SEW MY NAME

I am sew excited!

Today is the official launch of Bloggers Craft Club. It is a project initiated by Hadias, a blogger who I admire tremendously. Before I continue with the rest of my post let me tell you a little about this amazing lady. She is a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) with 4 kids. So what’s the big deal, there are many SAHMs around? Ok, the difference is her kids are all home-schooled and she is their very own teacher. She personally educates them. Isn’t that amazing? Take a peep at her course study designed for her children. Don’t say to teach my kids, I need to take most of the courses for my very own self! How many of you are like me, frequently losing tempers and screaming at our kids just to get their homeworks done?

Anyway, Hadias would like bloggers to join in and share a small piece of themselves in bloggityville or blogosphere through crafts and sewing. Each Monday beginning on January 28th Hadias will post pictures and updates of her progress. So I am planning to do likewise, except that I am just about to start my first project. We can either choose to work on a common project or do something on our own.The idea is to motivate bloggers to work on crafts or sewing projects and complete them. Join us if you like.

For my official first project with the group I am making 3 new quilts for each of my 3 sons, of course 1 at a time. I have been wanting to make new quilts for them for quite sometimes but never get round to do it. I have rough patterns in mind and it will be a combination of patchwork and applique. Honestly speaking I am an impatient person, so my quilts will be using quick-piecing methods so that I will not end up with UFOs (unfinished objects).

What I did today was going through my stash and I have just decided that I will be using these combinations. I got 9 solid colors plus the cream cotton with small heart prints.

Every Monday I will post news or pictures of my progress. As I am doing other things at the same time (which mothers don’t!), please bear with me if I make slow progress with my sewing.

Update you again on next Monday on my progress. See you soon.

I have completed making handmade gift for my third PIF commenter, a blogger who I admire very much. She lives a simple healthy lifestyle and take good care of her family health matters too.

As for me I do read about nutrition and health but I do not have a strong determination to keep healthy. I succumb to many sinful fried foods, coffee and chocolate is my weakness. I eat what I like but I do try to take things in moderation as to lessen that guilt feeling. As we aged I believe it is important that we watch our weight else our legs will not be strong enough to support us. Like many people, I swear upon health supplements like fish oil, EPOs, vitamin B and C even though I don’t take them religiously. And my greatest problem is I’m just too lazy to exercise! Thank goodness I am one of those with high metabolism rate, so I still can maintain some figure with present BMI rate of 21. But I strongly believe regular exercises is important for our health.

So do check Vivienne at dietinfocare.com to know more about health and wellness.

I have sewn a set of kitchen accessories - a hanging tea towel, a tissue box cover and a set of potholders with prints of flowers and vegetables and sew them with matching check print. Sweet aren’t they?

At the same time I did a simple beaded watch with freshwater pearls. So I am letting Vivienne to choose between the kitchen accessories ( watermelon table runner not included) and the beaded watch. Ha..ha.. Viv, you are welcome to pick your choice.

Do check out your BMI just as a general gauge of health. Take care and stay healthy.

It was another Girls Day Out. My girlfriends and I, 10 of us, went for high tea at Carousel, my favorite restaurant. I always look forward going out with them and as usual we had a lovely time eating and chatting. It’s really wonderful being with friends and some of them I have known for 2o over years.

The date gave me reason to discard my Cinderfella rags and put on something nice. Nothing great or flashy as I have always been a simple person. A few hours before leaving home I managed to string a bracelet, do a simple wiring for a ring and make 2 simple pins to match my outfit. I was wearing a polka dots skirt and a white top. Since I have some black onyx and Swarovski pearls in my collection I beaded my accessories in black and white to suit my outfit. I guess that is the advantage of having knowledge of beading. You can easily create something, even at the last minute, and voila - you have new accessories.

The beautiful pearl watch was a gift from this group of friends last year. Bracelet in black onyx and white pearls.

Pearl ring with butterfly charm. I had a great time flashing it.

Onyx pin with Swarovski crystals.

To all the friends I know and love, online and offline, the poem (author unknown) is for all of you girls and guys.

Miracle Called Friendship

There’s a Miracle called Friendship
that dwells within the Heart,
and you don’t know how it happens
or when it gets its start.

But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift,
and you realize that friendship
is God’s precious gift.

I have just finished sewing my new set of dining chair covers. Earlier I was debating whether to match the red floral material with green or blue. I decided on blue (again) because I saw cotton blue checks in one of my piles of fabric collection. I don’t know about you but I love check prints as it gives the country and cozy look.

This time round I just sew a simple set of covers without patchwork involves. I use blue check print for the top layer of the skirt and made some pleats at both front corners. The bottom layer of plain blue has got 2 big pleats at each side edge of the chair. It’s simple in a way that you don’t have to be exact in calculation to make the pleats. Unlike making ruffled skirts, you need a minimum of 1 and half times the total length of the 3 sides of the chair and you still need to cleverly estimate when sewing.

It’s pretty easy and fast to sew. I follow my mood when I do sewing. I do patchwork when I have extra time to spare. Otherwise I do simple sewing when time is not on my side.

Now I can think about my next outstanding project, which is a gift I promised to the third blogger who commented in my PIF post earlier. What shall I do for her?

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of - Benjamin Franklin

The following is an ad from a real-life newspaper which appeared four days in a row - the last three hopelessly trying to correct the first day’s mistake.

MONDAY:

For sale: R. D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone 948-0707 after 7 P.M.. and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him cheap.

TUESDAY:

Notice: We regret having erred In R. D. Jones’ ad yesterday. It should have read “One sewing machine for sale cheap. Phone 948-0707 and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who lives with him after 7 P.M.”

WEDNESDAY:

Notice: R. D. Jones has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in the classified ad yesterday. The ad stands correct as follows: “For sale — R. D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 948-0707 after 7 P.M. and ask for Mrs. Kelly who loves with him.”

THURSDAY:

Notice: I, R. D. Jones, have no sewing machine for sale. I intentionally broke it. Don’t call 948-0707 as I have had the phone disconnected. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday she was my housekeeper, but she has now quit.