Cheongsam Dress

I attended a teaching workshop this morning on drama and acting. And now somehow I couldn't switch it to sewing mode, my brain just resist to switch : ( So, I'll just show you what I've been completed with in the week. It was a long pending sewing project after many sewn, ripped, sewn and ripped. Finally... da..da... a piece of Chinese traditional ceongsam with modern touch. It's my size of M/L in 100% cotton fabric, oh, my favorite.


I've added a set of chinese button right on the collar. I couldn't think of any other color besides light purple tape for the bias.

This piece of ceongsam indeed was a detailed careful handmade, and that makes me couldn't resist to put it on me, but it would be better that I only wear it on special occasion... unless if I manage to make a few more pieces, that's another story ; )
Hope you have a wonderful weekend...

Apron and homemaker

It's school holiday, my lesson with them at home is going on as usual besides having more play time ^_^ I incorporated as much play as possible so long as they are not turning to be just a bookworm. I've sewn some bean bags for them to toss around, each of them has got at least two. It is an activity that could practise hand and eye coordination and a kind of balancing for both of it. It's kinda fun, I play with them as well.


This week I made an art apron for kids with a thick cotton fabric and layered it with another less thick one. They shared one previously, but it's quite troublesome if one used it, the other don't get to use the apron. It's best for each of them to have one. The whole sewing project took around 3 hours of work, if there's break in between, it may take half a day. But the end result is quite satisfying, just another mama made thing.




I think I do need a new kitchen apron soon. It's kind of not complete for a homemaker without her kitchen apron right? yeah... all homemaker and mama reserved to have more than one.

Of pies and ice-cream

I asked my hubby would there be anybody that will bake for me, instead of just eat what I baked all the time, "I think they won't be any..." he answered. Gosh... I'm craving for pies lately, and best if top with dollop of sour cream or ice cream. yum, yum...
Thus, with the instinct from the heart and after following a few of the baking show, I think that should go alright... daa daa... this is my apple pie with fresh and flaky crust just came out right from the oven. Dessert is just so good.

Recently, I get to see my kids draw on piece of drawing paper, this time is not on the floor or their favourite comic strips, it is a bigger picture with their expression of mind and I like that. Formal schooling is just too rigid, and sometimes when I went to school, I saw teacher was scolding all lower grades students about three hundred of them for chatting around. With her wisel keep blowing, I just don't know whether she has the need to do so, or she is just showing and giving the example of shouting and scolding like mad ???
Even with her own children, I don't think she is able to get what she desires of them to be sitted without a single sound. It's a heart broken scene for all of us as parents to see that.
And may I suggest that teachers too should have some enforcement of disciplinary system?

Now, I hope you know why is that dollop of ice-cream is so vital to soothe my broken heart.

PPSMI - I say yes

Reading "Don't toy with education" (The Star, Feb19), I just can't ignore the matter as both my school going children somehow will be the direct produce of that education outcome. They are off started with a new system called policy MBMMBI in 2011; hence that's also means the scrapped of PPSMI policy (Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English).
Thanks to the PAGE (Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia) for bringing some hopes in fight to bring back the PPSMI introduced since 2003 just before Tun Dr. Mahathir stepped down from office. With our way of doing, not long after that in 2009, they (I can't say we in this case) switched again to revert to teaching the subjects in BM.


Eventhough there is the slightest in hope, we still need to try. That's so much better than do nothing, and being an ignorant.

But let's not forgetting why we badly need the teaching and exposure of English to our children and many more generations to come, we have got to read this - "lets-reminisce-why-english-was-re-introduced".


So, take action now.

A Versatile Blouse

Sew sew sew... that's what I'm doing recently. The light pink O' Necktie Sunblouse is the latest addition to the collections. If you observe closely, the both shirts were wrapped with different matching cotton bias tape. The other different is the chilli red one is a loose shirt whereas the other is a body fit type. So buddy, how do you find my creations? Very teacher look ehhh, or college student look ^_^ ?

A new shirt for me

(picture by hubby, model by me)

I completed a new shirt for myself yesterday. I'm the kind that go for quality instead of quantity. As long as it look simple and comfortable on me, I don't mind having the same design in more than one piece. This is my O' necktie sunblouse. I prefer it with ruffled short sleeves - to be embedded with some vintage touch. yes. I love vintage.

This is something that I need and want - comfort that comes utmost in my lists in dresses that I'll put on myself for daily wear. Ever since I'm a stay-home-mom, I found those fashion lines in boutique stores doesn't suit me (with comfy and versatility) and way too pricey too. On the other end, the dresses that occasionally I buy from pasar malam, I never get to wear them more than once. For just a wash, it wrinkled up beyond an iron could fix.

(picture by hubby, model by me)

I enjoy looking at the mixture of fabrics that turn out to be the oohhh... and ahhhh... as a complete piece in the end result. It looks and works well, what you say?
There's another one in the making. I'll post a picture here once it's done.

Chinese New Year

Here's to wish you a belated Happy New Year...
I was sooooo busy preparing stuff and getting ready for this festive season. I clean, I bake, cook and have almost no time to come to this blogspace.


There are a few pictures that I would like to share with you during our trip to Bukit Tinggi highland in Pahang recently.

(The Japanese Tea House)

(Performance at night in Colmar Tropicale; 'The fire-breath man' my sons call)

(At the Swan Lake)

(Swiflet nest in a hidden the parking bay)

(Run freely in Rabbit Farm)

a beautiful scenery is vital to soothe the soul.

May your holiday is well spend with your love ones. xox

Randomness

(The above photos courtesy by big R)

The scene at home when the cake just came out from the oven, right after dinner. Just nice with a dollop of vanilla ais-cream.

I let the kids get the feel of applying nail polish onto their toenails under close supervision. We chose toenails so that there won't be any problem the next day when they go to school : P
'the kids said: "look at my rainbow toenails..." Dad said: "aiyerrr.... geli lah..." '

Besides that, I'm working on a new pair of dress for my sewing project, namely 'cheongsam' using a Japanese printed natural cotton. Design, pattern and fabric have been done and cut out, just need some time to sew all the pieces together. I'm not sure whether it will be ready by Chinese New Year, but it should be tentatively.

Cook with me...

Wanna try out my version of clear and tasty soup, come let's cook this - Watercress fishball soup

You'll need:-
650ml chicken stock
150gm lean meat (thinly sliced, toss with 1tbs corn flour and pinch of pepper powder)
8pcs Sai toh fish ball
1packet fresh young corn
150gm watercress (xi1 yang2 chai4)
pinch of salt &
1tsp of soya sauce

Boil the chicken stock in advanced.
When the stock is ready, adjust the fire to medium, put in the lean meat lightly, boil it for another 3min.
Then, eventually put in the fish ball and young corn. Keep at the same fire.
When you've noticed the soup is mildly boiled, put in pinch of salt and soya sauce or to taste, then quickly put the watercress in the soup for 2min. you can now switch off the fire.
Let rest for another 5min.

Now, this super clear and fresh soup is ready for your weekend lunch/dinner with your love ones ^_^

If you have difficulty in cooking it, drop me a message. I'll be happy to assist you to get your soup cooked ; )

Hello year one

I have one who started year one when school starts. Recalling when I first started to blog, it was also when they were so young and needed my attention fully. Time passes so quickly as both of them are in formal school, can dress themselves in style they want, paint their white shoes... oh gosh... they have grown up so much!

For readiness to school, I gave each of them the mama sewn pencil case. Little R gets his 'Hi Little Bear's case. He loves it and happy with his new pencil case.