calyx

Perfect Giveaway this week :)

2012-01-29T06:08:00.000-08:00

When sis Lia of Lia's Crafty Journey announced that the winner of her giveaway was me, I had never been happier. Not only because the giveaway were soo gorgeous (Alexander Henry's is among them!) but also included was a sweet note from her .

Can't say enough thanks to you sis Lia, these are perfect gift for a fabric freak like me, lol...

My, how many ideas I can get to work on these beauties... projects

(Almost) Always With RE

2012-01-14T17:44:00.000-08:00

RE on the above title stands for Ribbon Embroidery.

You see, my first love in craft was with RE. I saw a beautiful ribbon embroidered blouse in a local mag, I called to ask the price which turned to be too much for my budget and lead me to learning all about those beautiful ribbon stitches, up until now. I learned it from books, AJ. Boesra's, Di Van Niekerk's, Chris Rankin's and Ann Cox's. After that, I bought many local ribbon embroidery books too (beside AJ. Boesra's) like Rosa Amalia's (which is my online friend here), Yossi Zulkarnaen's, Endang Rachminingsih's, and many more, for inspirations.

Whatever craft I made, I've tried to put ribbon embroidery in it, if possible, because not only I love the looks and doing it, but also I feel I owe my existence in the craft community to ribbon embroidery (Sounds too much, eh? Lol)

Now let's get to another story. Almost every crafter I know have an owl creation. I myself love the owl ever since I read Edward Lear's poem about "The Owl and The Pussycat" which I found both funny and cute. As the matter of fact, I made a pochette based on that poem.

As written above, almost every crafter I know have an owl creation. To the point where sometimes there are little bit of "clashes" where one "stole" other design, one claimed to be the best owl creator, and so on. While there is a strict rule between crafters that one can be inspired by others but NOT duplicating theirs (for commercial use), I think there's no problem if every crafter have an owl creation (of course, as long as it's not "pirated" pattern), the more the merrier . Now, I'd like to have one(s) too, but of course with my own rendition. Since I consider my self as a stitcher, these are my version of owl plushies:

To be honest, I was inspired by Aimee Ray's, but I'm sure, as you all can see, I'm not trying to be her . What do you think?

Being double now...

2012-01-13T06:08:00.000-08:00

There are 2 reasons why I haven't updated my blog for such a long time...

1. My tweenie have become more and more attached to the fb now

2. I have a new job, an office job. So I'm doing double jobs now, office work 9 to 5, crafting afterward.

At first, I feel overwhelmed, because being a "single" parent, doing double jobs, it really is not easy. Hats off for those who've been doing this for quite a while ! Not only I feel handful, but also sad to leave my son at his grandparent's, sometimes alone at our place. For 13 years, I've been nurturing him, never leave him to anyone but hubby (and that's on veeery rare occasions!). But I have no choice...my inlaws are getting older, they often have to be treated at the hospitals because of their illness. Separated from my husband, turns out quite hard on financial, it's like funding 2 households. So I have to earn more than just what I usually get from my craft, if I want to have little money in the saving and for my son's lessons and extra activities.

Anyway, working in the office needs a bit adjustment in me. I've worked as hotelier before, a profession I considered as a "Glam military"; tough discipline like in military, but looked "glam" with the hotel decor and all. So I came with high work ethics, a hope to work as professional as before. The truth is, it's nothing like work as hotelier nor in creative industry. In short, I'm doing it simply for the money, that's it. What to expect, it's quite hard for a 40 yo mother to look for a job, everybody seems to prefer fresh graduated young girl (which I think non sense, because older people usually more motivated, because they have family to be fed), so I took any decent job available. And when I came home in the evening, I can "inhale"; doing my craft (where my passion lies) while watching and accompanying my son.

Btw, my son brought a little surprise the other day... a girl fancy him ! He was surprised himself, because he considered himself as "hideous", it's odd that a girl likes him. But I told him many times before, that he's not allowed to court, that he has to respect girls as written in Qur'an and hadist and I think (and hope) he understood.

My newest experiment in craft was actually based on a friend's suggestion. She'd like to see me making brooch, not as "shiny" as the one I've madebefore, but something light and cute for teens. So I came up with these:

Sew Loving it!

2011-10-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

Last week my crafter friend mbak Dita of Cemprut who lives in Jakarta, came to Bandung to have a sock doll making workshop at Crayon's.

Of course I eagerly attended it, not only because she's one of my close friend on the net that I haven't meet in person, but also because I've never learn to make a sock doll before, I love to learn something new.

As I expected, at that workshop I met other crafters, I already knew some of them from the net but haven't got a chance to meet in person. I was so happy to find that the crafters are so friendly, down-to-earth and hilariously funny ! We laughed at our own jokes through the workshop session with our hands kept busy on the needles and threads.

The Cemprut's workshop at Crayon's Bandung

Unfortunately I had to go before the workshop's over. Nevertheless, I had fun and I especially loove to have & meet new friends (or old friends but "newly met") . I "sew" loving it!

Speaking of sewing, this month I've finished commissioned orders on "Love to Sew" bags. This time I designed it in form of pochettes. Not only "Love to Sew" actually, there is one pochette embellished with nothing but crewel and beads embroidery. They all have gone now to their new owners (thanks so much customers, I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them ).

"Love to Sew" pochette in pink flowery canvas & brown faux leather

In pink canvas & white faux leather

Crewel & beads embroidery on black velvet & faux leather pochette

A New Place (again, sigh)

2011-10-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

As written in my previous blog, I wasn't happy with the place I lived in Bandung.

No, not because it's an old house, it's just have not enough electricity to be use by 2 families and that other family who live there wasn't happy to share the house with me and my son.

So we moved again, still in Bandung city but this time we chose a house built specifically to let the rooms for rent, located not far from my parent's. There are 24 rooms and we rent 2 rooms which available. We like it here better than the previous one, alhamdulillah, obviously because each room have its own bath, enough electricity and it's quieter here, more plants and trees too.

Love the jasmines on the yard, always smell nice each time I pass it

Unfortunately our rooms are in second floor, so that moving in was quite exhausting.

But once it's over, I can slowly settle down and quickly back to my work .

My son in front of our rooms

Insya Allah, we're gonna be here for a while, I'm tired of relocating, unless it's to move to our own or to be live together again with hubby . Amiin...

Anyway, "Gigi" hijabs are back, now only pink, light brown and black colors are still available

"Gigi" hijab, sold as a set with below matching pin

Another Craft Swap, Alhamdulillah :)

2011-09-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Me and mbak Samsiah of Shafaa Craft have been online friends for quite a long time, as I remember.

And all this time, we haven't meet each other in person, of course because I lived in Bandar Lampung (that time), she's in Jakarta. Now I live in Bandung which relatively closer to Jakarta, took 2 hours drive, but still haven't got a chance to meet, lol...

Though we only keep in touch online, I just knew (from her blog & comments) that she's such a sweet person that I can trust. That's why I really hoping we can work together when I asked her to share a booth at Bazaar Arafah.

I was right, she's so easy to cooperate with, trusted and super kind. When she said she has an eye for Calyx cupcake hijab, but unfortunately it was sold, I instantly said that I would make another one for her as my thanks for her good cooperation in the bazaar.

Surprise, surprise, when I asked her to kindly send me back the items that haven't sold on that bazaar, she included a pretty brooch, beautifully crafted by her self, alhamdulillah !

Shafaa Craft's pretty cabochon brooch

To mbak Iah, I the brooch, a lot!

So sorry for not sending the swap sooner, because I ran out of material (my supplier just came back from Eid holiday, she just opens today).

Pink Calyx Cupcake hijab with matching pin

I hope she likes it, just as much as I like her brooch...I just hope we can meet each other off line soon and work together as a team again, amiin

One of a kind Eid

2011-09-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

I know Eid has passed and we missed it already. What I'd like to share here is, this year's Eid, for me, is one of a kind.

It started when the discussion about Hilal sighting in our Department of Religion hasn't ended until about 8.30 pm. There were different opinions; some believed that Eid will be on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 and some were sure that it expexted to fall on the next day. It was finally decided that the occasion will take place on Wednesday, 31 August 2011, based on that Hilal wasn't seen that evening. But, the Government will still respected those who still celebrate Eid on August 30 and advised people to do the same.

So on Tuesday, me, husband (he was home for Eid) and my son came to my parent's house still in fasting condition. What a surprise, my parents and family had already celebrate Eid because there was other information that Hilal was finally seen and many of our people and other neighbor countries did the same. So we broke our fast without doing special Eid shalat because it was too late. I found this quite odd and confusing, really hope that it will never happened again.

We did the shalat the next day, with some people who celebrate Eid on Wednesday. It was pretty quiet, fewer people came compared to last year.

Only a few rows

Anyway, before Ramadhan's over, I managed to finish orders of hijabs and one special order of ribbon embroidered tote bag, alhamdulillah

Tote Bag

Heatnbond vs Pellon: An applique making experience

2011-07-25T02:56:00.000-07:00

All Indonesian needleworks crafters I knew are crazy about cute designer's fabric, including my self.

It's like a trend now, everybody hunts for Alexander Henry's, Robert Kauffman's, Farbenmix, Suzy Ultman's, etc, or just something similar to their design.

I love the picture/pattern/characters on those cute piece of fabrics (I usually only bought fat quarter because it's quite pricey to me, heehee ), feel timid to cut them. So what I did was just turn them into appliques.

To make appliques, I was helped by this great product named HeatNBond.

It's a double sided fusible web, so convenience to use. We just iron the web on the fabric intended to be appliques, only for 2 seconds and it's ready to be cut. To stick the applique to other fabric (in my case, it's a cotton hijab) just peel the paper backing and iron it again, slightly longer than the first one. Because the fabric I use is a thin, sheer cotton, it only took 5 seconds to stick it. Although there's a "No Sew " wrote on the wrapping, I preferred to stitch it afterward, just to make sure that the applique stays strongly on the fabric.

The second double sided fusible web I tried was Pellon.
It's slightly thinner than HeatNBond, the using direction mentioned that after it pressed to the fabric intended to be an applique (for about 5 or 8 seconds), cut it, peel the backing paper, put the applique on the chosen fabric, cover it with the damp cloth and press it for a bit longer time than the first one (about 10-15 seconds). The damp cloth was used as a temperature and timing guide, because after 10 seconds, the cloth will be dried and that means the web has fused perfectly.

I didn't use damp cloth for some reasons and did the first pressing too long. A mistake, because afterward it's quite difficult to peel the paper backing, the web stuck to the paper instead to the applique. The result was, the applique didn't stick well to the fabric I use (cotton hijab).

