Art & Craft

Came across this fabulous website/blog today called Skip to my Lou.

I followed a link from the Guardian website on a story on how to make a zippered pouch. I'm also inspired by Skip to my Lou's one hour bag.

I love pouches of all sorts of shapes and sizes. Actually I am one of those girls who love to sew. I used to make tissue covers, cushion covers, and I can't remember what else. I couldn't keep all of them so I gave them away as gifts.

I love shopping for bags and pouches. I like the Japanese ones, then I found that the ones in Finland are wonderful too. People spend so much effort sewing each piece of lace or felt ornament. But €10 or more (up to €25 sometimes) for a little pouch is too much.

It's been a while since I used the sewing machine. When we left Singapore, I decided to leave it at my aunt's. The sewing machine is over 50 years old and it belonged to my grandmother. It was a present from my grandfather who had either won money at the lottery or horses or got his annual bonus. The original receipt showed 1 Jan 1955 or something. Apparently this was one of those few times my grandfather showed love to his wife.

When I was a little girl, I'd watch my grandma turn the handle with one hand while holding to the fabric with the other. She would place the machine on a table next to the window. With that machine she sewed clothes, pillow cases and blankets for the family. I was often called to put the thread through the eye of the needle and like that, I learnt to set up the thread network and work the machine.

During my grandma's final days, I asked for the sewing machine which was kept at an aunt's home at the time. I figured it was easier then than after she passed and we had to "divide the assets". I didn't care for the money - I just wanted the sewing machine.

I haven't opened the machine since we left Singapore the first time. It's now at another aunt's place for safekeeping. She reminded me just a couple of weeks ago to go get it and work on it in case it got rusty.

So, after looking at the interesting crafts on Skip to my Lou, I think I might bring the sewing machine home soon.

If you receive a pouch sometime soon, you'll know why.