Custom orders of tote bags

Okay, so this is what I had been up to lately... making many many tote bags!

I made a total of eight tote bags in all (although only seven of them are shown in the above and below images).  All of these bags are made in same shape and size, but in different fabrics.  I used beautiful and sturdy home decor fabrics for the bag exterior.   These tote bags are fully lined with matching solid cotton and durable fleece batting.

Yes, making eight different tote bags involved a lot of cutting fabrics, ironing, and sewing... but I really enjoyed each and every step of the process.  I just couldn't wait to see the finished bags while I was making them :)



The bags were made to fill the custom orders placed from two different customers, who are both my good friends and acquaintances.   I really appreciate their generosity and support for my shop.

The sales of these bags did not go through my etsy shop, but the entire sales proceeds I receive from these bag sales will be donated to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief, as with any other sales I generate from sales of my handmade items.

Here are the close ups of each bags.  



  Brown and pink polka dots prints...

Green and white floral print...

 

Black and gray leaves print on white canvas...

Gorgeous Magnolia flowers print...

Lavender and white floral prints...

Purple roses with green accent on the bag bottom and handles...

Red, brown and white stripes print with a French taste...

Navy and white floral prints...

Each and every bag is original and special for me.  I just can't decide just one favorite from here, but which one do you think you like the most? 

Reversible library tote bag for a nine year old

Here is something that I made a few weeks ago, but haven't had a chance to post...

It's a reversible tote bag that I made for a nine year old girl for her birthday.  She is a good friend of my younger daughter, who selected the fabrics of the bag exterior.   It seems like the 3rd grade girls nowadays are really into these "peace sign" prints... 

This is the reversible side of the bag.  Can you tell that I selected the fabrics on this side??

I like the fresh combination of green x white polka dots and strawberry prints.

This is the handmade bag charm that I made with a few strands of embroidery threads and pom poms.  I simply crocheted embroidery threads to make cords, and sewed pastel colored pom poms on both sides of the hand crocheted cords.

I like to attach these pom poms to the handmade bag like this...

 Side view.   The bag can carry enough library books and personal belongings for a young girl.

I love to make handmade gifts for young children, and I just wish that this bag will be (heavily) used by the nine year old girl :)

Thanks for looking and hope you continue to enjoy your week!!



Flex frame eye glasses case

One of my good friends asked me whether I can make her a handy eye glasses case, using flex frames.  She found out about my Japan Relief fundraising efforts through my handmade creations, and placed me an order, which was very kind of her!

She selected the fabrics (cute goats on red) and I quickly whipped up the eye glasses case for her.



 

This flex frame case is fully padded with fusible fleece, and I think it's a good size to keep the eye glasses inside.   It measures approximately 4 inch x 7.5 inch, or 10 cm x 19 cm (from top to bottom).



Flex frame pouches can be opened easily with just one hand...



Using the same cute goat fabric, I made a matching small tissue cozy for her to keep in her purse.

Hope she likes the set!



And before I go, I wanted to share these beautiful images of the flower bouquet that I received recently, from my friend.

Unbelievably, my friend arranged this lovely bouquet by herself, and she's not even a florist!!



It's been quite some time since I received such beautiful flowers from any one... and that is including my hubby!!

Of course, I bragged about this beautiful flower gift to my hubby and explained to him in detail how much I was delighted to receive such pretty bouquet from my friend... I hope he sensed that demanding look in my eyes and hopefully he would get me one of these pretty flowers in the near future... although I know that is very unlikely...

After 20+ years of being together, I know that my hubby is not a kind of guy who would buy flowers to his *loving* wife...  He is more of a guy who would buy fresh sushi or a big bucket of green tea ice cream to his wife to please her (not to mention that sushi and green tea ice cream are HIS favorites and NOT mine!)  lol

Flower gift or a sushi gift... which would you rather receive?   Well, whichever it may be, I wish you all have a lovely weekend!!  Ciao!

 

Where is my post?!

If you blog on Blogger, you know what I'm talking about.

 My earlier blog post titled "Yay! I reached my Japan Relief Fundraising goal! (and my linen pouch with flap)" mysteriously disappeared last week during the Blogger's down time and it never got restored... 

