Lace Flower - How To

Some afternoons I just don't feel like doing anything serious

On afternoons like those, I rummage through my lace box..

I find lace remnants from projects or vintage laces inherited from my mom..

and I make Lace Flowers.

They are very easy to make and it can be a mother daughter/son activities.

1. Get your sewing kit out

2. Sew a straight line around the length of your lace (I never measure stuff like this.. just go with the flow, you can always cut the excess later) 

3. Pull the thread slowly as to scrunch the lace to form a tight ball.

4. When you are happy with the amount of ruffles, remove excess if any.

5. Choose a cute button from your stash and sew (as in  pic 1 above) 

Have you girl/boy help you by picking out buttons, or if they're older (mine is 8), she can create her own lace flower. Sofea made hers from some pink lace and glued it to her hair pin (not in pic)

Use your lace flowers to embellish bags or hats

What do you do on lazy afternoons..??Pin It

Polypro Webbing Strapping

Sounds like my hubby's chemical stuff or something.. yucks!!

Well minus the name, they are actually very useful and with a bit of an attitude and some bling-bling, they can be rather dashing..

What am I talking about..??

Description:

Polypropylene webbing

works with buckle, slides, hooks and other fasteners

suitable for sports bags, purses, cases, belts, leashes, collars, backpacks, suitacases and straps

So far, I've used them in my KINOKO Slings and on a wristlet

How to do it..??

1. Match your strap with ribbons or lace

2. Pin them in place

Did you know you could sew over these pins (as in pic)??

(But make sure they are attached width-wise) 

3. Use matching threads and sew

4. Tadaaaaaaaa... how easy is that..? *grin*

I just got the webbing straping in 3 colourways - pink, beidge and dark blue (as in pic above). Would you be interested in them if I list them in the shoppe?? Pin It

KINOKO Sling

Introducing properly again.. KINOKO Sling by MyBotanG

As I said in the previous post, it took me a long while to get this pattern right, probably bacause this is MyBotanG's first original pattern. I am very happy now that it is done but I tell you it will be a while before I create something from scratch again.

Features:

- 2 pockets in front

- 1 pocket at the back

- 1 inside pocket

- flap cover

- snap button for closure

- adjustable handle length

size:

body - 27.5cm x 21.5cm with 5cm width all around

max length of handle: 122cm



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Something NEW..

It took me a long while to complete these new lovelies.. 

But finally they are done..

Introducing MyBotanG's new design

*KINOKO Sling

More on the features and sizes soon..
What do you think?

*KINOKO - mushroomPin It

Quilted Pencase

After my first success (kind of) with the quilted pencase (I made a patchwork version for myself), I've made few others (minus the patchwork).

I really enjoy working on this project, small projects like this is a good stress reliever for me (see other stress relievers; pocket tissue, coin purse and thank you card)

Quilted pencase - inside view, I had a rather tough time figuring out how to attach the lining properly so that once you turn inside out the lining is as it should be..

Side view - another hurdle is making sure the corners match.

All in all an interesting project. Definitely learnt something new and valuable along the way.

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Pockets Oh! Pockets..

Do you love sewing pockets?

I didn't realise how much I did, until I worked on these..

No.. it's not an oversize sewing machine cover.. *grin*

It's actually a fridge cover commisioned by a friend.

It is quilted (as you can see) with two quilted bellows pockets.

(how to make bellows pockets)

I only have made bellows pockets for my odekake bags, but while working on the fridge cover, I thought bellows pockets would be more appropriate as it will be roomier.

View from the top

quilted and lined bellows pocket

View from the side

It's amazing how much I have learned while working on this project.

• I know now quilted version of everything is much cuter *smile*
• You can apply the technique you've learnt to make something new i.e - one side bellows
• It is not easy to attach bias tape around bellows pockets

Made any pockets recently?? 

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Fabric Labels - how to

I stamp my own label for 2 reasons mainly;

1. It is too costly too order fancy labels here in Japan and

2. I love stamping my own labels, it hardly takes more than 10 minutes to stamp, cut and store about 50 labels..

I'd like to show you how I do it..

Here's what you'll need

1. Ink - make sure you have ink suitable for fabrics, I use Versa Craft and so far I have not come across incidents of the ink running or fading with wash or exposure to sun 

2. Tape - decide on the width you need, mine is 12mm

4. Stamp - you can carve it yourself (here) or have it custome made (here) or like me just buy the rubber alphabets, arrange them and paste them on the mounting block.

(You need to make sure that your stamp will fit your tape's width)

5. Start stamping away, leave spaces in-between for cutting, folding and sewing 

Once you have the ammount you need, stop.. admire *grin*

Cut and store - I put mine in a tin box.

Ready for use

There are also some other methods to make your own labels - Laurraine from Patchwork Pottery shows us how here and another similar one could be found here.

So..how do you label your work..??

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D'Lavender bags

Remember this bag..?? I had a lot of trouble finding a suitable name for it on my own, so I enlisted the help of my blogger friends, who were kind enough to suggest beautiful and exotic names... however, it was not meant to be..  

I finally named it D'Lavender after its first buyer.

I have made 3 more D'Lavenders recently, 2 using Moda fabrics and 1 in Lecien.

I find the whole process of cutting to assembling D'lavender rather easy and smooth sailing. This is I suppose mainly due to the fact that this bag has less parts as compared to some other patterns I have worked with.

I use fusible interface on both the main and the lining fabrics, including the handle and the snap button closure. This is the first pattern to use this much of interface. I usually use interface on either the main or the lining fabric only. But since I use soft cotton inside out for the D'Lavender bag, I have to make sure it is properly interfaced to ensure sturdier shape.  

My only stress point has to be while attaching the magnetic snap closure. I worry I'll end up with crooked and uneven position of the snap button. Thus making me check and re-check before I punch the hole to place the snap button.    

Size: 33cm (w) x 23cm (h)

Handle length: about 50cm

1 inside pocket

magnetic snap for closure

What do you think..? Any favourites?

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Underwear obsession continues

Happy Eid'ul Fitr to all those celebrating!! We had a simple celebration here in Kyoto, Eid prayer followed by Eid feast with other Malaysian friends

I have a couple of items made out of the underwear fabric and I just had to share them with you. I only had 2m of this fabric and was unable to replenish it once I was almost out. So, I'm making sure I use this fabric until its last scrap *grin*

I made a Puchi-Pouch commisioned by a friend, and from the leftover fabric, I made a card case. I have not made one in a long while, and making them again reminded me of the joy. I think I might make more soon..

MyBotanG card case with ruffle lace embellishment, loop with button for closure

Inside view - Plastic slots to store your point cards

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New Look for baby quilt

I'm excited to report that all 4 baby quilts are done *grin*

(If you are lost, I made plan to focus on quilting projects in August here - 4 baby quilts and 2 single size quilts)

I made 2 baby quilts using similar panel, the only difference is the NAME EMBROIDERY.. After procastinating long enough, I'm happy to report that I'm confident enough to use the embroidery function on my Janome Super Secio PC (the page is in Japanese) machine to personalise bags and quilts *relieve*

I still have a lot to learn about the embroidery function like adjusting size, colour and the position. I worry about thread breaking mid-way the embroiderring process.. how do I go back to redo?? *aarrrggghhh*

The view of the back, I used Moda fabric in cream.

Bias binding in lime polka dot. (Make your own tape here) 

Hope you have had a productive week so far..

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