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Custom Wedding Dress & Kimono Upcycled Clothes | オーダーメイドウェディングドレス&着物ドレス

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/ blogs / every day life / Scrap heap project

Scrap heap project

March 25, 2011 By Chie

Look at this mess. This is my fabric stash in my closet. sigh…
I don’t know what happened. I thought I cleaned it up pretty nicely when I moved into my current place last August. I love fabric. As I wrote in the guest blog post over at the cupcake goddess, visiting fabric shops became a hobby in and of itself. I always buy way too much, but in my defense, the majority of left overs  come from pieces bought for custom orders.  The reason being that I don’t like to worry about not having enough fabric to fill the order, and so I often end up with much more than I need.

I am going to be on maternity leave soon. I’m excited and nervous at the same time about this. I’m excited for the obvious reasons – to have some vacation time and time to spend with the baby.  I’m nervous because I am a bit of workaholic. I get jittery if I’m not busy. So, as soon as I get out of the hospital and am able to get up and move again, I want to start a project called “Scrap Heap”.   For this project I will make something  from this fabric mess. I plan to make one item a day, Monday through Friday for a month. I think this will give me some schedule so I won’t be sitting in front of my TV wearing pajamas all day long. Have any of you done something like this?  Has anyone found a post pregnancy, maternity leave hobby?

During my leave sabattical, I also am thinking of learning how to create patterns on computer. Does anyone know any good software for that?

By the way, thank you so much for those who commented on my last post – I feel so relieved that I don’t have to pinch my own nipples! I will leave my nipples out for the time being:)

P.S. Check out my interview post over at Willow Would..thank you Amber! 

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Comments

  1. hana.k says

    March 25, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    It would be awesome if you could make time to make something every day! I'd love to see what you come up with 🙂
    But I have no idea how some moms do more than just eat nurse sleep after baby arrives… I'm still in that cycle!

  2. Emily says

    March 25, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    Can't wait to see what your fabric heap turns into (and for your leave and your baby to come!).

    I didn't get much done right after my baby was born b/c she cried all the time and I got mastitis twice. I hope your transition is much, much smoother. 🙂

    I started sewing after my little girl was born. Before that, I'd only touched a sewing machine three times.

  3. Emily says

    March 25, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    PS great interview! I'm sure your daughter will be gorgeous! Can't wait to meet her. I'm also really excited to see your nursing friendly wardrobe. Mine was a bunch of fitted tees- acceptable but not super fashionable!

  4. Kaitlyn Dreyling says

    March 25, 2011 at 7:18 pm

    Hey Chie!

    I've never had a baby…but I think you'll have your hands full with little Kiko! I would totally suggest making a quilt for her out of all your scraps! Since it's for a baby it doesn't have to be that big, and a lot of baby quilts are very simple pattern.

    I know you don't quilt, but just a thought…

    <3

  5. Emeraldflare says

    March 25, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    I'm so excited for you Chie! you're funny already plannig a project for after giving birth lol!

  6. Av says

    March 26, 2011 at 12:11 am

    Chie,

    I can't believe that your are close to your due date! It has been an amazing journey watching you step into motherhood… and to see how you dive straight into it with such ease, like a ballerina to dancing.

    I started sewing when I was pregnant and made a little blanket for my son. It would be interesting to see what you do with your scraps.

    Have fun and enjoy motherhood with little Kiko!!!

  7. Hambergoosa says

    March 26, 2011 at 1:58 am

    what an awesome idea, we're currently going through my husbands grandma's huge sewing room and it's mind boggling trying to figure out what I'm gonna do with all that stuff, and let me know when you start making patterns, totally will buy them!

  8. petiterepublic says

    March 26, 2011 at 6:12 am

    hehehe, i thought you are suppose to sleep when baby sleeps after birth!! though you seem like one energetic mommy!!! 😀 cant wait to see your baby!

    oh those smaller scraps are PERFECT for baby clothing! 😀

  9. Paunnet says

    March 26, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    what a great project! I'm looking forward to it!

