Baobao's School Bag

The son goes to primary one this year, and I began the year planning to make a bag for him. Took me 3 months and a lot of procrastination in between. Made from scratch without a pattern, I dragged my feet at certain points as I was not sure what to expect. In the end, the many steps of making the bag was broken down into baby steps and eventually I conquered it.
Another milestone in my sewing experience.

  Started using it this morning. :)

I used a panel fabric from my shop. Here
 





Some parts of the reminder fabric was used to decorate the sides of the bag and the pocket, just so the theme runs through the bag.

These two labels have some of their sides left raw..  I had been wanting to try making bags with a more casual, scrap fabric feel, which I see around the internet.

 

Custom label with the boy's name and school and his own artwork rocket. This was produced by iron on sheet. 

Another name tag attached to the strap. This is also ironed onto the remnants of the theme panel fabric. See? A small piece of fabric goes a long way in design! 

 

Finally, his mom's humble shop label. (Why am I acting humble suddenly..? lol) 
 


Finishing the seams on the bag. I tried to be lazy and just sewed on the binding with the sewing machine but it ended up looking like a truck ran over it. I had to redo and baste it before it could be sewn neatly. Took me 1 hour for each of the two sides. Ha, using some patience I never knew existed. But you would agree, the result is gratifying right?
 

Panel Cotton Linen Fabric - Vintage News Paper 140 cm x 80 cm (55 x 31.5 inches)

Here's a new listing from the shop:-

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94126078/panel-cotton-linen-fabric-vintage-news


This is a fabric panel that is printed with the images of a vintage newspaper. Instead of a repetitious pattern, these fabric are printed with different beautiful images, good to use as labels on a cushion or bag, or used to make into items directly. 

This panel features images of vintage newspaper, advertisements, recipes, sewing machine, ladies cameras, and MORE.

Please refer to the last photo for inspirations on things to make.

Each panel measures 55 x 31.5 inches / 140 x 80 cm.
Specs :- Blend of Cotton Linen 
approximately 140 x 80 cm (55 x 31.5 inches)

Of Navigation Maps, Compass and Sailing Ships

An absolutely beautiful assortment of fabric arrived today and here are two of them..

Cotton Linen Blend Fabric printed with brown maps, sailing ships and vintage labels. This is a navigation themed fabric, accented with blue and mustard yellow colours. It's a very beautiful piece.

The natural cotton linen background lends to it a texture and vintage character.


Specs :-
100% Cotton Linen
Width - 70 cm X 50 cm
(27.6 inch X 19.7 inch)

Available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/80325340/cotton-linen-fabric-navigation-maps-and


















The pink version:

Available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/80325610/cotton-linen-fabric-navigation-maps-and

Chef Fabric Box Pouch

I spent about a day making this pouch. Aren't the colours just lovely?




This is made from this fabric I have in my shop. (Click the picture for the link)



Such a lovely fabric..all the colours are so brilliant and warm.
(Save me people, buy it! I think if I don't sell my fabric fast enough, I will use them all up. Save my fabric from ME!)


I often see this kind of box pouch in the bookshop, sold as pencil cases or shoe bags. I like the design and thought of making it one day. I thought it's a easy pouch to make but how wrong I was!






I must have done it incorrectly but there were a lot of wrestling with this pouch. So although it's finished now, I am left with a certain unsatisfied feeling because

1. The pouch looks kinda tortured. Or I'd have finished off the seams and list it on etsy.
2. I still have not figured out the way to make it easily, or at least not look so tortured at the end of it.

I love this kind of design ( ones with piping ) and am determined to succeed at it another day. Wish me luck!

Handmade Ipad2 Case

My father is really tuned into the internet, just like my siblings and I are. Last year my brother bought him an old pc retired at his workplace. He uses it for surfing and my mother reported he spends alot of time reading articles on it.

The pc became faulty lately, so I suggested to get him an ipad2 for Father's Day. My brothers, being guys (read tech crazy people) are both supportive, so we chipped in to get Father an ipad2. I can see it will serve him well since he mainly surfs using the pc.

I am excited too, because I will have an excuse to make a case for it. It was both challenging and fun making this case. The fun thing was, if i needed to find out something in the process of creating the case, i just needed to switch on the ipad and search. ta da!

However, this type of case (one with window) is few and far between for an handmade ipad case on the internet. Don't be fooled by its minimalist look, it was quite difficult to make.

Made By Inagaki

I need a clasp purse. I had tried to make one many times ever since I got the frames.
Previously I did this:-

Looks great, but it doesn't function well. The opening is too small. I had not gone back to this purse yet, I will try to figure it out later.

Today, I made this:-




I was trying to follow komihinata's simple style. BUT I just couldn't resist some lace and an applique!! (Is that the reason why I'm the owner of a sewing embelishments shop???!! Just so I can stock alot of them and not feel guilty..heh..)

I made the pattern for this after looking for some on the internet. Not entirely happy with the shape, but I guess I will settle for this one, for starters!

I made a (usable) clasp purse AT LAST!



The blue and pink checks fabric is on sale at my shop on etsy here, and more black velvet appliques are found here.


Thank you for looking! :)

Free Download : Vintage Luggage Tag

As mentioned on my facebook page, this is an editable pdf version of the lovely vintage luggage tag found at Just Something I Made. Cathe Holden, the original designer, has generously allowed me to share the pdf version with you.



Link : Vintage Luggage Tag - pdf version

Link : Vintage Luggage Tag - jpg version





Instructions for download:

1.)Go to the menu bar near the top left hand corner.
2.)Click "File" for the drop down menu.
3.)Choose "Download original".
4.)Open the file with Adobe Reader.
5.)Key in your details in the 4 fields, Name, Address, Tel No. and email ( at the bottom) and print.
6.)At printing, scale it down to 50% for the right size and smooth lines.


There are 2 files at this link. The pdf and blank jpg version. The jpg file is a clean file without personal details, it can be found above the pdf file. You can use it for more freedom in text placements.

Note : If you click the file to go into the doc, it will show you a very low resolution file, that is not the true resolution of the actual file, so do not be deterred.


Have fun!