Making Useless Things

You know what is fantastic? Holidays. They are the best.

I took Labor Day off and enjoyed some good quality time with me craft supplies. I sorted through my stashes, organized my projects and even took time to sew.

I finished up this drawstring bag that I had started back in Okinawa. As well as drafted up a design for my new Gudetama bag. So excited to start working on it! I love all my fabrics from Japan so much. I really miss being walking distance from a sewing shop. Most of the nice ones here are a drive away. But I can’t complain that much, they are really, really nice. 

Anyway, it was so awesome to wind yarn, sew, knit, and plan out new projects all day. I have missed that in my life so much.

I hope you are all enjoying any time off that you have. Don’t take it for granted. 

I was out to lunch with a friend last week and we walked by a store that I always wanted to check out, but it never seemed to be open. After mentioning this my friend dragged me inside. Knowing that it would be my last chance, since I would be leaving Okinawa soon. Lo and behold! It was a yarn store! Run by an incredible yarn bomber. She had a lovely little selection of yarn, mostly for crocheting, but it was still wonderful to see. I bought this nice wool tweed, which will make a cute little hat or mittens.

 Yarn shops are really hard to come by in Japan, especially on a tropical island. I didn’t think to take any photos of her store, but it was very neat. But you can check out her work on Instagram: Love Made

Vacation is wrapping up, just two more days here in Tokyo before heading back home. This trip has been so good, I didn't expect to travel outside of Tokyo so much. But Japan has so much more to offer than just the city. If you ever plan a trip here definitely try to see something different (but also really enjoy the tourist stuff because it can be a lot of fun) I also am making good progress on some socks. Because this is vacation after all, I need to rest a little bit 😁

Have you ever wondered what it is like to shop for crafts in Okinawa, Japan. Well let me enlighten you!

The lovely @seireinxo invited me to take a little trip down to one of the larger craft supply stores on the island. While the drive was long and full of obnoxious traffic, the company was great. 

Craft stores here hardly resemble anything like Michaels/Hobby Lobby/JoAnns in the States. There are no large spacious warehouses filled with copious amounts of craft notions. Here stores are small and few. But some of them can be pure goldmines. Rainbow house, the one we adventured too, was mostly stocked with fabric and sewing notions. They had a tiny section of yarn to coo over, but yarn here is expensive and the skeins are very small. 

I was more thrilled by the Sanrio themed fabrics, and even a few Lolita inspired prints. I had a hard time passing up all the Hello Kitty and a My Melody prints. Then I stumbled on all the Alice in Wonderland themed items, and I almost went a tiny bit crazy. 

I settled on the things I actually needed: thread and beads for cross stitch and a few notions for my Alice purse, zipper, lining fabric and strap. Things I couldn’t pass up were the Little Twin Star pre-quilted fabric, and the Gudetama patch. 

All in all a good haul. I also now know I will be planning a Sanrio themed quilt before I leave island.

My life currently consists of bugs. I am seriously regretting waiting so long to have my house sprayed... but while I hate seeing creepy crawlies inside my house, outside is another matter. The butterflies are so big here, they often look like birds, and same with the cicadas (and banana spiders 😲) The snails are just as big, but if you get a magnifying glass you can see snails as small as a pin head. So cute! Although, walking on the grass is always followed by unpleasant crunching sounds... snails are that abundant. But back to the point that matters, I finished my scarf. I named it Craige na Dun, after the stones in Outlander. Shhhh it's ok, I am allowed to fangirl 😉 Hope all of you have a great holiday, that is much less full of bugs then mine is!

A good cup of coffee goes a long way... I like to sprinkle cardamom and cinnamon in my grounds before brewing. Once you try it you never go back! I know most of you are embracing spring with your arms open. But I am rebelling... I want to hold onto cozy dark days just a little bit longer. We don't get a whole lot of that here on Okinawa. So before the temperature spikes to a consistent 98 degrees Fahrenheit. I am making myself a pair of fluffy, soft, and cozy cabled socks/slippers. Plus, sometimes it is tough to find a good spring knitwear project. So if you have any you want to share, please do!

