Birthday Special: World Architecture & Habitat Day

This year's first Monday of October for World Architecture Day & World Habitat Day, coincided with my birthday.  Combining both my loves, architecture & crafting (with recycling), I did my part in contributing to the public installation of 'Cardboard City' at The Spring shopping mall.  Essentially, it highlighted that basic shelter is every human's right.  Min's entry on the project here.

Travelling with my craft

I've always found it rather difficult to fit everything in my travelling slingbag. Being rather disorganised, I am always digging for things in my bag like it was a lucky draw. What I really need is a bag with lotsa pockets inside; different sized pockets for different items, and better still, if they all had zippers, for when I need to seal them up. Gette even suggested bear traps, I guess the zippers comes close.

Started out planning the inside layout of the pockets, which was the primary driving reason for this bag, anyways.
Not quite the genius with sewing pockets, so I slapped 2 layers of fabric together and divided up the spaces by sewing it through according to the length of the zippers, like so ...I was going to use fabrics I had saved up from previous projects but I finally decided on using a really old pair of jeans I dug out from de-cluttering my wardrobe. I was on the roll, and forgot about documenting the process, so no how-to pictures. But, it's just lining up the interior of a jeans bag, just like that project I did 2 years back, with an inside full of pockets with zippers.

Recycling that old pair of jeans, proved ideal, because of those pockets it already has on the outside. With full intentions of filling up my travel with lotsa sketches, I stuck in my new red Moleskine sketchbook, into one of the pockets on the outside.
Here's a peek into the inside ... space for books, and water bottle (and umbrella)!!! Now, I'm 99% ready to go away, next month! ;)If you noticed the belt ... yes, those are recycled from the de-cluttering project too. They were supposed to be an alternative strap for one of my sling bags, which now ended up as a decorative trim, while holding up the shape/brim of the bag.

CrafteRafter

CrafteRafter is made up of three friends who want to do something that's different from their day jobs. Everyone bring different skills to the table - creativity, business sense, and sewing-fu. And everyone agrees that there are too many things in the world going to waste when it can be given a new lease of life. CrafteRafter combines saving the world with saving time and space in your life. And the cheerleader too, if we really have to. Each item is handcrafted and unique. This is how people typically describe things that are not spat off the end of a factory production line looking exactly like the last item and the next. Call it "character" or "wabi-sabi". Call it "handmade".
My task was simple ... make labels ... handmade labels.

The first batch of labels, were printed on polka dot ribbons. They were funky and I loved them 97%. That 3% was because, the transfer didn't quite stay on the 'dots'.

And since there had been a lot of questions about how these labels were made and requests for how-tos from friends, I am going to share this simple skill on this post. I have been doing this kind of transfers since college days, but I can't recall where I learnt it from.

Note that the mirrored photocopy for the transfer must be from a carbon photocopier (not laser copier). This will be stating the obvious, but in case you didn't know, it is mirrored so that when transfered, it will be 'correct'.

For this purpose, I cut them up in strips for transferring onto the ribbons.
The medium for activating the transfer can be either turpentine, thinner or even nail polish remover. (btw, I clumsily slammed the car door on my right thumbnail last October) Facing the transfer downwards, I pressed the cotton pad previously soaked with thinner on the reverse side.

Tip: Do not drenched the cotton pad in thinner. Somehow, it works better when the cotton pad is lightly soaked. Test it out on spare fabric first.
Hold the transfer paper firmly in place so that the transfered image/text is as sharp as it should be. Slowly remove the transfer paper after.
When I completed printing onto the whole strip of ribbon, I cut them up into label sizes.
Glue was applied at the end of the label strips to prevent fraying and left to dry.
So, this was how our CrafteRafter labels were made. At this moment, there is only the 'Bagget'. Check it out!

By the way, this method works for other material surfaces too. Have fun testing it out!

Pouch for iPhone

After salivating over the thought of getting a new phone, I finally got myself an iPhone. With all the extra fabric I have, I have made a new phone pouch. Use fabric from part of old t-shirt, some leftover jeans fabric, ribbon and a bit of pvc leather. Most of them were odds & ends that I saved from previous projects.

So, I started out with cutting out the outer fabric (jeans) with the template I prepared. (write me if u want the template with dimensions) Then I lightly glued it on the t-shirt material on the inside as lining, leaving about 1" at each end unlined, because I was going to fold it over and I don't need such a thick edge to hem.
Before I head over to the sewing machine, I marked in opening I will need for the buttonhole, where I will slide the ribbon through. Now, this ribbon will help me pull/push the phone out of the pouch eventually. I offset the opening from the end of the fabric slightly over 2", in the middle and to the width of the ribbon.Now the sewing. I folded over one of the 1" ends, not lined with the t-shirt fabric, and sewed 2 straight stitch. And proceeded to making the buttonhole. Stringing the ribbon through the buttonhole, I pulled it to the other end, which was not hemmed yet. Folded over the 1" end and sewed 2 straight stitches across with the ribbon inserted in the middle.
You may also noticed the pin that held the ribbon in place. I stretched the ribbon along the length of the fabric and pinned it down, all the way from the fixed end to the button hole. Then I halfed it with the insides (t-shirt lining) facing outwards, and sewed straight stitch down both sides.And flipped it inside out, revealing the jeans fabric. I usually use chopsticks to push out the corners.
At this point, I sewed straight stitches along both sides, to secure it. I sometimes backstitch at the end of a straight stitch but I prefer sewing over one point using the function that stitches the ends of the buttonhole, because it's much neater. See the detail at below.Since I didn't want the ribbon to stick out too much, I put the phone in all the way which pushed the ribbon all the way to the bottom, just to make sure. And cut off the access just at the rim of the opening. Then, I attached a halfed pvc leather at the end of the ribbon. This will be the finger pull part.I trimmed off the access pvc leather after the adhesive had dried.Finally, completed. Picture of phone pulled out of the pouch; and picture of ribbon when phone is tucked in.
I think this is a very simple pouch to make and can be applied to any phone, pda, etc. Simple satisfaction from own handmade goodness!

