Gone too soon….the passing of a very talented lady…

I don’t know her personally. I have never met her, yet, when I heard news of her passing, I cried. I had wanted to blog about her passing since Sunday, but, each time I tried to sit down in front of the PC to write, I choke even on the first line.

Such is Yasmin Ahmad’s impact on people like me who doesn’t even know her, except through her touching advertisements that spells unity and harmony, blurring lines between race, religion and beliefs. Just visit this site below and you will know what I mean.

I have never even watched any of her movies, but still, the impact that her advertisements have on people speaks volumes of her talents.

I have never once remembered watching her advertisements, no many how many times they are being shown, especially during the month of the Merdeka celebration, without shedding a tear or two. Many will remember the love story of Tan Hong Ming, though funny, but the sweetness of an innocent love also made me cried.

I cried again today, even after two days of her passing, as I read about all the good things people have to say about her in the papers. She must have been a very wonderful person to the people she has known personally, making people feel loved through her work.

It’s the Merdeka month again next month. Her advertisements, if they do reruns again, will bring out even more emotions by those who were touched by her, or by her works, now that she has passed on.

TV3 announced that works are on the way to pay tribute to her. It will be one program I will wait patiently. I just hope I won’t miss it when it is finally aired.

I hope Petronas too will pay tribute to her, because it is through her advertisements for Petronas that till this day people remember the story, no matter which year they were first being aired. It is only fitting for a person who has done the best she can through what she knows best – to tell a story.

Farewell to a very talented lady. She has gone too soon. There is still much that she can do, but, God loves her more....

My condolences to her family.

Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmat. Al-Fatihah.

Going up in smoke smocking!

Heheh…I feel like my head was smoking like a chimney as I tried to master the technique of smocking! LOL!

It looked like it was easy, and yes, I am sure that once you get the hang of things, it would be a breeze. But, even before you could even get the hang of things, you have to go through the learning process.

If I read it from the internet, it sounded easy. But, I think what made it hard for me was because the teachers at Epal did not actually go through with me the proper procedure of how to do the smocking like how much fabric do I need to make pleats to fit into a certain size of a body of a certain size chest.

They just told me to pleat the whole 45” wide fabric. But, the person I am learning to make this dress for is still small and has a chest of only 19”. The fabric, after pleating, is 12” just for the front. Double that and I will get 24”. The dress is going to be 5” bigger at the chest. When I explained this to the teacher, she said it should be just right once the smocking is completed.

Even when she taught me how to do the smocking patterns (err...it that what you call it?), she did not show me how to set the pleats to be even, and how tight and taut am I supposed to stitch the motifs. She just told me to stitch first, and said that later the embroidered motifs will be adjusted. I wondered whether if that is actually the correct way to do smocking.

For one, am I not supposed to secure the pleats first and even it out before I start on embroidering the motifs? My pleats kept moving as I embroidered. My pleats would sometimes end up to be 13" at some rows, and 12" at another row. Am I not supposed to leave some allowance for seams, because the teacher showed me to embroider right up to the edges of the pleats?

I surfed the internet looking for answers but could not find a satisfactory solution. *sigh*

I finally decided to post my questions at the NNC board and June, being a smocking expert, came to the rescue. Thanks, June! She explained it very clearly what I am supposed to do.

She suggested that I trace the smallest template out onto a cardboard, then reduce the cardboard to the size you deem fit. A photocopier could be used to shrink down the size instead of tracing out the templates.

She also suggested that I put pins at the end of one end of the pleated material and wind the pleated threads in a figure of 8.

Anyway, here is part of the smocking motifs that I had done so far, before I decided to post my message at NNC. Notice how uneven my embroidery and the pleats are?

I had to unpick several times as I kept on miscalculating and missing stitches.

I am not too pleased with the results, but, if I unpick it for the 3rd time, I think I might just end up abandoning this project totally! LOL! But, with June's clear explaination, I am a little bit more confident of doing the next stage of the embroidery.

However, I will need to go back to class to learn the rest of the motifs for the center portion. I can't wait for when the August Stitching Bee is coming up as June promised that she will do a demo on smocking.

Now I know why a smocked dress cost so much. Doing up the smocking motifs takes so much of one’s time. I almost gave up! LOL!

In fact, today, I went to check out a shop in Bangsar Village just to gauge the price of a smocking gown. The shop, Cotton Club, is selling their cute and oh so sweet smocking gowns at a starting price of RM70.00.

I already can’t wait to get this dress done up! I am alraedy thinking if I could make more of these dresses in the future! LOL! I already have plans with my brother, Ayis. I just need to find time to sit down and get to work! *wink*

BTW, I have completed the flower motif bag.

I completed it about two weeks ago but could not find time to take photos of it, and to blog about it.

Here is a close-up of the flower motif with a very simple embroidery work.

It’s not the best work. I could have done better, but, after having to do 7 embroidered flowers, I got bored and just wanted to get it over and done with! LOL

Nothing can beat the lovely embroidery work June did for Paul’s apron which she gave him for his birthday as his Birthday Exchange partner at NNC.

I will definitely have to practice more to get to the standard June is. OR, I could `cheat’ and use my upcoming embroidery machine to do the work for me! LOL! *wink* Sssshhhhh….

Oh, BTW, here is the progress on my mum’s bag.

Not much progress actually as I am only working on this bag in between my Epal projects. I hope to find some time to complete it very soon. But, as always, time always seems to elude me! LOL!

