2 at once = hard work!

This time I'm able to check off 2 things of my list.
A coin purse and a reusable grocery bag.

2 weeks ago I started working on my grocery bag. Mainly because I actually needed it for school. I didn't have anything anymore to use for big binders and books. So I can use it for both school and shopping.
I had a great fabric in mind from my current collection. All I had to do was to find a contrasting fabric for some accents.
It also turned out I definitely needed a lining as well to make it more firm.
I also made it reversible. And added 2 pockets on each side in the contrasting fabric from some left-overs.

I have to say I really like it. The contrasting fabric is so old and ugly that I think it's great (Ken hates it though...) ;o)
Although I like the other fabric, I don't think I will wear it with that side out too often... I guess it's a bit too colourfull.
The picture is mainly to show the pockets on the other side as well. ;o)

Judge yourself and leave a comment on what you think of it:

The coin purse did come out a bit bigger than first planned.

As I'm using the piramid bag as coin purse, I made this one a bit bigger so that it can hold cards, bus tickets, ... so that I don't have to take my whole purse just to go to the super market for groceries.

The outside is the same fabric as for the grocery shopping bag. The lining is a white silky-ish fabric.

I did learn I need to fix the lining better so that it can't get stuck in the zipper so easily as it does now.

So here it is:

Pyramid Coin Purse

Today I finally found the time to make one of these unbelievably cute pyramid coin purses.

It was also in my "12 in 11-list", so now there's 11 projects to go (in 11 months left of 2011 which is perfectly on track!) ;o)

I used a dutch tutorial but it was translated from this one:
http://sewmesomethinggood.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-sew-coin-purse.html

It took me quite some time to finish (3 hours). But that was mostly due to my sewingmachine that was acting difficult and I had to start over parts of the sewing several times.

Anyway... The result is fantastic. I wanted to make another one so that I could give away one or both. But I don't have any zippers left... too bad!

For this one I used:
A simple black zipper (the one I had in my sewing supply box)
A pink silky fabric for the lining 
A blue-turquoise-purple-pink fabric for the outside (which feels a bit like felt or wool, but is a lot thinner)
Turquoise yarn

Here are some pics:

12 creative projects in 2011

I've been following some other creative blogs lately (mostly of people who have lots more experience than me, but also from beginners like myself)
Last month I started seeing these 'lists' appearing on losts of these blogs and I wanted to know all about it.
Turns out there is a project (dutch) to which you can participate by posting a list of 10 creative things to do in 2011 (10 in 11)
Since I couldn't stop anymore, here's my list of 12!!! things to do in 2011: one each month.
1. design a logo/banner for my blog.
I have some ideas on what I want, but it's quite hard to create myself. But the blog is too sober like that I think, so I'll try to pick up my photoshop knowledge and try to create something that's worthy enough to appear on my blog... :o)
2. Making a handbag for myself. I've seen lots of different designs which I liked a lot. I haven't been able to make a definite choice though.

3. Something that is on most of the beginner's lists: making a skirt for myself.
I'm really only at 'starters' level, but I try to learn a lot by trying and starting over and trying again. So I thinks it would be really great if I would manage to make a skirt for myself from scratch.
I don't really have the ideal sizes, so it's hard to find skirts that fit, that I like, that are in the right kind of fabric, the right colour, ...
So I hope I manage to make something that doesn't actually look like it's handmade and that I dare to wear in public. ;o)

4. One of those super cute piramid-purses for myself or to give away. They are the cutest ever, and I've never tried anything with a zip before.

5. A small coin purse. I've bought myself something for coins in Guatemala in 2007, but as I use it every day, it's totaly worn-out. Time for something new!



*oh boy, it's getting difficult to find more projects.

