The class begins.....

I started on my bag making class at Quilt Gallery yseterday. When I signed up for it, Gill (the owner) told me that it would take two classes to complete the bag. I told myself that the type and design of bag that I wanted to make looks pretty easy, and I am sure that I can get it done in ONE class! Heheh.....silly of me to think that I am such an expert! *grin*

There is a lot that I learnt in my first class, which, had I done up the bag the way I think I know how, I wouldn't have known that there is a much better way to do it to make my bag look even more professional.

I am glad that I decided to sign up for the class, though the initial reason why I signed up was because I needed a place or something to do while I wait for my son to finish his art class. I would usually sit at Starbucks, but, this being the fasting month,I definitely can't sit at Starbucks and not buy myself a tall glass of ice blended drink, right? *grin* The waitress will shoo me out of the cafe! LOL! Now the class serves two purposes - I have a place to wait, and I will definitely be learning something new!

Anyway, back to my bag class, yesterday was more of doing the preparations - planning the layout (how I want my bag to look like), the measuring, and the cutting. My bag is designed to the way I want it to be, and since I want it to be used for carrying my cross stitch things, I designed with that in mind - pockets for the chart, the fabric, the scissors and the threads. That should do it......for now. Maybe once I know how to do a bag the proper way, I can get more creative...hopefully.

On another stitching note, I have started on the Home of a Needleworker by Little House Needlework for the Sisterhood Stitching currently being organised at NNC. The design calls for 16ct aida, but, silly me forgot to check the fabric count called for and started on 14ct. I also forgot that I had just recently bought some 16ct aida from Jean. Silly me again! *grin*

It was only after I had done quite a bit did I realised that fabric count mistake. Oh well, not too big a problem actually, only that my piece will be a bit bigger than the rest of the members doing it. I can live with that, I guess. *grin*

Rest in peace, little girl

Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas rohnya. May God bless her soul.

Each time I read the papers about her, about the way she was sexually tortured, about how her parents could not come to terms with her death, about the circumstances of her death, tears fell freely. It was hard to control the emotions that ran high in almost every Malaysian who are outraged by the way the little girl Nurin was tortured and sexually molested, and eventually murdered.

The New Straits Times, on September 19, wrote, "Even in death, her bruised and battered face is angelic". "Even the imam who lead the prayers cried", further wrote NST on the day she was finally laid to rest.

Said Nurin's father, "She came to us perfect and she returned to Allah perfect. She looked cukup sempurna (perfect) today...Find her killer and restore justice to my baby".

My deepest condolences to the family of Nurin Jazlin Jazimin. Al-fatihah.

note: above photo taken from The Star, Saturday, 22 September 2007, bottom photo, Friday, 21 September 2007.

The Red Needles n' Craft Card Challenge

That was quick! I am surprised but glad. Yup, my card to Lillie sent on Tuesday, 18th September, was received by Lillie today. I can now heave a sigh of relief for this item. 5 more items to go which I sent on the same day. However, for some reason I still need to find out, my registered mail to Emily got returned to me today.

Could I have got the address wrong? I am glad that I had written my address on the envelope, so the item could safely be returned to me. I wouldn't know what will happen to it had I not written my addie on the envelope. I shudder to find out, since I had put in quite an effort to make the little item for Emily. It was supposed to be a surprise, but, I guess now Emily knows something was coming her way, since I had to ask her for her latest addie, assuming that it was the addie that I got wrong. It couldn't possibly be shortage of stamps since the postal clerk had weight the item for me. Well, I just hope my secong attempt to mail it out again next week will arrive to her safe;y.

In the mean time, here's the card I made for Lillie.

I have a feeling when Ying came up with the idea to organise the NNCC, it was to see how many possibilities one can come up with by using very limited resourses, with specific items in only one specific colour.

You will be surprised at how many creative ways one can create a card by using the same items. It challenges you to extend your creativity and make you think out of the box.

When I was doing up mine, because of the limitation (not that I am saying Ying should send me more things, of course not) of the things I had in hand, I had to get real creative to come up with a design. It forced me to try out something I have never tried before when I have loads of things to play with. It's a good challenge.

Thanks, Ying, for organising this challenge.

Works In Progress Report

It's that week again. How time flies so fast, and I have not progressed much from the last time I posted about my stitching progress just two weeks ago.

I was busy doing up the Artist Trading Card (ATC), Getting TO Know You (GTKY) card and Partner, Image and Envelope (PIE) Swap for an exchange at Stamping Addict due before the end of the month. I wanted to get it out of the way so that I can concentrate on others things, instead of having those exchanges hovering over my head. I was also busy creating a card using the items sent by Ying for the Needles n' Craft Challenge (NNCC) organised by Ying. That's done too and is already on the way to Lillie, my partner. I hope the ATCs, the GTKY card and the PIE Swap will all arrive safely as they are all going overseas. I am also hoping that Lillie would receive the simple card I made for her safely too. I will not be able to rest until everything arrive at their destiantions, which I hope, will be soon.

The mini burgundy cards you see here (above) are the ATCs, while the two cards are the GTKY. One has gone out - the brown one, while the blue one will be going out next month for next month's swap, but I decided to do them together while my creative juice was flowing! LOL!

I will put up a photo of the NNCC card I made for Lillie when she receives it.

On the stitching front, this is my little progress on the DT Game Board Sampler (DTGBS). Not much, huh? *sigh* Time is so limited these days. I come home in a mad rush to get food ready for the break of fast. By the time that is done, I am simply too tired to pick up the needle, especially during the fasting month when I am lacking in sleep.

By the way, the pincushion you see next to the DTGBS was given to me by Lene more than a two years ago in one of the exchanges organised at MYS some time back.

Today I received the chart, House of a Needleworker by Little Needle House, kindly offered by Jean, for the Sisterhood Stitching (SHS) currently being organised at NNC. I have 3 weeks to complete it before I have to pass it on to the next person in the rotation. This being the case, I probably won't be working on the DTGBS anymore until I get the SHS done and over with. I do so enjoy stitching the mini houses, and seeing them being `built' with your needle. Small achievements which makes up into a big achievemnt. Maybe the break would do me good. Like the LDSAL, I might come back to work on it with more enthusiasm and get it done faster. *wink*

Until then, it's the SHS for my current project.

