Zakka Place

Felt Tray

When I was getting ready for my group show last year, I thought I wanted to have some kind of small tray to put my business card -- but I couldn't find anything that perfectly fits my card size (2 1/8" x 2 1/8"). So I quickly made this "Felt Tray" from scratch. It's quite simple yet pretty sturdy (thanks to the cardboard support that I put inside) - I was very happy with the way it turned out. Here is how to make the Felt Tray:

Prepare 4 Sides

(1) To prepare four sides of the tray, cut eight trapezoid shapes from the felt using the pattern A.

(2) Cut four trapezoid shapes from the cardboard using the pattern A'. These cardboard pieces will be used to reenforce the felt tray. (Tip : Use thinner cardboard - not a corrugated kind. Try cereal box)

(3) Sandwich one piece of the cardboard from (2) with two felt trapezoids. Using all-purpose thread, blanket stitch around all four corners. (See illustration below) Repeat the same process to make all four side pieces. Set them aside.

Make Bottom Piece

(4) Cut two squares from the felt using the pattern B.

(5) Cut one square from the cardboard using the pattern B'.

(4) Sandwich the square cardboard from (5) with the two felt squares. Blanket stitch all around the four corners using all-purpose thread. See illustration below:

Construct Felt Tray: connect four sides to bottom

Take the bottom piece and one of the side pieces. Blanket stitch to connect the bottom piece and the shortest side of the side piece. Repeat this process until all four sides are connected to the bottom. See illustration below.

Construct Felt Tray: connect all four sides

Whipstitch stitch to connect all four sides to form a tray.

Optional: If desired, attach a decorative label or small charm of your choice to one corner of the tray to personalize it.

Room shoes, etc.

"Room shoes" are one of the many popular items among zakka lovers in Japan. In Japan, when you enter a home, it's customary to take off your shoes. Basically they are cuter (and usually much more fashionable) version of ordinary slippers. It might be fun to have several pairs to choose from to match your today's indoor wear!

These are the adorable pair of baby room shoes that I found from Sachi's website, safran-seed.com today. Her beautiful linen Room Shoes are in Zakka Sewing on page 118.

She also makes medical / allergy masks in "zakka style". This is what our conventional mask looks like:

... And this is Sachi's version.

Your version of hand made zakka to share...

I keep hearing about people making their own projects from Zakka Sewing. I invite you to share photos of your creation with me so I can post them here for all the Zakka fans to enjoy. Please email me a photo of your creation, between now and 2/28/2009 and I’ll give away a Sashiko thread & needle set to one randomly picked winner!

Ellie, a graphic designer from North Carolina who runs a beautiful blog, mint kindly sent me these beautiful photos of her version of the Sashiko Tea Towel she made for her friend’s birthday! Thanks Ellie :-)

Embroidered linen zakka

I would like to introduce some of the new work of Fusako Fujiwara of powa*powa* -- she made the Pear Purse for Zakka Sewing. Fusako has been actively making linen zakka items and dolls since she started her career in 2003. Her embroidery is like a drawing on a canvas!

Kawaii "DROPS" of colors

Kui Hazuki, of DROPS, made these colorful nuno zakka ("nuno" means fabric in Japanese) zakka. They are made with printed cotton - I love the fact that they are so colorful but not being overwhelmingly cutesy.

A tissue box cover.

Key chains.

Shopping tote.

details.

Bibs -- A cloud shape!

Zakka ideas

The pedestal of this adorable pincushion is made from old thread spool. Isn't this a great idea? I'm going to save my old spools from now! These are made by noboru, from pommier.

A linen brush cover. Now you can have your "customized" brush!

She made a nursery set for her daughter. A handmade towel ("AYAHA" is her daughter's name) and toothbrush cover. Lovely!

Linen pot holders

I love Yuke's delicate usage of natural linen. They are fun to use as pot holder, but would be so pretty on the kitchen wall to display, too! Her Bird Pot Holder is on page 92 in Zakka Sewing.

Beautiful linen pouches.

Capsule-shaped pot holders

These whimsical, cupsule-shaped pot holders are made by massimo.

Autumn blossoms

My friend Kaoruko Takeda, a Miso Style designer / crafter
sent me these photos of their new items for Fall 2008.
Their handkerchiefs are in Zakka Sewing, page 138.

Collaged coasters

Great examples of clever use of different printed fabrics by Kazu
of Fabrickaz.