Is the grass really greener?

If you scroll down a bit, you'll see the other side of this tote. The pasta one. Pasta and cheese.

I used to take multiple views of one item and collage them. Then I realised that the pics were too small and just took one but this tote has a different front/back so it merits another post.

:-)

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!

OOAK

This might well be the only one. I had such a hard time sewing the PU leather snap onto the Japanese laminate. Surely there must be an easier way to attach it but I've yet to figure out. Maybe it'll be easier with the canvas laminate. I'll try that soon.

Fourteen pockets here made out of dark chocolate cotton-linen blend and bound with oatmeal of the same material. I like how the colours go together for a cheery and functional card wallet.

Have a blessed day!

Dizzying stripes

Two denim totes for DD and me. DS doesn't like stripes.

These are large enough to put A4 files in and with the many pockets (2 large ones in front, 2 large ones back, panel inside), we can carry many stuff around. DD prefer to carry hers without the detachable strap. I prefer mine attached 'cos sometimes I use the over the shoulder straps, sometimes I use the longer one.

I think I'll make more of these if I can find the right thick fabric - canvas or denim. I wonder if oxford will work as well?

Some other design considerations:

flap covers for the outside pockets with the snaps on the flaps

swivel hook on the inside to snap on key rings

zipper pocket

shorter handles for handcarry

zipper closure for main body

Have a blessed day!

What's your favourite colour?

I like yellow, DS likes red and DD likes green.

I paired this yellow canvas with a brown one so that the dirt doesn't show up so easily when placed on the floor. There are two big pockets in front and two at the back. One panel of pockets inside means lots of compartments to put all your stuff :-)

I was a bit hesitant to use silver rivets and snaps 'cos I thought brass ones would be nicer but I only had silver hardware for the strap so that determined the colour. Turned out rather well, IMHO. :-)

Have a blessed day!

I only quilt in straight lines

I seem to be quilting more these days. These are thinner than honey bun strips. I cut the jelly roll ones that I had and just started sewing them together. DD asked me what I was going to make and I didn't think of anything in particular and therein lies the problem. How long should these strips be? If I were making a book cover, it'd be one of the standards sizes ... A5, A6 etc. Or a pouch would be limited by the zip length, or perhaps not. Card cases would depend on the size of cards. You get the idea.

I just pieced them and quilted.

Then I found the key organizer. The metal thingy with the 6 loops for attaching keys?

Key pouch it was then. I wanted to add a bit of colour so that's why there's a coin pouch. It's too slim for cards but good enough to stuff folded up notes. 

Finally DD has a bag to replace her usual for church. It's the middle one. The one on the right was supposed to be it but it was too small for her bible and other stuff. She brought it today and her friend asked her if I made it. Turns out, of all the times that someone asked her about the stuff that DD has, there's only one item that they asked her where she bought it. Most of the time they asked if I made it. I was joking with DD whether I should have a label 'My Mother Made This' or M3T.

I'm glad she used it today :-)

Have a blessed day!

Flurry....

Made two pairs of baby shoes from patterns available on the internet. I've lost the links but I'll add them to this post when I find them again. I like the Mary Janes above and I think I'll add ribbons next time so that they can be reversible too, like the ones below.

This is another of the twin body but the middle pocket has a zip this time. Bright red cover flap was quilted and attached with metal spring snaps.

Of the 4 items in this post, this took the longest time. I think I've made something like this before but I can't remember. It took a longer time 'cos of the quilting and the hand-sewing. I made the bias strip for binding myself so that took up some time too. I think this is the last Teacher's Day pressie but I'm not sure.

Have a blessed evening!

Seeing dots

I didn't realise I have so much linen. I also didn't realise that these dots are not regularly spaced. Oh well :-)

I first tried to reverse engineer and make a similar pouch last year. I could complete it but it looked terrible :-( Didn't make it to the blog, LOL! This was based on a purchased pattern and I realised that I was just a bit off...if I had persisted, I'd figured it out. Oh well :-)

This is a prelude to what I wanted to make actually, which is a clutch that has a zip in the middle. I think I can make it in the same way but let's see.

Have a blessed day!