Finally, a start........

Friends at NNC have been encouraging to try out linen for some time already for they say that once I start on it, I might never want to work on aida anymore.

I have been putting it off since the tiny holes in the linen looks too intimidating for me. I just want to enjoy my hobby without having to end up with a headche. Working on aida is a breeze (if there are no 1/4 stitches) which I can even do while watching TV, and I can stitch stitches that are far apart because counting the holes are easy.

I have worked on evenweaves before as an alternative to working on linen if the design calls for 1/4 stitches or specialty stitches. I like working on evenweaves because my stitches comes out nice and square, just like on aida, as opposed to slightly rectangular stitches if working on linen due to the uneveness of the linen, and doing the 1/4 stitches or specialty stitches is a breeze, well, almost, a breeze, on evenweaves.

Recently, when I ordered some evenweaves from Jean, she gave me a small piece of linen to encourage me to try out linen. Thanks, Jean! So now, with the gift, I no longer have an excuse not to try it out, right? LOL!

Actually, I have tried out linen before for the Victoria Sampler cyberclass I took a year ago, but never completed it, when the project proved too daunting for me. But, since Jean had already gifted me a piece of linen, I thought that I at least had to apprciate Jean's gift and give it another attempt.

So, after much contemplation, I chose a simple design and gave it a go. So far, so good. *smile* This is a simple design by DMC stitched using Anchor 1305 multicolour thread. It's coming on nicely, don't you think so? *wink*

Ask me if I want to only stitch on linen from now on? My answer for now would still be a `No'. Aida, anytime for me for a relaxing hobby! But, I would go for evenweaves for charts that call for 1/4 stitches or specialty stitches.

However, I will not stop at this project to work on linen. I might still try out small and easy projects to work on linen so that I don't get too intimidated by the tiny holes. Once I have gained more confidence, who knows, I might actually say that I might never want to work on aida anymore! LOL! *wink* But, wait, I have loads of aidas before that to finish off first before I come to that decision! *grin* Also, I need to get back to the Victoria Sampler cyberclass project I started a year ago.

It's done! It's done! It's done!

It's done? It is? Really? I'd better check again to make before I start doing a happy dance!

Yup! Yippeee!! It's done! It's done! It's done! My Long Dog Mystery Sampler is finally done after four and a half months of working on it, with short breaks in between! It feels great, especially this being quite a big piece. I must give myself a pat on the back! LOL! *wink*

I had enjoyed doing this piece, although there were times that I was just plodding on, not because I was bored of the piece. It was too colourful to bore me, but, more because I was starting to get distracted by other designs I wanted to do, but, did not want to put this LDSAL down for fear that it might become a UFO (Unfinished Object) like so many of my other projects. So, I plodded on, though slow, just to make progress.

There was a time when I was starting to make mistakes in my anxiety to finish up the piece. BJ suggested that I give it a break, and come back to it when I am feeling less anxious. I took that suggestion, and on my trip to Singapore recently, eventhough I took the LDSAL with me, I did not touch it at all. Instead, I worked on the Cheryl's Bouquet. When I came back from Singapore, I started on 3 mini projects -a biscornu and two bookmarks. I completed the biscornu in a week, and the first bookmark a week later. I just completed the 2nd bookmark this morning. Yipee! Another reason for a happy dance!

I also started on another mini project which I will report separately as this piece is special and has certain significance to me.......*wink*

I think the break from the LDSAL did it. I came back to work on the LDSAL again last night, refreshed, when BJ asked us at NNC if we would like to bring it to a close this weekend. I thought I had a lot more to do, but, it seems that even though I was just plodding on to make progress, I had actually acomplished quite a lot already at the time I took a break from it!

At 10.45 pm last night, I put in the last stitch by stitching the month and year the piece was completed at the botttom right hand corner of the piece. That way, in years to come, my son can say that his mummy completed this piece X years ago. Who knows, it might just become a heirloom piece!

On another note, I am just showing off the magnifying glass or flexilens I bought from Jean a month ago, which I personally picked up when I went to Singapore recently. A good buy, in my opinion, for this old eyes. It's supposed to be magnifying my stitching piece so that I can see the holes better, but, instead I am magnifying my chart since I stitch without my glasses, and trying to focus back and forth between the chart and the stitching piece was starting to get more difficult with this aging eyes. Wait! Did I say aging eyes? Did I just admited to being old? LOL! *grin*

It feels so good................

Yesterday I took the day off to run some errands, pick up my son from school and do some stitching and make up some cards for a card swap I am doing at Stamping Addict.

Despite feeling guilty initially for being on leave because work in the office is never ending, it feels good towards the end of the day when you realised how much more housework gets done when you are at home for a longer period of time.

Eventhough it was already a public holiday on Friday, coupled with the Saturday/Sunday weekend, but I was hardly at home the last 2 days due to family commitments (Aiman's art class on Saturday, and took my sis who came from Kota Bharu for lunch and some shopping on Sunday). On Friday, as usual, its a day for the clothes to be washed, folded, sorted out to be ironed, meals to be prepared, the fridge to be cleared out of any leftovers from the days before, if any, and a 1001 other things that a wife do on weekends. Usually, the husbands will ask, "what did you do today, honey?", or, "What are your plans for today, sweetheart?". Men! They always think that we just stay home and watch TV like them! LOL! *wink*

I am pleased that the house looks much more organised yesterday because I have more time to get things done and organized, and still have time to spend on my hobbies. What is more important is that I have more time to spend with my son as I pick him up from school instead of him taking the bus to my in-laws place, and I get to see him only in the late evening when my hubby picks him up from his mum's place. By then, usually, it's a mad rush to get dinner ready, have dinner, see to his homework and get his school things ready for the next day. Ended up, I would be shouting at him at times to get him to hurry up eating or do his homework, because I have so much to do but he has so much to tell me. *sad* Yesterday, my son and I had a good chat about what he did in school yesterday, including what he had for lunch, on the drive home.

