mairuru

How to make a snood for babies/kids

2011-11-28T04:34:00.000-08:00

Hello. We're doing great!
We went to a picnic with our friends last Sunday.

It's getting cold now so I made a snood for Miyu.

And for me.

This one is very easy to sew. I show how I made it(* v *)!!!!

The snood measures 45cm (18 inches) long, 10cm (4 inches) width.
So you need 47cm(19 inces) x 22cm(9 inches) piece of fabric. I used Japanese wool 100% fabric. You may also make it with fleece or flannel etc.

Then choose the decorations. This time I put a piece of lace and two cute buttons.

Let's begin with sewing the lace on the fabric.

I sewed both sides.

Fold it in two putting the right side inside, and sew it around leaving an opening to turn it out.

Turn it out from the opening.

And close it.

Put a pair of snaps on it.

And at last put the buttons. That's all!

I made one more with a battenburg lace and a wood button.

Enjoy easy sewing for your babies.

Thank you very much for reading my poor explanation.
If you have any problems for making it, please leave a comment here.

See you.

How to make a Christmas card with hand carved stamps

2011-11-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

One of my friends asked me how I stamped on Miyu's shirt.

So today I show you how to make a Christmas card with stamps in the way of it.

At first I made a stamp with a small piece of eraser. I drew a design of simple flowers.

Then I scratched it on a piece of eraser, the rest of my works.
I use this OLFA cutter knife only.

I began cut off the outlines roughly.

I began carving from the outlines. Note the angle of the knife.
It should be in a trapezoidal shape when you see it from the side. It makes the stamps durable.

In the case of this design, I carved in a round shape at first.

Then I cut off the petals.

It's easy to cut off the center circle. Fix the knife at the center and just turn around the eraser.

I finished carving.

Then I prepared the patterns for the card. I drew the design of Christmas socks and tree.

I cut off the parts. Please take care to keep the outsite patterns.

I put it on a card and just stamped.

These are the monotone ones.

And multicolor ones.

And with other stamps.

I hope you liked this article and try carving stamps (* v *)!!!!

See you soon!!

Christmas stamps

2011-11-19T15:48:00.000-08:00

I made some stamps for Christmas project today.
I'm sorry for the bad picture, I could take pictures when Miyu was asleep and with less light.

I designed with a pencil so I could copy them easily on eraser. I just scratched them on eraser.

Then I cut the eraser in pieces.

I began carving from outlines.

These stamps were very easy to carve, so I worked only 1 hour or less.
I want to make ornaments with these stamps.

I have carved lots of stamps these days. I want to carve more if I have much more time..

Last night, I made a stamp for Miyu, because she saw me with very cute face.

She had "Roseola Infantum" from Tuesday and had high fever. After four days fever, I found lots of rashes on her face. Now she is in a very bad mood always and cries often...
I heard from the doctor and friends that it's the feature of the disease.
Last night she cried two hours nonstop.
But sometimes she enjoys playing and smiles. The stamp is at the moment, when she was playing with a toy what I made for her.
I hope Miyu get well soon and doesn't cry so much...

See you soon!

My recent works

2011-11-14T06:28:00.000-08:00

Finger dolls for Miyu. They were very easy to make.

I made them like Nina(The doll in the next picture). I made it with Japanese handmade pattern book.
The book has lots of patterns of clothes for Nina.

I also made a cap with rabbit ears for Miyu.

But she doesn't want to put it on, because she doesn't like any caps/hats.

She likes hair accessories. So I've made lots of ones for her.
This is my favorite one.

And I stamped my hand carved stamps on her shirt.

It's like a pochette, isn't it?

Here is the first item for my shop, a drawstring bag with my hand carved stamps, like her shirt(* v *).

I stamped as a ribbon.

I also appliqued the same ribbon on the other side.

I'm making three of them and will list them soon.
I have many idea to make new items, but I have only one-two hours a day for my shop...

See you soon!

Happy Halloween!!!!

2011-10-31T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone.
We're doing very busy and happy (* v *)!!!!

Miyu is 1 and 2 months old now and speaks a lot these days.
Her first word is "Papa" and now can say "Mama" at last.
She likes playing with Papa.

Her most favorite play is drawing. When I want her keep quiet, I always give her pens and paper. Or, give some baby snacks.

I want to open my ETSY shop again because I can have little time for me at last.
From her birth, I couldn't have my time and could do only matters for my family.
But I want to enjoy my life like before so I decided to open it again. It's very happy for me.

This time I got some Japanese fabrics and notions. They are all my favorite items.
Here are some pictures.
I think you could enjoy with them.

This is my bag with my hand carved stamp. I stamped it on a piece of leather.
I enjoy carving stamps with my friends these days. Next time I'll show you what I　carved these days.

See you again soon!!!!

Two weeks after, she gets 1 year old!!!!

2011-08-01T05:19:00.000-07:00

Hello!
We are doing very well, happy and busy.
Miyu is very big now. But because of her weight, still she cannot move so much.

My mother sent me some pieces of beautiful fabric and I made a new shirt for Miyu.

She is so cute in it!

I love it so much. So I made her swim suits with the same fabric.

They were small and I could make them in several hours.

The boy is her friend. I like his cute face.

After they played in the small pool, she got tired and slept well.

These days her most favorite playing is drawing.

But she eats her crayon after drawing...

Everyday we go out and meet our friends. She likes playing with her friends and their mothers.
I'm very happy with her and Haru. They make me smile every day.

But I have a small problem.
Miyu likes my PC too much... So I cannot use it while she is awake.
My sewing and PC time is after she falls asleep...

A festival day

2011-06-07T03:44:00.000-07:00

Last week Miyu enjoyed a festival at a shrine with her friend.
There were lots of food and game stands.

Goldfish scooping stand. People get goldfishes with a very thin paper scoop. Miyu's friend's papa tried it but couldn't get any.

Corns.

Takoyaki, octopus dumplings. Each dumpling has one small octopus.

Shooting game.

A float.

An old storehouse.

The stands are on the narrow street. Oh, most of streets in Japan are narrow...

Miyu is getting bigger and bigger... I cannot believe she gets 1 year old after two months. Time passes too fast for me.

See you!!!!!

Strawberry hats

2011-05-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

I saw a cute strawberry hat at a baby wear shop but it was too expensive for me. So I made it!

I used a free pattern of turip hat and put leaves on the top.

But the first one was too small for Miyu. Her head is too big...
So I made the second one with a little bigger pattern.
But it was still small for Miyu...
Then I made the last one. Finally it fits Miyu very well!

Miyu cannot wear the first two, so I gave them to my friends (* v *)!!!!
The smallest one is to a newborn boy. The midium one is to one of her boy friend.

Miyu has another cute hat that my mother knitted. It fits her very well.

I also made a bow hair clip.

I enjoy sewing small things for her while she is sleeping. It relaxes me a lot.

Miyu is 9 months old now but she doesn't move so much... So many her friends come to her, hug and kiss her (* v *)!!!!

Our life with lots of friends

2011-05-03T03:39:00.000-07:00

Miyu is 8 months old now and several days before she rolled over for the first time. Maybe it's because she is too big, more than 10 kg already.

So most of her friends want to get on her, because she doesn't move...

We stay at a big house usually.
Lots of elder people and babies come and enjoy together.

A day I taught an italian recipe which I learned when I stayed in Italy. We enjoyed the lunch very much. When I stay at home the lunch time is very busy, but when I stay here, I can take my time. Because someone helps me holding Miyu.

These days I'm teaching hand sewing for my friends. They enjoy making clothes for their babies.

I made these pants,

and this skirt. The pants is with SWANY's pattern and the skirt is with Japanese free pattern.

We are happy with our lots of friends.
When I think of the earthquake and the people of the area, I always feel I'm too lucky. I should do something continually, what I can do with Miyu.

I planned a short trip at this weekend with our both parents. They live very far from us, so they cannot meet Miyu so often. So they are looking forward to meet her.

See you (* v *)!!!!

Miyu is growing up!!!!

2011-03-30T04:04:00.000-07:00

She is 10kg now, the biggest baby around us.

After the earthquake, our life has a bit changed.
First of all we see lots of scenes of the disaster in TV every day. And they tell about the accident of the nuclear power plant.
I don't afraid of it too much but I'm worrying about the people who works in it now.

We have less electric power because the nuclear power plant and also we lost some thermal power plants.
So we have less trains and shops has less lights and close earlier than before.
The life with less electric is a bit inconvenience but we can notice how it's important for us.

But we still enjoy our life so much.

I teach how to sew baby wears to my friends.
We've already sewed a pair of pants,

a smock,

and a hairband.

I didn't expect that younger mothers want to sew. But now they enjoy sewing so much.

These days I frequent a big house where babies and elderly people get together.
Because we live far from our parents, I want Miyu to meet elderly people as much as possible.

After the earthquake the place got more important for us because we don't want stay home alone. We can talk with other mothers and eldery people so we can relax and forget the disaster.

I'm happy with many people around me (* v *)!!! Of course, with you all!!!!

Earthquake

2011-03-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

Hello,
Thank you very much for your comments and e-mails.
Our city, Yokohama is far from the focus area. We and our house are OK.
Because of the earthquake, we are facing power shortage so we're trying to save electricity.
I often wake up because of frequent aftershocks.
But we have enough food, water and safe house and I'm with my dearest family.

We're worrying about the disaster area. I've never seen such a huge disaster in Japan.

Now what I can do is to save electricity and stay with Miyu.

See you.
Thank you very much again.

(* v *)!!!!!

Baby massage

2011-02-22T23:04:00.000-08:00

We take baby massage lesson once a month and I massage her every day.
She likes it very much. When I massage her on her sole, she relaxes and smiles a lot.

I began Yoga with the same teacher of the baby massage. During my lesson, Miyu lies by me and watches me. When she cries, I should carry her. So I cannot do all of the poses... But because of thelessons, now I could lose weight (* v *)!!!!

These are the dolls for girl's festival, at the 3rd March. My parents got them for Miyu.
In Japan most of girls have one set at her first year. We display it for about one month till the day.

Now I'm thinking of sewing her a new diaper cover.
Last week, we met some mothers who use cloth diapers and are trying EC. They have cute handmade covers and they stir me up.
I couldn't take any pictures at that time but I'll post about them after our second meeting.

See you!!!!!

Happy new year!!!!

2011-01-04T01:42:00.000-08:00

Happy new year, everyone! We are doing well.
But at Miyu's first Christmas, we all three caught a cold and she had to go to the doctor. And we couldn't do anything but stayed on the bed.
Instead of it, we went to some new places during my husband's New year holidays.
She liked the acqualium the best.

Every day we learn something new from her. Whenever I cannot see my husband well, Miyu reminds me that. Whenever I get too busy, Miyu and my hubabnd make me laugh.
We're growing up with Miyu.

Two weeks later we'll visit both of our parents. Both live very far from us so they are looking forward the days.
For me it's the chance to take a few days rest (* v *).

Now my husband is making dinner for me. I'm taking a rest with Miyu sleeping in my arm.

Her potty & diaper life

2010-12-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Do you know EC (Elimination Communication)?
I'm trying "omutsu-nashi ikuji" and it's like EC.

I first began it at her first month. At first I let her free from diapers, but not always, only when I could see her. Put cloth diaper under her hip and see how and when(how often) she eliminates.

Then I got a chamber pot and when I notice her sign (move, crying etc...) I put her on it.
From the first time, she could pee. At her second day with the potty, she did a poo three times in it.

Now she uses paper diapers when she goes out and sleeps, cloth diapers at the daytime and the chamber pot 5-7 times a day. Because it's so cold, she doesn't want to sit on it so often these days. But every morning, she does a poo in it soon after she wakes up.

I enjoy it very much. Because of it, I can communicate with her more deeply. I have less diapewrs to wash. Usually I have no diapers with a poo.

Now my mother knits her diaper covers and wool soakers (* v *)!

Today we took a class of baby massage and Yoga. We enjoyed it for two hours and now she sleeps on my lap.

She likes the sea.

Miyu met Bo-chan

2010-11-29T23:46:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago we went to Bo-chan with Miyu.
It was cold day but the door was opened.
He was at the entrance with his owner and we could show Miyu to them.

Bo-chan was fine(* v *)!!!!

We also went to our favorite Yakiniku restaurant.
They held Miyu and she laughed at them.
I love this restaurant very much so I enjoyed dishes and the conversation with them.

This is the picture when Miyu used her chamber pot.
These days, she uses it soon after she wakes up. If I don't put her on it, she doesn't suck the breast.
When she finishes, I wash it and come back to her. She always smiles at me seeing the clean chamber pot.
Then her new day begins.

She likes playing with my Sarubobo mobile.

My PC has broken...

