Sashiko Fabric Box

Here's a little something I made as part of a gift, a fabric covered box with sashiko (Japanese embroidery) bellflower accent.

I didn't take step-by-step photos but maybe these few will inspire you to make your own!

 

The purple and flower are representative of September. An excellent month if I do say so myself.

I traced the box that was going to be wrapped onto the wrong side of the grey fabric, outside of box against wrong side of fabric. Before cutting it out I hand embroidered the bellflower and added a 1/2 seam allowance. Then flipped the box so the inside was against the wrong side of the lining purple fabric, again adding 1/2 seam allowance all around.

Using Modge Podge in sections on the outside of the box, I glued the outer fabric to the box. The longest part of my creation here is the snipping of all those corners and the then carefully gluing down the flaps. I made sure to dab all inner corners with fabric glue to keep them from fraying out. Especially on the lid!
On the lining, corners were snipped, flaps pressed down and glued in place.

There are two little flaps that go under the lid which you'll see later. I cut them off because it just made it easier to wrap the box. I covered them separately, leaving the bottom (where they were cut off from the box) seam allowance hanging down and glued together. I then added them back, sandwiching that bottom seam allowance of the flaps between the box layers.

I placed and, in the case of the front ribbon, hand stitched the ribbons and reattached the side flaps before gluing the lining in place.

Binder clips came in really handy through this whole project as you can see from the above pics. They hold those corners and seams good and tight while drying, which is a must with all those layers bulking things up.

Here is a finished front view with the lid up.

 

This is all inspired by, and for, my Japanese grandmother if you couldn't tell. I filled the box with 2 dozen homemade cookies she likes (plastic wrapped!), a maneki neko, a bookmark, and origami. ♥

Feel free to ask any questions about the making of the box!
xx ~Static

Create 365 - Day... umm...

So yeah, I made it through half of my 365 but I'm going to have to let it go at that. Between new kitten wrangling, studying for a new career --hopefully along side my creative work, and sewing I just keep losing track. Being a grown up sucks sometimes.

Anywho, I will still be posting my stitchy & other creative goodness. Maybe I'll start a new 365 next year when things have settled *fingers crossed*.

Here is my latest custom, so you can see I'm still stitching:

Lil Bub Head Bookmark!

This sweet ooak face is completely hand embroidered. The perfect bookmark for the Lil Bub book, don't you think? This Bubmark now lives with a friend that is a huge fan. Hurray!

Alright, I need to get to a stopping point on 2 of the 5 ginormous dolls (2 feet tall!) I'm working on. Then study, study, and more studying.

xx ~Static

Create 365 - Day 191 & 192

Okay, lots of stops and starts this past week. I have also just started studying for what hopefully will be a new (additional) career. Unfortunately, since I've been trying to figure out what works best in getting both studying and sewing done, I have only finished two days worth of 365-worthy stuff. The good news is that I think I've figured out how not to exhaust or stress myself out doing both.

Anywho, now for the good stuff. This cutie pie was a test doll to work out the kinks of what I have in mine for my gaggle of nieces this Christmas. I customized it to my taste since I'm keeping it. Here is my 13" tall Cutie Vamp Doll.

The ones for my nieces will not have fangs or bat dresses but you get the idea. The next ones will be twice as large, and will be fleece where this one is felt for the most part. They'll also be all machine stitched except for detailed bits. I'd never finish if I had to sew them all by hand!

This is counting as two days because the doll body was done one day and the dress was redrafted and sewn the next available stitchy day.

Well, time for me to get studying! Yay?

xx ~Static

Create 365 - 191 to 195

Day 191 & 192

A pair of Grumpy Neko Snap Clips!

 

Day 193 & 194

 

Shark Rocket Bookmark & Checkered Rocket Bookmark

 

Day 195

Witch Neko Ornament

 

I've got a full plate today so I'm happy that I got a minute to squeeze this in. These are all available in the shop right now (click the images) if you want them. I haven't decided if they're will be more of these designs or not. Definitely limited edition though!

Alright, gotta run. Phone call to make and then studying to do. But, first, COFFEE! Aah.

xx ~Static

Create 365 - Day 185 to 190

Where have I been? I don't know. Around, I guess. Busy, you know, doing... stuff. I suppose you want to see what "stuff". Okay, since you asked so nicely...

Day 185 to 188

In order of photos: Purple Iris Eyeball Bookmark, Turquoise Heart Bookmark (x2), and a Red Lightning Bolt Bookmark (Ziggy or HP? Hmm.)

Day 189 to 190

Grumpy Neko Snap Clips! So cute they hate it.
And, no, that is not my hair. Well, I own it but it's a snazzy synthetic track.  I wish I had the patience right now for that dye job. Did it myself once years ago, maybe some day again.

Back soon with more weirdness. xx ~Static

Create 365 - Day 179 to 184

Well I got a little behind but not really. Maybe by a day. I unfortunately forgot to snap a pic of a recent item before I sent it off so I'll just have to make up for it in the next few days, right? Right. Anywho here's the latest batch of stitchy goodness...

Top row: Creepy Carnie Conversations, Dusty Catacombs, Vampire Kisses
Mid L: Hey Little Sister v2
Bottom L & R: The Roses are Red Red Red, Tumbling Cats

Click the image to check them out along with the other goodies in my shop!

xx ~Static

Create 365 - Day 178

Today is a food day because that is probably all I'm going to have time to create. Since it was requested of me I will include the recipes/links to the recipes! Yum, here we go.

First up is Chocolate Chip Banana Bread/Muffins. This is my MIL's recipe and I'm not sure where it originally came from but sure is tasty!

Oven: 350 degrees F
Grease or foil two 8"x3" pans ~or~ line muffin tins

1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups Bisquick
2 very ripe bananas - mashed
2 tsp faux vanilla extract (sub: 1 tsp real vanilla extract)
1/3 to 1/2 chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugar. Combine remaining ingredients and mix until well blended. Split into pans or spoon into muffin tins.
Bake time: apx 45-50 mins for pans, 20-22 mins in regular muffin tins.

♦♦♦♦

Then we have some Sweet Corn Bread.

The recipe I use is pretty much this one. The only thing it doesn't give tips on is mixing the wet ingredients in the small bowl. I lightly beat the egg and then combine it with the sour cream. In a microwave safe measuring cup I put the milk with the butter and pop it in the microwave to melt (30-60 seconds). Stir, let it cool a bit and then add to the egg and sour cream. Sometimes I even add a dash or two of faux vanilla extract too.

♦♦♦♦

And, last but definitely not least, we will be having Jambalaya tonight. You can find the recipe for that here. Love that site, by the way! The weekly meal plans are a must to check out. I don't follow them exactly but it definitely gets you going in the right direction for homemade food.
Back to the Jambalaya, I tweaked it to my taste, of course. No celery, no additional salt or pepper since there's plenty in the Creole seasoning that I made, and no green onions. I did not use oysters (bleh) or hot sauce either. Also, I don't use quick rice so the simmer time is 45 minutes to an hour (I like it thick). As for the Creole seasoning, too much Thyme gives me a headache so I severely reduced that to 1 teaspoon.

Eat up! xx ~Static

Create 365 - Day 177

Today I made...

 

...pointy-toothed grinning Hair Clips! Inspired by the hair clips the character Katsuragi Yako wears in the anime Majin Tantei Nōgami Neuro (Demon Detective Nōgami Neuro).

xx ~Static