The Bookcase Tour Giveaway - 20s Kimonos

I haven't been terribly consistent in my Bookcase Tour Tuesday posts.  I'd like to change that, and am asking for your help.  I'd love to know what you'd like to see, but more about that in a moment... first, some book eye candy... the book I'm giving away...

20's Kimono: 100 Royalty Free JPEG Files  

"The patterns used on kimono in the Taisho era (1912-1926) were composed, generous, bright and vivid.... when the tides of change were at work altering many aspects of Japanese society, the Taisho experienced an intermingling of the old and the new.  A brilliant popular culture blossomed in the resulting creative chaos." (from the book's introduction)

I  love the fabric designs that came out of Japan during this era.  There is a heavy Art Deco and Art Nouveau influence and you can almost feel the excitement of a culture opening its doors to the world outside.

There is a real sense of fun and humour to the bold patterns of this time.

Funnily enough, I have a pair of pajama bottoms that have this red print on them.

This period is filled with vibrant and colourful designs.

This book comes with a CD (PC and Mac compatible) with 100 magnificent designs from this era. 

Now lean in very closely while I whisper... I don't want the Man to hear... I'm giving away a copy of this book because... I loved it so much I accidentally bought two copies!


The giveaway is open all, I'll post it anywhere.  I'll draw and announce the winner on Tuesday October 12th (my time) in that day's Bookcase Tour post.  To enter, please take a few moments to answer my survey (link below) to help me decide what books to show you from my rather loaded bookcase.


Click here to take survey

Corky Saint Clair

Corky Saint Clair has some of the funkiest collection of jewellery cuteness around.

You can find his work (and mine!) in his shop in the Degraves Street Subway in Melbourne.

And a little birdy told me that he'll also be at the upcoming  Melbourne Finders Keepers market.

If you're in the area drop by and say hi to "Corky" and his Carry Monster.

Valentino Up Late

When you were a child, did your mother repeatedly tell you to "Don't touch, look with your eyes"?  I hear it at the markets all the time.  On Friday night when I went to see the Valentino Retrospective, that little voice was in the back of my head as I resisted the urge to run my fingers through the layers of sumptuous fabrics and feathers in the fashions on display.

The layers and detailing were the first things that really hit me at the exhibition.  I was fascinated by silks that were first woven and then draped.  By feathers and and lace combined to create a "tattoo dress".  But mostly, I was amazed at the way the textiles had been used to create wearable sculptures.  I'm sure I wasn't the only woman there choosing the dress I would wear for my own red carpet experience.

My cousin and I chose to view this exhibition at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art during one of their "Up Late" sessions.  And if you have a chance, this is the way I'd highly recommend to see it.  It was a lot of fun getting dolled up; me in a red dress and red lipstick, but many others in fabulous cocktail dresses, so the exhibition soon became a sense of occasion.  And what better way to take a break from viewing than with a glass or two of bubbly at the bar open especially for the evening.

The exhibition runs until November 14th.

Taking Photos for Etsy - Useful Links

Yesterday I had a great time running a session for some of the BrisStyle members on taking and editing photos for Etsy.  It's funny though, I felt like I needed to start with a disclaimer - I did my photography degree pre-digital days and product photography was not one of my best subjects.  

While I don't think I came up with anything that isn't already out there in the internet world, I hope that putting lots of information together at one time might have helped.

Along the way of putting the session together I came across some very useful links on Etsy on the subject that I thought I'd share;


Photographing 2D artwork.  Some really simple ideas for people that sell prints of their work.  During the session I also got talking about photographing fabric.  A seller who I think does an excellent job of giving life to this flat medium is Karaku. 


Brightening your photos using Picnik.  Personally, I'm a photoshop gal, but for this session I realised that the software is quite an investment and not really worth it for those who want to use a few simple photo editing functions.  I had a play with Picnik and was really impressed by how simple it is to use and how effective it is.


A basic how-to video on Photoshop.  This video (from youtube) is a 50 minute investment but from the parts I've watched, it seems to do a good job of covering the basics.


Photo tips including lighting.  In this tutorial she also talks about knowing your camera, colour and reflection and translucence.


Taking (and editing for) sharp photos.  This lesson goes over a number of things that will affect how crisp your resulting image will be.


Styling your photos and including props.  Photo styling is really not my forte' (hence why I didn't do so well in my product photography classes) so I found this article really quite interesting.  It goes into the thought behind what props help create the story of your product.  Make sure to scroll down to see some of the example images at the end, I just love the choker in the frame image.


