Azuma-Bukuro Bag Work Shop

 I taught a sewing class at Junk Evolution in South Bend last Wednesday. The project was sewing a Japanese Azuma-Bukuro Bag with pillow cases. It was a beautiful day and I was so happy that we all had a fun time in a very cool atmosphere in the shop! I am grateful to Char and Linda from Junk Evolution who organized this event, and my participants who are so fabulous and delightful!

I made some sample Azuma-Bukuro Bags for the class. These are two of them. The bag is reversible and made of two pillow cases. An amazing fact of making this bag is that you only need to sew three straight lines to finish this bag.

 With vintage flower print and gingham check.

 Another vintage flower in softer color and stripes.

Ready for loading stuff that I need for teaching into my car. An ironing board and sewing machines etc.

 We had four sewing machines from four different eras :-p. One of my machines is 20 years old and one is about 10years old ( I assume). Linda's machine was only hi-tech computer machine which is only a couple years old. The last one was Char's grandma's and it definitely has a vintage and heavy duty looking! ( Still works fantastically! )

Ladies working hard with the machines.

 

Very cool environment for sewing!

One very happy thing about this work shop for me was everyone was able to take home a finished bag and told me it was fun! There are photos of their master pieces (and portraits).

 Love the shabby chic flower pattern.

 Zebra print x pink. Stylish. Cannot believe this was made of pillow cases!

 Purple gingham check and soft flower print. I love the sweet spring colors.

There are more options of combinations of patterns and colors in photos below.This one I used two fabrics for exterior.

 Those two photos (above and below) are of the same bag's outside and inside (reversible).

 This is another sample of using two fabrics for exterior. Cool and sophisticated look.

 Look at these smiles. Well done ladies, well done. (by the way, the wall color which they change every month and the cabinet they refinished, aren't they so beautiful? JE is such a cool store in this town. They always surprise me with their ideas and good taste.)

 

The finished bags look so different. Fabric choice gives personalities to it. Some are sweet or chic, and others are modern or stylish. I hope everyone will enjoy their new bags for coming warm season. Happy sewing!

A bit of detail how to stitch "Juuji Hana-zashi"

I made some new sashiko goods for consignment lately. I want to share some photos and a bit of detail of one of fabulous traditional Sashiko stitches "Juuji Hana-zashi (cross and flower stitch)" .

The combination of cotton Kasuri and simply modern Sashiko stitches. (It is a table runner.)

Asian themed batik and Sashiko cellphone cases.

This is the Sashiko stitch called "Juuji Hana-zashi" which means "crosses and flowers stitch". I would like to show the process of making this beautiful stitches. I wish I had enough time to explain that amply. I am hoping that those photos will help you to get general ideas of how the stitches are made.

This is how it looks like when it is done.

First you draw 0.5cm guiding grids on your fabric with erasable fabric marker. Using a Sashiko needle (you can use other embroidery needles but using tools exclusively made for the certain use always makes your work easier and faster) make running stitches vertically and horizontally to shape alternate crosses as shown in the photo.

Then make running stitches again but diagonally this time. These stitches shape flower petals. It is amazing this design which seems pretty complicated on first sight is made with only "running stitches" that is the most simple one.

That's it!

I hope you all have a lovely Friday. Happy stitching!

French/Asian Fusion Style @ JE!

It's March! It is March, everyone! I yell that just in case you have not realized that. ;-) Well, hearing the word "March" usually makes me feel the approach of Spring, but this year I do not have any of that feeling yet. At all. We just had about three inches of snow last night and there is thick ice remaining on our roof. I don't hate Winter. But I think we had more than enough "Winter" until now for longing to feel a hint of Spring.

In the meanwhile, many Spring themed events will be coming in town this month. I will be featured as a guest artist at Junk Evolution in March again. They change their theme every single month (that must be a lot of work for them. And that makes their shop so awesome!)  and this month's theme is "French/Asian Fusion Style". I will bring in many of my new work and also have a sewing workshop there on March 26th. If you are close by and interested in the workshop, please contact Junk Evolution asap because a number of seats are limited and it goes quickly. Their contact info is in their website and facebook page.

I am going to share some items I have been working on for selling at Junk Evolution this month. I made both "Spring" and "Japan" themed items.

There will be some cute jewelries which bring a sweet smell of early spring to you. I hope.

Very delicate crocheted necklace.

There are more of different kinds of crocheted motif necklaces.

So tiny motifs! I used very fine lace thread imported from Japan.

Say farewell to snowflakes. I made them in sugary pale colors. I also put tiny flowers, shamrocks and little hearts (beads) together.

In "Japan" theme, I did a bit of modern Sashiko embroidery stitching too. I have been introducing Japanese traditional handwork in modern style.

I stitched traditional "Juuji Hanazashi (cross and flower stitch)" and made iphone cases with them.

The case has a crocheted handle which is detachable on one side so you can attach the case on your bag handle! I often lose my phone in my bag. This function would rescue you form that issue if you have the same problem as mine!

These items will be available to purchase at Junk Evolution from First Friday on March 7th. You will see these pretty kiss lock purses (picture below) made with antique Kimono silk as well! There will be more of my stuff. They are all one of a kind. So please do not miss the chance if you are interested in them!

I hope you started your new month happily whatever kind of weather you have. There is no Winter which never ends. I am telling that to myself!! Happy making!!