Catching up

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've had good intentions of doing so, but time just seems to disappear on me. In lieu of a real post today, I'm going to leave you some photos of what life's looked like lately....

Ready to Take Flight

Only two more sleeps until I leave for Australia! I'm so excited! Japan is a wonderful place to live but it's also a great place to escape from at times. I hated this last winter and so got terribly homesick. In just a few days, I'll be surrounded in English, seeing friends and family and eating so many foods that I miss.

In the last few years, I've been racking up quite a few frequent flyer points and have my whole travel thing down pat. I usually fly through Singapore, so I have my favourite private lounge to check into, I know where I like to eat, where I like to shop, the best place for a shower and where to watch free movies. I have my noise reduction headphones for the plane. What I didn't have was a good travel documents folder I was pleased with. I bought hubby a really nice leather one the Christmas before we came here, so have been stealing that whenever I travel alone.

Now, I have my own! Thank you so much to Buttnaked Baby for her free travel documents holder tutorial. It has really clear pictures and was very easy to follow.

The inside of the holder. I've used a new quilting fabric for the inside. Don't you just love the cranes! Oh, and see the new Kimono Reincarnate label - they arrived about a week ago and this is the first one I've used.

There were a few challenges for me in sewing this one. First, it required the sewing of a zipper. I have a great fear of zips (the sewing of them that is). I haven't sewn one in for about 20 years. I've avoided any project that called for one. After lots of googling, and Youtube tutorial watching, I jumped in a loved it! I don't know what I was afraid of. I even did a little I've-successfully-sewn-a-zipper victory dance. I ran out and showed my husband (the zip, not the dance). He had this look of Mmmm-I'm-not-sure-why-she's-excited-but-she-is-so-I'd-better-seem-excited-too but still.

The next was binding. I love any excuse to buy a new tool, so I raced out and bought one of those binding making tools. Oh so much fun! I love making binding! I hate sewing with it though. Not really knowing what I was doing and thought I was being clever, I made bias binding. What I didn't realise is that sewing on straight edges, I would not really need it to be cut on the bias and it turned out to be more of a hindrance. My edges on the inside of the folder are a bit wobbly as a result. My first attempt at the binding on the outside edge was a complete disaster, so after a un-pick, lots more Youtube tutorial watching, new binding (this time cut on the straight) it was finished. It is actually straighter than it looks in this photo.

The outside cover opened up. I've used some vintage kimono obi fabric and continued with the crane theme.

I made a few changes to the original design. Firstly, one thing that always annoys me is dealing with different purses for different currencies while I'm in transit. During my trip to Australia and back to Japan, I use three currencies as I always stop at Singapore. On my trip last summer to Vietnam, I used four currencies in one day! My head was swimming with coversions and trying to get my head around all the zeros. At the airport, they often need to see your boarding pass as well when shopping. So, I added two extra purses . The top two are only sewn into the bottom. The front one is held in place at the sides by two fabric covered buttons and some elastic loops. The second one, by a piece of elastic going across the folder. I've offset them slightly (downwards) so that there isn't a big zipper bulk.

I also inserted a couple of pieces of template plastic under the cover to give the folder a nice hardish cover.

The front cover closed.

And now once I've packed and done a million other things, I'm ready to fly!

One Done, One WIP and What I'm Unpicking

Again... shouldn't be blogging... should be setting out dinner and packing for our trip that we leave on early tomorrow morning. Notice though that I didn't say "should be cooking dinner..", you see, I don't cook. My husband does. But today, I bought a lovely selection of sushi, salads and chicken for dinner, so I should be setting that out.

I have finally been busy with the sewing machine and finished one and a half bags.

This one is for my sister Rachael. I made her this one (second picture down) for her birthday earlier in the year. She immediately told me she wanted another one for Christmas. Her colour choices were black, red or gold, so I'm hoping she'll like my fabric choice.

This one is still a work in progress. It has to be lined and finished yet, but I'm pleased with its shell. This is for my sister-in-law. My brother hinted that she was hoping for one. She often dresses in, and looks fabulous in olive greens, so I chose this fabric. Often, obi are backed with a plain fabric, but this one wasn't so I have still used the original backing for its, well, back, and handles. I had fun trying to place the design so the wing worked into the flower on the other side.

And this, is what I'm unpicking today. I love the texture of this old silk and the striking colour combination.

I've been obsessively going through kimono magazines of late, really trying to study the partnering of colours that the Japanese use. Talking of colours, I recently stumbled upon a blog that I adore, kris’s color stripes, I love her talent in breaking the world around her into colour. She has such an amazing eye!

Well, that's all from me now until after I get back from our short trip at the base of the Japanese Alps. While of course I'm looking forward to getting there, I'm also looking forward to the train ride up with just my husband, my notebook and sketchbook.

Wishing everyone (who celebrates it of course) a very Merry Christmas!

Back to the machine

Ahh! It's been a long time! Life of late has been hectic, but sadly not with many creative pursuits. At school I've been busy writing and recording , outside of work I've been to a few festivals, a funeral, have been doing a lot of business planning and have been madly trying to nut out plans for next year.

