Origami Lotus

A little warm up before I start working on a laptop sleeve order!
Love, n

Doodling

A little stressed out at work, so I drew these little birds to accompany me.. Haha. Actually I saw something online and decided to give it a try. Maybe I can make a stamp out of this?
Love, n

Wall Art

I have been thinking of filling up this empty wall in my bedroom for a while now. I liked the minimalist look, but I think it's time for a change :)
Some interesting wall art I found...

Source

Source

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Source

Pretty awesome, eh?

love, n

Leathercraft Workshop for Beginners

I came across Tyrwhitt General Company list of workshops the other day, and was delighted to find that they offer Leathercraft workshop! Without hesitation (even though it was $79 for just 2 hours to make a simple namecard holder), I signed up right away and attended in the next few days at Ion's B4 NOISE exhibition.

It's really not a location I would have preferred to attend a workshop at. It's noisy, and children come up next to you to look at what you're doing (not that I don't like kids, but it's really distracting when you have a really sharp penknife in your hand).

Colin led the whole workshop, although it was another guy doing the hands-on example. We were provided with a scrap of leather, a template on cardstock that wasn't very well-drawn (I ended up having to adjust to make it symmetrical) and necessary tools.

It was quite a big class - I understand that they don't normally do such a large class but because this is just a very simple workshop, they squeezed more people in, but to make up for it, they had quite a few staff always walking around to help us out.

The workshop started off with the usual dreaded awkward but-maybe-kinda-necessary ice-breaker with everyone introducing themselves. Then we dived into making the namecard holder. It's a very simple design, beautiful on its own. It also shows off my not-so-awesome knife skills. Haha! They also taught us stamping although I didn't stay around to try it out on my piece. I like it as it is. 

I was a little disappointed to know that stitching of leather will only be taught in the Intermediate level. I'm not sure if I'm ready to spend so much again...

I've always always always loved leathercraft, but what held me back all this time was that it's really quite impossible to buy scraps of leather in Singapore. Overseas shipping is kinda costly for me, so... And leathercraft has always intimidated me. Maybe I'll give it another go once I get my hands on some good leather scraps!

I wonder what's my next workshop... :)

love, n

Santa Claus is comin... wait a minute...

I know it's crazy, but... I'm already thinking of Christmas!
It's my favorite time of the year (besides sweet April, of course, because that's my birth-month!), and also the most stressful month of the year.

I hope to do a Christmas collection, and maybe launch it in November so hopefully I get some orders in. I have been really slack in updating my works, and I have no better excuses but only to admit that I'm terrible at time management. AND! the most minimal amount of discipline. Haha!

I had a thematic gift-wrap last Christmas, check it out here:

And some ideas for this year's:

As you can see, I really like polka dots and pom poms ^^

Happy Monday! (nobody likes Mondays, but since we can't really escape it, let's have a more positive take on it.)
love, n

Rubber Stamping Workshop

It's quite uncommon to have such workshops in Singapore. I get envious whenever I see fun workshops from overseas blogs. So when I found out that Fictive Fingers does workshops, I jumped at one almost immediately!
It's a 2-hour workshop at their new studio in Chinatown. I get to bring home 2 carving tools, 1 large rubber block, my stamped A3 paper and a strip of linen fabric, and of course my completed stamp.

 a hugeeeeee blackboard at the staircase landing. it's beautiful!

I did a sorta medium-sized stamp. I doodled the leaf just this morning, after looking at some craft blogs for inspiration.

 Using fabric paint on linen cloth... I'm hoping to explore this for my pouches and totes :)

Using stamp ink on paper...

I liked the workshop! It's great to meet and chat with a fellow crafter (Hani) who takes her work seriously. Fictive Fingers is involved in Handmade Movement Singapore, and I hope you can support them!
Check out their facebook!

love, n

My Boulangerie set

Finally! This post is long overdue, but I've finally found the time to get myself some craft glue and complete this project, and to post this up!

These yummy looking miniatures are made of air-dry clay - no baking needed! I think just this fact alone is really great because there's so much less hassle, and it feels really good to work with. (not that I have had any experience with polymer clay to compare with...)

Which is your favorite? Mine's the baguette. From the moment I started making it (which was the first among the six), I fell in love with it, even after the set is done.

The kiwi danish took more time and effort to make, plus the glossy part needed extra time to dry. So Pei Li packed them up for me and I glued them on after it was dry.

I thought the aging of the board was quite challenging because I wanted it to look natural. In my honest opinion, it's not as good as I wanted it to be. You should take a look at Pei Li's!

I love every part of this project.

I came across Pei Li's beautiful creations on Etsy. She's on Luulla too!

To thank her for the enjoyable workshop she conducted for me, I sent her a pouch :) (silly me, I didn't even take a nice photo of it before sending it out, and have to borrow it from her blog, hee hee)

Thanks for reading, and I hope I've inspired you in some way :)

love, n

First clay-making session!

I've just come back from my first session with Pei Li. I enjoyed myself very much, although my neck does ache a little now, haha :)
Today we painted the board, added some aged look to it. Shaped the clay using the mould. The mould was given to me. I didn't know it was provided, so it was a very pleasant surprise!
It may not sound like much, but just shaping the clay (even using the mould) took me 2 full hours!
She will be guiding me on painting techniques and applying them to the clay on my next session. I cannot wait!

Oh, did I also mention that she's very nice? Patient and very clear in her explanations. Thanks Pei Li!

