NNC July 2011 Stitching Bee

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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*

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!