Iftar with my brothers and mum

This post is long overdue, but I want to put it up anyway because it reminds me of my brother and SIL , niece and nephew, who have all left for the US on Saturday, 28th August, and already I am missing them very much.

On Saturday, 14th August, I had my brothers, Nik Ai and his family, Ayis and his family, Azan, and my mum, over for berbuaka puasa (iftar). Initially I did not intend to cook as it was too much work ( am I starting to get lazy?), what with the fact that I am without a maid and all, and just thinking about taking out the plates, cups and saucers was already making me feel tired! LOL! Age is definitely catching up with me! LOL!

Anyway, that changed when I took Aiman for his usual Saturday classes and dropped by the Village Grocer. I decided to cook Chicken Casserole for berbuka puasa instead as it had been a very long time since I last cooked Chicken Casserole. I got all the things needed and as soon as I came back and after a short nap, I immediately started on the casserole.

My brothers started arriving at about 5.30pm with plenty of food, and here I was worried if I have enough food for everyone! LOL! Just look at the spread!

There's tepung pelita, otak-otak, piana, fried kuey teow, chicken casserole, popia, just to name a few.

my chicken casserole dish.

There's even pizza and garlic bread!

My brother, Nik Ai and his family, were back for the summer holidays. It was great catching up with them and seeing how tall both my niece and nephew have grown.

I can’t wait for when my brother completes his PhD, insyaAllah, in 3 years time, so that we can spend more time together. I might even want to set up a business with my SIL. *wink* She’s there in the US where it is almost a heaven for craft things. She could just simply be my supplier. *wink* So, what do you think, Eli?

Running a marathon!

Heheh....you must think that I must have just ran a marathon of the real thing, and if I actually did, my hubby would be so impressed and envious of me as he has been wanting to run a marathon for the longest time! LOL! But, unfortunately, or, is that fortunately, it isn’t that kind of a marathon that I run, but, instead, I did a sewing marathon! LOL! *grin*

Yup! I had a sewing marathon of sorts over the last weekend. My SIL ordered a prayer mat and a bag to match it, and she is going back to the US on the 28th of August (they left yesterday. I will blog about that later) and wants to take it back with her.

I started working on it as early as 9.30am on Saturday, 21st August (Aiman had to skip his Saturday class as I negotiated for him to go on Sunday instead), and did not stop until 1.30pm for a short nap.

I had to go to Kelvin's at 3.00pm to get more fabric as I ran out of the fabric needed to make the bag. Luckily they still had plenty of stock of the fabric that I needed. Phew!

I almost went into a panic mode. I thought I had enough when I realised that I still have not taken into consideration the fabric needed for the bag handles and the binding for the sejadah (prayer mat).

Came back to pick up my son and hubby to go to the Bazaar Ramadhan (stalls set up to sell food for iftar), and came back to continue working on it right until it was time to break fast.

I started working on it again at 9.00 pm right up until midnight when I finally completed the bag minus the top stitching at the opening of the bag.

As my weekly maid did not turn up due to sick leave, I managed to start working on the bag again as early as 7.30am and completed it about 30 mintues later.

Here's the inside of the bag.

Without taking even a breather, I immediately started on the prayer mat and only stopped at 1.30pm for a short nap to gain back some energy, and to go to the Bazaar Ramadhan to buy food for the breaking of fast. My hubby took my son for his Art Class which he usually attends on Saturdays. Thanks, Dia!

I started work again at 8.30pm and completed the prayer mat at 9.30pm!

Quite a marathon, I think! LOL! The fastest I have done a bag before this is about 2 ½ days. This bag took me only 1 day including the measuring and cutting and sewing!

I am very pleased with myself. *grin* I feel very productive and hope to be able to stay up again to work on a bag for my niece whose birthday is coming up this week (the bag was completed in the same week. I will blog about that later too).

Coming up next ...... the bag for my niece and some embroidery work!

A bag for the Little Missy

Corine was down here in Kuala Lumpur again on the 30th and 31st of July to conduct a bag making class. Unfortunately I could not attend the class on the 30th as I could not take leave from work. I got the green light from my hubby to go for the class on the 31st as he said that he will send Aiman for his Saturday classes. Thanks, Dia!

I arrived at Kelvin’s at precisely 10.00am when Ah Bee had just opened the door for business. *grin* Corine was already there waiting for her students to arrive. I was the first of her many students for that day, and I immediately got myself settled in to work on my bag.

For this class, I did the Little Missy. I am doing it for a certain lucky niece whose favourite colour is purple. *wink*

Even before coming in to class, I had already done my homework by cutting out the interfacing and ironing them onto to my fabrics. The preparation at home was necessary so that we don’t have to spend too much time on the basic mundane things which can be done on our own without needing for any instructions and when we attend classes, we can get straight into putting the bags together.