Cheering up DD

DD's ill. Fever of 38.6, taken at the clinic this morning. It's 2 days to the PSLE oral and I decided to cheer her up by making this sling bag. I gave her a choice, sling bag or pouch. She chose sling bag. I decided that since she's into clutches, I'd make a clutch with a detachable strap so she can use it either as a sling bag or a clutch. She chose the strap too. I didn't have the antique bronze parts for a matching sling but I had 2 readymade straps. The other one that she didn't choose has a brown webbing. Well, her preference.

She hasn't attached the bear zipper pull yet 'cos of the drowsy meds. That's for the zippered pocket inside (back). The other side inside has a panel of 5 pockets. There's another huge one just under the flap.

Oh, and I like this flap :-)

2 reasons - it's the first time I'm using this lock closure and also 'cos it's quilted and shaped like an envelope flap. Maybe I'll make more of these :-)

Materials : denim (exterior), oxford cotton (interior)

Have a blessed day!

Afternote: DD's fever broke after her long nap in the afternoon. Thanks for your prayers :-)

True colours

I bought another Finepix. I'm used to mine so I decided to continue with another. Add the seller's eagerness to sell the camera to me by throwing in additional battery and 8GB card on top of the existing freebie of 8GB card, case and tripod (which I swapped for screen protector).

And so, there are pictures :

Remember the picture I took yesterday? These are what the 'true' colours are. It's a huge messenger that can fit A4 size files. Stress points have been reinforced by request so that it can accommodate a Macbook White though there is no interfacing. The owner will have to use a Macbook sleeve but otherwise, this is one tough bag with lots of stiff navy denim and baby blue canvas. The flap and internal large pocket are made from laminated cotton which reminds me of oilcloth. Fully-lined pockets inside with a pocket for the PSP and 2 pen pockets per request out of the 6 -7 pockets inside. I can't remember :-(

Just for the record, I'm adding this other pic for comparison with earlier versions in the blog. Which camera do you think is better?

Have a blessed day!

Green velcro

Sometimes I think too much before sewing. I'm walking along the road and suddenly someone's bag catches my eye or I recall something I saw on the web and I start trying to figure out how I would construct it. I would think of the fabrics I have, how to cut/sew it, what sort of hardware, how would I differentiate it etc. I think a lot about closures too. There are magnets, velcro, snaps, drawstrings etc.

We boarded the lift last Friday with my friend's neighbour who was carrying a clutch. I liked his clutch immediately for it's simplicity. It had a black body and black/white striped flap. How difficult would that be, I thought, and embarked on this version.

This is DD's new clutch for school. I realised only today that I forgot (or she didn't request for) a D-ring at the side to hang cutesy stuff. I can't remember what fabrics these are but I've used them for what DS calls the T-shirt with no arms wardrobe organiser. Anyway, while I cut the fabric in preparation, DD suggested I use the green velcro salvaged from previous year's NDP bag. I quilted the front and back and added a pocket.

Another green item. DD requested for the keying on a chain for this pouch. It's the usual pouch that I've made so far just with the chain sewn to the lining. To use the keys, just unzip the pouch and tip the keys out.

Have a blessed afternoon!

Hmm, is this it?

Once in a while I get rather precise requirements for a customized item. Choosing the exterior fabric's fine with me, even the lining too. The design is fine with me too, provided I can make it. It's the dimensions that I have a concern with. Thing is, I sew on a wing and prayer. If you've been reading my blog, you'd have realized that I only have two templates for the stuff I sew. Two cardboard templates that I use to trace out the fabric before cutting. All others are by mathematical calculations and estimations. I do thank God that I have very understanding customers!

So, what I'm trying to disclaim is this. While I'll try hard to achieve what you desire, I'd err on the side of caution and make it a bit larger. There are dependencies on the materials, sometimes, that some fabrics have more 'give' than others or extra padding/interfacing is needed etc. 

This was a drawstring tote for a customer's instamax camera. This camera's all the rage now with it's Polaroid-like features. I hope it fits 'cos I tried to follow the dimensions requested for. I don't know 'cos I don't have an instamax camera and anyway, I've already mailed this out. Dear customer, maybe you can send me a pic and I can put it in the gallery? *grin*
Oh, I wonder if you've realised that it's reversible...LOL!

Have a blessed evening!

