Za's Blog

The Little Black Bag

2012-01-22T10:01:00.000+08:00

Do you remember the sample prayer mat bag I made for my hubby’s cousin, Idah, in 2009?

Well, I have been using the bag for myself to carry my documents and other things to work. Recently I find myself in need of a black bag as the black bag I have been using all this while is starting to give way. So, I thought to myself, why don’t I make a black bag that matches this prayer mat bag. That way I would have a matching bag set.

I started on this project on the weekend of the 23rd of August 2011. Yup! That long time ago, and only now am I blogging about it! LOL!! *grin*

I didn’t realized how quick it was to do this bag as I completed the bag the very next day! I made the bag at a relaxing pace as I wasn’t in a hurry to get it done, but, despite stopping many times to do the usual household chores, cook and all those other usual wifely duties, I got the bag done in no time at all! I was surprised at how easy it was to do this bag.

The original design calls for the bag to be padded and quilted, but I decided to replace it with the usual bag interfacing instead. I guess that makes a difference in my timing. Still, I think the bag still looks great. Wouldn’t you agree? *wink*

If I do this bag again, what I will change is the top flap. I think it’s a little small and does not cover the whole top opening, making it very easy for small things to pop out of the bag, not to mention that someone could actually put their hands into the bag. So, if I carry this bag to a public place, I would have to strap it across my body and have it in front of me.

Other than that, I love this bag because of the fact that it matches the prayer mat bag which is now my document bag which I have been bringing to work with me.

Maybe I should start thinking of making bags as a set – a handbag that comes matching with a document bag. What do you think?

A box of pinks!

2012-01-15T22:44:00.000+08:00

Everyone knows that my favourite colour is PINK. Funny ,though, that my wardrobe has very few pieces of pink clothes. LOL! There are more reds and browns. I guess there aren’t that many pink clothes in the market that appeals to me. Maybe when I start sewing my own clothes (which is when?), my wardrobe might be full of pinks! LOL!

Anyway, for the recent Mug Rug Exchange organized at NNC, besides Sally, my other Mug Rug Exchange partner is Diane from the US.

I had received my Mug Rug from Sally many months ago, which I had already blogged about it in September, and sometime ago, I received my Mug Rug from Diane.

I have been meaning to blog about it, but life has been very hectic for me the last 4 - 5 months. I hardly have time for anything much else except work, work, and more work, and taking care of the family and home.

Anyway, Diane's mug rug to me came in this huge box.......

....and upon taking the packaging apart *grin*, I was greeted with this very lovely box of pink that got me all excited! LOL!

What awaits me inside the box was even more exciting. You will agree with me when you see the contents of the lovely box. I felt like I had just celebrated my birthday all over again! LOL! My Mug Rug did not come alone, but was accompanied by a load of many very lovely things, mostly in PINK!

Here are the contents…..

The mug rug came complete with a sweet pink mug and a tiny tea pot which is oh, so very cute!

There were also 4 sachets of tea, which is a requirement under this exchange, that is, to include tea bags together with the mug rugs.

As I was also involved in the Antique Tile Block Swap organized by Diane, she included in the box the block swap. I will blog on it in a separate posting.

In the mean time, more exciting things included in the box is a pink hibiscus flower hair clip and a pink Fox Run mold, which I believe, is for pudding or jelly. Diane, can this be put in the oven?

As I was going crazy baking cupcakes in the last few months (will blog on my cupcakes in a later post), and have been telling all my friends over at NNC and showing off photos of my cupcakes over at FB, Diane included inside the box a pattern for making Cupcake oven mitts! How cool is that and it is so cute!

I definitely must make at least one cupcake oven mitts as soon as my Project Management Certification program is completed. I can’t wait!

The best gift from the box came in the form of a Dogwood Trail charm pack, and 9 pieces of fat quarters, all in pink!

I had actually bought a Dogwood Trail Jelly Roll a few weeks prior to receiving the box of pink from Diane. I bought it when the board was crazy discussing about jelly rolls to be used for the impending Postage Stamp Quilt-A-Long scheduled for this year.

Diane actually recommended to me to get the Dogwood Trail Jelly Roll, and the minute I laid my eyes on the jelly roll, I just fell in love with it! It’s pink, remember! LOL! And now, I have a charm pack too to compliment the jelly roll! Now isn’t that awesome! LOL!

Now is to actually find the time to use all the things that Diane sent me. I am looking forward to completing my certification program so that I can get on with doing the other things that I love to do - crafting!

Thanks, Diane, for all the lovely things! I am still jumping for joy and just can't wait to use some of the things you sent me! Hugs!

A quick note!

2012-01-07T11:00:00.001+08:00

Yeah! This is going to be a real quick note. I have been so busy, I can't find time to blog.

I just can't wait for when my certification program finishes in Mac 2012, insyaAllah, God willing.

I am all so stressed out, it is giving me muscle cramps, gastric attacks and diarrhea! LOL! Honest!

I have been on MC for 3 days over a peroid of one week! Now that's bad!

I have never had such a bad gastric attack like what I exeprienced the last one week. My whole body was so weak, I could hardly get up. The diarrhea added salt to the wound, making my whole body ache all over.

I am much better today, thank God.

It's Saturday morning here in Malysia, but late Friday evening over on the over side of the world.

It's going to be a hectic day for me as Aiman has got football practice very early this morning, after that, we have a wedding to attend, followed by Aiman's tuition before sending Aiman over for a birthday party.

By the time we get home, it will be almost the end of Saturday. Nothing much any other things I can do, especially to work on my paper or do any crafting (like as it I have any time for them anyway! LOL!).

So, today I will consider it as a day for socializing and running errands. Tomorrow, it will be back to working on my paper.

Oh! I just can't wait to get back to crafting.

What are your plans this weekend?

Anyway, have a GREAT weeekend, everyone!

Told you it's going to be a short posting! LOL!

He takes home the medal; she ends up making more bags! grin

2011-12-18T21:51:00.001+08:00

Yup! That’s what happened last year when my hubby took part in the Penang International Bridge Run, and it’s been repeated again this year, not that I am complaining, actually. LOL! *grin*

I am very happy to blog report that I successfully managed to learn to make 3 bags during my 2 day bag making class from the 19th to the 20th of November. The bags this time around, except for one, aren’t that complicated as last year’s bags as I think I was a little bit unadventurous this time around. No, make that I was being more realistic this time around as I know I would not have that much time to spend finishing the bags if I don’t complete them during the class once I am back in Kuala Lumpur as I will be having my nose grinded into my Assignments right up until March next year, God willing.

I had made the purchase for the templates and gotten all the preliminary instructions from Corine during one of my earlier working trips to Penang about more than 2 months ago when I had some extra time after my meetings, before flying back to Kuala Lumpur.

By purchasing the templates and getting the instructions earlier, I would be able to make some early preparations before the class like have the templates all cut out, the interfacing all ironed onto the fabrics, and have them all cut out ready to be put together during the actual bag making class. This way, I get to complete making the bag faster, and completing the bags faster equates more bags that can be made in the same amount of time! LOL!

However, as it turned out, I didn’t get to have all the preparations ready before the class as I fell sick just days before the trip to Penang (talk about last minute preparations! LOL!) , and besides, I was busy working on my Assignments, which I think made me fall sick from all the stress of working on the paper. This bag making class would be just perfect as a stress buster.

But all was not lost though as I still managed to prepare at least one bag before the class, and I had planned to finish the preparations for the other 2 bags in the hotel room the day before the class. Talk about squeezing in time at the last minute! LOL!

Anyway, on the first day of class, I did not manage to finish even a single bag. Even my hubby found that odd. I blame it on my lack of efficiency as it had been quite some time since I last did any sewing or crafting due to heavy work load at the office. It took me some time to get back into rhythm of things.

Also, I had another new and exciting thing introduced to me by Corine on the 1st day of class. Corine let me use her latest addition to her family of sewing machines – a brand new Brother Innovis QC 1000!

It is one awesome machine, and I think I might have just fallen in love with it! LOL!

The Innovis QC 1000, to me, is a cross between the BERNINA and the JANOME, but at slightly more than half the cost of the BERNINA. That, to me, is affordable as it is almost the price of my JANOME. Eerr…..no, I am not buying it, BUT, if ever I want to get another sewing machine, it just might be the BROTHER. *grin*

One of the things I like about this machine is its large touch-screen LCD.

Also, I like that all the basic feet are all kept within the machine, even the bobbins too.

No more having to lug around the box of feet and bobbins to class, as, I have, at numerous occasions, ended up not able to do any sewing in class when I accidentally left behind my box of feet and accessories. No chance of that happening with this machine, except if you buy more extra foot. But then, they will be foot you won’t usually use all the time for the basic sewing.

Another thing I like about this machine is that I can make adjustments of the needle to every 0.5mm, and the needle threader is just awesome!

I thought that the needle threader on my Janome was awesome already, but this machine’s needle threader is even more awesome as the thread clicks very easily into the needle.

OK, enough about the machine. Yup! I am in love with this machine alright! LOL!

Back to my bags, I left Corine’s hut on the first day of class feeling a little bit incomplete when I had nothing to show of what I did the whole day, though I had fun playing with the Innovis.

I left with loads of homework though. I had to get some hand stitching done in order for me to move on to the next step. I did not want to spend time hand stitching in class as I could do that in the hotel room. I would rather spend my time in class doing all the machine sewing and the cutting where I would need Corine’s guidance to proceed.

I slept at midnight that first night, doing my homework – hand stitching and ironing the interfacing; and slept just as my hubby got up to get ready for his run.

Early the next morning, I took the cab with my son to Corine’s house, leaving my hubby to rest in the hotel room after his run to recuperate.

This time, I was the only student for the day (the day before, there were a hive of activities with about 4-5 students taking classes at the same time), thus allowing me to be able to work faster as Corine also helped me with some of the hand stitching that needed to be done.

When the class ended at 6.30pm, I was about ¾ done on the One Nighter or overnight travelling bag, ½ done on the Xora bag and with only the hand stitching and the bag handle to sew on the Omra bag.

Here’s a photo of the inside of the Xora bag which I am in the midst of hand stitching.

I just love these clips I bought from Corine. It takes away all the pricking from the pins which is almost certain I will get when I use pins to baste for hand stitching.

I completed the One Nighter bag in the hotel room the next day after breakfast.

What do you think?

When I first saw the sample bag at Corine’s, I thought it looked more like a diaper bag. But when I completed my own version, it no longer looks like a diaper bag. But definitely, it won’t be my One Nighter bag either, what with all my toiletries, make-up bag, telekung, and at least one change of clothes to pack, this bag certainly won’t be able to fit in all those! LOL!

Instead, I think this bag would make a very nice document bag. What do you think?

I will put up photos of the completed Omra Bag and the Xora bag when it is fully completed, which, for now, I wouldn’t know when that will be. Hopefully next year after March, or,maybe, just maybe, earlier! *wink*

All hung up!

2011-12-10T10:31:00.001+08:00

One day after coming back from one of my meetings at Sultan Abdul Samad building, I came across a shop that looked like it was selling things that shop owners would usually buy to put up or organize their things in the shop. You know, those bars with hangers to hang clothes, bags etc?

I have been looking for some sort of organizer or hangers to hang up my handmade bags so that it will be easier for me to see what I have made, and so, easier for me to refer to it should I forget how to make it. It will also be easy for friends and future customers to see what bags I have in a more organised way.

So, yesterday, Friday, 9th December 2011, during my long lunch hour break, I decided to hop on the LRT from my office to the Masjid Jamek Station and check out the shop.

A whole new world opened up in front of me as soon as I stepped into the shop! Talk about being a frog under a coconut shell (Katak bawah Tempurung). LOL!

They have so many things which I have been wondering where to get if and when I open up a shop, and now I have the answers! Well, most of it, at least! LOL!

I don’t know how to describe the things they have and I was too shy to ask if I could snap a photo of the shop. But, knowing Malaysians, especially those that are ignorant of the power of IT and the blogging world, I am sure the shop owner would say No. So, to save myself the embarrassment, I said nothing, and just talked to myself silently and controlled my excitement from within. *grin*

Anyway, I came home with the handbag hanger like I had planned on buying. Imagine me carrying this on the LRT? LOL! It came dismantled but still it was long and quite troublesome, but, I carried it back anyway. *grin*

It is supposed to be used to hang my handmade bags, but, since I don’t have time to sort out my sewing area at the moment, I decided to temporarily use it to hang my handbags I bring to work. My bags looks more organised now rather than having them all stacked up in a box at the corner of the room.

I can see the bags I want to use immediately instead of having to rummage through my wicker basket looking for the right bag.

I think I will get another one instead of bringing this down to my sewing area for my handmade bags and leave this present one in the bedroom. It looks good at the corner of the room. I told my hubby we can even use it to hang the clothes we want to wear for work the next day – have everything all hung up ready to wear the next day! Neat, huh? LOL! *wink*

Going Bananas!

2011-12-03T22:30:00.002+08:00

It's finally done! I finally completed the Banana Bag for Mel!

I started on this bag in April 2011, but I could not complete the bag because I could not get a strap that comes with a leather tab like the one in the original design on the bag I learnt from Corine in Penang in November last year.

Mel ordered this bag during the NNC Anniversary Meet in March 2011. I told her that I would get it done in two months time. I did, but minus the strap.

I had bought my strap with the leather tab from Corine, but when I wanted to order the strap from Corine for Mel's bag, Corine no longer had stock of it and wasn't planning to order anymore so soon. So I tried contacting this lady in Penang who does leather things if she would be willing to custom make me the leather tab. I could buy the strap myself and put them together on my own.

Unfortunately, she was no longer willing to take custom orders because she was tied up lots of orders for custom made leather bags, her core business.

Corine offered to show me how to make my own tab but using PU instead. I was supposed to drop by her house during one of my many trips to Penang for work. Unfortunately, I was always short for time as I rush from meetings to meetings when in Penang. By the time work is done, it's time for me to catch a flight back to KL.

I was beginning to get a little bit embarrassed that I am taking longer than 2 months before I could deliver Mel's order. That's not good when you are in the business line. I had to find a way to buy the leather tab somewhere or try making my own from PU like what Corine suggested.

I was going online almost every spare evening I have in search of the tab, but all in vain. I could either be searching at the wrong place or I am not keying in the right key words. I only know that it is called a tab. For all I know, it could be going by another name.

I eventually ordered 2 pieces of PU on eBay in two different tones of browns in an attempt to make my own tab. It didn't work. It just did not look right for the bag.

I spent several nights trying out different ways to attach the PU tab to the bag, but nothing seems to look like how I imagined it to be. I went to bed on many nights feeling frustrated.

I was about to give up when suddenly an idea popped out of my head one day.

I imagined the idea that I had in mind, when done, would look sweet and cute. Now it is a matter of whether Mel would like it, it being lacy and all. Not many people like laces, so I can only hope that Mel wouldn't be one of them.

The result of my idea? Here it is, lace and all....

What do you think?