I took a second test. This time I only ironed the Pellon on to the applique for 3 seconds. I peeled the paper backing, voila, it stuck perfectly to the applique. Then I press it to the cotton hijab, still without a damp cloth over it. At first, some edges are still looked unstuck. I pressed it again for a longer time (20-30 seconds) and the result is perfect . As I did to the earlier applique, I stitched around it to secure it.

So, either HeatNBond or Pellon are works well, just need a bit different treatments. Price wise, Pellon is cheaper than HeatNBond. On both appliques I just feel the need to secure it with stitching, I use fusible web just to make the placement of the applique much easier & convenience. O yes, and my needle can go through the web easily, even though HeatNBond is more generous in its adhesive (therefore it's a bit thicker than Pellon).

You can see my appliques on Calyx Hijab here .

Calyx Hijab (end of July 2011 edition)

2011-07-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Hiii, back again, bringing you the latest Calyx Hijabs...

This time, I didn't only have it screen printed, I also stitched the cute appliques I made from various cute fabric I've purchased.

All of them are sold in sets with the matching hijab pins.
Please shout in the shout box or email me for further info such as colors availability, etc.

"Owl" stitched applique hijab & pin. Pin made of velvety beads & novelty button

"Love to Bake" hijab & pin. Screen printed hijab, velvety beads & novelty button on pin.

"Cupcakes" hijab & pin. Stitched applique hijab, pin made of velvety beads & novelty button.

"Tea time" hijab & pin. Stitched applique hijab.

Beads Couture Needle

2011-07-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

Remember my post about Tambour stitching?

As I said in the past, I will save some money to buy the tool, because I really interested in it, but it's relatively pricey for me.

Today, I've received the tool I ordered from here. It was Clover's and came with a plastic tube to keep the needle.

So happy, I tried it right away. At first, it's kinda awkward because I've never use it before.

But after 3 trials, I finally got it and love the tool because it make stitching (whether it beads or chain stitch) done faster (and more even in size...I think) .

This is the result of using the needle for beads stitching

These are the chain stitches I made with the needle. Not bad, eh?

Hmm, projects, projects...

Over Due

2011-07-11T03:19:00.000-07:00

Yeah, this is an over due post but I just think I need to share it

So, it's been almost a month now, we're living as Bandung citizens...back to my hometown, after so many years (I think since 1993).

Adapting to the new climate (it's much, much colder here than Bandar Lampung), I got 3 days of cold, but I'm fine now.

Since we moved, I've been busy surveying junior high schools for my son. He done some assessment tests in some schools and waited and prayed for whatever Allah think is the best for us. Alhamdulillah, now he's accepted in an Islamic based junior high and will start his study next week.

At the moment we're renting 2 rooms in an old house. In that house, there is other family, a young couple with 2 toddlers.

The front of the house

Our house mates

To be honest, I enjoyed our space in Bandar Lampung more. Yes, the one we're living in now is more spacious, but there are problems that forcing me to look for other place to live (that's why I still haven't settled yet, still unpacked, out of the thought that I will move again very soon). Electricity is one thing. I'd like to buy a fridge (sahur is on my mind), but I don't think the electricity in this house allow it. Until this moment, I still haven't found the right place...still looking for it...

Anyway, we're happy to be in Bandung, although there are friends we missed in Bandar Lampung. We took some last pictures of us in the hotel we used to live in, in Bandar Lampung, together with my buddy, ibu Pia. For 2 weeks hubby stayed with us, helped our relocation. We're so happy, though after two weeks, hubby had to fly back to Langkawi, Malaysia, to continue his work there.

My son's last visit to the Sheraton Hotel, Lampung

Ibu Pia came by to the hotel to say goodbye

My two beloved men (my son and his dad)

And you know what, Bu Pia & family just came to Bandung and visited us yesterday...lovely surprise, alhamdulillah

There's nothing like Kejaksaan's Noodle & Meat balls, sold only in Bandung...my favorite!

Calyx Cotton Hijab (May 2011)

2011-05-20T02:50:00.000-07:00

Back by demand, here's another batch of Calyx hijab scarf & pin sets.

Made of cotton fabric (katun paris), screen printed, sold together with the pin as a set.

Should you interested in purchasing it, just please e-mail me at lia.emilia12@yahoo.co.id or you can leave comment/message at my Twitter, Multiply or Facebook.

- Cinderella's castle:

The hijab scarves

The Pins

Note: Pink color's sold

- Vintage Camera

The hijab scarves

The Pins

Note: Blue color's sold

Occupation Theme Bag

2011-05-15T04:17:00.000-07:00

For those who've read my previous blog, know that though the mini hoop can be used as a doll house thing, I intended it to be a bag embellishment.

So here's the newest bag I made; shall I call it "Occupation bag"? Hmm, doesn't sound right...

Anyhow, this bag's theme is "Embroiderer". Made of faux suede and cotton fabric, with felt inside lining. Can be worn as a shoulder bag or wristlet. In dusty pink color.

The Bag

The details

Another themed bags I made were "Love to Sew".

This one was made of canvas fabric with velvet inside lining.

This was made of cotton fabric with felt inside lining.

You're welcome to give me constructional critics and comments, thank you

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I Love Matryoshka!

2011-05-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

Don't know why, but I have a thing with matryoshka...there's something that so adorable of that simple (but turned out not so simple to make) doll.

I've been wanting to make one, but as you know, got no spare time. But a project offered, demanding different kind of things with ribbon embroidery on them. Clothes, shoes, bags, book cover, hijab, etc, all done... and I was wondering, what else?

Recently I purchased this lovely matryoshka fabric from Etsy and it just came to me, why don't I make a ribbon embroidery on matryoshka doll?

So this was my first ribbon embroidered matryoshka doll. Not quite happy with it, but hey, practice make perfect, right? Hope I have more time to do more practice on it . Insha Allah...

Shared with this site:

Recycled Mini Embroidery Hoop

2011-04-24T23:20:00.001-07:00

Once a friend asked if I could make another "Love to Sew" bag, but instead of sewing, she'd like the theme to be about embroidery.

I thought, there won't be much different with sewing theme, the only significant thing is the embroidery hoop. It has to be mini, as the same size as miniature things used in doll house.

I came up with the idea of making one, using recycled objects, which were mineral bottle cap's rings.

To make one, we need:

1. Two mineral bottle cap's rings (the ones left on the bottle's neck). They're made of plastic. You can use toilet paper cardboard tube cut into rings too, but I want my bag to be washable and we all know cardboard will be ruined if mixed with water.

2. A scrap of fabric.

3. Sticky tape and a good glue. I use E6000, because it was proven to stick well on plastic.

Here we go (apologize for the poor quality of the pictures though :P) ...

1. One of the bottle cap ring will be the inner hoop, while the other will be the outer. Cut the one intended to be the inner hoop, so it will be fitted the outer one.

2. Measure and adjust the size of the inner hoop by putting it inside the outer one.

3. Stick both cut ends of the inner hoop with a tape.

4. Smear a thin layer of glue to the outer side of the inner hoop.

5. Cover the inner hoop with a scrap of fabric. Now, you can make an embroidery on the fabric before hand, but here I just use the plain fabric and make stitches on it later.

6. Put the outer hoop around the fabric covered inner hoop.

7. Voila, our mini embroidery hoop's ready!

Shared here:

One of my favorite documentary :)

2011-04-20T02:21:00.000-07:00

Signe Channel is one of my favorite.

Especially the below episode. At 2:50 shown a lady, 75 years old of age, who braids. Iadore & admire her so much. Insha Allah, if my age can reach 75, I want to do interesting & creative thing like her :)

In general, these documentary series charge my crafting spirit.

My mind wonders...if only I could join those Chanel team...the pressure, the rush...so exciting!

Calyx (ribbon embroidery) for Idys

2011-04-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ibu Pia and I are bff, we help, support each other all the time.
Her residence is not really far from mine, so it's just natural if we see each other almost every day.
She's the owner of Idys and we just love to talk about craft and our children all day, lol.

For the Inacraft 2011, she asked me to design some simple ribbon embroideries to be done by the Sukaraja women for Idys and of course I'm happy to do it.

I didn't manage to take pictures of all of the creations, but below are some of them:

- Various tissue box covers

- Mukena

- Various cushion covers

The Sukaraja Club

2011-04-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

As written in my previous blog, the less fortunate women of Sukaraja, Lampung, had been participating in one of Rumah Zakat programmes, which is a free workshop, intended to empower them.

But Rumah Zakat didn't stop there. They talked to ibu Pia of Idys and I on how to generate extra income for the Sukaraja women. What a coincidence! Ibu Pia and I had a "human resources crisis", we need extra hands to assist us on our productions for Inacraft 2011 and it's easier for us to work together with the Sukaraja women because we trained them our self, we can "shape" their quality of work to meet our standards. We provided materials, designs, commissions, etc and they were given freedom to choose any part of work they'd like to take. So we discussed it further with Rumah Zakat and the women of Sukaraja and they agreed to collaborate with us.

From more than 24 women who attended our free workshop, only few of them who are willing and happy to join us in our productions. Others are simply too busy with their daily life, they have babies, etc. So let me introduce you to the talented women of Sukaraja and some of their creations, achieved after intense trainings with us these several weeks:

Mrs. Betty working on a ribbon embroidered curtain

Mrs. Farida, the accessories wonder

Mrs. Ida, the fabric flower expert

Mrs. Junah, one of the blanket stitch/applique clique member

Mrs. Rika, working on blanket stitches/applique

Mrs. Rosa, one of the ribbon embroiderer

Mrs. Sonia, with her blanket stitched/applique jumper

Mrs. Yanti, working on buttons bracelets

Shy Mrs. Yul, member of blanket stitcher/applique clique

So, if you purchase any of Idys, Calyx or Primula products, means that you've also helping these modest women of Sukaraja earning extra income, sincere thanks from all of us .

PS: We're taking their creations to this event. Check it out .

Giveaway @Pojok Utak-Atik

2011-04-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

Pojok Utak-Atik is currently giving away some fabulous prizes.
I'm eyeing this one, because it's cute, whimsical, rarely found and perfect for generally any projects:

Actually there are more pretty things to be won. Just visit Pojok Utak-Atik for further details ;)

A Sneak Peek (Inacraft 2011) :)

2011-04-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Yep, this is a sneak peek of Primula & Calyx products which will be brought to the Inacraft 2011 event.

Though there are not many I made these days (with relocation, this coming re-relocation, orders and my son's final exams), these products are just a few that I managed to take picture of, the rest are still in the making.

One of the Primula's minaudieres

Some of the kids jersey hijabs (and some of them have already sold :))

One of the screen printed cotton hijab-pin sets.
See it here for more.

