[ ✄ ] Holiday Decorations

I'm not big on holiday decorations but this year I decided to make some fabric pumpkins for Thanksgiving after seeing them in an old Martha Stewart magazine. Luckily, I remembered to browse my old magazines before getting on the internet (and inevitably losing many hours) for inspiration. They were really easy to do but still time consuming. Now I understand why people buy decorations that are used only once a year! For most of the stems, I ended up cheating and rolling thin strips of felt, and hot-gluing them. Sooooo much faster.


I also used the holidays as a deadline to make fabric napkins with mitered corners. Another sewing project I would've never completed, had it not been for the need.

For December…



These felt ornaments are made with instructions from the Purl Bee. Purl Bee is always full of great projects, so I often go there before using any other resources on-line. This was also time consuming but not hard. It was a great project to do while catching up on podcasts. Plus, I think I will leave the twig-mobile version for the non-holiday times too. Previously, it looked like this.

Happy Holidays, everyone! ❄

[ ✄ ] Tiny Gifts

Crochet bug has bitten me again, and I made these tiny gifts for my newborn nephew. It cracked me up so much seeing these take form. How silly! But oh so cute


This took me considerably longer.. And lesson learned: read all the directions first! I was following a pattern in a Japanese book and didn't bother translating all the directions. I ended up fudging the neck and shoulder areas a bit. But hey, now I know how to join shoulders!

And, just for kicks ha ha, I made this:

[ ✄ ] Pillows With Zippers

Learning to make pillow covers with zippers has been on my list of New Year resolutions, for several years. But I can finally cross this off this year, dammit. Zippers got nuthin'on me!

We'll see about that.


All in all, it wasn't that bad. If I can do it, you can do it. I learned how to attach both invisible zippers and conventional zippers by studying various tutorials online (see links below). I prefer the look of the invisible zippers. I am really happy with these pillows now. Before you could see the inserts peeking out (because I made them with barely enough fabric sans zippers. Ha!) and now they're nicely packed in and firm. Problem solved.

Even though I was able to manage with the zipper foot that came with my sewing machine, I still got a foot specifically designed to be used with invisible zippers, so I don't have to spend extra time ironing out the zippers. On a side note, if you have Janome HD-1000, don't get the Coats Invisible Zipper Foot kit. It will not fit. I ended up just getting the Janome-brand concealed zipper foot, which worked out pretty well.





Thanks to the writers of the following helpful tutorials on invisible zippers:

• http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2011/01/invisible-zipper-tutorial.html
• http://sewplicity.blogspot.com/2011/04/tutorial-pillow-cover-with-almost.html
• http://sewkatiedid.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/zip-to-your-pillow/

One for "regular" zippers:

• http://www.designsponge.com/2010/03/sewing-101-zippered-throw-pillows.html (don't miss this comment by Mixette)

Okay! Onward! To the next item on my New Year Resolutions list.
Uh, what was it again?

Week #36

This week, I started making bracelets with embroidery floss using this tutorial. It's amazing how I'd completely forgotten how to make these since high school (or was it junior high?). I got major backache and shoulder ache by the time I finished this one. Signs of age? I don't remember this being a painful hobby.. but I digress.

This is what happened when Mr. Lilacmoon saw my finished piece above.

Mr. Lilacmoon: Hey, that looks nice!
Me: ..
Mr. Lilacmoon: Make me one, too!
Me: Really?!?
Mr. Lilacmoon: Yeah!
Me: ... okay.

So there you have it. One for me, one for him. No rhinestone chain for him, though.

[ ✄ ] A New Way to Enjoy Polaroids

There was a corner in the living room with this framed San Francisco map (actually a wrapping paper). Boring.


Woot! Look at that.


A new way to enjoy Polaroids! New to me at least. Remember how I made necklace organizers with cup hooks? And how I wanted to use the hooks everywhere for no reason? Well, I found a reason.

