How to make a fake fur stole wrap

Let me start by saying this, i think you could wear an elegant short faux fur cape every day.
But since we're nearing Halloween this tutorial might come especially in handy.
You have this wonderful costume but you don't want to completely cover it with a jacket?
Whip up a stylish stole! Quick and easy!

What you need:
Faux fur (39" or 98cm by 12" or 30cm)
Lining fabric (39" or 98cm by 12" or 30cm)
Piece of Velcro (1.5" or 4cm)
Pretty brooch (optional)

You don't need any special patterns, you can measure, draw and cut the needed pieces directly on the (wrong side) of the fabric.

Now call upon your inner Tim Gunn and make it work!

Since i adore everything that is soft, i went for pink fleece for the lining. Ofcourse you can use pretty smooth and shiny lining fabric!

- Do a "test wrap": Place the two pieces of fabric on top of each other(wrong sides facing) and locate where you want the cape to close, where you need to put the pieces of Velcro. On your right side it will be somewhere on top corner of the (right side) of the faux fur. On your left side it will be somewhere on the top corner of the (right side) of the lining fabric. Mark these locations with a pin.
Note: Keep a 0.5" or 1cm seam allowance in mind! Don't place the Velcro too close to the edge of the fabric.


- Sew the Velcro pieces where you just placed the marks. (i used some pink Velcro, since it matches my stole, but the color doesn't really matter)
- Pin both pieces of fabric (faux fur and lining) on top of each other, right sizes facing. Make sure the pieces of Velcro are on the same long edge on opposite sides.
- Sew all the way around, leaving an opening of approx 6" or 15cm to turn inside out later.
- Cut of the corners.

- Turn the cape inside out through the seam opening and sew the opening shut.
- Wrap the cape around you and pin the brooch on the faux fur where the two corners come together. The brooch won't be what keeps the cape wrapped, the Velcro will do this. The brooch is purely for decoration.

Voila! Enjoy your stole wrap!

Oh, i got to mention this in case you don't realize this already, it's for non-commercial use only. You may not sell items made from this tutorial.

Extra Large, Extra Cute Pillow

If you have been following my blog for a long time already you might remember the cute XL pillow i made. I can't believe it has been over 3(!) years that i made that!
Anyway, since i moved from Amsterdam to New York, i didn't bring the original with me. I wish i had, but that one pillow would have filled up an entire suitcase and i really needed that space. Not sure why, but yesterday all of a sudden i really missed that pillow. I dived into my past pattern stash and fabrics; I knew i had some fake fur fabric somewhere! Now i just have to get a new load of fiberfill, pillows like these need a LOT of filling!

My almost Martha Stewart Adventure

My almost Marthe Stewart Adventure involves bunnies. Cute bunnies. Drawstring bag bunnies.
If you have been following my blog for awhile, you probably know i'm not one to be overly excited about things when they are not yet sure to happen. In this case that was a good thing. All though i must say i did have some butterflies in my stomach.
What happened?
Well, i was contacted by one of the producers of the Martha Stewart show! To possibly do a craft on the show! Next to Martha! Whoooo. You understand, even if something like that isn't sure to happen, you will get excited about the thought.
There were some doubts in my mind though. Was i ready? Guess i could be. Who am i to think i could teach Martha something? Well, we would together be teaching the audience something. Was my craft good enough? I think it was, but then again, it didn't feel 100% right. You know, if you ever come on the Martha Stewart show, you want to be on with something you totally love yourself too, that represents you to the fullest.

We, the producer and i, had discussed a couple of possible craft projects and ended up with a variation on my furry drawstring bags. I transformed and updated the design a bit and turned them in a perfect Easter craft; drawstring bunny bags! Perfect to keep your eggs warm at Easter breakfast or to fill up with Easter candy as a treat bag. I also had to do a video tutorial so the producers could see how the project (and myself) would come across on camera. Then the wait began. Unfortunately this morning i got the news my bunny bags won't make it onto the show. Not because they don't love them, or not want to work with me, but just because it didn't fit the schedule/their plans for the season at this time or something. Hm. Too bad. But we're in contact. So you never know what the future might bring.
What is sure, is that i will post the video how-to tutorial of the bunny bags on my blog when Easter is a bit near. So if you love them, you will be able to make your own!

And they are not the only one re-thinking things, i have been pondering the whole second Etsy shop thing and i came to the conclusion that i would rather just place everything in my original first Etsy shop. So i'm currently transferring all items. If you have hearted items from my new shop and can't find them anymore, pls check the other shop, if it hasn't sold, it is probably there! Sorry for the inconvenience!

Now i'm off to file my and my husbands taxes. Keep your fingers crossed for some sort of a refund!

Fabric swatches

Fabric swatches. A lot of fabric swatches. Haven't counted them but i'm guessing like 300 or so. I recently received all my book projects back from the publisher. They were still there in London, just in case something needed to be photographed again or something. With every project i included the swatches of the fabrics used. To make it easier for the photographer i didn't refer to a list of swatch numbers, but added every swatch with every project, even if that meant cutting multiple swatches of the same fabric. So now i have a huge stash of swatches.

Will probably end up somewhere in some sort of patchwork quilt one day.
Where would you use 300 fabric swatches for?