2010-11-04T01:10:00.000-07:00

I broke my MacBook 2 weeks ago.
I like it but the repare cost is too high. I can get new PC with it.
So I'm looking for new one now.
I'm writing this post using my husband's PC.

Miyu and I caught cold these days, but were doing well.
This weekend her grandparents come to see her. We should get better by then.

Miyu grows very well.
Now she smiles and talk to me a lot.
We go to a place where babies and mothers of the same area meet and play together.
It's a good place for me because I don't have friends who have baby near me.
It's also a good place for Miyu. She can only stay there but she watches other babies all the time curiously.

About the chamber pot, every morning she gets up earlier than us and uses her chamber pot at first (* v *)!!!!
In the daytime, I can notice her sign only 5-6 times a day.

When I get new PC, I'll show you some recent pictures.

See you!!!!

She is getting bigger

2010-10-19T22:59:00.000-07:00

She is 2 months now.

We got some new items for her.

One is this chamber pot. I hold her on it soon after she wakes up or when she thrashes her arms and legs. I began to use it one week ago and I succeed four or five times a day.

The next ones are books. My husband got a thick book with 365 short stories. It seems for older child, but Miyu likes listen to the stories. I've read more than 60 stories.

And we got some picture books for her too. She likes them too. But sometimes she doesn't look at them but my face.

These days she speaks to me a lot so I want to know what she tries to tell me. I live only for her. I don't have enough time to do anything else but I'm really happy now.
My husband helps me even though he comes back home by the last train usually. Every morning he washes her diapers.

Oh, I got one more thing, Swimava!

She likes it very much (* v *).

Her name is Miyu

2010-09-30T04:57:00.000-07:00

Hello.
She is Miyu. We decided her name 5 days after her birth.
I love this wear very much. It's a gift from a reader, thank you very much.

These are what I sewed for her.

A vest and pants.

And dresses.

They all are from a sewing book.
->http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/switch-language/product/4579109961/ref=dp_change_lang?ie=UTF8&language=en_JP
The patterns are simple and beautiful. I love the book.

Today she cried a lot and I wrapped her in the blanket what I made for her. She likes this style.

See you!

Thank you very much for your comments!

2010-09-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy with my little Tomato.
She eats very well and is getting bigger every day.

This is a mobile what I made for her before her birth.

I also sewed some dresses for her. Next time, I'll show them.

I'm sorry for my short post...

She is here!!!!

2010-09-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

Tomato is here now!
She was born on August 18, 2 hours after I felt the first weak pain on my bed. It was so quick and easy delivery!

Now I'm busy with her so I cannot post for a while. But we both are very happy and doing well.
Thank you very much for you all!
See you (* v *)!!!!

Bed rest...

2010-07-30T03:58:00.000-07:00

Hello!
The day after I post the previous article, I went to the doctor.
I and the baby are doing well but I'm threatened premature delivery so the doctor told me to stay on the bed all the day...
Then I stay on the bed(actually Japanese futon) almost all the day. My husband cooks or gets food for me(The pictures are what he cooked for me these days).

Yesterday I went to the doctor again and they told me it's OK now. I'm still with Tomato in my belly. Now she gets more than 2500 g and we are at 36th week now.

Because of these days, I could enjoy my time with Tomato every day. I always feel her moving.
I thank my husband very much. Whenever he comes back from his hard work, he says to me "Thank you very much for doing well with Tomato". I'm happier to hear it than what he does for me.

I got many e-mails and comments from you and they cheer me up. I'm sorry for my late reply but I always thank you very much.
I'm sorry if I cannot write for a while after I give birth.

Mai (* v *)!!!!

Beautiful gifts and a baby blanket

2010-07-20T23:47:00.000-07:00

These days I got some beautiful gifts from other countries.
One is a beautiful rebozo from a customer in the U.S. It's a beautiful fabric to carry a baby.

I'm learning how to use it watching youtube video.

And I got a beautiful package from Macedonia. The parcel is decorated with beautiful flower printed fabric pieces (* v *).

I found beautiful scarves, bird shaped toy and a beautiful card.

I love the patterns on the scarves. They are so cute.
I'm thinking how I use these beautiful scarves. I'd like to use them for my Tomato.

I'm too happy to get such beautiful things from people who I met through this blog and my shop. All I can do is to continue this blog and my shop as long as possible.
Thank you very much again (* v *)!!!!

These days it's too hot and I cannot work a lot. But I made a cotton blanket for my Tomato. It's made out of Japanese cotton double gauze and it's so soft and light.

I'll be 10th months pregnant next week. I had almost no trouble till now (* v *).
But when I went out for a walk in the very hot afternoon(2 hours walk), I felt sick. It was too hard for me...
After that I go for a shopping in the early morning or evening.

I enjoy the last month of pregnancy with my big belly.
See you (* v *)!!!!

For sweat on the back

2010-07-08T02:20:00.000-07:00

Hello.
Today I went to the doctor. Now I'm on 33th week and we're doing very well.

I made these pads for the back for Tomato(my baby).

I don't know how to call it in English... It's famous in Japan and I made them with a pattern of a crafter's blog.
http://arunsnote.xrea.jp/log/eid116.html

You can download the pattern from this link.
http://arunsnote.xrea.jp/dlc/download.cgi?name=08asetori.pdf

I made it with cotton double gauze(double layer) and a little piece of cotton for the collar.
I'll put it in the back of the baby leaving the collar outside. And after the baby sweat a lot, I can remove it just pulling the collar.
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/yotuba/qo2a-scp11/#qo2a-scp11

And I sewed some new bibs for her too.

I have only a small piece of cotton waffle fabric so I should have put other cotton.

Last weekend I went to Tokyo to see my friends of high school.
They gave me a set of this glass as a wedding gift. The red drink inside is what I made with Japanese red basil. It's very good for me because it has much Calcium, Kalium, Vitamin etc...

It's getting hotter and hotter these days, but I move well and sew more items for my baby (* v *)!!!!
See you!

New fabrics for me and Tomato

2010-06-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

I went to Yuzawaya last week and got some new fabrics for me and Tomato.

These Yuwa fabrics are for our skirts.

And these check fabrics are for our dresses. With the rest of the dresses, I want to sew an underwear for my husband (* v *). (He is too shy to wear similar clothes)

Today I finished pants for Tomato and my sister's newborn boy. The purple one is for Tomato. They're from a pattern of a Japanese book.

The flower printed white fabric is Japanese cotton double gauze. It's so soft.
I made my tunic with the yellow fabric several years ago and it's very comfortable. So I chose it for my sister's baby.

I'm doing well and my belly getting bigger and bigger(Even though I gained only 3 kg).
I'm thinking of healthy food every day. This is a lunch of a day.

Miso soup, dried fish, Japanese pickles, cooked pumpkin and rice. They are very Japanese dishes. I didn't use any oil for them so they are very light.
We enjoyed this lunch a lot but there is a problem.
These Japanese dishes has too much salt... Especially Miso soup and fish and pickles were very salty. So I cannot eat only Japanese style dishes.

See you (* v *)!!!!

Zipper pouch and rug

2010-06-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hello.
Some people asked me about the patterns what I used for my previous post.
One is from kokka.
http://www.kokka.co.jp/so-ing/sewing/pdf/2010/clothesbaby.pdf
They have lots of cute patterns.
http://www.kokka.co.jp/so-ing/sewing/index.html

And the other one is from this blog.
http://chikuchikuhappy.seesaa.net/article/103107862.html
The pattern is this PDF.
http://chikuchikuhappy.up.seesaa.net/image/greco_rompers_recipe.pdf
Please print it out in 200% scale.

I'm sorry they both are written in Japanese only...

These days I couldn't work so hard because of the heat, humidity and my big 　belly. My tomato moves a lot and now weigh approx. 3.7 pounds (1700g) now.

I made a pouch to bring her diapers.
This is from a famous pattern in Japan.

http://www.peachmade.com/NewFiles/topics_21/top.html
I made one several years ago for my sister and liked the pattern.
At the bottom of this page, you can see the "START" button to see the how-to and the link to download the how-to and pattern.

I also made a small rug for my bath room with fabrics.
I ripped some fabrics into long strip and crocheted it. My hands got tired after the work but I liked it very much.

These are petit gifts for my friends from high school.
They are very simple and easy to make. I enjoyed choose the leather and fabrics thinking of them (* v *)!!!

New shirts for my baby

2010-06-14T02:45:00.000-07:00

It began rainy season here. For about one month, it will rain a lot.

I made three shirts for my Tomato.
These two shirts are from my and my husband's old shirts. When we were preparing our moving, we found lots of old clothes but couldn't throw them away. So I reserved them for remake.
They are soft because we used them for years, and so, good for baby (* v *).

And this white shirt is from cotton waffle knit what I got at SWANY. I got a big piece of it, so now I think of what I make with it next.

For me, I made this potholder.

I put my old towel in it. I put batting in my old pot holders but as time goes, they got thinner. So this time I put double layer of thick bath towel.

These days I got lots of e-mails every day from all over the world. I'm replying them one by one, but I need long time to write emails in English... So please forgive my late reply. I'm really happy to talk with you through this blog and e-mails.

See you (* v *)!!!!

Kamakura, sea and beautiful Hydrangea

2010-06-07T04:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we visited Kamakura. I love there because of the beach and some beautiful temples.

We went to the beach at first and took lunch (what I cooked in the morning). It was hot day and many people were enjoying in the sea.

Then we walked to Hase temple.

It's famous of Hydrangea. I love the flower a lot (* v *)!!!!

But the temple is in the mountain and I had to climb a lot to see them.

This is the sight from the highest point. At the noon, we were at the beach over there... We walked a lot!

My husband took lots of pictures to show Tomato in the future.

I hope she likes the flowers as we do.

We walked quite a lot so I took a nap after we got home.
When I woke up, I couldn't find my husband. He went out shopping for me.

It was a very happy day for me (* v *). We'll go to Kamakura again after the birth of Tomato.

Kimono style baby wear and baby quilt

2010-06-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hello.
Today I took a cooking class for pregnant women. (I forgot to bring my camera so I couldn't take any pictures.) Some women don't like celery but I love it a lot, so I ate six dishes(small dishes!) for them (* v *).

The picture is jelly of green tea. Sometimes I cook desert what my husband likes (* v *).

Oh, I finished the kimono style baby wear for my Tomato.

When I started sewing it, I didn't know which gender my baby is, and I chose the fabric for Kimono for both genders.
Now I know my baby is a girl(maybe), so I made the belt with pink fabric (* v *).

I also finished the baby quilt.

I hand quilted it singing songs for Tomato (* v *). She will relax with it.

I appliqued an elephant and tulips on it.

Then I made a small bird toy with a bell in it. I made it with cotton waffle knit fabric so it appeared a little strange shape...

I'll make some more toys for her.

Oh, now Tomato kicked strongly!!!! My due date is August 24th and now I'm at the beginning of 8th month.
Good night. (It's 23:30 in Japan now).

Diapers

2010-05-26T03:09:00.000-07:00

Hello.
These are Japanese diapers.

I made them with narrow width cotton.
I just cut them and sew each forming a circle.

It's very simple and easy to dry. In the past, people made them with their used cotton kimono.

I also made covers for toilet papers.
I made only a rectangle with snaps. It's so simple and easy to sew.

I put them at the small window in the bath room.

Now I'm making a baby quilt and a Kimono style underwear. When I sew, Tomato moves a lot (* v *).

This picture is my husband.

We attended at a class for a couple expecting a baby.
He put a heavy vest to know how pregnant woman feels. I went the class for four times and learned how to prepare for my delivery.

Thank you very much for your comments. I'm happy to read them (* v *).

Hello again!

2010-05-19T00:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! We are doing very well.
I'm still busy to set our new apartment, but I enjoy it very much.

And I also began preparing for the delivery.

I made this blanket for Tomato. The inside is soft cotton double gauze.
I still don't know whether Tomato is she or he. So most of things for Tomato is in yellow...

I made the baby sling and some little gauze hankies too.

I also sewed 28 cotton diapers in Japanese traditional style. They are very simple and easy to sew. I hope I could use them well...

Now I'm making a baby quilt and some more things. During setting our new rooms, I enjoy sewing very much (* v *).

These days, I also enjoyed some contacts with some friends.
I got a beautiful package from the U.S. She made me a beautiful scarf. I love it very much (* v *).

She also sent me this beautiful pajama for Tomato. It's so cute!

I also met a woman from the U.S. She came to Japan for her daughter's first baby. We went to Kamakura and enjoyed shopping at Kamakura SWANY.

I'm very happy to contact with you. Thank you very much (* v *)!!!!

I sew and post little by little. See you!

I'm sorry but I'm too busy for our moving...

2010-04-08T03:41:00.000-07:00

Hello.
I cannot write these days because of our moving to new apartment.
Yesterday I stopped my shop (x _ x)!!!!

