Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

2012-01-23T00:00:00.001+08:00

1. Wishing you happiness and prosperity (Gong Xi Fa Cai 恭喜发财)

2. Wishing you quick success in everything you do (Ma Dao Gong Cheng 马到工成)

3. May you rise up the ranks (Bu Bu Gao Sheng 步步高升)

4. May you have excess and abundance (Nian Nian You Yu 年年有余)

5. May you have a smooth journey (Yi Lu Shun Feng 一路顺风)

6. May your heart's desires come true (Xin Xiang Shi Cheng 心想事成)

7. Wishing you excellent health and vitality (Long Ma Jing Shen 龙马精神)

Upcycled bags

2011-12-11T11:15:00.001+08:00

These are the denim totes I upcycled for my two nieces in Singapore. Can't tell you the exact size (I forgot to take down the measurements before giving them away) suffice to say, it's big enough for major shopping sprees! **GRIN**

Front

Back

This is the other, same size but the design is different. I did not pad up the straps here but couldn't resist using the same giant buttons I stashed up from my Malacca trip.

Front

Back

Need to replenish stock

2011-12-02T10:57:00.007+08:00

Started off with this much Christmas fabrics but stash is depleting fast! Have been working up a storm the last 2 days. A friend "commissioned" a set of six cushion covers last week & I'm pleased I got that done in time to pass to her last night. A really satisfying thought as you can use Christmas deco for only so long, then all your stuff gotta go into cold storage until the next year! I wanted her to maximize the use of her cushion covers since it's already Dec :-) so I'm glad I did "overtime"! I hope to sew up a table runner for her later... THAT ONE will be on me - a Christmas gift. But I'm keeping that under wraps of course in case I have other commitments and can't deliver! LOL!

Of course you will want to see the finished project. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the camera (wait... let me finish my sentence *lol*) and had to rely on my handphone... and unfortunately I don't know how to unload the images from there (hang on *lol*) so you'll have to make do with these for now!

They are cushion covers I completed last week. They come in pairs and if there are no takers, I will use them as gifts later.

I promise I'll get those in my handphone downloaded and posted later (after I come back from my 1 week vacation). Meanwhile, do enjoy these eye candy :-)

Well, until the next post, have a great week.. and thanks for dropping by.

ATC swap

2011-11-26T23:35:00.002+08:00

Oooops! Christmas cushions gotta wait!

One of my gals could not make the ATC swap we had committed ourselves to. I decided to stand in for her so I made another set of 4 ATCs.

This one is based on the letter B. For the design, I have used orphaned buttons, faux flower buds and butterfly cut-outs. If I had more time, I would have splatter on some brown beads. As it is, this will suffice :-)

Off you go then, my beauties, one to each home :-)

Well thanks for dropping by again. Have a good weekend everyone.

Christmas cushions

2011-11-25T22:49:00.042+08:00

Remember these?

I have decided to make them into cushion covers for Christmas. This is my first one.

Not a bad idea, right? I hope to come back with more in my next post. So till then, have a great weekend.

Owl key pouch

2011-11-11T11:00:00.000+08:00

One of those projects I made some time back but never got to post. Cute little thing, ain't she? She's a keeper of keys :-) I was inspired to make one when I saw it on someone's blog. As usual, I forgot to note down the blog... sigh... anyway, whoever the creator is, thanks a zillion :-)

There was no tutorial so I just experimented. It didn't turn out exactly how I wanted - too stiff. So, the next time (if there's a next time! lol!) I'll skip the interfacing. I just might try another, but in some other shape. Some time ago, I actually saw someone using one in the shape of Sun Bonnet Sue and thought it really cool. Maybe I should try that?

Once again, thanks for dropping by ;-)

ATCs, anyone?

2011-11-05T14:42:00.000+08:00

The first time I heard about ATCs was when I asked a friend what she had been doing on the crafting scene lately and her reply was that she had been fiddling with ATCs. She then took the trouble to explain and sent me some pictures and links.

That’s how I learnt that ATCs or Artist Trading Cards are basically just miniature works of art. These 2 ½ inches X 3 ½ inches (the measurements are mandatory) cards can be created in various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc.), wet media (watercolor, acrylic paints, etc.), paper media (in the form of collage, papercuts, found objects, etc.) or even metals or cloth. Finally, these cards are to be traded or exchanged and NOT sold.

All this being new, I was naturally piqued and pestered my friend to organize a swap...which she did. I didn't mind doing a bit of publicity and ~~pressuring~~ persuading my friends to join :-) After all, the theme suggested (Alphabets) was so general and the technique was like… anything goes! Hah!!! Easier said than done :-( because finally only 4 of us took up the challenge!!!

Still, I was not discouraged and I've actually finished my part of the bargain :-) Here, enjoy…

Thanks for dropping by again.

Red, green, white & a sprinkling of gold

2011-10-28T21:51:00.001+08:00

Time to get started on Christmas gifts so out comes the stash.

The double hour glass block

And here's another

Right, now what? How should I finish these up?

Too cute!

2011-10-26T21:49:00.000+08:00

Couldn't resist bringing her home :-) I've never owned a teapot with legs so this is kinda cool... matches well with my mini teacups too.

Isn't this pretty?

2011-10-17T15:46:00.003+08:00

Hmmmm...Whatever is that? You may wonder. Well, move down one picture and you need not tear your hair out :-)

A nifty thrifty bookmark out of ribbons and one of those jumbo paper clips! This is where I found my inspiration http://thriftyninja.net/2011/06/thrifty-crafts-paperclip-bookmarks. With a brief tutorial thrown in, I had no trouble making it.

As you can see, I've adapted the all-ribbon bookmark and added cords and string beads... rose buds too, both in front and at the back to cover up my untidy knots!!! LOL!

First, you see 1, then you see 2..... :-)

Now you see 4! LOL! Thanks for dropping in again. Have a great week!

2-slash Pinks & Greens

2011-09-02T22:18:00.006+08:00

When will I ever sew up a man's quilt? I just realized that those I've done thus far have all been on the feminine side. You know what I mean? In terms of colours and fabric choice... Don't get me wrong. I have no qualms about sewing pinks and florals till eternity! It's just that this thought came to my mind when I was sewing for my nieces. You see, it's high time I start on something for my nephew and THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT IT!

Truth be told, I started off with my nephew in mind but when I looked into my fabric stash, something else "lit up" and I started picking out this combo of colours and fabrics.

Not that I'm unhappy with the result (I'm totally in love with this latest quilt top!) but I guess I really need to work harder if I'm to get anything done for a guy. For a start, I must put a ban on all floral prints and all shades of pink (and stick to geometric designs and shades of blues).

I know, I know... easier said than done. Well, we'll see.... Meanwhile, thanks for dropping by. Have a great weekend!

Gift for Niece 2

2011-08-22T20:55:00.005+08:00

Here's the other quilt, all done up and ready to be delivered to its new owner...

I had worked this one in peach and browns using the Disappearing-9-patch technique. With the patchwork done earlier, all I had to do was just sew up the borders.

As for the back, I wish I could have used something more matching but I was hard pressed for time and this blue and purple toweling blanket was the only one stashed away at home at the moment. Still, it turned out well.

So, that's it for now! Over to you, girls :-)

Gift for Niece 1

2011-08-15T09:58:00.004+08:00

The quilt tops I made earlier on (and I do mean EARLIER) are now being finished up... at least 2 of them are. My brother & his family will be back for a few days and I do want the quilts done up for my nieces. I have no idea if these 2 trendy girls will appreciate my handmade stuff but like I told my brother "Hack! I've only 2 nieces (on my side of the family) and I better sew for them when my eyesight is still good and my hands are steady! I've got one quilt done and the other one is still in the process. So while I take a breather, let me show you the completed quilt.

If you remember, this quilt is a single and it uses the stack & slash method to produce the crazy patchwork effect. The finished size is about 61" X 67".

My finishing technique is slightly different this round. Instead of the usual hand-knotting, I tried stitch-in-a-ditch. Turned out so well that I'm going to repeat this for the other quilt too.What's also different is that I did not do any "sandwiching". For this quilt, I bought a toweling blanket and had that replace the batting and backing fabric. Since our weather is hardly ever cold at night, I thought this would suffice. Cost is a little higher but saved me huge on time :-)

I also looked up an online tutorial on quilt binding and that really paid off. I am really pleased with how this quilt has turned out. And before I rush off to finish up the other, here are a few more pictures for drooling! LOL! Enjoy!

As planned

2011-08-06T23:27:00.003+08:00

Here's my latest version of the Faberge egg pin cushion.

Ready? ;p

TAH...DAAAAAAAAAA!

Managed to get the "pumpkin" size right at last :D

Here's one in red.....

Sitting pretty in a row :-)

That's it for today, folks! Thanks for dropping by.

My innovation of Faberge eggs

2011-08-05T17:56:00.009+08:00

While out at the shops, I spied this pretty Faberge egg container that the Malays like to use at weddings as a guest favour. A lightbulb just lit up :-)

Back home, I very quickly transformed my idea onto one of two containers I bought. Right, hold your breath.....

