Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Printing By Hand

I just love fabrics and paper that have been hand printed.  Like anything handmade, there is something magical about it.  It's as if there is still a breath, an essence of the artist's energy that's been infused into it.

This lovely lady was kind enough to lend me Printing By Hand by Lena Corwin a while back and I jumped at the chance when it was looking for a new home.

Before we look inside the pages, I have to show you one thing I really love about the book - the way it has been bound.  It's done with a spiral so the pages sit nice and flat while you're working on a project, and then it's in a hard cover so that spine is easy to read on the bookshelf and it stands up all nice and straight.  I really wish more craft books were bound this way.

The book is divided into four chapters.  

Chapter One, Getting Ready to Print, covers what to print on, designs, printing methods and inks.

Chapter Two, Stamping, uses custom rubber stamps, foam and carved rubber blocks.  There are two projects for each type.

This stationery is so sweet.  It would be a lovely way to get back into snail mailing.

And this Japanese inspired Furoshiki would be perfect for the upcoming gift giving season.  A lot less paper to be thrown out that's for sure.

She shows you a simple way to tie the wrap.  You can see a lot more wrapping ideas here. The instructions in the book are clear and beautifully photographed.

Chapter Three, Stenciling, shows you how to use freezer paper, contact paper and mylar to create your custom designs.

This chair cushion cover is really stylish...

... and I have some old furniture for the little one that I want to do up... something like this would be gorgeous for her room!

And if only the landlords would let me do something like this with our walls...

The last chapter is all about screen printing.  For its six projects it uses paper stencils, drawing fluid and screen filler and photographic emulsion.

For a while now I've been looking for a new doona cover but haven't found one I like.  I'm not ready to dive into quilting yet, so a project like this would be great.

While Lena guides you though and encourages you to create your own designs, she also very kindly provides patterns all neatly folded in an envelope adhered inside the back cover.

And let's just take a final look at that beautiful and practical binding...

Printing By Hand by Lena Corwin: ISBN978-1584796725

If you're wondering about the beautiful fabrics in the first photo, the red crane fabric is by Auntie Cookie and the blue clouds are by Red Reed Studio.

If the book has whet your appetite for something more and you're in Brisbane, both Thea and Sami and Red Reed Studios have great classes on offer.

Letting My Geek Out to Play

I recently joined Facebook.  Well, not me, I've been playing on there a bit too much for a while now, but rather, I recently added a Kimono Reincarnate page on Facebook.  

You know what really motivated me to do it?  I saw this post by Leni and Rose and thought - "If I joined Facebook, that would be an excuse to make a pretty Facebook button".  And so I did.  Join that is, pretty button, well I hope you think it is.

I'm now wondering if pretty button making excuses are a good enough reason to join Twitter... Do you tweet?  I'm a little worried that I'd just spend all day on there....

So I'm thinking that once my "likers" gets over the 100 mark, I'll do a Facebook only giveaway... want to come and join me over there?  You can find me here, or just click on the new button on the side!

My Creative Space

Sing it with me.... "It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas..."  I know it's November but I'm already getting excited about Christmas this year.  It will be the first in ...gee...  five years... that we're spending it with family.

I'm starting to think of the Christmas tree and how to manage one with the little one who gets into everything.  I've had some great suggestions on Facebook and seen some cool ideas online and magazines of tree alternatives.  I'm not sure which way I'll go yet but I do want something that I can hang decorations from.

So this week, I've been making some "Kimono Baubles" for the tree-that-isn't-yet.  If anyone is interested, I'll put a tutorial up for them in the next week or two.  They are super easy and a great  in-front-of-the-tv craft (as long as you're not doing it in the dark like I was last night - I've ended up with some rather dodgy stitches!)

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

Taking Life in Bite Sized Chunks

you want a bite ?, originally uploaded by Abdullah AL-Naser.

In gluten free bites that is.  My "Month of Gluten" or my "gluten gluttony" as Flossy-p put it (I wish I'd thought of that!), did indeed turn out to be my last.  Tests revealed that I am in fact coeliac so until they find a cure, that's the end of gluten for me.  It's funny though, after sulking for a day after getting the diagnosis, I feel alright about it.  It's something that's made me feel ill since my early teens and much worse in the last few years so it's a relief to find out that I now can have a lot of control over how I feel.

But I digress.

I've started making some changes to the way I work at home and it's making a huge difference.  

I haven't really talked about it, but a little while ago, we took a huge leap of faith.  With some savings still left in the bank to fall back on, The Man has become the stay-at-home dad and I, the breadwinner.  We've decided to really try to make a go of Kimono Reincarnate and to build it to support a family of three.  It's terribly exciting and awfully terrifying at the same time.  I feel honoured that my husband has put that much faith in me, but feel pressured to be the financial caretaker of the two people I love the most.

