Post-Xmas Giveaway!

you're giving us a month to comment?! Do you know how many comments you're going to have?! Even people like myself, who are so busy they can't visit your site, will have time to come over here and tell you what Zakka means. You'll never get any rest! You'll have comments pouring out your ears!!!

what was the question?

I'm taking a guess on this, I think Zakka means "simple"! But I am sure I am absolutely wrong! :-p

Whatever it means, I sure love anything zakka! :-) Have a happy new year, Diane! xoxo!

By the way, Diane, did you know that you said "Wednesday, January 31st" and not December 31st? I just now noticed myself, though I think everyone understood you to mean today and not a month from now.

I'm pretty sure Zakka means "awesome", or at the very least "painfully cute". This looks like a great book!

Zakka means ridiculously-cute-Japanese-inspired-crafty-goodness! I've been wishing for that book-please enter me in the giveaway!

I don't know "eg-zakka-ly" what the word means but the book looks great!

Hi Sister Diane!
I have read that it means household items, usually handmade. But it's a pretty ambiguous term. All I know is I love the Zakka Life website!
Thanks!
Katie.

LOVE your site! I had the biggest laugh over your comments on the 70's Christmas craft pictures. you are hilarious! keep up the good work.
would love the book also.

zakka is japanese crafted household item...well sometimes.... sometimes its any crafted item, depending on which craft book you r looking at ^º^

Zakka means "many things" and is part of a new crafty-retro-lifestyle movement in Japan.
I love the squirrel tea cozy!

Ooooh! I think it means pretty little things that I have to make :)

Or...making cool things to use with everyday items that normally look dull and boring until some crafter came along and decided to snazz it up a bit and now they look awesome! Phew-that was some run on sentence :)

I think it's an exclamation. Like HIYAAAH! Sewing. :o)

Ooooh- This book has been on my "want" list for a few months now. My household definitely needs more cute!

It should mean "oh my goodness how cute is that!"

Zakka -- in my language, anyway -- means something highly addicting and extremely adorable! That squirrel tea cozy is to die for.

It seems that zakka means a combination of cute, simple, and elegant all in one, specifically in designs of everyday type items.

Thanks for another chance at winning a lovely book. Happy New Year to you and yours!

Hmmmm... I think 'zakka' refers to things that inspire interesting conversations - zakka chatter!

Zakka means simple miscellaneous oddments that make life that little bit nicer to look at :-)
This book looks super delicious and would look fabulous in my bookcase!

To me, Zakka means Cute - with a capital "C"!

I think Zakka means heart palpitations. Maybe drooling? Spontaneous jumping up and down and squealing?

These are things that seem to happen to me in the presence of Zakka.

I love this book - it's high up on my bookstore list. The projects are sooooooo adorable. I haven't peeked at it in awhile, but I think it has a hot air balloon change purse if I'm remembering correctly. Heart goes :*thump* *thump* *thump* *thump*

I'm so glad you posted this book because I was trying to remember who the publisher was just two days ago! I think Zakka means domestic? Or home-related? Regardless, even if I don't win this book, I'm going to get myself a copy. It looks super-cute!

Zakka means cute Japanese things you make yourself to brighten and improve and your life!

I think Zakka means trying to make life richer and more comfortable by focusing on the details. Why have a boring tea cozy on your table when a squirrel tea cozy will put a smile on your face? I love how the squirrel goes perfectly with the white china and brown and white swirl tablecloth in the cover photo. It's so Japanese and understated, but whimsical at the same time.

Zakka - Japanese craft style that has become a lifestyle. Basically the crafting or re-crafting of useful things.

Possibly hand-made things for the home that are cute and useful. Whatever it means, it looks like an interesting book.

To me Zakka means "kitch" - in the best sort of way. As in a handmade, sentimental, cross-cultural sort of way. It means design not only in addition to function, but beyond function to attachment.

Well it could mean many things.. I think it means a little bit of everything that everyone has said.. except... Mandi needs.. because it's clear it means Denise needs!

Love the squirrel. I think zakka seems to mean little everyday things make prettier or cuter.

To me it means fun thingds that make me feel good.

I bet it means "mine" because that book should be mine. LOL

Zakka must be a more casual, less-serious form of feng shui. Any household that starts the day with a squirrel tea cozy must be both relaxed and energetic! Looks like a fun book full of good design.

a type of japanese sewing that hs to do with their culture

a way to brighten up your house and make it more beautiful and efficient

ways in which you can make your house more cute!!

It means absolute cuteness!!

That's a cute squirrel. I think zakka means cute, Japanese-inspired crafts that often involve hand sewing.

Zakka means cute, functional things for the home.

Does it mean "Scraps"? Like sewing with left over bits.

I love the ninja guess! Maybe.... simple and classic? The book looks wonderful. Happy new year!

Gonzo decorating.

I think it's a magical word...like abracadabra....zzzzakka! And then poof! You have cute things for your house! I have had this on my wish list for a while now, I would love to win it!

Pendleton_Angela(at)asdk12(dot)org

Zakka are fun little stitchy projects with a simple style and a function in the home.

I cheated a bit and looked the word up. Here is the meaning:

Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'????or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and outlook. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin. But can also be japanese goods from mainly fifties, sixties and seventies. In Japan there are also so called asian zakka stores, that usually refers to Southeast Asia. The interest in Nordic design or Scandinavian design, both contemporary and past, is also part of this zakka movement. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft.
Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". The zakka boom could be recognized as merely another in a series of consumer fads, but it also touches issues of self-expression and spirituality. Cute, corny and kitschy is not enough. To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext.

