Monthly Challenge Theme: Ducks

Wouldn't this look nice with a cute white cardigan and boater hat?

 Theme: Ducks 

March is the time of year where I live for rainstorms and green shoots of grass popping up between cement cracks, and of course, ducks! ♥ If you read my last few posts, you may have noticed that the retention pond by my house is full and filled with little duckies (that were too far away for me to photograph). Anyways, if you haven't guessed it, this month's theme is ducks! And how exactly are you going to incorporate ducks into your mori-life? Well let me suggest a few ideas: feed some ducks (of course - but try to use food specifically for ducks), where an outfit with a duck motif, in duck colors, wear feather accessories, make duck-shaped cookies, draw pictures with ducks, learn a duck call (haha!) or raid the Easter section of your local grocery or department store for duck-themed goodies ♥

Etsy Listing 

Etsy Listing

 ♥ Remember to link to your responses in the comments section below ♥

Delicate

Nature is so delicate, isn't it? Especially birds. They have been a reoccurring theme this summer. From birds of all varieties and sizes flocking to our backyard for water, to babies making happy rackets to less fortunate experiences. I found this delicate treasure while biking one day, cleaned and took it home. I can hardly tell I'm holding it, it's so weightless. 

Spring Inspirations and a Kitten

Hello! I hope everyone has been enjoying the spring weather, I know it's been unusually pleasant here. I have been happily observing a mother dove dutifully warming her eggs. I wonder, when and for how long does she leave her nest to feed herself? There is also a robust blue jay that has taken to our water fountain.
        Yesterday was also rather eventful, on my way walking home from the bus stop, I could hear a faint mewing. That was curious enough, so I looked around for a kitty meowing (that I could possibly pet, of course). I didn't see a cat, but I did spot a tiny gray lump across the street and went to investigate. I'm sure you can infer by now what happened, but I found a very tiny, very scared, very hungry crying kitten. It did not look injured or like a stray, but I called my Mom over and asked her for some tuna. She isn't a cat person, but I was able to coax her over to the kitten. I was especially worried because of the number of dogs in the neighborhood and the fact she was next to a road, so I knew we needed to help her. We were able to convince a cat-loving family across the street to look after the (cutely hissing) little kitten. I haven't head that much back yet but he or she seems to be doing find. Hopefully she's not sick or anything like that (any hopefully they will keep her :) Wheh! That was a long story about a kitten... It's just nice sometimes to have a break from a mundane routine (and help little animals).

The kitten looked a bit like this (from We Heart It)

Anyways, back to the original reason for this post. The other day I accidentally found a plethora of Japanese mori-esque/natural-kei/zakka embroidery books. Many of the designs are fairly simple and absolutely adorable! I thought that they would be perfect for a bit of spring crafting, the books are full of berry, wildflower and vegetable patterns. The Etsy shop Japan Lovely Crafts has a great variety, and here are my favorites:

1. EMBROIDERY OF GARDEN FLOWERS BY KAZUE SAKURAI

2. WILDFLOWER GARDEN BY KAZUKO AOKI

3. Wonderful Embroidery by Onoe Megumi

4. THE BASICS OF EMBROIDERY AND APPLIQUE BY AYAKO OTSUKA

5. RIBBON STITCHES BY YUKIKO OGURA

   More embroidery inspiration :)

   
   
   
   
   

Monthly Challenge Theme: Animals

Theme: Animals

Hopefully you've been noticing more cheeping birds and chirping squirrels lately. In honor of spring, rebirth and renewal, this month's challenge theme is animals. Whether it be a print, brooch, socks, embroidery or anything else, try to incorporate your favorite mori mascot animal into your outfit. Think of the Pink House bear jacket, fuzzy alpaca motifs, or Martha's lovely teddy bear-inspired coordinate of her Moss Garden blog. An actual image is not necessary, as long as it captures the essence of the animal!