It feels good! I think you tend to be more productive too coming back to work, after a well rested weekend or break/leave from work, despite having to do housework, because that JOB is never done! LOL!

Stitching Progress

Despite not being home much this weekend due to some family commitments, I am quite satisfied, craft wise. I managed to finished a biscornu while watching the Merdeka parade on TV in the morning of 31st August.

Later in the day, I completed a bookmark. I won't be posting photos of these two items just yet since they will going out to someone. Will have photos up as soon as they are received safely by the persons. *wink*

In the mean time, I started on The Drawn Thread's Sampler Game Board (DTSGB) on late Saturday night. I am sticthing this piece on 14ct mocha coloured aida. This is another piece I am sort of doing a Stitch-Along (SAL) with BJ. I have so far completed one mini house. I think it's cute! It's like a mini achievement to complete each block of houses. I am now onto the second mini house.

I am not setting myself any target yet for this piece. I will have to see how fast I can stitch this piece and gauge my speed before I can set a reasonable target date.

BTW, the pincushion you see in the photo is a gift from Rose. She gave it to me when Margaret, Rose and I, together with Jackie (Margaret's sister) met up for a stitching chat on Saturday as I waited for Aiman to finish his art class.

I am still planning to complete my Long Dog Mystery Sampler, which I am also doing a SAL with BJ and a few others, hopefully in the month of September. I have put this piece aside for sometime already as I work on the biscornu and the bookmark. I am planning to stitch another bookmark for a friend. I hope to finish that before our NNC anniversary meet in November.

Moving away from cross stitching, I made up a couple of cards prior to going off to Singapore, so that I have something to give to Jean and Zohrah, as a token of friendship. I made 3 each for them, but, shown here are only two of the cards, using my latest gadget, the multi-shaper I bought recently at Papier. I am doing up more cards using this gadget as I am involved in the Artist Trading Card (ATC) and Getting To Know You (GTKY) card swap at Stamping Addict. I will definitely post photos once the receipients have received them safely.

Do I look familiar?

When I first met BJ, she said that I look familiar and asked if I have ever appeared on TV before. I said no. Sorry, BJ, but, I was not trying to lie, but, I was a little bit shy and embarassed.

I wasn't sure if the person BJ saw on TV was actually me, or someone who looks like me, because the couple of programs that I have appeared on TV before were more about architecture and about my work, though there were a couple of times that I appeared in the social pages with my dad.

I did not want to be misunderstood, had I said yes, it would sound like as if I was boasting and proud of the fact that I was on TV before. I had only met BJ for the first time that day. Surely, `boasting' about appearing on TV just wouldn't give anyone a good impression of me, right? *wink* What if who BJ meant was not actually me? Wouldn't that have been very embarassing?

Recently, at the end of a meeting I chaired, a member of the meeting, a young officer who I have only met for the first time that day, came up to me and said that she remembered me from watching TV some many years ago.

Goodness! Someone still actually recognizes me and remembers me after all these years? I was a little emabarassed and asked her if she hasn't got me confused with someone else. She said definitely not, and would recognise me anywhere, because she had some interest on the subject in the programs that I appeared in.

It's nice to be remembered still and recognized. *smile*

So, BJ, yes, I did appear on TV before, but so many years ago, and maybe you did actually saw me on TV that many years ago! LOL! *wink*

An officer and a gentleman

It feels nice to be treated like a lady! *wink*

It's nothing, really, but, I am excited, just the same, and want to share my excitement of being treated like a lady by one of the former top person of the country, and I blushed in embarassment! *wink*

I had the opportunity today to meet up with the former Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia, Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, who is now the President and acting Chairman of Perbadanan Putrajaya.

We met at a project site and the heat today was burning extra hot and glaring. As we stood by the roadside to the entrance of the site, I could not help but squint (not wink *grin*) my eyes as I spoke to him in the hot sun. His chauffer gave him an umbrella to shade him. He moved closer to me and shaded me with the umbrella. I could not help but blushed in embarassment because, as there were about 10 of us during the visit, it felt odd that I was the only one sharing the umbrella (it was a golf umbrella, so, no funny thoughts, ok? LOL! *wink*) with him, as the others around us just looked on in the hot sun, listening, as I explained about the project.

I noticed a gentlemanly smile on his face as he saw me smile shyly and blushed in embarassment. It was a nice feeling to be treated like a lady by a kind gentleman, especially by someone of his ranking!.

It's hard to come by a kind gentleman these days as men are becoming more egoistic than ever before! *wink* Opps! Some men are not going to agree with me on this! LOL!

In Stash Heaven!

Yup, that’s how I felt on my recent trip to Singapore. LOL! *grin*

It was supposed to be a holiday for my son, because we were supposed to go during the last school holidays, but, due to both mine and my hubby’s new position, we were not allowed to take leave within the first 28 days of taking up the positions. So, this school holiday, we decided to fulfill our promise to our son, and I took the opportunity to meet up with Jean, at the same time, pick up my stash from her which I had ordered much earlier online.

Heheheh..I did not just pick up my stash I had ordered earlier, but instead, I bought more charts from her upon seeing more lovely charts she had up for sale at the Art House where she opened up a stall for two days. Look at the stash! Lovely, aren’t they? *wink* OOhh! Stash Heaven! *grin*

I am so glad to have finally had a chance to meet up with Jean, and finally be able to put a face to the name I have been `talking’ to over at NNC. It’s so nice to meet you, Jean. Though not much chatting was done because my son was already getting restless and hungry, I did however managed to try out the lap stand Jean brought along as a demo piece which she hope to be able to bring them in soon.

BTW, I also picked up my flexilens on base from Jean, for the old eyes to use when stitching! *grin*

Earlier in the day, after checking into the hotel, I made my way to Singapore Plaza to check out the much talked about Spotlight, with my son in tow. Yeah, hubby wanted to visit Refections at Bukit Chandu, which according to him, wouldn’t interest Aiman at all.

