Update:: 15th Feb 2010

This Giveaway is now CLOSED.

I will randomly select 2 winners and announce them soon. Good Luck!!!

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Hello hello!!

It is 25th January (finally!), and it is the start of this One World One Heart blog event giveaway.

***I am sooo excited!!!***

So, here are my GIVEAWAYS.

I have decided to have TWO (2) gifts for TWO (2) lucky winners.

GIVEAWAY #1:

Flex Frame Purse DIY Kit

I will be giving away a kit made of these item below.

There will be enough fabric, lace, interlining and one flex frame to make a purse that looks just like this.

You can find a Step-by-step Tutorial here.

The ready made purse is not included in the giveaway

GIVEAWAY #2:

Cover Buttons DIY Kit

For my 2nd giveaway, I will be giving a kit to make some cover buttons.

I will also include some Japanese cotton fabric scraps (small random pieces) … in case you will like to use them to make the buttons… or you can use your own fabric. Below, example of Japanese fabrics where the scraps will come from

This will be how your cover buttons will look like when using Japanese cotton (these are examples only, not included in giveaway)

Instructions to make cover buttons here.

All you have to do is leave a comment in this post, and make sure you leave an email or blog address so that I can contact you (important ok *smile*)…

This giveaway closes on 15th February 2010 (11.59pm, GMT +8). Winners will be announced shortly after that.

 Wherever you are and whoever you are, everyone is WELCOME.

Thank you thank you. Nice to meet you all !

A while ago, Muriël (Hopfaldera) gave me a SUNSHINE award! THANK YOU very much!!!

It made me happy everytime I know someone reads my blog… and to give me an award… wow! I’m double happy

The conditions when accepting this award is as follows:

* Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
* Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
* Link the nominees within your post.
* Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So, here is me fulfilling the conditions…

May lots of Sunshine go to these bloggers, who has inspire me (& Whimsy Loft) in many ways.

Here goes… in alphabetical order:

by Connie
casserole blog
eissua
heidi stitches when she can
Jace Makes
Life-Muses
mairuru
My Dog Diary
Sew What
Under Lock and Key
the little things
Vanmarieke

I nominated myself to be a Magic Carpet Ticket Holder.

See the LOGO at my sidebar, it will link you to the information page about this worldwide “blogger gathering”.

This is so fun!

I can’t wait till the 25th of January where I get to post my free giveaways to my lucky readers.

I want to know my readers (yes you! )  .

I know I have a number of readers (google analytics and feedburner tells me so…) but somehow you are all quiet out there…

I always appreciate a comment, even if it’s just a “HI”. Please don’t be shy

Hopefully this event will kick start our conversations and close the barriers. So… look out for my giveaways!

25th Jan to 15th Feb

Here’s the little doll I whipped up for my cousin’s little girl.

I made this after reading half a dozen of doll tutorials. And finally settled for drawing and cutting out my own pattern. I guess it’s sorta original but I admit I borrow heavily from Martha Steward Black Apple Doll (although I didn’t touch the free pattern they provided).

Dolly Charmaine’s face and hair are made of felt & embroidery. The hands, legs and dress/body are made of calico and cotton. Insides… non-allergic polyfill .

I just had to embroider my initial “G” on Dolly’s palm. And on her chest, is the baby girl’s name “Charmaine”.

First of all, I want to wish you all…

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 !!!

It’s been a busy new year for me, albeit things are moving quite slow. So busy + slow, mean I have pockets of time to catch up on my breathing… hahaha…

Anyway, for this New Year, I have made some new products for the shop.

Felt embellishment SET or some people call them applique SET.

They are all up on my Etsy, I list a few at a time only…

They are good for all your scrap booking projects, card projects, decorative projects… etc. They can be sewed on or glued on. Work great both ways!

I’m taking a short Christmas break. Yippie! No sewing, no crafting, and best of all NOoo working the day job.

Just eat, read, sleep, blog, and watch tv!

I will miss crafting for sure

But I want the break just as bad.