6. Something to crochet. (Still have to learn as right now, I don't get any further than a long chain...)
Not sure what it should be but I'm glad my great (almost ex-)colleague will be able to teach me!
7. A shopping bag with 2 compartments for a bottle. I usually go to the shop by bike or on foot. (and I won't have any choice in the near future) It's not a big deal as it's a small super market, just around the corner.
But plastic bags are usually quite annoying and carrying a fully loaded cardboard box is also quite difficult sometimes.
I don't have a real patten yet, so I might have to improvise.

Again, not sure what to make yet. Maybe a cooking-apron for the oldest as she likes to help mum with the cooking and a stuffed animal or something for the youngest one.

For the middle one, a boy, something with fabric from Thomas the train (or some other fabric he likes at that moment)
Both mums are free to give some tips as well. Luckily I've got some time until mid-march to finish the first presents.


9. Making a present for the mariage of my cousin this summer. If anyone has any idea, please let me know. It's quite difficult as they already live together for quite some time, have kids, a house, ...

10. Baby shoes/slippers from a book 'meet me at mikes' I got as Christmas presents for all the births that are about to happen during the year. (At least 3 as far as I know by now...)
 (+ maybe for each something additional like a stuffed animal or a bib or something)

Question: Is there anyone who knows what to keep in mind while choosing fabrics and so on for stuffed animals or other things for babies? Just to make sure that it's ok for babies to put it in their mouths without being poisoned.
(Might be a silly question, just want to be sure)

I'm just thinking of another one I should definitely put on my list. (to be able to keep my promise)
11. This key chain I made for myself a while ago , but in the shape of a fox instead of an owl.

Oh, and one more: (oh boy...)
12: To 'pimp' a towel, or to make a towel from scratch.

Voila! That seems like a feasible list, I think...

Tips, tricks, advice , encouragements, ideas , ... are always welcome for a beginner like me.

8. A hand-made present for the birthdays of the 3 kids from my to best friends.

Boxes

Here are some boxes I made as presents.

They are really fun and cute, but quite hard to make sometimes, so parts of them don't have the outcome I was hoping for, but so be-it.

I found the pattern on Eloleo's blog site: pattern

Top left is one for myself, I used a yellow fabric for the inside and an old jeans from Ken (dark brown) for the outside. There's also a plastic pocket to hold a label if necessary. It's the first one I did and it turned out quite nice.

Top right is one for my grandmother as a small new-year's-present. (she chose the fabrics herself from my stock)It's terracotta-velours on the outside (a great fabric to work with), and a beige satin-like fabric with flowers for the inside (not such a great fabric to work with)

The bottom one is for my mom. She also wanted one and chose the fabrics as well. It's the same jeans on the outside as mine, and a warm-red fabric on the inside with beige flowers and some gold accents.

I really like them, but it takes quite some time to make them.
That's why I'm not really sad that I only have two left to make for a small present by the end of January.

Anyway, talk to you soon!

Christmas cards

As I’m into handmade stuff these days, I thought it was a nice challenge to make some nice Christmas cards this year. Found some inspiration on a couple of sites and got started.



Ken had some nice ideas as well, and I ended up with a great result.


I’ll be posting a picture after Christmas so that it’s still a bit of a surprise for the people that actually receive one of the cards.


Here’s an example of a card that I made about 2 years ago (or has it been 3 years already?).

I must say that I like this year’s cards a lot better, or at least more original. I even used the sewing machine to make them!

Key Chain Holder

Time to use my sewing machine for a first real project. Via Elinemien’s blog, I ended up on some other blogs. That’s where I found this tutorial for a super cute key chain holder in the shape of an owl. I just had to try it!


First went off to find some nice fabrics with the right pattern and colour. Big thanks to Els, Nele and my mom. And again a big thanks to Els for the advice and the materials. I also based by ‘Banier’, a crafts shop in Mechelen, and the 2nd hand store in the same street. I now have quite a variety of fabrics, patterns and colours available for some future sewing projects.

After quite some messing-up, starting over, the occasional curse, ... I ended up with this, and I’m quite pleased with it, if I may say so myself! ;o)