Purple Kappa

Story Quilt

I've seen the book Story Quilt showing the work of Yukari Takahara on several blogs and while it's truly a lovely book, it seemed a little indulgent for something I'd be buying primarily for the pictures. But I was finally won over and my copy arrived today

ISBN 9784391133318

The book is organized by seasons. Yukari Takahara creates wonderfully detailed quilts that depict scenes such as a village, a busy post office and a school picnic.

I think this sort of applique would look lovely on the front of a simple linen jumper, or along the hemline of a skirt.

The back of the book includes templates and instructions on technique.

There are also pictures of her house and garden (I'm guessing, still trying to translate the Japanese text)

I think this is her picture book library, which is open to the public at certain times according to her website.

She has a website and a blog where you can see more examples of her amazing work. It's in Japanese, but it's pretty easy to navigate, just click around and enjoy.

Cotton Time March 2009

New magazine from Chictex on Etsy.

Linen easter egg decorations.

A little too much patchwork, but I guess maybe it's just showcasing the technique.

Hippo pouch. This is the second hippo craft I've seen in this magazine, wonder if they are going to be as ubiquitous as hedgehogs.

Little kindergarten smocks. I using different fabrics for the sleeves.

Diaper cakes have apparently reached Japan. These are apparently a baby shower phenomena.

The Modern Singer Way

Brian was sorting through some boxes in his office and found this:

How to Make Children's Clothes The Modern Singer Way by Mary Brooks Picken 1931

I vaguely remember picking this up at a garage sale years ago, when I had just started sewing clothes for Miranda. I'd forgotten all about it, but had actually read about it online so it was a pleasant surprise to be reminded that I owned a copy of my own!

This is a booklet of tips and techniques, no actual patterns although there are pictures of the clothing, exactly the era I am trying to emulate with the clothing I make

Stuffed

Wednesday's are now Toy-Making Day. I was getting overwhelmed by the barrage of stuffed toy requests from the girls. On the one hand, I want to encourage them to appreciate the value of a handmade toy, I do love that they come to me with the requests. But sometimes I just can't do it right away, I have other things I'm working on. Or I'm just not in the mood. So this way I have a day set aside where I will try not work on my own projects and dedicate time to them--because I do want them to remember how they could come to me and say "can you please make me a night elf toy" and I'd would, not that I was always busy working on other things and saying "maybe later" but never actually doing it.

I'm not quite sure what these guys are meant to be, they were created at the direction of Ivy and Miranda. They are two-headed wolves from World of Warcraft, I know that much. I made them from a blue-gray cotton/linen fabric. I thought of using something fuzzier, but the girls were fine with this and since I have tons of this stuff it worked out well. The ears, claws and teeth are wool felt.

The standing wolf was influenced heavily by the new magazine Stuffed. I got my copy at Border's Bookstore, I've also seen it at Joann's. It's a great magazine, full of interesting techniques and inspiration.

Cotton Time January 2009 and Cotton Friend Winter 2008

My birthday present to myself arrived a few days ago from Superbuzzy

Crocheted borders. Aren't these incredible? Trying to think of a way to incorporate them into garments.

The usual beautifully furnished rooms.

Mama hippo and baby

A calendar with monthly projects was included with the magazine.

Little jacket and beret

Remaking a blazer into a jacket. There are no instructions on how to actually do this, just photos of the details, but I don't think it would be that hard to figure out.

Re-making a woman's dress into one for a child

A blouse into a camisole--I think this might work for making a children's dress as well.

Party hat.

Edith Flack Ackley

I bought a copy of How to Make Dolls for Fun and Profit for a great price from Vanessadell69. It's pretty beat up (as described) but I wanted it for the patterns and those are just fine

I remember this book in the library when I was a kid, but it didn't really appeal to me back then--I think maybe the dolls were too simple? Which is exactly what I like about it now. It's just a cookie cutter pattern--head, body and limbs are all one piece, but somehow the way you stuff it gives it a nice shape

The dolls proved to be popular enough that Edith Flackley was able to start a career with them. I especially love this excerpt from the book

The book was published in 1938 so I realize that two to five dollars was decent money for making dolls, but still!

