Strap for watch

This is my watch that I have had for a long time. Do you remember 'Past Times', a shop specialising in gifts and retro style goods that closed in 2013 in the UK? This watch is from them. I loved wearing it but the original strap became very, and I mean very, tired so I stopped using it.

However, for quite a while I was playing with the idea of creating something myself. And it was not till last month when I was working on 'Mossy Bark' project that I spotted an opportunity...

...I took off the original strap (re-tired) and  placed the watch on top of the background I had made for the cuff (right) and an idea started to form...

Thinking how I would attach the watch bearing in mind that this watch needs to have access to the back to change the battery, the design started to get adjusted accordingly....

To cut the story short, I started working on a two-piece strap. Basically, replacing the original straps with my ones (below)...

Now, my next challenge is to get the watch assembled to the straps. I am aware that I can take off the bars that would hold the straps but to release it...

Well, I am not a watch maker or don't repair watches so to crack this one is the challenge. At least for now. Either way, I cannot wait to put things together and...

For more I will see you next time on my updates page...

K-)



Update: Saturday, 11 May 2019
Strap for watch

Last time I left you with a dilemma of how to attach my watch to my two-piece strap that I had crocheted as a response to a previous project ('Mossy Bark'). I called it a challenge. And I did try. Really, but...

I just couldn't set the two bars free so that I could subsequently attach the straps. In the end I forced a loose wire around three points of the bars and attached them to the straps. Therefore, I have found other way, not the way I wanted, but as long as it holds...

Originally, I wanted to use the extra space I had gained by the width of the straps and possibly join them creating square or rectangle as is so well observed in Art Deco style (the watch itself is inspired by Art Deco). In the end I liked the way the watch sits on the wrist so I just reserved to the edge curve of the straps and square negative space created around the watch to actually bring the style in.

To sum up, I finished with simplicity. I reached for small black beads (black because the original strap was black so to keep to the look) and threaded them into the watch and here we go. Here is the long overdue strap. All I am left with is to get a battery.

K-)

Belt-strap Handbag

In my last post ('Fold Dress') I left you with a promise to turn my attention to the pockets left from my old cut-up jeans. Now is the time to show you my design idea related to other images from 'What lies beneath (and above)' post.

Seeing this image, all I could see were the belt-straps from my jeans that you can see in the image above. The blue colour on top of this image also fits since I am using blue denim here.

At the same time, this decoration on the side of the bridge made me ask myself what I would have hanging on my side, from my shoulder respectively.

And these thoughts gave the birth to a Belt-strap Handbag idea. I have four pockets and a waist&straps from the jeans. Since pockets are meant to keep things in, a handbag does the same thing (hopefully in an organised way).

The waist&straps piece serves more as a decoration, like the decoration on the side of the bridge. Or shall I use it to carry the bag around...?

Everything seems to come back together and answers the design process.

Similarly to my Fold Dress, this design is also on a stand-by since I still have to organise a sewing machine. So bear with me and keep checking these posts. See you soon.

Update: Sunday, 26 June 2011

Belt-strap Handbag

Finally, I have finished my 'Belt-strap Handbag'. It took me 'only' one and a half day. I know that for those who know how to use the sewing machine, one and a half day seems like eternity. However, I am actually impressed with myself. I managed it all by myself AND without supervision.

As seen in a previous post regarding the design of this handbag, I already had a pinned mock-up giving quite a good idea of the outcome. What was missing was the handbag's lining. The one I have made also has an inside divider/pocket. This part, I am not going to bother you with. Apart from unpicking it once, it was relatively easy.

What I want you to turn your attention to are certain details. For instance, the name  'KPDECO' inscribed on the waist-turn-handle of my handbag. This aims towards branding that I am using as a part of this blog and also serves as my signature.

If you have a proper look at the introductory image, you will spot that I used a former belt as a shoulder strap. I removed the buckle and was left with the question how to attach it to the handbag. For this, I twisted a strip of denim and pushed it through already created holes to hold the belt in place.

As a result, I ended up with a button. As much as it has its function it also serves as a decoration similar to the decoration on the bridge that was an inspiration for this design at the first place. Lovely touch.

What is great about this design is how many pockets this handbag has. Apart from the pocket in the lining, I actually did not have to create more pockets given by the source - four pockets from cut-up jeans. This is the beauty of designing. Take what is given and use it. This particular one is like a puzzle. It is all in there. You just have to re-arrange it.