So I deeply apologise for the lack of updates. Strangely enough, Pretty Cloth is not really on hiatus. I sold a wristlet through Etsy after I came back from Japan, and Pretty Cloth had our annual booth at the End Of Year event by STAC, where we sold two hats and showcased a new bag (which I’m very excited about, but yet to photograph and list), and now someone recently contacted me through my Flickr account asking for a similar laptop sleeve as the red checked gingham one I sold for myself in preparation for the Japan trip last year. Now that I’ve finally started to settle into my day job (which I love, by the way), and cosplay costumes are at least quite spaced out from each other, perhaps there is time to continue to sew a few little projects for Pretty Cloth.

One project which I still intend to finish is the one that I started for the annual booth at the STAC End Of Year event. A cosplay event, a friend and I cosplayed characters from the PS2 game, Odin Sphere, during the event, and at the booth that we shared, we wanted to showcase products that drew inspiration from this amazing game. On my part, which is the Pretty Cloth end, I wanted to do a line of bags, hats, pouches and wristlets that were done in the colour scheme of each main character in the game, i.e. A Gwendolyn line of bags and hats which are purple and blue, versus a Velvet line which are red and gold and black. In the end, because I had to rush two costumes at one go, I only had time to make the Velvet Library Tote, although I was still extremely pleased with how it turned out. Hopefully, if I have time, I will be able to continue this idea.

In the end, I cannot promise that I will be all that active for Pretty Cloth (perhaps Nat can be MORE active now though haha) but I will definitely try to be more active! ^_^

I’ve had this bag 80% completed but sitting on my shelf for more than a month now, put on hiatus first because of school and exams, and then because of packing and Japan sewing. Now that I’m so close to flying off, I finally finished this bag, and it’s so delightful I almost want to keep it for myself! It’s a small to medium handbag that’s made from denim and has the most extraordinary bunch of laces on the edge, the handles and the detachable brooch. Isn’t it just adorable? We just listed it today, so do go check it out over at our etsy store! ^_^

This lovely baby was sewn for myself~ I’m bringing over my Powerbook G4 12″ laptop (affectionately called Kana-chan) to Japan, and because I would want to carry my laptop onto the airplane as carry-on luggage together with all my camera gear and jackets and stuff, I needed to put it in a sleeve that is slimmer than my usual slightly bulkier but very useful black Tatonka zip-up sleeve (which I totally overload with the power adapter, mouse and mousepad and laptop stand…), so I decided to make a sleeve! ^_^ Actually I’ve wanted a simpler laptop sleeve for the longest time, but no real impetus to make one I guess, till now! ^_^

This one is simply adorable! I was actually wondering what fabric to make it out of, and was listing out all the fabric I had to Justin over the phone, when he heard “red checked gingham” and said “that one”. And it turned out so well! ^_^ I used the last of the good batting to quilt the inside, and white linen to line it, so there won’t be any chance of any colour stains on my laptop. The top is slightly elasticised with a tab and button closure, and the front has a large elasticised pocket so I can put stuff like a mouse if I want to. The back has a flat pocket made from white linen for CDs, and the two tabs at the side have buttonholes and attach to buttons on the inside of my big doll tote so that the sleeve won’t move around too much when I carry it.

It’s so soft I can’t help hugging it when I carry it! ^_^

Armwarmers – finished! ^_^. Scarf is still… well, I think I could add on more with white, so it’s currently not really finished yet. Ignore the silly expression though. Heh heh. ^_^

Just finished sewing a version of a big doll tote for myself, this time with a zipper closure and a detachable laptop sleeve. Pictures up soon! It will be my carry-on bag during the flight as well as a small sidetrip bag for japan~! ^_^ I really like the laptop sleeve it’s so quaint! ^_^

One thing that is confirmed though, is that I will definitely go down to Tokyo during the weekend of 15th June to go visit my friend Reiko-chan, who is studying at Tokyo University (I know I know, so clever right? We’re all so proud of her! ^_^) who is going to bring me around to Akihabara, visit maid cafes and butler cafes and most importantly, we are to visit Nippori, fabric town of Tokyo! ^_^ Needless to say, we are both very excited about that. Looks like I’d have the chance to use all those Nippori-introduction pages in my japanese craft magazines after all… ^_^

Tried to crochet myself a white hat, but stopped halfway because the yarn I was using was too thin?? >_< The pattern asked for a much thicker yarn which is why when I was supposed to have made most of the hat my crocheting only made me a tiny disc. O_o. Anyway, undid most of it and planning to crochet a hat for Reiko-chan’s BJD doll instead, which I’m bringing over for her. I’ve searched most of the Daiso stores in Singapore, but still no sight of that lovely red-purple yarn I’ve been using for my scarf. Which means I’m just going to edge the scarf with white to finish it off. Oh well.

