My Creative Space

My creative space. Best described by the Man today as not so much being messy, but rather looking like WW3 had hit.

But I did manage to clear a little desk space to take a photo of one of the many things I'm working on this week. New brooches and a pendant, all with hand-coloured bamboo and vintage kimono fabrics.

These will join my Kokeshi brooches to form my "Kyoto" range, all using bamboo and inspired by traditional motifs.

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

The Melbourne trip and the Life Instyle show are now just days away and with so much still to do, this blog will get a little quiet for a couple of weeks. I can't wait to tell you all about it when I come back!

My Little Kokeshi

My little kokeshi. Drawn tonight using Illustrator and Photoshop.

My Creative Space

Not the most fun creative space, but a good-to-get-this-started one.

I've been working very hard planning, mapping out and photographing for a new catalogue for Life Instyle.

My ironing board photo studio has been getting a great workout today, as I've taken a couple of hundred product photos. Now a night of photoshop ahead.

For more creative spaces, hopefully more tactile and less technology reliant ones, Kootoyoo is the place to go.

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Kokoro no Te

Another library version of Bookcase Tour today.

Kokoro no Te by Kumiko Sudo.

This is a book that I've wanted to browse through for quite a while now, so snapped it up when I saw it at the library. It's filled with lots of little projects, lots of pretty little brooches, purses and pouches. All is handsewn, there's not a machine in sight.

If you look at even just the cover, there's probably no guessing why I'm so drawn to this publication - the fabric! The photos for each project are just scrumptious!

I probably wouldn't actually make that many projects from this book, but I'd use it more for inspiration, as an eye candy piece.

The three pieces I am tempted to try are the windmills...

The thimbles (which would look just adorable as rings as well)...

... and the juggling balls, not that I can juggle mind you, but they would just look pretty scattered around.

I'll be stalking my library now to see if I can get my hands on Kumiko Sudo's Omiyage book.

Flick Faves on a Friday

Zen. It can come in all sizes.

1. solstice dreams, 2. Day 77: Zen Garden, 3. Chicago . . ., 4. color wheel, 5. つりあい, 6. totally zen, 7. an imaginary science, 8. 4, 9. perfect little white things

One

One year and one day ago a magical creature came into my life. She was so brand new, but yet somehow I felt that I had always known her, my heart knew that I had.

For one year and one day to date I have watched in amazement as she has grown, learnt, developed and explored. She is strong with a strong personality, knows how she wants things, is so independent and very social. While she loves her mummy cuddles, she really is daddy's little girl.

Yesterday we had a lovely, simple day to celebrate. A day with family and a couple of very dear friends.

And she had her very first taste of cake... Imagine tasting that sweet fluffy icing for the first time...

You see something new, a pretty colour, enticing, that just draws you to it...

You pop a little into your mouth...

And then, wow! The sugar hits your tongue...

Wouldn't you go back for more?

Happy Birthday my wonderful little one. You fill my heart to overflowing.

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Handmade Melbourne

A library borrowed version of Bookcase Tour today.

With it now less than three weeks until I go to Melbourne, this book, Handmade Melbourne, has been getting a great workout.

The book features, as the cover page will tell you, "Beautiful things from 80 creative people". The range of what these people make range is from footwear, clothing, jewellery to bags and artwork. It's filled with lots of inspiring eye candy.

But, what I loved most about this book, especially at this point in time, was that it had each artisan list a few of their favourite inspiring Melbourne haunts. I have been madly jotting many of them down for places to visit while I'm there.

Mind you, I'll only have a couple of free days either side of working so that list is going to need some serious culling.

Are you a Melbourite or a well-versant when it comes to Melbourne? Any places you'd recommend this Brisbane girl to add to her must-see list?

And.... I don't believe I've divulged why I'm south-bound soon... well... if you're heading to the Life Instyle show, please drop by and say hello. My wares and I will be at booth 222a!

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.