More and more books

 More paper-folding. Hopefully the stacks of paper I still have at home grow smaller. The top 2 book-blocks-to-be are in various shades of blue and peach. The white ones I might just cover with coordinated patterned paper, like the bottom two. You can't see it clearly but the fabric right at the bottom is actually a drawstring bag. The book materials are inside but I don't have the string to bind them :-( 

These are just two bundles of 4 saddle-stitch books. I'm packaging them in bundles for the next sale. It's a preview of sorts 'cos I can't decide what to use to bundle them with - twine or ribbon? Or perhaps, depending on the print? 

I'll need to clear (read: sell all) of these books. I found some just now that I made a year ago. Colours are still good 'cos all the papers are acid free. I have a couple hundred more to go just for plain ones but lesser for patterned cardstock :-)

Have a blessed evening!

Sneak: book blocks to be

I've been cutting and folding papers recently. I still have lots of papers, plain and printed. Will have lots of opportunities to try out new stitch types.

And the good thing is...while I was looking for more paper, I found 1 whole stack of textured cardstock with white core. Ooo, I'm distracted. Am going to make mini notebooks soon and bundle them up with ribbon! Fun!

Have a blessed day!

Sewing books

First I made the books.

These are saddle-stitched books with cardstock and unlined paper. I have so many shades of green, blue and pink left and even more cardstock.

Then I made the drawstring bag to put the books in. 

Then I made a larger book with a fabric over the cardboard and decided that it'll have it's own drawstring bag. 

What a lot of fun :-)

Have a blessed day!

Drawing to a close...not

Made this for DD who has to bring extra stuff to school - apron / PE attire etc. This is fully-lined for a change, partially 'cos the cotton print is thinner than usual. I used the foldover label and DD said this looks 'professional' for a change. ;-)

Professional handmade. Odd.

Have a blessed day!

Journal de Paris

This has a very zakka feel to it. I like its simple and retro look, made out of Japanese cotton/linen. Lots of pockets inside (4 plus 2 pen slips). I wasn't sure what to make of this when I bought it 'cos the Journal de Paris print is rather wide, too wide/narrow for a clutch. I decided to add a bit more colour and expand the width so that this is a wraparound print. 'Twas a bit troublesome to switch between oatmeal and red thread to top-stitch but I'm glad I went through that effort :-)

Have a blessed day!

May the force be with you

During the free Spoonflower fat quarter promotion last year, DS chose this print. He likes the kiddy Star Wars print. It's not an allover print, just a strip across the bottom. There are 8 8" squares with different characters of the movie. I've not figured out yet what to make out of them, maybe a cushion cover?

This is a dual zip pencil case. I managed to find 2 star zipper pulls. Zip was from Daiso, the 1m long one. The star zipper pulls too, but they were on another colour zip. Since the Star Wars print is rather narrow, it'd be a rather 'narrow' pencil case but I decided to 'bump' it up and add the denim. 'Tis a bit more rugged, no? DS chose the lining, a Japanese cotton geometric print in beige and brown. He also asked for a D-ring though I don't know what he's going to put there.

This pic is not the latest.

I studded DS' name with 3cm studs. That's a lot of tiny claws for me to fold in but DS likes the effect.

Have a blessed day!

Blooms

Refreshing fragrance whenever there are blooms :-)

When you wish upon a star

I've had this Japanese Disney print for a while, intending to make it into a new clutch for DD. Problem was, it's cotton/linen and I didn't want to use interfacing to stiffen it. DD suggested using the thick canvas I have. One whole bale of it (read, expensive shipping). It's a nice ivory colour with flecks of black and brown. Adds to its character, I think.

DD requested for a pocket and I thought I'd add a zippered one for a change. I didn't put the pocket behind 'cos this clutch is meant for putting papers and I didn't want the papers to be warped with the contents of the pocket so the pocket is on top of the stack, under the flap.

There's Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Thinkbell and Bambi and Thumper.

Nice!

Have a blessed day!

