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)
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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!!



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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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