Entries tagged with 'japan'


japanese dress class

Posted by Aprile on 2010.07.20:

So, finally... I took some pictures of my dress from the Japanese Dress Book class at the workroom! I kind of love it. I think I was the most beginner sewer there, but I picked the most complicated dress (pleating? buttons?!) which is a very Aprile thing to do. I am so glad I did though, because I learned some really important basics, and I have since even altered another dress I had but didn't fit me well.

I always assume I can do anything (and I'm rarely proved wrong, hehe) but I couldn't have done this awesome dress without Karyn's wonderful help. Also, the fabric I picked is so nice, it's Japanese (theme fitting) and has some little pinecone like things on it. I've decided this is my winter dress--it's a light cotton but it's long sleeves and length and the print make it a bit wintery.

(Some pretty details).

(Gathering at the neckline).

The dresses all of us made fit quite large, as they apparently wear them in Japan... Plenty of altering was needed to make it look less sack-like. Mine was perfect in the front, but I brought the back in with some shirring. Turned out well I think. I took a look at the dresses in my closet, and it turns out all of my shirt dresses pretty much have shirring. Who knew!

So now I think my sewing machine and I are a little more friendly, and hopefully I will have some ambition to make some more dresses. Or anything really. New hobby!

The best part is that I think I can do it again, and I can whole wardrobe of clones of these dresses if I really wanted. (I'm not going to do that). I actually already have the next pattern picked out and fabric purchased...

I found sort of randomly this 1940's floral print gray cotton in the TheresaMarieRose etsy shop, so beautiful. It's quite similar to the Japanese fabric I used (gray + floral print), but the print is much bigger and brighter, and it's quite summery. The gray is brighter as well. It was kind of a steal at $8 a yard! And the dress I am going to make with it is the one of the cover. Excited!

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sm2

Posted by Aprile on 2010.03.29:

When spring and summer start to roll around I have Japanese clothing on the brain again! Cotton and linen, light colours and layers (I have pale skin and burn easily, so summer layering is my friend), it's just all so beautiful!

In January picked up some clothing magazines (I don't know what you would call them—they are a mix between a fashion magazine and a styling catalogue) from Kinokuniya Bookstore in Seattle. They were from this store called SM2, and they are quite inspiring—so inspiring I bought 4 different issues! They were all for Fall and Winter, so it just occurred to me to check for their new Spring stuff, and isn't it wonderful?

I love the detail in the accessories, and I think I'll attempt to make a similar bag—I would have bought one but they are sold out!

What has also sparked me thinking about Japan again is that our friends John and Juli (of Kitka) are off to Japan for two weeks scouting out new designers for their store, Mjölk, and meeting some favourites! I am so jealous but I can't wait to see what they come across (and blog about)! We sent them off with a great big dinner at Guu Izukaya, which they posted about here, so I won't repeat. But it was so nice, and we will definitely be going there again!



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le petit atelier de paris

Posted by Aprile on 2009.06.29:

Isn't this dreamy? My ever growing list of places to visit had this little workshop added to it today, le petit atelier de paris. I found these cute ceramic leaves and flowers at their blog. I have nothing more to say about it than it's absolutely beautiful and I want to go there!

I'm not very well traveled and lately I've been dreaming about places I could go. (Paris and Japan top my list!) I know some French (because I'm Canadian, haha) and I'm trying to learn Japanese, which feels impossible! I just subscribed to the blog hungry for words which seems pretty cute—and could be helpful!

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house

Posted by Aprile on 2009.05.08:

See, I told you I would share some things I found for my tumblr over here as well! This place, House, I don't know much about. I haven't learned Japanese that quickly (though I am slowly trying). I know they make amazing things by hand, like leather shoes that look like they've been worn for centuries already (in a beautiful way, not a gross one). The aesthetic of this place just amazes me, so earthy—could be all the plants they seem to have hanging around. Anyway, this is on my list of dream places to visit.

And I want these shoes! I love that the label is a hand-drawn "House" on the sole.



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five from the ground

Posted by Aprile on 2009.03.26:

So I really have been a little obsessed with Japanese sites lately, and now it's moved from clothes to furniture and antique stores. I think I'm getting better and better at coming across the good ones (and navigating them, too). I just love this aesthetic, apparently it's called "zakka," but it turns out that word has a million meanings.


Anyway, I had to share these images! They are from a store called Five From the Ground that sells antique furniture, dishware, lamps, books, et cetera. Isn't it beautiful? This style—furniture and clothing—reminds me of a pared down Anthropologie (without all the frills).









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Hi, my name is Aprile and I love 100 ideas , 1001 journals , alphabets , altered books , animals , anthropologie , antiques , architecture , art , art galleries , australia , autumn , beauty , bird nests , birds , books , bookstores , boots , bunnies , butterflies , buttons , calligraphy , cameras , cards , cats , ceramics , clothing , collaboration , collage , collecting , collections , confetti , contrast , craft shows , crafts , dada , decor8 , design , design for mankind , dictionaries , diy , doing anything but homework , drawing , dresses , dried flowers , editorial design , embroidery , ephemera , equestrian things , eric carle , etsy , events , experimentation , fall , fashion , fashion illustration , female vocalists , festivals , film , flickr , flowers , fortune cookies , french , fyodor , gardening , giveaways , gray , hand-lettering , handmade , handmade nation , happiness , hearts , henry darger , history , home sweet home , illustration , inner beauty , inspiration , interior design , interviews , japan , jenny lewis , jewellery , jill barber , jory , junk , kara walker , keri smith , korean style , kraft paper , leaves , lens flare , letterpress , life , linens , lists , london , love letters , lula , lykke li , magazines , maira kalman , making art , making books , making friends , making things , maps , milk , moustaches , museums , music , my apartment , my mom , Nana , nature , nice days , notepads , odds & ends , old architecture , our apartment , outsider art , owls , packaging , paint pens , paper , papercutting , paris , photo corners , photobooths , photography , picnics , pillows , pink , poppytalk , quotes , rain , relaxation , ribbons , royalty , scrapbooks , seasons , seattle , second-hand stores , sewing , shopping , shops , shows , simplicity , sleep , snow , softness , spring , starting fresh , stationery , style , subtlety , suitcases , sweden , textiles , thao nguyen , the 1970s , the industrial era , the internet , the language of flowers , the paper place , the past , the uk , the woods , the workroom , thesis , thesis cut&paste , toronto , travel , tumblr , twigs , twitter , typewriters , typography , uppercase , vacations , videos , vintage , vintage books , vintage catalogues , walks , wallpaper , wood , wooden spools , words , zakka , zines , & blogging.

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