WIP: Reversible Totes

It's been such a long while since I made this. So long that I lost the template. Managed to find one unsold reversible tote and used that to draw a new template. Incidentally, it fits on a single drawing block back. LOL!

Lost template but found...Nesshome fabric! The browns that you see; one bag will be coffee (cup and beans) and another will be tea (leaves and teapot). I like Nesshome fabrics, printwise and texture.

Anyway, these are still works in progress. I'll need to go buy coordinating threads for top-stitching.

Have a blessed afternoon!

Same old, same old

Yup, yup, fabric covered buttons again. Magnets this time :-)

I had this piece of oxford fabric that had multi-coloured circles. They were too close together for the 27mm buttons but I cut them out anyway. I think 27mm is much better at showing off the pretty lace than 18mm ones. I like the balance of the colour with the lace and the backdrop. Sadly, I only have the blue, brown tones. The brighter version of reds and oranges was made into this backpack.

Have a blessed day!

Magnetised

We're in a fabric-covered button kind of mood.

These are the latest twist on the button...magnets!

Very simple to do, just remove the post at the back and stick a magnet behind. I used magnets from Daiso which came with a sticky patch but I removed this sticky patch and stuck the magnet on with E6000 (industrial glue).

Oh, if you want to remove the post, you can cut it but DD suggested to remove the post before even making the button.

I used two pliers, one to hold the post, the other to twist the wire on the other side so that I can pull out the whole post. It's a bit tricky at the start but it's much easier (and lesser effort) than cutting.

Have a blessed day making these!

Itsy bitsy

I once found an itsy bitsy pencil case in a shop at the basement of Jurong Point. It was really cute. Zakka-like in its simplicity. It caught my attention 'cos it could fit only 2 pens. Snugly. I wondered why would anyone want such a small pencil case. Wouldn't a 'normal' pencil case have a few pens, a pencil, eraser, ruler etc? 

Anyway, I made this pencil case which was meant to house 2 uniball 0.38 gel pens, one with blue ink, one with blue-black. It could've been smaller but I wanted to follow the pattern on the fabric and have it 2 squares by 6. It'll fit 3 uniball pens now.

Have a blessed day!

Going solo

This Monday and Tuesday BunnyBags, Tobias' Shoppe and Tiffany's Shoppe will be at NUS Central Forum. It's the first solo bazaar after several with Little Statement who kindly offered to share their table at KKH with me. 

This time round, I'll be having a 3ft x 3ft table and 2 chairs. I'm not sure which stall I'll be at 'cos there are some changes. I'll know when I'm there, LOL!

These are some mini totes. They are reversible so you can use the polka dots side on the outside. All are different and I might just make some more depending on my mood and time available. Yes, I have these already cut and placed somewhere in the blackhole sewing basket. These were made last year but I can't remember why I've not brought them to KKH bazaars or listed them in Tiffany's Shoppe. Odd.

Do drop by if you're near NUS.

See you and have a blessed day!

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!

Announcing…

DS and DD are setting up their own blogshop.

I think it’s a good learning opportunity for them since they’re doing most of the work, ie. setting up the shop, pricing, policies, shipping, packing, descriptions, marketing, photos (though I helped this round) etc. My part is just to supply the products to sell and give advice, if they ask.

As an encouragement, they’re splitting the revenue. They’ll have to tithe and pay for shipping and other incidentals but they’re welcome to use what’s available at home.

Would you encourage and show them your support, too, by signing up for the newsletter, helping to share this or buying something… LOL?

Thanks in advance!

Have a blessed day :-)

It’s a cover-up!

Made these 2 covers for a bookbinding class for a mother-daughter duo tomorrow.

The blue cover is a OOAK (one of a kind) ‘cos there’s absolutely no way I can make another just like this, or even similar to this. Am running out of blue selvedges :-(.

I hope she likes it though :-).

The black and white one has a floral exterior and polka dot lining. Both fabrics from Korea. I can’t remember if this is 6oz or 7oz batting though.

Class was originally for coptic stitch bound books but changed to criss-cross longstitch. IMHO, The criss-cross longstitch is an easier stitch to pick up. Easiest is the saddle stitch. I have a tutorial in an earlier entry…go find :-).

Have a blessed day!

Fundraising on facebook for Red Cross–SEA Floods

Made some more tissue cases to keep the unsold ones company. Selling these on facebook till 4 Nov to raise more funds.
Some patterns have multiple pieces, some with same lining, some with different.
Each is going at S$4 with 100% proceeds to Red Cross – SEA Flodos. You’ll have to pay for shipping if you’re not picking them up from me.
If you would like a tissue case but not in any of these fabrics, please place an order before 4Nov for 100% funds to go to Red Cross. This is subject to confirmation.
Have a blessed day and thanks in advance for your support!

Update: Still available - 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13.

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!

In a rush!

This is the final teacher's day pressie and I just completed it. What a last minute thing :-(

This teacher likes black and white so both the exterior and interior are these colours. Coordinating oxford prints imported from Korea. I machine-quilted the exterior for a change and it sure reminds me of an evening clutch. :-)
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!

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!

Should I?

Was contemplating taking pre-orders for certain ocassions like Teacher's Day and Christmas. That way I can pace myself out and not rush for orders as the dates draw near. I'm wondering whether this one is for Teacher's Day. I didn't ask. She must know that I take sooooo long to fulfil orders that she requested them earlier. Well, even if it's not and it's for jiemei, I understand that too :-)

These reversible totes must be made from medium or heavier weight fabrics to be able to hold it's structure and not flop here and there. Some can stand on their own if you prop it in a certain way. However, it gets really tough flipping right side out when the fabrics are thicker :-( Tiring.

Made these from Japanese and Korean imported cotton, linen and cotton/linen blends.

Which one do you like?

Have a blessed day!

New fabrics are in!

I have been lazy updating the fabric selection. There're just so many :-(
Anyway, since I compiled these, I will share them with you. First lot is suitable for reversible totes 'cos they're of medium to heavy weight (the Kono Sanae canvas, T). Someone has called dibs for these already!

And some light weight fabrics. One day, I'll get round to taking pics of all the fabrics....just not today :-)
Somehow, the fabric A reminds me of Cath Kidston oilcloth print. I like her prints and her bags. Sadly, there are already so many imititations out there :-(

Have a blessed day!

Mini messengers

Made 2 smaller messenger bags out of Korean import oxford cotton. This material is becoming my fabric of choice 'cos I like it's medium weight and smooth texture. There aren't as many prints for these as compared to quilting weight cotton though, and the Japanese version of oxford cotton costs double that of Korean. Whatever. It's the finished item that's important :-)

I made these without a pattern (only the triangular pencil case has a template) and they ended up about the same size though I made them separately and without comparison. That's what's fun about sewing :-) So, both have adjustable straps with metal slides, fully lined inside and pockets, interfaced, velcro to secure body, magnet to secure flap.
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!

Bitten by the sewing bug

DD's largest sole project to date. We collaborated on smaller items before but this is the first time she's going solo. Since she likes greens, she picked these out from a cut fabric pile that I had (meant for sewing 5" zipper pouches). After a few false starts and re-sewing, this is the result ;-)
Made from oxfords, quilting cottons and linen from all over the world - JP, KR, US, AU.
More when she completes it.
Have a blessed day!