Mama Kuma Craft

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Thanks and have a great day~~~~~~~~

I've been gone forevers!
Oh well I've been makin' stuff.

Vocabulary Word of the Day
Zakka (zah-kah) --- "In Japan, all the 'small, various products used in everyday life' are commonly called 'zakka,' a term which encompasses household goods, daily necessities and sundries. However, zakka has also come to represent a style of art and craft that is simple, charming, and of Japanese esthetic. Most items in the zakka style are handmade, but there are commercial companies that mass produce items using the style. The Japanese dictionary describes zakka as "general merchandise", "miscellaneous goods", "sundries", "sundry goods" including interior goods, kitchen goods or even cosmetic product." - squidoo.com

Website of the Day
Kitty-Craft - random japanese craft cuteness

Random Updates
I'll be leaving to Michigan....again XD This Saturday actually. Seems that there has been an extreme lack of posting on my part. So sorry! I haven't been inspired recently, even though I set up my sewing area all nice so it is ready to go whenever I have to do some quick work...but...Yes no updates for another week or so. It is spring break for me and I am off to see my Shawny boy! Anywho. Hope you all have a good easter!

 

My little pansy-in-an-eggshell finally has the tiniest little sprout! 
Also, I made something for Shawn for our 1 year anniversary (next month!)

 Wee! So I've been gone for over a week haven't I? Well I have good reasons. Trust me. [super smash bros brawl for the nintendo wii, shawn coming to visit, school...]
So anyway, I decided to do some embroidery after a long while of not doing it.

( Read more... )

Yey I went to Michaels and got some cheap fake flowers and little fake birdies! I have always liked those little colorful birds since I was little. Now it is decorating my bay window. (my cat kept trying to eat the birds though...so now they are inside the bowl ><)


No updates for a while...Sorry for anyone who may be reading this T_T) I might be able to do some community lurking but that's about it. Anyway...happy crafting people!

Sites of the Day
Craftzine - blog
Cuteable - random cute finds
PinkLemonadeBoutique - nice bags
Lucky Kaeru Fabric- an etsy fabric shop
Pixel Tutorial - how to make retro 8-bit style things out of perler beads
Snugglemuffin's Blog - maybe not so crafty, but lots of pretty things to look at and inspire you!

Updates
I wasn't able to post yesterday. I'm really trying to post something every day you know? Even if it is just a little something. But, life gets in the way as always ^^ I'm also going on a 10 day hiatus starting this friday. I doubt I'll be able to update. But, after that I'll get right back on it. So anyway...here are some things to read and look at!

Things I'm working on:
*A Blue and White Lolita Bonnet (almost done, just needs the embellishments on either side. No ears or anything like that)

*An Elephant Plushie (got the idea from someone in a plush community I'm in. She was needing some dolls for her new baby-to-be's room...and the reference picture she posted had adorable chubby animals, including an elephant! Right when my mom saw me working on it, she asked why I was sewing the republican symbol >< I suppose that really isn't the first thing I think of when I see a chubby little elephant.)

Things I want to Make:
*Fish Bowl Decoration (as explained in a previous post...here is a picture I made of ideas. Unfortunately, I can't do anything with water because my cats fight all the time and would knock it over for sure) The first one has a big leaf hanging out of it, with a lotus blossom at the bottom, and the second one has a fake frog and crab. woo!


*Embroidered Pillow Covers (I was looking at a pottery barn magazine [mainly because we are going to be moving, so that means we get a whole new house to decorate] and I saw some embroidered pillows. They look simple enough to do...a big giant square, maybe a zipper on the side...and some embroidery! The thread they used here looks massive...but I think I could get the point accross with smaller thread. Looks like they did a bullion/french knot on the leafy one. Can you tell I like nature themes yet? ><
 
 

Zipper Purse Tutorial
Twelve 22 - Lined Zipper Purse Tutorial
This is the tutorial I found that taught me how to make little zipper purses ^^ I figured out how to add the little wristlet style handle myself...It isn't too hard. Just take a strip of fabric and fold it over a few times, then sew it all the way down...Does that make sense? XD I'll have to make my own version of this tutorial with instructions for lined pockets and the wristlet strap.

What Should I Do With This?

My boyfriend sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Valentines day ^_^. Unfortunately, they started to wilt, and the water in the vase smelt of something most foul. So, I saved a few flowers and leaves by pressing them, and threw away the rest. I am left with this fish bowl style glass vase that I don't want to throw away!(yes, I am a pack rat. Now you know my dark secret) At first, I thought of painting the outside, or making a miniature fake garden with tiny animals(sort of like Brian Burkhardt's work). Any ideas? Suggestions?

Etsy Store of the Day
Ndeurshoes - extremely expensive, but beautiful hand painted shoes
This store had an item featured on the front page of Etsy. They have inspired me to paint my next pair of shoes that I get :D [On a side note: Who freaking agrees that we should be NOTIFIED if we are ever featured? What are the odds that you are going to actually see your item being featured? Zero! How would you KNOW?? My friend featured one of my items once (which sold really fast btw - thanks XD) and I had no idea until she told me. End rant :p]

Embroidery Site
Sublime Stitching - good pictures for learning basic embroidery

Flickr
I updated my flickr page and put on a few drawings/sketches, and a few things I made a while back.

Made Today 
I promised I would make my sister a bag...