The indispensable tools

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Not only spools of thread but also thread spools are amongst the treasured tools in my studio. They are indispensable!! What do I use a thread spool for? For my applique circles!!

My website is now online

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I published my website this afternoon. It still needs some touch up but that will come later. I want to sew too, and I missed my sewing machine;)

I have imported my blog to my website, too. That was quite an achievement;) It was a lot of work for someone who prefers to go to bed having a sore back from a whole day sewing than a sore hand/wrist from a whole day clicking the mouse!

Welcome to http://thongbaitatong.com/

Previous desings on my website

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I am including pictures of my previous pieces on my website as well. If you are interested to see them please check back my blog. I will update about my website here and let you know when it is published.

I am building my website

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It is nice to be your own boss. You have freedom to do whatever and whenever you want. This morning I cleaned up my studio. It is nice and dust free, for a change;). No sewing today, though.
With nice music in the background I am now clicking my way through the computer screen. I am making my website. This is what I have got so far.

Linen jacket now available for sale

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I have altered the design of the jacket a little bit, at least the sleeves are longer than those of the first jacket I made. It is now available for 135 dollars each. The shipping fee to outside Holland is 18 dollars. It is a little more expensive but it ships with insurance. These are the pictures of the very jacket that is now listed for sale.

Preparing for winter (Part 3)

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Here are the pictures of the white Animal Friendly Mink Scarf.

I sold both the brown and the white minks yesterday. I will be making more of them soon. But first just get the jackets done. The one I made last week will not be for sale because there are some details that are not as neat as I want them to be, not upto my standard;) Or maybe I sell it at a discounted price as a sample sale. Any way, I am making new ones now. Tomorrow I will list one of them for sale on Etsy.

My friend in her new dress

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My friend wore her new dress to a party last night. She sent me some pictures a few minutes ago. She looked so pretty! Nothing makes me happier than being able to dress someone and make them feel confident, happy and beautiful.

Preparing for winter (Part 2)

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Today I got back to the crochet scarves, my "Animal Friendly Mink Scarves".

No fur!!

No killing!!

I finished the body of both the white and brown minks. Only the head of the brown one is completed. It is a little difficult to crochet around the clip, which is used as the head of the mink. Where there is a will there is a way, however. Once it is done it is really worth it. I am showing the pictures of the brown mink first. When I finish the head of the white one I will post the pictures too.

My friend and her new dress

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I often update about my work with my friends and send them pictures of what I have just made. This way they are not too mad at me for abandoning our friendship and social life, because I have a good reason (excuse) to be busy. Three days ago one of my friends called me up and said she was going to go to a party in 5 days’ time and wanted me to make that brown dress for her. One of the drawings I have made and showed to my friends is a knee length, sleeveless dark brown dress. I have beautiful floral brown cotton fabric which I based my design on. And my friend wanted the very dress. I said I was busy with my new jackets. I don’t remember how the conversation exactly went but I know that by the time I hung up the phone I agreed to make the dress for her. This is my drawing of the dress she wanted.

Right after I finished up the linen jacket I began drawing the pattern for the dress. Then I realized that I did not have brown lining which would match the brown fabric I planned to use for the dress. So I called my friend up and told her what the problem was and offered her to use one of two beautiful 100% Italian silk fabrics I have. I had matching lining for both fabrics. We are so lucky here in the Netherlands that there are many kinds of high quality fabrics imported directly from the nearby country Italy to choose from in the Dutch fabric market. These are the fine silk fabrics which my friend could choose for her dress and she chose the peach/blue one.

I spent the whole day and whole evening yesterday plus a few hours this morning working on the dress. The result is so rewarding.

New Jacket (Part 3)

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The jacket is now finished. I will be making more of it in the next few days, with linen fabric and other fabrics and colors. They will be available for sale next week. Hopefully, I have time to make other sizes too.

New jacket (Part 2)

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I am using very beautiful heavy weight raw linen for the jacket. You could still smell the natural fiber, especially when you iron it. It smells so lovely and fresh. The cutting is now done. There are altogether 17 pieces. I spent about 7 hours only on this jacket today. It is looking promising!!!

From the garden

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I took some pictures of the garden today and would like to share a couple of them here.

These beautiful yellow flowers, Hypericum (Calcycinum) have been shining in our garden for a few weeks now. They are called Hertshooi in Dutch. There are not many of them left now. So I took some pictures today and I am so glad I have done that.

New Jacket (Part 1)

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I have not been sewing at all in the past week. I have soooo many ideas in my head. I have desinged 2 new bags and a new clutch but have not had a chance to make them yet. I want to make the Pea Bags again but I got carried away with the scarf. Today (it is Sunday) I want to begin drafting patterns for my new jacket. It took a few hours and I finally got the pattern for size M done.





Next week I should be able to complete the first sample of this jacket. I will post pictures of the completed scarves I made early this week, too.

Preparing for winter (Part 1)

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I do enjoy the sun and outdoors activities in the summer. I also love wearing summer clothes which are light and comfortable. There are times that I do not like the winter because you have to wear so many layers of clothes and it makes you look bigger than you really are! But then again, it is winter that I enjoy wearing my favourite boots, coats and scarves.

Taking a break from my sewing machine I begin to make scarves again. Some of them will be for myself and the rest will be listed for sale. Here are some pictures of work in progress.