Smitten!

If you have don't have RM30k to indulge in a sewing machine, don't bother going to see a demo of the Bernina 830. Because, if you go (watch the demo), you will be so smitten by what the machine can do, and, after that, you will be on cloud nine, dreaming about nothing else but the machine! LOL! *wink*

Opps! Before my mum thinks that I am about to spend RM30k on the machine, I'd better say right now that I am not, as the price is, at the moment *wink* beyond what I can afford....for a machine, that is! *wink*

Anyway, I went to see the demo of the machine at Sakura last Saturday, 17th July, with Tini. Tini had been wanting to see what the machine can do since the week before when I went to Sakura for my Free Motion Quilting class, also at Sakura (see earlier posting below).

I think Tini was so smitten by the machine the minute Kelvin sat down to explain the capabilities of the machine. It was like having all your machines (normal sewing machine and embroidery machine) lumped into one. You could say that the Bernina 830 is a machine of a class similar to that of the Rolls Royce if you were to compare among cars.

It had so many things it can do, I think my jaw just dropped just listening and watching what it can do! I think I was salivating to the point of panting! LOL!

I just love the fact that it could quilt motifs of up to 9"x9" inches in just one hooping! My problems of quilting my large quilts will be a problem of the past, if only I could afford the machine! LOL! *grin*

Tini was so smitten by the coloured touch screen, and the fact that you could resize the motifs without having to use a design software. Everything is done on-screen!

With all those capabilities and more (I can't recall all that it can do), any other machine pales in comparison. At RM30k, you wouldn't want to expect anything less, of course!

I went home feeling dazed with excitement, but I was quickly brought back to reality with my feet still very much firmly on the ground as I know that the price is beyond me. If I were to buy such a machine, to make it worth it, I would want to spend a whole day everyday playing with it, and working on it, churning projects after projects!

As it is, time is hardly on my side to craft everyday. I'd be lucky if I could even work at least 15 minutes a day on my crafts. Alas, there have been many days when my machine does not get to even see a glimpse of me!

Anyway, while we were there, who would we meet but Aw and Joanne! They both drove all the way from Kuantan to pick up the Bernina Aurora which Joanne had ordered. Soon we should be able to see many wonderful things churned out by Joanne.

Seen here in the photo is Joanne on the left and Aw on the right with Aw's three daughters.

If last Saturday, 10th July, was like a day of meeting with friends, so was it too last weekend, when, as Tini and I were leaving, we bumped into Jo, who was at Sakura to meet up with Aw and Joann!

So, Joanne, have you started anything on your new Aurora yet?

Feeling honoured and excited!

I wanted to post about this last week when the event took place, but I came home too tired and exhausted. I thought I could find time to blog about it over the weekend, but, I ended up having a very hectic weekend what with my hubby being outstation on Sunday, I went for a demo of the Bernina 830 at Sakura on Saturday (yup! I did! But, I will blog about that later) and attending my Epal class.

Now that my hubby is back, he has taken off some of the load from me of seeing to my son's needs, that I can now find time to sit in front of the PC to concentrate to do some writing.

Anyway, what I wanted to tell here is that, on Thursday, 15th July, I attended a project meeting where present in the meeting, among others, was Tuan Haji Hajeedar Haji Abdul Majid, who, among the architectural fraternity, is very well known and admired for his works.

My late dad use to talk about him a lot, and he once said to me that he would like it very much if I could someday be as successful as him. My dad and Hajeedar, or, shall I call him Uncle Hajeedar? *wink* were good friends, so I was told. My late dad was teaching law, and Hajeedar, an architect, yet, they shared a lot in common.

One of the common factor was my dad's love for architecture. He had always wanted to be an architect, but, he had several times told us that his grades in art was not good enough to get him into architecture. So, when I made it to study architecture, and graduated soon after that, to my dad, his dream had been realised, eventhough not directly, but through his daughter.

I don't remember ever meeting Hajeedar when my dad was still alive. I think we never had the opportunity to meet.

I have very high respect for Tuan Haji Hajeedar, and to have him present in the same meeting I attended was almost like a child meeting someone of power and highly respected. I got excited! Alas, he sat towards the end of the meeting room, and he spoke very little, allowing his Architect to do most of the talking throughout the meeting.

However, after the meeting was over, we had a small discussion to discuss the details of the project. Hajeedar joined us and put forth his opinion, and agreed with me on some points. I was like going, "Wow! This man I admire is actually listening to me! Not only that, he agrees with me on some points! Am I dreaming?" Quick! Pinch me! LOL!

When the discussion was over, and everyone started to leave, Hajeedar came closer to me and in a low tone, almost in whispers, said to me that he knows my dad well, and that he admires my dad's work. He had a lot of good things to say about my dad.

I was caught surprised as I did not think he knows who I am as we were never formally introduced as he joined the meeting when it was already midway through. Another thing that I was caught surprised was that he actually still remembers my dad even after all these years (my dad passed away in 1996), and remembers my dad with fondness.

But, what was even more surprising was what he said after we exchanged news about my dad, my dad's sudden passing and he asked about my mum (yes, Ma, he asked about you and wondered if you remembered him). He said that when he heard that I am the Project Manager for the project that we were discussing, he told his Architect that he had to come to the meeting, at least once, to say "Hi" to me, and to tell me what a great man my dad was.