Why the need for the lace, you might say? Why couldn't I just have the handle sewn directly onto the bag? Well, I did try but I didn't like the look where the strap meets the bag. It did not look right, neither did it look nice. It looked like an after thought and not much thought and time was given to the detailing of the bag. It's just not me to make something that looks like an after thought.

If you don't mind my saying so myself, I like the way I have managed to resolve this tab issue which has been "haunting" and bothering me for the last 4 months since completing the bag body.

Here's a peek inside the bag to show off the Uniquely Aznique label. *wink*

I can now finally hand over the bag to Mel and hope that she likes what she sees. I hope that this bag will be Mel's constant companion each time she goes out with friends and family.

Thanks, Mel, for the opportunity to do business with you. I hope there will be more to come in the future. *wink*

Grinding my nose in Assignments

2011-11-28T21:43:00.000+08:00

Early this year, the top management told us that this year, 2011, it’s going to be a much less hectic year compared to previous years when we were way above our heads with work trying to implement RMK9 projects. In fact, they told us, it’s going to be quite a relaxing year as there won’t be that many projects implemented under the 10th Malaysia Plan. It’s time to plan for some long term courses and back to basics courses to further increase our knowledge in the field of Project Management.

In the last 4 – 5 years since the 9th Malaysia Plan was launched, we have gone over drive trying to complete projects (did I tell you that I am working in the Goverment but work is like as if I am working in the private sector?) with very little time left to attend courses and seminars. So, this year 2011 would be a good time to start applying for all those courses while we still have time to do so.

And so, that was exactly what I did. I applied to take up a certification program to get myself certified as a Project Manager. It’s a 6 month program starting from July 2011. I wrote about this earlier here in my blog at the start of the program about going back to school.

Initially, we were to complete by January 2012, but due to some delayed start at the organizer’s side, we were given up to March to complete it. I thought that I was given a bonus time and could get it completed by February.

How much more wrong could I be. The minute I applied and got accepted into the program, life at the office front suddenly went into over drive with me having to travel almost weekly, sometimes even having to work on weekends in some months.

After all the travelling for work, and with back to back meetings almost daily at the office, I could hardly find time to sit down and write my paper. I was mentally and physically tired coming home from work every day.

I have 3 papers to write throughout the duration of the program. When others had already gotten past their first paper and already starting on their second paper, I was still struggling to write my first paper. It was clear that I would not be able to get my first paper done while at the office, as the phone calls keep coming in, with people coming in and out of my office to discuss project issues, not to mention the back to back meetings, and all the travelling.

I needed to stay away from the office for a few days, and leave it to my right hand officer to handle things at the office for a while as I try to get started on my paper which is getting to be 2 months overdue. And so, that was exactly what I did. I took 2 days off to kick start my paper. It was the same time that my son was having his year-end exams in school from 31st October to the 3rd November.

I thought I could kill 2 birds with one stone - stay home to work on my paper while he is in school, sitting for his exams, and then, after picking him up from school, supervise him study while I carry on working on my paper.

With the 2 day weekend, plus my 2 days leave, I had four days to get started on my paper. I used it to the fullest, taking breaks in between to do household chores like taking care of the laundry, sorting things out in the kitchen, picking Aiman up from school, getting dinner ready for the family, watch over Aiman doing his revision for his exams, and in between, when my eyes were starting to go bonkers and cross-eyed, I managed to catch some short programs on TV.

A woman can definitely multi-task. Give it to my hubby or any man for that matter; I am almost certain that they could hardly even complete half of what I could do! LOL! *wink*

I think that the 2 day break was worth it, even though calls from the office still came in, but it was very much under control, and I could solve those issues over the phone or via emails. Aaahh! The beauty of technology!

I managed to finish the first draft of my first paper during those 4days. I thought that I could complete the whole paper in about a week, but writing the paper wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Rather, it wasn’t so much writing the paper itself, but it was trying to get the evidence together to prove that what I wrote in the paper was really what I did was tough when not all the evidence I required could be found in the files, as some were required to be acquired from other parties. With the help of one of my staff, I finally managed to get most of them together.

I have spent the whole of this extended weekend, with Monday, 28th November being a public holiday, with yesterday being the first day of the new muslim calendar, or Maal Hijrah, or Awal Muharram, it really helped and gave me the opportunity to dive into my paper until completion, well, almost.

As of today, 28th November, I am now about 95% done on the paper. The other 5% is because I still need to get a few more evidence and information at the office, and I can only do that tomorrow.

I just hope that I can get all of the information ready by tomorrow as Tuesday, 30th November 2011, is the date of my first Assessment. I must say that I am a little, no, make that, very nervous.

I don’t know what to expect, this being the 1st of 3 Assessments which I will have to go through as part of the program requirement. I just hope that everything goes well for me. I hope that it will be a successful Assessment.

Wish me luck!

If all goes well, insyAllah, God willing, after Wednesday, it will be one paper down, 2 more to go!

NNC Mug Rug Exchange – Part 1

2011-09-02T10:00:00.000+08:00

I am late again at updating my blog on this exchange. There were too many distractions, and I have so many things that I want to do, but so little time on my hands. Oh well! That's life!

Anyway, NNC had a Mug Rug Exchange early this year. It all started because a member posted a photo of a mug rug, and it got everyone crazy and wanting to do a mug rug too.

Margaret took the opportunity from the craze to organize a Mug Rug Exchange, but set the mailing out date to be in October 2011 as many were already tied up with other prior exchanges organised earlier.

However, as Margaret allowed those who finished their mug rugs early may send to their partners early, I got mine from Sally, my partner, in June. Our partners were a secret, so I was surprised when Sally passed her mug rug to me when she came over to my house last June.

I was speechless and in awe of what I saw upon opening the paper bag containing the mug rug and some tea bags.

Sally had made her mug rug using the log cabin design, and her workmanship is exquisite considering this was her first attempt at doing log cabins. What was more amazing was the size of the log cabin, which was really small, or, shall I say, minute, but Sally did an amazing job of it. I would never have guessed that it was her first attempt if she hadn’t said anything about it.

Even the back is lovely! I almost thought that it was also a patchwork piece until Sally told me it wasn’t. Such lovely work she did, you couldn’t even tell the difference.

Thanks Sally! You did a GREAT job! I love it!

As for the Mug Rugs I made, I wanted to personally hand over the mug rugs to my partners at the Bee which was held in July since I knew they would be attending the Bee. But, being the absent minded me, I forgot to bring it along. *sigh*

Now I would either have to mail them out or wait till the next Bee to be held most probably in October before I can blog about it here. So, in the mean, here’s a sneak peek………

Look out for Part 2 to see the whole mug rug piece……

Going all Dotty......

2011-08-27T22:00:00.002+08:00

A few weeks back when I was diagnosed with having low blood pressure and vertigo, I was given a 2 day MC and told to go back home and sleep. The doctor suspected that the vertigo was due to my extreme lack of sleep.

On the first day of my MC, I slept after having breakfast with my hubby and son before they both left for work and school. In fact, I slept almost all day. I only woke up to make myself and hubby a bowl of Maggi Mee each as my hubby decided to come back home lunch time to see if I was OK. Thanks, Dia!

I slept again after he left for work. I did not wake up until 5.00pm. I got up feeling restless and with a need to do something. I was bored of watching TV. I don’t watch much TV even when I am well.

As I was not able to be on my feet due to the vertigo, I decided that I might be able to do some simple sewing as then I would be sitting down most of the time. I ended up doing a simple bag that took me only about 3 days to make.

When I showed it to my hubby, he commented that I must be really sick and seeing circles when I made the bag. He said that it showed on the bag what I was experiencing when I made it! LOL! How right he was! I didn’t realise that! LOL! I was, in fact, seeing circles and the room spiralled whenever I get up too fast or stood too long during the time that I was experiencing vertigo and hypotension. LOL!

I think the bag has a retro feel to it!

I think if I make this bag from a flowery fabric, it might give the bag a different feel to it. I might just try!

Anyway, I kind of like the look of this bag. It’s simple and not too fancy, and it’s a quick bag to make. It’s big and roomy. It measures 16in at its width and 10in in height not including the handles. It is 3in thick. It is padded, by the way, unlike most of my other bags that have the normal interfacing. It gives the bag more body, yet it is light.

Here's a look at how the inside looks like. I made the pocket to have an edging made from the front fabric of the bag.

The original design calls for a short handle to be placed, but as I could not find a suitable short handle to go with it, and so decided to add the wooden rings instead and make the handles from the same fabric I made the bag from.

I might be putting this bag up for custom order too, but, again, it will have to wait until after I finish my certification program in January 2012.

Bagged another one!

2011-08-17T08:20:00.000+08:00

Remember the green and orange bag I blogged about a few weeks back which I made from a Japanese book I bought when in Penang?

Well, as it turned out, the book isn’t Japanese, but Chinese. My brother, Azan and friends at NNC pointed it point to me. My brother who knows a little bit of mandarin wondered how I managed to make my bags without knowing a word of what was written inside the book. *grin* Nothing is impossible when it comes to my crafts! LOL!

Anyway, my brother Azan, suggested that I ask my son, Aiman, who actually has had formal lessons in mandarin since he was 5, to help me to read the intructions. But, boys being boys, or, is that just Aiman, he’d rather be playing Angry Bird than help Mummy translate a Chinese craft book into English. *sigh*

Oh well, I managed to make a bag the last time with no help from him at all, and I think I did pretty OK. *grin*

Anyway, back to the present time, last weekend, I managed to complete another bag which I got the basic pattern from the same chinese book. I actually started on this bag first before I did the green and orange bag, but I had to stop when I could not find a suitable handle and also, I needed to find time to visit Kelvin to get a set of clasp for the front pocket – something I have never tried before.

Here’s the front of the bag with the pocket with the clasp I mentioned earlier.

Kelvin helped me to put the clasp on since I have never made a bag with this type of clasp before. It did not look too difficult to make, but it gave the bag that added value.

Here’s the side of the bag. I really like the design of this bag with this strip around the zippers, and it being brown in colour, Kelvin and some of his tudents who were attending classes there when I brought the bag in to put on the clasp thought that the brown fabric was made out of leather. It isn’t. It’s 100% American cotton. Cool, huh?

A view of the back showing the zippered pocket. .

It’s got another one inside the bag

By the way, the handles are from Sally. I bought them when I bought the handles for the green and orange bag. The handles suited the bag perfectly!

I initially thought that it would not suit the bag due to different brown tone to the strip around the zippers, but, when I put them together, I think it gave the bag another added value by adding more tones to the bag.

This bag measures 14in long by 9in high by 4in wide and is very roomy. I think it can even fit in an iPad. I know for sure it fits in my Sam (Samsung Galaxy Tab) comfortably.

If everything goes well, I hope to have this bag up for custom order at a price in the range of RM240.00 to RM280.00 depending on the fabric and handle design at my blogshop, Uniquely Aznique, by the end of year. I am sorry I can’t take in any orders earlier than December 2011 as I am currently taking up a certification program which will only complete in Janaury 2012. Only then will I be able to find time to make any bags. I will make an announcement here and at my blogshop when I am ready. Look out for it then.

In the mean time, look out for future postings too of future bag projects which I made from time to time when I can find the time in between my busy schedule (it’s like taking a break from the hectic work schedule and, as always, my crafts are very therapeutic. It calms me down, and helps lower my blood pressure and unpredictable temperaments. *smile*).

I have another bag already in the making as I write this which I started when I was experiencing vertigo and hypotension and not being able to stand up for long. I spent time sitting down and working on a simple bag instead. I will blog about that in another posting. Keep a look out for it! *wink*

Breaking fast at a sight to behold

2011-08-14T16:08:00.002+08:00

We broke our fast at the Wilayah Mosque last night.

We were to pick up my mom to take her out for the breaking of fast, but since we were not able to pick her up any earlier than after the breaking of fast, we told her to break fast first with something light so that she wouldn’t get too hungry as our journey from our house to my sister’s house would take us some time.

However, my hubby suggested that instead of driving from our house to my sister’s house only after breaking fast which would take some time to get there, he suggested that we go out as soon as we can after all our chores are done and break fast at the Wilayah Mosque, do our Magrib prayers, and then pick up my mum. That way it wouldn’t take us that long to get to my sister’s place where my mum is staying.

We did just that last night, and while there, I thought I would take in the sights around the mosque which is really pretty.

It’s one of the mosque which I find really beautiful, and my must add that this mosque was designed by an Architect from my department. Not many people know that.

Many think that the mosque was designed by a consultant. That happens all the time. When the design of a building is beautiful, the public thinks it’s the consultant that designs them. If the design is ugly and boring, the design must be that of the Public Works Department.

If a building gets completed successfully and on time, it’s the contractor that gets the credit and they are being glorified no end. But when the building fails like if the ceiling comes off, the roof leaks etc., it’s the Public Works Department that had failed to supervise the project properly even if the project was a Design and Build project and the supervision was actually done by consultants appointed by the Contractors themselves. It’s sad.

We do our work in accordance to the proper work procedures, but most contractors these days will almost always try to cut corners so that they can get a higher profit margin. When we apprehend them for cutting corners and issue out non-compliance reports (NCR), they become aggressive and threaten us with accusation letters and slander because, to them, we have made work difficult for them. They never want to admit that it is they that are wrong.

If they had done their work in accordance to the correct specifications in the first place, then we wouldn’t have had to issue out any NCRs, and they wouldn’t have had to redo the same job twice. But no, they will always try to cut corners with the hope that they can get away with it. They always try to bank on our sympathy. When we stand up to what is right, they start dropping names saying that they know this influential person, that influential person with the hope to scare us. Such is the attitudes of some contractors these days. Sad, isn’t it?

So far, my team and I have stuck to our principals and remain united in our stand to ensure that we receive buildings that will not compromise on safety, quality and stability, and are in accordance to the specifications outlined in the Conditions of Contract. We pray that Allah will always protect us and keep us all from harm, as we have had two of our Project Managers whose life was at risk when they were assaulted with sharp objects when they stood to their grounds. One was stab on the neck with a screwdriver, the other a knife on his thigh. *sigh*

Oopps! I am digressing again. Sorry! *grin*

OK, back to what this posting is all about, which is the beautiful sights at the Wilayah Mosque and also on the food at the restaurant that we took my mum out for dinner last night.

We had our dinner at this Restaurant in Mont Kiara, across from the Duta Tropika gated community housing area.

They offered Ramadhan buffet for RM49.00+, which I think was quite pricey, but since my mum enjoyed her dinner, it made every cent worth it. While my hubby went for the buffet too, my son and I didn’t. We decided to go for the ala carte.

I ordered the Lamb Shank while my son ordered Fried Mee. I specifically requested for the Fried Mee not to be spicy.

My order of Watermelon Juice with Lychee came only after repeated reminders, and after we had waited for more than 20 minutes. As for the Fried Mee, not only did we have to wait for almost 30 minutes before the food came, not to mention after several reminders, it came all hot and spicy that my son was sweating on his head like he was bathing sweat! LOL! Pity him.

