Coin purse

As today is 29th February, I told myself that I have to blog about something to commemorate this once-every-four-years event. :) So today I wanted to share a recent craft project that I've completed. I made a coin purse using my own fabric design (available here for purchase via Spoonflower).

I specifically picked this pattern and coin purse frame thinking that using glue to attach the fabric to the frame would make everything simpler. Wrong! The glue made everything fiddly... :P Despite the glue mess, the coin purse turned out quite pretty. So I'm happy. :)

What recent craft project have you completed? Have you ever made a coin purse before? I would love to hear your tips on attaching the frame to the fabric or any other tips! ^^

Love,
from me to u.

Back to knitting....

My travel to Ireland was intended for my PhD work. However, the travel to Ireland, Dubai and Abu Dhabi actually re-ignited my love and passion for textiles. I love the rich culture and history that permeated in these places I visited. The architecture and vivid colours of these places are simply inspiring. It also helps that along the way I encountered amazing textile places like Avoca Handweavers in Ireland and the souks (markets) of Dubai. Anyway, I've gone back to my knitting and it feels good. :)

This is my current knitting project. Knitted with Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran, purchased in Ireland. I'm knitting it together with Adorn Silky Yarn 8ply which I purchased from Wool Baa on Saturday to compliment the lovely Irish yarn. :)

I will be featuring some of the knitting shops I found when I was in Ireland and more on Avoca Handweavers in my next few posts. So stay tuned! ^^

Love,
from me to u.

Spoonflower's free swatch day - 18th August 2011 (EST)

It's Spoonflower's free swatch day for 24 hours between noon EST on Thursday, August 18, and noon EST on Friday, August 19.

This will be a good opportunity to get a free swatch from Textile by me.u. Read more about the fantastic offer from Spoonflower here.

Love,
from me to u.

Here's something I've prepared earlier....

About two weeks ago, I managed to complete a major deadline. To reward myself I did a bit of crafting. I made myself an apron from a piece of fabric that I bought two years ago and ribbons that I got a year ago. Since the study started, I've let the crafty side of things slide....

But I'm happy that I've been able to complete a project... never-mind that it was one year ago that I planned it. ;;^^

Do you have a craft check-list? I certainly do, and unfortunately it will be a while before I can tick things off.... >.<

Love,
from me to u.

Textile by me.u

Branching out in Blue printed on linen-cotton canvas.

Branching out available in blue, coral and black.

Dashing away!, available in red and yellow. Printed on quilting weight.

All these dots! available in red and green, printed on quilting weight.

Branching out in coral printed on organic cotton knit, and Dashing away! in yellow.

I am really excited about my own range of textiles that can purchased via Spoonflower. A little bit of history as to why this is very exciting for me. I actually graduated with BA in Textile Designs (before I digressed to business, now science hah!), and I used to freelance while working at an ice-cream store then a yarn shop after I graduated. As much joy as I got from freelancing a couple of years back, I was more interested in producing my own stuff (which led me to my business degree) so I'm really excited that a platform such as Spoonflower is enabling my dream of having my own textile range.  So here it is!

Textile by me.u is available via Spoonflower here.

Love,
from me to u.

Spotlight on - Katuki, Nakazaki-cho, Osaka (Part 3)

If you are ever in the Nakazaki-cho area in Osaka, you absolutely have to find Katuki. This amazing and precious shop belongs to Katsuki-san. Inside this little shop, you'll find a treasure trove of antiques and hand-made items. What I absolutely adore about this place is that there are just so many things to see. The antiqued kimonos are just beautiful. It is a textile and antique collector's dream shop! Katsuki-san is also very nice! ^^ When I left, she gave me a little rabbit toy with her best wishes which I will treasure always. :)

Unfortunately, the time I spent there was simply not enough to really explore the shop due to other plans for the day. (I was going back to Australia the next day). I would love to be back there again the next time I'm in Japan. ^^

Katsuki-san also has a map of all the shops in the Nakazaki-cho area. The places that I managed to find when I was there was just the tip of the iceberg... Nakazaki-cho is definitely a place to visit when in Osaka! ^^

Visit Katuki's website here!

Love,
from me to u.

Back to knitting

Finally got back to knitting after the summer season. Although, it wasn't much of a summer, it did take me a while to get back to knitting. Having friends who want to get back into it is certainly encouraging to finish old projects and start new ones. I had a blast inviting the girls over for a knitting morning tea. Above are images of my new green scarf (remember my green obsession?) knitted in diagonal checks. Will share the pattern when the scarf is complete.

Meanwhile, if you want to see more lovely images of the knitting session through Miss Anna's lenses, head over to Much Love. ^^

All scattered about...

Scattered - Copyright 2006 - jmh (me.u)

... would be how I described my path in my career. I started off being a textile designer but with serendipity at play, I'm now doing my post-grad in a completely different field. Obviously though the passion for pretty designs is still in my life, hence the inception of me.u (and all that other shopping obsessions). 

Going back to my roots as a textile designer (that 4 year degree should be worth something!), I'm happy to announce that I will be launching my own textile collection...yay~!

Once everything comes into place, I'll update you again. Meanwhile do stay tune! ^^

PS. The me.u facebook page has reached 100 likes... a give-away is coming soon to commemorate this exciting event. Again, keep a look out for it! ^^