Wristlet pattern

I like elephant and always collect anything if there are images of this lovely animal on them. I saw this Fat Quarter size fabric from my favorite seller 6008rena (ebay) and bought it for a while.

I have got a purple zipper,a  leather wristlet, white and purple stripes fabric, after browsing on etsy and bought this pattern from link, I had a go.....

The flap is hiding credit card holders and a pouch on one side of the wristlet, it can carry mobile, car key, cosmetics, cash, receipts...... I like this kind of clutch/wristle that I just carry it to supermarket or post office.

I covered the button to brighten that flap up. The clutch is lined with iron on fusible fleece.

My elephant wristlet

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Clutches, purses requests

Recently I have been asked to make clutches and purses by my friends, that is why I start listing them in my Etsy shop. I made few patterns myself and purchased some from the experts, lots of them from Etsy website.

For myself I want a small but roomy handbag so I purchased this pattern from                      and have no regret.
The owner is so helpful and informative, I received the pattern within 2 hours and I sent her questions about the pattern, I had got a response right away.
The good thing of buying patterns from  professional pattern designer  is I  have learnt so much from them. I used to buy lots of books with patterns but I love buying on line now.  Once I received it, I read it and print the pattern out and get on with sewing. I normally use accessories I have already had first, then changing them the way I like mine.

Fusible Interlining

Hi everyone out there,

Today I am writing about the fusible interlining I have been using lately. I have been trying many types of them till I found the one I like most. It is an iron on single sided woven fusible interlining.

I use it for making clutches, bags that need soft but firmer texture.
After I iron this interlining on my fabric, my fabric maintains flexibility and not seem to crease much.

Just use the steam iron, glide iron over each area, apply steam and pressure for about 12 seconds.

also machine washable, and dry cleanable.

When I use the iron on woven interlining, I draw the pattern on the interlining excluding seam allowance  so when I sew many layers of fabrics together, there is less bulk and the outcome is better.
This interlining sticks with my fabrics so well, I just love it.

I bought mine from U-Handbag, cottonandcloud, cottonpatch.

The main body of the clutch and the flap are lined with this interlining.

Holding hands for Japan

Please visit http://www.teotsunago.com

Shopping Light Wallet

Some day I just want to carry only credit cards, reward cards, credit card slips, lottery ticket !! to Super market. I found this easy, practical pattern from linkI like it after I have finished sewing the wallets.

I like this LONDON TOWN  fabric and I like linen so the combination is prefect for me today.
The heavy weight  exterior, interior fabrics and interfacing for medium weight fabric will give you the best wallet shape.

I bought this purse magnetic snap from Thailand, the snap is attached with the flower leather strip, on the flower there are tiny holes which I  hand sewn the sashiko thread on the wallet and it looks quite nice really.

I end up make 3 of them, one for myself and other two are listed on my Etsy shop and Folksy shop it did not take long but I am quite pleased with the result (^__^).

Mother's day

Happy Mother day mummy, athi whispered on my ear this morning. I was very happy to have him snuggling and kissing me. My husband and athi handed me cards, athi was so proud of his card he made at the nursery.

On his drawing he said it is mummy and himself, I like the line he drew between me and him I am feeling the bond between us.  I love you so much xx.

I arranged the flowers for my mother in law, as my mum is in Thailand and the Mother's day is in August so I did not have to do her one today (I love you mum).
My mother in law loves white Lily so I chose white and cream flowers. The big bow I used a piece of white tissue paper. I prefer  arranging  flowers myself to ordering ones from the florist.

We cut some daffodils in our garden for athi to give them to his nan and my sister in law, and he practiced what he was going to say when he handed them those bunches of daffodils.

Look at his happy face!

with his Dad xx

I love both of you soooo much.xx

A lovely design handbag

No, it is not my design. I have bought this pattern from this shop the PDF pattern is so clear and easy to follow. I was sent bag making tips which are very useful and I have learnt new things from it.

I tried a new fusible '' Vilene Firm Fusible'', I found it is too hard for this project but the bag shape is nice. I think I chose wrong exterior fabric to use with this fusible, the exterior fabric is quite thick. I struggled with sewing the bag flap between the exterior and interior fabric.