For the cotton hijab & pin set, actually I made another ones but they have all sold out already, alhamdulillah :)

Hope you'll enjoy it and wish you can come to the booths and enjoy the event :)

Calyx and Primula @ INACRAFT 2011

2011-04-09T08:06:00.001-07:00

THE 13th INACRAFT
( Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair 2011 )
Venue : All Halls, Jakarta Convention Center

Insya Allah, Calyx and a few of Primula products can be seen at the above event.
Calyx can be found at Idys booth, no. 41 at Plenary Hall.
Primula (minaudieres) can be found at mbak Enno's booth , no. 37 at Plenary Hall.
Unfortunately, I myself can't be present on those days, but hope you'll come and enjoy the event :)

Sweet Surprise on April 7th

2011-04-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

It's another over due post again, this time because I've been busy doing orders and preparing for Inacraft 2011, aside from my tween just finished the school exams and thought he can rule the lappy before another exams next week, sigh...

Anyway, it was on April 7th. Early in the morning I left a message on Skype for hubby, to say "Happy Anniversary". Yep, it was our 15th anniversary. Hubby replied, thanking me for being there for him all this time and said a surprise is coming.

Later that morning, people from the hotel came, brought something in the box for me. Remembering my hubby's message, I thought, that's the surprise my hubby was talking about and the hotel people confirmed it.

I opened it after they left and what's inside brought tears to my eyes. This is what I saw:

Now tell me, how can I eat that chocolate topping with those sweet words on it?

It's a pretty big strawberry cheese cake, much too much for myself (my son doesn't eat cheese cake), so I just shared it with my land owners and ibu Pia's family (my extended family) .

Hubby's not a romantic person, that's why the words become so special to me.
Plus, these past several months we've been apart, I've never realize how much I miss him, until that day.

Love you dear hubby, I always will.
We've been through ups and downs, tears and joy...
It's been 15 years...
May Allah bless our marriage, our life, our family and everybody, more and more in years to come, amiin...

Happily together :)

2011-04-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Remember Gigi?

Now, Gigi would like to introduce you to her friends, Tom the cute tooth, Patty the tooth paste and last but not least, Brad the tooth brush.

They really are Gigi's good friends, they meet at least twice a day or every time Gigi's owner finish her meals. Every meeting is the merry one, they dance, they chat, always makes Gigi happy :)

Gigi and friends on cotton hijab scarf

Gigi and friends swinging on hijab's pin.

I made this Gigi cotton hijab scarf in three colors; white, baby pink and fuchsia.
It's my design, screen printed on cotton scarf.
I made only 3 sets of Gigi hijab scarf and pin.
Alhamdulillah, they're all sold, two of them were happened to be bought by dentists

A Bar of Chocolate

2011-03-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, after school, before he went for his Sakamoto Math lesson, my son told me that he'd like to go to the nearby convenience store after the lesson, to buy something out of his own money.

I asked, what do you want to buy? He said, something. I got suspicious and asked further more.
He answered, snack and asked me back, why I kept asking. I said, I have to know whatever he want to buy, because I'm his mom, he's my responsibility, what happened if, God forbid, he turned out buying drugs?

He lightly said, " First, I'm not that self-torturing person. Second, that store doesn't sell any. Third, I don't have enough money for that."
True, so I said ok.

When he got back, I was in front of the lappy, replying the birthday wishes. Suddenly he put something inside the convenience store's plastic bag in front of me. I took it out of the bag, it was a chocolate bar. He said, "I know I've said happy birthday to you early this morning, but I want to give something for a present."

Aww, my dear son...so that's what you bought, a chocolate bar for my birthday present!
Forgive my previous suspicion, but well, you know your mom, lol...

The thought of him, sparing some of little money he owned, to buy me a present, touched my heart, subhanallah. It's not an expensive and fancy chocolate, but it's surely the tastiest I've ever ate !

My son, he can be so sweet sometimes...just wish he can keep it that way forever .

Thank you baby, may Allah bless you and help you keeping that big heart, amiin....

PS: Special thanks to my family, my friends and colleagues, thank you all for the birthday wishes, may Allah bless you!

Free Workshop with Rumah Zakat

2011-02-24T18:20:00.000-08:00

First of all, I'd like to thanks my best friend, bu Pia of Idys, who came up with the idea and introduced me to Rumah Zakat people.

So, it's been my dream to share what I know about craft with less fortunate people, with the hope that it can helps generating extra income for them.

When bu Pia came up with the idea of working together with Rumah Zakat, I immediately agreed.
Our plans are to give the dhuafas free workshop of ribbon embroidery, basic accessories making techniques and fabric application technique.

Rumah Zakat itself is a non profit organization, who helps distribute zakat, donations to the dhuafa. Not only that, they also provide scholarship, organized workshop and help the dhuafa build small businesses.

First meeting

I was a little bit nervous at first. Yes, I've taught ribbon embroidery before, but they were one-on-one session, not with 24 women all at once! But, with the kind assistance of bu Pia (who doesn't do embroidery because of her hectic schedule, but familiar with the techniques), everything ran alright .

What I shared to them were very easy basic techniques of ribbon embroidery, consisted of 5 stitches (straight stitch, ribbon stitch, spider web rose, french knot and loop), because I only have an hour in each of the 3 meetings.

Second meeting

It was held in a modest place in Sukaraja, an industrial district in Bandar Lampung.
Rumah Zakat provided the material, I gave them a simple pattern too.

It's been 2 meetings and everybody was having fun, alhamdulillah !
Next week will be the last one (on ribbon embroidery), when we would work on a complete design based on the simple pattern I gave. After that, we will move on to basic accessories making technique. Hope everything will ran according to the plan and our mission to create side jobs opportunity will accomplished, insha Allah .

Addicted to...

2011-02-15T03:48:00.000-08:00

... cabochon embroidery!
Can't stop doing it ever since I learned it (and mbak Dini as my mentor is to blamed, lol...canda mbak Din, mbak Dini memang wokeh!)

I especially love the ruffled embroidery technique.
I have these cute images, bought from Etsy, covered it with resin stickers to make them into cabs.
I just use a simple, basic ruffle embroidery, not that I'm too lazy to apply fancier technique, but I don't want the bezel competed the cute image and ruin the entire look .

My land lady commissioned me to make the above brooch, she picked the image out of my collection, it was a picture of three cute fairies and requested it to be made in brown color. I combined the brown beads with champagne and a hint of gold color. This is a magnetic brooch (using magnet instead of a pin at the back).

The two pictures below are for my very dear friend of mine, mbak Nana (mbaak, maaf lama ya, kepotong pindahan, hehe).

She chose images from my collection too, they were a fairy hugging a bird (the colors are baby pink, baby blue, white and a hint of silver) and a fairy riding a snail (the colors are pink and turquoise).

For the latter, I challenged myself by making the ruffles from no. 15o beads, which are soo very small. Alhamdulillah, it's done the way I wanted to .
These are not magnetic brooches (as requested), so I attached brooch pins on their backs.

Hope I can make some more soon, insha Allah .

Alhamdulillah, another good feedback!

2011-02-08T21:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I saw a familiar words in my inbox, that was "Primula Clutch", posted by a very dear friend of mine, mbak Nana.

For those who don't know, Primula is my other "baby" besides Calyx. Primula specialized in making party clutch bags and targeted for young adult and above, while Calyx is targeted for teens and young at hearts.

So, back to the mbak Nana's posting...I was so touched, happy and honored to read the blog . It was a good feedback of the Primula she bought some times ago.

Thank so much, mbak Na, you made my day!
PS: mbak Nana designs and makes beautiful moslem dresses. Check out her site here

Birds of the same feathers

2011-02-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

No sooner, my land lady, mbak Febry, found out what I do.
She's a dentist, but who have thought that she has a thing for craft too?

We talked about craft a lot and she saw some of my works and projects.
She said, there's a craft competition among staffs in her office (she works for Public Health Service/Puskesmas) and she's working on some felt project.

One day, she came to my place, clutching something in her hands.
It's a felt tissue box cover, for the competition, made by herself, masha Allah...it's cute!

Keep it up, mbak Febry ! I pray that you'll win, insha Allah!
Turned out that we are birds of the same feathers after all

Good bye hotel, hello new place!

2011-02-03T02:52:00.000-08:00

So, it's been near a month now, we are staying at the new place.
We rent a newly built, clean, 2 bed rooms space, with one sitting room, one bath room, small kitchen and a spacious shared yard. It's enough for me & my son to lived in until my son graduated from primary school, then we'll be (sigh...packing's on my mind!) move again to Bandung, West Java, my hometown.

The new place is so close to my son's school, that he walks every day to and from school.
The land owners are young, newly married couple, they're so friendly and nice.
There are some eateries, convenience store and laundry, all within 3 minutes walking distance...5 minutes walk to the mall .

The shared yard, seen from our front door. The building on the left is the land owner's house.

A little hut with a pond of timid fishes built beneath it, in a corner of the yard.

Alhamdulillah, things begin to settled down a bit (though there are still some hateful boxes, waiting to be unpacked, sigh). I enjoy the house chores, (things that I didn't really do when we were at the hotel, because they have service, lol) it's like playing house, lol... so much so that I almost forgot about my craft, lol...
Now that I'm getting use to the new routine, I'm working on a new batch of kids hijab...

Pak Wawan family (especially Fathia & her mom, of course) has been visited us more than couple of times (I personally feel that some thing's missing if I haven't see Fathia & her mom in a week, lol).

The one thing I missed on the first night we stay here, strangely, are people (and my husband, obviously ).
At the hotel, when we go out of our room, we see the employees, guests, security staffs, day and night. Here, I only see the land owners occasionally, because both of them work.

But soon I don't feel lonely anymore, because there are 2 mosques nearby, the sound of people reading verses of Qur'an just before shalat, through loud speakers, have a calming effects on me. Maybe, because it reminds me of my parent's house back in my hometown, which also have the same situation, close to 2 mosques.

So, good bye hotel, hello new "home" (for at least 6 months, lol)

Fathia was standing in front of our door

Minaudiere

2011-01-31T19:32:00.000-08:00

Primula's Minaudiere

Here are some definitions of minaudiere I found in the web:

"The minaudieres themselves are also a fancy version of a clutch. They are usually made from luxurious material and quite often encrusted with jewels (most often crystal). As such, they are obviously a high end item and to be used for very special occasions.

According to the official definition, the word "minaudiere" comes from the French word minaudier. It's perhaps not the most flattering word to choose. It means affected or smirking."