Back to school

T'was a long CNY break, wasn't it? :-)

Made these before and during the break. The studs are those with the claws, not the iron on type. Each stud has 4 claws and I used many here :-( Wasn't easy bending the claws back. The journal was fun. This was done without the end-pages that's why there's only a single line out on the cover at each hole. I think the next time I do this I'll use double. Or maybe I'll just stick to end-pages.

Have a blessed day!

Coptic-stitched

It's been a long, long while since I made coptic-stitch books. I like making them, it's just that the elapsed time is much longer. Think... stick cardboard to patterned paper for covers then press, stick end-papers, pen-knife cut/fold papers and arrange into folios, punch holes in covers and papers, sew, press again. Each book takes a few days so I usually make them in batches.

I like the larger books this round 'cos I managed to find 3 different shades of pink. I still haven't mastered the camera's features to represent the colours correctly. Looks beige, ya?

Have a blessed evening!

Pepero Day : 11 November

Does the current K-wave have an influence on your Valentine's day?

*grin*

Found out about this from my brother-in-law who had several boxes of these. I asked if I could have the boxes thinking that I would mark the foil-packed stick biscuit inside with the correct flavour. I was thinking of Glico Pocky. But the packaging inside is so pretty! It's still a tear-open pack but in the colour of the box's main colour and properly labeled with the flavour. I've yet to have a bite but I'm liking it already!

Not waiting for 11 November.

Pepero Day is an observance in South Korea similar to Valentine's Day. It is named after the Korean snack Pepero and held on November 11, since the date "11/11" resembles four sticks of Pepero. The holiday is observed mostly by young people and couples, who exchange Pepero sticks, other candies, and romantic gifts. Lotte denies starting the holiday and instead states that they noticed a bump in Pepero sales around November 11 and after continued popularity they decided to then encourage the holiday with special gift boxes and other promotions.

~ source: wikipedia

Happy Chinese New Year!

Spring is almost here!

Blessed Chinese New Year!

The first flower has bloomed after a long break. After clearing the weeds and loosening up 

the soil and watering more regularly, the plant's responding :-) There are a few more buds on the way too. The first time it bloomed was a few years ago and it bloomed 40+ flowers at one go. The living room was filled with natural air freshener. Intoxicatingly sweet if you went nearer the plant. Very nice!

Otherwise, I've made some items. Didn't get around to taking pics but this is one of them. I started out with a cotton/linen patch with this pink as the back but it became another pouch altogether, different from what I had in mind earlier. Managed to find some rather wide lace (about 2 inches) so I can use that as the divider and the cards won't drop out. I'll need to practise sewing faster though 'cos I plan to make more pouches with the bound sides :-)

Have a blessed day!

Playing catch up

Haven't been updating this blog in a while. Had some posts on Facebook though :-)

Made these from the Prima Deli's box. Think it was DD's PC13 from there. I like this cake box 'cos the cardboard's rather thick and laminated on one side. I'm running out of antique bronze O-wires. Will have to use baby blue and pink soon.

iPad sleeve. First one ever. I find it funny 'cos one of the reasons for starting this blogshop was to earn enough to buy an iPad. After a while, we didn't track the revenue/expenses. The desire for an iPad waned. T'was only when DD needed one for school that we finally bought one. LOL! 

These are the Chan Luu-inspired leather wrapped bracelets that are the rage now. Simple to make but so tedious 'cos I used slippery beading string to wrap. You can't see from this pic but I used a 2-hole flower button as the catch. Notice the beads? The larger ones cost less than half those on the right. Don't know why, not familiar with these type of beads.

Zipper pencil cases. Simple in design but lots of manual work to ensure alignment.

CNY mandarin orange carrier.

Fuchsia crochet tote with leather handles. 100% cotton yarn

Blue/green crochet tote with leather handles. Cotton/linen blend yarn.

Grabbed this floral fat quarter when I saw it. Pic doesn't do justice to it's colours (I don't know how to fix it to show the true colours). Paired it with pink gingham. Both are cotton/linen blend so I had a hard time flipping the tote right side out. This is a different size from the other reversible totes 'cos I only had 1 fat quarter. The others are slightly wider than half a fat quarter.

Have a blessed day!