She Brews

Alice In Wonderland Japanese Style

 

I saw this on line and I had to have it. Doesn't it look intriguing? The ISBN4-574-80504-B may help you find one on your own. I have never seen it before or since I purchased it. The subtitle says: Reiko Washizawa's Patchwork Quilt World.

 

Though it is complete with patterns, there are things represented that do not have patterns, which was a little disappointing. Somethings, I suppose, if you are a good seamstress, you could figure out on your own. It is completely written in Japanese, but, like most of the pattern books, they are strongly illustrated, so you can follow them if you have some knowledge of sewing.

 

The Japanese seem very fond of detail and are masters of it, and their tutorials for fake food endless. I don't know that I will ever make a fake cake, but there are plenty of other fun things to make in here. There are also a lot of quilt patterns that aren't necessarily Alice related. If I could read it, perhaps I would get an explanation of how they consider them so.....

 

The seller did a really good job of showing many of the illustrations, so I had a pretty good idea of what it offered. Again, though, like I said, some of the things shown are not given instructions. There is a very large Alice doll that does not have instructions, and there are two rabbits that I did not find instructions for.

 

On Flickr, here and here,  I see some Alice parties, and I think some of this would be fun to make if you were throwing a true Tea Party with an Alice theme. If crafts were just a hobby, it would be fun to tackle all these details and see what you have when you are done. There are some cute Cheshire Cat coasters, and the card people are fun.....

 

That doll is a little bizarre to me. I would like to make its head different. I am not sure how it relates to Alice. It has an iguana look....I am disappointed that there were no flamingos involved.

 

There are quite a few teapot covers that are cute. This one is a head of lettuce or flower....? Not sure about the fish......the caterpillar, yes. 

Well, I guess I have a few things I can try from the book. I am not disappointed completely. Just wish  a couple of things they showed, they would have made patterns for, too.

Well, back to work.

Japanese Craft Books in my Etsy

Hi Everybody! I just wanted to let you know that I got my eye on some things to purchase, but I can only do that if I let go of some of the things I already have. I will be going through my Japanese Craft books that I have been collecting and offer them at a reduced rate in my Shebrews Attic Etsy.

I have listed three so far, but I will be adding some more as I get the courage to let them go......be sure to check if you are looking for something special. Also, there will be other pattern books, patterns and books I will be adding. Here are the three that are in my etsy.....

  

  

 

These are all written in Japanese, but have wonderful illustrations and patterns that can be easily figured out if you sew at all and have some knowledge of how things are put together. The shoe book has full size patterns in all sizes. I love all three of these books, but I got my eye on Yoko Saito's patchwork books, and I want them more!!!

Help me out, will ya? thanks.

what you didnt know

 

I have never really "officially" quilted. I just do my own thing. Quilting seems like such an exact science. Measure twice, cut once......Since I have problems with perfection----whether I am a perfectionist and can't stand not being able to do things perfectly, or whether I am an imperfectionist and refuse to do things by the rules, I cannot say. I can make arguements for both. Artists are rebels, after all, but we must start off with the rules before we break them.......

Last night I met with the "girls" who quilt on Tuesday nights. They are all traditional quilters and are learning by some more experienced quilters---it covers all levels.

For instance, someone came with their patchwork blocks they made all week only to find they did not keep measuring, and most of them were over size or undersize---so, she spent the night ripping them out......*sigh*.....that is the part of quilting I am afraid of. I looked at her project long and hard and decided I would have just "cut" them to fit the smallest ones.......lol. RIght or wrong, *shrug*, I dunno? I just wouldn't have the heart to rip apart 40 blocks I spent all week piecing........

Another girl brought her quilt that she constructed from vintage feedsack dresden plates she found in her mother's cedar trunk. She found 28 and spaced them on the quilt so that she could share some of the squares with the other siblings.

Someone else was working on needle turn applique using freezer paper. *sigh* Tedious. Tedious.

Well, as you know, I am in love with Yoko Saito's work and I aim to attempt some of it. So, I got out my Moda Layer Cakes stash I have been collecting and began to cut my two inch strips. I found an easy pot holder pattern from "The Impatient Patchworker" by Jayne Emerson.

