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!

Zippity do dah!

I had two different requests for zippered pencil cases. While both have 10 zips each, the bottom one is much larger 'cos of the method of sewing.

Top - seams sewn from the inside 'horizontally'. This results in a smaller pencil case because of the puffiness and seams.

Bottom - seams sewn in zigzag stitch from the top. This results in a larger pencil case. I attempted to match the thread colour to the zip so I ended up having to change the thread and bobbin often.

The seams are the easy part. The toughest part of this is binding up the seam where all the zips come together. You can't see it from here but I've not done it yet for these two. I just wanted to get the pic out first, LOL!

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!

Finally they're here...

I've been waiting for these 6mm antique brass double cap rivets for about a month. Finally, they arrived yesterday. While it's just as effective to sew across like the bottom right pic, I prefer the top right one with the rivet. For a change, no? :-)

I'll be adding more rivets and then list more pouches on Tiffany's Shoppe. Check them out later!

Have a blessed day!

Afternote:

I went to put rivets and didn't realize that I have so many pouches, LOL! Some were sewn for the NUS Bazaar but I got carried away and have so many more at home and more along the way. Hmmm...

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!

Combinations

Listed these 2 multi-purpose pouch and tissue case combos in Tiffany's Shoppe.

I tried a new way of interfacing for the zippered pouch and I'm liking the results. Not puffy like batting yet not floppy like with only a single layer of lining. 

Meant this as a pencil case 'cos I'm in the pencil-case-making mood but you can put anything you like in there. Angpows? *grin*

Have a blessed windy day!

Spring is coming

DD pounced on this fabric when it arrived yesterday. It's green. There were other green fabrics but I agree with her, this one's special. Along with the labels that also arrived yesterday, I decided to make her yet another pencil case. [Someday I'll do series on DD's pencil case collection].

Made her a matching tissue case too while I was having fun. It's zakka-like, no? I like the simplicity of the labels against the gingham. Spring plants.

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!

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!

Gives new meaning

Giving new meaning to zippered pouches are these two pencil cases. Each were made from 8 different shades of 8” zips sewn to each other in the alternate direction using a zig-zag stitch.

These are unlined, of course, so each zip is a functional opening to access the stationery inside. Imagine 8 openings, 4 on each side.

Make your own this Christmas for friends and family :-).

Have a blessed day!

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!

In a flurry

I'm still here.
Listening to the Chipmunks and Chipettes on youtube while I type this out. Lots of distractions so I've not been consistent recently in blog updates. These are some behind the scenes pics.

Bought this brown suede-like fabric from Arab Street because I like the texture. Used this as the prototype for DS' mouse pouch. Wonder if he'll prefer this instead. Fits my digital camera as well. DS wanted one for his mouse so that the tail won't be tangled up when he dumps it in his bag. Maybe I should make a larger one with 3 compartments, for the mouse, charger and earphones. Lots of wires running all over the place.

 Made these about a fortnight ago but didn't post pics. These are the WIPs. There are some more that have been completed and given away. Yup, it's fun to give away stuff...sometimes :-)
Can't decide whether to sell these at the KKH Bazaar in Oct. I should be working on clearing orders.

Found my Cascade yarn (50% superfine alpaca, 50% wool). The colour looks so washed out 'cos it's actually a rich grape colour. This will be another garter-stitched throw that will hopefully be completed by the time it gets colder towards the end of the year. I only have 10 skeins of this so it won't be as big as the orange one.
Have a blessed weekend!

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!

Get a word in edgewise

I've been having lots of fun with selvedges these past weeks. First with handbound notebooks, now with mini coin purses. It's a sentimental experience sewing with selvedges as I identify each fabric and recall the stuff I've made before. Each fabric has selvedge on 2 sides and I think I've a couple of hundred of strips that I tried to sort by colour. Some have Japanese or Korean words. Most are in English. The prettiest has colour windows that are shaped like macaroons :-).

Selvedges are really precious commodities, and to think that I once discarded them ignorantly. They're like the root of the parsley, the comb in the honey, the choicest part of any fabric. Before I gush on further, have a look at this:

Found these tiny zips at one of my favourite haberdashery shops. If you look at the bottom left pic, from left to right, Korean, Australian, Japanese, US, Korean fabrics. The one from US happens to be DS' favourite. Blue Lifesavers from Connecting Threads.
Each strip is sewn onto calico before sewing on the zip. It's fully lined with more Korean import fabric but not interfaced since it's quite sturdy with 3 layers of fabric. Added a D-ring so that I can attach it to my key chain :-)
Have a blessed day!

Going camping

My time, we didn't have many camps when in primary school. I think there was only one and it was in school. I can't remember much, only that we slept on the floor in the hall.... or was that in secondary school? Memory's really fuzzy that far back.
Anyway, DS and DD have so many camps, in church, schools or parks. Each time, they'll have a packing list for the stuff to bring. While I've made pouches and drawstring bags to put their stuff neatly, it didn't dawn on me till DD's recent camp that they could do with a larger backpack to put all these stuff in vs lugging a sleeping bag and 2 other bags around.

Made this from heavyweight splash-proof material bought from the market at $3/yd. Where do you get such a good deal these days? Made a smaller backpack years ago for DS who didn't like it at first then used it so much that I made another larger one. This is the largest bag I've ever made. Used up almost all of the balace of this fabric. Lined it with calico for contrast and for lighter weight. This bag is heavy when empty :-(
Reinforced all stress points for the heavier load and added small details like lined smalled pockets in the zip compartment in front.
I forgot to add D-rings :-( Oh well...
Have a blessed day!

Here doggy, doggy

What sort of pencil case do you use?
I've made flat zippered ones (ranging from 8" to 11" long), toblerone-type ones, lunchbag types, snap button types and the rollover/foldover types, even boxy ones and a cylinder. Some have a few compartments, some have many zips. Some are plain while others have lace or embroidery. There are so many variables.

This is a flat zippered one made from doggy print oxford paired with linen. Fully lined with calico and interfaced with thin batting. Heart zip for closure. Added a patch pocket.