So, with Aiman in tow, I wasn’t expecting to be able to stay long at Spotlight, knowing how restless my son can easily get. There goes my plan to spend a longer time browsing at Spotlight, which probably turned out fine really, come to think of it. If not, I would probably have done more damage to my purse had I gone alone and stayed longer! LOL! As it is, I think my purse is already heavily damaged by the whole Singapore trip! *grin* Here’s proof of the damage done at Spotlight….

It was a big shop with so many craft items that caters to almost all types of crafts or hobbyist. I stayed close to an hour before Aiman begged to go home. But, I still wanted to visit the scrapbook shop Margaret mentioned to me which was also located at Singapore Plaza. It was easy to find since Margaret said that it was near the escalator.

Made with Love, that’s the name of the shop, was packed to the brim with so many lovely scrapbook goodies, I just had to browse, but, my son was getting restless. He just wanted to go back to the hotel for a swim. OK, how do I persuade a 7 year old kid that mummy still wants to shop? LOL!

Made with Love gave me the answer to that almost immediately, like they knew what parents who have kids in tow go through when going shopping. They had a small café at the end of the shop, and they serve chocolate cakes and hot chocolate! My son’s favorite! What more could I ask for! LOL! What else? I got my son settled in with a slice of chocolate cake, and hot chocolate with marshmallows, and I was in stash heaven again as I browse the shop. LOL! However, I did not stay long, because as soon as the cake and hot chocolate were downed, Aiman was bored again. *grin* I only managed to get two clear alphabet stamps, but, I was satisfied with the buys anyway. It cost a little bit more here in Malaysia. More stash for my stamping collection! *grin*

The second day was spent at Sentosa Island, from morning to late afternoon. When we got back into town, as my hubby had promised my son a dip in the pool before dinner, I decided to hop over to Ngee Ann City as Margaret mentioned that there is a craft shop there, and it wasn’t far from where we stayed at Orchard Parade Hotel along Orchard Road. It was also just behind the MRT Station we got off, after coming back from Sentosa.

Art Friend is another huge craft shop, covering almost 4 lots of shop. More organized than Spotlight, but it did not have as many things since it did not carry any fabrics as Spotlight did. However, for a first time visitor, it was stash heaven again for me! LOL!

However, I was a little wary with my purse this time and bought only two items – a rubber stamp and a punch. Could it be because I was already tired out from spending a whole day at Sentosa?

Art Friends had a lot of things which probably I wouldn’t be able to find back home in Malaysia, but, buying the things I wanted would create luggage problems going home because we only brought with us one big suitcase and one small one. Already I had the stash which I picked up from Jean, stash from Spotlight, and Made with Love. My bag would burst at the seams if I proceeded to buy any of the bulky things I fancied. So, the sensible part of me took over and my purse remains safe with me for the trip to Art Friends….for now LOL!

For dinner, my hubby suggested that we have it at Scotts Plaza which he use to frequent when he was working in Singapore some 17 years back. However, we couldn’t find it, which we later found out that it was knocked down for new developments. Just my luck, as if it was meant to be, my hubby took us to Far East Plaza along Scotts Road for dinner, which, coincidentally happen to have another cross stitch shop! LOL! I chanced upon it after dinner as we were just walking around looking at the shops.

Margaret never mentioned this shop to me before this though I remembered someone did mention it at NNC some time back, but it slipped my mind until I saw the shop after dinner. Unfortunately it was closed already at 8.30pm when we got there. *sigh*

However, not wanting to leave Singapore without at least satisfying my curiosity about the shop, I made a quick hop over to The Knotty Shop the next day as it opened at 11.00am, just before I had to rush back to the hotel to check out and leave for our evening flight back.

Again, with my son in tow, even though it was only a 30 minute visit, I still managed to spend quite a sum at the shop. They were books on hardanger which I find hard to find here in Malaysia. I have not been successful at getting them online as they were either too expensive, or, I couldn’t find the patterns I like, but the books at Knotty Shop fulfilled both my criteria of a reasonable price and lovely patterns. I grabbed them, together with charts by Serendipity Designs & M Designs, two fat quarters of 28ct evenweaves and a ready to stitch string bag.

Oooohhhh! I am in Stash Heaven! LOL! See all my stash! *grin*

Because of my recent craze of buying stash during this trip to Singapore, I have just banned myself from going anywhere within a 2m radius of any craft shop for the next 12 months! LOL! Err………but, there are still those online shops! *wink*

OK, no more stash shopping for me till the end of the year, except for necessities like flosses and that sort of things to complete a project. Dare I make myself promise? *grin*

A time for the smalls

I have been plodding on my Long Dog Mystery Sampler, which we are doing a Stitch-Along at NNC, for the past four months. I have reached the top band, but have gone back to the bottom band to finish all the bands completely. I am getting anxious. The faster I try to finish it, the slower I seem to progress. I was making more mistakes than usual. BJ suggested that I take a break to do some smalls. She said that it might get me in a less anxious mood, and thus, when I come back, I will have been more revitalised and, hopefully more relaxed, and can progress faster after that. So, I took her advised.

On my recent family holiday to Singapore, I brought along two small projects. Although I did also bring along the LDSAL, I did not touch it at all through out my stay in Singapore.

Yup, I stitched every minute I had, in between waiting to board the plane, on the plane, while waiting for my hubby and son to get ready for breakfast and dinner, by the pool. Anywhere where the lighting was good.

Eventhough the lighting in the hotel room was kind of dim, I still managed to stitch, though only a bit, it was still a lot of progress on a small piece, and this is what I have to show.

The first piece (above) is Cheryl's Bouquet using Carrie's Thread New Vision. Lovely colours, don't you think so?

The second piece I am doing is a motif taken from the french book, BLEU, BLANC, BISTRE, which I ordered from Amazon.fr some time back. I am hoping to turn this piece into a biscornu.

Taking inspiration from Carrie's Thread CORAL REEF, I am using DMC 3867 (pink), 3746 (purple) and 906 (green). One wonders why I don't just use Carrie's Thread to begin with, right? LOL! Well, for starters, I wanted to experiment. I also wanted to save the Carrie's Thread for other projects.

