Thanksgiving coupon code

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone is having wonderful time. I'm having 15% off sale with a coupon code "vvthanksgiving"! Enter the coupon code at the checkout. The code is valid from Nov 24 to 27.

Shop here.

Some shop updates

White lace bustier dress

Pink Bustier Dress

Vintage block print mini skirt

Vintage reconstructed floral skirt

Lavender block print fairy dress

Some new dresses and skirts updated over the last 2 weeks! Check more here:)
Have a great rest of the weekend...xx

Yakuza's wife

After Lasik surgery, I was not in the state of modeling clothes for my shop - my eyes were watery and no make up was allowed. So I begged my sister to model for me. I wish she was as corporative as she was yesterday all the time! Most of the time, she refuses to model my clothes. I much prefer taking pictures of the clothes on someone else than myself!

When I first showed her the fabric I bought, her reaction was, "ya...Yakuza's wife? You want to pretend to be a Yakuza's wife?". I guess Japanese people think tiger = Yakuza-ish. I wouldn't have gone for this fabric if it were not for this color scheme - black and white. If there were any other colors in it, I think it would be too much. But since it's monotone, it balances out with the unique print of tiger and cherry blossom...I think.

This season, I have a tendency to pick out quirky print with different animals on it, like crab print, because I'm so influenced by Miu Miu collection.

Tiger cut out dress

Two dresses: floral and stripes

Hello! Here are two dresses that I made about a month ago and added to my shop.
You might have seen similar dresses in my shop before, but I really like the crossed front detail. I think the design accommodates different bust sizes, and I, who have a flat chest, do not have to feel too embarrassed about not having any boobs with this design.

The floral print below is from my mother's sewing box. I am not sure what she intended to use it for, it was sitting there forever so I took it:p Since the print is pretty bright mix of color (red, pink and yellow), I didn't want to use the print for the entire dress. I wanted to balance it out with white to tone down the bright floral print. Then I added two belt loops on the side, and a sash.

Pink floral garden party dress

I personally like the stripe dress better, just because this is so comfortable. The top part is made out of cotton stretchy jersey, and I lined the entire top part with the same fabric, so it is not sheer. The back is opened in big V, and you can wear it with camisole to cover the back, or bandeau bra.

Blue stripe back V dress

These dresses are both knee length for someone who is around 5"5' (165cm), so they are great for work with a jacket on!

I got Lasik done this weekend! My eyes were very bad, I was legally blind without glasses or contacts. Now I see everything clearly! I was a bit scared before the surgery, but I am very glad that I got it done.

Rompers!

So I went little nuts with making rompers! Rompers are great in the summer! Such a no brainer piece, easy and great for beach trips.
Here are different rompers I made and posted in my shop. Shorts part is all based on Jane pattern from Burdatyle. I just changed up the length and width a bit to fit better!

Lace and blue floral romper

Polkadot and pink romper

Lavender Jumpsuit

Blue stripe romper

Polkadot open back romper

Crabs!

Ever since I found this fabric in Nippori fabric district, I had been dying to use it. But sometimes life gets in your way..finally last week I had some spare time to make some new stuff!

Inspiration is from Miu Mui collection, where they used cat prints and bird prints for their clothing.. I'm sure you've seen the photos of their collection somewhere, since it is all over the net!

At first, I was searching for cat print, but could not find anything that's stylish, and not too too quirky. Then I came across these little crabs and took the fabric roll right to the cutting board of the store.

I thought using this fabric all over the dress might be too much, so I used navy blue fabric for the skirt part.

Crabs and Polkadot Dress

Crabs Cut Out Dress

Rainy season

Now it's officially a rainy season in the east part of Japan - although, I always feel like it does not rain as much as I expect, thankfully. I love seeing hydrangea flowers on people's gardens and streets in the rainy season. It's called Ajisai in Japanese, and you know they change colors? Some hydrangea turns from blue to purple to pink! Here is a new addition to my shop, and I used the fabric that has Ajisai flower all over - They are super soft lycra!

Ajisai skirt

Ruffle romper, lace zipper and Steig Larsson

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I had not been feeling all that well since I came back from my vacation - I had a terrible rash all last week, got a sty, and cold. I'm not sure what Bali did to me:(

For those who asked about where you can buy a lace zipper, someone told me that you can buy them on etsy! I found this seller, taeco, and she sells the lace zipper in cream, black, pink, brown etc.

I finished this romper last week and posted on etsy. I love rompers in the summer! It is such a no-brainer piece, and comfortable.