It touched my heart, and I feel so honoured that this great man who I have admired and looked up to for inspiration eversince I got involved in architecture actually took the time to attend my meeting, just so that he can say "Hi' to me and to tell me that he still remembers my dad as a great man.

My heart sings. I feel humbled and honoured. It will be marked in my calendar as the day a great man took time to listen to me, and remembers my dad as another great man.

I am blessed.

First I could, then I can't!

I could do Free Motion Quilting, and then I can't!

Yeah, it was a shortlived excitement. Read on to find out why....

Yesterday, I spent the whole day at Sakura learning how to master free motion quiting, Yup! FREE MOTION QUILTING! Finally I managed to attend class at Sakura!

I didn't think I could do it (FMQ) but I was pleasantly surprised that I actually could do it once I was taught the right technic by Kelvin.

I have to say that it was still not that easy to do FMQ and I have lots to practice before I could actually master it, but I came home feeling amazed and couldn't believe it that I could actually do it in the first place after wanting to learn how to do it for the longest time! LOL!

First of all, we had to learn how to do 9 basic stitches - scribble, zig zag, loops, waves, scallops, corners, pebbles, spirals and flames. They look easy, but they weren't, but once you get the technique right, it was almost a breeze, though I needed a lot of practice before I could get my curves to look like curves, and my corners sharp. The hardest to do, for me, was the pebbles.

Next was the stippling, the one which I have been wanting to do for the longest time among all the many FMQ stitches!

Before we were allowed to work on the machine, Kelvin made me scribble on pieces of paper first. I thought it was going to be easy as I always scribble and doodle when I am in a meeting that is long and boring! LOL! *blush*

It wasn't, actually, to scribble the way the stippling effect is to look like. I have habits which I could not get rid off when I started scribbling. I tend to make sudden and sharp corners, and tend to repeat waves in a boring line, instead of making it meader. OK, I am getting too technical! LOL!

Anyway, these are my scribbling on paper.

And here is the final effect on fabric.

Kelvin said that it is not too bad, though not of a presentable quality. *blush* I am an architect and I could not even `scribble' using the machine that is of presentable quality? LOL! How embarassing can that be? LOL!

I, however, was amazed that I could even scribble and do FMQ in the first place! I have been having so much trouble trying out the FMQ stippling effect for the longest time, and to get to what I did yesterday, I surprised myself! It was unbelievable! LOL! It was above my own expectation! LOL! *grin*

However, my excitement was shortlived when, after dinner, and this morning, when I tried doing it again, they didn't come out as nice as when I was doing it at SAKURA. It felt quite easy when Kelvin was looking over my shoulders and perfecting my moves when I was doing it in class, but, when I came home, for some reason, I just could not move the fabric as easily. It didn't glide like it should, and I was using the same calico fabric that Kelvin had given me to practise on.

I just couldn't understand it. My stitches came out all short. My curves came out sharp, and my biggest frustration was that I just could not get the fabric to glide across the machine under the needle. I just could not figure it out! Uurrgghh!

What could I be doing wrong? Zarina, you think you know what is it that I am not doing right? All the settings are the same.

It couldn't possibly be the machine as I actually brought my own Janome to the class. This is so that I can be sure that I know how to do FMQ on my own machine and not becuase it was a BERNINA (Sakura only sells the BERNINA).

I was able to do the FMQ well on my Janome, so BERNINA's BSR (BERNINA Stitch Regulator) has nothing to do with making the stitches look even. Zarina was right about the fact that once you know FMQ, you can do it on any machine with ease, and not necessarily on the expensive BERNINA.

I am also wondering if the height of my dining table has something to do with my not being able to do the FMQ well as I tend to lift up my shoulders to push the quilt through the machine. It gave me a shoulder ache and my movement of the quilt became constrained. The table at Sakura was 28 inches. My dining is 30 inches high.

My hubby had just helped me cut off 2 inches off my small table which I usually use for sewing. Thanks, Dia! Hugs!

I am going to give the FMQ another practise tonight. Wish me luck!

BTW, as I was in the middle of class, who should drop by but Tini and Paul!

Tini came to take a look at the BERNINA 830 (you buying it, Tini? *wink*) and wanted Kelvin to do a demo of it. However, Kelvin was not too keen then, one, because he was running a class, and two, because he said that to do a demo of the 830, he would need at least an hour to show all the possibilities that the 830 can do to give it justice for the price that it is being sold for. He couldn't give Tini the full attention if he is running a class.

Tini, he said to give him a call so that he can set up a time to do a demo for you. If he does, do tell, ok, because I might want to join you too! LOL! *wink*

Yesterday was like a meeting of friends, when in the morning, I met Tini and Paul briefly. What did you buy at Sakura, Paul? In the afternoon, when I came back from lunch, who should be in the shop, but Niza and Rozita! I couldn't recognize Niza (how embarassing! *blush* Sorry, Niza, it's been so long!), but I recognized Roz immediately!

Gosh, it's been so long that I last met both of them! It was good to see both of them again! We chatted awhile before I had to resume my classes and Roz and Niza wanted to do some shopping at Sakura.

They left soon after that, and I noticed that Niza had bought some cottons. Another new project, huh, Niza? *wink*

I hope to meet up with Niza and Roz again soon. Roz said that she might be interested to join the Sun Bonnet Sue class too which I am organising with Corine as the teacher. I need to work out the details first though. Will keep all those who have signed up posted once I have worked out the details with Corine.

ABC Quilt completed!

Yippee!!

