Hello 2013

I was being very productive in the new year eve for sewing til midnight - welcoming 2013. Managed to get some of the stationery ready for the beginning of new schooling year which will start soon. Also made some extras for orders from teacher friends this new art brush case in denim jeans.
What have you made or planning to make?

End of 2012

Time flies and we're reaching the very last day of year 2012 to sit back and reflect. During the year I've created and made a few of handmade crafts which I think there's some improvement in terms of my handcraft skills, and hopefully will keep the passion grow in time to come. And I would like to thank you and the community of blogging with good and kind people for sharing their thoughts and the journey of making together in this space. May us all be blessed with good health physically and mentally, harmony and peace.  

A good outing

My son's art class conducted an outing yesterday which 'me too' participated. Thinking for not being the 'helicopter mom', it was only the 2nd half session that I went to peep at him. Man, that's a wonderful trip for both students and adults alike. They went to temple, Penang Heritage Chew Jetty, biggest Bomba in town, analyzing fire trucks and also not forget to draw and make art work at the station. In this remote country of ours, we rarely compliment over whatever deeds others have done be it for us or the rest of us. I told one of the teacher that having such an outing was such a wonderful experience for our kids. They learned whilst having some fun which not just confined to the four walls classroom learning. It's definitely a good outing.
ps: These are unrelated picture, the orchids in my house are blooming. I didn't bring my camera during the art outing. sigh!

Another Vintage Japanese robe for toddler

I keep my hands busy with a few sewing projects in my craft room, the above toddler's Japanese robe had just completed this afternoon and can't wait to show it to you here. This is one of my favourite picks from local fabric shop hubby Jim brought me over during the weekend. I like to incorporate colorful flower motif fabric into my sewing projects mainly because I hope it would cheer you up a little. sincerely. and most of the time I usually will wear this type of pleasant looking clothes. come on, we ought to influence people with positive and 'yang' energy than the opposite one, don't we?
I remembered that I told a Japanese ex-colleague of mine this: "In life there is up and down, when you fall just dusk off the dusk and pick yourself up. Tomorrow is a new day and you still will see the sun shine...".
Say this - EMiToFo

As a World-community

It has been more than two weeks I changed my laptop's homepage from Yahoo to Google, so as I won't be fed with many 7+1 news (Ba gua news) which will always lure me to browse them whenever I'm at it. Since then, I'm not up to date to what's going on in the world. I got to know of what happened in Connecticut through Ginny. As we all live in the world-community that internet and blogging have brought us together closer than before, even in this remote country of where I live in, I'm deeply saddened and tears flowing when I read the news articles on the elementary school. Each and everyone of us play a role in keeping our community harmony and in peace if we all have the heart to maintain it. It is not easy. watch our words and do more kind things with our pair of hands, I do this, and could see the difference.
Emitofo.

Welcoming December

Oh, December! Here you are, and I made this little buntings to welcome you and wish you would stay a little longer...

Scoopneck ALine Dress in Japanese print

This is my another new baby, a Scoopneck ALine Dress in my favourite fabric in Japanese print. Too bad, it's just enough to make two or I'll make tons of it. I will wear it for formal occasion, with an overcoat or go clubbing in real short mini dress provided still have that chance  as other youngsters would. Time won't turn back and I think I have to forget about clubbing and go karaoke singing with my hubby and kids in an isolated room...

A Vespa and a Volkswagon

I went for thrift shopping recently and found these two loves as both are vintage. For the time being, I don't think I could afford a new Volkswagon and don't mind having one model of it at home.

A treasure within the treasure

School holidays start. We're back to nature, into the woods and by the sea. I've been to this Southbay seaside some ten years ago. And yesterday we were back to this place again despite it is only at a walkable distance of fifteen minutes from my home! What a shame that I don't treasure it as I supposed to be!
It's a treasure within the treasure of this island, far from the business of city and soaking ourselves in calm and peacefulness. Both my kids were amazed, excited and feel the trip was full of adventure. They learned and making discovery along the way. The local hobbies are at their usual selves finding seashells that would make a good meal. Yum...

Penang Yosakoi Parade

First time first hand news!
Our Penang Yosakoi Parade! Near and far, come, come, come... to celebrate the day with us!

You may get to know more about Penang Yosakoi Parade here.

World Children Day

Last weekend was World Children Day. Over here in Penang, we had a great time celebrating with children at MPPP Park. It was part of a charity event whereby tickets are needed to purchase food and products on sale. It was totally a surprise invitation from a friend of mine, ML. She handed the tickets to me as she and family were unable to attend in an impromptu situation. Everybody seems enjoying their full cup of KokoKrunch in fresh cold milk. Yum yum...
There were horses and I'm specially fond of them. I think I was thrilled as much as the kids ; )
 

New Baby's Japanese robe

This week, I finished another piece of Baby's Japanese robe, for baby age 12-18 mo. Well the previous one has been given to my friend's baby. I think his mom is more excited than the baby who is wearing it. This project is so fun to make and the outcome is so so satisfying.

