If you are in NYC

There are some Japanese artists and crafters live in outside of Japan who I got to know through internet Twitter and Etsy. Many of them are doing some kind of charity for saving Japan right now. (And many other not-Japanese Etsy sellers in the world too.) One of my Japanese crafty friend Aki from Oktak is organizing a fund raising event in NYC. It is going to be a sale at the green market for baking goods and handmade stuff. I am going to send out some stuff I am making to NY. Here is information about the event. If you are in NY and interested in, there will be my stuff there.

There you will find more info at Oktak's Facebook page.

Something I can do for Japan earthquake relief.

The situation of Japan devastated area is breaking my heart. It is so frustrating that there is nothing I can do for it. I don't know if it would help anything, but I listed some items in my Etsy shop for donating 50% of sales to American Red Cross for Japan earthquake relief. There is a link to those items and I will add some more items today. It might not do any work but I just cannot be sitting back with doing nothing.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/harujiondesign?section_id=7925945

Pray for Japan

As you know, my home country Japan is facing to the unprecedented disaster. I was so scared when I could not reach my family. But fortunately I found they are safe soon. I just wanted to tell you that and I would like to say I am grateful that many people are concerned and praying for Japan. It is frustrating that I cannot do anything far away from my country. But I am going to keep thinking what I can do for them. I wish people in the devastated area keep having hope and Japan will get over this enormous tragedy.

Princess Castle Mini Boston Bag

I think I have totally forgotten to tell you guys that I finished another Mini Boston Bag for a couple weeks! Where was I ??? Weird. Anyway! Here is a Princess Castle Mini Boston Bag!

I used a Japanese Kawaii type of cotton print for lining. The handles are colored leather on both side.

I added some sequins on the applique.

There are all three of my Mini Bags! They look much cuter when they are all together!

These bags are listed in my Etsy shop and more pictures in my Flickr pool.

On the Girls' Festival Day

Today, March 3rd is the Girls' Festival Day in Japan. We celebrate and wish girls' wellness and happiness. People display the special dolls in their house only once a year on this day. The dolls are commonly given to a girl when she has the first Girls' Festival day by her parents or grand parents. They are called "O-Hina-Sama". Those dolls are a aristocratic couple. These ones in the picture below are mine so they are forty-something years old. I brought them over seas about three years ago from Japan. Since then I display them every year for my daughter just like my Mom did for me and my sister (My sister also has very similar one). For avoiding misleading, I should tell you that we have the Boys' Festival Day in May. It is May 5th.

This beautiful doll below is shipped from Japan for my daughter by my Dad in Japan. This one is not a doll for this event. But I display this with my dolls and tell my daughter there is our family always thinking of us from far far away in Japan.

Well, since I wrote about a very Japanese event, I would like to show you the Japanese traditional embroidery which I am working on now. It is Sashiko. I finished a very light weight scarf with vintage cotton. It was a pillowcase in very good condition. I was waiting for making something with this beautiful material.

I used multicolored Sashiko thread for embroidery. It is just a simple straight stitches.

Then in another project, I am stitching some traditional patterns on solid cotton fabric. This is going to be a center piece or wall hanging. It will be a time consuming project. I will report the progress of this project on this blog so please stay tuned.

Thank you for reading. Happy Girls' Day for all the crafty girls!

Mini Applique Boston Bags / Swan and Robot

I finished two mini Boston bags for kids. Swan and Robot. 

I adjusted the pattern I made for this bag. It worked well. I think the shape of curvy spots got a little tidier than before. I shorten the length of handles a little. And tried to combine cotton and colored leather. This idea added another fine detail to this little bag.

 

These bags are now listed on my Etsy shop. And there are more pictures on my Flickr pool as usual.

Yesterday was my birthday. I went to see my daughter's performance as a cheer leader at the community kids basket ball game. I got a big flower bouquet from my husband and daughter. I had a yummy Sushi dinner at the best Sushi restaurant in this area. And I watched two movies with my husband. I am grateful to my parents in law that they had my daughter sleeping over. I had a wonderful birthday. I was one very happy woman in the world.

This is a long weekend. I hope you all have a great President day! Thank you for reading.

Applique for Children / Work in progress

The Castle is not finished yet. I am going to add some sequins to make it a little more visionary. I finished one child bag with the Swan applique. I am working on the Robot bag now. I hope I could show them to you soon.