BrisStyle Exhibition

If you take a wander down to the Brisbane City Library at the moment you'll find a little more than books...

There are some very sweet frilly pants by Tutus and Muddy Shoes...

Some of Jetta's Nest's fabulous paintings...

A rosy cheeked doll and scrumptious doily patchwork pillow by Moose and Bird...

Another gorgeous doll (and another gorgeous piece by Jetta's Nest), chilling out by a Moose and Bird pear.

Some stunning stitchwork by Edward and Lilly...

And well... I couldn't resist showing you a couple of my pieces...

A kanzashi necklace/brooch by myself in good company with a beautiful richly coloured resin bracelet by Strat Designs...

And a Kimono Crane hanging out with (pardon the pun) a couple of adorable Made By Maisie dolls, one of which happens to be the sister to a doll my little one cherishes.

There's still lots more to see.

The BrisStyle Indie Designers Exhibition is running at the Brisbane Square Library on Level 2 through July and August.

And for more BrisStyle goodness, we're going Twilight again on Friday 30th July.

My Creative Space

Finishing off a custom ordered kimono crane that is to be a wedding gift.

For more creative spaces, Kootoyoo is the place to go.

Sneak Peek

There are a few changes happening these parts soon... still more tweaking to go, but it's all getting closer...

Samples that arrived this week...

The Weekend in Brief

It was a big market weekend last weekend.

BrisStyle's Eco market on Saturday had a great vibe, excitement about all the gorgeous, kind-to-the-earth pieces that were on offer.

Many kimonos and pieces of fabric found new loving homes.

This absolutely adorable owl, awake and wise on one side and sleepy on the other, by Nan's Garden, made it home with me. While I bought it for the little one, it's so lovely and squishy and its bamboo fleece is so super soft I keep stealing it from her for a cuddle.

I also came home with a stunning hand-felted scarf for myself from the delightful so very stylish Sandrine. Photo to come later when I'm feeling a little more photogenic...

Then bright and early on Sunday morning it was time for the Boutique Markets at Portside. Another great day, and this one I tried out a new stall layout. There's still a bit more tweaking to go, but I think it's getting there.

But mostly, it was a great weekend with loads of friendly people to chat to. Thanks to all that came by to say hi!

My Creative Space

The last couple of days have been about painting faces and dressing dolls.

Today I'll be putting their brooch backs on, ready for their first day out at the Eco Market on Saturday.

After I've been playing with them, I think I prefer the simplicity of the sleeveless ones, they are far more like actual kokeshi after all. I had a little bamboo left so have made a few little mother and daughter ones as well.

To have a peek into other creative spaces, head to Kootoyoo.

First Love

Do you remember that moment you first fell in love? I'm not talking about with a boy or girl, though the feeling is the same. I'm talking about the love of a particular medium or with the work of an artist or designer. Maybe it was the first time you heard a certain language or song or a new taste sensation. Whatever it was, do you remember how your heart just sang and at least a little part of you knew that your life was now changed forever?

I do.

For me it was a single piece of fabric. I was back in Japan on a holiday, having already lived there for my initial three years. A friend and I were wandering around an antique market when it caught my eye.

A very old, hand embroidered obi. It was worn and marked, but I loved it all the more for its flaws.

I did already own a few kimonos before this, all of which I thought were so beautiful, but the feeling for this pieces was different. I knew I was in love.

The rinzu silk fabric just shone, the silk embroidery thread were heavenly to the touch and the metallic thread used for the branches added a rugged texture to a piece so smooth.

I hadn't touched a sewing machine for years at this point but my mind was racing, thinking of what I could do with my treasure. None of those came to be, nothing ever seemed to justify the use of it. Instead, it's waiting to one day be framed.

When I did take the obi apart my heart sang again. Seeing the underside of the embroidery, all that necessary messiness hidden behind perfect stitching, I felt an even stronger connection to its artist. I could imagine her sitting in a kimono, by a fire trying to keep warm as she stitched plum blossoms and dreamed of the spring to come.

