Category Archives: Kiddo Bookshelf

Dottie’s Kraft Korner :: Japanese Craft Books

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For the true crafty mama out there, there is always another project on the horizon. Something new to discover. A new craftastic goodie that you can spend hours working on once your little one is in bed.  And it is not just one craft–oh no. Our obsession leaves no corner of Michael’s unscathed!  Knitting? Sure! Crochet? Bring it! Sewing? Natch! Scrapbooking? In my sleep.

And what keeps us crafters going? A good daily dose of craft porn. Like this:

My craft brethren, let me show you my new favorite place for it.

Japanese craft books.

I mean, how can you not go out and spend $190 in 15 minutes with a list of items to finish something as yummy as these boo boo koot elephants–oh, look one is sleeping.

Did your heart just go pitter patter? Mine did!

Japan, how can you turn something as simple as a bag into this crazytown cute item as this:

Image: Mwenda’s Posterous

Just stop. Stop it, Japan. How do you expect me to sleep at night knowing that I could be making this bunny with bunny slippers instead of counting sheep?

Image: Etsy seller, MeMe Craftwork

Speaking of slippers. I want to make wear these so badly… OK, I do want to make them too….

Image: Etsy seller, MeMe Craftwork

Japan, you clearly want me to spend my child’s college fund buying these craft books, don’t you?

Oh, and of course you have a book about making clothes for Blythe dolls… Of course. And I know you all read Alix’s article in Maeve, so you are already putting bids on these dolls and now you’ll need to clothe them. Really, I’m just helping you…

I mean, really… I can’t stand it, Little Red in embroidery land?

Image: I Love Crochet

Oh and get a load of this bucket of craft gorgeousness in dress smocking.  I’m crying here.  I actually did buy a couple of the books.  Like Girly Style Wardrobe. Really, how could I not buy a book called Girly Style. Oh, Japan, you know me so well!

Mommy & Me outfits? Check! It had to be gingham. What is there not to love here?

I’ll take a basket of baby, please. Make that two.

Well, now that my head has just gone kablooey with all of this crafty goodness, I’m going to run out to these Etsy sellers and start buying ’em up. Here are my top three favorite Japanese craft book dealers on Etsy:

Yeah, I did call them dealers because they deal in CRAFT CRACK! That’s what these books are. Evil evil time sucks that have me breaking into a sweat until I’m clutching one in my hot little hands. Sorry. I want to buy them all!

OK–I’ll leave some for you all… Because I love you that much!

Smooches, sweeties! And I’d love to know if anyone out there has made items from these darling books. Sertyan has! And our girl Alicia has too. Anyone else?

Vintage Bookshelf:: Let’s Get Spacey! Vintage Space-Themed Kiddo Books.

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Well, Miss Dottie has finally hit the trail and is en route to Comic Con. Of course, I have demanded (in a kind and approachable way, hah) that she tweet her way through the experience—I know she’s going to be very busy working, but I’m crossin’ my fingers that she has some excellent gems to share with us!

In keeping with our Geektastic Space Theme, I thought it would be fun to take a look at some cool spacey kid’s vintage kid’s books and games. HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

image: From This is Cape Kennedy by M. Sasek. From the Collection of Alix


image: from Space Time and Rockets, by Rheta Randolph, illustrated by Jacque Stain, letslookupandsmile


image: wackystuff


image: from Collection of Alix


image: paula wirth



images: crab apple design



image: vintage Arrco “Orbit Play A Way” playing cards,   Ribambelles & Ribambins



images: from Collection of Alix


image: from Russian Children’s Book. 1962. Artist unknown.  letslookupandsmile

Fireball XL-5 was an awesome Space Age TV show from the early 60s that followed the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. Aww yeah. Steve Zodiac. While the show was long before my time, I fell in love with the theme song back in the 90s when a friend played it for me. It’s so peppy and cute. Apparently it was a top hit in Britain back in the day too. Take a listen below and see if you agree!

“MY heart would be a fireball….a fireball, every time I gaze into your starry eyes!” *sigh* Adorably romantic. You know, for a Sci-Fi, Space-Age TV Show Featuring Dolls. I leave you with one last BONUS IMAGE. From a vintage Star Trek book. LOVE the desig, it’s HOT HOT HOT!

Yay! It’s a new feature!

Vintage Books

A few years before Wolfie was born, I started collecting vintage kid’s books at the thrift stores. I had been thrifting for ages, but it had never really occured to me to look at the kid’s books—but once I discovered them I was hooked! The stories are clever and charming and most of the illustrations are just brilliant! I have a pretty big collection of cool books and I thought it would be a fun, new weekly feature to share them with you guys. Most of my books are from the 60s and 70s.

This week’s book is by French author and illustrator, Alain Grée. His images are so fantastic—bold punchy colors and really great characters. I especially love all the little mod clothing on all the people. He wrote lots of little storybooks and a whole collection of wonderful quasi-encyclopedia books on various topics. This one is called La Mer—The Sea!

I love when illustrators mix photography with their art work….so cool.

Even the coral looks charming….just look at those little sweet daisies shapes!

Ship ahoy! That’s it for this edition of my vintage bookshelf…I hope you like this new feature! I’ll have boat loads (heh) of lovely illustrations for you in the coming weeks. Oh and I’ll be back this afternoon with a little Real Life post about our trip to Michigan!