Posted on 17 Comments

suwappu

The japanese-english dictionary online says that suwappu = swap so I thought it was the perfect title. Jen in Tokyo and I did another fabric swap. I sent her FunQuilts fabrics and she sent me some fabrics I picked out from Cotton Bow-wow. (eek – Jen, I just clicked over there and saw that the new Nani Iro stuff is out! So pretty!)

Here are the fabrics from Cotton Bowwow…quarter meters of these…

A half meter of this … More

Posted on 11 Comments

countdown to Oscar

It’s been nothing but Oscar Oscar Oscar on the tv lately. And every single time I look up.. what about my Oscar… oh that Oscar. It’s not as interesting when you haven’t been to the movies in 15 months. In crafting news I finally managed to tear myself up off the couch and get some sewing done the last couple of nights. I made this little ribbon pincushion. I think I may make some more tonight while watching the big … More

Posted on 26 Comments

Chiri & Chiriri

I found this gorgeous book the other day at the Japanese bookstore. I’m in love with it! I had to show some restraint not to photograph every single page and put it up here. Now I just need to figure out what the story is. And the title! It goes something like this…

We’re the cutest little twins ever. Let’s go ride bikes!

I know this cute little restaurant in the middle of the forest

Not only is it woodchuck-accessible, … More

Posted on 4 Comments

Day of Fun!

I had what my Mom would call an “outing with the ladies” this past Friday. Brandy & Cinnamon came out to Oak Park to play with me. We got to check out some places that amazingly I hadn’t yet made it to, the Buzz Cafe for lunch, a fun bead shop Bead in Hand, and the new Brown Elephant thrift store. I got some lovely beads and buttons at the bead shop and found some great trim & vintage greeting … More

Posted on 15 Comments

Instant Gratification

I was needing a little something something to put in a package last night so I made this little flower pincushion out of wool felt. I think it turned out cute (not this cute!) but it was fun to make something out of my felt that didn’t take so damn long! And a neat way to use some of my vintage buttons. I think I’ll make up some more to go in my vintage clothing swap packages.

Oh, and … More

Posted on 22 Comments

patchwork book

Here’s my new favorite book – patchwork and purses! Another excellent Japanese craft book to play with. The instructions on this one seem very complicated. Or very simple depending on how you look at it. They basically (I think) say, sew quilt, make bag. Got it! Many thanks to sweet Valentina for offering pick me up something from Kinokuniya (Japanese bookstore in NY). Poor girl didn’t know what she was getting herself into!

I want to make almost every single … More

Posted on 43 Comments

Oscar’s Racetrack Quilt

race track

Started last Spring, this quilt is coming in just under the one year mark. I saw the pattern in a quilting book, Encyclopedia of Classic Quilt Patterns by Patricia Wilens, that I got when I was pregnant with Oscar. It is the drunken path pattern (if memory serves) and they arranged the path to be one long roadway. I thought that’d be so neat for Oscar to drive his cars on. The fabrics I used are from thrifted kids clothes, … More