So we will compromise, shall we?  

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL !!!

 See you after Christmas !!!

Christmas is a busy season.
I’ve been making gifts from friends this week.
Today, because it was a busy day with relative visiting… I only managed to complete 2 handphone charms.

These are for 2 of my very good friends.

I use mostly swarovski crystals. I really love them because of the bling2

I hope to make more tomorrow.

I was more than ready to use one of my drapery weight fabric to make this Rod Cover for my Dad…. until he suggested to use an old pair of jeans. He is always upcycling things… and he likes to make things.

So, I made him this! Tada!

Very simple… just put the rod of the leg of the jeans, and cut. Don’t even need to measure… just pins to keep them jeans steady.

Then sew on the zip. I use a very long 32″ zip, so it goes all the way from top to bottom.

As you can see, no lining necessary. It’s for rough use… going fishing is a rough hobby

It’s done!

I know, it looks kinda weird and all hehe… but that’s how he wanted it. It is his design. I just improvised and made it a zipper bag rather than a drawstring.

Here are some custom orders I made in the past week.

I like the black & white… The combination of colours (opposite attracts) makes the bags look very attractive. I think I will work more on these type of concept ~ opposite colours/pattern type of concept.

 Then here are some gifts I made for Christmas!

Enjoy

What you need:

• A flex frame, 4″ length, a little more than 1/2″ wide.

For the top part (where the flex frame will go into):

• 2 pieces of cotton (heavier weight fabric is better), size 2 1/4″ x 4.5″. Measurement include the seam 1/2″ seams on all four sides.

For the body:

• 2 pieces of iron on interface (light weight), 4″ top, 5.5″ height, 5.5″ base (see photo). All measurements include the seams of 1/4″ on all sides and 1/2″ on the top part.
• 2 pieces of red-polkadot cotton
• 2 pieces of cream calico as lining

Note: You can use any type of fabric, I mentioned the colours/type of fabric I use for ease of illustrations

Step by step:

1) Sew the top part first.

Sew the seam of the shorter section (2 1/4″ part) and sew. Seam is approx 1/4″, folded in twice.

Do the same for both ends, and for both pieces of the top part.

Then sew on the lace as shown in the photo. Check the measurement, ensure that both ends of the frame (where the screw is) is not completely hidden when the fabric wrap around.

Take one piece of the top part, and fold into half length wise.

Now we will attached the body of the purse with the top.

Put it on the red fabric, with the lace facing down like the photo. Before this you will have already iron on the interface on the red fabric.

Then put the calico (lining) on top.

Sew the 3 pieces together.

Important to remember that the width of the flex frame is a little more than 1/2″, so when you sew the top together, make sure there is about 3/4″ space for the frame to go into the white cotton with lace.

See photo below, here the seams are approx. 1/2″ (i put the seam longer because it makes it stronger – when you open and close the flex frame, sometimes it will pull against the body of the purse.)

This is how it looks like ones you have sewed them together. We finished one side of the purse.

Now repeat with the other 3 pieces. This will make the other side of the purse.

Ones complete, put both side together with the right side facing together.

Sew all around. But REMEMBER to leave a small hole so that we can turn the fabric over.

I left about 2.5″ un-sewed to turn the fabric over.

Now turn the fabric over.

Ones completely turned over, tada!!! Here is the purse.

Now it’s time to put the flex frame inside, to complete the purse.

It is easy. Just push them gently into the sides of the top part (the white cotton with lace section).

Note: This is why earlier I mention it is important when you sew the 3 pieces together above, make sure you leave approx. 3/4″ hole. If it is too small, the frame cannot go in; if it is too big it will not be nice.

Ones the frame is inside, all you need to do is put the screw at the end.

This is how you open the flex frame. It will keep all your coins safely inside the purse.

It is done!

They are so cute! You can also make pleats on the body of the purse, like I did for the peach colour one. It’s up to you. If you make pleats, then the measurement for the body will be 5.5″ top, 5.5″ height, 5.5″ base.