New Fabrics

In the past few weeks I've been busy with updating the website and my Etsy Shops. After the Etsy glitch which resulted hundred of my listings were made expired, I decided to take this as a chance to refresh my listing photos and optimize the listings. 

It's not an easy task especially since I am working solo, but I am happy to be busy! 

I group similar fabrics together in one listing, which previously I listed individually, to save some listing fees. Etsy sellers in India have to pay quite a lot of fees, beside the listing fee. And on top of that the conversion fees too. 

So without further ado, here are what I have put up in the fabric shop recently. 

Off White Based fabrics

Lovely Ikat motifs

Geometric  Motifs

Unique Animal and Tree Patterns

Popular Mughal Floral Pattern 

The fabrics are sold by half yard increments, but in case you want fabric bundles, please send me a message on Etsy. I'd be happy to create custom bundles for you! 

Here a few inspirations (AI generated) what you can make with these beautiful fabrics: 

 

Yellow Floral fabrics

Mint Green Hand Block Print Fabric

If you love fabrics with a little personality, block print is where it’s at! This super old-school printing technique—where artisans carve patterns into wooden blocks, dunk them in dye, and stamp them onto fabric—has been around for centuries. And honestly, it’s still one of the coolest ways to get unique designs. It’s also pretty eco-friendly. Unlike mass-produced prints, block printing uses natural dyes and minimal machinery, making it a more sustainable choice.

If you're looking to bring some handcrafted charm into your style or space, block print fabric is a fantastic choice. Embrace the artistry, support skilled artisans, and add a touch of timeless elegance to your wardrobe or home décor!

Visit the SHOP to see the full collection from Indigo  to handwoven fabrics. 

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy your visit. 

Have a nice day,

Elvira

I Made Boxy Pouches Again

 

Quirky Keychain Mini Boxy Bags

It's already mid of May. How time flies! Since my last post, I've been busy with a couple of things! The most recent ones, I am having fun making quilted boxy pouches. It's been ages since I make one! 

There are so many ways to make boxy pouches or bags! One of them is like in this video. 

Mini Keychain Bags

I made 3 sets so far and all of them are available in my Etsy shops. While making the bigger boxy bags are easier, but I enjoyed making the small ones more, the smaller ones bring a delightful sense of accomplishment!

These boxy bags are very handy. The spacious size is literally great for any storage like make up, crochet or knitting projects, to gym bag. I gifted my sister one a few years ago and she used it to keep spare clothes whenever she went out of town on work. 

The size is pretty generous:

Large: 9" W x 4.5 " H x 5"D
Medium: 7" W x 4" H x 4" D
Small: 5" W x 3.5" H x 3.5" D

Here are the sets that are now available in my Etsy Shop

Strawberry Boxy Pouches

Quirky Moustache Boxy Bags

Pineapple Boxy Bags

And now sneak peek to my personal project! The embroidery journal. I am finishing April right now but here's what January and February look like. My plan is to work on it in the evening before bed time and during weekends, but that's not always happening. So now, the progress is a bit slow! I keep adding icons and when I get time and mood I will sit and embroider. 

Last month I went to Singapore again to help the son with the move. He's completed his international study exchange program in SMU Singapore. During video call, it looked like we could easily fit them into just two suitcases, but it turned out we had to fill in 2 small suitcases plus backpacks! With the new travel restriction regarding hand luggage or carry on, somehow we manage to "not be caught" carrying more that the allowed weight on Singapore-Kolkata flight, but while boarding from Kolkata, his carry-on was taken to be checked in. But without additional charges! I guess now I have to learn to travel light! 

My fabrics from SMH

The view at Vivo Mall

It was a short trip, but I managed to go to SMH for a few minutes and bought very few fabrics! The rest of the trip was just packing and having fancy lunch and coffee and strolling around Bugis street. This time, my legs and back did not give trouble. I guess, the protein diet and weight exercise that I've been doing helps and of course the glucosamine! Welcome to menopause life!! 

So more or less that what has been going on in my life. Another thing, I try to start journaling on my iPad. I realized my hand writing is so bad! We are so used to tapping on phone/iPad or typing on keyboards. I mean I always send hand written note to my buyers, but it's a short note. When I have to write longer, it's getting worse and worse haha. So now I really enjoyed writing on my iPad Notes. Nothing aesthetic right now, just simple one writing my fave quotes, or song I listened to, or how I feel and stuff.  By the way those aesthetic notes like on YT takes a long time to set up. With digital journal, I can easily copy paste photos or quotes or song. So it's been fun so far!  

