Silhouette Heat Transfer Projects

I had a chance to review some Flocked Heat Transfer sheets by Silhouette. I was thinking about so many different ways to use this... and decided to make something for me...

and something for the kiddos. I thought it would be fun to make stockings for Halloween morning.

I thought that velvety texture was perfect for the season. It would be nice to make a big project or it would be a great accent on small gifts for Christmas too! I have a group of friends that we always exchange gifts around Christmas. It is so much fun to prepare for that, but it can be a little stressful too, because I want to do something different each year.

Hmm... Can you hear the wheels in my head clicking? I think I am on to something.
What would you do with heat transfer, what would you make?

In case you are wondering, Silhouette has a variety of colors of heat transfer sheets.
I bet you can find what you are looking for!

Girl's Night Out ~ Joann's Fabric and Craft Stores~

Last Friday, I had a great opportunity to mingle with some of the amazing bloggers. Thanks to Jessica from Me Sew Crazy who organized this amazing night.

Even though I didn't attend the Sewing Summit, I felt like I was a small part of it.

Most of these wonderful people I met for the first time, but having the same interest makes it so much easier to become friends with everybody. I had a great time!

I attempted to take many pictures, but inside the restaurant was so dark and most of the pictures didn't turn out so great... Here are a couple pictures I can share though.

Here is me with Jessica. She was such a sweetheart. I was so happy to finally meet her in person.

With Sara of Sew Sweetness. I had the pleasure of sitting next to her. She is one talented girl; her blog is filled with awesomeness.

Jessica made this keepsake for each one of our blog names. It must have taken her a long time to do this. You see? Isn't she so nice?

We each received fabulous swag bags to take home. Are you wondering what was inside? (I was! It was like getting an early birthday gift!).

Special thanks to our sponsors for making our GNO so special. Jo-ann Fabric, Coats & Clark, Pellon, Michael Miller Fabric, Fat Quarter Shop, The Ribbon Retreat, Fiskars, Riley Blake Designs.

I will be back with more posts about my Japanese trip later. I will see you soon!

Trip to Japan ~ Shopping Part 2

There are lots of little things I bought while I was there. I feel like I spent quite a bit of money on food though... Are you ready to look at them?

I am really excited about this book from Muji. There are 100 sophisticated shapes in this book. I can feel my brain turning and getting really curious with what I can do with this book!

Origami and cute stickers...

Craft Tapes!! There were SO many pretty ones at the stores that I visited. Seriously, I stood there for a long time trying to decide which ones to take home.

One of the things I wanted to buy was chopsticks for my kids with a carrying case for their bento. I found these perfect sets at 100 yen shop.

Also, I found chopstics for everyday use, aren't they adorable?

I also found this handkerchief to wrap the bento box at the 100 yen shop.

Really cute pics to make kids lunch cute and fun. I could skewer some cheese, fruit, or some meatballs, wouldn't it be so fun?

I always wanted to buy Cath Kidston's purses. I attempted to buy one online, but I never could justify the exchange rate and shipping charge and so I never have. I went to the mall with my friends one day and saw this bag at a shop, it literally took my breath away. It was so much cheaper to buy there, I think it's because there are many places that sell Cath's items in Japan.

I couldn't believe my good fortune, when my sister took me to a recycle shop that she likes (yes, I guess it's in our blood. We girls LOVE shops like that. How many times have I blogged about thrift shops and yard sales?). When I was going through the bag aisle, I found more Cath Kidston bags that I have been wanting for a super great deal! Can you imagine my excitement?

Phew... Ok, I better get to bed soon, but there is some more coming in a future post. Some of the things are for my friends or blogger friends who helped me out while I was away and did guest posts. It is so fun to even do window shopping, because I can find so many different things and different styles. Shopping with my sisters and my friends was so much fun too, it's been a long time. I didn't realize how much I missed these "girl's time" with those I love.

Trip to Japan ~ Shopping Part 1

I blogged about many different aspects of my Japanese trip... here comes the shopping part (Were you waiting for this?).

Well, to tell you the truth I had a really busy day today. I am just going to share a one simple picture...


Yes, books. Growing up I have been a big.fat.bookworm. I just love to read. I don't have to eat or drink if I am into the book I am reading. If I don't have any motherly responsibilities, I could be reading all day long.

I guess you get the point. :)

I started reading in English more and more but it is never the same as reading in my native language. While I was there I asked my sister to take me to some used book stores and Ahhh… I was in heaven. Seriously, that was a dream vacation to me.

I got many of them from the 100 yen section, and I also went to the regular book stores and bought some Japanese sewing books!

I can't wait to start making stuff out of the books, perhaps; I can picture myself sewing happily during this fall and winter.

Oh, I wish I lived right next to a Japanese book store.

Trip to Japan ~ My Sister's Beads Jewelries

My sister is very talented at making stitched bead jewelries. Several years ago, she took a course to become an instructor, passed the test, and got licensed. She taught some classes and accepts special orders here and there.

