Japanese sewing books

Phew. I am working at the Queensland Theatre Company right now. Making costumes for Grimm Tales. The costumes are amazing and if you are around Brisbane I would recommend going to see the show.

One thing about sewing all day is that you don't really feel like sewing all night when you get home. So tonight I thought I would post about Japanese sewing books and imagine that I have a magic sewing fairy in the cupboard. My three sewing wishes would be...

The first one I have is Feminine Wardrobe and I love this sleeveless bow top! 

The second book I have is Sweet Dress Recipe and  really like the pin tuck details on the skirt and dress (two wishes in one?)

Finally I have an accessories book and I love, love, love this back draped (deceptively simple from the front) cardi. YUM.

So where to get them if you are interested!

I go to Pompadours Craft cafe on Esty to look inside them and I have bought two recently(she also runs a Ebay store and often has more pictures of the inside pages there). The postage can work out to make it more expensive than the second option which is yesasia (I have linked to the Pattern Magic book, if you scroll down it gives you other pattern book options) 

I could not get one of the books I was looking for on yesasia so that's why I ordered from the esty shop. But if you buy from the yesasia over a certain amount you don't pay postage, so it can work out cheaper.If you want to navigate to the endless scroll of Japanese craft books on yesasia here this is the route via mouse clicks: 

Japanese>Books>Lifestyle>Home Arts

I found it useful to get the authors name from the esty store and then put it into the search on yesasia

If you can't be bothered and want to pay about $10 more per book plus $10 delivery go to Tessuti, but the others are cheaper.

Alrighty, if you do order some here is a site that gives you translations for simple sewing terminology.
 I have read that the clothes patterns are for those up to 160cm tall and you have to add 1.5cm seam allowance to all patterns.

Plus if you want to get your hands on some english versions of these pattern book The Book Depository has Pattern Magic for $22.92, much better than the $45 dollars in some of the shops in Brisbane. There is free delivery too. yes one is winging its way to me now... naughty.

Phew! Hopefully the weekend will free me up to draft my undies patterns and get cutting.

xx

Prints and shows

I am so excited. I am the owner of another  Audrey Kawasaki print, whoo hooo! What makes it sweeter is that all the proceeds of my purchase go to the Red Cross Appeal for the Canterbury Earthquake.

Tony and Amber from the amazing store Pop Up in Wellington, NZ, put up the limited edition print for a silent auction with all proceeds going to the appeal. I won the auction, yipeeee. Thanks to Tony and Amber for raising funds to help out with what must be a frightening and stressful time for people affected by the earthquake. What great people who own an amazing store.

So here is the print I will be receiving shortly.

One other thing to add is that the two shows that I have been working on are due to start their season very soon. The Queensland Ballet are due to perform in an amazing show about the life of legendary dancer Dame Margot Fonteyen, in Fonteyen Remembered. I did some making and millinery for one of the many, many beautiful costumes. To read more and book tickets click here

The show I am currently on is Aida  at the Queensland Opera. The costumes look amazing and in the workshop we had a sneak peek of them on two of the performers when they went to a photo shoot. I really can't wait to see and hear this Opera.  You can find out more here.

I was considering going into my sewing room to sew away, but it is more the case of reality that I need to go in there and erm tidy...but maybe a cuppa first :)

xx

Lovely

I live in a wonderful spot in Wellington, Island Bay, and to get into town I have to drive along a looooong road... lucky for me then at my first set of traffic lights I get to gaze into the windows of the shop and studio of Emma.

I have gazed and I finally went in. Beautiful clothes by fashion designer and director Emma Wallace. Sumptuous materials, stylish prints and quirky detailing. Check them out for yourself at the shop or online at Emma Collections. Not only is there clothes but a very great collection of accessories. Plus Emma is lovely too. Perfect.

Up and coming is a chance for you to get some local hand made gifts for the holidays. From the 18th to the 24th of December at the Thistle Hall Gallery, Upper Cuba Street is JUST GOOD STUFF. Check out the blog for a preview of some of the good stuff on offer.

Some good stuff for me was noticing that my major work dress was project of the week on BurdaStyle, sweet as. I got lots of very kind comments too, thank you.


