Hello December

my home studio where all the sewing happens

My December started with a lot of blessings. First, Tina Katwal came to my city and she visited me! I was so excited when she told me a few weeks ago. Finally, I get to meet the leader in our Desi Quilters (the biggest Quilt Guild in India). We've known each other for almost a decade on Facebook. She's an accomplished quilter and entrepreneur. Her studio, the Square Inch in Chennai is literally our go-to shop for anything related to quilting or sewing! Online and Offline. It was really an honor to meet her and hopefully, I can visit her in the near future. 

We talked about quilts and more quilts and a lot of plans for the Desi Quilters activities. I really admire her passion to take Indian Quilter society to the next level, from managing the group to organizing the India Quilt Festival. The first Quilt Festival in India and also showcasing Indian Quilts in several cities in India. Kudos to her! Do check out her Facebook Page or visit her Website to see more. 

Thank you Tina for the beautiful gifts!

The second thing is I woke up to an email from Etsy that I'm a star seller for the month of December. Wow, I really did not expect this! There are a lot of opinions when Etsy first launch the star seller badge and honestly, I still have a mixed feeling about it. Especially as a handmade seller who creates the product from scratch by myself. It's really a nice surprise and a good feeling as the badge is a validation and recognition of your hard work and services. Thank you for all your supports! I would not be able to achieve it without your love and supports! 

Sewing wise, in the last couple of days, I finished quite a few wallets, for orders and stock. This family passport wallet in world map print is pretty popular and from these two wallets, only one is available now in the shop now. I still have a little bit of map print fabrics, but I think I'm going to make a new family passport wallet for myself. We need a new one anyway! 

Map print family travel wallet

Don't you love these cute zipper ends?

I love this linen floral print wallet so much and I am using one myself. It's also available in Blue with the same beige combination. Nowadays I made more zipper closure wallets and I love it too. Especially I love using a single tape zipper.  You can check the tutorial HERE (for the family passport wallet) or HERE for the mall wallet.

Linen Wallet

Lavender Wallet

Bifold Wallet

Snoopy Wallet

Zip Around Wallet

I am still following the time blocking plan and frankly, it makes me more focused and relaxed, especially with a lot of things are going on right now. I still have a basket full of WIPS but I am working on it slowly, as time permits. With the combination of time blocking and batching, I am sure we can be more productive. 

The lake near my sons' school

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

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Pattern Update - Relaunch Ohana Passport Wallet

Ohana Passport Wallet Pdf Pattern

Hello,

Finally, I finished editing the Family  Passport Wallet Pattern and decided to rename it to Ohana Passport Wallet. The original pattern was the first pattern I wrote and there is a lot of scope for improvement. As time goes by, the pattern evolved and when  I wrote the tutorial for adding zipper closure, this version became more in demand. 

In the new version,  the main tutorial is for a wallet with a zipper closure based on the previous tutorial, also single tape zipper closure can be seen on the Video. I added links to video tutorials and also blog posts for more references. 

Here is how the wallet looks with the flap closure: 

And here's the zipper around version:

Watch the video on how to sew the wallet from beginning to end. 

The Ohana Passport Wallet is also written in the new format, which I find easier to understand and I hope you agree :).  The pattern consists of 29 pages (including the templates), so it's pretty much compact but details. 

If you already bought the pattern and want to download the new version, please email me using the email you used when purchasing the pattern, and I will send you another link to download the pattern.

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

Zip Around Family Passport Wallet

Family Passport Holder | Pdf Pattern

Hello,

I hope everyone is well and getting ready to enjoy summer. The weather is getting more humid in this part of India too but looks like summer will not be much different than last year. We're still in lockdown until next week and most probably it will be extended for a couple more weeks. 

A few weeks ago I finished a couple of family passport holders with a zipper around closure. They were custom orders from my Etsy Shop. How I wish we could start traveling again.

Large Passport Wallet for 6

I particularly love this leopard print wallet and I'm glad the customer loved it too. 

