lifestylewithlove

Oversized clutch and accordion short wallet

2012-01-06T20:58:00.000+08:00

These are some of the new items from my shop.

The short wallets are great for organizing your stuffs and oversized clutches are

of course for going party!

I designed my own fabrics!

2012-01-04T20:46:00.001+08:00

The fabrics designed by me finally arrived from spoonflower today!! It has been delayed due to the festive season. The wait is so worthwhile and it's like seeing your own baby the first time :)

Original fabrics from Spoonflower

2011-11-29T12:11:00.001+08:00

People from crafty world should have heard about Spoonflower.
It is a platform for people to have their original artwork to be printed
on fabrics. Of course for people like us who don't know how to design,
we can purchase fabrics from the world of fabulous designs.
What I like it the most is that we get to choose the type of fabrics, ranging
from quilt weight cotton, cotton linen canvas, cotton twill and organic cotton
sateen. The order minimum is a swatch of 8" x 8", which is very affordable.

What's even more exciting is that for the whole week till Dec 2, they are
having a promotion of buy 2 fat quarters for the price of 1! ( It's technically
50% off!!!) Yes, their original price is quite pricy compared to normal
fabrics you can buy off the rack. But the designs are so original and fabulous.

I have just ordered mine and will expect them to arrive within 2-3 weeks time.
Can't wait to see them in real!!!

Something for my kids...

2011-11-09T23:50:00.000+08:00

The week before, I have ordered from Japan a Disney Princess fabric for my girl

and a Smurf fabric for my boy. They had been waiting anxiously for the arrival

of these lovely fabrics. Everyday they asked me " Why does it take so long for the

fabrics to arrive?" - In fact just few days passed, but to the impatient kids, even

few days seem very long to them. The fabrics finally arrived after 1 week and they

both shouted with joy when they saw the parcel :)

So during the last weekend, I managed to make a wallet for my girl and a pair

of room slippers for my boy. They both LOVE their items very much ^^

New bags I made yesterday

2011-11-03T14:07:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I managed to have more "me-time" and finished up TWO lovely unique bags!

The fabrics are not new, actually most of the fabrics were cut some time ago, so I just

did a bit alternations on the pattern and finished up some "old projects" which were left behind.

It felt so good to finish "unfinished business"...haha...

Drawstring pouches with floral lawn

2011-10-28T21:53:00.001+08:00

These floral germs are made using linen and different lawn fabrics.

Recently I fell in love with London Liberty lawn but those are really too pricey ( usd10 for a fat quarter!) so I got myself these Japanese lawn which I think are very sweet and lovely too.

On each pouch I added a cotton label which has printed letterings on it, the overall feel is very romantic and sweet.

Passport holders and Travel Wallets

2011-10-09T01:20:00.000+08:00

These are some new passport holders in my shop.

Check them out for more designs and details :)

Recyle! Remake!

2011-09-16T17:53:00.003+08:00

Recently I have done a few "remake" out of my old clothes and old accessory.

Remake no.1

I have altered the length of a long skirt and made it into a short one - just by cutting the hem to your desired length will do - it's easy!

Remake no.2

I have altered the long pants from a wide leg to become a 3/4 pant with an elasticated hem ( which is more popular now). What I did was to cut about 1" of the hem, double folded the hem and insert a 1" rubber band - it's easy!

Remake no.3

Last year I bought a dairy book with a matryoshka cover. I really like the Russian dolls embroidery, so I decided to cut out the cover, and use it as a front pocket for a pouch.

To speed up the sewing, I just made it as an unlined pouch, so what I need was just a zipper and another 2 pieces of fabrics. I finished the whole pouch within 30 minutes. Since it's unlined, I just did a clean finish on the interiors.

I realized that in fact we don't need expensive materials to be crafty. Be creative and you will find that you have all the things you need right at your home! Happy sewing!

Finally my 3rd Etsy shop is opened!

2011-09-05T21:55:00.000+08:00

CuteZakka - CuteZakka - CuteZakka!!

Calling all Zakka lovers! I have finally listed some items at my 3rd Etsy shop, so it went live finally!

Zakka can refer to many different things in Japanese...from stationery items to accessories ( think hairpins, phone straps, brooches etc) or even to bigger items like pouches and slippers.

To me, these items can all bring sweetness to life. I feel so relaxed and joyful just by looking at them.

How is this shop different from my main shop "Lifestylewithlove"? Well, I have thought about that for
a very long time and I have decided to create 2 different styles for these 2 shops.

On product-wise, CuteZakka will focus more on accessories;
On style-wise, CuteZakka will be featuring simple and classic Japanese zakka style.

You can actually tell the difference by looking at the banners of the 2 shops:

I will be adding more items to the new shop as soon as I have new products. Please be patience :)

Boy's messenger

2011-08-29T14:39:00.001+08:00

Yesterday was a big sourcing day for me. I got out from home about 11am and hoping to start my sourcing early, but too bad the shops only opened at 12:30pm, so I got no choice but to have my early lunch first.

After lunch, I wasted no time and went to few shops right away. As I was with my kids, I also asked them to choose fabrics that they like.

My boy has chosen a fabric with tossed vehicle in light grey checks background. He wanted me to make a messenger for him, but there was only a fat quarter left, so I could only make a small one.

I managed to make a back pocket as well. Since the bag is for my boy, I used Velcro closure for both the front and back pockets for easy opening.

My daughter has chosen a pink fabric with glittering like girls prints. I have made a blouse out of it, will upload the pics when she wears it next time!

Flower brooches

2011-08-21T20:43:00.001+08:00

It's been a long while since the last update...Recently 2 of my family members went for surgery, so I have been busy taking care of them and for doctors
appointment.

Luckily everything went well and both of them are recovering quite well. What a relieve for me!

Nothing is more important than health, only with good health then you can achieve what you want.

Therefore only until the last weekend then I had some "me" time. I am doing something small - like key chains, cellphone straps and flower brooches like these:

I want to make many of them and these will be put in my new coming Etsy shop called "cutezakka".

New standing pencil case

2011-07-17T23:17:00.001+08:00

My nephew is going to start primary school soon and I wanted to make a pencil case for him.

I want something different and so I made this pencil case which can be standing on desk when opened - so it doubles as a pen holder.

The fabric was chosen by my son as I presume boys have similar taste :)

IPhone pouches with flaps

2011-06-29T23:26:00.002+08:00

Here's another set of phone pouches custom made for a customer.

