A Big Rainbow

Today, we had a huge downpour which left a lot of flooded streets. A couple hours ago, we were rewarded by this bit of sun that filtered in through the gray skies. And then a big rainbow appeared which we rarely notice in Shanghai.

More Bags

Quick sewing over the weekend. Practically finished sewing each bag within a few hours and quite happy with the results. Definitely will be sewing more bags.


This bag was from Pippijoe pattern which was one of the few patterns I've bought recently from here.


This was very easy to do and only took me a few hours from cutting to finish. This bag is a gift for our Senior Designer. Added a little detail with a bunny button available from aCloset.


This based on a pattern I've been waiting to do ever since I saw this on Rae's blog. This only became available just a few days after I ordered the Pippijoe one... Anyway, I decided to buy this pattern anyway to compare. The cutting took longer for this bag due to the size and my work table isn't that big. So had to work on the floor for that one.

For this bag, I decided to use an embroidered fabric I bought years ago from the very original fabric market in Shanghai. When I saw this, it reminded me of a Shanghai Tang coat so I thought I could make a coat with this as it's quite a heavier weight cotton. But prenancy, twins, and 3+ years later, it still is sitting in my tub of fabric stash. I thought it was time I used this fabric for this bag esp since this was big enough for the required material.

So happy with the result esp with the nice shade of purple linen cotton lining I used and hope the person receiving this will also like it (this purple is her favourite colour). This is a gift for her upcoming birthday...

Gift for Mick and Suzy

Finally finished sewing up a bundle of gift for my good friends Mick and Suzy who are expecting a third baby this September.



Here are the links to the patterns and gift tags:
Tags: aCloset
Bib pattern: Chickpea Sewing Studio
Burp cloth: here
Cloth shoes: Stardust Shoes which reminded me of the first shoes my twins wore.

If only I'd had time to sew when I was still pregnant (I was working until the day before I had to go to the hospital to deliver via C-section; my doctor had panicked...) I would have made these same stuff for them... But it is still as much fun to make goodies for babies as gifts.

I decided at the last minute to use snap closures for the bib. Bought extra moulds for the closures for this piece of machine I bought 6 years ago but didn't realize how useful it was until I took it out of storage a few weeks ago.

In Need of a Holiday

The summer heat has truly descended in Shanghai. The sweltering summer heat is felt everywhere and kids don't want to venture out. Yesterday afternoon we took them downstairs (in our apartment compound) to play with street chalks and ride their bicycle. Kids already complained of the heat and we were back up in our air conditioned apartment to cool off after less than 30 minutes of being out. And it was 'only' 37 degree celsius! We still have to survive the heat in August which can climb up to 40 degrees celsius. Fortunately, we have a small wind blowing in but the heat still can drain all your energy.

What I am dreaming of right now is being able to go to a nice beach! (Sigh!) I dug up some old photos which I'd scanned of days spent at a resort ages ago. Memorable experience I would love to take my family to some day... (another big sigh!)... to Miniloc Island.

Latest Fabric Stash

The linen cottons...


The cottons...

Okay, after weeks of deliberation, decided to take the plunge and bought a few Heather Ross's Mendocino and Far Far Away fabrics and have some ideas floating in my head to what stuff I can make with them... so exciting.

I'm equally excited with a couple of finds on the local Taobao.com shops. I found some great new linen cotton blends in solids; dark plum and purple colours on the top. They feel really really nice!

Bags and Key Holder

Been making gifts these days instead of buying, okay, I sometimes still need to buy the materials, so not really 100% all from my stash...

Anyway, I thought I'd make a bag for Naomi, my colleague from a canvass fabric I bought 4 years ago. Then I saw an instruction (in Chinese) for making the bird cage key holder. My first venture into felt and embroidery. I thought the key holder turned out well so I've made a new design which I'll post the instructions with pattern to share later. Here's a sneak peek at the pieces I've cut up below. It's actually almost finished.


The other night, I decided to stay up until 2am and do this Buttercup Bag by Made by Rae. Was quite surprised at how easy it was. This is yet another gift for someone close... can't say who yet until I've mailed this out.


After taking this picture, I just realized that I should have lined up the top part with the bottom part's pattern/design... ugh!

And the great news is Rae has just released her pattern for the Lickety Split Bag which I've been waiting to do for another upcoming birthday. Unfortunately, I've to work late tonight...

Organizing

Lately been doing some clearing up and to try to find a way to organize sewing notions, lots of bits and bobs, etc. which I've accumulated for the last 4 years. With the decluttering activity, I managed to find a couple stuff which I've now re-purposed to hold the bits and bobs.

The clear wall hanging with pockets is originally a calendar hence you see numbers and weeks and months. I've now got it to hold embroidery threads, sewing threads and lots of strings and elastics.

The one holding my ribbons was a necktie caddy which has never been used after Simon left the corporate world (to start up the company with me) and didn't need to wear ties to work (actually he hasn't worn any for the last 4 years!).


We also got all the stuff we had left at the moving company's storage warehouse for the last 3 years, delivered to our home. There were a total of 18 big plastic tubs and within a couple hours, Simon and I managed to get it all down to 6 boxes!!! Yippeee! So much stuff! We got the 'recycle man' outside of our apartment complex gate to take them all away. We got only RMB 60 (less than U$10) for the lot but we didn't care as long as they took the stuff away and recycled them. Now we feel 'lighter'.

Handmade Home

So so so excited. Placed my order for Amanda Blake Soule's new book Handmade Home, from her e-shop. Can't wait to get my copy in the post...