My hubby finds it amusing that I have homework to do in preparation for my class. LOL!

The preparation can takes hours actually – the drawing of the template onto the interfacing, the cutting of the interfacing and the ironing of the interfacing onto the fabric and then you need to cut the fabric according to the template before you can actually be ready for class.

You can, actually, if you want to, do all those things in class if you are not sure on how to cut the templates, but you might not be able to complete the bag in a day. You would then need at least 2 days of classes to do everything from A to Z, guided by Corine and Shit Lin.

I don’t have that luxury of time to take 2 days of classes, so I try to get as much done in a day as possible. I even wanted to attempt to start on a 2nd bag that day, but the Little Missy took more time than I expected. It looked easy, but it wasn’t what it seemed, though I must say that once I get the hang of things, I think I can get the bag done faster.

Anyway, back to the bag project, here is the completed bag. Cute, don’t you think?

I have already started on making a second one over the weekend, though it is only up to cutting up the interfacing stage, for another niece whose favourite colour is PINK! *wink* I just hope that even with my hectic schedule at work, I can still get this bag done in time for her birthday.

I just love the motif on the fabric. It makes the bag look so cheerful, yet not too childish. I think it is just right for a girl of my niece’s age.

I think it suits this niece of mine to a T. It is so her, but she doesn’t know yet that this bag is coming her way. It’ll only be given to her when I see her, if I see her, as she is not staying in Kuala Lumpur, well, sort of. I just hope she likes it.

By the way, while I was taking a class there, Leena was also there to do a bag I can't recall the name and Roz was there to do the Little Missy too.

There was also another girl there doing a Little Missy too.

So when everyone completed their bags, we put them all together in a row, together with Leena's bag which she did the day before.

They are all very lovely, right? From left, Roz's bag, Leena's, mine and the girl who was doing her bag in class with us.

Catching up on lost times

3 weeks ago, on 24th July 2010, I met up with two friends who I have not seen in almost 3 years!

Netasha had come back for the holidays. She is residing in the United States with her hubby and 2 children, Isaac who will be 10 in September, and Leila, who is 7. The last time she was back here was in 2008, I think. Each time she comes back, I would try to meet up with her at least once during her visit, and usually, whenever she can, Durriyyah would join us too. We have another friend, Bella, but she isn’t always available to meet up due to family commitments and work.

The four of us, myself, Durriyyah, Netasha and Bella, were all studying at Kent State University, Ohio in the early 1980s (goes to show you how old we all are! LOL!), and Durriyyah and I shared a basement apartment together. On weekends, Netasha, or Net, as we fondly call her, and Bella, both staying on campus, would join us, and we would open up the sofa bed in the living room and sit up all night chatting and laughing. Those were really good times, filled with fond memories.

Anyway, back to the present time, we met up at Chawan in Bangsar for breakfast, and though I had already had breakfast with my hubby and son earlier (Aiman had replacement class that Saturday), but, after looking at the spread that the girls ordered, I couldn’t resist dipping into their plates! LOL!

Just look at the spread!

We had a good time catching up on all the lost times, but, because we have not met for so long, everyone wanted to talk and ask questions that we ended up talking all at the same time! LOL!

There was so much that we wanted to know about what the others were doing, but time was short as Durriyyah had a wedding to attend and I was to join my hubby and son for lunch. *sigh* Everyone’s busy, but that’s life in the city.

I met up with Net again on Sunday, 8th August, 2010, and I went through some adventure which I will tell more in a later posting.

Net left for the United States on Tuesday. I hope to meet up with her again in a year’s time when she might be coming back for raya next year.

Introducing Uniquely Aznique!

I have been putting this off for too long. I am nervous, but excited, but, I think it's time I just do it! So, here goes......

Introducing Uniquely Aznique! – the shop to get your customized handmade bags and other craft items and craft supplies!

Go here to check out the shop!
http://uniquelyaznique.blogspot.com/

For a start, I have 3 types of praying mat and praying mat bag up for order. More handmade bags and other craft items will be added as I make them and add them here. I will also be putting up cottons for sale as and when I get them in.

Take time to browse through my many handmade items and should you require any further information, please do drop me a line at nikainun@yahoo.com and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

If you are interested to order any of the items, please send me an email at nikainun@yahoo.com with the code name of the items and let me know your choice of colours, and anything custom made that you would like to have on the item -trimmings, pockets etc. - for the handmade items.

