It’s the time of the year again to start celebrating, for the holiday season is here! The end of the year also means that my blog is turning another year older!
When I first started sewing, 8 or 9 years ago, I had no idea that I would last so long with 1 hobby. One thing led to another and… wow a sewing blog on top of that? Sometimes I can’t quite believe I’ve stuck to one thing for so many years. It’s all thanks to your support, likes and comments. I may not have time to reply every single comment and email but I must tell you that every word of encouragement, either through email, facebook messages, or post comments, means a lot to me. It has been a challenging year for me, with a newborn to care for on top of two older kids, housework, trying to sew and blog as well. Because of that, my blogging schedule has been rather erratic, so I really thank all of you who are still following the blog despite my irregular posts. Some of the defining moments this year for me – seeing my quote on the back covers of 2 Japanese sewing books. 🙂 My daughter said that I must be famous. I’m glad she was impressed ;P
OK so you know what this is leading up to. For I never celebrate a birthday without presents. Presents for you. And the reason why this blog post is posted ahead of the actual birthday (13th Dec ) is because I will be heading up to Japan next week and I will be buying the giveaway prizes from Japan! This year it will be a fabric giveaway as I will be headed to Nippori Fabric Town. Can you believe it will be my first time there?
HOW TO ENTER
To spice things up abit (making it more challenging for me), I would like YOU to give me some ideas, or rather, choose your own fabric! So what I want you to do, is to leave a comment below, ONE comment per person please, listing your favorite colors/ motifs/ designer and I will try to buy something based on your wish list. Do try to list a few possible options for each criteria so that it will be easier for me to shop.
An example of a good entry will be
My favorite colors : Red / Purple
My favorite motifs : Cats / Rabbits / Polka Dots
My favorite Designer : Echino / nani IRO
Using the above as an example, I might be able to find a fabric that is Red with Cat prints on it. Or Echino fabric in Purple. Either ways it will be fulfilling 2 out of 3 of your favorite criteria for fabric. If you are lucky there just might be a Purple fabric by Echino with cats on them!
I will be picking TWO WINNERS from the list of entries. Each winner will receive 1 meter of fabric. The contest will run till next Wednesday 18th November, 9am Singapore Time (GMT +8). I will announce the winners on Wednesday itself, but do note that I will only be able to send the prizes out first week of December, after I get back from my trip.
Excited? Go ahead and start leaving your comments now. Have fun and Good Luck!
Oh, and do remember to follow me on Instagram or Facebook as I will be posting photos of my trip. Especially the fabric shopping 🙂
I have fallen in love with the neutral tones of the Japanese fabrics that so many clothes are made of in the books you review – the fabrics appear to be similar to linen or a sturdy cotton ?
My favorite colors : mint / navy blue / grey / black
My favorite motifs : owl / flowers / Polka Dots
My favorite colors : Gold/ blue
My favorite motifs : Cats / Rabbits / Polka Dots/ Geisha
My favorite Designer : Echino / nani IRO
Wow! Such am excited giveaway!
My favorite color has to be rainbow or green if it is single color!
Favorite print? Lol! Hippo of course! Star or any simple print sounds good too!
I have no preference on the designer though. 🙂
My favorite colors : Teal – Turquoise- Mint (Anything with the Blue and Green Family)
My favorite motifs : Geometric
My favorite Designer : I hover between Cloud9 & Cotton + Steel
My fav colour is purple, fav print is polka dot, fav designer is enchino!
Exciting!
My favorite colors : Low ones, neutrals
My favorite motifs : stripes, small dots
My favorite Designer : nani IRO
Thank yo so much and happy blog anniversary!
I like patterns with flowers or birds. My favorite colors are green and blue
I love golds/ grey-blues, simple (geometric?)/classic motifs, and ALL nani IRO prints.
Uhhh, I like this
Favourite colours mustard and grey
Favourite motives daruma, turtles and traditional asanoa
Echino as designers but really my favourite are the traditional designs and modern takes on them.
My favorite color is Blue and purple, cats and flowers, fav designer Echino, Nani Iro or Yuwa
Favourite colours: blue/green
Favourite motifs: flowers
Favourite designer: nani IRO
I love kawaii dolls with their kimonos and hairdos, sparrows and the sakura blooms! love bright colors!
Happy Birthday! Love your blog/facebook page and it has bring me useful information regarding sewing and the new japanese magazines releases.
