Wafu Works in Kingston Beach, Tasmania, Australia | Arts and crafts shop

Wafu Works

Locality: Kingston Beach, Tasmania, Australia

Phone: +61 419 589 263

Address: 18 Beach Road 7050 Kingston Beach, TAS, Australia

Website: http://www.wafuworks.com.au

Likes: 1106

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• Shopping & retail
• Arts and crafts shop

25.01.2022 Scanfil organic thread review.... It’s not a secret that I rarely using a sewing machine unless I really have to and I’m neither a dressmaker or quilter. So I didn’t feel qualified to say anything much about the Scanfil organic cotton machine thread that I’m now stocking - other than that it’s organic, it’s from Europe, it comes on cute wooden reels, and I couldn’t find anything negative about it online before I ordered it. So I asked my good friend Babette to review ...it for me. Babette is an absolutely phenomenal dress maker - and a total perfectionist. There’s literally no one whose opinion I would have valued more! I’m keeping a small supply of the full range of colours in the shop but I’m not putting them online. (Sorry - nothing’s going on the website that requires too much thought about stock control!) But if you can’t get into the shop you’re welcome to message me with the colour(s) you’d like. They’re $7.50 + postage for a 275m reel. Here’s what Babette had to say: Straight away I was impressed by the softness and sheen consistent with a quality long staple fibre. It's lint free which is good for the sewing machine. This is an excellent multipurpose thread for almost any machine sewing application and I suggest it would be excellent for quilting construction. Anyone spending good money on quality quilting fabric should be looking for a pure cotton thread with this kind of softness to maintain their quilt throughout its life and reflect their investment of time. It would be particularly good for crazy patch. All that said, this probably wouldn't be my choice for sewing synthetic knits, but I would give it a go for a pure cotton knit. This thread actually has street cred. I looked it up online and while they sell it on recycled wooden spools (completely green and sustainable), they also sell it on 5000m cones for the manufacturing industry that focuses on ethical and sustainable production. That means it works in industrial machines that operate at very high speed and for long periods of time. That's a good recommendation right there. Thank you Babette! I'm really happy to be able to confidently recommend these beautiful all purpose threads.

25.01.2022 I've decided to start two monthly Kogire (old fabric) Clubs - I haven't done this before but I think it will be fun! You can choose either the Kinu (silk) or Momen (cotton) Club and every month you'll get a nice surprise packet of vintage/antique fabric (and sometimes other treats) in the post. Each month will be unique. The packet might be, for example, remnants and threads, or a single piece of something special. In every packet there will be information abo...ut the fabric(s) which might include traditional patterns, ideas and inspirations. The Kinu Club will be feature silks from early - late 20th century. The Momen Club will be cottons - , mostly (but not always) indigo from late 19th - mid 20th century and will suit people with an interest in sashiko or boro textiles. The cost is $25/month including postage if you sign up for 3 months ($75). If you sign up for the 12 month subscription I'll cover postage and it will be $22/month ($264). There will be at least $22 value in each packet - often more. You can buy your 3 month or 12 month subscription on my website. If you decide it's not for you you can cancel at any time and I will refund the remainder of your subscription. ****Because I haven't done this before I'm interested in feedback - especially from people who have tried other fabric clubs. What did you like or not like about the club you used? https://www.wafuworks.com.au

24.01.2022 I feel very lucky every day to be way down here in Tassie and to be able to run my shop as normal again - touch wood! Thank you as always to my wonderful customers who come out of their way to visit - I always appreciate your support and love to see your projects and have a chat! It's a little bit quieter today so here are some photos from around the shop...

19.01.2022 I thought that some people might be interested in looking at this special girl who arrived this week. Her story gives a little bit of insight into the culture of Japanese dolls. She dates from the late 18th early 19th century which is why her clothes are a bit shabby and she’s lost her hair and the details of her face. She’s a hoko ningyo an amulet doll that was kept in the room during childbirth or generally to protect children. The idea was that illness or bad fortune... would be absorbed by the doll. If the child died or when they came of age the doll would be ritually burnt at a Shinto shrine. For that reason hoko are extremely rare and I feel so lucky to have found her, and privileged to take care of her now. The original hoko dolls were all home-made, not dressed and probably smaller than this. The illustration I’ve included is from an ‘encyclopedia’ for women from around the same period and shows the things that you should have in your room to ensure a safe birth (a hoko doll, a protective sword amulet and a toy dog because dogs give birth easily!) Hoko like this one with a silk body and a papier mache head were made to sell in doll shops, but for the same purpose. She’s a descendent of Chinese dolls made in the same way with a single piece of fabric for the body and an ancestor/relative of many traditional types - including sarubobo monkey amulet dolls which I collect so she’s their new matriarch. If you’re interested to learn more about Japanese dolls as amulets and protection against disease. There is a very good explanation by Japanese doll expert Alan Scott Pate in this youtube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q52IWxKDQP8

18.01.2022 Around the shop today: I've just put out a few new rolls of silk and yukata fabric, some more obis ...and filled the big bowl with antique cotton remnants. There's a pile of old katagami stencils on the table - these have been to use in sets and are of varying quality and interest. No more than $40 each. I've had a couple of people asking about Cohana mini scissors. I've got a supplier for them now. They're very cute and very tiny, but beautiful quality, with silk tassels and a little leather case. They're in the shop and online. And I've been having fun making up cards with images from antique paper and kimono designs in my collection....

