Saturday, January 31, 2009

There's magic in the air!

Did you notice the new feature in my blog, everyone? It has gone one up and now there's star dust sprinkling from my cursor :-) Frankly, I have been drooling over this feature for quite sometime. I have seen it in a few blogs (snowing, raining hearts... ) but am just not IT savvy enough to put mine into action. So, who do I turn to? Yes... none other than the creator of my blog, my elder girl. GEEEEEEZ! I love you Deb! What a nice surprise! Thanks!

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Friday, January 30, 2009

A whole new act

No time to patchwork or cross-stitch but needed to re-energize. Solution? Paper crafting - easy & therapeutic. I had plenty of recycled cardboard and coloured paper and these were all screaming for action (LOL). So I spent the morning making cards... and helped save a few trees in the process :-)



Have not made cards for years but once I started, I took to it like a duck to water :-) Went for quick simple designs but got more ambitious after a while. Honestly, I had forgotten how enjoyable this activity could be. Hmmm, must remember this craft when I next need another quick "fix" (LOL)!!!

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Cheongsam anyone?




These pix were taken recently during the Chinese New Year - the one day I can get both my girls into these figure-hugging neck-strangling apparel! Oooh, the grumbling & rambling... Mind you, I wasn't too keen myself. The day was sweltering with heat and I would have gladly done my CNY visitations in T-shirt & Bermudas! But we didn't want to disappoint Mum who had put in a lot (and I mean A LOT) of time, hard work and love, sewing these cheongsams for us. The frog buttons alone took several days. Mum is a perfectionist and believes in doing everything herself, right down to the coloured bias tapes. It's all painstakingly cut from her own matching cloth. Mum began sewing Deb's in August and mine in Sept. These clothes are labour-intensive, each needing a few weeks to complete. The last one (Sarah's), she had to cut the dress standing at a table (after her operation in October, she couldn't bend over and work on the floor anymore). So, Mum, thanks a zillion! We love you more than we can ever say!

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Chinese New Year spread

Feeling really lethargic after all the heavy Chinese New Year meals. So I'll just let my pix do the talking :-P


These are some of the main dishes Mum prepared for us. She spoils us rotten and I just can't get enough of her cooking. Wish I have half her talent (but then, there's also the saying "you can't win them all"!!!) Oh, and lest you think we eat like the emperor, let it be known that these dishes were spread over a few meals :-)

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Monday, January 26, 2009

2009 Year of the Ox

Wishing all my friends and loved ones (especially my brother and his family who cannot join us)
A Happy and Prosperous New Year!
GONG XI FATT CHAI

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Friday, January 9, 2009

When kindred spirits get together...

...it's show time! After a stressful first week of re-adjusting to school and work, I can't think of any better way to spend my time. So, my friends and I devoted this morning to patchwork and that included a drive down town to help one of the gals pick out some fabrics for her borders - and for me to stash!!! (LOL)...


This is my friend's project. Because she was doing machine patchwork for the first time, she went for something simple. I think that was a really smart move cos a simple project is quick and easy to do. And when it is achievable, you will be motivated. In any case, simplicity can be quite stunning too. I must say the pix here doesn't do her work justice as you can't really pick out the colours of those dainty pastel flowers. It's really sweeeeet :-)


This is my other friend's piece. She was the one who taught me to crazy patchwork and just look at hers. CRAZZY !!! I really like her choice of fabrics and colours. If you noticed, unlike mine, she didn't do sashing (the strips separating each block)... but I love this effect just as much. In fact, I've promised myself that this is going to be my next project!!! Which means ;-> I'm off now to look into my stash for some coordinating fabrics... Thanks for dropping by to read my blog. Have a lovely weekend :-)

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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Progress on crazy patchwork blanket


There and yet, not quite! As you can see, I've finished piecing the blocks together and done up a double-border. As usual, I couldn't resist a stripy fabric for the inner frame. There's still more to do - the backing and binding bit which is less than exciting for me. However with work piling up again after the new year (and I don't mean the kind done with thread and needle!) I've the perfect excuse to procrastinate :-) Not to worry, it will be done..... eventually..... I hope (LOL)!!!

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Thursday, January 1, 2009

Mamma Mia here we come

Thursday afternoon and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing.....
You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen.....



Yeah, the much awaited day had arrived. There we were - the four of us plus some dear friends - finally at Istana Budaya for the highly acclaimed and successful West End stage musical Mamma Mia. If you are an ABBA fan like me, this is not to be missed. Remember... "the arm and the leg" in exchange for the tickets? LOL!

Anyway, for those of us who are not into this latest sensation that have hit the shores of Malaysia, the performance tells the story of young Sophie trying to seek out the father she never knew to walk her down the ailse on her wedding day. After discovering an old diary belonging to her mother Donna, she proceeds to send out wedding invitations to three men, one of whom could be her father. Pandemonium breaks out when all three shows up resulting in a momentous climax!

What amazes me most about the musical is how British playwright Catherine Johnson managed to weave in all those incredible ABBA hits (Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All, Super Trouper, Mamma Mia, Thank you for the Music, Money Money Money, Voulez Vous, I Have a Dream, SOS...) giving this story an almost seamless plot. For me, the show was truly an unforgetable experience. It was vibrant and spirited-fill as promised and the whole family had a rousing smashing time.

Oh, by the way, here's the new cast of Mamma Mia!!! (lol) ......

We can dance, we can jive, having the time of our lives.....
Oooh see these folks, watch these scenes, dig in the dancing queens (& king!!!).....



Well, that's how much we enjoyed ourselves (LOL)... I hope all of you had a similarly wonderful experience to welcome in the new year.

HAPPY 2009, one and all!!!

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