Before and After photos.  Oh how I love a makeover.  I have (not so secret anymore) secret addiction to before and after shows.  Looking at the examples in this article does make you think about what it is about your own images that you could change.  In a similar vein is the Etsy Shop Makeovers group on Flickr which I believe that anyone can join.


Photographing for Etsy - a video by Etsy.  This is both a fun and interesting video to watch and shows some examples from a few different Etsy shops.  One thing from this that I found really interesting was what they said about having a person model clothing as opposed to it being on a mannequin - that items that were modelled sold so much more quickly than those not.  This statement was backed up by a few people in yesterday's session as well.


Photographing Jewellery.  A good little tutorial focused on the specific challenges of photographing jewellery.  I really like how some of the examples they have used in this also show the additional four shots used for the listing, it's good to see how the different angles work together.  There is also a link in here for making your own light box.


Collaborating with Photographers. This one is a little different - focussed on clothing designers who don't feel like the photos they take themselves gives justice to their work.  It looks at collaborating with photographers as well as an interesting take on getting your pieces on musicians and celebrities. 

Molly

May I introduce you to my latest model, Molly.  Molly the mannequin model.  She came to my last couple of markets (Molly the market mannequin model - try to say that three times quickly!) but today was giving me a hand in the studio.

Molly is a little risque', she's been going out in public in her underwear, or rather her under kimono, which quite frankly is a little too tight...

...and her obi is poorly tied, so she needs to stay very, very still...

...and today she didn't hesitate when I asked her to strip off for an all-nude-except-for-a-few-flowers shoot.

And the very good news is... my comments are back!  All bar the most recent ones, but I have them copied and just need to add them in manually.  Yay!

4606

4606. The number of comments currently missing from my blog. 4606 notes filled with kind words left by kind people that through a technical mishap, I've misplaced. 4606 comments that have made me laugh, ponder, consider and at times cry. 4606 comments that have at times been like hugs from all over the world when I needed them. 4606 comments that have started dear friendships and each and every single comment I hold dear. I feel so silly, so irresponsible, to have lost them, like something so precious that I have been given and carelessly left behind.

Missing Happy, originally uploaded by dietrich.

I really hope to find them soon.

My Creative Space

The other day I had an air conditioner installed in my workspace, a much needed edition to allow me to work in here this summer and not bite the Man's head off each and every day. We had hoped to move before the summer, to begin our treechange life, but the Man is still needing weekly visits to his doctor (but all is well and he's doing really well) so we've put it off for a little while longer.

Having to disassemble my room to allow the technicians access to the wall was a great chance for me to do some much needed re-organising.

It's not finished yet (though I do suspect it will be in a permanent state of work-in-progress-ness), there's a picture waiting to be framed, my newly painted "inspire" to go on the wall, and another postcard to find a spot for...

One wall did get prettied up... I used some Ikea kitchen knife magnetic strips as a inspiration board, the magnets are kimono fabric covered buttons...

And then the not so pretty, but oh so practical, new organisational system, all my bits and partially completed orders easily found and within reach.

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

And once again, sincere apologies as my comment system is still in a state of flux... it may take me a few days to sort out and I may very sadly, still lose a few more comments in the process. I hope I will get it all sorted very, very soon.

Comments... crossing my fingers and huge apologies...

I'm about to do something a little risky... I recently changed the way comments were taken on this blog - from Blogger to an external website. The new system however isn't giving me links to the blogs of people that comment, and I really like having those links! I'm about to disable it, but fear I may lose a lot (if not all...) comments on my blog. I am crossing my fingers and I sincerely apologise to those kind enough to have left comments on my blog.

***Update... so the worst seems to have happened... I have lost all my comments left using the blogger system... I have to have them up again soon... sorry!

A Wish a Day - Day.... Five?

Today's Wish: May time always be your friend.

Today's Paper: Taken from last year's diary, pages include the day the little one was born.

Number of Cranes: 29. One for each hour of the day + five more for the extra hours a friend pointed out it would nice to have.

Cranes to date: 34

Ummm... could we just pretend that today is really day five and that I didn't miss an entire week of my Wish a Day - especially before I'd even completed a week! It can be our little secret.

