Fabric Friday

For this Friday's fabric choice, I decided to carry on the maple leaf theme and selected a beautiful kimono piece that I have in my collection. It is made from a very fine silk and has a simple design of green maple leaves and branches on a cream ground. I love the freshness of the colour and the simplicity of the design, mixed with a pretty, soft watercolour effect in the background.

Japanese maple trees are considered a symbol of grace and are associated with peace, serenity and calm. I need some of that! 

A while ago I used some of this kimono fabric to make a clutch bag and teamed it with a matching green Japanese obi fabric. It has a deep teal cotton lining to compliment the outside. My favourite part of making my bags is choosing which combinations of fabrics to use. The lining fabric is just as important as the outer fabric and I love to add a flash of colour to the inside. The teal colour was a perfect match.

You can find the clutch bag in my store here.

Fave fabric Friday

This Friday's fabric is a stunning orange and cream Japanese kimono fabric that I bought in Tokyo. 

I love the simple blossom and chrysanthemum motifs, so characteristic of Japanese design, but although it's an antique, it's very modern-looking. It has definitely been well-loved and worn, and probably has a few stories to tell! The silk is beautifully soft and fine and I can imagine how lovely it would feel to wear.

I only have a small piece of this and am looking forward to making some coin purses out of it.

Fave fabric Friday

This fabric is one that I have loved for ages and used it to make a clutch bag a while ago. I was loathe to cut it up and use it as I only had a small amount, but when I was in Tokyo in November, I found some more of it at my favourite kimono shop! I was so happy. I love the retro pink, the silky feel and the dramatic painterly print with hints of gold. Now I just have to decide whether to use it or save it!

 This is the clutch bag I made with the first kimono piece. It sold at the Selvedge Fair in March '13.

Fave fabric Friday

This Friday's fabric is a beautiful silk kimono piece I have in my stash. It's an orange and peach blossom print that has an ombre effect. It's difficult to sum it up in one photo as the print runs the length of the fabric, which is what makes it so stunning. The blossom runs from cream to peach to a deep orange colour. Juicy!

Fave Fabric Friday

This Friday's fave fabric is a beautiful vintage kimono fabric that I bought in Japan. It's been a while since I have had a forage through my collection of kimonos and this one really hits the spot! I love the softness of the pink background, the graphic grey wave motif and, of course, the beautiful blossom fan design.

Tuesday delight

I've just about recovered from the ravages of doing the fair at the weekend, as well as moving items into our new home, and thought I would celebrate by adding this beauty to my Etsy store. It's made from a multi color kimono fabric and has touches of printed gold. Pretty stunning!

You can find it in my store here.

P.S. I'll be returning to Tokyo tomorrow. I'm sad to leave the UK, but excited about seeing my hubby again and enjoying my last few months in Tokyo before moving back to the UK for good in July!

What a stunner!

I just added this clutch bag to my Etsy store. I'm in love with the stunning print. It's made from a kimono I bought recently.

You can find it on my Etsy store here.

Magenta and indigo

After selling a lot of bags last week, my stocks are running quite low, so I'm on a mission to add more to my Etsy store. I recently added this clutch bag which I love. I decided to combine two floral kimono fabrics, one of which has a hint of magenta in it. I then picked out the same magenta colour as a lining. You can find it on my Etsy store here.

Purple Passion

Earlier today I added this vibrant clutch bag to my Etsy store. It's made from a vintage kimono that I found on my wanderings round Tokyo and I bought it because I love the richness of the purple silk, mixed with the delicate blossom print. There is a touch of turquoise in some of the flowers in the print, so I decided to use that colour as the lining colour so that there is a flash of brightness when the clutch is opened.

You can find it in my store here.

Vintage Pink

I have just added this clutch bag to my Etsy store. It's made from a kimono I bought in Kyoto a while ago and one which I have been meaning to make up for some time. It's a beautifully simple, classic blossom print on a pretty pink ground. I call it 'vintage pink' as it's only really the kind of pink you find on vintage items nowadays. I decided to give it a rich terracotta lining as a contrast to the outside.

Like most of my items, the bag is not stiffened so that it keeps the softness and integrity of the silk. You can find it on my Etsy store here.

Orange and black beauty

I recently added this vibrant clutch bag to my Etsy store. It is made from vintage kimono fabric that I found at an antique market in Tokyo and I decided to mix it with a bright orange lining. It definitely makes a statement and would go perfectly with a little black dress.

You can find it here.

Kimono-tastic!

I really am a sucker for the gorgeous kimono fabrics here and the brighter the better. After a little break from making the kimono clutches (I've been focusing more on obi, indigo and tenegui items recently) I am back with a vengeance and have been working on some lovely pieces from my box of kimono fabrics. I often find it's good to take a break and come back with fresh eyes. I will be adding more kimono clutches to my Etsy store over the next few days, so watch this space.

In the meantime, you can check out my clutch bag selection here.

Indonesian inspiration

A few weeks ago I wrote about the luscious fabrics I picked up on my trip to Bali, which you can see here. 

Since then I have been a busy bee, playing with different combinations of fabrics and trims. In my stash of kimono fabrics I found some gorgeous, vibrant turquoise and pink kimonos and realised how beautifully they matched with the ikat fabrics I'd bought in Bali. This is the outcome and I'm really happy with them! With each one, I chose a vibrant complimentary lining, and also added a pretty ribbon trim as an accent. The ribbons are from France, the silk is from Japan and the ikat fabric is from Indonesia, so a truly global mix.

You can see these, and other clutch bags here.

Pink and red

'Pink and Red ' by malibloom

My blossom purse was recently featured in this gorgeously bright Etsy treasury. This will blow away the post holiday blues! 

Click on any image to find out more.

PINKCHAMPAGNEF... $34.99	ChronologieVin... $68.00	wonderdoodle $13.00	JessicaIllustr... $22.00
lizbags $6.00	silverridgestu... $75.00	cheekyleopard $52.00	Sweetbeefinds $88.00
brandMOJOimage... $25.00	storyofthings $39.00	NanaJoy $19.00	estatechicago $12.00
cottonlicious $5.50	WisteriaDesign... $5.00	ugm2000 $90.00	Molipop $20.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house