I recently started reading "the girl with dragon tattoo" by Steig Larsson. I saw this book all over the place when I was in the States, and was curious. I'm on about page 130 now, and I really like it..don't tell me what happens in the end..i'm not there yer:p

Already used it, couldnt' wait.

If you know my character, you might know how impatient I am.. I always like things to happen NOW, and RIGHT HERE!. Same goes when it comes to sewing. The day after I got the lace zipper from Asakusa-Bashi, I sat in front of sewing machine and started sewing because I was dying to try my new zipper.

My impatience works both good and bad when it comes to sewing. Good, because I get on it quick, and am able to pump out good number of stuff in short time. Bad, because I know that I would end up making better stuff if I sit down, calm down and sketch the design before I touch the sewing machine.

I am okay with the result of this dress. I used gray and white stripes fabric, but in retrospect, I should have used black to make a contrast with white lace zipper, so the zipper pops out. Maybe next time.

The pattern I used is Mila, which is available for free on BurdaStyle. I like this pattern a lot, and used it to make this, this and this. For some reasons, it was only available in "Print at shop" version when it first came out. As impatient as I was, I took the pattern to a copy shop the next day it came out, and print it out. However, the person at Kinko's shrunk the pattern to fit the page, and it was shrunk for about 15 %. So the dress is pretty small, but fits me well.

Oh do you see the thread holder in behind? My husband made it for me! It's not quite straight, and the sticks that's sticking out are too thick to hold regular thread and only hold serger threads, but oh well, he tried:) <3

I happened to find this lace that matches the zipper perfectly in my sewing box. I probably had gotten in a while ago at 100 yen shop or something.

Some shop updates

Did a small update on a shop! Check it out:)
This week has been crazy busy with my real work, and I'm so glad it's Friday! Two more days of work next week, and I'm off to Bali. I've never been there, so I'm pretty excited!

Hydrangea Kimono Dress

Hydrangea Kimono Top

Black round collar doll dress

May! Sunny days! and Flowers!

In Japan, we call a person who always get rain on dates, events or any important days "Ame Onna" - "Rain woman". It is as if the person brings the rain with her to wherever she goes.
Luckily, I think I'm the opposite.."Hare Onna" - sunny woman! As soon as I get back to Japan, we started to get sunny weather.. hehe:p Maybe it's just a coincidence, but still, sunny weather makes me happy. The past couple of days has been just beautiful!

Here is what I made and added to the shop recently. You can tell that I'm obsessed with open back?! I did something different for the dress on the top. I cut it differently and added a row of buttons for closure. I bought both fabrics in Philly.

Top: Back buttons dress
Bottom: Cut out dress

Lots of hearts

I made this dress a while ago but never got around to post it on my blog. I thought of posting it today, because I miss my husband terribly and I want to give him all my hearts, kisses and love!

I still have 2 and a half weeks in the States by myself, and I think the latter half will be hard for me..

Anyway, I intended to make this dress with crossed straps in the back. I kind of drafted the patterns for the back, but the straps ended up being too short, it was like a kid's dress, and there was no way that a grown-up woman can wear.
Even worse, I did not have enough fabric left to make another set of straps. These kind of things happen to me all the time when I'm sewing. Sometimes things don't go as I plan.

So instead, I made it a halter neck, and added a strap thingy(?) in the back, with a covered button closure.
The result was not what I initially designed, but I like it. The back straps give an extra support as well:) m

Heart print back cut out dress

New this week!

These are new at the shop! Both so Springy.

I am currently in Philadelphia, but will be updating the shop with 2 new items per week. I can also accept urgent custom orders since I brought my sewing machine with me. However all non-urgent items will be made and shipped once I return to Japan on April 28th.

Left: Leopard and Cherry Blossom Tunic

Right: Pink Peter Pan Collar Dolly Dress

one fabric, three ways.

Creation 2-4 from ten dollar challenge! I had 2 meters of stripe jersey fabric, and I managed to squeeze in three things. I'm trying my best not to make a waste of fabric. I overbought fabrics when I was in Philly, and I had to give them all away and throw away some scraps when I moved.

This one is a bubble sleeve tunic, and although it's not showing in the picture, it comes with a pinned on bow. I haven't posted this on etsy yet, but I will, sometime this week..


Stripe scarf - I love making scarf with left over fabrics. It requires a very small piece of fabric, and I think scarves are great way to add some accent to simple outfit! Also it keeps your neck warm when you put your hair in bun:)
And again, back bow. I'm obsessed with back details! I guess I'm less embarrased to show my back than my front for some reasons. I used basic T-shirt pattern I drafted before, and changed it up a bit. Listed
if you are interested!