There are patterns for a variety of dolls

as well as all their clothes

The seller described the book as having writing on the pages, which didn't bother me but when I received the book, I was rather delighted to find out the writing was all sorts of notes jotted down by the previous owner--ranging from Christmas decorating to tips on household cleaning.

The dolls continue to be popular, there are a variety of online sources showing vintage dolls people have collected, as well as new ones made from the original patterns. My plan is to make one for Ivy for Christmas, to look like the doll in one of her favorite books, The Story of Holly and Ivy. Which I need to get started on, how many days until Christmas?!

Cotton Friend Autumn 2008

New issue of Cotton Friend, from Superbuzzy

Sample of fabric included with the magazine

Sweet necklace made from twisted bits of roving

Nightgown with bloomers set

The bracelet near the bottom of the photograph has a leather tag with English text that reads When a cool material & a crafter crossed, will be impressed. We are happy when such a scene can be produced

Along with the usual assortment of handbags, linen wraps and jewelry. I keep saying I'm not going to buy these magazines anymore, they all start to look the same and then the new issue comes out and I'm so excited thinking about all the lovely things that might be inside. I guess I'll see what happens when the winter issue is available.

Ida Lum Dolls

I've had this book for a while, picked it up at a library sale back in my bookdealer days. I remembered reading it in high school so decided to hang on to rather than sell it (and it wasn't worth that much anyway)

Dollmaker's Workshop by Vera P. Guild copyright 1981. The dolls are quite 1970's/1980's, a style that doesn't really appeal to me--especially the culturally incorrect Appalachian Mountain Couple-- but there were some basic doll types that seemed as though they could be useful. There's a section on international dolls that includes this Chinese man (he can also be seen in the scan of the cover, sitting in front of the suitcase)

I picked up some similar dolls at a flea market last month, I had blogged about them and posted a picture--they appear to be known as Ida Lum dolls. I still can find very little about these sort of dolls, only what dealers have written about them in their descriptions of dolls for sale. Pretty much all I know is they were produced in Hong Kong during the 1950's. Anyone know anything else about them?

Cotton Friend and Linen on Sale

Pretty snappy title, huh? I was reading advise on getting new readers to your blog, and one suggestion was interesting titles. I think this is probably the best I'm going to do.

I've been keeping an eye on Superbuzzy for the summer edition of Cotton Friend and this morning my geeky Japanese craft book loving heart actually gave a small jump to see it's in stock.
Summer 2008 Cotton Friend
She also has the new Cotton Time and I struggled a bit over which to order. Cotton Friend seems to focus a bit more on clothing though.

Joann Fabrics has linen on sale for 60% off starting today until June 14th. I bought a bunch when it was 50% off, but I could always use more, especially at that price. I thought 50% was a bargain.

Yukata For Ivy

This is the yukata Ivy's wearing in the pictures from Children's Day at the Botanical Garden.

I used the pattern in ISBN 4579108272. The kimono in the book are actually elaborate kimono worn for Shichi Go San, but since all kimono are made from a basic series of rectangles that rely on the wearer's measurement's, it was fairly easy to adapt the pattern

A yukata is a more informal kimono, usually made of cotton and unlined. It's worn during warm weather and you often see them worn during the many festivals that occur during the summer months. I made Ivy's to close with simple sash that tied in a bow in the back. You can see some lovely examples yukata at this Flickr post

Despite being a fairly easy pattern, I made the yukata a little too wide and too short. It actually should be long enough to make a fold that falls just below the waist, you can see the fold in these photos. Also, when I was cutting it out, I cut two left sides initially. And since the front and back is one long piece with no shoulder seam, I had to buy another two yards of fabric. No problem, I though, I'll make a second one and sell it on the shop. And then I cut the second set of sleeves wrong. So the fabric has retired to the closet in disgrace. Maybe I can get a summer top or some pants out of it.