Warming Up!

The weather is getting warmer this week. Seems like summer is getting closer at last. After a "forgotten" spring :) I'm also warming up my works. I have to finish some orders, I know, but I just playing around to make some accessories like bags, sunglasses case, etc. I just not feel ready for a sewing marathon completing all orders in a month! .. why a month? because in summer holiday I already have plans, I'll take a summer course in Esmod Paris. August husband will go back to work and the kids are still on school holiday until end of August.

So I wanted to take some times to breath, to stretch my hand and legs, to enjoy the weather, to have a breakfast for two with my beloved husband each day in June!, enjoy driving around together with him, having lunch with him, discuss so many things ... bref, juste pour s'amuser quoi! ...

But I promise, I will go back to work in Monday, I will start to make pieces of clothes that people have ordered and have been waiting ;-)

Ciao!

Bon weekend :-)

Lace "col claudine" in caramel color

Friday night delight! :)

I can't ignore beautiful fabrics scraps, they're just too precious to throw away ..
So, I'm making this "Col Claudine" - people here used to call it.
 

Draw my own pattern by measuring neckline (or just use the mannequin's neck as a template) .. et voilà! a lace Col Claudine in caramel color is done! ...

Making more bonnets ..

I had a call from craft exhibition organizer last Tuesday, she proposed a stand in Palexpo as a part of "Les Automnales" : Une des nouveautés des Automnales 2012: place aux artistes! Le Salon des artistes indépendants et des créateurs. http://www.automnales.ch/fr/salons-paralleles/place-aux-artistes-0-2971

She also proposed, if I agreed to give 2 times sewing lesson for a duration of 45 minutes each lesson (basic sewing, easy project, like making a small bags or a "pochette" or pouch) she could give 50% off for the stand price. Interesting? ... yes! I'd like to participate .. although I asked my self, sometimes, am I ready? .. but this is exactly what I wanted for so long .. an exhibition of my own work!. 

I keep thinking, discussing with my husband how we could do it. I mean, we have nobody (you do know that, don't you?) .. but I may look for help, a friend, babysitter or don't know who or how we manage this, but we must keep optimistic that we can do it.

So, first I have to "organize" my time. That's the most important part.
I need to pick which items I could do more and do it fast, which project that needs less hassle and that people would like to have, the item that they need, especially in line with "Automnales" theme. So I came up with bonnets and mittens first. Next I may finish bags, cushions and skirts, then let see what else I could come up with .. maybe shawls and kids dresses (if I have enough time) ...

Simple math: if I could make at least 3 items per-day, how many items I could get within a month? (yes, weekends count, too!!) .. I work overtime, I know .. but I have no choice ..

Flowery bag

Yes more bags please ..

This one is using the same pattern as the blue bag I've made last time. The fabric is a "coupon" only some 70 cm long from a textile shop, and just nice to make a bag. I've finished it with brown lace trimming (the lace I got from a friend, most probably bought in Daiso, SG). So, beige n brown flower bag or blue n white bag? hhmm ... both?! :)

always pretty and practical :)

batik clutch with a glam!

I've finished making the matching clutch for the batik blouse I've made last time. I only wanted to make a full use of the batik fabric since I still have some leftover and thought that it would be nice to make a matching bag. Yes, I put the evening clutch on my online shop, it's a model, as a display item of how it turn out like .. I could make another clutch later .. maybe with a magnetic snap button or a zipper to securely, neatly close the clutch. I added a golden chain to make it more "glam" for evening/formal events.

evening clutch in batik

Add caption

match the blouse :)

Cosmetic Pouch/Trousse à maquillage!

I've told ya I'm going to make a matching pouch from the vintage flower fabric I've found in the flea market, so here it is:

organized your bits and pieces in this lovely pouch! :)

next, maybe a laptop or tablet pouch? .. why not!

the making ..

more and more bags!

I've been sewing any kind of bags (yup, to fill in the store! ;-D) ... I practiced using different kind of fabrics, models and techniques .. I used cotton, coated cotton, cotton-polyester, linen and almost always .. batik prints to accentuate the bag and finished it with magnetic buttons (or zipper, later) .. and here's the bags that I've created so far: 

http://petits-pas.fait-maison.com/

Batik Bag

"Mettez en avant vos créations"! ... and I thought, yeah .. why not?! ...

I always put this in mind, nothing was ever achieved without enthusiasm!, enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines .. If you enjoy and have passion for your work, then you're doing the right thing, whether you're succeed or not, let the time reveals it .. start with any little works you're able to do now and just see how that may lead .. as hubby put it: "Life starts from dreaming", but don't sleep too long though .. and what was once only a dream someday may become real ...

Okay, now back to reality .. I put another item in my online shop http://petits-pas.fait-maison.com/ a Batik Bag. I tried to make more and put more stuffs in my shop, hopefully it's about the right time people start buying presents for Christmas and new year ... so yup, more sewing and creating these days ... stop dreaming and start creating ;-)

the finished result ..

a girl never has enough bags! ;-)

sewing and putting own label ..

Batik Bag in the making ..

Step-by-step: Making Own Label

Step-by-step: Making your own label.
Personalization is important, we can also use this simple and affordable technique to label children school clothes/uniforms ..

1. Print out your label design on a transfer paper
2. Cut them into desired size
3. Iron each piece to a twill tape (cotton tape) or directly to clothes
4. It's done! now we can use them in any personal items we have/created.

The idea came from the "homemade t-shirt printed" as a gift to hubby's bday last time .. well, you may buy or order the ready made labels, off course .. there's some online shop for this e.g: http://www.twilltape.com/ or using cotton jet print sheet: http://www.spimo.com/accessoires/cottonjet/

But to me, so far this one is close to perfect for my own use ... :)

Making your own label to personalized your handmade products.

Winter Scarf

I'm just making a winter scarf from leftover batik from last project (simple batik dress) with fleece lining to keep oneself warm during winter time ..

** also my entry to JCA's Oct challenge, Autumn Creations.

Batik scraf with fleece lining

warm enough for winter time ..

using a leftover fabric to make something useful ..

warm enough to protect your neck ..