For the handmade items, as, at the moment, I have yet to put up all the collection of fabrics that I have in hand, I will send you an email (please check both your Inbox & Spam Folder ) with an attachment of the choice of fabrics that I have in stock in the colours of your choice for you to choose from. Once you have made your colour choices, I will let you know how much the cost of the item is and my account number for you to bank in the amount.

For cottons, please list down the code name of the cottons, and I will email you with a proper list and total amount to be paid to my Maybank account. Please let me know by email once you have banked in the payment, and include in your address where the item is to be delivered to.

Please note that price listed is NOT INCLUDING shipping and handling charges and delivery is only by Pos Daftar (Registered Mail) or Pos Laju, and will be charged according to the weight of the package. All items sold are neither refundable nor exchangeable.

I am afraid I cannot be responsible for any loss or damage during delivery, but I would appreciate it if you would let me know if you have not received the item after 10 days from the date of delivery so that I can still try to track it down through Pos Malaysia. I would most appreciate it too if you would let me know once when you have received the item so that I no longer need to keep track of it.

A note though, as I am not doing this full time and can only work on customised orders mostly on weekends, and is only available to go to the post office only on certain days of the week, please allow for a minimum of 2 months for items that are to be handmade and delivered to you. But, should I complete it sooner, I will email you to let you know that item has been sent together with the registered tracking number. For cottons, please allow for a minimum of 2 weeks.

Thank you, and wish me luck!

A prayer mat bag by design

I have had a couple of requests for custom made praying mat and praying mat bags, and so, for the benefit of my friends, readers, and future customers, I have decided to have all the 3 designs put here for easy reference.

I have 2 different types of praying mats which, when folded, will be like a bag for easy carrying.

The first one, PM01, is padded, and when folded into a bag, can even be a pillow should you need to take forty winks *wink* while travelling and waiting for the next praying time.

Both the front and back of the praying mat is made of 100% cotton fabric, and can be customized with laces and pockets to put in keys and jewellery while you take your wuduk.

It measures approximately 15”x 13”. It is priced at between RM80 – RM95, depending on the choice of cotton fabrics and trimmings.

The 2nd one, PM02, is a bag using an actual praying mat (the thin version) on the side that you pray on, while the other side is using 100% cotton fabric, with no padding in between.

It measures approximately 15”x 13”.

The bag can also be customised with laces and pockets,

and is priced at between RM70 – RM80, depending on the choice of cotton fabrics and trimmings.

The 3rd choice of praying mat, PM03, that I have is a standalone praying mat (it cannot be folded into a bag).

It is made of 100% cotton fabrics and is padded and quilted, and is embroidered (it can be replaced with a lace) at the top to indicate the top of the praying mat.

When folded, the praying mat will fit nicely into a bag specially made for it, should you choose to have the bag made to match the praying mat as a set. The bag, which is made of the same 100% cotton fabrics as the praying mat, is big enough to fit in your telekung and your basic make-up needs, and even your purse.

This praying mat measures approximately 24”x 42” and is priced at between RM60 – RM70, depending on the choice of cotton fabrics and trimmings.

The bag that would fit in the praying mat measures approximately 12”x 14”and is priced at between RM75 – RM85, depending on the choice of cotton fabrics and trimmings.

If you are interested to order any of the above items, please send me an email at nikainun@yahoo.com with the code name of the item (PM01, PM02 or PM03) and let me know your choice of colours, and anything custom made that you would like to have on the item (trimmings, pockets etc.)

As, at the moment, I have yet to put up the collection of fabrics that I have in hand, I will send you an email (please check both your Inbox & Spam Folder ) with an attachment of the choice of fabrics that I have in stock in the colours of your choice for you to choose from. Once you have made your colour choices, I will let you know how much the cost of the item is and my account number for you to bank in the amount. Payment is accepted only through my Maybank account. Please let me know by email once you have banked in the payment, and include in your address where the item is to be delivered to.

Please note that price listed is NOT INCLUDING shipping and handling charges and delivery is only by Pos Daftar (Registered Mail) or Pos Laju, and will be charged according to the weight of the package. All items sold are neither refundable nor exchangeable.

I am afraid I cannot be responsible for any loss or damage during delivery, but I would appreciate it if you would let me know if you have not received the item after 10 days from the date of delivery so that I could still try to track it down through Pos Malaysia. I would most appreciate it too if you would let me know once when you have received the item so that I no longer need to keep track of it.

Lastly, as I am not doing this full time and can only work on the order mostly on weekends, and since this is a handmade and custom made item, please allow for a minimum of 2 months for the item to be made and delivered to you. But, should I complete it sooner, I will email you to let you know that item has been sent together with the registered tracking number.

