sew-together bag 1

Jenny B had her birthday back in September and these are her gifts.  That's thumbprint art made by moi! We are twins in so many ways. If you don't have anything nice to say, come play with us...

Below is a sew-together bag (pattern from here) I made her as well. You may remember this fabric from another bag I made her a couple of years ago. I don't know if she remembers but she wanted me to buy this fabric when I was visiting her in Japan. I'm sure she is thoroughly sick of this fabric by now:)

I thought the pattern was ok to follow but when I found this sew-along here, I really liked the pattern! It really really helped. I've made two now but they were both for other people so I have no idea how practical they are or how much the hold, etc.

Double Gauze Hippo Top

Another Simplicity 2193 Double Gauze Top. Here is the 1st one. They both are getting lots of wear here in wonderful weather California:) If you've not felt Double Gauze before let me tell you, it's lovely. Super lightweight and soft. It's two pieces of gauze sewn together or something like that. Perfect for summer. I again lined only the bodice in batiste and no interfacing. It makes it perfectly stable. The hippo fabric is by Kokka.

This is the 1st thing I sewed the minute I could get in my sewing room and sew! 

Vintage Style Backpack Tote

Remember this fabric that I got in Japan? I finally made something for Jenny B! I made it about a month ago but then my family came right after so I couldn't photograph it or blog it till today. She said I could make anything and I wanted to really show off the fabric. It had to be a big item. This bag pattern by Amy Butler called Vintage Style Backpack Tote was a perfect idea for it. The pattern called for a big front pocket but not only did I not have enough fabric but I would have had to cover up one of the little people or match them up perfectly. The outside fabric is like a linen cotton blend and the inside is a canvas. I didn't use any interfacing except for the straps. I didn't interface the whole thing because I didn't want it to be heavy and bulky.

Jenny B is a school teacher for the military in Japan so I think (and hope) she'll get a lot of use from this bag! If she needs her hands free she can wear it as a back pack. The straps are adjustable (velcro).

The back strap loops.

I grabbed something heavy and random from my sewing room to show the space inside and what it looks like when on the back with something heavy in it. Below I had Emily (fresh from the back yard in her bathing suit) hold the bag so you can see the size of it relative to an 8 year old!

I hope you LOVE it Jenny B! 

Double Gauze Kitty Top

 A ruffle sleeve top made from Double Gauze by Kokka, bought in Japan (although I have seen it on fabricworm.com!) and the pattern is 2193 Simplicity. The lining for the top part are out of batiste and no interfacing was used. I love love love this fabric. Except I hate that it's an off white color which I never thought about till putting it on over a white shirt. It'll be nice in the summer with out anything under it.

 I didn't have any small black buttons with shanks so I had to use the other kind. I can't wait to be closer to a fabric store. One place we're looking at to move (but don't really have a say in it; just thinking about places) has a Joann's and Ikea almost 2 hours away. BOO!!  

**click on the photos to see them bigger**

New Faux Taxidermy from DaWanda. I LOVE these so much. They have been on my wish list Forever and I finally broke down and got them. They are hanging in our hallway between bedrooms. Jon just read recently that these faux bust thingies are out of style or going out of style. Whatever! 

Ava and Emily on a basket-type swing that you see in Germany a lot. 

A new Washi Tape Dispenser from etsy. 

And finally, Ava cut her thumb at school. The tip finally came off and it is finally healed. 

One last thing.
I was reading about Etsy and wanted to know how it got it's name. This is what I found:
 (the guy who started the site) named the site Etsy because he "wanted a nonsense word because I wanted to build the brand from scratch. I was watching Fellini's 8 ½ and writing down what I was hearing. In Italian, you say 'etsi' a lot. It means 'oh, yes.' And in Latin, it means 'and if.
Pretty cool, no?

Japan-waaahhhh!

I think I mentioned before that I would be going to Japan over Thanksgiving week? I went and I'm baaack! went to see my BFF Jennifer and her family. Jenny B as she is known on the blog is a teacher and works for the American military school system in Japan. I love her and her family and hadn't seen them in years! Well I saw Jenny B a year ago but hadn't seen her family in years. 

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This is primarily a crafting blog so I will mostly show the crafty things I saw/bought there. I felt like I was going to the mother land of all things cute (Kawaii cute that is). The Japanese make the coolest cutest things. Really. They have my philosophy for decorating; cover it in cuteness. 

While at our hotel in Tokyo I googled fabric stores in Tokyo and found this blog (thank you fellow blogger!!) I showed the concierge and she directed us to Loft (one of the coolest stores I've ever been in) and another fabric store ...oh man, I can't remember the name. It's the one on the left and it started with an M. I'll have to find my papers. I bought fabric at the one I can't remember the name and misc. cuteness at Loft on the right.

You see this fabric?? Oh my goodness! Double gauze and cottons and knits. 

Jenny B and I LOVED this one above and she asked I make her something out of it. Anything. One pair of undies coming up! Here's my stash below. Not a good photo but when they arrive in the mail (I had to send them home free military mail or I wouldn't have been able to lift my suitcase) I'll show each one in detail.

Double sided double gauze. WHAT THE WHAT??

laminated cottons.

Dots and ginghams.

I know you recognize the fabrics below (my sewer readers not you Dad).

This trip besides seeing my Jenny B was like a crafters dream come true. It's all the fabrics and cuteness I see all over blogland. I finally got to see it in person! It really made me miss all my Goose coworkers. You all would have appreciated all of these fabrics and been excited to go with me!

I'm dying just looking at these photos again. And so you can understand how much each fabric was a meter, 1,000 yen is about $13 USD. So if it was 1,160 yen a meter then it was about $14USD. 

I bought lots of washi tape and just other random ...wait for it...CUTENESS!!

Mount Fuji out my window. Cool huh?? Me and JB at the Tokyo Tower. It's a fish-eye lens which should explain the warped heads.

The big buddha which has a name but because of an inside joke I'm not allowed to say it:)

Oh man..the harajuku area. That place had some serious cute. I barely saw any of the dressed up girls you'd see if you googled Harajuku. But that's ok. I just wanted to buy all the stuff the area had for sale.  

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I bought these Kokeshi dolls at a flea market from various sellers. I am so in love with these. Soooo in love. 

The bowls are in my kitchen, one for each of us. And the Mt. Fuji tissue/change purse is in my purse. I had seen it on pinterest a while ago and wanted it. Then we walked into Loft and it's one of the 1st things i saw. I HAD to have it. Sock stores were everywhere and oh how cute are they??? I got them in the girls sizes too. They LOVE them.

I did get a red riding hood cup but it's not any of these. It's being shipped with the fabric so I'll show it when it gets here. 

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I had a wonderful time in Japan as you can see. We toured Shrines and graveyards and many a Starbucks:)