Country of Origin: JP
I’ve received some of the most exciting mail lately – mail from Japan!! First I got a package of fabric that Jen in Tokyo helped me order. I chose the small cuts (30×54 cm) so I could get more patterns. Each piece should be enough for a doll dress or softies. Thanks so much Jen for helping me feed my fabric addiction! xx
The mail also brought me a package of Japanese goodies from a swap with Molly. Candy, stationary, a zakka book, Decole goodies (!!) and some beautiful fabric. Thank you so much for the swap Molly!
crocheted potholder
I’m in the middle of working on a very large overambitious project for my blog birthday next week. So what do I do instead of work on it? Decide it’s time to seriously practice my crocheting of course. I had my friend Teresa come over yesterday and give me some pointers. I was hoping she could tell me why everything I try to crochet goes so astray. I figured a few things out but I’m still so sucky at it. I tried to make this apple potholder from this vintage pattern I found. And, well, you can see how it turned out. Guess I need to buy the correct gauge yarn if I don’t want huge scary leaves. And my core is waaay off. But it is recognizable as an apple right? That’s something!
UPDATE: actually now that I’m looking at it here online, the pattern and the potholder side by side, the leaf is about right. go figure.
I was inpsired to try crochet again after getting this super cutie crocheted dollop of cream that I ordered from Cheryl in the mail last week. Thanks Cheryl for making such cute things! I love him so much. Oscar’s a big fan too. We actually took him to the park the other day. She also sent this very cute magnet which has cheered my fridge right up.
Hon no Hon
I just got a belated Mother’s Day present last week from my Mom. Hon no Hon or Book of Imaginary Books by Junzo Terada. I’ve been wanting it since I spotted it on Last Gasp so my Mom ordered it for me and it was backordered and just came in. So worth the wait, it is the most beautiful book. I look through it everyday. The colors are addictive.
Jennifer in Japan clarifed that it is actually a book of book covers for imaginary books. So I guess there really is no The Octopus and the Drum. too bad!
Now I need just about every single thing at the Comes Mart (link via my little mochi) especially the polar bear & panda fabric!
Robot love me!
She’s no Roomba, but robot number four is done! I started this robot almost 2 months ago. I made up the head with the button top & bias tape ears right away. I was so pleased… and then I got stuck. I started at least 3 different body shapes in felt and I just wasn’t feeling it. So I decided to mix it up and try for a more quilted thing with different fabrics for the body. It’s much easier to work with the wool felt but it was fun to get some polka dot action in there (thanks Leah for the fabric!) I hope that my unauthorized departure from felt goes over ok with my robot swap partner. update: hooray! she loves it. trade on. I’m so excited!
pojagi
I found this cool site today. She makes coasters, pincushions, bags. etc. as well as the larger pieces. A smaller project might actually be doable.
close up of the stitches
I’m working on a building
Log cabin man! It’s my new favorite pattern. Here’s a log cabin quilted pillow I made this weekend. I wanted to make something fun out of the beautiful center square that Camilla sent me. Now these little fellas are 3D and huggable and hanging out on the sofa with the rest of the softies. I’m hooked. I fear soon this house will be swimming in pillows!
