Handmade fair in Seoul, Korea

Everybody is having a lovely summer? Hope you guys stay cool and happy! It’s been a pretty busy summer for me since ‘J’ left for his own vacation to mountain Kilimanjaro. Missing him, working on new lines for the next season, starting on knitting projects for coming autumn, cleaning up my little atelier before the busy and hectic season launches, and cooking something healthy and refreshing for myself (ssshh~ I am on a fabulous vegi-diet while he is away. I will introduce this next posting.). Anyway, while I was a busy bunny there’s something I’ve been waiting forever: handmade Korea fair 2012. A handmade boom arrived here in Korea a few years ago, but still not so many people are familiar with its concept. This event could help people get to know how fabulous it is! 

Today, this happy bunny was hopping down to the exhibition center with full of excitement. First of all, look at this! Isn’t this cool? A bracelet style entering ticket!

 

Finally, I am in! There are so many things to explore. As a sewer, knitter and crafter of little bit of everything, I couldn’t resist all the vibes those little goodies sent forth.  

 

This is one of things I’ve wanted to learn so long: Korean traditional knots. Terrific vivid color combos and gorgeous texture created by knots are just my style! Wait a minute! Now I remember I grabbed a couple of how-to-knot books a few years ago. Where have they gone? Oh, well, time to check out my junk box somewhere at my atelier before I forget again. 

I knit something either practical or wearable. So there’s one kind I’ve never tried yet: knitted dolls. I’d like to wow them and talk to them (only when I am alone!), but I’ve never thought about making them by myself. This time, I found some booths full of knitted or sewn dolls. Those are amazingly adorable and cuddly. I purely felt cozy and calm when I hold them. Now I understand why babies long for those little creatures and knitters are tempted to make them. So, I took some of class information sheet they handed out. And… what a coincidence!! One of ateliers is just right around my neighborhood where I used to pass by. Obviously I knew the shop! I’ve been wondering about the owner of the shop and I’ve just found out! She is a kind and friendly lady and very informative, too. I might stop by her atelier soon or later to learn how to make little lovelies~

This is one of the biggest artwork I met at the site. A wooden piano. How fabulous! Not sure how it sounds like, but at least it is looking just beautiful and I hardly believe it is handmade. Must’ve taken lots of time, energy and talent!

Those are handmade (decorated?) wedding cakes. Gorgeous western inspired cakes got lots of attention from visitors. The last one is one of my favorites: small yet lovely. The subtle color is a plus!

BTW, here I want to share a few more cakes I found at the other bakery show a few weeks ago. Those demonstrate how Koreans decorate cakes and I guess you guys might be interested. J

Do you know what these are? I will give you some hints. You cannot eat them, yet they smell refreshing and delicious. They will melt on your body and make you feel pampered. Those are soaps made of ginseng and mushroom in a shape of traditional Korean coin money. I am wondering how I feel when I take shower with money ~ J

Here’s another Korean style artwork: Korean traditional quilts. Isn’t this similar to western one? Maybe the fabric we are using is different, but I think they are equally beautiful!

Finally, this is the place I took almost forever to wow and take some photos: Doll houses. Again, I’ve never been into doll-related things before, but who knew that I might find another wonderland today. Look at those tiny stuffs! Elegant details and constructions. I wish I could shrink myself and be a litte bunny in the middle of the photo and then live right there making all those fantastic things mine!! (I know, I know I am greedy. .. you can call me ‘piggie’ now.)

Wow~ someday could I have a closet like this? (hope 'J' is reading this!) Well, these might be more than I need, or not? J

Anyway, exploring little houses is really fun as well as inspiring! However, what I really liked was this!!! My simple and forever joy: knitting!

So, did you enjoy my little story? I had a fun time recalling my visit while I am writing the post. My brain is busy for processing lots of new ideas and inspirations I got from the exhibition. Now time to return to my little atelier and get to create something pretty!

Have a marvelous summer and enjoy your crafting~ 

XO, 

Soyun.