(http://minaudieres.net)

Jennifer Lopez clutching a minaudiere at Golden Globe 2011

"A minaudiere (pronounced mee-no-dyair) is a small ornamental case carried as a handbag or clutch. Originally inspired by ornate jewelry boxes, minaudieres are often decorated with exquisite materials and can come in a variety of unique shapes. Sometimes minaudières are called minaudiers or box clutches.

Minaudières are perfect for your most formal occasions and they are wonderful conversation pieces. Carrying one is like carrying a piece of art on your arm and everyone will want to know where you got it."

(http://blog.ebags.com/post/what-is-a-minaudiere)

Mila Kunis with her minaudiere at SAG award 2011

"a small decorative case for carrying small articles (as cosmetics or jewelry)"

(http://mw4.merriam-webster.com)

...and I've been thinking of making some at the moment

Nothing better than a good feedback :)

2010-12-22T01:04:00.000-08:00

Early this morning, I was pleasantly surprised by my good friend Cindy's post.
I am so flattered and happy that the flowers she ordered for her daughter were well received and that her daughter excited to use these flowers I made, for her headbands and barettes, alhamdulillah!
Can't wait to see her creations!
Thanks so much Cindy, you're the best!

By the way, Cindy sells great stuffs too and she's a super nice seller...check out her site, coolshirts2cheap.

Yaay, gifts...alhamdulillah!

2010-12-09T03:18:00.000-08:00

This post is actually over due, but I only got a chance to write it down today.
A couple of weeks ago, I received two packages, one was from my lovely aunt Jia of Fauzia's art & craft and the other was from my very dear of mine, mbak Dita of Handmade Nest. Alhamdulillah!

Jia sent me a beautiful, intricate necklace with pendant which also can be wore as a brooch (double functions...my kind of things!). She sent it for an exchange of the pochette I sent her for her birthday, though I really don't expect anything from her. It's made of wire works and stone, I suspected it was quite time consuming to make. Beautiful! Love it so much, thanks Jia, muach2!

I've been wanting to have a wireworks jewelry for some time...now it's mine!

The package I received from mbak Dita was also a heart melting goodies. She sent it to me without any particular reason at all, that's so sweet of her! I told her, I considered it as a craft swap. As soon as I'm settled in my new place, I will make something for her.

What a surprise, I didn't expect her to send me that much!
Let me show you the pretty things she made her self:

A felt balls necklace...always think that this is a signature of mbak Dita, because she didn't make it out of a ready made pompoms, but felt shaped by felting tools (I don't even know what its name, lol), I don't think many Indonesian crafter do it and I know it's painstakingly made. Funky!

Ethnic necklace...as if she could read my mind, that my favorite color is black :)

Lovely tiny things :)

I've been eyeing this fabric flower hair pin for some time...

Another wireworks, how lucky I am! Alhamdulillah!

A very sweet and touching note from mbak Dita...

The back of the note...cute and so appropriate :)

The note attached to the gift is soo touching...mbak Dita, it is I who inspired by you, you're young but yet multitalented, you have a warm heart and super sweet!
Thanks so much, not only for the gift, but most important thing is for the sweet friendship we have...huuugs!

Anyway, the packing is still going on although now we have a confirmed date of 20 of December for our relocation. And yes, this time, the picture below really is mine...boxes filled our room, it's hard to move around here, lol...

Happy New Year 1 Muharam 1432H

2010-12-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Photos*]

I won the giveaway!

2010-11-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

Double-triple yaaay!

Thanks to sis Ning of Babalisme, I received the gift two days ago, but just have a chance to post it today because of my packing-for-relocating business ;)

My son and I enjoyed it so much, we looove it...especially me, I have never received giveaway from Blogger before and this one is so cool!

Loove the personal "stamp"...so cute!

The content...goody-goody!

The back of the package...loove the circus theme!

"Craft For Humanity" Auctions Recap & Donation report

2010-11-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

Alhamdulillah, "Craft for Humanity" Auction part 2 has just ended, thanks to all who have participated, thanks to Anchy and mbak Poppy for donating your creations for this auction, may Allah bless us all, amiin.

Herewith, I'd like to give an update of auction part 1 as well:
the total amount of fund raised (from the auction and donation from sis Rebecca) was IDR 1.277.000, and it's all donated to Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) account. Please find the report of the transfer I posted below.

Donation from the first auction

Donation from second auction

Also from the second auction

Anyone would like to directly donate to PMI account, please make a transfer to their BCA no. : 035. 311223. 3 or 206.300668.8 (as mentioned at http://www.pmi.or.id/ina).

I hope and pray that the fund we raised together could help the disaster's survivors rebuild their lives, may Allah give them strength and bless us all, amiin...

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim
"So he who gives (in charity) and fears (of Allah)
And (in all sincerity) testifies to the Best
We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss"
(Sura Al-Lail: 5-7)

Relocating...relocating...

2010-11-05T05:19:00.000-07:00

Sigh...nothing I hate more than relocating...
It's not about adapting to the new place and so on, what I hate is packing and unpacking!
We're such a hoarder, so many things to packed, threw away or sell...
my son's a bit reluctant because he's a young man now, he feels quite attach to his friends here.

So, yes, we are relocating. Hubby got a job abroad while I might be still in Bandar Lampung for a few months, until my son finish his primary school, but we definitely won't be staying at the hotel anymore as the end of this month. My apology to my customers, I'd probably won't make any new creations during that time, except just a couple of orders I had agreed earlier.

Mind you, the picture below is not mine, but I think that's what mine will looked like, lol

"Craft For Humanity" Auction Part 2

2010-10-31T22:36:00.000-07:00

Alhamdulillah, after my own "Craft For Humanity" auction has closed (still waiting to receive a few transfers though), some of my fellow crafters interested to do the same thing and I am happy to help hosting the auction, all for the good cause and our good friendship :)

The items auctioned were all handmade by my good friends:
Mbak Poppy: http://cestmagnifique.multiply.com
Anchy: http://onigirishop.multiply.com

These are two of the whole collection auctioned

To participate in the auction, please click here.

Enjoy the auction, may The Almighty return all of your kind intentions and attentions, amiin.

Auction for "Craft For Humanity"

2010-10-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

Indonesia has been through tough tests lately...disaster in Wasior, flood in Jakarta, volcano eruption at Merapi Mountain in Java...but the one nearest to the place I live was the earth quake (7,2 Richter's scale) and tsunami at Mentawai Islands, small islands near Sumatera, best known as surfer's paradise because of its sea waves.

It touched me so and my friend, mbak Tarlen, who I respect and adore so dearly, came up with the idea of "Craft For Humanity" . But I don't think it will be enough time for me to make some craft specially for them, they need it now and they need it fast, so I guess I just would like to put some of my ready-stock on auction, to raise fund for the humanity project mentioned above (though I should admit, it's not much).

So, for those who interested to participate on the auction, please click here.

One of my creation on the auction

Let's bid for a good cause...hope it will help the needy, even if it's just a bit, insha Allah...

Primula's Last Order

2010-10-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

For those who don't know, I actually have 2 lines of product; Primula is my first, targeted at adult and Calyx is my second, which is more for the young and young at hearts people.

I haven't made anything for Primula for quite a while, simply because Primula productions are more time consuming and I had a "whimsical and childish mood" which suitable for Calyx, lingered longer than I thought it would be, lol.

However, I did make one recently (and it's sold already, alhamdulillah).
A customer would like to have a tote and insisted it to be Primula's (thanks mbak Nani, for your encouragement and your patience).
Another one is still in process, for a good returning customer .

I'd like to share the picture here and hope you'll enjoy it
Hope I can make some more Primula products soon, insha Allah...

Primula's tote; made of faux leather and velvet, embellished with various kind of beads, ribbon embroidery, etc

That's what friends are for...(and it's not a song :P)

2010-10-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Maybe you've seen "Koncoku Handmade" mentioned every now and then in my blogs and calendar, but if you think it's another brand of mine, well, it's incorrect.

"Koncoku Handmade", initially found by me and mbak Puri of Ideku Handmade, it's the name for our (planned to be launch, Insha Allah) Etsy shop. But we both often share booth in bazaars and I feel it's not fair to name our booth just by my or her brand name. So we use "Koncoku Handmade" as our bazaar booth's name . The name "Koncoku" itself was a Javanese language, means "My Friend(s)".

In time, it weren't only two of us who shared the booth under the name. There was Ibu Pia of Idys, mbak Dita of Cemprut, mbak Amesh of Dreamesh and Anchy of Onigiri shop. We don't limit the numbers of our member though, we welcome any crafter who'd like to join in (as long as our booth's size permit it ) and each member is free to have their own booth if they want to, anytime or join other booth besides ours or not to join the exhibition we attend at all.

"Koncoku" doesn't bind any one, it's purely, simply a place for crafters to market their creations together (so it will cost cheaper because it shared...and more FUN! That's the keyword!) .

So far, we (as "Koncoku") had attend two events, both were busy and fun (though the last one was the busiest ever...so busy that we could only take 1 picture ).

"Koncoku Handmade" @Pasar Nova, Jakarta, 31 July - 1 Aug. 2010

"Koncoku Handmade" @Pasar Seni ITB, Bandung, October 10, 2010

Sweet dream...

2010-10-12T19:32:00.001-07:00

Gigi, the little tooth, likes the Sweets.
But she knew that she can't meet them as often as she wanted to, because though they are nice looking and taste good, they can turned to be quite malicious, in time they will strip Gigi's email layers, make her prone to be damaged, especially if Gigi's owner forgot to clean her in the evening.
So, she can only dream of them, dream of playing happily with them and that they won't do her any harm

See Gigi on Calyx Multifunction backpack here

Meet Hans, the adventurous hedgehog!

2010-10-11T19:59:00.001-07:00

Hans is a special hedgehog.
He's so active, couldn't sit still.
He's adventurous too, likes to try new things to do.
The other hedgehogs mostly don't understand (or maybe misunderstand) Hans.
But his mother do, so she channels Hans huge energy by signing him to various activities.
One day, she signed Hans up for parachuting lesson and he got hooked!
He loves it and do it regularly since then

See Hans on Calyx Multifunction backpack here .
He's one of my favorite, can't wait to show Hans' other adventures soon

What's GC?

2010-10-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

Before I answer the above question, let me just tell you something...

I have followed quite many talented blogger crafters, many of them are experts in making cute greeting cards, like Dragonllew's Spot, LOTV's Ideas to Inspire and many more. Though I don't have time to try to make one, I admire their works. They inspire me a lot.
So, I have an idea of embellishing my bag with things that looked like a greeting card.

I used quilt blocks fabric, put a bit of embroidery or ribbon embroidery here and there, compliment them with laces, buttons, beads, sequins or whatever usually found in a greeting card.