Also, I felt that the menu was kind of misleading. It had listed the Fried Mee as having chicken, prawns, chives and Fried Egg. The mee came with everything else except the fried egg. When I inquired, they said that the egg has been fried together with the mee. Can you believe this? If the egg was going to be fried with the mee, you needn’t have to list it down. And, anyway, there was no evidence that the egg has been fried together with the mee. See photo to believe it.

Did they apologize for misleading us, and also for making us wait for 30 minutes for our order which eventually was not how we wanted it to be when they made it spicy despite my request for it NOT TO BE SPICY? Unfortunately, not! The apology was difficult coming. It only came after I told off the cashier that she could have at least apologized for the mistake. After all, she had made us wait 30 minutes already. I could have asked them to fry a fresh one, but, my son was already too hungry and we were not willing to wait again should they end up taking another 30 minutes to deliver our order.

For sure, we won’t be coming to this restaurant again! But, I am glad that at least my mum enjoyed her dinner and the Lamb Shank wasn’t too bad. I only wished that they had served it with bun or some sort of bread. I would have enjoyed it more.

The lonely flag.....

2011-08-13T08:28:00.001+08:00

We were the first on our street to put up the Malaysian flag. There is only one other house a few doors away from our house that has put up their flag upon seeing our flag flying with pride each time the wind blows it from side to side. It stands with pride in our front yard. It is our show of patriotism.

But, what about the others? Why aren’t our other neighbours putting up flags? Why aren’t anyone else in this huge neighbourhood putting up flags? Has everyone lost their sense of patriotism?

OK, someone might get cynical and tell me that not flying a flag might not necessarily mean that you are not patriotic, but, why don’t you fly one?

A few years back when there was a competition for the most creative way of putting up flags and a big prize was put up for the winners, almost every other car and house had at least one flag flying. How sad. Does it have to take a big prize in a competition to be put up first before someone would fly the flag, as if to show pride and patriotism for the country? How pretentious.

In my department, my Unit has always been the first to put up the flags in our office. I encourage my stuff to put up as many flags as possible, and as creatively as possible, and no, I have no prize to reward them. I buy the flags for the office each year to add on to whatever we had already accumulated over the years. I buy the flags each year with pride. It’s my show of patriotism. The other Unit in the office will only follow suit if the bosses encourage them to.

No, we put up the flags not because we have less projects to do and so can spend time decorating our office with the flags. In actual fact, our office has the most projects compared to the rest of the other units, yet, we take time to show our sense of patriotism. It makes us proud (bukan sombong, tapi bangga).

I think Malaysians nowadays, in general, are less patriotic then the times when I was growing up and when my mum was growing up. My mum use to lament about how our younger generations are no longer proud of the country. They do something only if there is a reward at the end of it.

OK, now don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that none of the younger generations are patriotic. I am saying that they are less than when we were their age. They are too busy chasing after the material things and to find out what's the latest gadget in town, and who's the first among their friends to get them.

To compete to see who flies the first flag? aaahhhhh! They might say that it is too old fashion. They would probably say too that I am outdated.

OK, now don’t start accusing me of saying that I am being biased. I say what I see and observe.

It is sad too that each year when the government calls for one night in a year to switch off all lights in support of Earth Hour in an effort to save the planet called earth, only a handful responds. Usually on my street, our house would be the only one observing the Earth Hour. How sad......

What does it take for us to show our patriotism for the country and our support to save the earth? Only when there is a reward for the effort? How sad........

It’s the yeast!

2011-08-10T22:00:00.018+08:00

This is another overdue posting, but since I had written this already earlier, but forgot to post it, I might as well put it up. So, here goes...

When I was crazy making bread about 2 months ago, but was having so much problems getting it right, I just wouldn't give up. I had to keep on trying until I get it right.

I tried making it again on 15 May 2011, but this time, I decided to make Cinnamon Rolls instead of just the normal bread, and it almost became another disaster, if not for some light bulb that lighted in my head! LOL!!

I measured everything according to the recipe, including the yeast from a cylindrical container I had bought some weeks back at the hypermarket. The expiry date shows 2013.

I started the bread machine like I always do, but in DOUGH mode instead of BASIC (Normal) as I would have to take out and roll the dough myself to make them into cinnamon rolls.

About 30 minutes before the dough was to be ready, I checked the bread machine and noticed that it was the same size as when I checked it an hour earlier. I suspect that something must be wrong with the yeast, but I had used the bread flour called for, and measured the milk, sugar and everything else correctly. So, I decided to do a test.

I read from the internet how to test to see if the yeast is OK or not. True enough, it was dead! A goner! LOL! Nothing happened when I added water and sugar to the yeast. Luckily I had a new packet of yeast I had bought just that week and decided to test that one too.

Within a few minutes of adding water and some sugar, the water became frothy. The yeast is alive!

Now what could I do with the dough that was in the machine? Not wanting to have it go to waste, I decided to experiment. I have nothing to lose, except for the dough, which, if my test did not work, the dough would be wasted anyway since it had only risen slightly due to the earlier dead yeast.

I took out the dough, and started kneading the new yeast which I had tested earlier into the dough. Because the water used to test the yeast wasn’t exactly at room temperature, my warm dough which I had taken out from the machine suddenly turned cold, and was beginning to collapse. Oh no! Now what?

A bulb suddenly lighted in my head when I remember reading somewhere that bread dough needs a warm place to rise. I turned on the oven and heated it up to about 10 degrees. I then put the dough which I had shaped into rolls into the oven but with the door slightly ajar so as not to get the baking started.

I was so relieved when I saw that the rolls begin to rise! I waited for about an hour, and when it looks like it was no longer rising, I shut the door of the oven and increased the temperature to 175 degrees.

If the first badge of yeast had worked, I think my rolls would have turned out better, but I was still glad that at least the dough did not go to waste, and it had increased to about 2/3 its original size.

The taste was great though! We had them for breakfast 3 days in a row! LOL! I am definitely making them again, and hopefully very soon, as I just love Cinnamon Rolls!

The following weekend, I tried making bread again, but this time, just the normal white bread. I was careful to check the yeast first before starting, and this time, it came out prefect!

Just look at the bread just taken out from the pan, and look at how lovely it looks out of the pan!

I can almsot smell the freshness of newly baked bread! I just can't wait till after the fasting month to start baking breads again!

NNC July 2011 Stitching Bee

2011-08-08T10:41:00.000+08:00

Hi, everyone! It feels like it’s been ages since I last blogged. Busy! Busy! Busy! So, what else is new, right? LOL!

Anyway, before this posting becomes way overdue, I have to blog about our latest Bee which was recently held on the 30th of July 2011 at Level 2, The Gardens Food Court.

This is the 2nd time that the Bee was held there though the first time it was held at The Gardens, I was not able to be around. That particular Bee was held in honour of Shanny who came back for the holidays from Switzerland.

We actually had a Bee earlier to coincide with her (Shanny) coming back in early May at Sally’s house, but, being totally busy, I was not able to blog about it. I still hope to blog about it some day as I had a great time during that Bee too (since when has an NNC Bee not been fun? LOL!).

Anyway, back to the current affair at hand, which is the Bee which was held at The Gardens, I arrived at The Gardens at about 9.40am, about the same time Faizon arrived. I ran out of credit on my personal phone and so could not reply to Jo's and Faizon's smses.

I used my office phone to call Faizon and Paul earlier. Faizon did not pick up until the 4th time. I guess since it was an unfamiliar number, she didn't pick it up. I understood that, but, I guess when I persisted, Faizon had to pick up the phone! LOL! *wink*

Paul answered my call with a groggy voice; obviously he had just gotten out of bed! SORRY, Paul! *blush*

Anyway, I managed to show off the few new bags I just made to Faizon before Vivian arrived and showed us her lovely handmade book binding.

Vivian also showed us her cute stocking animal. I think everyone thought that it was adorable and wanted to bring it back with them. LOL!

Faizon showed more of her lovely tatted works. I wanted to buy the lovely green tatted bracelet which coincidentally matched the green blouse that I was wearing, but forgot all about it when the others arrived.

Janet arrived soon after. I must apologised to Janet for not offering to pick her up at KL Sentral. I should have, but I had too many things on my mind yesterday that I forgot a lot of things yesterday, the most embarrassing was the fact that I forgot all about bringing the signature blocks for Zarina's Block Swap. I am truly really embarrassed! I felt like shoving my head under the table and kicking myself for forgetting about the blocks when I actually posted at the NNC board that I would bring it to this Bee to pass it on to her.

I have since made arrangement with Zarina to mail the signature blocks directly to those participating when I mail out my blocks to the rest of the participants. Thanks, Zarina, for agreeing to this arrangement and sorry again.

Zarina gave me a pack of lovely variegated embroidery threads as a trade off to my helping her to embroider the Signature Blocks for her. Thanks, Zarina. I will surely have plenty of use for it though it’s been ages since I did any embroidery on Em.

Mel arrived soon with a HUGE bag of birthday goodies for me. I think my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw all the lovely goodies in the big red huge paper bag. Everything was, of course, PINK! Well, almost all. *grin* Everything was all things cupcakes! There were cupcake cups – loads of them in different designs and sizes! Even the cute little serviette had cupcake motifs on it!

I especially like the box of very tiny cupcakes. I don’t want to unpack the box just yet, they are too pretty and I just want to see them in the box for now until I need to use them.

Mel also included in the bag of goodies a handmade fabric flower brooch which is awesome! I wear brooches all the time to work. I just need to match it with the clothes I wear to work and I am sure I have a Baju Kurung in peach!

There was also a card with the note “Here’s to a great baking adventure”. I am sure I will be having a great adventure baking cupcakes with all that Mel has gifted. Hari Raya is just 3 weeks away, and I was just thinking of making cupcakes this year instead of the usual square Carrot Walnut Cake that I make yearly. Only problem is, I am not that good at the decorating. Hmmm.......

Thanks again, Mel!

In the midst of my excitement of getting the birthday goodies from Mel, Tini and Paul arrived.

Paul brought along to show us the lovely birthday present he received from Diane recently. They were all so awesome! I especially like the hat pincushion, and everyone was trying to guess what the brim of the hat could be off made of. We guessed it right – it was made from a paper plate! Awesome idea!

I love everything about the gifts Diane made for Paul, but I love the scissor keeper with the cute stork scissors the most. They were so cute together.

While everyone just chatted away, Faizon, as usual, took out her tatting box and started tatting.

I should have brought my cross stitch to work on, but, like I said earlier, I was very absent minded that day. I had not been well the week before and things were also getting overly stressful at work trying to resolve issues with a very difficult contractor.

Earlier in the week, I was diagnosed with having low blood pressure and later, diagnosed with having vertigo. So, I have been a little bit imbalanced the last few days prior to the Bee. I was also not sleeping properly due to issues at work not being resolved. I think it all adds up.

While we were chatting away, Nigel, Mel’s son kept coming back and forth to show Paul some games on the iPhone. I think it was cute the game that Nigel showed Paul, and it kept Paul preoccupied with the game for most part of the Bee. *grin*

At about 12.00noon, I started feeling hungry as I did not have much of a breakfast before coming, and so decided to get myself a serving of kebabs with pita bread. It did not look the least bit appetizing but it was delicious. I think next time I’ll bring my son and hubby along to eat at the food court so that they too can enjoy this food, though it was a little bit on the expensive side.

It felt odd to be the only one having lunch while the others chatted away, but, after a while, Faizon joined me for lunch while the others carried on chatting away.

Mel had left to join her family for lunch earlier, and Vivian had left even earlier for another appointment. When Faizon and I were both done with lunch, the four of us, Janet, Faizon, Zarina and I went over to Art Friends to check out what’s there while Tini and Paul left together for another appointment.

I did not buy anything at Art Friend. I did not stay long as I had to be back in time to fetch Aiman from his tuition class.

I felt like it was a short Bee this time around, and I think I felt that way probably because it could be due to the fact that I was feeling not quite myself; I felt like as if I was floating. It could probably have got to do with the vertigo that I was experiencing in the last few days. I am better now, thank God, though I still try to avoid driving fast like I use to, not that I drive like a race driver. LOL!

Thanks for coming, everyone! Thank you Faizon, Vivian, Janet, Mel, Paul, Tini & Zarina. Can’t wait for the next Bee in October!

When crafts transcends all languages

2011-07-24T18:00:00.000+08:00

On my recent trip to Penang for work, I came across this Japanese book on bags.

In the last two years or so since I started making bags, I have been buying quite a number of Japanese craft books, but I have yet to make anything from any of the books. I always end up getting intimidated by the Japanese instructions. I still am, but, for some reason, when I bought this book, I saw something I really like and want to give it a try.

I forced myself to get over feeling intimidated, and try to figure things out from the photos instead. That's one thing good about Japanese book - they come with good photo instructions, and our crafts transcends all languages.

I took about 2 days to figure out the instructions and on the 3rd day, I started tracing out the templates.

I had another problem though. Not being able to understand Japanese, I could not figure out the instructions printed on the templates. I couldn't make out the dimensions where dimensions are written and not drawn.

That's when I had to get creative and luckily, with the basic knowledge on bag making that I have, I made some educated guess and with some adjustments along the way, this lime green and orange bag was born.

I think I shall call it the Box Pleated Bag.

The original design calls for the handles to be made of 1 1/2 in tape sewn in the way I would always attach handles to the totes I make.

But when I had a visit from Sally last week, I had asked her to bring along some of her lovely bag handles. I wanted to get a brown one for another bag that I was in the midst of making.

But when I saw this lovely lime green bag handle, I knew it would be perfect for the Box Pleated Bag that I was going to do.

I think I was right in choosing this handle. It gave the bag some class.

The bag is quite small actually, measuring only 11 inches wide at its broadest, 9 1/2 inches high and 3 1/2 inches at its side, but it could comfortably fit in Sam, my Samsung Galaxy Tab, with still plenty of room for my purse and make-up pouch.

The side pockets are perfect for my two handphones!

I also added an internal pocket which was not part of the original design.

I had also omitted the buttons as I could not find a button in my stash that would go with the bag.

I did not want to wait till I could get to Kelvin to get some buttons as I want to try to finish the bag when I still have some free time.

Besides the language barrier in trying to understand the instructions in making the bag, my only other problem was that of thickness or bulkiness due to the layering when doing the box pleats because the fabrics had already been ironed with interfacing.

If ever I make this bag again, I think I will make the pleats first, only then will I iron on the interfacing so that I won't end up with bulk at the seams.

Overall, I enjoyed making this bag, and might even consider taking orders to make a few more! *wink*

I have another bag I am making from the same book that I got the pattern for this bag, and again, I had to make some adjustments and some educated guess to try to figure out the instructions. That bag is also nearing completion. I just have the accessories to add.

I will post photos of that bag too when it is fully completed. Stay tuned!