Pay it forward; Bunny Dolls

I made two cheeky bunny dolls. The purple one went to Jenavi as the Pay it Forward craft. My other Pay it Forward crafts have been sent out too, but haven't received word they arrived yet, so pictures will follow soon!

Scrap love

Some days i even love my scrap pile of fabrics.

They're tiny... and many!

Today my desk was filled with tiny fabric butterflies.
I don't know what it is, but things like this make me smile. They surely brightened up this cold day.

Wall Storage

I needed some additional storage and didn't want to put any more stuff on the floor.
So now, on the wall directly next to my desk, i hammered two medium sized nails and hung my two vintage reversible bags on them.
Voila, instant wall art / storage space!

Issey is a doll now

So i managed to finish the issey doll.
Maybe i should have made the head a bit bigger.
Or the body a bit smaller.
To get the dimensions right.

Nonetheless i learned some new things again about doll making and already have more ideas to make more dolls in the future.

Anyone likes?

Sewing Issey

"Ooh! That's me!"


My little alter ego doll Issey is getting a bit pale around the nose. Because she's in my bag all the time the paint on her face is a bit scratched up. :(

So i promised her i would sew a larger version of her.
Am working on that now. Think it will turn out cute.

I've sold my sewing machine

I really did. I've sold my sewing machine.
No, I haven't given up sewing, I've bought a new one! Decided that it would be too much hassle to move my old machine with me overseas, get a converter and all that. It was just easier to sell and buy a new one.

I could have gone for the hello kitty machine (target) but instead opted for a white Singer Precision. Maybe plain white, but nothing a couple of cute stickers can't fix! It has to be personalized of course. Cutified.

It is a step up from my last machine, maybe even a couple of steps up. Love it! Hopefully my next step up will be something like the Singer Quantum Futura. How wonderful would that be?

Sewalong Cape

Got to post this before i leave. Proof that i really did manage to get a little bit of creative work done in this hectic period. (still far too little, i miss it!)
I mentioned the sewalong with Nico before, originated from a post i did about free online patterns. It took a bit longer than planned, but i finally managed some actual progress.
The original pattern is still online and can be found at the Burda site.

My version is almost ready, will finish it in NY. All sewing has been done, i only still have to put on the closure and the buttons.

Online sewing patterns

Got to share this.

I was flipping through some sewing magazines at the newsstand the other day when i noticed a download logo with some of the patterns in a magazine called 'easy fashion' from the Burda company. It stuck in my head, checked it out and there really are free patterns for download! It looks like the patterns are updated, maybe with every new issue of the magazine? A very good thing is that the (detailed) work descriptions / how to's are available in 10 (!) different languages. Choose yours!

cute as a button pouches

I thought i had already posted about these. Just realized i hadn't yet.

Each pouch has cute inside lining and it's own matching button. Either on the pouch or attached to the zipper as a cute zipperpull.

bag 'buttons and shapes'

i should really measure and pin more. at least for me to be more satisfied. it would just look better if i would have sewn that see-through front pocket on more straight.
or left it out all together.

I do love how the combination of shapes and colors worked out. there's a lot going on without being too overwhelming. or is it.

Two more longnecks

Please meet the final two of my longnecks.
I'm thinking of entering the white one in the Softie awards. Maybe i should choose another? Or multiple? I see others entering more than one softie. There is still some time left to enter. i don't have the illusion of actually winning, there are many great talented entries already. but i think it's time i should get something out there.
All longnecks are approx 13 inch high. I will come back with some cute names for them.

New longneck friends!

Skyes the giraf has found some new friends to play with in the playground!

More info and pictures (there are two more!) will follow tomorrow!

Patchwork blanket done!

It missed a couple of set deadlines, but then it did get finished.
Cozy on the bed with the already done pink version.

I think i can never wash it since i wasn't thinking and used many different types of fabric. Next time i'll go for one type only.

pink pouches

i'm focussing a bit more on it becoming a reality that i will eventually finally one day open up a little shop of my own. well in the past i owned an internet shop before, but i didn't make the products i was selling myself(original cute kawaii items, what else?). this would be a whole new venture. but a shop is nothing without inventory. so i got to set my mind on making some cute items that would possibly make it into my sales pages.
Let's start with some zippered pouches.
Got some work to do.

phew... finished that bag

finally.
i won't be making another one any time soon. of course it would be easier a second time around since i now have a pattern ready and i've learned by mistakes.
it also took a long time because after every step of the way i stopped. left it alone. had to think about my next move. and still i managed to sew parts together which had to be sewn on in a later stage, thank you seamripper!
but with me being so "smart" to choose for two different types of vinyl fake leather type fabrics when you rip a seam the needle holes are still a bit visible. and with some parts where the two different fabrics are sewn together the fabric kinda 'ran' a bit.

but my newest motto is "Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself" so i'll see what i like about it.
i like that it's finished. ;)
i like the dark brown and white color combination.
i like how my ismoyo girl applique came out.
i like that i did manage to figure out how to complete it.
i like that it's strong and large enough to stylishly do some small grocery shopping with.
i like it that i didn't decide to be lazy and did include an inside pocket, you know you want to put your keys somewhere where you can find them easily.
did i say i like the fact it's finished?

