The week that went by have been really interesting in the craft area. Not that I got much done, I didn’t have time. But I met really nice people and discovered very interesting things! I’m a doll collector, and as such I am part of online communities (and have met real dolly friends in Japan). If you want to read more about those dolls please go check my other blog. Many people of the doll community are into sewing, to make clothes for our dolls. From June 24 to July 2 there is a big doll event in Tokyo. It’s about Blythe doll, which maybe you’ve heard of people she’s getting more well known accross the world. Part of this event is about an international customizing/clothes making competition. The finalists have their dolls exhibited in Tokyo.

Some of my Flickr contacts happened to get selected, so they came to Japan for the event. And if you’re wondering what this has to do with sewing, well, just check the previous paragraph again: this competition is partly about designing and making clothes. Those dolly friends are all into sewing and are as fabric addicted as I am. ^^ A good part of their stay in Tokyo consisted in hitting the fabric shops there. And since we had dolls and sewing in common we decided to meet and have some fun in both areas.

Which led to 4 days of talking, long walks in Tokyo, meeting japanese doll people, going to doll events and shopping in fabric and notions shops. We spend a lot of time talking about fabrics and notions, compare fabrics, exchange tips, asking for advice (at least for me! ^^; ), discover new things. It was really nice and stimulating! It’s much more fun to go fabric shopping with someone else with whom you can comment what you see. Thanks to some japanese friends I was able to discover two very interesting shops. The first one is a tiny lace shop in Harajuku called The Lace Center. They have vintage lace as well as very nice modern lace, and also sell books about lace and clothes and accessories adorned with lace. The prices are a little high but they have very nice stuff. My friend who was with me that day just fell in love with one of their books: it’s a compilation of several french department stores catalogs from 1900. She didn’t get it that day but couldn’t resist and a few days later when I saw her she had bought it! I’ll try to write a post about it to give a little details. The other place I discovered is like lace and ribbons paradise: it’s the two Mokuba shops in Asakusabashi. I think I’ll also write another post about them, because they deserve some details. It’s a pity I didn’t take any pictures. Maybe another time (’cause there will be other times).

It was a really nice week! ^__^ I’d do it again anytime (well, maybe after some rest and a little more productive time).

I started to reorganize my working space a little while ago. My sewing/working table was full of fabric, papers and various stuff and I couldn’t use it anymore. I’m not the most tidy person, but I realized I can’t sew when I’m surrounded by a mess. I need a big clean space. So I started to tidy everything up, sort and organize all my stuff. It’s nice to do this once in a while! I bought some more boxes so I could sort everything in a more practical way. I’m still missing a few things, among which a new box to store my fabrics. But I already like the new look of the place.

I think that a little introduction would be good. After all it’s always nice to know who you’re interacting with, isn’t it? I’m a young woman who currently have the pleasure to live in Japan. As you can guess I love clothes, sewing, and crafting. It’s a real treat to live in Japan when you like sewing, they have such wonderful books and prints!

I’ve always liked pretty clothes, even if my definition of “pretty” wasn’t allways the same as those around me (especially the other pupils at school). I especially love skirts and dresses. Both my mother and grand-mother know how to sew, but sadly none of them ever taught me. I regret that a lot now, when I see so many people that started sewing as child. I’ve done a few small things but really nothing much. I started drawing clothes in the corners of my notebooks in middle school, but strangely enough I didn’t decide too learn sewing before I was in grad school, at past twenty! It probably seemed to be an obscure art one couldn’t learn by itself. But I fell in love with gothic lolita fashion, which is expensive and wasn’t at all easy to find in France at the time. That, plus trying on a very cute skirt only to discover that once again the cut was strange and it didn’t fit me at all decided me: I was going to learn sewing!

My first accessory, a neck corset, made my mom laugh the minute she saw it ; so she taught me how to do a proper hem. My first skirt was done on my grandmother’s sewing machine, with her much useful help. From there I continued mainly by myself. Luckily there are plainty of ressources available: my mother and grandmother who try to answer my questions the best they can with the distance between us, books, the Internet… I’m so thankful for japanese books and their detailed drawings, they taught me so much! And the Internet is a wonderful source of inspiration. I’ve been sewing irregularly the past years, but now I’m back and I think it’s for good. I have tons of ideas and I can’t wait to realize them. I’m still not very quick, but I’m sure this will improve with practice.

Before I get something new to show you (ahem, my pile of projects to complete is too long for my taste), I’ll post about former projects. And in the meantime you can also pay a visit to the other blogs I’ve linked on the left. They’re part of those I’m following (I love Google Reader). I’ll probably add others later, so check back from time to time.