Don't think there'll be another of this

This is something strange, no? I took 2 green book rings, 2 anodized aluminium jump rings and a barrel weave chain and made this. Wanted to see what it would look like. DD says it's nice, DS says 'no' but DS says 'no' to so many of my stuff anyway. I find it odd. I think I'd rather have just the book rings. :-)

On another note, I tied to bundles of notebooks with twine and ribbon. Can't decide which looks nicer. I think it depends on the print though twine is more versatile. This is in preparation for the 'Cutting Corners Sale'. Rather corny, no? 'Cause I cut/rounded the corners of the notebooks.

I have lots of cardstock left and papers as well. I just don't have the time and focus to finish them at the rate I want to. I've been adding more holes to the saddle-stitch. I think it's a different look from the usual 5 holes. I'll have more pics soon. 

Have a blessed Sunday!

Go green this Christmas

Go green this Christmas and make your own gift bag rather than use wrapping paper that will be ripped and thrown away.

Anyway, if you haven't noticed how I make stuff by now, I'm winging this. That's why there are no specific measurements. This also means that you can make it any size you like as long as you know the ratios and what to look out for.

Material

• 4 pieces of fabric - outer (1pc), lining (pc), top (2pcs) - the outer and lining are large rectangles, twice the size of your final bag when you fold breadthwise, meaning breadth meets breadth and length is halved. The top parts are as long as when the outer is folded half, as wide as 4 times the cords / ribbons you're going to use. Please remember to include sufficient allowance for sewing.
• cord or ribbon for drawstring top
• bells, charms (optional)
• label (optional)

Method

1. Prepare the materials above
2. Fold in the breadths of the top pieces and sew near the edge. This is so that the ends won't fray. See yellow arrow.
3. Take the lining and fold half breadthwise (breadth meets breadth) and crease it along the length. See red arrow. Fold both top pieces into half lengthwise (length meets length) and place them along the edge of the lining, one on each side of the half where you just creased. All frayed edges need to be aligned.
4. Place the outer piece on top so that you have a sandwich. Bottom - lining, middle - top piece folded half lengthwise, top - outer piece. Sew along the frayed edge of this 'sandwich'.
5. Open the 'sandwich' and top-stitch near the edge. See red arrow. You may wish to add a label at this time.
6. If you want squared off corners, open them up and fold them 45-degrees across. Think tetra packs or milk cartons. Same concept. Trim off the excess. See red arrow.
7. Fold the whole thing such that the outer is folded half on itself, and ditto the lining. Sew round the 3 edges. Remember to leave an opening for turning. Trim the part where the outer and lining meets. See red arrow.
8. Turn it proper way out and sew the hole closed. Cut 2 pieces of cord or ribbon. These will be longer than the length of the outer or lining. Thread one through one of the top pieces and out  the other and knot it. Thread the other through the other end and knot it. Add charms or bells, if you like.

Have fun!

Tutorial : Flexframe pouch

Have you been to Daiso? I'm not a regular but I'm a fan. Since everything's $2, it's easy to get carried away and buy stuff that I don't need. Like the printed ribbon below and the flexframe. Again, I don't remember when I bought these so I can't tell you if they are still available at Daiso. You could always try :-)

So, with these 2, I decided to make this into a tutorial, as a giveback for those times when I've learnt how to sew from others'  blogs, LOL! Do email me if the instructions are not clear.

 I used 3 different fabrics - plain green for the exterior, checks for the top and florals for the lining. Cotton Ribbon and Spring Frame from Daiso.

 And made this.

 Which opens like this.

 Cut 1 piece for exterior, 1 for lining and 2 smaller for the top. I didn't measure 'cos I'm not using a pattern. Estimate using the spring frame, as in, the width of the top (checked fabric) is about a third longer than the length of the spring frame.

 I quilted the exterior fabric and sewed on the cotton ribbon. You can omit this if you wish.

 Fold in the sides of the top pieces twice and sew the edges.

 Fold the sewn top pieces in half and sew with the edges facing top of the exterior piece.

 Place the lining on top and sew together. Open up and top-stitch it down like this.

 Fold the whole piece in half (exterior to exterior, interior to interior) and sew all 3 sides. One side would be the folded side. Remember to leave a gap for flipping the pouch right side out.

 Square the corners and sew. Think tetra pack drinks.

Flip the pouch right side out, sew the gap close and attach the spring frame. Instructions would be with the spring frame packaging.

Have fun!

Baby Pom colours

Do you know this Fimble? It's a pink and green striped Fimble. DD had a toy way back and I thought the colour combination was a bit odd but then I started seeing Baby Pom colours in... bread! Have you seen those rectangular ones with the brown skin top but pink and green below with cream in the middle? We call these Baby Pom bread.

< having some problems updating the pic here, brb, anyway, you can see it on Facebook >
Anyway, this month's giveaway is 1 green or 1 pink 5" zipper pouch made from linen (source I bought from claimed this is premium linen, you decide) and trimmed with lace, ribbon and embroidery. It's fully lined with matching quilting cotton and lightly interfaced.
Just leave a comment here or 'Like' the pic on my Facebook page. Draw is on Friday 24June at noon!

Sneak: Frills

Went shopping yesterday and got a haul! Ribbons and laces :-)
Had a hard time deciding which ribbons to buy 'cos they were so pretty!