Kid's School Planner

As we enter the second term in school, things begin to crowd up.

Last week, I decided to make a wall planner for all the things to remember for the kids' school things. English spelling, Chinese spelling, Maths tests, fruit days...

ENOUGH!!! 

Enter the planner. White paper beneath a clear plastic sheet, bound by linen fabric. The squares, days and illustrations were drawn and ironed onto the paper itself. These are the things that will not change from month to month. 
 

These pics are the black velvet appliques sold in my shop here. 

Come next month, I can erase off the dates and the month, and write the next month and dates in. 

This works very well for me! I am so pleased with the result. I stick it onto my metal door with two powerful magnets.  Now I can see at a glance what's going on in the children's school and what to expect in the next coming days.

There's a small space besides the planner where I can write the words he would be tested for spelling. With the planner easily visible, it's easy for him to learn too.

It's perfect except for one thing : It works too well.

 



The children can't keep their hands off it! They love to doodle on the board. Before the invasion of these little monsters at month end, I had just erased the names of various heroes from The Avengers written in every blank box available. Wolverine, Ironman, Hulk etc. It was like we were getting Avenger visitors everyday and it stressed me up.

The fabric binding is a necessity so that they will not extend their unbound imagination beyond the board onto my precious door.


This only means one thing. Another similar board fully dedicated to doodling is in order.    


For the info of anyone interested to make one, the white paper sheets are sold at Daiso @ 8 for $2. You would need magnets and whiteboard markers and erasers too, all available at Daiso too. 

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.