That's all for today, thank you for stopping by and read my blog. I hope you enjoy your visit :)

Have a nice day,

Elvira

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

DIY Labels and a lot of quilted bags

Quilted coin purse

Hello,

Guess what? I finally made DIY fabric labels! Yes, using my the new printer and the iron on heat transfer paper. The paper is actually vinyl. So once you have your design in place, all you have to do is print it on your Inkjet printer, peel off the vinyl and iron it on to the fabric! It's such a quick process. The paper is available for laser printer also, but the result is not as good as inkjet. What's more, you can even draw on the vinyl - maybe using fabric pens. It's fun project. I bought the paper from Amazon (not affiliated link). 

I put a  short tutorial on my YOUTUBE channel. 

On the video I iron the labels onto fabrics. I also iron it directly on the wallets for personalization, like in this post. 

I love how I can customized the labels according to my liking (mood).  And of course I have to start using the labels! I have many prepped pouches in my WIP bins, so that would be great projects to utilize the labels. It's fun because I can use the color that match the fabrics. Maybe next time I will make labels with colored background! 

Quilted Coin Purses

For the small makeup bags and pencil pouches, I made folded labels. It's 1" x 2" labels but it was a little too big. Next time, I will make 1" x 1.5". I wanted folded labels for a long time but could not find vendors who can do for a small quantity.  I guess, good things come to those who wait is true!! 

Block Print Small Makeup Bags

Quilted Pencil Pouches

And, my happy mail this week is this book! I decided ( a little late) to join the embroidery journal bandwagon on my Sewing Circle whatsapp group. I am so bad at drawing icons and whatever I drew looked so weird! This book is a gem. It has so many designs! I will share my progress next time, for now let me catchup on the embroidery! I try to work on the embroidery before I am going to bed at night unless I have orders to finish. 

That's all for today, thank you so much for stopping by! 

Have a nice day,

Elvira

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Block print passport wallets

Kalamkari Passport Holder

Last month, Etsy sent email stated  there was a bug on Etsy that they belatedly found  and as a result a lot of my listings were not charged for renewal for the past year. So by April 1st, Etsy deactivated all the affected listings, and I did not realize it until a few days ago when I saw my shop were practically empty! This both affected my fabric shop and my handmade shop! Now I have more than 200 listings to relist and as I am on it, I will rework on the SEO, etc before put them back on the listing. I think it's a blessing in disguise also, as I have been wanted to work on the SEO on some of my listings. But yeah it's a lot of work - I will do it one step at a time! 

Anyway, I have been busy making a few passport wallets last week. This time I am using block print fabrics! They have been on my WIP bins for a couple of months and finally I got time (and the mood) to finish them! 

I am super happy with how these kalamkari passport wallet turned out. I have made only the rustic indigo color in the past and as I got order for the same, I might as well finish the rest! 

For the kalamkari wallets, I offered 2 closure - zip around or snap button in my ETSY SHOP. 

Zipper Closure

Snap Button Closure

The next are these red and blue-ish grey floral passport holder. I really love these floral fabrics and I love how the wallets turned out. They are so unique and light weight, you can keep upto 4 passports  in it. 

Red & Blue Block Print Floral Passport Wallet

And if you love something vibrant and bright, the yellow floral passport wallet is perfect for you. The yellow floral fabric is chanderi cotton fabric and combined it with red tie dye fabric. 

I still have the fabric, maybe I will make something else. Let's see! 

Yellow Floral Passport Cover

All the passport wallets I finished and are already available in ETSY and my WEBSITE. What do you think?

So that was quite productive week for me. Batching work really works for me, especially as I am going through perimenopause stage now with all the weird symptoms and swing of energy level! When the mood is good and everything is prepped, I can complete more work in less time. 

Recently I love watching these small (sewing) business vlog by many young women (college girls) on YouTube, and I marvel at how they organize their work around the school work, online shop and even doing crafts shows! I do learn many things from them and it's lovely to see how enterprising they are! Very inspiring! 

Thank you so much for stopping by today! 

Have a nice day,

Elvira

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Hello April

Hello, 

How time flies! We observed Ramadan and celebrated Eid  last month. This time I did not do much cooking since the boys are away in college. Feel a little bit sad especially for the younger one because he spent Ramadan and Eid away from the family for the first time. The elder son went to Indonesia to spend Eid with his grandma and aunts (my mom and sisters). He went for a week and had a blast! Alhamdulillah for the internet, even though we celebrated Eid in different countries, we still able to see each other on facetime. 

During Ramadan, I did not do much sewing except for a couple of custom orders. So after Eid, I am eager to start making a few things. 