So now, I work from home with The Man and the little one here to keep me company and to serve as a sometimes welcome, sometimes not-so welcome distractions.  Working at home can be great and is most of the time, but I'm finding that I need more structure in my day and in my week.  And that's where the bite-sized bits from the title comes from.  

I've always had a to-do list beside me and I must say it's long, so very long.  For quite a while, I've had it organised in just two lists, the urgent and less urgent.  Everyday I'd plod my way through it, possibly completing a few of the huge tasks.  At the end of the day rather than feeling the sense of accomplishment in what I had achieved, I'd view the rest of the list and think of all that I didn't.  Well no more.  It's something so simple that I don't know why I haven't always been doing it, but now everyday, I look at the two lists and create a third.  One simply for that day.  One that I can get done and if it has been a little ambitious or other things have come up, there's only one or two that I miss.  Only one or two feels so much better than the nearly thirty that it used to be.

So now in the mornings I get up, have a healthy and yummy breakfast cooked by The Man, shower, get dressed and start my work day.  I have lunch and dinner with my loved ones and a few short pop-ins during the day.  I'm here if serious cuddles are needed and get to peek in to find out what all the giggling is about.  I try to get computery-adminy things done in the morning and get onto the business of making stuff in the afternoon and evening.  The hours are still long but you know what, I think with just a little hard work... maybe I can make this happen!

How about you?  Do you work from home?  Any tips you'd like to share?  Experiences?  

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Japanese Patterns

Japanese Patterns is the newest addition to my book collection.  So new in fact that it just arrived today.  And how much fun is it to get a new book and share it with some friends.

This book is another cd-rom sourcebook.  Other than outlining the permissions for use, the book doesn't contain any text.

From the looks of it, I believe that all the patterns contained in the book are from Ise Katagami paper stencils, or digitally enhanced versions of them.  Katagami were all hand cut by craftsmen and it's truly amazing how fine these works of art are!

In the larger blank areas you can see very thin lines creating a very open cross-hatch.  These were done with fine pieces of silk, or I believe, sometimes even human hair.

These stencils were then used to print kimono textiles. 

The motifs in this book are all very traditional.  There are a lot of cranes, carp, butterflies, fans and flowers.

I love this second plum blossom pattern.  It has quite a painted feel to it.

And I can just imagine the dramatic effect this wave and swallow pattern would have had on a kimono! 

Japanese Patterns ISBN 90 5768 020 3

You can also see a gorgeous gallery wall in Japan with lit up Katagami stencils here. 

Looking through my posts, I realised that I've never photographed my favourite stencil in my collection that The Man had framed for my birthday a few years back... I'll remedy that soon.

Flickr Faves on a Friday

I've had a serious case of itchy feet syndrome of late.  My passport has been sitting neglected, rejected in a drawer for way too long.

1. La niña de los zapatos rojos..., 2. safe travels, 3. Untitled, 4. Untitled, 5. Say cheeeeeeeeese!, 6. VALISES OUBLIEES, 7. At the Gate, 8. Sentimental journey, 9. Solo está escrito el viaje, no el destino...

But that is about to change soon.  The little one is about to get a passport of her very own as we're off to New Zealand to spend Christmas with my parents.  And then there's the hope for a buying trip to Japan next year....

Time soon to pack those suitcases!

My Creative Space

A little something just for me... or at least that's how it began.

I whipped this 3-piece brooch up the other night as a bit of an experiment, don't look too closely, the edges aren't finished and the embroidery is rather dodgy.

The plan was to make something just for me, but now it's inspired me, so this afternoon I'll be playing on Illustrator with a new design, hopefully soon to come.

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

Tea Anyone?

I believe that up until now, the award for the slackest Etsy Shop owner has gone to ... me!  I'm trying to begin to amend that this week.  A few teapots have gone in there today, kokeshi dolls are planned for tomorrow and "Zen Garden Circles" for Friday... next week some more pendants.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed to encourage me to pick up my game!

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Kanzashi in Bloom

I remember when I first saw the book Kanzashi in Bloom by Diane Gilleland, it went straight on my wish list.  I had recently started playing with the art of fabric flower folding (say that quickly three times!).  The moment I sold some of my first ones, single brooches at the time, I quickly justified my need for this book. 

She begins the book by talking about the origins of the flowers found on Japanese Kanzashi hairpieces and showcases some of the stunning work by Kuniko Kanagawa.  

The instructions for all 20 projects are explained clearly and beautifully photographed.

I've been meaning to make some of these for the Christmas tree...