Actually, I completed the quilt about two weeks ago, but I simply could not find time to snap photos of it with good lighting. What do you expect when I only have time to snap photos after dinner is done with each day! LOL!

Anyway, it’s finally done after working on it since January 25th, 2009, with many interruptions in between. No, make that, many distractions by other projects! LOL!

Wow! It actually took me more than 5 months before I finally completed it? Gosh! That long? LOL! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! *grin* Anyway, glad that it is finally completed. Felt like a big load has been lifted off my shoulders when I finally put in the last stitch into it two weeks ago. I felt a heave of relief! *grin* Now to find a place to hang it up! Oopps! But I forgot to put a hanger to it. So, how?

Anyway, so far, I have completed 7 projects to date. I have 5 more projects to go to gain my Certification of Completion. So, upon completing the ABC quilt two weeks ago, I started on a new project which is actually the month of June project. Yup, I am behind schedule. *grin*

In fact, when I went to Epal 2 weeks ago, I wanted to work on the pants project which was the month of March project (I think I only attended one class in March, and even then, I went to class to work on another project – the calendar project, which, to date, is still not completed), but one of the teachers there would not allow me to work on it as she said that the project is too far behind already. I would have to wait for the next year’s project schedule to work on it. *sigh*

I was so eager to work on it as I felt that it was going to be a project that I might be able to complete quite fast, but, unfortunately, it was not meant to be. *sigh*

As I was not prepared to do any other project when I went to class that week, but, since I had already driven all the way to Puchong, I spent the first hour going around looking at the other students doing their projects (makes me sound like a naughty student, huh? LOL! *wink*), and seeing one lady working on her Janome 350e machine doing embroidery work. It was so exciting! It made me even more eager to get my machine sooner than September! LOL! Opps! Or was that December I said the last time I posted about making a booking for the 350e? LOL! *grin*

After about an hour of just going around being a busybody, I dug into my project bag and found that I had actually brought along a project kit which I had bought the previous week! LOL!

So, I immediately started on it, and so far, I got up to this…….

Aren’t the flowers pretty? I can’t wait to get it done!

By the way, I have also started on the July project, which is a curtain, meant to be in time for the upcoming Hari Raya celebration. I am doing one for the guest bedroom where my mum would sleep if she spends the night at my house. It is not something that I would put up in my house actually as it is too frilly as the concept of my house is rather simple and modern. But, it would be something that my mum would like. Furthermore, I wanted to learn how to sew this type of curtain. Who knows, I might need the knowledge later. *wink*

So far, I have only started on making the patterns for it last week. Yup, patterns for the curtains! I cannot help but find it amusing as in my years of sewing my own simple curtains; I have never done any patterns before. I would just go ahead and cut the fabric. Maybe that’s it! Because the curtains in my house are simple, no patterns are required! LOL!

A hut of a shop!

I was in Penang last week for work. I had many times made trips to Penang for work, and each time I would only have enough time to give Ina a call, as I would be rushing to go for meetings, and then I would be in a rush to fly home. I never seem to have enough time to meet up with her for a face to face chat.

Ina has been trying to persuade me to take a later flight so that she can bring me to meet Corine who she says is a very talented lady. The last couple of trips to Penang, my meeting would end quite late, and then I’d be in a rush to get to the airport. I told Ina that I will try to make some kind arrangement the next time I come over to Penang.

So, this time, when I had another opportunity to fly to Penang again for work, I decided to take a slightly later flight than the one I would usually take. I almost did not make it to meet Ina this time around too when I made changes to my flight. I changed my flight to one that is an hour earlier than my scheduled flight when my hubby called me in the morning to say that my son was sneezing all night the night before.

I was worried as presently the swine flu is going around. But, when I called my MIL in the afternoon, she said that my son is sleeping and resting well, and is no longer sneezing. Thank God!

As I was also done early at the workshop where I was attending, after lunch, I decided to call Ina to meet up earlier than planned. Ina took me to this nice neighbourhood just behind her office at USM.

Ina told me that I am going to like Corine’s place. She couldn’t be more right. I was in awe of the place the minute I stepped into it.

It’s a cute little place packed full with all things quilt, patchwork, and sewing and there were handmade bags at almost every which way you look! You even have bags hanging down from the roof truss!

Don’t believe me? Just look at the photos!

I think my jaw must have dropped looking at all the lovely things in the cute little hut. Yes, HUT! When I posted at the NNC board that Corine has a little hut for a shop, Paul said that I was 'mean' *grin*, but, really, it is a HUT! Don’t believe me? Take a look! *grin*

According to Corine, it was originally a `wakaf’ (resting bench with roof) owned by her neighbour.

When they moved away, and left the wakaf behind, Corine decided to take the wakaf and added windows and walls to the wakaf to make it look like a little house.

It’s like when you have a playhouse for the kids, only this time, it’s the adults that’s playing house! LOL!

The hut even has an air-conditioning unit! The place is really cozy and I could see myself spending hours in the little place without ever feeling bored!

I am sure many of my crafting friends will agree with me when they see this little place for themselves. Ina and Niza will attest to that. Right, Niza and Ina? *wink*

When we got there, there were two ladies, Jenny and Jenny (yes, they have the same name) taking classes to make a bag. Seen in the photo from left to right - Jenny, Corine, Jenny and Ina.

According to Ina, both Jennys are here almost daily. Ina herself spends many wonderful hours in the little place, and she has made many wonderful things taking lessons from Corine.

