Stuck..

Things are a little slow on the sewing front right now. Last weekend we had a family wedding, so my sewing time was pretty non-existent except for some last-minute alterations to my daughter's baju kurung. I did manage to attempt some piecing of the next pleated wristlet, but since I didn't get around to cutting out the lining yet things are put on hold for now. I'm trying this version without a quilted, padded lining to see how it would be.

I feel somewhat stuck... I want to sew, but between too many things that I want to try, have to make and wish I could make, I feel a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities. Add to that the limited opportunities I have to sew, the (self-imposed) pressure to make full use of any available sewing time is internally stressing me out.

Ok, am putting a stop to the whining now... Need to focus on the next item to make, from all the things on my wishlist... Maybe a few minutes sketching out a rough pattern & imagining the possible fabric combos would do me some good. Isn't that really a great thing to look forward to? :)

Pleated wristlet, take 1...

I've tried 2 keyka lou patterns before, and I love how simple & easy to follow the instructions are. When she had her anniversary sale this month, I decided to snap up 2 more.

The pleated wristlet & strap clutch are the ones I've had my eye on for some time, and I jumped right into it once I had the patterns. I had some issues following the instructions for the wristlet, cos at one point I couldn't imagine how it would turn out.

I shouldn't have doubted the pattern or myself... It turned out pretty great if I do say so myself hehe... I modified the pattern as I didn't have an O ring, so I cut the strap shorter. It was still a nice, usable length though.

I'd definitely make this again! Next time maybe I'll make the medium or large one... The strap clutch is still waiting for me :)

Quick project - ribbon wristlet

I whipped these up quickly in a couple of hours before my recent trip. I love how fast these came into being! It actually took more time to sew the inner bindings to cover the seams than to sew the wristlet.

No interfacing on either side - I used home dec cotton for both outer & lining fabric (as you can barely make out, one plain beige & one grey with teeny tiny flowers). Nice, soft & with just enough structure, and very spacious!

I'm just calling these ribbon wristlets since I used these large wide ribbons as the wrist straps.

I wanna make more!! :)

New book!!

Well, not so new la, but still my most recent sewing book...

I've only tried the bag on the cover so far... Relatively easy instructions to follow, so I'm looking forward to trying out another pattern soon.

I've got several other books on my 'want' list... Have to find a way to keep my inner shopaholic in check :p

I miss sewing!!!

I had to travel overseas for 11 days recently, and I gotta say, I miss sewing! When the departure was near, I realized that I sadly didn't have a portable needle case, not even a handmade one!! I should get cracking on a cute one soon for future use hehehe...

I stacked up on potential portable projects... I stashed 2 charm packs in my luggage, bought some tiny hexagon templates as well as my larger ones, loads of tiny scraps supposedly for the tiny templates plus the nearly-completed set of potholders for my friend that I wanted to handquilt.

After all that packing, what did I accomplish? In the end I only managed to make some large hexagons and sew some snap buttons on a fabric tray I almost finished heheheh... I had such big plans :p

Of pouches and potholders

Yesterday was another good crafting/sewing day. Since I'll be travelling for almost 2 weeks soon, I wanted to cram as much sewing as I can in the time I have left! Next Saturday will be the last Saturday before my trip... Gasp!

Anyway, I had my goals set down for yesterday. I wanted to complete at least 2 more multipurpose pouches (one of which I plan to use as a gift for my just-married staff, to put the wedding card & angpau we collected in), as well as get cracking on some potholders my colleague requested. I was planning to hand quilt the potholders when I travel heheh...

The pouches went over pretty quickly, save for some minor grievances with the machine in the beginning (the more advanced it is, the more delicate *sigh*)

Then I pored over my book again for the potholder effort. Trying to make sense of the pictures and adapting the design & measurements were a bit of a challenge (the book was in Japanese), but I basically winged it when it came to certain parts I wasn't clear on. Just finished whip-stitching them closed today, so I can show them to my frien tomorrow & bring them along for a bit of hand sewing later yeay!

It was a good day!

Now, I have 5 days to think about what else to make next Saturday that I can hopefully bring along for the trip... Too bad I can't sew on the flight!

Productive weekend :)

After a very tiring week (which will be repeated over the next few weeks... *sigh*), I hunkered down to business on Saturday!

Got out tracing paper for a new pattern I wanted to try out & got to work tracing & cutting it out. Then spent some time trying to choose fabric that I like but won't miss if the project turns out bad hahaha...

The new bag went pretty well in the beginning, until when I hit the handles... I tell you, I'm sorely tempted to never make this bag again!!!

