Embroidered wristlets

I love wristlets. Mainly because I find them real handy. Chuck everything you need in it - cash, cards, receipts, hair clips, your mobile phone... zip up, and you're good to go. 

I can never stand the hassle of having to clutch my valuables - normally my wallet and mobile phone,  and doing the whole octopus act of making sure nothing drops while I try to free my hands to do other things such as take food, keep change etc. Which is why, 2 years ago, I started sewing my own wristlets, simply because I couldn't find a wristlet/pouch out there that can fit everything I need. I suppose it's because most of the wristlets out there are meant for you to keep minimal things - probably just some cash, your mobile and a lip gloss. But for me, I store a myriad of things in it such as the (tens of hundreds of) cards I have, cash, my S3 and a bunch of other random in-case-of-emergency-but-not-so-emergency things like hair clips, pen, earrings etc.  

So yeah, here it is. Ta-dah! Some wristlets I have to sell: 

Mushroom 

-------------------------------------------

Crazy over pink

-------------------------------------------

Panda in the zoo

------------------------------------------- 

Cats everywhere

------------------------------------------- 

Bird in cage

Pardon my lousy photography skills. I'm quite hopeless when it comes to taking nice (and proportionate) pictures. Haha.

Embroidered wristlets

Dimension: W18xH12cm

(Might vary slightly)

Price: RM50/each

Note: Mind you they might be a tad small for Samsung Note. But if you're using a Samsung Galaxy S3 like me or anything smaller than that, it'll fit fine =)

Kindly email me at jo.and.nahandmade@gmail.com for enquiries.

More coming up! Stay tuned.

Wrong email address

If you got to know this blog from visiting my stall at the Y'ao Market on 27 July 2013, please take note that the email address given on my name"card" (the little ice-cream stick) is wrong. The correct address should be jo.and.nahandmade@gmail.com, and not jo.and.na@gmail.com. Sorry if you have been sending emails to the wrong email add! I created the email account last minute and remembered the name wrongly. Gosshhhhh, this is as stupid as one can get! T________________T

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm taking a short break (from all sewing-related stuff) for the time being, need to recharge battery, but will be back with updates soon!!

All set and ready to go!

Can't remember how many weekends it has been, but I once told my friend: If my sewing machine was a guy, we'd have gotten married long time ago and have many many kids now. Breeding like rabbits. Yep.

It all started with a dream - to sell my own stuff at one of those handmade markets. Not virtually, not via the internet or selling of that sort, but actually selling them in person. I'd like to see how people respond to my creations and to be able to actually exchange them for cash - that must be like one of the greatest sense of accomplishment ever.

Then the opportunity came.

A Facebook friend who is actually a very well-known handmade artist suggested me to this event - Y'ao Market 垚摆市场 - a one-day market for handmade artists. Didn't know if I was eligible to secure a booth, after all, I was a noob who didn't even have her own brand, let alone enough creations to show, but I applied for it anyway, and surprisingly got it. *beams*

And so it all began. Endless weekends of sewing, sewing and sewing (I can't remember how many weekend activities I've turned down because I had to stay at home to sew. I think my friends have all blacklisted me). Had to come up with a brand (well, can't be selling stuff without a brand right?), so a brand was born. Then one thing led to another: can't be having a brand but no way for people to find or contact you, right? Hence this blog was born.

Let's hope I've got everything covered now. And that I will have the perseverance to maintain this place, and to keep sewing! :p

The initial aim was to produce 30 things to sell, but in the end, this is all I've got:

17 pathetic pouches and bags. Haha.

I've got many ideas still, but there's simply NO TIME to make them happen. There's only so much one can do! Or maybe it's just me being slow T_____T Either way, I'll just have to leave them for the next time.

Made some paper bags and name "sticks" for the event. (Thanks to Phui San for the brilliant idea of using ice-cream sticks as name "cards" =) Pardon my horrible handwriting.

Brown, sewn paper bags. I'm in love with them!

Why "sew" paper bags you ask? Because glueing takes 5 minutes while sewing takes 5 seconds. Also because glue is messy and you have to wait for the longest time ever for it to dry. But mainly, it's because I love the idea of sewing paper together and I adore brown paper bags, so there you have it.

I think I'm all set to go. Oh no, wait, I don't have enough paper bags, I have no price tags, I have no idea how to decorate my booth... Oh man, seems like there is more to do.

A big fat HELLO

It's been 3 years since I started sewing, now that I've created my own brand, I figured it's about time I started my own blog, my own sewing blog that is. And what better day than to start it on my birthday! Yep, today's my birthday, woot woot.

So... who's Jo and who's Na anyway?

They're both me really. Jo AND Na. JoANna. Get it? Haha.

Why the name... Let's see, how should I put it... Most artists have a clear direction to their design styles, distinctive styles, but for me, I have two. One part of me likes real feminine and girly stuff, like laces, flowers, ribbons; Another side of me likes quirky and kiddy stuff, like super bright colours, weird but cute monsters, kid's doodles etc. I guess it's a reflection of my personality, like how one side of me likes spending time alone, but another side of me hates when it gets too quiet. 

So yep, that was how the name Jo & Na was born. Jo & Na. Joanna. Two personalities. One person. *grins*

To those who don't know me, here are some random facts about myself:

I'm not 30 yet, though almost there. Single (and available). I don't sew for a living. I have a full time office job. I love sewing, and cooking (but not a housewife, mind you!). Gordon Ramsay is my idol. I jog, swim and sometimes go rock climbing to stay fit. I'm more an introvert than an extrovert. Not a morning person, definitely (run when you see me in the morning). I write in Chinese and English, depending on my mood. I have mood swings. I think my favourite colour is turquoise, but I can't be sure. 

Guess that's about it. At least for now.

I actually prefer writing in Chinese, but oh well, I thought it would be more polite to start off with a universal language everybody understands, so here it is, a great big HELLO from me, in English =)

There will be times when I'll be posting in Chinese only, sorry to those who don't read the language, life is too short for blog translating!  

I'll be babbling here from time to time, if not posting my new babies. Till then, take care!