Despite the best of intentions, I didn’t touch the sewing machine at all this past weekend. It was a tiny bit due to the fact that I’ve made a mess of the softie I was working on and now have to do mucho unpicking (which I am putting off as much as possible), but mostly due to inspiration hitting in other areas of my life and enjoying the weekend with my girls.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a good finds post, so here’s a round up of a few lovely things I’ve come across lately (I think I’ve tweeted most of these things so apologies if you’ve seen this all from me before!):

>> The work of Pilgirm Lee. I’m sure you’ve heard of her already. But if you haven’t then you must head on over to her website right now. You will love it. I promise. I think she has one of the coolest names EVER, plus she is such a lovely person too :-) AND she’s running a month of free downloads to celebrate her birthday!

{image credit: Pilgrim Lee}

>> Pilgim pointed me in the direction of Modern Kiddo. A blog by two mamas who love and feature retro-inspired design for kids. Definitely a site to bookmark.

>> I am a sucker for objects with words so I adore all the things that WhizzMe put together for her etsy treasury “Words to Live By” (it’s also got me thinking about buying handstamped jewelry as gifts for upcoming birthdays - let me know if you have a recommendation!)

>> Sweeeeeet printable bookplates by Helen Dardik

{image credit: Helen Dardik}

>> Zakka wooden envelope template via Sweet Tidings (with tutorial on making cute envelopes on the Parasol Blog). I’ve got so many cool pages from magazines that I’ve ripped out and can recycle into envelopes! (it’s the simple joys . . .)

{image credit: Sweet Tidings}

>> Talk about recycling, Go and Send Jewelry turns old cutlery (like spoons and forks) into rings and bracelets! I love this idea!

Here are two TED talks I really enjoyed - I was inspired by them and maybe you’ll find some inspiration in them too :-)

>> An excellent talk about nurturing creativity (and the concept of ‘creative genius’) by Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert. She seems so grounded and humble. I love the fact that she likes to put time and energy into researching the history of ideas and concepts to help in forming her own opinions - you notice this in her books also.

>> And for all you runners, an interview with American Para-Olympian Aimee Mullins. It’s definitely stopped me from finding excuses not to go out running!

Wishing you all a happy week ahead. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy all the good stuff in your life :-)

I like looking to a few style* blogs mostly for inspiration in terms of my softies and dolls. I know that sounds weird, but I like thinking about how the textures, prints, shapes, colours, accessories, etc can be reflected in how my softies/dolls look or what they wear. Of course, I also get ideas for things I can make for the girls (a list that just keeps growing and never sems to get shorter!) and perhaps a few things for me too (I am trying to convince myself to wear more colour!).

So here are a few that I really liked this past week:

1. Looking back on archives from Elsita’s The Hidden Seed blog. There are so many outfits to heart, like these - plus Elsita is someone who is truly beautiful both inside and out :-) More here.

{image credits: The Hidden Seed}

2. From the Mori Girl blog found via Jamfancy. A Mori-Girl: “belongs to a Japanese subculture. ‘Mori’ means forest in Japanese, and mori girls look like fairytale forest wanderers in their loose dresses, vintage prints and quaint accessories. Mori girls choose to live their lives on their own terms, stopping to appreciate the little things that others overlook amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life“.

Again, I like so many outfits/designers/shops featured by this blog but here is a particular favourite from Japanese magazine, Fudge (top) and a few pieces from the Sally Scott collection (bottom). More here.

{image credits: Mori Girl Blog}

I also like the this statement that the blog’s author made: “It is also quite true that mori girl style tries to downplay sexuality . . . Mori girls, while peace-loving, are ardent about expressing their individuality, albeit in discreet ways. Their penchant for unique clothing, creative hobbies and rejection of mainstream attitudes to life are a quiet protest against the status quo“.

3. I’ve mentioned Sew Weekly before (Mena is attempting to sew one dress a week using vintage patterns). I adore this classic circa 1950s dress she made for the holiday season:

{image credit: Sew Weekly}

I am also so impressed and inspired by the way she has used one Simplicity pattern and turned it into 5 fabulous dresses for her daughter. More here.

4. And finally, a new-to-me blog called Fashion Nation from Singapore. I’ve just started reading their blog and they recently posted some pics from an emerging designer/label, Chalk. I’m really liking Chalk’s Glad Rag Doll collection . . . .