Some of the other ways I've enjoyed Polaroids:

• Rainbow heart
• Japan photo albums

I Made: Embroidered Drawstring Pouches

Do you keep old clothes in case you want to use them as fabric for sewing projects? I do, even though I rarely do any sewing. The other day while cleaning, I found a heap of old white shirts and forced myself to do something about them. To either discard them or cut them into pieces for sewing projects. Oh my god, such a big step, right. But I saw great possibilities in them at some point, and it was finally time to take them to the next level.

I cut the clothes, and this got me really excited about sewing. Easy sewing, that is. So I decided to make drawstring pouches with simple embroidery. My last embroidery project was this pillow. The patterns are from the same book, with the left one being Salvia's design and the right two being traditional Japanese patterns. I'm quite pleased with the result.. And valuable lesson learned: if saving a piece of clothing for future fabric use, I should have it cut into pieces first. Turn them from possibilities into actual materials ready to go.

Anyway, it feels good to have turned something old into something new that is pretty and functional. I will master making drawing pouches.. Fabric scraps, I haz them.

Iro Iro #2

1. A new bag. A new ♥. And, um, that's moi.

2. Hello Sandwich's Tokyo Guide in PDF, all printed and bound with gold strings. Yup, Japan is on my mind yet again. And I'm going there soon! There's a stack of guide books I have to go through but I figure one more couldn't hurt. How could it when it's this cute?

3. Crochet hand warmers. Clearly, I was inspired by Sandra Juto's wrist worms. My hands (and feet) are always cold, and I hate how the side of my right hand has to rest on the cold surface of my Wacom tablet all the time. I've been using a leather glove but it's been rather cumbersome to put it on and off for intermittent typing. So after several failed attempts, I made these. I've been wearing them inside and outside the house; so cold these days! And it might even snow here in SF this weekend! That's just crazy talk.

Stay warm, my friends, and don't forget! The 20% off sale at my Etsy shop is still going.

I Made: necklaces + organizer

This project was all about using what I already had.
It started with a cheap, multi-strand necklace that I never reached for. It had this pink theme going, and I was like, what the heck. Why did I buy this. So, I separated the strands out into separate necklaces, using chains and clasps I had saved from who knows what. One of them, on the right above, now has a crochet string made from a pattern in my favorite crochet book (featured in one of my older posts here).


You'll recognize my old cell phone strap mentioned in the same old post, turned into a necklace charm, on the far left above. The strap part finally broke after years of use and I couldn't throw it out.

All these had to go somewhere, and then I remembered this diy jewelry shadowboxes project over at Design*Sponge. I got a pack of tiny cup hooks at a local hardware store and attached them to the bottom of three wooden frames that I wasn't using.

Voilà. That was super simple and easy.
Now I want to put cup hooks on all the frames in the house for no good reason, heh.

How do you keep your necklaces?

PS: "Just start" was inspired by Elise Joy (via seasaw) and this papernstich dry erase board tutorial. I love it because it reminds me of the Korean saying that roughly translates to "to start is to be half way done."

Happy Holidays!

(last minute holiday decorations with paper cones and lights)

I wish you all a merry little Christmas and a happy holiday weekend!

I Made: Paper Christmas Trees

The only holiday decorations I have up currently are my take on these paper trees over at Martha Stewart. Instead of wooden spools, I used empty film canisters as tree trunks. Trying to use what I already have. :)

Shop Update: 2011 Poladoodles Calendar

Say hello to my first ever Poladoodles calendar! It's been done for about a week but I wanted to spend more time finalizing the packaging details. And I'm very happy with how it all came together. So please check it out at my Etsy shop! It even comes gift-wrapped for the holidays. You know how much I like wrapping.. I couldn't resist. ^^




Total of 6 different images, two months per sheet.


If you cut along the dotted line on the back..


You get Polaroid prints that are the same size as the original Polaroid Spectras.


I chose to use Hahnemuehle 308 for its nice, thick weight. See how stiff that is!


Packaged in a glassine bag and sealed with a sticker that's hand-stamped in champagne ink (I had to incorporate rubber stamping somewhere, right?)


Finally, everything goes into this envelope, ready to go to a new home. Voilà!