It was so fun to see her creations, and she let me pick out some to keep. Isn't she so nice?

Here are some pictures of them...

I love those cute jars. They will look pretty on the windowsill.

I fell in love with this pearl bracelet. It is so soft to the touch and when I tried it on, it was the perfect size for me.

Usually she and I have different taste in things, but sometimes, we like the same things.

I love how she combined the colors on this bracelet; it is fun for me to imagine which outfits I can wear it with.

This beauty is made with bluish gray beads. Blue is one of my favorite colors, I couldn't resist having it.

Wow, don't you think this is such a unique piece? I love how she combined the colors and sizes of the parts. I kept looking at it and never got tired of it. This is one of the very favorites of mine.

I fell in love with this choker. My sister told me that there are several ways to wear this. The funny thing is, she enjoys and LOVEs creating these things but she never wears them. She is a minimalist, once she satisfies her desire to create, she doesn't have an attachment to the jewelries. Well, keep sending them my way sis!

She also started making some stitched beads art to flame it and hang on the wall. I love the one she was working on while I was there. I can't wait to see the finished item!

I was so happy to know that she is keeping her creativity alive, even though the day to day life is so busy and can get chaotic sometimes. While she was talking about her beads work, she was the same girl I knew from when we were a lot younger.

I was inspired by my sister to enjoy whatever I do and keep creating at my own pace. I will enjoy her handmade jewelries with the memories I spent with my sister for years to come.

Trip to Japan ~ After the Earthquake

I have been writing about the fun part of my Japanese trip, but you might have been all wondering, "How are the people in Japan doing after the earthquake". Since, I wrote so much about it in a past post, I am from Sendai, which is the area largely effected by the Tsunami.

Because I am Japanese, I get asked that question all the time. The truth is that I don't really know either. You don't see or hear anything anymore about what they are doing on TV in America. I watch Japanese TV station, but very rarely will they air a show related to the earthquake or the life of people.

One of the things I wanted to do during my visit to Japan was to talk to my family and friends, and see the areas that were affected by the Tsunami.

Well, the impression I got after being there was it was life as usual. There were a few minor earthquakes while I was there but most of the people I know didn't get affected by the big earthquake directly. There is a friend of mine that I’ve known since middle school that I couldn't get a hold of and heard that she lost her husband and home in the Tsunami. But nobody knew where she went afterwards. I hope we will be able to contact her somehow.

Another concern of mine was radiation. When I asked my family and friends, their words got fewer, and all became quit. I think it is a problem, but talking about it doesn't do much for them. I mean, they still have a mortgage, have to eat, drink and breathe. Their life is there and it is not easy to just pick up and move even though you are worried about the radiation.

My family is so traumatized by the Tsunami; they told me that they haven't been near the ocean since then. One of my friends took me to see one of the towns, it was entirely washed away.

First she took me to Yuriage Elementary School. The building is still there, but there are many signs of damage from the Tsunami everywhere. The gym is open to the public so people can come in to find some items that might have belonged to them or their loved ones.





Standing there and looking at ordinary things we use in everyday life made me feel so sad. Those people who lost their lives were real people, with family and friends who loved them.

After that she also took me to Yuriage Middle School.
I noticed the clock outside of the school. My friend pointed out that the clock stopped at the time when the Tsunami came.


She also told me the story of several students who were trying to escape from the Tsunami but couldn't get up to the higher levels and lost their lives. There was a memorial stone at the school sight, people visit with flowers and other items.


In front of the memorial stone, is an inscription that reads:

"That day, many people were trying to escape from the Tsunami and ran towards Yuriage Middle School.

It is so important to rebuild our city.

But I don't want you to forget… their memories live on.

Is death the end?

I think about the things we can do as survivors."


We got closer to the ocean, but there was nothing... I mean, all I saw was blue sky and fields where once houses stood.

In the fields, I could see the foundations when I got closer.

Girl's Night Out- Blogger Get Together and Contest

Because I thought I was going to have lots of procedures this year, I couldn't really plan things ahead of time. That is why I thought I wouldn’t be able to attend Sewing Summit either. I didn't want to pay lots of money for the ticket, book the hotel and end up not going.

Turns out, my medical insurance has been a pain in the rear, and the plan to have lots of procedures for my leg went out the window. I was feeling a bit sad about the missed fun opportunities.

THEN, my blogging friend Jessica from Me Sew Crazy contacted me to see if I wanted to have a Girls’ Night Out with some other bloggers since she is going to come to town for Sewing Summit. Of course, yeah!

Little did I know... Jessica was putting something amazing together with super awesome sponsors!

Here is what I mean...

That is not all... the reason why I am writing this post is that she organized an exciting contest for all of you to win awesome prizes!!

Here are the rules and prizes for the contest;

This is the attendee's list. I consider some of them as my blogging friends that I can't wait to meet in person(finally!), and some of them I am excited to get to know more.

Intrigued? Go to Me Sew Crazy to see how to enter!