I was hoping that my post gets recovered like many other bloggers' posts, but it seems unlikely as of now... Oh no!! What a bummer!!
&*%$>:"*@+*&!!!!

Actually, losing one of my blog post isn't that bad after all, but what I will miss forever are those nice comments left from my blog readers for that particular post.  I am terribly sorry to you kind folks!!  Gomen nasai!! (I'm sorry in Japanese).

Oh well, my post may mysteriously get restored again, who knows... But in case it doesn't, please excuse me that I am repeating the following info about my recent donation made for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief. 

I wanted to let you know (again!) that I accomplished my etsy shop sales goal of $500 toward Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief donation!  The money was generated from 100% sales proceeds from my etsy shop.   Thank you so much to my etsy shop customers, my family members and my friends, and to you all supportive blog readers for encouraging me at all times. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Initially, my plan was to donate my entire shop proceeds to the American Red Cross for Japan Earthquake Relief, but I figured that it makes more sense to me to donate the money directly to the Japanese Red Cross through Consulate General of Japan Los Angeles, which I did.

I sent out a $500 donation check last week, and I decided to continue my Japan Relief fundraising efforts until I reach my next goal of $500 (a total of $1,000).   I will keep you posted on my continued fundraising efforts here on my blog :)
... And that was all I wanted to mention (or repeat, I should say) about my fundraising efforts.  Thank you for bearing with me!!


So, here is my handmade creation that I wanted to show you today.  It's a mini patchworked fabric basket made based on Pink Penguin's awesome tutorial.  This tute, put together by my dear blog friend Ayumi, is so easy to follow and a joy to make!

  I used fabrics from the Buttercup line from one of my favorite fabric designer, Darlene Zimmerman, to make this one.

I think this is my third, or even fourth time I make this basket, and it's funny that every time I make a new one, I want to make more!!  It's so fun and enjoyable to make these cute baskets :)

This time, I placed some chocolate candies inside the my handmade basket, and presented to my girlfriend as her birthday gift.

I hope she liked my handmade basket, as much as she liked the Lindt chocolates inside :)


Oh, and here are the linen pouches with flaps that I mentioned in my earlier (missing) blog post, just in case you missed it...

I like the combination of linen and the flower cotton prints.  It's my forever love combination!

Thanks for reading today's post and I'm sorry for the repetitive information for some of you who had read my earlier (mysteriously lost) post... 

I just hope that this post will not mysteriously disappear again... and I'm having my fingers crossed...!!

Thanks with love,
from Amy xoxo

Handmade gifts for the Mother's Day

Mother's day is right around the corner, and today I'd like to show you some of the handmade gifts that I made for my dear *moms*...

 This gift set is made for a special lady who lives in Hawaii, who I admire very much.   Well, she is not my real mom, but I wanted to show my love and appreciation for this Mother's Day, for being so kind to my family and I.

She mentioned to me earlier that her cell phone gets "lost" in her purse often, so I decided to make her a cell phone pouch that will hopefully make her life a little easier when she picks up her phone.



The cell phone pouch is lined with double fleece batting, to protect the phone and for the snug fit. 

I hope she likes this handmade set of cell phone pouch and the flat zipper pouch :)

I really like this beautiful roses and birds print in midnight navy.  You can find the same zipper pouch in my shop :)

 This purple flex frame pouch was made for my mom's best friend who lives in Japan.  I've known her since I was a baby, and she is like a second mom to all of us siblings in our family.

Flex frame pouches are very convenient to use, as it easily opens with just one hand.

The pouch is a good size to carry small gadgets, cosmetics, or other belongings inside a purse.   Hope the recipient *mom* likes the gift!



And these flex frame pouches look familiar to you, right?   I just love the beautiful floral fabrics used for these pouches, so I decided to send the blue one to my *real* mom (lol)  and the purple one to my mom-in-law. 

BTW these flex frame pouches are also sold in my etsy shop now. 

