Monthly Archives

May 2013

Japanese Fabrics

Shinzi-Katoh

May 31, 2013

As a closing post to this month’s theme of zakka month. I must write a post about Shinzi Katoh.  I think it is a pretty famous brand, but for those of you who do not know it. Shinzi Katoh is a Japanese Zakka artist/designer, book author ,illustrator and many more. From his website www.shinzikatoh.com‘s profile page, it says that he’s been designing all kinds of Zakka products for over 30 years and created more than 10,000 designs!

I cannot even remember how long ago it has been since I first discovered his work, but one of my first loves has got to be his fabrics. Like this one.

Image from Rick-Rack.com 

 

There are also many collaborations with well known characters such as Paddington Bear.
Image from Okadaya online shop

and his own take on fairy tale characters like the very famous Little Red Riding Hood that has been used by so many fabric designers out there.
Image from Okadaya online shop 

Other than fabrics, there are lots and lots of other Zakka goods designed by Shinzi Katoh. I don’t even know where to start so I’ll just highlight some of my favourite items.

Iron on patches based on his illustrations.
Image from Rick-Rack.com 

One of my favourite categories – Stationery. There are notebooks, pencils, Deco tape, bookmarks, albums, card holders… can’t name them all. Here are some mini cards. See how he has added his own style to famous characters like Pooh Bear?

 

Love these Thermos flask!

I love lunchboxes. I have too many but I am already thinking of buying these. ;P

 

Most ballet illustrations revolve around pink ballet shoes but these towels are so cute and whimsical at the same time.

Sora Bear was designed by Shinzi Katoh in 2008 for the Sorabea foundation which organizes activities that encourage kids to think about the global environment and help to stop global warming. The two main characters in the story are Sora and Bea who were separated from their mother due to the effects of global warming. You can watch a very touching animation of their story here on Sorabea’s facebook page. There are no words or dialogue so anyone, even a young child can understand it. Go watch it! One of the activities of the foundation is to donate Solar panels to preschools. I think it’s an amazing cause! All products bearing Sorabea chracters are subject to the 6% royalty of which 10% is donated to environmental conservation efforts.

Shinzi Katoh’s products are sold online and all over Japan. There are also a few physical stores, two in Osaka alone! One in Suminodo and one at Namba Parks. Unfortunately, one of them is closing down. If you are lucky to be in Osaka this few days, do not miss the closing sale at the Namba Parks (it’s a shopping mall at Namba station). It is on until 2nd of June only with discounts of 10-70%!

If you can’t be there, go explore the online shop in English, which also ships worldwide! 🙂 Unfortunately, there are no fabrics on the online store. Fabrics are sold separately by fabric retailers.

Happy shopping!

 

Bags or Zakka Sewing Patterns Free Patterns Sew-along Sewing Tutorials Sewing Videos

Free Sewing Pattern, Tutorial and Video – Double zip pouch

May 27, 2013

Along with the theme of Zakka month, I decided to tackle something that has been baffling me for a while. How to make a double zip pouch with two compartments. Well actually I wanted to make one with 3 zips but I decided to try it out with the simpler version of 2 zips first.  It certainly looks like a simple pouch. But it can get a little confusing. It was only after trying to do the tutorial that I realize there were so many steps. It’s not that tough to sew though, and once you get the hang of it, it’s quite easy to do a second. In fact, the actual sewing time (minus the time taken to get confused) is actually quite short.

This time round I managed to finish the youtube video first (link below) so I used screen captures for the tutorial but the result meant some pictures end up with motion blur. Must remember to stop and “pose” during video filming 🙂

Anyway, here’s what I made.

I love these gold zips with the zip pulls.

Perfect for storing sewing supplies!

And here’s the youtube video. I had no choice but to take the video at night so the lighting was not the best.

Step by step instructions. Click on the thumbnails to view the full size image.

I hope you like this project and that it’s not too confusing. If you don’t mind, I need some feedback with regards to the display of tutorial images. I used to incorporate them all in a PDF file but the downloading of the PDF files was causing me some bandwidth trouble with the server. So I am putting up the images directly in the post instead. Right now I am using a built in gallery function in wordpress that shows the thumbnails in a grid format and you can click on it to browse the pictures. But would it be better if the full size images were just included in the post instead? The page might take longer to load since it has lots of images to load up, but will that be easier to refer to compared to the gallery format? Let me know your thoughts!