a heart to cuddle

Those who have been reading my blog for a while might know that me and my Love travel between NY and Amsterdam. That means we're not together all the time. We can't always celebrate life's joyous moments with each other. This coming Valentine's we're not going to be spending together. Now it isn't that i think that much about Valentine's day. 1 Day to be sweet to each other? C'mon people. Make everyday Valentine's day for the one you love. But hey, that's my world. But i don't dislike the day of hearts either. I love all the pink and red that comes with the day. I love to get a small surprise gift from the one i love. I love finding something sweet and thoughtful to give. I love dressing up and going to dinner in a small restaurant. Feb 14th is good, but any other day will suit me just perfect too. Since i must miss my hubby i made something to cuddle up to anyway; a heart shaped plush photo frame!
I think it came out okay. It would also be a good idea for when you have a little kid who is going for his or her first sleepover, you could put in a picture of mom and dad in there, so the night without them isn't too hard to get through.

Have a Happy Valentine's day tomorrow! Spread the love!

Checkered couple

Oops. Bought socks in the wrong size...
Trashcan or reconstruct? What do you think?!
Turned them into this couple who have now created a home for themselves on top of my bookcase.

I just cut and sewn as it seemed logic to me. There are many tutorials of how to make sock monkeys and puppets to be found online. Webgoddess has a clear step by step tutorial which is a good starting point if you don't want to just wing it.

Oh yeah, stuffing a long looong and narrow tail is not a fun activity.

Skyes so high

Today on the playground.

whispers
"hey psst, you seen the new one?"
"how could we've not?"
"what is it? it's sooo tall!"
"i think i know, i heard about those before, they're called longnecks!"
"really? would you dare to say something?"
"uhm. hi there, mr. longneck?"


"well hello little ones. i was wondering if i could spend some time here on ismoyo's playground with all of you."
"he wants to stay here"
"we have never had such a long visitor"
"maybe he won't stay long"
"that's not what i meant..."
"of course you can stay here with us mr. longneck!"
"thank you, i would like that very much.
one thing, could you stop calling me mr. longneck? i'm a giraffe and my name is Skyes."
"nice to meet you Skyes!"
"nice to meet you too."

Skyes the giraffe is made out of felt. And very dark yarn turned into manes using a long loop crochet stitch. Stuff, stuff very much stuffing inside to keep his neck strong and upright. I choose not to put in a stick or some sorts, I'm trusting my stuffing skills with this one. I did put two short sticks in his horns, no stuffing there and iy would look bad if the horns wouldn't stand straight up. The paws give the balance so Skyes won't fall over.
He has a total height of approx. 13 inches or 33 cm.

4x crafty apron

I still had to show off these four crafty aprons, or tool belts however you want to call them. I mentioned making them earlier, but never got around to taking pictures of them. Well i did try, but they were difficult to take good pictures of. (they look prettier wearing them, than laid out on the floor...)

I started making the square one, but i must say i quickly found out that square isn't flattering for your figure when wearing the apron.. Still cute, but well, square. So i like the way the others came out better. They all have lots of different compartments to keep all the needed tools and notions nearby.
As an extra, the green one and also the square one both also have see through vinyl compartments.

Pink patchwork

What was i thinking when i started this project? Well, i wasn't thinking actually. I just figured i would find out how to do it along the way. And i did. Just not in the most practical way. Oh, i could have done that better like so and so... well, already too far along to go back and adjust. Make a mental note for next time and proceed as started. In the end it therefor didn't come out entirely like i had planned it to, but nevertheless it is already my favorite blanket of all time!
Kinda difficult to make a good picture of it. It's large enough for one person, approx 115 x 200 cm, for the picture i have spread it out on my double bed. I used the softest pink velour fabric i could find for the back of the blanket. In combination with the soft padding inside it's very very comfy to cuddle up under during those upcoming cold winternights!






Some detail shots i made when still in progress.

Squeak, squeak

Well hello there. If you go by my blog, it might seem like I haven't been very creative lately. Creative literally as in actually creating things. But luckily there are some things to show and blog about.
There are also a couple of projects which are nearly finished, but I've recently ordered some new woven labels and I want to put those on so I'm waiting for the mailman to deliver them and then I'll finish those projects too.
Uh, what's with the squeak squeak? It's the sound these round plastic "squeaky-sound-makers" make. hihi. Got to incorporate them in a cute plush toy. Probably an animal. A felt squeaky little mouse maybe?

Is this Ismoyo's playground?

See whom I was welcomed by this morning!

I'm planning on making some more, attach straps or something so you can hang them somewhere and see how much fun they have. That would immediately solve my dilemma of should i attach the cupcakeholders or keep them loose so they can hop out when they want to. Well, i'm still finalizing the ideas for these cupcake-cuties.
One day i will open up shop and i want to have something that is really Ismoyo. Maybe these can start it off.