It was still to be years until I felt brave enough to cut into other kimonos and obis and before Kimono Reincarnate was really born. But I know that the moment I saw this piece was the precise point in time that it all began.

Rings

I don't think words are needed to go with this post. The amazing work speaks for itself.

R-A-D Challenge, Rings #171-179, originally uploaded by Maria Apostolou.

Flick Faves on a Friday

Inspiration boards.

I haven't had one since I moved out of my apartment in Japan over a year ago. I've been meaning to get one up.

Do you have one? What does it look like? I'd love to see it, leave me a link in the comments if you can.

In the meantime, I'm hoping these inspiration boards will inspire me to create a new one of my own.

1. :my blog inspiration board:, 2. CreativeInspiration 001, 3. Untitled, 4. inspiration board., 5. inspiration board, 6. board, not bored, 7. Inspiration Board, 8. inspiration mobile, 9. Sewing Spot

My Creative Space

Resin pouring today.

There were hairclips...

... rings...

and stud earrings.

And while I think they are pretty to begin with, when that resin goes in and the light hits it, I swear my heart skips a beat each time.

But alas, in pursuit of the perfect dome, on occasion I can be a little heavy handed and there's a spill. I think I'll need to get an extra, single hole pieced just so that I can wear the lonely other-half that did work.

For more creative spaces, Kootoyoo is the place to go.

The Ironing Board Studio

I was taking product shots today. In my very flash studio on an ironing board. With my un-ironed bed sheet backdrop.

Using very expensive cut-up erasers to prop the pieces.

Hopefully, despite my very extravagant set-up, the photos look alright.

Flick Faves on a Friday

Japanese sweets. Such delicate pieces of art, you're almost tempted not to eat them.

1. Japanese sweets 04, 2. Pastel mood, 3. Valentine's chocolate from Kyoto, 4. japanese sweets

My Creative Space

I'm choosing outfits for my new Kokeshi doll brooches....

And making lots of flowers.

For more creative spaces, drop by Kootoyoo.

Scrumptious Fabric Flower Tutorial

These fabric flowers by Ravenhill are so sweet!

A Flower Button Tutorial, originally uploaded by Ravenhill Designs.

And not only that, she shows you how to make them in this tutorial! Can you believe this is her first tutorial? The instructions and photos are so clear, you'd think she was a pro!

Hmmm... I'm already imagining a string of these in kimono fabrics....

Bookcase Tour (on the occasional) Tuesday - Creative Time and Space

Hands up those of you who'd like more hours in the day to dedicate to your creative pursuits. And how about more room to really spread out in to do them? Hmmm... looking through my magic mirror I can see a lot of hands there, some people with both hands up waving madly.

Can we ever really have enough time and space for our creativeness? I'm certain I'm not the only one whose crafty to-do list grows by the week to the point of it being a monster that I could only finish in this lifetime if there were five of me. I know I'm not the only person who despite having a workroom of my own still feels the need to spread fabric, paper and jars of beads all over the house.

I'm not sure if it was a hint or a way to silence my occasional complaints about the lack of both, but last Christmas The Man gave me the book Creative Time and Space.

Sadly, the book doesn't reveal a magical way to add an extra 5 hours to every day or how to add an additional room or three to your house free of charge. It does have a few time saving hints - nothing new, but rather reminders, or if like me you feel you need it, permissions. One that I really took to heart was; "I never spent precious nap time cleaning the house because that was ideal, uninterrupted creative time" (types she as the bub is in the next room having her mid-morning nap). The housework still needs to get done, but I do what I can while the bub is awake and with me, and for other larger cleaning chores, we tweaked the household budget and have hired a cleaner to come in every two weeks.

