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

Mission Accomplished 2 - Kanazawa in Winter

Hello again,

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

Mini Log Cabin Quilt

Before my Japan trip last January, me and my friends discussed about taking a quilt to Japan and take quilt photos with snow background just like those quilters we saw in Instagram.  Since I would be traveling solo, I decided to take mini quilt. I completed this quilt just 2 days before my departure. It was a hectic week!!

Kanazawa Station

This time, I was not very fit throughout the trip. I had a sore throat and my nose kept bleeding due to the cold and dry weather. For me who grew up  in a tropical country, winter (snow or no snow) is always tough. Besides the winter eczema, the nose bleeding business is really bothersome.

Anyway, we decided to go to Kanazawa with the grand plan to visit Gokayama or Shirakawago. But then, man proposes God disposes! Weather was not cooperative during our stay in Kanazawa.

Since the other three girls, brought their suitcase, we decided to take a taxi to our rented Airbnb. The problem with Japan is there was hardly any people who can speak English. Thank God for the google translate. But, you have to write a proper English sentences for Google to translate it properly. Or else another long  conversation will take place.

The attendance In the taxi stand at the Kanazawa station was a nice old man who tried to help us. When we showed him the address, he could not make out what is what (it was written in English). After several minutes, he took me to the information center and thankfully, there was a lady there who spoke a decent English. After another  lost in translation conversation, the lady decided to call the house owner, and finally we got our address written in Japanese (pheeww)!  Happily the attendant took us to the other side of taxi stand et voila, our fancy SUV taxi!! We were surprised, between thrilled and worried, praying it won’t be too expensive LOL. Luckily we travelled in group!! The taxi driver was a nice gentleman, he didn’t speak English but tried his best to tell us any landmarks we passed along the way. He even got down to check out if the house we rented was the correct one.

Arigato gozaimashita

The house we rented via Airbnb in Kanazawa was a two storey house. It’s called the Ibaragi House. Luckily we were on the ground floor. The Japanese keep the house key in a mini box with combination lock. It was a little tricky to open, especially when you were cold and in a hurry. After several attempt ( and a message to the owner later) we were able to unlock the house. The Ibaragi house was very compact and comfortable. The sliding door on the other side of the house remind me of Lee sang Yoon drama! Hahaha. Anyway, we were quite comfortable there since the owner provided us with extra blankets, electric heater and hot water bags.

The Ibaragi House  Airbnb Kanazawa

After settling down, we decided to brave the cold and walk around the city. 

 

The city is quite impressive with big brand shops, but I love to see the indie designers shops. Most of these shops have either French or English name.

 I suppose many Japanese love French vintage theme or English Victorian theme.

coffee shop in front our rented home

can you see the star?

The next day, we thought of going to Gokayama, but we were too late plus we were uncertain with the weather. It was raining and snowing in the morning when we left the house.

breakfast at Mister Donut - The donuts we had did not contain any lark, mirin, or sake. We asked and apparently they have all ingredients listed in their computer!! 

A window display remind me of my son's concert before the trip! 

 We decided to get a one day tourist pass and go to Higashi Chaya district, where we can see the old Japanese houses which mostly are souvenir shops or tea shops (Chaya literally means Tea house)

the loop bus - a hop on hop off bus

A cafe as we enter the Higashi Chaya 

 By the time, I felt a bit feverish and I ran out of my antibiotics! (sigh!). After strolling a bit, me and Kak Jenny decided to go into a noodle shop. She loved her noodle soup esp Soba!! I could not have anything since there was no halal food. So I just enjoy a cup of matcha aka green tea with lots of sugar! Hey, I need energy, right?!

my matcha and my log cabin bag! 

Noodle Shop & Souvenir shop

The vintage shop next to the tea stall

look at those patchwork bag made from kimono fabrics!! 

Me and my quilt again ^_^

After a bit of photo session  near the bus stop, we decided to go to the Kenrokuen Garden and Castle. The 2 girls – mbak Belly and Kak Ria, went ahead to check out both,  while me and Kak Jenny, decided not to go. By the time it was raining and snowing intermittently.  

Kanazawa Castle 

We decided to catch the loop bus and got down at the mall near our rented airbnb ! But not before I took another photo in front of the castle gate! 

the Kanazawa scene as we were leaving 

Hopefully, next time we can go and check the castle and the garden and hopefully in a friendlier weather!

Thank you for the beautiful memories girls! <3

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

 Now, mission accomplished!

Until then,

Happy Sewing

I will  write more about Japan trip in the next posts. Subscribe to my blog via email so you won't miss interesting post!