In my wish list

Music note buttons by minetteheartsyou

Vintage 70s Sea Shell Playsuit by Tealey Vintage

Angel fish pattern jumpsuit by Snow Jane Vintage

70s long blue gown by Bad Cholla Vintage

Elsie Bikini by curlywurly

Happy Friday! xx

Asakusa-Bashi

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial day weekend! I had a day off too (since I work in American schedule), and got to go out with two crafty friends/blogger/etsy seller, Kayo and Novita yesterday. We went to Asakusa-Bashi, which is a wholesale district for craft goods, including beads, zippers, lace, etc. They did not have much fabric selection, unfortunately, and I just wish Asakusa-Bashi is closer to Nippori, the fabric district in Tokyo, so I can do all the shopping at the same time!

This was the first time I shopped in Asakusa-Bashi, and Kayo showed us around. One of the shops we went is called Marbees. Here is the map and some reviews of the shop, here (it's in Japanese). I got some zippers in good wholesale price.

From left, Kayo, Novita and me:)

Aren't these zippers adorable? I've never seen this kind of zipper any where else. I love them!
I wrote about my favorite Indonesian dish, Soto Ayam in my last post. Sweet Novita saw it and gave me the instant powder for Soto Ayam. I'm so excited to make it myself!

We grabbed lunch at Indian restaurant. It was delicious!

Check out Kayo's crochet, accessories and clothes shop here, and Novita's shop full of clothes made by Indonesian batik here.

Vacation clothing

I want a maxi dress to take with me to a vacation coming up in January. Andy and I are going to Thailand to celebrate our 3rd year anniversary! So I was thinking it would be nice to have breezy maxi dress to put it over on bathing suit, with flip flops... but I can't decide which on I want. Any advise?

From top left, clock wise:Vintage Hawaiian maxi dress, $24, Vintage 70's Hawaiian maxi dress, $19.99, Maxi Plaid dress, $16, Tahiti maxi dress, $32. All from Etsy.

leopard + floral

On the way home from Chigasaki weekend trip, I stopped by at Nippori fabric row for some fabrics to make clothes for the Tokyo Made Market. I had fabrics I wanted in mind, but I got upset because I could not find the ones I envisioned... All the sketches I did before the shopping became nothing, and I had to re-consider what I was going to make. I initially planned to get pale pink and light gray, and one floral fabric, but it was very hard to find perfect pale pink in perfect texture, and thickness. I ended up drawn to this fabric in the middle, in salmon pink color, and picked the rest of the fabrics based on it. This salmon pink jersey has the softest feel, and I knew this fabric would not stretch out and look ugly after a couple of wash. and I love this floral leopard fabric I found! I usually don't like leopard (I think leopard usually looks too slutty for my liking) but the pastel pink and floral balance it out, I think. The right fabric is thick knit, with a bit of a stretch and it kind of looks beige but has a hint of pink.

After the shopping, I realized I work much better with designs once I have the fabrics I like, instead of trying to find a perfect fabric for the design already exist. Picking one fabric that I like and getting two or three more in same or contrasting color pallet, and then deciding on designs work better for me.

My goal is to make 9 pieces of clothes in two weeks. I pre-washed the fabrics, and already made two pieces! Photos coming soon... :)

November wishlist

1. Nasty Gal mesh dress (unfortunately sold out:( ), 2. Studded ballet flat, 3. Glamourai shoe jewels, 4. Gray wool boyfriend blazer, 5. high waist denim paired with stripe shirt from Lookbook.nu.

This week's etsy favorite

Just wanted to share what I found on etsy this week: From top, Lovely Lady from OliveVintage, Black and white sketched flower dress, Rosebud, and Vintage floral dress, China vacation, and brown velvet dress from CapriciousTravelor.

Saturday thrift shopping

On Saturday last week, my husband, sister and I went to a thrift shopping in town. It might be more accurate to say that only my sister and I went to shopping, because Andy was watching some program that was on the TV at the store. For some reasons, the pictures turned out so much more brown looking than I wanted...perhaps because I took them in a dark room without much light.

Anyways, all the nine items below, I got for 50 cents (50 yen) each!
From the left top corner: 1. leopard pattern dress: I will probably end up re-making something out of this since I am not a leopard kind of gal! 2. no brand black tunic, 3. zara black sweater, 4. navy blue dress, 5. gray tank in polkadot and stripe, 6. yellow sandals, 7. crushed velvet black dress (planning on adding some studs to it!), 8. black sandals and 9. black vest.

