After finished his swimming school, we promised Sidra that he could start learning martial art, something that he had been asking for sometime. He didn’t want karate though, fortunately there is an Aikido club at the community centre. Sidra has attended several classes and really loved it there. The teachers are several old men, they are such fun teachers and the kids love them. Aikido requires little physical strength, as it basically uses the force of the attacker and redirects it, it is good for self-defense. Because of this nature, Aikido doesn’t use weapon. Anyway, one of the teacher also […]
Category: bags and purses
Boy’s wallet
The last time I made a wallet for Sidra was three years ago when he was still in kindergarten. It is still in good condition, but Sidra asked for a new wallet with coin pouch because his coins often fall off his wallet. So this is (maybe) the last thing I sew before we leave at the end of this week. I didn’t really feel like making my own pattern, so I browsed around and found this PDF tutorial for Bi-fold wallet with lace from Napkin pattern at Etsy. The tutorial was emailed just a day after I paid. It was […]
A day in the mountain backpack tote
We went to the mountain today, but I didn’t wear my new top because it doesn’t match my new backpack! Actually I prefer carrying a tote bag than a backpack, simply because I never found any backpack style that I like. But I thought I would need my hands free for our walking in the mountain trip, so I made this backpack tote yesterday. The pattern is ‘A Day in The Park Backpack Tote’ by Liesl + Co. It was offered as a package when I bought the ‘Nature Walk’ pullover and knit pants from Oliver + s for Sidra. The […]
Pencil pouch
My husband is a member of an internet community and they often arrange some exchange events. The recent one was a craft exchange, and my husband asked me to work together making something. Our match is a game lover, so my husband drew the mascot of the community, with portal gun on its hand, jumping into/out of a portal. Portal is a video game. I scanned the drawing and create a tiling pattern with a drawing program, then printed them to an A4 size fabric specifically designed for inkjet printing. The fabric is then washed, pressed, and then cut to […]
Featured in Sew News!
I’m in a magazine cover! Well, at least my handmade organizers are ^_^ If you can get your hands on the newest (December 2010/January 2011) issue of Sew News magazine, you would see five organizer wallets featured in the cover. They were handmade by me! You can see the cover in the Sew News facebook page here. I was contacted by Ellen March, the editor of Sew News, and she invited me to contribute a tutorial for the December issue. She was interested in my wallet tutorial, and asked me to develop the wallet idea into something new. I began to brainstorm some […]
Bag for Sensei
Since about three months ago, I’ve been seeing a chiropractor for my back pain, caused by scoliosis. In Japan, teacher, doctor, therapist are called ‘sensei‘, so that is what we called her. Her office is on the second floor of her house, not very far from our house. My husband, Sidra, and I usually come every Saturday, and Sensei would let Sidra play with her children while my husband stay with me to translate and converse with her. Sensei suggested to change my mattress and pillow with special ones for people with back problem. They were a bit harder than […]
Red stripes bags
Summer holiday has officially started since yesterday! It’s also getting hotter and hotter now. Strangely, I never sweat that much. Most of the time there’s only a layer of ‘glow’ over my face while my husband and other people are literally drenched in sweat. Not that it’s a good news. While my powder stay in place, I would get overheated inside, feel bloated and out of breath. It’s awful. I wonder if any of you has the same problem? Anyway, I haven’t made any progress in my Burdastyle Book project, which by the way has to be sent by next […]
Reversible bag pattern
Just a quick post to tell you that I’ve made a PDF pattern of my reversible bag. It has rounded bottom with a couple of darts on the side. Link for download is at the end of this post. The instruction for making the bag is also available in PDF file, or go to this post to read it in my site. Disclaimer: You may use the finished products for both personal and commercial use (craft shops or markets only – no mass production). Please do not pass off the pattern and tutorial as your own. Thank you! Click to download: Pattern: [wpdm_file […]
Making reversible bag
Bag dimensions in approximate: from top of straps to bottom of bag: 50 cm / 20 inches height: 28 cm / 11 inches width: 40 cm / 16 inches Fabric needed: I don’t know because I used leftover fabric for my bag. You can print the pattern and place it on your fabric to make an approximation. It is only one piece of pattern. Fort similar bag, you can check Charlie bag by Burdastyle ($1.99). It is a bit bigger and has squared bottom. Please go to the bottom of this post to download the PDF pattern and tutorial. Disclaimer: You […]
Lesson bag and shoes bag
This is Sidra this morning, about to go to his first day in second grade. I can’t believe how fast time is flying! He was entering first grade not so long time ago and now he’s suddenly a second-grade student. The school will finish early today, so he didn’t have to bring his randoseru (school bag). I made him those new lesson bag and uwabaki (inside shoes) bag yesterday. The fabric is grey cotton with robot print by Kokka, leftover from Sidra’s robot bag. I made it two years ago when he’s still in kindergarten. The fabric wasn’t that much, but I […]