Any ideas yet? It's a ...................????

SPOT ON!!! It's an incy wincy pumpkin pin cushion :-) By the way, so sorry about the not-so-sharp pictures. I've been having problems getting good shots ever since I started using the new camera.

This is the other container. I know what I'm going to do the next time (you can be very sure there'll be a NEXT TIME!). I will adjust the size of the cushion a little bigger so that it fills up the bottom cup. I think that should look even better. What do you think?

Right, I will leave you with these for now. Time to go prepare dinner :-) Thanks for dropping by.

Just in time

2011-07-28T20:19:00.001+08:00

A bag I whipped up as a gift for a friend. Truly, one of its kind as it has a very unique pocket for the front. It's studded with rhinestones... and I used one of my big wooden buttons for the loopy closure.

The back of the bag also has a pocket. I have also mixed in one or two scraps of floral cotton prints to "sweeten" up the look :-)

The inside of the bag is lined with this red blue and white checks. I didn't have time to put in any inside pockets so hopefully, my friend uses a bag organizer.

This bag was made much earlier. It now comes in very handy as an extra gift I'll be taking along to a family reunion this weekend. It's going to the hostess.

The other side.....

I wish I have more bags made up so that every gal can have one. Unfortunately, I only have two to take to the family gathering. Sorry ladies... :-(

More dressing up

2011-07-27T00:00:00.000+08:00

This is getting to be addictive! Dressed up a few more tape measures this afternoon :-) Love the antique-y look of the fabric top and the rich velvet bottom.

An enhanced version of the one I made a few days ago...added the ric-rac and tassel.

This one has already found a new home... a birthday gift for a colleague (whom I know appreciates hand-crafted things)

These will be going off to new homes soon too. I better remember to keep one for myself though... I think I cleared out the shop's stock the other day and I have not seen these tapes anywhere else in Alor Setar (speaks so much for the place where I live!). Right, time to call it a night :-) Thanks for dropping by.

Playing dressing-up

2011-07-19T22:04:00.005+08:00

Not for me but for this rather plain tape measure :-)

Have been meaning to do it for a long time but some how, the heart was willing but the flash was not...

That is... until I came across this very clever tutorial which made the project so inviting......... and hard to resist!

Yup, it's all done now... and I'm off to get a few more made up for friends. Thanks for dropping by :-)

2011-05-08T00:00:00.002+08:00

For Mother's Day today, I thought I'd borrow this (bless the writer whoever she is) for my post.

25 Reasons I Owe My Mother

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .

"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.

"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3.. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .

"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC..

" Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.

"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.

"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY

"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.

"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.

"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.

"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.

"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.

"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.

"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.

"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY .

"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.

"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .

"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.

"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.

"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.

"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.

"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you."

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all mothers and grandmothers!

Time for a new quilt

2011-05-07T11:52:00.001+08:00

Have been really bogged down by school work. But when you are at your most stressed hour, that's when you need to unwind. And unwind I did :-)

I whipped up this one over the week. It's a single. I wanted to try out black prints on a quilt but it didn't turn out like what I envisaged. Hence the queen was quickly downsized to a single!

A closer look at the fabrics I used. I still like the quilt up close but there was no OOMPH, unlike the others I tried out so far. Wonder if it's anything to do with working under stress?! ...judgement gone awry :-(

Tried to jazz it up with this border. Still not up to my standard. Oh well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder... maybe someone else will love this combination.

Here, it's spread out on my bed. I reiterate: it's not a queen... I always make my single a little bigger than the standard size. OK, time to fold away for now :-)

Special order from Arau

2011-05-01T11:54:00.092+08:00

My SIL called up several days ago and asked if I would take an order of a tote from a friend. Since I love sewing bags I didn't need much persuasion :-)

However in my haste to get it done quickly (she would probably be coming down over the long weekend to pick it up), I got the pockets sewn up the wrong way! AAAAGH! More time wasted!

Finally, all done :-) And I'm real pleased with the patchwork, especially how the combination turned out.

A closer look at the button which I felt hard-pressed to part with. It's a HUGE wooden one from some shop in Malacca, courtesy of a friend who went there to visit her daughter.

Here's the back. I felt really inspired by the front piece so I had to have a patchwork patch here too... and yes, not forgetting the handles :-)

...the inside pockets are also patchworked. It was A LOT OF work but the end product justified the time spent.

It's nice to know that the bag is going off to someone who appreciates handwork. It makes the parting easier :-)

Recycling old jeans

2011-04-09T20:29:00.004+08:00

There's a whole lot of projects one can do with old jeans..... and I had wanted to do this --------------> ever since I saw it on someone's blog. No idea what it is? Patience :-)

You see, when recycling jeans, most people cut up and keep only the bigger pieces of denim. The rest, like these thick side seams are just thrown away.

Well, I learnt that if you roll it up, you can get a pretty cool mug rug/coaster.

Add some embellishment, and I have personalized it into a Thank You gift :-) :-) :-)

I tried gathering white cotton lace around this one...

But I guess I just like mine plain :-) Coffee, anyone? :-)

Weekend inspiration

2011-04-03T17:17:00.000+08:00

A spurt of weekend inspiration resulted in a few handmade cards... this being one of them.

After my last project, I had so many left-over print-outs of cute little babies that I decided to make a few more Welcome Baby cards for stashing away.

After all, who has not experienced an urgent on-the-spot need before? And worse, at a moment when you have neither the time to run out to the shops nor the energy to create!

This is my favourite. I like the pretty pastel lines in the background together with the lace doily framing the simple announcement. The tiny roses added a sweet appeal too.

I have not tried putting up any of my cards for sale yet. I wonder if there’ll be takers as everyone is so into e-things these days.

Well, so much for this week. I wonder what inspiration will hit me next? Thanks for dropping by & have a good week.

New baby card

2011-03-24T23:25:00.000+08:00

I had a little time this afternoon so I thought it would be nice to make up a card to accompany the baby quilt I posted last week.

I downloaded this cute little fella from Google clipart, printed out the greeting I wanted, gathered together some card stock and coloured paper... plus a few fabric scraps and VOILA! Here's the result...

I also borrowed a verse from one of my favourite writers, Helen Steiner Rice, for the inside message.

Finally, the quilt is ready to be sent to my customer.

Speedy baby quilt

2011-03-14T23:46:00.004+08:00

Had a bit of a dilemma. A friend requested for a baby quilt and although Baby is not due for some time still, I was apprehensive whether I could meet the deadline. So when my 1-week mid-term break started a few days ago, I plunged into the project and can now finally show off this :-)

She asked for a sky blue theme. This is my interpretation... a combination that is sweet, whimsical and shabby chic.

I decided not to follow any specific pattern or measurements as I had limited stock of the materials I picked. With that issue settled, I just allowed my imagination to take over and my inspiration took flight :-)

The blocks were getting a little monotonous until I added the thin blue black border. I didn't want it too overwhelming so I used the dusky blue polka dotty fabric (3 pats on the back for stashing this some time last year! LOL!) to bring down the contrast.

I lined the quilt with fleece and backed it using fine checks in baby blue. The finished quilt measures 36" X 45", slightly larger than the standard size of 32" X 40".

I wanted to do stitch-in-a-ditch to hold the 3 layers together but it didn't turn out like what I wanted. I finally opted for the traditional hand-tying technique (back breaking as I was working on the floor!)

...and with that done, the baby quilt is ready to go off to its new home.

Hope my friend likes it. Hope the new parents like it too. More importantly, hope Baby likes it :-)

I'm back with...

2011-03-04T18:41:00.004+08:00

...Whatever can this be???

But first, my apologies for not blogging. As you can see from my last post, it's been months. Why? Oh, for various reasons which I will not bore you with :-) But suffice to say, I'm back!

OK, this is a picture of one of the very initial stages of my project. No idea still? Right, I won't tease. Scroll down please.

My latest creation - a patchwork pencil case inspired by Pink Penguin. Thanks for the really neat tutorial, Ayumi. It was not too difficult but I had problems with the bottom corners :-(

See? Not very neat because there were so many layers. But this was the best that I could do... and just to give you an idea how obsessed I was with sewing straight lines, this project took me more than 5 hours and at the cost of 2 broken sewing machine needles! :-)

However, I do like the pencil case and I will probably be churning out more soon :-) Thanks for dropping by. Have a great weekend.

Pumpkin pin cushion in a cup

2010-12-06T10:00:00.001+08:00

Doesn't this look familiar? Uh-huh, the pumpkin pin cushion I was addicted to some time back :-) Only now, it's smaller and it sits inside a cute little cup :-)

And it was so fun and easy to do, I made 4 within a short space of time. They will come in handy as Christmas gifts for my "sewing" friends :-)

Fulfilling a promise

2010-12-01T16:19:00.006+08:00

It took me a few years but I finally made good my promise to my daughter. I sat down this morning and made her the bible cover she wanted :-)

I know I have been sitting on this for too long... 5? 6 years? Perhaps even more? I guess the idea of trying to make something to fit was just far too daunting during the busy schooldays. But since it's now the long school break, I have no excuses. LOL!

