Japanese Rabbit Fabric

Somehow I ended up "collecting" Japanese Rabbit fabric...
you know how that goes! You buy one piece and months or even years later you buy another...

My first piece-vintage

...then it begins...you start "collecting"!

My rabbit fabrics are from Japan- some I bought here in the US and some I bought over the internet directly from Japan, but I now do have a collection-ah- started!

A piece of indigo with different rabbits in the blocks

This piece was purchased to make an apron...
but then I just couldn't cut into it!
someday...

This fabric matched Japanese paper that I had..
so of course it had to be added to the stash!

By the time this one came up-
it was obvious what was happening!

So then there is my love of cats...
oh no- do you think-another collection??

Happiness often sneaks in through a door
you didn't know you left open.
~John Barrymore

Favorite Fabric

Many have asked what is my favorite type of fabric in with which to work??

Being a cloth doll artist, I have used many, many fabrics from synthetics to home felted. The world is full of fabrics and full of colors, fabric weights, and printed patterns! There are endless possibilities to define what you are trying to convey- fabric is such a wonderful medium to work in...

I beleive that nothing beats a fine nicely woven cotton. There are so many beautiful cottons from around the world...I would say my favorite are the Japanese- they feel is so smooth - woven not too tight and not too loose. And talk about beautiful patterns- simple yet say so much-

from cute to sophisticated!

I love using these wonderful fabrics in many of my dolls.
Here are some of my cotton fabrics that I have from Japan~

Blue-Tones from dusty to inky:

Red-Tones from vintage soft red to cinnamon:

Earth-Tones from sand to coal-black

I believe that in dollmaking every step is so precious from the stuffing and armature you use to the finish on your chosen costuming. When you take the time, effort, and love to create it is wonderful to use the best materials that you can, and have follow through from stuffing to trims.

I love using the cottons that are equally as beautiful for my linings such as fairie frost... I believe these fabrics are so fine in texture and the metallic finish gives the look of silk with the stability of a beautiful cotton!

Little Blossoms Doll in Japanese printed
green-tones with pink fairie frost cap!
Lining is a darker pink
flower metallic fabric~ pictured second from right above.
Vintage bauble lollipops top off cap and
vintage flower shaped sequins on shoe tips.

Next week- my special Japanese Rabbit fabric!

Little Blue Bird

I have to admit it- I LOVE cute- my husband always says to me with tongue in cheek- "Cute is Good"...as we have been married for 21 years he has learned...cute IS good!

As I was looking for inspiration of my little Blue Bird Pincushion- I started hunting around looking at vintage pictures of little blue birds...just darling-sweet and too cute...I had to make one!

Sweet little pink cheeks and a round head...

Perky stance and sparkling eyes...
Little beak squeaking out "Hello"!

I wanted all these features and also wanted to incorporate the nest into this pincushion...I used a coil machine sewn basket technique with a fluffy pin-cushion that is inset inside the nest-basket! The little bird I made from fleece for that soft downy feel and look...I love things Japanese so gave the eyes a bit more of a wider expression and of course those pink cheeks...

Little Blue Bird Pincushion

Nest...

This week at ROotie I am designing a new pincushion...a little Blue Bird. In the weeks before, as this was rolling around in my head, (needless to say at 4am) I started to think about little birds and nest.

Willow's Nest- feathery down sides!

I was in the "nest and bird" frame of mine when the newest Pottery Barn catalogue came. I was absently mindedly thumbing through and came across a pillow...NEST!

I am not sure which came first- the chicken or the...or in this case- the pillow or the nest...

Nest pillow

As many of you know, I love to start the New Year with a new word…I find it so interesting how a word can be shown to you through out a year. Normally, I choose a word that will help me with personal growth- something that defines your character as a human being…to become a better person- more of an action word- or verb.

But this year, the word NEST has just spoken to me- I tried to think of other words- such as listen…but it just wasn’t doing it…I am feeling the need of the musty, earthiness of life.

I am not sure what how this word will show itself as a learning tool during this coming year…but all we can do is to stay tuned and see where it goes...

Hummingbird's Nest within a pinecone!

Happy 2010

May your New Year be Sweet
and your Dreams come true!


Hey- what's with that WHITE cat!?!?!
Hummm....
Happy New Year's Everyone!