I really love the sweet prints which are " berries in grids " and " bears and doilies ".

Since the customer said they are gifts for friends so I just did a bit wrapping with a bow in front.

Boxy pencil cases custom order

2011-06-28T22:50:00.001+08:00

Just finished today for a customer in US, hope she will like them!

Handmade blouse - newlook 6984

2011-05-31T23:50:00.001+08:00

This is the pattern that I used for making this blouse.
The pattern was meant to be for dresses, but I made it into a shorter version to become a blouse.
( Partly because I'm not confident of myself sewing a dress, secondly it's because I don't have enough yardage to make a dress :P)

As usual, my husband had lots of comments on my end-product, eg. "it looks very cartoonish",
"the workmanship is bad", "it makes you look so fat".....blah blah blah... >__<

Okay okay, so I took this picture without me wearing it...haha...may be it's more "pleasing" to the eyes if I take the photo like this...agree?

Barbie schoolbag for my little girl

2011-05-14T15:12:00.002+08:00

I have been planning to make a Barbie schoolbag for my girl quite sometime ago, but I had

a feeling that this would be a very difficult project so I have been dragging and dragging.

Also, I couldn't find any fabric that has nice Barbie prints on it and my sister kept telling me

a schoolbag needs to be very durable and that "frightened" me even more.

About 2 weeks ago, finally I found a very nice fabric with beautiful Barbie

( my daughter's favorite character) from an online shop. I showed that to her and she

screamed with joy when she saw it, so I quickly purchased it online.

We both waited anxiously and checked our mailbox everyday, finally it arrived about

a week ago. I overcame my "fear" and challenged myself to start sewing it.

Surprisingly, it just took me one night to complete the project.

I showed it to her the first thing in the next morning, and again she screamed with

so much excitement! All the hard work was so much worth it!

Gooodfabrics to share

2011-05-11T17:55:00.002+08:00

Good news for passionate crafters, just discovered a new local Singapore online fabric store, now you can shop 24 hours a day ~

To sign up as members, you get a $5 shopping voucher ( no minimum purchase required), enjoy 5% off all year round and additional 5% on sale items! This is a limited time offer only and signing up is totally free!
No gimmick, I just tried it out and it worked! :)

I'm not in any way affiliated to this site but just thought we should share good things to fellow crafters :)

Happy shopping, happy sewing!

Cute frame clutch purses

2011-04-29T17:26:00.000+08:00

These cute little frame purses are my new additions to the shop :)

4 of the purses I used Aunt Grace 1930s reproduction fabrics and

embellished with lace and linen ribbon.

As for the other 2 purses, I used Japanese cotton linen fabrics with

shabby prints of little bambi and rabbits. Aren't they adorable?

This week's sewing goodies!!

2011-04-15T21:53:00.000+08:00

Hehe...these are the sewing stuffs I got this week...for my new inspiration...YEAH!

1. My favorite COTTON TIME magazine May issue ( have been waiting so looong)

2. A small & rare piece but very very cute Matryoshka ( Russian dolls) cotton linen fabrics from Kokka.

3. A cotton linen fabric with newspaper print - most of the time I saw is thick version like canvas, but this one I got is a thinner version, which has a more delicate feel.

4. Two thick floral fabrics - one is navy ground with small bouquets of flowers - sweet and simple; another one is a more bold print (something like chrysanthemum flowers)

5. A cotton linen fabric with prints of little red riding hood...yeah....

6. Two lovely trimmings - one is floral binding and the other is eyelet scallop lace.

I can't wait to get my hands on these goodies!

Custom made reversible totes

2011-04-10T22:58:00.001+08:00

These are the bags that I finished tonight...no no no I'm not that fast to finish 4 bags
in ONE night, there are just 2 bags - to be precise, they are 2 reversible bags.
Yes, these are for my regular customer again....the one who loves reversible bags...
Personally I really like the tote with nautical prints and I think it matches so well
with the blue solid fabric.

The other yellow and purple tote is using nursery stories theme's fabrics so they
compliment each other so nicely. Yellow and purple is a nice combo too!

10% off at Lifestylewithlove

2011-04-01T22:05:00.001+08:00

To celebrate the opening of my second Etsy shop: pincushionhouse.Etsy.com, we are having
10% off for purchase of Usd30 and above.

Shop at Lifestylewithlove.Etsy.com
Please use coupon code: pincushionhouse

Happy shopping !!

Custom hobo sling bag

2011-03-31T22:27:00.002+08:00

This is another custom bag I made recently - using an old bag style

( the Hobo Sling bag with wooden rings) in the Asian floral fabrics.

The lining I used is called "Russian dolls flower tiles" and I think the colors are

very matching with the exterior.

It is meant to be a mother's day gift - ordered by my kids' piano teacher.

In fact I was very busy in the month of March - my parents visited us from Hong Kong,

so I had to keep them company most of the time.

I also "invited" them to come in our new "workshop" as this is the first time they came

ever since the revamp. They like it a lot too and my mom was asking my dad to do

a similar one at their house back in HK!

Monthly custom made bags

2011-03-17T14:05:00.000+08:00

Each month, I received orders from a lovely lady to custom made some bags

for her (mostly reversible bags). And I just got to know that she's expecting baby no. 3...
Congratulations Sam! The most recent bags are these two...

Bag no. 1 - A shoulder-carry flap purse with button closure.

Side A is Maisy fabric with colorful squares of numbers and icons.

Side B is Japanese fabric with fairy tales theme.

The trick to do reversible bags is to choose fabrics that have at least ONE

common color tone. For this bag, the common color is GREEN, that's why I used

a green plain fabric as shoulder strap and as piping around the edge of the flap.

Bag no. 2 - A tote with elastic opening and contrasting bottom

Side A is a charming denim looking fabric with roses and pearls.

Side B is navy stripes fabric with American bears print.
It's a very roomy bag that can carry A4 size documents.

New etsy shop opened - Pincushion House

2011-03-13T17:05:00.005+08:00

I am so happy that I finally opened a 2nd Etsy shop specialising

in pincushions - Pincushionhouse

Pincushions are easy to make and yet they could give you so

much inspirations!

Already feel happy by looking at them.

Enjoy!

Customized orders - Granny bags and travel organizer

2011-03-07T13:39:00.001+08:00

These are my recent customized orders for a US customer, she's particularly in love with shabby chic look, and I hope she will like these items.

