Purple Kappa

ISBN 4579110609

I've been finishing up a lot of projects which is great, but what I'm really doing is procrastinating on a project I've been wanting to start for a while. This is sitting in my sewing room

3 yards of linen and a new book, Homspun ISBN 4579110609.

I first spotted the book at Berlin's Whimsy and then after seeing  this dress from the book made by Sara at The Small Object I really wanted to make one for myself. (click on the image to see the one she made)

But as I'm several sizes larger than the book patterns I need to make a muslin. Well, not really a muslin since I'm using some fabric I'll never use for anything else. Still, it's going very slowly. I've never done this before--adjusted a pattern. And it needs to fit properly, even it it is a loose-fitting dress. Kids clothes are easy, if they are too big you can roll them up, or push up the sleeves, or take in a tuck and it still looks fine. I'm just very hesitant to start cutting into the linen, I don't want to screw it up. So I keep starting on other things, so it seems as though I'm busy but eventually I need to take the plunge.

There are a variety of projects in the books, some with simple, classic lines that I would like to make for myself along with the dress.

Others are a bit--unusual. Such as these "window shirts"

and this doll. Folksy or just a little creepy?

Preparing for Your Baby

I found this book at the main branch of our library by doing searches on Japanese words--in this case it was "fuku". which means "clothing". The book came from the stacks, which is why I never saw it when I'd browse the Japanese language books. It's from 1981 and the ISBN is 9784829200803 but it appears to be out of print. The clothing is a bit dated, but there are some basic things, especially in the baby wardrobe, that would be easy to adapt.

The title in Japanese is Akachan O Mukaeru Junbi 3 Sai Made No Fuku Kisekata Tsukurikata which I believe translates to something about Preparing For Your Baby Until 3 Years Old. The book appears to include instructions for diapering, swaddling and includes a pattern for a sling

There are instructions for both sewing and knitting clothing

as well as altering clothing, such as using an adult shirt to make a child's smock

It's really a charming book--I wish it will still in print and I think I will be making good use of our library's online renewal function.

Girly Style Wardrobe

Fans of Girly Style Wardrobe may be interested in this book by the same authors

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I don't own this book yet, but saw it on the Japan Couture Addicts weblog. It's ISBN 4579111818 and available on Amazon Japan but not yet on Yesasia.

I was not as big a fan of Girly Style as others seemed to be, but this one is quite appealing

More pictures can be found here

Savor the Package Delight Part 2

I also bought the new Spring Cotton Friend from Saucy Louise. Great customer service and since she's on a military base, she has the advantage of being able to ship things to the US using US shipping rates. I've bought copies of Cotton and Paint and Cotton Time in the past and I think I like this one the best because of the focus on clothing

I wanted to be able to look through this slowly, so I waited until I had lunch for the girls, then sat down to enjoy my new magazine.

Beautiful room shoes! I love the little flowers. I need to make a pair of these, I think

I like this tunic and the one above it, but I'm not too sure how they would look on barely 5 feet tall and size 14ish. I fear that there would be queries as to whether Ivy was going to become a big sister.

This dress is similar to one in the Winter issue that didn't include a pattern so I'm glad to see it here

Antique sewing boxes. There are also instructions for making your own little sewing box.

I'm getting to the point where I have so many ideas for projects I don't know where to start. And not only that, I keep thinking of ways to improve the projects I have in my head. I was going to make a wrap dress of linen with a handkerchief skirt, then I thought no, a swingy, breezy sleeveless dress, but maybe make the bodice of this old-fashioned floral print, and then maybe an underskirt of white muslin, but should I add lace to the underskirt and now it sounds so pretty maybe I should just make a dress for Ivy for Easter--and can you see why I am having trouble getting started? Plus I have no less than five different projects half-finished--I think it's time for some lists.

New Books!

It's almost embarrassing, the special thrill I get when my package from Yesasia. It's really like getting a present, because even though I've usually seen a few pictures from the books I've ordered, there still is a lot that's going to be a surprise. Savoring the first time I look through a book is a treat.

ISBN 9784834724219

I've seen this one on numerous blogs and resisted ordering it because aren't the embroidery books I already own adequate? No, they aren't. This one is lovely.

ISBN 9784579109968

Another one I've seen all over blogland. It has clothing for both boys and girls--useful, most of my pattern books are for girls--probably because I only have daughters, but I've had customers ask about boy clothing.  The sizes are infants to age 3.

