This is another one of my favorite books that I have gotten from Japan. Another great find on etsy through the seller Pompadour. The cover caught my eye instantly and I knew it would hold oodles of secrets or at the least fun patterns. It's true these techniques could of all been learned separately or through English language books but I also prefer the clear photos and charts in the Japanese craft books.
To my complete surprise and joy I found that this was marked with not only Japanese text but English as well! Not the entire book or all the patterns but all of the explanations on the different stitches and forms.
Per usual they had great photos first and then they had several pages of instructions and charts with patterns in the back of the book to correspond with everything you were eye candy staring at before.
I've been working on my own spiral scarf, it is really fun and relaxing more so then knitting anything else lately. Just watching with each set and the spiral get's longer and longer is very fulfilling.
Of all three Japanese Pattern magic books this has been my favorite so far. I think because it hits really close to home for me combining the elements of drafting with draping. Things that I can describe to other people or draw out but then they question me if that is really the right shape. This book solidifies that I have been right in 98% of my freehand flat designs.
This book like the previous ones has very simple and clean photos on mannequins or models that show off just the clothing and not anything else. The language of this book doesn't matter so much because the photos are so well done and the pattern details are clearly pictured. I find that a lot of English patterns are too wordy and get more confusing to transcribe then they are to actually piece and sew together.
Here is a representation of how to take a plain pants block and spruce it up with some simple slash and spread on one side giving the pants that Ruching look. Easy to do right? as long as you get the general concepts and aren't afraid of the weird shapes you can do so many amazing things with drafting off of the simple block.
I like how in the picture below it shows all the different possibilities for the one pattern. The idea of taking one garment and styling and wearing it in so many different options is something I look for in my personal wardrobe all the time.
I would say that if you are really interested in Pattern drafting and fashion design this book, well this entire series of books is a great investment. The first two books Pattern Magic 1&2 can now be found in translated into English now on Amazon.
It's nothing new but it's fun and you might have it in your area too!
It started in Japan according to the all knowing Wikipedia, it means to "chit-chat"
To put it shortly you have several presenter's allowed 20secs for 20 slides to talk about almost anything. Typical topics are inspirations, what their business is and how it helps the community and life changing moments to share with the world. For locals you can see all the going onhere. If you don't live in Columbus, Ohio no worries, there is probably a spot close to you as well which you can look up on their main website, Pecha Kucha.
This particular one I went to several weeks ago was at the Columbus Museum of Art. It was packed, I am short, thus I had to review half of the night through the glass ceiling reflection. you can see how crazy full it was. Thankfully people shifted and after the intermission my friend Claire and I were able to sneak to the front and see some of the presentations we were waiting for.
Here is the Video from that night! I Enjoyed them all but my favorites were Amy Turn Sharp (Little Alouette) and the Lesbian Mother Julia Applegate. I was very happy to hear the Idea Foundry and Open Heart Art Studio because those are things I had long been wondering about. Hearing them talk about their concepts and goals made it so much more clear to me as what they are and what they are doing in Columbus with the arts.
I have this bad obsession with pens. I used to collect them in every style and every color whenever I would visit Korea or in Japan during my layover on my way to and from Korea. It started off innocent enough where I would buy a little box set of marbled or scented gel rollerball pens.
At this time I was also collecting Stickers and Stationary. I think it was left over habits from before the days when everyone was connected and had e.mail. I remember in middle school and even high school having a steady supply of these things and writing letters to friends. That was justifiable back then. Now it is simply an obsession with color, design and tactile feel. It is extremely pleasing to me to hold a handful of the same pen in every color combination and look at it with my thoughts racing of the possibilities of things I could write or draw. I have a personal journal that I keep outside of everything where I write in it with all different color pens and also keep scraps, memento's and such in it. That barely justifies the amount of pens I have unfortunately. I won a contest from my favorite pen store Jet Pens last year which was awesome but also slightly embarassing as it was directly related to my obsession with pens.
I have found a little bit more of justification for the pens, I need them to sketch! and to add color to my design work since I don't believe in full color just hints to get the feel of what it should be. Some of the pens are also awesome for keeping track of which patterns go together by writing them in corresponding colors. I have been good and not needed to get a matching mechanical pencil with every pen (that's something I used to do all the time). Lately it's mostly pens and then I'll select a single glorious pencil or eraser once in a while.
Which you see nestled here amongst my stock up of erasers (because they are no longer going to be able to import them). This pen is unique due to it's weight and smooth feeling. It is what is referred to as a "knock" pencil. There is a weight on the inside so instead of pumping the clicker on top you simple shake the pencil to advance the lead. This "knock" feature is my favorite while I am working on patterns because I can seamlessly keep working without being frustrated clicking the pen and moving my hand position.
But out of gluttony I just recieved these beauties in the mail.
I am absolutely in love with the Frixxon markers and pens. They have a unique ink that disappears with friction/heat and then will reappear in the cold (real cold like a freezer). They are one of the few erasable pens that actually do erase with barely to no marks (depending how heavy your hand is on the paper with imprints). I like to use them on my muslins since the ink also writes well on fabrics. It's fun to watch it steam off but I still need to test if they are usable as replacement marking pens because if someone were to wear a garment in winter and all the notation show up again that would be unfortunate. Or possibly really cool, like hypercolor t-shirts but not so cheesy.
I am simply in love with the colors in these outfits and the gorgeous embroidery on this bag. It makes it look like it is dripping in color. Winter isn't even here yet and I'm already scheming on my spring colors.
Once again I suck..... These photos came from Style Bubble lord knows when........ I wish I wrote down the designer for inspiration reference.
In other words I am working on some new pieces that are the cut and sew variety to post on Etsy in the next two weeks, some japanese pattern translating from Drape Drape and redesigned underwear to make it more cost and time effective but with the same feeling.
On Craft today I found these gorgeous art crochet vegtables. I know the japanese have a certain handle on crafts to make them something more beautiful but this work is exquisite.
The big differences between craft and art are the refined details and color choices in my opinion. Sure some people make these same veggies out of felt or even their own crocheted versions but what make these so unique is the super fine gauge and the attention to detail. I love on the carrot how the root hairs are still there trailing off of it. Also how much volume and lushness is added to the greens on the radish and carrot. Usually when someone has done these vegtables they don't pay as much attention to detail as these have. People also tend to focus on just the part that we as people eat normally and not to the excess greenage that you would feed to your rabbit.
