I sewed a tunic.

Last week, I sewed a tunic by hands, as usual.
It's of very simple pattern of a sewing book japanese, so I could sew it in only 3-4 hours.


Usually, I take the patterns from my favorite clothes.
It comes better than when I use patterns from sewing books, because of my body size, maybe.
So,,, I need a diet...

Dancing turtles in a pencil case

I made a pencil case for my boyfriend.
He wants something very simple, so I couldn't decorate the outside.



But I wanted to stitch something...

So, I embroidered dancing turtles and a fish on the inside.
It's simple!

Monkiri, japanese paper cutting technique

Yesterday, I found some craft books about Monkiri.
It was japanese paper cutting technique.
I tried one of them. I found the patterns and how-to guide here(Sorry, Japanese only).

I folded a paper in two, and then in five.


According to the pattern, I cut the paper with scissors.


I made a flower. It's simple and beautiful. It was very easy. But many other patterns are difficult to cut, only with scissors.


Then, I tried to apply it to sewing.
I cut a cotton cloth with this method and made a pouch.
It's a little bit difficult to fold and cut the fabric like paper. So I put a thin interlining to sharpen it.

African festival in yokohama

Yesterday I went to the african festival in Yokohama. Many volunteer stuffs made up this festival. There came many famous talent and musicians, and they were also volunteers.

I sew the speech of an african talent very famous in japan. He lives in japan longer than he lived in africa. He told us about japan and africa. He told about 4 important things that his father taught him, sharing, the spirit of give-and-take, making allowances for each other, and the feeling of thankfulness. And he told us a proverb that an old man/woman's dying is same as a library being gone away. He respect elder people very much. I agree with him.



And next, there is a live performance of an african group of percussion. One of them speaks japanese very well. Their music was very strong. Many audiences were dancing and singing. It's rare in japan, because most of japanese people are shy... But the group excited us so much. I danced and sang with other people. I liked the live very much. They were great.
And the talk of the vocalist was really good. He said only a few words. But it impressed us very much. He wants the beautiful earth for our children. He thinks our long for peace becomes the most strong power in the world.

After the live, I went to a library to read some issues about africa and war in the world. And now, I want to talk about these things with many friends.

I don't know what I can do but I think it's important to talk this feeling and thought with many people.
So, I write this. Thank you for reading my poor english...

I bought a cloth from Guinea. It was really beautiful!
Here are some photo I took around the holl of the festiva.

Patchworked bias tape

I like to make a bias tape, with variety of printed fabrics.
Even it comes to very small pieces, I keep all my fabrics in a box. So sometimes I make a bias tape with them.




I made it with some of vintage kimono fabrics, too. Because most of them are polyester, it was hard to made up a tape.


I used these tapes for my furoshiki.


And today I made a drawstring bag with them.

Aqualium in Chiba

Last weekend, I went to an aqualium in Chiba.
It is a part of a large park, "Kasai Rinkai Park".
The park is by the sea. The sight from there was very nice. We could see the buildings of Tokyo.

The aqualium is under this glass dorm.


There are many big tunas, in the big tank.

This blowfish's mouse is always open. It seems to think something.


I like the turtle. It looks dancing in the water.



This squid has very cute face.


I enjoyed the aqualium and our date very much.
But it was a little bit bad day for me.
At first, it was a sunny day. I have an allergy to pollens, so I can't stay outdoor for long time in sunny days in the spring.
Secondly, it was very cold. We brought lunch box to eat outside, but we had to eat in hurry.

I like sunny spring days. I hate my allergy. ( I have another allergy to cats. I like cats very much but I cannot stay with them for long time...)

After the aqualium, we went to Tokyo to see the cherry blossoms.

French Seam

I like Korean patchwork "Pojagi".
But the fabrics which used in Pojagi are difficult to get, so I use my cottons.

To sew each patches, French seams are used. I like this method to sew because it doesn't need underlining so it can be sheer. Now, I'm making a curtain for the summer.




Yesterday, I made small patchworked cloth. I thought it was suit for cover basket or something. Then, my boyfriend said to me it was good for use as a furoshiki, wrapping cloth japanese.
It's a good idea.
So today, I made another big one. It's more useful as a furoshiki, because it can hold more items.