We finally found our new apartment near here (15 minutes walk) and move to there in 3 weeks.
Now I'm packing most of my fabrics and books. I didn't know if I had so much fabrics...

Also we'll go to have a little party with our both families in two weeks.
Now we have lots of things to do.

So I think I cannot update this so much. I'm sorry.

Today I write about our last weekend. After seeing our new apartment, we enjoyed Cherry blossoms.

There was a festival by the river. Lots of boats were under the beautiful trees.

Many people enjoyed the beautiful pink colors. But it was too cold day so it didn't seem the festival of spring.

I love this small tree.

These trees are in another place, near Bo-chan.

Bo-chan was sleeping...

And I went to my doctor the day before yesterday. My Tomato was moving a lot! I like to see its moving. Now he/she is 0.8 pound, 360 g.
I didn't put any weight in this month, and expected the doctor's praise. But he instead told me not to gain in another month.
I'll eat healthy and walk a lot!

So,,, please forgive me if I cannot update this so often.

See you (* v *)!!!!

Fabric shopping at Yuzawaya

2010-03-31T00:24:00.000-07:00

I went to Yuzawaya yesterday to get new fabrics.
Some fabrics were discounted so I didn't get any ones of normal price (* v *).

This one is for my Tomato. It costed only 1/3 of the normal price. It's so cute!

These fabrics are for me. I liked beautiful flower printed fabrics.

The white rose one is from Kokka. They also have different colors of it and I wanted more... To get it in discounted price, I should get 1 meter or more for each so I could get only one.
About yellow and red fabrics, I had to get two meters to get them in the discounted price. I think I'll make clothes for me and Tomato with them (* v *).

At last, I found these Hawaiian printed fabrics.
They were from Yuwa and also in half price! My mother dances a hula, so I'll make bags for her (* v *).

I was there for two hours and got more than 10m of fabrics.
I'm so happy with them.
I also got some cotton double gauze and cotton knit to make items for Tomato.
Oh, I wanted to tell you what pattern I used for the shirt for Tomato.

http://chikuchikuhappy.seesaa.net/article/56621134.html
I got the pattern from this blog(I'm sorry, it's in Japanese).
The patterns are in two PDF, "hadagi1.pdf" and "hadagi2.pdf".
If you want to use them, print them in 200% of the size.

See you (* v *)!!!!

Yo-yo Bobo mobile

2010-03-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hi there! It's too cold here...
In TV, they said it was cold as February. Even if there were beautiful cherry trees, we couldn't enjoy them so much...
But in the weekend we walked a lot seeing them and looking for our new apartment. I felt sorry for my Tomato because we walked too much in cold air, so I took enough rest yesterday.

These are what I made last week.
I put yo-yo's and a Sarubobo together using a piece of lace.

It was fun to choose the combination from lots of yo-yo's(I have made 80 yo-yo's).

I didn't make Sarubobo these days, so I also enjoyed making them. I like this small size.

I'd like to hang one over my Tomato. So I attached each piece with much care.

I didn't eat sweets these days, but on last Friday Haru came back with them for me (* v *).

I love chocolate too much but didn't eat them these days. Thank you Haru !!!!

See you (* v *).

I like cotton double gauze

2010-03-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

It's very cold and rainy these days so I stayed at home and made these for my Tomato.
One is this shirt. It closes with tapes and plastic snaps at the legs.

I made it with Japanese cotton double gauze and also made these hankies with other gauze fabrics.

I put cotton fabrics on the other side. The one of the blue has Nordic cotton which Ravenhill sent to me (* v *)!!!! I love the fabrics from her too much and can use them only little by little.

I also made some simple hankies for Haru (* v *).

Then, I made these hair clips for little girls. At first I made one for Tomato then I noticed I didn't know whether Tomato is a girl or boy... (But I want to use it in either case.)

So I made more for my shop. I'm thinking of making sets with small hankies using same fabrics.

Now I'm making some yo-yo while I'm waiting Haru. But I don't know how I use them...

Now I put them in a jar and enjoy seeing them.

It's still cold today but I saw some cherry blossoms when I went to a supermarket today. I hope it gets warmer this weekend so we can go to see them.

Oh, I'd like to tell you I don't put no more weights these days. I eat lots of vegetables, yogurt, fruits and beans and don't eat snacks and sweets. I take lots of rest (* v *)!!!!

How to make arm covers

2010-03-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

I'm still thinking of the name. If the name "arm cover" doesn't sound strange for English speakers, I'll name it "arm cover" like Japanese.
Umm...

It's easy to make them so please try it!

You need only two pieces of fabrics(for inside and outside) of the size 16 inches x 6.75 inches(40cm x 17cm). The shorter length is the length of the arm cover.
This includes 0.25 inches(5mm) of allowances.
And you'll put two pieces of elastics (7.5 inches, 19cm) at two places. See the picture.

I'm sorry I made only the half width pattern. You'll put the elastics at 0.25 inches and 2.5 inches(6.5cm) from the bottom. You sew the four line at the top and bottom of the shaded area.

Then if you want to decorate the fabrics, do it now. I stitched with Sashiko thread at approx. 1 inches from the upper elastic.

Then put two pieces of the fabrics facing right sides and sew the side which you put the elastic.

Mark the places to put the elastics in, on the inside fabric. The first one is 0.5 inches(1cm), the second is 2.25(6cm) inches, and the last one is 2.75 inches(7cm) from the sewed line. I marked it with yellow pencil at the allowance.

Fold it in two and sew shorter sides together, leaving the places to put the elastics(two places !!).

If you want to add loops to hung it, put a piece of lace or string at the sewed line like the picture.

Fold at 0.25 inches (5mm) of the other edges of both fabrics and iron them.

Turn it out and put the folded edges together.

And sew them together.

Then sew the three lines to put the elastics. I'm sorry I didn't take any pictures... In my case, I find the places to put the elastics in, mark the lines with a pen which can be erased afterward and sew them.

At last put the elastics of 7.5 inches or your size from the spaces, sewed each edges well and close the spaces.

That's all!!!!

If you find any problems, please leave a comment or write me.

This weekend a new store opened near my apartment. It's a branch of big craft shop "Yuzawaya". I'm really happy to have it near me.

But it was too crowded today so I could get only these fabrics pieces...

Maybe in several days I go there again to get more fabrics for my Tomato (* v *)!

We're looking for your new apartment to live with Tomato, but I don't want to move from here... It's too expensive to live in bigger room here but it's too convenient...

This is me at a restaurant seeing the leaflet of Yuzawaya.

But my husband said no to this picture,,, he said to put this picture instead..

This is Ramen what we ate there. Delicious (* v *)!!!!

See you (* v *)!

!!!! Giveaway winners !!!!

2010-03-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Last night I wrote down your names (299 names) on a small piece of paper and Haru picked lucky winners.

Today I made packages for them all.
I enjoyed choosing one by one reading each comment.
The first prizes include a book, fabric scraps, stamp tags, trims, Sashiko threads and little extra.
The first winner for it is "The Burtons". I put a book of making clothes for kids.

The second winner is "Forêt". I put Sashiko threads for her (* v *)!!!!

The third winner is "Cathy". I put cute motif book and my favorite cotton linen fabric from SWANY.

The forth winner is "Susan". I put a book of beautiful embroidery and a little lemon charm.

The fifth winner is "Sheila". I put cute dog plush book and my favorite Lucien fabric.

The sixth winner is "Little Treasures". I put cute idea sewing book and my favorite green lace.

The last winner for the first prize is "Kristina". I put the book of cute plushes and my favorite flower printed fabrics.

Then, here are second prizes. I put Japanese paper items, fabric scraps, a piece of trim and little extra for each.

The seven winners for it are "Salihan", "Joan's Good Life", "trixi", "Erin", "ikaru", "Honeybeehill" and "Ravenhill".
I couldn't believe it when Haru picked the last name (Ravenhill) because I know her already.

I'll contact the winners through their blog or e-mail what I know. But I cannot access Forêt, Cathy and ikaru (I couldn't leave a comment on your blog!!!!).
If you read this, please send me your address to "maimairuru(at)gmail(dot)com".

I'm sorry for others but I enjoyed this giveaway at all. Thank you very much again for your entries.

This is the "arm covers(I'm still thinking of the name...)" with my arm. I forgot to ask Haru to take pictures so I tried them by myself.
Could you see how to use them?

I made this lunch box with my arm covers (* v *).

In next post, I can show you how to make the "arm covers".

Thank you very much for your entries!!!!

2010-03-15T03:26:00.001-07:00

I've just closed it.
I'm really happy to get so much comments (they are too interesting!!) for me.
So when I go out today, I got these to make some extra giveaways.

I think of choosing some more winners because seven people seem too few for you all.

Now I'm preparing for the drawing. Please give me some time to tell you who are the winners.
Thank you very much again.

Today I went for a 3 hours walk with my Tomato (in me).
I enjoyed spring flowers and greeted Bo-chan.

And I found these fabrics in a small craft shop.

These two has similar cute squirrels. The brown one is cotton double gauze, so I'll make clothes for my Tomato with it.

I also got these two. They were in a bargain so I could got each for 4 dollars/yard (* v *)! I really wanted more but they had only several pieces...

Oh, about the Sashiko what I showed in my previous post, I finished them.

I put them on the arm when I cook to keep my clothes from getting dirty.
I'm thinking how I call them in English. In Japanese, they are "Arm cover". Do you know them...???

For easy delivery

2010-03-13T19:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we went a shrine for praying easy delivery. There were lots of couples and families waiting their baby.
In Japan, people go to shrine in the second month of pregnancy.
They put a kind of obi on the day praying safe delivery.

In my case, my friend went to a famous shrine for me and sent these items to me.

The most right one is an amulet for safe delivery.

There is a small square piece of paper to drink when I feel bad or at labor pain.

And the last one is a piece of cotton which to put the obi.
If one doesn't want to put the obi during pregnancy, she can put it in her pouch or bag (I'm doing so).

These days women don't use the obi so much because it's too tight and said not so good for their baby. My doctor didn't tell me about the obi so I don't put it but when I get bigger I put some kinds of girdle.

By the way, I began making new items on my shop with Sashiko stitch.
It's very easy (* v *).

I just did four running stitch lines.

Then, turn it in 90 degrees and do the same making crosses.

I did the same on four kinds of cotton fabrics. What they are for? Please wait for my next post.

See you (* v *)!!!!

Stick key chains and my new shirt

2010-03-10T01:06:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the hospital and I saw my Tomato growing up.
I'm really happy with her/his pictures.

I got 1 kg in the month and the doctor told me not to gain more still.
Japanese doctors are strict about weight usually. He told me to decrease meals. It seems hard for me,,, but I'll try for my Tomato.
(But my sister got more than 20 kg because her doctor was not so strict.)

For when I get larger, I made this shirt, with my hands as always.

I sewed it with cotton double gauze fabric, so it's comfortable.

After I finished it, I still wanted to sew something and I made three key chains.

I sketched the design at first, choose fabrics from scraps, and patchworked.

Then put battings on the back and decorated them.

At last put a piece of fabric for the back and sewed them. Turn it out and fill it with stuffings.

I like making items without patterns and decorating small items with Sashiko, buttons, laces etc...

Some of you asked me to tell the pattern of rabbit charm. Please wait for a while. When I make them again, I'll make the instruction.

I hope you see beautiful and warm spring soon. It's still cold here.

Sunny day, but cold...

2010-03-07T23:33:00.000-08:00

It was sunny day today so Bo-chan was staying at the porch.
(When it's cold, he is staying in the room and they close the door)
He seemed a little cold. I talked with him for a while.

In the river, there were some Ducks. I love seeing them because they are so-- cute.
They were near Bo-chan but he cannot see them. I'd like to take him to see in the river someday.

But he can see some beautiful flowers around him.

Now they have only partially blossomed, but when it gets warmer, there will be beautiful cherry blossoms too.

By the way, thank you very much for your all beautiful comments on my giveaway post. It's too fun to read (* v *)!!!! Every day, I check new comments and talk with Haru about them. I wanted to know about you all, thank you very much.

I cannot see how Tomato is doing now... But I always talk to Tomato, sometimes I sing my favorite songs(* v *).

This is pot holders what I made for my Italian mama, who cared me while I was in Salerno, Italy. I wrote her about my pregnancy and marriage and put them in the package.

Before I send them, I checked google map to see her house. Thanks to the street view, I could see where I stayed more than three months. I could see also the pay phone from which I used to call Haru in Japan (* v *).

http://www.studio-clip.co.jp/material/handmade/ohashi01c.html
For the pot holder, I arranged a little from this tutorial.
If you can read Japanese(I know it's difficult...), you can see more tutorials here.
http://apalog.com/studio-clip_craft/

See you!!!!!

