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!

How far can you turn your head?

Did you see the snowy owl in HP turning its head around? Owls can turn their cat-like heads between 180 - 270 degrees. Other interesting facts here.

Made this reversible tissue case on a whim. Would that be too many owls? Most of the time owls can be found on Japanese fabrics but this is from Timeless Treasures. Can you count how many different owls there are on each side, LOL?

Have a blessed day!

How big is your phone?

In this day and age, the phones are getting larger. What a far cry from the time when I was using my trusty Nokia e61i which was ahead of its time. It was larger than most candy bars or clamshells. Thick too, that some would laugh when I put it to my ear and use it like a super wide candy bar. Well, the phones these days are much larger :-)

Made from a suede-like material and lined with microfibre. Velcro closure 'cos no magnets. Belt loop at the back.

Have a blessed day!

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!

Double duty

Sometimes when I make these quilted book covers, they seem like mousepads to me. I have a plain black mousepad that came with the PC. These would look much better than that, no? Plus, with the different colours and shapes, wouldn't sensitivity of the mouse improve? I can't remember how optical mice work.

Have a blessed day!

Doggy dreams

Meet Hoppy who's modeling Toby's new pet bed made just in time for the coming Chinese New Year. Reversible with the same oxford cotton print on both sides just with a blue / grey background. Interfaced with 9oz batting to cushion the tiled floor and side walls are stuffed with resilient fibre filling.
Sweet dreams and have a blessed day!

Call to Me

It’s been a while since I made tissue zipper pouches, basically the normal zipper pouches with a tissue holder at the side. It’s been even longer since I’ve had a request to applique scripture verses.

I’m wondering whether to print more verses. In Proverbs 7 we are told to keep His words and store up His commands within us.

So…

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”                     ~ Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

May you be blessed with this today!

Have a blessed day!

Last Christmas

Top requested item last Christmas was the triangular pencil case. The toblerone-shaped one that I had so much fun making :-).

This year, it’s zippered pouches.

These are 5” zippered pouches that are fully lined and interfaced. Cotton and linen fabrics for this batch are from Korea. The ‘stray’ thread you see is just my paper tag, not unfinished work, LOL!

Have a blessed sunny afternoon!

Rainy day at the pool

Today’s DD’s 2nd last swimming lesson this year. Though each lesson is only an hour, I’m there early and leave later ‘cos DD goes to play with her cousin and friends.

While I wait, sometimes I read. Today I packed some zipper pouches that needed hand-sewing to close up the seams. Brought along some pretty cardstock and paper too, to make into notebooks for the coming Christmas sale :-).

Have a blessed evening!

ps: when I first started making these 5” zipper pouches, I thought it would be useful for money and cards. However, since there’s 4oz interfacing, it’s also good as a pouch for digital cameras :-). Just need to add a mini pocket for that extra battery or SD card….LOL!

All covered up

Three quilted book covers for this Friday’s bookbinding class.

Princess print is from Timeless Treasures, doggy one from Makower. I can’t find the selvedge for the kitty in the cinema print :-(.

Thing is, the first thing I do when I get a piece of fabric is to cut off the selvedge. Be it a fat quarter or few yards long. I salvage selvedges to make one-of-a-kind items. :-)

Anyway, this is a quick post ‘cos I have other covers to rush out for this Friday’s class.

Have a blessed evening!

 

Update: another 4 covers almost done. Will do the metal snaps tomorrow….off to play Spiral Knights with DS and DD now.

Good evening!

Super sub

I know some of you realised that I’ve been sewing stuff using fabrics that are not available on the Fabrics page. I’ve grown weary of updating that page ‘cos my stash just keeps growing and growing and it’s rather tiresome to update what’s available and how much there is. SO, if you like some themes, eg. polka dots, dogs, bunnies, contemporary prints, black/white etc, do let me know and I’ll go hunt.

The thing is, I took in an order recently without checking how much fabric I had left and took the liberty to substitute with what I thought looks prettier. [MT, I’ll be contacting you soon!]

I can’t remember the last time I substituted, yet I don’t think this is the first time. Oh well, I hope she likes it anyway :-).

Have a blessed day!

Taking stock

In a month’s time, I’ll be celebrating this blog’s 1st birthday. Any suggestions on how I can share this joy with you? Yup, November’s birthday giveaway should be something special. I hope…LOL!

I had a look at the orders list and these are the top 3 most requested items from the 20+ different ones that I’ve made previously.

1. Reversible tote – 16%
2. Triangle pencil case – 14%
3. Wristlet – 14%

I expected the tote to be near the top since it was requested many times. The triangle pencil case too. I didn’t expect the wristlet to be there though…LOL!

This list doesn’t correspond to what I’ve sewn though. There are many items that I sew on a whim that are not an order. No complaints there since I like to sew :-).

Anyway, these are the latest reversible totes made from medium weight Japanese and Korean fabrics.

Have a blessed day!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Happy Birthday, Bel!

Smallest backpack ever that DD said she would have wanted if she were younger. (I thought she doesn't like pink now?)

Bel's mum wanted

1.       Butterflies on white background - CHECK

2.       Drawstring bag, flap cover - CHECK

3.       D ring on both sides - CHECK

4.       2 pockets on inside - CHECK (additional 2)

5.       W20CM*D12CM*H23CM - CHECK

6.       Adjustable straps - CHECK

Wasn't easy making this 'cos of the size. Hope you like it!

Have a blessed day!

Sneeks: straps

4-ply adjustable straps made from oxford, twil and cotton/linen blends. All with metal sliders and O-ring (not shown). Know what these will be attached to pretty soon?