So, after breakfast, I told myself it was today or never! I decided to use the set of purple themed fabrics left over from the quilt I was sewing last month. After some "agak-agak" calculations, I said a prayer and... the rest is history :-)

This lovely huge silver vintage button was not what I picked for the bible cover. I had actually sewn up a smaller, off-white flower-shaped button which I thought matched the white polka dots perfectly (but which my daughter thought otherwise!) so that's how we ended with this one.

I must say I'm really pleased with the overall effect - and come to think of it, the task wasn't too bad. I actually enjoyed the challenge. Who knows... I might just do a bible cover for myself next ;P Thanks for dropping by, folks.

Bags your pardon

2010-11-28T15:49:00.001+08:00

This is kind of an intermission in my purple quilt project. I have outstation friends visiting and I needed to get some shabby chic rag bags done for their Christmas gifts.

Shabby Chic Rag Jean II for a young miss from Sarawak :-)

Shabby Chic Rag Autumn for a good friend in Kuching :-)

...and Shabby Chic Rag Blues for an old friend in KL :-)

Lavender Rose

2010-11-25T15:13:00.005+08:00

I managed to get off my butt and started the purple themed quilt a few days ago. I will probably keep this for my own as it will fit in nicely in the purple room of our house.

I chose the crazy patchwork cut and decided to do a king size since I had quite a bit of each fabric.

The outcome was beyond my expectation and I'm eager to finish it up.

I'm thinking of doing a 3 panel border for this massive quilt... starting with pale purple stripes (2" width), followed by purple polka dots (2" width) and finally a fat 5" border using the black rose print. Pretty excited at the prospect but first, to the shops to replenish on diminished stock :-)

Stash unlimited

2010-11-16T19:25:00.000+08:00

My latest stashing spree yielded an array of polka dot fabrics. It's Japanese cotton and I just so love all these muted colours. There were more in the shop but I had to restrain myself :-)

.....See my hoard of purple fabrics over the months? I've been meaning to make another crazy patchwork quilt since last year. I think it's about time I start :-)

Grandfather of floods!

2010-11-11T15:52:00.017+08:00

Since moving to Alor Setar some 15 years ago, we have had 1 major flood... in 2005. At its worst, the water came into the compound... it stopped short some 3" below our front door. We actually had quite a bit of fun!!!

We have since moved house, but only one road behind. Anyhow, when the road in front of our present house started flooding on the afternoon of Nov 3rd, we were not too perturbed.

Towards evening, the water had crept inside our compound gates.

This was the state of our side garden. Obviously, the ground is not level as you can see that the compound is still relatively dry except the area behind the car. The water had come from the garden drains that overflowed.

Although we heard that the neighbouring town of Jitra was flooding very badly, we were still not too worried. The weather had been fine for the past 2 days and there was no signs of impending rain. We were told the floods were a result of heavy rainfall in other areas and the water was now flowing through to the sea. We expected the water to subside the next day if not sooner. How wrong we were!

By night, the flood waters had completely consumed the compound. This was taken from our upstairs window.

This is the same target taken on the afternoon of Nov 4th when the floods was at its peak. Compare the height of the water using the auto gate control box as the yardstick. It's now half submerged! As for inside the house...

...our sitting room had turned into a Turkish bath.

If not for the split level, we would have lost a lot. We were lucky our girls were home for the long weekend. Among the 4 of us, we had moved up most of our furniture. Whatever that was too heavy, we had raised them up with bricks. To be continued.....

The new member in our family…

2010-10-23T17:34:00.003+08:00

Please welcome Canon (Cannonball) Yong! Isn't he just adorable?

Our old faithful brown mongrel slipped out of the gates one night and never came back. Although we are all pretty upset, we would like to think that Dory’s happy and is enjoying her freedom somewhere.

Actually, we were in two minds about getting another furry four-legged friend but a friend called up asking if we would like to adopt one of 2 stray puppies in her neighbourhood. I went to check them out and the rest was history. So that’s how Canon came to stay.

Tea? Teabag? Teabag folding?

2010-10-22T23:02:00.012+08:00

Today I discovered Teabag Folding and I'm hooked!

Teabag folding is like Japanese origami except that it makes use of several identical squares (usually 8) folded exactly in the same way. These are then laid side by side or in an interlocking fashion to produce a symmetrical medallion or rosette like the one here.

For my little weekend project here, I learnt 2 different folds from youtube but for each medallion I actually used only 1. Because I also experimented with a variety of paper and a different arrangement each time, I came up with this huge array of different rosettes.

And again by changing the placement of the medallion, I had so many variations to the one card... as you can see here.

And when I changed the rosette, I ended up with so many different cards I thought I started a factory (LOL!) Here are just a few of them.

Here I tried out a different greeting using another font and in a landscaped setting.

This is the finale of the day :-) I so love this simple cross. It reminds me of why Jesus came down to earth... to save sinners.

Well, so much for these cards... have a great weekend everybody.

Shabby chic with a difference

2010-10-17T08:44:00.011+08:00

Here is my latest creation after the long hiatus. Having rested some, I finally went back to the cutting table and sewing machine two days ago. Yes, it's another shabby rag bag (LOL!) but with some differences ;-)

I still used 5"x5" squares but as you can see, I've scaled down on the number of blocks. Besides the new colour scheme, you'll notice I have incorporated denim. The snipping of the seams is also done further apart. The end result?

One COOL bag :-) I just love this rugged yet feminine look of the design.

To stimulate my idle brain :-) I challenged myself to put in a zipper this round to close up the bag. Like all "first time efforts", I sweated through this one.

Not perfect but I think I gave it a reasonably presentable finish :-)

You'll be seeing more of these shabby rag bags in the next couple of weeks. I need to run up a few more as Christmas presents. In fact, I'm giving away this one to a dear friend today... Quoting her "...can't wait till Christmas..." unquote. I hope she likes it :-)

Thanks for dropping by.

Stunning in black

2010-10-01T08:16:00.004+08:00

Lala-la-lala..... I made another shabby rag bag! And what a stunner she is!!! Don't you just love the colours... and the rose prints? There are 8 different fabrics here but they match up beautifully. I'm keeping her for sure :-)

The great thing about this type of bag is the sewing technique. You can turn the bag inside out for a completely different look! YEH! See mine? I took pains with the inside too making sure that no two squares next to each other were alike. And I did change one or two fabrics.

In my excitement to get things done, I forgot to take pictures of the earlier stages (the cutting, piecing & snipping). Compared to the previous rag bag, it took me longer to sew this one. Using smaller squares (4" x 4"), there was more to do and it was rather fiddly too. Had to be most patient. But the end result was worthwhile :-) Here, the bag is all ready and just waiting to get into the wash.

.....drying in the sun to get.....

this gorgeous look :-)

You should try your hand at this bag. All you need to know is how to sew straight lines. Honest! I'm still on a high and would love to do another but my back is killing me! I think I overdid it and sat a tad too long at the sewing machine :-( So, I'm taking forced leave for a while :-( :-( :-( Keeping my fingers crossed it won't be for long. Thanks for dropping by again. Have a great weekend folks.

2010-09-27T14:20:00.007+08:00

Did I say no more bags for a while? Ok, now you know, I have a low tolerance for sweet and pretty stuff..... and when everyone who has made this tells you that making this bag is a piece of cake, what do you do? Don't know about you but I swallow - hook, line and sinker so to speak!!! Hahaha!

I must say they were right. It took me just a few hours to pull the whole thing together. I already had some pre-cut squares. Although they were bigger than the recommended measurements, I went ahead with them. After all, how far "off" can you go? The bag would probably just end up bigger...

Sorry to say, it didn't work out quite like I expected! So, I did another improvisation. Instead of 6 square blocks for the front and back, I did 2 half-squares for the middle panel. Similarly, the side panels are 2 half-squares. The bottom panel is made up of a half-square, a quarter-square and another half-square. After that, I pretty much followed the instructions given. The bag turned out great and the size was just right!

Here is my bag, sunbathing on the clotheslines - after being given the full works that included a big wash and spin in the washing machine - all part of the production process, I assure you :-) and when it was dry, I got...

...this wonderfully raggedy look! Coooooool, yes? I must try another! And THAT is a promise :-) Thanks for dropping by, everyone. Have a wonderful week!

Crafting with a vengeance!

2010-09-18T15:22:00.150+08:00

That's because my 2-week holiday is fast coming to an end! Wouldn't it be great if we could do a rewind? ;-D Sigh, it's back to the grind stone tomorrow, hence the frenzied crafting for the past few days. Remember the piles of test papers I mentioned at the start of the semester break? For the coming week, it's going to be pay-back time for recalcitrant me ;-P ...and with no regrets mind you!!!

