kokoandharu – Koko & Haru

Crochet Pillows

Published on March 15, 2015 by sachikishiro2 Comments

For my next crafting project, I made pillow cases which have fabric pattern on one side and crochet on the other side. I learned how to knit before crochet, but I always thought that crochet was very pretty. I started making simple scarfs and small bags with crochet. For the crocheted side, I matched a white yarn with pink, blue, or yellow yarn. I made 25 motifs and stitched them together. For the fabric side, I picked a patterned fabric that matched the crochet color. I also attached a zipper so that I can remove and wash the pillow case.

Yellow crochet and pig patterned fabric

Pink crochet and pig patterned fabric

Blue crochet and patterned fabric

Blue Birds Coin Case

Published on March 8, 2015 by sachikishiro2 Comments

This is another coin case that I made using the same fabric for the pot holders and the triangle shaped pouches from posts in the past. The inside is lined with a blue bird colored fabric. The weather in Seattle recently, has been beautiful, and I can tell that springtime is approaching; the leaves are growing back on the trees, and the cherry blossoms are blooming. This coin case, with its sky blue, and bird pattern, is the epitome of spring.

Piggy Coin Case!

Published on March 1, 2015 by sachikishiroLeave a comment

This adorable fabric with little colorful pigs all over it, is extremely versatile, and this time, I decided to make a coin purse with it. The outside is covered with the little pig fabric, while the inside is lined with a red polka dot fabric. I think that this coin case is not only useful for small amounts of pocket change, but is charming and eye catching as well.

Pike Place Market on a Saturday Afternoon

Published on December 8, 2014December 8, 2014 by sachikishiroLeave a comment

On the weekend, I occasionally go to Pike Place Market by the waterfront in Downtown Seattle. I sometimes buy flowers, fruits, or vegetables, but I usually just buy a snack and enjoy a stroll around the market to look for something interesting. I love seeing all the vendors selling seafood, flowers, pastries, and arts & crafts. I love seeing the street performers. The market is full of a festive energy that mingles between the sellers, local shoppers, and tourists.

The trip today began with a visit to see the Christmas trees being sold.

There are so many wonderful foods sold in the market, but my favorites are the pot stickers and BBQ pork buns from a Chinese bakery, the croissants or lemon bars from a French style bakery, and the tamales from a Mexican deli.

As we were walking around the market, we noticed a little friend bustling around on his little legs with just as much purpose as everybody else.

After milling around the market, we headed to café to enjoy a cup of coffee and the croissants accompanied with apricot and raspberry jam. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon.

Hand Knit Leg Warmers

Published on December 4, 2014 by sachikishiroLeave a comment

Living in a city, I walk everywhere; to the Sunday Market, the café, the library, the park. It is fun to simply walk around the city in search of a new shop or to go on a picnic with Cocoa and Haru in spring and summertime. It is, of course, not as much as fun in the very cold winter. Although we don’t have much snow, it is very wet and windy. Therefore, I love wearing boots in the wintertime because they keep me warm and dry. To dress up a simple pair of boots, I knitted leg warmers (brown with white lace & white with pink lace and white pon-pon) to match my boots. This is one of my small tricks to make the cold wintertime a little more enjoyable.

Waking up to a Winter Wonderland

Published on November 30, 2014 by sachikishiroLeave a comment

written by Sakura, (my daughter)

The winter is one of the coldest, dreariest times of the year, but what makes up for it all is the snow. It doesn’t snow here much, but when it does, the whole neighborhood is transformed into a beautiful, peaceful wonderland. I woke up to see snow falling outside my window, and it instantly felt like I was waking up on Christmas morning.

Pulling on stockings and layer upon layers of clothing, a walk out into my quiet street was the first thing I did.

The snow was beautiful, as was the breathless quiet of our usually bustling city neighborhood, but returning home and thawing out my freezing hands was arguably the best part. Not only this, but the steaming mug of hot cocoa I made was the perfect start to a lazy winter day.

Christmas in Anthropologie

Published on November 29, 2014 by sachikishiro2 Comments

Christmas is rapidly approaching and christmas decor is everywhere. One of my all time favorite stores is Anthropologie and I love the elaborate and creative seasonal decorations that they always set up. Their decorations actually inspired me to start crafting, myself. Last Friday night, my husband and I went out to spend a night in downtown to enjoy the Christmas decorations. We visited Anthropologie and I took some pictures of the decorations, such as the mugs, bowls, windows, and even their hardwood floors sprinkled with fake snow, and made a photo collage. Just looking at the decorations in the store makes me so excited for Christmas!

Snow Bunnies

Published on November 22, 2014 by sachikishiro4 Comments

The winter wind is picking up outside my window, as the leaves fall from the trees, leaving them bare. The snow bunnies I needle felted in the summertime have finally woken up from a long, deep sleep in my studio. This is Ella and she is sweet and kind, and she loves books. After walking in the fresh snow every morning, she snuggles in a cozy place and dives into a good story.

This is Mila who loves to sing. In the snow, little birds follow her, as they sing together.

Finally, this is Chloe. She was in my first post of this blog, just saying hello. She has jut gotten her new mittens and she loves to play outside in the snow all day long with the squirrels.

I like to think of all my needle felted creations as my little friends, so I decided to write this post in this way. I hope you enjoyed it!

Teal Blue Hand Warmer

Published on November 17, 2014 by sachikishiro3 Comments

When the colored leaves begin to fall, I know that the hand warmer season has begun. Unlike structured gloves or mittens, the hand warmer allows for more flexibility. Without taking them off, I can pay a cashier using my credit card or pick up the bills and coins from my wallet. I can type on the laptop in my office until the heater works enough for me to feel warm. I can wander through the book store looking for a book and flip through the pages.

I made this pair of simple design hand warmers with 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. I also accented them with small crocheted flowers. I love the color of teal or ocean blue color of the yarn and I was instantly drawn to the yarn when I entered the store.

I made another pair of hand warmers of the same design, alternating a green and blue color.

Of course, I also wear the hand warmers when I take Cocoa and Haru on walks.

I love hand warmers, and for me, they are an essential for the wintertime.

Childhood Memories in the Cards

Published on November 14, 2014 by sachikishiro4 Comments

I lived in big cities, small towns, and the countryside in Japan when I was a child. Like everyone, I have many memories from my childhood. I remember the beautiful Koi fish in the small pond in my grandma’s garden, the plum trees that my mom made plum pickles from, the uncomfortable kimono I wore for my 7 year turning of age celebration which I hated, roaming with my father and my dog in the mountain, picking mushrooms and persimmon in autumn, the beautiful lanterns lighting up the summer festival at night, and of course, the beautiful cherry blossoms in the springtime.

This “Konnichiwa paper collection” takes me back to my childhood and reminds me of all my precious childhood memories. Inspired by the designs, I transformed the paper into greeting cards, so I can share the importance of childhood memories.

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