Voyage Passport Wallets

Hello, 

This week I am pretty productive. I made a few wallet orders and then went on to finish two Voyage Passport Wallets. Last year I did not shop much for fabrics, instead, I was using what I had in my (huge) stash. Maybe I will let go of a few fabrics from my collection at some point of time this year. I just need some time to get organized. So, stay tuned! 

Now back to the two voyage wallets that are made from my stash. The first one was the peach lantern wallet. I think I got the fabric from the Moda shop in Osaka. The lantern design is very cute with the ribbon bows, etc. Not sure why I bought it in the first place though, but I am glad that I did! It reminds me of Chinese New Year. 

Lantern design passport wallet

The second one is the Alice in Wonderland Passport wallet. I am so happy I decided to make the wallet from this linen fabric. I was making a kodomo wallet using the same fabric for an order and decided to make a passport wallet with it. 

This time I also decided to make a curvy one because I have a bias binding ready. And I love how it turned out. I think I will make a few more with a curvy edge. The wallet closed with a snap button, I am thinking of making another one with a zippered closure.  What do you think?

Alice in Wonderland Passport Wallet

This voyage passport wallet can hold up to 4 passports (2 passports in each sleeve) plus 2 cards. Personally, I love to carry this one when I am traveling solo. It fits nicely in my purse. 

These wallets are available in my Etsy shop as well as on my Website. I've been making a few changes to the website in the past few weeks, like I merged back the fabric section into the website. Hopefully,  I now can update the listing more regularly. Having a small business is not as glamorous as it looks on Instagram. But as long as we enjoy it, it's worth it! 

A few more passport holders

Thank you for stopping by today! 

Happy sewing!

Elvira

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VIDEO TUTORIAL - SAFARI TRAVEL WALLET

Safari Travel Wallet Video

Hello, 

Finally, the video tutorial for the Safari Travel Wallet is up on my YouTube Channel. I hope the video can help to visualize how to make the wallet from the beginning. I am trying to get a better angle as I recorded the video and also try not to skip the process. The video is sped up  2 to 3 times from the original. If you want to watch it at a slower speed, you can do so by clicking the setting on your YouTube screen.  

The original pattern only has instructions for flap closure which is pretty easy, but as many customers like zip-around closure more, I decided to make the video for the zip-around version. If anyone wants to see the flap closure version, I will record one when I make my next wallet. Do let me know in the comment.

Cute Zipper End 

Zip Around Travel Wallet

I really enjoy recording the video and I really hope to share more sewing tutorials in the future. If you heard some funny noise in between the videos, that's because my son was watching a football match, or sometimes, someone came and asked something in the middle of the recording. Maybe I should put a sign like "recording in progress, do not disturb" LOL

I hope you find the video useful and you can understand the process of making the wallet. I'm looking forward to your feedback! 

Thank you for stopping by,

Elvira

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Quirky Passport Wallets

Hello,

October is my fave month, because the weather is just perfect. A perfect sewing weather! 

I recently finished these two travel wallets from my own Pattern (you can get it HERE). This yellow one below with quirky travel theme print is  really cute. I saw this print on Nomura Tailor Instagram page and luckily when we went to Kyoto in January they still have it! I picked up 3 colors of the same print. I am wondering what to make next, since I only purchased half yard each. 

Quirky Travel Wallet

I used blue checked shot cotton (handloom) fabric for combination and a stripe shot cotton fabric for binding! 

The second one this this pink and brown combo. I call it Catman in NYC print. Salmon pink & brown always go really well together, right? The polkadot fabric for the flap is from my stash. (I seriously need to sew from my stash only!) 

Couple Passport Holder

This passport wallet is very popular with travelers. Either couple traveler or small family. The passport slot can easily store up to 3 passports, plus there are 2 slip pockets and 1 zipper pocket along with 6 card slots. I always this travel wallet when I travel alone. That way, I don't need to carry extra purse with me. 

These wallets and the pattern are available on both my Etsy Shop and Webstore. As I mentioned in my previous post about new Etsy advertising policy, I did increase the price in Etsy after I sat down with hubby and did a serious calculation which turned out I was in the red for a couple of months! But if you want to save some extra bucks, do check out my Webstore and let me know what you think about it!