It got done anyway, and I guess it wasn't too bad :) It's not as nice as I thought it'd be though, not really my kinda bag... Next attempt would be a pleated pouch perhaps :)

This was a productive way to spend the weekend :)

P/s got my daughter to take these pics hehe... Good thing the bag hid my tummy!

Another baby boy space set

Technically this isn't my handiwork... But this was one of the custom orders we did for the shop. The customer saw the first one we made and wanted a similar quilt, but she also added some pillows, bolsters and a mattress cover.

These pillows & bolsters were stuffed with kekabu, and they're nice & firm :)

The whole set is now in the hands of the owner, just awaiting the arrival of the little one soon :)

Thank goodness for quick projects!

Got this done in a jiffy last night, yeay! So I got to satisfy the sewing urge a little... But then once I got going, I wished I has time to do more!

That's OK though, at least I felt better once I was done :) I admit, it went a lot faster cos everything was cut & interfaced, so all I had to do was put it all together hehehe... I need to have more stuff all cut out & ready whenever I needed a quick sewing fix!

Now all I need to do is sew on the Velcro tabs and add a decorative button... Then it's good to go!

The urge....

... to cut fabric and sew is very strong!!! Especially when I'm as tired out and stressed out as I am right now...

My head's too tired to think of what to make though.... Maybe I'll just finger some fabric first...

Reversible floppy tote in dire need of a name...

I made up my customer's order as soon as I was done with my sample. I made a few changes along the way - added ties, used home-dec cotton as interfacing/batting since the cotton body & lining only would have been too light, quilted more lines on the handle.

I love how soft the bag is, and how much it can carry hehehe... It looks great too once it's actually worn (it was really tough trying to get decent pics for it on its own!)

I think it needs a proper name, but right now I can't really think of a suitable one... Tried asking my daughter for ideas and she gave me a name from a book she's reading hehehe... Can aaa?

It's already with its owner... I hope she gets lots of love & use out of it :)

Envelope pouches for iPhones & Blackberries

I've always wanted to buy a few keyka lou patterns, and I finally bought a couple (the box wallet pouch was the first one I made). This was the first batch of envelope pouches using a keyka lou design, & I love them to bits!!

They're quite easy to make, but I spent more time handsewing the Velcro tabs & decorative buttons than the actual pouch assembly since I opted not to use elastic ties, so I'll need to figure out a better, more efficient way of doing that.

They fit an iPhone or blackberry bold phone, or even business cards if you want :)

Only the blue polkadot one is still available right now... I've got a few more in the works!

Box wallet pouches

I purchased Keyka Lou's patterns for several itty-bitty pouches & tried them out. This is from the first batch :)

I've put them in the shop. They are selling for RM28 per pouch. Perfectly sized for some cards, cash & maybe a small phone... So adorable!

New design & sample...

Yesterday I spent several hours trying to adapt my regular multipurpose tote design for a customer. I wasn't worried about the bag body; I was concerned how the single handle she requested would affect the overall look once the bag was carried.

After poring over several design books and sketching out a prototype (cheh, sounds so grand heheh... I just did a rough sketch aje :p), I pulled out some linen-type mid-weight cotton & started cutting.

I needed to see how it would look like once completed, but it also had to be a quick job so I skipped my usual interfacing for this sample. For added strength & for interest, I quilted 3 straight lines on the handle (more visible on the beige side since I used red thread). This is still reversible so I didn't put in any tabs or button closures, but I'n thinking maybe ties or ribbons? It turned out quite well, I think. What do you think?

Now I can get started on the customer's bag :) Looks like I may just skip the interfacing for hers too & replace it with a canvas lining or batting for the floppy look, and add ties at the top for closure...

p/s. Forgot to take pics of the red side... I'm keeping the sample since there's some stitching that I'm not too happy with... Good enough for me to use but not to sell :) love the bag!!

My first dress :)

I finally sewed my first dress, all by myself!! Well ok, had some help with the string ties cos it was a rush job, but otherwise it was all my handiwork :)

I've always wanted to make girls' outfits cos the patterns out there are so cute, but my baby's a boy :( I waited for an excuse to make one, & it finally came!

I modified the pattern & size from a draft that we used before for the shop to fit a newborn. This was a present for a friend's new baby... I'm so glad it turned out fine!

Of pre-cuts, yardage & the end products

I love charm packs & other pre-cuts. I love the fact that pre-cuts gives me an opportunity to have and play with the whole set in a fabric range... otherwise it'll cost me a mini-fortune to buy each piece in each colorway!

This is the first time I'm actually using up one of our pre-cuts... I chose Dream On by Urban Chiks cos of the sunshiny colors :) Made up 4 nine-patch blocks with 6 charm pieces left over for another project. Spent an hour arranging the pieces, but sewing them up was a breeze.... my patchworking has improved I guess, since my seams matched up! Hehehe...

