Get a word in edgewise

I've been having lots of fun with selvedges these past weeks. First with handbound notebooks, now with mini coin purses. It's a sentimental experience sewing with selvedges as I identify each fabric and recall the stuff I've made before. Each fabric has selvedge on 2 sides and I think I've a couple of hundred of strips that I tried to sort by colour. Some have Japanese or Korean words. Most are in English. The prettiest has colour windows that are shaped like macaroons :-).

Selvedges are really precious commodities, and to think that I once discarded them ignorantly. They're like the root of the parsley, the comb in the honey, the choicest part of any fabric. Before I gush on further, have a look at this:

Found these tiny zips at one of my favourite haberdashery shops. If you look at the bottom left pic, from left to right, Korean, Australian, Japanese, US, Korean fabrics. The one from US happens to be DS' favourite. Blue Lifesavers from Connecting Threads.
Each strip is sewn onto calico before sewing on the zip. It's fully lined with more Korean import fabric but not interfaced since it's quite sturdy with 3 layers of fabric. Added a D-ring so that I can attach it to my key chain :-)
Have a blessed day!

Go green!

I used to cut selvedge and throw them away. Then, I thought they interfered with the hand of the fabric. Hand, as in the floppiness. Selvedges are stiffer than the main body and have a different print or are white. I can't remember when I started collecting them. I have about 2 shoeboxes full now. Precious commodities, these are. A whole yard of fabric only yields 2 yards of selvedges and sometimes only 1 side has the colour windows. I think the most colour windows I have for a fabric is 21. Will show you someday, if I can find it. From Yuwa, I think?

That was the before. The selvedges that DD picked out. Green ones, of course. More than what I had in mind, but it's ok. Maybe one day I'll sort my selvedge stash. Not now.

 Sewed the strips onto calico based on DD's arrangement. Lining was chosen by her. Ditto the metal snaps. There are 6 signatures this time for 2 reasons; firstly 'cos this is a larger cover compared to the earlier notebook and 'cos DD journals a lot. Just checked that there isn't enough slack for 2 more signatures. These were sewn using criss-cross longstitch so the signatures must be paired.
DS says it's too thick. I don't think so. I like it like that. DD too. What about you?
Have a blessed day!
Afternote: 
Made another one in pink with four signatures.

After the afternote: Made yet another one.

Three here and more along the way

Usually I cut, sew, photograph then pack. I was happily making these and packed them before I realized I didn't take a pic. At least I remembered and took a pic with the plastic covers. There are some that I didn't take a pic at all and mailed out...LOL!  

Three more tissue zipper pouches. This time made from quilting and oxford cotton from Japan and Korea. Fully lined and intefaced.

I think I'll won't take pics in the harsh sunlight or when the items have been packed. Doesn't seem as nice, don't you think?

Have a blessed day!

Blitz

Some days are productive days, some days are quieter. Some days just have accumulated stuff that I didn't take pics of and I just want to put them all in 1 post :-)

First up, these are 2 handbound notebooks. Made them for the fun of it 'cos I like the Mickey Musical Festival brochure. It's so colourful and cheerful that I saved it for this purpose rather than throw it into the paper recycling pile. The Citibank brochure was chosen 'cos it's the season for mooncakes and there is an accordion fold at the back of the book that will open up and show the myriad of mooncake deals. Both have paper from sustainable forests and are bound using the saddle stitch.  

 Two zipper pouches here. I still have a number to go. No complaints 'cos it's getting more fun as I sew. Now that DD's CA2 is over, she can help me with the pairing of lining and zips :-)
These 2 made from fabric from Korea, Japan and Australia. Fully lined with coordinating fabric and interfaced.

Yuwa fabric from Japan. Cute patterns printed in rectangles all over the fabric. Wonder if it'll look nice as zipper pouches? Oxford cotton exterior lined with calico. Fully lined and interfaced with panel of pockets inside, 5 in total of which 2 are for pens. A4 landscape orientation with chocolate brown heavyweight cotton webbing straps.
Have a blessed evening!

Hey baby!

I must be getting old. It seems that the people I know are having grandchildren. LOL!
I used to be sewing gifts for friends' kids and have recently progressed to sewing for grandkids.

Made these 2 pouches, whether for diapers or clothes or any of the barang barang that is needed when baby travels. Resin snaps on the flap closure and zip for the wet bag behind.
Have a blessed day!

Waves

I didn't notice it at first but there seems to be a trend that I get similar orders at almost the same time from people who are unrelated. It's not that I post the pics and they like it and ask for something like that. I either get an email or message and hmmm, another one? Not that I'm complaining :-) It's good!
Thank you for your support!

First 8 tissue zipper pouches. Actually there are nine but I didn't take a pic, maybe later. Made from an assortment of Japan and Korean import cotton fabrics. All fully lined and interfaced.
Have a blessed day!