Instead of using a big round button to decorate the flap, I used Bead and Lace  ponytail holder from shop, cut the band off and stitch the corsage to the bag flap.

This bag is for you ''GEE''  on your birthday, see you at your party, Love x

I am looking for a new colorful fabric to sew this pattern again, this time is for myself.

Mother's day gift

I designed this purse for Mother's day, my mum and my mother in law love linen and I am sure they will love it.?? I still have some more clip frames left, I have to sew the holes around the frame, my fingers are so tiring at the moment. I have never try to use the one that you can just put glue in, I am not good at messy stuff.

I used this good quality natural linen and lace which I always buy from 6008rena(ebay) I love her fabric and lace. I stitched these tiny ribbon roses (ready made) which I bought loads from craft market in Bangkok. They come in many colors, I visualised them on my handmade items and baby goods. The inner fabric is lightweight cotton with lovely flower pattern.

I made the purse a bit longer than coin purses so it can keep a cellphone, lipstick, credit card and bank notes.
I have listed it on my shop at folksy  www.folksy.com/shops/zunathi

These tiny ribbon roses can find at www.folksy.com/shops/crazycraft

I made my handmade recycle paper bags to use myself and deliver the orders to my customers.

My little elephant friend keys case

Look at this guy who keeps my keys safe, he is so cute and easy to make. It is zakka style, it is a nice project to use up all small fabric pieces He will go everywhere with me from now on.

Mini handbag for me

I went on holiday in Thailand with a suitcase full of gifts for my family and friends and I came back with lots of presents for me and craft material.
My sister's best friend who I have know her since she was in secondary school with my sister, about 27 years!! I think of her as my little sister, she is working together with my sister how lucky they are.

She gave me this lovely mini handbag with zipper, it is so special because it all hand sewn and I like the color tone, I will keep it forever.

I have a thing with brass zipper charms, I love them. I love you " Sao" and thank you so much for this gift.
and thank you for being you.

I am back sewing again

Athi woke me up with his cough, and want to work with computer (that what he said) in my bed. Good morning to me so I got my kits out, I bought this small clip frame kit from my favorite craft shop " PINN" in Bangkok, inside the pack, I got a clip frame, exterior and interior fabrics,fleece, pattern and instructions.

I hand sewn this purse, I did not follow the instructions but the result is okay, I like it.

The time consuming bit was to sew the purse opening parts to the purse frame, I did not use glue before I sew it.

JAPAN

It is hard for me to blog after I come back from holiday, what happened to Japan is so sad. I hope all the bloggers can help however you can. I have been watching the news every single day and my heart is with all the people who have to face this very hard times.

Gifts for children

I have been hand sewing little animal face zipper pouches, the first one is a puppy face. The way I sewn this pouch:

                                              

The front face:

I drew the face pattern on the exterior fabric, embroidered the nose, mouth and whiskers then stitched the tiny black beads for eyes. I sewn both ears and stuff with small amount of poly filling. then sewn ears to the face.The exterior fabric is quite thick so I did not need interfacing. 

I put the thin fleece on the wrong side of the interior fabric and drew the face pattern on the fleece.

With right sides of the exterior and interior fabrics together sewn along the pattern line, left 4 cm gap to turn the right side out, sewn to close the gap.

I did the same for the back part without embroidery and ears. 

I sewn the front and back together, left the top bit open, sewn zipper on the exterior and interior. 

                                        

I used the dog charm to attach to the zipper. This pouch is right size for keeping coins, folded bank notes, lipstick, small toys.

  

Shark for athi, and bear for my friend's daughter.

Floral lined Boxy pouch

I just finished a gift for my sister, she wants Cath Kidston 's pouch. She said CK products are hot in Bangkok. Instead of buying her CK 's pouch, I decided to make it myself. I bought this fabric in sale last year for only half  yard then I cut a small piece out and made a pincushion and did not use it again. It took me a while to draft the pattern of this pouch, I drew on the paper and taped the paper to see the shape of the pouch. I finally worked out how I would make different sizes of this kind of pouch. This one is 6" x 6" and deep 2.5". I sewn interfacing on both exterior and interior fabrics but it is still not hold the shape the way I expected.