So the bags I made that inspired by greeting cards, I named them "GC" bags, a short from "Greeting Cards" bags, lol...

To see my whole creation of GC bags, please click here

Thanks Fathia, for being my model :)

Too passionate about the job :P

2010-10-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

Pfeewh, it's been like decades I haven't been updating my sites ...

It's because I've been busy doing orders and stocks, I'd been through human resources crisis here... Can you believe it, I've changed assistant(s) 3 times within this last couple of months! With some bazaar events approaching, there's no way I'm doing them all by my self, I still have house chores, a husband and a son to tend to...

It's quite hard to find someone that can share the same passion of the craft. But now I found the one that I think pretty acceptable, alhamdulillah, though there's one funny incident that I'm gonna tell you here.

I was explaining to the assistant about the red backpack for my dear cousin, Jia's daughter, to her. As she looked at the fabric, she said it was too much for 1 backpack only. I said, that's ok, she can return the rest of the fabric to me, just make the red backpack 1 piece only and the rest (I was giving her other fabrics too, to be made as multifunction backpack) in black color. Then off her went home, to do the orders.

Yesterday, she gave me the backpacks, including the red one for my cousin. Surprise, surprise, she made 2 of them, the other was made by using other stitched fabric intended for the black one ! She said, it's because the fabric was enough for 2 backpacks, instead of one as I instructed. And she made the side pockets for my cousin's backpack, which I strictly prohibited from the beginning (as Jia's wish), just because she thought it will looked better with them, lol...

My cousin's backpack

Details of the stitches

They were well made though, so I thought maybe she was too passionate about the job that she put her own ideas without telling me so, lol...
Well, I think it's better than to have no passion at all, lol...

I'm not too happy about my Rapunzel made into red backpack, for I intended it for the black one. I don't think it's the right color combination.

The wrong colored Rapunzel

The stitches detail

But well, what's done is done, what can I do but to put it on the market . I'm grateful though that I finally found someone right to assist me, I should probably more stressed the instructions out, "nag" about what I want it to be next time, lol...

Eid Mubarak!

2010-09-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

My Other Flower Fairy Magnet Brooches

2010-08-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

After I finished the green-pink Flower Fairy brooch, I actually made another two of them, also Flower Fairy, but different flowers/colors.
The images were also grabbed from The Graphic Fairy.

I think, the ruffled edge of these two are better than the first one I showed in the previous blog, though I still didn't dare to make it wider. Don't you think so?

Yellow Flower Fairy

Pink Flower Fairy

Craftgossip's Giveaway; My Etsy Wish List

2010-08-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

When I read Craftgossip's post about their giveaway, I thought, what could possibly greater giveaway to me, than this one (if I won it). I'll have a chance to have unique fun craft supplies, the ones I can't find in my country, the ones I've been eyeing all this time at Etsy, yoohoo!

With US$ 100 as a limit, my wish list will be a long one, lol.
So, here they are (ooh, I'm so excited!):

1. The glorious ribbons:

A wired ribbon for my ribbon art project, in my favorite color (light pink), from Griffith Garden. $4.

Another one, with bolder color, also from Griffith Garden. $1.25

Green leaf vine ribbon, from 4Allthingsbeautiful. $ 1.05

Diva Glam grossgrain ribbon from Tliss. $ 2.95

Laundry Day grossgrain ribbon, also from Tliss. $1.65

Rosa Pomar's Snow White ribbon from HollandFabricHouse. $ 3.25

FarbenMix Flying Chicks ribbon, from the same shop. $ 2.50

FarbenMix Little red Riding Hood ribbon, also from the same shop. $3

2. The Whimsical Fabrics:

Cinderella and Princess Vinyl Fabric from Fabricsupply. $ 8.

Michael Miller's Flower Fairies Fabric from Mineymo. $ 2.25

Alexander Henry's Nursery Rhymes Fabric from Rainbowfabric. $ 4.25

Alexander Henry's Once Upon A Time Fabric from Cottonthreadfabric. $ 3.75

Babushka Love fabric from HollandFabricHouse. $ 3

Princess Portraits fabric from Heavenleicreations. $ 4.50

Timeless treasure - Geisha Dolls from Uberstitch. $ 2.25

Cuttie birds vinyl fabric from Felicitysiu. $ 5.50

3. Other wonderful supplies:

A Stitch In Time novelty buttons from Tliss. $ 2.

Butterfly novelty buttons from Buzzybeeshop. $ 3.50

Bondaweb adhesive web from Babetatelier. $ 4.13

8pcs Versacraft inkpad for fabric from Karaku. $ 26

3pcs petite stamp collection, also from Karaku. I would love to have the matryoshka, bird cage and tree stamp :) $ 9

Total amount of US$97.78.

There! Now I just have to pray hard, hoping that I could win these beauties, amiin :)

To my fellow muslims & muslimas...

2010-08-09T18:50:00.001-07:00

Ramadhan Mubarak...
Hope we all can do our ibadah successfully, in this holy month and afterward.
I also would like to apologize, for all the mistakes I may have done to you, my dear friends.
I've never meant it and I love you all for Allah's sake.
May Allah bless us all, amiin

My newest project; what do you think?

2010-08-08T19:39:00.000-07:00

Remember the multi looks bag I posted previously?
I made another one, similar to that on the post, but it reversible, so even more looks I can get from only 1 bag .
But because it's reversible, I made it without any embroidery/embellishment, I'm afraid if I do, when it's on the inside part, it will ruined because it flattened or tangled with the things I put inside.
Instead, I just put my magnetic corsage on, so it can be detached or moved from 1 side to another.

Look no.1: Denim clutch.

Look no. 2: Denim tote.

Look no. 3: (reversed side) batik & faux suede clutch

Look no. 4: Batik tote

Look no. 5: Faux suede tote

Look no. 6: Batik clutch

Look no. 7: Batik sling bag

Look no. 8: Batik & faux suede sling bag

Or/and you can attach the corsage to your blouse

Thanks to Fathia, who was willing to modeled for me

A New Craze: Cabochon Embroidery

2010-08-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

Well, at least it's new for me. Beading embroidery it's not something unfamiliar for me, but I've never weave it into a cabochon embroidery before. I've been wanting to create one, I have the tools, supplies and tutes but hadn't got a chance to make it.

Yesterday, I spent a whole day, tried my hand on this, based on mbak Dini Sarbini's book.
Because it's just a first trial, I didn't dare to use the stiff stuff and faux suede for the backing. Instead, I used felt (lol!) and attached a magnet instead of a pin ( I love magnet, it won't make any hole if you attach it to anything ).
I have the cab made of resin from a picture I grabbed at The Graphic Fairy.
I appreciate any critics and suggestion for improvement, for I still not really happy on the ruffles edge I made .
So please, I welcome any comment(s) .

(Recap) "Koncoku Handmade" @ Pasar Nova, Jakarta, 31 July - 01 Aug 2010

2010-08-04T00:44:00.000-07:00

Initially I was meant to attend Pasar Nova in "Koncoku" booth with my friends; mbak Puri of Ideku, mbak Dita of Cemprut, Anchy of Onigiri Shop and bu Pia of Idys. But for some reason s, I didn't come, I only consigned some products of mine to mbak Puri and bu Pia.

Nevertheless, "Koncoku" is my other "baby" (I'll write all about it in other blog, insha Allah), so I was excited and happy for my friends. So, when it's over, I urged mbak Dita to post the pictures and bu Pia to share the story of their activity in Pasar Nova .

How happy I was when mbak Dita granted my wish and bu Pia came to place to tell their stories. It seems they had fun, though they experienced heat and rain, that I quite regretted my decision to not to come. I'm happy that my friends had a good sales and "Koncoku" booth visited by many interested buyers and got good responses, alhamdulillah.

Here I'd like to share to you also the pictures and the fun my friends had

"Koncoku" booth

Crowded with visitors

All hands on the heads...see how synchronized my friends were? Lol... I'm not sure whether they did brain gym or just had a headache, lol ...

Fathia was there too, selling her candy-flowers creations...seems here she just took a break, enjoying sweets .

"Koncoku" team and friends; mbak Dita and mbak Puri (at the back row, tried to strike a super model pose, lol). At the front row, from left to right; Fathia, Novi (mbak Puri's friend), Anchy, her mother and bu Pia

These are only a couple of some Calyx products presented at Pasar Nova and alhamdulillah, they were sold quite well

Blog Award

2010-07-31T19:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my dear friend, mbak Ina of Feathering a Nest for this award, I'm so happy and honored :)
Hmm, 7 things about my self... see if I can make it 7, since actually, I'm a boring person, lol.
Ok, let's start then...

1. I'm and always been a "musical" person, though my journey in music world have ended long, long time ago, lol. I sing almost every where, while I'm working, traveling, in the shower (lol)... or just listen to it if I don't feel like singing.

2. I'm easily touched, a mere sad news on tv can make me cry...but I love a good laugh too

3. I was really terrible in doing craft, in my younger years. So, many people (who know me from my younger years) kinda surprise that I do what I do now, especially because my former job didn't have anything to do with craft ( I was a hotelier). But not my father, he said I probably got it from my late granny, she was said to be a good embroiderer.

4. I'm not particularly chatty, but if I meet someone that clicked, I could chatted her up all day, lol...
That's funny, considering I was once make a living by chatting (as a radio DJ at Oz and Chevy FM Bandung).

5. I love babies, since obviously I only have one son and he's a young man now.

6. It seems that I like 2 opposite things; fairy tales and horror movies

7. I always got a kinda star-struck if I met crafter(s) that I admire and always love to meet them in person

Done !
Now I'd like to give the awards to my other dear friends:

1. Aphrodita Wibowo of Cemprut
2. Audi Lee of Rockonaudi.
3. Cindy Reynolds of Coolshirts2cheap
4. Puri of Ideku Handmade
5. Mbak Tarlen of Vitarlenology

Thanks again for the award, mbak Ina !

Fathia and her new creation

2010-07-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a while I haven't see Fathia and her family, because of the school holiday; I went to my hometown for a week and when I got back, it was her turn, they went for two weeks, spending the holiday.

When we finally met last week, she told me that she went to Crayon in Bandung, her favorite place and mine too. Well, actually Crayon is every crafter's haven, they sold craft supplies and provide free course and tutorial (as long as we bought the supplies there).

So, in her latest visit to Crayon, she learned how to make stuffed animal from recycled sock.

Fathia and her latest creation.

She made a very cute pony and I admire it so much . I told her mother that the doll looked perfect enough to be sold, lol...but of course Fathia made it for her self, not for sale .
Fathia told me that she showed it to her teacher too and then they asked her to teach them how to make it . Well, honestly, I'd like her to teach me too, if only I have a spare time .