Haven't quite decided what to do with them yet... my options at the moment: 1) make 2 bags, or 4 if they're just the main centerpiece, 2) turn them into a baby quilt, or 3) line them up and make a table runner. Will update what happens to them once they get turned into something :)

One of these days, I plan to make this bag from pre-cuts or patchwork strips, just for variety... for the moment, though, this yardage seems to give that illusion anyway :)

This one's available ye, only RM 45 without postage. Drop me a line if you're interested, before someone grabs it off the shelf!

Silent busy bee...

I haven't been completely off the grid, sewing-wise... time's just so limited, if I have any extra I'd rather sit at the sewing machine undisturbed rather than fight over who gets to use the computer hehehe...

I've been pretty busy over the past few weeks completing several orders... this bevy of 5 beauties was the most recent, delivered to the owners just before the long weekend break started :) I'm happy to say that all were made in less than 2 weeks (in between a hectic work schedule this month plus a major presentation!) and are all meant as presents for others... Thank you so much to my colleagues who had such trust in my work!

This one's for my cousin, who requested a another pouch after seeing how useful the one we gave to her was heheh... she wanted it bigger though to put more baby stuff in :p

This bag, as well as the blue one below it, was supposed to be for the shop as stock, but now I gotta make more since both have been snapped up by my colleagues :)

Las but not least, these bags (in 2 different sizes) were for my SIL...

I've also got a couple more things sewn up, which I'll put up later (right after this!!! Otherwise it'll be another 3 weeks before I make another post :p). So you see, I've been a very busy but silent bee :D

From Saturday to Saturday...

I know I said I'd post the picture of the wonky log cabin block once I've turned it into something, but it's been weeks since it was done and I still haven't decided on what to do with it, so what the heck... here it is :)

I really like it... the colors are all bright and cheerful, and I felt the process of making it was really fun.

I wanted to keep the momentum going since I completed the block and coasters, but only managed to get more sewing done this past week. It helped that I cut all the pieces last Saturday, and had the whole week to put these pouches together....

They're now in the shop, ready for the taking :)
If anyone's interested, the ones with the colorful hearts are RM 25 each, and the green & pink dotty pouches are RM 35 each.

Didn't manage to complete any specific item today, but it was time well spent at the shop - cutting, sewing, and pressing fabrics to be turned into something pretty... I love Saturdays!

Now I've got a few pieces to keep me busy all week till next Saturday :)

Of coasters & pincushions...

I set a silent goal for myself this past week, to sew at least a little bit (1/2 to 1 hr) each night. I had gotten started on these coasters last weekend after working on a wonky log-cabin block (which I'll share once I decide what to do with it :p), and wanted to keep the momentum going.

By Friday, I had these all completed and blind-stiched too... a set of 4 unique, wonky scrappy coasters :) I just love the bright fabrics!

They're even reversible, if you feel like using the other side for a change :) the backing used home dec cotton.

Friday, I finally tried my hand at making a pincushion. When you think about too many patterns that you wanna try, it can actually delay the process of actually making the item itself (very common happening for me :p). In the end I just went with some binding scraps we had in the house and fashioned some patchwork out of them... Whaddaya think?

I'll put all these in the shop for sale... just as soon as I figure out the costing & price :)

All in all, not a bad week right? It's nice to put your hand to something other than customer orders for a change, and enhance your skills in the process :)

Have a good crafting week ahead everyone!

Long-overdue update...

I know it's been a really long while since my last blog post... too many internet restrictions during the day, no time at home to go online after work (adjusting to a new work place too!), little kiddies + hubby + home to manage as well in the limited time available... this poor blog's been neglected...

Thankfully I did manage to squeeze in some sewing each week (well, 1 day each week only to be honest), in between fulfilling orders...

Tried out this modified version of diaper/cosmetic/multipurpose pouch... one for myself, one as a gift and another as a sample for the shop (the sample's been sold! :D now gotta make another one soon...) I love how simple yet practical it is! It fits 2 diapers, one bottle of baby powder, one nappycloth (as emergency towel if necessary) plus one romper... roomy kan?

My mom & I rushed this quilt for my cousin's new baby... simple center fabric, one border plus hand-quilted circles in the center & stitch-in-the-ditch quilting around the center panel...


I have a mini project completed too... will put that up soon! And as always, there's a long list of things that I wanna try to make... I'll get to all that eventually, insya-Allah!

We got a bunch of gorgeous new fabric for the shop too... drop by Beverly Collection or look us up on facebook (Beverly Collection) for sneak peeks!

In the meantime, keep crafting people! :)