Sewing Area Makeover

2011-07-17T17:49:00.014+08:00

This is another long overdue posting. OK, so what else is new, right? Heheheh..*wink*

My cousin, Idah, reminded me that I have yet to post about the makeover of my sewing area. I posted on Facebook more than a month ago that I went out shopping at IKEA to get my sewing area reorganised. My Father-in-law calls our house, or, rather the corner of the house where I do my sewing, a tailor’s house or corner.

Hmmm.....I’d rather it be called a creative and design area, as that is where my creativity comes to life! LOL! *wink*

Anyway, I must agree that the area is starting to get a little bit (ONLY a little? LOL!) disorganised. I have my sewing things almost everywhere, and the dining table no longer looks like a dining table. My hubby always jokingly says to anyone who comes to our house, “I don’t know where the dining room is anymore in the house since I can’t seem to find the dining table.” LOL!

OK! OK! I get it! I have to get things organised. I heard you, Dia! *grin*

So, on one of the Saturdays in June this year, I got started on organising the area.

First, I went to IKEA and got myself two black table tops with red legs. I had initially wanted to get the solid beech wood table top which I had bought before which I had put in my craft room upstairs. But, this time, I thought that, since the tables are going to be placed in the “almost gone” dining area, I wanted it to be a little bit more presentable and they are to match the existing decor of the house, which is a mix of red, black and white, with peach walls.

However, I had failed to notice that the black table tops are made of only particle boards whereas the beech wood table tops are made of solid wood.

It took less than an hour after putting it up and placing my two heavy sewing machines on it when I realised that the table top had started to warp. I felt like kicking myself for not seeing this. Now what do I do?

I am worried that before long, my very precious machines might come crashing down under its own weight. Shudders!

I could pack the tables up and return them in exchange for the beech wood table top like what I should have done in the first place. But, it wasn’t going to be that easy. It was quite a task already getting them home in the first place, the table top being very long. I could barely fit the long table top into my cute Kembara, and having to drive ever so slowly as my vision was partly blocked due to the length of the table blocking part of my vision of the side mirror. I am not about to go through that again. I had to do some quick thinking so as not to further exert more pressure onto the table top.

Luckily at the same time that I bought the table top, I had also bought a set of wire baskets with large drawers. The height was just nice and would fit in nicely under the table top, acting like a second leg or support, which would help to take in some of the weight of the machine and distribute it evenly across the table top, and I did exactly that.

Hubby suggested that I monitor any further warping of the table by drawing a line on the wall to see if the table top goes below that line.

It’s coming to 2 months already since I organised the sewing area and had the table top assembled, and so far, the warping of the table top has somewhat stopped! Phew! I hope it will last for as long as possible.

So, here’s the before and after photos to give you an idea of my sewing area makeover...

BEFORE: Gosh! What a mess! No wonder hubby said he could not find the dining table! LOL!

AFTER: Looks so much better, right? *wink* Not the best, but still better than before....

I think I should think about sewing a skirting or something so that I can hide everything that's under the table. What do you think?

BEFORE: Now you see it.....

AFTER: Now you don't!

BEFORE: Here's a quiz. Can you find the dining table?

AFTER: Tada! Here's the dining table, and I even have flowers on it, though I think I need a new vase of flowers. This one's wilting already, and they are artificial! *grin*

Here is a close-up of the sewing machines neatly lined-up next to each other. I can have Em embroidering while I work on the other machine without having to move much.

There is also a corner for my embroidery threads and anything else to do with machine embroidery.

Yesterday, 16th June, I went out to IKEA and got myself this red swivel chair so that I can sit and adjust the height just nice so that I won't end up having a backache when I do lots of sewing.

Here's a close-up of my work and cutting area. I am in the midst of doing a new bag.

What do you think? Not bad, huh?

It still needs more organising, but it's a start. Or, shall we start looking for a bigger house? *wink*

I just hope that it will stay neat and organised for as long as possible. I have returned the dining table to its original usage as it was meant to be. *grin* But, to have a large meal at the dining room would still be a tight squeeze, but it is still better than what it used to be. *grin*

Let’s do yoga!

2011-07-12T00:00:00.001+08:00

This is another overdue posting, but I want to put it up anyway because I want to share with friends here who are into yoga or my crafting friends, a mat bag I made for my cousin, Ima, sometime early this year. Yup! EARLY this year! To be exact, in early March 2011. That long ago! LOL!

My cousin Ima had asked me if I would make a yoga mat bag for her to replace the one she bought a long time ago but was no longer big enough to carry around her yoga mat. She had innovatively expanded the bag to suit the size of her yoga mat by adding some length of stretchable band, but, over time, the band was getting out of shape.

I was more than happy to make the mat bag for her. It gave me the opportunity to try out something I have never done before.

Using her old mat bag as a basis to make a template for the new bag but almost twice the size, I worked on it over 3 weekends. Ima had chosen the fabric from the stash of fabric I already have in stock.

I must say that I am quite pleased with the results though I must say that it was quite a challenge to make the pockets for the bag as Ima wanted it to be roomy enough to put in her car keys whenever she carries the bag to go for her yoga classes. I can’t quite explain how the pocket is and I also forgot to snap a photo of the said pocket. *sigh*

Maybe Ima can do it for me, pretty please?

I also had to make the flap long enough to be able to securely hold the yoga mat in place so that it will not slip.

What do you all think? Nice? *wink*

All in all, it was an interesting project and that I wouldn’t mind doing it again should anyone else be interested to order one. *grin*

Thanks, Ima, for modelling it for me.

Gosh! Must go look for the notes I made when I was constructing the bag! LOL!

A Birthday Gift from Carla!

2011-07-10T19:48:00.000+08:00

This is a post long overdue. In fact way way long overdue! Carla must think I am not appreciative for her gift to me for not blogging about it. But, the truth is, I have been exceptionally busy these last few months. I have loads of work, and I have been travelling more often than usual. In fact, I have been travelling weekly, when before this, I only travel every 2 weeks.

This coming week will probably be one of those few weeks that I will actually be in the office, or, rather, I am not outstation. I am hardly in the office even if I am not outstation as I can sometimes be chairing project meetings back to back.

A driver asked me the other day how do I remember everything about each and every project that I manage as he is usually the one that takes me from meetings to meetings. I currently have about 30 odd number of projects to handle.

Now, I can’t be telling my ‘trade secret’, can I, when I know I have a few readers of my blogs here who are people I know from work. *wink*

Anyway, back to the current matter in hand, this year, once again, I participated in the Birthday Exchange at NNC and for this time around, my partner is Carla from the United States. Her birthday isn’t until November though I am about ¾ done already on her present. I don’t want to suddenly end up rushing to do her present like what happened last year when I had Diane as my partner. I kept it to almost the very end before finally deciding on what I wanted to do.

At the end of the day, I ended up sending Diane’s present 2 weeks late. *blush* Headmistress Margaret wasn’t too pleased. *head held low in shame*

I can’t show what I did for Carla until after she receives it in November, but, in the mean time, here is what I got from her.....

I got from Carla a box of variegated silk ribbons in 2 lengths of different width, a bag handle in black and white and a pink pincushion with my name stitched on it.

Here’s a closer look of the very sweet pincushion.

I don’t know what bag would suit the handle just yet. It is so lovely; I think I might just keep it in its packaging so that I can keep on admiring it. *grin*

Thanks, Carla, for all the lovely things. Sorry it took me so long before I blogged about it. Do know though that I did not forget, but time was simply not on my side. Thanks again and hugs!

All set for the big event!

2011-06-26T07:44:00.000+08:00

My hubby is taking part in the KL Marathon this year, and last night, 25th June, we decided to take a walk around Dataran Merdeka to see how the preparations are coming along.

It being a yearly event, and an international one at that, it is a big event in the Klang valley, more so for those who are marathon freaks, like my hubby. *grin*

With all the canopies up, the lanes all demarcated, plus, having the Sultan Abdul Samad building for a backdrop gives the you the feeling of awe at how beautiful the city of Kuala Lumpur is at night.

Even the mobile toilets in bright blue and red looks awesome when lined up neatly! LOL! *wink*

After spending about 20 minutes at the Dataran, we decided (I, actually. My hubby wanted to walk back to AnCasa *grin*) to take the LRT back to our original destination.

The LRT Station at Masjid Jamek is almost nearing completion, and it makes me feel like I am back in the US during my student days and staying in Chicago where we would take this mode of transport to the University campus each day.

Along the way, we took in the sights of Kuala Lumpur at night around this area.

The stalls along the path from the LRT Station at Plaza Rakyat to AnCasa.

The Puduraya Bus Station which is newly renovated.

I remember this station being very grungy during my school days in Tunku Kurshiah College as I take the bus back to Seremban each time I come back for the weekend. But, look at it now!

The view from the 11th floor of AnCasa.

I wish my hubby all the best for his run. I hope he comes back with a medal. *smile*

Me got me-self a new toy!

2011-06-25T17:50:00.002+08:00

Yup! I went out and got a Samsung Galaxy Tab as a birthday present for myself last Sunday, 13th June. *grin*

I have been doing a lot of research on the Tab and the iPad recently and though as much as I just love the look and feel of the iPad, it just could not fulfil all that I would want in a mobile device, the most important being that the iPad does not support most of the microsoft softwares that I use to do my work on in the office.

I want a mobile device that can be easily interfaced between my office, home and work on the go.

I am still trying to get to know Sam (yup! I have named my samsung galaxy tab, Sam *grin*), but, so far, he's great!

I think I made the right choice in choosing the Tab because I could access my office email, whereas the iPad could not as it is not compatible with windows based softwares. Or, rather, no one could give me a straightforward answer as to whether I would be able to access my office email from the iPad. Samsung Tab's email apps is great! Even the attachments opens up without problems.

I was told that with the iPad, whoever wants to send me with a microsoft word doc, or, if I want to open up my word document which I did on my office PC or laptop, I would have to convert the Microsoft Word Doc into pdf first, email it to myself, only then can I open up the document on the iPad.

I could access all my emails (Yahoo!, Gmail, and Office email) from the front page.

Because of the size of the Tab, it makes reading an eBook an experience like reading a real book. But, I have yet to download any ebooks. I could not find a site that has books that I want to read. But, I have tried reading the book that is already preloaded in the Tab. The application is awesome!

My only problem initially was that sometimes I get a bit frustrated as I have difficulty editing when I want to send an email or type a document as I can't seem to figure out how to delete a whole line, like highlighting a certain text. I kept selecting the whole paragraph.

However, after Jo told me about the swype keyboard, it has made working on a document so much easier, if not, almost a breeze. Thanks for the tips, Jo!

I still have a lot more of getting to know Sam, but the one thing I like about Sam is that when it synced with my office email, I also got the calendar which really looks good.

However, I can't seem to sync my address book for my office email though. I don't know why I can't get it to work. So for now, I am inputting my office contacts manually.

I haven't travelled anywhere yet (I have since travelled to Penang when I wrote this posting) since I had Sam since I had bought Sam only last Sunday, 13th of June, but I would think that Sam would be a good travelling companion when I travel for a one day trip.

However, I still plan on bringing Pinky, my pink Dell laptop, for trips that takes longer than 2 nights as I work faster on Pinky.

Just the other day, Sam went with me to spend the night at my MIL"s house when my hubby was outstation last week. I smsed hubby to tell him that I have Sam, but left Pinky at home. I told him that I hope Pinky won't get upset because it is usually her that I bring on my travels or when I spend the night at my in-laws.

My hubby went like, "huh?" LOL!

He knows I give names to my "things" but he forgot that I recently got Sam though it was he who suggested that I call my Tab, Sam! LOL!

Another good thing that I discovered about Sam was that I could even use it as a mobile modem and have my laptop connect to it via wi-fi!

That's exactly what I did when I took both Pinky and Sam with me for a one night stay in a hotel in town, but, found out upon arrival that I had accidentally left the thumbdrive needed to connect my mobile broadband to my laptop as I needed to upload some photos from my camera to the laptop and then upload them onto my blog.

Now isn't that cool? *grin*

I still have lots of getting to know Sam, but I get excited with each new discovery that I make.

I am sure you will be reading plenty more about Sam in future postings! LOL! *wink*

A year older! A lot wiser? wink

2011-06-21T23:56:00.000+08:00

It was my birthday on the 8th of June. Don't ask how old I am. *grin* Just know that I am still young at heart. LOL! *wink*

I had to travel for work that day and so could not spend it with my son and hubby. But, as it turned out, I had to travel to Kota Bharu, and so, I got to spend my birthday with my mum and baby brother (not so baby any more actually when one is already 27 years old, right? LOL!).

I arrived in Kota Bharu at 7.30pm, just in time to sit down for dinner with my mum and brother, Azan

My mum had prepared my favourite dish of jeruk mame', budu, blanched vegetables and daging panggang. Yum!

It was a simple dinner, yet it was delicious! Thanks, Ma!

The next day, before I was to take my flight back to Kuala Lumpur, I had an early dinner of Nasi Kerabu prepared by my mum which I ate with my brother as my mum had some activities with some of her girlfriends.

I came home from Kota Bharu on Friday night and my hubby took my son and I out to dinner at San Francesco Steak House in Subang Jaya, Section 15.

When I saw that they have ribs, definitely that was what I had! LOL! *grin*

My hubby had the steak and my son had the barbecue chicken.

We also shared between us a serving of nachos.

Really love their nachos!

It was a great dinner! Thanks, Dia!

A week after my birthday, on the 16th of June, my staff surprised me with a birthday cake!

I was chairing a staff meeting and was wrapping it up when some of my staff started acting kind of strange and one or two of them started leaving the room. I thought that they had gone to the toilet.

Then, as I was packing up my things, in came a trolley with a cake all ready with lighted candles!

They were sweet to only put 4 candles on the cake! LOL! I felt so young! LOL!

Unfortunately I have no photos to show. I was too stunned by the surprise cake that I forgot to snap a photo of the lovely and delicious cake. :(

This year, besides the birthday dinner, my hubby also gave me a birthday present in the form of 2 cook books - one on bread and the other on cupcakes, knowing how crazy I am of late, making breads and cupcakes.

There were a couple of times that my bread has either turned out soggy, hard or undercooked. The book was probably a hint for me to start baking good bread. LOL! *grin*

Thanks for the books, Dia! I promise that my next batch of bread will turn out better....err...hopefully! *grin*

This birthday, and in the years to come, I hope that all my wishes will come true, and that I will succeed in everything that I do. May Allah bless me with lots of happiness, good health and great wealth, and may I live long enough to see my son succeed in life and may my hubby too have a long life so that he will be with me to see see Aiman succeed in life, insyaAllah. Amin.

To everyone who has sent me birthday wishes, thank you so much! Hugs, everyone!

19 wonderful years!

2011-05-29T10:05:00.000+08:00

On April 17th 2011 (yeah! This is another post long overdue!), my hubby and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary!

We celebrated it small scale with lunch at Chillies, Empire Shopping Gallery; our latest playground.

It being more than a month ago that we had the lunch that I forgot what I had ordered.