Here are what my sister got. They were not 50 cents each, but were great deal! You can tell that her style is much more preppy than mine. I think preppy looks great on her, unlike me, if I put on a button down shirt and a slacks, I end up looking much older than my real age.
the left bottom is, Skorts. I remember wearing them when I was in elementary school. They look as though you are wearing a skirt, and this one she got is really cute for mere $3! (290 yen)

My current etsy favorite

I fell a sleep too early last night, and ended up getting up in the middle of the night. While I was killing time until I fell back to sleep, I was checking etsy vintage shops.

Here are my current favorites (from the top right corner, clock wise): vintage romper by le skinney, floral dresses (on sale!) from she HEARTS vintage, and vintage purple purse from the pudding store vintage.

New shoes

I went to shopping with my friend from high school on Thursday, and picked up these shoes. I was initially looking for flats, but then I found very low heel wedge pumps with gems, and fell in love with them. When I took them home, Andy commented, that these shoes look like the ones Genie would wear in Aladdin...

Wearing: handmade scarf, f21 knit dress, h&m camisole, uniqlo gray tights and new pumps:)

Since the shoes has such an impact, I paired them with a simple black knit dress that I used to wear when I worked at the office. My style definitely changed a lot from the time I used to go to the office and now, working from home. I am more attracted to shorts, mini skirts and bright color tights that I wouldn't have been able to wear to work before.

Oh, and I am definitely enjoying the weather here! It is so mild. So sunny during the day lately and cools down at night. I certainly do not miss Philly's shitty (excuse me) weather.

Pretty underwear

Besides un nana cool undies, I think Peach John is my second favorite place to shop my underwear. My sister gets a catalog from them quarterly, and I love just looking at different PJs and cute under wears. Especially those Hello Kitty undies! I am not sure if I will actually wear it, but I cannot deny the fact that I am attracted in them.

I am also attracted to leotards now. I think it is perfect to wear it with high waisted skirts. And it keeps your warm as well, how practical! Although, they kind of make me feel like a baby. I love the leopard one above, and Peach John also had small alphabet pattern (don't have pic) leotard, which was extremely cute.

Sorry for the blury pictures.

une nana cool

Aren't these underwear lovely? They almost look like bathing suit! They are from une nana cool. I have been using their underwear collections only (although, I cheated once when I found a non-wired black lace bra from H&M this summer) since I found out their shop three years ago. Half of their collection is non-wired, but has an elastic band under bust, and extremely comfortable for someone like me, who have flat chests. If you are like me, you know how uncomfortable it is to have a hard wire pressing your bone under neath your boobs... It doesn't happen with these guys, and I am so happy to have found out their store!

Fabric shopping in Nippori

Two weeks ago in Philly, I had to give away all my fabric stash, probably about three or four big bags full of them. It was so sad because I had some plan for those fabrics, but never got to it. And there was no way I could take them all, because shipping is so expensive, it is like 130 bucks for 30 pounds.

Today I went to a fabric shopping in Nippori, which is like a fabric row of Japan. It is right off the JR Nippori station, and when you get out of east exit and walk straight ahead, you will start to see row of fabric shops and cheap clothing stores.

Two bags of goodies from Tomato (best fabric shop in Nippori in my opinion)!

Here is what I got:
1. hot pink stretch knit for fall dress
2. blue stretch knit - planning to make a dress to wear for my friend's wedding in the end of September. Considering making a one-shoulder dress, which would be my first try!
3. Sailor cotton fabric..isn't this fabric way too cute?
4. Polka dot
5. Khaki suiting fabric to make more of circle skirt

July wishlist

Iconic 60's vintage dress, $37.00

Vintage American State Bank, $11

Summer Sailor Dress, $50.00

Hello Sailor Cotton Bandeau Set, $64.00

F21 Polly floral dress, $24.90

ModCloth Bangalow dress, $47.99

I'm on my way to Boston now, and looking at these cute stuff! For this trip, Andy and I decided not to take the car, and took Boltbus. Bolt bus is great! You can use wireless internet in the bus. So online window shopping is what I'll be doing next few hours.

I could not resist...

