Happy Handmade Fourth of July!
Macy's Fireworks - paper cut collage by Jo Lynn Alcorn
Cups by Circa Ceramics
Flag in hand, ready for the 4th! by All Good Wishes
Trim from my personal collection.
Needlepointed flag by pompomrouge
If you're going to be in Barcelona this weekend, do stop by for a softie-making class by Gina Thorstensen.
Another softie of hers:
And Gina also made this incredible edible book
All by paper artist Jo Lynn Alcorn
An installation in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in NYC
Macy's Flower Show flowers above and below.
Tokyo edition
Detail from a Suede Magazine spread called Mumbai Dreams
Store in Bejing
Audobon Society
More magazine fashion spread
My favorite part of dinner is DESSERT.
Cupcakes by DaisyDaydreams
Well, not really dessert but the colors of these flower trimmings looked so nice with the cupcakes above. from jocankit1
Custard cream biscuits from England by britishcreamtea
Rocket pops by cutsypoo
Pretty white flowers....
Snowdrops by reyaveltman
White poppies by lupin
Crocheted flowers by knitalatte
Chyrsanthamum by mollyjey.
Sunny yellow. happy yellow. mellow yellow.
Spun cotton mouse by mrcrowsgarden
Beautiful pincushion by Thedailypincushion
Pom pom Chick craft from dorathy
Chick by Fernanimals
Repeated images, shapes, patterns and colors draw me in. How 'bout YOU?
Trees today or maybe ice cream cones with sprinkles? by thelindentree
ABC's of birds print by Geninne.
Soap robots standing guard by LoveLeeSoaps
Multiple mustaches by jpolka.
Ceramic pieces by Art Mind
It's the official beginning of summer now in the US. Looking forward to recapturing those balmy easy days of sitting on a blanket in the grass and doing not much of anything.
Happy Summer everyone!
Ready for a clambake? softies by GoBuggyGo
Summer tote for taking your stuff to the beach! by tamptation
Slate tablet for your lemonade stand or pointing out who your friends are....made by lamarquisedesanges
And don't forget to bring your camera with you everywhere you go to take snaps of your whole summer whether you're far away or just around the corner. This beauty by sewnbyblythe of course!
These dolls by Quinn 68 are WIP - you can see the one on the right is missing a face, but notice the *very* nice hats with pom poms!
And here are pom poms as trim on a lampshade (it's in my bedroom)
Beautiful earrings by Kjoo.
Just pretty handmade pom poms by O!Rachew!
A Japanese craft book for making pom pom animals.
Starting with this post, I'm going to include zakka pieces in a post or two each week. Softies will continue to make appearances too, but I'm just as interested in handmade items for your home and after spending so much time making the Zakka Sewing book, I thought it was time to combine my two loves into this blog.
So today we're starting with lunch boxes. There is a wonderful Japanese bento box in Zakka Sewing - very simple to make and gives you a great platform for embroidery.
Bento Lunchboxes are a great idea for these slow economic times. And don't forget about the Slow Food movement that wants you to enjoy your food more. Let's say NO to scarfing down a sandwich at your desk any more!!! :-)
Here's also some info about vintage USA lunchboxes.
And here's an inspiring look at real bento boxes stuffed with food from a flickr search.
And finally, a vintage book caled The Lunchbox Cookbook from Doe-c-doe's blog.
Bento lunchbox from my Zakka Sewing book
Felted lunchbox with cupcake by Odd & Woolly
Apple bag for lunches and snacks by evelynfield
Lunchbox for kids with thermos by Coozyco
Love comes in many shapes.
Adorable set of bunnies with big hearts by urastarhouse
A brooch in the shape of an old fashioned tatoo by covetedcreations.
Je t'aime bird by crystalistic
Couple in love by Quinn 68
Button love collage by hen's teeth
Laundry day, clotheslines in a summer breeze, and washing up all evoke memories of a simpler time.
Clothesline by CowBird
Clothespin dolls by samandviolet
Lingerie laundry bag from sewthatsit
Twine keeper clothespin doll by myfriendamy
Dryer balls by thebashefulsheep
Clothespin doll from The Small Object
Fun pufferfish by Zooguu
asjssdlkjf by The Daily Pincushion
Koi by bubbletime
Ship in a bottle by prettylilthings
One might say that all softies can be cute and that's true. But often what makes a softie stand out at *totally cute*, especially in a Japanese cute way, are a few tried and true elements - size, eye placement, head attitude, size of ears, things that make it more human and hats....most always, softies who wear hats are def cute!
Cute factor: BIG ears, sleepy eyes, soft & fuzzy, wearing a hat
Bunny by Makitawesome
Cute factor: multiples in a photo makes them all look cute, great colors mixed together on each softie, big eyes set wide apart and each sweater is unique.
Designer: softies by Dimitri Piccinino
Cute factor: pink is pretty cute and girly and these sweeties have a great vintage feel to them. They're also wearing hats and are sitting on a cute object.
Designer: softies by sugarelf
Cute factor: big eyes set wide apart, head cocked to the side
Designer: softie by Wawaya
Cute factor: small fuzzy animal with her head cocked to one side, sitting on something cute and holding flowers - makes her more human than animal - like Beatrix Potter creatures.
Designer: softie by mykobocek
There seems to be a big uptake in people making houses lately. The first one I saw years ago was from Bella Dia. The pattern and instructions for making a similar one - a gingerbread house (!) is available in my Softies Kit (see link on left nav). Those below are recent finds.
See more little houses from Bella Dia here.
House bracelet cuff by ShoozieShoe's
House by wunderlust
Applique and embroidered design by LIttlePinkHouse
House and leaves pendant by Kup,Kup
For all you girls who collected horses when you were little.
Are they wounded?! Wonderful horses by astulabee
Fawn with flower garland by fernanimals
wool horses by penguinandfish
Baby zebra by skunkboycreatures
Oh dear...the is a headless giraffe, 'recently decapitated' as the designer describes him. by everyeskimo
There are tons of commercial toys based on books, film, and video games. These plush stand apart for their originality and charm.
Mary Poppins by nichol-b
The Three Little Pigs by dianedundee
Doraemon (Japanese anime) by EnglishGirlAbroad
Boy wizard looking a lot like the famous Harry Potter by GirlCalledRic
Hobgoblin by Spooky Daddy - he's not from an actual children's book but looks to me like he belongs in lots of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
I love dogs.
What a sweet face! Dog hat by hatz4brats
Dog by Leafpeople
Adorable dog named Eva wearing beautiful necklaces by Maria-kjoo
Dachshund by SaraCarr66
Needlefelted Bichon Frise by KaysK9s
More from my occasional series: Not Your Usual Softie
Pillow by Lizette Greco - part of a gallery exhibit in Buenos Aires called "This is Not a Pillow". Lizette's design is based on drawings by her son of his DS game, Animal Crossing
Boxing gloves by t0fygurl
Guitar by TheGreatestEscapist
Vices by woowork
A softie with a job! Photographer by beruta
Eggs in a nest by paola+titi
Tea pot by KTBdesigns
Felted sushi by FeltedChicken
Cupcake bear by casscette
Banana pancakes by Yummy Pancake
