Minus Sun

22 03 2017

Contemporary Textiles Fair 2017

I have been exhibiting at Contemporary Textiles Fair at Landmark Arts Centre last weekend, 17-19th March. Thank you very much to those who came by. It was lovely to meet new customers and exhibitors and saying hello to regular customers and fellow exhibitors from previous fairs I have done. Here are some photos from the event for you to remember or see how it was! I’m afraid I didn’t have much new work to show as taking part in the event was a last minute decision but I had some stock of scarves and collars back from Japan. I will let you know when I’m doing another event in the future. Hope to see you there.

09 02 2017

friend’s wedding photos

I recently woke up to a lovely surprise. My friend who had commissioned me to make a white linen dress in the past told me that she used it as her wedding dress! It’s a simple long dress with gathers and bought lace trimmings at the chest but it has become a proper wedding dress thanks to the flowers all done by the bride herself. Here are some beautiful photos taken by her sister. May they be happy forever!

Check out their Instagram to see their beautiful world.
My dancer friend: miholokahi
Her photographer sister: hachigraph

29 01 2017

commissioned white scalloped collar

Hello, here is a commissioned piece I’ve done for a friend. She was inspired by the Elizabethan Era while various events were on for Shakespeare’s 400th Anniversary last year. It is a voluminous layered collar with 8 pointy scallops, finished with lace trimmings and a gold ribbon. Made in cotton.

25 12 2016

Christmas top and skirt set

Merry Christmas everyone! This year, there was a Christmas dress-up day at my side job’s office so I made my own outfit. I made use of a Donna Wilson apron given as a gift years ago, which I never use, and a piece of green corduroy fabric, which I bought online years ago and turned out to be too bright and chunky. They are not usually the kind of fabric I would use in my own work but they became handy for this occasion. I’ve used patterns from the Amusing Girl’s look and made the top and skirt slightly longer to make more use of the Donna Wilson pattern. My handmade trapped embroidery resin buttons are used for the gathered skirt.

18 12 2016

stitched flu mask

This was a personal commission from a friend, a Japanese friend obviously, as no one wears flu masks in the UK. The mask is made of calico fabric and has a inner pocket so a piece of fabric with aromatic oil could be inserted. It is stitched with red cotton thread along the top and bottom edges and some text is stitched in the middle. She told me that people ask her if she is okay when she is wearing a flu mask. But in fact, she only wears one to protect herself from other people with flu and not because she is unwell, hence the stitched message “Are you okay? I’m okay.” Don’t worry, I have washed it after modelling it for the photos.

05 12 2016

The Makers’ Fair by Selvedge Magazine

I have exhibited at The Makers’ Fair by Selvedge Magazine last Saturday. It was held at St. Augustine’s Church Hall in Highgate, just near Selvedge shop. Although it was a small fair, it was lovely and pretty lit up with festoon lights. Thank you very much to those who came by my stand. It gives me motivation to create when I get good response from these fairs and I especially feel happy when I’m asked to sign my book! Here are some pictures from the fair if you’ve missed it. Hope to see you at another event.

24 11 2016

Christmas cards 2016

It’s only a month until Christmas… Here are the new Christmas cards I’ve designed this year. I have made two designs, one with a girl in a T-shirt with the text “Of course I’m cold”, and another with a girl sleeping on a sofa with the text “Not part of it”. Inside of the card it says “but Merry Christmas”. Minus Sun Christmas cards are alternatives to the typical cheerful joyful Christmas cards. They are backwards yet friendly. Hope you like them!

21 11 2016

maid outfit prototype

Here is the prototype of the maid outfit in my previous blog post, all made in calico. I think it is just as nice as the final piece. It looks more simple with no piping details and plain cotton ribbon replacing fancy trimmings or no trimmings at all. Instead, the lace insert along the front skirt near the hem is hand crocheted and buttons are my handmade trapped embroidery resin buttons. It is interesting how using a different material or colour changes the look so much even with the same design.

31 10 2016

maid outfit

Happy Halloween! I’ve made a maid outfit for myself this year. They consist of the main black and white dress, a frilly white apron, and a headband. I aimed for a cute yet elegant style adding details which are not too much.

The dress has a round collar and cuffs with black piping detail, pin tucks at the bust section with fabric covered buttons, white ladder lace inserted along the front skirt, black scalloped lace trimmings along the blouse and dress joint and the layered frills of the back skirt, and mini pleats all along the hem. The dress opens up at the back when you unhook the gold hook at the back waist which loosens the fitted silhouette allowing you to dress/undress easily. No buttons or zippers along the back or side of the garment. Made with black cotton sateen and crisp white cotton fabric.

The apron is kept simple with a minimal size and lovely dotted/scalloped lace trimmings along the edge. The ends of the waist tie ribbon are pointed for extra charm. Made with light weight cotton fabric all in white. I’ve made the headband using the leftover ladder lace from the dress and the dotted lace from the apron.

09 10 2016

layered apron

I have been working on my maid outfit and I had to make a few samples of the apron until I’ve got it right. I decided to go with a simpler design which only covers the front side of the body and these frilly samples in different lengths were left without purpose. They were fine as they were but I combined them to create this layered apron. It’s more interesting now, I think. It is made of calico and has cotton herringbone ribbon trimmings. The hem is rounded at the edges and the waist ties have pointed ends. I’m wearing it with a simple mini dress in calico but I’m sure it will look pretty with anything.