Last week story and mini travel wallets

It's already mid of September and we're still staying home as much as we can! Thank God for the internet, at least I can video call my family back home in Indonesia. I really miss my 4 years old nephew who is now a big fan of BTS, yes, he's our little "Army". 

I am still getting used to working with wrist splint. Since last month my carpal tunnel syndrome has gotten a little worse. So now I am batching my work and taking frequent breaks to do stretching. Sometimes I rest for 2 days if the pain is too much. I don't want to exert myself at this point. But the brace does help. I ordered gloves too actually from amazon but the only sent me this and refunded the gloves. 

Last week, I went to meet my Indonesia friend Eva to drop avocadoes for her. It was the first weekend after the lockdown was lifted in my city. We had a lot of avocadoes this summer. And in the afternoon, Plabita came and collect a few avocados. Well, visiting is not advisable right not with cases seems to be going up day by day. We only met outside in the garden, maintaining our distance, and wearing a mask. But it's really lovely to meet friends in the real world :D. She said she's never seen an avocado tree in her life! Well, avocados are not easily available here and recently gaining popularity that the price can go up to INR 500 for one. That's crazy!

From the sewing room, I made this cute matryoshka travel wallet back in June in between sewing masks. Mask wearing is going to stay now and I'm glad that many people are wearing it now. I almost forgot how I enjoyed creating wallets right from choosing the color combo to finishing the binding by hand. If you asked me, why the binding? for me because I have a weak wrist and turning wallets or bag really painful process for me :D. Also, I love the look of the wallet with binding. It gives the one of kind handmade look! 

This is another one I completed and sold. This Wonderland from Rifle Paper co is really popular with my customers and I think I am going to keep one for my self before I run out of fabrics:). Well, getting fabrics from abroad is not an easy affair right now, especially in India. 

Wonderland Handmade Travel Wallet

I also made a zip around one. I really love the previous one that I made and when I see this navy print, I thought why not make another one. 

Navy Theme Wallet

Super easy project and satisfying result. 

Pattern: Small Travel Wallet

Product: Handmade Travel Wallet

Zip Around Tutorial

Thank you for stopping by!

Stay Safe!

- Elvira -

Weekends Update

I've been working on this wallet for a few days. It's super easy one but  life happens. First, my crown broke and had to spend my birthday at the dentist. Well at least I am getting something new for the birthday, right? 😄😄 

I'm super tickled when I saw the chicken print. It's too cute!! 

And my next project is all set, Insha Allah will start tomorrow. Stay tuned for new bag pattern from Bagstock!! Yes, I'm testing for Namrata's next pattern! I know you're going to love it. I am so excited to try out this vinyl after I made the origami pouch for fun! 

Sometimes, we really need to make time to learn and try new things right? And guess what? I am subscribing to SimplyPiano app on my phone and teaching my self to play piano 😄😄😄 I will update you with my progress. I am having fun practicing these few days!! 

Speaking about piano, my son's music school is closing it's door after 7 years. The above photo was yesterday, the last day we went to Ace Music! What a journey it was. Thank you everyone at Ace Music for your hard work all these years !! But the good news is he will still continue learning with Ms. Promiti Phukan in her new brand music academy, Cadenza  from April, after he finishes his board exam. Cheers to new journey! 

That's all my little update. Do not hesitate to pursue your passion. When there's a will, there's a way! 

Now, I'm going to hand sew my wallet and watching Notting Hill on Prime Video! 

If you're asking, yes..I am working on the wallet pattern.  Stay tuned!

Much love & have a nice day!

- Elvira - 

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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Mini Travel Wallet with Zipper Closure

When you get new zipper foot, you have to make another zip around wallet. This time I made mini travel wallet!

Well, I don't like changing foot while I am sewing, but sometimes it's worth the effort. Trust me. It's easier to sew zip around wallet with zipper foot. 

And unlike domestic foot, industrial machine foot is slimmer which make sewing zipper is smaller space is much easier. 

Get the Pattern on Etsy

It turned out neater even though I still don't like the foot changing part. LOL. 

Get the Pattern for $4

 I really love this! The wallet turned out super cute. What do you think?

The wallet is available in  HERE (psst it's free shipping!) and if you want to try making the wallet yourself, you can get the pattern in my ETSY shop or my WEBSHOP. The original pattern is without the zipper though. but you can follow the tutorial HERE. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing

~Elvira~

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Linking up to:

Sew Can Do

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-

*****

Snoopy Family Passport Wallet

"Increase your good deeds, so you won't have time for the bad ones - Ramadan Quote - Mufti Menk "

Ramadan is half way through now. How time flies. I've been busy catching up with prayers, reading the Quran, cooking and a little bit of sewing. 

Nowadays, we can listen to Islamic lectures from scholars around the globe. Alhamdulillah for the internet! We can learn so many things!

I made a few Indonesian snacks I learn from YouTube too. My fave channel for Indonesian food is Dapur Dina. I tried many recipes from her and always successful. Well, Ramadan is the time when you really miss your hometown and your food, right? 

Back to sewing, I finished this Snoopy zip around family passport wallet as custom order last week. She wanted the snoopy print. I got quite a few snoopy prints from my trip to Japan and Indonesia last year so I'm very happy to finally use them. 

The travel wallet has one long zipper pocket and one slip pocket. In the beginning I thought it would be too bulky on the seam but I already said yes to the customer. I did this quite often X_X. 

I tend to be too excited for the challenge but Alhamdulillah it turned out fine. In sewing, sometimes what you imagined is not always applicable but then you can always find a way to make it work for you. 

If you haven't already, you can check the zip around tutorial on my previous post. If you have any questions regarding the pattern, you can always email me and I will try to help you as much as I can. 

And here's what I made last week! I was watching YouTube about different typl of dumplings across Asia and here's my Indonesian version of Chicken Dumplings with Grated Carrot on Top. You can find the recipe HERE. 

Indonesian Chicken Dumplings

So, that's a little story this week. I hope I can write more often. I still have a few pending stories from my Japan Trip this year! Well, it was all on Instagram but I'd still love to write them down for future reference. Thank you for stopping by!

Have a nice day

~ Elvira ~