26th Handcraft Fair - Art & Heart 2014

This was a fun craft fair. It was also very popular and as a result very crowed. Both days (Friday and Saturday) were super busy. I ventured to the fair on Friday with my three little ones, two walking and one in the stroller. We too the subway to Fukiage station, and stopped to eat lunch at the Fukiage Park which is just next to... you guessed it... Fukiage Hall where the event was held. We sat on a park bench next to a water fountain. Teddy played and looked at the water fountain more then he ate. After finishing we headed next door to look for a restroom.

Teddy, approaching the fascinating water fountain.

There are only 2 available restrooms that I found in the whole exhibit hall.

Nagoya Creators Market

Today we visited the Nagoya Creators Market. It's kind of half-way between a craft fair and an art exhibit. High quality creations of all kinds, from clothes to paintings. Lots of ceramics, wood carving, jewelry, etc. We could have spent days wandering the aisles looking at stuff. We definitely recommend this to anyone with an interest in high quality hand-made goods, for inspiration if nothing else.

We didn't get any pictures of the inside, so here's a park nearby.

Sewing with a Machine

Now I have been able to make more things quickly. I love Pintrest and if you want to follow me there too, here's my page http://www.pinterest.com/annatspooner/. Here are some of the things I have made with my new sewing machine.

I followed this website tutorial for these dresses that I made. They are fun and easy to make. I didn't put any pockets on mine because I didn't want to have to sew up an extra seam on the skirt of the dress for pockets. I might put pockets onto the outside of the dresses later. I got the buttons off Amazon.co.jp.

My Japanese Sewing Machine

So after getting very sucked into sewing things, I decided that I didn't like that all my projects were taking hours and hours to finish. I went on to Amazon.co.jp and looked at sewing machines. I found one that looked like it was okay, the reviews seemed good, hard to understand, being originally in Japanese and then Google Translated into English. It also happened to have originally cost 56500 yen and was on sale for 9100 on Amazon Prime, free next day shipping. So I got it.

Hand Sewing in Japan

Something that the Japanese do that I find very odd is they throw their old clothes away. And by "old" I mean "practically brand new". There are a few thrift stores, but they are not common and they don't have the big trucks around that pick up old stuff and deliver it to the thrift store. I like to make new things from old things, "up-cycle" as it's called. Making dresses for my girls from old shirts and bags from old jeans.

I have had a fun time raiding the trash pile for bags of "old" clothes.