A book

A little while ago, some colleagues came to me and asked me to decorate a book they had bought for a colleague who was retiring.

They had bought this notebook for people to sign/leave messages for her but they felt like it looked too much like a wedding book.

It was a challenge for me because I had never covered a book: I'm just used to make jewellery with my fimo. And to add more stress to it, I only had a few days to do it!

But just like Barney Stinson would say..."Challenge accepted!"

I drew a little draft and showed it to them and they gave me the go ahead.

I decided to go for an old leather look.

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I then made little details on it to make it a bit more realistic. The thing I might do differently if I was to make one again is the finish on it. I varnished it which gave it a glossy look. Looking at it again, I think a matt finish would have been better to complete the "old" look.

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But as this book was going to move from hands to hands to be signed all around the workplace, my main concern was to protect it so she could get it in mint condition.

There is also a little bookmark to go with it.

I have had some very nice comments from people who found out I had done it. Some even thought they had bought it like that so I guess I've done it right, no? :-)

Back to sewing classes

So the kids have been back to school for almost a month now, I went back to my dance classes last week...there is just one class left now: sewing class!!

They have started last weekend but I could not go because I had already planned for some friends to visit from the UK and there was no way I would have missed them.

For the last two years I have been transporting my sewing machine in its original box: not practical as it was big and had no handles.

With the move over the summer and the lack of space in the new flat, I had to throw away some stuff and that included the sewing machine box.

This was a good thing as it finally forced me to make a project I have been putting off for well, two years!

I found a pattern via Google on a blog called Les Chiffonneries du chat. I altered the pattern a bit though, to my likings.

Instead of two zips, I used one long one. I also added an outside pocket to it and put the handles outside so they could be visible and they would contrast with the bag's colour.

And another first for me!!!!

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Click on image to enlarge

Until next time...

Vestiaire Scandinave - Solveig Dress

I have had another productive weekend and made two projects.

Earlier this week, I found another sewing book called "Vestiaire Scandinave" and thought I would give a shot at one of the dresses called "Solveig Dress".

The book

As we were celebrating my niece's 7th birthday over the weekend and I realised I had nothing to wear (well...nothing that I fancied wearing anyway), I bought some fabric after work on Friday and got started as soon as I got home. OK, after dinner and a cup of tea :-)

Here is the result:

 

My dress

The original dress

Considering it was done in one night, I am pretty happy with myself.

One thing I need to learn to do is to alter patterns as this dress is straight so not very flattering for fuller figures like mine... I will learn someday. Right now, I am just able to cut a pattern and make the garment which is already quite good if I may say so.

I have made a top as well: my first, but that's for another post.

Hope you have all had a good weekend!

Trying something new

UEver heard of Kirigami? If you're not into papercraft, probably not.

Last year at a craft show, I did see this art presented by a guy exposing his cards there. I found this quite cool but did not want to get into yet another hobby. I mean, there are only so many things a crafter can do, right? Nah! We always find new things to do!

Last week, it was one of my colleague's birthday and I was in charge of the card. As I'm still setting up my workshop (yep. Still not done!), I needed something quick, not messy but that would stil look nice though because I've do not give handmade things that look not finished.

So I though about the cards I had seen last year but I could not remember th name of the method used. Took me a while on Google but the name finally popped up. 

You still don't know what it means though, I know. Kirigami is the art of cutting a pattern on a piece of paper to make cards or decorations.

She likes cats and the colour blue so I found the pattern online, and already had some blue paper. 

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Don't know if I'll do it again because even though it's not messy, it does take some time...and I chose a basic pattern as it was my first time.

On the other hand, it does not require a lot of material which is nice.

New addiction?

I may have started a new addiction over the weekend.

A few weeks ago, I found in the sales some sewing books: I bought three for the price of one. I bought them after my sewing teacher made me sew a tunic from a book from the Mes Carnets de Couture collection.

As the classes stopped for the summer, I decided to make one on my own from one of the books. I have been a bit obsessed with this idea since then!

I have already made one a week ago (I will show it in another post).

I then chose to try something that was marked as "difficult", but I loved the design so much I gave it a go. It took me a few evenings after work to prepare the pattern and cut the fabric. Last Saturday, I spent the day putting it together.

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This one is from the book "Tuniques pour petits et grands" and is the model E: Tunique à Plastron

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As I had some red fabric left, I added a little bit at the end of the sleeves and around the collar.

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The trickiest part was the folding of the plastron, but once I got it, it was pretty straightforward.

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The explanations in the book were clear so it was easy to follow for someone who is not used to sew clothes...

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Until the next project...and there is another one coming. I've been productive over the weekend :-)

Back to school

Yep! Kids went back to school today here. I wish I could have seen my nieces and nephews going to their new classes but I had to go to work.

