Happy Find

wonder bowl

After reading Meg's post here and here, I quickly took her que and created a wonder bowl (sorry... I didn't have a basket) for Lala. What a wonderful surprise for her!

There was a big spoon, chenille yarn, a fabric swatch, rice pillow and a baby food jar.

It was very interesting to watch her. She sat quietly... very curious at what was in the bowl. Her favorite item? The spoon. Straight to the mouth.

To watch her facial expressions and her hand coordination was just amazing to me. After the spoon, she pulled and petted the yarn, tasted the jar, chucked the brush and dumped out the rice pillow and fabric. And what do you think she did with the empty bowl? Wore it as a hat of course!

This was a great exercise and I intend to do this with her as often as possible. I'm also going to check out the book, How To Raise An Amazing Child The Montessori Way, that Meg recommended.

Yup, my interest has definitely been peaked and I want to learn more about Montessori learning. I'll let you know what I find out...

In the meantime, we're off to our annual pumpkin hunt this weekend. I'm sooo excited! Any plans in your neck of the woods?

***

Have a wonderful weekend!

more summer reading

Hey there, friend!

I am absolutely giddy over my new craft books I bought the other day.

So many fabulous things to make for my girls!

Isn't it just lovely?

It's lily's turn for a lovely dress and I know the perfect fabric and trim for it! 

Look at these adorable capelets! A definite MUST make.

 :::

And how about baby? Yes! Yes!

 I got my eye set on this one.

Look at the little bums... teehee!

And of course, baby must have a capelet of her own!

    :::   

  New books... more projects...

I. AM. HAPPY.

:::

Take care my sweets!

:::

{{smile}}

 
    

my kind of reading

Hello there.

 

Now this is my kind of reading.

Another Japanese craft book to add to my collection... 

I absolutely love this blouse. Perhaps another maternity top?

Yes. Yes indeed...

I can imagine this dress in Japanese double Gauze fabric.

Just yummy...

My-oh-my...

Sooooo french, no? It broke my heart to find out there is no pattern for the coat.

Oh dear... I must try and make a pattern then.

:::

Ahhh... a good book. A must have book, I say. You can get it over here. 

Enjoy the day my friends!  

{{smile}}

sesame (spring 2010)

Hello again!

 

Woohoo! 

I'm so excited to have the spring issue of Sesame Magazine.

It's a children's magazine filled with fun and imagination.

I'm sure I have said it before, but I just LOVE children's clothing. There's no rules... no boundaries...

just happiness and whimsy.

Page after page, screaming out to you,

"C'mon... let's play!"

Can you imagine if adults dressed this way?

{{sigh}} To be carefree...

Ahhh, my creative soul is rejuvenated and I'm off to create another beautiful day!

{{smile}}

     

 

I Love to Make Now Dress and Tunic, Japanese Craft Book

 

Over the weekend I purchased this lovely Japanese craft book, I Love to Make Now Dress and Tunic (I love the interpretation). Another book chalk full of simple, clean designs. 

Take a gander at all the loveliness inside...

The one thing that draws me to Japanese craft books, is the simplicity and clean lines. The occasional trends are cute and quite hip, no doubt, but it's the classic styles that stay true to my heart.

Ah! I love this top. Simple, ay? I have plans for this design...

Look at this pattern. A simple wrap dress... or how about a spring robe to lounge about in?

Love-love-love. 

My heart swoons over this one. A light sheer fabric that drapes your body with a little camisole underneath. Perfect for the warmer days ahead.

Such a yummy book. You can get it here, along with many other books you can peek at. One of my many favorite places to go.

***

BUT, before I go...

Here's what we're going to make tomorrow! Come and join me , won't you? I'd love to see you again!

***

Happy Monday!

{{smile}} 

     

 

ultra kawaii bag

 

Bought a new book over the weekend and fell in love.

 So many simple and easy designs, where do I begin?! Let's start with this one.

How darling is this?! I can so see this as a towel bag for the pool or beach. Imagine using mesh fabric? 

Aaack! I LOVE it!!!

And when not in use, fold it and stow it away!

The instructions are fairly easy to follow. Even if you don't read Japanese, you can get by.   

So let's get sewin'...

***

I'm using a pillowcase and some extra scrap fabric for this bag.

You want to cut a square piece of fabric for both the outside and inside of your bag. You can make any size of bag you fancy, but for this one, I will cut a 20" x 20" piece. 

Cut two pieces (outside and lining). 

Take one of the pieces (doesn't matter which one) and fold in half like so.

Stitch the sides 6 1/2" from the fold of fabric.

Now take one side of the opening and bring the two corners together.

It should like this. Pin together and do the other side as well.

Then you will stitch 6 1/2" from the fold on both sides. 
So now, your piece should look this is. All four sides are sewn 6 1/2", leaving 3 1/2" for the opening.

Repeat this process for the other piece of fabric.

Here are the two pieces.

Next, you will need to iron all the seam allowances flat.

First, trim all your corners.

Next, open the seams and iron.

  Your seams should be open and ironed flat like so and your corners clean.

 

When making clean corners: 

First, fold the corner over. 

Second, follow the seam line on one side and fold over. 

Third, repeat the second step for the other side.

Fourth, your corners should look like this.

***

Again, repeat these steps for the other piece of fabric.

When you are finished ironing the seams and cleaning up your corners, take your "outside" fabric and turn it right side out.