New notions

I can call a bunch of buttons and some zippers notions, can I?
I'm learning sewing related terms in English lately. Since I haven't been sewing for more than like a year or so, I'm really just learning all terms in Dutch, my native language. But since I'm a citizen of this world, and I want to communicate, I need to learn the right words to describe certain things in English. I am always willing to learn. So if anyone catches me saying something stupid, making constant typo's, using wrong words, being confusing and all that, pls let me know! I won't be offended. but be gentle anyway... honest, but gentle.
I do know my English isn't that terrible. Maybe you would even call it fluent both verbal as well as written. But it's just not my native tongue. With every blog post there is a point of frustration because I can't find the exact words I want to use to get my message across. Ofcourse there is the beloved spellchecker and I love using it, but I not only want to know how to have something corrected for me, I want to know how to do it myself. maybe that's why there is always a paper dictionary on my desk.

Don't leave me alone

My Love sent me the Moby video, In this world in an email when he was still in NY. The video shows the story of the tiny green aliens with 'hello' signs who come down to earth (NYC) and walk around, but nobody sees them. You should check it out, it's sweet, touching, adorable. Could make you cry if you're in a certain state of mind..
Well, the thing is, my Love and I are now hooked to those little aliens. I have mentioned before that he was able to fly over to Amsterdam because he had to do some shows and last Friday was the first one during the Amsterdam Dance Event. The loving wifey that I am, I wanted to give him something for good luck. I know he carries around mascots/plushies that I made on stage when he performs, so what better to make then one of our new found friends from Moby's aliens??
Started out by looking at the video a couple of times and made some alien sketches. Next, I made a miniature version out of Playdoh clay. Because the clay doesn't harden, I folded a little box (plus topcover) to protect him. When my Love arrived, this was all that I could show him since the plush version wasn't done yet.
So when Friday came, I really had to get started. Love was doing his final rehearsals and I was franticly behind my sewingmachine. I was real happy to have it finished in time, although there is something I could have done better. I used some copper wire to make the feelers on his head stand up and I also used it to hold the sign up with. All sewing creatives out there know that an important part of thinking about how to make something, drawing up patterns, is to think ahead. Think Ahead. Ohoh, I was rushing so much that I forgot. So I made the sign not entirely to my liking. I know it won't hold up forever. Like I know not to attach anything that isn't tightly sewn secure on to it. Since my Love will carry it around Everywhere and will stuff it in his pockets (even though it's too large and won't fit), all things like buttons or glued items will come off. That's also why I had to sew on the eyes and the pupils. Which I could have done a better job on too. But let me not be too hard on myself. I got the best smile and hug from my Love when I arrived at the club and gave him the alien.

(PS while working on this craft project I found out that Moby did a sequel video with the aliens coming back to earth, this time with bigger signs and they do get noticed. It's called Sunday, the day before my birthday)

(PSPS I also sewn a Brooklyn patch on to his guitar bag. If you ever plan on doing this, Don't. You need to have a large area cleared out around your machine (which I hadn't), otherwise the bag will knock everything down. Second, to sew around the entire patch, you will have to turn the bag totally around while sewing, so at one point the whole thing has to move through the open area of the machine. = no fun. But the result was a happy husband who, after I told him how hard it was, looked at me with puppy eyes and asked "One a day maybe ?" He obviously has more patches...)

Sewing Machine Maintenance Time

It all started with this squeaking sound... squeak... squeak... squeak...
Can't be good... My Sewing Machine is talking to me...
Next, the lightbulb inside decided it had given me enough light and quit on me.
Ohoh. Can't ignore it anymore, time for a sewing machine check up. Maintenance time!

Fabric wallhangings

Still catching up here. I have been wanting to put up these pictures, and I don't know why I couldn't find/make any time to show them. So finally.

They are fabric covered canvases. Can't have enough wall art. I was reminded of them by Meshell's creations a while ago. It took me awhile to get to take pictures of them.


I've gone wild sewing on buttons, fabric, trims and other decorations. I enjoy making color compositions. It feels like everything has it's specific place, even before I even start, their own spot where it belongs. My task is to get them there. Sometimes it works and I get it, but sometimes I don't and that makes me sad..

The girl with the geese on the checkered fabric is a picture I found on one of my vintage children's postcards. I got her onto the fabric trying out the freezer paper fabric printing for the first time. The border under the ducky, or is it another goose? are three different trims stacked on top of each other. The flowers on the right fabric canvas were printed on iron-on paper. Used some scraps of white felt to iron them on to. (think I'll make more of these 'appliques', I like!)

More decorations on fabric. It's like making a collage. One of my favorite pastimes! The lady on the right canvas is my mom. I used the same image on my very fist handmade bag too! And same as with the flowers above, ironed the image onto white felt.

Catching up - sewing projects

I'm so behind on posting the things I'm working on, you won't believe it. So I'm playing catch up over the next couple of days. It's definitely not that I'm not making things lately, that I'm not being creative. I am. As much as possible. But everytime i finish something i think i don't want to post that yet because i still have to post all the other things. Ah well, it's just time to catch up now.
I did some sewing projects i haven't shown before. Like this heavy vinyl (oilcloth?) clutch. Brown, kinda leather look on the outside with a vintage button (which is just for show) and the flower decoration. Pink vinyl on the inside with a brown side compartment. The clutch closes easily with bright pink velcro!

