More teapots!

I've made three more teapots since the last post.
I took pictures before the yellow one was complete.
Green, yellow, and orange. I am trying to achieve
the 70's style of colors somehow.. ;)




I've made decision on what these will be!
It will be a wall-hanging for kitchen.
Thanks a lot for sharing your ideas with me
in the comments for the last post. I seriously
enjoy reading comments every single day -
it is certainly one of my sources for daily
creative energy and joy/happiness in my days.

Since I really like this teapot pattern, I will
probably make a quilt using the similar pattern.
There is something about this pattern that I think
should be modified. Also, I have to enlarge it big time
if I am using it as a quilting pattern. Some of you
have asked me for a tutorial on this pattern.
That sounds fun! But then I would need to learn
how to make PDFs. I want to create the pattern
using some kind of software, not just a scan of
my bad drawing. If you know any website and/or
photoshop books that I can learn the steps from,
please let me know! ;)




Vintage sheet that I recently thrifted @ $2.99.
Isn't it gorgeous?!



Today I want to thank all of you who have tagged me!!
I was very honored every time I found out I had been
tagged. I feel I am part of this community of creative
people in this sewing/quilting blogsphere...
and I love the feeling. I've bookmarked all the posts
I've found where I'd been tagged. Let me respond for
each per post starting today



I was chosen as a nominee for this award by Laura.
Thanks, Laura! Let me list 6 things that inspire me,
although I pretty much agree with all the inspirational
things Laura came up with already. 1) Blogs - unquestionably;)
I am constantly inspired by so many crafters' work.
I am subscribing to many of your blogs. So many of yours
that I constantly have over 200 new posts waiting for me
to be read via google reader. I keep myself busy during
the break from studying and sewing. 2) Books - I tend to
come up with best ideas at night, right before I go to sleep.
Looking at beautiful crafts on sewing books sure help
me get creative , but children's picture books are helpful too.
I like bright colors used in those kids' books. 3) Fabric
- sometimes I find fabric that I really like and I know
exactly I want to make with it. 4) Vintage items - I simply
love vintage items.. I wish there were a time-machine so
that I could go back to the 1970's and buy LOTS and LOTS
of things and come back to 2009. I know it sounds ridiculous,
but a girl can dream, can't she? 5) Building, fashion,,
pretty much anything beautiful that catches my eyes.
6) Althlopologie - who doesn't enjoy this store that is
always filled with creative ideas?!

I am supposed to nominate 6 Kreative bloggers, but
let me just say that I nominate all of you!!
I like too many bloggers. Too hard for me to pick a few.
Thanks;)

Thanks for coming & reading!

4th logcabin pouch / thrift

Here is a shot of my fourth logcabin pouch in progress. ;) The very first logcabin pouch that flew to my sister's in Japan. Second one as a custom order that also flew to Japan. And this third one that has recently left for Australia. Logcabins are so much fun. There is something about a logcabin that is so interesting, happy, and entertaining. I love working on it. I smile seeing my logabin getting larger and fancier as I work through. Fun! My favorite kinds of fabric changes often. I was once really into traditional Japanese fabric and collected a bunch but soon lost much interest in it, (which I now really don't know what to do with besides keeping in the stash in a drawer..) Once I was in love with some modern designers' fabrics and again collected a lot. My point here is that my current passion has been toward vintage fabrics!!!! When I start liking something, I go as far as I can. Nonstop! This beautiful vintage fabric is what I purchased from Magpie Mary in her etsy shop. This awesome seller carries very pretty vintage items for affordable prices. If you like this fabric I just bought, go ahead and grab some for yourself , otherwise I might go back and buy all up! Here is one of my recent thrifted fabrics. I've been thrifting as usual and making my thrifted goodies go out of control a little. Isn't this pink fabric pretty though?! Not sure if it's vintage or what, but this can make a nice bag, I bet. When I caught a glimpse of this purse, I almost gasped. "Are you for real? New Amy Butler's purse at this thrift store?!" As soon as I grabbed it, someone walked by and told me that I was so lucky to find it. No kidding! Even though I am usually not interested in purses at secondhand stores (because I can make them), I could tell it was such a great find and there was no question whatsoever I was getting it. It will be for my middle sister. She loves girlie things like this;) The last showoff here for today is this super duper cute paper! The direction says it is to place in drawers because it's repellent against bugs like ants, roaches, and silver fish. I'd never heard any paper that could do that! Oh my! I just thought this vintage design is so cute. Time to introduce nice creations!! Fabric Basket by …Pensieri… Fabric Basket by Jodi Camera Case by Elizabeth Cute Cute Cute!! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful works! Thanks for reading!

Patchwork Placemat

Thanks a million for warm & sweet comments that you guys have given me and are possibly going to leave for me in the future. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate every single comment on this blog and e-mail and how much joy that brings me. Your comments do make my day! Thank you!! By the way, this is the placemat I finished this morning. Most of the fabric I used for this comes from my precious stash of vintage fabrics. I really wanted to make a placemat that is super retro so I got this pattern from this old book, Patchwork & Quilting. This book has got extremely charming vintagish ideas for patchwork and quilt. I often find this book at thrift stores. Now I think about it, I think this was my very first time to work on this kind of very traditional patchwork pattern that has been given a name from old times. This pattern is called "King's Cross". I love the pattern and adore how it turned out with my choice of fabrics. "Oba-chan(Grandma in Japanese)!" I don't know why, but looking at this mat I keep having flashbacks of times I spent with my grandma in Japan when I was a little. The little store we often went to to pick up snacks, (which I'd even forgotten about for many years), the origami she bought for me, how I cut out it into small pieces and stored in a plastic bag....Oba-chan's smile..... I miss her!!!!!!!!!!!! Why this placemat? I really don't know. Anyways, I feel nostalgic. I think colors, patterns, music, and all sorts of other things that you see, hear, and sense encodes you with such unforgettable feelings. I smile looking at this placemat. I really can't wait to see my oba-chan this summer. This placemat is now in my etsy shop ---------------------------------------------------------- Another showoff of a thrifted item;) One Pillowcase, front and back! Isn't it super pretty? I love vintage stuff!!! Thanks for reading!