Fathia's pony

Corsage Craze 2: Finally, a perfect bloom :)

2010-07-28T01:24:00.000-07:00

Those who've read my previous blog, know that I have a thing with fabric flowers.
Because I haven't made anything near my expectation, I kept looking for corsage tutorials.

In my quest, I came across this tute. I tried to make one, still haven't got what I was looking for.
Then, I modified it a bit, still using the same template, but instead of only 4 smaller flowers, I used 9 smaller ones, so it became 4 tiered.

Voila ! I've reached the result I've always wanted. Instead of pin backing, I used magnet, so as not to make a hole on anything it attached to.

A perfect bloom

The back is fabric covered magnet. Here I removed the other magnet (its' pair) to attach the corsage to something.

I tried to attach the corsage to a sheet.

This is how it looked like from behind.

This is why I prefer to work alone...

2010-07-28T01:14:00.000-07:00

Well, not completely alone though...there's one who helps me sew things (based on my designs). But designing, hand stitching, ribbon embroidery, beading, fabric drawing, making handle-necklaces, shopping for supplies, etc, all done by my self.

I used to have another who helps me with the sequins & beads, but unfortunately she moves to another place, quite far from where I live. So actually, I need more assistant(s).

I was happy when my best friend offer me her new employee's assistance, just when I was about to over load with works for bazaar's stock and orders. She said, because she doesn't have many jobs for the new employee to do at the moment and she was going to Jakarta and Bandung for sometimes (to spend the school holiday with her family), then I can temporarily use her new employee's assistance.

I gave her the job that I thought the easiest one, which was sewing laces. I dropped the job over my friend's studio, gave the new employee some instructions.

The day after, I called to see if she finds any difficulties and she said her sewing machine broke, so she hasn't done anything. I suggested her to do what I usually did, which is stitching it by hand.

A couple of days later, I came to see the result. Apparently she done it wrong, so again I gave her instructions on how to improve it.

I gave it another week, but what a horror I found when I visit her to collect the job...she has done nothing but one (and only half way done too) ! And it's all wrong, it was stitched upside down! And the bazaar is next week!

The messy laces

I would understand if only the new employee's doesn't have any stitching skill (like I used to be), but no, she was a trained seamstress! She was graduated from SMK majoring fashion production! But yet, she seems to have no familiarity with laces !

Because of that, I had to cancel my tenancy in the bazaar and offer my best friend the extra place. When my best friend got back from her holiday, she was surprise to hear the news and to see her new employee's work. She felt sorry for me and said that she would have a talk with the employee.

Today, she came to my place and told me that she's considering to let the new employee go because apparently, she's slow in doing her job too (which is doing blanket stitch to appliques, that we both agree it's pretty easy to do). She can only finish 2 pcs in a day, while her other employee can finish 4 or 5. Her business is bigger than mine, so she needs the works done quickly, at least 30 pcs of product a month should be done.

Seems I have to do most of my work alone again now.
I redone the laces and alhamdulillah, have finished them all (though I still cannot attend the bazaar ).

The work redone

How to make a wound rose (ribbon embroidery)

2010-07-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

A very dear friend asked me how to make a wound rose (side way) like the ones I made on the above bag.

Honestly, I'm not much of a teacher, but I'll try to explain it here. So please excuse me if there's any confusing parts, but I'll try to answer if you have any question.
Mind you, I didn't invent this technique, I learned it first from a book titled "Sulam Pita, edisi 2" by AJ. Boesra, so I won't take any credit for it. Well...not exactly the same though, a little simplification here and there, because the rose I made was quite tiny . But this tute's pictures are all made by my self .
So, here we go...

1. First, stick a pin horizontally on a piece of fabric. This pin is helping us determine the width of the rose.

2. Take the ribbon from the back of fabric to the front, right above the centre of the pin.

3. Slip the ribbon under the tip of the pin like so.

4. Twist it a bit and slip it under the other part of the pin, like so.

5. Give it another twist and slip it back under the tip of the pin.

6. Take the ribbon to the back of the fabric, near where the ribbon was started.

7. Now, secure each of the rose's corner with a thread stitch. Once secured, we can take the pin out.

8. Take the ribbon onto the fabric's surface again at the left corner of the rose. You may start it at the right corner though, if you like. But here, I started it from the left.

9. Go back down the fabric, at around 1/3 of the rose, to make a loop. The loop is for a petal.

10. First loop done.

11. Make another one by take the ribbon up the fabric, under the center of the first loop, but don't insert the needle through the loop's ribbon.

12. Finish the second loop by taking the ribbon down the fabric at around 2/3 of the rose.

13. Make the third loop the same way as the second and finish it off at the right corner of the rose.

14. The first row of petals done.

15. Come up, under the centre of last loop to make another loop for the second row of petals.

16. Pull the ribbon down the fabric at around the centre of the first row, making a loop.

17. Come up again, under the centre of the latest loop.

18. Finish the loop, around 1mm or so under the end of the 1 first row of petals.

19. There you have it ! All we need to do now is adding some ribbon stitches under the rose for the calyxes .

Rara and the Calyx coin pouch

2010-07-10T04:11:00.001-07:00

A few days ago, my hubby's ex high school mate, bapak Uun and family, came to Bandar Lampung for a holiday and visited us.

Their daughter, Rara, seemed interested in what I do and asked me to teach her some basic stitches of ribbon embroidery. Of course I gladly taught her and her mom was a bit surprise on how fast Rara learned the stitches. I said, she's talented and a fast learner :)

She made some spider web roses, daisies, french knots and some more. Unfortunately I haven't got a chance to take a picture of her works...

Then, I showed her my sample of Calyx coin pouch. This pouch has never been made for sale yet, just a mere sample. I made this pouch of cotton, with my fabric drawing of Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), embellished with seed beads, ribbon embroidery, hand stitches and punch needle works.

She liked it a lot and I gave it to her as a souvenir :)

Smiling Rara, showing off her Calyx coin pouch

"Sleeping Beauty" pouch, front side

"Sleeping Beauty" pouch, back side

Meeting mbak Tarlen @ Tobucil, Bandung

2010-07-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

Mbak Tarlen and I have been online friends for quite a while.
As a fellow crafter I've been admiring her works and her online shop, Tobucil, full of rare, unique books, dvds and of course, crafter's knick-knacks

A few days ago, when I went to my home town, Bandung, I had a chance to visit her and her off line shop.

Whatta wonderful shop!
I felt home instantly, seeing beautiful crafts she sold there and her personal collection of craft books... mbak Tarlen is also a wonderful person, so warm and friendly, I will definitely visit you again whenever I come to Bandung...
I was so glad to find out that she will also have a booth at Pasar Seni Itb 2010 .

Thanks so much mbak, it was really a pleasure and can't wait to see you again at the PasarSeni ITB this coming October, Insha Allah !

My 2nd appearance @ the MBMuslima online magazine :)

2010-07-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

The 12th issue of MBMuslima online magazine has published, and alhamdulillah, my article about Calyx & Primula products at the Inacraft 2010 were featured there

Please visit www.mbmuslima.com to read it clearly...they have informative and useful articles about Islam as well

Alhamdulillah...thanks so much, mbak Ina :)

2010-06-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

This is the sequel of my previous post .

So, I received a package on Monday. Reading that the sender is mbak Ina of Feathering a Nest, I impatiently opened the big envelope. Tadaa, a pretty pouch bag

I love the colors, the combination of black (in harsh light, it become coffee color, how wonderful!), white, tan and a splash of shocking pink colors will go very well with any outfit.
I love the look of it, modern but yet classy.
I love the fabric, it's so comfy to the touch and it has batik part; at the inside lining and the wrist strap.
I love the size of it, just what I need for a quick trip around the town.
I love the story it tells (because the theme of our craft swap was "something that tells story"); as written in mbak Ina's blog, it's about a woman.
Quoting her lines:
"A woman who look modest yet pretty outside, while vibrant and even more beautiful inside. That's how women should be, in my opinion :)"
I'm soo with you, mbak

So, in general, I'm so happy with the swap
Even my best friend, bu Pia, who happened to see me clutching it, had a crush on that pouch bag

My Very First Craft Swap

2010-06-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

It was started when I was expressing my admiration on a craft swap made by mbak Ina Kusumastuti for another crafter.

When mbak Ina asked me to do a craft swap as well, I was so excited. It's an honor to be asked by a fine seamstress and talented crafter, an artist like her. I was also a bit nervous, because I'm afraid my creation wouldn't met her expectation, it's my first craft swap after all. So it took quite a while for me to finish it, because I kept changing my project.

Anyway, it's done now, alhamdulillah .

The theme of our craft swap is "something that tells story".
Everyone who knows me, knows that I have a thing with fairy tales and double (or multi) functions bag. So this time, I was inspired by one of my favourite fairy tales, which is Alice in the Wonderland. I took the character of Queen of Hearts to represents it.

Why her?
Despite of her being mean, I find her funny, a bit gothy and the most glamorous character (she's a queen, obviously ). And I thought her colors, black, white and red, was a very good color combination. Thus, she likes roses, which I thought a popular flower and will be very pretty on ribbon embroidery. The roses also were telling a hope, that my friendship with mb Ina will blooming like the pretty flowers, that our silaturrahim will last forever, insha Allah .

So, I drew The Queen of Hearts on fabric, cut it and stitched it to the bag, embellished it with beads and ribbon embroidery roses. The bag itself is a simple tote, which can be worn as a sling bag or a clutch.

You can wear it like this...

Or like that...

This way...

or that way...

Maybe you'll like it this way...

Or that way...

Thanks to Fathia, my dear protege, who was willing to modelled for me .
Apologize for the quality of the pictures, the night light wasn't really friendly (another excuse of a lame photographer, lol).

I just hope that this craft swap will be well received......
I know I will be so glad and grateful to have what mb Ina had created for me (I will tell all about it in another blog, insha Allah )

My purchase this week

2010-06-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

I bought some of my supplies online, for sometimes I cannot find the things I need for my creations in my town.
Most of them are MP shops, but recently I found a shop in E-bay who sells many cute fabric & quilt blocks. Mind you, I love Indonesian batik and traditional fabric, it's just sometimes a crafter needs variations .
So, the shop I was talking about is Grandma's Sewing Room Stash, located in US. I managed to purchase one panel of 33 Fairy quilt blocks and won a bid at the same shop for a panel of 9 Boutique Items quilt blocks, which I thought would be perfect for my pouch projects.

I've already made stitches on some of these small blocks (Grrr...can't wait to finish 'em all!)

