finished & published! -burdastyle book-

a couple days ago I received an exciting package in the mail.

it was from Burdastyle.

there enclosed my coat & the newly published book.

so happy and excited to see the finished product!!!

 here are a few of my favorites from the book that other book contributors made.

 blouse alternation by Novita.

 dress variations from Jen and Natasha.

 kids size from Oliver + S.

bag alternation by Layla.

 and,,, here is my coat!

 I was also a bit sad that for the most of the members' creations,

there was no detailed photos or write-ups...

I'm sure they(we) spent a lot of time and did a great hard work.

so, seeing only a tiny photo in the book was a bit, errrr, disappointing.
(well, "unfortunate" might be more of an appropriate word! actually) 

at the same time, I know if they were to talk about every single person's work, 

the book would have been five times thicker, if not more.

 so, that is understandable... 

anyhow, here are a couple more photos of my coat!

sadly enough, it is not going to fit me this winter

after having had to wait for a year and a half to get my coat back...

my huge belly is peeking out and saying hello to the world out there :I

hehe

it will be awesome if other members also post more photos of their own version,

and how-to on making the variation!

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originally made one for my ergo,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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finally updating...

sorry for not posting anything for almost the entire month!

I just noticed this month is over,,,

september is here!!

my husband came back from Canada a little over a week ago,

and we've been pretty busy ever since.

we went down to Bend for Timber Framers Guild workshop, 

and then Southern Oregon to visit friends for a few days.

in short, it was awesome!!

(sorry not to mention any details... maybe I'll upload some pics later...?)

I've been dying to upload what I had been making while my husband was away.

I was pretty motivated and occupied with sewing!

I made two pairs of scalloped shorts.

I really liked how simple and clean looking these were,
so I based this pair on ruby pattern from Burdastyle.

the scallop part was a little trickier than I imagined...
I found it harder if they are too close together(smaller scallops),
and looked very irregular(because of my sewing skills?).

instead of the side buttons for closure,

these have an invisible zipper on the one of the sides.

and I added the front pockets because they are very handy!! 

I was so excited to find this decorative stitch on my machine!

goes perfectly with the theme -SCALLOP!

these ones are alternation of tonia from Burdastyle.

you notice I went crazy with the scallop stitch!

this pair has the stitch on the front pockets as well.

this one also has a side closure with an invisible zipper.

I could not decide if I wanted the pleated shorts or not.

So I made them both :)

and I love them both!!

last, but not least,,,

in fact, this creation is possibly the most practical thing ever!!

pouch for my stroller.

this stroller didn't come with a cup/key holder when we bought it on Craigslist.

but I was very happy to make it anyway,

and one less plastic thing to contain in the household!

I basically designed it based on my own needs.

cup holder and little pocket for a wallet, cell phone and what not.

so useful and makes things easier!

everything I need is right below the handles.

now having had a little break from sewing,

I am ready to get back at it!

what is the next project??

burdastyle book -shipped- & sewing wishlist

I just went to a FedEx office, and dropped off my coat for the BurdaStyle book project.

it's finally done and over!  yay :)!!

it got really hot here a few days right before the deadline, 

and I was so not feeling sewing a winter coat in the heat!

also I decided to give bounded button wholes a try in a last minute,

so I had to take a couple seams a part.

well, I had to do it, and I DID it!!

I find it still hard having a deadline and keeping my motivation up for it.

all the same as when I was a student.

anyhow, now fun time for sewing starts!

here is a list of the few things I want to make.

1) scalloped/or not shorts 

(image via Vivat Veritas)

maybe use Tonia or the shorts pattern from BurdaStyle Magazine as a base.

these shorts Natty made look awesome too!

2) tie skirt

from BurdaStyle Magazine

3) airy blouses

I LOVE this peasant blouse!

and oh look!

this version of Alexander blouse posted today on BurdaStyle.

woooo  LOVE!

Alden looks fabulous in it too :)

well actually before I give it a go on another project,

I probably should organize my sewing room(aka closet) first.

since I started on the coat as soon as we moved in to the house,

my sewing space is still such a mess!!

two way garden top

I know I should be focusing on the project.

the dead line for shipping is in less than 10 days!

oh, but you know....

I got distracted(as usual), and started another project.

well, I get to have fun,

and make some summer clothes for the season!

it's been a while since the last time I made something for myself.

this fabric has been waiting for its use for a whole year!

it's from naniIRO fabric, and I LOVE all of their fabric.

this one is double gauze, light and breezy. it's perfect for the summer!

the pattern is 1 Piece Kimono Tee from Burdastyle.

it is not 1 piece anymore because I had to use the fabric crosswise(I liked how the print was that way),

and it wasn't long enough.

the sleeves were shortened a bit,

and the neckline is different- one side is shallower than the original, other is V-shape.

this way, I can wear it both ways, front or back.

I kind of like wearing the V on the back better :)

I have a tiny bit leftover of the fabric, and am planning on making a little tunic/top for my daughter.

matching clothes are kinda nerdy, I know.

but I enjoy wearing them with my daughter ;P

it's hard to see, but these are the earrings I am wearing in the pics above.

I made these parrot earrings a few years ago.

oh, how much I love birdies!

okay, that was enough sidetracking,

and now it's time for me to get back to the main project...

burdastyle book -work in progress-

a little sneak preview of what I am working on for the Burdastyle book project.

these are the fabric I am using for the coat.