My treat

Made this for myself last night. On a whim again :-) I wanted something small with a wrist strap, for keeping the cash at the KKH bazaar. I'm not a waistpouch person though I might consider a cross-body sling bag the next round. This one has a pocket for Daffy and cards and a zippered compartment for the cash. A flap keeps everything from falling out. I didn't use batting, only light interfacing but it's quite sturdy and can stand on its own. I riveted the strap again. I'm thinking of riveting straps from now. I like that it's a simple design, functional and easy to apply.

Thank you all who dropped by the Little Statement stall at the KKH bazaar today. We had a wonderful time :-)

Have a blessed day!

Cushioned comfort

DD asked me if Kingston is a good brand. I have no idea. I've kind of lost touch with staying in the know for  technology. My knowledge of Kingston is that it has RAM as well and that it's been around for a while. As long as it works as it should, no?

Anyway, made this portable HDD pouch on a whim. I basically took the HDD and some scrap fabric and winged it from there. Estimation was done by placing the HDD on the fabric and cutting a rough margin. Ditto that for the flap (which I didn't know if it would reach the pocket) and ditto that for the pocket which was made from the remainder of the scrap fabric. I had lots of microfibre too but in ivory. I like how the colours come together, by the way :-) I riveted the wrist strap for a more 'finished' look.

Have a blessed day!

Something different, for a change

I took a break from making bags and purses and made these instead. Lots of fun too :-)

This is an organiser, for lack of a better word to describe it. Hung on a normal wire hanger with lots of pockets in many sizes. For keeping those smaller items within reach when drawers are too deep. I made all the pockets flat but I think if I make another one I'll have pockets with a gusset.

Scrunchies. Made the first one from 2 pieces of fabric that were too cool to put in the recycling bag. Made the second one 'cos my fingers were itching with nothing to do while watching TV. No particular pattern there, just 1dc and 1ch throughout to cover the elastic so there'll be ruffles.

Have a blessed day!

Do you recognise this?

Last Sunday's newspapers came in a advertorial pocket showcasing LV's first floating store. Read more about it here. My first thought when I looked at it wasn't about how amazing this structure designed by award-winning architect Peter Marino (does this name sound familiar? Are you a Patricia Cornwell fan?) was. I was thinking, hey, I can make a notebook out of this. How should I place it. Should I have it landscape or portrait or ...?

This rainy morning, I finally had some time and decided I'd make 2 notebooks out of them. Single signature of paper from sustainable forests saddle-stitched with the knot on the inside. As I was deciding how to cut the covers, I decided to try something new this time and included pockets on the inside flaps.
I'm giving these away this Friday at noon. Either leave a comment here or in the chatbox or Like the pic on facebook.

Have a blessed day!

Phew...finally!

DD's half-done tote has been on my sewing table for months. She started out enthusiastically, planning and picking the fabrics, cutting them to size and sewing them together. She made the interior as well, with a fully lined pocket with 2 pen slips and a larger (huge!) one for things unknown.

DD has a green Daiso pouch that she puts her books and stuff in but I decided that I might as well take what she started and make it into something she would use. After all, it's been lying there for months.
This is an A4 size zipper pouch with pockets inside. I used 7oz interfacing so that there's lots of padding since she's gonna hug it. Used the last heart zip from Daiso. (Aside: wonder why Daiso doesn't sell these anymore :-( )
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!

Seeing the light of day

I put this pic up earlier on facebook asking if anyone recognised it. It's a pic of 4 panels meant for fully-lined pockets for 2 A4 totes. I used to make pockets unlined, as in fold down the top and sew it neat but I've come to prefer fully-lined pockets. The finish is much nicer and I think they are sturdier than their unlined cousins. Time to bring them out into the open than leave them inside?

Anyway, on to the A4 totes:

Two A4 portrait totes. Fully lined and interfaced with those panels above sewn as pockets. I didn't count how many there were, at least 8 big and small ones? Long cotton webbing for carrying over the shoulder. Made from Japanese cotton/linen blend and Korean cotton. Lining is calico.

Have a blessed day!

Big prints

I normally shy away from big floral prints but this Kono Sanae canvas was so pretty that I made a large tote out of it. Added a large patch pocket almost as big as one side and secured it with a chocolate metal snap. This large patch covers a smaller patch pocket so that it's more accessible without having to lower the strap to get at things. Another panel of pockets inside as usual. Fully lined with calico but not interfaced since it's canvas.

Have a blessed day!