February giveaway ~ Shabby Chic Pencil case

2011-02-21T22:11:00.001+08:00

It's been a while since I host a giveaway at my blog.
Few days ago I was approached by a blogger to

host a giveaway at her blog, and I think it's a good exposure
for Lifestylewithlove, so here we go...

What to giveaway? A one-of-a-kind shabby chic box pencil case ( worth USD10)

How to enter? Visit the blog here :)

GOOD LUCK!

Craft projects using fabric scraps

2011-02-15T15:55:00.001+08:00

This is a little corner in my sewing altelier.

Using some scrap fabrics in the same color theme, I have decorated 2 jars from IKEA for storing my little sewing notions. The cap tops are stuffed with polyfill so they double to be used as pincushions :)

And the little placemat is also made from some fabric scrap I got from an old curtain.

It looks totally lovely after I embellished it with floral fabrics, some lace and purple checks binding all around. And what did I put inside the jars? Super cute mini yo-yo made with 8cm fabric square, aren't they just lovely to look at?

Sewing in the afternoon - key pouches

2011-02-11T13:49:00.014+08:00

These key pouches were inspired by a book called "Sewing in the afternoon" which I bought

some time ago. The book includes 50 sewing projects done by 2 Korean ladies using linen and

cotton fabrics. It covers things like zakka, baby items to kitchen goods.

Not only this book, their website is also very inspiring as well. ( Although I don't understand

Korean language, by looking at the photos make my hands "itchy" :P )

My last key pouch was made by myself about a year ago using leather and i think it's time to

change. Which color should I use? May be the other one I will give my Mother-in-Law as

a gift or just to keep for myself...haha..

Below is the book that I mentioned...

Sewing altelier revamped!!

2011-01-31T11:12:00.000+08:00

I'm so happy that I could finish the revamp of my new sewing room before the Chinese New Year.

I always get inspired when I see the sewing rooms which were featured in japanese crafting magazines. And now finally I got my own!

To celebrate the "opening" of the new altelier, last night I made myself a sewing apron and a coaster.
Listening to music, drinking a cup of hot chocolate and sewing lovely stuffs in the apron ~ what a day to enjoy ~

Custom reversible bag - Retro animals and glittering unicorns

2011-01-11T13:58:00.004+08:00

First of all, a very happy New Year to everyone!! ( Yup, this is my first post in 2011...
a little bit late though :P ).

This year my 6 year old little girl is starting her Primary school on 4th January, so I
have been very busy for fetching her to and fro from school. We both need time to
adjust to the new routine like waking up at 6.30am, sleeping early at 8.30pm ( for her )
and 10.30pm ( for myself).

At first I thought that when she sleeps earlier, I will have more time for myself, but
this is not workable at all because I am just too tired to stay late recently.

Anyway, this is the first bag that I completed in the New Year and it's a custom bag
for my one of my dear customer.

Custom orders for X'mas

2010-12-21T20:35:00.001+08:00

These are my recent custom X'mas orders for a very supportive customer.

The orders are for about 30 people which ranges product from coasters,
key fobs, card holders and pouches etc.

I hope they all will like the gifts :)

Merry Christmas to all of you!

New dainty frame purses

2010-11-15T14:40:00.001+08:00

I have always wanted to do these frame purses as they are very

popular in Japan, due to many reasons, I didn't start doing until

today. The outcome is quite satisfying because they look so dainty

and pretty.

The size is just right to be held on hand as a little clutch purse.

The height is about 4.5" and the widest width is about 5.5".

The fabrics are interfaced and lightly padded to support the shape.

I especially like the little charms that I attached with the frames.

One of them is a little bird cage and the other one is a cute bow.

The charms are in same bronze color with the frames.

I think I'm going to make a few more when I have more time

next week ( or the week after as these 2 weeks I'm really busy

with lots of things...)

Good news good news!

2010-11-10T17:17:00.002+08:00

Due to the recent drop in USD currency, the exchange rate in our shop is now USD1 = SGD1.3

( Instead of SGD1.4 ) Isn't that great for Singapore buyers?

And below promotion starts today!!

Spend USD50 and above and get 20% off

- Spend USD30-49.9 and get 15% off

- Spend USD29.9 and below to get 10% off

( Note: not applicable for customized items and sale items )

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Eco snack bags storage bags sandwich bags - preorder now

2010-10-25T22:13:00.006+08:00

Reusable and washable, these eco friendly bags are using a food safenylon which has amazing water and stain resistant qualities.

We have over 60 fabric choices for you to choose from, visit our main store

for further details

Yummy fabrics just arrived!

2010-10-09T09:28:00.001+08:00

Yesterday the long waited parcel just arrived from my supplier. I was so excited, but it's a pity that one of the paris theme fabric is missing, so I quickly contacted the supplier and indeed they confirmed that they missed out that one, to compensate the long wait, I ordered 1 More yd from them and they are also kind enough to include some extra freebies in the next parcel.

Aren't these fabrics just too yummy?

My recent projects for the family

2010-10-08T20:05:00.003+08:00

Last week was childrens day and there was a celebration in my kids school. Instead of the school uniforms, the kids were allowed to wear their own clothes and there's a prize for the best dressing up kid. So i had the idea to make some special clothes for them.

You can see the no. 1 is a dress for my girl, it's bare back with a halter neck tie. I used this lovely Japanese fabric with collage of lace and animal, the dress layers are polka dots in pink and small checks in orange. I also put a little bow in the front for an accent.

No.2 is the shorts I made for my boy. It's not easy to do clothes for boys as the designs all seem so boring, so I added 2 patch pockets and a badge to be stitched randomly for fun. To make a matching outfit, I used a plain white tshirt and add the same patch pocket.

They didn't win anything at the party, but i know they are proud of their clothes because they are unique and with lots of love :)

The little backpack was made as a gift for a relative son 3year old birthday.

In fact I just made a blouse for myself last night and will be uploading the pic soon.

Sewing class - granny bag and flexi frame pouch

2010-09-30T21:00:00.003+08:00

The sewing class on Tuesday was satisfying as the students completed a granny bag with zipper compartment and a pouch with a flexi frame.

I was asked where can we get the frame locally, there are some shops selling those frames in China town but the price is not cheap. I got some from japan last time and they really come in handy during the class! With hardware like these, the pouch really looks very classy and professional :)

Headbands sewn by hand

2010-09-28T20:57:00.002+08:00

Over the last weekend my dearest crafting buddy " sewing machine" was not with me as I left it at the sewing classroom" . I was really at a loss at home and my hands got so "itchy", so I resorted to cutting fabrics and did some handsewing.