Horizon at breakfast

Was packing up the living room this morning when I chanced upon this advertisement for a freehold condominium called Horizon. Nope, I'm not a property agent and not in any way associated with this project. Thing was, when I looked at the card, I noticed that while the picture was spread across the whole face of the card, the print was on the right half. The significance of this is that it can be a notebook cover! So I folded it and went to look for a signature to check if it fit and it did :-)

Single signature pamplet (saddle) stitch notebook. Made in less than 10mins 'cos I punched the holes free hand and just sewed.
Make your own today!
Afternote: found another card :-)

Have a blessed day!

Sore fingers

I made another notebook using the PP sheet as a cover. I like it that it's a nice translucent white which shows of the colours of the pages inside and that it's strong enough to protect the papers inside. No doggy ears here. However, due to it's thickness of 0.75mm, I have a hard time poking the needle through even after punching the holes with an awl. DS likes this notebook and says it's nicer than some that I've made, but I think I'll stop here for a while.

Six signatures of greens, blues and purple covers of plain 5mm grids. Each cross has 4 holes and there are a total of 18 crosses giving 72 holes. I like the effect on the spine :-)
Have a blessed day!

Cross-stitch

I didn't know that my sis likes to cross-stitch. Just like I didn't know she likes to drink coffee. But I do know one thing, that she'll always be there for me :-)

I used the criss-cross longstitch again to sew 6 signatures onto the PP sheet cover. First signature is a 5mm grid, not white. Others are pastels as shown. The translucent cover is secured with a green resin snap.
Have a blessed day!

Happy Birthday, Jonathan!

Jonathan's mummy decided on having zero-calorie treats for Jonathan's birthday party so this year the goody bag won't be filled with sweets but with these instead :-)

Single signature, saddle-stitched notebook made with acid-free cardstock and paper from sustainable forests.

Have a blessed birthday, Jonathan!

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

After sewing for a few days I decided to take a break and make a book. This time, I thought I'd combine both sewing and bookbinding and voila!

I made the cover first, out of linen. Patterned patchwork and plain oatmeal. I machine-stitched some of the patterns and some hexagons to bring out the print. Interfaced with 7oz batting so that the cover is sturdy. As for stitching the paper to the cover, I decided to use the criss-cross longstitch, deliberately sewn using contrasting thread. This book can open flat and that's why I put the stud on the flap so that there won't be a bump when you're writing on even pages. I was deciding between a ribbon tie or metals snaps for closure and snaps won.
Have a blessed day!

Permutations

I can't remember when I learnt permutations. Given 4 constants - a, b, c, d - how many combinations will there be? 4 x 3 x 2. But I don't want similar pairs, eg. aa or bb so that means 4 x 3. And I don't want flipped pairs that are similar, eg. ab and ba so that means 2 x 3. So, how did I end up with the four below...LOL! Can you find out which are the 2 other combinations that I didn't make?

I'll get round to it soon. Not now....on to other things :-)
Have a blessed day!

In a heartbeat

I didn't manage to get National Day Parade tickets this year but it's ok, we'll be catching it at home. I started on this order rather late in the afternoon and was wondering if I can finish it before the parade starts at 6.10pm and I made it.

Brasss engraved square kisslock frame with Korean import fabrics outside and in. Fully lined and interfaced.
Have a blessed National Day!

Happy 46th birthday, Singapore!

Origin

The National Flag, Singapore's most visible symbol of statehood, reflects the ideals, beliefs and values of our nation. It was unveiled on 3 December 1959 at the installation of the first Malayan-born Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State), Encik Yusof bin Ishak. The flag was later adopted officially as Singapore's National Flag upon her independence in 1965.

Meaning

The National Flag consists of two equal horizontal sections, red above white. A white crescent moon occupies the upper left red section. Next to the moon are five white stars arranged in a circle. Red stands for the universal brotherhood and equality of man. White symbolises pervading and everlasting purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the ascendant, and the five stars depict Singapore's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

Day of His power!

Will you be going later?
Day of His power (a lovesingapore concert prayer) will be at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, 7.30pm this evening.

Have a blessed evening!

2 Corinthians 5:7

We live by faith, not by sight.
It's not easy to do this, as most of the time I'm affected by the circumstances surrounding me. James 1:2 doesn't make me feel better either. Truths are there in black and white and yet sometimes difficult to accept. To live by faith, is easier said than done, when it's going against the tide. Like the salmon returning home but they make it, even if only to die but I digress.
So, I choose to live by faith, not by sight, and by His grace, I'll be alright :-)
Join me?

Saddle-stitched single signature cahier with a fold-out flap as page marker. Made from remnants of patterned paper, acid-free cardstock and 132-column printer paper. I left the holes intact for its uniqueness :-)
Have a blessed weekend!

Two to go

I snack a lot. Sometimes too much. I like pearly soya from Selegie, doughnut holes (??) from Four Leaves, youtiao dipped in cold soya from Rochor, Ruffles and I think I'd better stop here, LOL!

Two coptic bound A6 notebooks with sweet treats hardcover. Seven folios in 4 signatures giving a total of 56 pages.
Have a blessed day!