Furoshiki is not a swear word…A guest blog post

Guest Blogger – Angela of Three Buttons

I was so thrilled when Angela agreed to write a post for my little ol’ blog. If you haven’t visited her blog Three Buttons yet, you are in for a visual treat. Angela visited Japan a little while back and has given me a heap of suggestion for places to visit whilst I’m here.
Take it away Angela…

There are two things that make me envy Cinti, one, is that she is holidaying in Japan right now and two, is her clever use of repurposing vintage fabrics to make some pretty awesome designs. When Cinti asked me to write a guest post I thought about these two things and thought of keeping to a Japan and sustainable theme that’s when I came up with the idea to introducing you to the Furoshiki.

A Furoshiki is an eco-friendly traditional Japanese wrapping cloth made from a square piece of fabric. Using techniques similar to origami it is used for gift wrapping, as a shopping bag as well as other functional uses. There has been a renewed interest in the Furoshiki in recent years with the Japanese government encouraging it’s use in a bid to help reduce the use of plastic bags and wasted wrapping paper.

It’s pretty easy to make your own patchwork Furoshiki using some scrap fabrics. I highly recommend using Mairuru’s easy to follow tutorial if you are feeling inspired to make one yourself. Careful though, your Furoshiki might outshine your gift! Happy eco wrapping!

Image credits: one – found via Snoop Blog

Image two – made by me using Mairuru’s tutorial

Image three – via Non disposable life blog

www.mypoppet.com.au

The Hottie Challenge…

I almost forgot to show you the special Hottie cover I made for the Curly Pops Hottie Challenge.
The lovely Cam has organised a group entry for an exhibition at Open Drawer to benefit The Margaret Pratt Foundation.
I couldn’t well claim to be ‘the hottie cover queen’ without entering this challenge could I?
I used some more of my wool scraps and then added detail with needle felting. I had no real plan as to the finished look, but Emma said it looked like flowers and I agree.
It has gone off in the post today. Thanks for organising this Cam, I had a great time making it.


In travel news, I have a 3am wake up call tonight, and with any luck this big volcanic ash cloud will clear enough for the flight to take off on time.
All packed and ready to go, nighty, night I’ll catch you in a couple of weeks.

Keep an eye on the blog, there are some amazing guest blog posts coming your way.
And if you are patient enough to wait till July to receive your parcel, why not take advantage of the 20% off discount code in the shop, just type HOLIDAY at the checkout.

Tokyo here I come!

www.mypoppet.com.au

An experiment in blogging…

Just trying out blogging and photo editing on the iPad.
This little post involved uploading photos from my digital camera onto the iPad via a special adapter.
Using adobe ps for iPad to brighten the photo and saving to camera roll.
Uploading the photo to photo bucket for iPad then grabbing the URL code.
Opening up blogger in safari and here I am.
I can only write text in the HTML window and I need to resize images in the HTML window as well…

So it’s not easy but doable, IF I have wifi available.
It’s all a bit of a palaver, so I think any blog posts I write from Japan will be on my travel companions computer. I’ll have to be nice to her.

So if anyone has a better way of doing things, I’d love to hear it…

www.mypoppet.com.au

Another stripey baby…

Today Emma’s cousin, baby Eva has come for a visit. We are just hanging about with my sister and the babes. I’ve only just recently gotten out of my PJ’s and now mum and dad have popped in . It’s turned into a big family day, work and packing will have to wait.

Have you noticed the how stripey the blog has been this week?

www.mypoppet.com.au

Two years ago…

One of the things I really love about blogging, is that if you do it for long enough, it slowly becomes a record of your life. I am not a journal writer, I’m too self conscious for that, and have always enjoyed taking photos on holidays, but until the blog, rarely documented the day to day.

So thank you blog, for keeping track of my past and the future. You are very organised, I hope you stick around for a while longer.
Here is Emma this time two years ago and now. She didn’t back chat me then…oh how things change.
Her taste in clothes hasn’t changed much though.

www.mypoppet.com.au

Sponsor Profile – klt : works

Every once in a while a stumble across an artist/designer that makes me think, “I wish I could do that!” Meet Kristin Loffer Theiss of KLT:works, a trained artist and painter who blends her artistic skills with the role of ‘maker’ to create some unique products.
Pictured are some of my favorite KLT:works creations from the etsy shop, (I couldn’t resist slipping in some fabric, you all know how much I love fabric!) Isn’t that worm softie just the cutest? And the thread drawn bulldog?

Kristin screen prints thread
drawings onto fabric to make mobiles, soft toys and cushions, and also onto garments for babies to grown-ups. What are thread drawings? This video will amaze and astound you…

Thread Drawing from elSage on Vimeo.

I was fascinated by Kristin’s ‘thread drawing’ technique, when I saw this video. I really don’t think I’ll ever get sick of watching it, she makes it look so easy!

KLT:works is truly a family run company, husband Chris, who is also an artist, helps with technical advice. But the main inspiration for Kristin’s designs is her son, Sayer, who not only is a great model but also chief product tester.
Here is a peek of Sayers bedroom, how great is that shelving unit/change table? It was once Kristin’s doll house made by her dad in the 70′s and converted especially for Sayer by Kristin and Chris.

More images of Sayer’s nursery here.

You can find out more about KLT:works here: website :: shop :: facebook :: blog

And if you were wondering – KLT:works ships internationally and the rates are incredibly reasonable.

Thank you to KLT:works for being my first international blog sponsor, I love that My Poppet is read all over the world, and it makes me really happy that the internet has allowed us to connect with talented peeps like Kristin.

www.mypoppet.com.au

Good news and Bad news…

Ok, so I have some good news and bad news…

Good News- I’m going on holidays to Japan!! squee!
Bad News- You won’t fit in my suitcase, sorry.

Good News- I’ll have lots of fab guest bloggers posting whilst I’m away.
Bad News- You might like their post more than mine.

Good News- The shop will be ON SALE till I get back.
Bad News- You will have to wait till I get back before I post your orders.

Good News- I’m planning on bringing lots of good stuff back for the shop from Japan.
Bad News- I only have a 20kg luggage allowance.

So from today you can use the HOLIDAY discount code at the checkout to receive 20% off all items in the shop, the only catch is you will have to wait till I get back before your parcel get posted. All non discount code orders placed by Thursday will be posted on Friday 10th.

So go forth and clear out the shop, I will need some space to list all the brilliant stuff I find for you in Japan. If you don’t hear from me by July, I’m probably lost somewhere in that map up there.
Not leaving till next week but have tons to do before I go. Have you been to Japan? Any must see or do recommendations?

www.mypoppet.com.au