Oh and I was just wondering how I am to organise and bring over my jewellery when I’m at Japan for six weeks (at home my bracelets and watch go into small boxes in a drawer and my earrings and necklaces hang on this wire thing on my mirror) and pondering whether to get a jewellery box or something when it hit me that I could make some form of foldable jewellery case~! A crochet panel for hanging earrings, a panel with small pockets for necklaces and bracelets and a zipper panel for watches and bracelets~ So excited, but not too sure whether I’d have the time to make one for myself before I go. Though if it works out well maybe I’d make one or two for the store too~ ^_^

When I started crocheting this, it was meant to be just a panel to be some kind of pocket for a new bag, a way of blending what I sew and what I crochet together. And as time flew by, people asked me what I was crocheting, and as some kind of a jibe, I said, well, if I get that Japan Foundation Scholarship, I’ll crochet it into a scarf to bring to Japan.

Of course, when I actually got the Japan Foundation Scholarship, I figured, why not? So this little crochet panel is now around 80cm long and I’m finishing up my second ball of yarn, with two more waiting to be included in my first crocheted scarf. And it’s actually quite fun. I think it’ll be a rad scarf for spring in Japan.

I’m actually making this Japan trip a handmade one in more ways than one. Firstly, I’m going over to Japan and keeping some sort of “Craft Shopping in Osaka” blog when I’m there (I know someone did it for Tokyo! I read it! But there’s very little written on Osaka…), and peering at craft shops and yarn shops and fabric shops and zakka shops whilst I’m over there.

The other way is to outfit myself with handmade stuff! ^_^ Besides this scarf, I intend to make a white fleece hooded coat (actually a cosplay costume idea, the white Winter Coat costume for Zashiki Warashi from xxxHolic), sew a doll tote for myself as a carry-on luggage, sew a bag to keep all my crochet yarn and projects and hooks so I can crochet in Japan, and make a schedule book cover. I’m most likely unlisting that Pink Skulls and Strawberries beret to bring to Japan to wear myself (I’ve always had a soft spot for that beret), and if I have time, I intend to crochet/sew (?) armwarmers and a hat that would cover my ears.

A completely handmade holiday! ^_^ Will take pictures when each piece is done! ^_^

^_^ I’m a huge fan of very sweet very milky tea. (My friends comment that I don’t drink sweet milk tea, I drink sugar syrup and milk with tea flavouring). It keeps me on a sugar and caffiene high and is one of my favourite companions for long days and nights of sewing (and all the frustrations that come along with sewing… sewed the interfacing to the wrong side? ends don’t match up?).

Here you see it on my table on my lovely D.Gray-Man Rinaki coaster (from Reiko-chan~~~) and in my Megatokyo Mug of 3V1L. Stirred with a chopstick in true Singaporean fashion. ^_^

As a matter of fact, I’ve received a scholarship to go to the Osaka Japan Language Institute to pursue japanese language studies for a six weeks in May and June! This is wonderful news to me of course, since I adore Japan culture and language, and it also means I can go around Japan looking for interesting fabric to make interesting stuff with! I also intend to go poke around the zakka shops and draw in inspiration! Nothing beats seeing zakka in real life! So excited!

As a result though, I might not be able to create anything new for the shop when I go over, since I can’t possible lug my sewing machine over. If possible I’d try to make and list some more bags and hats before I go over, and Nat will take over shipping whilst I’m in Japan (I’d be blogging from Japan and I’m poking Nat to start making + listing + blogging too!). I am, however, bringing all my yarn and needles over, so I’d still be crocheting up a storm~ ^_^

Oh, and if anyone has any good recommendations for nice zakka/cloth/yarn shops in Osaka, do drop a comment!! ^_^