cloud embroidery

I'm feeling stitchy today. On a cloudy day like today, it has inspired me to embroider clouds with many face expressions. Found a treasure small size linen fabric scrap inside my craft box and then immediately I sketched on it.

I used outline stitch for face details, back stitch for the outline and french knot for filling the space. Last step, I think I 'll frame and hang it on my daughter's room.  

crochet collar

I used to be an impulse buyer. Bought many cute things on a craft store but then it's all ended inside my craft's box, overload, dusty and forgotten. Now, I always try to stay away from craft store if I don't have any crafty project plan. And always tend to optimized the usage of leftover materials. 
Just like this collar crochet project, I had this brown silky yarn for months and I want to get rid of it. I have no idea what should I do with it beside as a decorative string on a gift box xD. But then I tried to make children size collar and taadaa .... Feel so happy! Not because I could make a crochet collar, but its more because I didn't waste my yarn ^_^.

crochet hair elastic

Pinterest is one of my best sources for looking an ideas. Usually I pinning on late night before I fall asleep. One day  I stumbled upon with a collar crochet pattern on pinterest, then I simplified it into these scrunchies (ups...rookie level crocheter is here). Two pieces, one for me and the other is for my daughter because she wanted to wear it to school ;). 

My ex Boyfriend's Birthday

Last month was my husband's birthday, me and my daughter were busy to make a special gift for him. My daughter decided to make a bookmark and I made a doll which looks like him inspired from my daughter's illustration.

There were so many trial and error while making this doll. It's not as easy as I saw the tutorial on youtube XP, but I really enjoyed it and decided to make some more dolls in the future. 

Let's Make Bunting

It's been a long time I didn't update my blog (my last post was in March) for one reason and another. But it didn't mean I'd stop crafting during the break (oh...doing nothing can cause me a headache ;p) I do have some projects to share and they're still in waiting line to be uploaded. 

Or you can check my instagram account regularly for my latest project. And I would love to hear your thoughts, or just to say hi would make my day ;).

Summer in Japan in my point of view are about fireworks, bazaars,  yukatas, and lots of festival events. Every residence area have their own community festival, include my place, and it's open for public.

Last month, a group of mothers from my daughter's kindergarten were busy preparing things to sell on school's summer bazaar. We made hair elastic, mask, food, candies, headband, button practice toy, games and bunting. Mothers were split into several group, and I join with group of moms who made bunting. 

At home I tried to remake it and want to share it with you.

I have some scrap fabrics at home, I cut them into isosceles triangle with size 14,5 cm on top and 15.5 cm on the side.     

Next step is hemmed top side about 1.5 cm then hand stitch with colored embroidery floss.   

For the excess fabric you can just cut it off or fold and stitch it. Mine, I prefer to fold it.

Here is the final look, I put small pom pom (again!) between the gap.

This is how I displayed it on our living room. And I add some unused finger puppet as a decoration.

Bunny Series Fabric Bag

Last month, my daughter's teacher handed me an Elementary school's guide book. The content is all about what kind stationery that we need to prepare before entering the school and how to labeling them. What is interested me the most is a mandatory for all children to bring an extra little bags with recommended size. Which it means I can make something for her ;).

I  went straight to a craft store buying some fabric and having a quick look on bag books tutorial. I decided to use linen and cotton fabric, polyester crochet yarn for border and pom pom, and some embroidery floss. 

For tote bag tutorial I will link you to her website. Her tutorial is very easy to follow and very inspiring. Now, I have many sewing project waiting in the line. 

The big is for books that size are bigger than A4 size. Smaller size drawstring bags are for gym clothes and indoor shoes. And the smallest pouch is for mask and handkerchief.

Bunnies are in progress 

DIY pom pom with fork. 

Later these will set as a bunny tail and decoration on drawstring bag.

After school, I forced her to be my model ;p.

Embroidery Baby Boy Figure

Last month my friend asked me to make embroidery figure for her son birthday gift. 

I asked her to send me her son's pictures and kind of details that she want me to put it on. 
And then she dropped me a few list things to be done such as her son front hair whorl, two flags that reflect parent's origin (mom is Japanese and dad is Austrian), and owls hanging somewhere. 

I had a lot of fun with her idea, and I would love to share it with you.

Waiting a Newborn Baby to Come

My experience as a beginner crocheter, reading someone else's pattern without a diagram is so difficult. Everyone has their own style in writing, and me who had no experience with it will make the project totally look different than it should be.

Then I realize that I feel more comfortable to read or watching crochet tips rather than reading someone else's pattern. It's good for me to learn how to make a crochet pattern from scratch.

A little story behind the making of this, first, I design a bear then I searched all over free crochet bear patterns on the internet but I found nothing. So I made an outline sketch as my guidance to make a perfect size and shape of crochet bear. I'm know this method looks silly but at least I got the look that I wanted ;).

And here is my sketch.

Then I made an illustration as a greeting card.

Now, these gift are ready to send to my friend as a warm welcome to the world of parenthood soon after the baby is born