An unplanned bag making class

I was in Penang for work on the 8th and 9th of July, and since I was spending the night there, I made plans to meet up with Zarina and also to visit Corine from Corine’s Craft after work.

It was originally a plan to just meet up for a chat (yeah! Right! Just a chat, you say? LOL! *wink*) and maybe browse (browse? Who am I kidding, anyway? LOL! *grin*) through Corine’s shop hut which is always filled to the brim with plenty of sewing notions and fabrics. It never fails to get me all excited like a little girl. *grin*

Corine picked me up from the hotel as soon as I checked in and managed to refresh myself. I was originally very tired after a long day visiting 2 project sites and attending a project meeting that I almost wanted to just call off meeting up with Zarina and Corine. I felt like just taking a warm shower and going under the covers for a good long nap, but, the minute I heard Corine’s voice over the phone, I got all excited! I was already imagining going through all the lovely sewing stuff and fabrics in her hut! LOL! *blush*

When I got to Corine’s house, there was a lady already there doing a bag. If I am not mistaken, she was doing the Banana Bag, which immediately got me all excited! LOL!

Corine encouraged me to take a bag lesson with her, but I hesitated as it was already 6.30pm. I doubt it if I could finish a bag in this short time. I wasn’t too keen on imposing on Corine either at such a last minutes, and I don’t think I have the energy to stay up late after a long day already. I also needed to get some sleep as I still have a very long day tomorrow filled with discussions and site visits.

However, all that changed when I saw Roz’s lovely Saddle bag, compounded with lots of persuasion and encouragement from Corine herself and Shit Lin. LOL!

I immediately got to work choosing the fabrics while Shit Lin immediately got to work drawing out the patterns onto the interfacing.

When Zarina arrived, even before we could finish with our pleasantries, she was set to get to work cutting the interfacing while Shit Lin ironed them onto my chosen fabrics. Thanks, Zarina!

This time, my choices of fabrics were brown with pink flowers! Ooohh! It is so sweet! Just couldn’t get away from pink, can I? LOL!

I spent the next 2 ½ hours working on the bag with plenty of help from Shit Lin, Zarina and Corine.

Zarina left at about 8.00pm, and we stopped working on the bag at about 9.00pm or so.

I only got as far as putting the top of the bag together, but it was already late and time for dinner and I had to get back to the hotel for some much needed rest.

Corine took us to dinner at Sushi King (thanks, Corine!) and Shit Lin’s sister sent me back to the hotel. I was so tired, I think I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillows. LOL!

Coincidentally, Corine drove to Kuala Lumpur the next day to run a class, but, I didn’t have a chance to attend that class at Kelvin’s as I had a meeting to attend as soon as I arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Penang. So, I only managed to join her class on Saturday, 10th July, but, even then, it was after 11.00am as we had a 3-way conference at Aiman’s school to discuss Aiman’s performance with his teachers on his last semester’s exams.

I had little doubt that I could finish the bag, seeing how complicated the bag looks, but, again with lots of help from Shit Lin and Corine, I finished it! All that was left was to put on the leather handle, which I am not an expert in, and so, I gave it to Corine to take it back to Penang for her to buy the all the leather accessories needed for the bag from this lady who does leather accessories for bags, and for her get it done for me.

The finished bag arrived yesterday, 31st July, with Corine when she was down here again running another bag class. It’s gorgeous, if you don’t mind me saying so myself! LOL! *wink*

I just simply love the fabrics, and the leather accessories simply make the bag look so very expensive! Errrrr....actually, they are VERY EXPENSIVE! *wink*

I can’t wait to use it!

I am thinking of doing another one, this time in black as my favourite black handbag has given way after a very good and long service with me. It’s time to retire it. I have bought the fabrics at Kelvin’s on Saturday. I hope to spend some time today (this post was written on Sunday, 1st August) drawing out the patterns and maybe get started on it as soon as possible because I am in dire need of a black bag. I just hope that it will turn out just as nice, if not better looking!

BTW, while I was at Kelvin’s, with Kelvin’s permission, I snapped some photos of his new shop. Seen here is an angle of the classroom.

Don’t you just love all those fabrics and sewing notions?

I could practically spend the whole day at Kelvin’s shop, going through all those lovely fabrics, only I think it just might be too dangerous for my purse, and burst my bank account! LOL! Eerr.....I think it already did on my last trip there! LOL!

Look at all those bags nicely decorating the top of the shelves filled with fabrics! Makes you want to do all the bags, doesn't it? *wink*

Seen here is Kelvin with Niza from Penang.

Coming up next ...... A bag for the Little Missy!

A request all the way from the US!