Today's post concerns my Shabby Chic tote which is going to be my last bag - for a while at least ;-) They say the last is the best. I couldn't agree more. To use my students' lingo, this has to be my best-est creation! LOL! I love it totally.

1. Love the colour scheme - shabby chic combination.
2. Love the fabrics - they are all my favourite left over scraps.
3. Love the handles - a slightly different way of attaching to the main body.

4. Love the big heavy enamel cream-coloured button - in the shape of a flower.

5. Love the interior - baby green vintage quilted lining with boxy pockets on one side and normal flat ones on the other. Notice the patchwork on the pockets as well?

6. Finally, love the size - a gigantic 17" x 19.5" (think of all the stash you can smuggle in without your other half giving you the disapproving look! LOL!)

Well, until my next round of holidays, it's "crafts put on hold".....but then again, you ought to know me, I don't have much self-control over this area :-) Thanks for dropping in folks.

Building on unfinished blocks

2010-09-17T13:58:00.001+08:00

This star block is another ONE of my MANY unfinished projects... but thanks to Tooty Fruity, I was inspired to sew another bag. I didn't want to buy fresh material and that's how I ended up with this combination. Not bad, I hope :-) Anyway, I'm not going to unpick even if you tell me it's the horrible-st colour mix you have seen in your whole life time! LOL! I'm sure you will be "gentle" with your comments :-)

And here is the finished product. It measures 16.5" x 17.5". Yup, I'm into big bags this round :-)

...and here is the back. I used this big floral print because I wanted the pinks and greens to brighten up the star block... and I had the royal blue cotton drill pick up the tiny blue flowers.

The inside is made from vintage quilted fabric of a light green shade. I did not use interfacing here except for the pockets. One side has the boxy type pockets while the other spots the normal flat one. It took me some time (2 days to be exact) to get this done but I'm quite pleased with the outcome. Thanks for dropping by.

My tooty fruity tote

2010-09-15T21:33:00.005+08:00

What do you do when you are half way into a baby quilt and then decide to abandon boat? LOL!

I didn't want to stash away the blocks as another unfinished project so I decided to innovate and I ended up with this! *GRIN*

It's a gigantic carry-all tote bag, just right for me! :-) Nah, I have too many bags already. I think I'll put it up for adoption at my daughter's blog shop. Should be the perfect carry-all for young and trendy college students.

Tooty Fruity measures a good 51cm X 41cm and is made up of an assortment of 2" X 2" white and pink cotton prints.

Inside you will find 2 big roomy pockets on one side, done up using the patchwork squares.

On the other side is a zippy compartment. Slide it open and you'll get a more colourful print inside.

To secure this huge tote, I used a loop and button. I just love this gilded pink button and I think it sits well here, don't you think so?

So much for my tooty fruity tote... I still have a piece of leftover block... let me slip it under my pillow and see what the dream fairy tells me tonight ;-)

Taking a break

2010-09-09T14:00:00.003+08:00

Rolling out 2 more teddies...

Meet Russet Rose...my first try with a darker print. I was experimenting with the fibre filling too. That's why she's looking a little malnourished! I didn't quite "feed" her enough I guess :-)

.....and this is Rambling Rose. I think my preference for lighter cotton shows :-) Don't you think she's just adorable?

OK, after working on 4 teddies at one stretch, I think it's time for a break. Hari Raya Aidilfitri is tomorrow and I'm looking forward to "balik kampong" (head back to my parents' home) later today. So, to all my Muslim friends, "Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri" and to the rest of us "Happy Holidays"! Thanks for dropping by.

Two's company

2010-09-05T17:43:00.011+08:00

This morning, I decided to try out the teddy bear pattern again. I dug into my fabric stash and finally chose this delicate white Japanese cotton with tiny blue flowers. I had already altered the head pattern so I had no problems with the muzzle this time but I think I placed the snout a wee bit too low, don't you think?

I used the floral print as the main fabric and picked a plain blue cotton for the inside ears, paw pads and foot pads. I managed to get all the body parts sewed and stuffed by lunch time.....

and by tea break..... Blue Penny was done :-) I still have bones to pick with my teddy (that's how it is when you are experimenting). As you can see, I used different buttons for the eyes. I should have stuck with the ones I used for Sunshine Grace. Hmmmm... I may just perform an eye transplant for her later! And while I'm at it, I may give her a ear tuck too... they are a tad too big, yeah? Meanwhile, she'll have to live with it (LOL!)

Wish there's a craft class on teddy bear making here. It's so much more fun working together with others... and less tiring too cos then I would have a "sifu" to guide me instead of me working by "trial and error". I did persuade a friend into this mad project of mine though and she has sportingly obliged. She picked a smaller pattern and I'm excited to see how hers turns out.

It's nice to have two teddies sitting in my craft room. They say "Two's company..." Now, I wonder if three would be a crowd..... ;-)

Sunshine Grace

2010-09-03T15:40:00.010+08:00

Today is the start of our school mid-term hols... 2 whole weeks, what a break! Other than several piles of exam papers I have to mark, the rest of the time should be a bliss. Anyway, I'm not going to let the work put a damper on my crafts.

I couldn't wait to continue with the teddy bear. So right after breakfast, I continued my sewing. The rest of the paper pattern seemed OK and I didn't need to do any alterations. I stuffed up the various body parts and joined up the arms. The instructions said to use washers and rods for the moving limbs but that was such a hassle so I thought I'll just take the easy way out and sew them onto a fixed position.

Then I remembered this sweet pink and lacy teddy at Lovely Lace that made use of buttons at the joints... and it could move. I thought that was kinda cute too so out came the button bottle and in no time (figuratively speaking of course) had everything sewn up.

So allow me to present Miss Sunshine Grace ......

OOOPS! It's OK... She's just a little wobbly, like any new-born cub :-)

Look! She can stand on her own... and she will sit too. Is she not a clever bear? Sunshine Grace stands at 32cm and is about 23cm when seated.

I'm just so pleased with Sunshine Grace. I will definitely do another soon. Thanks for dropping by. Happy holidays!

Horrors!

2010-09-02T20:39:00.006+08:00

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!! My teddy looks more foxy than bear!!! Ok, the ears are my fault - they didn't give instructions on where to sew them so I stuck them too far apart. But the muzzle? It protrudes too much and I had followed the pattern to the T. You know, I already had misgivings the other night when cutting the fabric but hey, you don't argue when you are a novice ;-) Even until the last minute, I was hoping it might somehow turn out... that's why I took the trouble to put in the eyes and snout. Looks like I need to take matters into my own hands and make major alterations to the original pattern!

Here...what do you think now? It's not perfect but at least, you can see that it's a BEAR... right? Hehehe! I chopped off quite a bit of the muzzle ;-) and I altered the head gusset a little. OK, I'm off to sew the other body parts now. Be sure to come back to share my BEARY exciting adventure (LOL!) Thanks for dropping by.

Testing the waters

2010-08-31T23:48:00.001+08:00

Yeh! The school holidays are here... well... almost... just another two days away. Naturally, this calls for a celebration and for me, I'm diving into a new project. I've been yearning to try out soft toys, teddies in particular. So here I am with my googled out patterns and my trusty sewing machine, all ready to go :-)

There...the head pieces are joined up. I wonder why the muzzle is so long and protruding. I've have not altered any part of the pattern. Never mind, we'll just see how this works out. Let me go get the stuffing.

Mirror mirror in my hand...

2010-08-23T18:37:00.010+08:00

...I'll turn you from cheapo to grand!

I just couldn't resist purchasing this hand-held mirror as I have been wanting to match one to my made-over hairbrush. Actually, the plastic mirror was not cheapo but anyway, that's besides the point... I had been looking for this for too long.

The minute I reached home, I took out my stash and worked away so now I've this to show :-)

I'm pretty pleased how the mirror turned out... I love the fabric and of course the maroon trim and gold and beige cord makes it very Victorian, the very effect I wanted :-)

Sigh! What a handsome couple! I'm thinking again whether to use these or to keep them as Christmas gifts... OK, I've thought twice, they're mine :-)

...Thanks for dropping by, folks. Have a nice day...or whatever that remains of it. I'm off to brush my hair ;-)

Busy busy busy

2010-08-18T21:55:00.000+08:00

I saw this cheapo hair brush while I was out shopping the other day. Hmmmm... I could easily give this Plain Jane a makeover I told myself :-) So that was what I did today. Here... enjoy! :-)

Old vintage looks

2010-08-14T13:43:00.010+08:00

I remember during my primary school days at the Convent, there was this nun that sold us these mini fabric coin purses she made. They were rather plain-looking things, many of them light blue in colour (probably made from left over school uniform material) but somehow I was always drawn to buy them as a little girl... I guess my love affair with handicrafts began long before I knew it :-)

Anyway, memories of yesteryears inspired me to try out this... I used a printed fabric (English cotton) instead of a plain one though... and I purposely made it a tad larger.
To give it that vintage look, I sewed on a really old button... and I mean REALLY OLD - I found this one in my grandmother's button box :-)
Ok, it looks nothing like the purses I mentioned earlier but I think it's kinda cute. Now, to test out my creation...
Ahhhh... the utter joy of having made my very own antique coin purse, no words can describe :-)

Strike while I'm motivated

2010-08-12T23:39:00.006+08:00

Did I say bigger pouches? OK, I just churned out these... it's meant for hard disks.

