Ballerina shoe stationery case

I have been struggling to make these lovely ballerina shoe stationery case.   I came across these cases in my sewing totes and bags facebook group and I am really inspired by the design.  However, I am not able to access the original pattern and had to depend on my own imagination to make one.  After improvising a few times, it turned out better but still finding out the best way and design to make them.  I need to practice more.

I have gladly given all of them to my colleagues and friends as gifts.  I hope they will like it.  Maybe I should do more for the coming Christmas.:-)

More Stationery cases and coin pouches

I made more than 30 plus of simple stationery cases and coin pouches over one week.����
I used different type of fabrics mainly small left overs of cotton, cotton linen, denim jeans and waterproof fabric.

There are appliques on some plain ones such as the unbleached cotton linen and denim. My favourite is the cupcake applique on the denim��
I also love the Paris vintage cotton linen��

Before giving them away, I hope to further decorate them with silver or antique bronze charms as an extra personal touch��

Next project will be tote and sling bag hopefully by the end of December.��

Experimenting with waterproof fabric

I have been very curious about waterproof material but never had the courage to purchase one until recently.  I cannot resist the cute doggy design on one of the waterproof material with a reasonable price in a local online craft supply store.  So I decided to purchase not 1 but 2  waterproof fabric. 

 The first thing came into my mind when I received and opened the package was ' Oh no, I bought a plastic table cloth!'  Yes, it really looks and feels like those vinyl table cloth sold by meter in the local sundry shops here.  And yes...I should have done a bit of research and made some inquiry from craft supply store before purchasing them.

Lollipop and Tiny dog

Well, apparently there are many types of waterproof fabric but the ones I purchased just stated 'waterproof fabric'.  They look like oily cloth except that they are less shiny.  Anyway, since I have bought them, I just need to experiment with them.  I decided to make mini back pack coin pouch ( pattern by Katherine Greaves  from www.sewmesomethinggood.blogspot.ca) and simple pencil cases.

Here are my findings:

1.  To my surprise, they very manageable with the normal sewing and zipper foot.  There is no need to use roller foot.
2.  They are easy to cut and sketch/draw on.  
3.  It does not fray and not stretchable
4.  They are pliable and easy to work on.
5.  No need interfacing or stabilizer as the material has its own stiffness
6.  Use pins only at the seams.
7.  Ripping off seams will leave many tiny holes on the fabric.  Try to get it right the first time (which I find difficult for the mini back pack coin pouch....)
8.  Do not iron on the material.

Conclusion:  Overall, I find the fabric is very easy to work on and I am very happy with the outcome :-)

So here they are a set of pouches for 'him and her'.

A set of pouches from tiny dog waterproof fabric - just nice for the boys.

A set of pouches from lollipop waterproof fabric - sweetly for the girls

Frame purses

I have been thinking of making frame purse after inspired by pictures and the sewing group I join in Facebook.  I looked through the various tutorials and videos online but still do not have the confident of doing one.  During my recent visit to Ipoh early this month, I was so excited to find this frame in one of the Daiso chain stores.  It only costs RM5.  It comes with a complete manual, just what I need.  

Purse frame from Daiso

Manual page 1

Manual page 2

I traced the pattern from the manual and made a template out of cardboard.  Then  I cut the fabric using the template, 2 for the outer layer (floral) and another 2 for the lining (polka dots).

I used a thin batting as the interfacing for the outer layer and a thin interfacing for the lining.  I did some free motion quilting on the outer fabric.

Then I sew according to the instruction.

The scariest part is to insert and fix the frame onto the sewn fabric.  I just used UHU glue.   I started with one side and after it dried, then I did the other one.  After completing them, I find it is not as difficult as I thought.  It is even easier than sewing zipper.

So sorry I didn't manage to snap pictures for the whole process as I was too excited to finish the whole thing.

The finished product:-)

I decided to sew a coin pouch and a stationery pouch with the remaining fabric.

A family of pouches

The inside.

Then I was a bit more confident.  I tried out with a combination of cotton and denim.  I came out with two designs- The flower and The Lace and Buttons.  I used a thick stabilizer as interfacing instead of batting as the denim fabric is stiff.  It turn out to be just nice - sturdy and not flimsy.

Denim with flower applique frame purse

Denim and buttons frame purse

For the computer geeks

I made this stationery case especially for the boys who most of them are computer geeks.  The fabric resemble the laptop keyboard and quilted for firmer structure.

Again, both of them are given away as gifts to my nephew and my son's good friend.

My collection of handmade denims pouches

I love denim jeans fabric as it is classic, durable and its stiffness make the pouches look more sturdy.

 This flat denim pouch decorated with lace and wooden button making it looks feminine.  The blue and white floral inner fabric adds to its beauty.

Simple flat denim pouch decorated with silver plated buttons

Box denim pouch with contrasting pockets and centre part decorated with antique bronze plated buttons

Box denim pouch decorated with antique bronze plated buttons and butterfly charms.  The zipper pull is a bee charm

Small denim box coin pouch with lace, wooden buttons and antique bronze plated charm.

Denim pencil case

Another few pencil cases/ make up pouches to give away.

Pencil case made of cotton jeans fabric.  

(I love this very much- great sense of accomplishment)

Denim floral cotton.

Denim floral with wooden buttons

Pencil Case Obsession

 Different designs of pencil case made of cotton fabric.

Dimension 9" x 4"

Red Strawberry and polka dots

Pink floral polka dots and pink car applique

Denim jeans cotton with antique brass charms and buttons

Batik pattern cotton

Improvised box pencil case - red strawberry and polka dots

As it is more blessed to give than to receive,

all had been given away :-D

Strawberry box pouch

Another quick weekend project.

This box pouch is made by following  a tutorial from projectbyjane.blogspot.com.

I love the red polka dot inner lining that matches the strawberries though it is basically unseen from the outside.

  

I did not make the handle but substitute with a ribbon loop for easy handling of the zipper.T

his pouch is a bit too short to be a pencil case. I will try to make it longer next time:-).