See, after I made my masterpiece of cake, I felt inspired to improve my sewing so that I wouldn’t have to spend 10 hours on each of my next endeavours.
Surfing the net for information opened me up to the wonderful world of felt crafting, which subsequently set me back about $250 — the cost of my enthusiasm.
And I thought it was going to be a cheap hobby at $2.50 a pop for materials.
What happened was that I saw… THE BOOK.
It costs US$28 including shipping. Expensive.
But I really needed to learn how to make my own kitchen like in the book, and I was about to click “BUY NOW” when I decided to be sensible.
That happens, once in a while.
I abandoned my tasks at home and rushed off to Kinokuniya to see if I couldn’t find it cheaper there.
It was like a calling I couldn’t deny, you see, making felt kitchens.
AND I FOUND THE BOOK. At SG$23.90! (Although my cab fare did cost me $10.)
But I bought seven other books along with it so my cab fare is justified!!
And the best part is that I found Chinese-translated Japanese craft books at CHEAP. Costing between $15 and $19 each, they are exact replicas of the Japanese originals, just in Chinese langauge.
Also, the Chinese ones aren’t sealed like the Japanese ones are, so I can browse to my heart’s content.
Only the kitchen one didn’t have a translation, unfortunately, so I had to buy the Japanese version.
But it was still a happy day! And now I will show you pictures. They are too awfully cute not to share!
[Japanese restaurant]
In this book are all kinds of food you can find in Japanese restaurants!
Everything is made from felt! Except the plates. But in some books, even the plates and pots are made with felt!
Sushi dolls!
Egg heads!! Hahaha.
[Chinese dim sum, Western cakes and cute animals]
I just had to buy this book because I’m Chinese so I want to make Chinese food!
Too bad it’s only dim sum. I don’t know why Western cakes are in the mix, too.
[Astonishingly life-like pastries]
Awwww… cute!
OMG.
OMGGG.
OMGGGGGGGG!
WTF UNBELIEVABLE LAH!
These are very very hard to make. I don’t know if I will ever be able to make them!
[Random cute items and ornaments]
Aww waffles. But it’s missing syrup.
Hehe! Post box and park bench.
2D food, not realistic but still cute!
Awww, something practical.
[Kitchen with assorted foodstuff]
OMG LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE kitchen equipment!!
Aaaaaaaaaahhh OMG OMG.
I MUST HAVE A FELT FRIDGE WITH LITTLE FELT FOODS INSIDE!
[Going Outdoors]
Check out the eggs in the crate. How cute is that?!
Miniature bags!!
Miniature houses!
OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG tea set.
[The kitchen I needed to make]
I feel weak!
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. =)
[Assortment of cute things]
Now see this next one… it’s a page of breads.
Last year, I bought a DIY kit showing the exact same breads for $1.95 at Action City.
The box doesn’t have any brand or company name. It only says “Made in China” at the back.
At the back of the box are pictures of other DIY kits you can purchase.
All these can be found in the same book I just bought! LOL. See!
It looks like some enterprising bloke has been pirating recipes out of Japanese craft books to mass manufacture into boxes of cheap DIY kits.
(Well they are cheap in Singapore but if you go to eBay, you will see people selling them for at least US$5 a box, some more.)
Okay let’s see more stuff from this book.
Heheh. Champagne!
I really love miniatures of household effects. So cute!
OMG it just goes on and on!
I wish I could show you everything but it’s too much. What you see here is only like 10% of what I have!
I had such a hard time at Kinokuniya yesterday choosing what books to buy. In the end, these were the shortlisted ones I just couldn’t do without.
The eight books cost a total of S$137 (which I think is a bargain). After that, I spent about US$45 on two more felt craft books from Amazon. And about S$40 on supplies (like needles and scissors). I haven’t even started buying felt and wool and thread yet!
Ring pin cushion with regular pin cushion.
My $2.50 hobby has become a $250+++++ hobby!
All the items pictured in the books come with “recipes”. You get patterns, which are shapes you cut the felt against, and you get instructions on how to make each item. Some instructions are quite brief, so there’s a lot of improvisation needed, which will be a challenge. But I should be able to make the easy ones.
Sorry for the crazy pic-sharing today. I’m sure some people will appreciate them, though. Right? =P
Now to find some time to actually start!!