Thrift & Grocery Sack

I'm still obsessed with thrift. I love finding vintage/retro fabrics for good prices and thinking what I can make out of them. It was a few days ago when I knew that this Vintage Sheet Patchwork Swap was going on. Too late. I'd love to join in though for the next round now that I've got enough fabrics! Found this basket too. Carrying this big basket and another huge bag from the thrift store on the way home embarrassed me a little just because it's a quite trip. Walking, taking a bus, taking a train....but I just couldn't wait to see how it would look under my sewing table. (by the way, I got a better table!) I love it! This laminated place mat is one of the things I found at Thrift Town in S.F. Super duper cute! This got me thinking that I want to make a vintagish place mat and I am working in progress. I'll show you the pics of the finished project tomorrow. I'm loving it quite bit. Another great find: Vintage pattern from 1969! I've been always scared of working on a big project like a dress based on a pattern, but these cute dresses make me feel like I wanna give a shot. This is really cool too, although if I actually make one, the bottom of the skirt will probably be way below my knees. haha. I'm only 5 foot 1 inch. Grocery sack I made for my friend's birthday. To tell the truth 'purple' has been the most difficult color for me to deal with, but I learned that with radiant, bright color like orange, deep pink, or green, purple can contribute a vintagish design that I can really enjoy. yay! The pattern for the bag is from one of Japanese craft magazines (Cotton Time). When I saw it for the first time, I simply thought "Wow! it looks super easy! I can probably make it in an hour!" But, no way! That was a big underestimation. This bag is a lot more complicated than it looks!! I give a big credit for someone who came up with the pattern. I think it's genius, absolutely creative. I would never be able to come up with a pattern like this. A good thing about a handmade grocery bag is that it can be folded neatly so that it fits in your small purse whenever you go grocery shopping. And of course, by using it you are "going green"! This bag makes me feel like going to a farmer's market and grab some fresh tomatoes. Did I subconsciously copy the colors?! --------------------------------- I have some great crafts to show you guys! Check this out!! Woo hoo!! Fabric Basket and Pen Cases by Mamalife (She's made a lot of things using my tutorials and this is my first time to see my pen case's sisters! So happy!!) Camera Case by Eve Camera Case by thucnghi And thank you for Luciana who's kindly sent me a picture of her camera case;) I love, love, and love looking at what creative people make with my tutes! I promise more tutorials are coming! Thanks for reading!

San Francisco

Looking through all the pictures I've taken after moving to this sunshine state makes me realize that my heart belongs to San Francisco deeply. I find the city to be the most beautiful, interesting, attractive place I've ever been to in my entire life. Every time I go there, there are always fun discoveries waiting for me and I know it will keep entertaining me forever with much more new attractions. San Francisco is like a mix of Seattle and Tokyo. Nice breeze from the near ocean and the atmosphere of 'freedom' makes me think of Seattle and the unlimited attraction and lots of people on the streets and in subways remind me of Tokyo. I love these places so that San Francisco is like my treasure city where lots of my favorite things being squeezed into. Anyway, I spent all day there yesterday with my friends and am going to share some pics here! It was so nice to go there with someone who knows a lot about San Francisco. The crazy transportation system there always bums me out, but with the girl who goes to school there, I was pretty much just following with an empty head, throughly relying on her just like Joe in Japan with me. The first place we headed out was Haight street. It was a really nice shopping area! I found this Discount Fabric store there! I always feel hesitant to stop by fabric stores when I'm with friends who are not into sewing but it was irresistible this time..and I got some inexpensive fabrics! Yay! Not much use of ribbons in my crafting spree usually, but I love looking at ribbons and grabbing some when I see super cute ones. And on my goodness. I found another fabric store near by! These many kinds of oil cloth I'd never seen drove me nut and I got 4 kinds of them. What do I make for these? Place matts, coasters and lunch bags are the only options so far. Any suggestions? We stopped by Buffalo Exchange, a used clothing store with vintage taste. I fell in love with these shoes, but they are so big for me that I bought different pair of shoes. Lunch at CHA CHA CHA. It was an extremely delicious meal especially... this desert: homemade flan. I LOOOOOOOVED it!! Remembering the taste makes me drool. I'm going to look for a recipe online and will make it tonight!! First time at Castro street! My friend in Texas who's coming to visit me next month wants to go to this place, so it was cool to learn how to get there and look around. I sure would love to live in San Francisco. I don't even mind staying there for decades! I'm so jealous walking around beautiful houses there. And this is the place I was dying to go. Thrift town! I can't even describe how much excitement I feel from exploring a new thrift store. This place had a really good linen section, in which I usually spend 80% of my time at a secondhand store. Yes! I got many goodies!! Tomorrow I'll be back with pics of my recent thrifted items and (finally/hopefully) a grocery sack that I am finishing up. It's 95 degrees here. It's been a scorcher..! Have a great weekend, guys! Thanks for reading!