I have never showed this dress yet either. Definitely not that I'm not proud of the dress, i am. Maybe not so much about the pictures. They don't do the dress any justice. It is so well made. And no I'm not totally bragging here. My mom helped me out a lot. Credit where credit is due. Like on the long hidden zipper that's on the back. Without her help i wouldn't have known what to do with that! I found the pattern for this dress in one of my vintage Marion sewing magazines. I desperately needed a great outfit for a garden cocktail party at my job that i helped to organize. The mainevent was this nationally known fashion stylist, Dyanne Beekman, who would be there to give styling tips to those who attended. Oh, all organized and nothing to wear!! I wanted to do the dress on my own, but because i only had a couple of days left to the event, i didn't want to take any risks. This dress had to be done and perfect in one try. I had this simple, yet elegant deep purple fabric laying around. Lucky me for always buying fabric even if i don't know what I'll make from it yet.

I love making bags, unfortunately i didn't have much time lately to spend on making them. This one found it's way through the hands of time. I was thinking about cupcakes while making the bag. The outside is decorated with a polkadot ribbon, pink zipper, buttons and a see through front pocket. The inside has some bright green/pink/white striped lining. And an inside pocket in the same lining fabric.

It's been a while: Quilt update

It has been a while since i last did some real work on it. Let's see, last time i talked about it on here was in April. Ha. Let's just say summer isn't the time to be thinking bout any quilt.
But i want to be sure that when the first cold days hit i will be able to cuddle up under my pink galore quilt. It's a very fun project to work on, nonetheless i'm happy that the end is in sight!

Promo banner/table cover

Not very much to tell about this. My Ismoyo banner/table cover that i was working on, is now as good as finished. It makes me so happy entering my livingroom and seeing the pink banner! It came out almost like i wanted it to. I just need to figure out if, and what i want to put in the center of the flowers.
For now, I'll leave it like it is.

4 friends waiting to be named

Like i said before, happy to be creating again. As promised i would show the progress on my new little friends. Voila!

They seem to get along very well and having fun playing together.

I promised them a little party when they'll get their names. Will take pictures of course of their cute adventures.

I told my Love i hadn't picked names for them yet, he told me to put them on my blog and he would let me know what their names would be.

I can't wait to find out what he comes up with.

Love, got any inspiration already?

Tasty Pincushion

I had been working on this just before i left. Still had to finish it, so first things first and voila! Done. I now want to take a bite out of it.

There are so many cute pincushions to be seen online and every time i thought oh, i want to make one too. Now finally i have.
Done. To be striped off my to-do list.
Ahhh. Feels good.
On to the next.

By the way, for those who don't know, Booga J organizes the monthly pincushion challenge.

Creating again (Work in Progress)

One good thing about being back in my apartment in Amsterdam is that i have all my creative supplies around me again. Very excited to have all my fabric and paper and glues and ribbons and everything else around me! I have already started working on multiple new projects.

These four 'balls' are work in progress to become four new cute friends. Of course I'll post pictures when they got their personalities!

I won't be able to sew for 3,5 weeks!

Oh my... oh my...
I just realized that this is the bad side to some very joyful news...

I BOUGHT A TICKET TO NEW YORK!!! Whoohoo! I'm gonna be with my man again!! Whoohoo! Ok, it might not be the permanent move over the ocean yet, but this is good too. This way i can already move over some stuff too. I still need to wait a couple of days but then I'm on that plane!

My blog will still be updated with new adventures because I will bring my laptop. Of course. This girl can't live without her computer. A couple of weeks without my sewing machine is difficult. Without the computer is impossible. Hihi. I might need to take up handsewing again. Because you know i will bring some of my craft supplies! Ah well, not sewing does give me more time to work on my illustrations, so it's not a totally bad thing.

Anybody knows anything about common sewing withdrawal symptoms?

76 Degrees t-shirt reconstruction

I got this large green boys tshirt from a big pile at the local market. Thought it could be turned into something cute and used to try out some things.
Like the sleeves. Not sure if i like them too much, but i wanted to try and see if i could make them. Now i know i can, don't think I'll be making them again any time soon. Or maybe i will, but I'll make them less wide. I think I'll try that. Could end up pretty if I'd make them small and ruffled.
I do like how the collar came out. I had made some sketches before i started, so i felt really prepared.

But overall, the outcome of the reconstruction does make me smile.
And there is nothing pink in it for once.

Bunny wrist bands

Cute? Crazy? Or Crazy Cute?
I'm so used to wearing a (somewhat tight) wristband to support my wrist during all the hours behind my computer. Don't want to get RSI from using my computer mouse too much. But being so used to that, my wrist feels empty, naked when I'm not using my PC. So I "reconstructed" (cut up) two pairs of cute socks into these wrist bands.

So? Cute? Crazy? Crazy Cute?
hihi. They make me smile.

White cylinder pouch

What I've learned: I don't like sewing in circles. Well, i don't really mind, but not when it has to be attached on both sides and put a zipper in between. Hmph.

It ended up pretty nice none the less. It's perfect to use as a make up bag or pencil bag.
But i ain't rushing to make plenty more right away.

