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Hi I’m Pauline, this blog is where I share all the latest Funky Friends Factory News, Giveaways, Competitions plus LOTS of toy-making tips & tutorials to help you sew the cutest soft toys EVER!

Fabric Shopping in Japan Is NOT for the faint hearted!!!

May 17, 2013 | A day in my life, Blog, Uncategorized

With fabric shop upon fabric shop, and floor upon floor in EACH fabric shop (some stores had as many as 7 floors!)… you just HAVE to stop every now and again for a bit of sushi, sashimi or tempura to keep you going BUT that’s a whole other YUMMY story!

The adventure began in Osaka’s fabric shops –  Toraya, Otsukaya and ABC Craft (which doesn’t sound Japanese at all!)

Check it out!

There’s so much fabric – I nearly LOST Kylie!!!

Lost-fabric town Osaka Japan

I don’t think I have EVER seen so much fabric in one store before!!!

LOOK how HAPPY I look!

Fabric-shopping-Japan

If I could have taken this roll of Faux Fur home with me I would have!

Unfortunately we ONLY had 20kgs of luggage allowance each…

GRRRR!

Then we moved on to Nippori Fabric Town in Tokyo. HOW cute is this? ONLY in Japan would there be a fabric shop called TOMATO! And not 1 shop… FOUR! Three side by side , on one side of the street and the 4th opposite them?

Tomato fabric shop - Tokyo Japan.And here is Okadaya Fabric Store – 7 floors of

pure FABRIC pleasure!!!!

Okadaya Fabric Store - Japan TokyoLuckily I had Kylie from Voodoo Rabbit Fabric Shop as my tour guide as I don’t speak much Japanese…

UH OH! Turns out neither does she! She has been to Japan 6 times now though, so I’m sure she could find a Japanese fabric store with a blind fold on – HA!HA!

Fabric shopping tour guide - Japan

I LOOK absolutely knackered – BUT still seem to be wearing that silly

“I-am-in-FABRIC-HEAVEN-grin”!

Tokyo - fabric shops

Finally we ran out of steam… or was that HANDS to carry all our purchases????

Japan - fabric shops

GOSH – all this talk of fabric shopping is making me HUNGRY!

Can anyone recommend a great Japanese restaurant in Brisbane???? Seriously… the cravings have set in (for the Japanese food! I’m totally stocked up with Japanese fabric! HA!HA! 🙂 )

NOW I have to think of some really cool NEW FUNKY FRIENDS to make with the fabric I got in Japan…


Have you got ANY suggestions or requests?



Pauline McArthur - Funky Friends Factory.
.

Till next time…

Happy Sewing,

Pauline

xxx

15 Comments

  1. Pauline

    Ooooh NICE idea Amanda!!! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Myra Al-Mansoor

    With your new wonderful Japanese fabric I suggest making oriental faced rag dolls.
    Looking forward to seeing what you actually choose to do.

    Reply
  3. pat

    A Panda

    Reply
  4. Natalie

    Japanese doll in a kimono

    Reply
  5. Shirls Smith

    What a great holiday you had Pauline. Those material shops look so awesome!!!!

    I think you are designing a cute little geisha girl, complete with a pin through her bun in her hair. Do hope I am right, would love some material from Japan! X

    Reply
  6. Alicia burt

    Wow sounds like you had a fantastic time!! I think you are prob designing a beautiful Japanese doll or maybe a a Japanese monster (like Pokemon??) xx

    Reply
  7. Charlotte

    I know pandas are Chinese not Japanese but I am guessing a panda bear.

    Reply
  8. Jenny Cullen

    Ohh wow it looks like you had a fabulous time :). My guess is also a geisha doll! In bright and pretty Japanese prints! Thanks for another wonderful competition :).

    I also have another pattern suggestion although probably not for this time around as it is more Aussie than Japanese….how about a ring tailed possom? I’d love a possom pattern and I’m sure you’d come up with an amazing one :).

    Reply
  9. Pauline

    Whoohoo – loving these cool suggestions guys – THANKS!!!! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Veronica Ciampaglia

    I would say with all that colorful fabric you could make “the Japanese Giant Salamander”. Which is one of their famous reptiles.

    Reply
  11. catherine napier

    How about a squirrel, Oo or a proper life like bear as apposed to a teddy bear, that would be very cute! X

    Reply
  12. deborah fairclough

    Aflying squirrel would be amazing
    Or a macaque 🙂 x

    Reply
  13. Melissa W

    I think you need to make a Party Animal….and use as many different fabrics for his arms and legs!

    Reply
  14. Emily

    Well, it’s not at all related to Japan, but I would love to see a raccoon and a fox! Although a squirrel would be really cute, too.

    Reply
  15. Pauline

    Congrats Jen!!!!!
    I have emailed through the Tanuki / Raccoon sewing Pattern for you now – HAPPY SEWING!!! 😀
    Pauline

    Reply

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