♡Have a great rest of the weekend♡

Sailor Collection II

I'm so going against the weather! After these creations, I still had this helm fabric left. I just added this dress to my shop. This time I experimented with pattern mix, polka dot + helm print.

Valentine's Day - Free shipping!

I'm offering a free domestic and international shipping for all the orders received between now to February 14th (Japan time).
To receive the discount, please enter the code "Valentine VV" to "message to the seller" box when checking out, or if you want the invoice adjustment before hand, just send me a message!
The link to my shop is here♥

Any special plans for the Valentine's day? In Japan, Valentine's day is a bit different from the one in the States. Valentine's day here is a girl's love confession day. If you have a boyfriend or husband, then girls give chocolate and gift to their guys. For those guys who does not receive chocolate from the ones they love, we even have a thing called "Giri Choco", which means "obligation chocolate". Obligation chocolates literally means chocolates given to male co-workers or friends out of obligation.
Anyways, my husband and I agreed on doing the Valentine's day in American way. So I get some gift! :p

Blouse, blouse, blouse.

I can't believe it's already February! Time really flies. Last night, it snowed in Kanto area (Tokyo area) for the first time this winter. It's pretty rare. I hope this will be it! I really don't like snow. Perhaps this hatred toward snow came from the times I had to deal with too many snow related problems in Philly. Once our car door decided not to close, because the door got frozen, and while Andy was driving, I had to hold the door the whole time! It was ridiculous.

Over last week, I made a couple of blouses. I took a break from making dresses, and decided to use some fabric left overs, that are not big enough for dress, but enough for a top.

☆Peter Pan Collar Blouse☆
Inspiration is from Alexa Chung, she was wearing a white peter pan collar T with jeans, flats and Mulberry bag! I only had green fabric, so it's not quite the same..:p

☆Cross over blouse☆
I love this fabric! It's amazingly soft. I had this left from Tokyo Made Market.

☆Floral blouse☆
Pattern is same as above, (you can tell that I'm into cross over detail!) but for this, I made the sleeves rolled up. I used fabric covered buttons and a sash I made from the same fabric to roll up the sleeves. Fabric is from Thailand.

Saturday brownies

So today, Andy and I got up late, well, late means 8:30am for us, since we are getting old, we naturally get up relatively early even on Saturday. I sewed a bit, and baked yummy brownies, and went to see Kayo. We had a great time chatting and eating her delicious hamburger together for about 5 hours! She and her husband showed me how to use photoshop. I do have a photoshop in my computer, but besides making a small animation for this blog, I haven't been able to utilize it well. They showed me how to bring up color, erase pimples, and what not. Below is the photo after photoshop. I think it looks a lot better than the original one, here.
This dress is a new addition to my shop, along with this secretary dress in orange floral. Sometimes, when I make things, I don't end up with 100% satisfying result. However, this dress, I really like it very much. It is perfect for work, yet keep you super comfortable. I made the skirt part with thick jersey fabric so it's easy to move around. I like the look of high waisted knee length skirt for work, but I always find my self keep tucking in a shirt, and it's so annoying! So I just connected the cross over shirt with high waisted skirt, and the problem is solved:)

You can totally wear summer clothes in winter too!

I've been slacking off lately and taking photos of creations at home. I know there is a better lighting outside, but I just can't get myself together to do a photoshoot outside now. Too cold!

Here is a little maxi dress I made last week for the shop. I made myself one in brown (slightly different design) before, and been wearing a lot, regardless of the weather. In summer, I wear it by itself, but right now, I pair it with a chunky sweater cardigan, short jacket, neckwarmer and sometimes earmuffs. I also wear thick leggings inside when I go out.

I really should have gotten more of this fabric. For some reasons, I only got 2 meter of it:(
I love this blue color, with some kind of ethnic print all over. I got this in Nippori.
I got this faux-leather jacket before New Year. It was 50% off! But a week later, my sister got the same one in brown, for 75% off! I should have waited a week longer to buy! Oh well...

New business card design

Remember I wrote about not being able to come up with a new business card design on my own? A talented photographer & graphic designer, Samantha Nandez kindly offered to design Vivat Veritas logo and business card! I was so excited, and was more excited to see the design she came up with. I love the VV with a tiny flower, and I think it represents my brand well (feminine, and simple). I'm amazed that she can design things based on my idea, since I didn't even know what I wanted the logo and design to look like myself. I just told her, "I like purple color", "hmmm girly!" or "I love floral patterns" or something.

Check our more of her work on her flickr and facebook page! She is an amazing fashion photographer.

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