[ ✄ ] 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! ❄

[ ✄ ] 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?

[ ✄ ] New Again

I live in cardigans. Layers really are the key to surviving SF weather. I have many that are getting kinda boring. And thin. This is a really old one that came with ugly, matchy matchy grey buttons. And I refuse to throw it out.


So I replaced its buttons with black buttons from another cardigan, and now it feels new again. Almost.


The black cardigan that sacrificed its buttons? It's renewed, too, with shiny, gold buttons. The cream one (my favorite!) came with really cheap looking buttons, too, so BAM.

I'm trying to resist spending hours on eBay for vintage buttons. Hold me back, folks! Hold me back!!

(I got the inspiration from here. How to sew buttons here)

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.

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!

More small changes..

First of all, here is the inspiration for the small changes I've made to the bedroom.

This image from Domino Magazine convinced me that I must get some task lamps for the bedside tables. And it got me lusting after the Archimoon table lamps at Room & Board, which look awfully like the ones pictured here. But since I can't afford them ($464! Each!), I've opted for the Antifoni table lamps from Ikea.
Not as beautiful as the Archimoon but it will do, right?

I also added more color to the room by making gingham cushion covers to match the bedding, with fabric from Etsy seller cottonblue. Now, some artwork above the bed and the room will be pretty much done!

And have you seen the sneak peek of Office over at Design*Sponge? Love.

Gingham Pillows

About a month ago, I jumped on the bandwagon and bought some gingham fabrics (from fellow Etsy sellers Cottonblue and Matatabi).


And made some gingham pillows. I have no regrets. :)

This goes well with the IKEA bedding, no?

Next time I make pillows, I will learn how to attach zippers.. ho boy.

My First Embroidered Pillow Cover

Hello!
I made an embroidered pillow cover for my sister's birthday. It's another first for me. I wanted to share the pictures earlier but couldn't ruin the surprise. ;) The pattern is not designed by me; it is by Salvia. I first saw it in Yurio Seki's book and randomly found the pattern in this book (pictured below). Awesome.


This project took me longer than expected.. Transferring the pattern onto the fabric took forever! I used the DMC tracing paper but boy did my hand hurt! Maybe I wasn't using the right tools.. Plus, I think I'm very slow.. and I often try to take on too many projects at once, which explains the lack of updates in my shop lately. I need a better way to organize my projects.



Anyway, sorry, sis. Happy Belated Birthday. ^^