Japanese Kimono Patchwork Scarf

I've been collecting vintage Japanese Kimono fabrics for a while now.
Although most of them are small pieces they can be teamed together to make something wearable like this patchwork scarf.
It's lightweight and warm at the same time and its neutral tone means it goes with everything.

My travel Journey Cotton-Linen Passport Cover

This is a handy little passport cover that you'll love to carry on your next trip.
It's made out of a natural canvas teamed with a gorgeous Japanese import fabric.
I think it really works well as a passport cover because it depicts a journey that you might take with images of various travel destinations and passport stamps.
A large pocket holds the passport and 2 smaller pockets can accommodate your cards.
When not being used as a passport cover you can use it to carry a small notebook and business cards.
Check out my shop for more images.

Pillow Pincushions

I love making these little pincushions. They get my mind away from routine tasks to a place where I can play a little and dream a little.

This one is made out of a natural linen teamed with a delicate red and ivory cotton.
It has a cute loop of Japanese import tape on the end with buttons and pins printed onto it. It's great for hanging onto places for easy access.
Stuffed nicely with fiberfill.

Almond Shortbread Cookies dusted in Icing Sugar

Hubby and I were invited to his sister's place on Easter Sunday so I made these almond shortbread cookies to have with our afternoon tea.
I usually get about 50 cookies from my recipe using 1/2 cup of butter, 2 cups of flour, 3 tbs sugar, some vanilla essence and 1 cup of roasted almonds.

While they are still warm I lightly dust them with pure icing sugar. I think that gives them a lovely finish. I was a bit heavy handed here but they tasted just as good.

Sometimes I place the cooled cookies in one of those glass pickling jars that you can find at most supermarkets, then wrap the jar up nicely with cellophane and ribbon. They make really lovely gifts.

Deep Indigo Blue Duffle Purse

Etsy have selected my Deep Indigo Blue Duffle purse to be in their Fall Fashion item poll.

"It's warming up in the US, but fall is just around the corner for our pals in the Southern Hemisphere."

The top favorite items get to go in the gift guide and on the Etsy blog.

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=39

New Mini Duffel Purse- Pleated

I just love this purse. It's my very latest design and is the perfect accessory because it combines style with functionality.
I have made this in a beautiful blue, brown and white cotton fabric teamed with a navy blue cotton for the flap and handles. A pale blue chambray cotton has been used to make the hand covered button. Currently in my Etsy shop.

How to make Quilted Coasters with Binding

I've been making some coasters lately and I'm totally addicted to them. They have a top and bottom layer and in between I have sandwiched cotton batting to absorb any spills and interfacing for support. The four layers are sewn together using freehand machine stitching.

Cut pieces

Using a template which was 14cm square I cut out one main piece, one cotton batting, one interfacing and one lining.

Cotton sandwich

I stacked the pieces together,in that order, to form a type of fabric sandwich.

Contrast binding

Strips of binding in a contrast colour. They should be long enough to go around the edges of the coaster and 4 times the width that you would like your finished coaster to have.
They look crooked but I promise they were straight.

Quilting the pieces

The four pieces were quilted together using freehand machine stitching in a swirl design.
You can get real creative here.

Binding the edges

Attaching the binding to the coaster edge.

The right side of the binding is sewn to the right side of the coaster and the corners are carefully mitered the way you would for a blanket or quilt.

Reverse side

The binding is turned out, and pinned to the back of the coaster with the raw edges folded in and the corners mitered again.

Tacked and mitered

Pressed and ready to go

Reversible Pleated Yoke Bag from My Studio.

We all have a favorite item and this has to be mine. It's made out of turquoise pinwhale corduroy and vintage barkcloth. It's reversible so you get two bags in one; what a bonus.
It has a soft slouchy feel to it and has a button and loop closure on both sides.
A fabulous looking bag that is suitable for day and evening events.

Bird on a branch Frame Clutch

I love these new frame clutch bags that are all the rage at the moment.
Seems like every self respecting bag designer has tried her/his hand at making their own version.
After lots of practice and heaps of fun, I came up with a few styles of my own.
This is one from my Pursonality Plus range:
Bird on a branch with handmade fabric flower and polished silver frame.
Currently in my Etsy shop.

Silk Roses to accessorise your Melbourne Cup outfit.

I love making folded roses using different fabrics.
I find it very therapeutic and really rewarding.
By folding and turning the fabric in my hands I can form a one of a kind flower; no two are ever alike. As I go along I stitch down the petals so that they don't fall apart.
These roses have been made out of three different silk fabrics which have various shades of blue in them. The back of each rose has a circle of felt sewn on and a pin is attached.
They look great pinned to a hat, dress, lapel or bag.
Currently in my etsy shop.

Shoulder Bag in Teal Corduroy with Twigs and Branches

This is a slouchy shoulder bag I made using teal cotton corduroy for the base and a cute cotton in a twig design for the contrast. The printed fabric is in shades of cream, pale teal, and light brown.
There is a pleat on the front and back of the bag and inside it has been lined with a lovely green and beige chequered fabric.
A good size bag for your shopping or for carrying all your essentials and currently in my etsy store.

Featured on Wavecloud's blog

I've been featured by Jenna on her fabulous blog Wavecloud and I'm so thrilled.
She's the owner of WaveCloud on Etsy and she creates an array of unique jewelry pieces.
She's currently having a Christmas in July sale so hop on over and have a look around.

Handmade Fabric Rose

I made this folded rose using a beautiful pale blue chambray cotton. It has a metal pin on the back which is handsewn to a piece of blue felt.
You can pop the rose onto your lapel, decorate a hat or pin it to your favourite bag.
Currently in my etsy shop.