I'm glad I made one in checks cos this one is for my hubby. It's not often that I make things for him but hey, everyone can do with a surprise now and then... and yes, it was much appreciated. LOL!

Ok... this one's for me. Does the binding tape go with the fabric, you think? I know the colour doesn't quite match up and it's the satin finish and not the cotton ones but I was just too lazy to go to the shops today.

The third one I made was from yesterday's salvaged fabric. Now, that's really fruitful for a rainy afternoon. If I've time, I'll probably do a few more to give away to friends. They make such practical gifts, you'll agree :-)

** Edited ... The buttons were an afterthought - I didn't want the hard disks sliding out... and OOOPS!... onto the floor! LOL! (Of course I won't be laughing then...) I took some time digging at my button stash. I finally decided on the cloth covered button for my hubby's pouch and a brass rose button for the floral one. Notice I didn't say "my pouch" anymore :-) cos I've decided to bless a dear friend with this project of mine. I hope she likes it as much as I've enjoyed doing it.

One hour project

2010-08-11T23:33:00.002+08:00

I'm so glad I was able to do some recycling today. I was going to throw away my stained toaster cover when I remembered the beautiful quilted pouches my friend had been making recently.

I had been meaning to give those a try so what better time than now? Well, I managed to salvage quite a bit of the material but since it was my first try, I thought I would go for something small...

Not a bad idea actually cos in less than an hour, I had a neat little handphone pouch....

And now? Onto greater things... bigger pouches? (LOL!)... we'll see...

New curtains

2010-07-23T23:47:00.004+08:00

Isn't the fabric just gorgeous? I know... I'm partial to anything "roses" :-) I would have bought the whole bale too if I have had the means! (LOL!)

This material was just perfect for curtains for one of my rooms upstairs. So, without hesitation, I bought it, hurried home and sewed it up the very day. See? I even got tie-backs that fits to a T :-)

Sweet Pea Junior remodeled

2010-07-02T09:18:00.006+08:00

Not sure if this is a virtue or a vise :-) I'm a perfectionist, so say my friends. And that's why I now have these to show you :-)

How do you like Sweet Pea Junior's makeover? Couldn't stand her jello nature - all soft and falling over... and with handles that were way too big. So I painstakingly unpicked the sewing (and THAT was a lot of sewing!) to have the handles cut shorter ... and with that resolved the whole issue of the bag without a bagbone... pun intended... LOL!!!

Yup, I'm pleased as pie :-) :-) :-)

More cards

2010-06-30T00:01:00.000+08:00

These were born two days ago :-) This round, I was inspired by Roy Lessin to craft about Jesus's Assurance. I shared his creative writing here two posts earlier and was already toying with the idea of making it into a card (read that as ONE CARD!). It's a wonder how much some stockcards and lots of odds and ends can motivate you. Actually, my other half thought I was at it again - getting myself into some church fund-raising project or other... Yup, I got a little carried away and churned out more cards than I had planned. Then again, when you enjoy doing something, every second is bliss! OK, enough of babbling... I'll just let the cards do their talking :-) Scroll down and enjoy :-)

Thanks for dropping by :-)

Patchwork cards

2010-06-28T22:58:00.036+08:00

God thinks you're wonderful

So promise me you'll never forget...

that you aren't an accident or an incident...

you are a gift to the world,

a divine work of art, signed by God.

You were knit together.

You weren't mass produced.

You aren't an assembly -line product.

You were deliberately planned,

specifically gifted,

and lovingly position on this earth...

by the Master Crafts-Man.

I have always enjoyed reading Dayspring Devotions. They have really good writers. Today I was inspired to borrow a few of their verses for my papercrafting project. For starters, I chose Max Lucado's God Thinks You're Wonderful. Coupled with my love for fabrics, I came up with these four patchwork cards. I've seen samples of these before (some where, some time) and have thought of trying out the technique. Well, I got my wish today :-) and I love how they turned out.

Sweet Pea Junior

2010-06-25T22:41:00.007+08:00

You can see I've been busy. I tried out another tote. Here's Sweet Pea Junior, a smaller version of my earlier bag. It's still not right :-( I think it's the fabric... Can't use cotton - too lightweight. Now, it can't stand on its own!!!

What next? It's back to the drawing board, I suppose... and perhaps a trip to town tomorrow? ;-) I need new sewing machine needles definitely. I broke 2 sewing the handles of the bags and am now on my last one. Yup, and while I'm out, I might as well pop into the fabric stores to stash up on heavier fabrics. Who knows, this might turn out to be a blessing in disguise after all :-) :-) :-)

Meet Me In The Meadow

2010-06-15T15:01:00.022+08:00

I've always enjoyed Roy Lessin's writings for DaySpring and subscribing to his Meet Me In The Meadow (it's free) helps me to keep tab on all his articles. Here's one which I particularly like and written at a time when I so needed those very words to share and encourage a dear friend going through chemotherapy. It's very aptly entitled Assurance...

May Jesus assure you that as you follow Him—

you will never meet a fear He cannot conquer;

you will never face an enemy He cannot defeat;

you will never enter a battle He cannot win;

you will never have a need He cannot meet;
you will never face a temptation He cannot overcome;

you will never have a burden He cannot lift;
you will never face a problem He cannot solve;
you will never have a bondage He cannot break;
you will never have a moment when He does not care;
you will never have a time when He is not there.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 AMP

Bag awry

2010-06-04T15:17:00.030+08:00

You know when I'm on a new craft, after I finish the first, I just can't wait to do another (and another? and another...) There's this obsession to innovate? Well, I started off on Sweet Pea, my second tote... sewed away excitedly... and finally, it was done. Eagerly, I stood back to look at my handiwork and *poof!* my heart sank right down to my toes! What was wrong?

I don't know... I can't put my finger on it suffice to say I just didn't get that "high" that I got with the jean tote! All that hard work turned out not quite what I envisaged :( Maybe, it's the material (too light weight, creases too easily...)? Maybe it's the size (too big)?

Anyhow, let me give you a closer look... I chose a sweet floral print as the main fabric for the top and a dotty pale green cotton for the bottom. I had matching green and purple silk ribbons accessorising the front...

...a loop and button fastening to close up the bag. This was not as difficult to do as I first thought.

...two open pockets and one zippy one on the insides... the one saving grace - *grin* - I put this on all on my own!

Sigh! Although my enthusiastic flames have been doused somewhat, I will plod on... Next round, a smaller version, you think??? Perhaps, a heavier fabric??? Let me chew on this.....

A bag called Jean

2010-05-31T09:55:00.012+08:00

Let me introduce you to my latest creation...

I was browsing through a magazine last week when I was inspired to repurpose my old jeans that have been sitting idle in my cupboard for the last decade. Well, what was there to lose? Instead of throwing them away, let's save the environment! So I took out my scissors and roller cutter and worked away with no specific pattern or measurements in mind (which is great cos I love squeezing my brain juice!)

I've tried sewing bags before but this is the first time I am using a really stiff interfacing (cost more than double the normal ones we use for collars and cuffs). However, I must say, it's worth it cos the bag is actually strong enough to stand on its own.

Well, what do you think of Jean? If you want to take her home, you can check her out at http://soppysasa.blogspot.com/. By the way, my very trendy girl is so impressed, she wants a handmade fabric bag too! Now, that really speaks volumes to this mummy's ego (LOL!). Have a good day!

Let's start with a ball :-)

2010-05-27T13:12:00.012+08:00

Not the medieval parties you are thinking of :-) ... more like this one below...

I know, I've been away far too long. I won't waste time on excuses :-) I just want to say that I fell in love with this exquisite ornament at http://hangingonbyaneedleandthread.blogspot.com/2009/12/quilted-christmas-ornament.html and http://anescherrer.blogspot.com/ (thanks a bunch for sharing, Susan and Ane) and knew I had to try out one.

I'm far from satisfied - it's not nice and round - but this being my first attempt, I'll just let it go. Next time, I'll stick to the instructions too... you see, I've had to make a bit of improvisation (this town is the exact opposite of a crafter's shopping paradise) and I had to use a 2 1/2" florist sponge ball instead of the stated 3" styrofoam ball.

Resolution: Will definitely be making more of these once I get the proper supplies. Meanwhile, here's hoping I won't go into hibernation mood for too long again ;-)

Christmas cards - Round 2

2009-12-02T10:51:00.010+08:00

Yesterday was a day of unexpected errands... and so even though I had kind of set my mind to make some cards, that didn't happen. Well, I learn fast and so before I got drowned in today's chores, I started off my little project the minute I came back from my morning walk. Now what do you think of this lot? Not bad, right? ;-D ... considering I have this much to show after an hour plus of cutting and pasting :-)

My Red Ribbon series...