Mostly though, this book is more about a mindset. It's about a way of thinking about adding more creativity, or rather creative thinking into your everyday life. It's about making more room in your head for creativeness. A lot of is told through the voice and examples of other artists, things that do and don't work for them. Their work is used in the pages as well as inspiration and for something pretty to look at while you ponder what you've read.

On this subject, there has also been an interesting discussion going on over on Scoutie Girl, firstly here and then here and then in response, by Three By Sea.

Have you found something that works for you? A great way to infuse as much as you can to those precious hours we have?

Background Crafty Entertainment

Do you have background entertainment on while you craft? TV while you knit? Music while you sew?

Personally, I'm a huge fan of a period costume drama to accompany me for many a crafting adventure, especially anything Jane Austin. Nikki however wouldn't recommend Tess of the D'Urberaville's while trying to topstitch.

The last couple of days have been spent on a marathon cutting session in my office so it was time to get something other than my cup of tea to get me through it (though you do have to love playing with gorgeous fabrics for hours on end and getting to call it "work").

Firstly I checked out the new Philippe Starck series, Design for Life. Recommendation and links from Mizu Designs.

Next was catching up on some crafty podcasts. The Craftypod archives was a great place to start. She has some really great interviews that not only get you in the crafting zone but are also great food for thought.

Other great places to visit for some great craft listening is Craft Sanity and One Pretty Thing's podcast links.

How about you? What powers you through a mammoth crafting session?

Karuta

Karuta. A traditional Japanese card game. One I've never actually played, yet own a couple of sets of, just for the artwork.

Flick Faves on a Friday

Cuteness on a cloudy day.

1. Little Rain Cloud, 2. HOLD MY LIFE TOGETHER Series: No Clouds Go Pin, 3. Only Cloud in the Sky Ring, 4. Cloud magnets / journal Branch, 5. make it rain, 6. Sky Balls, 7. A Curious Swift, 8. this is Gosh!, 9. Cloud stamping

Kimono and Fabric Sale

A few weeks to go, but I'm getting very excited about the upcoming brisStyle Eco market!

I'll have a few of my usual pieces there, some vintage fabric kanzashi, some fabric cranes, but at this market, I get a chance to let some other people play with the gorgeous vintage kimono textiles I use. I'll be having a large sale of some of my kimono and obi collection as well as many, many fabrics from them.

Over the next few weeks, I'll pop up some photos of some of the pieces that will be there. Well I'd best get back to my unpicker now!

Plum Treasury

With this colder weather upon us (as cold as it gets in sub-tropical Brisbane), I'm being drawn even more to rich reds and luscious plums. It's good to see I'm not the only one! My new "Murasaki Plum" kanzashi flower was featured in an Etsy Treasury yesterday.

You can get a better look at the collection here.

Talking of rich reds and plum (blossoms), have you seen my new blog header, created by the oh-so-fabulous Julia of A Creature Strange.

Playing with Dolls

Some girls grow out of playing with dolls. I never did it seems. I'll blame my mum - she's a doll collector. I was never into Barbie but had a large collection of stuffed animals and puppets.

Last night I was back to playing with dolls. Making one in fact. A little kokeshi, hand painted with a kimono made from vintage kimono fabrics.

She's now sitting on my shelf, hanging out with my fabric covered tins. She's showing a bit of leg too, how very un-Japanese.

Randomness

Not much crafting happened today, but I did get a few moments to do a bit of a tidy up of the space, and to take some photos of some fabric for a custom-ordered kimono crane.

I had a good giggle reading this post. My own "Craft Widower" has decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em and had me take him to the bead shop the other day. He's now stocked up on jump rings to start playing with some chainmaille designs.

This post really spoke to me as I crave more creative time but feel guilty about the lack of balance with other things in my life. I'm trying to learn to let go of certain things and accept the fact that I really can't do everything. At the same time am desperate to reconnect with friendships dear to my heart that I have neglected while The Man has been ill.

On that note, a new mantra that I should try to live by.