I knew I shouldn't buy anything new since I am moving, but I could not resist Bandolino sales... It's their fault for having a store right next to my work! These criss cross strap black sandals were $29.99 for sale, but since I had a 25 dollar gift certificate, I only paid $5 for this. I didn't feel as bad...! They are on sale for $39.99 on their website, but at their physical store, they were 10 dollars cheaper:)

This is totally irrelavant, but I am so impressed by boyfriends/husbands purchasing clothes for their girlfriends/wives from my shop. Every time I get a sale or inquiry from a male customer, explaining his girlfriend's birthday is coming up or what not, it makes me happy!

New sewing machine has arrived!

I'm so excited to use this new sewing machine of mine! I bought Janome Thread Banger 12. I've been using Kenmore, then got a Brother sewing machine for Christmas, but brother was just not working for me. I'm sure it is perfectly fine for someone who do a little bit of sewing, but since I use it so much, it couldn't bear the labor. Janome TB12 was recommended from the place I got, Ken's Sewing Center. If you are thinking of buying a sewing machine, I do recommend buying from them. They are the nicest people, and very helpful. I will report how this sewing machine will work for me in a couple of weeks:)

Any request for next tutorials? I'm thinking of doing one again!

Friday shopping - bangles

My coworker and I went to Eternity again. It is on 15th and Chestnut sts in Philadelphia. I found a black pair of sandals that I really wanted, but I decided not to buy them. Why? Because I don't want to have a lot of "stuff" in my place at this point in life.... since we are moving. We are moving to Japan in August. We found out about it during our June trip to Japan. A lot of details need to be worked out, but for now, we will say good by to Philly in a couple of months... sad.

Anyway, that's why I shouldn't buy much stuff now. But I did buy these bangles there, for $1.99 each! I like them a lot.

For those who can't get to Eternity, GoJane has very similar stuff to what Eternity has. Check out their site here. Free shipping over $50 of purchase!

fabulous place to shop fabric in japan

ever since i read this blog post about fabric shop in japan, called "tomato" and other reviews about this shop, i've been dying to go. now that im in japan, i went there on my first day.

it was great!

they have tons of tons of fabric, they arrange them very well (1st floor print fabrics, 2nd floor knit fabrics, etc), they have great 100 yen a meter section (100 yen is about 95 cents in current exchange rate).
they have two or three different buildings, and you can find anything there... i was so excited.
it is in fabric district of tokyo, place called "nippori". you can get off at "nippori" JR station and walk from the station for about five minutes, then you'll start seeing the rows of fabric shops.

i got these two fabrics from 100 yen a meter section.
right: pink lutas flower cotton fabric with a bit of stretch
left: polyester fabric, kind of like kimono fabric

what should i make out of these...? im so tempted to just make a kimono dress with the fabric on the left, but i should probablly try something new. with the lotus fabric, im making a sun dress for my little sister:)

already summer

philadelphia weather decided to skip spring completely! it was so hot today.. in 80s. i like it hot though. i cant believe i was wearing tights, jacket and scarf last monday, and today, wearing shorts and tank top. 

i met with kaitlyn, who visited me from NY. check out the website she works for: beauty bliz

they have a daily giveaway too. 

tank top: h&m

shorts: good will, purchased years ago

vest: handmade by me!

sandals: eternity, local philly shop

 

we went shopping to antholopologies, h&m, urban outfitters and jucy couture... i didnt get anything, but this romper from urban was my favorite! this flower fabric is just too cute. 

L'Occitane

i'm super super stiff from the run yesterday, to the point that i'm reluctant to get up to go to bathroom. sewing, i can do, since i am sitting down when i sew. 

so during lunch hour today, instead of going to gym, i went to sephora:p and here is what i got: Ultra Comforting Clensing Milk from L'Occitane. i used it already when i came home today, and i love it - its so mild for my sensitive skin, and doesnt dry out the skin after taking off make-up. im pretty pleased with the price too (it was $22), since if you were to buy the same product in Japan, it would have cost me about 40 bucks! 

Market Publique

I just found out about this online vintage auction, called Market Publique.

It basically works same as ebay, and you auction off the items you like. I heard that more and more people are getting sick of ebay, with their competition and high listing fees and stuff. I like Market Publique, since it's all vintage - when you are looking for something specific, it's pretty easy to find:)

I'm taking vacation in a month! I'm so excited. My husband and I are going back to Japan for two weeks. We are also considering going to Thailand as well. Price is so cheap in June in thailand. We went there for our honeymoon, and absolutely loved it.