Love my custom passport wallet! It turned out perfect and made so well! Fast shipping and great communication! 

As usual, I always make an extra wallet when I'm working on an order, that way I can add more ready-to-ship items to the shop. This trick works for me so far. For the second one, I did a recording for a video tutorial on my Youtube Channel. It's been long due. I plan to edit and upload it by next week. 

Watch now: How to Sew Zip Around Wallet

Love this immigration stamp fabric

Zip Around Passport Wallet

Also Read: How to Sew Zip Around Fabric Wallet

This time, I did the zipper using a single tape zipper (which currently my fave) like I did for this small wallet in my previous post. Check the video below on how to sew single zipper tape on a wallet. 

On a personal front, I got my first shot of Covishield vaccine last Sunday and was feeling rather unwell for a couple of days. I felt feverish at night the day I took the jab and the next day, after that, I felt better after a couple doses of paracetamol. I hope you have taken yours too! I pray that more and more people can get vaccinated here in India. At this point in time, I'll just go with the flow. Take a day at a time. I was talking to my friend the other day about, how at the end of 2019 we were so full of plans and suddenly 2020 happened. 

Source: Pinterest

Well, let's do what we can for now. Until next time, take care and stay safe!

Elvira

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Pattern Update: New Video for Family Passport Wallet Pattern

Get the Pattern on Etsy

The Family Passport Wallet is my first Pattern that I release a few years ago. Although I write blogs and tutorials, but pattern is totally a different experience. I will try to keep sharing the updates through this blog. I'm thinking of re-writing the pattern but it will be difficult to resend the pattern to those who already purchase it. So, I thought sharing an update in this blog and my Youtube Channel is the best solution for all. 

The question I got the most is about assembling the passport slot and the zipper pocket. So, here's the updated version on how to make the passport slot and the mini zipper pocket. The method is  slightly different from the pattern: 

Mini Zipper Pocket (Easy Method)

Passport Slot (Easy Method)

I hope you find the videos helpful!

 Please subscribe to my blog and Youtube Channel so that you won't miss an update. 

Thank you for stopping by,

Happy Sewing

- Elvira- 

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Resources: 

Family Passport Holder Pattern
How to do Zip Around Closure Wallet

Travel Wallet for Family

Get the Pattern on Etsy

I finished this family passport wallet few days ago! I just got a new sublimation heat press machine which works amazingly for attaching interfacing. Thanks Namrata for the recommendation! Naturally I have to try it immediately.

The machine is quite big and for now I set it up in my kitchen! I can finish attaching interfacing for 5 projects in less than 5 minutes! How cool is that!! Hmm, I think I can iron my scraps there too, that will be faster, right!

Zip Around Passport Holder

The heat transfer machine is definitely a game changer. The interfacing is attached evenly and firmly! I got it from Amazon India for INR 16K. Not a bad deal since it's free delivery too.

The second good thing I got is the pegboard! I always wanted to have Ikea Pegboard and after my visit to Ikea in Jakarta last summer, it's been on my mind. A good friend Wulan, who lives in Hyderabad offered me to get it for me and of course I said YES ! Thanks dear <3 . Though the shipping cost quite a bit but it was worth it!  I hope they will open a branch in Northeast India soon :D. 

What do you think? 

Thank you for stopping by,

Have a nice day!

~ Elvira~

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Scooter Family Travel Wallet with Zipper Closure

Don't you love this cute scooter print? I got the fabric from Indonesia few summers ago! i knew then this fabric would be great for travel wallet. Don't you think? I decided to go minimalist with color and I love how this turned out. 

Get the Pattern on Etsy

I am thinking of making improvement for the family passport wallet pattern. I tried to record a video as I was working on this wallet, but it was not so good. I will try to record another one when I make my next wallet. I still have the video , if any of you need it urgently, you can email me after you purchase the pattern.  

See Zipper Closure Tutorial

Meanwhile this wallet is ready to ship and  available on my Etsy shop. If you want to make your own you can get the pattern on my Webshop or Etsy  You can find the additional Zip Around Closure tutorial HERE. 