!! My third giveaway !!

2010-03-03T02:16:00.000-08:00

!!!!!! Thank you so much for your entry. I just closed the entry. !!!!!!

Hello.
It was sunny day today.
Bo-chan was sleeping and eating ice cubes.
He looks so happy.

By the way, I'm preparing what I put in my third giveaway (* v *).
This time, I'd like to choose seven people and make each package with these three items.

(1)A Book : Japanese craft/sewing/knitting books. Some books are what I got recently and some are what I have for years. Some are in not so good condition, I'm sorry.

(2)Fabric scraps: Mainly cotton fabrics. Some are cotton linen or linen fabrics. I'll put about five pieces for each package.

(3)Tag set: I hand carved stamps for the tags and put three tags for each.

These are what I made with them. The bird tags are to put as a tab, folded in two.

If you'd like to entry this, please leave a comment on this post till 6 am of 15th March.
The winners will be seven people.
About the comment, I have a request. I want to make your own package, so please write something about you, about your sewing, family, favorite color etc... I'll enjoy to make seven different packages.

At last,,, this is the first lunch box what I made for my husband, Haru.
He began working last Monday.

This box is slim and stackable so he can put it in his hard case in this way. I'm enjoying make lunch for him (* v *).

Thank you very much for reading. These days there are lots of terrible news about weather and earthquakes, but I hope you are enjoying your days. I really enjoy my days with Tomato, Haru and you all (* v *)!!!!

!!!!!! Thank you so much for your entry. I just closed the entry. !!!!!!

How to make an Origami drawstring bag

2010-02-26T06:53:00.000-08:00

Hello.
Today I'd like to show you the way to make a drawstring bag from square.

This is the bag.
It has two pockets on the outside with flaps.

If you have a hanky, you can make the bag from it.
I didn't have any to use, so I used two pieces of squares for it.

Here we go.

I cut each fabric in 16 inches square. From them, I made approx. 6.5 inches square pouch.

I sewed them together leaving the space to turn it out.

I turned it out and closed the space. If you make it with your hanky, please begin from the next step.

Fold it into a triangle, and fold the top at the 1/3 from the top. (See the picture)

Mark the line and put pins.

Then sew at the line.

After you sewed it, you can open the top like the picture. Place the sewed line at the center.

Then turn it out.

And fold it in two.

Sew at the bottom line to separate the outside pockets.

Open it again and fold in two the other side out.

Then sew the both side lines leaving 1 inch from the top(Leaving the space to put strings in).

Turn it out again. Now you have the main pocket and two outside pockets.

And fold the top triangle like the picture.

Sew at 0.5 inches from the top on both side.

Put two strings from both sides. That's all!
If you make it from a hanky, you don't need so much time to sew.

The fabric what I used for the outside is my favorite one (* v *).

By the way,,, today I organized my stashes so I chose some of my favorites and cut little pieces.

They are for my next give away. Now I have 5-6 books for it, so I can choose 5-6 readers. I'd like to thank you for all and choose as many as I can.
Please give me some time more to prepare.

Thank you for reading again.
Today's work was a little hard for me, but I'm fine at all(* v *).

Oh, by the way, I made this toast today. It was quite easy and simple.
Cookpad Toast recipe
I know you cannot read Japanese, but it has pictures.
1) Cut the bread like the picture.
2)Put it on the pan and put some oil in the square. Put an egg, salt and pepper in it and mix them.
3) Put a slice of cheese on the egg.
4) Put the square left at step 1 on it.
5) Turn it out.
That's all! I put a slice of ham also.

See you (* v *)!!!!

The pattern of slippers for kids

2010-02-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

Hello.
Two readers asked me about the slippers on previous post.
I made it with the pattern from a Japanese blog site.
I asked her if I can introduce her recipe on my blog and she allowed it.

http://erink.blog46.fc2.com/blog-entry-101.html

Here is the link of the pattern and tutorial, but it's only in Japanese...

You can download the pattern in the step 1.
The pattern is for 6 inches long size. It fits my niece, 2 years old.
(Right now I got the news from my mother, my sister just gave berth to a baby boy!!!!)

Please seek the string "katagami_1.pdf" and "katagami_2.pdf" in the site.
The patterns include approx. 0.5 inches allowance. A and B are the same pattern(for upper) and you also need the same pattern of batting.

She used sock liners to put in the bottom. Instead of it, I put batting.

In step 3, she sewed the upper. the colored pattern of the pictures mean the right side of the fabric. The bottom white one of the picture is batting. After sewed them together, turn it out.

In step 4, you put the upper with the under(D) of the bottom. Every fabrics are right side up. and baste them together.

In step 5, put the C on the 4, facing right side inside and sewed them together leaving a space to turn it out at the heel.

In the step 6, turn it out and put a sock liner in it. In my case, I sewed the batting with C in step 5.
That's all. It seems a little complicated but it's not so difficult. Please use many pins to sew it in good shape.

Oh, I should tell you one more.
Please don't sell the item with the pattern. She mentioned about it in her post.

Some readers asked me if they could sell items with my patterns. It's OK. I don't mind how you use my patterns. One thing I want is you could enjoy them.

This afternoon, my niece called me to tell "thank you". I'm happy to hear her voice (* v *).
After my niece's call, I feel happy and made these little charms.

These are new petit gifts for my customers, mitten charms.

See you (* v *)!!!!

How to make a simple square baby bib

2010-02-19T03:26:00.000-08:00

This is only a square with a pair of snaps.
It's too easy but I write here a little bit of tutorial. Please try it!

You need only a pattern of 10 inches square. This pattern includes 0.5 inches allowance.

And you need two pieces of fabrics as the pattern. It would be better if you have two different fabrics.

Then sew them together leaving an opening to turn it out. I sewed it with half back stitch to make it sturdy.

At a corner, I put a piece of cotton string (4 inches length).

Put it like the picture and sew it again and again.

Before turn it out, cut every corner in bias to make the corner sharp.

Turn it out and close the opening.

I hand stitched with Sashiko embroidery thread to decorate it.

Put a pair of snaps (or velcro) at the corner with the string and the opposing corner.

It's all! You can use it reversible.
And you can use it as a hanky too.

I made two of them and today sent them to my sister. These are for her second baby.

I also made a pair of slippers for her first girl, my little niece, with her favorite character.

These days I'm pretty good in the morning so I can sew for several hours.
I'm not so good in the evening but sewing time makes me happier than before (* v *).

Thank you very much for your comments. I like reading them to my Tomato.

I'm working on...

2010-02-13T03:43:00.000-08:00

Hello.
Thank you very much for everyone who left me kind comments.
We two enjoy reading them. I read them for my tomato sometimes.

Now I'm getting better and can work 1-2 hours a day.
So I began to make a custom order bag.
Today I finished the applique on it.

This is the third bag of this design. I like this design and so does two of my customers (* v *).
I feel very happy when I got custom orders. It takes me more time than usual, but I feel much happier.

And I am making some new bibs for my Tomato and my sister's new baby(still in her). She already knows it's a boy.

These are squares, like hankies. I only put snaps on two corners.

It's reversible!

Of course, you can use it as a hanky, so I put a piece of string on a corner.

It's too easy but I'll write here the tutorial next time.

Have a beautiful weekend (* v *)!!!!

We got married !!!!

2010-02-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we got married (* v *)!!!!
I chose yesterday because it seemed easy to remember the date, 2010/02/10.
I and my husband (!!!!) are not so good at remembering anniversary.

For the marriage registration, we need two person's sign so we went to ask it for our friends couple.
Our friend's wife and I are pregnant so men made us our dinner (* v *)!

The dinner was my husband's specialty, Oyako-don.
We enjoyed them very much (* v *)!!!!

I gave them my bibs for their baby what I wrote in my previous post.
Today I'd like to write here how I made the bibs.

I used these fabrics for them, cotton printed fabric for the right side, cotton soft waffle fabric for the wrong side and cotton towel for the inside. The towel is for well absorbed.

I piled them like the picture.

And made the face parts using the pattern(I used thick paper).

After I put the face on the front fabric, I stitched the face with Sashiko thread.

After I finished the face, I piled the towel, waffle cotton and front fabric on it.

Be sure to face the right side inside of the top two fabrics.

Then sew them together leaving a space to turn it out. I used half back stitch to make it sturdy.
And before you turn it out, please cut the allowances of every curve like the picture. It's important.

At last, I turned it out, closed the opening and put a pair of snaps. I think it would be more sturdy if I sew the edge again. But I liked this soft taste...

I hope this would help you.
Everyday, I saw the news of heavy snow around the world and am afraid of it. Here it snowed only once and only a little. I hope you all are doing well.

What I made first for my tomato.

2010-02-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

Hello.
Sometimes I feel better but not always. So I couldn't update this so long and a reader sent me an e-mail worrying about me. Thank you very much.
Now I feel good so could take pictures (* v *).

These are first items what I made for my baby in my womb.

When I feel better, I sewed them little by little.
The design of this sloth bib is by my boyfriend. He thought of the shape and I liked it very much. So it's our first presents for tomato.

I made two because our friend is having a baby also in the same summer.

We were at the same university, same class and same lab. And at the friend's bridal, I and my boyfriend met after a long interval(Till then we were just friends).
So he is precious friend for us (* v *).

I also made this rabbit bib.

And now I'm making the last one. I make two sets of bibs and want to give our friend one set.

After sewing, sometimes I feel bad but I'm very happy during the sewing time. I really enjoy it.

By the way, some people asked me when is my due date.
It's 24th. August.
Now I'm in 11th weeks and my morning sick is getting better little by little. When I feel good, I repeatedly read your comments. They make me happy.

And my younger sister give birth of her second baby in this month.
So this year is very busy for my parents. They are too excited now (* v *).

At last, I'm preparing new giveaway for you. I've got some Japanese sewing books and some beautiful linen fabrics for you. Please wait for a while.

Thank you very much again.
Have a beautiful day (* v *)!!!!

P.S.
This is what my boyfriend cooked for me when I felt bad.
I love this dish very much and he cooked it very well. It has rice under the chicken and egg.

I couldn't update this blog so often because of...

2010-01-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

Morning sickness.

I noticed my first pregnancy in late December.
Soon after that, I felt sick and became unable to do almost everything.
My boyfriend began cooking and doing everything for me.

We had been waiting two years for our baby so we are very happy now.
These days, my condition is getting better and can eat much more things than before.
So I think I could make new items and update this blog more often soon.
Now I'm preparing my new give away to share my happiness with you. Please wait for a while.

Last Friday, we went to the hospital and saw our baby. It's just 1 inch long (* v *)!!!!

Now I call my baby "Tomato", because it's the best food for me. Even when I couldn't eat any other foods, I could eat only Tomatoes.
I enjoy my days with "Tomato" in me.

Thank you very much again.
Have a beautiful Sunday!!!!

P.S.
Thank you very much for all your comments on my blog. I'm reading them one by one and whenever I read them I feel very happy (* v *). Thank you again!!!!

How to make a button pouch with two rooms

2010-01-13T02:16:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. This tutorial has too much pictures...
But it's easy to make.
You need only two patterns, one for the outside, and the other for the inside.
I patchworked the outside fabric, but you can make it with one piece of fabric too.

This pouch has a pocket in it and it's from a piece of inside fabric.

So the patterns are only these two.
*5 inches x 8 inches + allowances, for the outside (I patchworked two pieces and then cut in this size).
*5 inches x 13.5 inches + allowances, for the inside
I put 0.5 inches allowance for each edge.

At first, I patchworked the outside fabrics. I cut them roughly and sewed them together.

Then, put the pattern on the wrong side, drew the line and cut with 0.5 inches allowances.

Cut the inside fabric too, with the allowances.

Fold the inside fabric in half making the right side up and sew 0.5 inches from the folded edge.

To sew the pocket line, I drew the line with this spatula(?) for marking. Draw a line at 2.75 inches from the folded edge.

And sew the line.

Open it like the picture. This is the wrong side and the size should be almost same as the outside fabric.

I put the outside and inside fabrics making the right side upside. The inside fabric has a pocket.

I hand embroidered a rabbit on the outside fabric. If you want to decorate outside fabric, please do it now.

Put the inside fabric on the outside fabric facing the right sides.

Sew the shorter lines like the picture.

And refold it like the picture, putting the sewed lines center.

Sew the side lines leaving a space (to turn it out) on the inside fabric.(In this picture, I left a space at the lower right.

For making beautiful corners, cut the allowances of every corner a little like the picture.

Also, for the beautiful shape, open the allowances and iron it.

Turn it out. It has a pocket like the picture!

Close the space with blind stitch. You cannot see the stitched line from the outside so please don't care if it would be not so beautiful.