These 3 headbands were 100% sewn by hand and I used some small florals this time. The one with a white doily is my favorite as I got that doily from japan few months back. It really looks very romantic and feminine.

New mini wallets

2010-09-27T10:41:00.001+08:00

Featuring 6 slots, these cute little wallets are great for organizing your cards and coupons etc.

Each one closes with an elastic band which gives you flexibility no matter your wallet is thin
or thick with cards and stuffs.

Some of the designs are one-of-a-kind as those are the last bit of my fabrics.

Although they don't come with a zipper pocket, you still can fit in some bills in when you just need
some spare cash to run some errands.

In fact, some of my sewing class students got to learn making these little wallets during the previous lesson.

Lifestylewithlove sewing class - 3rd round

2010-09-24T11:27:00.003+08:00

Yesterday was the 3rd sewing lesson, the projects were zipper pouches and a sling bag which can be carried on shoulder or across the body.

The 2 ladies are both tall and I think the bags really look good on them!

The 4th lesson will be on the coming Tuesday with the same "students" - and we are going to make a flexi flame pouch and a granny bag....will be uploading the pics after the class ~ :)

Custom made accordion clutch wallet

2010-09-19T21:20:00.005+08:00

Another custom made wallet for my customer - she wants something darker and chose this lovely fabrics with glittering prints of alice in the wonderland.

I used a lining with matching Alice silhouette fabrics and I think it really looks magical and dreamy.

As usual, this wallet features 12 card slots, 2 pockets big enough not only for bills, but Also for checkbooks, passports, handphones etc.

There is also a big zipper pocket for coins and such.

Friday sewing class - round 2

2010-09-03T20:18:00.001+08:00

I had a looong break for my sewing class as I was occupied with other things....
Today finally had my 2nd round of sewing class - the ladies were taught how to sew
a tote with pockets, and also mini card wallets..

One of the sewing machine got some problem during the class and it delayed the class
for a while, I think I really need to look for another 2nd hand sewing machine for
my class's use.

I hope everyone is satisfied with their own babies :)

Sewing notions with love - Pincushions

2010-08-18T23:45:00.007+08:00

Never thought it would be so fun making these pincushions!

Recently I have been looking for vintage style / vintage looking fabrics - really love the shabby chic feel...

If you see carefully, you may notice there are different thread colors at the background as co-ordinating "props"...

I always see these threads appearing in Japanese crafting magazine...I just love them! Yesterday I found 2 sets of whole collection of these hight quality hand embroidery threads in a local craft shop, I just couldn't control myself >_< ~~ Yup, I bought the 2 whole boxes of thread !! And you won't believe me, they actually cost much more expensive than fabrics!! The price of 2 spools of thread can buy 1/2 yd of an ordinary Japanese fabric. I was really out of my mind yesterday ~~

And yes, these pincushions are available in my shop now, they sure will bring you lots of fun and inspiration for crafting.

Wallet - wallet - wallet!!

2010-08-12T16:33:00.006+08:00

While I have a bit of time today, I managed to finish some of the "unfinished" projects which were sewn half-way previously. These include 1 bowling / boston bag and 3 other accordion wallets. Yes, altogether 3 wallets ~ yeah!

Clearance sale starts today

2010-08-07T20:36:00.000+08:00

Recent custom made orders

2010-08-02T11:23:00.005+08:00

These are the recent custom made orders for my customers, however, I have decided ( sadly) to temporarily suspend the service. Although I really enjoy making bags but sometimes due to my own family matters and schedule, I couldn't sew the bags as per promised schedule.

I don't want to make the bags in a rush and I also don't want my customers to wait too long, so I really got no choice. However, as I told them, my shop is still open but just that I will do it at my own pace and only list the items that I have already made and ready to ship.

Really appreciate the support of my customers ^^

New PDF tutorials available!fir

2010-07-20T12:04:00.004+08:00

Last night I worked until about 1am because I was so excited about finish writing up a PDF tutorial on teaching how to make a cute hair scrunchie.

I've been always wanting to write a sewing tutorial but because I'm not very good at the graphics software, I can just resort to the very basic photo editing and using microsoft word to help me.

When it comes to more difficult graphics, I really have no idea how to do, that's why I started by writing simple zakka items first.

If the response is good, I may do the same for bags and pouches.

At first, I just wanted to make some for selling at my shop, but I feel that it's such a fun and easy project, so I made up my mind to write it up and to share with other crafters.

I'm sure lots of sewers have stash of fabric scraps piling up in their sewing rooms, and this is really a good idea to use up your fabric scraps! And they make great gifts as well!

I'm sure little girls will love them! I can't wait to make one for my daughter as well!

Dining in Tokyo

2010-07-16T13:07:00.007+08:00

Had been really busy and got no time to update my blog, my shop, facebook....etc.

In fact shopping is not always my no. 1 priority during travel, I also enjoy "living" in Tokyo for that few days. Dressed like a Japanese ( with the hat...haha..), speak in Japanese - just to feel and explore the country.

Treasures found in Tokyo - Jiyugaoka

2010-07-07T14:01:00.002+08:00

Home sweet home ~~

Finally I'm back from Tokyo and settled down to blog about my trip ^^

Sharing with you here are some of the treasures I found in Japan at Jiyugaoka.

I went there on the 3rd day of my trip ( luckily my hubby offered to bring our girl

back to hotel and rest). If you take a train from Shibuya, it's about 5 or 6 stations away - pretty convenient to access.

However, I don't suggest to bring your kids there because the roads there are quite small and sometimes I had to squeeze through the roads with the slow-moving cars.

The shops I like most are all located at Train Chi and because the shops there are all centralized at a 2-storey complex, it makes shopping a lot easier. One of my favorite store is called "Arrivvee at Depart" located at the 2F. There are of course tons of lovely handmade zakka & bags, as well as unique trims and accessories. Usually I don't shop for earrings, but the earrings there are really very lovely so I couldn't help but bought a pair for myself :)

To be continued my other findings in the next post ~

Japan sourcing tour

2010-06-23T22:26:00.004+08:00

As each day passes, I'm getting more and more excited...

These few days I've been busy planning my routes and areas to visit - of course with the aim of sourcing new fabrics and trims, haha...

