Swanky Little Bag~

Hello my dear friends, I’m back~~ Kept my promise not to stay away too long this time!! ^^

When Sophia said we were going to make a simple framed bag, I thought it would be “simple”. As it turns out, there was nothing simple about it!!! Don’t get me wrong, it is not too difficult to make, it’s just that there are so many little details in making it, and the end result turned out to be more then I have expected!!!

Pattern: Designed by Sophia Yu
Size: 14cm x 10cm x 7cm
Beginning Date: 04-14-2015
Completion Date: 05-06-2015

It’s big opening and wide pocket is perfect to hold all my stitching and sewing accessories. I LOVE the color combination, not to mention the subtle giraffe pattern in it!!

I find that these sewing classes are like an adventure, they are full of all sorts of surprises, and I can’t wait to see what’s in for my next class!!!

Leaving with you an updated photo of my house, as you can see I finally got my stitchings up~ I think this is my favorite view of the house!! Hehe~~

Confessions of a Bad Blogger…

Hello~~~~ Anyone still here?! I have been a very very bad blogger. It is at the end of April already and yet this is my first post in 2015. It’s just that I have not been able to do much sewing/stitching lately, so there is not much to show. The reason for this is we have been moving AGAIN!!! But this time we are moving in to our very own new home~~~ I hope this will be the last time for many years~

The upside for this move is, my sewing machine finally has its permanent place, no more moving it around, taking it out and hiding it back to storage whenever someone is coming over to visit!!! Now I can use it anytime as I needed!! Hurray!!!

Between all the moving madness, I managed to finish my bag project!!!! LOVE how it turned out!!!!

Pattern: Une Artisane_A Quilter's Bag
by Sophia Yu 
Size: 42cm x 32cm x 15cm
Beginning Date: 10-08-2014
Completion Date: 04-19-2015

Everything I need to know about bag making is pretty much all in this process, and then some more!!!

It is so great to have a patient teacher, I really learned a lot during this process. And guess what?! There are more bags to come!!!

Hope you all are enjoying this beautiful spring~ See you soon!!! (Hopefully…)

Learning Something New & Merry Christmas!!

Time really flies!!! I can’t believe I totally skipped November and now we are at the end of December…. Thought I better check in before the year ends~

This was back in November, but I learned how to machine appliqué!!! It was not as difficult as I thought, as long as you find a suitable pattern, all you need to do is follow the edge. Of course I still slipped here and there and it was not perfect, but I think it is pretty good for a first try!!

I also learned hot to do a insert zipper pocket. Had a lot of assistance completing this, though. I hope I will remember how to repeat this one in the future….

Saw this tree at the train station the other day~ May all of you have a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas!!

Taking on the Machine!!

Now that I am done with the front…

It is time to take on the machine!!!! This is my first time machine quilting, although it is only straight lines, I find that sewing straight is not that easy, especially with all those curved lines playing with my mind~ Let’s just say my work is going to be very “organic”… ^^

Happy weekend!!!

Learning Something New

I’ve never taken an official sewing class before. All the quilting and sewing tricks I know so far, is either from self-learning or learning from friends. By chance, I stumble over a bag making class, and I’m so happy that I’ve taken the opportunity!!!

This bag took the idea of a log cabin quilt, and transforms it into a handy bag. Today, I learned how to let go. There’s no pattern, no rulers, just trust your gut and cut – and I love it!! This is soooo liberating~

This  is only a start. There is more to come, and I can’t wait!!

A Little Bag for a Little Boy

My friend’s son just turned three. He is such a darling, I wanted to make something special for him. Since he has just started school, I thought a bag would be perfect!! But I’m not the brightest sewer, you see, so finding something that’s nice and not too complicated was a bit of a challenge. I searched and searched, and finally came across  Rachel Measham-Pywell’s Click to Carry Bag, which I thought would be perfect for him~~ So after a few times of trial and error, I finally put together this final product!!

Pattern: Rachel Measham-Pywell “Click to Carry Bag”
Size: 11” x 12”
Beginning Date: 04-07-2011
Completion Date: 04-18-2011

I redid the curve binding but it is still not perfect. At least it is not too awful… Curves are sooooo tricky!!!!

What I loved about this bag is it not only has an adjustable strap so it can be used as a messenger style bag, it also has a satchel clip that could separate the  strap.  This way it can be attached to the back of a head rest in the car or shopping carts to keep it in children’s reach. What a thoughtful design!!

Making bags are so much fun~~ I certainly learned a lot from this process.

This bag is not flawless, but I love it~~ And I hope my friend would love it, too~~