Saturday, December 25, 2010

happy holidays!

.hope everyone is having a nice warm happy christmas with your loved ones!
we're here on Quadra Island, BC, to spend the holiday with my hubby's family.
had a delicious turkey dinner last night and opened gifts this morning...
a lot of eating, sitting around and socializing, but quite chill christmas here.

I had been wanting to get myself a DSLR for a quite sometime now.
doing a little bit of research, but haven't had much to familiarize myself to the world of DSLR...

a friend of mine who is way into photography recommended me this one below.
Pentax Pentax K-x Digital SLR with 18-55mm Zoom Lens (Black)
<pic>

but as I said before I am a real beginner at camera/photography.

so, if you own a DSLR, I have a few of questions for you!
-which one(maker/model) do you have?
-what was selling point of your DSLR?
-any good site to visit to read up on DSLR, and to buy one? 

and any input/recommendation are more than welcome, and I really appreciate that :)




wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year!!
xo


Thursday, December 16, 2010

how-to -passport case-

okay, finally I am getting the how-to together!  
hope you like it and try making it.
it's a perfect gift for your world traveling friend, and easy enough to make it as a last minute gift :)
I apologize beforehand for the quality of the photos...
the day I was working on it was really dark, typical raining portland weather,
and the lighting of the room I was in wasn't the best...
I photoshopped them, but still not the best...  soryyyyy :(


anyhow, here it goes!

-PASSPORT CASE- 
 *material list*
1. 10 3/4" x 23 1/4"
2. 10 3/4" x 11 1/4"
3. 10 3/4" x 5 1/4" [x2]
4. 9" x 6"
(draw a curve in 1.5" x 1.5" on the upper right corner)
5. 5 1/4"(left side) x 6"(bottom) x 8 1/2"(right side)
6. 3 1/4" x 6 [x2]
7. 1 5/8" x 8"
bias tape
thin infusible interface that is slightly smaller than   piece2 & piece4
                                                                                    Velcro
                                                                                    *sewing allowance 1/2"


-BODY-
use iron-infusible interface and put piece1 and piece2 together.

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I sewed the edges of piece1 here, but DO NOT sew them right at this step.  
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infuse piece3 onto piece1, right beside piece2.

now, including the interface edge double fold the side edges of piece1, and sew them.









-POCKETS-
fold the upper edges of piece5&6 twice, and sew.
fold the bottom edge of upper piece6 and pin onto piece5.  sew the lower piece6 on piece5.  you don't need to fold the bottom edge of this lower piece because it will be covered with bias tape and won't show in the end.
infuse the thinner interface onto the back of piece4.

this step is a prep in order to sew a nice curved line.  
just like when you gather, sew the curved edge with wider stitch, and do this twice. 
pull the bottom(bobbin) threads and gather.
try to make a nice smooth curve.
iron, double-fold, then iron again. 
(if you'd like a more detailed version, visit here at Burdastyle)
sew the entire curved edge.
I did double stitch, but it's not necessary. 
just for the looks. 


-CONSTRUCTION-
now, all the pockets are done, this is how it looks all the parts laying together.
piece1 is folded to the center, piece4 is on the left, and piece5&6 are on the right.

****************************************
the picture shows the body is folded, but it is not when working.  lay the piece flat/unfolded, when following the next few steps.
****************************************
fold the inner side edge of piece5&6 pocket once and sew it onto the body.
sew the side and bottom seam of piece4 and body together, as well. 



 sew piece7 into a tube, and make a strap.
turn inside out and sew velcro on it as well as onto the body.
sew the strap onto the right side of the body.  make sure it lines with the other side of velcro.















-FINISHING UP-
sorry, no photo for this step...
I made my own bias tape using a bias-tape-maker(tutorial on Burdastyle), but obviously you don't need to!
but basically all you have left to do is bind the entire body+pockets with bias tape!
the following youtube videos are helpful : no swearing bias tape method
                                                              how to sew binding with mitered corners


tadaaaaa!  all done and well done!!


*please let me know, if anything is unclear to you, or if you have a further question!!




Wednesday, December 15, 2010

japan trip part2

Hi, everyone!
hope you haven't completely forgotten about me... :I
I know it's been way too long since the last time I really blogged!!

we came back five days ago, and finally jet lag is fading away.
I always find it harder to get use to the time difference back home...  wonder why that is...

anyhow, I know I have to post about LOTS of things, but still not so motivated...  sorry... :(
I will post pictures from the second half of the trip to hold you over for now!
hope you enjoy them!!

at a local beach.
she had a blast! 
that we had to go back!

 with her great grandpa & great grandma watching birds eating tangerines on the tree

 her friend came back to play again :)

right before the loooong plane ride back home...


ahhh, good to be back home and get back to the regular routine, called life!