I think I am liking this mini piece too! Hopefully I can complete this piece in a week or two. I want to go back to my LDSAL before working on Cheryl's Bouquet. I am also expectng the Sisterhood Stitching (SHS) project to come my way too in September. So, I need to plan my stitching for the next few months.

Crazy for evenweaves

I have been looking for evenweaves to stock up for future projects which I have been wanting to do, but could only be done on evenweaves or linen because of the specialty stitches and 3/4 stitches involved.

I have been looking high and low at the LNSes and online, but wasn't too sure what and which to buy because I got confused by the many names evenweaves are being refered to. Finally I found a supplier in Jean from Needle Little Love from just across the causeway, Singapore!

Jean has the colours that I wanted in the count that I have been searching for - 28ct. That got me excited and I ordered in 3 colours!

Coincidentally, Margaret was going to Singapore for a few days and offered to bring back the evenweaves for me. I was restless in anticipation waiting for Margaret to get back to Kuala Lumpur! LOL!

We finally met up on Saturday, 12th August, so I could pick up my stash from Margaret, but, not before she enticed me into wanting to order more stash! LOL! *wink*

I had a great time flipping through the pages of Mar'garets french magazines which she brought along with her latest purchase of stash from Jean, which I also enjoyed looking. Really terrible for my purse, coz now I want them too! LOL! Yes, terrible this Margaret, isn't she? LOL!

BTW, Margaret also gave me some lovely stash - a fabric that looks like 14ct or 16ct Regina, a bright red cotton fabric and a lovely overdyed floss. Really nice! Thank you so much, Margaret!

I must now think of a project to use up my evenweaves and the stash Margaret just gave me too!

Craft update

I was at The Curve last weekend to take my mum, my brother, who's back for the holidays from Ireland, and my sister out for lunch with my hubby and son. Heheh..my stitching friends can almost guess already where I am getting to, right? LOL! *wink*

Yup, I had to drop by Papier! And you know what happens if I do, right? Yup, spend! LOL! *blush*

Well, I bought a piece of lovely flowery 12"x12" scrapbook paper, a heart shape stamp, like as if I don't have enough of heart stamps *LOL!*, a cardmaking magazine and, the one I like most, is the multi-shaper punch. It can punch around cicles!

I have yet to use it though. I got back late from the outing, and had so many other more important things to do first. I'm planning to give it a try this weekend. I will definitely put up some photos of the end result using the punch as soon as I get one done to my stisfaction.

On another craft note, I have already started on the top most band of the Long Dog Mystery Sampler which we are currently doing a Stitch-Along (SAL) at NNC. Although I have reached the top band, I have yet to complete all of the bands before this. Out of the 14 bands, including the mini bands, I have thus far only finished 2 bands completely. I will be going back to the last band again to finish each band completely. Like BJ, I am hoping to finish the LDSAL by August.

I promised myself that I shall not start on any new project until I at least got to the top band of the LDSAL. And, since I did get to the top, though I have yet to finish it, I thought I'd give myself a break and start on the much awaited project I have been wanting to do ever since receiving the yummy Carrie's Threads from BJ which I bought from the Sanguine Store.

Yup, I started on Cheryl's Bouquet yesterday. I am stitching on 14ct aida rustico oatmeal using Carrie's Thread's New Vision. I just simply love the way the colour changes subtly. So sweet! My favorite colour too! Pink in combination with green and a touch of yellow/beige, on my my favourite type of fabric - rustico oatmean! Simply awesome, don't you think so? *wink*

I just couldn't stop stitching. It was exciting to see the colour changes with every stitch! I just didn't want to put it down to work on my LDSAL. LOL! However, I know I had to put it down if I want to finish the LDSAL in August as planned. I would feel much better actually once I have finished the LDSAL. It's coming to 4 months already since we started on this SAL. I want it to come to a close soon so that I can concentrate working on so many other projects I have lined up! LOL!

I am pleased so far with the way this weekend is working out. I am hoping that this coming week will be a great one, though busy I will be.

Expect the unexpected

Yup, when you have a young child, never expect things to go according to plans, because, if you do, you will only end up being disappointed and upset. *grin*

Last week was my son's swimming gala. It's a swimming competition actually. My son has never shown much interest to really swim seriously, and for him to want to enter the competition came as a surprise to me and my hubby. Each time my hubby takes him to the community swimming pool in our neighbourhood, instead of learning to swim, he prefers to play in the waters.

He had swimming lessons at school for the first 6 months of school (which has now being replaced with sports practices for the 2nd half of the year), but, as to whether he was seriously concentrating during his swimming lessons, I wouldn't know because we never had the opportunity to meet up with his swimming intructor. However, my hubby did say that he now knows how to swim since he started the lessons at school, though his swimming wasn't actually competition standard yet. But, compete he wanted to, in fact, insisting that my hubby signs the registration forms as we rush to work one day.

We never actually took him seriously. I never pushed him to practice one month prior to the swimming gala, thinking that he wasn't really serious, but, the week before the gala, he talked about nothing else but the gala. He kept saying that he wants to win a medal and trophy. Still, I did not take him seriously.

On Friday, he had an asthma attack. I thought, OK, he's not going for the gala on Saturday. Nope, I was 2nd time wrong. He kept insisting that he wants to go. Usually it would be quite difficult for him to swallow his antibiotics because of the taste and smell, but, that Friday night, he took his medicines with no qualms at all. He wanted to get well. He just had to get well for the gala. So eager was he that he said that he was getting up at 4.30am to get ready (the gala was to start at 7.30am). Still, I had my doubts.

Come Saturday morning, we got ready for the gala. My son had registered for, not one event, but TWO events - freestyle kicking and 50m freestyle! As any parent would be, I gave him my full support and cheered for him. We both did, my hubby and I. He got last out of 4 swimmers in the first event - freestyle kicking. We did not think much. So, OK, he wasn't as fast as the other kids. That's OK. He tried and he got to the finishing line with no problems. That's what's important. He finished the race.