Does looking it up disqualify me?

zakka means fun and functional things for your life. i'd love to try some from the book!! thanks for the chance!

To add to the concept of the meaning of zakka, I'm going to say it means "You really need to get a new sewing machine so you can do cool things like this"

Zakka is a Japanese trend for crafts that are kinda kitsch but still trendy... sound about right? Really cute but yet somewhat elegant, :) Love it!

OK -
I hit Swagbucks for a definition. The one I like the most is seeing the savy in the ordinary.
Kinda describes a lot of the handcrafting movement, don't you think? When you take a bottlecap and it becomes a piece of jewelry that's a State Fair Prize Winner, it's all "zakka!"

Zakka means "even if you didn't get any craft books for xmas, there is still a chance, don't lose hope."

i love it!!!!! i hope i win.......

thanks

I like to think of Zakka as being those "sweet nothings" we all like so much.

I never really thought about what Zakka meant. But of course I had to look it up. Zakka means essentially anything crafty and handmade for your home. And now I must have this book. Thanks for the opportunity.

I think Zakka is like the Japanese word for "Gotcha!"

In my worklife, I had to look up Zakka to find out they would be beautifully handmade items for the home. As a crafter, I just love the squirrel on the cover! Either way, the book looks terrific!

I think zakka means something cute, warm and cozy.. something childish. Something that reminds you to take time for cute things and quality time :)

Zakka makes me think of words like wow pop and bang and used in graphic novels. Sewing projects that get up and smack down the villans in your life.

What a lovely book. And what fun projects for the next time Portland shuts down due to snow;-) A little warm cider and some Zakka - KANKI (Japanese for whoopeee)!!

Zakka... it's Japanese for "cool stuff I gotta make"? I looked at the pictures & I just have to make those sweet little embroidered shoes! Pick me! Pick me! (because if I BUY one more craft book my hubby will shoot me!)

Zakka means cute, functional, handmade items for your home! This book is absolutely wonderful, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. :-)

ebscrafts at gmail dot com

Oh what fun projects, I want to make the apron and the placemats! Ok - Zakka - I want to look this up on the internet but will resist, my guess is that it means "a bit of this and a bit of that" sewing.

i... i... think i'd like to try this. so i checked wikipedia:

"Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'????or 'many things')... refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and outlook.
Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane".To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext."

i like it!

Zakka = Japanese esthetic is just plain awesome.

To me, zakka could mean "really cute stitching"....it looks to be a lovely book.

So, I haven't googled it, this is all off the top of my head . . . I'm tempted to say that "zakka" means "portly rodent," but I really doubt that there is an entire book devoted to the stitching of portly rodents (I love saying that, portly rodent, hee hee). My real guess is that it means simple and sweet.

I'm going to venture to say that zakka is a yiddish slang meaning "a bag of" - as in, I've got a zakka these bagels, you want some? So the book is a Zakka sewing ideas. Thanks!

Zakka in the craft sense is nice little useful things that are also decorative. Tissue pouches for personal tissue packets are a classic example. This book really embraces the modern japanese style. I think it's great! - chppie@yahoo.com

Zakka means too cool, trendy projects that call to me from the craft book aisle. That squirrel tea cozy is so very cute! I'm crossing my fingers!

Zakka.....hmmmm.....it sounds like "attack"....you attack your sewing with this awesome book. Zakka attack!

Whatever it means, this book looks awesome!

I think it means, beautifully sewn gift. I would love to sew some things from this book.

I already have this book, so please don't consider me for entry, but I just wanted to say what a fabulous book it is! This book inspired me to divide my dishes, linens and ornaments up into seasons and bring them out at the appropriate time to keep things fresh.
Good Luck Craftypod Readers!

Hmmm.... Zakka sounds like it could be related to "Zen" possibly? Or maybe just "misc stuff".

I think Zakka means "Mandi needs"....
Because I am learning to sew and need a sewing book to inspire me. lol

Seriously I have no idea what it means and I'm resisting the Google urge too.

Thank you for sharing with us! I'm always amazed that you bloggers give away all this cool stuff instead of keeping it for yourself - ha! Anyhoo, I think zakka means . . . little cute stuff.

Thanks again -

I think Zakka means "stuff"... and I would LOOOOOVE to have that book! :) Happy New Year!

Having just moved back to the US from Japan this summer I LOVE zakka! Zakka means little things used in everyday life (often handmade).

Zakka!!!! Is the noise you scream in a high pitch as your eyes become super anime anime sized and you pass out from the excitement of being given a teacosy that cool!

I have no idea what it really means, I just know that I want it. So, I guess to me it means- "must have."

Zakka means 'bits and bobs' in Japanese...because I looked it up...and I do not have a Japanese craft book and I have been dying for one (or some). Too cute and I want it!

Does Zakka have something to do with animals? Animal-shaped sewing? I'm resisting the urge to Google it. Anyway, that squirrel tea cozy is adorable.

I know! Zakka meens Zick Zacka as the Swedish word for the zigzag-stitch on your sewing machine!

Happy new year Diane! Thanks for all your crafty pod casts of 2008 I love them all! And thanks for everything you do for the crafting community! You rock :) Craft on 2009! Love from Sweden /Inger Carina

Oooh... I just looked at this book yesterday and would have bought it if I weren't feeling Visa-ed out. Zakka must mean bodacious - or maybe I've just watched Kung Fu Panda once too often with the 4 year old this holiday season....

Ooooh! I need to make this squirrel tea pot cozy for a squirrel crazy friend. I think "Zakka" means something like "Ninja" sewing. You know, stealthy and efficient. Unlike me.