Upcycle my way here!

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know... I have been "missing" again.. I am really sorry..

Well, while I was "missing", I found an old flame burning once again.. the flame of passion in sewing and creating something new, particularly, in upcycling old clothes that has been occupying the lowest drawers, or the highest shelf in the wardrobe.

Well I had the desire to sew, but whilst my mom was active, I couldn't as we would be fighting over the machine. PLUS, she is a perfectionist, everything has to be in a certain manner before anyone can touch her machine. So, now that she had retire from sewing for others because of her failing eyesight and sense of touch, I now have more control over the machine and can make a mess. However, I discovered that when you are into sewing, the mess really gets into you. So I ended up more and more like my mom, picking up nonsensical stash that was in the way (even it is not!) and put it into the stash trash. Then the scissors has to be in a certain way, at a certain position and if it is not, it spoils the whole momentum of sewing. This is TRUE!

I am far from a perfectionist, meticulous maybe, but never a perfectionist, so when it gets into me, I bet you it killed her when we mess her stuff while she was sewing back in the day, eh? Poor mom, sorry!!

Well, back in the day, my mom would usually watch me and breathe down my neck as I sew to point my mistakes - every SINGLE one of them! And most times, she get impatient and her OCD/Perfect self will push me aside and take over the whole project. So I learnt nothing but to complain and let her take over.

Now, it is different because of her failing sight and sense of touch, she HAVE to let me help her and she HAVE to let me learn. She let me do all the work, and if I am ever stubborn to not listen, she will still have the last laugh when I blurred myself out because it didnt go as planned. After she is all done with the cheeky smile and the evil laugh or the sarcastic remarks, she would come to me and tell me where I go wrong - AGAIN. So ya, NOW I appreciate and REALLY appreciate her correcting me. I learn a lot no matter how I deny.

So, what have I made so far? Well, apart from buying fabrics and more fabrics, I have done the following:

Pajama Pants

I have been holding on to this idea for many years! It was an almost fail - thank my mom for spotting my mistake early. hehehe.. I love this pants!!! LOVE it that I made a second pair, and probably will be making more!

Pin Cushion + Stash Trash

This is so practical! I love it and I use it every time I am using the machine. I feel that all seamstress should have this made for themselves!

Fabric Baskets

 Ah! These are my favorites! Easy (and addictive) to make and very very practical! It now holds all my sewing needs, my fabric stash, my scirssors, my rulers, chalks, pins, etc. And once I get my hands on great interfacing material, I will be making much more than just a pair!

A caddy

This I made though I doubt I'd use it (at least not yet). It is a little flimsy as I didnt have any interfacing, but a good try! This can be used on a stroller or the back of any chair!

Heat/Cold packs

My shoulder and back were aching, so I figured I neeeded these. I made two, one to keep in the office and one to keep at home. It was indeed very handy! I used uncooked rice and mixed it with essential oil (I used lavendar + lemon for home and lavendar + peppermint at office).

An instant hijab

That was a little proud moment, I shall say! Although it was not the right fabric (I bought poly cotton and it was stiff - needless to say! Not like my mom didnt warn me). I like it anyway, it proves me that I can actually sew my own instant hijab, and I will indeed make more once I get my hands on the CORRECT fabric - people are advising me to get Rosepeach, Bsline, Cotton Voile or Sildoll material. We shall see what I can get in the next fabric shopping day, okay?

And last night, I finally braved myself to get back to my upcycling habit and did this:

Old jeans = New Skirt

Yup, I upcycled an old jeans, and turn it into a new skirt, just by using 1 yard of fabric. It turns out pretty, I should say! This, my mom havent seen, she'd force me to her serger the next time I want to do this, which means I need to precut the add on fabric. That scares me! Haha.. I am always afraid of precutting my fabric and serge them in fear it became too small.. This one I cheated by placing a rectangular piece beneath the skirt, pin them all up and sew them in place and then proceed to cut the excess and sew in the hem in place. Oh wells, I guess we all have to learn when one is living in with a prefectionist eh?

So wish me luck in this new journey! I have thousands of idea in my head, but hardly any time. Led someone to say that I am way to hype!

I guess I am meant to create stuff... Just that I have not that much luck in selling anything. Most of my businesses has no sales, I couldnt even tell why.. because the next person who came to me, took my items and sell it off no problem at double the price. And yet I struggle. Even with ads, even with promotions, and engagement... I failed. I was probably just not made to sell, but just to create, and help. Maybe.. And of course, I am meant to write and share!

So.. The long weekend is here.. What's your weekend plan??

Me? I am just gonna dig up old shirts and make them into skirts, maybe? We'll see..

Have a great long weekend, and oh! Happy Labour Day!

Wassallam,
Jun