{image credits: Fashion Nation}

Super cute, right? More here.

And of course, in terms of sewing my own clothes, I enjoy looking at what is going on over at Burdastyle, the Colette Patterns blog (I really hope to make one her patterns soon!), and what garments Nikkishell, Angry Chicken, All Buttoned Up and Bug and Pop are making/modifying - amongst many others.

How about you? Where are you sourcing your ‘style‘ inspiration from at the moment?

[*As an aside: I've got a couple of what some would call 'fashion' blogs in my blog reader. I don't like the term 'fashion', which to me always means what a small percentage of the population deems popular and trendy at the time. And you know what? Usually only a small percentage of the population can actually wear what is apparently 'fashionable' anyway!

Plus, I have found some self-proclaimed 'fashion' blogs who exclusively speak of popular and ridiculously-overpriced brands/labels (as if they are THE only clothes to be seen in) to be something starting with 'b' and ending in 'itchy' both online and offline. So I steer clear of those - who wants to support that kind of superficial nonsense?

I prefer the term 'style', which is more personal and genuine and lasting. Everyone has it and we express it in our own unique ways. Simply: to each their own. So I'd rather call them 'style' blogs :-)]

You know that feeling when you are reading blogs and then you follow a link, to another link and then you land on something so fabulous and you think, “Now why have a I never seen this before?!”

This is what happened when I followed a link on Cicada Daydream’s blog to a link to the Japan Society and came upon the work of the late Japanese textile designer (and painter, illustrator) Keisuke Serizawa (1895-1984). I immediately fell in love with his work, attracted by the rich palette of colours (using natural dyes), but also the folk art motifs and bold graphics and - because I am no expert in Art or Design - it simply made me happy to look upon his work!

Some examples:

Pattern Imitating Glaze Dripping Down the Side of a Jar, 1961. Credit.

Flowers, 1940. Credit.

Mandala of the Four Season, 1971. Credit.

Seabream, 1964. Credit.

Two panels of Views of Okinawan, 1948. Credit.

Japanese Symbols, 1960s. Credit.

Keisuke Serizawa was designated as a “Living National Treasure” for his katazome stencil dyeing technique in 1956 by the Emperor of Japan. He became a leading artist of the ‘Mingei‘ art movement, which in Japanese generally means folk art. His work can be found on kimonos, paper prints, wall scrolls, folding screens, curtains, fans and calendars.

I understand that some of his work has been reproduced into calendars and I found an example of the 2008 calendar via Apartment Therapy:

Credit.

. . . but I have also found out that the 2010 Keisuke Serizawa calendar is sold out!!! Bummer. Soaking in the beauty of his work via the internet will have to do for now I guess :-)

Hope these samples of his work brought a smile to your face too. Wishing you all a reinvigorating weekend!!

Fawns are still in progress but getting closer to completion. I’ll be re-opening my etsy shoppe this Sunday and the fawns will be available for purchase then. Next week: A batch of grumpy owls on tree stumps :-)

I’m slowly working through all the blogs in my Reader (although current unread items still stands at 1000+!) and so far I have come across some real gems that I thought I’d share here:

>> A beautiful pattern by Yasmine entitled “Little Princesses”. I think this would look gorgeous as a little girl’s dress, on cushions, or used to upholster one of those kid-sized armchairs:

{image credit: A Print A Day}

>> Stunning handmade and hand-painted art dolls based on Alice in Wonderland by Cart Before the Horse (via Plush You)

{image credit: Cart Before the Horse}

>> “Garden Nest” is definitely my favorurite Amy Sol painting to date. She also provides in-progress photos, which make me just as happy as seeing the finished piece!

{image credit: Amy Sol}

>> Poketo’s new range of Paper-cut Wallets - especially this one by Jayme McGowan:

{image credit: Poketo}

>> The colourful work by Simon Wild, particularly this mixed media piece “The Sounds That Brilliant Things Make”

{image credit: Simon Wild}

>> Speaking of brilliant, I am continually floored (and once I pick myself off the floor - inspired) by the softie characters created by Jodie of Ric-Rac. It’s very hard to believe she suffers from EITTTS at all! :-)

{image credit: Ric-Rac}

>> The re-styled Shakira dress on Burdastyle. Love the colour! (But pretty sure I couldn’t pull that off myself - might opt for a darker palette and tiny bit longer too . . . that is, once I get over this fear of actually making my own clothes!)

