International Paper Love Swap II-Mail Outbox

Hello, hello, hello...Here we are again with the International Paper Love Swap hosted by dear friend Kelly Zarb. Here's a little sneak peek at my packages going out. One is for my swap buddy Magdalena in Singapore and the other is for lovely Kelly, who's birthday I missed and I want to send her a late birthday surprise!

Little Japanese linen apron

My old apron that my parents gave to me a long time ago has seen better days so I whipped up this new friend. I was inspired by all the cute aprons the main character in Rent-a-Cat wears while doing her home chores. I wanted a nice big pocket and I wanted to be able to fold down the top panel if I didn't feel like wearing it. I use beautiful Japanese linen from Kokka fabrics, in brown. The ties are cotton webbing and then I saved this lovely trim from my first trip to Japan and I thought it would work perfectly on this pretty friend. I added random loosely cut circles, because i wanted to add a soft whimsical unevenness to the whole piece. I might add this pattern to a new zine I have in the works ;)
OH I just received word on my new paper swap partner! Hello new friend! Magdalena!

A Crafty Wedding

About six months ago my very good friend Michelle ask her crafty friends to help her decorate her wedding happening in September. After many battles, procrastination and hurt fingers we pulled it off with big beautiful tissue dahlia poms, hand-lettered signage, and handmade paper crafted goods. We had many friend help make the dahlia's and hang them, hanging them was the bit that was most tricky, but Michelle married a clever man and he worked it out with his buddies and or dear friend, Adriana who created a master plan. Debra made beautiful signs for the wedding cupcakes, tables, restrooms, and directions. I in the end scrambled to make a pretty guestbook with lovely Japanese paper and vintage paper and gold leather I collected. Pics of the wedding to follow soon. I also have a lot of catching up to do, I've had a busy two months and now I can catch my breath and share it all with you.

Tsumori Chisato and paper crafts!

This week I popped into Kinokuniya to pick up my book on garland and mobile crafts that Jenna so kindly gave me the info after posting it on her blog, Hand Deco Interior. This is a super fun Japanese craft book with loads of creative ideas on making garlands, mobiles and ornaments. I must warn you the instructions are in Japanese and there are no visual instructions so it will take a little imagination and ingenuity on your part to make these. I was thinking maybe making a garland incorporating some of these lovely crepe paper flowers I found over on Oh Happy Day.


While I was at Kino I was browsing in the magazine section and I came across this Tsumori Chisato catalog with an awesome treat inside! I little golden kitty wallet by Tsumori-san! So exciting!

Hand Deco Interior
ハング・デコ・インテリア―ガーランド、モビール、オーナメントetc.
(MSムック カラフル手作りidea book vol. 2) [ムック]

Art papers for crafting

I've been working on these prints for gift wrap/art papers in between my design work this past week. I will be putting up a set for sale in my etsy store shortly keep an eye out. You'll get 6 pieces 2 of each design, Ditzy Dots, Pastel Trifecta, and Auntie Em's pink gingham. Plus a sheet of labels to cut and paste on to your gifts, notebooks, sketchbooks or turn them into tags like I did here in the pics. I'm considering adding a mini zine with how-to's on making the flower pom, trifecta poms and accordion bow. Stay tuned in the next couple of days and I will let you know when its up in my etsy store.

Paper Goods from Japan

I received my awesome package from Hiki-chan's store Uguisu, yesterday. I was so excited! Some of the prettiest paper goods I've ever laid my eyes on, and it got here soooo fast! I love that Hiki has a total no-hassle store that ships to the U.S., I will absolutely order from her again. I can't even say which is my favorite they're all so pretty. I definitely will be covering some sketchbooks and make some paper crafts with these. Hiki-cahn also included here lovely black & white photo zine of indoor gardens it's beautiful and a wonderful addition to my zine collection. Thanks Hiki!
 

New Vintage Label Stickers

I was fortunate once more that my favorite vendor at the Brooklyn Flea had more unused vintage labels. I got pharmaceuticals, cosmetic, cigarettes, and liquor labels. I have made them into stickers and they are for sale in my store. Here.
Stickers

Original labels

International Paper Love Swap: PACKAGE ARRIVED!

My package from Emilyarrived on Monday! I was so excited there were so many fun paper goodies in the envelope. Emily sent her zine, origami paper, MT Tapes, ticket stubs from various places in Autralia which is very cool because I've never been. Plus label, confetti, maps and much more! Thanks Em! I loved it all.

This a present for my dad for Father's day. My photography book of my Japan pics.