ISBN 4418061371

I'm not quite sure if I like this one yet, it has some beautiful clothing but the patterns are similar to some of the other books I have

It has a few outfits for boys but I think it would take a young man with a unique sort of style to pull them off

ISBN 9784834764659

This was one I tossed on the order to bring my total up to 50.00 so I could qualify for the 5.00 coupon towards my next order. It's really cute, and was only around 5.00. Lots of little bags for carrying lunches and school supplies, along with a few aprons

Cotton Time and Cotton Friend

What a nice, sweet birthday. Full of lots of hugs from my family, a beautiful dragonfly pin, and a walk with the girls to a local coffee shop. The weather is amazing for January--gray and rainy, but probably about 70 degrees. We were out in just t-shirts (and pants).

I couldn't get a very good picture of the pin, it's a silver dragonfly with pink sparklies

Here are some scans from the new magazines. These first five are from Cotton Time, January 2008 issue

Wonderful rooms, bright and airy and filled with lovely things.

The issue included a calendar, each month there is a new craft to make.

This is the Cotton Friend, winter 2007

I adore the gray dress, unfortunately the magazine doesn't include a pattern but I think I can adapt one I already have. I'd make it for Ivy, but I don't think it will be "spinny" enough so it will have to be for the shop. So many wonderful clothing patterns in this book, I want to stop what I'm working on and start on these.

Fabulous sewing area.

Miranda asked to make banana bread and when I said yes I was proclaimed "the best mom ever", so I'm off to uphold my image.

Candyland

Last week I took the girls out to a local park where they've created a giant Candyland Game in the Nature Center

Again with the goofy faces. The flash induced demon eyes really adds to the affect.

I can't remember if I posted a link to this website before, add since I'm so poor at remembering to add tags or categories to my posts, I can't look it up. So here it is again

Japan Couture Addicts

It's in French, but has loads of great pictures as well as a library along the side of the blog. The ISBN numbers aren't included like they are at Crafting Japanese but the titles are translated into romaji, which should help in looking them up. While perusing through the library,  it appears that the little doll pictured on the cover of this book (ISBN 4529044378)

is featured in this instruction book (ISBN 4834756211)

I own the first one and was a little disappointed it didn't include instructions for the doll so it was a pleasant surprise to find the second book.

New Books!

More new books from Yesasia. While it can be a bit frustrating having to wait so long for my books, there is a certain part of the anticipation I enjoy. When this package arrived on Friday I let it sit around for a bit while I finished the vacuuming and did some laundry so I could really sit down and enjoy looking through them. It was worth it!

ISBN 9784391621273 the title refers to Mother making things for commuting to school.

naptime set with little bear appliques

Bags for carrying a keyboard and a recorder--most Japanese children learn to play these instruments as part of music class. Puff the Magic Dragon is one of the songs they learn to play on the piano--when Mitsuna visited us she recognized it when we were listening to a cassette of Peter, Paul and Mary songs

Bento set. I need a new bento belt for Ivy's Totoro box, this one is really cute.

ISBN 9784391624205

zodiac animal finger puppets

ISBN 9784277563109

Needled felted animals

I have a job! I will working as house manager at Cleveland Public Theater. I'm pretty excited about it, it's exactly what I was looking for schedule-wise and I think I am really going to enjoy working at this theater. I'm a bit anxious as well--it occurs to me that a major portion of this job involves actually talking and interacting with people. Plus there is just the whole not-having-working-a-job-in-ten-years thing. I know it will be fine, but just having a slightest bit of worry. But mostly excitement--thank you so much, Mindy, I really appreciate everything you did.

My books from Yesasia arrived today, hurrah. I never can figure out why the package travels from California to Pennsylvania and then back to Ohio. For whatever reason, the books are here now.

ISBN 9784579111473

This one is my favorite. I almost didn't order it because I figured I had enough basic patterns, but there are just lovely things in this book

ISBN 4277722407

I really like this one as well, particularly the dress on the cover

ISBN 9784529044370

This one I am not too sure of. There are some nice pieces but I have a feeling I may end up selling this.

ISBN 4047135275

I bought this as well, since apparently I feel that if I buy enough Japanese books, I will somehow absorb the knowledge it takes to actually read them. This book is also published in English as The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service. It is about five Buddhist University students who use their talents to help those who have died--sometimes their souls can't move on without help. Each chapter deals with the discovery of a dead body and the five needing to figure out what they need to do to assist the corpse's soul. It's a bit gruesome--I'm not sure I would have bought this if I had a chance to look through it first, I'm a big baby about that kind of thing. But it might be pretty good so I'll give it a try.

And August has ended, I can buy fabric again!