{image credit: Burdastyle}

>> I also LOVE this Colette dress (Ceylon) that Teegs made. Doesn’t she look gorgeous! I’ve got that Colette pattern on my Must-Make List.

{image credit: Teegs}

Is it only Tuesday?! It’s already been a crazy week. I can’t wait to go for a run tonight in much cooler temps. Hello Autumn my dear friend, how wonderful of you to drop by again!!

I know this little pile of fabric doesn’t look like much at the moment:

But it will soon be magically transformed into some fawns :-)

It’s funny that in Sunday’s post I was struggling with inspiration and just getting on with it, and tonight I find myself raring to go.

The spark? I recalled that on the weekend the girls and I made up some plaster magnets. My eldest, who recently turned 6, received one of those cute make-it-yourself kits for her birthday. They had been asking me all week, “When are we gonna make these? When? When? . . . When?!” and we finally broke open the box on Sunday afternoon.

Lots of newspapers strung about, lots of accidentally painted hands (and faces . . . and floorboards, whoops!), lots of mess, and lots of fun. After a few hours, we had some new fridge magnets and two girls who were very happy with what they had made.

The following photos were taken by my 3-year-old (quite the little photographer I will admit!):

And so I was reminded how wonderful and exciting it is to get stuck into something new. I’ve been working on completing half-done projects lately and it was getting stale. Time to work on some softies from scratch again; let’s start from the very beginning (and as Julie Andrews would agree, a very good place to start :-)). So new fawns - from scratch - are on the way. And perhaps next week, a completely new softie design, or two :-)

I adore these girls . . .

. . .  the two little souls who keep me afloat at a time when it would be easier to be consumed by the waves.

My creative space today: kitchen bench -

Hot cup o’ coffee. Breaking up reviews of documentation (that I have had to take home from the office) with staring at the pages of Dolly Dolly 16.

My goodness - how have I never heard of this magazine before??? Jamfancy mentioned it when making her gorgeous doll here so I looked it up on the net and ordered a copy just to see. And wow - so much dolly goodness! It’s all in Japanese so I have no clue what the articles are about but there are lots of swoon-worthy dolls:

And this issue has a tutorial on making really cute (and very real-looking) miniature treats like cakes and macaroons. There are also patterns for dolls and dolls clothes including a pattern for making the doll on the right - sweet!

So whilst I’m reading this mag I’m getting lots of good ideas about clothing for future dolls and quickly sketching a few out for refinement later on.

Some Peg Bears for the show have been completed (left-to-right: Nagma, Nakasi, Nha Nac, Nederpop and Nisiotika):

You’ll find individual pics over on my Flickr.

I’ve almost completed some cushions using my custom fabric . . .

. . . and I’m all fired up to get started on a few more button-jointed dolls like Constance on the weekend - completely inspired by Dolly Dolly :-)

More Creative Spaces here!

How lovely is unexpected mail?! I had a rotten day at work today and came home with another migraine. But it is amazing how one little package can turn things around so quickly!

With all the recent busyness I had forgotten that I’d ordered a couple of fat quarters from Spoonflower a few weeks ago. I was stoked when I saw the package sitting on the kitchen bench this afternoon. I ripped it open and I kid you not - the migraine quickly disappeared :-)

I took the risk of ordering a few yards of these designs last week when the Aussie Dollar was a little stronger than it is now (without waiting for the fat quarters to arrive first) and I did breathe a sigh of relief when I opened the package. I’m so happy with the way they have all turned out. Plus the base cloth is so much better (texture and weight-wise) than the cloth they had originally used.

I’m also so glad that Kirsty recently posted up a very clever method on folding a fat-quarter as I think that will come in handy for folding up some of the fabric for the show - the video is fantastic! And Kirsty also pointed me to Hoppo Bumpo’s Seam-Along (what a brilliant idea) - I’m thinking the French Seams will be a good option for some non-softies I am hoping to sew up.

One thing I am bummed out about is the fact that I missed out on joining Brown Owls this year! I’ve had it on my list of things to do since late last year and completely overlooked it. So exciting that Brown Owls are popping up all over Australia! And the first Melbourne meet-up is coming up soon too! Oh well, at least I can still listen to the Brown Owls radio station :-) Go on and join up - I’ve already found some new favourites to listen to!