My favorite colors : Blue / Pink / Yellow /can have Red details
My favorite motifs : Deer / Bunnies / Bear / Polka Dots / Floral
My favorite Designer : Lecien / Atsuko Matsuyama
***I prefer lightweight cotton and tiny patterns
Happy birthday to your blog <3
My favorite colors are purple, blue, black and grey, my favorite designs are dots, lines and flower motives and favorite designer would be nani iro.
My fav colour red and mustard yellow and my fav brand kokka… Wen its from japan i wud never want to miss japanese doll prints..
My favorite colors : all shades of blue
My favorite motifs : Florals, Polka Dots and Stripes
My favorite Designer : Liberty
Colours: coral, salmon, lavender
Motifs: polka dots, flowers
Designer: nani iro
🙂
Mustard is a favourite and dusky pink, and navy blue, and black, and white…
Florals and stripes are always nice, and geometric patterns
Can’t go wrong with Nani Iro or Liberty
Have a fantastic trip!!
Happy Anniversary 🙂
My favorite colors : Red / Purple / Yellow / Green / Blue
My favorite motifs : Dogs / Flowers / Birds / Chibi – Anime Characters
My favorite Designer : Echino / nani IRO / Kokka
I also like the nude / white / grey fabrics with traditional motifs 🙂
Hugs,
Rux
Happy birthday to the blog!
I love any pastel colours, black, pink & purple. My most favourite motif is of butterflies. I also like small floral/leaf motifs, polka dots, stripes, quatrefoil/damask, raindrops, trees & clouds. My favourite designers are Kokka, Yuwa, Lecien and Nani Iro. 🙂
Enjoy your trip!
Blues , greens, soft greys.
Florals, irregular geometric patterns, spots that are varied.
Any Japanese designer/fabric.
My favorite colors : blue
My favorite motifs : herbs
My favorite Designer : nani IRO
Happy Blog Birthday and have fun in Nippori Town!
Please enter me in the giveaway! My favorite fabric colors are more in the classic range, black & navy, but also greens, oranges or a nice violet. Actually, low-key backgrounds with a pop of color usually attract me. Okay, anything!
Favorite motifs are geometrics or abstracts, but also traditional images or funky animals
I’m fond of quirky Kokka / Echino designs. I haven’t used a Nani Iro print yet, but I like those as well. I also like Parson Gray and some of the newer Amy Butler designs, just for a style example. Thank you!
– Jen
OH man! I don’t have instagram so I hope you eventually do a post here of your photos of Nippori! Happy birthday to you and the blog and all the fun.
Thank you for a lovely irresistible giveaway!
Favorite color: Reds (especially the dark ones) turquoise, chocolate
Motiifs: Florals, random dot patterns (like Nani Iro does)
I don’t really have a favorite designer… so it’s up to you!
Happy birthday! I love blue and red, dots from Nani Iro and flowers from Liberty.
Andrea
Motif: Dragonflies! I just love them.
Colors: purple and teal. Green and orange.
Designer: Nani Iro
I have fallen hard in love with Nani Iro and my favourite colour schemes are blues/greens or russet and I do love a bit of metallic sparkle. I’m a fan of irregular dots and stripes. Or weird florals.
Happy birthday little blog!
I like gray, black, blues, purple, red. Or alternately, neutral earth tones and greens. I’ve never tried using double gauze but it seems wonderful. However, I’d love to make an article of clothing from a great print that had animals on it, but which overall looked sophisticated enough for me to wear in everyday life (where I can’t do cuteness!).
congratulations on the blog birthday! Hope you have a fabulous time shopping! 🙂
I don’t have a favourite designer yet either- I haven’t been sewing long enough! For colours though, I seem to always gravitate to blues and I’m always looking for pinks.
Patterns- I love the look of geometric prints like the triangles and crosses I keep seeing online. 🙂 have a great trip!
My favorite color are blue and purple… I loved it birds, cat and flowerd. My favorite designers are Carolina Herrera and Anna Sui… I come from Valparaiso, CHILE
Happy birthday to your blog!
I love blues, reds and greys. I love dots, stripes and florals. I LOVE Nani Iro and Liberty.
Thanks for the opportunity and enjoy your holiday.
Blessed Birthday and lovely giveaway! My favourite is Liberty Print Hello Kitty 🙂
Have fun in Nippori-Town! Bring lots of cash & a small trolley 🙂 I have been thrice and spend at least a day there. Have fun!
