Let's keep it Japanese this week!
My shop is now full of matryoshkas! Nanna is waiting for someone to fall for her...
Her backside is decorated with two hand appliquéd hearts.
After getting the lovely package from Jan in Japan I am more excited than ever about Japanese sewing, quilting, crafts, fabrics, etc. Jan sent me two new Japanese craft magazines and I will be sharing them with you as soon as I have a chance to take some photos of them. I have already photographed this book, a recent ebay purchase.
The entire book is beautifully photographed and Meg kindly included a pretty silk strap for my camera with the book!
Aren't these beautiful with the blues paired with the brown?
I would really love to make some of these flowers...
The bag on the far right in pink in red I think is so stunning. I really love this simple design which shows off the fabric so beautifully.
I am so impressed with the range of this book, from very bright and bold, to this page that is delightful with the airy, see-through fabrics.
Finally some darks to really round things out. I am thinking about making table runners or potholders with some fabrics like these as Christmas gifts. (My brother figured out his birthday gift this year from reading my blog. Rats! I didn't think he really noticed the crafty items, just his little niece and nephew!) So I will have to be more careful!
The book gave me the incentive to finish the vintage kimono silk appliqué drawstring bag I had started this past winter.
These dragonfly fat quarters are a recent Japanese fabric purchase and I am eager to put them to good use!
I hope that you enjoy Japanese inspiration as much as I do because I will be showing more again soon! If you wish to purchase on amazon in Japan here is the link. I haven't done so yet but am thinking about it. The initial postage cost is quite a bit but then you just pay a small additional fee per book so the more you order the more you save, right?!
To explore the books and magazines on Amazon Japan without knowing the language isn't too difficult. Here is a good item to start with. To see other books like it you can scroll down the page and you get a whole list of books which by clicking on them can take you to yet another list. I can highly recommend Crafting Japanese as a resource to explore Japanese crafting books and magazines. At the top of each post is the ISBN number which you can use to search on Amazon if you should want to order it.
Finally here is the Flickr Crafting Japanese site where you can browse through thousands of images from Japanese crafting books as well as hand made items.
Looks like a great book!
And thanks for those links...
Posted by: iinu | July 08, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Love the little pom pon feet on the basket pincushions, and the browns -- swoon.
Posted by: Kristin L | July 08, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I can't wait and see the new projects!!
Posted by: méri | July 08, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Thanks for sharing! The book looks great. I just joined that flickr group and added some pictures. I'm going to have to comb through there to see what book I should buy next. (I work near a Japanese book store that sells a lot of these craft books and it's dangerous!)
Posted by: sara | July 08, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I love that matryoshka. My daughter bought a Japanese crochet book and it has the most beautiful patterns. Now you have me wanting to buy one for the sewing patterns!
Posted by: Betty @ She's Sew Pretty | July 08, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Beautiful doll and you do find the most wonderful magazines and photos too.
Posted by: Lisa | July 08, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I just posted about japanese craft books too, they have the same addictive tendency like blogging. The matryoshka has fabulous colors, I love those vivid reds she's wearing.
Posted by: Merruli | July 08, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Awesome photos!
~ Gabriela ~
Posted by: Gabriela Delworth | July 08, 2008 at 02:54 PM
emily, your blog is so beautiful. Your photographs make the most simple of objects look like pieces of art. I merely sent you a box of "stuff" and your skillful eye turned it into an amazing fantasmagoria of color.
and you also are turning me on to Japanese craft books..... I guess I couldn't see the forest for the trees...
Posted by: Jan in nagasaki | July 08, 2008 at 04:30 PM
oh she's beautiful. I love her little hearts.
Melx
Posted by: Mel Goodsell | July 08, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Looks so great!
I always enjoy stopping by:)
Japanese goodies are wonderful!
kayellen
Posted by: kayellen | July 08, 2008 at 10:06 PM
You again amaze me with your wonderful posts! It is hard not to feel inspired after visiting your blog! Jen
Posted by: frazzy dazzles | July 09, 2008 at 12:03 AM
those fabrics are amazing.
Love the matrioskas you make as well:)
Beautiful inspiration... i buy my japanese books and fabrics at www.rosapomar.bigcartel.com
:)
Posted by: Zelia | July 09, 2008 at 01:36 AM
Beautiful fabrics. From what I've seen of Japanese craft books they are so inspirational. There is a site showing lots of pics from a Japanese quilt festival- they are so unusual and beautiful.
I've made roses like those to decorate Christmas present tub bags for Christmas. I used freezer paper to get accurate wiggles. They are great fun to make. Can't wait to see what you create.
Posted by: Melanie | July 09, 2008 at 01:57 AM
That book looks great. Is it easy to work out how things are made?
Posted by: Joanna | July 09, 2008 at 02:28 AM
WHat a lovely feast for the eyes that post is. Lots of wondeful crafty inspiration.
Posted by: Kristine | July 09, 2008 at 02:29 AM
Oh, I want to thank you sweet people for your words of kindness!
Joanna, it does look the things are easy to make following the detailed drawings!
~Emily
Posted by: Ravenhill | July 09, 2008 at 07:05 AM
Wow, so beautiful and bright! Lovely :)
Posted by: Heather | July 09, 2008 at 09:03 AM
So international! Japanese-fabric Russian dolls created by an American in Norway! LOL! They are absolutely lovely!
Posted by: Barbara | July 09, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Wow, I really like the Japanese crafting books, even you don't understand a word, they are so great to look at,
thanks for sharing this with us,
the doll is adorable, I am tempted!!!!
Posted by: fleurfatale | July 09, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Ooh thanks for all the links and Japanese crafty goodness!
Posted by: lina | July 09, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Gorgeous Matryoshkas. i see you are featured in a treasury on the front page of etsy! congrats!
Posted by: Jo | July 09, 2008 at 07:54 PM
ohhhh my, you have been bitten by the japanese crafting bug. i LOVE japanese crafts....and especially their cute fabrics. i have quite a few books myself....although i have yet to put them to use. have fun looking and making all of the gorgeous things!!!!!!! and i just saw you on the front page...again! :)
Posted by: nathalie | July 09, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Oh, I am so happy to get so much feedback that you all love Japanese crafting too! So happy to share it with you.
A big thank you to Jo and Nathalie for letting me know my matryoshka mother and baby were on Etsy front page!
~Emily
Posted by: Ravenhill | July 09, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Beautiful fabric, I love dragonflies. I love to see the japanese craft books that other people buy. It gives me ideas about which books I might like :)
Posted by: Cele | July 10, 2008 at 03:06 AM
Thanks for all the lovely links and aren't all the fabrics and pictures just lovely. I too love the little pink and red bag - gorgeous!
Posted by: Louise | July 10, 2008 at 03:58 AM
Nanna is gorgeous!
Posted by: Tizzalicious | July 10, 2008 at 06:00 AM
if not already sol I would loooooove to buy it ! please let me know !!
Posted by: sissou | July 10, 2008 at 10:19 AM
I really get a kick out of these super-hyper colors! They are so brilliant. I found your blog from Etsy and am glad I did!
Posted by: Leigh Vashey | July 10, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Thanks for all the great links!! I just got my first Japanese pattern book and am really inspired! I love your new dolls! I could just buy all of them!!!
Posted by: bethany | July 10, 2008 at 12:20 PM
wow, i love all of your japanese finds and goodies! such lovely pictures, too :)... and your doll! what a sweetheart!
Posted by: Varenia | July 10, 2008 at 12:45 PM
My favorite are the basket pincushions. For some reason I can't get enough pincushions and those are ssoooo pretty.
Posted by: Joanna | July 13, 2008 at 06:47 PM