After getting a special request from Idah, my hubby’s cousin to make her 2 bags, I got another request almost soon after that, but this time coming all the way from Diane in the United States of America! She must have been impressed with the sample bags I made for my hubby’s cousin! *wink*

Diane wanted two bags to be made; one is a big shopping bag, and another smaller one which can go into the big shopping bag. She wanted the bags to match. Diane already has a design in mind. In fact, she has already bought the patterns for both the bags, and she also bought the fabrics in the colours that she wants the bags to be made from.

That in itself took out the `headache’ of trying to choose fabrics that will suit to her taste and liking. That way I can get straight into making the bags, and, the best part was that, I get to keep whatever fabrics leftover from the bags! *wink* And Diane was generous in the amount of fabrics that she sent! I could mix and match and maybe even make another bag! Thanks, Diane!

Since the order came all the way from the US, making payments for the bags was going to be a little bit `difficult’, and so when Diane suggested that she pays me by sending me things that I want and also some other items which she feels I could make use of to make more bags, I agreed. Again, Diane was generous in her `payments’ for the bags.

My jaw dropped when I saw the things that she sent to me as payment! It was like I was celebrating my birthday months in advance! Just look at the box that the things came in!

And here's what she sent me!

There are fat quarters in PINK, and there are plenty of them to make me a bag or two!

When Diane was about to send out the parcel to me, she said that there was a craft fair of sorts going on in her area and asked me if I would like her to get me anything from there. I mentioned that I have always been wanting to get those square grid rulers for my patchwork but have always been put off by the high price sold here in Malaysia.

Diane bought me not just one square ruler, but two! One is 6” and the other is 4 ½”. Now cutting my squares for patchwork will be a breeze! Thanks, Diane!

Diane also bought me a triangular ruler and circle templates! She also included in the box a Sewline fabric pencil which is awesome to use to mark on fabrics, and Diane even bought the pen in pink with pink lead! LOL!

She also gave me a roll of pink ribbons and also a length of pink ribbons. I also got a pen which I believe is a magic marker to mark on fabrics, also in pink!

As if that was not enough as payment for me to make the bags, Diane also sent a pattern for KIMONO GARDEN wall quilt, complete with all the fabrics to make the quilt! Thank you so much, Diane!

Wow! I had so much fun opening the box, and kept digging into it despite having to put everything back into the box as my working table was already cluttered with the things I was using to make the bags for my cousin’s hubby, because I don’t want things to get mixed up!

Now for the things that Diane sent to make her two bags….

Seen here is the KIMONO GARDEN Kit (in a box wrapped with a ribbon) which I originally thought was part of the items for me to make her the bags. Luckily I confirmed with Diane first before setting out to cut all the pieces for the bags! LOL!

Anyway, looks like Diane is into blues, greens and browns. It is not a colour I usually work with but it challenged me to get creative in trying to coordinate the colours, and I really love the results!

Look out for a posting on the progress of the bag. I am about 90% done on the big bag, and I started working on the small bag last weekend. I am not sure when I will be bale to get both bags done. I have been doing a lot of travelling lately, and I have been coming home late and feeling very exhausted.

Should I complete the bag in time for NNC’s 3rd Anniversary celebration this weekend, Diane has given me permission to bring it to the meet to show it off! *grin*

Also among the things that Diane sent me to make her bags is a roll of Pellon Fusible Fleece. I have read about it online and wondered what it was. Now I know, and I simply love it!

It made quilting a breeze as I need not have to baste the fleece (batting) onto the bag pieces first before quilting the pieces, but only need to iron it on directly onto the fabric. Also, as it glues itself to the fabric, I can cut the batting right up to the edge of the fabric, when, before this, I have to give plenty of allowance for the batting as when I quilt, it tends to take in some of the edges, if you get what I mean.

I only wish that this Pellon Fusible Fleece is available here in Malaysia. *sigh*

I inquired at Sakura (they have moved to Kampung Kayu Ara new business center) and they said that they might be bringing in some sometime this year to test the market. I just hope that it won’t cost a bomb!

I can’t wait to show off the bags I made for Diane. Hopefully by the 1st week of April, I will be able to get them done.

I already have two more orders for 3 more bags from 2 different people – Zai and Ann. I just need to discuss some details with them.

BTW, my hubby’s cousin’s bags are also almost done. I am only left with the finishing touches. I hope to get them done before the end of the month so that I can pass them to her. I just need to find time to meet up with her.

I will post updates on all four bags (my hubby’s cousin’s and Diane’s) when all 4 bags are done. I need to find time to sit down and finish them up and to blog about them.

If only I have 36 hours in a day! LOL!

Going on a diet!