Current Issue : Face Mask

The lastest fashion accessory : The Face Mask. It's hitting the streets and jet-setters alike ...

It is definitely not fun in these times of H1N1, with confirmed cases hitting our shores in Sarawak. I have made some fancy mask cover to protect my surgical mask that had been distributed. Below is a set of very basic instruction if you want to make your own.

I took out a surgical mask for dimensions, to ensure it fits. I used some leftover fabrics that I have been saving.

These were my mask dimensions; 17.5cm x 17cm , with 2cm seam allowance. I also marked out the folds. Cut out the fabric as marked and continued marking the middle folds before ironing it down.Here, folds ironed in place, as marked. And a detail shot. Folds of 1cm (underside) and 2cm (overside).
I sewed a straight stitch along both sides to hold the folds in place, before hemming it inwards. Now, I took out a recycled rubber band (that I have been saving up too), measured the length according to the bands on the surgical mask and cut out 2 strips.I sewed it into the top seam allowance and the bottom seam allowance (on the same side). Cut of excess and repeat for the other side. After with, I hemmed the top seam allowance inwards to cover over the band, and repeat for the bottom seam allowance.Done. Placed it over my face (above the nose) and pulled the bottom bit downwards to achieve maximum coverage. It can be stretched all the way down to my neck. For extra precaution, wear the surgical mask underneath this mask.Honestly, its not only for your own protection, but it is also considered polite to wear this if you are having flu/cold. For more info about facemasks & respirators, read here.

Juice-y Couture Handbag

With all this over-rated hype over fancy schmancy over-pricey Juicy Couture accessories, I'll show you my very own ... JUICE-Y Couture Handbag Spring/Summer 2008!This is a crafting project I did back in March 2008. And since then there were requests for tutorials but I have not gotten around making another one, so I am going to illustrate and explain.

In my case, I used 4 identically sized carton boxes. For a wider bag, you can opt for 5 or more, and for a narrower bag, you can use 3 or even 2 cartons. Open up the seal at the top carefully by hand and remove the plastic cap (if any).Prepare 3 Types, as illustrated:
Type 1 : End - 3 sided with 1" flap and punched holes along one side;
Type 2 : Intermediate - 2 sided with 1" flap and punched holes along both; and
Type 3 : End - 3 sided, no extra flaps and only punched holes along one side.

Cut of the the top part, leaving about 1" from the crease line. At the side flaps, measure and mark a stretch of approximately 20mm spaced points. At the marked points, use the hole puncher and make a hole.(Tips: For evenly spaced openings and uniformity, use a separate cardboard strip and punch the holes evenly along it. Then overlay the strip on all the flaps and traced the holes onto it with marker.)

Fold the top flaps inwards.Here, we'll 'stitch' it all together. Using backstitch, I stringed up the carton boxes with 1 pair of orange and 1 pair of yellow shoelaces to string. You can choose your own color to match the graphics on the carton boxes. Start from the 2nd hole from the top.

1 ...2 ...3 ...As for the rings for the strap, they were a total of 4 aluminum can tabs. Close-up like so ...Here's another look!

Masq-uerade

[Fear not! This has nothing to do with preventing aliens from reading my mind. Although the first picture may remind you of a scene from "The Signs"]

Recently, I saw that a dinner I’ll be attending is themed as “Mysterious”, and so, I made myself a masquerade mask. I have always been fascinated with masquerade masks, but they tend to get quite pricey and also, not so available locally.

Like always, I put together a couple of crafting tutorials and improvised them for making this mask. For moulding the shape of the mask, I used 3 layers of aluminium foil (those you use in the kitchen) and pressed it up against my face. Making sure I get those brows, eye sockets, nose & cheekbones.Then, I cut into the eye sockets in flaps and folded it to the back. I tried to check in the mirror once in a while until I get the desired eye opening, for one eye first.Close-up of the opening.
To get the (close to) exact opening size, I traced the first opening, cut it out, flipped it over (mirrored) to the other side and traced it into place. And, repeat the previous process for the eye opening.
After that, looking through both openings, I sketched the outline of the mask, by pressing it up against my face and in front of the mirror. Then, I folded the extra aluminium foil along the edges, to the back. This should also make the mask have a stronger and more defined edge.
I continued to mould it for a more 3D effect. Here’s the front & the back of it.
I chose to add another base to the aluminium foil, by wrapping it up in strips of masking tape. This also holds those loose aluminium flaps in place before applying the paper mache, using toilet paper & craft glue.
Application of craft glue and layers of toilet paper strips later, I finished it off with a final coat of water with diluted craft glue, and left it to dry.
On the dried mask, I glue on a layer of black tulle (salvaged from other sewing projects). I chose to not cut openings at the eyes, since there was visibility through the tulle. Since most of the garnish I chose was already in black, I also did not paint the paper mache finish, so I could get a bit of contrast with the tulle lined on it. Then I garnished it further with black sequins, black feathers, black lace trims and an elaborate ‘diamond’ button.
... and voila!

At this moment, the mask kind of grabs my face at the forehead and the sides. I may add ribbons to tie it to the back of my head, or a stick to the side at a later stage.