Friday 18 February 2011

East Meets West

Crafting has no cultural boundaries for me.  I like to work with the finest hand printed Japanese Washi papers to the textured, creamy water colour papers made in England and use crafting materials from every country in between!  I made the little Japanese doll  this week.  She will be either made into a bookmark or mounted onto a card.  It was such a pleasure to work with the Japanese papers and I almost salivated (but thankfully didn't!) over the beautiful patterns and texture of the paper.  The way I feel about paper is the way that some of you feel about fabric or wool so you will know exactly what I mean!

 The Japanese papers come in a vast array of colours and designs and are based on real-life kimono patterns.

 In addition to playing with my washi papers, I have been mounting up my hand stamped and water coloured images onto card stock.  The flash accidentally highlighted the cellophane packaging in the picture above looking like a watery sun!
 I think these colours are very bold and vibrant.......................

but I also like the lived in look too!  Have a lovely weekend everyone.  I hope the sun will put in an appearance!

14 comments:

  1. The Japanese doll is so cute! You must have a lot of patience! Yes, hope the sun does turn up this weekend, but it looks unlikely :( Abby x

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  2. I know exactly what you mean. I think she is absolutely beautiful. I love your other pictures too.
    Julie xxxxxxx

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  3. I love your little Japanese doll, she's beautiful! :)
    I know exactly what you mean about crafting material, with me it's yarn.
    No sun here at the moment, hopefully that will change for tomorrow.
    Have a lovely weekend Simone!
    Vivienne x

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  4. I love your little doll!

    And your landscapes look great as cards. What an interesting surprise the flash left for you. I like the "lived in" look as well as the "bold and vibrant" with your landscapes.

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  5. Gorgeous makes. Hmm I like to sit and stroke papers - lol - I have some really cute ones that I dont think I'll ever use as they are just too nice - or I make them into cards for hubby or my boys so that they will stay in the house and I can keep them and look at them - sad I know xx

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  6. I can see a whole range of Japanese cards from you! Have a great weekend.
    Love
    Lyn
    xxx

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  7. The Japanese Doll is lovely as are your other cards. It would be lovely to see some sun this weekend but it doesn't look very hopeful so far:)

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  8. Simone, your work is BEAUTIFUL!! LOVE the Japanese dolls!!! Are you selling them?! I would love at least one or two.. If you don't sell them, would you share how to make them? Loved your stamped and watercolored works too!! Just gorgeous!... Have a great weekend! ~tina

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  9. You do make beautiful things. I love reading your blog so I've nominated you as a stylish bloggger. http://milliebead.blogspot.com/
    Millie

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  10. Stunning. I totally love your potato hens... are you selling them ? I'd love to buy one !

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  11. Lovely little Japanese paper doll, and lovely patterned papers too! Like you I just love craft papers, and handmade papers for painting on - in fact arts and crafts supplies of all kinds! I get lots of ideas from new collections of paper, just as I do with fabrics. I think we are very lucky to have this continual enjoyment!! Hope you have a great week ahead. Helen x

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  12. I love your work - its stunning. I too would get very tempted by that Japanese paper. xxx

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  13. I don't have a 'thing' for paper but I can understand why you do and your Japanese papers are beautiful - you're very busy at the moment. Juliex

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  14. I think I've already told you how talented you're, but it's better to tell it twice!
    xxx

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