Handmade by MashtonMashton Here is new material from Japan. Beautiful Japanese obis and fabrics. My new projects started!  I bought many material in Japan. Let me post some pictures of them.  Handmade by MashtonMashton This is Rokutsu obi. what is the Rokutsu obi? → About Japanese Obis Handmade by MashtonMashton   This beautiful black obi has SEIGAIHA design. Seigaiha is design of waves.  Handmade by MashtonMashton This pink fabric would be nice to make hair ribbons or bow ties.   I have many ideas for my projects.   For a while I would be busy with my projects! :)  Have a good day, Everyone!

Handmade by MashtonMashton Handmade by MashtonMashton Handmade by MashtonMashton I'm back!  I came back to U.S last week. Traveling in Japan was great! My husband and I attended my sister's wedding which was a wonderful moment and she was beautiful. It is always nice to share happiness with somebody.  These plates and clock on pictures were from my sisters.  These are perfect much with our dining table and table runner. Thank you very much! We traveled in Japan by the Japan Rail Pass! It is a special ticket for foreigners who go to Japan for vacation. Japan rail pass is awesome! You can take JR train and Shinkansen train anywhere in Japan those trains go!  With the pass your trip is FREE!!! You can buy ticket from $231/week per an adult. Japan rail way  http://www.jrpass.com If you are planning to go to Japan and want to visit many places It will save you a lot of travel cost. We went to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara,Yokosuka, Yokohama a...

Handmade by MashtonMashton Hi, All! I go back to Japan tomorrow for my sister's wedding.  I am very happy for their wedding.  I made wedding a gift for them. I made wedding dress by beaded decor. I was imagining my sister's wedding dress while I was making this beaded picture. Also my mother in law sent me a wedding card for my sister.  How kind! I will bring her card with my beaded picture together.  Handmade by MashtonMashton Handmade by MashtonMashton Handmade by MashtonMashton Handmade by MashtonMashton My flight to Japan is about 16 hours. I hope everything goes well without any issue.  I can't wait to see my family and her wedding! Something I found intersting will be posted on my blog from Japan.  Have a good summer holiday, everyone! :) Masumi.xo

Handmade by MashtonMashton Hi, All.  Today was my last weekend before I go back to Japan.  I need to prepare my suite cases for trip to Japan!  Busy busy busy!! But it's good busy! I dropped some my items off at design achieves at Winston-Salem. Here is one of item "Japanese Mizuhiki bobby pin." on friday. What's Mizuhiki?  Mizuhiki  (水引) is an ancient Japanese art form that uses a special cord. The cord is created from rice paper, that is tightly wound, starched to give it stiffness, and then colored. The ways of coloring include brightly colored Mylar (a very thin plastic), thin strands of silk, or simply painted. The art form was used to tie up the hair of the samurai. (from Wiki pedia) I have many Mizuhiki code and I was wondering what can I create with these beautiful mizuhiki code. Then I got an idea, make a head accessary with Mizuhiki code!  I  coated Mizuhiki by UV  resin for protect it f...

Good morning, All!  Here is new item from MashtonMashton.   I like sewing and beading. I haven't made new item from beaded work for a while. Recently I was only sewing so sometimes it is good to do different stuff.  I made a beaded stitch of tie by Japanese MIYUKI delica beads.  Miyuki's beads are great quality and have various color variations.  MIYUKI beads is must item for my projects. Handmade by MashtonMashton I added chain and earphone jack parts so you can use earphone jack with your phone and use the tie as a charm for your bag or phone etc. It would be good gift for Thanks Father's day! Handmade by MashtonMashton My items are at design archives in Winston Salem. 636 W. Fourth Street, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27101 (336) 602-2452 /  winstonsalem@shopdesignarchives.com Mon-Tues-Wed: Noon-6pm   Thur-Fri: Noon-7pm Sat: 10:30-7pm   Sun: Noon-5:30pm If you are around there please drop by! My etsy shop will close from 16...

Handmade by MashtonMashton Good evening all!  Today I spent all day for my project.  Here is the newest item from MashtonMashton.  "Beautiful Maru obi Tote bag."  Handmade by MashtonMashton I used kimono fabric as the inner liner.  Texture is good because it is silk.  Tote bag size  W 20 x H 12'5 x D 6 inches.　 Handmade by MashtonMashton   I used a Maru obi for this tote bag.  Maru obi has design on both sides and is gorgeous.  This Maru obi has Chrysanthemum, Phoenix, Japanese folding fan, Pine tree and Kikko(Hexagon) as its design.  All of these designs mean happiness.  That's why people wear Maru obi for wedding ceremony and special event. This  article has additional meaning of the design detail. → Meaning of Japanese obi design. Handmade by MashtonMashton Handmade by MashtonMashton Handmade by MashtonMashton Sewing a Japanese obi is difficult.  Sometimes the heavy m...

Good morning All! Today is 1st of June. That's means already 6 months have passed this year! Time goes fast! Speaking of June is "June bride." I go back to Japan from the middle of June for my sister's wedding! I can't wait to see them! I have many things to do there. Before I go back to Japan  I want to make some bags for my family and friends as small gift.  I started my japanese obi project with this beautiful Maru obi→ New projects Handmade by MashtonMashton What's is Maru obi?  Japanese Obi type I cut this beautiful Maru obi for this project.  It always, always makes me pause to cut Japanese obi. Because it is too beautiful too cut... but without cutting it I can't start my project so thats what I do! Inside of Japanese obi is like this picture. This one doesn't have much woven thread inside which means sewing is not too difficult. The Japanese obi which have many brocade is very hard to cut and sew. Sometimes they break your ...