Last but not least, my MP friend, Dini Sarbini, who's a talented beader, had just published her tutorials and some of her inspirational works on cabochon in a book this month.
As her fan and a person who always want to learn (especially about cabochon creations), of course I was so interested. What's best is, she was able to sell the book online with...wait, drum roll, please...her signature! It was an offer I couldn't pass !

So, two days ago, I received the book, alhamdulillah. I'm so excited, the instructions are so clear and the book included the step-by-step pictures. I can't wait to try making something based on those tutes! And I love her signature too, personally written for me!
Thanks so much mbak Dini, love your book and I wish you success, amiin .

Try my hand on drawing (again)

2010-06-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

Drawing is my hobby when I was very young. My father was an architect, drawing tools were cluttered around the house so it's easy for me to got influenced (apparently it wasn't only me, later on my brother become a graphic designer). Funny thing was, I only drew with markers, I wasn't interested in other notions.

But I stopped drawing since, I think, around 3rd or 4th grade. My hobby was shifted to writing. I wrote teenlits, poetry, etc (but never got them published though, my readers were all my close friends ). When I got older, when I was at high school, I stopped writing because of my extra activities at school, namely acting class, discussion group, choir, joining a band & vocal lesson. At college I was even more busier, juggling between study and part time job as a radio DJ.

And now, I got interested in drawing again, since my collaboration with mb Puri on Calyx products got a good response at the Inacraft. They were mb Puri's drawings on fabric, so I just curious to try my own. A bit rusty though ...
These are meant to be on the new batch of Calyx Multi Function Backpack.

Alice's fall to the rabbit hole

Rapunzel

I used Crayola Fabric Markers and Pentel Pastel Dye Sticks. The markers were bled on cotton fabric, so I have to put on the white colored dye stick first as a base, heat the fabric with iron as written in the instructions, then draw on it with markers and iron it again (markers and dye sticks have different ironing instructions).

But as a person who often works with embroidery, I feel like I was "cheating" if I don't include a bit of hand stitches here and there, lol. So there they are, my mixed media works .

Corsage Craze

2010-06-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you might have noticed that I'm crazy for corsage right now.
I searched the net for the tute, found some that I think simple & interesting.
So, below are my results of learning to make corsages. Apologize for the poor quality of the pictures, they were taken with a cell phone camera because hubby left the camera in his office (again), sigh...

I made the above corsage based on the Youtube video I found and posted here. Not really satisfied on the result though...I have to practice more on this, I think .

I made the above flower based on another Youtube tute I found and posted here. My son likes this one better because he thought that it looks more simple than the first corsage, but not too simple as the corsage below.

I made this one based on no tute, just a simple experiment I made with the material so familiar to me, which is ribbon .

Any critics, are welcomed .

Making my own sew in labels

2010-05-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

So, here's the case:
it was a week before Inacraft when I realized I don't have any sew in label for my Calyx products !
To order the manufacture made, there won't be enough time; the minimum pcs required are too many for me, therefore they were also cost quite a lot. At that time I only need 24 pcs, and I've spent most of the budget for the Calyx production & the Inacraft tenant's fees.
I thought, what should I do? So I tried to make ones, hoping that it would be finished on time and I won't have to add much more costs to the budget.

I bought a white felt sheet, measured 51x24cm (it was only IDR 5000). Made an embroidery pattern of Calyx Id, then layered the felt sheet with a fusible stabilizer (viselin) to allow it to be stretched along the embroidery hoop. Have it embroidered, voila, 24 pcs of a very simple sew in labels done

Thing left to do was just to cut the felt sheet into 5x2,5cm labels, ready to be sew in

The Jeweller's pochette

2010-05-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

I think nobody knows that Fauzia is actually my aunt.
She's a daughter of my grandma's cousin, so family-tree wise, I should call her auntie, but I don't, considering that she's still young, even younger than my self . I call her Jia, her childhood's nickname.

We'd been lost contact for quite a long time (with her relocated and I relocated even more often, lol, etc) and never would any of us thought that the web will someday reunited us (online, because we live in different islands now; I'm in Bandar Lampung, Sumatera and she's in Bogor, Java Island).

I was so overwhelming when one day she send me a pm and asked whether I'm the Andi Lia she knew. I was also happy to know that we both are interested in craft; mine is more about needle works (and bag designing, of course) and she's a jeweller (wireworker, beader, kawater, that's what the craft community address them self; I prefer to call them jeweller, since they create many beautiful pieces of jewelry). Since then, we often do silaturrahim, chatting or just comment on each other's postings .

A couple of months ago (if I'm not mistaken, Jia, cmiiw), she asked about my pochette that she wants to buy. She requested it to be plain, without any embellishment, but with the usual bag handle/necklace (detached from the bag, the handle can be worn as a necklace). Noticing that her birthday's coming, I decided to send it as a gift. And knowing that as a jeweller, she must be planning something special to compliments the plain pochette, I asked her to send me the "after make-over" picture of the pochette.

Two days ago, she send me the pictures of the pochette, complimented with her self made brooches. I was so exciting because the plain pochette turned out beautiful with her lovely brooches. I like it so much, that I want to share it with you guys .

I just hope that we can finally meet offline, Insya Allah...

My Brother & His tiny shop

2010-04-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

I have only one brother, he's a year younger than me (and still single ) and lives in our hometown, Bandung.
Because our ages difference are so close, we fought a lot when we were much younger, lol...but now we (actually since we graduated from primary school) are so close, we help each other a lot, guess because we realized that we only have one sibling, we have to count on each other.

When we were younger

Works as a freelance graphic designer, he helps me a lot with my product's typography, photography, business card, etc.
He's so close to my son, obviously because my son is his only nephew, lol.

My brother & my son

He's into online business as well and currently converted my parent's small sitting room into a tiny offline shop. But unlike me, he's more into selling children toys. He usually do his business in Kaskus. He tried to join MP, but until now still have registration difficulties.
A few days ago, he e-mailed me the pictures of the shop (to give me the news, since I haven't been gone home for a while).

The tiny shop

The display

The products sold. Interested? Click here, please

Inacraft 2010 recap

2010-04-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Alhamdulillah, Inacraft 2010 has finally over and with a success too .
Because I have to wait for my husband coming back from abroad, I could only waited the booth on day 4 & 5 (last days).
Unfortunately, I got fever on day 5 (Sunday), so I have to went back home early. Therefore, I hadn't got a chance to go around visiting many of my MP friend's booths & take pictures of my two dear friends, mbak Puri and mbak Dhita. So sorry guys, hopefully we can do this in the near future, Insha Allah...
But I managed to meet the three of four beautiful sisters of handmadeaccessories (not pictured here), mbak Mariah, Maya & Hind and visited mbak Amy, mbak Irma & mbak Annie's booth. I was also very lucky to be visited by my dear friends, the talented mbak Diana and the sweet mbak Ammur , alhamdulillah

This was actually the 1st time I see Inacraft.
I was amazed, the halls were jam packed with visitors, they were queuing up from around 8.45 am for the entrance ticket (the exhibition itself was opened at 10am). I'm proud, it means that Indonesian people still have a high appreciation for Indonesian (handmade) products .

Thanks to my dearest friends; Ibu Pia, Ibu Vivi, Ibu Susan for tremendous help in waiting the booth, shared it with your cute goods (& shared the tenant's fee too ). Thanks to mbak Mina, mbak Rini, for the cute novelty button supplies, mbak Puri for your assistance waiting the booth on day 2 (cmiiw) and sharing the booth with your wonderful creations. Hope we can do it again next year, Insha Allah

Visitors queued up for the entrance ticket. My hubby was the one in purple shirt

The booth ladies; mbak Vivi, mbak Susan & bu Pia

With mbak Ammur

With mbak Diana

With pretty mbak Rini

With mbak Annie, mbak Amy and mbak Irma

How to wear Calyx's Multi Function Backpack

2010-04-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

Now, I'd like to show you how to wear Calyx's Multi Function Backpack ...

1. From backpack to messenger bag:
- Unattached the backpack handles and put them inside the back zipped pocket provided.
- Fold the backpack.
- Attach the messenger bag's handle provided.

- To access the inside of the bag, you don't have to unfold it. Just unzip the zipper above the front pocket, then you can put anything inside it.

2. From messenger bag to over sized clutch:
- Just simply un attach the handle and you're ready to go with the clutch.
- To access the inside of the clutch, you don't have to unfold it. Just unzip the zipper above the front pocket, then you can put anything inside it.

3. From over sized clutch to backpack:
- Unfold the clutch
- Pull out the backpack handles from the back zipped pocket provided.
- Attach the backpack handles.

Calyx's Multi Function Backpack

2010-04-21T19:31:00.001-07:00

These are Calyx's newest product, The Multi Function Backpacks.
This bag can be worn as backpack, messenger bag or over sized clutch.
Measured 43cm in length, 28,5cm wide (as backpack), 24cm wide (as messenger bag/clutch).

Made from canvas, combined with faux suede, velvet or cotton fabric at the front pocket.
To learn how to wear this backpack in 3 ways, please read this blog.

Batik Hedgehog

"Waiting for you..."

Ideku's Alice in Wonderland

Kiki's Chameleon

Ideku's The Princess & The Pea

Ideku's Queen of Hearts

How to wear Calyx's Multi Function Bag

2010-04-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

Let me show you how to wear Calyx's Multi Function bag....

1. From shoulder bag to wristlet:
- Unattach the handbag handle
- Attach the wristlet handle provided.
.

2. From wristlet to belt bag:
- Unattach the wristlet handle.
- Slip in your belt between the belt loops behind the bag.

3. From belt bag to shoulder bag:
- Slip out your belt from the belt loops behind the bag.
- Attach the shoulder bag handle provided.

(Inacraft Sneakpeek) Calyx's Multi Function Bag

2010-04-21T05:12:00.000-07:00

These are Calyx's new products, the multi function bags.
They can be worn as shoulder bags, wristlets or belt bags.
Or, if you have a stylish tot who thinks that she's big enough to carry a bag around like you, this could be her diaper clutch, because it's roomy enough for 2 diapers plus a tube of cream or a small milk bottle.

Sized 22cm in length, 12cm wide.
The bags were from canvas, combined with either cotton or faux suede fabric at the front side.

My apology if the pictures are not clear enough, we were in a hurry sending them to Jakarta to be displayed in my Inacraft booth, they've already packed in plastics :P

"Kiss meee...."

The Knight & The Dragon

Lil' Ms. Muffet's spider

Love to Sew

"Looks yummy..."

The Polar Bear's Holiday

The Aliens Gathering

About to be trapped

Cinderella's Castle

Please read this blog to learn how to use this bag (in 3 ways).

