DIY leather purse

i made a leather purse today!

after surfing the web, i finally settled on a simple design.

i hand stitched the sides and then put a snap closure.

the sewing took me less than 30 minutes but installing the closure took hours.

i had to figure out how to install the female part of the snap.  

since i don't have this Snap-All/Rivet Setter...

...i cheated and just super-glued the snap. it worked!

if i had the setter, i'm sure it's supposed to be flat and not elevated. 

but it's still good and i like it!

hope it doesn't come off :D

update (may 3, 2012)

it survived the trip! 

shopping discoveries

i just discovered there are better choices of shoes in Rustan's than in boutiques! 

in fact, i wanted to buy 5 pairs but i stopped myself. 

I searched the internet to find the best flats for walking. 

Cole Haan has the Nike Air technology 

which makes it comfy for walking. 

Cole Haan Air Bacara Ballet flats.

 I tried it and it's true! i have yet to walk miles in it though.

Aerosoles Feature Film in dark orange

i also discovered Zatchels, satchel bags handmade in London. 

very nice designs! 

 Ladybug Cracked Leather Satchel at 109 pounds with handle

Light Red Distressed Leather Barrel Bag for 45 pounds

how nice are they?!

a shop in FB is selling them for reasonable prices. you can also order from them

but it will take 2 months before you can get your item. 

you can opt to order directly from the Zatchels website 

but shipping to the Philippines will cost you 30 pounds (P1,700).

i think it's better to buy quality shoes, bags, clothes that will last a long time than 

having lots of items in your closet that you will have to throw away

 after 2 or 3 uses (just like Forever 21 clothes).

bag lining DIY

i don't buy bags from Bayo but i saw this blue faux leather bag in their shop at Rockwell just before Christmas. it was only less than P800 

even before i brought it in Bacolod for the holidays (Dec. 27 onwards), it was starting to fall apart. 

look at that velcro closure in the lining! it's actually causing the lining to disintegrate.  i'm not an expert but from the looks of it, i think it's a wrong choice of fabric with velcro.

so while spending the last of 2011 in Bacolod, i was thinking that when i get back i would definitely change the lining so i could still use the bag.  and today, i found the time to do just that. here it is now!

i just got the measurements of the old lining to make the new one.

i'm not a very good seamstress but so is the one who did the lining of this bag in the first place! when i took the whole thing out, i saw that they didn't even use overcasting to prevent fraying. and guess what, this bad seamstress did!

advice to Bayo, don't get bags from this supplier again for your loyal customers. as for me, I'm not going to buy a bag from you again.

DIY canvas sling bag

i made my first canvas bag using my sister brother!

i used the rubber stamp i bought from Deovir and the fabric paints.

then i decorated it with Coca Cola metal bottle caps using Fabric Mod Podge

i painted the cotton rope blue and just tied it along the sides. 

that way, it's easy to adjust the height. 

it's so simple to make especially with a sewing machine!

next time, i wish to make a more complicate bag :)

on bags

which one looks more expensive? 

this one

or this

the Goyard bag costs P75,000 (about $1,700)! personally, i think you're just buying the brand. buy it HERE if you're crazy (and rich)!

the second one which is a unique one-of-a-kind recycled leather bag only costs $70 and is already sold :( but the good news is you can find other bags like this one HERE. 

if i had $1,700 to spend, i'll be able to buy so many nice things on Etsy! :D

my first DIY canvas tote bag

the unfinished product

Materials:

canvas cloth
old faded jeans
needle and thread
scissors
ruler
pencil

this one's quite easy to make but it took me about 9 and a half hours to do it BY HAND!!!
my fingers ache as i type this. i wouldn't advise anyone to hand sew a bag! i survived with minor injuries

i'm not happy with the design. it looks too boring. but it's the simplest design i could make with no sewing machine. i have no energy to paint and design it now so that will have to do. but at least i know the basics now and can experiment more next time.

one thing i realized is, i need a sewing machine! gotta buy this one.

Brother CS6000i Sew Advance Sew Affordable
60-stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine whew!

it comes with a free table and a hard case for transporting.