  10. Claire (aka Seemane) says

    March 26, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    Re: software Threads magazine has done some reviews:

    http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/6111/pattern-drafting-software

    http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/5060/the-ease-factor-in-pattern-drafting-software

    http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00152.asp

  11. Ai says

    March 26, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    exciting!

  12. yaga says

    March 28, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    What a great idea, I'd definetely love to see what you come up with to turn that heap into little pieces of great! ;o)
    love
    yaga

  13. Jodie says

    March 28, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    Would love to see what you do with your scrap heap. I'd probably set some loose goals during the sabbatical, but leave them open and flexible.

    Please let us know if you end up experimenting with drafting software. Would you be using it for yourself or to sell patterns?

  14. LoveMakesTheGirl says

    March 28, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    I look forward to seeing what you do with your scraps. I have a mini heap of my own, so maybe I'll be inspired to do something with them!

    And I don't know if you pay attention to these, but I gave you the Kreativ Blogger Award on my blog 🙂 You definitely deserve it!

  15. vivatveritas says

    March 29, 2011 at 2:35 am

    >kaitlyn

    haha you with the quilting! id love to try, but i never have patience for it… btw, can i make it with different type of fabrics, or does it have to be all cotton?

  16. vivatveritas says

    March 29, 2011 at 9:26 am

    > Emeraldflare
    i know, i must be insane! lol

    > Av
    aw thank you av! some of the scraps are pretty big, maybe i have enough to make some clothes from them. excited to go through those left overs!!

    > Hambergoosa im sure i will be posting about making patterns here on my blog! its pretty new to me, although i always make patterns with drafting papers, i've never worked on a software or anything. so it should be interesting!

    >petiterepublic i heard! this whole thing is new to me, so im not sure what i will be like with a little one.. 🙂

  17. vivatveritas says

    March 29, 2011 at 9:29 am

    >Claire (aka Seemane)
    hi claire, those are great! thank you so much for sending me the links! i will certainly check them out.

    >Jodie
    sure, im sure i will be posting about my experiment with pattern software here.
    im thinking of making them available for readers here, so maybe we can all do sew-alongs? i have not come up with specific ideas yet, but if you have any suggestions, please let me know!

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このシルクの軽さ、暑い季節にちょうどいい🫠 一枚の着物から、ワイドパンツを作りました✂️薄手のシル このシルクの軽さ、暑い季節にちょうどいい🫠

一枚の着物から、ワイドパンツを作りました✂️薄手のシルクは風を通して、歩くたびに裾がふわりと揺れます♪

後ろ姿には、着物の袖だった部分を使っていてお尻の部分の花柄が上下逆さまになっています👻最初は迷ったけれど、これはこれで面白いなと思ってそのまま残しました🫶🏻

一点ものなので、この一本だけ。気になる方はプロフィールのリンクから見てみてください♡

This silk is so light, perfect for the hot season 🫠

I made these wide-leg pants from a kimono✂️ The thin silk lets the breeze through, and the hem sways softly with every step ♪

The back is made from what used to be the kimono sleeves, so the floral pattern on the hips ends up upside down👻 I wasn’t sure at first, but honestly it grew on me, so I left it as is 🫶🏻

One of a kind, just this one pair. If you’re curious, the link is in my profile ♡

#着物リメイク #kimonoremake #正絹 #一点もの #和柄 夏の装い ワイドパンツ
数年前に制作したシルクのドレス。 今回「Released. Reimagined.」というコンセプ 数年前に制作したシルクのドレス。

今回「Released. Reimagined.」というコンセプトに合わせて、@redyeingproject さんに黒染めをお願いしました。

Helen x Vivat Veritasのイベントにベンダーとして出展してくださったご縁から生まれたコラボレーションです。

「服を捨てる前に、黒染めという選択肢を。」
色あせた服を、グラム単位の染め直しで蘇らせる——そんなコンセプトに強く共感しました。

天然素材のシルクスカート部分は深く美しい黒へ。
シャンティレースの部分は、少し緑がかった表情のある色に変化しました。

一着を長く着続けるための、小さな選択。
Before / Afterの写真、ぜひご覧ください🩷🖤

A silk dress I made a few years ago.

