Batik Skirt

I made this Indonesian batik skirt for my dear friend the other time. At first I thought is gonna be a thoughtfull project, instead it came as a breeze. I think it easy due to material I am using. The material is cotton with batik pattern on it. This type of skirt, I must admit needs more material than if you choose -A-Line skirt. Worth the fabric though. I put the lining aswell so it won't be see through.

Will be great for summer. I just hope she will enjoy the skirt as much as when I made it.

My mannequin is slimmer than a normal person.. so I need to pin the skirt in order for the skirt to stay there. You may notice that the shape is a bit unbalance for that reason.

The final result... she wore the skirt and kindly took this picture.

Two Tone Blazer

These days I happened to need a challenging project to do. Then I came up with the idea to make a simple cut blazer which proven -not-that-simple project at all. This is my 3rd times on making a personal blazer. Of course each of them has a different model. Also different material. Infact after I finished my 2nd blazer I promised myself won't make any blazer no more, but hey times change ;)

Anyway, the pattern I drafted from Burda MAG. No try out first on musli, I just cut straight onto my real material. I use two different colour fabric bcoz I couldn't decide on which colour I supposed to work on. But having a two tone colour blazer should make the show go, right?!

The button is basically anything flat and round with facial cotton on it, wrapped with fabric. And for the button hole, I make button loop instead bcoz I'm afraid to spoil the fabric if I make a hole on it.

Inside is line with black lining. I use the same pattern to make the lining.

If you notice, I made a mistake on the collar and on the sleeves. I had a hard time to inserted the sleeves. I did follow the instruction, it just didn't correspond enough. I won't talk about it, I just want to enjoy my blazer now ;)

Hair Scrunchies Up cycled

many of them.. super cute

You see.. I have so many small pieces left over material hangin' around my sewing table. There is only two things I can do to clear them out. Either chuck'em away (which is tear my heart..**sobs) or.. up cycled them. I actually lazy to start to creating new pattern in order to use my left over material.. so I come up with making "hair scrunchies". It;s easy... it's easy ...and it's EASYYYY!!

Basically my pattern is just a long rectangular. No particular size requirement to make this. I think the rectangular length should be double of your wrist. Oh.. you also need an elastic.

you can put it on your wrist like a bracelet or obviously to tie your hair.

Here.. in the shop they charge 5 euros each !! what a daylight robbery. better make one for yourself from now on..hahahah

Ladies with hair scrunchies on their wrist

How to use Purse Organizer

Everytime friends sees my purse organizer http://www.etsy.com/listing/64873572/organizer-purse-autunno inside my handbag... they only comment would be : "oh..such a cute little bag..but what is that for?". Then I need to explain what's that little purse doing inside my handbag.

I realize for some .. the usefullness of purse organizer is not that obvious.

Here's I show some pictures of how purse organizer will makes our daily life easier..

See how mess is inside my handbag.

See how I organize my essential inside purse organizer.

See how I lift the handle of purse organizer and put it inside my handbag.

See how is very quick to do bag exchange everytime. See how everythng looks neat inside my handbag.

Purse Organizer

First of all I need to thank my girlfriend Tari whom helps me to click an idea into my head the other time ;D.

So anyway.. most women I think they have more than one handbag. I mean.. I'm not such a bag lover but I do have more than one. And I do like to change my bag once in a while.. some women even change their bag everyday. Imagine the time you spend to remove all of our "woman gadget" such mobile phone.. another mobile phone... lipstick..a packet of tissue... wallet..keys.. etc..etc.. everytime you change a bag?!

Then when your mobile phone ringing.. you need to dig and dig inside your bag to finally find it when it stops ringing..;(

For all of that reasons.. I create this "organizer purse" to accomodate all your essential with only one move. Grab the handle and move it to another bag. You won't leave anything behind anymore from now on.

You can find this organizer purse on www.ritney.etsy.com

Christmas 2010 Preparation

Christmas 2010 is coming. And like every other year.. I always struggling what to give to people close to me. Something (if possible) that is not too common such handmade stuff. So my husband said to me to try to make a few bags as a gift. There then I started again.. from one become two and so on.. oh well then I may aswell make more and more bags for www.ritney.etsy.shop

So that people..special person like you can also have a special handmade bag from Ritney's.