Come the 2nd event, here's when you expect the unexpected. His teacher said that if you think you can't finish the race, then that's OK. Stop, and hang on to the rope between the lane (sorry, I am no swimmer, so I don't know the correct term for it), and the lifeguard will come and get you. You know what that means? The teacher just gave my son an escape clause. Finish only if you can.

My son is one child who will try his best to finish something he started, especially with my coaching, and I would normally psyche him up days prior to any event. Remember his kindergarten concert where he was to give the opening speech? Also, he knows that I will not be very happy if he doesn't finish what he started on, but, the minute you tell him that it's OK if he can't, he will immediately jump at the opportunity! LOL! Gheeze! An opportunist! LOL! *grin*

Not to blame the teacher so much, but, that was exactly what my son did. He stopped midway when he saw that he was going to be last again in the 2nd event. Err.....not only did he stopped midway, he started crying in full view of all the other parents! *blush*

I was not expecting him to win first place, not that I am putting my son down, I wouldn't, as a parent, but, more because he did not have enough practice to compete. But, what was so unexpected was for him to cry in the middle of the pool! Many would think that he was just being a spoilt and pampered brat. But, in defence of my son, when I asked him later why he stopped and cried, he said that he wanted to win so much, but when he saw that he was last again, it broke his momentum and spirit, and he gave up. He saw no point in finishing the race anymore.

We had a tough time explaining and lecturing him all day that day the importance of finishing a race, no matter how late you are and how long it will take. We, in fact, managed to catch one of the races where this one boy finished last more than 1 minute after the last one before him finished, but, the crowd cheered him on to the finishing line. We kept giving him the example of that boy to make him understand.

We were initially upset with him for not finishing the race, and to top it, he cried publicly. But, later in the day, when we calmed down a little bit, my hubby and I, we both agreed, that we are actually proud of him of the fact that at least he has the spirit to want to join a competition on his own initiative. We never told him nor pushed him to do it. He wanted so much to join the gala, only we did not take him seriously. That was my regret. If I had actually taken him seriously, and pushed him to practice, he would probably have at least made good timing, and wouldn't probably be last. PROBABLY. A lesson learnt. Never take your child's interest for granted.

My hubby's taking him to the pool tommorow. We are starting early. LOL!

KnK no more.......

aaahhh! So sad.......*sob*

I drive to work each day being entertained by the banterings of Khairil and Kieran, or, better known as KnK, on Radio Era. They are so much fun as they poke fun at the some of callers who calls in with their problems and dilemmas, in their effort to lighten the `burden' of the listeners and callers, so that you can enjoy your day as you unload your problems to them.

They never actualy solve your problems, but, the way they always seem to see the lighter side of things, can't help, but make you smile, as you drive to work, which, sometimes can be stressful if you get caught in an unexpected traffic jam.

KnK; they are good together. Radio Era has paired so many DJs together, but, so far, no pair has been able to make such an impact and impression together as good as KnK. The morning program 'hosted' by them is currently the most listened to radio program in the country. Will the unpairing of them affect Radio Era as the number one radio station in Malaysia after this? Only time will tell.

If you listen to some other radio stations, you would not be able to appreciate Knk and appreciate what I am talking about, and the feeling of `emptiness' that I am now feeling.

Between Kieran and Khairil, I much prefer Kieran, for he is the more fun one between the two, and I am glad that it is Khairil that is leaving the station and not Kieran, but, still, Kieran alone is like someone without his right leg. You walk with a limp, and that takes getting used to.

Even though Kieran does not banter alone in the morning, since he is now being joined by Hani Yasmin Richardson and AC Mizal, I am still going to miss the KnK pair. They were good together. They made the morning drive a breeze. They put a smile on your face. They made you laugh at even at your most down moments. They were fun to listen to. Simply, they were fun to have on the airwaves. But, as always, good things don't always last..... so they say...... *sigh*

It was never stated why Khairil left and where he is going. For whatever reason, I wish him all the best. Probably he wants to go into singing full time since he does have a duo group, Khafi, which has long taken a back seat as he concentrates on his career as a DJ.

The power of words

There are always things that I want to say and that I want to put down in words, but I simply could not find the time. So much to say, but so little time to say it. Maybe that should be better, huh? If not, I would probably be saying so many things that some might just turn out to be of no substance, huh? LOL!

I use to have time to write to the newspapers to give my opinion on things. Sometimes, the write-up might be a short one to comment on what I am not happy about, or think that probably there are other ways to do certain things. No, I am not trying to be a smart alec, trying to correct people, nor do I think I am the smartest person on earth. I write because I have opinions on certain things, and what I write might not be the best of opinions, but, an opinion it still is. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, right, whether right or wrong, right? *grin*

Sometimes I write articles that I send to the newpapers that are a whole page long. That's when I really have a lot to say, or, it's a dedication to someone special, like the one I wrote about my dad on the 5th anniversary of his passing, and the one about my unborn child that I almost had but didn't. Those are special. Those I wrote with my heart. Well, okay, I write everything with my heart. I am passionate about everything that I do, but, there are times that I write because of a need to do so, because I feel that if I don't put it down somewhere, my thoughts and opinions about something will be lost forever.

Sometimes I write for my son and my hubby. I write for my son so that in the years to come, when I am no longer around, he will remember who I am and what type of person I am through my writing. I want him to know how much I love him, and how much he means to me.

Sometimes I write for my hubby because there are times when I do not know how to express myself through my actions, but can better express myself through words and my writing. I want him to know that I feel very blessed to be married to him, and I want him to know that I love him very much.

I write for my mum too, for my mum is a strong follower of my blog. She reads my blog regularly to know what I have been up to as we live far apart, myself in Kuala Lumpur, she in Kota Bharu. It is a way of keeping in touch, so to speak. I wish I could update my blog more often, but, again, time never seems to be on your side. Always, we are chasing time for time waits for no man.

I think, for as long as you are working, you will always be trying to juggle between being a mum, a wife, a worker, a housekeeper, a cook, and whatever else is expected of a woman, with never enough time left for yourself to do what you want to do. That is life, and something you just have to live with and adjust accordingly.