I used the medium weight cotton fabric for interior and managed to lined the pouch without raw seam edge. Basically I made two pouches the same size and sewn the interior one to the floral one on the zipper. This way the pouch looks nicer.

Happy morning with Wool-Cashmere Frilly baby socks

I checked my email this morning and one mail made my day, the first customer of my shop who purchased this pair of socks likes to know whether I am still making them. I just listed the baby pink pairs for her, the material is an orgarnic soft wool-cashmere yarn, I knitted frilly top edge and hand crocheted little flower stitched on the frilly part. They are very cute for the baby girl, they look good in white and raspberry which she bought them last year. I hope you like the baby pink one My first customer.

Gifts from me

We are going to visit my family and having a long holiday in Thailand soon. I have been hand making gifts for my family and dear friends over there, plus my friends' children as well. I am very busy with buying materials, sewing, organizing flight tickets, apartments and hotels on the beach. I love to stay with my family but my husband wants his own space ( sad sign on my face).  I want the gifts to have a bit of English touch or somethings about England, when I saw this fabric, I bought it without thinking much. I like the cotton/linen fabric, I personally think this type of fabric is easy to sew and press.

Actually, this fabric is called LONDON BUS, there are little guards, buses, flags, London bridge, parliament printed on the fabric, they are so cute.

I decided to sew a handbag with gusset, I used natural linen for the interior fabric, interfaced the exterior fabric and lined the interior fabric with soft fleece.

I used magnetic snap to close the bag, it is my first time to use the magnetic snap I found it is far easier than sewing the zipper!!. I have not decided to whom I will give this bag . The bag is so light and quite roomy, I have been lately carrying  this kind of handbag instead of shoulder bag since I hurt my shoulders. I have to make more and more of them.

I sew the inside zipped pocket and attach the little metal bag charm. I bought lots of zipper charms from Thailand last year.

I think materials are so expensive in England, I will spend a whole week of my holiday looking and buying all sort of craft materials and bring them back.  They are so much cheaper in Thailand, hopefully I will have things to show you when I come back to England.

Bank note Rose

Chinese new year and Valentine are approching, let me show you this Bank note rose, my brother in law's sister gave this rose to athi 2 years ago when we went back to visit my family in Thailand.  As a Chinese-Thai who was born in Thailand, I miss Chinese new year so much. The last time I celebrated Chinese new year with my dad's family was 12 years ago. We give money to the younger ones instead of gifts, new bank notes are put in the pink or red envelopes, we give money to our parents and grandparents as well. I remember everyone came to my granddad's house and we had a very big meal. We, children loved this day because we received the red envelopes but  we could not spend money on that day, we had to spend it on the next day (for good luck). Another reason was we could be absent from school because it was chinese new year, every headmasters seemed to understand this reason.

We burnt the pretend money, clothes, jewelery,  electric appliances etc which  were printed on the brown papers for our ancestors to use in the heaven, that was the explanation from grown up.

One hundred baht red bank note is used to fold one petal  it values about £2,  there are 10 petals , I like the idea and my brother in law's sister is so kind to athi. I explained to athi about this rose, how the lady made it but he did not understand much, one day he will. I just want to say Thank you once again Je Leng.xx

Baby boy mushroom shoes

I  have made 2 pairs of baby boy shoes for my customers since last post, I like the exterior fabric, kind of softbrown fine corduroy cotton, the interior is stripy cream-blue cotton fabric. This pattern is so easy to hand sew. I embroidered mushrooms on the shoes.

I hand sewn the main part of the shoes and the sole separately,  then I hand stitched them together. I think it is easier that machine sewing (for me anyway) but it is time consuming. The exterior fabric was lined with iron on woven interfacing which I bought it from Uhandbag. It is really good quality though.  I added the softness to the soles by lining fleece between fabrics. My customers said they fit nicely on her baby feet.