SEW MY NAME

My kids pcs are both down for quite sometimes and I have not got them repired as I see no urgency as my laptop is available. I myself has been busy and also has not been well for the last few weeks  to do any blogging. And I just rely on  my wifi phone to surf the net. But it is not so convenient to do blogging as the phone is rather small compare to a pc or laptop. Now I am feeling much better  and needing my laptop I must make a priority to get someone to repair the pcs before my laptop suffers at the heavy usage of my kids hands.

Right now I am sad and sort of at the bottom of the pit as I have just lost my beloved Nokia E61i yesterday. I am not a heavy mobile phone user as it’s more of being able for the hubby and kids to reach me or me to contact them. I send about an average of 10 to 12 messages a day but my wifi phone is good for surfing internet and reading blogs at bedtime or when I am resting on the sofa.

Upon reaching home yesterday and realized that my phone is gone for good I called my telco to suspend my line temporarily. I was feeling really down and didn’t feel like doing anything and had an early night. There is some sort of emptiness without my mobile and I wonder how long I can survive without one.

So how about you? Can you live without your laptop/pc or your mobile? Me, probably can for a few days! Life is just too lonely without these tech gadgets. Loosing a mobile to me is just like loosing a good friend.

A few days ago I was treated to to fish head curry by my blogger friends at Muthu’s Curry, one of the most popular banana leaf restaurants here in Little India. It was really a delicious meal with spices in every dishes, including the desserts. At Muthu’s the fish head curry is a modified version of South Indian recipe. Fish head curry is uniquely Singaporean dish as Indians traditionally do not eat fish heads as a meal in itself. It’s a welcome change as I don’t usually eat spicy food and the good thing is one of the bloggers is an Indian so he gave us recommendations for the dinner. I am not particular or fussy about my food so I’m just too happy to have someone ordering the dishes for me.

Even though we chose a weekday for the dinner, the restaurant was packed with diners of different races besides the Indians themselves. There were many Westerners, Chinese and we even noticed a big group of Koreans. It is an amusing sight with the diners (including me) tucking in lustily while sweating from the spiciness of the curry. Even the vegetables are fried with curry spices that I cannot identify the original form of vegetable. But the meal was delicious and who cares if the nutritional value is zero. Once in a while we should just put our guards down and eat and do whatever we like. Read the review here if you like and it is also quite pricey for a casual restaurant. But we truly enjoyed the food, so it’s actually worth paying for it.

As usual and for the fun of it I make new beaded accessories for myself. This time the beads in the necklace and the bracelet are wired instead of using ready-made chain and jump rings. I love the pretty claybeads as it has the fun and casual look. The accessories brighten up my otherwise plain t-shirt.

So don’t forget the name, Muthu’s curry, if you happen to be on this side of the planet. And I think I can hear Liudmila saying that life is not fair. Don’t worry my friend, I’ll treat you to fish head curry if you visit me.

On BYOBD, shoppers here are encouraged to bring own shopping bags or purchase reusable bags available at the participating supermarkets or donate 10 cents for each plastic bag taken at the checkout counters . Proceeds from the donation will go to a registered charity to fund environmental activities.

The other day I was at the shopping center when I saw a simple foldable carrier in a mini bag selling at about USD9 similar to the one I sew in the picture. It’s really cute and the material is the sort of the ones used in umbrellas. It gave me idea to make one for myself so that I can put it in my handbag and not get caught not bringing own bag on BYOBD. Sometimes after going out I make unplanned visits to the library. That is when I wish I have a carrier with me to carry the borrowed books home.

It’s really easy to make, cutting 2 pieces of rectangle, 1 for the mini bag and 1 for the actual carrier, a small piece and 2 longer pieces for the handle of the bags. The big carrier can be rolled and fit into the mini bag which is small enough to fit in most handbags. If you can’t get the material that of the umbrella, use a sturdy material for more rugged use such as those used for cushion covers or curtains. I got my material from remnants which I bought very cheaply on clearance sale.

See how small it is next to my favorite small handbag. It measures 5.5″ by 3.5″ excluding the handle. Lets do our bit by bringing our own bags to reduce excessive use of plastic bags and in this little way we can do our part for the environment .

Happy BYOBD.

Have you done your annual mammogram check? I did mine a few days ago and for those who are scared not to worry, the pain is bearable and in all it takes a few minutes only. And unfortunately not only old women are diagnosed with breast cancer, young women too and even men. Click below to read more at the breast cancer site and while you are there help fund a mammogram for free.

I am more terrified of pap smear test even though my gynaecologist is actually a sweet angel in disguise. I’m supposed to get the test done this June and I’m expecting her nurse to ring me anytime to arrange for my appointment. I wish they have lost my contact number but I know they are an efficient lot.

I have not been blogging regularly due to commitments and also the fact that both of my kids pc are down and so my laptop is everyone’s target. My personal IT technician is my nephew, an IT student who recently won a Lee Kuan Yew Technology Award for creating application to allow more features to be added to bluetooth-enabled mobile phones. Currently he is very busy with job attachment and hoping to come by this weekend to repair the pcs. Kudos to you Zaid for your achievement.