For this ""Released. Reimagined."" concept, I asked @redyeingproject to dye it black.

This collaboration grew out of a connection made when he joined the Helen x Vivat Veritas event as a vendor.

""Before you throw it away, consider black dyeing.""
His concept — reviving faded clothes through by-the-gram redyeing — really resonated with me.

The silk skirt, a natural fiber, transformed into a deep, beautiful black.
The chantilly lace took on a subtly greenish tone.

A small choice, in service of wearing one piece for longer.
Take a look at the before/after photos🩷🖤

黒染め
@redyeingproject

Photographers
@nothing_special_88
@japanphotographer_

Model
@sienna.christinaaa

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up and videos
@glam_by_jyoti

#黒染め #RedyeingProject #ReleasedReimagined #着物リメイク #サステナブルファッション
これを着て、カフェに行ったら絶対目立ちそう😆☕ アップサイクルで生まれた、新しいファッションの形。 これを着て、カフェに行ったら絶対目立ちそう😆☕

アップサイクルで生まれた、新しいファッションの形。
コーヒー豆袋のジャケット × 着物リメイクのセットアップ。

一枚一枚、生地の柄合わせから縫製まで、すべて手で仕上げています🪡🧚
実はこの着物、裏地にも別布を仕込んでいて、羽織ると初めて見える色があるんです♡

ヴィンテージ素材に眠っていたストーリーを、
もう一度誰かの日常に届けたくて作りました。

If you wore this to a café, you'd definitely stand out 😆☕

A new form of fashion, born from upcycling. A coffee bean sack jacket × a kimono-remake set-up.

Every single piece is finished entirely by hand, from matching the fabric patterns to the sewing itself 🪡🧚 Actually, this kimono has a different fabric worked into the lining too — there's a color that only reveals itself once you put it on ♡

I wanted to give the stories sleeping in vintage materials a chance to become part of someone's everyday life again.

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Model
@emorylove33

Jewelry
@viviange

Make up
@elanoramua

#アップサイクルファッション #着物リメイク #サステナブルファッション
実はこのお洋服、今回のショーに入れるか自分では迷っていました。結構前に作った作品だったので。でもヘレ 実はこのお洋服、今回のショーに入れるか自分では迷っていました。結構前に作った作品だったので。でもヘレンと話す中で、これも一緒に見せようと決めました。

ヘレンと3週間近く一緒に準備を進める中で、コレクションの作り方、見る人を楽しませる魅せ方、ルック全体の組み立て方など、本当にたくさんのことを学びました。自分一人だったらこのルックスを入れる決断はしなかったと思う。誰かと一緒に作ることで見えてくるものがあるんだなと、改めて実感しました。
ヘレン、ありがとう♡

Honestly, I wasn't sure whether to include this piece in this show. It was something I'd made a while back. But talking it through with Helen, we decided to show it together after all.

Working with Helen for almost three weeks to prepare for the show, I learned so much — how to build a collection, how to style looks that engage an audience, how to put together a look as a whole. I don't think I would have made the decision to include this piece if I'd been on my own. Creating something together with someone else really opens your eyes to things you wouldn't see alone.

thank you Helen @designerhelen♡

Model @izumi_nishida

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#KimonoUpcycled #SustainableFashion #DesignerCollab #着物リメイク #ものづくり
お客様からお預かりした大切な帯。 大切に保管されていた帯ほど、実は「日常でどう使えばいいかわからな お客様からお預かりした大切な帯。

大切に保管されていた帯ほど、実は「日常でどう使えばいいかわからない」という声をよく伺います。だからこそ、その帯の物語を読み解きながら、現代の暮らしに馴染むデザインに仕立て直すことを意識してます😌

パッと見にはわからないけれど、実は使いやすさを追求した仕掛けが隠れています。

ショルダーを付ければ、両手が空くアクティブなスタイルにも対応👜

あなたの思い出の帯も、こんな風に日常の相棒にしてみませんか?

