I was looking forward to write this post and here’s the time. I’m proud to introduce you… the pineapple bag!

I made it for myself almost 8 years ago and I’ve been wearing it a lot since then, so is a special design and I really wanted to share it with everybody who wants to make their own.

It doesn’t need huge sewing notions but some patience and hand sewing skills. But it’ll worth it, believe me!

Ah! and if you’re wondering, it closes with a cord that is hidden behind the leaves as a bucket bag.

As always, you’ll find PDFpatterns + full step by step tutorial (instant download) in my Etsy shop.

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We are back from our sunny holidays in Spain and in Holland is raining all day… So Dutch weather inspires me to imagine some fun activities indoors and this is one of the best we had ever made, a homemade butter cookies inspired by the game of wooden pieces Playshapes by Miller Goodman.

You can combine all pieces and create a million images…

So much fun!

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In my Pinterest profile I’ve got a folder called EMBELLISHMENT where I collect all the prettiest pictures about all kind of techniques to decorate clothes. Beadworking, golden thread embroideries, colourful sequins and paillettes…

A lot of times I’ve thought to try making beauties like those, but it’s not always easy because I can’t find the colours or shapes desired, so I’ve decided to make my own recycled embellishments.

Searching around I found a lot of potential materials to start with: PET plastic bottles and old folders to recycle giving them a second life. It’s amazing what you find when you just look around in a diferent way, with a “critic eye” (like my teachers in the design school used to say).

Plastic is the ideal material for diy embellishment because is resistant, you can wash it and it has vivrant and solid colors.

By the moment I’ve made a simple design, but I think this is just the first post of many others, because I would like to keep on experimenting more… a new section has borned!

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If you haven’t decided yet to make this simple and comfy bag (find here the free patterns and tutorial), here you have a bit of extra inspiration… five ways to interpret the same pattern, giving it really different styles.

Change the button size or the color of the strap, mix and match colors and textures, choose special fabrics… interested? it’s a super simple project and you’ll enjoy the process and results!

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I’m a big fan of Nathalie Leté’s work since I saw her beautiful drawings in many objects in France, where we used to spend the summer holidays. I didn’t know she also produced fabrics so, it was a big surprise to find this beauty: a printed silk fabric named La maison des chats, full of details and bright colors.

I wanted to make a present for a big friend, knitter and cats lover, so it was the perfect fabric to use as lining for a suitcase where she could storage her knitting needles and wool yarn balls.

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My Etsy shop’s listing is growing! The last project added has been this no sew hexagonal bag, suuuuper easy!

I wanted to design a bag like this a long time ago. A lot of people is sewing-phobic so I was looking for a sort of quick-made bag, closer at crafts or even packaging.

It’s composed by only two pieces and you can build the entirely bag without touching a needle, just putting together the pieces with metallic rivets or brads. Like the other projects it comes with patterns, recommendations and a step by step tutorial.

So… no excuses allowed, go to make your own!

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I was looking for spend a while painting fabrics for some time ago. Finally I did it and it has been fun and inspiring; the results were better than expected! I haven’t used any specific supplies just acrilyc paint and synthetic leather (leatherette) and suede.

I’ve only used two techniques by the moment but I don’t rule out continuing experimenting and come back with a second part of this post…

I’ve used tape to delimit the outline to print some stripes (gold on blue-green leatherette) and plaid (fluo red on navy blue leatherette). And rubber stamps with different geometric shapes -a bit irregular- on beige synthethic suede to create a more dynamic and cheerful pattern.

Here is the process…

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Stripes are great for clothes and home decor but you have to use them carefully because their optic effect and contrast are strong. That’s why the idea I bring you today is perfect, discreet but effective.

In this post I’ll show you how to make your own piping using striped fabric (or any other pattern) to give a special touch to a simple velvet cushions. Actually, I’m so glad with the results that I plan to use it later to decorate a fanny pack or a sport bag.

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Already available this beautiful fabric suitcase in my Etsy shop. As my other projects, you can download the patterns and tutorial just at the moment of the purchase and start to make it.

You have also a million ways to combine the fabrics to change the look: more sophisticated, retro or childish; and give it different uses as a storage box, weekend luggage or, simply, as home decor.

Moreover it’s made by corrugated plastic (check this post if you don’t know what I’m talking about and to learn more about materials) so it’s very light and structured, also prefect for a everyday use.

Come and make your own! Share the pictures on social nets with hashtag #berzeuse or #berzeuseprojects. I would love to see the results!

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If you’re a sewing lover and in fact you make your own clothes, it’s more than probably that you’ve wanted to make your own accessories and maybe, just in that moment, you have been wondering how. Technical aspects aside, in this post I’ll try to explain you all the knowledge I’ve been collecting as a crafter for years, making bags for me first and later to sell. All that I’ve been experimenting and discovering to help you growing your skills and stimulate your creativity.

FLEXIBLE REINFORCEMENTS: Sometimes when you make a bag, once finished, it doesn’t look as you imagined. When you put something inside it looses its shape and spoil the design. You can try to reinforce it then, just adding a double external fabric or with a stiffener between the external fabric and the lining with the materials I propose next.

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