I have been negligent in updating my blog lately, my bad.
These past few weeks were consumed by brainstorming, designning, sourcing and crafting my Christmas gifts for this year. Yes I'd started my Christmas preparations in October this year haha because I know it'll take me a long time to get everything done if I'm going handmade gaga.
My plans for Christmas handmade bonzana 2010!
1) Handmade personalised organiser cover and pouch for my besties
2) CD case calendar for office mates
3) Embellished packaging and gift tags
That's a lot of work so I thought I better get started early cos I'm such a slow worker haha.
For my pouches and organiser covers, I went with a simple looking vintage Parisian chic design. At lfirst I did wonder why I was so obsessed with this style but then I figured it must have been all those wedding inspiration and home decor blogs I have been reading everyday. Then I looked around the stores and I see Effiel Towers and Parisian elements everywhere. The Zakka movement is gaining momentum in Singapore!
What's Zakka you say? Well according to Wikipedia:
Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and appearance. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin, but it can also be Japanese goods, mainly from the fifties, sixties, and seventies. In Japan there are also so-called Asian zakka stores; that usually refers to Southeast Asia. The interest in Nordic design or Scandinavian design, both contemporary and past, is also part of this zakka movement. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft.
Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". The zakka boom could be recognized as merely another in a series of consumer fads, but it also touches issues of self-expression and spirituality. "Cute, corny and kitschy is not enough. To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext."
Source:
Wikipedia
When one menttions Zakka, one has to mention Shinzi Katoh, a famous Zakka designer and artist.
One of his 2011 schedule books, love the Little Red Riding Hood design. Been seeing this concept in loads of scrapbooking stuff this year.
He even has tea tins!! I'll love to start a collection of these
Pinocchio pouch. Adorable. ;)
Guess what this is? Measuring cups!
He even has iPhone cases!! This reminds me of the ones I buy from Gmarket hehe
All items above can be found at Shinzi Katoh's
online shop
As you can see, the Zakka movement is a little whimsical, a little fairytale and a little vintage. If you find it familiar, that's because you've probably seen a lot of similar things in Korean stationery shops that's the current craze in Singapore this year. To me, it's the stuff of daydreamers. Love the whole lot of them.
And these are the Zakka items I bought from Etsy for my DIY Christmas 2010:
From top left: Velvet iron-on transfers - Vintage Stamp Series, Cotton fabric strip with black writing, Velvet iron-on transfers - Travel, Garden and others, Sewing Machine, Thread, Bread, Crown Zakka Linen Tape
From
diycloset on Etsy
From top left: Antique Bronze Lovely Key Charms, Antique Bronze MADE WITH LOVE Oval Charms, antique Bronze 3D Effiel Tower Charms, Antique Bronze Split Love Letter Scroll Charms, Antique Gold Heart Lock Charms
I'm afraid I can only post how I used them and the finished product closer to Christmas. Don't wanna spoil the surprise here!
