Wedding Ring Pillow

I believe it is every woman's dream to have a beautiful wedding though that is not the most important part in a marriage. In fact, I am one of those who dreamed and fantasized.....but I didn't get the chance to walk the aisle on my wedding; get to say "I do" nor have a beautiful wedding ring pillow. But I would love to see others having a beautiful memorable wedding day.

Hence, when I received an wedding invitation from a young couple recently and having known their rustic wedding theme, I offered to make a wedding ring pillow with the similar theme as my wedding gift for them.

I looked into my stock of sewing scraps and found some fabric and accessories. The unbleached linen is the perfect choice. Matching it with cotton lace trimmings and laced butterfly; Sola flowers and metal initials.

I have a box of Sola flowers which I bought long time ago but I have no clue what it is until I saw this video clip. According to my discovery on the net, Sola flowers are made from soft bark of tapioca plant. These flower added natural charm to the pillow.

Having in mind the couple might like to keep this in their bedroom, I inserted some lavender potpourri into the pillow. 

The finished product as you can see is very pretty and authentic. I wish I had a wedding ring pillow at my wedding, but I'm as happy to have made one for a friend.

Father's Day & Teacher's Day Paper Medallions

Paper Medallion is a fun craft project to do with children. We can do this project as an activity to celebrate special occasions like Mother's and Father's Day ,Teacher's Day or even in recognition for peoples effort in keeping their neighbourhood clean. 

Use card weight paper to achieve a solid finishing. For a proffesional look use circle and scallop punchers for cutting shapes. This will make it easier to cut clean lines.

Recently, I introduces this project at my church teaching 32
32 children in Sunday school to make Father's day medallion. I used this opportynity for them to learn to honour and appreciate their fathers. They were very proud to award their parent with a self hand-made medallion. The children had much fun. I too had much fun sharing with them.

Teacher's Day gifts craft session at home with my two girls.

Check out Pottery Barn Kids for video tutorial to make paper medallion.

 

Vintage Butterfly Image Transfer Purse

When I first encountered with image transfer from other bloggers, I thought that was real cool technique to do personalize prints on fabric and other surfaces. With the many methods available working on image transfer, I had my first try in image transfer project with the Mod Podge method. The project was butterfly prints on a purse which I designed in the same theme with a journal I hand bound for a dear friend- Lynn as her belated birthday gifts.

Lynn fascinates anything designed with butterfly themes. With that in mind, I had my butterfly inspiration to hand bind a journal and sew a matching purse. I found some butterfly images from Graphic Faries who share great stocks of vintage images.

Little Jaipur - The label my sister and I created many years ago when we were running our little seasonal business

I used Mod Podge method to do the transfer from a laser print to fabric. Mod Podge is a water base, non toxic, all in one glue, sealer and finish. Though most people would recommend an ink jet printed image, the laser printed image did just well. The various kind of Mod Podge available would get a beginner confuse of choosing the right one to do a project. Here is chart to get some guide in making selection. Generally Mod Podge photo transfer medium is recommended for an image transfer project, but I make used of what is available with me - Mod Podge Matte, which did a wonderful job.

Mod Podge is not easily available in any store in Malaysia. You can find it in Craft Heaven in One Utama shopping Centre but it does not come cheap. Besides that, some local bloggers does sell this fantastic product. 

For the purse accessories used in this project, You may make online purchase from MayMayShop . By keying Yann's Journal, you get 10% discount for a minimum purchase of RM100 and above.

Click here for my tutorial on image transfer with Mod Podge.

Ethnic Luxe Piano Runner

Years ago I bought a reconditioned piano for my elder daughter who had just started taking lessons. It came with a complimentary piano runner with nice fringes around it. Being a fussy pot when it comes for home decor, somehow rather I felt that it was too common and wanted to replace it with my own design piano runner. With a handful of sewing and crafting projects on my list, it took me quite awhile to finally work on it when flash of inspiration came to mind after making the Susani and Velvet Patched Cushion Cover.

My idea was to create a piano runner with the style of ethnic luxe. For the materials, I used some remnant damask fabric given by a friend; the rich texture luxury Belgium velvet from samplee books; a hint of ethnic from the woven textile of Tai people in Northern Vietnam. The design had accommodated with the small pieces of the remnant fabric and velvet swathes. I am happy with the finished work :)

It is very intimating to sew with velvet material. Especially when it is a heavy weight upholstery velvet. I had no idea about this ornery fabric till I sew the Susani and Velvet Patched Cushion Cover. To make the sewing job harder, the velvet samplers had card weight stickers stuck around the edges. I struggled to remove them and then laid a light weight paper on the sticky part before sewing and later removed the paper again. With home use sewing machine, the motor voltage seems not powerful enough to pull through the material.  I had to pull as I sew. The result is inconsistent stitching length as sometimes the sewing was smooth and at times it hardly moved. After the project, I send my over-stressed sewing machine with imbalance tension for service.  I should have googled to find some tips in handling velvet fabric.  Check this site for the sewing tips with velvet.

Keychain & Bag Charms

With a resourceful of hill tribe textiles and accessories available in the country, it is no wonder that Thai artisans produces beautiful ethnic inspired of merchandises. 

One common ethnic inspired merchandise is the colorful key rings and bag charms which are easily found in Northern Thailand. I simply adore them. They are on my 'to make' list.

With the pom poms mania I was on for couple of months last year for a hair accessories making project, I have a small basketful of left over to use. Together with the Yi people triangle ornaments I brought back from Sichuan, China 2 years ago, I made these charming dingle dangle bag charms and key rings.

I love my version of charming charms. Do you?

Bookbinding workshop

I have the thought of organizing sewing and crafting workshops for sometime.  But I am just like many who think a lot and not executing their plans. There was no progress until few of us from the Good Soil fellowship planned these 2 workshops at the community hall of my church for some art students. I work together with a friend who is also a passionate bookbinder for the two bookbinding workshops. Even though that is voluntary work, I am equally excited about it and glad to be part of it.

Workshop I in 2012

Workshop II in 2013

Overall, the students done fairly well for their first bookbinding project although 1 or 2 of them struggle a little to complete the project. With more practice, they could certainly improve and master their bookbinding skill.  

Maybe someday, I will finally organize my own sewing and crafting workshops.