the first entry for 2015, private classes with thesewingroomdiva, presenting a patchwork quilted tote bag by tyra

tyra came to the class during her semester break recently.  she started the class with learning how to make felt key chains.  then she moved on to make the patchwork quilted tote bag .

the classes were run in the morning of 2 hourly slots on mondays and thursdays as she has another part time job in the afternoon.

the bag is a made to measure.  she decides on the look of her bag and the dimension of the bag.  it was a 8" drop of the strap because she wants to be able to fish for the stuff inside the bag while hoisting it on her shoulder.  she wants a 4" depth with 13" width and 16" height.  and a zipped pocked attached to the lining of the bag for her mobile phone, at the position that is easy for her to access,

tyra is a very good student....a fast learner,........stayed focus with the task at hand.......bersungguh.  .....it is a great pleasure to have a student like her.

her work is so neat and i am very impressed with the result.  here...look for yourself.  her zipper installation is so neat and she has never installed a zipper before.  i showed her how to do it once and she did it at one go.

a job very well done tyra :) thank you and  hope to see you during your next semester break.


cheers,
YunY

handmade handbag - alya's 2nd lavender...completed

i have just completed alya's 2nd lavender.  click here for ealier post on this bag when it was first constructed.  i changed the lining to add more interest.  i also added a few rows of stitches to the leather trimming.  i love the effect and the combination of this leather with the fabric that alya has chosen for this bag.  i also did some quilting on the outer shell.

wip

wip

wip

wip

completed.

STATUS: completed, TAKEN

cheers,
YunY

my carlo rino bag has to retire

i love this quilted carlo rino bag.  i would take this bag whenever i attended a formal function. i was hoping that this bag would last me a life time.

sorry, the photo is bit blurry.
it's my mobile phone camera
and the weather outside is a bit gloomy.

unfortunately, last month, when i took it out from its duster bag, i found that the outer surface of the PU trimmings has disintegrated.  when i rubbed my fingers against it, black coloured crumbs would come off.  now, the nylon quilted body is still pretty but the trimmings look so worn out and crumbly.  i don't think i can use this bag.  i don't think it is easy to replace the trimming either.  i so love this bag and i feel so sad that i won't be able to use it anymore.

the inside pocket, its peeling......

the PU gusset is peeling

the other PU gusset is peeling too

i then decided to replicate the design, using cotton (quilting weight cotton) and this time i would use genuine leather for the trimming.  i know quilting weight cotton is a durable material.  when teamed with genuine leather trimming, this bag will last forever.  i know this is so, because i still have a whole leather bag that i bought 17 years ago.  the only thing that is worn out is the lining. once i replace the lining and give the leather a polish the bag will be as good as new.  and  i made a baby quilt for my son at about the same time.  i used american cotton and that quilt is still as good as new, even though it has been handed down to all his younger siblings.

i think using good quality quilting weight cotton and genuine leather (straps and trimmings) would allow you to enjoy your favourite bag for as long as you like.

cheers,
YunY

handmade handbag - petunia, green tea cinnamon

this petunia has just been completed.  it is from the collection 2-2012 that was featured in the kopai 1st giveaway last year.  a little overdue but no less a beauty :)

the name is 'green tea cinnamon'.

upholstery fabric with genuine leather trimmings.
leather used is brown coloured soft nappa leather
teamed with brass hardware.

will be available for sale at the Kopai Boutique.  and i am hoping that ida and i can get the rest of the collection 2-2012 ready by the 1st quarter of this year ^ ^

STATUS: completed

NOW AVAILABLE at The Kopai Boutique.

cheers,

YunY

handmade handbag - prototype of sweat pea

this is a prototype of a small tote i called the sweat pea.  the prototype was developed last year but i couldn't get to finalised it coz i misplaced the template that i had developed for this bag.

the handles and the trimmings are from genuine leather.
the outer shell is unmistakably an ikea fabric.
i love the print on this fabric.
this prototype is named the "toffee triangle".
oh.... i had to touch up the wall.  it's full of the kids' graffiti.

i came up with this prototype when i was thinking of a quick-to-grab bag that i can take as and when i need to dash out of the house to get something for the kids or the kitchen :)  i like it because it is light, not too small, not to big.  just big and deep enough to hold my purse, my mobile phone, my keys, my pair of shades and perhaps a bottle of drinking water.

so, should i get it into production?


cheers,
YunY

handmade handbag - another lavender for alya

i made another lavender for alya.  she chose this fabric herself.

