in color

I had Monday Blues this morning. Maybe it's due to the long weekend or something else I'm not sure.

Then I remember about this canvas shopping bag I got on sale a few weeks ago. And I thought there's nothing like bright colors to brighten up my day!

So I colored the bag using fabric pens and iron the bag after the paint's dried, to fix the color onto the fabric.

Well, what do you think? I actually liked the b/w version before, but then again the bright colors sure give my mood a boost I need right now :)

My house in Jakarta got featured in Apartment Therapy!

I guess this post's title says it all :D

So while you read the article here, I'll just continue dancing..

here we go again..

It was kind of an experiment, making this bag. I use faux leather for the material, combined with Batik and IKEA fabric.

It turned out that the faux leather material was not very friendly with my standard sewing machine, so I had to change my original design for me to be able to complete the bag.

Here you can see the inner side, made from IKEA fabric. I didn't put any pocket there, don't know why.. just not in the mood I guess :p

And aren't these green flower buttons so cute? They actually attached the bag strap to the body, not a mere accessory.

DSC Challenge - Placemat

I'm participating in Dollar Store Craft Supply Challenge - Placemat.

For this red purse I use a placemat I got on sale at IKEA. I simply fold it in two then trace and cut the hole for the handle. To prevent fraying I zigzag stitched along the handle hole.

To top it off I embellished the purse with my hand embroidery - I use ribbon instead of thread. There you go, red flower buds made with french knots to compliment the red roses :)

That's not all.. besides being a clutch purse, I sometimes use it as a bag organizer. Like when you want to use a bigger bag, you can just put this purse inside the bag without the hassle of removing all the trinkets from one bag to another (and risk dropping or forgetting some items along the way).

Beautiful Brooches

I've never won any giveaway before, so I was quite thrilled when I found out that I was getting these beautiful brooches from Amesh of Dreamesh.

I particularly love how the star brooch matches well with my new hand woven silk shawl I got from my recent trip to Bali, Indonesia.

... these are some pics from our short getaway to Bali, Indonesia.

A couple of days ago we went to the Singapore Art Museum.

Get Inspired.. Within The Budget!

How many times do we have to let go of our dreams for some unforeseen circumstances?

I hear lots of 'been there done that'..

Let's get more specific, in terms of building your dream home, your very own nest.

Often you have to lower your expectation and deal with the 2nd best.. or 3rd.. 4th.. and it keeps going..

Yet, don't be discouraged! You see these room pictures that are inspiring while actually done in a low budget.. I like how they look unpretentious yet charming in the same time.

Stuck with an old sofa? Fret not! Simply cover it with a throw, blanket or any fabric in coordinating color, whether it's in the same range or contrast colors.

Think white! White besides being neutral (and cheap! White paint costs less than the colored ones) is also giving you a sense of airy and lightness, which important in a small space. And it provides you a perfect 'canvas' for you to work with. Go monochrome and add more shades of pale colors such as lightgreys -- warm and cool. Or if the mood strikes, give punches of colors for more fun.

Put the colors on the furnishings that are easy to replace, such as curtains, throw pillows, rugs, blankets and so on. Even the colorful kids toys can add difference in a room.

For more pics see the original article here.

Prewashing

I usually prewash my fabrics before using them. You know how some garments would shrunk after you wash 'em? Since I like to combine more than 1 type of fabric in each of my work, imagine what disaster could happen if I didn't prewash the fabrics in advance.

So here I am, starting to prewash this pretty orange batik fabric. It's a Garutan batik, originated from Garut, West Java, Indonesa, known for its various bright colors.

You know you have a genuine batik if it has that wax-like smell(from the making process) and the color is vivid in both sides of the fabric. Prewashing batik is also important to release the excessive color pigment on it so you won't experience color bleed or stain in the next washes.

Sneak Peek: New Nest

Now as my new home's starting to take shape and the boys are doing pretty well in their first 2 weeks of Primary School, so I guess it's time to update this blog :D

Since I'm not done unpacking my sewing materials, instead here's a sneak peak of my new living room.

This is the so called foyer with lots of shoes storage!


We live on the 3rd floor, though we don't get breathtaking view as those penthouse units yet we're quite happy with all the greeneries view from the surrounding trees. And the natural lighting is oh so pretty.


The sofa (as well as the dining table set) is from IKEA.

I chose dark color finishing like black and walnut for our furnitures to match and balance the existing walls and built-ins. Not to mention dark colors are easier to maintain, especially if you have small kids along with their crayons and such..