I enjoy my work. The pay is good, well, okay, it might not be as much as what those in the private sector are getting, but, at least for me, it's good. I can buy things I want to buy, especially for my hobby after the neccessary amount has been put aside. You know, the car loan, the housing loan, your child's education plans and what not. Yeah, there are times when I complain about work and about my boss, but, that is part of work. Occupational hazards, I call it. Something I just have to accept as part of working.

I want to try to lessen my complains about my boss, former, past and present. You think I could do that? I will definitely have to try. I don't want to be complaining too much because I am just afraid that whatever complains I have about my boss, I might just be doing the same thing. A malay saying says, "meludah ke muka sendiri. Mengata paku serpih, mengata orang, dia yang lebih", literally translated to mean, spitting on your own face. You say bad about others, but you are far worse. I don't want my subordinates to complain the same thing about me.

Yeah, I know I might be eating my own words quite easily. I might just be complaining very soon enough about whoever and whatever, but, I will try to lessen it. Sometimes, I just need to let it out so that I can get it out of my system and move on. I hope those are times when it gets really unbearable. You know, they say that it is good to talk it over with someone some of your problems because they can help you see things in a different perspective and help you think more objectively. Usually, when you are in a situation, you feel that the problem is so huge, it is eating you up, and you feel that it is probably the biggest problem on earth. But, talk it over with someone, and within a few minutes, it will make you feel so much better. Wouldn't you agree? *wink*

Okay, my lunch time is up. Will write again soon, I hope. Take care, everyone!

eerr.....it's WIP week again? *grin*

I have not progress that much yet on my LDSAL, and I have to report again? *grin* LOL!

Actually I did managed to progress quite a bit though not as much as I would like to. I just can't wait to get to the top of the sampler. I want to get this over and done with so that I can start on the Cheryl Bouquet since I have already received my Carrie's Threads from BJ and I am eager to get started on it. Besides, I need to think about the gifts I need to make for NNC's first birthday celebration!

Yup, NNC's going to be one soon. Isn't that great? Our members might be small (only 48, though not all are active) compared to so many other craft groups around, but, we are one very chatty group! LOL!

So far, after only 9 months of being in existence, we have surpassed the 12,000th mark in postings! We talk about all sorts of crafts, and all sorts of things! You name it, we could have talked about it! LOL! Well, almost! *grin* We especially love the topic on food. Yup, that's a favourite topic, but, of course, it could never beat our first love, and that is our love for our crafts!

Basically I just enjoy the company of the members. They are such fun! I hope the members enjoy the company of everyone else too, and hopefully, we will be in exixtence for a long time to come! Errrr......I think I will save the boring speech for the anniversary, or is that birthday celebration, when the time comes. *grin* LOL!

Okay, back to my WIP report.....boy! Did I digress so far out! LOL!

I am about 3 rows away from the top, not counting the mini rows in between. I can't wait! I am wondering how my fellow SALs are doing. Hmmmmmmmmm.........*grin*

BTW, here are the Carries Threads I bought from BJ recently. The colours are all so yummy, but, the photo is not doing them justice. I took the photo after 5.00pm, and the day had been a gloomy one with rain since morning.

No words could ease the pain......

A friend's dad passed away about two weeks back. What do you say to someone who just lost someone so dear to them?

No words could ease the pain of losing someone so close to you. The pain will always be there. I lost my dad suddenly in 1996, and my grandmother in 1988, both whom I am very close to. Till this day, just remembering about them brings tears to my eyes. The pain of losing someone will never go away. You just learn to bear with it. You just move on. They will always remain in our hearts, and our minds. Remembering them gives you strength to do what they would have loved you to do had they still lived to this day.

So, to my friend, Helmy, who recently lost his dad, my condolences. I hope you will be strong to face the days ahead, although you are now alone (his mom passed away 16 years ago). You are not totally alone. You have your siblings though they may already have families of their own. You have friends who care for you, and of course, God will always be there to give you strength. Be strong, dear friend. You still have far to go. Keep yourself busy, not to try to forget your loved ones, but to help you pass the days ahead. It will get easier as time goes by. Be patient, my friend. Pray a lot, and God will help you through. Take care.

A time for stitching, and a time for my son

While I was waiting to board the plane back to Kuala Lumpur on my recent trip to Johor Bahru, I contemplated what I should do. I had about 1 hour of time to kill. I was at first thinking if I should go for the foot reflexology offered at the departure lounge. I think it was priced at RM45.00 for an hour, something like that. I was also contemplating if I should go online since the Senai Airport has got wifi. since I had not checked my email for the past 3 days. It would cost me RM5.00 for an hour of internet time. Hmm...shall I? I do need to check my emails. Or, should I just sit and stitch?

Well, guess what? I went for the cheapest option. Well, sort off! LOL! I decided to stitch instead where it wouldn't cost me a single sen but I would gain by that my stitching would progress from the last time, since I have not stitched since Sunday. *grin*

I found a quiet corner of the airport, away from prying eyes, and stitched. I managed about 45 minutes of solid stitching, and I am very pleased with myself. My stitching not only progressed, but it also helped calmed my nerves because earlier on, I got a little stressed out from the worksyop I was attending, and have yet to find solutions to all problems given during the workshop. I needed to come back to KL to solve the rest of the problems.

On another note, today I spent some quality time with my son, fixing up his lego model to make up a car. I saw him struggling to get it together and decided to sit down and help him out. It was a good feeling seeing his eyes lit up the minute the car took shape. Of course, after more than 30 minutes to put the car together, it only took him one hour to play with it before he got bored, and decided to take it apart again! LOL! Nope! I'm not helping him this time! He's dad's gonna have to help him this time. It's boys' toys. I want to go and do some stitching! LOL!

While in Johor Bahru......

I managed to make a quick getaway to meet up with Wendy.

It was already a long day spent staring at the computer, cracking my head to come up with solutions to the problems given for the workshop I was attending.

I felt like my eyeballs were coming out of its socket! LOL! I just needed to get away, even if for a short while. I smsed Wendy to see if she could meet me. My workshop was held at Puteri Pan Pacific, which was within walking distance to Wendy's office at Central Square.