Happy birthday Ms. Love to see you spreadg words about japanese books!
I like green/turquoise/seafoam that sort of colour. Abstract design from naniIro would be great. Thanks!!
My favorite colors : Grey, pink
My favorite motifs : flowers/ striped/ Polka Dots
My favorite Designer : Liberty, Mickale miller, amy butler,Toiles de Jouy,Kaffe Fassett
Happy Birthday to your blog!
My favorite colors: red, purple, orange, brown
My favorite motifs: floral, rabbit, cupcakes, macarons
Any designer is fine with me.
Thank you and have a nice shopping in Japan!
Happy blog anniversary! Thank you for giving us chances to win prizes again! So envious that you’ll be visiting the fabric town in Japan.
My favorite colors : blue, yellow, pink
My favorite motifs : florals, pokka dots, gingham
My favorite designer: Nani Ido, Echino, Kokka
Thank you for the giveaway! My favorite colors are bue/mustard/muted pinks. My favorite moties – parrots, other birds, flowers. Any abstract design. My favorite designers – Nani Iro, Echino, Kokka.
Happy Birthday!
I like shades in turquoise, teal, aqua and my favourite designer is Nani Iro.
Thank you!
Thank you for ur generosity in giving out presents. I would love cute batik prints to make a dress for my 2 yr old girl. Also love charming florals n beginning to appreciate Nano Iri designs
Congrats…. One year wiser!
Color : purple, blue, turquoise
Motif : cats, owl
Thanks 🙂
My favorite color: pastel or rainbow color
My favorite motif: deer or hot air balloon
My favorite colors : Red / Purple
My favorite motifs : Floral(sakura)/Dolls/children design
My favorite Designer : Echino / nani IRO
Pink & Teals
Flowers
There is No designer I don’t LOVE!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I love the Japanese sewing books and thanks for making so many of the patterns accessible! I have just done a shopping spree at nippori fabric town in Tokyo… Love the Japanese fabrics!
My Favourite Colours: linen, indigo
My Favourite pattern: graphical, nature
My Favourite deisgnwe : Nani iro, Sou Sou
Hi,
Happy 4th Birthday !
I have been following your blog 2 years ago since I started to sew garments from Japanese Sewing Pattern Books. My favourite colours will be pastels and favourite motifs will be all cutes animals and flowers.
Thanks for the giveaway !
Wishing you a safe and enjoyable trip to Japan.
My favorite colors : Blue/pink
My favorite motifs : Little Twin stars
My favorite Designer : nani IRO / (Kyoto fabrics! Don’t know their names tho)
Blessed birthday!!
My favourite colour is blue (especially navy blue!), love floral, pokka dots and animals. Big fan of Nani Iro. <3
Thank u
Anything purple/pink pastel
Cartoons /cute stuff
Designer :no preference
Thanks
Congratulations, Yi Farn – four years! I have so often referred to your site for book reviews, translations and your wonderful Japanese sewing terms glossary. I’m so jealous – I want to go shopping in Japan! But some fabric would be a nice consolation 🙂
Favourite designers: I love Nani IRO, but non-designer fabric is fine too – I love double gauze and linen
Favourite pattern: spots, traditional Japanese patterns
Favourite colours: greens, blues, charcoal
Have a FANTASTIC trip!
Happy blog-birthday! My favorite colors: pink/grey, my favorite motifs: florals and other nature-related motifs, my favorite designers: nani IRO/Cotton + Steel.
Happy birthday and such a wonderful giveaway!
colors: rainbow/Mint/any of the red or blue family
Motifs: owls/any woodland animals
Designers: no preference
I’m so envious! If I ever go to Japan, I will spend all the vacation money on Nani Iro! Thanks for the giveaway! I hope I’ll win! (please!)
My favourite colour: Any shades of blue and green
My favourite motif: whatever that looks nice!
My favourite designer: Gotta be only Nani Iro!
Happy birthday!
🙂
My favorite colors : Green/brown
My favorite motifs : Abstract is good
My favorite Designer : Echino / nani IRO/heather ross
My favorite colors : Black/White/Grey
My favorite motifs : Solid/Gingham
My favorite Designer : Anything Japanese
Happy birthday!!! Have a happy holiday …
Fun!
Favorite colors: pink and blue
Motive: dots, deer, triangles
Designer: Nani iro, echino, Ellen bakker
Fav colours : blues / grey / pink
Fav design: paisley / polka dot / solid
Happy Blogging Anniversary!