Don't forget to visit my booth at Inacraft 2010, JCC Plenary Hall, booth no. 62.
See ya there :)

Fathia & her pochette

2010-04-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

For those who've read my previous blog, knows about Fathia.
One day, in the midst of my preparing products for Inacraft, she came to my place. As usual, I always share everything interesting (craft wise) with her, so I showed her my sketches for Calyx bags, along with the novelty buttons I planned to be sew in. I also would like to ask her opinion about it, because believe me, she has a very high standard and exclusive taste on things, lol.
She particularly interested in this design...

Then she asked me to kinda guide her to make a pochette out of this design. Of course I gladly did that. She made a beautiful ribbon embroidery from the sketch, I gave her my specially made toad stool padded applique and sew in some of her novelty buttons (yes, she's an avid novelty buttons collector just like my self ).

Once it done, we sent it to my associate to be made into pochette and the result was this one...

Fathia, happily showed off her pochette

Kiki's Chameleon

2010-04-18T04:21:00.000-07:00

So, I needed some ideas for Calyx's newest product.
To meet Calyx's concept of "for the young & young at hearts", I needed a design which is kinda "childish".
Then, I asked my son Kiki, to draw a sketch of a chameleon.

From Kiki's basic sketch, I made hand stitches of it and add an imported novelty button to complete it.
Voila, I present you, Kiki's Chameleon multi function backpack (it can be wore as backpack, messenger bag or oversized clutch).

Available in orange, blue & dusty pink...can be seen at Inacraft 2010, JCC Plenary Hall, booth no. 62.

Collaboration with talented artist(es)

2010-04-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

Alhamdulillah, I know and became friends with talented crafters/artistes online.
They are wire worker, embroiderer, knitter, painter and many more.
I'll be happy if I could collaborate with them, making interesting pieces.

In the past, I've worked with mbak Nancy and mbak Ratna , who made cute polymer clay embellishments for Calyx pochettes.

Mb Nancy's fairy & butterfly on Calyx's "Waltz of the Flowers" pochette

Mb Nancy's owl & cat on Calyx's "The Owl & The Pussycat" pochette

Mb Ratna's bling-blinged swan on Calyx's "Swan Lake" pochette

My latest collaboration was with mbak Puri . She made cute fabric drawings for Calyx newest product, the multi function backpack (it can be worn as backpack, messenger bag or oversized clutch).

Mbak Puri's Alice in Wonderland

Mbak Puri's Queen of Hearts

Mb Puri's The Princess & The Pea

I've been a fan of her works for sometimes, she's so talented and from her writings (because I've never met her in person, hopefully will in this coming Inacraft), she seems like a fun and very nice person. I specifically asked her to draw her own rendition of The Princess & the pea, Alice in Wonderland & Alice's Queen of Heart for Calyx product. Can't thank you enough, mbak Puri

Our plan is to share the booth in Inacraft for both of our creations and do the silaturrahim in person, so we can be offline buddies as well ...Insya Allah...

My "adopted" Children

2010-04-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

When we first moved to Bandar Lampung, my husband reunited with his old school mates (high school in Jakarta) here, Pak Wawan & ibu Pia (www.idys.multiply.com). Both of them have been married, reside here as well (Pak Wawan is a Bandar Lampung native) and soon they became our family best friends. I will feel strange if we haven't meet Pak Wawan's family in a week, lol...

With Ibu Pia (photo courtesy of my dearest friend of mine, mb Santi of www.annsanti.multiply.com)

Ibu Pia clicked right away with me because we both love handmade craft and have craft business. Pak Wawan and my husband are both bike lovers. And their children, Fathia and Adhim also very close to my son Kiki. Fathia is a craft mania, so she soon became my "protegee" (she loves to make various creations at my place and always willing to learn anything from me. Of course I gladly teach her everything I know which is not much :P). Adhim is a game addict, just like my son.

Kiki, as the only child, always want to have brother and/or sister(s). One day, he told me, that if he can't have a biological brother or sister, he'd like to adopt ones. And the ones he'd like to adopt are Fathia & Adhim (lol)!
I laughed and said ok. So from then on, we called Fathia & Adhim as my "adopted" children or Kiki's "adopted" siblings, lol... and their parents don't mind a bit

Kiki & Adhim, the game addicts

Fathia, my protegee, with her ribbon embroidery work

(Just for fun/Iseng) Calyx is...

2010-04-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

...the sepals of the flower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calyx).

...the sepals of a flower collectively, forming the outer floral envelope that protects the developing flower bud (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/calyx).
...the whorl of sepals of a flower collectively forming the outer floral envelope or layer of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud; usually green (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/calyx).
...the usually green outer whorl of a flower consisting of sepals (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calyx).
...the brand of my creations for the young and young at hearts

(INACraft sneak peek) Kids Hijab

2010-04-15T04:24:00.000-07:00

For Inacraft 2010, I specially made kids hijabs.

As a hijabi myself, I'd like to socialize hijab wearing among the girls. So I made them cute and easy to use. They all are made of jersey, with various embellishments; ribbon embroidery, imported novelty buttons, bullion embroidery, paillettes, chipped shells.

For the "Not-So-Girly" girls

The Cow Jumped over The Moon
Under The Sea

Bloomy Days 1

Bloomy Days 2

My model, Fathia, wearing the hijab

A happy customer with her Calyx kids hijab

You can see them all at the Inacraft, JCC Plenary Hall Jakarta, booth no. 62 on April 21-25, 2010.

Inspiration from Pahawang Island

2010-04-15T03:27:00.000-07:00

Last month we went to Pahawang Island, a small island around 45 minutes trip from Bandar Lampung.
I haven't seen such a clear water since my trip to Gili Trawangan, Lombok, years ago. The corals lay on shallow water, seen clearly from the port.
My son Kiki, enjoyed the scuba diving so much. Accompanied by a local who works as a tour guide, he could see fishes, star fishes and beautiful corals.

Kiki, my son, was the one on the right

I was very much wanting to join him, unfortunately I'm not a good swimmer and don't have a muslima bathing suit (I know I'm lame, lol).

The beauty of Pahawang Island's water impressed me so much that it also inspired me to make kids hijab creations as you can see below.

Fathia, my protegee, wearing the hijab

They are jersey hijabs, embellished with ribbon embroidery, chipped shells and sea creatures shaped novelty buttons.

(INACraft sneak peek) The Return of the Storyteller

2010-04-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

So, for the Inacraft Exhibition 2010, I ve been preparing several Calyx products, the new & old ones. Here, I'll show you a few that almost ready.

Calyx Storyteller pochettes will be returned with a little bit of different tweaks.

"Swan Lake", obviously inspired by a composition number with the same title by Tchaikovsky (my favorite composer ;)), which tells a story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse (that's why the swan's bling-blinged, she's a princess afterall ).

Made by faux suede, the inside lined with flowery cotton fabric. The swan was made from polymer clay embed with acrylic diamantes.

My plan is to complete these pochettes with wristlet handles, made by the same flowery cotton fabric as the inside lining and bracelet handles (detached from the pochette, you can wear it alone as a bracelet).
Those handles haven't finished yet, hopefully it will be, in a couple of days.

Last but not least, "Waltz of The Flowers" will come back with different color. Previously I made it in black corduroy shantung, this time I use dusty pink faux suede. The handles will be the same as "Swan Lake" pochette. The fairy & butterfly embellishment were made from polymer clay.

Again, these pochettes aren't quite ready yet. Should you interested in seeing the completed products, please visit my booth at Inacraft, no. 62 Plenary Hall.

See ya there :D

Calyx Interchageable-reversible purse

2010-04-03T04:23:00.000-07:00

The concept of this purse is to have 2 looks in 1 purse; one side for party/evening look, the other for day/casual look. You can even change the base if you tired of the old one.

To reverse the base, simply turn loose the screws on the sides of the frame (it can easily done by hand), to free the base from the frame.

Once the base freed, reverse it to get other look.

Attach the base back to the frame, tighten back the screws.
To get more "glam" evening look, you can either attach your own necklace as a purse handle on the handle loop of the frame or attach your own brooch on the base, or you can do both, like the suggested party look below :)

Calyx Story Teller Pochette

2010-04-02T05:57:00.001-07:00

Why did I name them "Story teller"?
Because each of them based on/inspired by a story. I love children stories & poems, they bring back a sweet memory of childhood.

"The Owl & The Pussy-cat" pochette was inspired by Edward Lear's poem about an owl who marry a cat.
The pochette itself was made from faux croc leather, embellished with polymer clay figures. There were 2 handles provided, one was the ordinary handle made from the same faux leather, the other was a handle which can be worn as a bracelet (unfortunately, not shown here, because it was sold before I got a chance to take the picture of it, hehe)

The "Waltz of the flowers" was inspired by a composition number of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" ballet, titled the same.
It was made from corduroy shantung silk, embellished with polymer clay figures (the fairy & butterfly) and ribbon embroidery.
Same thing about the handles, one was the usual wrist let handle, the other was a bracelet handle (not shown for the same reason as the above wrist let :P)

My Very first teen/children hijab

2010-04-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

I've tried embroidery on hijab before, but it was a big square scarf...I've never try to do it on a ready made children/teens hijab.

So here's one of my first creation, complimented with novelty flower buttons, directly imported from Brazil (thanks to my very dear friend, mbak Mina at http://yuwatiecrafts.multiply.com who helped me supply the buttons :)) and ribbon embroidery.

Well, what do you think?

My Flower Loom

2010-04-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

The other day I was asking everybody whether any one knew any online shop which sell a local made flower loom. The ones I found offline were imported, pretty expensive. I actually had found it online(and with the right price too ) and inquired it to Needleyarn Shop (http://needleyarn.risna.info), but at that time I haven't got any confirmation from them.

Not long after, Alhamdulillah, the confirmation I've been waiting for was sent via e-mail and today I received my flower loom. Straightly I tried it with organdy ribbons (flower loom commonly used for making flowers from yarn). I actually can use wire as well.

Voila! My first attempt of making ribbon flower with a flower loom is in the picture below. It's a simple flower actually, I haven't try it with more techniques, just to "test drived" the loom

My First Punch Needle Creation

2010-04-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

I've been interested in punch needle craft for quite some time, but found it difficult to find/buy the tool. I looked for it at Crayon Craft Bandung, it was sold out. I asked Hobbycraft Karawaci Jakarta, they said it's been ordered but haven't arrived yet (it's imported). But they willing to take my number and will let me know if the needle has arrived.

Three months past, finally they called me to advise that they've got it. I quickly transferred some amount of money to buy it and tadaaa...three days ago it sent to my address.

So, this is my first punch needle creation, what do you think?

I know, it still need a lot of improvement, I'll keep practicing...