Make a knot and put out the needle at 1-2 inches away from the knot(See the picture).

Pull the thread strongly and hide the knot inside. and cut the thread. I hide the end knot in this way (* v *)!!!!

You made the pouch with a pocket! Then you only have to put a button and a loop.

I made the loop with a linen code and a piece of fabric. The piece was 1.5 inches x 2.5 inches(I didn't make a pattern for it, I'm sorry). The code was approx. 6 inches long.

Fold the piece in half making the right side inside and sew a line like the picture.

Refold it making the sewed line center and sew a line like the picture.

Turn it out and fold the allowance of the remaining side inside.

Close it with blind stitch.

Sew the code at the center of the pouch on the back side, 1 inch from the top (In my case, the embroidered side is the front side).

I didn't cut the thread and went on to the next step.

Put the piece what you made on the code and stitch it with blind stitch to hide the edge of the code.

You finished to put the code!

Put a button on the front side. You did it!!!!!!

I'm sorry for the long explanation. If you have any questions about it, please write me.
Thank you very much (* v *)!!!!

A happy new year!!!!

2010-01-01T21:16:00.000-08:00

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
I thank everyone who read this blog, leave kind comments and think of me and Bo-chan.
I'm very happy to celebrate the new year with you all.
Thank you very much (* v *)!!!!

I celebrated the very beginning of new year watching fire works and hearing whistle from ships in the Yokohama Bay.

The fire works were held in a amusement park by the bay, and it was crowded very much. So we gave up to enter the park.

But the fire works finished only in five minutes...!!!!

After that, we went to a park by the sea to see decorated ships.
I like seeing the bay. It relaxes me a lot.

It was 2 hours walk in the midnight.

I'm sorry but I don't work these days... What I made recently were only these pouches.

I'm writing the tutorial to make them. Please wait for a while.

They have two rooms in them but it's very easy to make. I hand sewed them as usual but it took only 40 minutes or so for each.

Have a beautiful new year!!!!

My new fabrics and lots of bias tapes

2009-12-21T06:20:00.000-08:00

Today I got some linen fabrics and cotton / wool fabrics.

I like the purple linen and am thinking of what I make with it. The color is very clear and beautiful.

I'd like to make some bags or pouches with them.

Before I got them, I made these bias tapes.

I have too much fabric stash now, so I made them.

It's fun to think of the combination of the fabrics. I opened stash boxes one by one, and enjoyed picking up fabrics.

They are key chains what I made several days before.
I used my favorite linen and cotton fabrics. And also, I put my leather scraps to put the chains.

Their backs are of my favorite cotton.

I hand embroidered their faces with Sashiko thread. It's good on the linen.

I'm still sleepy after my jogging/walking. But I'm enjoying both jogging and hand sewing every day.
Almost every morning I meet Bo-chan and he is doing well. But he still eats ice cubes, and it makes me worried. But when I asked his owners about it, they told me that he doesn't drink water at all and only eats ice.
If it snows, he would eat it... ???

My new phone cases

2009-12-17T05:29:00.000-08:00

I made new phone cases with the straps what I wrote in the previous post.
I wanted to show them like cat's tail (* v *)!!!!!

I sewed the one end of the strap and put a button on the other side. So you can hang them in your bag(from the handle).

I also put a pocket on the back.

I hand embroidered their face with Sashiko thread.

I used my favorite fabrics and buttons, so I enjoyed making them a lot.
When you use your favorite materials, don't you feel happy? These days, I'm happy to sew linen and wool fabrics.

I'll list them on my ETSY shop (* v *)!!!!
See you !

My new way to make a handle

2009-12-15T03:38:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking of making new pouches for my shop.
And I tried to make a new style of handle.

I used the cotton strips what I made before. It was too easy...

I prepared only a piece of cotton cord and some kinds of cotton strips.

I folded the cord in half and wrap it with a cotton strip leaving 1 inch.

I changed the color at a point. I didn't sew at all, just covered on the previous strip and went back a little.

I sewed only the end. That's all!

I'll sew this end on my new pouch and put a button on the pouch and use the loop with it(Could I explain well ... ??????).

I also made these two for a bag. I'll put them with buttons. For them, I doubled the cotton cord.

Next time, I'll show you my new pouches (* v *)!!!!

Have a good day!

How to make a hana coaster

2009-12-12T04:41:00.000-08:00

I made these flower coasters these days.

I made them with Japanese cotton and linen fabrics. I put low profile batting in the body and stuffing in the center circle.

This is the way how I made them.

At first, I made two patterns for flower and the center circle.

The flower measures approx. 4.5 inches square. I usually handwrite patterns on recycled paper(* v *). The center circle pattern should be with thick paper to make the applique better.

I cut the fabrics as the patterns plus 0.5 inches allowance. One circle, two flowers and a batting as the size of the flower(I cut it roughly).

Make the center circle.

Sew the edge line roughly with running stitch. And put the circle pattern on it and pull the thread.

Make the circle shape and iron it. Then, remove the pattern.

Put the circle on the linen fabric and sew them together using blind stitch leaving a space to put stuffing.

I left 1-1.25 inches space.

Put the stuffing from the opening.

Close the opening using blind stitch. I'm sorry but I put too much stuffing in this and I cannot put my cup on the coaster stable. So I took away some stuffing after.

Put them like the picture, batting, top fabric(making the right side up) and the under fabric(making the right side downward).

Then sew the pattern line leaving 1.5 inches space to turn it out. And cut a little the five pitted areas(See the picture).

Turn it out.

And close the opening with blind stitch.

Stitch on it with Sashiko cotton embroidery thread. It's a thick thread so I used only one thread. I used running stitch around the circle.

And I used whipstitch on the edge.
I finished it!

Now I know I cannot put too much stuffing in the center circle (* v *).

I made these charms too. They are the petit gifts for my customers.

Have a good weekend (* v *)!!!!

Sunday jogging in a park

2009-12-09T06:42:00.000-08:00

We went to a park by bus on Sunday for my jogging.
My boyfriend doesn't want to run, so he went there to take some pictures.
It was a beautiful day and good for both jogging and taking photo.

Soon after we arrived at the park, I began walking and jogging and he began taking pictures.

He especially liked colored leaves.

And people. There were lots of people enjoying the park.

He took lots of pictures of this leaf from spider silk many times. I like this picture the best.

For me, this park is very hard because it is hilly. Near my house most of streets are flat and I don't get used to it... It made my legs tired soon.

But the scenes were so beautiful that I felt great while running.

After my jogging, we walked in the park together and enjoyed our Sunday (* v *).

We found a beautiful old building in the end of the park. It was just beautiful.

After we enjoyed the park, we walked to a town to take dinner.
I ordered this high-calorie dish...

I like chicken, cheese and demiglace very much, so I couldn't help without ordering it...

I enjoy jogging (* v *)!!!!

Crochet with fabric tapes

2009-12-04T07:04:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I made some fabric tapes.
I only cut fabric in 1cm strips width with rotary cutter knife. At the each end I leave 1cm to make long tape.

I made it with some colors and made up these items.

At first, I made these brooches.

I only folded some colors of tapes together on a piece of thick paper(of the width of bow), made the shape of bow, sewed the center and put a button.

Then I put a pin on the back. Is it too easy... ?

I also hand crocheted this potholder with single crochet.
It's also easy but I didn't crochet recently so I took long time...

At the last I made this scrunchie.
I hand crocheted the fabric tapes on a looped elastic. But the elastic was too long and I took long time for it too.

But I made them all in one day (* v *)!!!!
Because it rained, I didn't run yesterday and could enjoy making them.

Thank you for advices for me. I enjoy my jogging and my hand craft.

I jogged seven days!

2009-12-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

Last week I began jogging. I run every day.
In this 7 days jogging, I got these four.

(1)Beautiful views
I began jogging because I found a site what introduced some jogging course near my apartment.
The first day was a beautiful day.

My camera is not so small and hard to bring with. But I see lots of beautiful scenes and want to show them to my boyfriend and you all, so I give up bringing drink with me and bring only my camera and cell phone (* v *)!!!!

This is a picture of the second day. I'm happy because I can run variety of courses by Yokohama Bay.

I also enjoy colored leaves too.

Today I could run 40 minutes without a break(At the first day I could run only 3-5 minutes), it's my best for these 7 days. I ran (and walk) for an hour or more every day.

(2)I met persons and cute animals
In these seven days, I exchanged greetings with some joggers. I greeted as if I'm not a beginner(* v *).
And also, I met some cute animals.

In the morning, I could meet some cats.

And lots of bird.

I also met Bo-chan in a fine day.

(3)Some events
In a week, I met two events.
The one is a training of the police.

I've never seen such an event and some people enjoyed seeing it. They supposed shooting incident, terrorist bombs or demonstrators and trained how to deal with them.

And in other day, there is an open day of Japan Coast Guard and I could see the inside of this ship. So this day I could run only 30 minutes totally...

(4)Health
I didn't lose my weight yet, but my waist lose 2cm in this week. And also, I can sleep quite well(maybe too much).
I began running and exercise in my room 5 months before, and my body slimmed down a little. But I couldn't loose my weight at all. So I began this jogging. I hope I could continue it for long for my health.

I can enjoy jogging because of the place where I run. Every day, before I go for a jogging I check where I want to run. I'm happy to live here (* v *)!!!!
But there is a problem also. Because of the jogging, I'm sleepy every day and I cannot sew a lot these days... Maybe after two or three weeks I get used to it and I can sew more...

How to make a string quilt pouch.

2009-11-29T21:55:00.000-08:00

I made two string quilt pouches these days and took some pictures of the process.
It's easy to make this quilt, so please try it!

The pouch measures approximately 5.25 inches tall, 5.75 inches wide.
So to make it, you need,
*fabrics for the top about 10 inches x 6.5 inches
*fabric for the inside about 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches
*batting of the size 5.5 inches x 6 inches
*a pair of magnetic snap(or snap or velcro)
*If you want to add a tag, the fabric for it.(I used a little piece of linen fabric and Sashiko embroidery thread)
That's all.

At first, prepare the strips for the top. I cut the fabrics into 0.5 inches strips. I also cut some small pieces of scraps as the same width, and patchworked them making 6.5 inches long strips.

Put the first strip on the batting, making the right side up.

Put the second strip on it, making the right side inside.

Sew them with the batting like the picture.

Open it, put the third strip on the second piece and repeat the process.

I quilted six strips.

I covered the batting.

Trim it into rectangle. Mine was not so good rectangle, but I didn't care (* v *).
This is the back side.

Cut the inside fabric as the same size.

I made a little tag with a piece of white linen.
I folded the both sides.

And stitched on the both seams with Sashiko embroidery thread.

Fold it in two and baste it on the top, a little upper place from the center.

Put the top and the inside fabric making the right side inside and sew the shorter sides.

I sewed both sides.

Open it like the picture and put pins at the center.

Sew the side lines leaving an opening on the inside fabric side.

Turn it out from the opening.

Close the opening with blind stitch.

Put the inside pocket in the outside. It's almost done.

I used this pair of magnetic snaps. It's sew on type.

Sew them on the inside.

Finished!
It's OK to put a snap or velcro.

Enjoy sewing!!!!

My days with my family

2009-11-25T05:55:00.000-08:00

In these four days, I stayed with my family to celebrate my niece's two years birthday and my mother's 60th birthday(But she hasn't got 60 years old yet).
For my niece's birthday, we had a party with our handmade sushi and two big cakes what my younger sister(she is the mother) made.

We also went to see colored trees in the daytime.

It was beautiful and my niece enjoyed it very much.

I and my mother found a beautiful shop of dyed clothes and bags.

It was an old house and we liked the displays.

We like seeing this kind of shop.

The following day, we went to Wakayama, it's 300 km far from my parent's house. We went there for my mother's celebration, but actually it's for my niece.
We went to a big zoo and saw many kinds of animals.
My niece enjoyed it a lot.

This bear was only 1 month old.
We also saw two baby Pandas.

They born on the same day as the polar bear's birthday, but they already are big.
We especially enjoyed the show of dolphins.

My niece liked it very much and was excited at the hotel.
She jumped in the bed again and again, and didn't fall asleep at all.
My father and my brother played with her till late night.

The second day, we went to a famous beach with the beautiful white sand.

It was really beautiful.

We also enjoyed shopping at a fish market.

It was a short trip but we enjoyed it so much.
After two days trip, we came back to my parent's house. Two cats were waiting for us.

Usually they are doing freely, but this night, they wanted to stay near my mother. They like her the best and they missed her.

Oh, I took some pictures of my works when I was young.

My mother puts them in her living room for years.

I like this house patchwork one.

I think this is the oldest one. I made them when I was high school student maybe.
They are not so well made, but I'm happy my mother still keeps them.