The Green Ribbon series...

There were also two or three random ones... those that didn't quite fit into either series! You can see I tried out my punched patterns from the Penang trip. I also downloaded a new font (Baroque Script) for the greetings. I was hoping to find some really fancy curly swirly stuff but this was the best of the lot I googled out. I'm still not quite happy with how the letters turned out so if you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them. Meanwhile, I'll give this craft a rest. I hope to sneak in some time later to sort out my quilting projects. Honestly, my fabrics and blocks are all over the place and I'm expecting guests this weekend (Happy spring cleaning to me! LOL!!!) Right, have a good day and thanks for dropping by.

Christmas cards - Round 1

2009-11-29T21:40:00.010+08:00

Here are the Christmas cards I made before my Penang trip. I experimented with a variety of colored cards, tried several different layouts and used all kinds of ribbons and laces to concoct these designs.

...my favourite ...and its message inside

This set is what I call my Wise Men series :-)

I must say this is not the end. As you can see, I've yet to try out my punched out borders from my Penang trip. Maybe I should do something about those tomorrow...

Food, glorious Ipoh food

2009-11-28T20:55:00.008+08:00

Hubby took a day off on Thurs to drive down to Kuala Lumpur to help our younger daughter move back home after finishing her South Australian Matriculation program at Taylor's College. A quick stopover in Ipoh to visit my parents saw us tucking into some of Ipoh's specialties. Usually, we head for the hawker stalls for dinner but this round, we had guests. It's that time of the year for term break and like us, my brother-in-law and his wife were up in Ipoh to fetch their son home from Universiti Petronas. Dad and mum wanted to host so we went to one of our favorite restaurants in town - Seng Hup Kee.

We had Marmite chicken, Streaky pork & salted fish...

Dry-fried aubergine & long beans with dried prawns (their signature dish), Japanese toufu cooked with minced meat...

And the main dish? Black pomfret assam curry :D Are you drooling already?

For breakfast, it was dim sum at Ming Court. Did think about trying Fosan (another grand old dim sum shop that had moved opposite it) but in the end, loyalty reigned :-)

My daughter calls this the sweaty chicken (lol) because this oven-baked salted fella (an Ipoh specialty) starts off quite dry in the box but will be soaking wet in its own condensed juices by the time you get it home onto your dining table! Sorry, I have only the damp box to show - I forgot to take pictures AGAIN before we devoured it :S

Penang - Day 2

2009-11-24T15:14:00.016+08:00

I was totally knocked out by the time we left QEII but Day 2 in Penang was only just about to begin..... :D I am a real sucker for craft work... and when I have these expensive toys dangling so temptingly in front of me, there goes Sleep :D Thank you WMS for the panda eyes! LOL!

Punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, .punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch................

The results of sleeping at 2am... I believe these lovelies will be feeding my paper crafting craving soon. I was already seeing greeting cards, book marks and gift tags in my happy mess as I went to bed... or was it in my dreams? (lol)

When we got up, we decided to skip breakfast - to save our stomachs for lunch :D MS took me to the Spring Chamber @ the Sun. "Where???" you ask. You're forgiven... Not many people know that the Sun Yet San Memorial Centre along Macalister Road actually houses this neat little joint. Tucked away inside are also a cafe lounge and a gift boutique. Aaaaaaaaah! But, first a little diversion...

We were SO lucky... the centre was also hosting a craft fair and so this greeting was a total surprise. The rumbling of the stomach was forgotten and we were immediately feasting our eyes on this array of shell-crafted animals... See those cute little darlings on the right? Now if only babies were made from stockings :-)

Cute little felt dolls & animals..... and what do we have here on the right? Pencil companions (?) These are little stoppers you put at the end of pencils and they are made from Amos clay...

Kusudama origami ornaments (Japanese decorative balls)..... painting of river stones...

Look at this very cute door knob cover in the shape of a little girl with her bonnet & long skirt (In case the photography is so bad & you can't make head or tail of it, this is the backview)... ooooooh, and a lovely pyramid box that opens out into a container for your sewing equipment - it can't be anything else cos logic tells me the puffy triangular pillow inside is the pin cushion :-)

And how about this very innovative hotpot carrier? My head was swimming, I was overwhelmed with ideas for craft work :-)

Finally, back to our fine dining experience... The set lunch was a steal because at RM28.00 per head, you couldn't be getting a better deal - classy ambiance and beautifully presented western cuisine (that didn't shrink in size just because it was promoted as a set lunch!)

The mushroom soup was very different from our churn-of-the-mill type - you need to taste this for yourself to know what I mean. For the main course, both my friend and I ordered grilled lamb but she took carrot cake for the dessert while I had mango pudding. As usual, this glutton here couldn't contain her impatience and she forgot to take a photo again (of the mango pudding) :D Sorry!

Well, all good things had to come to an end... after the very sumptuous treat, my friend drove me to the jetty to catch the ferry home. Moral of the long rambling? Life should be filled with more little adventures like this :D :D :D

Penang, here I come

2009-11-22T20:51:00.001+08:00

Whatever got into me?! Here I was on the way to Penang... on the bus for the first time... and all on my own. Nope, I didn't quarrel with my dear hubby and ran away from home!!! I decided to embark on this little adventure all for the sake of a passion called quilting (LOL!) ...and I had the blessings of my family and lots of encouragement from my friend in Penang who provided free lodging and transport for the 2 whole days I was there :-) Thanks for the hospitality, MS. The bus stopped at Butterworth and I took the ferry across to the island where I was promptly picked up at the jetty.
First stop was a late lunch at the New Lane hawker stalls... to get my fill of chee cheong chook. See those mouth-watering deep-fried pig intestines and delicious red meat inviting you over? In my hunger, I forgot to take a picture of the bowl of piping hot porridge (sorry!) but I certainly did not forget the price - RM4.50! That's steep but one place that I will keep returning to... the porridge is THAT good :-)

It was straight to the Vistana Hotel after that. The 2 workshops (one on quilting & one on making bags / etui boxes) were about to "tutup kedai" when we arrived (after all it was almost 5pm). Anyway, we did catch a glimpse of what the participants had been up to... and WILL be up to (their course is a 3 day thingy). For visitors, there were quilt / bag exhibitions at the foyer... sale of sewing / crafting tools... and the Benina sales personnel was there to give us a very personal demonstration of their ultimate quilting machines. One word - COOOOL (if you are willing to fork out RM7999.00 :-)

Dinner was at QEII at the waterfront... This is one of the newer and more unique dining places on the island. It caters to the young (hey, we're young at heart; so that qualifies!) and serves a combination of Italian, Asian and French cuisine. It was a Friday night and drinks were on the house for ladies. I very timidly asked for a coke :D!!! The seafood pizza we ordered was the thin crust type and it came loaded generously with calamari rings, prawns and oysters topped with oozy yummy cheese... hmmmm... the word "delicious" does not do it justice (just don't ask the price, ok?) lol...

More pictures to remind me of my night in Penang. Shimmering lights... on the street... at the waterfront...

Truly, Penang deserves its title - "The Pearl of the Orient". My friends and I took a leisurely walk back to the car park... this was only day one. Come back if you want to know what I did on day two :-)

Quilting break

2009-11-17T18:29:00.009+08:00

What do you think of these handmade cards I created some time back? I'm going to start another round of card-making this coming school holidays (two days time...HOORAY!). Nope, I've not turned my back on quilting :-) It's just that I'm forced to take a break... for now, at least. I have been working too much on the floor (my table is not big enough for my quilting projects) and that's why I've bursitis... THAT is according to the in-house doctor - my dear hubby! LOL! Anyway, with card-making, I sit at my table (he can't fault me there! Hehehe!) ...and yes, I can make some Christmas cards to start off... will post pictures of them when I have any to show.

Talking of Christmas, I also need to start on my presents. I hope to continue last year's tradition of giving out handmade gifts (it was table runners for 2008) but I've yet to come up with a project for this year. Of course, ideally, I would love to give a quilt to all my dear friends ;-) but we all know that is quite impossible :-) So...bright ideas, anyone?

Here... a few more cards from yester-year for you to enjoy :-)

Surprise, surprise...

2009-11-16T19:52:00.004+08:00

Our annual staff lunch this year was held at D Old Village Restaurant and this is our souvenir from the Staff Club. Yeap, in other words, we buy our own gift!(but that's another story altogether). Frankly, most times, I end up giving away my share cos they are usually not my kind of thing. However, that afternoon, I was very pleasantly surprised. Unwrapping the gift, I found the most exquisite ceramic tray inside - the rose design is exactly like that of my collection too! **doing a double jig** So sorry, no donation this year (lol)!

