Deviating from crafting, but also a passion of mine is supporting the Japanese arts

A special musical fundraiser for the Japanese cultural fair happening on March 9 from 7-9pm in Seabright area and tickets are $20. Please help make the Japanese Cultural Fair happen! For more information and to buy tickets at:http://m.bpt.me/event/340696

Sweater Boots Tutorial

I redid my sweater boots to a covered pair of shoes. I previously used an old pair of sandals, which were not tight enough and water leaked in when it rained or the ground was wet. The shoes I used were flexible, because you will need to bend the shoes slightly to fit the finished sleeves right side out and I will explain in the end of this tutorial.
First, cut the sleeves off the sweater of your choice (I bought mine at the thrift store for approximately $2.)  However, I recommend a darker color, so it will not get dirty easily.  Second, turn the sweater sleeves inside out, with the shoulder side of the sleeve to go on the front of the shoes and the armpit side of the sleeves will align on the heel side of the shoes like this:

Third, glue the edges of the sleeves on the sole of the shoes and do not worry if the glue is showing on this side, because it will be covered when you turn the sleeve right side out.  In the following picture, it shows I started gluing on the front side of the shoes, but it does not matter where you start gluing.

Fourth, continue gluing around the edges and pick one side (front or heel) to start gluing on the shoe face, while turning the sleeve right side out. Here are the completed boots!

Guess what I am currently knitting?

Sew a simple roll up jewelry bag

I made this jewelry bag at Fábrica for my grandmother's birthday.

Front

Back










 October 2011

Slipper (flip flop) booties for newborn babies

When my cousin was expecting a baby, I crocheted this pair of slipper booties, because my cousin's family is in Hawaii and it is warm year-round. See the pictures of the booties below and how it looks on the newborn's feet!

October 2011

How to knit or crochet an easy baby bootie

Baby booties I knitted for the children's hospital in San Jose, as part of the Japanese Senior Citizens' project at Yu-Ai Kai.

This pattern basically is two rectangles, one for the base (sole) and the second for the top part. I made two separate pieces and sewn the two together all around the base. The Louise Mac's simple crossover pattern has the two pieces knitted or crocheted together.







6/23/11

Pillowcases made from two different fabrics

I made two of these pillowcases from two different fabrics from my dear friend Mie, she bought these fabrics on clearance from Walmart! I still have some fabric leftover, which I will make a surprise gift for Mie, to be posted next month for Mie's birthday. I love how the orange matches the duvet cover I already had, which I bought for less than a dollar at Goodwill's Bargain Outlet bin in Santa Cruz (duvet cover is an Ikea brand originally around $20-50.)
January 2013