I wish that Corine lives in Kuala Lumpur so that I can take lessons from her too. Corine, in fact, offered to teach me the Sun Bonnet Sue quilt I was admiring if I could gather some friends in KL. She is willing to come down to KL to teach. So, friends, any takers? *wink*

I managed to spend about an hour at Corine’s cute little hut before it was time for Ina to send me to the airport. I wished I didn’t have to leave so soon, but, I have a flight to catch, and I didn’t want to get home too late.

I hope to be able to go to Penang again, this time staying longer so that I will have more time to `play’ at Corine’s cute little hut. Maybe I could even take a lesson or two in bag making while I am there! LOL! *wink*

Thanks, Ina, for bringing me to meet Corine. She is such a nice lady. I could tell that she is passionate about her crafts, and excited to teach so that she can share her knowledge of the crafts. I hope that someday I will have the opportunity to learn from her all the crafts that she knows.

It was a visit that got me inspired and excited that the minute I was settled down on the plane, I immediately took out my craft magazine (I never go anywhere without at least one craft magazine in my bag! LOL!) to dream about my next project and to dream about the little shop that I hope to one day own. *wink*

BTW, one of the Jenny wants to sell off her JANOME MC6500 which is unused, and still very much in the box. It seems that she bought the Janome, but, before she could even learn how to use the machine, she fell in love with the BERNINA, and decided to buy the BERNINA instead, and now wants to sell off the JANOME unused at a very much reduced price. Let me know if anyone of you out there who wants to buy the JANOME and I will let Jenny know through Corine.

It makes me wonder why I have heard so many JANOME users wanting to sell off their machines in exchange for the BERNINA. Is there something wrong with the JANOME, or, could it be that BERNINA sales people are better at marketing their machines than the people selling the JANOME?

Did you know that JANOME supplies the BERNINA?

I am a member of a couple of Yahoo! Groups that discusses the JANOME, and I have heard many good things about the machine. I am very happy with the JANOME I bought close to 11 months ago. It has given me so many pleasurable hours churning out projects after projects. I am hoping to have a long lasting and wonderful relationship with my JANOME.

I also love my 16 year old SINGER and could not bear to part with it as it too has served me well, churning out projects after projects over the last 16 years. I hope to have many more wonderful crafting years working on it. And soon, I will have an addition to my family of machines! I just can’t wait! *grin*

A natural......

Isn't my niece such a cutey in this cute little dress made by yours truly? LOL! *wink*

Thanks, Sufia and Ayis, for the photos! Please give Fatin a hug for me for modeling the dress. She looks so adorable. Makes the dress I made look even cuter! LOL! *wink*

So, Ayis, shall we talk business? *wink*

It has bloomed!

During the last Stitching Bee on 13th June, Usha was very kind to give me some plants which I believe are Morning Glory, as the hibiscus plant which she gave to me during the Anniversary Meet in February died on me. Thanks for the plants again, Usha!

I did not plant it immediately when I got home that Saturday as I had arrived home late, and I needed to take care of the household chores first. Not wanting for the plants to die on me again this time, I put them in water, and the next day, Sunday, I had my hubby call his regular grass-cutter cum gardener come over to help me plant them after he was done with cutting the grass.

Each morning before going to work, I make sure that I water the plants first. I would do the same thing too when I get home in the evening, no matter how late, I’d water the plants first.

Today, the plants rewarded me for the attention I gave it by bearing flowers and blooming so beautifully! I wasn’t the only one excited as my son was excited too! When I went to get my camera, he went to get his camera too, which I gave him one of my old ones.

In his excitement, he fell when he hit the curb and landed on the ground, sustaining a few small cuts, but, he immediately got up, and before I could say anything, he said, “sikit aje” (small cut only) and smiled. He usually would cry, but I guess he was more afraid that he might have broken the camera when it hit the ground, and so probably figured that by not crying, and appearing macho, it would divert my attention from the camera. *grin*

The camera’s fine. It’s more than 7 years old and had suffered bigger falls, once even falling from a height of 4ft onto a tiled floor, but still it never failed to give me great photos.

BTW, besides some small cuts and bruises, Aiman’s fine. *wink*

In a state of shock!

Yesterday, my mum’s house in Kota Bharu was burglarized. My mum was here in Kuala Lumpur to send off my youngest brother back to university. She was here since Tuesday, 30th June, and had intended to stay on till this coming Tuesday, 7th July. But, this afternoon, she took a flight back to Kota Bharu, fearing the worse.

According to a cousin who lives near to my mum’s house, in the afternoon yesterday, the back door neighbour thought something amiss when she saw the back door leading to the kitchen looked like it was broken. She called the cousin asking her to check it out, but the cousin was too busy at that time, and did not get to check it out until very much later, when my mum’s daily help came to switch on the lights at 5.30pm, and noticed that the grill door was badly damaged.

The burglar must have been having a whale of a time going through all of my mum’s things as the whole house was turned upside down. Every door was broken down. My dad’s coin collection which is probably worth thousands of ringgits is gone, so are some uncut bank notes which my dad too is a collector.

My mum lost all her pearl sets, and some other costume jewelry which she bought when she was in the US recently. She said that they are worth a few hundred ringgits a set.

Also missing are her international passport, a couple of her and my brother’s bank books. I can’t recall all that she lost but she said it could run in the thousands of ringgits.

