Pandora, Pandora, Where Lies Your Charm?

More and more people around me are talking about Pandora, the jewelry store founded in Denmark.

Its charm bracelets especially are making ladies fall head over heels with them in Singapore. My sis-in-law had her husband buy her one recently that cost about S$300. Even a secondary school girl whom I know owns one laden with silver charms and Murano beads. We heard that she sheepishly told her somewhat-clueless dad that it cost less than S$100, when in fact that single piece of arm candy had set her mum back by at least S$600. ~ Wow!!

Now that got me interested to create something myself. Here are two of my first Pandora-inspired bracelets.

The first is a pink leather one with some faceted glass charms, silver crowns and faux diamond rings. 

This second one has a cute bird house complete with a tiny bird in flight, silver rose charms and more.
 

Hello Kitty Sewing Frenzy

Those who know me will know how much of a Hello Kitty fan I am.

But if you think I'm a fanatic, my cousin, Mei must be obsessed. Even I am amazed by her jaw-dropping collection. Think entire drawers and shelves dedicated to different categories of Hello Kitty products such as schedule books, pens, plushies, etc. She even goes to the extent of specially buying luggage bags just to store her prized items.

Recently, she proudly showed me her stash of Hello Kitty fabric - little pieces of printed material used for handicraft. My eyes brightened and all kinds of sewing projects immediately ran through my mind.

Taking two pieces of fabric from her, I volunteered to help her sew a couple of small items.

First was this pink Japanese style tote bag, inspired by hand-sewn bags carried by elementary school students in Japan. There are even magazines dedicated to the craft. As there was only enough of the Hello Kitty fabric to make the two straps and the exterior of the bag, I lined the inside with some of my own cotton material - recycled from my old Ikea curtains!

Next was this set of two all-purpose pouches. They can be notebook covers or used to store receipts, cards or small items like the set of Hello Kitty hairclips I found at H&M (centre photo).

With the same white floral patterned fabric, I also sewed a mini cloth basket, which is small enough to hold two mandarin oranges. It's the same Ikea curtain material on the inside again. Looks like I'll be using that a lot for quite a while since I have so much of it!

Once I got started on sewing, I just couldn't stop and this chopstick/cutlery pouch was another of my recent 15-minute sewing projects. The green jungle print fabric is contrasted with the yellow Hawaiian print, both Hello Kitty of course.

In the mood for lace & pearls again

Rummaging through my fabric stash, I found some grey polyester fabric and lace (actually extra scapes cut from my Ikea lace curtains!). They were just perfect for making this sweet-looking detachable lace collar. With a ribbon to tie at the front, the collar will add a little Jane Eyre whimsicality to any boat-necked blouse or tee.

The collar was machine-sewn with the piece of lace sandwiched between two identical pieces of grey fabric, leaving a small gap to turn it inside out and then stiched flat. The pink faux pearls were hand-stiched to the edges, a painstaking job that took me more than 2 hours.

And then, diving into a completely different style, I also made another cutsey collar with my favourite Hello Kitty fabric. Doesn't she look absolutely KAWAII~~~~ with tanned skin and dressed like a Hawaiian hula-hula girl?

Cute Craft Projects with Rilakkuma

The thrill of shopping is uncovering gems or snagging good buys when you least expect them... and in places you'd never thought of.

During a trip to the Bugis area barely a week ago, I chanced upon a nondescript textile shop at the corner of Cheng Yan Place and Queen Street. The shop is located at the HDB block right behind Bugis+ (formerly Illuma) and specialises in selling cloth scraps, i.e. small pre-cut pieces of fabric, probably from the last metres of textile reams.

My eyes immediately fell on a piece of uber-cute cotton fabric with big Rilakkuma and strawberry print and I knew I just had to have it.

After spending a delightful weekend in front of the sewing machine with it, here are some of the craft projects I managed to devise - a small tote bag, a table cloth and a cushion. Take a look!

     

Pearl & Lace Detachable Collar

The fashion trend for girlish detachable collars has only recently reached Singapore. I was shopping in Macau a few years back and had already seen them being sold there.

Since I had a stash of coral-hued faux pearls, some lace from some curtain fabric and felt cloth, I decide to try my hand at making one myself. It was the first time I attempted such beadwork and I imagine a strict handicraft teacher would have quite a lot to say about the crooked line of pearls and bits of exposed thread. It really makes me admire those skilful hands who can work magic on those intricate Peranakan beaded slippers!

Nevertheless, I was overall quite satisfied with my finished product! Now, to look for an outfit to wear this with...

Green@Uluru

While Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is defined by rich ochre hues, the area around this famous sandstone formation is actually a "green haven".

Boasting over 416 species of native plants in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park alone, you'll be surprised how rich in flora and fauna this part of the Northern Territories - the central heart the Australian Outback - can be. Like an oasis in the desert, the Mutitjulu Waterhole at the base of Uluru serves as a critical source of water for the aboriginal people. Hidden amidst the creeks too are plants that thrive on rain that falls into the catchment pools.

This necklace, made with a similar glass bead used in my earlier Uluru design (but this time in green), is a tribute to the resilient flaura and fauna that gives Uluru such natural beauty, and a wonderful part of God's creation! Clasping the striking painted glass bead are small two-toned blue glass baubles, even tinier azure Swarovski Elements and acrylic ice-cubes, adding a cool factor to the overall very demure design.

:: S$10.00
:: How to order

Uluru

What colour will Uluru be when you see it? Will it be deep red, as it catches the first rays of sunrise framing its 348m ancient sandstone formation or a different colour at another time of day or year? Located in the centre of Australia, this amazing World Heritage Site is undoubtedly the country’s most iconic natural wonder and the world's most massive monolith.

Inspired by the mystical beauty of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, the square painted glass bead on this necklace captures your imagination as much as the ancient rock paintings drawn by the Anangu people - the traditional landowners of Uluru. A single red glass bead dangling at the tip brings to mind the flaming sun as it rises and sets beyond the horizon of the Australian Outback.

Many stories surround the massive monolith, passed down generations through Tjukurpa, or known by non-Aborigines as“dreamtime stories”. Whether you've set foot yourself on Uluru's arid terrain, or explored the famed 36 rock domes at the nearby Valley of the Winds in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the awe-inspiring Red Centre... and perhaps, this little piece of jewelry... are definitely the stuff of dreams.

:: S$10.00
:: How to order