Happy blog birthday! I’m always happy to see one of your posts in my blog feed.
We like bright colors — orange and lime and teal especially — and rabbits, cats and nature inspired designs. Some of our favorites are nani Iro and Lotta Jansdottir.
Have fun on your trip and please share your shopping experience 🙂
Happy blog anniversary! Thank you for thinking of us!! You are the best!!
My favorite colors : yellows, pinks, reds
My favorite motifs : abstract, flowers, geometric.
My favorite designer: Nani Ido, Echino, Kokka
Happy blog birthday!!! \\(^o^)// I’ve been reading your blog since you started and I love getting a first look at Japanese pattern books with your commentary.
My favorite designer is definitely nani iro – oh how I covet those simple, yet artful pieces. Especially neutrals with pops of color or anything with a gradient or ombre effect.
Have a great time in Japan! I will definitely follow along via Instagram.
My favorite colors : Green, the color of hope
My favorite motifs : paisley, flowers
My favorite Designer : Les Olivades (does it have to be a Japanese designer? I do not know any)
And happy blog birthday!
congrats! Your daugther is lovely! I don’t remember when I won one of your giveaways, it was a kit of fabric and tote bag tutorial , this bag I use almost everyday. I don’t think I am lucky again, but if I am, I would love to receive a Nani Iro fabric, with strong colours , abstract design. Thanks for the giveaway!
Hello there! I love red and yellow. Flowers are always my favorite motif and Kaffe Fassett is my favorite designer. Thank you for the chance!
happy holiday!
My favorite color seems to be turquoise, when I look arpund, it is in everything I make
I love bicycle prints and animals, hedgehogs, zebras
Nani iro and echino are my favorites
Proficiat!
My favorite colors: green, teal and linen
My favorite motifs: abstract or animals
Favorite designers: echino, lecien….anything Japanese
Just found your blog and love it – happy birthday!
Favorite colors – anything pastel, especially pink and mint green but also neutrals like ivory, grey and tan
Motifs – florals of all kinds, any animal, lace, kawaii
Favorite designer – I’m currently into anything Mori style, but not a particular designer at the moment.
I adore deep and sharp colors or soft pastel, two very different spectrums!
I love solida and japaneae 30s-50s fabric and feedsack reproductions!!
Congratulations! My favorite colors are all blue shades// beige and grays, and favorite print is well… florals., always the florals. (although I am loving animal prints like ducks, birds, cats, dogs,foxes all by japanese designers,)
Love love Nani Iro designs but Atsuko Matsuyama also designs lovely floral prints.
My favourite colours: Blue / Pastel
My favourite motifs: Plain / Abstract
My favourite designer: Nani Iro
How exciting – fabric shopping in Nihon! Enjoy.
I love the traditional Japanese blue and also anything deeper green or grey.
Motifs I like include dragonflies, geometric, kitsune (Japanese fox), Japanese garden, or stone or water patterns (not waves though), and Maneki-neko.
I love all the old style understated traditional Japanese blue dyed patterns.
Have a wonderful trip. Love your blog.
Favourite colors: Blues and greens. A little purple is good too!
Motifs: Little birds, trees, flowers
I like fabrics of all colors, but primarily blues, greens and yellows. Geometric, floral or stripes & polka dots. Batiks as well. I don’t have a favorite designer at the moment. 🙂
Happy birthday and Bon voyage!
I have two toddlers and can totally understand your situation.
My favorite colors : Gold/ blue
My favorite motifs : Ribbon/animal/foods/annpanman
My favorite Designer :: no particular preference
Favourite colours: purple, blue
Favourite motif: florals, geometrics
Favourite designers: Liberty, Nano Iro
Congratulations on 4 years, you have created a wonderful resource here 🙂 This is a great idea for a giveaway.
I have been wanting to sew a bag for a while, so would love a heavier fabric with some kind of geometric design in any combination of black, white and or grey, maybe with a splash of any colour. I would not be fussy about a designer.
xAngela
Oh my, this is the best giveaway ever! LOL
My favorite colors : pale colors for quilts, black and navy for clothes
My favorite motifs : Polka dots, graphic designs
Thanks!
my color is pink, no designer, motives, everything that is pretty, you made me addicted to amazon japan di discovered a different kind of creativity, they are graphic so I can understand a bit, thanks.
The giveaway is now closed. I will post the names of the winners later today.
Thank you all for participating! 🙂