Pile of fabric

pieces after cutting

Easy Document MALE (Unisex) Bag TUTORIAL

It is november! Almost my husband birthday. Last year I promised him a handmade jeans with many pockets like cargo pants.. but It never happened. I never find a proper pattern for it... -that's my excused everytime he asked- ..ouch!! So he never get his jeans ;(

This year.. I will make him a document (A4 size) bag to replace his old one (the one I made to accomodate his laptop at first but he use it to keep his car document..wallet and keys instead).

The design is pretty simple. It's a bag for male after all. I can't put ruffles or attach flower for instance. Has to be something practical!

so I would like to share the tutorial aswell.. oh dear I've been wanting to share something with you but hell no where I put my mind these days ;)

What you need to do :

- Pattern : that would be a rectangular. Mine is 37cmx32cm (Includes 1cm seam allowance). You may want to measure your own laptop or document..or anything. Cut 2 for outer fabric (I use denim/stiff fabric/thick fabric). Cut another 2 for lining (I use unknown fabric).

If you want to put the flap like mine... you need to make another rectangular.. mine size 29cmx12cm (includes 1cm seam allowance) . Cut curve the corner with scissor for nice look.

You need to sew these two together..leave the top edge completely open/un sew... for turning.

- Pockets : for outside and inside pockets I make another rectangular. Mine size 32cmx22cm Includes 1cm seam allowance.

You need to attach the pockets to the outer fabric and lining before you sew the fabric together.

In the middle.. I made two lines of top stitches for a pen.

Same method works for outer/denim exterior pocket.

Now you will have few pieces ready to be put together.

- Sew together the outer/denim fabric (right side facing each other).. same for the lining but leave 10cm open for the turning.

Attaching the flap to the back side of the bag using basting stitches.

The bag front view

- Long straps : Mine size 11cmx160cm Includes 1cm seam allowance. Cut it parallel with the grain of your fabric. Then you fold them in half - lengthwise- sew along the way (right side facing right side). After.. turn the fabric inside-out. Now you have a neat -clean long straps. Iron it... and top stitch all the way (you can skip this step if you want). You can use "ready made" straps. Any straps can do.

- Attach the strap to the side of the bag with basting stitch.

NOW IS THE TRICKY PART :

- Insert the outer bag into the lining (rightside facing each other) .. sew the top edge all around.

- Turn it inside-out through the opening. Top stitch the top edge of the bag... Iron it.

- Enjoy the bag ;)

NOTE : If by chance you use this tutorial.. I would like to see your version ;)..Happy crafting!

Ritney's TOTE series

I just finished taking picture of my 4 fabric bags. These bags will be on my new section on www.ritney.etsy.com

I actually have another 4 different bags coming up. But those still on my mind ;D..meaning I haven't work on them yet ;)

Today is sunny day in Bologna in this autumn season. I sew with the sunlight straight onto my back.. very pleasant and comfortably warm.

I am now working on fabric bags project so that I can relax a bit. You see for bags you don't need some specific measurement and so on. Also.. I think for ONE woman--ONE bag is never enough. I actually wanted to make a bag for myself but then I couldn't stop making them.. so one become two---two become four..LOL

These bags.. basically they are TOTE bag... which constructed without buttons..closure nor zipper. This way.. when you need to wash them..just stick 'em inside washing machine and spin. And when you don't need their service... simply fold them and put them inside the wardrobe.

The bags...made from faux fur material... either short or long fur (I haven't work with long fur..yet).. The designs are simple but the material surely stand in the crowd.

Inside.. is lined and I sew a little pocket for your little essential.

oh well.. I hope my relaxation remedy worth the effort.

have a nice evening everyone.

The Fallen Idol

Yesterday I was feeling a bit low bcoz my little Idol didn't win the competition. This girl I'm going to talking about..she's only13 years old but she's able to sing many difficult opera song. Basically she's one of the "Indonesian talent" participant. It is a talent show.

You can judge the quality of her voice yourself by watching this video.

Her name is Putri Ayu and she's one of "Indonesian tough cookie" ;)

Have a great day everyone.

Batik Indonesian Scarf

Last sunday I went to Indonesian party here in Bologna. It was cold and rainy but very warm inside the house (obviously bcoz of the heater) but also ..warm feeling bcoz you meet with your friends..laughed...chat up.. etc.