Time just seemed to have run away from me over the last week. What with preparing for markets, a market, then a market day that turned into a sick day, then another, then catching up on things after market and sick days. All is good now though and I'm back on track. So little one, my wish to you today, may time not run away without you.

My Creative Space

One tiny crane down, another 28 to fold for tonight's "Wish a Day". I did fall off the daily project wagon last week, but I'm back on it today. The pieces of paper are from last year's diary and include the page that the little one was born on.

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

A Wish a Day - Day Four

Today's wish: May you have limitless energy.

Today's crane: Paper from the recycled paper envelope our energy bill arrived in today.

The pinwheels and landscape: Paper from an old magazine.

I've been thinking a lot about energy today. We received our latest power bill and ouch! I try to be really good about our consumption, but have apparently let things slide a little. I often have my "if I win the lotto" fantasies about the house I would have built; it would be eco friendly, energy efficient and off the grid as much as possible. Like many people, I worry about what energy sources will be available in the future and would like a push by the powers to be towards more sustainable systems.

And then on a personal note, something I don't normally talk about on the blog. I've wrestled with the decision to talk about it at all. I have a couple of chronic health conditions that can really zap my energy, one of which is fibromyalgia. Usually, as long as I take care of myself and stay on top of sleep, for me it's quite manageable. Recently I haven't been getting enough sleep. Today the fatigue and the pain levels went through the roof. It was a morning when I was really glad I didn't live alone as I'm not sure how I would have managed. For most of the day I struggled to walk and wasn't even able to pick up my little one. To get through the day, I took the strongest painkiller cocktail I could, which then made me even more exhausted. By the afternoon, I gave up and just went back to bed. I worry sometimes about what genes I may have passed onto my little one. There were a number of times in the past when the illness was bad that I wondered if I really should be a mother at all. Even on a daily basis, energy is something that I have to decide how I will use, knowing that I only have limited reserves.

So there comes the inspiration for today's wish, one that works on a global and a very personal level.

My Creative Space

I'm having a big brooch making day (that is a big day making brooches, not a day making big brooches) today and have been sorting fabrics for a customer that wants some red and some blue teapots.

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

A Wish a Day - Day Three

The first day of spring. And what better way to celebrate the first day of spring than to go to a friend's wedding. At was a lovely afternoon ceremony in the park and the weather was perfect. The grass was lush and green and the perfect spot for the little one to run around on while blowing kisses to all the other guests.

And so the inspiration for today's wish.

Today's wish: May you have someone in your life who truly makes your heart soar.

Today's cranes and hearts: From today's wedding invitation, with some hand colouring and drawing.

Crane count so far: Four

A Wish a Day - Day Two

Books. We love them in this house, all three of us. We started reading to the little one when she was in my belly and have continued each day. She'll now bring us her favourites and insist we read them to her. I hope that she will always love books and that inspired today's jar.

Today's wish: May you always find joy and comfort in the written word.

Today's paper and words: From a pre-loved copy of Babar, An Elephant's Best Friend.

Thank you to everyone for their kind words on my project beginning! I have been feeling a bit silly about it, so they have all meant a lot. And as my dad pointed out, no there are not 1000 days in a year, but some days more than one crane will form a wish so hopefully I'll still get to that magical number.

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Kabuki Costumes Paper Dolls

I just love paper dolls. Always have, probably always will. So when I saw this book, Kabuki Costumes Paper Dolls, years ago, that combines a few of my obsessions; paper dolls + costumes + kimonos, how could I resist?

The book has many costumes, each printed on a page that is blank on the back, ready to be cut out. Each outfit has a little piece explaining the role it is worn for.

Included in the book is one male and one female form in cardboard. Most of the costumes come with an accompanying mask or wig.

I actually cut some of mine out, minus the paper doll tags, laminated the front and stuck magnets on the back. For many years they sat on my fridge ready for me to play dress ups each day while making breakfast.

A Wish a Day - Day One

Well today's isn't real pretty, but I'm hoping I'll get better at this....

Today I began my "Wish a Day" project. I plan to write a wish for my daughter, our family or the world around us each day on a piece of paper which I'll then fold into a paper crane/s and put into a jar for safekeeping. I plan to do this each day for a year, and over that year fold 1000 cranes so that there is a wish for my daughter to make herself when she chooses.

Today's wish: May you live a long and happy life with each year being one to truly celebrate.

Today's paper: A piece of wrapping paper from her recent first birthday.

The candle: From her first birthday cake.