Oh yeah, Babelfish asked me about the fabric i used for the 'bring-to-the-park bag' and the coinpurses the other day. It's the same as the outside fabric i used on this cylinder pouch. And you must excuse me, i don't know all the correct names of types of fabric in English. (oh i hate that, i am studying but just don't know them all yet) Anyway, can i call it vinyl? It's not plastic, it's not leather look, it's vinyl. Or how it's called in English properly.. The inside of this pouch is made of table plastic. Another fabric i don't know the 'official' naming of. I feel dumb. :(

It's pink, it's furry, it's cute.

But what is it?
Does it really matter anyway, as long as it makes me smile?
Well, okay, it's a furry drawstring bag with a face!
The inside has pink doggy fabric (also very cute). I think i could have added some ears. I might make another one.

Yesterday a friend of mine was visiting who has a little heartache and she was cuddling it the entire evening.


Already when i was a young girl i loved furry fabric like this. I wanted pillows, bedspreads and everything to be made out of it. But back then i didn't know how to sew yet, so my mom had to make everything for me. Which she lovingly did, but i always heard her mumble and grumble about all the furryness flying around her sewing area.
Now i finally know what she was talking about. The fabric is soft just the way i like it, and the end result makes me happy, but making it... wow... everything is covered in small pink plush.

Been creative again!

What I've learned. Don't rush to finish a bag because you have to leave but want to bring it to the park with you and show it to your friends. Rushing only leads to not concentrating and thus to making mistakes which will bug you like crazy when your using it in the end. Another thing I've learned. White bags aren't good to bring to an afternoon in the park anyways.

These small bags are based on the same pattern i used for my Queensday coin purse. I love the way you can carry them on your wrist and having your hands free to browse while shopping. Or dancing, when you're in the club and only have some money, keys and your lipgloss to carry. They remind me of cupcakes! (and that is a good thing ofcourse)

I wish i had some professionally printed labels. Putting it high up on my list of things to get myself.

Men's shirt turned into cute girly shirt

I found this ugly xxl men's shirt for 2.50 euro. Decided to buy it for a trial reconstruction project. If it wouldn't work it wouldn't have lost a lot.

I think it did turn out nice, but not entirely how I wanted it to.
I like the flower applique, which I fist wanted to sew on the pocket, but that didn't work. Couldn't get my sewingmachine in between the fabric and I wasn't planning on doing it the hand sew way. So it ended up near my shoulder instead.

I made a sketch of how I wanted the shirt to end up, and drew some darts on it where I wanted the shirt to get some more shape. Uhm. I sewed them the wrong way, so it looks a bit weird. At least I figured out along the way how I Should have done it, so next time it'll be better.



Before picture

Quilt update

I haven't been working on it steadily, but I made a couple of more squares and it makes me happy to see that the patches are starting to form a real base for the quilt.
Maybe next winter I can cuddle up under it..

First quilt post can be found here.

A little bit of this and that

I'm doing a lot but still I don't feel productive. I'm not making any major moves right now and I'm getting restless. Maybe updating my blog will give me the feeling I have done something at least.

Last weekend I visited this small fabric and supply store, Boeken, in the city centre of Amsterdam. I have been to the shop a couple of times before, but it's always too crowded to look through all their goodies. This time i was in luck, there weren't many people inside so I could browse and treat myself to some beautiful new supplies.
Guess what my current favorite spring colors are?

In another store I bought these cute potholders for only .50 cents! They're small and pink with polkadots and cupcakes. How cute!

On another note, I'm still waiting for my personalized Ismoyo noodle bowl. First it was a 6 week delivery time, turned 9 weeks and now they informed me it had became 12 weeks! Patience is a virtue.

Oh yeah, almost forgot! I got tagged! Slateblu is sweet. I would love to answer the five on the fifth. But I realized I wouldn't know any five other bloggers who I should tag next. And not doing that is like stopping the whole tagging process, right? Hope Slateblu won't get upset. I won't want to upset a pregnant lady. (Your belly looks beautiful!)

Yesterday when I visited the market near my house I walked by the petstore and saw that they had cute baby hamsters and rabbits in the window. I just had to go in, when this little bunny got up to the window to play with me! Awww....

I wanted to take her home with me!

Pink plush mascot

I made this small mascot (4 inch wide) based on the large plush pillow I made a while ago.

You can wear the mascot with the strap around your neck like in the picture on the mannequin. Or you can take the strap off and just click the mascot on your bag, your jacket, your keys or where ever you like it to keep you company!

Yesterday i've bought some small zippers so i can transform my next mascots into small coin purses.

Reconstructed shirt: Army green and orange flowers

I have cut up another old t-shirt to turn it into something new and fab!
Started out with this XL shirt which I combined with the fabric of a small flowery H&M tanktop.




This is how it turned out:

At first I only used the flowers on the inside square. But then I noticed there were some small holes in the fabric. That's when the added flower appliques came in. I had to put something over the holes. So that explains why there also are flowers on my behind..

These pics make me realize I need some sun!

Plushies in progress

Working on some plushies. Will post Ready pictures soon!

The screen cleaner on the left is already finished.

The one on the right with the G on it, is one I handsewn for my man a while ago. (Before I had my sewingmachine!) He carried it around with him everywhere he went, but because it being handsewn it just wasn't as sturdy as it should be for heavy usage.. So he gave it back to me and asked me if I could fix him up again. In this picture it already looks a bit better then the way I got it back. It looked so sad... no eyes, no belly decoration and one detached foot. Aww... he needs help!