Free Japanese Sewing Patterns Links Free Patterns

Free Japanese Sewing Patterns – Seria

May 20, 2013

Today’s free pattern link is from an unexpected source. The website of a Japanese chain of 100 yen shops called Seria. If you are not familiar or have not been to one, 100 yen shops are shops where every single item in the shop is priced at 100yen (actually 105 yen after tax). It makes it really fun to shop you can tell exactly how much you are spending just by multiplying the number of items in your basket by 105 yen. Or, if it makes it easier, multiply by 100 yen and then add 5% to the total.

At the current rate exchange 105 yen is only SG$1.28! In Singapore the main 100 yen shop franchise is Daiso. But over here it is known as the $2 shop since every item is $2 instead. So things are more expensive here but nevertheless, you can get lots of unbelievable deals here. Especially stuff like zakka and sewing supplies, household items, stationery, kitchen items, interior decor, too many to name. I’ve been to Seria in Sapporo, and even though all the 100yen shops are similar in concept, the range of goods they offer do vary since some of the items are designed or produced exclusively for each chain. I personally go to the $2 Daiso shop here quite a lot. I can get made in Japan sewing machine thread, sewing notions, bits of lace, sewing labels, velcro, large pieces of felt, cute buttons, zips, bodkins, elastic and sometimes even mini sewing pattern books, all at $2 each! And that’s just some of the items from the sewing department.

Back to the topic of free patterns. On the Seria website, there is a handmade recipe page (レシピ [re-shi-pi from the English word “recipe”] here actually means patterns/how-to-make and not cooking recipes). The recipes are divided into categories on the main page, so just click on the thumbnails to browse through each category. There are many patterns to browse through and they are all free for download. Not just sewing patterns, but also crochet, decor related, paper related crafts etc. The photography is beautifully done and so are the patterns.

 

 

Now, this is how you navigate the site. From the main free recipe page – http://www.seria-group.com/campaign/recipe/

Click on the category to browse
(Top row from left : Accessories / Interior / Knitted goods (includes crochet)
Middle row from left : Bags / Wrapping / Sweets Deco
Bottom row : Clothing+Accessories / Stationery / Wool Felt)

For each item, there will be a thumbnail as well as description, like the picture below

To download the patterns, just click on the brown button. A PDF file will open.

Here’s a sample of the PDF from one of the bag patterns. The actual size pattern is included on the pattern page. Instructions are in colored diagrams which makes it easy to identify which part of the bag it is. Very nicely done for a free pattern site.

Hope you will find today’s free pattern useful. You may not have a similar shop near you, but I bet with the free patterns and ideas you can come up with something cool of your own!

Is there a 100 yen shop near you? What are your favourite buys from them?

 

Giveaways

Winner of Giveaway #5

May 17, 2013

And…The winner of Giveaway #5 is Pamela. Congratulations Pamela! I will be emailing you soon for your address.

Pamela
MAY 13, 2013 AT 9:19 PM
These books fascinate me. I want to find them and just page through for as long as it takes. Thank you for all the information you provide on your blog. You have garnered my interest.

It has been a blast co-hosting this series of book giveaways of Inna. Congratulations to those of you who won!

May 1, Wed – Winner : Athena Neill
May 4, Sat – Winner : Angela
May 7, Tue – Winner : Maider
May 10, Fri – Winner : Evie
May 13, Mon – Winner : Pamela

 

For those of you who were not so lucky this time round, don’t worry, there will be more in the future. 🙂

Have a great weekend!

 

Free Japanese Sewing Patterns Links Free Patterns

Guest Post by Rin of Sew in Love

May 16, 2013

Today’s blog post is a guest post by Rin Gomura of Sew in Love. Rin is my very first guest blogger! I can’t remember how long ago it was when I started following her on twitter, and subsequently discovering her lovely blog, but I can tell you I was pretty excited when she emailed me and asked if she could share this wonderful translation with you guys. Remember this free pattern link I posted last February about Bee Factory? Rin helped to do a English translation for the “Granny” tote bag and is kindly sharing it with us. Do check out the other free patterns at Bee Factory as well as Rin’s blog Sew in Love. Which by the way, is having an exciting magazine giveaway!  Read on….

Granny-Bag-Translation-500-px Continue Reading