If you're running a handmade business, especially if you're selling in Etsy, do your calculation properly! Well, having your own website is much cheaper, but Etsy has the crowd. Change is never easy, hopefully we all will be back to track again soon! Thank you so much for always supporting handmade artists _/\_

That's all for today! Happy Crafting!!

Elvira

Resources :

Travel Wallet Pattern

Quirky Yellow Travel Wallet

Catman in NYC Passport Wallet

Retro Wallets and New Etsy Advertising

Hello,

I've been busy trying to make sense of the Etsy new advertising this past few weeks. Reading forum posts, FB groups and also YouTube videos. Well, the new Etsy Advertising did hurt small shops! Some big ads spenders are affected too and they even lower their ads budget so low! 

We're filling up the research /feedback forms and hopefully they will bring back the old Etsy ads where we can set our CPC and can control where our money are being spent. In the mean time, I had to switch off Ads in my Fabric Shop and Handmade Shop due to the low ROAS in the last 2 months! Willingly or not, we have to increase the price to cover the cost of Advertisements, Etsy Fees and Paypal Fees. Well, we live and learn, right? Let's hope for the best

In the meantime, I enabled Worldwide Shipping in my Webstore. I'm glad I decided to start the Westore (though it was a bit neglected in between), but now it's all stock up and I'm trying to pay more attention to it. There is a currency converter on the top right of the page as your browse my Webstore. I think the Webstore will be a Win Win solution for buyers and sellers! 

Well, building a small business as a solopreneur is not easy but it is soul satisfying :D. If you just started don't be discouraged! Keep going and like they say in Kdrama, if it's not a happy ending, it's not the end as yet! 

Now let's check out what's new in the shop! 

1. Wonderland Fabric Bifold Wallet. I really really love working on this one. The Wonderland Fabric from Rifle Paper Co is really beautiful. I ordered a few more and got them a few days ago. Yay! 

Women's Wallet | Etsy | Webstore

Wonderland Bifold Wallet

2. Paris Mini Passport Wallet 

One of the popular print for passport holder in my shop is Paris theme. I mean, who wouldn't love la tour Eiffel? For the card slot I used salmon pink fabric with the same theme but in cotton. (the exterior is Japan Linen) and using a wine color polkadots for the rest. If you're a music lover and love Paris, this will be a great gift for yourself. Or check out more Paris theme Passport Holder in the shop. 

Mini Passport Wallet

3. Everyone's fave Mickey Mouse Zipper Pouch with metal double zipper. I got quite a few of Disney licensed fabrics this time from Japan and I think it's high time I start using them. If you want in different Disney print, you can check out my Instagram Page which I created only for fabric options. I mean, it's too much of work if I have to show each client what fabrics I have, right? 

Disney Double Zip Pouch | Etsy | Webstore

Polkadot yellow inside! Love it!

Thank you so much for your support all through this years! I will put the link under this post for resources, in case you decided to sew the wallets yourself ;)

Happy Sewing

- Elvira -

Resources :

Bifold Wallet Pattern

Mini Passport Wallet Pattern

Double Zipper Pouch Pattern

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Zip around Family Passport Wallet

Hello,

Many people asked me on Etsy if I make zip around wallet and finally I now I can give the option. Introducing the new zip around family passport wallet!

Installing all around zipper is quite tricky, because the wallet is interfaced with heavy interfacing plus batting.  So I made several changes on the interfacing. I used heavy interfacing only on the main lining and using woven interfacing on the main exterior and used the same thin fleece batting for the padding. It worked out beautifully.

I will take photos and maybe videos when I make the next wallet and write a tutorial for it in my next post.  Make sure you subscribe to my blog so you won't miss the post.

This Paris family passport wallet is now available on Etsy You can choose for 4 , 6 or 8 passports. It's very handy and keep everything securely inside.

I also made the above travel wallet ( a custom order) with zip around closure. I will make more of this for stock (and I need to sew up those stash!) . The green London print fabric is finished now but I have the peach one in case you want the same print.

