Thank you and goodbye

Sorry to say we will be closing our online store on the 30th September… enjoy our discounted items while they last – many remain unique in the UK and Europe.

L!FE is out there!

L!fe Writing Paper

Calling all fountain pen users out there, L!fe stationery has landed in the UK. We have found this to be just perfect for use with fountain pens, L!fe handmade paper is an ideal companion for pen and ink. We have put this specialist paper through vigorous testing and the results are certainly positive.

Life Stationery Company was established in 1946 just outside Tokyo, Japan. The company has a passion for producing the finest quality stationery and fine papers for  all stationery lovers and the connoisseur. Their papers are made in the traditional method used since their inception, all made and bound by hand by a handful of artisans. Hence the end product is of a sublime quality. As functional pieces, whatever you choose from the range, you are guaranteed to have a pleasurable experience in its form and utility.

Life collaborate with various other traditional Japanese industries, in particular the textile sectors to come up with fabric covers for their notebooks. The Pongee notebooks are really quite serene.

Japanese Haiku Juraku Pongee Notebook

As are the Japanese Woven notebooks in various sizes.

L!fe Woven Notebook

The Yuzen paper covered Haiku Notebooks are covered with very pretty papers with traditional  Japanese motifs.

Yuzen Haiku Notebooks

We have already started using some of the notebooks and typewriting paper ourselves here at Raw Dice. We feel that L!fe stationery complements our Japanese product range very well and carries through our love of all things Japanese and exceptional precision and high quality. We are planning a big trip over to Japan next year, but for now we are happy to indulge in all our gorgeous Japanese goodies.

Hope you can share in our passion.

Next time you are in Seoul…

Zero per Zero Seoul Studio

Zero per Zero, the Korean young and vibrant graphic design studio have opened a flagship store in Seoul. Visit their website for more details www.zeroperzero.com.

However, we appreciate it’s a long way to go to get your City Railway System maps. So, we have shipped them over to make life a bit simpler. Here is a selection of what you can find down at  Raw Dice.

New for 2013, Paris! It’s just arrived. We think that it is quite special, you decide.

Paris Railway Poster by Zero Per Zero

Paris Poster

Detail from Paris poster

Seoul Railway System Map

New York subway map

Tokyo Railway System Map

Osaka Railway System Map

We also have a selection of City Maps that are a handy size to fit into a handbag or pocket, so no need to carry the poster around with you. Please note that due to copyright restrictions we cannot sell the London maps. Such a shame!

City Maps

New York tape is on special offer at the moment.

New York Subway Tape

New York Subway Tape

After a long absence …Faro

A recent trip to Portugal’s Algarve region went by pretty uneventfully until the last day. We had some time to kill before the afternoon flight back home, the tourist information guide for the Algarve mentioned that Faro was worth a visit and it certainly was! First we hit the local shopping area, which proved to be average. After a quick purchase of one single copper Cataplana (we only just managed to refrain ourselves from buying the whole set), we headed towards the Old Town (Cidade Velha). On our approach to the entrance of the old city gates we spotted Storks’ nesting on the roof of the gate and winding streets leading to an orange tree lined square, with cafe’s that were certainly beginning to make us think we should have come here first…. this was beginning to look up.

Inside the old city gates was quiet and full of old world charm, not a Costa Coffee in sight to spoil the view. Quickly regretted eating in the shopping centre as delightful cafes began to appear down interesting side roads, then just off the main square we saw a couple of people exiting from an almost hidden doorway.

I decide to investigate. As I stepped inside the doorway, I took a deep breath. Yes, I was happy now. I feasted my eyes on various eclectic objects and a whole world of antique tiles.

As we purchased a few tiles (aware that we really couldn’t carry huge amounts on the plane), we stuck up a conversation with the owner Mr Joaquim de Silva Carneiro.

Portugese Antique Tiles

Cigdem in Rue Da Porta Nova

Having apologised for his lack of English (which made us feel very shameful for not knowing a word of Portuguese),he very kindly let us take some pictures of his shop and then told us he would show us his private collection housed next door.

What a pleasure it was to see such an amazing cornucopia of treasures in this private museum. Whether beautiful intact tile collections that far exceeded the wonders we had just seen in the shop, artefacts recovered from the cathedrals earthquake damage – including some stunning wooden statues and doors. An elegant Chinoise travel wardrobe – sourced from a hotel. A pair of deco chandeliers, a deco bathroom, a woodworm decimated monk, an unusual rounded wooden desk with so many secret drawers… and so much more.