I have not done any sewing recently but I have a list to do. I need a new apron, a bag for my library books and new covers for my kitchen gadgets. I have quite a number of orders for beaded items and not coping too well with such little time.

Thank you all my on-line and off-line friends for your kind wishes on my recent bereavement. Until next time, take care all of you.

I love the Russian malachite beads and did this set for my lunch date with my friends. I was wearing green skirt with a black top and the malachite accessories went well with my outfit. I was enjoying my first plate of food when I received a call that my dad has just passed away. He wasn’t too well for the last few weeks and would be 83 end of the year.

Liudmila, my beautiful blogger friend introduced me to the Russian malachites. Since I couldn’t find them here I ordered from the States. After that I began to order many more beads like azurite, jade, carnelian, jasper, amethyst and many more that I can now open a mini bead shop. It’s really fun shopping through internet at the comfort of my own home and using Paypal is so convenient.

I made a set consisting of a necklace, bracelet, a pair of earrings and a pin. The malachite beads are really elegant and exude class but I make simple design for myself to suit my simple self. I showed my mom and she complimented the green and the pattern of the malachite beads. I love showing things to my mom as she has very good taste. You can see the malachite beads clearly in the bracelet picture.

The necklace is about 26 in long with chain attached to wear it long but can easily be shortened like in the picture. I use tear drop malachite beads for the earrings .I already have some orders for my beaded jewelries so I will be quite busy these coming weeks and will put my sewing aside. Anyone interested can drop me a note too.

My kids pc is down and while waiting for my nephew technician who is actually an IT student who is busy with a job attachment now, my laptop is now the target of the kids.

Take care.

It was a sad Mother’s day last weekend to see my mom in grief when she lost her companion of 60 years. I will not be seeing that familiar face in his usual armchair in my weekly visits but dad will always have a special place in our hearts.

Mother is all that is noble and fine,
And all that is right and good.
She richly deserves every sonnet that’s sung
To her glorious motherhood.

And when Mother receives some fresh acclaim
The whole wide world is glad,
But away down deep in every heart
There’s a place that is just for Dad.

We may not shower him with praise
Nor mention his name in song,
And sometimes it seems that we forget
The joy he spreads as he goes along,

But it doesn’t mean that we don’t know
The wonderful role that he has had.
And away down deep in every heart
There’s a place that is just for Dad.

Author unknown. 

Today is my graduation day. He..he..he.. No, I did not take any diploma or degree course. Instead I have completed 2 months of Air Reservations and Ticketing Course. It has been a busy time for me and oh boy to be learning at an old age like this is stressful. But I’m happy to announce that I survive.

And I was wearing my favorite color, pink. Long live Pink. I did not do any beaded jewelry for the last two months, so last night after choosing my outfit I sat down to make a set of bracelet, brooch and matching earrings. Going through my collection of my beads I found pink cherry quartz and polymer clay beads to match.

I use the tiled polymer clay bead as the focal and mix with black round onyx and pink rectangle cherry quartz for the bracelet . You can see the pretty design of the polymer clay beads in the earrings . The brooch is beaded with cherry quartz and a white pearl and it really goes well with my shining pink top.

Tomorrow is another round of get-together where my friends and I will go for buffet lunch. Sunday is Mother’s day celebration with all my sisters and this is a high-tea treat from our daughters. So I will have to prepare outfits for the weekend and probably make some more beaded jewelry to match them. I can be quite vain at times and each time I make something nice for myself I will show off to my Mom when I visit her and she never fails to compliment me.

I’m in need of a new plastic bag caddy to replace my old one so here I have just sewn one with blue gingham material. I appliqued it with some scraps from remnants and did a simple cross-stitch on it saying ‘Mom’s kitchen’. With the loop at the top end, you can hang it anywhere in the kitchen for easy access.

I find this a very useful thing to have in the house as it keep grocery bags neatly stored. It also makes a useful and much appreciated gift. So if you are running out of time or budget this DIY gift is simple and fast to make for coming Mother’s day.

What you need is a 1/4 m of 45″ width of material or fat 1/4. You can have it appliqued, embroidered or cross-stitched if you like. The design is limited by your imagination or just keep it simple and plain as you wish. Then follow the simple instructions here.

When you need a plastic bag, just pull it out from the open end at the bottom of the caddy.

Pretty neat, isn’t it?

I like this…

Got this from my inbox. Have a good laugh and have a happy weekend.

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions !

Why did God make mothers?
1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mum just the same like he made me. He Just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you Your mother & not some other mum?
1.We’re related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s mums like me.

What kind of little girl was your mum?
1. My mum has always been my mum and none of that other stuff.
2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mum need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mum marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mum eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mum didn’t have her thinking cap on.

Who’s the boss at your house?
1. Mum doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball.
2. Mum. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mum is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What’s the difference between mums & dads?
1. Mums work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work.
2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but mums have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s.
4. Mums have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mum do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don’t do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mum perfect?
1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mum, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.
2. I’d make my Mum smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.