When I met my mum at the airport this afternoon, she looked tired as she hardly slept the night before upon hearing of the bad news from my sister. My sister herself said that she was weak at the knees when she saw the condition of the house when she went to look at my mum’s house with the cousin last night.

When I spoke to my mum about 7.00pm this evening, she didn’t sound too bad as she said that she had expected the worse, though I am sure she is still very much shocked and traumatized by what had happened.

I hope my mum will be OK, as she wasn’t in the best of health when she came to Kuala Lumpur, and now, she is going back to a home that has just been burglarized. I am a little worried, and my only consolation is that both my sisters are there in Kota Bharu with her, and all of my sister’s children are with her. They usually perk her up.

Times are bad and people are getting desperate. Just on Thursday, my Senior Director’s office was broken into and the burglar managed to get away with his laptop, the keys to his Mercedes Benz, Toyota Estima and the whole set of house keys. There were other things missing but I could not recall.

Just 3 weeks ago, my hubby’s office was also broken into and they managed to cart away his laptop.

There has been a spate of snatch thefts reported almost every few days in the papers in the last few months, some even ending in death. There are so many sick people out there. The more advanced we are, the more desperate people are becoming because everyone wants to live well beyond what they can afford, and they’d do anything they get what they want.

I can only hope and pray that Allah will always protect us all from harm. Amin.

Oopps!

Guess what?

I made a booking for the embroidery machine JANOME 350e on Saturday, 20th June 2009!

As this month is the month of my birthday, Epal offered a RM500.00 gift voucher only applicable to buy a JANOME sewing machine of any model. I offered the voucher to members of NNC when I first got it, but, after two weeks, no one took up the offer. So, when I went to class last Saturday, I offered it to Ain at Epal should anyone wants to buy a machine, to pass it on to that person.

I told Ain that I would be interested to get the embroidery machine, but not now as I have yet to finish installment payment by credit card on the MC6500 machine I bought in September last year. Rather than let the voucher go to waste, I'd rather offer it to someone who wants to buy the machine this month as the voucher is valid only for this month. That was when Ain suggested that I make a booking for it by putting a downpayment for it and use the voucher to get the RM500.00 rebate.

I did not know that it was possible - make a booking to use up the voucher. I thought about it while I was doing my project in class, all the time contemplating if I should. LOL!

A lady there who bought her 350e machine in January was telling me all about the good side of having the machine, and what she has been achieveing and making with the machine. By the time it was time for me to go home, which was 2 1/2 hours later, I still have not exactly made up my mind, though I was getting even more tempted! LOL!

I kept thinking when in the world am I going to find time to use the machine to embroider anything, as even the MC6500 that I have now I have neglected to use for the past 2 months when things got rather hectic lately at work and at home.

I don't exactly know what made me finally make up my mind to book the machine, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I can pay by CC instalment, and also that I can come in and pay any amount each month until I am ready to get the machine if I want to lessen the amount at the end of the day before finally making the final payment.

Flexibility in payment does make it attractive, something which Sakura could not offer. That's what made me buy the MC6500 last year. If not, I would have purchased the BERNINA a very long time ago. *grin*

When I came home and told my hubby about it, he was very supportive of my decision. In fact, he was quite intrigued with the offers that comes with the machine - a one year free classes, 19 project kits and a Home Business plan, among others. Thanks, hubby! Love ya! Muah!

With his support, I am getting excited, and can't wait for when I will finish paying for my earlier machine! LOL! I am already dreaming of it, and what projects I can do! LOL!

So, Tini, I am joining your club come December or so (have not decided when exactly I will fully purchase the machine) though not necessary in your league as I doubt it if I can make all those wonderful things that you have been making.

Oh BOY! Did I really made a booking for the machine? Oopps! LOL! *blush*

It's back to quilting and sewing!

It’s been two months since I last attended class at Epal. Life has been so hectic – at work and at home. There have been so many weddings to go to on weekends the last one month or so that I cannot seem to find time to work on my projects at Epal.

But, last week, I took a day off to give myself a much needed break from the stress at work. I wanted to be able to spend some time to work on my project, and the same time, I also wanted to be able to spend some extra time with my son.

Due to our (hubby and I) hectic schedule at work, our son has sort of `suffered’ from the lack of attention. We found out just at the end of the school holiday recently that he has not been doing all his home work, he has not been practicing his spelling and two subjects which he has been getting A’s every semester, but last semester, he got a C.

We realized the urgent need to try to be there for him more often than usual, and to be able to have time to go through his homework each day. So, lately, we have been taking an extra effort to come home early each day from work where possible (is 7.30pm early? LOL!), and since I did not have any meeting on 17th June (which is very rare these days), I decided to take the day off so that I can cook him a more nutritious breakfast, pick him from school, have time to go through his homework, and spend some quality time with him.

As my son is only done with school at 3.20pm, I had some time for myself to work on the ABC quilt which is long overdue. I am happy to report that I progressed quite a lot that day. What is left to date is just to finish off the binding.

This is, however, not one of my best works. I am not that happy with the quilting of the ABCs as I know I could do better, but I know that if I were to unpick and redo, I will never finish this quilt. So, I told myself that I will just have to accept this one the way it is for now. But, should I decide to do another similar project (like as if I will…LOL!) when I have more time to work on it, I will do a better job of it. *wink*

However, there is a part of this quilt which I am quite pleased with myself……the quilting on the sashing.