The secret door with Joaquim Da Silva Carneiro

The building itself was also interesting with its very modern graffiti backdrop, hand painted doors for storage, quirky stairs and balustrades, wooden doorways that might be part of the fixtures or another collectible from the cathedral… it turns out originally to be a simple boatman’s workshop. Outside the building is right on the harbour with no noticeable doors or windows you would easily walk past this hidden gem and never know what wonders you had just missed.

We are eternally grateful to Mr Joaquim de Silva Carneiro for sharing his collection with strangers.

Church artefacts, with modern wonders

Even the storage doors were interesting

A stunning and unusual round carved wooden doorway

Tiles inlaid into a wooden bar

One of several stunning sets of antique Portuguese tiles

Deco chandelier, one of a pair … check out the modern graffiti section behind it.

Home of the Week: Industrial chic meets playful pop | onefinestay blog: Live like a local

Meant to show this earlier – we are expecting more coverage soon as Raw Dice home proves popular…

Home of the Week: Industrial chic meets playful pop | onefinestay blog: Live like a local.

Wonderful stationery

MT tape for kids

Silicon A6 notebooks

Midori hello roll stickers

Domadayu pencil case

Jitensha pencil case

Gustave pouch and notebook

MT tape Okokoro

Midori Brass Pencil

MT Washi Tape 1P Wide – Encyclopaedia – Animals

MT Washi Tape 3P – two versions available

Midori Brass Stencil Set – Alphabet

MT Washi Tape 1P Wide – Map

MT Washi Tape 1P Wide – Butterflies

Roll Stickers – Orange Ticket Tape

MT Tape Cutter

Just had to share some of our new stationery. Brass stencils and pencil add to our brass stationery range from Japan, funky silicon notebooks (which are really really difficult to stop playing with!) are proving popular already, fine designs for the Japanese pencil cases and new Gustave notebooks and pouches.

We also have some great new additions in MT Tape include some children’s tapes which are fab based on the great packaging alone and of course a perfect fit for stockings! The site now has a wider selection of MT Tape, we are still striving to deliver great value as well as top quality here at raw dice… I’m busy busy in run up to Christmas (busy on blinds for flat – so more on that pain later!). Hope you like new stock… needless to say more coming including restock and additions to brassware from Futagami.

Is it me or has the world gone mad?

I know I am probably showing my age here but when I heard that the South Korean rapper Psy’s Gangnam Style song (?) had topped the UK’s singles charts on the radio 4’s Today programme, I thought I would investigate further. Having just watched the video on You Tube, (apparently the most ‘liked’ of all time) I am left with mixed feelings (“personally thought it was cool“ – David). I guess it is quite a catchy tune but the video, which is hugely popular and bizarrely has a number of celebrities favourable comments on the horse-riding dance moves… doesn’t really do much for me…. kids have been doing those steps since they were four! I know I am out on a limb here, given that a huge number of fans worldwide. I quite enjoy a bit of rap, I have even been known to blast out Eminem in the car when the kids are not in it! Psy’s supposedly satirical comment on today’s society becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

It did get me thinking of about other South Korean designers who are beginning to get a lot of coverage as they return back to SK from international design schools. You should have a look at Monocle’s recent podcast. Really makes us want to travel to SK and catch up with our own favourites,  Ji-hwan Kim and Sol-Jin, who make up the graphic design company Zero per Zero. They are hugely talented and we are very proud to represent their talents on Raw Dice. Their range of maps and various other stationery products are highly individual and quirky. Here are some of their interpretation of major capital cities underground system that are available as posters and calendars from Raw Dice;

Map of Seoul

Map of New York City Metro

Map of the Tokyo metro

The London version of the ever famous Underground alas can not be shown here due to a copyright dispute. No sooner had we received a batch of posters, maps, notebooks and tape of London, the powers to be (lawyers) from the design bullies at London Transport advised us that all these products are in danger of copyright infringement! Here is a link to what you could have bought and make your own mind up (bear in mind colour, tube names cannot be a copyright issue).

I did think that maybe they could also do a bit of self-publicity, but releasing a catchy tune and a crazy video. It seems that to succeed in this media driven world, the more outlandish the better, personally prefer the longevity of quality design…, it will be interesting to see if this S-K rapper can sustain the attention span of the current generation!

Zero Per Zero City Maps