Wendy called me back immediately to say that she's free. Actually, I had smsed her the nite before when I arrived, but did not promise her a time to meet, knowing that the workshop is going to last from morning till midnight, with short breaks for meals, bath and prayers.

As my colleagues in my group too needed a break and wanted to take a quick dip in the pool, I immediately went to my room to change into something more casual for the meet with Wendy. I hadn't actually planned on this meet up, so all I brought with me to show Wendy was my LDSAL which is currently following me on all my travels for work outstation. I grabbed my bag and quickened my pace to City Square as all I had was an hour to chat with Wendy. I also needed to drop by the bookshop to get a reference book I needed for the workshop.

When I got to the entrance of MPH, where we had agreed to meet up, I saw Wendy browsing through some books, with a bag in tow. She said that she has some books to show me. *grin* Wow! A whole bag of books! I am going to have fun! LOL!

Before the fun starts, first, the serious part must be settled. *grin* I quickly made a dash to the service counter of MPH to ask if they carry the reference book I needed. Alas, it has no stock. I needed to get it in KL. Okay, that is settled, now for the fun part! LOL!

We headed for the mamak shop on the same floor, and after the drinks were ordered, out came the lovely cross stitch books from Wendy's bag! LOL!

I went like ooh and aaahhh browsing the books! I even took down the names of the book I fancied that I might just want to buy them! LOL! One is Donna Kooler's Glorious Needlepoint, and the other is Joan Elliot's Native American Cross Stitch. Definitely a must buy for me! LOL! *blush*

I showed Wendy my LDSAL, and Wendy showed me a very lovely piece she is working on which I could not recall the name of the chart, but it is a DMC chart. The colours are really lovely, and the details in the design are really nice and almost lifelike. It is a picture of a peacock and other birds. Really nice!

We had about 15 minutes to spare after the books were browsed, the stitching pieces were shown off, and we chatted to catch up on lost times, before I had to get back. I told Wendy that I wanted to go to MPH to see if they carry the books I mentioned above. *grin*

Heheh.....they didn't, so my money is safe in my purse, or so I thought! LOL! But, I decided to browse the magazine section. Now that was a mistake! I found a craft magazine which came with a free rubber stamp. I couldn't resist and decided to buy it! Like as if I didn't already have enough rubber stamps in my stash! LOL!

I made another mistake. I went to the hobby section! LOL! What do you know? I found one book which, before this, I had never come across before. It is titled EASY SEE, EASY Stitch Cross Stitch by B.J. McDonald. Yeah, right! EASY SEE alright! Now I see it easily and I bought it easily! LOL!

It's got a lot of lovely patterns, my favourites are the flowers (it's got loads!) and the alphabets! Really lovely! I think it is worth my money, but, don't ask me how much money went out of my purse that day! LOL!

Now if I hadn't met up with Wendy, and Wendy hadn't shown me the lovely cross stitch book, opening a whole reservoir of temptations, I wouldn't have gone to MPH in search of the books, and I wouldn't have bought any books and my money would have been safe in my purse! Yeah, blame it on Wendy! LOL! Kidding!

I had a great time meeting up with Wendy. Definitely no regrets there. It's been a very long time since we met. Love the chat we had, Wendy, though it was a short one. Thanks for bringing the books for me to browse. It was a nice relief from pouring over the architectural books all day. Love the piece Wendy was stitching. Thanks for the drinks, Wendy. Thanks, too for taking time to meet me up. I had a lovely time!

BTW, BJ, did you just published a cross stitch book? *wink*

*Note: I was in JB for a workshop from Monday, 2nd July to 4th July 2007.

Achievements, some stitching and a shopping bag!

It's the weekend again. I have not done much stitching. As usual, work has been hectic. I come home too stressed out. This week it got worse with the reorganization and formation of the new unit I am to head and the moving out to a new office. I am almost packed up but have not actually moved into my new office, which is still on the same floor, but to a slightly bigger room. Too many other important things to take care of first.

Yesterday was report card day, or rather, at my sos's school, they call it the 3-way conference. We spent the most part of the monring in conference with my son's teachers. He has done extremely well, getting all A's in all subjects, except for one, which, ironically happens to be ART! LOL! Mom and Dad are Architects and the son gets a C for art! *blush*

My son loves art and crafts. He loves seeing me do things and he loves to draw and colour. But, somehow, according to his art teacher, he lacks focus on the `background' element, going by his Mid-Term art work. He did everything well, except that he forgot to colour the background of his picture. *sigh*

For his high achievements, we treated him to his choice of restaurant for lunch yesterday. He wanted to go to Victoria Station, but we were at the Curve at lunch time, so he settled for Secret Recipe, where he had his favourite dish of Fish and Chips.

We are proud of you, Aiman! Keep up the good work!

The rest of the day was spent doing some light shopping where I bought more craft magazines! oopps! *blush* Mostly were papercraft magazines, not that I am back into making cards, but, I just love the projects featured. I did buy the latest issue of Cross Stitch Collection though.

I managed a little stitching on my LDSAL, though not much progress. I had to frog the center yellow vase twice! I don't know why I kept miscounting the stitches. Uurrgghh! *grin*

BTW, here is a photo of the lovely shopping bag Rhonda made for me for the Wishlist Exchange. Isn't it lovely? Pink and green, again in my favourite colour! I just love it! It's huge! Really good for shopping! Thanks, Rhonda!

Rhonda said that she made it for me to put in my stitching to bring to work, because earlier I did say that I like to bring my stitching to work, just in case I can find time to stitch in between my hectic schedule. I usually put it into my briefcase so that nobody knows what I am up to during my break! *wink* Wow! Now everyone is going to know that I stitch during my lunch break! LOL! *grin*

Don't worry, Rhonda. Even if I don't use the bag to bring my stitching to work, I will definitely use it for my shopping, and, of course, when I meet up with my stitching friends. Definitely loads of room to put in all my stitching projects to show off to my stitching friends. For sure, I will be the envy of everyone! *wink*