This week I dropped by In.cube8r and Kazuyo's Collection to restock. I've also relisted some things in my Etsy store, now with a $US adjustment and a sale on some items.

And finally tomorrow, if the planets align and The Man gets home from his daily clinic appointment early enough, we're going to take a little family trip down to the Boutique Markets where I'll get to be a shopper for once.

Flickr Faves - Frucci

I am so in love with these pieces by Francesca Vitali, of Frucci. She works a lot with sterling silver and old magazine papers. Love, love, love them!

1. fru and MATTONELLA PENDANT, 2. GIRASOLE earrings, 3. red stecco, 4. TALLY pink, the crativity side, 5. Pink CURVA necklace, 6. RED SHELLY

You can see more of her stunning work here and here.

Weekend Wrap-up on a Wednesday

You know you're behind on your blogging when it's late Wednesday night before you blog about the previous Saturday...

Saturday found us at another fabulous BrisStyle BIDM Market down at St Augustine's Church. While Brisbane was enjoying a gorgeous sunny winter day outside, I was enjoying the cosiness inside the hall. My table continues to feel like a work in progress, but it is slowly coming together. And don't you just love the rich red stage curtain in the background, it reminds me of my old tutu wearing days...

A couple of new additions this time, a new display tree and some kimono fabric and resin hair-slides.

As well as lots of friendly customer faces to brighten the day, there were many a cheery BrisStylette friend to talk to and their wares to be tempted by. Just a few of my fellow indoor-mates (apologies for the small images)...

1. Pbyers Design

2. Made By Maisie

3. Retro Bird

4. RocknWrap

5. SM Boutique

6. Strat Designs

7. Hot Fudge

8. Cute As Buttons

The next BrisStyle market coming up is the Indie Eco market on July 10th, where I will be selling a large number of kimonos and kimono fabric as well as some of my handcrafted pieces.

For more Market Wrap-ups, visit the BrisStyle blog.

A Day of Thanks

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love., originally uploaded by {life through the lens}.

Today was a special day. A quiet one with little fuss but so very special nonetheless.

Seven months ago today I took my husband to the hospital emergency centre where they had him in surgery within hours. Over the last seven months there he has been, sometimes staying for weeks at a time, the remainder, daily visits for treatment.

Today, I brought him home from his last hospital stay. His chemo has finished and stem cell transplant a success.

Today is a day to truly give thanks.

I give thanks to my mother who has repeatedly flown from her home and life overseas so that she could be by my side for the difficult days.

I give thanks to our family and friends who have been so wonderful in so many ways to our little family.

I give thanks to all those people who while we've never actually met, have showered us with kind words of support and kept us in their thoughts and prayers.

I give thanks to his doctor and all the amazing staff at his hospital, they have not only been so generous with their care and caring towards The Man, but also to the rest of our family.

I give thanks to the Leukaemia Foundation, who especially in the early days helped us through a difficult time.

I give thanks to my husband whom I love so dearly for fighting so hard so that he can continue to be by my side and to be a loving father to our wonderful little girl.

I give thanks to the little one, who is wise far beyond her age, has been a shining light and joy and so understanding and flexible with the chaos thrown into the beginning of her life.

And finally, I give thanks to the universe for my husband's life.

My Creative Space

A little peek at some new pieces I'm playing with at the moment... bamboo and vintage kimono fabrics with hand painted details...

For more creative spaces, Kootoyoo is the place to go!

Middle of a Makeover

It's been rather quiet on this blog of late... don't be fooled in thinking that it's because not much has been going on in the land of Kimono Reincarnate... quite to the contrary.

I'm in the middle of a makeover... new logo... new packaging... new designs, all very exciting stuff. I can give you a little peek at how it's coming together...

... my new logo design by the fabulous Julia from A Creature Strange.

In the meantime I've also been busy preparing for the always exciting BIDM this Saturday. If you're in Brisbane, I hope you can pop down and join in the fun.