17.01.2022 Thanks to everyone who has joined up for my Kogire (old fabric) Clubs. If you're interested in a receiving a surprise pack of either old cotton or old silk in your mail box each month - and learning more about traditional Japanese textiles - all the details are on my website. You can join any time. The next silk instalment will be in the post in about a week.. Thank you also to everyone who has been keeping me busy in the shop! Some photos from around Wafu Works at the moment - most of these things aren't on the website yet but you're welcome to message me if you're interested.

16.01.2022 I'm open again - normal hours - of course with appropriate social distancing and hand sanitiser. I really don't feel like I got much done while I was closed so I hope a bit more routine will be good for me! Some photos around the shop today. I've started stocking organic cotton thread on nice wooden reels ($7.50 for 250m) - these are European, not Japanese, but were irresistible! I won't have these online but you're welcome to message me if you want some.

15.01.2022 Big thank you to everyone who's put in an order from the new website - or just gone in and had a browse - or shared it with friends. I've been having fun adding new products but decided I need to get a bit more methodical (not my usual way of being!) so yesterday I put up lots of bundles of kimono fabric from the shop oddment basket. There will be more old indigo to come this week. All the prices include regular postage in Australia , This is the cheapest option and also means I can just pop things in the red post box across the road. Unfortunately at the moment the post is very slow! If you need anything more urgently please get in touch - and local customers are welcome to pick parcels up from the shop. Some kimono fabric bundles - all prices and details are on the website: www.wafuworks.com.au

15.01.2022 The shop is very much back to normal now (touch wood) and it's lovely to see new and familiar faces. Thank you to everyone who comes in and helps make this the best job I can imagine! I feel extremely lucky at the moment to be where I am and doing what I do. Thank you also to everyone who supports my online shop. I keep adding things as I can and try to keep an eclectic mix - at the moment it ranges from the scrappy old remnants that weren't good enough to go in the remnant bundles through to 19th century brocade Buddhist altar cloths. Here are some recent additions. All the details and prices are at www.wafuworks.com.au

13.01.2022 Thank you to everyone who's visited the shop over the last couple of weeks - it's lovely to see everyone and feel a little bit normal again! Thanks also to everyone who's been shopping online. I've been having fun adding more items.... there's still lots more to come. Please message me if there's anything that you'd like to pick up from Kingston Beach and I'll put it aside for you. Most of the online items aren't out in the shop. Info and prices at www.wafuworks.com.au

11.01.2022 The weeks seem to go past very quickly! But I'm still here and keeping busy with the shop. I'm adding things to the website as I have time - please pop in anytime for a browse. Here are some recent additions. www.wafuworks.com.au

09.01.2022 Wafu news: I've got new (secondhand) shelves to better display our new cotton fabrics (thanks Babs!). I've been increasing the range of new fabrics to give quilters - and everyone - a bigger choice especially for projects that really need something wider than 35cm! But don't worry - I'm limiting them to that one space - the old textiles will always be my first love! I'm putting more bits and pieces online when I get a chance - here are the most recent additions. All details and prices at www.wafuworks.com.au.

05.01.2022 ! Happy New Year! I'm open again from today and the shop is overflowing! This weekend is our second Fukubukuro 'Lucky Bag' Sale. It was a big success last year and lots of fun. I'll be restocking the bags as we go so there should be a good selection whatever time you come. Fukubukuro are a Japanese New Year retail tradition dating back to the 19th century. Basically stock from the previous year is sold at very discounted prices in sealed bags - so it's... like a lucky dip. Our bags will have a mixture of old and new textiles and paper from around the shop at half price or sometimes much less. Prices start from $12. Each bag will have a clue on the label which might help you choose. There are extra treats and/or gift coupons in some of the bags. No peeking, no exchanges, no holds etc! I hope you can come along! Saturday 9th Jan 10 - 4.30 and Sunday 10th Jan 10 - 3pm (and the market's on next door as a bonus!) See more

02.01.2022 I've started - slowly - taking photos of my own collection of old Japanese textiles. It's not as big as you might think - or as big as it would be if I had a bigger house and a bigger budget! I'm going to make an archive on Pinterest of photos from my collection and also some of the textiles and antiques that have been through the shop over the past 20 years - but that's a long term project. I'm starting with sashiko stitched fukin and zokin cleaning cloths. Fukin a...re wiping cloths often quite finely stitched and sometimes called 'hana-fukin' (flower cloths). Zokin generally refers to something a bit more humble that you might use for cleaning the floor for example. I think the line between the two is a bit blurry. Some of these will have been done is school sewing classes - most are unused. - all probably mind -20th century. Please note - these are from my own collection and definitely not for sale . There are a couple of fukin on the website at the moment though. See more

01.01.2022 Oops - I haven't posted for a while but I'm still here having fun in the shop and posting bits and pieces on the website when I get a chance. Here are some recent additions... some of these are out in the shop as well - or just ask. More information and prices are all on the website www.wafuworks.com.au

01.01.2022 Thanks to everyone who bought one of my isolation packs or has continued to order from me - I hope your stitching has been fun and therapeutic. I've been opening by appointment if there's anything you need - or message me and I'm happy to post for free. I've been busy getting products ready for my new website - which is now online. Still a lot more to come - and I'll post on here as I add more items. This website is different to the last one - most items are one-off bu...ndles and packs. More a place to rummage for a treasure than a supply depot for a particular fabric or thread. I've tried to keep it as simple as possible (for myself as well as you!) - there are only 4 categories - make, wear, treasure, etc - and postage is included in the price of all items, so there are no surprises at checkout. For the time being it's only set to take orders from within Australia. If you're ordering anything or just browsing - I'm interested in any feedback - especially any glitches that you find! www.wafuworks.com.au Thanks as always for your support. Stay safe. Jan See more