Yesterday I came back to Yokohama.
I stay with my boyfriend like the cats with my mother (* v *)!!!!

What I like...

2009-11-17T05:35:00.000-08:00

I like walking.
Yesterday, I found beautiful red sky from our window. I took the picture and then went out with my boyfriend only to see the sky well. We also met Bo-chan during our walk.

I like cooking.
I usually cook twice a day, for lunch and dinner. These were what I cooked for yesterday's dinner.

My boyfriend likes grilled fish especially. I also made Sashimi for him.

I also made this dish of aroid and calamari. These Japanese dishes are healthy because they don't have any oil. We ate them with cooked rice and a salad.

I like eating too.

I especially like eating my dishes (* v *)!!!! I made this dish for today's lunch and I liked it very much. This is fried rice with eggs.

I like using my hands.

The day before yesterday, I hand carved a stamp for my new year card.
And yesterday, I made these cat quilts.

I'm always thinking of what I make next, and it's really fun for me.

I like drawing.

I always have some pieces of paper(most of them are recycled ones) and pens. I usually draw some design. I have small memo pad for when I go outside. When I take trains, I see other passenger's bags or clothes, and if I find something cute, I draw it.
Oh, I like seeing other person's works. Yesterday I found a site of a pattern shop Japanese.
SONGBELL gallery

Here are lots of their customer's works.

I like studying.
These days I study English and Chinese. But my passion changes soon so I studied about economy in summer, and about child care last spring (* v *).
And I love reading books very much.

I enjoy everyday life.
I feel I'm really happy because I can do everything I want.
Thank you very much for everyone who helps me. Thank you very much for everyone who read this blog and give me comments.
And thank you Bo-chan!

Birthday gift for my little niece

2009-11-14T23:51:00.000-08:00

Next weekend, she gets two years old.
So I made some gifts for her.
The one is a skirt.

It was easy to make but I should have sewn long ruffle.

I also made small hair clips with the same fabrics.
They are also easy. I made only two yo-yos, and put covered button on each.

I also made four bibs with the Yukata fabric what I got in the Yokohama quilt week(My last post).

I washed them after I finished them.

And I realized the Yukata fabric lose color so much. The water turned blue soon. I washed them twice, and the back fabric got blue...

At first, I planned to list them on my shop, but I cannot sell them. So they all are for my niece now.

I found the pattern for the skirt here.
http://sasatto-sewing.com/200904/post-19.html
I'm sorry but it's in Japanese only.

Have a good day (* v *)!!!!

International quilt week Yokohama 2009

2009-11-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the opening day of International quilt week Yokohama.
It was held near my house(approx. 30 minutes by walk), so I went there by myself.
There were lots of women who made a line in front of the entrance. The top picture was the biggest quilt in the hall what was placed at the entrance.

And also, there were big balloons at the entrance.

Here are some quilt I liked.

Beautiful red.

Quilted plants.

Beautiful white quilt. Delicate.

Lots of Kimono girls.

Quilt dresses. I love the center one.

Grand prize of Machine quilt. Beautiful!

I also made a little rabbit doll at a class, and met an Australian woman. I took a picture of our dolls after we finished making, but the picture is missing from my camera... Maybe I couldn't take it... ???
But it was enjoyable time for me.

In the way to my home, I saw this big christmas tree.

And I met these four cats.

When I came back home, I soon opened items what I got in the event.

This was old Yukata(Summer Kimono). I couldn't find any stains on the outside, so I think I could wear it. But I wanted to make some bags from it...

I fell love in this flower print.

And I got these twinkle zippers. They are good for Christmas gift!

I also got this fabric roll for Yukata. I'll make something for my little niece with it (* v *)!!!!

I enjoyed the event very much.
After four hours walk, I came back home with some cakes for my boyfriend who waited for me without eating anything (* v *).

Have a good Friday and weekend !!!!

My way to make fabric stickers

2009-11-09T03:01:00.000-08:00

These days I enjoy making fabric stickers. It's very easy and useful for wrapping.
I read the way from some people's craft blog.

At first, I got double faces adhesive tape for making fabric stickers. I got 2cm width one.

I chose my favorite fabrics and cut them into strips. They are a little wider than the tape.
And I put my stamps on linen fabric.

I put the double faces adhesive on each back.

Then I trimmed them as the width of the tape and cut them in pieces.

I used it to wrap a gift.

It's easy and a good way to use small scraps.
And I made patchwork straps with other small pieces too.(They are for my friend, Jacqueline).

It's similar to the way of making lanyards.

But this time, I made them in better way(I think...).
I cut a piece of thick paper in the width what I want to make the strap.
And I used it when I fold the patchwork strips with iron.

It made the process easier.

And for the straps, I folded cotton tapes also because to make them sturdy.

I enjoyed making them. Thank you very much Jacqueline! And thank you very much for you all!!!!

I made a bag for my mother

2009-11-04T06:46:00.001-08:00

Today I finished this bag.

It's for my mother. She turns 60 years old in Christmas.
We Japanese celebrate age 60 especially(It's called Kanreki). We are having a short trip in the end of this month and I want to give her this bag.

I patchworked kinds of fabrics, cotton, linen and wool. Some are from my friends.

I also put some pieces of leather. The hand stitch on leather took the longest time.

Anyway, I worked on it for three days... I'm content with the result.

It's getting cold in Japan these days.
So we cannot see Bo-chan usually because he is in his house.
But yesterday, we found his eyes from this tiny gap.

An old lady talked to him like us too. He cannot stay outside, but he can enjoy talking with people through this gap (* v *)!

After that, we saw beautiful sunset.

It's a beautiful day as always (* v *)!!!!!

What I got these days

2009-11-01T06:23:00.000-08:00

Last week, I got a package from Kris, a winner of my giveaway.

She sent me these beautiful cotton fabrics.
I love them all, and soon after I opened the package, I started to make a pouch with them.

I usually don't get such chic fabrics, so I just watched them for a while.
I really enjoyed playing with them (* v *)!!!!

I felt they matched this feminine style.

But their bottom is comical (* v *).

And I got another package from a lady who got my pouch.
She sent me these beautiful scraps.

And this cute pouch.

I couldn't stop seeing them for a while.

Then, I found my favorite piece.

It's like Mt. Fuji.
I want to applique it as the mountain. It should be beautiful.

And yesterday, when I walked with my boyfriend, I found a textile shop.
They have beautiful fabrics for interior(most of them are for curtains).

I chose them from their sample scraps. I love the butterfly pattern one the best.
Im happy to get new fabrics even if they are very small pieces.

Today, I got this lace.

I found it in a lingerie shop.
I think this is good with this brown linen fabric.

Now I'm thinking how I use them. It's the happiest time for me.

What I made in last three days

2009-10-27T23:13:00.000-07:00

While my boyfriend was away, I cleaned up our room and organized my fabric stocks.
Then, I enjoyed making these items. It was very happy time for me.

At first, I finished a custom order.
I made up these 18 small dolls for hanging.

I especially like this Den-den daiko(A drum with beads which make sounds).

Then, I made some plushes with beads.

I got these beads in one of my favorite shops and wanted to make something with them.
With the other color beads, I made these elephants too.

I wanted to make some more tiny items, so I made these house key cases.

I put a cat on each back.

I found some beautiful flower printed fabrics and laces, and I made this scarf.

And I made these lanyards.

When I found this linen fabric, I wanted to stitch on it with Sashiko cotton embroidery thread.

I enjoyed stitching freely.

And at last, I made these pouches for winter.

I used all of my favorite goods what I found in these days. Wool fabrics, laces, buttons and leather pieces.

I enjoyed putting them on this little pouch.

Yes, I made such a lot! I concentrated in making too much so I didn't take a picture of them and it took more than a day for taking pictures and editing them. I took more than 300 pictures...

Enjoy sewing!!!!!

My favorite Japanese online fabric shops

2009-10-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hi.
Some readers asked me online fabric shops in Japan.
They are written in Japanese only, and don't ship internationally, so you might feel hard to see their sites.
But for whom want to know how they are, I made this list.
(I'm sorry I cannot get fabrics for you...)

The first one is "Haru". I call my boyfriend "Haru", so I like this shop very much (* v *).
They sell lots of fabrics, and especially, their flower print fabrics are beautiful.
This is a page of flower print cotton.
Haru cotton flower

The next shop is SWANY. They have two real shops, and one is only two stations away from my apartment. But I know their fabrics are good quality, so I get their items in relief from their online shop.

Here are their outlet price fabrics.
SWANY outlet

I like their linen fabrics.
I got the white linen fabric for this bag in their sale.

The third shop is CHECK&STRIPE. It's famous, isn't it?
Their fabrics are beautiful but it's expensive for me. So I get their fabrics sometimes when they have discount price fabrics.

I got fabrics from this shop, CRAFT PUKU too.

Their fabrics are very cheap, and usually I'm content of them.
Now, I'm thinking to get these dot fabrics.
CRAFT PUKU Dots

For cotton linen, or cotton double gauze, I love this shop, "Fabric Store".

But their fabrics are not so low cost, I wait their sale or their fabric bundles.

And for lace, I use this shop, "Merci".
Their Batten lace are very cheap, but most of them are usually out of stock. So it's hard to get what I want...
But for example, this lace of 10 yard long costs 3 dollars or less.
Merci lace

At the last, I got these fabrics from this shop, "FABRIC BIRD".
Because of their sale, I got them in only 4 dollars per meter.
FABRIC BIRD one coin sale

But most of them went out of stock soon after they began the sale.

Most of Japanese online shops have their mail magazines, and to know when they begin sale, we should read them.

Oh, today I went to my nearest fabric shop, "Okadaya".
Today they just began their sale, and I could get all items in 20% off price.
So I got these fabrics.

One is Liberty, and the other is cotton double gauze fabric. I'm happy with them (* v *)!!!!

Have a good weekend! I usually stay with my boyfriend but he is away for three days.
I make many items with these new fabrics!

How to make a leather bottom pincushion

2009-10-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Hello. Today I write here how I made this pincushion. You don't need special tool for leather, so please try it. Leather makes your items more gorgeous!
For this, I used the leather of 1mm(0.04inches) thick. If it's too thick, it would be more difficult.

At first, make two patterns, one for leather piece and the other for fabric.
The fabric one is easy. Draw a circle of 10cm(4 inches) diameter. It includes the allowances.
!!!!! I'm sorry. My first pattern was wrong of the placement of holes. I corrected the pattern. Thank you very much MartiVG !!!!!

The pattern for leather is this. You'd better to make it with thick paper.
Draw a 6cm(2.5 inches square), and then draw three lines in every 5mm(0.2 inches), from each edge(like the picture).

And make holes at the orange dot points (four points on each corner) with a stiletto or thick needle.

Then, cut leather using the pattern. At first, cut 6cm square. To cut, I used a rotary cutter. You can cut it with cutter knife, or scissors also.

Then, cut the four corners as the pattern with scissors.

Put the pattern on the leather piece, and mark as the points what you made.

Take the leather piece, and hole the marked point with stiletto or thick needle.

Sew the leather. I used Sashiko thread on the needle. The thread should be strong.

Make a knot at the end of the thread, and put the needle from the under side, then, go to the next hole like the picture.

Then, put the needle at the upper hole, and go to like the next hole as the yellow arrow.

And then, go back to the first hole and pull the thread well.

Repeat the same route again, pulling the thread well at each hole.

Sew it three times in total, and make a knot at the end on the wrong side.

Do the same at all four corners. You finished making the bottom!

Then, go to the pincushion. Make 10cm diameter circle with your favorite fabric. It's better to make it with cotton or linen. And sew the edge line roughly with running stitch.

Put stuffing in it and pull the thread. Check if it fits well on the leather bottom, and sew the closure well.

I put a leather piece on the top.

Put glue on the leather bottom to put the pincushion on it. I used the glue for leather craft. But I also tried to use the glue for fabrics and it went well.

Put the pincushion on it and leave for a while. That's all!!!!!

Enjoy making!

Thank you very much for reading(* v *)!!!!

Birthday gift for my father

2009-10-21T19:43:00.001-07:00

I made a leather strap for my father, as a birthday gift.
It took very long time for hand stitching. It's very simple.

I usually feel difficult to make something for my father, because he doesn't put anything on him. All he has is his cell phone, keys and the wallet.
So I made it. In future, if I can make more detailed item with leather, I'd like to make a wallet for him.

This is a salad what I made today.
I made the ham with breast chickens also. It's very easy.

Put a spoon of sugar and salt on two or three pieces of chicken breasts. Put them in a plastic bag and put it in the fridge for one-two days.
Then, wash them under running water and put in water for 30 minutes.
And wrap them well with plastic wrap making the shape of ham, and put them in boiled water. If you want to add some seasonings or herbs, put them on the wrap before roll the chicken.
After 5-10 minutes, turn off the stove and leave them in the pot till they cool down.
That's all!
I like them because they are healthy and very cheap.