I know that Aiman ordered the usual kiddie meal, and we had our favourite nachos as appetizers to share among us.

I think I had the lamb and chicken combo and hubby had the fajitas.

The meal was filling, and very satisfying. It left us feeling lazy to even get up from of our seats to go home! LOL!

Would you believe it? It’s already been 19 years since we made a vow to love and respect one another. It’s been 19 wonderful years! I hope there will be many many many many more wonderful years of us together.

I would be lying if I said that our marriage had been smooth sailing all the way. As with any marriage, we have had our share of ups and downs, disagreements, and I don’t want to talk to you moments *grin*, but, the strong love and mutual respect that we have for each other has made us able to weather it all, alhamdulillah.

I may be a woman of very strong character, and when at the office, I am one very firm person who would not tolerate nonsense, but, I always tell my hubby that I am emotionally dependant on him. He is my rock in times of down when things at the office seems almost intolerable. Just to have him hug me and say that everything will be OK is enough to give me strength to face more challenges that comes my way.

His support for all things that I do, be it anything to do with my work at the office or my crafts; he is forever encouraging and supportive. God could not have given me a better person to be my husband.

Though I can sometimes be stubborn and want things to only be done my way, his patience would usually wear me down to eventually agree with him.

I may at times not know how to express my love for him, but I hope that he knows that deep down, he is my only love. I love him with all my heart, and I love the child (Aiman) that completes us and make us a happy family.

I always pray to Allah to keep us together for as long as we shall live. I pray that Allah will give us a long and healthy life with good wealth to see Aiman grow up, succeed in life, get married and have a family of his own.

I hope to be able to grow old with him, and to hold his hands as we walk down the path of the garden to our dream home, insyaAllah.

May Allah always bless us with many happiness, good health and good wealth, insyaAllah. Amin.

I love you, Dia! Hugs!

Aiman’s 11th birthday Party

2011-05-24T12:35:00.000+08:00

Yup! This posting is indeed very late, but I have been way above my head with work lately. So, what else is new, huh? *grin*

I still want to blog about it for Aiman’s sake so that he may read it in years to come, so here goes....

Aiman celebrated his 11th birthday on the 22nd of April 2011. Yup! 2 months ago, and only now am I blogging on it! *blush!*

The last time we did a birthday party for him was when he was in Primary 2. After that, we have been so busy with work that it was not possible for us to make arrangements to have a party for him. In fact, for the last two years, I had to travel for work on his birthday, and so could not be there for him on his birthday, what more to make plans to have a party.

So, this year, we decided to have one, and boy, were there so many things to do!

There was the invitations to make and send out, the place to look for (we decided against having it at our house at I had overtaken the dining room for my crafts *grin* and we did not want to have at the usual McD, KFC nor A&W), the food to order, the games to plan for, the gifts to buy and wrap for the games, the party packs to buy and pack, the decorations, and many more other details.

And, of course, I needed to make the cake. Initially I thought I would just bake a cake of a certain shape, frost it, put on the words “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AIMAN” and I would be done, but nooooo, Aiman had to ask, (well I asked him what cake does he want), and he said, “Angry Bird Cake”, and I went, “Huh! What? What Angry Chicken?” LOL!

Honest! I did not mean to annoy him, but annoyed him I did when I kept referring to it as the Angry Chicken when I went online to look up what this Angry Bird is all about. *grin*

There started my adventure of looking for the right cake – right as in the price! LOL!

I scouted around and even had one shop quoting me close to RM600.00 for the cake! Finally when I posted at NNC, my craft board, asking for where can I order an Angry Bird cake (it started a whole new topic and excitement at NNC when I posted the message! LOL!) did Sabariah recommended to me this online shop Mama Min.

There were many communications between me and her before I finally settled to order the cake from her. I was running out of time, and I still had lots of other things to do. I needed to get this cake thing out of the way before I could concentrate on the other things.

The cake being the center piece of the party, I wanted it to look great. It was an expensive cake, but it was money worth spent. I will tell you why later in this posting.

With the cake finally confirmed, next was the menu. We had already decided on the place at Empire Shopping Gallery called LEX, an entertainment out let that boast of having the tallest and highest giant slide in the region, or was that the world?

We settled on a western menu of Roast Chicken, Fish & Chips, Spaghetti, Mash Potatoes, sandwiches, and added a tray of Mee Siam.

We were expecting about 50 guests – 30 children and 20 adults.

The children would mostly be Aiman’s class mates whose parents would just be dropping off their kids (there were some gate crashers but we didn’t mind. There were plenty of food. However, sometimes I wondered how some people could be so bold though *grin*) and his cousins.

The adults were Aiman’s aunties and uncles, close friends of ours whose kids are Aiman’s classmates but the parents became our friends, and there were also Aiman’s former classmates (they transferred to another school but we the parents still kept in touch with each other).

We were worried that the food wasn’t enough and actually ordered an extra tray of Mee Siam as the party progressed along. We needn’t have worried. There was so much left over that even the 2nd tray of Mee Siam was untouched.

Never mind; we would rather have extra food rather then end up being embarrassed should we run out of food.

Anyway, I spent two weeks before Aiman’s birthday making the invitation cards, shopping for prizes for the games and things for the party packs and coming home to wrap everything up and packing the party packs. There were many late nights trying to get everything ready.

Aiman wanted the party theme to be red, it being his favourite colour. So, I spent many nights printing the invitation cards, the labels for the party packs and the prizes, stickers to identify the children and making program cards to place on the tables, all to meet the red theme.

Even the venue was decorated with red and white balloons.

It really created an exciting birthday atmosphere, although I do wished that I had ordered more balloons, as 50 numbers of balloons were too little for a place as big as LEX.

Aiman was very specific of the things that he wants as the prizes for the games. He wasn’t too happy when I bought something that to him looked kiddish, like pencils, erasers and note pads with cartoon characters on them. I think he is at that age when he is afraid of being laughed at by his friends.

Aiman was also very specific on what he wants in the party pack.

He was even more specific on the games that he wants played during the party. He especially told me that under no circumstances should I have musical chair and passing the parcel. He doesn’t want anything kiddish.

I also think that he is traumatized by the game because you can sometimes end up being embarrassed and rejected when you have to rush to grab the chair when the music stops or when the parcel ends up on your lap when the music stops.

Who invented this game? Kids learn early on about being rejected and it could sometimes leave a phychological scar on some kids.

I remember him ending up crying on his 7th birthday when he was pushed off the chair by one of his friends in his (the friend’s) race to sit on the chair so as not to be eliminated. He also hates it when he has to do all those embarrassing stuff when you open up the parcel to reveal your `punishment’ for getting the parcel.

I am glad that LEX has some very good games just perfect for his age group. We had the Bean Bag Race which I think the kids really enjoyed.

There was also the Tower Can game where you try to build the tallest tower with empty can drinks.

I added 3 more games which my sister, Lin, superbly hosted. Thanks, Lin!

We had the Puzzle Race where the first team to complete the puzzle wins.

There was much excitement when the teams were to be formed as the boys refused to team up with the girls. I had to ask my brother, Azan, to sit in with one of the girl teams as they struggle to complete the puzzle with only two people in the team, whereas the boys had either 3 or 4 people in their teams.

The next game, the quiz, was fun too as it was a quiz to see how well you know the birthday boy. Aiman knew nothing about this game as I wanted to surprise him and as he sat at a corner, he was grinning and blushing as the questions were asked to his friends about him.

My sister Lin added more humour to it when most of the questions were answered correctly by the girls rather than the boys when she asked the girls if they were Aiman’s girlfriends. Aiman’s cheeks turned red at the question. LOL!

The last game was the Treasure Hunt. I had discreetly pasted a red envelope under one of the chairs, and as the kids rushed to go looking for the red envelope, it created more excitement to the already excitable evening.

The highlight of the party was of course the blowing of the birthday cake, the blowing of the birthday cake! Not just any birthday cake, but an Angry Bird Cake! And an expensive one at that too! LOL!

But, before Aiman was to blow the cake, Joshua of LEX suggested that we have all the children take the giant slide down to the ground floor where the cake would be waiting. He was offering the ride at a discount.

Safety instructions being given to make sure
that no untoward incidents happen

I think it was a great idea that got not only all the children excited , but also the adults (My brothers, Ayis and Azan, wanted to take the slide too, but I said No. *grin* My brother Ayis took it anyway! LOL!), but it got me all in a panic mode when I realised that I had to make sure all 14 kids that went down the slide don’t get hurt .

It also occurred to me when we were already at the ground floor as we were going back up to the party place after the cake blowing ceremony that I had to make sure that all 14 children are safely back at the party. I think my heart must have beat a 1000 times as I kept calling out to my sister and brother to make sure that all the kids are accounted for, as we had to go through the sea of weekend shoppers.

I am glad that Aiman chose red as the party theme as it really made all the children stand out in the crowd. I am glad that everyone came dressed in the theme; even the adults. It really helped us to identify Aiman’s friends from all the other children.

Aiman was the last to take the slide down accompanied by the loud cheering of his name by his friends.

When the Angry Cake was revealed at the bottom of the giant slide, it created another round of excitement when the children started booking all parts of the cake. LOL!

I think it was a proud moment for Aiman as not only did he get the cake he wanted, but he was also the envy of all his friends.

In the morning, when we went to pick up the cake, Aiman couldn’t hold back his excitement upon seeing the cake for the first time. He was rubbing his hands in excitement and kept saying. “Cool!” and kept thanking me over and over again.

With so much excitement created by all of Aimans friends, and even the adults, on seeing the cake, it was well worth every single cent spent on it. Some of the kids even came for seconds!

To see Aiman’s face light up at the sight of the cake alone was enough to make every cent I spent worth it, what more when everyone who came was in awe of the cake. Truly, it was money well and worth spent.

Errr......Did I just repeated myself on the worth spent? LOL!

After all the excitement of the evening, soon it was time to pack up and go home. We made sure all the kids were safely claimed by their parents, before we picked our things and left the party venue.

To give us a break from weeks of planning and organising the party, my sister offered to take Aiman home with her as Aiman and Miki still hadn’t had enough of each other.

Thanks, Lin! Thanks, too, for hosting the games. Thanks, Kuya, for helping out with the registration of the kids – we had stickers to identify the kids, it being a shopping complex. We wanted to make sure that we can differentiate between Aiman’s friends and other kids who walks in as the party was going on (we had a few of those who boldly walked in and just sat down with the boys!).

Thanks to Ayis for being the official photographer.

Thanks, Azan, for helping out the girl team when they were short of a mate.

Thanks to all our friends, Aiman’s friends, cousins, siblings, my in-laws, and all those who had made the birthday a success. Thanks for being sporting enough to come in the red party theme. It added that extra ambience to the party and made it look like one great party.

My mum said that she heard that it was one great big grand birthday party! Alas, she was not able to come join the party. It would have been even greater had she been around.

Thanks for all the great presents, everyone!

Aiman opened it the next day after coming home from his cousins’(Fatin’s and Fawzan’s) birthday party in Shah Alam.

He is allowed to only open one present a month to play. We have agreed on this since he was 5 years old so that he will appreciate each and every present given. It will take him untill the end of the year when he will finally open up all of them. That, in a way, also means that we don’t need to buy any toys for him untill the end of the year! *grin*

BTW, there is one very special present from Uncle Paul for Aiman.....

Paul had baked and decorated an Angry Bird cupcakes for Aiman when he heard how much Aiman wanted an Angry Bird cake. After all, I did created a lot of excitement at NNC when I was asking about it! LOL!

When Aiman saw it, as was with his birthday cake that Mama Min made, again he rubbed his hands in excited and kept giving the thumbs up. He did it again when I took this photo.

It just goes to show how much he likes Angry Bird, and how much he appreciates the effort taken to specially do it for him. Thanks, Paul!

As tired as I was after weeks of planning for the birthday party, I think it was worth the time, effort and money spent upon seeing how much everyone enjoyed themselves. Seeing the excitement on Aiman’s face was priceless!

Happy Birthady, Sayang! Mummy and Abah loves you very much!

Cupcakes for Mother's Day!

2011-05-23T10:10:00.002+08:00

I suddenly got into a cupcake craze recently (will I have to give up this craze to concentrate on the certification program I just applied for?), when my son asked me if we could bake some cupcakes for him to bring to school for his snacks. You can read about it here.

Since then, I have been itching to bake, not just cupcakes, but homemade breads too!

My first bread in a very long time turned out not well risen causing the bread to be very heavy and dense. We ate it anyway with soup.

My second attempt at making bread turned out so much better because it was a quick bread which did not use yeast but just baking soda and baking powder. I had baked Banana Nut Bread, and it was delicious!

My 3rd attempt was making wholemeal bread after finally being able to get my hands on a pack of wholemeal flour at the International Center for Cake Artistry (ICCA) at Kota Damansara last week.

I have been looking high and low for bread flour and wholemeal flour at every grocery stores that I went to but failed to find any. So, when I finally found it at ICCA, I grabbed both packs.

Though this wholemeal bread looks like it is almost perfect, but it wasn't done in the center. I had to take it out of the braed machine and knead it by hand and later baked it manually when my son accidentally switched off the bread machine 2 hours before it should have been done.

It became hard when I tried rectifying it by putting it back into the oven two hours after I had taken it out of the oven upon realising that the center was uncooked/not properly baked.

I hope to try making the wholemael and basic white bread again this coming weekend, and I hope, this time, that it will turn out well risen and light. Wish me luck!

Coming back to my cupcake craze, after making a batch of chocolate cupcakes 2 weeks ago, which Aiman really loves, I just had to try other recipes too!

It was Mother’s Day 2 weekends ago, and initially, I had wanted to go out and get my two mums something which I thought they would both like, but, alas, time was not on my side. But I still wanted to give them something to show my appreciation and love to them both, I decided that something homemade would be the best gift. And what would be more apt to a person’s heart if not through the tummy! LOL! *wink*

I was going back to Kota Bharu for work the Monday after Mother’s Day, and I thought this would work out just perfect for me to bake my mum and my MIL some cupcakes. I could pack the cupcakes for my mum in a cupcake box which I had bought at ICCA which has a cupcake holder or casing to keep the cupcakes in place.

So, that Sunday, Mother’s Day itself, with my son’s help, I first set out to bake the wholemeal bread. While the bread was being done in the bread machine, I started on the Banana Nut cupcakes from a recipe I got off the internet (this internet thingy is really wonderful, isn’t it? You can get almost anything from the internet!) .

You can get the recipes here too!

It said that the batter is enough to make 18 cupcakes. I should have spread it over 20 or 22 cupcakes as some of the cupcakes overflowed while baking, thus making some of the cupcakes lopsided.

Maybe my cups were much smaller in size compared to what was recommended, I am not sure, but I had used the standard size cupcakes I bought at ICCA..

Anyway, other than the cupcakes being lopsided, the taste is really yummy! You should really try out the recipe. It’s really good!

My son was excited to get started on the decoration, but we had to wait for the cupcakes to fully cool down before we could frost them.