However, since I'm going with my husband and my daughter, I can't be so selfish so I have to balance the days with some activities that they may like...

So far we have "agreed" on visiting below places:

Jiyugaoka

- about 4 stations away from Shibuya, but it's a lovely small town with many unique shops ( including crafts and fashion of course). You can visit their official website and see what are the stores they have there.

Shops that I plan to visit:

http://toutou.shop-pro.jp/

http://kidsjiyugaoka.actus-interior.com/

Omotesando & Aoyama

- Just 1 station away, it's a place famous for international brands as well as local brands such as Yohji Yamamoto & Issey Miyaki etc.

Tokyo baby cafe

Omotesando hills

Shibuya

- this is the place that we will be staying, of course we will spend some time in this area as well.

I read from other blogs that there is this fabric shop called Marunan which is just opposite our hotel! How convenient!

We really like to explore the new places and to find "treasures" as we are visiting Japan.

Will be uploading the pictures after I'm back from Japan!

Zakka sewing workshop - Wish came true!

2010-06-18T21:54:00.005+08:00

Still remember my New Year Wish was to have a zakka sewing workshop on my own...and today my dream came true!!

Earlier this month I released a schedule for sewing class at my shop, there were quite a number of enquiries, however, as my classes are held during weekdays day time, many of them couldn't make it. ( Too bad that's the only hours that I'm available to conduct classes)

When I thought I couldn't make it, then here came 2 ladies we could fit in their schedule and attended my class today! I was really excited and frankly a bit nervous...

The items that I taught today was a tissue-cozy zipper pouch and also yo-yo crafts ( including wristlets, brooch, hairpin and pincushion), sounds like quite lots of things for a beginner, but luckily we managed to complete the majority which I'm really satisfied already.

Here I have to thank so many people who has made my dream came true...

1) A good friend of mine who drove to my home and lent me her sewing machine ( Thanks Edith)..and so "Pai-seh" (= embarrassed) that she ended up buying a wallet from me ( which I had offered her as a gift but she insisted to pay...)

2) My husband's friend who's willing to let me use a spare corner of his office and transform into a "workshop"

3) Of course my hubby who drove me to the place and all the loading + unloading of the sewing machines and materials...(with the help of my mother-in-law). Although he keeps nagging and asking me is it worth the effort...

4) Finally, of course the 2 ladies who gave me their support to attend the class...and already asking me about the coming classes..

Without the help of all these people, I couldn't have made my dream came true..A BIG THANK YOU!!

Faith working on her stitches.

Cheng is so proud of her "baby".

Mission completed!!

Our working table...not that messy huh?

Handmade Singapore

2010-06-17T22:57:00.002+08:00

Today I chanced upon a new site which featuring Singapore local handmade items and to my surprise, I was invited by the site owner to be featured at the day that I registered this site!
What a honor to me!

Check it out here for many more other interesting handmade stuffs:

www.handmade.com.sg

Another travel organizer in Sunbonnet Sue

2010-06-16T10:42:00.004+08:00

Previously mentioned the travel organizer in blue sunbonnet sue, finally I have

uploaded the pics here:

Although it's very tedious to do the cutting and sewing for the wallet parts, I really enjoy making wallets! Whenever I look at the finished wallets, I feel so satisfied because I know that the person who's using it will feel so much organized.

And you know what, the previous red patchwork Sunbonnet was sold last night!

These wallets are usually OOAK (One-of-a-kind) because I always like to explore using

different fabric combinations.

I'm now in the processing of making other zip-around accordion wallets, the finished product will look like these:

Travel organizer in Sunbonnet Sue patchwork

2010-06-10T21:11:00.002+08:00

Thanks to one of my loyal customer, I got chance to explore on this useful & practical travel organizer / travel long wallet.

Featuring 3 big pockets which can hold up to 2-3 passports and would be great as a cheque book holder. The slot pocket at the left would be prefect for boarding passes / maps etc.

There are also 6 card slots and 1 coin pocket. All these are securely closed by a magnetic tab.

The wallet has been interfaced for sturdiness and all fabrics are Japanese cotton or cotton linen mix.

There is another version with rows of blue Sunbonnet Sue which I will be uploading the pics here after I'm done with it.

A visit to Arab Street

2010-06-04T19:38:00.002+08:00

Today I spent almost 2 hours finding "treasures" in Arab Street.

My initial intention is to get some ribbons and bag hardwares, but before I could reach the hardware shop, I already have spent enough on buying fabrics!!! ( Yes, again!!)

Some of the fabrics I got are from Lecien - Isso Ecco & heart. This collection is specially manufactured for the Japanese shop called "Isso Ecco". They sell a variety of zakka and home interior products. The fabrics that I bought are heavy upholstery weight cotton canvas and very suitable to make purse and bags. Previously I already bought 2 pattern from China Town and today I bought another 2. Can't wait to start working on these fabulous fabrics.

JUNE ZAKKA SEWING CLASS

2010-05-31T22:31:00.002+08:00

Lifestylewithlove's Zakka Sewing Class is finally open for registration!

Please go to our website to download the class schedule and details!

Feel free to email me at hello@lifestylewithlove.com if you have any enquiries.

Greedy crafter

2010-05-27T21:54:00.006+08:00

CALL ME A GREEDY CRAFTER!!! ( Which crafter isn't?)

I want to make hats ~

I want to go Japan for a ZAKKA TRIP ~

I want to start my zakka sewing class ~ ( or at least provide Zakka DIY sewing kit online)

There are just too many things that I want to do ( and too little time to do all these! )

Today I got myself some reading materials for the coming long weekend here.

The more I read, the more upset I became ~

Not because the topics are boring, just the contrary ~ there are just too many attractive things that I couldn't do , and so many places that I want to go!

I got a HK magazine ( U magazine) which mentioned about the Zakka shops in Japan ( drooling ~~ ) and also there's an article about DIY zakka getting popular in HK and there are more and more shops providing classes. That's really my DREAM !

Previously I posted a thread about zakka sewing class in a motherhood forum, the responses were actually quite promising, but the thing is I couldn't find a suitable venue.

So after reading the magazine, I thought may be for the time being, I could provide DIY sewing kits for the hungry crafters first. If you are on of those, welcome to take a look at the details here:

http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/messages/353638/2312456.html?1274967499

I also got myself the latest Cotton friend and a book teaching how to make different types of hats. Hats would be my next project to work on ~ Yeah~~

Foldable Eco shopping bag

2010-05-23T23:28:00.002+08:00

In my previous post I mentioned excitedly that I wanted to do some foldable eco bags

in nautical theme fabrics. The bag would look something like this, can be reversible or

just one-sided.