PS did i mention i luv Sundays when i can catch up on reading blogs, updating my own, responding to great projects on Craftster. Luving it! Oh yeah, thanks everyone for the responses on my clutches posted on Craftster.

4 Colorful Clutches

I've already posted an 'In progress' picture of the clutches I was making. Well, they're ready!
I showed them to my mom and she was quite impressed with me. Hihi. Makes me kinda shy and proud at the same time. Ok, she's my mom and she'll probably be prejudiced, but that lady knows what she's talking about.

I made four, based on the same pattern, but tried to be as versatile as possible with the use of fabrics and type of decorations. They all have heavy fusible as interlining to give some extra shape.

Will you believe this vinyl came from my kitchen cabinets? I had it there for a while, but got bored with it. So I took it down and offcourse, didn't want to throw it all away. You know I would be able to use it for something else. Like this clutch! The vinyl is a bit harder to sew through (use a thick needle!), but it looks good when you're done.

The strap has this little see through ornament with a strass heart on it. So when you carry the clutch, the heart is on your wrist like a bracelet.

Pinky pink! For those who love cute (like I do!). I am so happy with this fabric. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of this, I found it in the left over scrap bin at the fabric store.

I can see myself using this one on a fabulous summer evening garden party.
(who is throwing a big party this year? invite me! I'll be carrying my clutch!) The pink bow used to be a small belt I once received for free with the purchase of a glossy magazine (I think it was the cosmopolitan, but it could be another too). I never used the belt, so it was no big deal to cut it and sew it on this clutch. Looks so much better on there than hanging in my closet, unused!

White, light and innocent. Pastel colors bring in spring. By using felt as the outer fabric, the clutch got a soft feeling to it. On top there is a pink velvet ribbon sewn on which doesn't really show on the pictures. I turned an old necklace into the front decoration. To get it on I handsewn the chain on with fishing wire like colorless thread. (Twice! To make sure it stays on)

Reconstructed North Sea Jazz shirt into dress

My man gave me this huge pile of old t-shirts he isn't wearing anymore.
Woohoo! More fabric to work with, more shirts to reconstruct!

I started out with this North Sea Jazz Festival 2000 t-shirt. I think he might have gotten that one from his father, since he played the festival a couple of times.
First I cut out the pattern with the shape I wanted the top part to be in. Front and back.
The back of the original shirt has the word 'Buma Stemra' printed on it. (Buma Stemra is the Dutch copyright organization for composers and songwriters)
Next, I found another XL t-shirt in the same grey color to use for the bottom part of the dress and cut out the pattern for this.

After sewing everything together and adding some green bias binding as decoration, I ended up with a new summer dress!

Cute Computerscreen Cleaner

I promised myself to fist finish all the projects that are laying around half done before starting with new ideas.
But then I noticed the dust on my computerscreen.
So what else could I do then make a cute computerscreen cleaner?

The face part is made from felt, the headband is velvet ribbon.
For the bottom I used fabric that's called 'miracle cloth' over here. It's also very good to wipe windows or mirrors with, without leaving stripes!

Anyway, I'm not sure if it's very useful this way.
Because what will happen when I've used it a couple of times and the bottom part has all this dust on it? I will have to wash it and I'm not sure how it will come out of the washingmachine...

Will the inside stuffing ever get dry again? hmm... not sure. The label on the packaging of the stuffing says it's washable. I might just have to try it out and see what happens.

Bags that make me feel like it's Springtime!

I'm getting enough of the winter weather and all the snow. I'm in need of a quick spring fix: Colorful bags!

Working with these bright colors really makes me happier. And it keeps me busy so I won't see the coldness outside..

I made 3 shoulderbags and 1 handbag.








Spring bag 1 has the pink and green front and I've sewn a see-through pouch on it and put a hard plastic ornament inside. This can be taken out and for instance replaced by a personal picture or something.
On the inside of the bag I've used some green fabric and velcro to make a divider, so you have two compartments.
The two pink press studs keep the bag closed on the top.



The second spring bag has a lot of large dots which remind me of the first spring flowers blooming.
The blue pendant is a small heart. Why? Because I LOVE the first springflowers!

This bag doesn't have a divider, but I did put a small side compartment inside.










The third shoulderbag has a similar print as the first, just different colors. Inside it has two small compartments.

I turned the final one into a handbag. But the straps are just long enough to be able to wear around your shoulder too.
Just like the first shoulderbag, this one has a see through front compartment with an ornament inside of it. HAPPY! Because that was what I was when I've finished all these bags!

Vintage Fabric Messenger Bags (3x !)

Three times original vintage fabric!
How happy was I with these great finds on the market the other day! I can hardly choose in the morning which bag I'm going to take with me for the day.

Pink goes with everything! The flower is on a pin, so it's removable and or replaceable.


I totally fell in love with this vintage fabric. You remember Sarah Kay and Holly Hobbie?
The birds and the bunnies are just too cute!


I especially get a lot of positive feedback on the strap I've put together.
The green works really well with the brown color of the bag.


I found a semi-large scrap of this thick fabric underneath a very large pile of raggedy scraps. It really does pay off to take a little bit of time and rummage through the pile. You might find something gorgeous!