And these flowers would never wilt...

To be honest, if I was given a present wrapped like this, I'm not sure I'd want to open it...

The butterflies are just gorgeous.  I made one and framed it, which you can see here... 

And the hearts on the tea cosy are so sweet.  She includes the instructions to make the tea cosy as well...

The funny thing is, that I've been a big fan of Diane's for quite a while now, but always knew her as "Sister Diane" from Craftypod.  Her voice is often my companion while I work, I think I'm now working through her archive for the third time.  It was only in one such podcast that she was talking about Two Ways to Publish a Craft Book when she mentioned her own book that I realised she was also Diane Gilleland!

Kanzashi in Bloom ISBN 978-0-8230-8481-4

If you're interested in Kazashi, you can see a few of my own Kanzashi pieces here and some of my original inspirations here.

My Creative Space

Tea anyone?

Today it's all about the "eco" as I'm busily working on bamboo and vintage fabric brooches for the BrisStyle Eco Market this Saturday.  I'm putting the final touches on teapots, my Zen Garden Circles, and some Kokeshi dolls.  I promise then to finally get some in the Etsy shop next week!

Once I'm done with these it's on to ironing and pricing more fabric for the fabric sale...

If you're in town come down and say "hi" at the market, we'll be on rain or shine, all cosied up in the hall if need be.

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

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Japanese Sashiko Inspirations

"'Traditional' Japanese sashiko conjures up images of white running stitches on indigo, often in intricate traditional patterns."  While Susan Briscoe's book Japanese Sashiko Inspirations uses traditional techniques and designs, the 25 projects she presents have a bit more of a modern feel to them.

 

She does however begin the book by briefly talking about the history of the craft and the way it has developed and changed through time...

The next chapter, "Getting Started" is the one I really need, it explains the equipment and materials needed, talks about transferring the designs onto the fabric and goes into the stitching technique.  The photos and instructions are clear and easy to follow.

One concept that I really like in this book, is that for each main project it gives a "Technique Taster" - a way to play with the stitches before jumping in with a larger piece of work.

The circular "marumon" designs are some of my favourite...

And at the end of each project she shows where the inspiration for the work has come from.

The "Sensu Tablemat" is really pretty, but I could never imagine using it as a placemat... I'd spill something on it for sure... It could look really pretty hanging somewhere I think...

Throughout the book there are quite a few designs to play with...

These greeting cards are just lovely!  It's something that I would frame if I was ever given one...

The author, Susan Briscoe, is a quilter so at the end of the book we are treated to delicious eye candy of some of her gorgeous, much more ambitious work.

Japanese Sashiko Inspirations: ISBN-13: 978-07153-2641-1

And for any Brisbane locals that are interested, I have heard whisperings that Susan Briscoe is coming our way in early 2011 to teach workshops... I'll keep you up to date if I hear anything.

***Update - Susan was kind enough to leave a comment to say that she'll be here in March 2011 - mark your calendars! ***

Lastly, I couldn't finish this post without telling you where my own sashiko inspirations came from.  While I was living in Japan and was seeing beautiful work around me, it was actually Sharon of Handmaiden fame that inspired and encouraged me to give it a go.  While my fabrics, threads, samplers and patterns are still waiting to be taken out and used, I look forward to playing with them one day.  You can see some of Sharon's beautiful work and tutorials here.

Hidden Treasures

Last night, sitting in front of some trash TV, I was carefully taking apart a gorgeous Taisho period (1912 - 1926) Meisen Silk (ikat) kimono.  The main colour was a rich, deep purple with a floral crest and geometric pattern woven in lighter colours.  It has a beautiful crisp old silk feel to the touch and as I gently removed the hand stitching I tried to imagine who it had belonged to and what occasions it had seen.

And then I came to the lining...

Inside the kimono was this vibrant teal fabric, what feels like a silk-wool blend, quite raw, I suspect it was older that the outer kimono fabric.    At some point a little bug had taken a liking to the lining fabric and had munched through areas.

Rather than just throw the fabric out it had been patched up by what appears to be scraps on hand, pieces with bright red flowers and green leaves.  But what got me is the stitching, neat little rows of sashiko stitching in the boro tradition of mending old textiles.

At the time, this would have been hidden away, maybe for the embarrassment of not being able to afford new lining, or maybe not.  There is also a real sense of thriftiness in Japan, so I hope it was appreciated for the resourcefulness and fine handiwork that it really was.

Even some of the patches have been patched...

Round holes have been sewn around before the larger fabric has been stitched into place...

I'm not sure what I'll do with this treasured piece of fabric yet, but I think it's time that the fine handiwork saw some light.