I can kiss the lady who came up with this brilliant buy :-) And if anyone of my colleagues is reading this and does not agree with me, I"m ever willing to give your tray a home here with me :D

Variation to Scrappy Trips Around the World

2009-11-08T22:41:00.008+08:00

I loved my Scrappy Trips Around the World so much that I decided to do another. However, this time, I gave it a new twist. I arranged my blocks into a single radiating diamond (above) instead of multiple ones like my previous (below).

Both make use of 36 blocks of scrappy 2 1/2" X 2 1/2" squares and when finished, the new project should measure the same size... provided of course I stick to the same measurements for the borders. It's kind of difficult to decide which I like better, suffice to say both took my breath away (LOL!)

Masquerade Ball

2009-11-05T19:11:00.008+08:00

Ever been to a masquerade ball? You know, the type of party where you attend wearing some costume and a mask? Well, my Little One will be going to one after her exams but she had trouble finding a mask that she liked and that fitted her (face as well as budget!). So? It's Mummy to the rescue of course :-) Care to see how this Fairy Godmother waved her magic wand? :-) :-) :-)

First I made a template from paper before cutting out the real thing on elephant card. Then the headache started... I had to make this raised part of the mask where the nose will fit in (yeap, here's trying to be professional all the way... LOL!) Tricky but I managed it finally. Next, I covered the whole mask with black velvet (special request from Daughter). See the picture above on the right? Worth all the trials and errors, right? After that, the decorating began. Now that was fun!

Out came the laces and trimmings... Daughter said "not sure of what to wear for the night yet so please stick to shades of white and silver" and so your wish was my command :-)

And then some "curly twirlies" at the edge... needed to soften the look a bit so what do you think of that millinery corsage? Something still missing, you said? I know...I added some danggly ribbons and while I was at it, I also threw in a string of teeny weeny faux pearls.

Daughter was not in favour of elaborate stuff so I kept it simple (as compared to those colorfully ginormous masks I googled for samples)... and finally, it was to the post office... Pos Ekspress too! Looks like this simple mask is not as economical as we thought! Well, I hope Daughter likes it and will have a great time at the ball. Remember to be back by midnight, my little Cinderella... LOL! As for the rest of you, thanks for listening to my babbling today :-)

Bane or boon?

2009-11-02T08:18:00.008+08:00

...Have not been very productive this past week. Gosh, the weather is so hot some afternoons, the air conditioning doesn't seem to work and you just feel like sticking your head into the refrigerator!!! Anyway, despite the discomfort, I've finally done up the backing to my Scrappy Trips Around the World and here's the proof :-) Enjoy!

While the heat has been a source of complaints for me, my plants seem to revel in it. Look....

So the moral of the day is... Stop complaining and enjoy God's blessings.... by the way, that chiding is meant for me :-)

Coming out of hibernation

2009-10-22T07:46:00.010+08:00

Here's another quilt top which I completed some time ago that I hope to finish up for Little Miss Muffet's this October. Yes, I've decided to set myself some deadlines :-) so that I will have some finished projects on hand.

You can see for yourself that this one uses the Disappearing 9-Patch technique. It's another queen size spread in pretty pink prints and white eyelet cotton lace (which I love). Will post a picture when it's done... if it's done! *LOL!!!*

Update of Scrappy Trips Around the World

2009-10-18T11:18:00.012+08:00

TA DAAAAH!!! If you like the vintage and country look, you will love this :-) As you can see, I finally decided to go queen-size (with a bigger quilt, you see more of the design) and so that's why the long blogging silence. I have been spending every free minute trying to come up with the additional 4 diamonds. It's obviously very tedious work - each tiny little square is 2" X 2" but the technique I learnt from Quiltville helped make this project absolutely fun.

Took a while for me to decide on the borders too but the effort was worth it, don't you agree? With so many colours in the diamonds, I thought I would go for a darker border and here the navy polka dot worked beautifully. Then, I used a light stripy fabric for another round of narrow trimming before finishing off with a broad outer border of smoky grey rose print to accentuate the squares and diamonds.

I'm almost there... I still need to do the backing (or haven't you noticed? LOL!)... Well, if things work out, I hope to put up some of my quilts for sale this Christmas. They should be available by late October - unless they get "hijacked" along the way to Little Miss Muffet's Closet :-) Thanks for dropping by and do visit again.

Scrappy Trips Around the World

2009-10-05T16:57:00.009+08:00

I am so thrilled with my latest project. It's called ScrappyTrips Around the World (and you can see for yourself why). I got this free pattern... and many more :-)... from Quiltville, courtesy of the very generous Bonnie Hunter.

See the diamond? It is actually formed from 4 blocks (of diagonal strips) rotated and pieced together . Look below... I've got 20 blocks laid out on the floor. See how I've turned and twisted the basic diagonal blocks to form the radiating diamonds? No matching of colours, no scratching of the head - literally anything goes! This is SO fun... LOL!!!

I have just 1 more diamond (4 more blocks) to go and it's done :-) ... but then, do I want a single or a double? That is the question ;-)

Finally, out in the open!

2009-09-15T18:26:00.012+08:00

What is, you ask? THIS.....

This is my first quilt for someone other than a member of my own family. I wasn't going to post about it for at least another month. It's a birthday present for a dear friend. I was suppose to send it out later next month but since she's in town, I gave it to her today... and now I get to show you all :-)

This is a rather funny gift cos she will need to work on it further! You see, she lives in America and I just couldn't get the right kind of batting here to finish it up. She would freeze with the flannel that I always work with (LOL!!!)

This is crazy patchwork of course, done using the stack-and-slash method. Started sometime last year, I only got to finish it two months ago. This quilt top is huge (sorry, I forgot to take the measurements but it's easily king size) and it took me some really crazy hours to complete! I worked with mainly yellows (her favourite colour) with dashes of browns & greens. It turned out really well and I am thrilled that she loves it. Happy Birthday dear friend!

Diamond scrappy quilt 2

2009-08-31T16:31:00.008+08:00

...Was eager to wrap up the diamond scrappy quilt I showed off yesterday as I wanted it ready the minute I decide to head back for my parents'. So I spent the whole morning and afternoon (today being a public holiday) sewing up the backing and tying together the 3 layers of fabric (I had lined the inside with flannel so it will be nice and warm at night). I thought the checky fabric I bought a few days ago would go well with the huge diamond in front... and it did :-) But let's see how it looks displayed...

Voila!!! Yes! I love this! Even my other half was admiring it so that should say something! LOL!

My very first scrappy quilt

2009-08-29T22:11:00.010+08:00

Finally I'm ready to showcase my very first scrappy quilt. Measuring 82" X 82", this queen size project is built up from light and dark fabrics. As you can see, I have been working around 3 main shades - reds, browns and greens... and I just love how it has turned out!

This is definitely no week-end project. In fact, it took me weeks to gather the fabrics and months to get them to evolve into this 392-carat (392 scraps!) diamond. Although it was relatively easy to make, I won't be doing another one real soon! Getting scraps was a monumental task... I cheated in the end and bought some of the fabrics (LOL!)

Now, I'm sure you will agree that a mega project like this one deserves an extra special owner and there is none more worthy a recipient than my beloved parents. This is their belated birthday present :-) ...and I had better get down to work on the backing too or this will soon become next year's present!!! (LOL!)

Me and my roses :-)

2009-08-22T23:00:00.009+08:00

...Not the live ones but these that are etched onto smooth white china...

I just acquired this 5 piece serving set today. This will come in handy when I throw a popiah (spring roll) party... or a satay (kebabs) party but of course that's just an excuse to add on to my collection of crockery (LOL!!!)

Although the design is similar to what I have, I noticed the made is different. The set is also more stoneware-like than fine bone china... but I'm not complaining :-)

Newfound treasure

2009-08-07T22:34:00.014+08:00

EEEEEEEEK! I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into one of my favourite shops today! A coffee pot with matching cups and saucers in the same rose design as my tea set was beckoning to me from the shelf at the main entrance. It only seemed right that they came home with me so I didn't even think twice! :-)

You know, eon years ago, I had been drilled by my Home Science teacher that coffee goes into a coffeepot and never a teapot (God forbid!)... I even had my own little memory verse to help me remember the difference...

Drink hot coffee, drink hot tea
Coffee in a coffeepot, not a teapot, you clod!
That one may be squat and jolly
But the coffeepot? She's tall and stately!

I have often wondered where my collection of rose crockery came from (if only they could speak!). Well, these ones don't say on the box but the word Japan is glazed on the bottom of the containers so I'm wondering... or is that a red herring? I've decided it doesn't matter, I still love them all - don't you? By the way, did I mention that the shop had quite a few other accessories of the same design. I just didn't have enough time to today... guess where I'll be heading first thing after work tomorrow?! LOL!

Rapunzel's dream bands

2009-08-05T20:22:00.010+08:00

I know it's mid-week and I'm not on school break or anything but I just had to have a go at these :-) I call them Rapunzel's dream bands (LOL... I think she would rather let go her long hair than have it all braided up!) They are relatively easy to make except for the fiddly part when you have to turn the tube inside out - that took ages! - but the outcome was worth the while.