Everyone bring their own specialities of various kind of food. Most of the time we eat Indonesian food. Then we chat in Indonesian language.. happy time basically. Apart from the cake I brought.. I also brought my collection of Batik scarf. The one I made from 2 meters of fabric. I cut it lengthwise.. finished all edges with rolled hem. They are soft and warm against the wind though. I tried the scarf already for London windy weather.. and it does keep my neck protected.

you can find other colour of batik scarf on www.ritney.etsy.com

that's me on the far left wearing the batik scarf. The ladies are my friends.

this is my beautiful Indonesian friend with blue batik scarf as a bandana.

you can wear it on your waist aswell as a belt.

Chestnuts

Two weeks ago we went to a little town called Piamaggio. It's located around the mountain close to Firenze..(not that close actually). It was already month of October.. so sometimes can be windy and chilly. Anyway..we went there to visit "gli zii" which are aunty and uncle from my husband side. But to make the visit doesn't sound like an obligation..so we said we're going for the chestnuts picking.

It was my first time doing that kind of activity. Nor that I crazy about it. Maybe I won't go next year. I'm not a mountain "Heidi" kind of girl. I caught flu after that though.

But..but..but.... apart from that flu.. I was actually enjoyed it.

We went by car first ..park our car on the side of the forest which full of Chestnuts trees and if you walk more deeper you may lucky enough to find mushrooms. We met few peoples went there for mushrooms picking. Need some knowledges though about mushrooms if you want to pick them. Otherwise you end up poisoned in the hospital ;D

We walked not that far from the car parked. Under some tree..mu husband said.."hey..there are alots of them here".

"where"? I said..bcoz I didn't see any chestnuts on the ground.

Then my husband show me with his feet how to open chestnuts from it shell. The shell is quite sharp full of thorn.. I hurt myself many times.. thats why some people use gloves. To cook them ..we prefer roasted. But some people likes to boil them and put some spices..anyhow..I don't know.

oh.. before you roast them.. you may want to slice the skin so they won't explode.

Thats all I can say about the delicacy of Chestnuts.

Greenwich Market

Sometime ago .. my husband took me to London again. We went to Greenwich Market to see some handcrafted stuff and to look around. First we took the tube but in the middle of our journey..we need to switched into British Railways because they blocked the line for some reasons. Supposed to be a short journey instead lost half a day just to reach Greenwich.

When we arrived we walked straight to the market. I was so amused!!! It was the first (hopefully not the last) time I visited the market. I looked here and there... totally get taken over by what I've seen. My husband didn't took much picture though. Bcoz he used to sell his own stuff there so for him ..Greenwich is such an ordinary administration.

Greenwich market not just full of handcraft stuff but also exquisite food (homemade food). You won't manage to decide what to eat there like me. In the end we went outside the market to have some meal. Chinnese food by the way!

in front of London souvenir shops

Sept 2010.. I already put on my winter jacket

It was quite a nice short break for me eventhough we slept at the Stansteid airport the night before.

When Recycled call

At least for 3 solid days I locked myself at home to finish my "Recycled project". That happened bcoz I don't know where to put all my fabric scrap. Beside these pieces are beautiful taffeta fabric. So I made the pattern.. I choose to make bustier/strapless top..whatever you can call it coz I thought is very sexy and good looking on most woman.

These two are the pictures of my sewing studio in Bologna-Italy.

Couldn't help myself not to dig 'em out of the wardrobe.

And this one is pic of my finish project.

Color me Bad dress

There were times when taffeta fabric is easy to find around where I live. But now I find it hard to look for . My collection of taffeta slowly slowly gone... meaning I used them all. Only remain some pieces here and there. Yesterday I had this idea to construct my left over into a dress. The colors are contrast to each other but I thought I give it a go. I chose this pattern (which I created) bcoz one dress can consist a few pieces so I don't need to have an intact fabric in that case. Most of the pieces comes from my (never worn) long pants.. the one I made for the sake of practicing and From the dress which (never even cross in my mind to wear it) I made to....errr.. practicing again ;D Here it is... I love the result. Anyway.. this dress makes me eager to dig out my fabric stash to upcycle them into something. Save the world ..right!?

Visit Asia 2010

Practically I just returned to Europe after more than 2 months spent an adventourous moment in Asia (Thailand-Malaysia-Indonesia). Most of the time we actually travelling around Thailand while we stayed in Indonesia only for 2 weeks... and visit Malaysia only at the border to stamp the visa ;D.

This picture taken in an Island around Thailand (Ko Hai)

Rain forest Thailand

happy and healthy kitten