All gifts have been shipped out to the recipient *moms* already, along with the Mother's day cards I wrote for them.   Unfortunately, I cannot spend the Mother's day with my dear *moms*, but I just wish them the happiest Mother's Day of all and that they enjoy my handmade gifts :)

Thank you for reading, and to all the mothers, grandmothers, daughters, nieces, friends... Have a Blessed and Happy Mother's Day weekend!

Everyone is Japanese Fundraising Charity Event



Today, I have an announcement to share with you about the upcoming fundraising event for Japan Relief.

My girlfriend belongs to a nonprofit organization called Melting Pot Moms, in the Orange County area of Southern California, and they are having a fundraising event "Everyone is Japanese" on this Sunday, May 1.

The event will be held at:

Flintridge Clubhouse

28112 Roanoke Drive

Ladera Ranch, CA

On Sunday, May 1, 2011

6 - 9 pm

$10 donation is suggested for entry, and the event will feature Japanese traditional dance, origami crafts for the kids, hors d'oeuvres and beverages, an opportunity raffle, and all donations will be sent directly to Miyagi Prefectural Government of Japan.

As for my part, I plan to donate several of my handmade items, including  flat zipper pouches, wristlet key fobs, and reversible mini drawstring bags, to this fundraiser.  My handmade items will be up for sale during the event, and entire proceeds will be donated to Japan by the organizer.

On top of the zipper pouches, key fobs, and drawstring bags, I made these reversible tote bags using Japanese fabrics for additional donated items.

The first bag I made is a Hello Kitty tote bag.   Initially, I purchased this fabric in Japan a while ago for my girls, but I thought it is a good chance to use this lovely fabric for this occasion.

The reversible side is solid pink.

The bag has flat bottom and is roomy enough to carry everyday items, or it is a good size to be used as library tote for young children.

Another bag I made for this fundraiser event is this one.  The bag is also reversible, and the exterior is made of Japanese fabric (linen cotton blend).   I used pink x white polka dots flannel print for the handles and the pocket.

The reversible side is also pink x white polka dots flannel print.  I love the combination of dusty pink and white dots of this soft flannel fabric. 

Unfortunately, I may not be attend the event myself... but I hope you can join if you are in the area ;)

Thanks for reading and thank you for your continued support for Japan Relief...!

Patchworked flex frame pouches



Hello, there! 

Today, I wanted to share with you about my latest additions in my shop - flex frame pouches.

The exterior of these pouches are made by combining several different fabrics, mainly featuring the floral prints from the "Betty Dear" line from my favorite fabric designer Darlene Zimmerman.  I love these beautiful floral prints!

For those of you who are not familiar with "flex frames", these are the 12 cm (4.5 inch) sized flex frames that I used to make these pouches.   By the way, flex frames are very popular in Japan.

The opening area is approximately 12 cm (or 4.5 inches) wide as shown below.

Flex frames make the pouches very convenient to use.  You only need one hand to open the pouch, with just a touch of a "squeeze"!

These pouches are fully padded with fusible fleece, so it's safe enough to carry your valuable items such as cell phone, smart phone, digital camera, other gadgets, jewelry, cosmetics, craft items, etc. securely inside.

The pouches has flat bottom of approximately 1.5 inch (4 cm) in depth.   With the fleece batting used throughout, these flex frame pouches are pretty sturdy and they can stand on its own like this.

I think these pouches will make wonderful Mother's day gift ;)

And here is just a few update about my fundraising efforts through my online shop sales proceeds...

As of today (4/19/2011), I've raised approximately USD $400 from my shop's sales proceeds, which I continue to plan to donate 100% to the American Red Cross Japan Relief.   I am short of $100 to reach my initial goal of $500 in sales proceeds... which I think is great!!!  

My fundraising effort continues, and here are some of other new items added to my shop recently. 

More Reversible mini drawstring bags in eye catching fabrics...

And this is a newly added padded long zipper pouch in Roses on blue stripes, which is made of Japanese imported quality cotton.

Thank you so much for reading my post, and I just can't thank enough to all of you for supporting my fundraising efforts for Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief, through kind words and encouragements, and through purchases from my shop. 

*Arigato* to you all, and I'll be back soooon!