2013

This year I didn't focus: leather, paper, fabrics, beads, knitting needles and more were hold in my hands. And I probably won't choose one direction in 2013 either. Maybe I'm able to add ceramics or wood? I'm not sure. Please drop by again to see in which direction my life goes. Thank you all for encouraging me by leaving some words.

Wishing you a creative 2013!

Giveaway winner

It's the 20th, right? So there's something to giveaway today! Thanks for so many nice words.
These days are really busy and that's the only reason that I had to rely on the unoriginal, but handy random.org to do the selection. No doubt about it: Jozefien is the winner of this leather sample bag. Please send me your address, so I can send this little present to you. The rest of you I might cheer up with this...
Finally, let me be in time this year: a merry x-mas to all of you!

First one

The making of this pencil pouch -my first ever!- was fun. At the exciting moment of turning it, I was surrounded by quite some kids, who looked at the pouch as looking at a play. They were surprised that a wad of textile can turn into a common object.
Thanks Spiegelstiksels and Oon for helping me! Especially the first tutorial was useful to me, but the cut corners didn't align one hundred per cent. I just trimmed them a bit to make them align. No problem! Upper right: I turned it inside out to show you the red inside.
This prototype was a birthday present for L's friend next door. I'm sorry, Jil, that I forgot to add the tabs. And next time I'll use interfacing for both outer fabric and lining. I'll make you an improved one as well.
Btw, can you believe that these are M's very first felt pens? Sinterklaas gave them to her and she's happy!

Mix & match

As you can read here, I came to these leather sample bags because I wanted to have a new bag matching my dress in no time. This bag is made of four leather samples, that were laying around in the office. The only things I bought were a leather lace and eyelets. When you want to try this bag as well, please don't bother about sizes. Exact sizes don't matter. You can choose to make a landscape or a portrait model. The tutorial will do in both cases. Just avoid cutting the leather when possible to save time. Here and here you can see reversible examples. The bag pictured above measures 16 x 26 cm.
When you don't know where to get the leather, maybe these links (that I didn't try myself) work out for you: Dawanda nl and en.

This is what you need:

1. 4 (preferably very different) leather samples. If you want to know: mine are 20 x 25 cm and are a good quality of Moore & Giles. Or cut 4 rectangles out of leather if you don't get your hands on samples. You might even use some thicker quality felt instead of leather.
2. 4 eyelets, inner diameter about 5 mm, to hammer through the leather to finish the holes for the strap. When you want to make a non-reversible bag, 2 eyelets are sufficient.
3. normal but good quality thread
4. double sided foam tape (like Tesa, often used to mount mirrors)
5. 3 m of flat leather lace. Note that the double lace should fit through the rings. Mine is 5 mm wide.

Giveaway

You know I'm not so generous on my blog. Not like other co-bloggers. But today I must say: promise is a promise. So I'm giving this reversible leather sample bag to one of you. This week I'll post a tutorial as well, so when you happen to be not the winner, you can try to make one yourself! This bag is the result of the tutorial; sizes are 16 x 26 cm.
If you're interested, please leave a sweet comment and I'll pick a winner on Thursday 20th. The very same day I plan to send the post, hoping that this festive bag arrives in time to be worn at X-mas ;). I will ship world-wide so anyone is welcome to enter if you'd like. Please spread the word!

Like Irene Hoofs

Today I will post (just like bkids ;)) a few of this week's Sinterklaas gifts, that -I think- might inspire you for X-mas. Although some of them are really Dutch... enjoy!

Above some gifts for L of nearly 7: 1. ceramic pink bird broche  2. jumping rope per meter  3. beads box with beads  4. origami paper  5. super soft mole plushie  6. doll's house sticker book via here  7. first reading book Mol en mus  8. FiveFinger shoes (just like her father)

Above some gifts for M of 11: 1. teenager t-shirt with kisses 2. shawl  3. mix & match stationery  4. envelope template  5. Dairy of Anne Frank with self-made cover 6. no plastic no silicon watch

Taking care

A while ago the kindergarten got rid of some old toys. This vintage doll's bed is belonging to L since then but was still waiting for some bedding. So one takes a doll's bed...

... adds a mattress...

... followed by a sleeping bag...

... and a plushie. Dilemma: who's turn is it? It's clear, I have to make many more, but for now I'm glad I finally managed to give her this first one for Sinterklaas.



It's your's, Witje.

Learning from kids

Trula Kids invited me to join in her daily blog posts about what we learn from our children. She is featuring pictures of blog friends as an advent calendar. Go and read these series, because they are lovely and cheer up your day. This is my contribution of today.