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

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*

He runs a marathon; she goes marathon sewing!

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.

A bag for the Little Missy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An unplanned bag making class

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I can’t wait to use it!

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

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

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

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

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

Seen here is Kelvin with Niza from Penang.

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