Apple cake and a walk around Yokohama bay

2009-10-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

I baked a big apple cake last Sunday.
I like cooking very much because I love eating.

It was too big for us, two persons, but we ate it in two days (* v *).

It was beautiful day, so we went for a walk.

Then, we took 100 yen (1 dollar) bus to Yamashita park, in front of Yokohama bay.

It was really beautiful day.

People were enjoying in their own way.

I wanted to go to this park because there was a Indian festival.

He is a bard and his song was very impressive.

I also wanted to eat some Indian foods. I love naan.

This dish was delicious. We ate one more curry (* v *)!!!!!

It was a beautiful day.

After we enjoyed a lot, we came back home by 100 yen bus again, and then I got back to my work.

I made these pincushions after the walk. Aren't they cute?

It's very easy to make them, so I took some pictures while I was making them. I'll post it, please wait for a while (* v *)!!!!

Oh, someone asked me where I got these leather pieces or leather tools. I got them in a Japanese online shop and a craft shop near my house.
In Japan, there are lots of online shops that sell craft tools/materials. It's very convenient and cheaper than real shops. For example, I got some fabrics in 4 dollars per meter today(All are beautiful Japanese cotton and Japanese cotton/linen blend fabrics).
I like to go to real shops also, but they are more expensive and don't have so many things.
But most(almost all) of Japanese shops have only Japanese pages and don't ship internationally. That's a shame.

How about in your country?

Giveaway winners !!!!

2009-10-17T05:40:00.000-07:00

Hi.
Today I closed the entry for my second giveaway.
And now, I picked three names.
As the previous time, I wrote down all your names on recycled paper, and cut them in pieces, and put in a box.

Then, my boyfriend drew three pieces from them.
He took quite a long time,,, he wanted to do it fair.
(Then, he got tired and is sleeping now...)

Here are the three winners! I made three gifts and chose by myself which would fit them.

The first winner is Maevy.
I thought this color fits her.

I also made this for her. It's a small wreath with a tiny sarubobo.

I hope she likes it too.

And I put my handmade tags too (* v *)!!!!!

The second winner is Kris from Iowa(There are two Kris in the box).
I couldn't leave a comment on her blog, so if you are Kris, please write me your address. -> maimairuru(at)gmail(dot)com. Thank you!

She wrote about Bo-chan in her comment, so I chose this bag with a Bo-chan tag.

The wreath for her is this.

I hope she could enjoy them all.

The last winner is Laura and Kelly Allen. I couldn't believe it but she was the last person who left a comment on this post. It's miracle!
I chose her this pouch with double gauze fabric.

I made a wreath with purple Sarubobo plush.

Thank you very much for everyone who left a comment on the post. I'm sorry I could send only for three persons, but please wait for my third giveaway.

Now, I'm making more wreathes in different sizes (* v *). It's easy and fun to make. I made the wreathes with paper code. It's cheap and easy to get here in Japan.

Have a good weekend for you all!

Leather tags and a linen pouch with the tag

2009-10-15T05:31:00.001-07:00

I made leather tags with tiny pieces of scraps. It's very simple and easy to make.
I cut leather in 3.6 cm x 2 cm (1.5 inches x 0.8 inches).

I punch them three holes. I made a pattern with thick paper, and put it on the pieces to check where I should punch. I also used these small circle pieces too!

I cut a piece of fabric as the same size as the tag.

I put the piece on the back of the leather piece, and put little glue on the place of a hole.

Then I put the circle piece on the glue, and pushed the piece into the hole. I used a pen to push it well. I put three pieces in the same way.

Then I cut the excess fabric.

The front side is this.

I made a lot.

At last, I made four holes at the corners with a stiletto, so I can sew the tag on my items.

That's all!

Then, I made a linen pouch and put the tag on it.

This is made of white linen from SWANY. I sewed it with Sashiko cotton thread.

I also put a small piece of leather at the code, as the stopper.

But I made a mistake. I used different color of leather as the tag...

It's easy to use leather on your project and it makes handmade items more gorgeous, isn't it?

How to make a patchwork Lanyard, with fabric scraps.

2009-10-13T05:47:00.000-07:00

Last week, I made two Lanyards with fabric scraps again. It's similar to my patchwork string, but I put a cotton tape on the back for this.

I write here how I made them. I used a piece of leather on it.
So to make it, you need,
* Fabric scraps
* 1.5cm(0.5 inches) width of Cotton tape(or Linen tape), 90cm(1 yard) long
* A piece of leather (1.5cm x 4cm/ 0.5 inches x 1.6 inches)
* A pair of rivet
* Swivel snap
* Tool to rivet, hole punch, riveting tool, rubber plate and a hammer

At first, cut your favorite fabric pieces in 3cm(1.2 inches) width, and totally it should be 90cm(1yard) long.

Sew them and cut it in 90cm(1yard) long.

Open the allowances and iron it.

Fold it in the width of the tape and iron it.

Put it on the tape and sew them together at the both edge lines.

I finished sewing.

Before putting the leather piece, glue the two ends together.
I used my favorite Japanese fast-dry glue.

Put it on the one end, and put the other end on it.

Cut a piece of leather, in 1.5 cm x 4 cm(0.5 inches x 1.6 inches).

These are my tools for rivet.

Make two holes 5mm(0.2 inches) from both ends.

Put a swivel snap on the center of the leather piece and put it at the end of the lanyard. Then make a hole on the lanyard to put a rivet.

Put a pair of rivets at the hole, and rivet it. I use this rivet tool and wood hammer.

Finish!

I wanted to make Japanese taste Lanyards.

But it might be too simple. Umm...

Now I'm out of swivel snaps. I'm preparing two more, but I should wait...

Thank you for reading it.
Have a good day (* v *)!!!!!

Yokohama Jazz Festival

2009-10-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

Thank you very much for all your comments on my previous post. I'm really happy to read them. I didn't imagine if you would leave so many comments, but I read it one by one every day. Thank you (* v *)!!!!

By the way, last weekend, we went to the Yokohama Jazz festival which was held once in a year.
Before we found a Jazz live, I noticed there was a live of Senegal musician's also.
I like percussion the best, so we sawed it at first.(Though my boyfriend likes Jazz better...)

I enjoyed it very much! They are so powerful. One of them broke the stick because he beat it too strongly.

After the session started, there came lots of people hearing the strong beats.

I enjoyed it very much under the beautiful sky.

Then we went to the next place to listen to Jazz.

It was also beautiful session.

And the outside of the building, there was another stage.

It was the space to repair big ship originally. So this is called dockyard garden.
The garden is under this building.

The highest building in Japan. I used to work in the 47th. floor before. I enjoyed the beautiful sight every day.

Children didn't stay sitting. They were playing always and I enjoyed seeing them.

I found a cute girl and her mother. They both put cute boots. I think their clothes are very Japanese.

At the second day, we went to a street to listen to younger people's Jazz sessions.

They were not good enough, but everybody enjoyed it.
I saw some stages this day too, and enjoyed them very much.
I don't listen to CDs so much, but I love listening to the lives. In this street, once a week some young people do the street lives in the night and when I worked near the street before, I used to go to listen to.

But I was surprised when I was in San Francisco. i could see many street lives there, and they all are very high quality!!!!! I wanted to live there to enjoy more lives...

How to make a patchwork string and how to use it (Scrap buster project)

2009-10-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

!!!!! Thank you very much! I closed the entry for the giveaway. !!!!!

A woman sent me an email about this project and I decided to write this post.

I have lots of small pieces of fabrics, and I usually make bias tapes or patchwork strings with them.

This time, I write here how I make the patchwork string.
I chose some pieces from the scraps, and ironed them. Then cut it in strips. I cut them in 1.5 inches width.

I cut these pieces. Some of them has not vertical edge, because it's a rest of my bias tapes.

Sew them one by one.

To make it sturdy, it's good to sew two times at the edge using back stitch.

If you want to use the bias edge like the picture,

put it on the other side fabric making both fabrics's right side upside and cut the edge in the same shape.

Then put them facing their rightside, and sew it.

Open the allowances and iron them.

Then, fold it in half and iron it.

Open it once, fold each side in half and iron it.

To make the beautiful edge, follow next steps. At first, fold the edge a little.

Open it and fold each corner making triangle.

Fold again at the line of first step.

Fold each side and begin sewing.

Continue sewing...

Finished!

I use it to tie something, or...
as a bracelet,

or, as a charm of the bag.

Or, it can be used as a drawstring for a bag.

This is very simple bag and the patchwork string fits well on it.

I also put my hand carved stamp tag on the back.

You can close this bag like the picture too.

To make this bag, you need only two pieces of fabrics in the same size.

Then put them making the right side inside, and sew each edge.

Put it like the picture.

And sew the side lines, leaving a opening space to turn it out. It's better to be on the inside fabric.

Turn it out from the opening and close it.

Turn it out and put a tag on the outside. You did it.

It's very simple and you can make it in your favorite size.

By the way,,,
I'd like to do a giveaway to whom read all this long post!

I want to make two more bags like the red one, and put something in them as a gift.
So I can choose three persons for this giveaway.
If you want to enter this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post, till 6 am of
17th October(EST).
Please make sure that when you are chosen, I should contact to you. At the 17th October, I'll write the names of the winner in the new post, so please come back here to check it out.
If you have any questions about it, please feel free to write me.-> maimairuru(at)gmail(dot)com.

Have a good day (* v *)!!!!!

!!!!! Thank you very much! I closed the entry for the giveaway. !!!!!

My little trip to a small island in Tokyo

2009-10-08T03:23:00.000-07:00

I and my boyfriend went to an island, Hachijojima, in Tokyo.
It's 300 kilometers south from Tokyo, so it's like an tropycal island.
So we imaged there is a blue sky, beautiful beach, tropycal plants, fresh fishes etc...
But one day before the trip, when I checked the weather of the island, I noticed it rains all the week. Then I checked the information of the island. It's rainy throughout the year!
So we went there with two umbrellas.

When our plane arrived the island, it rained a lot.
After we rented a car, we lost the way soon. Because of the rain, it was difficult to see the signs. We gave up to drive, and took lunch.

Then, we went to our hotel to check in and took siesta for 2 hours (* v *). We woke up early for the air and were tired of the drive in the rain.

We got some maps and information at the airport, and also got this treasure map.

It's a game for tourists, and if we win, we can get air tickets!
We checked them and went to drive. The weather got better.

At first, we went to the port and got these delicious food.

Fisherman's wives were serving them for tourists. I also could drink some spirits.

Then we went to a park to see "Kyon(Muntiacus reevesi)".

They are small deers and from China. They are very friendly and cute.
By them, there was a beautiful crane dancing.

She was dancing all the time while we were there.

In the night, we went a bar to take dinner. We ate fishes, Japanese pickles and so.
We were sitting in row in the very tiny bar. The bar was full with only 7 people.
We talked with an old man who went to the WW2. He seemed enjoying a lot and always saying, "I feel good today".

The second day, it didn't rain at all. We were very lucky!
So we went to the mountain,

and the sea.

The statues are by the sea.

We saw a goat by the road,

and while we were walking, we saw two weasels were playing.

Then we went to a Sushi restaurant to take lunch.

This is traditional food in Hachijojima. I liked it a lot but it was not enough for me...
He got this one.

Each costs 15 dollars.

At last of the day, we went to a foot bath by the sea.

We relaxed a lot seeing the beautiful sea.

We took the dinner in Minshuku(Japanese inn) and talked a lot with other guests and the host.

The host talked a lot about the island and I drank a lot of the island's spirits.

The last day, it rained a lot. So we went only to the inside facilities.

The host of the Minshuku told us that we could see the traditional dance so we went there. Their Kimono are of Kihachijo, their traditional silk textile. We also saw the process of textiles. It was very beautiful.

We also went to a museum which shows old lives of the island.

I found a beautiful hand stitched cotton Kimono there.

From the neat stitches, we can see they took good care of it. I like to see such old things.

At the evening, we arrived at the Haneda airport. We enjoyed these three days very much. Especially, I liked the conversations with people who lived there. They were very kind to us, and very friendly. I want to go back there when I have a chance again.

How I carve a stamp with eraser

2009-10-01T22:52:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I carved a cat stamp and made small gifts for my customers.
I'm not so good at carving, but I'd like to show how I did it.
I hope it would help you.

At first, I draw a design, this time, a cat. To copy it on the eraser, please draw it with pencil.

Then put it on the eraser and scratch it well.

I copied it.

I use this OLFA cutter knife for carving.

The tip of the knife is sharper than usual cutter, and it makes easier to carve detailed design.

You need only cutter knife, eraser and a cutting board. If you have carving knives, it will make it easier.

