Curious Cuties – Session #4

First, sorry that I skipped last week's Curious Cuties, and didn't really update the blog that much. I've been busy lately. However, I did want to write this week's Curious Cuties, because I do feel bad for last week's skip. So here goes!

This week's Curious Cutie is Jennifer, and her question was:

"I would like to know what do you do when it's winter and rainy, and the bag is made from a fabric that gets wet?"

You're referring to a problem that doesn't only happen at winter, but also at all days of the year, because water and wet stuff we have everywhere. They can cause the wetness inside the bag and outside the bag and the bag itself.

We usually make bags out of fabrics. Cotton, canvas, and such. And they're usually the kind that gets wet. But we can also find fabrics that are water repellent. Such as leather, vinyl, woolen fabrics (not all of them), and tweed. They're all naturally water repellent. There are more water repellent fabrics, but they don't really suit bags. .

But if you still want a nice looking fabric that you usually see as printed on cotton and such, there are ways you could turn them into water proof fabrics. You can spray them with or immersed in synthetic resins, metallic compounds, oils, or waxes. It's like another layer that protects the fabric beyond it.

That's for the outer side of the bag. The water won't get through.
But if you're only interested in adding a protection to the inner side of the bag, you can add rip stop nylon fabric. You can either sew it in just like a lining, or if it turns out to be too thin bag and needs more layers (because the nylon is very thin and light), you can use the usual lining and sew the nylon to it. It comes in many colors, and it will protect the lining beyond it, AND the stuff you put inside the bag. It wouldn't protect the outer side of the bag though.

At the end of a day, it's your choice what to use. You just need to figure out what part of the bag you want to protect from water, and what would be easier for you to work with. Also, I recommend not using heavier fabrics or coatings as they might be a little to heavy to carry and use. But that's your decision.

Thank you for your question, Jennifer!
If you're interested in asking questions and be on next week's section, please send your bag making questions and your name to: daphna@creativecutie.com

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If you don't know what Curious Cuties is about, read on here!

Curious Cuties – Session #3

This week's Curious Cutie is Laura, and her question was:

"What's the best way to handle curves?"

Hello, Laura. Your question is one of the things that it's best to pre-know, because many things we sew have curves. So it's always helpful having some systems.

The first thing I say, and it's pretty obvious, is practice and practice. With time you start getting the idea because your hands and even your machine will guide you almost automatically through the curve. Sometimes I'm amazed by that. It seems like the machine has a life of its own and is eager to help you.

You start very slowly, until you pick up the pace. It helps to always make sure the distance between the machine's foot and the fabric's edge is always even. Although, I find it almost easier to sew in a fast pace. Somehow it turns out better for me (go figure!).

Besides practicing, you have some tools to help you with straight seams. Such as a magnet that you place by the machine's foot/at fabric's edge, and it keeps you in the same line of sewing.

Or another option, just like you can do with straight seams that aren't curved, is marking the track. If you're sewing on the wrong side of the fabric (the not so pretty side), you can mark with a tailor's chalk or even a pencil. If it's on the right side of the fabric (the prettier side), use disappearing ink marking pen which will fade after a while. (To make it accurate, use a measuring tape to mark in a fair distance from the edge).

If you have more tips, please join in!


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Send Your Questions

Don't forget about this week's "Curious Cuties"!
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More about "Curious Cuties"

My New Bunny!

I got myself a new bunny the day before yesterday. And I love her to death, because she's so cute, so pretty, and so brave, she's not scared of anyone. Including my dog who thinks she's her baby and refuses to move away from the cage. She's even spent the night by it. When I get the bunny out of the cage, my dog can't stop licking her, thinking she's hers, her own daughter. I did not expect that. I thought she'd be jealous of her, or would want to attack her. But she's completely in love with her. I've never seen her so excited in her life!

The bunny's name is Gia, she's almost 2 months old, and probably the prettiest bunny I've ever seen. That's why I took some really good pictures of her, she's a real model.
I've never had a bunny before, and even though I did my research before buying her, I feel a little terrified that something might happen to her.

Sometimes she makes me laugh real hard. Like, sometimes she "falls" on the floor all of a sudden and lays on her side for a few seconds. It looks like she died all of a sudden. But she's like that.
I fixed her a small house for the cage and she loves being in it and take a nap. But she also moves it so she could get inside from the back side.

When I first brought her in and put her in her new cage, her new home, I could tell how happy she was. She ran from one side to another, checked out everything, went in and out of the house, etc. She finally has her own place and she's very happy.

The funny thing is, before I picked her up from the store, and at the time I was researching about bunnies, I saw a picture of a bunny that looks a lot like her, and knew I wanted something like that one. I couldn't believe that the first fantasy of the bunny I wanted, would actually come true. She's exactly like the first bunny I wanted.

I've been looking or so damn long for the right bunny. Or at least for a place to buy a bunny from. Couldn't find what I wanted anywhere near me. So I went farther and found her. Surprisingly, I saw her picture in an ad on the internet. It was an ad of a pet store and they had a few bunny pictures in it. And she was one of them. And I remember I thought to myself that I'd love that bunny. I didn't expect that this bunny would actually be at the store. So when I went there and saw her among all the other bunnies, I knew it was her from the picture. So that made my decision much easier. I didn't even pick up in my hands other bunnies. I knew it was her I wanted. I paid not such a low price, and she was so worth it. And the fact that she gets along with everybody, including with my dog, it made it right.

Before my parot died, I couldn't take on myself another pet. Though I've wanted a bunny for very long. So when my parot died, I knew this was my chance for another pet, for a bunny. I didn't know it would turn out so good. 'Cause this is an amazing bunny, and I already love her so much! And cannot wait till it gets even better.