However, I'm afraid my original plan has to be put on hold for a while ~

All thanks to my maid who has bleached away all the anchors on my fabrics!! OMG!!

I was so angry when she told me the bad news, I couldn't get the exact same fabrics

anymore coz what I've got was LAST piece. I will see what I can do with the nautical theme items. Need to source for some nice fabrics again...*sigh*

Cute nautical sailor's zakka

2010-05-20T23:24:00.004+08:00

Sailors, anchors, red/white/navy borders - these are all the signature symbols

of nautical items. They are very HOT in every summer.

I was so happy yesterday because there were some "sailor findings" in my yesterday's

sourcing trip. The most unique one is some wooden buttons which are engraved

with anchors. They are just too matching to the whale fabrics that I had.

I'm also planning to make some more other nautical theme products like foldable eco bags or pouches.

La Petite Ecole Boston bag

2010-05-18T11:32:00.004+08:00

The 2nd boston bag that I'm uploading today is using Japanese cotton linen fabric from Kokka - the La Petite Ecole series.

It features lovely animals with school buses and this series is quite popular among crafters.

I have selected some handmade items from other Etsy stores.

The iPhone sleeve and boston bag are from our store :)

The lovely passport holder is from Noei

The big fabric baseket is from Marylion

New bag designs coming soon

2010-05-17T23:43:00.003+08:00

I always like this type of sporty bags ( The Japanese like to call it "Boston bag"), so finally I got the time to finish up 3 pieces ( yeah!)

This is my favorite with Matryoshka (Russian dolls) prints - in fact I like all the 3 fabric patterns. The other two are Petite ecole animal school in cotton / linen mix and one special prints with labels of vintage fashion. Will be uploading the rest soon...haven't really sort out the pricing yet.

April custom made orders

2010-05-05T20:53:00.004+08:00

May has just started but it has been a very busy week.

My 4 year old son was hospitalized for 2 days due to high fever ( lung infection)

and was discharged on Sunday. My girl also got infected from him and not feeling well.

Therefore, I have been busy taking care of them and practically became their

private nurse. Luckily they are both recovering well and I got a bit more time

to go back to my orders.

I must say thank you to Samantha especially coz she has been waiting patiently

for the bags. The bags are supposed to be sent late April but I just got them done

today and will be sending out tomorrow. Thank you so much Sam! :)

Here I would like to post some pics to show the bags that she had in mind

when ordering ( left column) and the bags that I have done ( right column)

base on her pics.

Lifestylewithlove MAY promotion

2010-05-02T15:56:00.002+08:00

~ MAY Promotion ~

Spend USD50 this month to redeem a USD10 voucher and a USD15 voucher for

lifestylewithlove's members.

Terms & conditions:

1) Voucher is non-transferrable

2) Voucher can only be used for non-sale items

3) For Lifestylewithlove's members, the USD15 will be off set from original price ( before the discount)

10% discount is still applicable after the voucher's deduction.

4) Promotion valid till end May, voucher expires in 2 month's time from date of purchase and for purchase of usd50 and above,

Handmade Hello Kitty Set

2010-04-29T13:03:00.002+08:00

Continued from yesterday, uploading today are another matching keypouch and a tissue cozy.

Too bad that the key holder hardwares are running out, only left 1 pc in stock. I got these hardwares from Hong Kong some time ago, but I don' t think I'm going to HK in the near future, so I'm looking for affordable hardwares online now...

Handmade accordion long wallet

2010-04-28T19:17:00.003+08:00

Today just finished another version of accordion long wallet.

Compared to the previous zipper closure, this one is a flap closure with a snap.

The fabric is provided by the customer but I think it's really cute!

Handmade wallets with lots of slots

2010-04-23T20:26:00.002+08:00

These 2 handmade wallets are again custom made for my customers. There are lots of card slots, slots for receipts, money and a zippered coin pocket.

Due to the number of slots, the wallets are relatively thicker but they are securely fastened with a double-snap flap.

It requires lots of measuring and at least intermediate sewing skills but the results are lovely!

Mother's day 5-day promotion

2010-04-15T15:41:00.002+08:00

What's better than a custom-made purse or bag as a Mother's Day's gift?

To ensure the items be delivered by 5th May, please kindly place your orders with us by 5th May to enjoy 10% off for purchase of USD50 and above.

Grab the chance for this 5-day promotion!

Customized accordion zippered wallet

2010-04-13T20:53:00.002+08:00

I have always wanted to try making an accordion wallet because it's so spacious and can hold tons of stuffs. ( May be because i'm a Virgo, i like things to be organized and to tell you a secret, wallet is one of my favorite item to make because when I think about how things can be neatly and safely kept, it just makes me smile :)

But it's really not easy to do the zipper closure, I would prefer to change it to be tri-folded with a magnet for the next one.

This is a customized wallet for one of my customer.

Some more bag inspirations

2010-04-05T10:02:00.002+08:00

Have heard lots about Cath Kidston but I'm not sure if this brand is available here in Singapore? Always love their refreshing floral prints and their bags ( they do sell other stuffs like table wares and accessories etc).

Anyway, last weekend while I was browsing at the Kinokuniya book store, I saw this

Cath Kidston Japanese magazine which comes with a very practical carry-all pouch / small bag.

Although I'm a pouch / bag - maker, I couldn't resist the beautiful prints and the bag designs is really cute and practical. So YES, I bought it finally ^^

That would be my next bag inspirations as well.

My next bag in mind

2010-04-01T20:42:00.002+08:00

Yes, this is my next bag in mind, but not the bag that i want to buy,

it's a bag that I want to MAKE!...

I have to experiment and see if I could get the pattern correct..

Everything must G-G-G-OOOOO!

2010-03-25T19:32:00.001+08:00

Yes, everything must go under "Hot items" at my shop, must clear out the space for new items!

Some new creations

2010-03-25T10:46:00.004+08:00

First is some custom orders which I did for my customers, they are really one of

a kind and sometimes ( actually many of the times ), I couldn't bear to send them out

because I LOOOVE every piece that I created :)

Next is the sweet Sakura totes that I just launched yesterday...