It can hold books, tissue box, bottles, etc...



Moreover, it can be used as a small bag.


Here are many instructions to wrap with furoshiki.
How to use Furoshiki

I was ill last week.

I had a high fever last week. It was terrible.
I had a plan to go for a trip with my boyfriend and would have met many people of far places. I would have met my grandmother.
But I couldn't even go out from my house.

And I could sew few items last week. It's a big stress for me. When I began to sell my works on ETSY shop, almost every day I sew something.

Now, I've got over my illness, I can sew again!
At first, I made two sewing pouches with japanese kimono fabrics.
The shape of them is what I thought in my bed.

Tokyo Tower AND Zojoji

Last week I went to Tokyo tower with my friend.
It was sunny day and there were some beautiful cherry blossoms and ume(plum) blossoms.
I like their pink color against the sky.



Near Tokyo tower, there is a famous temple named "Zojoji", built in 1393.
I like this photo with both buildings.



We went on the belvedere of the Tokyo Tower.
It cost 800 yen! I think it is too expensive. Because with this 800 yen, we can go only second highest floor. To go up the highest floor, we should pay another 600 yen...
So, we went only the second floor.
But the sight from there was adorable. We could see most parts of Tokyo.


There is a little part of glass floor to see under our foot.It's unique!


After the walk, we went by a small japanese style bar to drink beers.
It was so nice!

I bought linen and cotton fabrics.

I received a delightful packet today. It contains many types of fabric.

I bought discount fabric set from a famous fabric shop in japan, "CHECK AND STRIPE".

They are very cotton and linen fabrics of fine quality.
So, I soon made a pot holder with two of them.
They are good to sew with, too.

With them, I'll sew a cloth for my little niece(4 months old).

Onigiri bag

Today, I made a bag shaped onigiri, japanese rice ball.
I wanted to use a bias tape that I made before.
Because I have left a lot if small pieces of vintage kimono fabrics,
I made the tape.

It is very good for this japanese canvas (sailcloth).
I put the same tape to the string.

A little bit,,, too simple...???
Next time, I want to put something like seaweed.

Cat IPOD mini case

Today I made a case of my IPOD mini. It's a cat with a pocket.
Because I like cat, I'm making a lot of cat goods these days.
I live in a no pet allowed apartment but my parents live with two cats.
My parents lives very far from here, so I can see them several times a year.
I miss them very much.


The pocket is to put earphones in it.
It is fully lined with batting, to guard the IPOD.

At last, I made a tail of her.

Petit Pincushion

When I'm sewing, I sometimes put needle on the top of the thread.
So I made a pincushion which size is suit for the thread.

I put the hard interlining on the bottom of it.
I can attach it with double faced tape on the top of the thread.
It's convenient!

I'm going to go to California.

I'm planning to go to California this summer, with my boyfriend.
We'll travel for about 3 months around San Francisco.
I want to see some people who I met on the etsy site, if I can.

***
Today I made a luggage tag for my suitcase.
I chose my favorite fabric, a baby printed japanese cotton.
I put a large button to close it.



Because I want to hide my name and address for security, I put card holder within two quilts.

This spring, I'll make some travel goods.

Vintage Kimono Fabrics

I bought some vintage kimono fabrics recently.
They are from used kimono, made of cotton, wool or polyester.
There are some marks or small holes. But they are all lovely.


At first, I made a ribbon with one of them, cotton tye dyed fabric.
I cut two rectangles and then sew four sides.

Then, made two ribbon shapes by sewing center of them and put hair elastic on the back.

At last, I wrapped the center with small piece of the fabric.



I made it without any patterns. But after finished it, I made up a pattern to make it again. Because I like it.
Now, I'm thinking about the cost to make it. I'll list it up to my shop.

I like hand stitch.

I began to learn sewing when I was 6-7 years old.
I learned by myself with many sewing books.

My grand mother has one of my first works.
It is a little plush that looks like her. She always display it in her bedroom.
Whenever I go to her house and look it, I feel very happy.

At the end of last year, I began to sell my works on etsy site.
From that time, I come up with a lot of ideas and now, I enjoy sewing every day.

Here, I'ld like to write about my hand sewing life.