A precious obi entrusted to me by a client.

I often hear people say they aren't sure how to incorporate their cherished obis into their daily lives. That is exactly why I focus on reading the story woven into the fabric and reimagining it into a design that fits modern living😌

There are hidden details that make this bag truly functional, even if you can't see them at first glance. By attaching the shoulder strap, it becomes the perfect hands-free bag for an active lifestyle👜

#upcycledfashion #着物リメイク #obibag #remake #sustainablestyle
飛行機と電車の中で作ったジャケットです✈️🚆 去年の夏の3週間、アメリカとヨーロッパを旅しながら、 飛行機と電車の中で作ったジャケットです✈️🚆

去年の夏の3週間、アメリカとヨーロッパを旅しながら、座席でひたすらチクチク🪡着物の裏地にキルト芯を挟んで、フリーハンドで刺し子して、日本に帰ってから染めました。

This jacket was made on airplanes and trains✈️🚆

Over three weeks last summer, traveling through the US and Europe, I stitched away in my seat🪡 
Kimono lining sandwiched with quilt batting, sashiko stitched freehand, then dyed after I got back to Japan.

Model
@kana_nakar

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Nails
@ms_muse_nail

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#kimonoupcycle #sashiko #sustainablefashion #ReleasedReimagined
#刺し子
お客様から届いたステキな帯を、オーダーメイドのリュックにアップサイクルしました✂️ 吉祥文様が織り お客様から届いたステキな帯を、オーダーメイドのリュックにアップサイクルしました✂️

吉祥文様が織り込まれた錦の帯地は、黒地に金・白・紫…と、見る角度によって表情が変わる贅沢な一品。その美しさをそのまま活かしながら、毎日持ち歩きたくなる使いやすいリュックに仕立てました。内ポケット付きで、実用性もしっかり。

受注制作についてはプロフィールのリンクよりお問い合わせください💌

A client’s treasured obi has found a new life as a custom-made backpack✂️

The brocade fabric, woven with auspicious Japanese motifs, shifts from gold to white to violet depending on the light, a truly luxurious textile. I tried to preserve its beauty while crafting it into a backpack you’d actually want to carry every day. Complete with interior pockets for real-world practicality.

For custom orders, visit the link in our profile 💌

#KimonoUpcycle #SlowFashionJapan #WearableHeritage #着物リメイク #帯リメイク
着物リメイクをするとき、どうしても捨てられてしまうことの多い裏地。 薄手のシルクの手触り、もったい 着物リメイクをするとき、どうしても捨てられてしまうことの多い裏地。

薄手のシルクの手触り、もったいなくてサマーワンピースに生まれ変わらせました。

そのままでは物足りないのでアーティストの Riko Monma @rikoshurimonmaさんに染め直しをお願いしたら、一気に息を吹き返しました✨

数年前に作ったこの一着、今回の @designerhelен とのイベントで、コレクションに加えることにしました。

Helenからは色の組み合わせについていろいろアドバイスをもらって、自分だけでは絶対に辿り着けなかったような配色を試してみたり。準備の時間も、とても楽しかった😌

The lining of a kimono — often discarded when the fabric is remade into something new.
That soft, lightweight silk felt too good to let go, so I turned it into a summer dress. It needed something more, so I asked artist Riko Monma to dye it for me — and suddenly it came alive again.

I made this piece a few years ago, but for the recent event with @designerhelena, I decided to bring it into the collection. Helen gave me so much guidance on color — combinations I never would have arrived at on my own. The whole preparation process was just really, really fun😌

Model
@bethenny.x

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Nails
@ms_muse_nail

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#着物リメイク #キモノアップサイクル #KimonoUpcycle #SustainableFashionTokyo #ReleasedReimagined
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