Geisha Kokeshi Reworked (Before and After)

Awhile back I made a geisha/kokeshi softy that I thought was cute enough, even if my sister did say she was creepy. There was something not quite right about her though... She was top heavy and wouldn't stand on her own, something that kokeshi should really be able to do by standard measure. 

So I decided to open her up and fix the problem. My solution: Beans!

Before: 

 

Ready to go.

Tied up nice and tight.

That took care of the standing issue, but then I noticed that some of the stitches on her kimono didn't line up right.

 So, out came the embroidery thread and curved needle. I never had a curved needle until recently. I knew that one would come in handy, but I had no idea just how much easier it would make things like this. After I had her lines looking better, I noticed her obi was starting to fray. *sigh*  

 I pulled out a thick satin ribbon, sat down at my sewing machine and sewed two strips of rick rack along each side of it. I used to dislike rick rack quite a bit. I found it to be tacky, but now I seem attracted to anything it adorns~ aprons, shirts, skirts, softies, everything! 

Anyway, after I got a new obi made...you guessed it, I found another imperfection that I couldn't live with. Her mouth was crooked.

Unfortunately for me, my oldest monster had lost my good seam ripper somewhere, so I had to use an old dull one. It took what felt like an eternity, but I finally got all of the thread out. I ended up removing her entire face and redoing it twice before I was happy with it. That curved needle saved me here too.

New face!

Now I'm done picking at her...hopefully. What do you think?

After:

Back to the drawing board...er, embroidery hoop.

Well, my dear Toshiro didn't turn out as great as I had hoped. I believe the problem was the size in which I tried to make him. The more detail I tried to add, the more detail was lost. His face was only about an inch tall, so every stitch made a huge impact.

Here's how he looked when I finally threw in the needle:

He was so tiny that I decided to turn him into a new pin back button for my cork board. Here he is with another fabric button I made for my friend, Kerri. She loved this material after she saw it on Driscall, so I thought I'd give her a bit she could wear.

Oh, and here's Driscall, the Precarious Pup.

 

Inspired by my favorite snack, Driscall's strawberries and my homemade whipped cream cheese, this lil guy was reworked several times before he looked exactly as I pictured him in my mind. The first time I finished him he looked like a deranged cartoon bunny! I had tried cat eyes from the doll making supplies at Hobby Lobby (my favorite place right now), but I prefer the old school buttons eyes. He also had thinner, pointier ears, and a flat nose. I really like the way he turned out. Hopefully someone else does to!

Patiently awaiting his forever home.<3

...Now I need to make a trip to my favorite place for a larger embroidery hoop. I  wont let you down again Mr. Mifune!

Oh Mifune, how I love thee..

Let me count the ways:
I love you as a ronin
I love you as a detective
I love you as a samurai lord
I love your bushy eye brows
I love your hair when it disheveled
I love your hair when it's slick and smooth
I love your deep voice
I love the way you crinkle your nose in disgust
I love the wisdom in your eyes
I LOVE YOU, MIFUNE!

So, I hope your spirit will be with me as I embark on my latest embroidery project. I hope it does you justice. If I can not do a good job, may I commit seppuku with my never-used knitting needles!

Once again I'm going pattern free. Instead I drew directly onto my fabric with a fabric pencil while looking at this photo:

 I hope this ends well. O_o

Well, it's been more than a day, but....

The phenomenal Audry Kawasaki!

Still Kickin

I have been posting in a painfully sporadic manner lately, so I'm going to try to post at least a couple of my favorite pieces of art a day. Hopefully I'll have time to get back to the craftier posts, but this will have to do for now. Enjoy the eye candy! 

Junko Mizuno

Geisha Kokeshi Softy

I just finished this little lady earlier today.

Homemade Sushi...in Oklahoma?

Let me first say that this is not the melt-in-your-mouth salmon nigiri that you get at Fuji. We just aren't quite brave enough for raw fish from the local Wal-Mart. Call us yellow if you want, it just doesn't sound appetizing. We use shrimp tempura, and not even home made. Nope, this stuff comes frozen out of a box...but hey, it works!

Tempura

Rice

Nori (the seaweed wrap)
The brand they have at Wally World is Sushi Party. You've gotta love that Japanese packaging!

Spread the rice onto the nori.
You can be rough with the rice while spreading it on, but be gentle with
the nori because it will be very fragile until it's been warmed by the rice. Leave a small strip on the end without rice so that the nori has a place to stick together, closing the roll.


Wasabi
A lot of people don't like this stuff. It's not really spicy, but it has sinus clearing qualities. It's not something that I can describe with words. I love it.

Rice vinegar. (very important)
You need to dip your knife blade in rice vinegar every time you cut a slice of the sushi roll, otherwise the rice will just stick to your blade, making it dull and crushing the roll.

Here is our sushi! Ours were very simple this time, but we usually add avocado and hot house cucumber. You can add anything you want to them. Get creative!