  

ISBN 0-307-33658-1 

I learned things like ironing your seams toward the darkest fabric. Although it wasn't part of the directions, I topstitched my potholder after I finished all the sewing.

This winter it is my goal to attempt some of the patterns I have collected from Yoko Saito.

Today, I will sew a cosmetic bag that is also in this book. I plan to show you my journey into learning this beautiful art of Yoko Saito's. I realize that I will rebel somewhere----color choices, perhaps, which happen to be one of her trademarks---she seems to work mostly in taupe, brown, tan and black. I wonder if I can get the look by using other fabrics. We shall see. Also, the potholder I made was all machine stitched. I have the feeling that Yoko's are hand stitched. Since all the books I have are in Japanese----there are things I miss, since I can only follow illustrations. I think this will be an exciting project.

Of course, I will always be distracted from time to time. In fact, I need to come up with some fast things for my last three shows. Obviously, patchwork takes a long time. But here is one of my inspirations:

 

ISBN4-529-04098-4

This is just yummy with patchwork projects. I cannot say that Yoko has any in this book, but her style is definitely represented. I have a few books of hers on my wish list. 

Okay, well you heard it here. I am going to make winter 2010, the year I make some of Yoko Saito's patchwork projects. They will be mine when I am done, because I cannot copy something exactly, but I sure enjoy her style.

 

Don't you just want to make these?

Houses Houses Houses and Yoko Saito

So inspired by all the Japanese Quilt Books I have purchased. I especially like Yoko Saito, a Japanese artist that works in wool and taupe/brown patterns. She has lots of patchwork and lesson books, of some which I have collected. I can't read Japanese, but the pictures pretty much tell the story.....do I wish I could read it sometimes? YES.

  

 

 

 

I used the salvege edge fabric names to name my little houses. I wish I was brilliant enough to think ahead and use the fabric that the house is named after.......these were salvages I have been saving up---mostly thinking I would use the colorful number dots....I love those.......I see some artists making things after making a fabric by sewing the salveges together......I made a bag two years ago, but, I have unsuccessfully tried to photograph it and it never does it justice........

Then, I found my damselfly that I embroidered awhile ago, and I crazy quilted it.

  

In the large circle, I want to embroider a quote, but I haven't settled on one yet. I will post a pic after I get that figured out.......This ends up about an 8 inch by 8 inch piece.

Quilts Japan

When I spotted this cover somewhere (I forget), I decided I had to have it. I ordered it from here and I got it today. It was a little pricey because it is a large (think Martha Stewart size) magazine. I purchased a furoshiki (sp?) from Mai's etsy shop last winter and this reminded me of her work. So delicate and detailed. Her blog is loaded with tutorial's too, and she does everything by hand----no machine stitching. 

I will probably never get around to it, but isn't this just over the top? All the colors and piecing. I give a lot of credit to these photographers, too. If I never make anything from the magazine, I sure do get inspired!

This was the very first photograph when you open the magazine. I would subscribe to this if I wasn't a "starving artist". Years ago, when the economy was better, I could have done so, but now, little at a time for me........Anyway, isn't this delicious? There are several projects made with these little circles.

It seems the trend in the newest Japanese Quilt periodicals have dimensional quilts. This quilt is particularly beautiful to me. The colors remind me of Patchwork Pottery's work. 

See, too many projects, too little time. It's so hard for me to focus--I am like a kid in a candy store, I don't know which to pick first.....I did manage to get a few things done this week, but not for the time allotted me.....*sigh*

Time for bed......

Stitch and Country Patchwork

My new arrival today! Nothing like a new book to inspire! I love the soft colors in this issue. I like the patchworks in these Japanese books. Pretty soon I am going to have to take a class so I can read them....lol.

I might have to attempt this, but without the zipper, I think.......I like all the other stuff about it. The zipper seems a little daunting....

Some of the simplest things are so profound! I really want to make a bunch of these! I love linens and simple embroidery together. This is from isbn978-4-89396-970-5

Embroidery Patchwork Quilt

My new Japanese craft book/magazine arrived yesterday!!!!!!!