Repurposed Linen Clutch

I made this out of a gorgeous linen fabric that was part of a skirt. It's ivory and coral with a vintage button for a closure.
This clutch is one of a kind and currently in my Etsy store.

Featured on Madeit blog.

The wonderful and talented Anna Laura who contributes to the Madeit blog did a comprehensive write up on Fabric and Textiles in Melbourne. She generously featured my handmade linen pouch with a lovely critique of MyStudio on madeit.

Dara's front page treasury on Etsy

Dara created this fabulous treasury of Australian sellers which made it to the front page of etsy yesterday. Included was my Baby blue zippered pouch.
Thanks so much Dara.

My Studio Yoke Bag

This is a shoulder bag pattern I drafted; inspired by the 70's.
I call it the "My Studio Yoke bag" because it has a yoke and pleats like some smocks and dresses had in the 70's.
I combined a moss green corduroy with a floral and added a lovely big pocket inside. It closes with a loop and vintage button.

Etsy Mini Blog

There's a great blog called etsymini which I've recently come across.
It's a virtual gallery comprised entirely of photos and links to items for sale across the world. Choose any category listed and see hand crafted goods from 100's of sellers all currently available for purchase on Etsy.com

It's a free blog that was created by Ryan *girl* of The Etsy Shop Littleput Books. It is administrated by Karen of schOOLLOcker and Dotty of dottyral .
The mini blog is maintained by a slew of Volunteers.
You'll find my mini under the hand and shoulder bag category.
Check out my mini on this page.

Applique linen pouch

Applique linen pouch
Originally uploaded by my_studio

I've made a few of these linen birdie pouches lately.
Each one is different and one of a kind.

Not My Granny's Bag

I've been back and forth with the drafting and sewing of this bag until finally I created a granny bag pattern that I am totally happy with.
It's got lovely generous pleats, a custom fitted lining to help the pleats retain their shape and binding for the handles and trim.
There is a pocket inside to separate some of your essentials.
I wanted to give it an appropriate name but in the end settled with, "Not My Granny's Bag".
Pretty much self explanatory.

My Vintage Japanese kimono clutch was featured on the Madeit blog.

This is the clutch I completed a few days ago.
It's currently featured on the madeit blog; always a bit of a shock when you go to a site and up pops one of your products quite unexpectedly.
madeit is an online community where you can buy unique independent goods or sell your own
and I've recently opened up a shop there.

Giadab's front page treasury on Etsy

Thanks to giadab's gorgeous treasury, my applique birdie pouch made it to the front page of etsy. The pouch sold within a couple of hours.
What a fabulous feeling that was!

Sunday morning shopping at Camberwell Market

I went to the Camberwell market a few weeks ago and purchased this lovely piece of hand dyed silk which was part of a Japanese kimono. The man who sold it to me said it was from the 1930's. I can't verify that but it's definitely vintage. I combined it with a purplish Japanese cotton and made this clutch. It has a cute natural wooden toggle button and loop as a closure.

Ivory Dupioni silk bag with handmade ribbon roses.

I've been working on a bridal bag range lately. Something a little more formal than my regular bags, using dupioni silk and hand made ribbon roses. For the bride who wants to carry her essentials close to her on her wedding day.
Is also suitable for flower girls or bridesmaids.
Currently in my etsy shop.

Every Day is Spring Linen Pouch

Does the birdie look familiar? I got inspired by a bird that comes to visit me daily in my back yard.
I've made several variations of these pouches; no two are ever alike. See my post of January 23 to see the live version.

My Pale Pale Blue treasury made it to the front page on Etsy.
It felt awesome and slightly surreal.

I love this fabric. Amy Butler Belle coriander in a burnt orange and pale mint colour.
I made this clutch out of it that can also be worn as a wristlet and added a gorgeous vintage glass button as a closure. It's lined with a green shantung and interfaced to give it body.

Linen and Japanese cotton Pouch

I just received this lovely imported Japanese Cotton fabric from one of my favourite Etsy shops. I combined it with a fuschia coloured linen and made this zippered pouch. The scene is a French town with shops and street features. Real Cute.
I'll be listing it on Etsy tomorrow.

Vintage cotton and button circa 1970.

This clutch was made using a vintage tablecloth (never used) and a vintage button from my stash.
It has a turquoise lining and layers of wadding and interfacing for structure.

Eloiseghioni's Treasury

My burnt red and ivory clutch was included in eloiseghioni's treasury this week.
I was so thrilled.

Granny's Vintage Linen

These lovely pieces of linen were handmade by my grandmother. They were passed down to my mother who gave them to me. I just love them.
The white one is a tablecloth.

My little visitor.

This is one half of a team that visits me every day.
I call him/her Hop-a-long (as in Cassidy) because of the way he hops about in my back yard. His partner in crime is called Broken Wing.
All my bird appliques are inspired by the two of them.

This was my first custom order for a client on Etsy.
She picked this lovely Japanese blossoms fabric
to which I added a little felt bird applique. It has a zipper closure and the whole thing is "Wash and Wear".

This is a design I created after being inspired by one of the threads on Etsy's forum.
It's a slouch bag which can be washed as needed. It closes with a zip so that everything is safe inside. It has a lovely big pocket inside and I have appliqued a couple of olive green felt leaves on the front as a decorative feature.

I just completed this envelope clutch using a rust coloured linen and matching floral cotton.
It's one of a kind and currently available in my etsy shop.

This is a little pouch I've been working on using white vinyl.
A little bird cut-out reveals the blue vinyl underneath.