Updates

Been meaning to get updating here but having to resize pics and find the time to upload has hold me up... however, the time is here! I have mostly nice pics.. that I hope are inspiring..

I've had this massive collection of fabric samples.. and not known what to do with it.. so I started sewing, for the sake of it and this is what I came up with. A passport bag? or travelling jewelery bag? just experimenting..


During our holidays in Greece last August I started this scarf.. it was inspired by the colours of the sea there... I'm still working on it. Making the most of the sunny Autumn days, I jump in my bike for a work break and knit on the grass...

I suppose I should put a pic from Greece so that you can see what I was looking at whilst knitting...
And I think this inspired Talia to get on with knitting.. I've been preaching about it for so long now...

My friend Julia came to visit my flat.. as she hadn't been before, she brought house warming pressies.. how lucky am I?!!! Gorgeous lilies. Apparently she was looking for yellow and red to represent the Spanish flag but was disappointed for not finding them. However, she didn't realised that they are the Japanese flag's colours!! so well done!! She also gave me this gorgeous body cream that smells soooo yummy! And it came in this so-cute bag :-)


These red lilies were just stunning.. they seemed like made of plastic!! The colour was so intense.. (click to make bigger)
The contrast of colours was great :-)

And then.. to top this up.. I got last weekend another bunch of STUNNING flowers! the pics don't make justice and the scent... the most amazing sweet scent I've ever smelt coming from a rose! And the lilies were gigantic and the pink.. the fucsia I should say, was just unbereably gorgeous. But the delicacy of the roses, old style English roses.. wow..




And to finish.. quick recipe of salmon "cake": with mashed potatoes, plum tomatoes, spring onions and barely seared salmon with onion.. SERIOUSLY easy and tasty - was very succesful on the night :-)

Red shoes

(click to view larger)

I just cannot help it.. I love them!! specially the ones I appear in the photo with. I was wearing them last Sat walking around town - following the exhibitions in the East for 100% Design plus some Open House buildings - and wishing I had bought more pairs of the same model!! I think my alter ego may be Dorothy...

Another wonderful Sunday

Seeing that the weather isn't as nice anymore we got together for more crafting, yummy food and great conversation! It turned out fantastically!! In order of appearance: Marlena, Agnes, Mar, Delphine, Talia, Carly, Helene and me :-)

Remember you can click over the pics to see them big size

Funny, in this pic everyone looks bored!!
But actually there was some good chatting going on..


This is a sequence from an Amy buttler's pattern to Mar's adaptation of it

Special mention to Delphine, whose savoury carrot cake and yummy soup were homemade!! To die for...

the wonderful Fortumn & Mason packaging for the yummy cakes that Marlena brought

the whole group pitching ideas to help Carly with her new dress
cute, isn't it?

It's all about team work
And the result
Me in action....

Some details of the bag I made. The picture at the bottom of the collage shows
the way Mar taught me how to finish things to make them look nice.
I looove it!

ps- it is my granny's birthday today.. she turns 84 so from here: Feliz cumpleaños abuela!!

A pocket hanging thingy for Julia's baby

(click to see big)

My oldest friend since I live in UK is Julia. She is a crazy Kraut (like she calls Germans), and she is expecting a baby boy, which we cannot wait to see!! To celebrate this wonderful news, I made her this little thing to hang on his room. It was SO much fun to make and plan! The fabric of the soldiers comes from Japan, the rest I got here in London.

Bags!

On my quest to make carrier bags to stop using plastic ones, I had some spare time one Sat eve so I went crazy and started making bags.. so I made one, then another, then another.. until I got 5 cut and half done! It took me 2 sessions to make them all, around 45 minutes per bag, not bad huh? Is so much fun!!

(Remember you can click in all images to view them into detail)

This is the simplest of them all.. but my favourite. I love the contrast of the strong red with the simple cream... bit summery :-)


This and the next one are very femenine.. I love how they are discreet until you open them and you can see the flowers inside! I actually decided to keep this one for me because I like it so much!!
The bag hunging from the door knob is for Robyn, because she is a super girl who has helped me a lot to get plenty of freelance design work.. so I made it for her. Still haven't given it to her but hopefully she will like it!!
This bag was for Julia, I gave it to her for her b'day. It is made with vintage fabric that I've inherited from my auntie Meme from Spain. I love how cheerful it is!! Everbody who saw this bag wanted it!!



And this last one is made with traditional Japanese fabric. So I gave it to my mum who not only bought the fabric but also would appreciate its quality the most.. is creamy colour on the inside...

Some fabrics

Decided to take a few photos of some of the fabrics I've inherited or bought and that I got waiting to be used. I've spent last Sat night making some bags which I should put up here soon. Also I've made quite a few necklaces but not sure I wanna share them yet... just watch this space!


My new top made of the top fabric you can see in the last photo. It is jersey.. was bit tough to sew I must say, as it stretches... so I had to saw it twice as after the first time, when I was trying to tie the bows tight in the back (which I'll try to take a photo off soon), it broke!!

My first meat pie

I was always scared of pastries, cakes and anything to do with oven baking.. until I saw others making them (my mum wasn't into that kind of thing, probably something to do with being Japanese and them not eating these kind of things) - then I decided to give it a try and.. it seems to have worked! First was the carrot cakes and banana loaf - which worked out with a 10/10 (if I may say so). And now this yummy pie!! Success!! YES!!

(before and after)

(and banana cake & banana loaf)