Beaded toilets and stuff

Why does man create?
Is it man's purpose on earth to express himself, to bring form to thought and to discover meaning in experience?
Or is it just something to do when he's bored?
Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson

I often wonder this as I look at the latest series of bead woven toilet bowls in my  beading magazines.

Okay, I have a question for the ether. I bought some Japanese craft books before Christmas. This is one of them.

That's the cover of the book and I ordered it through Crafty-Creations.

I was attracted by the collage look of the quilt piecing.

I've read on someone else's beautiful blog (sorry, I can't remember who) that there is a trend for this kind of mixing of fabrics in Japan at the moment. With lots of fabrics having print on them. That is, print as in text.

I like the way this makes the fabric look sort of like a sketchbook; with words included in the collage piecing.

Look at this close-up.

See how all the light coloured squares have print on them?

My question is: Do they print this fabric themselves from vintage ephemera or is this fabric commercially available? Does anyone know about this?

Inspiration: Not feeling very inspired at the moment. I'm working hard on finishing my book instructions and it's a bit of a slog. I'm trying not to get distracted by inspiration.

Likes: Phillip Pullman. I love him! And weren't we spoiled with the BBC "Ruby in the Smoke" adaptation the other night?

Dislikes: According to all the TV commercials, I need a new kitchen, sofa and computer this week. Last week I had hairy legs and foul teeth, this week my home is a mess. Oh F*** off will you?

Comments

[susan]

inspiration is the greatest distraction of all to creative people. of course i believe that everyone is creative, but some are more suppressed than others.
you my dear, never stop amazing me. those photos above are wonderful.
just made a delish lemon pie and thought ooooh wish i could give juju a piece!
happy new year!

[Vicki in MIchigan]

There is quite a bit of fabric with printed text available commercially.

It is also entirely do-able to write on fabric with permanent markers, or to print on fabric (prepared fabric, with one's ink-jet printer).....

I like your examples, with text interspersed with other printed motifs.....

[Dawn]

I believe the print fabric is only available in Japan. I thought that superbuzzy.com had some at one time, but I don't see any right now. Also kitty-craft.com use to but she looks like she hasn't re-opened her shop. You might consider making your own by using your ink jet printer. That way you can use any font you'd like.

http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/imagefabric.html

[Dawn]

Meant to add that the op is right there are a lot of "text" fabrics available commercial but I haven't found any that come close to what the Japanese are using.

Here are a few links:

http://www.ciaspalette.com/categories/novelties.html

http://www.virginiaquilter.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/walls/TWalllettersntext.html?L+scstore+jwfh2898ff2db42d

http://cgi.ebay.com/Michael-Miller-GRAPHIC-FONT-Black-White-Fabric-1-Yds_W0QQitemZ8277851555QQihZ020QQcategoryZ71211QQcmdZViewItem

[dee]

I love your blog. I get all of my Japanese fabric from the sorces above and also from the City Quilter in manhattan NY and The International Fabric Collection which I think you can access on line. If you go to my blog
http://deemcdonaldoptonlinenet-dee.blogspot.com/
scroll down you will see my pic of the same quilt pattern done in very different fabrics-It's called nine patch and snowball. I hope you like it. I am donating it to a young woman who was injured in Iraq and in a hospital in New Mexico getting physical therapy. Your blog is such a delight. Wishing you Happy New Year

[Jane]

The bit about the adverts cracked me up. I find myself shouting at the mindless voice-overs and being told to spend, spend, spend - and then we have to see all the ads for free credit and debt-repayment. Aaargh!

Hope you manage to finish the book soon.

[Lindsay]

:-) As always, the photos you post are gorgeous. I must get a copy of the books! I too like the journal quality of the quilts. Hmmm.

Likes - Dark chocolate with coconut. The actress Judi Dench. Warm weather in winter.

Dislikes - Warm weather in winter is weird. Tangled yarn.

[estea]

i think it must be my ADD brain but all that pattern makes me a little loopy. i like the larger text bits in the tote (cover shot). ain't I little miss sunshine?? i bought some sewing/craft books for xmas, too. they're sitting here, looking at me.

likes: daniel craig. o. my. sweet. moses. (and i don't usually care for blondes)

dislikes: dh being home ALL DAY for more than 3 days straight. i swear one of us is going to commit an act we'll regret and very soon.

cheerio ~

estea

[Lauri Smith]

I see your link on so many other blogs but, for some reason have never made it here...probably get distracted by other pretty colors and pictures! Anyway, I made it today, and I just love your whole blog! And I can't leave comments everywhere but I did leave one about the magnet and computer screen post, if you want to check.

I also love the Japanese crafting and quilting...I'll definitely be checking back here more often!

[The Lone Beader]

I love Japanese prints=:)