Trying to decide can which country to live in can be a real roller coaster ride! A few months ago, because of staff problems in my card business, ki creations, we decided to return to Australia earlier than planned and go at the end of our current contracts, March 2008. We were happy with that decision and looking forward to having more space and hopefully a new family not too long afterwards. Not that long ago I did the budget for the relocation, and boy, it wasn't pretty! We then decided to stay on and both work here for one more year and put off baby plans. Now, we're not so sure.

All this backing-and-forthing, pros-and-conning, is quite mentally draining and I must say, time consuming. We hopefully have a couple of months before we need to decide for sure, so I'll keep you up to date with what where we decide to live.

So, finally, I've been able to get back to my sewing machine and about time! I've had three orders for bags come in so far, so that will be my plans for the weekend. My husband has to work tonight and on Saturday, so it will be nice being able to sew without him getting in the way. The pictures are of fabrics that I hope to sew into bags in the near future.

Another decision I've been trying to make is a web-based one. My website. I haven't had a website up for ki creations for a long while and would also like one for Kimono Reincarnate. I have a web designer on hand, but don't feel I can justify the expense until I have some stock to sell.

In the meantime, I'm setting up my mailing list, the sign-up should appear on this blog soon. With the initial sign-up, I'll be offering a chance to win a bag and then from time to time, I'll have different competitions and discounts on offer.

I've also just ordered a few new patterns from the fabulous Nikki over at Nicole Mallelieu Design. I'm very excited and can't wait to play with them. I have some gorgeous kimono fabrics stored and need a new outlet for them.

Dilemma

I have a dilemma. I admit, it's not a terrible dilemma and I know it's one that some would wish they were in... but I don't know which fabric to play with next. My collection of obis continues to grow and I find making the decision of what to transform them into a hard one. For the past few days I've been looking at them, touching them, sorting them, even cutting a few, but I haven't been able to commit.

I did though, finally get around to making a bag for myself. I was meeting a friend for lunch on Saturday and decided that a new bag would fit the occasion. Being in a country of super skinny women, and hence super skinny women's clothes that my frame never has a hope in hell in fitting into, I can't just buy a new outfit - so a new bag is just as good.

I dropped by the craft shop on the way home to buy some more magnetic clips for more bags (once I get over my dilemma that is) and they ooohhhed and ahhhhed over my bag. I was so proud.

I do plan to make a tote in the next couple of days for an older Japanese friend and I think she'd love the red fabric in the front. I want to also make one for my super funky designer cousin and I'm thinking maybe the one with the origami cranes. But then.. I want to make my first one to sell. I'm not sure what people will like... any thoughts anyone???

I've also been playing with the linings of my bags. I'd love to line them with something that is just as fabulous as the outside, but strangely enough am a little scared. This is all new territory for me. I'm also trying to perfect my pockets. They seem like such a simple thing, yet.... I even managed to burn myself with the iron making a pocket on Saturday. Hints anyone?

Oh and I wanted to show off my pincushion. I just love my pincushion. Is that silly? I picked it up at a market recently. The top is made from vintage kimono fabric and the base is an old sake cup. Such a simple idea that works so well. I'd like to play with a few myself and happen to have a growing collection of sake cups around the house. It sits on the little desk that my laptop shares with my sewing machine and reminds me to play.

Obi bags by......... ME!!

Obi Tote Bag by Melanie Gray-Augustin of Kimono Reincarnate

As I said in my last post, I finally got around to playing with my own stash of Japanese textiles. My very first bag was a tote. While the tote seemed a little casual for this stunning fabric, I think it does allow a lot more of the design to be seen. I made this one for a Japanese friend's birthday. I hope she'll like it.

My second attempt, which isn't totally finished yet, was a smaller, more elegant handbag for my sister's birthday. Again, I hope she will like hers too!

I found the wooded handles and just loved them! I want to keep some black fabric showing between the bag and the handle, but at the moment I'm having trouble getting the machine in close enough to sew the hem for that facing. I'm just using a standard foot on the machine. I went to the craft shop to ask for some advice and I think there may be another foot, but they didn't seem totally convinced, plus the language barrier was a bit of a problem. Does anyone have any advice? At the moment I'm finding I'm having to hand sew it.

For both, I used a bag pattern from Nicole Mallalieu as a base to work from. Thanks Nicole your instructions were very clear and easy to understand!

I found that obi's lend themselves really well to making bags. On both bags the front and back are made from the obi fabric. On the tote, the handles have been made from the obi as well. I'm thinking, that if the interest is there, we might start cutting some obi pieces so that they are almost ready-to-go pieces for different bags. Drop me a line in the comments section if you are interested and any colour preferences you have.

Next I'm going to work on a couple of satchels. I personally love satchels. I'm going to do one for another friend's birthday (so many birthdays in May!) and I've promised my husband I'd make him one. I found a really funky black obi with red dragons on it. He's a huge dragon fan and like me, loves red and black, so it's perfect.

I'm thinking of playing around and getting the hang of these for a while. I think a number of people might be getting some in different fabrics for birthday or Christmas presents this year. Hehehe... if you're hoping to score one, let me know colour and style preferences.

Then, I'm planning to make a range to sell.

I'd love some feedback from people... what do you think of them??

Obi Handbag by Melanie Gray-Augustin of Kimono Reincarnate