I did not get what I was imagining for my variation,

which was really disappointing and frustrating...

but it seems like a lot of the people who are participating in the project didn't get what they wanted to use for their projects either...

and I'm sure those kinds of compromises are expected and needed for a project like this.

now, I'm over it, and feel better about what I got.

I worked on the pattern modification and muslin a little bit.

even though I probably should work with muslin first before starting with any kind of project,

I never have.

but for this project, I was a little too scared to just give it a go and start cutting/sewing the fabric,

and I am little more careful...

although this hot weather is not really helping my motivation to be up for the winter clothes sewing,

I will be starting on the actual fabric soon as there is only half of the time left!

work, work, work!!

life in transition + little announcement

my life is still somewhat crazy and unsettled.

well, not there just yet.

we moved into a new place two weekends ago,

and had been painting the room and bathroom for the entire first week!

the walls and sealing were cracking and peeling, which was original old paint.

took us a while to get ready to paint and actual painting part was an experience,too,

because we used all natural/non-toxic paint, called lime paint.

anyhow, it's all done and finally we moved our stuff to the room,

and slept on our own bed first time for the past THREE months!

{{crazy}}

still need some organizing and more furnitures(which my husband will be making soon, I hope!),

but it feels really good, and relieved to settling in!

I have to introduce this unique household/members to you guys,

but I will save it for another post for sometime this week ;)

before I say goodbye for the day, I have a little but exciting announcement to make!

many of you who are also a member of Burdastyle community might already know about this book project.

I am super excited about the book and to be a part of it!

there will be 60 different artists/seamstresses/designers making a variation of the five different patterns(blouse, skirt, dress, coat, and accessory) that are included in the book.

I will be making a coat!

is any of you also participating?? what are you going to make??

would love to know who is participating!

Marie, an old lady

before my motivation for creativity fades away,
I managed to whip up the Marie skirt.
I had been wanting to try this pattern for quite some time now.
I had this curtain thrifted about a month ago, and thought it would be perfect for Marie.
it is a very quick and easy project that can be done in an hour or less.
of course it took me a bit longer because I had to wait for my daughter to wake up from her nap.
I was patiently waiting on using a sewing machine because my craft corner is just right by the bed.

she usually naps for an hour or so, but that day she slept for more than two hours. of course!

I couldn't hold myself back any longer, and started sewing anyway.

well, she didn't wake up till I was half way done!

when I showed my husband this fabric(curtain) from a thrift store,

he immediately said it was very old lady like, and how much I like stuff that are old lady style.

okay, I admit it,,, yes I do! I do love old lady things!!

anyhow, the skirt turned out pretty, I think.

I think this pattern will also be cute as a bottom part of a dress as I've seen some of Burdastyle members have tried.

like these: ★ ★ ★

I also have a little more than half of the fabric left.

maybe, I can squeeze a dress out of the leftover fabric??

a vintage 50's style dress would be perfect!

don't you think?

teal tulip

Burdastyle is hosting this contest.

I've never entered to any sewing contests before.

this is my very first time...

usually, I don't even think about participating in any of the contests Burdastyle hosts - it's just too much work!

but this time, I decided to get my lazy butt off and make a skirt, and I was actually excited about it.

I think it's because the pattern that was required to use as a base was a very simple one.

I like simple things :)

so here I went, I started with the original A-line skirt pattern,

and decided to keep the front and back yoke as is.

then altered the rest majorly.

I wanted a nice drapy detail in front.

I tried to figure out how it works the way I imagined by folding, cutting, and gluing the original pattern.

and of course, by 'trial and error'.

a simple project turned into a confusing frustrating project...

I was getting so consumed by it as it wasn't coming together nicely.

I almost gave up.

but I was very persistent.

not because I wanted to win, but I wanted to challenge myself, I guess.

I am a stubborn person!

so this is how it came out....

pretty close to how I imagined.

the black lacy lining is a separate piece that is made out of an upcycled material.

it became more like a tulip skirt...

hope it was okay to enter this to an A-line skirt contest...

I am excited to see other people's entries!

purple flower maxi

I saw this really pretty maxi dress in a local eco-clothing store.

very pretty flower printed fabric.

I really wanted it, but it was a bit more than I am generally willing to spend on a piece of clothes.

I thought the design was simple enough that I could make it!

so I went fabric hunting.

there was nothing really catching my eyes in the fabric store.

but I thought I'd give it a try with this purple flower fabric anyway...

interestingly enough, as soon as I started working on the dress,

Chie posted a how-to on her kimono top.

I did not follow her how-to since I already started making it with Burdastyle Tara pattern

(I just LOVE how quick and easy Tara is!),

but it was a great reference.

thank you Chie :)

I am happy with how it came out.

but I'm not sure if I will keep it for myself

or list on my Etsy shop and keep looking for a perfect fabric for it...

Burda Mode Magazine 07/2009

I had been really excited about this news for ages!

I got an offer to be featured in Burda Mode Magazine two or so months ago.
so, I sent an e-mail back with original photos and such.

I almost forgot about it until recently.
and, I got a bit nervous because I had not heard from them since then.
I thought it might have been a scam!

I guess it takes a while editing to publish things.
well, I knew that,,,
but couldn't stop thinking of bad scenarios.


anyhow, it was all real!
and I received an e-mail with the PDF file of where I was featured :)

of course, it is all in German,
which I don't even understand a single word... :(
so, I went online and used a free translator thing.
but it didn't quite make sense...

does anyone out there understand German?
and could you please translate it for me :)??