I'm back to working on this jacket again... These pics are so outdated now. I have made major progress with the beading and embroidery. There is still the whole back panel to complete, but I love this project. I get to pick up and work on something new each time. It may be taking personalised jackets to the extreme... But I'm into it. I can't wait to do another one (hopefully x-files themed) This one's theme is Sakura BTW. Hope everyone is good. Knitting update soon...

Hey, my posts this week are kind of lame because I'm wandering around Tokyo, Japan. It is crazy how different this place is from Okinawa. I would take living on mainland Japan any single day over Okinawa. This place is dope. Haven't been working on many projects, haven't had time. But there are so many things to find inspiration in. From the shy Lolita stores, to the brash and crazy bar streets of Shinjiku. Not to mention the amazing peace and beauty of the shrines tucked away in the city. It has only been two days, but it is pretty wonderful so far. Sorry for the long post about JP. But it is so nice to feel a love for this country again. If you have any stories about Tokyo or places I must check out (knitting stores! Craft places!) Please let me know! Have a great week! P.S. I miss my cats a lot, so that's why there is a photo of them.

Let's talk about how incredible the flora and fauna of Okinawa is. It is so inspiring for me. I love botany. While I might not be best at plant names, or even caring for plants. I enjoy them immensely, and it is a pleasure to live some where where plants flourish. Also, my next project will be covered in cute flowers. So get ready :)

I needed a smaller purse... So I made one. It has its flaws because sewing is not my forte (mostly in the strap department). The embroidery is traditional Japanese sashiko. Craft stores here offer tid-bits like zippers, purse handles, hooks etc. for super cheap. Zippers are all under a dollar. Even for 20 cm or more! I will cry when I go back to the states and have to shell out four bucks for crappy plastic zippers :(

Sometimes life is hard. Lately a lot of not good stuff has been happening. But some how this crazy place I live in makes up for all of that. We have had the most incredible sunsets the past few days, one even included a rainbow. I miss my home, but I truly love living in Okinawa. I know this isn't knitting related, but I thought I would share this anyway. Hope you all are doing well. And that you experience some stunning views during your hard times. Cheers!

Someone is supposed to be developing her shop, working on projects, and posting new listings. But the tide pools here are just way to distracting... I will never get any real work done ;)

I finished this cutie a while back now. Like back when I was living in a hotel and making coffee from a packet every morning. As entertaining as hotel hopping and moving to Japan was, having our own house is such a blessing. Even though my work room is still a disorganized pile of boxes, it is great to have a work space.

I am only posting this now because I am finally getting back into the grove of having my shop open. This hat is part of my new line. So if you are interested, take a look at Making Useless Things on Etsy and give it a like.

Thank you :)

Our typhoon ended up not bring much more then a summer storm. But I have still made some progress on an argyle hat, as well as enjoying the greenery outside. I hope you all are fabulous. I sure am, these summer days are just stunning.

This is some yarn I picked up from a lady here on the island. She dyed and spun the veregated yarn herself, and spun the natural wool. Her website is http://lostbirdsfiber.com/, she also has an etsy. She is a very talented knitter, fiber enthusiast, and artist. I love the muted colors of the hand spun yarn, and the natural wool made a great gift for my mother. I never expected to meet such talented and beautiful people here. Yet there they are amazing me everyday. Defiantly check her out, it is worth it.

A little life update: made it to Okinawa, Japan. I have a pile of projects to work on while I wait for all of our house hold goods to ship over. It is pretty surreal.

Sup.

Finished this hat a while back, I was just to lazy to take pictures of it.  I am also pretty busy visiting family/friends, packing up my apartment, and moving to Japan. 

I can't tell you enough how much I love this style of hat.  They are a lot of fun to make.  As well as quick and easy. So easy I might have to write a patter :)

Love you all.

-Gracie