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.

Relaxing evening

This week I attended the traditional parents evening at school, where we made a secret Sinterklaas present for our kids. L's teacher bought wooden drawing boxes; F sandpapered them all to get rid of the text on top. A drawing, telling about what L is up to right now, was added in soft pencil tones. Next time paint again?

Keep'n it simple

Oh yes, I know how to knit gloves, socks, sweaters with cables and other textures... I used to go for it when I was young. But nowadays, the most simple knitwear I prefer. Just doing it with nice yarn: a soft mixed alpaca in my favorite color (nr 7233). Which I used double and that I will use once again for sure. I'm dreaming of a nice and warm sweater for M...

L is such a sweet and patient model; she wanted to show you all possibilities. I added a tiny detail for her, a surprise after waking up this morning. And yes, she's really happy with it.

Btw, does anyone have a tip for getting a fully invisible seam in a case like mine?

Mixed reds

Last week I had another opening of one of our buildings in the office: a new school in Amsterdam. In this case red was the appropriate color accent. So quickly this bag was born. I think I prefer the proportions of this latest bag.

Shiny and matte, red and more orange-like were mixed. Such a nice game to play.

When I have some time left, and that will be not before Sinterklaas, I'll make you a tutorial of these kind of bags. The result of this sewing lesson will be given away to one of you! So keep an eye on my blog :).

Bling bling

Today we had a family gathering because of my mother's birthday: we have been walking on the beach and into the forest of Oostvoorne. For that reason I added some bags to my nowadays production: a classical bag for my mother and a pair of younger styled bags for my sweet cousins of 16. All made of leather samples. Loved to see that they appeared to be a hit! Unfortunately the rain came today, so I wasn't able to shoot my cousins with their new bags. But, as usual, M wanted to model before we left.

This time the samples were used in a landscape direction. The bags are reversible, so when they like it they can turn their daytime bag into a hip evening bag. The separated ends of the double stitched lace are just knotted. This way the lace can be taken out the holes and attached again on the other side.

Tiny treasures

Look at these tiny treasures M and L brought home from school last week! 1, 2, 3: by L, 4: by M.
(I miss them at this moment, they'll be home again tomorrow evening...)