I hope I can post the video soon. Now I gotta go. Today is the eldest son second concert with Cadenza! We're all so excited. 

Until next time,

Have a nice day!

-Elvira-

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More Passport Wallet and Keyfobs

Hello again,

After a round of viral flu in our family during the last week of August and first week of September, now I'm back to sew again and has a long list of stuff (orders and not) that I have to finish. In the meantime I finished a couple of family passport wallets and also keyfobs. 

Hello London Travel Wallet

Looks like my customers love the zip around passport holder and if you already got the passport wallet patterns, you can check this Tutorial for zip around closure. 

World Map Passport Holder

The map passport holder above is for 8 passport slot. I do love the green combo. This is the second one that I made for custom order. I got the fabric from an Etsy seller in the US. It's Tim Holt's Eclectic Elements. I got several map prints together to save up on the shipping. Shipping for US to India is quite expensive and on top of that I had to pay for custom duty. But it's worth it! Don't you think? 

Disney and Elephant Key fobs

The fabric key fobs and key rings are so much fun to make. It's such a scrap friendly project that you can sew it in a jiffy. The Disney key fobs only available for 2 pieces above. That's the only pieces I have left in my stash. 

 I especially love the denim keyring. I wanted to use the fobs like the Minnie Mouse key fobs but it turned out it's too thick for the fob to set in. My sons and DH love the swivel hook version though, because it's easier to attach and detach your keys. 

Which one is your fave? 

Ah btw, I had  a lovely gathering last Saturday with fellow crafter/artist! Mostly are young crowds and I love their enthusiasm, which is very contagious! We're planning an exhibition sometime before Diwali here in Guwahati. Subscribe to my Blog to get the updates for follow my Instagram.

That's all from last week. I'm going to work on a couple of wallet orders this week and Insha Allah will start writing a new pattern when the sons' exam is finished. 

Until next time,

Happy Sewing!

~ Elvira ~

Zip around Family Passport Wallet

Hello,

Many people asked me on Etsy if I make zip around wallet and finally I now I can give the option. Introducing the new zip around family passport wallet!

Installing all around zipper is quite tricky, because the wallet is interfaced with heavy interfacing plus batting.  So I made several changes on the interfacing. I used heavy interfacing only on the main lining and using woven interfacing on the main exterior and used the same thin fleece batting for the padding. It worked out beautifully.

I will take photos and maybe videos when I make the next wallet and write a tutorial for it in my next post.  Make sure you subscribe to my blog so you won't miss the post.

This Paris family passport wallet is now available on Etsy You can choose for 4 , 6 or 8 passports. It's very handy and keep everything securely inside.

I also made the above travel wallet ( a custom order) with zip around closure. I will make more of this for stock (and I need to sew up those stash!) . The green London print fabric is finished now but I have the peach one in case you want the same print.

You can buy the Family Passport Wallet Pattern HERE , ETSY or in my WEBSHOP

Thank you for stopping by,

 Have a nice day!

- Elvira-

More Family Passport Holders

Hello again,

I finally finished this Disney theme Family passport holder for 4. I started the wallet last Sunday. I am currently taking medicine for my chronic allergy which make me very drowsy especially during the morning hours.

This Paris theme is another family passport holder I finished last Sunday. It went out for delivery on Monday but turned out there was a Bharat Bandh. That is a national strike called by the opposition party. 

This one is for 6 passport. I found the fabric during my konmari cleaning session and so happy to find it. I thought I didn't have more of the fabric. 

I think even fabric, every piece of them has their own destiny! I made similar passport holder earlier but I this time I used a different fabric combo. I always try to make every wallet different, so everyone will get special one!

Both the passport holder using the same pattern. I wrote a Tutorial on how to adjust the pattern to make 4 passport holder. 

I hope the recipient will be happy and love the passport holder! 

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Crafting

~Elvira~

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