I started on the frosting in the evening, following the buttercream recipe I had since I started cake decorating some years back. Although I have not been doing any cake decorating in the last 5 years, I don’t remember ever having problems with the buttercreame frosting. However, this time around, my frosting turned out too thin and difficult to handle.

I just could not shape the icing into flowers that I wanted. It just kept coming out flat and shapeless.

When I tried refrigerating it in the piping bag, I ended up almost bursting the piping bag when the frosting at the tips hardened but the remaining of the frosting remained thin.

I was almost losing hope and wanted to just bring home the cupcakes to my mum as plain cupcakes, but my son insisted that the decoration are lovely (my son has a way of making me happy! *smile*) and insisted that I frost all the cupcakes. He even helped with the sprinklers.

This is how the cupcakes ended looking like....

Very kiddish, huh? Oh well...... *sigh* It was worth a try. I am not giving yup. I am going to bake more cupcakes and give the cupcake decorating another go.

I don’t know if my mum and MIL appreciates the kiddish decoration *grin*, but I know that my mum likes the banana cupcakes, and I think she finished every single piece that I brought back (there were six), despite the frosting being all mushy and messy when the frosting melted during transportation from my house to my office to the airport onto the plane and finally reaching its destination at my mum’s house some 400km away!

How they looked before the journey began

How they looked upon arrival. My mum had eaten
a piece when I took this photo! *grin*

The journey started as early as 6.45am from my house, transiting at the fridge in the pantry of my office, before making its way to the airport and then onto the plane, taking a ride on the car to my mum’s house, and finally landing on the dining table of my mum’s house! LOL!

The cupcakes had crossed water (there is a river next to my office), been on the road and taken a flight some thousands of kilometers above sea level! Now that’s what I call a high flying cake well travelled! LOL!

HAPPY MOTHER’s day Ma and Mak! Love you both! Hugs!

Farewell to a dear feline friend....

2011-05-15T10:12:00.001+08:00

My son cried for two days when one of his little kittens (there were 3 of them) got ran over by our car one morning on our way to work. My hubby didn’t see it. It must have slept on the tyres of our car the night before. Even when my hubby started the engine, we thought that the little kitties would have been alarmed by the engine running and would scoot off. But, unfortunately, one of it didn’t. *sob*

When my hubby told Aiman about it later that evening when he picked him up at my MIL’s house, his first reaction was a show of strength, or rather, one of denial when he showed no immediate emotions.

He asked which one was it. When my hubby told him that it was the black one (he had named it Abby after Abby the scientist in NCIS. Aiman names all his cats after characters in NCIS and CSI), his response, “Oh, OK, as long as it isn’t Dinozzo”.

Abby is the black one, and Dinozzo is the other one

Dinozzo had been sick almost since birth and we had been taking special care of him, bringing him to the vet and all. He was closest to Aiman. The other kitty is Director Sheppard, also a character from NCIS.

We thought that he had taken the news pretty well, but, according to my hubby, after the initial questions, there was silence, and then my hubby noticed that there were tears welding in his eyes. He cried for pretty much most part of the journey home from my MIL’s house to our house that evening.

When I arrived home soon after that, he came to me with eyes all red and still sniffling from the last tears. He cried all over again upon seeing me. It was heart-breaking. I hugged him and told him that it was fated that Abby had a short life, and that God loves Abby more.

He wanted to blame my hubby for not looking out for the little kitties, but I did not want him to go on blaming others for what’s fated, and told him that he still has Dinozzo and Director Sheppard to take care of who needed him more now that Abby isn’t around to play with them.

He calmed down for a while. In fact, he put up another strong front when we ran a funeral of sorts for Abby and buried her at the end of the road from our house. He refused to shed a tear. It was me that could not hold back my tears as my hubby laid down Abby’s body into the ground and covered it up with loving care.

We said a small prayer before heading back to our house.

When we did our maghrib prayers that night, I told him to say another prayer for Abby. He went up to his room and refused to come down. When I went to check on him, he had his nose in a Whimpy Kid book, but he wasn’t actually reading it. He was trying to cover up the tears that were flowing freely.

I sat down on the bed next to him and we talked. I told him that it is OK to cry if you had just lost a loved one. I also told him that all living things will die someday. I told him to be strong for Dinozzo and Director Sheppard. They would need him even more now that Abby’s gone.

He calmed down, but when it was time to feed Dinozzo and Director Sheppard that night, tears flowed freely again. In fact, for the next few days, each time he went out to feed the little kitties, I would find him in tears. It was heartbreaking, but I know, give him a few more days, he will get over the loss, though he will still hold Abby dear to his heart.

It’s been two weeks since Abby’s demise, and Aiman still talks about her, saying that he misses her so much, but the tears have somewhat stopped flowing. I think he is getting stronger.

Aiman had just had a lesson in life. I always hope and pray that he will grow up to be a strong person, and be able to go through even the worse of situation. My hubby and I will not always be there for him, though we always pray that we could at least see him succeed in life and be there when he takes a wife and have children of his own. May Allah answer our prayers, insyaAllah.

Farewell, Abby, our dear feline friend. May you rest in peace. Amin.

Going back to school....

2011-05-14T00:44:00.001+08:00

Well, sort of!

I had just applied to enter a program to be certified as a Project Manager under the Project Management Certification Program organised by my department. This program will start at the end of May, 2011 and will run for the next 6 months. I will be going through this program while still working full time.

I just realised that soon after submitting my application that as I go through this program, I might have just at the same time signed off my time to craft on weekends! Ooppps! What have I just got myself into! Oh well! A woman has got to do what she has to do.... LOL!

I have been wanting to give this certification program a go for the last 2 years since I started managing projects close to 3 years ago. My boss has been asking me to take it up so that I can be a true certified Project Manager, and thus be more valuable to the department, and at the same time, I get to increase my knowledge in the field of Project Management to handle bigger and more challenging projects.

I wasn’t ready to do it in the last 2 years due to heavy work load, as this program requires me to prepare project reports every 2 months for presentation based on the 9 knowledge areas recognized by The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Ooops! LOL!

With 80 projects to manage in the last 3 years, trying to fit in a time to prepare 4 project reports for presentation in between the already packed work schedule within 6 months would almost be suicidal, so to speak! LOL!

But, this year, with lesser projects to handle (I think) compared to the last 3 years, but still, none the less busy, I decided to take the plunge and give this certification program a go. And I literally mean taking the plunge as I only handed in my application at 4.45pm, when the dateline to submit the application was at 5.00pm on the 13th of May 2011!

I was so busy with work that it totally slipped my mind to submit my application earlier, but I suddenly remembered when I accidentally met one of the facilitators just before lunch time today. Talk about last minute entry! LOL!

So, friends, readers of my blog, and family members, do wish me luck! I need all the well wishes and support I can get. I might have to give up my craft for a while, but I hope that all my “sacrifices” *grin* will be worth it. I hope and pray that I will do well.

So, looks like Aiman has a study mate! *wink*

Cooking, cooking, baking, baking

2011-05-02T23:09:00.000+08:00

This weekend, 30th April to 2nd May, 2011, with a public holiday (Labour Day) falling on a Sunday, we got ourselves an extended weekend!

It’s been so long since I could enjoy an extended weekend what with so much work at the office. So, I was really looking forward to a weekend where I could have more time to take care of the house, cook some of my favourite food and do some crafting.

However, it was not possible for me to have the whole weekend to myself and with the family, doing our own things, as we had two weddings to attend, and Aiman has his usual Saturday classes. We also needed to do some grocery shopping. But, still, I am thankful for the extra time to take care of the house and do some cooking. I even managed to bake!

Usually, on Saturday mornings, we would have breakfast outside and then proceed to send Aiman to his Saturday Art Class. But, as I had missed watching the Royal Wedding of Wills and Kate on Friday, 29th April 2011, as I had to work, and it just so happened that they were running a repeat of it that Saturday morning, we decided to have breakfast at home.

It was breakfast of instant Chapatti, Dalca, and Sambal Ikan Bilis which I had bought at a Pasar Tani in Putrajaya on my way back from a meeting in Putrajaya on Friday. We also had Mutton Curry which I had bought at a Mamak Bistro next to my office on my way home on Friday.

It was instant, simple, yet it was delicious!

While Aiman was in class, my hubby went to the gym and I sat at Starbucks with a nice tall glass of Iced Caramel Machiato and went surfing and answered my 100s of emails as I have not been able to go online much in the last week or so due to my hectic schedule at work (like, yeah! What’s new! LOL! *grin*) .

After picking up Aiman, we went for lunch before we proceeded to do some grocery shopping. I had many plans to do some cooking during this extended weekend, and so bought quite a number of things meant for what I intended to cook.

We came home and had a short nap before it was time for us to get ready for a cousin’s wedding in Selayang at this place called Ideal Convention Center. Heard of it? No? Neither did we, but we found it, thanks to the GPS on my phone, which I fondly call Cik Kiah as she “speaks” and my handphone being a Nokia (the Kiah coming from the word KIA in NoKIA). *grin*

End of Saturday.

Sunday morning, with it being a public holiday, the weekly maid was off too, so, I took my time getting up, but not later than 7.00am as I wanted to catch The Ultimate Cake Off and Cake Boss on Astro. Really love these two shows! Very inspiring!

I was watching both programmes in between making breakfast, and doing the laundry! LOL! Talk about multi-tasking! LOL! *grin*

After breakfast was done with, I sat about to cook dinner as we had another wedding to attend in the afternoon, and I know myself that once I am out of the house, I could end up being tired or lazy to do anything else after that.

My mum wouldn’t be too pleased to know that I had "cheated" when I cooked this family favourite dish of Kuzi Ayam. I had used this pre-mixed rempah (herbs) by “Yes Halal Rempah Ustazah”, all packed up and ready to cook. All that I needed to do was to add evaporated milk, water and chicken. But, it was the only way I could have this dish with the limited time that I had on my hands and my mum is too far away for me to ask her to help me cook it. So, I guess this “cheating’’ is acceptable? LOL! *wink* I also added chicken giza, raisins and almonds to make the dish taste even closer to the original.

Nothing taste better than mum’s cooking, but, beggars can’t be choosers, so, I guess this alternative is anytime better than no choice at all. Honestly, this pre-mixed herb wasn’t too bad. It tastes almost the same as the original, though nothing could replace mum’s original recipe. *smile*

I cooked enough to serve for two meals.

Also from “Yes Halal Rempah Ustazah” is a soup mix which I made and served for lunch on Monday, 2nd May 2011.

The taste is also not bad. It was quick to do. All I needed was to just add water, chicken and potatoes, and when serving, add the coriander leaves and bawang merah goreng (fried shallots).

On Sunday, after coming back from the wedding, I managed to catch DC Cupcakes at 4.00pm which inspired me to try out some cupcake recipes with the help of my son who was just as eager to help out with the baking as I am eager to try out the recipe.

We tried out this very simple Chocolate Cupcakes which I got the recipe off the internet. It was pretty easy and quick to do. It tastes great too! Not too sweet. Just the way I like it, and I just love the chocolaty taste!

Before I set about making the cupcakes, I first put in the ingredients for a basic traditional white bread using my bread machine. Alas, my bread came out not well risen and a little hard. *sob*

I was very sure that I had measured everything correctly, although I had to substitute bread flour with all-purpose flour as was recommended by a few websites, since I could not find any bread flour at the shops I frequent. I also omitted the dry milk powder and replaced the plain water with fresh milk as recommended by a few websites since I did not fancy buying a big package of dry milk powder but only to use a little.

I am very pleased with the way the cupcakes turned out, but I am a little disappointed with the bread. I am certainly going to try making the bread again. Maybe I should try looking for the bread flour asked for and buy the dry milk powder. I also probably need to get a few new packs of yeast although I am pretty sure the pack of yeast I bought last week has not yet expired.

Oh well! We are still having the hard as a rock and not well risen bread for breakfast on Tuesday to be eaten with the Kuzi gravy *grin*, which I think might just be the right combination. We also still have plenty of the chocolate cupcakes, and we will be having that for the next few days! *grin*

He runs a marathon; she goes marathon sewing!

2011-04-01T22:00:00.001+08:00

Yup! That’s what we did last November (yup! this posting is way overdue! *grin*) when we went for a trip to Penang from the 19th to the 22nd of November 2010.

My hubby had wanted to participate in the International Penang Bridge Run for the quite some years already but he kept putting it off. Maybe the timing was never right all this time.

But, last year, after coming back from the Ipoh Marathon in October, he decided that this year would be a good time to take part in the marathon in Penang. He asked me if we were to go to Penang, would I have anything to do.

What? Going to Penang? Of course I have something to do! Yes! Yes! I want to go to Penang! I was jumping in excitement when he told me that he wants to go to Penang to participate in the marathon because then I get to attend the bag making class at Corine’s! LOL!

I immediately asked Corine if she would run a bag making class for me on Saturday, 20th November and Sunday, 21st November 2010. As it was too close to Hari Raya Haji (Raya Haji was on the 17th of November), I was thrilled when she said she would have the class for me!

So, the date was set!

We started our journey to Penang on the 19th of November at about 3.30pm after my hubby came back from a meeting he couldn’t get away at the office.

When we started our journey, it started raining cats and dogs. It rained for most part of our journey, so we couldn’t travel fast. It took us more than 6 hours of travelling when we finally arrived at our hotel at about 9.00pm. We checked into Vistana Hotel before we made our way to a mamak restaurant for dinner within walking distance from the hotel.

The next morning, I was already up by 6.30am, all excited to get started on the first day of class at Corine’s. My hubby had made arrangements to have lunch with a friend, and also to do some last minute training at the gym at the hotel before picking us up again.

Seen here is Aiman with my sewing machine and other things, waiting at the hotel lobby for my hubby to get the car to go to Corine’s.

Aiman has packed up his PSP, all ready for the long wait at Corine’s as mummy learns to make a bag! LOL!

Corine had recently renovated her small little craft hut cum shop. It is now almost twice the size of the original hut.

This photo of my hubby and son in front of the hut looks like as if they were at some kampong , when in fact they are right in the middle of a busy town in Penang!

The hut shop is now more organised and can now take in 3 students at the same time without having them to knock their buttocks against each other. LOL!

The sewing machines are placed in a neat row next to each other, with plenty of room to place your sewing pouch next to it.

The fabrics are now all arranged vertically on the bolts, making it easy to choose the fabrics you want, making it harder to resist not buying something from the rack! LOL!

There is even a space to place a laptop which kept Aiman occupied all day, thus I don’t have to worry about him coming to me wanting to go home, leaving me in peace to work on the bags! LOL!

There is a wall to put up all the gadgets and knick knacks needed to make the bags she teaches.

The table in front of it was just perfect for doing stuff like writing, designing, and putting the bag handles on, which was exactly what this gentleman was doing to the Banana bag I had just completed doing, all within a day!

While I was there, there was this lady hand stitching her Hawaiian Quilt piece which Corine was promoting for the month of November.