I’ve got two lists going at the moment: one called “Need To Make” where items are crossed off quite regularly; and the other is called “Would Like to Make at Some Convenient Time in the Near Future“. Obviously the latter list hardly gets anything crossed of it and instead grows a little bit everyday :-)

But I’m happy that I’ve been able to find a little time in the last week to make some progress on that latter list. The first mini-project was to make a simple apron from my “Folksy Teaparty” fabric printed via Spoonflower (please excuse the marks on the mirror - who knew how hard it would be to photograph yourself wearing an apron!):

And the second mini-project involved cushions using my “Woodland Girl” (teamed with a polka dot print from Amy Butler’s Lotus collection) and “Faux Crocheted Circles” prints (also via Spoonflower):

And now on the couch:

The Cushions were backed with a chocolate linen and snap closures. These were done in no time at all and very satisfying - great projects for the kind of hot weather we are currently experiencing in Melbourne!

And a few quick links:

>> If you like Yoshitomo Nara, you will like pics of his latest exhibition at Blum & Poe

>> My latest fave artist - Carrie Chau.  I am disappointed that I didn’t get to see her show, “Indigo Child” in Hong Kong late last year, which was happening at the same time I was there! Here are photos of her show.

My desk is a serious mess (and it’s now started spreading itself out on to the floor), so it’s not worth showing since I can hardly find anything there myself! Also, the weather’s been super nice lately so we’ve been spending time outdoors (which means less time indoors cleaning up said mess :-)). Instead of messy desk pics, here are a few of the girls enjoying the sunshine:

And one of my recent favourite pictures drawn by Ava which celebrates the outdoors, complete with “rainbow grass” :-)

And speaking of favourites, here are a few more on the internet that have me swooning:
>> Elsa Mora’s new blog on paper-cutting
>> Sketches by Amy Sol for her upcoming solo show
>> Children’s book illustrations by Paul Rand featured by Chronicle Books
>> ALL the Box Prints by Dolan Geiman, but especially “Field Guide Tennessee”
>> Week of Australian Fabric Design on Mikes
>> Tryst Jewelry found via Paisely St Claire
>> Handmade cloth book using fabric printed via Spoonflower

I’ve started getting up at 5:45am most mornings to fit more into my day but the body is still trying to adjust so I’m off to get another cup of coffee - hope to be back soon with more softies!

Thanks to Bug and Pop* for this week’s “This Is” theme - “This is what I want to be when I grow up“.

I mentioned a few posts ago that I want to be Beci Orpin when I grow up :-)

{Beci Orpin. Image credit: Outre Gallery}

Well, of course, not actually be her or be exactly like her but I think more to be engaged creatively and make stuff on a full-time basis, in a number of different mediums; and to fully develop my own style and have that translate across the different mediums; and to do it well. Like she does. I think that’s what I meant :-) And then there’s my little secret wish - no so secret anymore - which is to quit my job and study Textile Design. But that is still many years away I think.

It’s kind of funny that this is the theme this week because I just started reading “The Divided Heart” by Rachel Power (as recommended by Claire and a few other creative Mums) and so far I am nodding in agreement at the end of every page. Sometimes I cringe because it has spoken so clearly and so honestly about feelings I would have never admitted to anyone - those feelings that arise during moments of excruciating frustration, juggling motherhood and the desire to be freely engaged in a creative process (and feeling like a complete failure at both). And it’s got me thinking about what I really want to work towards - “what I want to be when I grow up” - which is something like what I’ve written up there. But I’m still figuring it out and still thinking about what little thing I can do everyday during those spare minutes to bring it into fruition.

So before I start heading off on a tangent, I highly recommend the book for all creative Mums and Mums-to-be. Lots - LOTS - of food for thought and so many amazing insights- and I’m only up to the 3rd chapter!

Okey dokey, so back to making stuff :-) Babushka Soft Doll #2 was completed a few days ago - made from vintage Japanese kimono scraps and wool felt:

I spent last Friday out and about with the girls, including a trip to Hudson so that they could see the show (they loved it :-)). A few things we collected from the day: cutie-pie brooches from Lark (from Dymocks in the city), a key chain from Heidi’s Yummy Breakfast collaboration with kidrobot, and Yoshimoto Nara postcard (both from Hudson), and the cutest little owl in my favourite kind of green that Nikki brought back from Japan (thanks Nikki!).

* By the way, check out Bug and Pop’s new shop of super cute kids clothes!