Origami Bag Set

This week I continue my journey thru' Amy Butler's Style Stitches Sew-Along. If you haven't heard of it, what happens is each month this year, I make 1 bag from the Amy Butler's book. So far I've made The Cosmo Bag. February came and went and no bag. I read the instructions for February's Reversible Everyday Shopper and came to this conclusion:

It's really just a tote with a giant front pocket. See for yourself.

Take away all the props and the bag is just a regular rectangular tote. This kind of bag, I've made enough of already. That's why I skipped February.

This is the March bag. It's called Origami Bag Set. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Tell you a secret. It's really just a zip pouch. (apologies to Amy Butler)

No surprise I was excited by the Origami Bag Set. Sure, I've made a total of 158 zip pouches to date. Staggering, isn't it? But I'm always intrigued to see how other sewers construct their zip pouches.

There are a total of 6 sizes to choose from. I did not make all 6 sizes. Just the mini. I chose this size because it's longer than what I would normally go for. Btw, Amy Butler's sizing is quite different from most humans. This pouch is MINI. Take a look at the pic where I put a pen for sizing. Trust me. This ain't no mini.

As it turned out, how Amy Butler sews her zip pouches is a method I've used myself. When you do it her way, you can topstitch the exterior and the lining together along the seam where the zipper is. The only annoying bit is you can't sew the zipper to the fabric from end to end. You have to leave 1/2" of side seams unsewn at the ends.

When I want to sew zip pouches quickly, I do it my way where I just sew from end to end for the zipper bit. The difference is I can only topstitch the lining. But that's okay because the exterior fabric won't get caught in the zipper. It just gives a different look.

I'm actually looking forward to April's Checkbook Cover because I have a cheque book which I keep losing! See you soon.

16 Years

It's hard to believe but I've been married 16 years to the same man! Yesterday was my wedding anniversary. Where did the time go?

Before I was married, I wondered how it was possible to stay married for a long time. Well, after 16 years, I still don't have any answers. I guess one good thing is you forget. All the bad stuff. And you cherish all the good stuff. I have a pretty bad memory!

The one thing I did not bargain for after getting married is having to watch women flirt with me hubs. Since my memory is bad, I cannot remember anything that happened before this year. But two women have stood out because it happened not too long ago.

Both women work at a food court near my home. One sells beverages. The other sells wonton noodles. Me hubs told me that during Chinese New Year, the beverage lady shook his hands to wish him a Happy Chinese New Year when he went to get his tea one morning. Me? I got nothing. Not even a surly look. Since that fateful handshake, the beverage lady would greet him with a big smile and did I detect, a heaving of the bosom? Maybe I'm too sensitive. But I get me hubs his tea most mornings and so far, I have not been hit on.

One day, me hubs and I were walking home and the wonton noodles lady was walking towards us on her way home. She gave me hubs a big, big smile, a cute little wave of her hand and maybe a "hi". I don't remember. I was too shocked. Because I definitely saw her THRUST her gigantic bosom at me hubs as she walked past.

Oh the nerve. I find it so disrespectful of these women to do all this openly flirtatious gestures towards me hubs even when I'm right next to him! What's with all that heaving and thrusting of bosoms? They know I can't compete in this department because I have nothing to heave or thrust. Yes, I'm built like a boy. (Me mom did shed a tear or two over this)

Right this minute, I'm suddenly remembering another noodles lady who would giggle excitedly whenever me hubs bought prawn noodles from her. Sadly, another full-bosomed lady.

I can imagine growing old with me hubs although I shall have to find ways to deal with horny drinks and noodles ladies.

I'm remembering you're here to check out what I made so here it is:

Here's my 2nd needlebook. It looks like the first one, doesn't it? Well, the houses differ a little bit. Me hubs says I should make something similar again but not another needlebook.

Matchy Matchy

 

Last week when I made 3 sets of matching pouches, I was not under any illusion that customers would snap up the sets. I mean, how many people would buy more than one zip pouch made out of the same fabric. In my entire short selling history, I've only come across one person.

Now I've always wondered. What makes a couple dress up in matching outfits? Recently I came across couples dressed in similar tees and jeans. One couple wore RED male version and RED female version of a polo with BABY BLUE male version and BABY BLUE female version of a brand of jeans. Is this a new trend? I don't know about you but seeing matchy matchy outfitted couples make me laugh. Madly. Like a lunatic.

I dont' get it. Why would any grown woman want to dress in the same outfit as her boyfriend? I'm making a wild guess that these aren't married couples because I can just imagine the conversation:

Wife: Honey, today we're wearing matching RED polo and BABY BLUE jeans.
Husband: Are you INSANE?

But I can imagine dating couples, especially "new love" going for it.

Girlfriend: Honey, today we're wearing matching RED polo and BABY BLUE jeans.
Boyfriend: This is so INSANE. I had the same idea.

So, I wanna know. Have you ever worn matchy matchy outfit as your boyfriend/partner/husband? And what compelled you to do so.

Me and hubs have never worn similar outfits. Its' the truth. However, he has given me tees which he has outgrown. Last week I wore one of his tees which he's still very much fond of. (without his permission) He was quite upset!

Remember this needlebook? My very first needlebook. Ever since I displayed it at craft markets, it has become a star attraction. Customers would look at it and ask me what it was. A few suggested I make a notebook cover similar to it. Anyhoo, I SOLD IT at Iluma March Art Market. This was my most exciting sale. When I made the needlebook I had no idea if anyone would buy it. I mean, how many people sew? Who knew a GUY would buy the needlebook? I'm still so happy over the sale.

So you can't be surprised I'm making another needlebook?

Thought I'd show you how I do the embroidery. I use a water soluble pen to make general guidelines of the drawing. Then I sew using back stitch. Once the embroidery is complete. I soak the linen in cold water to get rid of the ink. And that's how I do it. See ya.