OMG!!!! It is so beautiful!!!! I cannot wait to use some of the ideas!!! The isbn4-89396-918-8
I know you will ask, so there it is. I got it from megs_favorites from ebay. I have purchased many times from her and am real happy with prices and service.

I love this particular style and colors and so you will see lots of this. Something about the natural colors and detail is so fine. Then the added embroidery is nice.

You see what I mean!!! Oh, I shall lament my broken arm today while browsing such periodicals!! I purchased two more favorites which I will show later in the week.......oh, its already Thursday----well, in the next few days!!!

Be safe til then!

Cat's Got My Tongue......or the presser foot is giving me trouble.......

Don't we have funny sayings? Where did "cat's got my tongue" come from anyway? *shrug* I realize after doing these little clutch thingy's that I am just a wanna-be quilter-sewer-person......lol. I don't care about following rules when it comes to art and it gets me in awful trouble........*shrug*

In the following picture, do you like the zipper showing or hidden?

Sew..........or, so, in my anxiousness to try the zipper another way, I forgot to embroider the second clutch-thingy.........lol.....

On the one without the embroidery, I quilted the roof with white thread, and the one that I embroidered, I quilted with green thread.  I have four more to make, so maybe by the sixth one I will look like I know what I am doing????????? Here is a close up:

And here is the book illustration to compare:

Even if I am a wanna-be, this beats doing what I am supposed to be doing..........*shrug*. What do you think of the little purse, now? Would it still be a good gift?

The Goose Is Getting Fat......

Christmas is coming......and I am thinking about what to give the teacher this year......At shows, I so often overhear teachers commenting about the gifts they get----and usually it goes something like this:
"If I get one more apple themed thing I am gonna throw up----" "If I get one more teacher picture...."  I know, I know, how thankful is that? But the truth is, the manufacturers just keep making the same old thing over and over.......
Here is what I am working on:



These are cute little zippered clutches I am making in hopes of offering something different this year. I raised five children so I am pretty aware of planning these things ahead.

Here is a picture of the book I am taking it from. I am not a true quilter---I am a wanna-be, so, the Japanese style perfection eludes me. LOL. I am not even going to force myself to become a perfectionist, I have too many other things to worry about......I will return with some finished pictures.

Cozy Up for Tea.......and Moda Layer Cakes

I work with so many mediums, and I sometimes get paralyzed with which direction to go--so many projects, so little time. Often at shows, a patron will ask me if I fear running out of ideas, to which I always answer, "No, I run out of time before ideas....", and I bet you can identify with that!

What to do with those yummy layer cakes that you have been purchasing and storing for a rainy day? I found a project that works perfectly! From this Japanese Craft Book:

Here, I have shown you my completed Christmas Tea Cozy. I need to work on the photography part and that is why I included the picture from the book, it's presentation is so much nicer......lol.

The pattern pieces are included in the book at scale, so it's just a matter of copying them and choosing your fabric. I used fabric that I didn't mind if the project failed. I have stacks of Moda layer cakes because I belong to a  Layer cake club  in Fat Quarter Shop , one of my favorite places to purchase fabric.

I am hoping to make a much cuter one, but this was my trial run. I am happy with what it is, but not necessarily with the fabrics I chose......Here I have put in a door and windows.

Here I have quilted the sides with warm and gentle batting, and then lined each on individually. Now, you hand stitch them together with a blind stitch.

I used co-ordinating fabrics from the same Layer Cake.

Here I am pinning the sides together to hand stitch them closed.

Here it is stitched together before I put the binding on the bottom. I did not use bias cuts----I just used strips that I machine stitched inside and then rolled over and hand blind stitched outside.

The ISBN for this book is: ISBN4-8347-6442-7 and I got it from Pomadour Craft Cafe on ebay, or her etsy site Pomadour24. Tell her that Shebrews sent you. Thanks.

This, my latest distraction. I have made some fabric transfers that I am eager to make into something and so, watch for those next.......I am going to work on them today.