I cut the piece of just around the cat.

Then, begin from the outline. The most important thing is the angle of the knife.

Like the picture, cut at the line at a 45 degrees (or so) angle.

Then cut it from the outside with the same angle.

You should have carved like "V". It makes stamp sturdy.

Conitue it.

When you cut the outside of the outline, put the cutter knife like the picture.

I finish the outside of the cat. I couldn't cut near the tail, but if you use the carving knife, it should be better...

Then go to the inside with the same way. When you carve the detailed place, please carve it lightly.

I finished it!

I stamped it on the fabric with the ink for fabric.

It doesn't disappear if you iron it after stamping. I love this ink.

Then, I cut them all.

And put a cotton code on the top.

And I sewed with the backside fabric leaving a space to turn it out.

I closed the opening.

At last, I decorated them with Sashiko stitch.

They are for my customers. I put them for whom get 20 dollars or more.

I carved only about 10 stamps. It's easy to begin and you can make your original design with them. Please try it!

Have a good day.
I'm going to go for a trip from 4th. October. I'm really excited now. But it would be rainy days...

Miniature books and Sarubobo

2009-09-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

My friend in the U.S. (EmiShimosato) sent me some elastics for carving stamps.
I tried one of them, and it was quite good! It's much easier than Japanese rubber what I used before. I've never tried Japanese elastics for stamp...

Several days ago, I made this stamp for my name cards. Before then, I hand wrote every name card and it took long time (But I enjoyed it very much).
Now, I can make my name cards with this stamp.

Now, I'm hooked on carving stamps, so I made these tiny books.

Each of them are from one piece of Origami paper. I found the tutorial in Youtube.

You need only one piece of square paper, so please try it. It's very cute!

Then, I hand carved some sarubobo for the books and stamped them.

I like these tiny things. Then, I wanted to put them in Sarubobo's hands.
So I made small Sarubobo for them.

I put elastics to keep their books.

But my boyfriend says it's not good because the elastics are in their stomachs. But I wanted to hide the knots...

Anyway, I enjoyed making them! Thank you very much EmiShimosato!!!!

Sarubobo stamp tag and brooch

2009-09-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

I made brooches with a flower and a sarubobo plush.
Before I put pins on their back, I came up with an idea.

I carved a stamp of Sarubobo, and stamped it on cotton tape. (This tape is for stamping)
Then, I put a pin with it.

It's simple, but I could hide the stitching with the tag.

I made them thinking of floral scent. They should be enjoying it.

By the way,,,
It was my boyfriend's birthday the day before yesterday.
I baked cheese cake for him and made beef stew for our dinner. We enjoyed eating a lot with a bottle of wine.
But after we finished the dinner, I had terrible stomach pain. I couldn't sleep at all. I thought it was food poisoning or something, but my boyfriend was quite good...

Yesterday, I was still too bad and went to a hospital. The doctor said it should be food poisoning, but it's odd if my boyfriend is good.
We couldn't think of good reason, but he gave me some medicine for gastroenteritis. Now, I feel much better than yesterday.

Today I began to work again slowly. It takes much more time than usual, but some new ideas are coming up with me because of this slowness. Even though I made some mistakes in these two days, it was good experience for me.

I feel really appreciative of my boyfriend, because he was just with me (* v *)!!!!

Black leather pass case

2009-09-23T07:19:00.001-07:00

I made a pass case for my boyfriend.
It's a birthday present.

It's of a very simple pattern.
This shape is good to hold and the hole makes it easier to take out the card.

I found the design here and made the pattern by myself.
-> http://epen.blog3.fc2.com/blog-entry-92.html

I like the process of polishing the edge and the back.
I put CMC (a kind of glue) on the back, then polish it with glass or a tool for it.
It takes long time and I cannot get the feel for it, but I'm enjoying it very much.

I also plan to go for a trip with him to a small island near Tokyo. And I'll make a birthday cake and beef stew for him tomorrow.
I’m enjoying celebrating his birthday (* v *)!!!!

We enjoyed this grape tonight. I like the autumn very much because it makes many kinds of food taste good.

SWANY and my new wrapping

2009-09-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

I went to SWANY with my boyfriend.
But it was 10 minutes before their closing hour, and I couldn't get anything. I just looked around the shop.

They have two shops in Japan, the main is in Kamakura, and the other one is in Yokohama, near this tower.

There are many types of fabric in their shop, and also, they have lots of their original patterns.
In the shop, there are lots of their works with their patterns. We can get the patterns according to our purchases.

Several days before, I sent a pattern of pants and black linen fabric to my mother. I love their linen fabrics.

I also got some fabrics from their online shop recently. The white linen is for my clothing, and wool fabrics and cotton print are for my shop. They gave me a DIY kit of a pouch as a gift (* v *)!!!!

I'm getting too much fabrics recently... I should sew more and more.

Yesterday, one idea came up to my head and I began to make these tags in the midnight.
I used my word card what I got to remember English words.

I paste a piece of Origami on them, and stamped my hand carving stamps.
I use them for wrapping my items.
It seems better than before.

From today, it's five day holiday in Japan. Today we went to a big public bath and relaxed a lot. There were many types of bathtubs, I also could sleep in a bathtub (* v *)!!!!!
Because I remain seated all day long, my legs are swollen badly. But thanks to the bath, my legs get better.

Have a good weekend to you all!

Leather craft and stamp tags --> My new pouches!

2009-09-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

Recently I hooked leather craft and carving stamps.
In these two days, I made this passport case with two colors of leather.

I got the small pieces and they were short for the original pattern.
So I arranged the pattern a little.

I enjoyed hand stitching on leather. It takes much more time than fabric, but it's fun.

I liked this book because it has many detailed techniques.

And yesterday, I got stamp ink for fabric and cotton tape for stamp.

So I made these tags. I ironed after stamping, so they don't disappear.
The center one is Bo-chan stamp!

I wanted to use the tags, so I made up these pouches soon.

I also put leather handles on them, because I wanted to use leathers also.

I liked the bottom.

I love this cotton linen fabric from SWANY. It's just beautiful!

Thank you for reading.
I'm enjoying a lot!

How to make a pouch with/without a leather strap

2009-09-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

Finally, I can post it.
There are many many pictures and it's very long... I'm sorry.

You can make the pouch with a leather strap, or without it.

You need only two patterns, one is for the body, and the other is for the top for the drawstring.
The body is 14cm x 26cm without the allowances, so if you put 5 mm allowance for each, you cut 15cm x 27cm. You need it for the outer fabric, and the inner fabric. My outer fabric was thin, so I cut also adhesive interlining as the same size and iron it on the outer fabric.

You need two pieces of the top, and the pattern for them is 10cm x 14cm without the allowances (with 5mm allowances, 11cm x 15cm).

I cut also two pieces of lace as the width of body fabrics to decorate the bag. I also made covered button with the top fabric for the decoration. But this post is too long so I write in another post how I made them.

At first, draw the line of the center, then mark 1cm from the center and 3cm from it(See the picture). The 1cm line is for the gusset, and the 3cm is where you put the lace.

Then put the lace on the mark, and sew at the edge of it.

I put two pieces, for both sides.

Then put two covered buttons on the lace of one side.

I put two buttons.

Then prepare the top. Fold bth sides of allowance like the picture.

Sew the edge line as the picture from 3cm from the one side to 3cm from the other side.

Then fold it like the picture, and sew at the edge of the rest 3cm.

Sew 1mm from the edge like the picture.

I finished it.

Do the same for the other side, and turn it out.

Sew 1.5 cm from the top. This makes the space to put drawstrings.

I made two tops.

If you put a strap, cut two pieces of string or tape, in 3cm. Fold it in half and put it on the outer fabric, 1-1.5cm from the top.

Baste them on both sides.

Then, put the inner fabric, top and the outer fabric as the picture.

Then put dress pins like the picture.

And sew the line. I sewed with half back stitch.

I finished the one side. Then sew the other side in the same way.

Fold it like the picture to sew the side lines.

To leave the opening space on the inner fabric side, begin sewing from 4-5 cm away from the bottom to the bottom.

Then, sew from 2-3 cm from the top to the outer fabric. Continue sewing to the bottom of the outer fabric.

So you can make the space to turn it out.

Then sew the other side. It's better to sew from the center to make it neat.

Then to make the gusset, take one edge like the picture opening the allowance.

Take the edge of outer fabric also in the same way, and put them together facing the allowances.

Sew it from the 1cm line you drew at first to the other 1cm line.

You made one gusset.

Do the same for the other side.

Turn it out from the space. You are around the corner.

Sew it little by little from the bottom (It's easier than begin from the top). Sew one stitch for the one side,

Then sew one stitch for the other side. Continue this.

You finished closing the space.

Turn it out and put the strings on the top. That's all!!!!!

The orange one is with a strap.

I like this fat shape (* v *).

If you have any questions, please leave a comment here.
Thank you very much for reading this long long post.

Have a good day.

Try and Error, I made four leather straps!!!!

2009-09-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I tried to make leather straps.

At first, I polished the back and side of the strips with glue for leather.

Then, I tried to put cap rivets.

It was really difficult for me. One is because my hammer is of rubber and couldn't beat well. And also because I didn't get a setter for it.
So the rivets didn't go well. I made many failed pieces...

Then, I went out to get good hammer and setter for me and retry it.

It got much easier than before!!!! I could put the rivets well and I finished making straps.

The top one is what I got and the other four are what I made by myself. (At first, I cut six strips... He he...)
Now I can make my new pouches with my handmade straps (* v *)!!!!

At last, I made a little leather charm for my practice of stitching.

It was difficult to cut a circle with cutter knife, and to make good stitching holes. But I'm just getting started it! It's only the beginning!

Today when I went out with my boyfriend, I got this book as a text.

I couldn't find it in Amazon.com.
This is written by a woman who is from Yoshida & Co.ltd.(of PORTER).

She wrote detailed instruction and basic information using lots of pictures.
I try to make this passport case at first.

I hope it appears well and I can post here about it...

Thank you very much for reading!
Have a good weekend to you all!

Bo-chan, Lecien fabrics and leather pieces

2009-09-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

I went to see Bo-chan today.
But he was in the house, and seemed very sleepy.
I sang a song for him (* v *)!!!!!

When I came back home, I saw to packages arrived.
One is leather pieces. I wanted to make leather straps for my new pouches, and got this pack and some tools.

They are approx. 9 inches square, and costed only 10 dollars for all.

I also got a rotary cutter knife and cut the leather in strip using it.
It was so easy to cut! I wanted to get the rotary cutter knife and try it to cut bias tapes. I also tried to cut fabrics in bias and it came out very well! I should have got it earlier...

I'm enjoying to try new things.

And the second package includes lots of Lecien fabrics.
Most of them are of Lecien. There was a sale in a Japanese online shop, and they were quite cheap.

Now I'm making the tutorial of my leather strap pouches. Please wait for a while.

Arigato (* v *)!!!!

!!! Matsuri !!!

2009-09-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I went to a summer festival of a small shrine.
There were lots of people and food stalls.

This is a Yakitori(Grilled chicken) stalls.

And this is a Okonomiyaki stalls. I love it very much so we got it! It had lots of cabbage, noodle, two eggs, bacon, flour, Dashi-soup, calamari etc... Full of tastes!

There were lots of children in this stall. They were getting golden fishes with thin paper tool. It's difficult to get fishes without breaking the paper.

Cute toys and a cute girl.

The main of this festival is Mikoshi, portable shrine. The first one was brought by the school kids.

They are wearing the same costumes. They don't put shoes, only Japanese socks(We usually don't wear them, only for matsuri).

Mikoshi are not so big, but very heavy. So they got really sweaty.

I like to watch the detail of Mikoshi.
It's so beautiful and well conserved.

Many women were bringing it also and children were helping them bringing lights or paying drums.

At the end of the street, some people were playing drums. I love the beat very much so we were seeing it to the end.

I enjoyed this festival a lot. Economically, it's not in good situation but they seemed very happy, friendly and worked together happily.
I like to see smiling faces! Of course, I smiled a lot (* v *)!!!!

Handmade stamps

2009-09-06T23:26:00.000-07:00

Hi there!
I got new cutter knife for carving stamps yesterday.
I used to use normal cutter before and I couldn't carve well at all.

I also got some pieces of wood for stamp handle. I cut the rubber as the size of wood piece.

These are tools what I use for stamps.
Cutting board, carving knives, my new cutter knife, wood pieces and rubber piece.

At first, cut the rubber as the size of wood piece.

Then draw the design on it. I directly draw it on the rubber with thick pen.

Then I began carving from outlines.

I finished it!
I want to stamp it on cotton tape and use it as a tag for my items.
I ordered some inks for fabrics and am waiting for them.

Enjoy handmade!