I used plain black lining with fusible. Didn't want the lining to distract from the flowers, so i kept it simple like that.
At the same time i didn't want to feel overwhelmed by all the flowers coming at you all at once when looking at the bag. That's where the application came in. I used photoshop to make the words and printed it out on transfer paper. Ironed it on yellow colored felt and sewn that onto the front of the bag.

All bags have an additional cardboard bottom in between the outer fabric and the lining. This gives the bags more shape and strength.
I like my messengerbags to have straps which are a bit longer then they regularly are. These three have straps of approx. 100 cm. (40 inches or so?)

Reconstructed NY A-Train T-Shirt

My first attempt on a T-Shirt reconstruction.

Before:


After:


I already loved the t-shirt before, just for the print it has. The A-train is the train I used to take to my Brooklyn home, so it brings back memories.
But... I hardly ever wore it since it the sleeves were just a tiny bit too tight and I'm not doing the 'naked-belly-button' thing anymore, so it also was too short.
With my reconstruction I fixed both points, so I guess I will be rockin' my shirt again!
Woohoo!

Links: Post on Craftster

Furry Pink Pillow

I had some furry pink fabric laying around and thought of making a super soft pillow from it.
But why make it a plain, square one if you can make it into the shape of a sweet character?



My boyfriend called me a danger to myself: I cutify everything!

Cute creature from Japanese pattern

Finishing something feels good.
I was almost done with this cutie for quit some time now, but procrastinated on sewing the head to the body for a couple of weeks. Terrible huh? And it was just there, in my sewing area, head next to the body, looking at me with those big eyes... just had to finish it.
Inspiration was a post on the craftster forum by sewingstars which included a Japanese pattern that i used as base.

Craft area composition

Some days i just love what i see on my crafting table. The combination of colors, fabrics and creative possibilities. Some days i love it so much, i just have to take a picture.

This pictures was taken a couple of days ago.

I like making Bags! (a 'deer' one)

I'm so happy with this one! It looks black in this picture, but the felt like outer fabric is very dark grey. The inside lining is pink cotton.

Collecting tiny embellishments (and having a mom who collects for me too) finally pays off. I think nobody ever really understood why i wanted to have all those small thingies and beads and stuff. I loved looking at them and i love using them now even more!

On this bag i used some tiny 'pearls' tied together forming the eye, a sparkly bow around the neck and two small pink butterflies to finish it off.

Inside the bag i've put two smaller pink pockets for extra handy storage.

Felt Flower Applique

Don't know where i will use it yet, but just finished this yesterday.
I made it from scraps of colored felt with an iron embellishment that i still had laying around.

I bring you: my 1st hand made bag!

I think i could have done a better job on it, but at least i have learned alot doing it. I'll use this one as reference for my next projects.

I do LOVE the print! (if i may humbly say so myself)
It's based on a picture of my mom on a vintage western book cover.
I used that picture, made an illustration and, using an iron-on transfer, placed it on the flower fabric.
At first i had the feeling that the gun came out too dark. But now i kinda think it's okay the way it is. When you look at it quickly you just notice my mom's gorgous face, but when you look at it longer you see she's holding the gun by her face. Seductive and dangerous.

There's also a small dogtag saying 'mama', which i think is very cool.

Crafting for Boyfriend's Birthday!

October 18th, the day my boyfriend was born! *doing a happydance*
But i'm not too happy, since we're not spending the day together this year, him being in New York, me in Amsterdam...
But i did make him something he can really use. As a musiscian he always carries cd's around. No cases, just loose cd's in his pocket. So based on the idea of the ipod cozy, i made him a double cd cozy. I wanted to use felt again since it's so soft and strong at the same time. Most of my felt scraps are in the pink, purple range and i didn't want to do that to him. lol. So the cozy has a retro feel to it due to the orange/brown colors.
Oh yeah, obviously, his name starts with a G.

I know not to put too much embellishments on it because they will come off eventually when he puts it in, takes it out of his pocket much. But i just had to place something for good luck on it, so i used the holy maria for it.

Inside is where the cd's go. I don't want to give it empty, so i'm making him a cd with concert recordings of some musicians/dj's which i know he likes.
Michael Franti, Gangstarr, Mr. Wix, Brainpower, Pete Philly, haven't made it yet, but it will be something like that.

Hoping he'll love it!

New Ipod Cozy

I sewn my second felt Ipod cozy and i think it came out better than the first one.
I'm having so much ideas for other designs and additions, so more will follow!


Click here to see my first ipod cozy

Ipod cozy

Fall has started. (allthough the sun is still shining like it's summer!)
The colder weather will set in, so i decided it was time to make a warm cozy for my pink ipod! I used felt so it feels nice and soft.
Tada:



I'm thinking about finetuning the pattern, putting a cute tiny ismoyo label on them and making some for my friends.

Headwrap trial

Trying out the machine i made this straight forward headwrap.
(always good to have around on a bad hairday like today!) I didn't finish it off very neatly, *sorry* but nice trial run i'd say.

I've got my sewing machine!

Beter late than never.
Last Thursday my parents came trough and gave me my belated birthday present:
a new Singer sewing machine! It makes me so happy i want to dance! *giggles*