The design calls for birds in flight to be quilted, but I did not like the birds, and so changed the quilting to one that I had bought the template at Quilt Gallery some time ago. I hope the teachers at Epal will not mind me making the changes, as the important thing is that I did the quilting, but quilting of a different design. Opps!

I hope to finish the binding by next weekend, as this week, we have another wedding to attend.

As I am pretty much done with the ABC quilt, except for the binding part, yesterday, after Aiman’s Saturday classes, I went over to Epal to start on a new project – a sailor collared dress for a little girl. Eerr…..I have no daughter, but, as this is part of the class project, guess who will be the lucky little girl that will be getting this cute little dress? *wink*

Anyway, I started this project on Thursday night at home by cutting up the patterns and getting the basics done. On Friday night, while hubby was playing with his new laptop (his laptop was stolen from his office last Thursday), I serged the edges of the dress using my MC6500 machine, and I must say that I am impressed with the results as the serging done by this machine using the overcasting foot M is as professional looking to a commercial overlocking machine. I did not even know that my very expensive machine can do that, and for how long have I had this machine? LOL!

When I went to class on Saturday, I did the appliqué work. I came home, and after dinner until pass midnight, while hubby watched a movie on TV, I worked on the collar which I had to do it several times before I could finally get it right, but it is still not the nicest looking collar. *sigh*

This evening, after coming back from the wedding, while hubby took a nap, and in between supervising my son doing his revision and workbook, I worked on the dress again, and at 6.00pm today, I COMPLETED IT! Yipppee!

I am so proud *wink* of this dress as I think it is SO CUTE! I could do another one if not for the fact that I am 6 projects behind in order for me to get my certificate of completion.

I think the flower appliqué made the dress really cute. Had it not been for the appliqué, it would be just another plain dress. Here's a close-up of the applique. Not too bad, huh? *wink*

Do you agree that this dress is so adorable? I can already imagine my adorable niece in it! Yup, my niece! Which niece? The one born on 12th March. *wink* But, sorry, Sufia, you’re gonna have to wait till I get the dress graded first before I can give it to you for Fatin to wear it. In fact, I want Fatin to put it on so that I can snap a photo of her in it for the blog. Deal? *wink*

Do you think it’s a sellable piece? *wink*

Also, today, I started on a bag for my mum using the pattern she had bought at Joann while she was in the US for 2 months last month. Here are the fabrics.

I hope my mum will like the combination. The purplish checkered/gingham piece will be for the inside of the bag, while the other two pieces are for the outside of the bag. I will be doing the top bag featured on the front of the pattern pack.

I only realized after cutting up the fabric that it calls for pre-quilted fabric, and as I don’t know where to find a pre-quilted fabric here, I decided to quilt the fabric myself, and here’s a photo of the finished quilted pieces all cut up to the pattern already.

Here’s a photo of my son diligently working on his puzzle, taking a break from doing his revision and worksheets.

I make sure that he sits in front of me while I sew so that I can supervise him and make sure that he doesn’t `cheat’ on his worksheets! LOL! *wink*

I don’t know when I’ll complete this bag for my mum as I am only doing this in between doing the Epal projects as I need to complete 6 more projects, and I am way behind. I do, however, hope to complete it before her birthday. Ooppps! I have got exams coming up before her birthday!

Keep those postings comin’……

Over at NNC recently, I gave away two posting prizes to the members who hit the 50,000th posting at the board, and also to the 1,000th message posted in the month of May, 2009.

The winner of the 50,000th posting was Mel, while Paul posted the 1,000th message in the month of May. As Paul had won the posting prize before, I think this is his 4th win, so, when he won again, he was like calmly going, “Oh., ok. Thanks.” Instead of “Yippeee!” and then doing a happy dance like I did when I won the lucky draw at Mel’s Shoppe. LOL! *wink* Typical of someone that hardly wins anything, huh? LOL!

Anyway, here are the prizes which Mel and Paul won – the box in brown is for Paul, and the pink one is for Mel.

I wanted the things to be as different as possible so that I can keep it interesting for Paul, as I don’t want him getting the same things from me.

I just hope that both of them will like the things that I had packed up for them, and hope that they both will find some use for all the things in the package.

For Mel, I added something extra as a token of appreciation for teaching me how to crochet the bag which I have been crazy churning bag after bag lately and also for lending me the very expensive Clover crochet hook.

Thanks so much, Mel. I hope you noticed that I had attached the hook to the side of the box as I had forgotten to put it inside the box when I was packing up the box.

I have thus far bought my own in a set of 3, which cost me a bomb *grin*, but I really love the soft grip handle, and feel that the money I spent on them were well worth it.

Anyway, back to the Thank You gift that I made for Mel, it is actually a small pouch made in the same way as the big crochet bag, only very very much smaller, and I played around with adding buttons, a first for me in crocheting. *smile*

Thanks, again, Mel, and congrats to Mel and Paul, for winning the posting prizes! Do keep those messages coming!

My lucky draw prize and a gift from Margaret!

Margaret hand delivered my lucky draw prize during the recent Stitching Bee on behalf of Mel when Mel herself could not join us as her mum had bought tickets for her for a holiday to Bangkok. Lucky Mel! Lucky me too for winning the lucky draw!

The bag that Mel made was really cute, though I thought that it was bigger when I first saw Mel post a photo of it at her Shoppe. *blush*

It might be small, but it was packed to the brim with plenty of lovely goodies! Just look at all the things that Mel had packed into the bag!

It was overflowing with all things crafts; it left me breathless in excitement! LOL!