April is the month for Sakura in Japan, but I still haven't got the chance to see the beautiful cherry blossoms, I hope someday in the near future I could make a trip there and enjoy the amazing scenery.

Here's what I got yesterday

2010-03-24T11:15:00.003+08:00

Although my shelves are all packed with fabrics, I could still find a little space as the new home for my new fabrics :)

Take a look at my "workshop"

2010-03-23T15:24:00.007+08:00

Today I just went to do my monthly ( perhaps bi-weekly...or weekly :P) sourcing trip...

although I realized that there's indeed not much space left in my workshop, I just couldn't resist buying new fabrics and materials. So if you ask me do I make some money from my little shop, I really doubt so...may be yes IF I CAN STOP MYSELF from buying craft books, lovely fabrics and ribbons etc...lol...I just enjoy the creative process and it's the passion that keeps me going.

Before I upload what did I get today, just take a look at my workshop and you will know it's already jam-packed with lots of stuffs...

My perfect bag

2010-03-19T16:31:00.003+08:00

I have been making lots of bags for other people, it's time for me to make a bag to customize my own needs....haha...

This is a lovely expandable 3-way tote with detachable and adjustable shoulder strap.

As a mother of two, it's understanding that I need quite a roomy bag when going out

with my kids or when shopping for groceries. However, I also want to have a fashionable side of me when I step out of my house..So...TADA...this bag solves my problem!

I can carry it as it is when I go out, if I really need that extra storage along the day, I can just pull out the lining part and expand it to a large tote. The original handles just act as decorating purpose.

This is going to be a handy bag for me!

SGD10 for new Kawaii snap pouches

2010-03-18T09:20:00.004+08:00

To celebrate our launch of new Kawaii snap pouches, the first 20 customers from our Facebook members and subscribers of our newsletter can buy these at a promotional price of SGD10 / USD7.50 ( usual price USD8.90)

Not our FB member yet? Please go here

Want to subscribe our newsletter? Please go here

Fresh items - Kawaii snap pouches and fairy tales passport holders

2010-03-17T12:51:00.002+08:00

Watch out for our new items being released these 2 days

- Kawaii snap pouch and fairy tales passport holders

Uploading now....

Ballerina hobo gathered bags

2010-03-17T12:19:00.004+08:00

These are the ballerina hobo gathered bags which I made exclusively

for Dance Boutique.

Different from the previous version which is unlined, I've improvised

a bit and these lovely bags are now all fully lined and come with an

interior pocket. They are slightly larger now measuring at 13" x 8.5".

Fashionable diaper bag

2010-03-13T15:37:00.004+08:00

Just finished a custom diaper bag order.

This is an extra large version of our Japanese fashionable diaper bag.

The size is about 13" x 11" x 5" and it features 5 whooping interior pockets.

In order to make it sturdy and doesn't collapse due to the big size, I've reinforced it

with strong interfacing not only for the base, but also for 2 sides.

On top of that, I've added a zipper closure as requested and I was so fortunate to be

able to find a zipper with heart shape slider to match with the body fabric. That's really a perfect touch for this diaper bag.

Boys fabric on demand!!

2010-03-12T12:27:00.004+08:00

Well, have been requested to bring in more boys fabrics for the little guys...

Hopefully these could satisfy those mamas if they want to get something

for their little cutie-pies..

Handmade baby gifts

2010-03-10T15:07:00.004+08:00

My good friend in Hong Kong has just given birth to an adorable baby girl. She has gone through quite a lot of things and I'm really happy for her.

I planned to make a diaper bag for her but I'm really quite busy recently, so I've decided to do some simple bibs which are very practical as well.

The bibs are all made of soft cotton waffle which is absorbent and gentle on baby's skin.

I don't want to miss the baby's 1st month celebration...hope she will like the little handmade gifts and all the best for her little baby.

New unique triangular pencil cases

2010-03-09T12:20:00.004+08:00

Some time ago I made a boxy pencil case for my daughter. Now that my son has grown "big" enough to realize that he doesn't have one so now he wants me to make one for him as well.

I seldom purchase boys fabrics, then recently I got a fabric cutting as a free gift from a fabric supplier, and I happened to see a very unique triangular shape pencil case, so this is the outcome...

The result is surprisingly cute and adorable, so I couldn't wait and make some more "girl" versions for my shop as well :)

Fairy tales fabrics are hot ~

2010-02-28T14:58:00.002+08:00

Recently I'm quite fascinated by fabrics with themes of fairy tales...be it Alice the wonderland or The little red riding hood, I just couldn't put my eyes off these lovely items.

Just wondering what should I be making...still searching for some really nice bag and pouch designs..

Exclusive ballerina prints products at Dance boutique

2010-02-12T15:46:00.003+08:00

Last month I mentioned about the ballerina products which will be exclusively sold in a blogshop - Danceboutique

I'm so happy to see that they are finally uploaded and open to all for buying.

A must- see blogshop for people who are passionate about ballet and any ballerina-related products!

Design your own bag and pencil case

2010-02-08T19:19:00.002+08:00

Have you ever thought that you can design your own bag or pencil case and make them into "real" item? It may sound challenging for those who haven't done sewing at all and for those who may not have time to do such crafty things.

Therefore, I hope to bring the handmade joy to others and provide "Design your own bag" service where you can just pick a bag design from our store, and pick your own fabrics, I will make your bag comes "true"! At a very affordable price!

Super Cute messenger bags and tote

2010-01-22T10:53:00.002+08:00

Have been busy working on some custom made orders and not enough time to upload my new products in the shop.

I like working on custom made orders because it makes customers feel so special as it's like one-of-a-kind thing. Especially for some of the fabrics I only have limited yardage, once they have been used up, I can't be doing exactly the same item.

Another thing is the challenging part for these orders, some designs are pretty new to me so I might need to do up 1 pc of sample first to make sure it really works. It's so fulfilling to me if I can make it and to know that my customers really like the bag. By working on these orders, I also widen my range of products for future product development.

So the next products that i will be working on would be different sizes of messenger bags.

Keep a look out!

New fabrics

2010-01-18T19:43:00.001+08:00

Just got these gorgeous Japanese fabrics from Lecien yesterday, aren't they just lovely?

New Darling Camera Cases

2010-01-15T18:03:00.009+08:00

Just a little preview on the camera cases that i'm working on..sorry about the messy background as this photo was taken at my little workshop :P

You can see all the fabrics being piled up ~

Lucky colors for New Year

2010-01-10T17:47:00.002+08:00

2010 has just started but in Chinese Calendar the Year of Tiger only starts on 2/14.

