Yellow bunting

 I'm gradually building up a selection of bunting in my Etsy shop. This version uses a colour palette of mustard yellows and white.

The main fabric of this bunting is a fabulous vintage 1970s fabric made from a stylised floral print in shades of mustard, brown and green on a white background. I picked up this fabric from an antique market and think it looks great as bunting. It could be used to decorate the home or a kid's bedroom, or would be great for decorating a party.

Each floral flag alternates with a mustard yellow cotton flag. One is a dark mustard...

... and the other is a light mustard.

Each flag is double sided and is made from 100% cotton so machine washable too.

Find more bunting in my Etsy shop here.

Bling it on!

I've recently added these blingy beauties to my store. Both are clutch bags made from stunning vintage Japanese obi fabrics. The obi is the 'belt' that goes around the kimono and often comes in bright colours and is heavily woven, which lends itself perfectly to creating unique clutch bags and evening purses. Because these are vintage fabrics, you are unlikely to find anything similar to this anywhere else.

This clutch bag is made from the same fabric as the tote bag in my store. It's a vibrant combination of multi colour and metallic gold.

I used a bright red cotton fabric for the lining and a flap closure, held closed with a magnetic snap.

The clutch bags are a different style to each other.

This clutch bag is a simple envelope design. It's made from a stunning red, black and gold decorative Japanese vintage fabric.

It also has a bright red cotton lining, and a snap closure at the top of the bag to keep things safe.

You can find them both in my store here.

Litre Japan

I love receiving parcels, especially when they contain new fabric purchases, and especially when they come from Japan! Today's parcel was from a lovely shop called Litre Japan, run by Mina and her husband Hiro (below), as well as her grandma. Their shop is beautifully photographed and their Instagram account is definitely worth checking out for interesting Japanese finds.

They have a beautifully curated shop and I homed in on two stunning vintage kimono pieces.

One piece has a bird design on it and is on a soft green ground.

The other piece is a selection of stylised Japanese flowers in shades of orange and red.

I'm planning to use these fabrics to make items for my store. I think they would be perfect for small clutch bags, cuff bracelets and kimono necklaces. Now I need to get busy!

The parcel was beautifully wrapped and came with a little note. On one side was a picture of Mount Fuji, on the other side was a handwritten thank you.

I will definitely be buying from this shop again!

Ta dah!

On Monday I mentioned some obi fabric that I was going to make up into a new tote bag, well here's the end result! A rather stunning bag made from a multi coloured vintage Japanese obi fabric. I think it makes quite a statement and would compliment any outfit - use it as a bag to go shopping, or to dress up an outfit for a night out. It's big enough to fit all the essentials and has a magnetic snap closure to keep the bag closed. This would also make a wonderfully unique gift item.

You can find it in my store here.

Ruby Tuesday

I recently added this ruby stunner to my store. It's a handbag made from a vintage obi fabric given to me by a lovely Japanese couple when I was in Tokyo last November. I love the vibrant red colour and mixed with the gold, it really makes a statement! There is an orange and white blossom design on the outside and for the lining I used a bright orange linen fabric to match the flowers. This bag would look stunning used as a clutch bag tucked under the arm and worn with a little black cocktail dress or as a handbag, worn over the shoulder with a fresh white summer shift.

You can find it in my store here.

Fave fabric Friday

This Friday I have homed in on a rather vibrant purple and gold fabric. It is actually a 1960s coat that I picked up at a vintage fair in the UK. For a while I thought I might actually wear it, but have realised I don't lead that kind of lifestyle! Instead, I'm going to make it into a vibrant clutch bag. I am thinking of combining it with a pretty grey and purple bird kimono lining. I love the idea of having a flash of bird when the bag is opened.

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.