I will try to post a how-to on the passport case in the next few days.
so please stay tuned!!



******************************************************************************************************
P.S.  I am having a LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SALE over at my ETSY shop
please go visit my site, order, and receive 20% off via Paypal after purchase.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

a little over a week left

sorry for not updating the blog much lately....
little miss and I have been having a great time here in Japan,
reconnecting with people and visiting lots of places.

here is a little sneak peak of our trip so far.
 @SF airport right before the looooong plane ride.
she did really well on the planes, except when landing...
her ears were hurting.  I tried to feed her something, but she didn't want to eat/drink...
does anyone have a useful tip for little kids on releasing the ear pressure?

 my folks' place

 family tangerine orchard

 her great grand parents come to visit every morning & evening

 visited the kindergarten I went to.
this whale slide has been here for ages!! 
it looked so big to me back in the day, but now I know it isn't!
glad I got a chance to take my daughter there.  precious memories...

 also went to an aquarium and zoo.
she had FUN!



only a little over a week left...
we also have a few hours in Tokyo...
not enough time to go out and about outside the airport...
hm what to do...?


 
P.S. thank you all for the comments on the last post!
my mother's computer/Internet is really SLOW,
so, I will get the how-to's together as soon as I get back home...
thnak you for your patience :)


Monday, November 15, 2010

ready for the trip!

here is a digest of what I've been making for the trip.

start with a passport/ticket holder





I had one from a travel company, but it was cheaply made not-so-good-looking one.
so decided to make up one!
the pattern is based on the 'original' one I had.
it has two big pockets, a pouch to put your passports, a slit for your tickets, and two more small pockets.
made with Echino fabric that had been hibernating in my fabric bin for a quite sometime. 
this blight purple will make it easier to see when you have tons of stuff in your traveling bag :)
(especially you have a toddler to travel with!)


next!
knitting needle case
because I can't really take my sewing machines with me on this trip,
I am planning to knit when I have free time in Japan.
I've been knitting a quite bit more than the last year,
and started accumulating knitting needles.
they deserve a proper home anyway.
this way, they are very organised and easier to travel with!
I used this tutorial, but you also can find a lot more here


next!
zipper pouches
 
originally made one for my ergo,
then realized they were very handy and made some more for other things!
one of them became a diaper bag, which keeps the bigger diaper bag organized 
and you can just take this smaller diaper bag out when you take the little one to a washroom.
the very big black one is used for my knitting stuff, just big enough for a few rolls of yarn and the needle case.
two more, and I think I am going to use them for socks/underwear, etc...


and the last!
traveler's jewelry case

ever since I saw this creation on Burdastyle,
I had been wanting to make myself one!
it is so handy when you travel and it keeps earrings and necklaces from getting tangled!
I often have a problem(even at home) with that and end up spending 15-20min to unravel the mess.
ha! finally!!
this will make my life so much easier!!


phew!
what a week of sewing!!
I got so much stuff done and am ready to travel!!!!!
well, I guess it's time to pack up then :)



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P.S. is anyone interested in a how-to on any of the projects above?
maybe I can put it together when I have time?? ;)
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Friday, November 12, 2010

little world traveler's backpack

i've been making things for the upcoming Japan trip.
very first thing I wanted make was a backpack for my little one
so that I didn't have to carry her books and toys while we travel.

so here it is, it is all done and ready to be packed up with all the goodies!

 this one is pretty close to this one,
I made my own pattern, but the sewing steps/instructions are pretty much the same,
and used the leftover fabric from this hat

 I added a pocket on backside and outside of the backpack and embroidered around the butterfly print.
also made a bottle holder by simply adding a band with elastic inside of the backpack so the bottle stays upright.
it has an extra cushion of thicker interface on the back and bottom of the backpack for comfort and durability.

it was my first time using piping, and it was great.
I think that is what give the backpack the finished look.

I also did a research on free toddler backpack patterns/tutorials as I was making up my own pattern,
and here is a list of useful links if you'd like to make your little guy one of these!
******************************************************************************************
that crafty mrs. V: free pattern/instruction 
think liz: a long list of free sewing patterns(clothes, accessories, baby items, etc)
indietutes: free toddler backpack tutorial
made by rae: purchase a toddler backpack pattern/instruction 
sew, mama, sew!: free back to school backpack pattern/instruction
******************************************************************************************

I have a few more sewing creations to share,,,
please come back to check them out later :)!

have a great weekend!
xo