This day can be two things...depending on which side you're in:

• a nightmare if you have no kids because it means the end of the summer holidays and the start of traffic jams again on your way to work
• freedom if you have kids because you get rid off them for 5 days a week (sometimes less though) and don't have to struggle with how to entertain them during the day and having childcare issues lol

I'm part of the first group for now :-)

Here is a "back to school" mani for this week. It is a mix of different pictures I have seen on the internet and things I wanted to do.

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Bracelets

Here are two bracelets made for two custom orders.



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New pocket mirror

Hello everyone,

let's start the week with a new pocket mirror. Covered in resin to have a nicer finish to it.

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Click on image to enlarge

Have a great week and thanks for reading!

Something new

One thing I am asked regularly when I talk about my hobbies is my blog's address. And I must admit that I have never been the greatest at remembering it. I normally reply that if they typed my name in Google, they would find it.

But now it's time to be serious: I have made some business cards. That way, I will never get into that situation again.

Of course, you cannot have business cards without a decent card holder!

And voila! Simple but nice. I did not think it needed more than that.

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Click on image to enlarge

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A little order...

Here are three pieces I have done last week for someone who wanted copies of jewellery I had made for myself a long time ago.
First, a (much) bigger version of these earrings. I had to to them twice as first I decided to cover them with resin but it didn't turn out great so just used my normal varnish and baked them.

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Then I made some cherry earrings.


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Finally, a mini bottle necklace. I filled the bottle with macarons. The only thing I have changed compared to the original one is the place of the bow: on the bottle rather than on the chain.

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It was fun making them again. I enjoyed making canes with my extruder gun for the Disc Earrings. I have some left actually so...more fun to come ahead!



Wedding

Not mine no! A friend's wedding for which I was asked to make this piece as a present a while ago.

This piece took me a while to do as it was my first time trying to make characters. Plus, using white fimo is not my thing: I have problems keeping it white.

Still a huge work to do on proportions and sculpting which I am not good at, at all!

Anywho, I hope they liked it!

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Sewing project: reusable paper towels

One thing about taking sewing classes is that you tend to think that after one class (and especially once you have purchased your first sewing machine), you are capable of sewing everything. Yes, each time you look at something, this little voice in your head goes "easy! just get some fabric and you'll do that in one afternoon for half the cost and the colours you want!"

In real life, outside of your head, it's not that simple though. So everything takes much longer to do and doesn't look like the picture :-)

Now with today's project.

My other half is lovely but there's one thing he loves as much as me...or maybe more, and it is kitchen paper towels. He uses them all the time and for everything.

I was thinking about how to make him reduce the amount he uses when I came across some left overs from the fabric used for the bib I made for my nephew last year. That's when my voice inside decided to talk: "if it can work for bibs, I'm sure you can do the same for kitchen towels!".

There I was on the Internet looking at ways to do this: I quickly realise that my inner voice wasn't that original as I saw hundreds of pictures for reusable paper towels.

Anyway, a trip to the fabric shop, some cutting, sewing and tadaaa! The first set of reusable kitchen towels. I still have another set to make and it will give me room for improvement actually.

Plus, I'm doing my share for the environment...and my purse ;-)

Now! Time for me to go enjoy the rest of my long weekend. The fourth and last one of the month. I'm going to miss this month of May...

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Pocket mirrors

New projects over the weekend: pocket mirrors.

I have used my purple rose cane which I had not touched for a very long time but which was still OK. I do not usually use bright colours but I think the contrast between the purple and orange is pretty cool on that one.

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The second mirror looks simpler but I really like the effect of the black fimo mixed with some mica powder.

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Another new thing: I have overcome the fear of using resin. Yeah! Those pieces can have a better finish.

Both mirrors are available :-)

Bow necklace

My sister saw a bow necklace in a shop a while ago: my challenge was to make something similar for less money ;-)

Here it is!

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Brazilian Bracelet

We celebrated my twin and I's birthday over the weekend. I made her a little piece of jewellery for the occasion: a Brazilian bracelet (and another first for me!).

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Think she liked it. What about you?

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I did not have time to make one for myself but will do. And probably some extras actually!

Socks!

I have finally done it! My first pair of socks!

I have been dreading this for years I must say: always thinking it would be way too difficult. The idea of using several double pointed needles and most of all....the heel part!

A couple of weeks ago I found a pattern I thought would be good enough to get started and went for it. It went pretty fast and in a few days I was done.

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 Making the heels was a bit tricky, mainly understanding how to read the instructions for it. The heel on the left sock is different than the right one: I must have done something wrong while reading the pattern. I will need to practise that shortly.

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The hardest part is actually when you are done with the first one and you realise you have to do exactly the same thing again :-)

What do you think? Not bad for a first, huh?