Zakka Handmades Blog Tour and Giveaway!

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great 4th of July!

Today, I am very happy to be the sixth stop of my dear friend Amy Morinaka's Zakka Handmades Blog Tour!

 

Amy is a master of her wonderful blog Chick Chick Sewing and she recently published her first book "Zakka Handmades". This blog tour is for sharing her fabulous work in this book with you. There are ten other super talented bloggers participating. Also, each of the stops is holding giveaway. There is the schedule of the tour you can find in Amy's blog here. Enjoy reading the book reviews by all the participants, and get a chance to have your own copy of "Zakka Handmades" (and other goodies!)

Amy and I became friends through our blogs in 2010. We have a lot in common (Japanese women living in the US, have daughter(s), love craft etc.....!) I think that made both of us feel kinship with each other. She is a brilliant hard working woman, a loving Mom, and a very talented creator. I love her work inspired by both cultures of Japanese and American. This book is featuring 24 modern sewing projects in Japanese Kawaii Zakka style. There are very easy to follow instructions with clear illustrations. (Illustrations are also by Amy!) All the items are very cute and practical. So it would be hard for you to pick one project to start with!

I tried one project from the book to share with you today. It was very hard for me to decide which item I should make and share in this post as well. But finally I picked these adorable pouches. The element I love about this project is that it is a combination of two different techniques, sewing and crocheting. Amy is showing some more sewing projects in this book combined with embroidery, crochet, applique, hand-carved eraser stamping, and Sashiko. That is a kind I really like to do. I rarely make things with only one technique. I like to mix a several kinds together.

Anyways, I picked Japanese print fabrics for this project since the book is presenting Japanese Zakka making style. For crochet part, I used the same yarn as Amy used, but I picked two denim colors instead of Ecru.

Crocheted flap and fabric button closure gives the pouch a unique, one-of-a-kind look.

Lining fabric is DSQ quilting cotton.

The basic polka dot pouch has a white vintage look button. I wanted to make this one look neat and clean.

This red/grey Dalahäst print is my favorite. I have been waiting and waiting to find a perfect first project for this fabric. With tiny white flowers on the button, the horse looks happy on the pouch.

Good size for carrying your cards, coins, and something small.

Giving away a copy of Zaaka Handmades is a part of this event. This book giveaway entry is only for the US residents. But do not be disappointed! I will give away those two pouches I made for this post. And this (the pouch giveaway) is open to international readers too. To enter the giveaways, please leave your comment mentioning what item you want to win. One entry per person. If you are a US resident you pick one item from the book, the horse pouch and the polka dot pouch. If you live in other country, you pick one from those two pouches. Please do not forget leave your email address in your comment so I can send a notification when you win! The entry will close on Monday at 8:00pm. If you didn't win the book, you can always purchase it here! Good luck everyone, and Happy Zakka Making!

The entry closed Monday 8:00 pm. Thank you all who left comments. The winners will be announced in a few days! Again, thank you so much!