You can buy the Family Passport Wallet Pattern HERE , ETSY or in my WEBSHOP

Thank you for stopping by,

 Have a nice day!

- Elvira-

Double Zip Wallet and Travel Wallet

Hello,

It's almost the end of the year and December has been a busy month for me. Thank you so much for always supporting my small business.

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A post shared by C.H.E.Z.V.I.E.S by Elvira (@chezvies_shop) on Dec 28, 2018 at 8:45pm PST

In between working on orders, last week I went for a photography workshop held by Sony for Sony Alpha Camera Users.

Though it turned out to be more of marketing presentation but I enjoyed it nevertheless.  Especially looking at all those high end cameras and lenses

here are few things that's been happening

I made a green polka dot passport wallet  while working on orders and also made a camera strap sleeve. Isn’t that cool? I am thinking of add this in my shop. But I need to make a few more first! What do you think?

So about the double zip wallet (pattern by Noodlehead)  I finally cut this green apple denim fabric. Nowadays I am trying to make few pieces of one product.   This is one of my way to increase ready to ship stocks in my Etsy shop and of course to use my fabric stash ^^ . I hope with more ready to ship items, I will be driving more sales! 
Besides, it makes me more creative. It's way more effective to do it this way that just scrolling Pinterest or Instagram.

I posted the above photo in Instagram a few days ago. I know posting on social media is easier and faster but I want to write a blog post about it too for my personal reference. It's easier to let the buyers know on my blog then scrolling endless Instagram Photos. 

I love this simple wallet. It has all the necessary slots and pockets for your daily needs like slots for multiple cards, bills, mobile phone and of course the double zip pockets are very handy. Especially if you like to keep all those shop receipts like me ^__^. 

I made a  little changes from the pattern, that is the way of attaching zipper. I used zipper tabs which I find easier for me. Though the top stitching part is a bit struggling. But I am happy with the result and I hope you too.

I have a few double zip wallet in the making right now which hopefully will be ready after New year! If you're in Instagram, feel free to follow my behind the scene stories. That's all for today, I better get back to my sewing table and finish up a couple of orders before the New year roll in.

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A post shared by Elvira Threeyama (@chezvies) on Dec 25, 2018 at 11:53pm PST

Until then,

Happy Holidays!!

~ Elvira~ 

***** 

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Cricket & Women Bifold Wallets

Hello December!

The last few weeks I was quite busy. The boys were having inter school cricket match one after the other. The elder one's under 16 Team won runner up trophy, while the younger one's under 13 Team came up 4th. A good performance for 1st timer on a competitive match! It was a huge learning experience for the younger team . We are very proud of them!

Fielding

Under 13 Team - SBGJ Guwahati

Well done!

I've learnt quite a few cricket terms  in those 2 weeks ! LOL . 

******

On creative side, I'd like to thank all of you who came and purchased few items during the Cyber Week Sale! 

I'm still working on few orders right now and added two bifold wallets in the shop. I really had fun making these wallets. 

Green Bifold Wallet

I'm a huge fan of Riley Blake fabrics and collected quite a few. Most of them I bought from Etsy and some from my trip to Seoul. This green wallet was from the FQ bundle

I really love the cute fox and owl print. FQ bundle works best when we get stuck in mix matching! The polkadot don't come from the bundle though. The wallet is rather spacious with 6 card slots and zipper pocket. It can fit in your phone too!! 

Sewing Theme Wallet

The second one is this sewing theme wallet. Sewing or quilting theme is another print that I tend to purchase more. I was browsing my fabric stash and saw the fabrics which I got from my trip to Indonesia. 

Taking photo of these two were rather challenging. Somehow I could not get the best shot! Maybe I will try again when I get a good natural lights. December is always a bit cloudy here. 

I have few more wallets cut and ready to sew and also have a couple of quilting projects that I need to finish! 

Meanwhile, the boys are having unit test until next week. Wish us luck!!

What about you? What are you working on this week? 

Thank you for stopping by! 

~ Elvira ~