Today I have been listening to Kings of Convenience and then watched some of their videos and here is one of my favourites.


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Its love!

Oh golly gosh perfection does exist after all... I love this dress from the colours, to the modern lace work, to the shape, the graphic quality, yum, yum, yum! It is from Alexander McQeen's 2010 resort collection.

I am busy, busy finishing costumes for the graduation show, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and tailoring, then waiting for graduation... which means making my grad dress... but hey I may find a couple of thousand hiding in an old shoe under our house and be able to get the dress above *sigh*

I will be finished school this week so expect some bumper updates in the next couple of weeks. Until then make a date and check out CRAFT 2.0 this Saturday, 24th of October and make room for Fabric-a-brac, Saturday 14th of November.

xx

You gotta go!

Its just under one week until my 18th century costume and other fantastic costumes by my lovely classmates are on show... in a show!

If you are in NZ you can book online here, or call 04 381 9253 (automated line). It is a bargain at $10. Not only is there a show but an exhibit of three years of costume students work and light refreshments, so well worth it.

I am finishing up my 18th century dress, nearly there. Here are some shots of my petticoats mid construction. They have quite a lot of decoration on them now.

Thank you to all those who have left very kind comments after finding my blog via my featured member spot on BurdaStyle and those who read it that I don't know about :)

I will be pretty busy up until the 17th but I will post pictures of my finished dress on stage asap. Wish me luck.

xx

Wardrobe Refashion Runway

My first runway garment! You may remember that I sent over my Scrappy Reflapper dress to Nikki who runs the fabulous Wardrobe Refashion site to feature Wardrobe Refashion's runway show at Australia's The Stitches & Craft Show. Well here are some pictures from the Melbourne show of my dress, the model is a bit smaller than me so the dress is a tad to big for her but hey I am still as pleased as punch. Whoop whoop!

You can check out the other great garments sent in by other members too here One of my favorites was Veronica Darling's wiggle dress made from a tablecloth! If you live in Australia the last date for the show is from the 19th-23rd of August in Sydney. Nikki has a refashion zone there and is at the Burdastyle stall too, keep an eye on the Wardrobe Refashion site as she often is looking for helpers. I would totally help out if I lived in Sydney!

I have been slack as on my Wardrobe Refashions of late but I am still upholding my pledge.

xx

In a Space

My latest costume creations have been for The New Zealand School of Dance Choreographic Season, which this year is entitled In A Space. My contribution is just one of the many to this years show. Choreographers, dancers, designers, fellow costume designers/constructors, lighting students, stage management students, marketing and tutors (phew) all put 110% in to the creation of the show.

If you are going to be in Wellington come along and see the performance at:

Te Whaea Theatre
11 Hutchison Road
Newtown
Wellington

7.30pm, Friday 5 & Saturday 6 June
2.00pm, Sunday 7 June
7.30pm, Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 June
Tickets are $18, or $15 concession.
Bookings: 04 381 9254 or www.nzschoolofdance.co.nz

I will put up images of my costumes after the show so they are a surprise! In the meantime check out Florian Teatiu one of the dance students (and this year one of the choreographers) perform the piece to be performed outside the theatre before the main event starts. This was uploaded to YouTube by Rebeeca Galloway the school of dance's marketing tour de force :) Enjoy and see you at the show!



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Make a date

The blogger has awoken! Well I won't be getting any points for consistency. But if you live in Wellington the next two weekends are full of crafty loveliness. Frabric-a-brac is a genius idea, bring along the fabrics, buttons etc in your stash you don't use and sell them. Others will be too so maybe you might not make any money and come home with just as much stuff... but hey. I will have a stall there so maybe I may meet you.

Make a date for this at

12noon - 4pm, Saturday 18 April

Brooklyn Community Centre, 18 Harrison St, Wellington

If you can't wait for that then hop along this Saturday to Craft 2.0 at the New Dowse in Petone. I went last year and it was SO good.

Saturday April 11th 2009 from 10am till 3pm

TheNewDowse, 45 Laings Road, Lower Hutt

Craft 2.0 also goes to Christchurch too.

xx