The whole hut has bags hanging from everywhere possible to give you inspiration and to showcase the bags that Corine teaches.

The way they were all arranged and hung for you to see the bags from any angle that you are sitting in the hut, it was hard to resist not wanting to do them all! LOL!

The first day of class, I managed to complete the Banana bag.

This bag is really huge and roomy, I could lose my things in there, and when the hand phone rings, I am sure I won’t be able to locate it in time to answer the call as I will be fumbling through the bag in search of it! LOL!

I am going to end up having many missed calls when I use this bag as I’ll be spending a lot of time digging and rummage through the bag, looking for that elusive handphone as it rings! LOL!

I managed to start on a second bag, the bag pack which I had bought the kit much earlier and done all the preparations before coming to Penang. I did not get far on it when my hubby came to pick me up at about 6.30pm.

I brought back homework to do in the hotel room! LOL! My hubby found it amusing that I had homework to do! LOL! *grin*

I started on the homework as soon as we got back from dinner. My hubby went to bed early as he had to be up by 1.00am to get ready for the race which was to start at about 2.30am with the first flagging off .

By the time I was ready to go to bed (there was a lot of homework to do! LOL!), my hubby got up to get ready! LOL!

I woke up to the sound of thunder and heavy rain at about 2.30am, the exact time for the first flagging off. It took me some time to get back to sleep after that as I was worried for my hubby as he would then be running in the heavy rain and thunderstorm.

I don’t know when I fell asleep again, but I got up again at 5.30am to get ready as I could not sleep anymore.

My hubby finally came back to the hotel as about 7.00am, and proudly showed me his medal upon completing the race within the qualifying time.

I am so proud of him. I didn’t expect a medal. This is his first, I think, since he started entering marathons. Before this he has been bringing back certificates for completing within the qualifying time for the 10km runs. This medal is for the 21 km run! I am VERY PROUD of him! Congrats, Dia!

After breakfast, my hubby sent me and my son to Corine again for my second day of class. He went back to the hotel after dropping us off to rest and to catch up on some very much needed sleep.

For the second day of class, I worked on the bag pack. I worked on it far enough to give me an idea on how to complete it on my own at home. I did not want to complete it there as there was a lot of hand stitching that needed to be done which I could doat my leisure at home.

Here's the bag all completed.

The 3rd bag, the 3 Compartment Bag, was also kit I had bought at Kelvin’s before coming to Penang.

It was one very complicated bag that I was totally drained of energy going through the steps of making the bag. I took many photographic notes. I just hope I can remember how to do it again should I want to do it again (which I think I will) for the second time.

I did not complete the bag in class that day, but came back home to Kuala Lumpur to complete it, guided by the instructions Corine gave.

I also made some of my own adjustments and amendments to suit how I wanted to bag to look like.

In Corine’s original design, she has one side of the handle with piping, and the other with binding. I wanted both sides to have piping as I thought it would look better, but Corine said that it wasn’t possible due to the way it was designed to be made.

I came home and sat down to figure it out, and, here is the result!

I managed to figure out how to have piping on both sides of the handle! I must say that, with due respect to Corine as my teacher, it was kind of complicated, but it was not impossible. I just had a lot of thinking to do to get it figured out.

I made a mistake at the bottom of the bag, but, heck, I bet if I did not tell anyone, no one would have known about it! LOL!

Another thing which I made changes to the bag was to add a flap to the bag.

The original design had two separate leather flaps to go over each opening of the bag. I decided to do just one which goes over all 3 compartments. That way I can have the magnetic snaps towards me when I carry the bag, hopefully making it safer and more difficult to have someone flip it open and dip into the bag.

What do you think?

This is another very roomy bag with plenty of compartments to put all your knicks and knacks, but, this time, you won’t be having that many missed calls as there are two pockets to put your handphone in, which you can also use to put your car keys in for easy access when at the parking lot.

On the last night of our trip to Penang, we met up with friends I have not met in over 20 years.

The husband, Hymeir, was a childhood friend whom I think we last met when we were still kids at the age of 5 or 6 years old, in the United States when both our fathers were doing their Masters program.

The wife, Zuraidah, or fondly known as Deb, was a classmate when I was at Kolej Tunku Kurshiah. I think the last time I met her was probably some 18 odd years ago during a school reunion or something. It was a small world when I came to know that she had married a childhood friend.

They have 3 children, but, that night, they had only brought along the youngest child, Elle, as the two older ones were away at college. Elle and Aiman hit it off almost immediately like as if they were old friends.

My hubby and Hymeir too found something in common as they were talking away throughout dinner.

The next day, after breakfast, we headed on to Chow Rasta to look for some of those famous pickles known to Penang to take back home for our staff at the office and relatives.

We checked out from the hotel at noon on Monday, 22nd November 2010, and started our journey back to Kuala Lumpur, arriving safely at about 5.30pm after making one stop at the Sultan Azlan Shah Rest Area for lunch and to do our prayers.

It had been a very fruitful and productive outing for us. My hubby got to participate in the International Bridge Run which he has been wanting to do, and I get to attend 2 bag making classes. We also managed to meet up with some friends we have not met for a very long time, and Aiman made a new friend.

We hope to do this again next year, insyaAllah, God willing.

NNC Valentine Exchange 2011

2011-03-27T22:00:00.000+08:00

We recently concluded our Valentine Exchange for this year, and this time around, my partner was Jo.

The mailing out date was set for the 1st of February if your partner is local, or 25th January if your partner is overseas, so that our partners would receive their VE in time for Valentine’s Day.

Since Jo was my partner, and we lived not far from each other, we decided that we would meet up in person to pass on our Exchange.

My original plan was to meet up with Jo maybe at Sunway Pyramid so that we can chat up over tea or something, but, alas that did not happen.

I ended up just dropping off the VE at Jo’s house with just a quick ‘Hello’ as my son’s toilet was still not done yet at that time and we needed to do a lot of things to finish off the toilet ourselves. My hubby wanted to get some things at a DIY shop, and I needed to run some errands which I had to put off when the ‘Kontraktor Penyiap’ (supposedly the contractor who is to complete the unfinished job left by the previous contractor) would suddenly come unannounced at a time when I had planned on running errands. *sigh*

Anyway, when I got the VE from Jo, I got embarassed by what I had made for her because of the size and packaging of the box she gave me. Jo’s VE to me came in a lovely cylindrical box nicely tied up with ribbons;

My VE to Jo, however, was just simply packed up in a box and wrapped up in wrapping paper. So simple was the packaging that I did not even bother to take a photo of the packaging. *blush*

What was inside the box got me feeling embarrassed even further because, when I opened up the box and out spilled out a trove of lovely treasured items.

There was a ball of pink crochet yarn, a hand towel in red, a dark red zipper, 2 rolls of ribbons, gadget to make buttons, a pack of buttons, a lovely handmade towel holder and a piece of fabric!

I felt like I was celebrating my birthday early!

I especially love the handmade towel holder. It’s a lovely idea from Jo using round plastics which I am unsure what the round plastic is original meant for, but, I just love it!

Thanks so much, Jo, for all the lovely things!

As for the Valentine Exchange from me, I made up this Needle book and pincushion to match.

Jo had said at one of the Stitching Bee last year how much she likes the Needle Book I made for the draw in conjunction with NNC’s mini birthday celebration in October 2010. That gave me the idea to make her one when she was partnered with me for the VE.

I made it in blue, because, if I remember clearly, her favourite colour is blue. And, to match the Needle Book as a set, I decided to also make a pincushion with the word ‘LOVE’as it is after all, a Valentine Exchange.

Together with the VE, I also included a sticker with hearts and a card in line with the Valentine’s Day theme.

I hope Jo likes the pincushion and needlebook as much as I had enjoyed doing it for her.

BTW, I also made Janet a set of coasters, with the help from Em, my faithful embroidery machine friend.

This set of coasters were actually meant for the Coaster Exchange organised last year by Usha. Janet was not my partner, Alynn was, which I had long ago sent to Alynn.

However, Janet's partner had failed to send Janet her coasters despite my several attempts to get in touch with her to remind her of her commitment to the exchange *sad*, and so, when Margaret asked for volunteers to be Janet's Replacement Exchange Angel (did I get the term right?) to replace the one Janet never got, I volunteered.

I could not find time to do it earlier, and so only managed to sent it out when I sent out some other exchanges at the same time, which was only early this year.

Sorry, Janet, that this coasters only got to you spanning over two years! LOL! But, I hope you liked it and was worth the wait. *grin*

NNC 4th Anniversary Meet

2011-03-25T17:29:00.003+08:00

After months of planning and organising, the day for NNC 4th Anniversary Meet finally arrived. It was set to be held on the 19th of March, and Rose had graciously offered her huge and lovely house in Shah Alam for the Meet.

I arrived early that day, but not before I had a harrowing experience on my way to Rose’ house. I sort of got lost and wanted to stop by the roadside to check the google map which I had printed out earlier. I couldn’t find a proper place by the roadside to stop as there were many cars racing by, so I took a fork going into a construction site.

I did not realised that the road was so narrow until I got onto the road, and as there was a car following closely behind me, I decided to go onto the curb to let him pass so that I may take my time to consult my google map.

I had no problem getting onto the curb, but as I was trying to drive off from the curd, my right tyres suddenly went into a deep crack in the road and tilted the car to almost 30 degrees. My heart suddenly beat a thousand times faster. I could almost imagine the car tilting completely if I were to drive further forward, and so decided to reverse the car.

But, what happened next got my heart beating a million times faster as the car tilted even further to almost 40 to maybe 50 degrees. I looked back at the rear view mirror for any signs of a kindly stranger who might be able to help me in case my car totally tilts to the side, and saw some construction workers.

I am not sure if I felt relief or not, but my heart was beating so fast, I thought I could almost hear it beat. I prayed hard and hit on the gas pedal. The car tilted further, but then all of a suddenly, it tilted back flat on the road as my tyres moved out of the crack on the road. I heaved a HUGE sigh of relief and thank God for answering my prayers and keeping me calm, albeit my heart racing a million times.

My nerves were still very much on edge when I got to Rose’ house, but managed to stay calm as there were lots of things to do.

I unloaded everything from my car and sat down to sort out the door gifts. As I was busy sorting out the door gifts, Margaret arrived with Jackie, Veronica, Mel and Janet.

As Margaret, and Mel set to work getting things organised in the living room and the patio where the food will be, Janet made Ipoh White coffee (I never got to taste the lovely white coffee as I was too busy packing up the goodie bags though) which she had brought along, while Veronica and Jackie helped me sort out the door gifts.

Many contributed to the kids’ goodie bag that I think it would have been fun to be a kid again! LOL!

Many too contributed to the members’ goodie bag. There were so many lovely things, many handmade, which got everyone going ooh and aaahh as we went through the items contributed.

This was my contribution to the goodie bags, all handmade, and embroidered by Em, my faithful embroidery machine.

A big thank you to all who had contributed to both the kids’ goodie bags and the members’ goodie bags.

Other members started arriving at about 12.00noon.

We set up a corner for the sale of things that will go towards the Postage Fund.

Mel brought a lot of things which got many excited. I think Mel’s craft always has a way of getting everyone excited – without fail! LOL!

Her yummy and lovely cupcakes and cheesecake got everyone excited too. It was the center of attraction. *grin*

Alas, I just realised that I never got to taste it. I guess the harrowing experience earlier and the fall (yup! I fell) I had during the run of the meet somehow got me a little ‘dizzy’.

I slipped on the wet floor of the patio due to the rain and hit the chair by the door and pulled a muscle in the process. I woke up the next morning with a painful bottom and a backache.

As in previous years, there were lots of foods.

The Fried Beehoon (top left) is really delicious, and I just
love the patty on the top right hand corner. Yum!

Rose (left) and Radha

Nasi Lemak (left) and curry puffs

Those who were already there by 1.00pm started lunch first and chatted away while we waited for the others to turn up.

Top left: Jackie, Margaret, Sally, and Usha's two daughters

In the mean time, we also set up an area using the pool table for those with a craft business to set up stall, and Sally came loaded with so many cute owls and handbag handles.

From left: Aina (Sabariah's daughter), Sally, Jackie

I got my very cute pink owls which I had ordered earlier at the Etsy Craft Market,

I also finally decided to get some handbag handles in red, brown and, you guessed it, pink! Told you I couldn't resist it! LOL!

Zarina also brought along her HDT threads to sell and I think she made quite a sale.

From left: Sabariah, Zarina, Paul

From the Postage Fund Stall, we managed to collect RM164.00! It exceeded our target of RM120.00!

Thank you, everyone, for buying from the stall, and thank you, Sally for contributing 10% of your sales for that day to the Postage Fund.

I think it was a very idea to have the members bring stash they feel they no longer need or want and sell them off for a good cause.

At precisely 2.00pm, we got the hardanger demo started.

I had taken two weeks to prepare for the demo, doing up step by step samples so that I may properly teach or shall I say guide, those interested to give hardanger a go. I had used a freebie chart from the Krenik website by Patricia Andrle available on the internet for the demo.

I had allocated 1 hour for the demo, but I have this one impatient student *grin* , she knows who she is....LOL!....and kept pestering me to speed up and just get right to the step where you have to do the cutting. LOL!

From left: Sabariah, me, Radha, Janet

Then I just realised why she is so impatient. *grin* She’s a teacher herself, and, like my late dad, who was also a lecturer, they tend to get very impatient with people who is slow and ‘crawls’ at trying understand what’s being taught, but, this time in reverse.

I must seem like a very slow teacher to her. LOL! *grin* Right, Teacher SMZ? *wink* She even tested me to see if I could answer her question. LOL! *grin* Very funny!

So, how did I fare, Teacher SMZ? LOL! *wink*

I am afraid, being architecturally trained, and taught to be very detailed in how we do things, I have the need to make sure that things are done in detail and step by step. That must have really annoyed her! LOL! *grin*

Seen here everyone paying close attention when I was
doing the cutting. I think no one even breathed! LOL!

Anyway, with the hardanger demo out of the way, the next thing was the drawing of the prize for the gifts graciously put up by Lillie and Jo.

Veronica drew Jo’s gift of a lovely handmade bag.

Tini drew one of the gifts from Lillie which was packed with plenty of goodies, one of which is this lovely hat pincushion which I have been wanting to learn how to make for the longest time!

Seen here Sabariah 'sulking' because she didn't
win the lovely pincushion *grin*

Will you teach me, Lillie?

BTW, Lillie, you were sorely missed at the Meet. I hope that one day you would be able to join us for the Stitching Bee at least. Thanks for the gifts you contributed for the Lucky Draw.

The other gift was drawn by Usha which was also packed with plenty of goodies.

Next was the prize giving for the Posting Prize to members who had posted the 1st and 30th message on the 30th of October 2010 to coincide with the formation of NNC on the 30th of October 4 years ago.

The prizes were worn by Janet for the 1st posting, and Zarina, for the 30th posting.

Congrats, Janet and Zarina!