Insert your liner. Match all the corners.

Pin the outside and the lining opening together.

Topstitch as close to edge as possible, all the way around the opening.

The body of the bag is done! Set aside and let's work on the straps.

Keep in mind what type or straps you are planning to use for your bag. If you plan to carry heavier items, have thicker straps.

For this bag, I'm using denim trim.

I cut my straps to 23 1/2" in length. It's a perfect length and it gives me enough for the seam allowance at the ends.

Take one end and fold in 1/2". 

Bring the strap as close to the edge of the corner of the bag as possible.

Pin.

Repeat with the other end of the strap.

Sew. 

I sewn along the edge, creating a rectangular shape for reinforcement. 

Repeat process for the other strap.

I added buttons to hide the stitching. Plus, it makes the purse look pretty!

And there you have an ultra kawaii bag!

Cute for the beach, lounging poolside, or even a quick trip to the market. For whatever the occasion or purpose, this purse is just too darn cute!

***

Happy sewing! 

          
     

 
  
          

 

fabric flowers

A while back I wanted to learn how to make fabric flowers. Did some research and found a few tutorials that were helpful, but the one tutorial I really liked was actually from a book. Not just any book and certainly not an english written book either! It was from a Japanese craft book (surprised?) In case you haven't noticed, I love Japanese craft books. I can't read a darn lick of Japanese, but the pictures are more than enough for me to get by!

 

Here is the book. The book's main focus are bags (which, BTW, are just beautiful),  but towards the back is what caught my attention...

 

Flowers! Oh happy me! 

Let's get started...

***

 

Supplies:

-fabric (for this type of flower, pick 2 different fabrics)

-heavy crafting fusible interfacing (it's almost like paper)

-thread

-felt (just a small piece for the back)

-either a hair tie or brooch pin (depending on what you want)

-a flower pattern

-sewing machine (you could hand stitch)

 

First thing you want to do is create a flower pattern. Flowers generally have many "levels" of petals that vary in size. I suggest you do the same. 

 

We'll do an easy one today. This one has two sizes and is reminiscent of an orchid.

*When you are creating a pattern, you can use newspaper or even printer paper.*

 

Got scraps? I do. This is perfect for the project...

 

dig-dig-dig...

 

Once you got your fabric, place your pattern over the piece and trim around it, like so.

 

You are going to place that cut piece (right side up) on top of your fusible interfacing. The back side of your fabric should be touching the adhesive side of the interfacing.

  

Trim the interfacing the same size of the fabric. 

 

Do the same for the other petal(s).

 

Follow the instructions that comes with the interfacing to adhere the pieces together.

 

Once you have adhered the fabric to the interfacing, place that fabric on top of another fabric (it could be the same fabric or something different, depending on the look you desire). Have the back sides together, place the pattern on top, pin it down and cut.

Do the same for the other petals.

 

You should have two of each pattern.

 

Take one set and place them (back sides) together, like so.

 

Stitch along the edge. Depending on how big or small your flowers are, you want to set your sewing machine to the right size stitch. I use a small stitch. Slowly stitch around the edge and you want to go around about three times.

 

It should look like this. I could make my stitches perfect and evenly spaced, but I don't want to kill myself...

 

Take one petal and fold it in half. You will then stitch about 1/4 - 1/2" along the edge from the center of the flower, out. Repeat this on every petal.

 

 

Once you are done, your back side should like this...

 

and your front side should like this. Repeat this process with the other petals.

 

Once all of your petals are stitched, place them in order.

 

Attach your buttons (this will also attach all the petals together).

 

I'm using three buttons.

 

Now choose your weapon... hair tie? Brooch?

 

If you are making a brooch, cut a small piece of felt that will fit over the base of the brooch pin. Set the felt aside.

 

Take your brooch pin and strategically place it in the back side of your flower. Stitch it in place.

 

Take your felt piece and lay it over the base and stitch in place.

 

Using a hair tie?

 

Easy! Just stitch the tie in place in the back side.

 

For a barrette, cut a small rectangular shape felt (big enough for a barrette to fit) and stitch along the sides.

 

Just slide your barrette through.

DONE!

 

And there you have it! A lovely brooch... or a barrette... or a hair tie... or an accent to a pillow... oh the possibilities are endless!!!

Happy crafting!

sesame

Sesame Street? No. Not quite. But it does deal with children. 

 

It's a magazine geared towards children fashion. It's a "Mini Me" Vogue! Chalked full of creativity and inspiration. I LOVE children's fashion... there's no boundaries. No rules. Just playfulness and joy.

Here. Take a look...

 

Soooo sweet...

 

 

Okay, see what I mean about no boundaries? C'mon! Why can't kids here dress like that?! Okay, maybe this picture is reminiscent of Punky Brewster, but check out the suspenders! I think I that's stinkin' cool! 

 

Page after page of coolness...

 

Oh my God... these kids are more fashion forward in their pinky toe than I do in my whole freakin' body.

 

The girl in center with the big flower brooch is my favorite. If I could, I would so dress like that!

 

 

Some uber cool accessories...

 

 One of these days, I'll muster up the courage to sew coats for my girls.

 

Isn't it just ridiculously cute?! I got the magazine at one of my local haunts, Mitsuwa, a Japanese market in San Diego. Which BTW, has a restaurant inside that serves THE best ramen in town! 

Fun magazine. I just had to share with you...