it is a simple no fuss boxy shaped sling bag with single compartment.

the lavender is customised to fit her tablet phone.
the long strap is made of genuine leather.

it has magnetic snap button.
the outer fabric was purchased from pondok craft
 and the fabric for the lining is from ikea.

that's my favourite fossil purse used as a prop for this photo.
i am trying to develop a prototype of this fossil purse,
 using fabrics and simple leather trimmings.
 i will use magnetic snap button instead for the closure
because  i found that
the snap button on this fossil purse wears out over time.
the purse flap came undone with a slight nudge.

so, this lavender is TAKEN.  i will be finalizing a few prototypes for lavender and i hope the lavenders will be made available for sale soon at the kopai boutique.

cheers,
YunY

handmade handbags, kopai, collection 2-2012 work in progress

the kopai collection 2-2012 had it's 1st sneak peek during the recent kopai giveaway (congratulations to fau,  you are the winner of the 1st kopai giveaway).

here, i just want to share the photos of the wips.

the whole bunch of them

this bag is named
the 'green tea cinnamon'
STATUS: completed

the green tea cinnamon
STATUS: completed

.

this will be named 'retro blue lantern'.
the genuine leather trimmings are made from
  grey/silver coloured nappa leather,
cut and stitched by ida and i.

the retro blue lantern

this one will be named the' avocado smoothie'.
the genuine leather trimmings are made from
peach coloured nappa leather,
cut and stitched by ida and i.

these are the genuine leather trimmings for
the 'green tea cinnamon',
cut and stitched by ida and i.

it is a slow progress. upholstery fabrics and genuine leather are not easy to work with.  but the finished result is always so rewarding.

will upload more photos as we go along :)

once completed, they will be available for sale at the kopai boutique.

cheers!
YunY

prototype of samsung note sleeve

i made this prototype last week.  i only used recycle fabric and recycle leather coz i'm not sure how it will turn out.  i want some cushioning to envolope the phone.  i don't want it to be too loose nor too tight...just snug enough to let the phone slide out with a light squeeze.  i don't want to use any closure that will impede immediate retraction.  but i want something that will hold the flap in place.

i was working very fast.  i just can't wait to see the finished prototype.  i didn't even stop to iron the fabric or to press the seam or to clip the curves.

so this is what i have come up with.

exterior

interior

UPDATE: the mushroom, i.e. the samsung note sleeve has been borne.

cheers,
YunY

handmade handbag - alya's lavender, work-in-progress

i've been busy with alya's lavender this week.

here's a sneek peek of the lavender.  and here's the photo of the fabric from my fabric sample.  and here's the photos of my 1st lavender, the lavender for lisa.

STATUS: completed, TAKEN
click here for photos of the the completed bag.

cheers,
YunY

handmade handbag - fabric sample

i went to a gathering at a friend's house last two weeks.  i shared my blog and photos of my handmade handbags.  i received a request to reproduce my daughter's cute sling bag, i.e. the 'cranberry corn dip' lavender.

another lavender will be made for sofia and i think these fabrics that are lying among my stash currently might interest sofia.

fabric 1

fabric 2

fabric 3

fabric 4

suggested combo 1

suggested combo 2

suggested combo 3

combo 4

combo 5

sofia, which one would you like?

at the same time my daughter alya asked me to make one for her.  she has chosen one of the fabrics in "suggested combo 2".... the one on the far left.  no patchwork ... just a single fabric.

can't wait to start working on the lavenders.

cheers,
YunY

handmade handbag - sling bag

i've been busy with the kids and the house.  and i love every minute of it.  and in between the kids and the house, i managed to steal a few minutes here and there to do some sewing.

here is one of the stuff that i was working on the past few weeks.

prototype of lavender:

my daughter, lisa, asked me to make her a small sling bag...just enough to fit her mobile phone and her purse......and maybe her keys.  she has been searching for such a bag but has not been able to find one that she really like.

she chooses the fabric swatches for the patchwork (some of this fabric looks familiar, isn't it?) and i choose the fabric for the lining.

dimesion:  8" (W) x 5 1/2" (H) x 2" (D)
single long strap: 51" (adjustable), genuine leather

now this bag is with lisa.  and she looks so adorable with this fun and colourful bag.

i had such a great time taking photos of the bag and had an even more efficient time uploading these photos in this blog.  thank you so much my wonderful darling hubby for getting me this really cool and fantastic camera.  no more painful editing of photos taken from mobile phone camera :)

STATUS: TAKEN

cheers,
YunY