Here’s what’s inside the posting prize box.

I made a Needlebook which depicts NNC 4th Anniversary celebration.

I also made a paper clip using a clothes peg with the clipart printed off my humble HP printer.

Next up was the opening of the Hostess Gift. It wasn’t compulsory for anyone to make a Hostess Gift, but some of us feel that we should appreciate Rose for graciously opening up her lovely home to host the Meet . I just hope her hubby didn’t regret offering up their house to host the Meet as we realy did make so much noise as we squealed in excitement at every gift that was revealed, almost bringing down the roof of the house! LOL!

Rose, please thank your hubby too for being patient with all our screaming! LOL!

Here's are the lovely Hostess Gifts Rose received.

This is the one I made for her.

A close-up of the back and front of the scissor case.

The next event was the highlight and the most anticipated of the Meet which got everyone squealing in excitement from start to end. LOL! It was the drawing of the Anniversary Gift Exchange to see who gets what from whom. *grin*

This year, Mel was put in charge of the Anniversary Gift Exchange and she brought along a whole box of Ferero Rocher (Jo kept saying that all these chocolates is making her fat! LOL!).

I had 2 pieces as I drew on behalf of Carla, and one for myself. Carla just gave me a stern lecture for eating up her share of the Ferero Rocher! LOL! *wink*

Underneath each one of them are the names of all those who joined in the gift exchange. Mel would call out your name in alphabetical order and you are to pick a Fererro Rocher with the name of the member who will get your gift. For a while at the start of the drawing, everyone got confused! LOL! Finally, we agreed that we should just let Mel do the thinking and we just enjoy the excitement of looking at all the lovely handmade items. *grin*

I think that sort of lessened Mel’s headaches, because each time we got confused with the gifts, Mel would shake her head as if in annoyance! LOL! Sorry, Mel, everyone wanted to be a smart Alex! LOL!

Here are the gifts nicely laid out waiting for the most anticipated moment.

The start of all the excitement and squealing from start to finish. LOL!

Left: Janet opening up Anna's Gift; Sally got Carla's gift

Left; Jo with the gift she got from Sally;
Sabariah with her gift that's going to Carla

Left: Margaret with Diane's gift that is going to Lillie; Mel with the
gift she got from Janet. Cute, huh? Mel and the apron! LOL! *wink*

Usha giving away her gift to Sabariah; Sabariah with the lovely gifts

Usha with the gift she got from Veronica

Left: Tini with the gift from Jo; Rose opening up Lillie's gift to Shanny

Here's a close-up of Lillie's gift which is going to Shanny.

Margaret's gift which Rose got. Really love the turqouise coloured heart! So sweet!

Paul's gift with the cutest heart going to Diane.

Radha's gift to Zarina. Really love the scissor case, and the motif is so sweet!

Coming all the way from Switzerland, a gift from Shanny which Radha got. Love the bag!

The gift that everybody wanted because of the huge of the packaging, and because Mel makes such lovely gifts! LOL! But, Anna was the lucky winner!

Now for the gift that I got from Tini.

Notice the excited expression on my face? *grin*

I got a very lovely travel pouch and a heart shape box wrapped in gingham fabric. The box was filled with some very yummy homemade chocolates!

Tini said that her box was not embellished because a certain member *wink* told her that the gingham heart has to be plain and simple. Now who could that certain someone be? LOL!

Someone cheekily told her that the person was trying to sabotage her so that she wouldn't win the prize for the most popular gingham heart! LOL! Also since I made one similar but with embellishment (which Veronica got), someone said that it was appropriate that I got to - I am to embellish it myself! LOL!

Thank you, Tini, for the heart shape box, the yummy chocolate, and the pouch. I am making the pouch into a sewing pouch. Too sayang to make it into a toiletry bag. Too pretty for the bathroom!

Here's me handing over my gift to Veronica.

Veronica opening up the gift.

Here's a close-up of what I made.

A close-up of my gingham heart box all embelished and doubles up as a sewing box.

In the middle of all the excitement, who should arrive in answer our prayers, but Paul and June! That drew an even bigger excitement as we reached the peak of the Meet.

Seen here Paul with the gift he got from Zarina.

Our next agenda was to pick the winner for the most well liked gingham heart. No criteria were set by Margaret as the person who put up the challenge to choose the winner, for as long as you think it should deserve to win, then you just vote for it.

Headmistress Margaret did almost wanted to disqualify or penalize some of us whose heart did not meet the criteria of a gingham heart that should be gingham back, front and side. But, I guess, being the kind hearted that she is, and since everyone put in so much effort to make the gingham heart, she decided to let the votes decide.

Before deciding on the winner, we all took a break from all the excitement of opening up the Anniversary Gift and looking at the gingham heart by having a round of tea to further enjoy all the delicious food, though fattening they may be. LOL! *grin*

Mel making up a chocolate fondue to eat with bananas. Yum!

After more laughter while enjoying tea, it was time to announce the winner and the well deserving winner was Veronica with her creative and innovative idea of a heart which, when opened up, would turn into a bag. Really lovely!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated

I think all the gingham hearts were lovely. The challenge really put our creativity to the test.

I especially like those very innovative hearts which doubles up also as something else like the one Veronica made and Mel's heart which doubles up as a purse. Really cute, and all stuffed up with buttons some more!

I can still hear Anna squealling in excitement when she opened up the purse packed full of buttons! LOL!

Envious! Envious! When will I ever get to win one of Mel's gifts!

I also like Diane's and Carla's hearts which doubles up as a needlebook, and Anna's set of coasters.

All the hearts were lovely, and creatively embellished.

Though there were some small initial resistance to the gingham heart, but, at the end of the day, all came out with such wonderful hearts, bringing out the creativeness out of everyone.

Everyone has such a great heart, both the gingham one and the real ones. *smile*

Thanks, everyone, for taking up the challenge and making it a fun challenge.

So, MW, what's the challenge for next year, so that we can start putting on our thinking caps? *wink*

Soon it was time to say goodbye. Even that created a lot of excitement as we started packing our things and hugging each other to thank everyone for coming and thanked Rose for being such a lovely host.

It was drizzling slightly when we packed our cars, and Rose’ hubby played traffic controller in the rain to make sure that we drive off safely. *smile*

After months of preparing for the event, I woke up the next day feeling like I am missing something.

I had spent most of my weekends and evenings in the last 3-4 months doing up the Anniversary Gift,the posting prize, the gingham heart, the door gifts and the last 2 weeks preparing for the hardanger demo that when it was all over, I felt suddenly at a loss at what to do the next day! LOL!

I am just glad that everything turned out okay and that everyone had a great time! I thank everyone for coming.

A special thanks to Janet and Radha who came all the way from Ipoh and Alor Setar respectively. Radha even took a day off from work on Sunday (she works on Sunday) so that she need not have to leave the Meet early on Saturday to catch a plane back and miss all the fun.

Thanks to Diane, Carla and Shanny for joining in the Anniversary Exchange, all the way from the US (for Diane & Carla) and Switzerland (for Shanny), even though you had to pay a very high postage rate to have the package sent to Malaysia.

Thanks to everyone who generously contributed towards the door gifts and the kids’goodie bags, and also to those who brought all the delicious food!

Thank you Rose for graciously opening up your house to host our 4th Anniversary Meet. You have such a lovely house.

I am glad that Paul and June eventually made it to the Meet and injected more excitement into the already excitable situation. *smile*

Time to start planning for the next event – the Fraser’s Hill Craft Retreat and the May Stitching Bee!

Missing mum’s cooking

2011-03-21T22:00:00.001+08:00

I went back to Kota Bharu recently for work. As there were 3 meetings to attend spread over 2 days, it was an opportunity for me to spend the night at my mum’s place and to savour my mum’s delicious cooking. Just writing this is already making my mouth water! LOL!

I was in Kota Bharu on the 7th and 8th of March, 2011. I took the 10.00am flight on the 7th and arrived at my mum’s place slightly after 11.00am. My meeting was only at 2.30pm, so, it was an opportunity to have lunch with my mum.

I actually sent a message on FB to my mum telling her that I was only going to be arriving at 11.00am, but alas, she did not read the message and assumed that I was arriving very early in the morning via the 7.30am flight, and would be in time for breakfast before going for my meeting in the morning.

I would usually do that if my meeting had been in the morning. But, since this time, the meeting was to be at 2.30pm, I did not want to have to get up at 4.30am to get ready to catch the very early morning flight.

Due to the miscommunication, my mum had prepared breakfast of Nasi Belauk, one of my all time favourite Kelantan breakfast food. Sorry, Ma! But, by the time I got to her house, I was already full from the breakfast I had at the airport, and I did not want to spoil my appetite for lunch of Kuzi Kambing, one of my favourite dish. Yum! My mouth is watering again! LOL!

Too eager was I to dive into the yummy Kuzi Kambing that I forgot to snap a photo of the food.

However, I certainly did not forget to snap photos of the dinner food! Yum!

I went to bed satisfied from eating mum’s delicious food! LOL!

Lunch the next day was another yummy spread. I could still taste the budu on my tongue and wish that I could have eaten more. Oohh! I miss my mum’s cooking!

Thanks, Ma, for all the delicious meals! Sorry I could not stay longer in Kota Bharu. The office was hollering for me to come back! LOL! Noticed how I was mostly on the phone when I was in Kota Bharu? That’s how work is these days. *sigh*

BTW, while I was in Kota Bharu, I noticed that my mum had been busy keeping herself occuppied (like as if she's not busy enough running her Kenari Villa Guesthouse! LOL! *wink*) by doing and re-doing up her house. *grin*

The latest addition to her condo is this two lovely wing chairs. Very english and I just love it! I spent a lot of time sitting there in the evening as I watch TV.

I also love her new set of lights.

I think it matches her two new flowery wing chairs to a T, but she said that she bought it because it matches her cast iron grille. I think so too.

You got the house looking lovely, Ma!

Off to the Etsy Market!

2011-03-19T22:00:00.004+08:00

Tini sent me a message on FB to let me know that she will be setting up a stall at the Empire Shopping Gallery on the 5th of March 2011.

In support of her business, and also, to check out what else are being sold, I made arrangements with Aiman’s art teacher to shift his class to the afternoon instead of at the usual morning slot, as the Craft Market only opens for business after 1.00pm.

However, as it turned out, my hubby decided to take Aiman to an open day in Dataran Merdeka in conjunction with ‘Hari Tentera Darat’.

When I got there at about 2.30pm, Margaret, Jackie and Jo were already there, busy shopping! LOL!

There were many stalls, and unlike the one they had at Jaya One sometime back where it was done outside, this time, they had it indoors at the Lex center, which was good as regardless of the weather, the market can go on.

At Jaya One, before I could even make my rounds, it started raining. I pity those who had opened up stalls then as I am sure they would have been worried that the rain would damage their handmade products.

I spent a long time there and truly enjoyed myself. I had so much fun that I lost track of time. Before I knew it, it was already 5.00pm!

I met up with our new NNC member, Sally, who was selling handmade bags, bag handles and very cute owl keychain pouches.

I wanted one in pink but she ran out of it, so I made an order not for one, but two owl keychain pouches! *grin*

Just look at all those bag handles! I want them all! LOL! But I managed to resist! But, will I be able to resist them later? *wink*

I featured Sally’s bags in my blog earlier when I visited her stall at the Etsy Market at Jaya One, but I did not know her then. She pointed it out to me that I have her bags featured in my blog! LOL! How embarrassing to have featured someone without you even knowing about it! LOL!

I hope I had helped promote your product, Sally. *smile*

I can’t remember the names of all those who had opened up stalls that day and from whom I had bought some things from them, but, I think the photos will be able to tell a lot already on who they are and what they were selling.

A picture paints a thousand words, so, I think I shall let the photos do the talking and I will interject when I see necessary to explain anything.

This is Kelly’s stall, but I can’t recall the name of her Etsy shop. I bought quite a number of things from her stall. I just love all her lovely pink fabrics!

At the Pupurin Stall, I also bought quite a lot of things (like, what’s new, huh? LOL!) .

At Love and Craft, I bought some lovely buttons.

Paul was there too to help Tini open up her stall.

I spent a lot of time chatting up with Tini and Paul, and ended up buying quite a lot too from her. LOL!

I just love this cupcake cotton but had to resist the temptation as I already have so many cottons in my stash (hah! The guilt finally crept it! LOL!)

Jo in front of Sally’s stall showing off her lovely matching handmade bags.

I came back home very pleased with myself, albeit feeling a little bit (just a little teeny weeny bit) guilty for buying again. *grin*

Who wouldn’t be feeling happy looking at the stash I bought at the Craft Market. LOL! *grin*

I think, if not for the fact that I only had RM100.00 on me; I would have ended up spending more. So, it must be a blessing in disguise to a certain extent! LOL!

Ok, time to go play with my stash! *grin*

NNC 4th Anniversary Celebration Teaser wink

2011-03-18T11:43:00.001+08:00

We are having NNC’s 4th Anniversary celebration on the 19th of March in Shah Alam this year. Everyone going for the Meet is excited and it has been a hive of activities trying to get things ready for the Meet for the last few months for everyone at the board.

We have the Anniversary Gift Exchange to be made as it has to be handmade, and this year, the extra item is a gingham heart, which had created a lot of excitement for everyone at NNC.

Here’s a peek of my Anniversary Gift....

There were also the door gifts to be made. Though it is not compulsory for members to contribute, but we welcome very much any form of contribution just to inject more excitement into the Meet.

I spent the last 3 months making mine, and just as a teaser, here they are, all packed and ready to bring to the Meet on 19th March 2011.

I was also busy making the posting prizes to give to the members who posted the 1st and 30th message at the board on the 30th of October, the day NNC was born.

Want to take a peek? *wink*

Can’t wait for tomorrow. I hope everything will turn out well.

Za's Blog

The Little Black Bag

A box of pinks!

A quick note!

He takes home the medal; she ends up making more bags! *grin*

All hung up!

Going Bananas!

Grinding my nose in Assignments

NNC Mug Rug Exchange – Part 1

Going all Dotty......

Bagged another one!

Breaking fast at a sight to behold

The lonely flag.....

It’s the yeast!

NNC July 2011 Stitching Bee

When crafts transcends all languages

Sewing Area Makeover

Let’s do yoga!

A Birthday Gift from Carla!

All set for the big event!

Me got me-self a new toy!

A year older! A lot wiser? *wink*

19 wonderful years!

Aiman’s 11th birthday Party

Cupcakes for Mother's Day!

Farewell to a dear feline friend....

Going back to school....

Cooking, cooking, baking, baking

He runs a marathon; she goes marathon sewing!

NNC Valentine Exchange 2011

NNC 4th Anniversary Meet

Missing mum’s cooking

Off to the Etsy Market!

NNC 4th Anniversary Celebration Teaser *wink*

He takes home the medal; she ends up making more bags! grin

A year older! A lot wiser? wink

NNC 4th Anniversary Celebration Teaser wink