Apple Dainty
Bio
Tsumami-zaiku craftsperson based out of Canada.
Stories (11/0)
Buying Second Hand Luxury Goods from Japan, Part One
After living and working in Japan, I developed a taste for designer goods. At first, I thought this desire was a little shameful - and hated on myself for it - but now I'm trying to take a gentler approach to things I enjoy. Rather than trying to browbeat myself into only liking sensible things, I now tell myself it's ok to enjoy things, even if they are frivolous. As long as I approach these desires mindfully, and make financially grounded purchasing decisions, then there's nothing wrong with buying things that are a little frivolous.
By Apple Dainty9 months ago in Styled
The Dolyak God
I came to video games later in life than most of my friends, only really taking an interest in MMOs when I was in my late twenties. I had already graduated college, travelled the world a bit, and was settling into the idea that maybe being a starving artist wasn't the best career choice. At the same time, I was also settling into the idea that - since I had yet to find a partner - marriage might not be in the cards for me either.
By Apple Daintyabout a year ago in Gamers
Embracing Slow Fashion II
Years ago I started collecting vintage, even antique, fabric - as part of my quest to embrace the tenets of "slow fashion." This fabric collection has come from all over the world; old kimonos from Japan, linen from France, and various scraps of all kinds from the craft materials I inherited from my grandmother after her passing.
By Apple Daintyabout a year ago in Styled
Tilt and Sway
In February 2010, I arrived in Japan ready to start training for what I thought would be a year of rebuilding my inspiration. I was a Florida girl fresh out of university with an art degree I had been working toward most of my life, battling a depression I only vaguely understood, and hoping to escape some of the economic devastation that my classmates were experiencing in the wake of the recession.
By Apple Dainty2 years ago in Wander
- Top Story - August 2022
Stripped Down and Built Back BetterTop Story - August 2022
For the longest time I assumed that the fabled biological clock just skipped right over me, but a few years back - mere months before the pandemic struck, when the world was still 'normal' - I was standing in our empty guest room and it suddenly hit me that we could totally put a baby in that room. It would be a great nursery.
By Apple Dainty2 years ago in Confessions
Embracing Slow Fashion I
Part of the experience of quarantine, at least for me, has involved a great deal of reflection on the way that we live. I grew up in a fairly middle class family; I wouldn't say we were particularly excessive, except for when it came to clothes.
By Apple Dainty4 years ago in Styled
Vintage Suitcases Two Ways
Like many first time home buyers, when we bought our fixer-up starter home - actually a townhouse - we were a bit house poor. After moving in I threw myself into renovating the main floor, which was a depressing shade of beige, and spent the first year in our home spending my weekends spackling, sanding, painting and wallpapering.
By Apple Dainty4 years ago in Lifehack
Wedding Hair with Japanese Flair
As a craftsperson who often helps brides to create their wedding day look, I understand how difficult it can be to get it right. The search for perfection can add unnecessary stress. And, when you find yourself considering an accessory with roots in a culture other than your own, that adds a layer of concern in regards to cultural appropriation.
By Apple Dainty4 years ago in Marriage
Quarantine Kanzashi I
I have always had a tepid relationship with my own hair. It is thick, black and curly, and although I love designing and creating fantastical hair accessories, I hardly have the time, energy or desire to work with my own hair. The more stressed I am, the more unruly I let it become.
By Apple Dainty4 years ago in Blush