I love them, especially this one, it being a rose print of course ;-> It's not just the colours or the patterns... the fact that it's soft and gentle on my head yet able to hold back my hair (instead of those hard plastic bands with teeth biting into the scalp) makes me one to keep them all!!! ...and did you notice, they are reversible? Two in one :-) I will definitely make some for Little Miss Muffet's Closet. Well, that was a nice distraction ... now back to work and reality. Thanks for stopping by.

Butterflies in Flight

2009-07-17T11:25:00.004+08:00

What do you do when you are at your busiest and you need to get away from it all? Well, I play with my fabrics... and I HAVE BEEN busy :-) Here is a whole lot that I cut up the last couple of days (weeks?)...

and pieced together using the Disappearing-9-Patch technique...

into this :-)

The colours didn't turn out like what I expected (wonder what I was expecting anyway?!!) but I do love how the arrangement of the reds resemble the wings of butterflies. I've a problem though - now I'm in a dilemma as to whether I should just finish this up as it is or to extend it to queen size. OK, I absolutely refuse to think for now. I will just stash this away first and start on something else that does not tax my grey cells. So much for my Butterflies in Flight, have a great weekend and thanks for dropping by.

Peachy Rosy Quilt

2009-06-17T23:20:00.009+08:00

Finally, another quilt completed... This one is the result of many added hours of stolen time, nap time plus a few sleepless nights :-) Well, when one is working, one has no choice but to make some sacrifices. Anyway, that is how I "make" time for my passion (obsession, my better half calls it!)

I've purposely made the quilt bigger than the standard single so this one measures a good 150cm X 186cm... should cover every inch of the body... with enough to throw over the head for those who sleep with the lights on (LOL!!!)

And now, it's time to release my baby into littlemissmuffet's care... Feeling a little pensive of course but I know whoever adopts her will love her just as much as I do, if not more.

Pumpkins anyone?

2009-06-08T22:33:00.013+08:00

If you have been following my blog, you will remember I was down with the pumpkin bug a few months back. Hah! Have a look at this...

I decided to make a pumpkin pincushion again this morning... to complement the etui box of course. The only problem was I ran out of the checks. Hence, the maroon suede for the bottom half :-)

What do you think of this? I just so adore the vintage rose print voile, don't you? I hope I can bare to part with this when the time comes! Hmmmm... perhaps, I should think about duplicating this... seriously (LOL!) Then again, maybe not in the near future. I just may not have the time as the school mid-year break is coming very quickly to a close. There's just so much to do before term starts again. Well, we'll see.....

Thanks for dropping by. Have a good week :-)

Holiday project

2009-06-06T23:24:00.003+08:00

I had always wanted to make another etui box ever since I successfully completed one last year. What held me back was of course the fiddleliness (if there's ever such a word... LOL!) which can equate to several hours of frustration, sweat and tears! Well, with the holidays here, I just had to give it another go :-)

First, I rummaged through my stash and found this very delicate rose print voile - just the thing to give it that vintage look :-) Then, I matched that up with a peachy check for the inside. After what seemed like endless hours, this etui box was birthed!

This time, I made a square-based box instead of the earlier pentagon-shaped one. Of course, this saved me some time but the main reason of course was the fact that I wanted a different outcome. Not bad, right?

I must say I love it... love it, love it, love it..... but do another? Hmmm... what do you think I''m thinking? LOL!!!

Recycling test blocks

2009-06-04T16:47:00.010+08:00

HELLO THERE! Look what I made today... another patchwork bag for littlemissmuffetscloset. This is so trendy with jeans and will be a great carry-all for those casual weekend outings. I used two of the test blocks from my Roses & Blues quilt project and added some vintage lace as an after thought.

This is my third attempt at fabric bags and although I enjoyed working at it and am thoroughly satisfied with the outcome, I would like to try something other than the tote for my next bag project. I sure wish there were classes here that can teach me how to make some nice dinner or party clutches... Well, until one comes along, looks like you will be seeing more totes in future - at least in different shapes and sizes I hope (LOL)! Thanks for dropping by.

Disappearing 9-patch square

2009-06-03T17:40:00.003+08:00

While visiting blogs a few weeks ago, I came across the Disappearing 9-patch tutorial by Rachel Griffith. I had seen this pattern on quite a few quilters' projects before and had been wanting to try it but those numerous rectangles and squares just kind of put me off. So I was pleasantly surprised by the simple instructions but great outcome. Thanks a bunch Rachel :-)

Naturally, I was also eager to try out the block on a finishing. A quilt was out of the question as that would take months... at least for me (LOL)... and what I wanted was instant gratification! And so..... this was the result after some head-scratching :-)

Rolling out Roses and Romance

2009-05-26T20:53:00.008+08:00

Unfolding my pride and joy...

I finally finished the batting and the backing.

The front... and now the back :-)

Will be leaving anytime soon for the new home in Singapore.

Roses and Blues

2009-05-15T21:18:00.013+08:00

Here is the second project of 3 that I mentioned in my last post. Actually, this piece was started last year but I got distracted half-way! So yesterday I thought I would try to at least finish up piecing everything together. The going was better than expected and I managed to get all the borders done :-)

This quilt, in lovely shades of blue, beige and green, is worked round the darker rose print. I wanted to try sashing again but dreaded the extra work so I had the blocks joined up into bigger blocks of four first. This makes much lighter work as there is less sashing involved. The final product turned out pretty neat and I am more than pleased.

When the whole works is done, I intend to put this into littlemissmuffetscloset. Meanwhile, I must learn the art of "letting go". I tend to get a tad too attached to all my "babies" :-( Have a great weekend.

I need a looong holiday

2009-05-13T20:59:00.012+08:00

... to catch up on all my projects. Wishful thinking, I know :-( You see, while tidying up (or trying to, at least) my sewing corner, I noticed the 2 scrappy quilts I started some time ago that urgently need my attention. However at the moment, I'm working on 3 really exciting projects so I've had to make a mental note to come back to them later. What's taking up all my attention, you ask? Here, let me show you my latest "latest" - waiting to be pieced together :-)

Don't you just love the colour combination? Needless to say it was love at first sight the minute I saw the rose print in the shop. I found the unusual pastel blue-green dotty material among my stash and decided to use it because it gave such an interesting contrast to the light peachy fabrics I used. Even the simple gingham had its role. And in case you think it was a breeze for me here, I assure you I had had to work on it for several days. In fact, my initial blocks didn't come out the way I wanted and had to be recycled so look what I churned out...

This pretty patchwork tote is now sitting in the blogshop http://littlemissmuffetscloset.blogspot.com my daughter set up recently. Do feel free to pop over for a visit. You might want to take her (and other goodies) home ;-)

Back in action

2009-05-07T20:41:00.007+08:00

I know... I'm kinda behind in all my projects. I've really been bogged down by school work of late. Then, with dad suddenly taken ill two weeks ago, I've also had much on my mind and crafts just wasn't part of that picture. Thank goodness he's now on the road to recovery and to celebrate that, let me share with you the other half of my hoard (as promised)...

Now, what do you say to this? Pretty huh? Of course, I DID try not to give in to impulsive shopping but I guess I didn't resist too hard because the next thing I knew I was walking out of the shop grinning from ear to ear. As if that wasn't enough, I went out a day later and added these cookie jars!

I know, I'm incorrigible :-)

Blissfully ecstatic

2009-04-04T10:12:00.013+08:00

I am thoroughly excited, totally enraptured! I've just finished piecing together Roses & Romance and after putting in the borders, I thought I would just sit back for some reflection.

Well, with all humility, I think this piece of work is just fabulous and I am really proud of it . Looking at it, I feel so... irrepressibly exalted? elated? exhilarated? Words fail me (LOL!!!)

This project is definitely my most satisfying so far. I have also changed my mind about keeping Roses & Romance for myself as there is someone (my other darling girl) who deserves my blood (poked my finger while pinning the pieces together!) sweat (sewing in the hot afternoon is not my cup of tea!) and love (this goes without saying) :-) Deb will be graduating this July and what better gift can I give her (without burning HUGE holes in my ever shrinking pockets) than this? :-) :-) :-)

OK, I must scoot out to town to get the flannel and backing material now. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend :-)

Unexpected bargains

2009-04-03T12:41:00.009+08:00

While out window shopping with a friend yesterday, I came across some pretty crockery bearing the very design I am collecting. Needless to say, I brought (... I mean bought) some of them home :-) Here's part of the hoard...

First, I was taken up by the very unusual shape of these decanters which came in 3 sizes. I got a large one to use as a teapot...

and a medium one as a creamer. I also found this cute little jar I thought will do great for my sugar...

The cup and saucer came in a slightly different colour (more pinkish brown than pinkish purple). Unfortunately, I couldn't resist the unique shape of the saucer... so I picked up six of each :-)

Here then is the set I put together. The other half of my hoard? Let's leave that to another day, shall we? :-) Have a good weekend!