Not-so-‘Korean’ yarn shop

I’ve always wanted to introduce you ‘Korean style’ yarn markets I usually hang out to get my craft materials. Many of my foreign knitter friends get very curious and ask me often. “Do you knit in Korea? What kinds of yarns do you use? Where do you get your pattern books?” Well, actually Korea is just like the Western world now. Unfortunately not so many things Korean I can show off. We knit (I guess knitting in Korea has been considered to be granny’s hobby, but it gradually found its renaissance recently.) and have some pattern books (some in Korean, some Japanese, and some western languages) in the book stores. We have a few yarn shops offering various yarns and notions from all over the world. So, I can say knitting in Korea is getting more popular as well as international. By the way, there’s a huge craft market in the center of Seoul that you might want to check out (Don’t worry. I will introduce you this interesting market not too much later. I promise! J)

Today I am going to take you to a lovely yet not-so-Korean yarnshop. A few days ago (well, have to admit it is not a few days anymore.. it’s been a few weeks now. I know. I need to be more diligent for blogging. I am working on it!) I visited this well-organized as well as well-known yarnshop’s house warming party. This shop called ‘banul story’ (http://www.banul.co.kr ‘banul’ is a needle in Korean) has been one of the famous yarnshops among knitters and crafters in Korea. Originally located in Myeong-dong area in Seoul it moved to near Ewha women’s university in Sinchon area recently. 

Being extremely excited and thrilled to explore this new shop I couldn’t sleep the night before it opened. Getting up ‘amazingly’ early (such a night owl as I am it was a huge devotion I made that morning.) and feeding myself well to survive a long and busy day I headed to the place I’ve dreamed of. You could’ve seen me doing happy little dances if you were with me on the way to the shop. J

What a joy! My friend and I turned out to be the very first guests. The shop looked great already yet they were busy for working on some of the final touches. The owner of the shop opened the door for us (Do you see the doorknobs looking like knitting needles? How creative!! I seriously wanted to grab them and run away with. What a naughty girl I am!) and warmly welcomed us. Yay, I got overly emotional and felt my small devotion of getting up early totally paid off at the very moment.

Look at the inside of the shop full of fun and lovely treasures. Colors, shapes, and textures of those goodies grabbed my attention instantly. What a great collection they got! I desperately wished I could live in the shop playing with all of blingy knitting needles and crochet hooks, gorgeous-colored yarns, and cool knitting notions. Do you see these itsy- bitsy buttons? How adorable! It seems like they were waiting for me to pick them up. Those would go perfectly with a baby sweater I am currently working on.  

I already own many sets of knitting needles, but I decided to indulge myself with extra thick knitting needles I’ve been looking for. (As a gift, I received another small-sized circular needle. Wow! Isn’t that amazing?) As many of you understand (hopefully) we knitters do never own enough yarns, needles, and knitting notions. As a serious sewer, I also collect lots of fabrics and always long for more. I know, I know. I need to control and discipline myself. But, those little luxuries inspire me and excite me all the time and I should admit they work exactly like ‘vitamin’ to me. Oh, well, perhaps the most expensive vitamin I could ever take though.

Now, here’s a fun part of the shop. There’s a lovely knitting café on the 2^nd floor. (Sorry, I was having so much fun enjoying the coffee and the interior of the room that I mistakenly forgot to take photos of the café.) But, I assure you that this is the heaven of the knitters and crocheters. I really hope you make a trip here and have fun and enjoyable time with your fellow knitters. What would go with knitting better than good music and savory coffee or tea? ‘Knitting, coffee, and music’ altogether sound so right, don’t they?

I purely enjoyed this day at the fabulous shop. It’s always a pleasure to find beautiful and interesting crafts shops that make you dance. I wish I could open my own atelier just like this someday. I will invite all of you guys and throw a cool party on opening day. Hopefully you can make it and celebrate with me dancing together! It will be wonderful to see you from all around the world!

So, now I am wondering how your local yarn shops look like. Similar to the one I’ve just introduced? Or, do they have any cool personalities? I am sure you have your favorite yarnshops in your neighborhood you’d like to share with me. Or, you might have fantasized your own dreamy yarnshop? If so, please don’t be shy and feel free to leave a comment. Who knows? You can inspire me and I might take your suggestions when I open my own shop later. 

Oh, one more thing before I close. As many of you already know, I am doing a giveaway celebrating my blog renewal. I hope you’ve already checked it out and participated in. If not, you still have time so please take a look. You can be the one of those who will receive the adorable pouches. It will end Apr. 23^rd and I will announce lucky winners shortly after. 
http://www.atelierdesoyun.com/2012/04/returning.html

Thanks for visiting and supporting this new journey. I am so excited to see you real soon.

Have a happy and crafty day!