This curtain for the side table is the first one. The main purpose is hide the ugly sights behind the curtain hahaha. The table has all sort of things, including my sons gaming consoles and accessories. I was inspired to make the curtain after watching Chiyo Kezuka post on Instagram. She had a small TV behind the curtain!! I love watching he video on Youtube too but never thought that there's TV behind it! 

I got the block print fabric from Meenakshi (Rustic Origin) maybe around 2years ago. I wanted to make noren curtain in between the TV room and my sewing room. But afterwards I am not so sure , maybe later I will find an inspiration and make one! 

Last month, I've been sending quite a lot of these cute keychains! I need to make more variety! I wanted to make a trip to the market to get more laces, but I always ended up buying online. It's  more practical that way, plus there are more choices online. 

One of a kind fabric keychains

I also made these crossbody phone bags for order. One is regular size that can fit smart phone upto 6" Height and the Plus size can for smart phone up to 6.5" height. This time, I used thin batting to give more structure since the linen is thin. Unlike the one I made last month.

And I am inspired by Rebekah's post on Instagram, I made a DIY note card using  flash card and left over  fabric from the bag. I cut the edges of the card and fabric using pinking scissors and then  simply glue it using fabric glue. it makes pretty cute little card note, don't you think? 

The son sent this photo - taken at his campus 

That's all for the first week of  April. Thank you for taking time to read my blog! 

Have a nice day,

Elvira

Linking Up  to these wonderful BLOGS. 

Phone Crossbody Bags

Corduroy Crossbody Phone Bag

Few days ago I went through my WIP drawers for the phone bag. I've been wanting to make a few bags for the shop. I have prepped a few and even sew the the flaps but somehow never got around to finish it. Here are the first 2 crossbody phone bags that I finished last week: 

The corduroy bag!

I have the corduroy fabric for a long time, I think I made something with it but could not remember what! The corduroy is pretty study, so I decided to skip the interfacing for this bag. Instead, I used the interfacing on the lining just to give it enough structure but not too heavy. The flap I used indigo block print fabric. It's leftover fabric from making this quilt. You can check more Indigo fabrics HERE. 

For the strap and the D-ring tab, I also did not use interfacing and I kind of liking it! I was thinking to use faux leather strap that I have but somehow the color does not match. The result is roomy mini crossbody bag! I love it! 

Corduroy Block Print Combo Bag

Another thing I tried, is doing the drop lining method to put the bag together. This method will be easier for those with wrist problem like me! It's easier to "birth" the bag this way. I will try to record the video and take proper photos on my next bag. 

OK, next one is this Denim combo sling bag. The denim was already prepped with all purpose interfacing, so I just used that. But I did not use batting this time. The result is good and sturdy denim bag. For the strap, I did not use any interfacing since the denim is pretty heavy one. 

Denim Floral Phone Bag

With zipper pocket!! 

The corduroy bag does not have zipper pocket because I forgot to add one! Thanks to my perimenopause brain. But if anyone want with zippered back pocket, I'll be happy to make one.  This is how it looks on my dress form! 

This mobile sling bag is my go to bag when I go for a walk,  for a quick errand and even when I travel. The pattern has 3 sizes and the phone bag is the smallest size. 

That's all for today, thank you so much for stopping by today! 

Have a nice day,

Elvira

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

 

Travel passport wallet set

Passport Wallet & Mini Keychain Backpack

 

I have so much fun making this set of travel wallet and mini backpack! I have completed 2 sets now and have a few cuts and ready to sew. So stay tuned for more. 

This orange crazy patchwork print fabric has been in my stash for a long time. I found it in my stash and I know instantly it's going to be great for Voyage wallet and the Viola mini backpack! Now I am thinking of making a big or medium bag in the same print! Hmm...let's see. 

Orange Patchwork Passport Holder

Mini Keychain Backpack - Orange Patchwork

And the second set is this vintage print in black and grey! I made family passport wallet with the same fabric a few weeks ago and after making the small passport holder, I have a small piece leftover which is just enough to make the mini backpack! I did fussy cut for the backpack.  I really love how this set turned out! Now I wish I have a trip planned haha! 

Vintage Style Passport Holder

Vintage Style Mini Keychain Backpack

*****

In case you're looking for bag patterns, The Big Bag Bundle Sale from Sew Modern Bag is still going on till Midnight on the 18th. There are 21 bag, purse and wallet patterns for only $21 - That means only $1 each pattern.*

This is really a great deal if you want to learn making different kind of bags! 

(*This post includes affiliate link)

Big Bag Bundle March 2025

That's all for today. Thank you for stopping by today! 

Have a nice day! 

Elvira

Linking up to these wonderful BLOGS