No! No! Not the food diet! Well, I think I should go on the food diet too, but, not today, not now. *grin*

Today I am going to start on a Stash Shopping Diet! *grin* Believe me, I am! *grin* Yeah! Right! My stitching friends are going to shake their heads in disbelieve, knowing how much willpower I will need to get myself disciplined to really not stash, knowing very well how much I love to stash when it comes to my hobbies! LOL!

This evening, instead of going for my class at Epal to finish off my Telekung (Praying atttire) project, I decided to stay home and get my stash organised, as my son was not yet fit to attend his Robotics class. He still has not fully recovered from his chicken pox. He still has a few more scabs on his face and hands, and we did not want to take the risk of infecting any of the other kids at his Robotics class.

So, while my son and hubby took an afternoon nap, I decided to go through my fabric stash, and try to sort them out according to colours, or, at least, try to get them sorted out.

I spent almost 3 hours going through my stash before I finally got everything all neatly folded and nicely stacked up, although I did not finish organising them into their respective colours. I was beginning to get tired, and hungry! LOL! I must have used up all the energy from lunch to sort out all my stash! LOL! Goes to show you how much fabric stash I have! LOL!

To tell you honestly, though embarssingly, I think I have enough stash to last me more than a lifetime! If I were to convert them into bags, I think I can make maybe close to 50 bags, or maybe more! *blush*

It’s time I really start seriously thinking about turning my hobby into a money making business! Only then I will be able to use up as much of my stash as possible, and then, maybe after that, start buying more stash! Oopps! NO! LOL! *wink*

Here’s part of the stash.

The top photo shows fabrics bought at Nagoya and Kamdar. The bottom photo shows fabrics bought either at Sakura or Quilt Gallery.

The photos were taken when I first starting sorting out my stash, After going through 4 drawers of stash, I got too tired to take any more photographs! LOL! *blush* I was also getting too embarrassed and guilty to show off how much stash I actually have! LOL! *grin*

Definitely I am going on a Stash Shopping Diet, in that I will try to refrain myself from buying anymore fabrics! ...at least for this year! LOL! But, notions like zips, buttons, threads, etc, I will still need to buy in order for me to make my bags and other projects.

So, will I succeed? *wink* Wish me luck!

A great time making bags!

I had another great day making bags again on Friday, 18th December 2009. It was a public holiday as it was Awal Muharam, the first day of the Muslim Calendar.

We had our class at Sakura, Section 19, Subang Jaya. Corine was in town to fetch her son who was coming in from overseas, and she graciously offered to run the class for the 3 of us, Leena, Azie and myself, who were not able to finish the kits we bought during the Penang Craft Retreat last month.

We started our class as early as 10.00am. We wanted to try to get as many bags done as possible. Always the ambitious one! LOL!

Anyway, we got started as soon as we got our sewing machines set up. Leena and I worked on our hexagon bags, while Azie worked on her Four Face bag.

I did not manage to completely finish the hexagon bag but got to the stage where I could complete the rest of it at home with some tips from Corine.

I wanted to get started on my second kit, which is the Two Way bag after lunch.

Leena wanted to work on the long purse and another kit which I am not very sure what it was.

I am not sure either if Azie had another kit to work on, but, she was still working on the Four Face bag after lunch.

I had to leave by 5.30pm that day as I had a wedding to attend in Ampang, and so had to stop working on the Two Way bag at 5.00pm. I also wanted time to do some shopping at Sakura. Typical of me, huh? LOL!

When I stopped working on my Two Way bag, I only managed to go as far as putting the two front sides together.

It was slower after lunch as there were two more additional students who came in to do a lovely bag which I hope to someday learn to do too.

The place was small, and I think we, the 3 students, were already taking up all the space that Kelvin could offer. With an additional 2 more students, space was kind of tight when it came time to measure, cut and iron.

We had to take turns, and that’s precious time taken up, not that I am complaining that much, but, maybe we need to have our class in a proper classroom or an even bigger space should we want to have more than 5 students at the same time! LOL! *wink*

Dear Corine, no offence to you. You tried your best to fit in everyone, and I really appreciate it. I think that had I have all the time in the world to do the bags, I wouldn’t have felt so pressured with the space constraint. *wink*

It’s just me, I want to do so much, but time was simply not on my side.

Or, maybe, could it be that I was slow because I was already getting sleepy after lunch? LOL! Yeah, maybe that was it! LOL! *grin*

But, I do agree with Corine that the next time when she runs a class, she will only teach two bags per class - one bag design in the morning and another bag design in the afternoon, after lunch.

That way she can concentrate better and the students who are a little fast at working on the bags can help those who works slower, thus lighten Corine’s `burden’ to try to teach everyone different things at the same time.

I am already looking forward to the next class , and we might plan one for January or February, depending on Corine’s available time and when she can come to Kuala Lumpur. Can't wait!