A really simple fabric flower...


... and a bulk of ruffles...


... and a pearl bead piece that I made sometime ago but forgot to take any pics.

Thanks for looking!

[edited pic URL on 4-Jan-06]

[13-Nov-05 EDIT]

... and a long bracelet (still on a 'black' and 'multi-strand' kick)



... for winter

13-Nov-05 EDIT: I made new ones <3


Similar design but in purple


and a pin for a shawl/bolero

Pics linked from my blog, hope they work! Thanks for looking.

[edited pic URL on 4-Jan-06]

Simple one made with some white translucent beads (they have a sheen, somewhat look like mother of pearl).  I made this for my legion of black shirts...



I saw a similar black necklace in a Japanese mag, and was immediately in the "wow I must have this!" mode.  Can't wait to wear it with a turtleneck or shirt in the winter!



I also made the clasp to try wire wrapping, but the outcome is kind of uneven >_<  May replace it with a piece of ribbon later...

Thanks for looking!

Weekend crafting...



There's a bunch of garment/accessories in the color turquoise this summer. So I think why not use the color in my first attempt of a cluster ring (is that the correct name?).  It seriously got the "floppy" problem with the dangles 
(Pardon the twig in the background, I thought it would be more interesting when I took the pictures...)



A simple brooch I made to go with a shrug.



Still obsessed with clusters, this time earrings and a ring with some tiny metallic beads... I tried to put as much dangles on the ring as possible, and it looks fuller than the one above. I love how the earrings turn out 



... and more clusters for pony tail holders.   

Thanks for looking!

I bought the one on the left last winter, and did an imitation in purple (on the right). I used scraps of the lining fabric of this purse:



So I painted 2 coats of some old purple nailpolish on the petals before gluing/sewing them.  The polish also stiffens the petals so they hold their shape well. Heehee great way to make use of scrap pieces of fabric instead of throwing them in the trash! 

[The case]

So this is my attempt to explain the process with diagrams:

 

	Draft a pattern of the bag.  Mark 2 notches on bottom (as if making darts)
	I made a dummy to simulate how are the pleats like when the bag is full: Make 2 copies of the pattern & glue the edges except the zipper side. Put in daily necessities to test its roomy-ness. Stuff dummy with junk.
The case
	With dummy underneath case fabric, make knife pleats & pin. To hold them in shape, make several stitches behind each pleat on wrong side of fabric. Trace pattern as if it was a flat surface & cut w/ at least 1 inch seams allowance. Make another half of the case.
The lining
	Trace pattern & cut 2 pcs of lining w/ 1/2 inch seams allowance.
	Cut a rectangle of lining fabric. Fold in half & sew the short sides close. Turn inside out & use binding tape on on the long side.
	Sew the pockets onto right side of lining.
	Cut 2 pcs of interfacing w/o seams allowance & remove the notches. (or else the bag will have a stiff, flat envelope appearance) My case fabric is soft so I added batting outside of the interfacing to prevent the stiffness showing. Fuse interfacing to wrong side of lining.
The zipper
	Line up case & lining w/ wrong sides facing in. Sew zipper between case & lining. (It helps to undo the zipper, & tack in small stitches before sewing). Repeat on the other half.
Assemble
	Join the lining pcs on the outer edge. Tuck in seams allowance at the top of handles.
	Cut 2 straps of case fabric, fold in half & insert rings. Flatten the lining at the handles & attach the straps on the right side.
	Turn the whole thing inside out. Fold lining at handles along the straps & sew the inner rim of handles close.
	The case need to be sewn close by hand. Pull taut when sewing the handles.  Make the rest of the case slightly bigger than the lining.
	Weave a ribbon through a piece of chain.  Attach to the rings & you're done!

Any question or suggestion more than welcomed!

[Tutorial added]

I am really inspired by all the wonderful creations here, that I immediately think of making my own bag when I saw this material at the fabric store.  Many thanks to the generous ppl who take the time to do tutorials, especially those I referred to: putting on zippers, hobo bags, and the great "Classy pleated iridescent clutch".  You girls rock!

Still got no sewing machine so I hand-sew this (poked my finger twice for the zipper, ouch!).  This is my first bag project, and the pleats did not turned out as I imagined so it looks like a croissant (yummy!).  Thought I'd just share. 


The front view w/ all  my junk stuffed in.

 
Opened zipper to reveal the junk inside.


View of lining & 2 inside pockets.  In front of the bag are my junks: Wallet, cardholder made of the same material, tissue paper, keys w/ my beloved key-holder, foundation compact, lipstick & cellphone...  I am getting small handbags to stop myself from carrying even more junk around LOL.

Thanks for looking~!

27 May 2005: Tutorial added on page 2: (warning: pic intensive)
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=36422.msg321588#msg321588

Yet another project coming from the dollar shop. I was searching for copper wire for a ring project, but there was only steel wire of a much thicker diameter than expected.  So I get my first wire project done to accommodate a growing collection of earrings:



A shot with my earrings and a bracelet (I do not make them except for the pearl earrings on the top left corner):


Please let me know what do you think. The 'design' is one of my favorite doodling, and it took about 2 hours from deciding the steps to actually wrapping and twisting the wire.  My fingers got sore from holding the wire for wrapping the "tripod" (don't know how to say that in English f^_^).  Is there any solution other than wearing a glove? 

I have recently visited the 'bead shops street' in my city, and unconsciously (!) bought an assortment of faux pearls without have any project in mind - bad shopping habit.  Since faux pearls were hot last year, the stores have stocks of them in many shades and sizes.  Best of all, they got both glass ones and much cheaper plastic ones, which are just great for beginners like me    I got beads in black, grays, and shades between purple and wine to build my stash.

Here is my first attempt of using faux pearls.  I teamed them up with plastic beads and made a necklace with matching earrings:


Action shot: (sorry for bad picture quality!)


They came out a bit too dressy for my wardrobe - maybe I shall make a replica with glass pearls and crystals for dressy occassions when my skills improve...  All C&C are welcomed.

Random 'those were the days' rambling: When I was a kid my mom 'sub-contracted' packaging work from the factory, like many housewives did in the 80s.  Once my home featured huge packs of 4mm dazzling white faux pearls to be made into smaller packages, and pearls came out from everywhere when we swept the floor.  We even made tools from plastic rulers that picked up 30 beads at a time.  The price tag showed that they were to be exported to the US for $0.90 per package - maybe that's why after a short period we got no more pearls from the factory and were instead sticking labels on shoelaces... 

My first attempt to make a ponytail holder with beads.  Excuse me for the blurry pic... Shaky hands after too much coffee.



All comments are welcomed.  I guess there must be a better way than attaching the jump rings to T-pins though...