Want some new luck in the New Year? Here are some helpful tips that you may find useful when you consider to get yourself some new clothes or accessories. ( Like the cute long wallet from our shop ).

Yin Colors & Feng Shui
Yin colors according to Feng Shui are the colors that bring about healing and relaxation. The relation between colors and Feng Shui can be better understood by taking the example of some colors as given below.

Blue: Blue color according to Feng Shui has yin energy. It is calm and soothing. This color has great significance in Feng Shui as it reflects love as it heals and relaxes. Blue creates a feeling of peace and trust. Since it is the color of the sea and sky, Feng Shui associates it with adventure and exploration. Navy blue is the color of intellect and wisdom.

Black: Black color in Feng Shui symbolizes money and income, black is great for careers, especially when combined with metal. It is the Feng Shui color of emotional protection and power.

Purple: Purple, the color that lies at the end of the spectrum, has a great significance in Feng Shui. The color is excellent for physical and mental healing and Feng Shui associates it with spiritual awareness.

White: In Feng Shui the white color represents poise, confidence and purity. Because of its yin energy, Feng Shui uses this color mostly in combination with gold or silver to generate an calm atmosphere.

The other yin colors of Feng Shui are pink and green. These colors also have their individual properties that are used in Feng Shui practice.

Yang Colors and Feng Shui
Yang colors according to Feng Shui belong to tend to be fire and wood elements. Feng Shui believes that these are the colors that provide you the enthusiasm or the positive energy required to do something or be motivated. The description that Feng Shui provides for each color is given below to help you in using them for your advantage.

Yellow: Yellow color in Feng Shui is considered to be as auspicious as red. Yellow represents sunbeams, warmth, motion, cheerfulness and friendliness. However, according to a noted 'Color Feng Shui' consultant, prolonged exposure to large amounts of intense yellow can cause anxiety.

Orange: With a lot of yang energy the orange color has great significance for Feng Shui practice as it strengthens your concentration. You might use this color when your creative well runs dry. Orange color in Feng Shui is used to give you a sense of purpose. Orange is the color of organization.

The other yang colors of Feng Shui are Tan/Beige, Brown, Red, Mauve, Maroon and lavender and gold. Each color has its significance such as money, luck or romance.
~ excerpt from "The Spiritual Feng Shui".

Wholesale ballerina

2010-01-09T23:16:00.005+08:00

I just delivered majority of the wholesale orders to one of my customer.

She's very passionate about ballerina products and owns an online boutique selling all

ballerina-related products.

The items that I made included camera pouches, hp pouches, wallets and purses etc, all using ballerina theme fabrics ~ what a project for me!

Here are some of the snap shots and will announce more details when the items are up in her shop :)

FINAL SALE!!

2009-12-28T16:32:00.002+08:00

FINAL SALE !!

FURTHER MARK-DOWN...

H - E - R - E

Littlest petite frame coin purse - Superrrr Cute!!!

2009-12-20T21:07:00.004+08:00

Latest New products from Lifestylewithlove ~ Petite Frame coin Purse with keyring

Zakka sewing workshop - my New Year Wish

2009-12-17T11:30:00.000+08:00

All along I've been approached by people to conduct some workshops on zakka sewing - to make bags, pouches and stuff...I've always have this plan in mind ~ in fact long before people approached me...but until now I still couldn't find a suitable venue..

My dream workshop will be a nice cozy place with all my fabrics collection on a shelf - neatly stacked up and with some of my bags being displayed...it's more like a small gathering place for like-minded people...a place like this would be more than perfect !

If only my dream can come true...

New banners

2009-12-08T12:52:00.004+08:00

It's coming to the end of 2009 and I think my blog and shop needs a bit of fresh look, so here we are having the new banners - these are not really the finalized ones but I just can't wait to upload here first :)

Some shop updates...

2009-12-05T17:23:00.004+08:00

Just finished doing some spring cleaning for my shop...I've also added a Price range search at the sidebar so that it's easier to shop within your budget..

You may also have noticed about some of the new sub categories: For camera / handphone, For Keys / Cards and Latest New Products...

I hope all these minor improvements will help to make my shop more user friendly :)

Darling Camera case – Pomu friends | Uniquely handmade by Lifestyle With Love

2009-11-29T10:44:00.001+08:00

Darling Camera case – Pomu friends | Uniquely handmade by Lifestyle With Love

2009-11-24T21:15:00.002+08:00

Zakka DIY (3) - Brooch and hairband

2009-11-16T13:59:00.003+08:00

Last Friday's photo shooting has been delayed to today and

I just finished the 2nd round this morning and I guess this

is the last round already :(

Four more issues to go, we will be teaching how to make

a handphone pouch, a tissue wallet ( as seen in my shop!),

a bag organizer and a handy eco bag for your X'mas shopping!

Having said that I hope this Zakka DIY series has helped

people to understand more about zakka and afterall it's

really not that difficult to do little handmade things by

yourself.

Alright, time to talk about this issue of iweekly - we have

featured not only one, but TWO accessories - a felt flower

brooch and a cute bow hairband.

Try to do mix and match with different colors and materials,

you will find lots of fun in doing these zakka. Happy sewing!

Lifestyle with Love membership

2009-11-12T19:28:00.005+08:00

I have been approached by some people about being a member for Lifestyle with Love, so today I'm glad to announce that our membership program officially starts TODAY!

Here's the details:

* WHO CAN BECOME A MEMBER?

~ Anyone who has purchased USD200 within 2 consecutive months will automatically

become a member.

~ An email with a membership number and benefit details will be sent to you.

* WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

~ 10% off on regular items and additional 5% off for Sale items for ONE year.

~ On top of the 10% off, you will get a USD10 voucher in your birthday month.

Just send me a copy of proof for your birthday to redeem the voucher.

~ Priority booking for new arrivals fabrics and Pre-orders

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me here:

Zakka DIY (2) - zipper pouch tutorial on iweekly

2009-11-09T14:50:00.003+08:00

Monday is here again and it's the day for another new issue of iweekly.

You can find our Zakka DIY tutorial on p. 23 and learn how to make a versatile zipper pouch.

X'mas is drawing near and I really like to do some X'mas zakka tutorials as the iweekly photographer and the writer will be coming over to our place for a second round of photo shoot.

Still thinking about what to do...any fresh ideas?