I love everything in the bag, and definitely I can find plenty of use for all the stash that Mel gave. Thanks, Mel! Hugs!

Margaret did not only passed on the lucky draw prize that I won when we met at the bee, but Margaret also gave me a pack of birthday presents filled with so many lovely things, with most things being in my favourite colour, PINK!

Just look at all the lovely things I got!

I just simply love the strawberry emery. It is so awesome! So intricate! So sweet! So lovely! Just look at it close-up, and you can see the perfection in the making of the emery. Just lovely!

Thanks, Margaret! I really love everything you gave! Hugs!

BTW, Margaret also brought for me 2 pieces of cottons and a book that I had ordered at Mel’s Shoppe. Aren’t the pink stripes and polka dots so sweet and yummy? Even if I do make something out of these fabrics, I definitekly won’t be giving it away! LOL! *wink*

I also love the book on bags that I bought. I simply just can’t seem to get enough of bags! LOL!

Thanks, Margaret, for helping to bring all the things for me from Mel, and thanks again for the lovely birthday present. I am all excited again like my birthday was only just yesterday! LOL!

June Stitching Bee

The stitching bee this time around is made extra special with the presence of Shanny from Switzerland complete with Owen! We also had two new members who joined the bee for the first time - Alynn and Val!

I arrived slightly after 10.30am as I had to drop off Aiman at his art class first before making my way to Starbucks. When I got there, Margaret, Usha and her daughter, Rose, Alynn and her daughter, and Val were already there. Jo arived soon after that.

We were later joined by Paul, and Shanny arrived soon after that at slightly after 12.00 noon with Owen. Despite not feeling too well, Anna still came. Appreciate you coming, Anna! Thanks!

As soon as I got there, Margaret quickly passed me the lucky draw prize that I had won at Mel's new shoppe. Margaret also gave me a birthday present which were all ooh so lovely! I will tell more about what was in Mel's lucky draw bag, and Margaret's birthday present to me later.

Thanks, Margaret, for the gifts and thanks too for bringing Mel's gifts to me.

I passed on a small pouch I made for Rose.

No particular occassion for giving, only that Rose was asking me about the green crochet bag that I was working on, and I thought that the bag would be a nice gift to give her some idea of how I had worked my green yarns together. I don't want to reveal the bag that I was working on just yet though. *wink*

Usha brought along her lovely shawl that she was doing using the broomstick lace, and my, what a big `broom' she had! LOL! *wink*

Val also brought along a crochet piece to do, which I am made to understand she is also doing a bag.

Val, love the crochet book you brought! Time to visit Amazon.com again! LOL! *wink*

BTW, thanks too for the delicious cupcakes!

Rose brought something to do but lost the mood to do anything when something unexpected happened that morning (read her blog to know more). Margaret brought along a few lovely things to show, and she also took time to learn how to make crochet flowers from Anna.

Shanny was also learning to crochet from Val, but later moved on to learn how to make an ami from Paul.

Paul did not bring anything to do this time around though, as he said that he wasn't in the mood to do anything, but still, it was nice of him to join us. I wished you had brought the crochet bag that you were working on, Paul. I would have love to see the piece.

Alynn did not bring anything to do either. I think she was shy to show off her lovely work, but she was kept busy making sure her daughter did not get bored too quickly. *smile* She had prepared her daughter with loads of books! I would have done the same too had I brought Aiman! LOL! *wink*

We later found out that Alynn did bring along some yarns and a crochet hook to learn how to crochet but she was too shy to ask anyone to show her how to crochet, this being her first time meeting us with us in person.

Alynn, I will be more than happy to teach you crochet the next time we meet up. I will also bring along some cross stitch charts which I think I might never do, though when I bought it, I thought I would. *grin*

But, Alynn did bring something to show us - a bag she made using the bag kit she bought at Epal, and it's PINK!

Jo brought many bags to show us and we went goo goo gaga over all the lovely bags she made. There is so much that I want to learn from her, but, I just need to find the time to do so!

When Shanny came, she brought along lots of chocolates to share around. Thanks, Shanny!

While she got engrossed looking at all the lovely bags Jo made and was busy learning how to crochet, Paul was so kind to babysit Owen for a while when he took him to MPH. Alynn went to MPH too for a short while and bought herself two cross stitch mags.

BTW, Shanny brought along a very lovely crochet bag that Mel had given her, and Jo noticed her immediately from afar when she saw this lady carrying a crochet bag. LOL!

Shall we make the bag an NNC trademark? *wink*

Here's Paul opening up the posting prize he won at NNC for posting the 1,000th message in the month of May. Congrats, Paul!

BTW, I find Paul's camera and Val's handphone below with all the glitter so amazing, though I wouldn't want my handphone to be dressed that way. *wink* What will my staff and professional client think of me! LOL!

Soon it was time to leave. Usha was the first to leave as she had to attend a wedding. Rose left soon after that as she too had a wedding to attend. Soon after, Alynn left.

I had to leave at 2.00pm to pick up Aiman. When I left, Margaret and Anna were busy crocheting flowers, and Paul was teaching Shanny to crochet an ami. Val was still working on her bag.

I was later told that they all left at 2.30pm for lunch.

Thanks, everyone, for coming to the bee. Though the crowd was smaller than usual, I still had fun, and I hope so did the others.

I hope more will come next time which will most probably be at the end of July or early August.

Nice to finally meet Alynn and Val. Nice to meet all of you again!