I'm glad I finally made a calendar, which I've always thought about. It made a very indecisive person like me make millions of decisions along the way (like, to perforate or not? That is the question) but I think it was better to have made it than to not even have attempted at all. I learned a ton along the way and this will not be the last time I make a calendar.

Anyway.
Now, go check it out! (:

Paper Quilt Project

Hello, my dear readers. I kinda fell off the face of the earth, didn't I? I am slowly climbing back up though.. ^^

Here's something I worked on while I was away, a collage for the Paper Quilt Project. It will become part of a paper quilt and I'm very excited I was able to participate. (Please do look at all the other participants' submissions right here!)

This is what I started with, a lovely package from Dawbis:


I did lots of sketches on the project's theme, which was "A Day in My Life". I knew I wanted to work with the theme of being positive (because I can be quite negative) but I didn't like any of the sketches. I was already being too negative about my progress. Finally, I decided I was thinking too hard and let my hands do the work, cutting papers into strips and then making little +'s.


And there you have it. My daily struggle to stay +, illustrated. :)

I Made: floral tapes

Inspired by the Merci x Liberty of London collection, I made some decorative tapes with floral paper scraps. After cutting the papers into 1.5 cm wide strips, I ran them through my Xyron sticker maker. I know, unlike the mt masking tapes, these stickers are permanent and it's not as hassle-free as tearing a piece of a roll of tape in any length you want, any time you want. But you can make a bunch of these with just a small piece of paper and stash them for future use. I tore the strips in random lengths, between 1-3 inches, so I can use them on envelopes whenever I'm sending cards or letters.

Oh, and did you see this security envelopes stationery set over at A Little Hut? Hot!

I Made: pastel wooden clips

Big wooden clips from Daiso + mt masking tapes = clips to organize things

I forgot I had these clips! They're just a tad wider than the masking tapes but I rather like the result. Good thing the tapes can be removed easily.. When I get sick of these (it will happen for sure), I will be able to dress them up again in different colors. :)

(Inspired by Suzy Jack's decorative clips)

I Made: a jersey scarf

I've been a very bad blogger. T_T
I haven't been that busy, really.. I was gone on a trip but that's not a good excuse. I've just been uninspired. Generally feeling LOST everyday. Unsure of where I'm going with this blog, with my creative endeavors, with my life. Yup, it's not a great feeling.

BUT!
I have a good news.
I made a scarf.

After seeing Sally at Shim and Sons (here) and Sarah at The Small Object (here) whipping  jersey scarves, I had to try it myself. I got one yard of this starry fabric at Jo-Ann Fabrics, cut it into two strips, and hand-stitched the ends of each strip together to loops. Oh, I lied. I made TWO scarves. Not too shabby for less than $5! And I love how these infinite loopy scarves don't fall off your neck. Brilliant. Just loop it!

As much as I resent the Internet, I do benefit from it. So thanks for all the inspiration, Internet! I think as long as you are there, I will keep on blogging. :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

I Made: a pair of shorts

Actually, two pairs. This brown pair and a black pair. ♥

I wanted to buy some shorts after looking at way too many spring clothing catalogs but then I realized, I can make them! I just cut these pinstripe wide-leg pants that have been hibernating in my closet, sewed, and voila! Well, it took longer than it sounds because I'm not so skilled in sewing but it was theoretically very simple.

Speaking of reusing, check this site called reknit (via idsgn). You send an old sweater and it gets unraveled and reknit into a new item like a hat. Cool!

I'm going to try to continue this series of "I Made" posts so that I use what I already have and spend less money on shopping. Now, what's next?? *standing in front the closet with a pair of scissors* OMG!

I Made: a ribbon necklace

Materials I used

• A piece of ribbon
• A crown charm from a broken cell phone strap
• An old necklace chain

Inspiration

• Ribbon Rainbow Drop necklace 
• This Anthropologie outfit
  

Do you wear lots of necklaces? Or make your own? I don't plan on adding jewelry making to my growing list of hobbies but this was fun. :)