Thank you!

An unplanned bag making class

I was in Penang for work on the 8th and 9th of July, and since I was spending the night there, I made plans to meet up with Zarina and also to visit Corine from Corine’s Craft after work.

It was originally a plan to just meet up for a chat (yeah! Right! Just a chat, you say? LOL! *wink*) and maybe browse (browse? Who am I kidding, anyway? LOL! *grin*) through Corine’s shop hut which is always filled to the brim with plenty of sewing notions and fabrics. It never fails to get me all excited like a little girl. *grin*

Corine picked me up from the hotel as soon as I checked in and managed to refresh myself. I was originally very tired after a long day visiting 2 project sites and attending a project meeting that I almost wanted to just call off meeting up with Zarina and Corine. I felt like just taking a warm shower and going under the covers for a good long nap, but, the minute I heard Corine’s voice over the phone, I got all excited! I was already imagining going through all the lovely sewing stuff and fabrics in her hut! LOL! *blush*

When I got to Corine’s house, there was a lady already there doing a bag. If I am not mistaken, she was doing the Banana Bag, which immediately got me all excited! LOL!

Corine encouraged me to take a bag lesson with her, but I hesitated as it was already 6.30pm. I doubt it if I could finish a bag in this short time. I wasn’t too keen on imposing on Corine either at such a last minutes, and I don’t think I have the energy to stay up late after a long day already. I also needed to get some sleep as I still have a very long day tomorrow filled with discussions and site visits.

However, all that changed when I saw Roz’s lovely Saddle bag, compounded with lots of persuasion and encouragement from Corine herself and Shit Lin. LOL!

I immediately got to work choosing the fabrics while Shit Lin immediately got to work drawing out the patterns onto the interfacing.

When Zarina arrived, even before we could finish with our pleasantries, she was set to get to work cutting the interfacing while Shit Lin ironed them onto my chosen fabrics. Thanks, Zarina!

This time, my choices of fabrics were brown with pink flowers! Ooohh! It is so sweet! Just couldn’t get away from pink, can I? LOL!

I spent the next 2 ½ hours working on the bag with plenty of help from Shit Lin, Zarina and Corine.

Zarina left at about 8.00pm, and we stopped working on the bag at about 9.00pm or so.

I only got as far as putting the top of the bag together, but it was already late and time for dinner and I had to get back to the hotel for some much needed rest.

Corine took us to dinner at Sushi King (thanks, Corine!) and Shit Lin’s sister sent me back to the hotel. I was so tired, I think I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillows. LOL!

Coincidentally, Corine drove to Kuala Lumpur the next day to run a class, but, I didn’t have a chance to attend that class at Kelvin’s as I had a meeting to attend as soon as I arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Penang. So, I only managed to join her class on Saturday, 10th July, but, even then, it was after 11.00am as we had a 3-way conference at Aiman’s school to discuss Aiman’s performance with his teachers on his last semester’s exams.

I had little doubt that I could finish the bag, seeing how complicated the bag looks, but, again with lots of help from Shit Lin and Corine, I finished it! All that was left was to put on the leather handle, which I am not an expert in, and so, I gave it to Corine to take it back to Penang for her to buy the all the leather accessories needed for the bag from this lady who does leather accessories for bags, and for her get it done for me.

The finished bag arrived yesterday, 31st July, with Corine when she was down here again running another bag class. It’s gorgeous, if you don’t mind me saying so myself! LOL! *wink*

I just simply love the fabrics, and the leather accessories simply make the bag look so very expensive! Errrrr....actually, they are VERY EXPENSIVE! *wink*

I can’t wait to use it!

I am thinking of doing another one, this time in black as my favourite black handbag has given way after a very good and long service with me. It’s time to retire it. I have bought the fabrics at Kelvin’s on Saturday. I hope to spend some time today (this post was written on Sunday, 1st August) drawing out the patterns and maybe get started on it as soon as possible because I am in dire need of a black bag. I just hope that it will turn out just as nice, if not better looking!

BTW, while I was at Kelvin’s, with Kelvin’s permission, I snapped some photos of his new shop. Seen here is an angle of the classroom.

Don’t you just love all those fabrics and sewing notions?

I could practically spend the whole day at Kelvin’s shop, going through all those lovely fabrics, only I think it just might be too dangerous for my purse, and burst my bank account! LOL! Eerr.....I think it already did on my last trip there! LOL!

Look at all those bags nicely decorating the top of the shelves filled with fabrics! Makes you want to do all the bags, doesn't it? *wink*

Seen here is Kelvin with Niza from Penang.

Coming up next ...... A bag for the Little Missy!