This Raspberry Jelly is new to her collection, and I'm absolutely thrilled to have this as a gift!

love, n

Namecard fabric case

Going for $6.90 (inclusive of local normal postage)

Limited stocks!

Dragonfly print fabric is linen cotton from Japan :)

love, n

Moshi's Jeepers!

Hi guys!

You might not be familiar with Moshi Monsters...

A friend's birthday is coming up and she loves Moshi Monsters. Her favorite character is this tiger Jeepers. It looked fairly straightforward, so I decided to try making a plush for her!

(photo source)

I went Daiso to get some felt (really worth it. $2 for a huge piece!)

With some fabric glue, needle and thread, and gutsy free-hand-drawing (since I don't have a working printer at home)... Ta da~

I only managed the head part, so I guess this looks like a cushion more than a plush. I was contemplating on adding the tail but without the body, it seems a little odd.

What do you think?

:)

love, n

Embroidered!

Hello you!

I really enjoy embroidering / handstitching words and little designs like this bee here... I used to think it was quite a daunting task. But I guess it's the same for every thing you do, you get better as you practice :)

I really like the bee.

I've tried to iron this pouch to no avail. :( I wonder what's wrong... Why won't the fabric straighten up and look pretty for my camera???

Notice that this pouch has a metal zip instead of the usual colorful normal ones? It was my sister whom gave me the idea that metal zips might give a pouch an entirely different look, and I think it does! (of course, it's also more expensive!)

Do you like this? If you have a design you really like in particular, and would like it embroidered and made into a pouch, let me know! I can customize ;)

<3, n

Polka Dot Bow Giveaway

I'm closing the little giveaway!

I have decided to make this current batch into brooch-pins. However, the next batch will be even more awesome! I will be making double bow, with wire in the bow so the shape can be held when it's worn as a hair clip. Right now, the bows are flat, so they look better as pin-ons :)

Pin it on your bag, blouse, anything!

Those that took part in the giveaway are:

1. Tan Keith

2. Chan Fong Ying

3. Shanice Foh

4. Margaret Tan

5. Joanna Schwarz

6. Noraini Ibrahim

7. Jenefer Wong

8. Janna Sweetpea

9. Sonia Tan

10. Nicholas Issac Nakajima Yu

Here's the random roll:

Congratulations winners!

- Margaret

- Jenefer

- Joanna

Thank you for your support!!!

Please drop me an email at [ madewithlove.n@gmail.com ] with your postal address!

love, n

Mini Giveaway!

I have a little dilemma here and would need some of you to help me out! I'm making these lovely fabric bows but I don't know if I should make them with normal badge-pins or hairclips.

Let me know and you may stand a chance to win one!

Below are the details :)

Mini Giveaway!

How to win:

1. Leave a comment (on my facebook page wall post) to let me know if these should be made into brooch/pins or hairclips!

2. "Like" this page!

Hurry! 3 to give away :) Luckydraw will be on 20th March!

Good luck!

love, n

Bunny Plush & I

Because I'm random. Just because.

3 little facts about me:

1. I use alot of tape. ALOT.

2. I hope to watch Phantom of the Opera live one day. Please come to Singapore again soon!

3. I have zero discipline when it comes to food.

4. I love bunnies and I just made a plushie:

So you noticed I mentioned 4 facts instead. Ha... Sorry guys, a little spaced out today.

Anyway, I got the inspiration of this bunny being supported by its tail from all those many iphone casings that has features that come out to act as a stand for the phone.

I really like this bunny so... I'm not selling it! But of course, I'm more than happy to make another one if anyone is keen.

Email me at madewithlove.n@gmail.com if you are keen!

love, n

Something that made me smile.

Last year, I made a pouch for a friend who lives on Railay, Krabi (Thailand)

She was our rock-climbing guide, a few years back, and we became friends. We've always been going back to where she works whenever we're there to climb.

She made these chalk bags for us!

We haven't used them yet because they are just too pretty...

So when we went back a few days back to Railay, I noticed that she was using the pouch everyday! She carried it everywhere she went. It made me really happy :)

See how dirty and worn-out it got to! Haha

Needless to say, I'm making her another as a gift!

love, n

Cute Plush!

so i saw this one day...

and it was TOO CUTE to be ignored!

and so... i made myself one!

Because it was so adorable, I gave it to my Valentine :)

love, n

Stamping madness!

Hello people!

I've always wanted to try making my own stamps from wooden blocks and rubber pads. Yesterday, I found a rubber pad from Daiso meant to carve out your own stamp!

I grabbed one right away and brought out my tools...

Tools, you say?

Well, you need a sharp knife (not too big, depending on the size of the stamp) and alot of patience :) Those curved knife meant for carving would be awesome too.

First, I drew the picture I want on the rubber pad with a pen. I chose something real simple.

Then you start carving!

I wanted the entire bird outline, so I had to carve out the inside too. The eye part was a little tricky.

Just carve out the rest cleanly so that the ink doesn't get on unwanted parts of the stamp.

Then, find an ink pad, or you could just paint it... or even run your marker (that doesn't dry too quickly) over it and stamp away!

This birdie is my first attempt.

(Whale) you be my valentine?

My 2nd attempt! I'm trying lots more, so I need more rubber :) to save money, you can always buy erasers in bulk. Look up on craft blogs for inspirations on what to carve.

When I get better at this, I'll carve a "love, n" stamp :)

love, n