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originally made one for my ergo,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 :)



*********************************************************************************
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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Japan trip(coming up) & Sale announcement

at last the completion of my US immigration is in sight( well, we hope!).

I received a letter for an interview, as well as travel document from USCIS two weeks ago.

we had been looking into getting a flight tickets to Japan.

this wold be the last chance for my little doll to fly cheaper and go see mama side family and friends.

I had a hectic time finding a good deal both cost-wise and time-wise,,,

I guess traveling is no longer so affordable especially when you have a kid(s).

anyhow we got a ticket, and little miss and I would be in Japan from November 18th to December 10th!

three weeks is not really enough, but better than nothing.

so excited!

because I won't be around much for the pre-holiday season,

I decided to have a little early pre-holiday sale over at my little Etsy shop.

[SALE] 20% off on all the items listed in my shop.

[time] today Oct 22nd(Fri) - November 7th(Sun)

[deal] please mention about the sale in your comment to the seller when you proceed to purchase.

you will get the 20% refunded via Paypal after purchase.

hope you enjoy the opportunity!

happy weekend :)

xo

 

red

I am not a 'red' person.

sadly I can't wear red...

every time I see a gorgeous red dress or jacket, makes me want to try it,

but I know I won't like it wearing.

it is just too intense for me to handle.

it is almost an energetic thing that the color red agitates me...

all I can handle is a little bit of red here and there as an accent,

maybe a belt, jewelry, or shoes.

yesterday, I made a necklace with a little faceted garnet bead.

sort of inspired by Carla Caruso's necklace.
I love the blight red of the ruby on her necklace!

I am not completely sold on the design though... :(
maybe I'll snip the sparkly gold ball off? (is it rather destructing?)
or wrap the bead differently??

hmmm :I

or maybe all I need is a blight red ruby bead!

carla caruso

Carla Caruso
that is the name of the artist who made my wedding band.

here are a few pictures of her jewelry.

I had a hard time picking a few(well, more like 'several') items...
I love all of her jewelry!

her creations are so feminine and delicate,
even the chunky(er) pieces are...


I'd love the twinkle ring :)
(hint hint to my hubby!)

how-to -hammered hoop earrings-

okay, here is the how-to I had been meaning to post!

-hammered hoop earrings-

①here are the tools you need for this project.

in addition to the basic wirework tools, you need a chasing hammer, bench block and flat micro file.

you also see a piece of gold fill wire in the pic.

I used 18 gauze, soft wire.

some people find the 18 gauze wire hurt their pierced ears, so if that is the case, use 20 gauge.

②measure the circumference using a tape measure.

here, I used a round nail polish bottle.

and I will be wrapping the wire around it to make a perfect circle.

you can use anything round(and relatively hard) depending on how big you'd like to make your hoop.

it measures 3.5", so I cut the wire 4.5" to have some extra to work with.

③make a simple loop on one end.

then wrap it around the nail polish bottle to make a nice hoop.

④then bend the other end, and clip off the excess.

it should look like this.

⑤using a flat micro file, round the sharp edge of the bent end.
this will go through your ear, so be extra cautious there is no sharp/rough spot.

⑥set the hoop on a bench block, and use the flat side of the head,

hammer the hoop until it is slightly flattened.

you don't need to make it completely flat,

because we'll give it some texture in the next step.

this is how it looks after flattened.

you see I banged more on the bottom middle part.

this will give the hoop a look that has more weight on the bottom.

⑦now, use the other end of the head, hammer the hoop to give it texture.

just like step ⑥ focus more on the bottom middle part.


⑧repeat ②~⑦ to make another hoop.

taddaaaaa~!
now you have a pair of simple yet gorgeous hoop earrings added to your wardrobe :)

p.s. have a lovely weekend :)

how-to - knotted bracelet

okay, here is the how-to I promised.

these are the things you need in addition to the tools we used in basic wirewrapping.

embroidery threads

chain

fish line or some kind of thread that is stiff but flexible(not in the pic)

clear nail polish(not in the pic)

clasp(not in the pic)

wire/jump ring(not in the pic)

①cut the embroidery thread in 50cm(~20inch)

and fold it at 12cm(~5inch) from one end - this is the base core end

②using a piece of fish line as a needle, thread it through a link of chain

and tie a lark's head knot: bring both ends through the loop

now, the thread is attached to the chain!


③vertical halt hitch

keep the base core end straight,

and bring the working end over then loop it around and back under the core end

this simple knot will form a spiral pattern

continue knotting until it reaches the length you wish

- I made this one 4cm(1.6inch) long, total length of 16.8cm(6.6inch)


④tie a lark's head knot with the core end onto the other end of chain

then tie a square knot

and seal the knot with a dab of clear nail polish

*do not use crazy glue, it tends to dry out the thread/cord

⑤put a clasp on the end of the chain to finish it off

- either wirewrap(simple loop & wrapped loop or use jumpring(o-shaped ring with a opening)

tadaaaaaaa!

in less than a half an hour,

you'll have this cute bracelet on your wrist :)

make them in different colors and have fun!

Etsy - jewelry updates #2

another cute bracelet for you!

I originally started making a green one as my friend's upcoming birthday gift.

then I decided to make a few more for my Etsy shop cuz it turned out so darn cute :)

I love the delicate look, but the colors add a little bit of playful fun.

I would also like to post a how-to on this bracelet.

I've taken pictures and all I have to do is write step-by-step directions.
but I'm going to wait until next week when we FINALLY get a high speed Internet at home!

yay! no more piggiebacking on the S L O W internet!!

it's been pretty frustrating trying to get online, and getting bumped off.

it's waaaaayyyyyy toooooooo sloooooooooowwwwwwww ...

so, please stay tuned!

I will also post a how-to on hoop earrings next week, as I promised!

unproductive weekend

{sigh}

very unproductive long weekend...
{sigh}

my husband B had 4 days off for Canada day.

our first plan was to go see his family who lives a few hours away from where we live.

then, he told me we should stay here to deal with a few thing around the house.

but none of those things ended up happening,

and so many unfinished loose ends in our lives...

things like that make me frustrated.

I am a pretty decisive person,

and like to get going with things and move forward!

aggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh

oh well,

just a weekend....

only thing I accomplished was fixing up B's bracelet I made him a while ago.

it was on a piece of flexible stringing wire,

but because he leaves in on his wrist, it was not strong enough.

and this was the second time fixing it,I tried something different.

I decided to knot the bracelet on nylon string- literally in between every single bead.

hope this will last for a while.

{sigh}