What is your latest sewing project, friends? Do share.

Vintage Japanese robe

Another newly completed project - a baby's vintage Japanese robe.

This robe in leafy print is so perfect for Fall. I can't stop looking at it since this morning, but, it will be delivered to the owner, my friend's baby son. His mum asked me to design a suitable wear out of this fabric, in view of recent raining season, I think it's necessary to keep the baby warm and comfortable, so I quickly get this Japanese robe done before the raining season over and before the baby outgrown this robe : P

You know, sometimes project can really being postponed year after year when we lost that urgency or when found a new loves.

Love >o<

Denim jeans colored pencil holder

My latest making - standard size colored pencil holder in denim jeans. Almost similar to this jumbo colored pencil holder I make sometime ago. A must have in kids art supplies tools.

Leave print bookmark

Completed two scrapbooks to be passed up in a week is a heavy task for a mum. On the other hand, it put my artistic side into good use whilst having really limited time for sit and think. I've included a few leave prints into the books under Go Green section. Because of not having enough leaves in the study room, we make more today and included a Chinese poem at the back of each leave. Memorizing these poems for a grade 2 student is another big task, oh gosh. But learning should be fun instead of painstaking, right? And I'm hoping to see that 'fun' taking place soon. Keep fingers crossed.
But as I see those leaves, I'm getting like'in it ; ) art and craft project from nature thing is inspiring. Also, this is the shape of collar in this kebaya dress, the sirih shape.

Peter Pan collar in polka dots

 

I went for fabric shopping recently and fall in love with this black and white dots voile, and bought a few yards for the home studio. Polka dots is rather vintage by itself sometimes, but on the other end it is a time-proof love. My tailor aunt dropped by the other day and upon seeing it, she immediately asking if there's still in the shop. By not wanted to waste it further with some daring attempts, moreover I've been knowing and quite familiar with making tops, hence, I mixed and matched the above two fabrics and now present to you this new baby right from sewing room. I'll put this my first few polka dots shirt in my craft store to share with my readers and lovely clients.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were just left our country after an official visit, they are truly an amazing couple. We all love them too. As for me, I'm not interested in the picture of topless Duchess and won't be reading them.

May them be blessed with good spirit and good health always.

An old teacher

 

 

I met a former teacher of mine after 25 years at Sunshine Square yesterday. I was delighted to stumble upon her and walked to her without hesitation. Hubby asks which year did the teacher has teaches me, I say when I was in primary four or five. He says 'Oh my! She still could remember you!' ^_^ She is not an ordinary teacher to me, she is the one who discovered my calligraphy talent and mingled with us more than a teacher would. We all even willing to help her to wash and clean her new home when she needed extra hands to do chores, from planning out to buy brooms, mops, cleaning towels, pails and etc. She has retired as school principal since two years ago after reaching retiring age. Thinking of those years as a young student under her as our form teacher, I feel lucky and blessed to have a wise, caring and loving teacher. And now, I can happily and able to invite her to come to our home to keep our teacher-student-ship continue on.
Happy!

Melinda's Doll Dress

 (Melinda's Doll Dress)

This Melinda's Doll Dress has been in the queue piled up on my sewing machine for quite some time, finally I was able to finish it after completed that pair of lacey baju kebaya. Gosh, I'm a little phobia when mentioning lace... let's forget about it first, we now talk about this brand new Melinda's Doll Dress.

We're living in only one-season weather, wearing something made from light fabric, without collar and sleeves and in simple design is an ideal, for me in daily wear. But, a petite figure like me is not easy to find one. The material of clothes that always shun me off from buying them. What's more when I needed to juggle between many roles, one time as cook, the next as chauffeur, baby sitter and etc...I really need clothes that is comfortable and can wear for inside and outside of home. So, after having all these considerations and getting the right fabric, I constructed it and here's the piece. I named it so because I have a friend whose name is Melinda and she always likes doll dresses. She says even she's not pregnant, she still can wear it : )) LOL...Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a baby either ; )

So, this is my doll dress. What's your favorite one?

Baju Kebaya with lace

Homemade sardine pizza for dinner

In the making...

 

 Baju Kebaya with lace (Front view)

  

(Rear view)

It's raining season, we prefer to stay home mostly to enjoy home cook. Pizza for dinner is a not often, but always in demand, sometimes tops with chicken satay or occasionally with tuna or sardine fish. Yeah, that's less mundane compared with everyday every meals with rice.

I've had completed that pair of so.. so... very time consuming baju pengantin (bride's clothing). That's my course work. I'm the one who asked for it. Most probably in another few months but not sooner, I won't dare to touch any lacey thing. Gosh, that's not easy, really. Anyhow, I've taken the picture of it to share with you, that's in the size of S. Button at the front and the collar is in the shape of sirih with a little collar at the back.

What do you think of this baju kebaya? Feel free to share it with us here...

Stay great, friends.