I'm quite nervous about starting out at this, nervous that I won't make the distance, nervous that I'll run out of things to say. At the same time, I am excited about the idea of getting into a creative habit, a little bit each day.

Flickr Faves on a Friday

In last week's Flickr Faves I alluded to a new project planned, well today's images form the other half of the project's inspiration. Cute little jars, sweet little terrariums...

The project is a piece-a-day-for-a-year type project and I've been scared of committing to a start date. I'm thrilled by the size and duration, but terrified of it at the same time. A few previously planned start dates have been and gone... I need to just begin. I need to commit. I need to commit for all my mum's group friends who have been saving and storing jars for me. I need to commit for my husband who has been very good to not complain (too much) about having to step around boxes of empty baby food jars or to ask even once when I was going to start. I need to commit for me, for a creative project that isn't business related. So commit I will. Monday. This coming. The "Wish a Day" project will begin.

My Creative Space

My creative space today isn't actually that different to last week's, still lots of cutting, glueing and resin pouring. I did however do a little tidy-up, and we will call it a "tidy-up" not procrastination...

I took some old notes off my board and put ribbons and other bits and pieces into boxes...

... put some pretty things into pretty jars...

... and put together a recharging station - a place for all those bits to charge phones, camera batteries and other gadgets to live with a top shelf to hold thread and other treasures.

One exciting thing about the cutting is that if you look really carefully, you might notice that I have a new size in there, well new in silver... A number of my new custom pieces arrived (late - they didn't make it in time for the Melbourne show) and I have my landscape kimono pendants back - I haven't made them since I was doing them in glass.

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

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Nengajo Sourcebook

Every year in Japan, as the year is coming to a close there is a flurry of "nengajo" printing, creating, writing and sending. A nengajo is a New Years postcard, much like Christmas cards that are sent in other parts of the world. Stores in Japan are filled with not just pre-printed cards but also blank cards, rubber stamps, stickers and all sorts of supplies to create your own.

The first nengajo I created I used my friend's Gocco printer. In those days you could buy books filled with designs to copy with the printer. More recently however, the "Print Gocco" has been pushed aside in favour of the home computer printer and so design sourcebooks became popular.

Every year, around November, new publications are released to help people create their own cards. The books are filled with a huge range of designs, from the traditional to the cute, all saved on a cd for the user to upload.

2008 was the Chinese Year of the Rat, so this particular book was filled with many mice, mice being much cuter than rats. It's funny I remember that for the Year of the Dragon, there were many seahorse designs going around as seahorse is called a "sea dragon" in Japanese.

I really love these matryoshka mice!

Other than using the books for the Japanese writing on my nengajo, I mostly bought these books each year as they were jam-packed with inspiring illustrations and for a really reasonable price.

And lastly, my favourite piece out of the whole book...

You can see the card I sent out that year here, and a couple of the ones I received here.

Hmmm... I'm thinking... how fun would a crafty bloggy nengajo swap be.... anyone interested?


***Update - My good friend Mel from Crafty Japan has kindly offered to pick up a copy of one of the 2011 releases for anyone that is interested.  Please contact her through her Etsy store if you'd like her to get you one.***

Flickr Faves on a Friday

Origami cranes. How I love them, can't get enough of them, have folded literally thousands of them in my life and have a new project planned to start soon to fold many more...

1. Origami Crane --Chinese Rice Paper and Hand Carved Stamps, 2. 15-06-10 Lets Go I Want To Go All The Way To The Horizon ~ Explored Front Page :), 3. Window Display, 4. tattoo, 5. origami shot with a matchbox pinhole, 6. My Little Gift, For You!, 7. Sembazuru (291/365), 8. dreams of flying (18/52), 9. moonlight kite

My Creative Space

I'm making a list and checking it thrice. No I haven't suddenly taken on the job of a certain Christmas benefactor, but I'm working hard at filling orders from last week's trade fair.

The process is a little different to making stock for markets and my poor neglected Etsy store, for these I'm having to be much more methodical, making sure I don't miss any designs out. Different but still fun!

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

Booth Design

Can I just start by saying - wow, what a week that was! I'm now back in Brisbane after a huge week in Melbourne where I took part in my first trade fair, Life Instyle. There are tales to tell, but also lots of orders to fill, so for now I'll just leave you with a couple of shots of my booth last week.

Bet you can't guess my favourite colours!

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.