Cool Couture Remake Dresses
ISBN 9784579112289
purchased from Pomadour’s Craft Cafe

So, I actually ordered two books with my last etsy order and this is the second one. ‘If you’re ordering one, you might as well get two’ is my motto for Japanese Dress Books.

I particularly like the dramatic black and white photography and styling for the first section of the book. It is quite a contrast to the younger girl posing with a cinnamon bun on her shoulder in the second section which is actually standard styling for these books.

I was really excited when I discovered this book which focuses on transforming sweatshirts, tshirts, men’s shirts and neckties into new garments and accessories. I love to cut up and remix old clothes or thrift store finds, so it’s great to get some fresh ideas. I usually just deconstruct one item, while this book shows how to use parts of one to four garments to create some cool looking clothing. I need to do a bit more studying to figure out which one  to try first – Tunic from Twin Tshirts (girl with hand on hip and stuffed bee in her hand) is a definite forerunner.

Happy Homemade Vol. 3
ISBN 9784579112470
purchased from Pomadour’s Craft Cafe

I went to Quilt Market in Houston, Texas over the weekend. It was both fun and exhausting looking at fabric and quilts for two days straight. I have lots to tell, but I haven’t even downloaded the photos off my camera yet. Soon.

In the meantime, I wanted to share my latest etsy purchase. I didn’t realize there were more volumes in the Happy Homemade series until Marilou brought her copy to the Japanese Dress Book class at the workroom. Of course, I had to have it for my collection. They’ve broken the book down into sections, showing variations on a basic style for each one. More and more, I’m wanting to customize parts of these patterns, so this layout is very helpful for mix and matching different pieces. ‘C-1′ basic is my favourite.

p.s. Today is the workroom‘s two year anniversary! Hooray! It’s also my birthday, my parents’ anniversary and Liz, Ashley & Esther’s birthday!

After posting about my shibori dress, I’ve been hesitant to post my next projects. I mean, it’s going to be hard to top that. BTW – Thank you for your super enthusiastic comments about the dress, I’m glad you like it too!

Yesterday, I got yet another Japanese dress book in the mail. I can never take a peek at Pomadour’s etsy shop without buying myself a book or two. Some people might call this an addiction.

The title of this book is Happy Homemade Vol. 1. I was especially hooked when I saw that there was a pattern for a cardigan. I don’t knit, so making my own cardigan sounds pretty exciting.

Since we also just got in the new nani IRO collection, I think you’ll be seeing one of these cute tops sewn up very soon.

p.s. A couple weeks ago was my one year blogiversary. I haven’t done anything to celebrate, but I’m going to add a few new ‘features’ to the blog very soon. Thank you for hanging around with me this year!

Stylish Dress Book (available at the workroom)
Tunic ‘O’ : Lecien ‘Liberty-style floral’

I keep thinking that I should focus on projects for the home this year – quilts, curtains, pillows, roman blinds and box cushions. But then I see a lovely fabric in the shop that just calls to be made into a piece of clothing and I can’t help myself. Sewing clothing was my first love.

This black Lecien floral fabric was hard to resist. I kept eying it and worrying that it would sell out before I had decided what to do with it. It feels and looks like a Liberty of London fabric. So luxurious.

A quick flip through the Stylish Dress Book landed me on style “O”. It’s long enough that I keep considering wearing it as a dress with tights, but short enough that I will likely always wear it with jeans. The sleeves are bell shaped, but not too much. There is elastic sewn around the bodice in a casing and for some reason I really enjoyed sewing in this part. It adds some nice shape and gathering to the standard loose tunic silhouette.

Since many of these patterns from Japanese craft books are so simple, they are usually rather quick to complete. It satisfies my clothing craving quite quickly. I popped over to Pomadour’s Craft Cafe earlier and noticed that there is now a Stylish Dress Book 2! I will try to be good and not order it just yet.

I finally took a day off this weekend! The glory of two days off was so delightful, it felt like a mini vacation. I will try to do this more often.

I “accidentally” ordered a few more Japanese craft books from Pomadour24′s Craft Cafe, a couple weeks ago and they’ve just arrived. Oh dear. The last thing I need right now is a distraction from all the holiday gifts that I haven’t started to make yet.

My favourite of the bunch is the ‘Sweet Dress Recipe’. But I also got “Basic of Lockstitch Sewing Machine” and “Favorite Tunic, Dress, Vest Book”.

Surely I could justify making myself a new outfit (or two) for the holidays.

Ah, Stylish Dress book you are eternally inspiring and full of simple things to make!

I realized in a panic last weekend that the Nani IRO fabric was almost gone. It would have been very wrong for me to let it all slip away without whipping up a little something cheery to wear. I turned to the Stylish Dress book and decided on style B, a loose smock top with a nice full sleeve.

Drafting out the pattern from the book always requires a lot of care, to ensure that you trace the correct pieces, mark all the correct markings and remember to ADD SEAM ALLOWANCE! The lovely thing about these patterns is that they are simple and relatively quick to make. I drafted the pattern Sunday afternoon, cut out the paper and then cut out the fabric. On Monday, I overlocked the pieces and did all the sewing in a few hours.

The neckline is gathered and so is the sleeve. The sleeve is cut into two pieces with gathering along the upper arm and then an elasticized cuff. It’s very sweet. It’s all meant to be a showcase for this fabric, which completely sold out on Tuesday when I wore the top to work. The Nani Iro fabric is a double gauze cotton which is two layers of a looser weave cotton that are lightly stitched together. I didn’t even bother to pre-wash the fabric. This top will be hand washed in Soak for the rest of it’s life. (Scent for Celebration is my favourite)

For those looking to get themselves a copy of the Stylish Dress Book or any other Japanese Craft book, I highly recommend Pomadour’s Craft Cafe on Etsy. Just beware that it will be hard to resist the lure of these cute craft books. Somehow I just ordered two more books for my collection. Oh! Make that three books.