:04:00.000-07:00

Miss V picked up these felt finger puppets at Daiso, figuring they would make a good addition to her babysitting bag. They're all pretty cute except the wolf, who hath a lean and hungry look, and whose ears could also use some tweaking.

I particularly like the woodsman, who is vaguely South Park-ish in design and who seems well prepared to kick some lupine butt.

Mystery cards

2008-07-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

One of the first things you learn about Daiso is the phrase "All sales final." It's posted next to the cash register and the cashier says it every time she starts to ring you up. The phrase "caveat emptor" very much applies here--especially since Daiso is still new enough in the United States that there's only very sketchy package labeling in English--but the $1.50 price tag certainly makes you willing to take a few chances.

These "flower cards" are a good example. There was almost no English on the box, and a French phrase suggested it was a "traditional game," but the cards I could see through the packaging window looked intriguing. Unsure what I was even buying, I nevertheless plunked down the money and took them home.

Once I opened the package, I found an array of attractive cards, obviously in suits of some kind even though there were no obvious suit markings and each card illustration was unique. Googling the phrase "traditional Japanese card game" did the trick: these are hanafuda cards, which became popular substitutes for European playing cards after the Tokugawa Shogunate banned Western decks. There are several card games that can be played with a hanafuda deck, which contains a total of 48 cards (a suit for each month of the year, with four cards in each suit showing the Japanese plant or flower representative of that month). I don't know if I would call them "cards," since they're actually made of thin plastic slabs, but they're not thick enough to be called tiles.

This particular pack is pretty cheaply made--the color scheme is limited and certain details found in the more expensive decks are missing--but it still has an appealing pop-art look that reminds me of late-'60s animation, though more restrained. I've just been fanning them out and gazing at their beauty fatuously for the last little while. I hope to learn the rules of at least one game well enough to be able to teach family members at the next reunion.

Daiso! squee

2008-07-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Just last week my niece and I found a store in Westlake Center Mall in downtown Seattle. It was called "Daiso of Japan" and, from first glance, it seemed to be a store full of teacups (not a bad lure in and of itself; I'm a sucker for teacups). Then as we ventured further in, we saw more items: pens and pencils, candies, parasols, toys, manga, hand tools, housewares--and realized it was essentially a Japanese dollar store. Nearly everything in the store was priced at $1.50, ~~and nothing was over $10~~ (I recently found out I was wrong about this and that the top-cost item in my local Daiso, a woven basket, is $25). There was an amazing range of goodies in a fairly small store, too. We kept finding more and more items we liked--magnetic earrings, stationery, ramune...

By the time we walked out of there, Miss V and I agreed that it was the coolest store we'd visited the whole week. We were hooked on Daiso.

When I got home, being an incurable geek, I immediately googled Daiso and discovered that the shop we'd visited was one of a very small handful of Daiso stores in North America. In Japan, there are thousands--it's easily one of the biggest hyaku-en shop companies in Asia--but as of this writing there are only 10 Daiso stores in the United States, half of which are right here in Washington. That seems wrong to me. Why should my siblings in Utah and New York miss out on the wonders of low-priced Asian goodies? Cheap kawaii Engrish doodahs for the masses, I say!

So this is my place to share and squee over random goodies found at Daiso, in the hope that others will be intrigued and demand Daiso goodness in their own domains and parishes.