Here she is:

Curious Cuties – Session #2

The second Curious Cutie session is here, on its second week.
This week's question was asked by Natalia, and that was her question:

"How long does it usually take you to make a bag?"

Good question. In the sense of it being complicated to answer, as it doesn't have only one answer.

Obviously it depends on the bag's design and the pattern making (if you include the pattern making in the time that it takes to make a bag). The time it takes to make a bag depends on many other things. It depends on the level, the complexity, the number and type of pieces I need to cut out, the details I want it to have (rings, eyelets, pockets, etc.), and the type of closure. Every bag has its own uniqueness, hence the different amount of time it takes to make it.

When I first started making bags, my first bags took maybe an hour. And those were crappy bags. During the learning of the bag making, I turned my bags more complicated, more unique and more… more, so did the hours that took me to make them.

Today, it doesn't take me less than 5 hours to make a bag, because I like doing them complex and with many details so the effort shows. Those 5 hours tops are pretty rare because of the reason of me wanting to make complicated bags which means more details, and those 5 hours ones are for bags that are pretty simple.

I have no problem making bags that are many many more hours. For reference, I made a bag once that took me 14(!) hours to make. That was my high score. The next in line was a bag pattern that I made only 3 times of them, and they took me 12 hours. And just to be clear, I can work on a bag for 12 hours straight, almost without eating, drinking or going to the bathroom. I don't think that's very healthy, but when you're addicted to something… I'm trying to let myself go a little. Take breaks for more than 5 minutes and even spread my work out to 2 and even 3 days.

Being a time obsessed, I always count everything I do. Including the amount of time it takes me to make bags. The clock is a very good friend of mine, even though I don't think all that matters. The bag making time is important to me, though, because I believe I need it, for future reference or something.

However, most of my bags take about 7-8 hours. Those are the bags that are detailed, but not THAT detailed. Pockets detail is something that I try to include in every bag, at least one, at least inside the bag. I also take a note that every type of straps/handles would take different times to make, as there are kinds that need more strips to make into straps, some have rings. Also the type of closure. If it's a zippered closure it obviously takes more time to make. Every detail like this counts. And each one can be as equally important as the bag design itself.

Thanks, Natalia!

Want to ask a question about bags? Don't even know what "Curious Cuties" is all about? To read more about it, go here!
To send questions you can either use the form in the same link above, or send me email to: daphna@creativecutie.com

Third session of Curious Cuties - next week. In the meantime, keep sending your questions, yours might get picked up next week, who knows!

Curious Cuties - The Weekly Question Will Be Picked Up Tomorrow

Tomorrow will be the second session of Curious Cuties. So you can keep sending me your questions!

If this is the first time your hear about it and don't know what this is about, go ahead and read previous posts from not long ago.

To send your questions, use the form that you can find in the Curious Cuties posts, or simply email them to me: daphna@creativecutie.com

Tomorrow I will pick the weekly question and post the answer here! So check in tomorrow to see if your question has been chosen this week. Even if not, it might get picked next times, so you can keep sending as many questions as you want, at any time!

Januar Designs' New Logo!

Wow, I'm so excited! It took time to find a good one that I actually liked and could afford, but eventually I bought this logo:

This is going to be Januar Designs' new logo from now on. It means it will show in some places, and will make my line more professional. I just felt I HAD to have a logo, that people will recognize my bags for. And I think it's super cute!
What do you think?

Bags as a Present Idea

Many girls and women like bags. And they can buy them for themselves. But wouldn't it be nice giving a handmade bag that YOU made as a present? Some would really appreciate the fact that you sat down, thought of a design and made the bag yourself. So why don't you?

As a bag maker, I know it's easier for me that instead of thinking what to buy as a birthday present and go to the store, consider, debate, I can make a bag especially for that person. And especially when I know that person likes bags, and likes MY bags. And I know they'll be happy to get my handmade bag for free. Free as in a gift. That's why I'm happy that I have a useful job/hobby. And that's why I'm happy I didn't stop and quit back at the beginning of it. And not only that I can make it by myself, I can also make whatever I think fits. If I'm at a store, trying to decide which item to buy, I usually end up buying the closest thing to what I'm looking for. But when I make it myself, I get to decide what I really want and need. I can make it the way I know the receiver would want it. Big plus, huh?

Also, some people would appreciate handmade things more. It's much more personal than something you buy. And they know you’ve put many thoughts on it. Let alone the work you did on it. That shows more care, that you actually put some work and not only brain and money on the gift. And every year/event you can come up with different designs, there are many more choices, because YOU choose the choices.

Even if it's someone else's design. Even if it's someone else's handmade bag. there is something in handmade bags that can be really appreciated. Because it's all in one: it's functional, it shows how much you care, it saves money and strength, and you have many more choices.

There can also be more items included. You can make a set of bag, wallet, make-up pouch, purse organizer and more! That kind of gift you will not see at the stores! And if you make it especially for that person, there are more chances it would be the perfect gift. Sometimes I decide to give someone a bag gift from the collection I already have. But sometimes I'd make one that I think would be perfect for that person, and I wouldn't skimp. There are also people who buy my bags as gifts for someone they know. That's why I better make the bags as good as I can, because I don't only sell them to the person who buys them, but also to the one who receives it in the end.

Out of many crafts, handmade bags have a very big potential to be not only a fun hobby, but also to be received as a present. Bags is something people use all the time, they don't only love them, they also need them. They're not only a decoration. And it's something people around will see, because you carry it around. And because it's handmade, you put a lot of thought and work in it. Bag making – can be a big plus when birthdays, Christmas or anything, come. So better getting better and better, so your gifts will be better!