Liudmila and my patchwork gift

Patchwork 3 Comments »


LiudmilaThis is happy Liudmila with a patchwork table topper which I sent before Christmas and only arrived early this week. She did warn me that she may not get my present but I didn’t worry too much about it as I’m sure things couldn’t be as bad as she painted about the postal situation in Italy. Anyway at the same time I sent out another package to SewingMom in Texas who received hers in the first week of January. So it wasn’t a problem at my end. We both have given up about her receiving my little gift but it finally came after 2 months! And she called it a miracle.

Click here to go to Liudmila’s blog. She always has interesting posts to read and at times she is comical. She thinks I need to do engineering calculations to do the patchwork! Ain’t she funny?

Liudmila, it seems Christmas comes early this year for you. Anyway you are more beautiful than the patchwork.

Zurikh’s quilt in progress

Blogger craft club, Patchwork 10 Comments »


This is my second quilt (in progress) for my son Zurikh. I love it as it is bright and cheerful and suitable for my fun-loving son. I have finished with the main pattern and will add sashing and borders before sewing it with backing and batting. Like my first quilt with BBC (WIP too), I will only do that after doing the third quilt for my youngest son so as to be able to use the materials effectively.

 

Zurikh’s quilt in progress

Last night I asked Zurikh what color border would he like for the quilt showing him my colorful collection. He said orange and I asked him why not green to which he replied that it didn’t really matter as he will use the quilt for sleeping only. I told him that I like to make a nice one so that he will think of me when going to sleep. He just gave me the ‘whatever look’ answer .

And I remembered reading a joke somewhere of this lady at check-out counters with very slow-moving queue to the point that she felt being ignored. She then lamented that if she wanted to be ignored she might as well stay at home and get ignored by her kids. Poor mom but I believe in most cases this is just a passing stage in bringing-up a teenager.

Just for a laugh and see if we can identify ourselves guilty of having said similar craps in times of exasperation.

Things My Mother Taught Me:

My mother taught me LOGIC.
“Because I said so, that’s why.”

My Mother taught me MEDICINE…
“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they’re going to freeze that way.”
My Mother taught me TO THINK AHEAD…
“If you don’t pass your spelling test, you’ll never get a good job!”

My Mother taught me ESP…
“Put your sweater on; don’t you think that I know when you’re cold?”

My Mother taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE…
“What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you…Don’t talk back to me!”

My Mother taught me HUMOR…
“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”

My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT…
“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.

My mother taught me ABOUT SEX…
“How do you think you got here?”

My mother taught me about GENETICS…
“You are just like your father!”

My mother taught me about my ROOTS…
“Do you think you were born in a barn?”

My mother taught me about the WISDOM of AGE…
“When you get to be my age, you will understand.”

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION…
“Just wait until your father gets home.”

My mother taught me about RECEIVING…
“You are going to get it when we get home.”

And, my all-time favorite - JUSTICE
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like YOU…then you’ll see what it’s like.”

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside - I just finished cleaning!”

My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

My mother taught me IRONY.
“Keep laughing and I’ll *give* you something to cry about.”

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper!”

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Will you *look* at the dirt on the back of your neck!”

My mother taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there ’til all that spinach is gone.”

My mother taught me about WEATHER.
“It looks as if a tornado swept through your room.

My mother taught me how to solve PHYSICS PROBLEMS.
“If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you; would you listen then?”

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times - Don’t exaggerate!!!”

My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
“Stop acting like your father!”

My mother taught me about ENVY.
“There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do!”

Yummy Pineapple Tarts

Recipe 9 Comments »


Tomorrow is Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year celebrated by the Chinese all over the world. It starts with the reunion dinner tonight with all shops and shopping centers here close early for the day follow by 2 days of public holidays. Living in a multi-racial country and surrounded by Chinese friends and neighbors, inevitably the spirit of this festival can be felt by the non-Chinese here too.

As a neighborly gesture I made some pineapple tarts for my neighbor and my favorite blogging buddy who wouldn’t mind growing fat because of my yummy tarts. He sometimes serves as my punching bag when things don’t go right, he puts up with my grouses and also backs up as my technical support. Lucky me to have such a wonderful friend.

Pineapple tartsPinapple Tarts Recipe
For the jam :
3 pineapple or 2 big pineapples
sugar (depends on how sweet or sour the pineapples are)
For the pastry :
500 gm butter
2 eggs
450 gm flour
1 tbsp sugar
a little salt
vanilla powder (optional)

Method :
Grate the pineapples and use a strainer to strain the juice out. Add sugar and cook on fire until the jam is not wet yet soft.

Put softened butter in a bowl and use a mixing spoon to hand mix the butter with sugar. Add egg, salt and vanilla. Lastly add the flour and knead with hand. Roll a portion of dough on a pastry sheet and use a pineapple cookie cutter to cut the cookies. Finish all the dough and fill the cavities with jam. Arrange on baking sheets and bake for about 25 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius (320 degrees Fahrenheit). You may have to adjust a little to suit your oven and normally at mid-way I will switch the top and bottom tray for more even baking.

Happy New YearTo all my Chinese friends and readers, I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year .

Quick Quilt in Progress

Blogger craft club 8 Comments »


It has been a frustrating week for me. My internet was down due to some modem problem since last Tuesday but my nephew has managed to fix things yesterday. Also, since last Saturday I could not get connection to my website and only a few minutes ago things were restored. Some server problem it seems. In addition, my second son has been having problems too and was at that stage when the whole world seems to be against him. He ran foul of the law and shook the family a little. But I’m happy to announce that he is putting in a lot of effort to get back in the right track and things should be back to normal pretty soon. So Mommy dearest has been real busy running around.

Here I am behind time as I am in the Blogger Craft Club and we are to update our progress each Monday. It is good to be in the club as there is more motivation to get things done. Each member can do any craft not just restricted to sewing, so do feel free to join us if you are in any kind of craft.

I have been wanting to make new quilts for my 3 boys and with the club’s motivation has started with the first one. Just a simple quilt from my fabric collection for a kick start. Being a member of Fabricoholics Anonymous, I have a huge pile of cotton collection to make as many quilts I wish to. And another blogger, Sewing Mom did a pretty bag and I just love her choice of colors in her sewing. Do pop over at Hadias and click at Mr Linky to see the awesome things the members did so far.

So here is my progress. It is all using quick-piecing method and easy to follow for beginners or those hard-pressed for time. I will put a border around the quilt before attaching to batting and backing. But not now. I will do it now only after I have finished planning for all the 3 quilts. In this way I can effectively used all the solid colors as planned earlier which I have bought each in half a meter.

First BCC quilt in progress

Please drop me an email for anyone wanting the method of quick-piecing method until I have put up the instructions when the project is finished.

Happy crafting and piecing everyone. Update you with my progress next Monday.

Blogger Craft Club

Blogger craft club 9 Comments »


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).

Materials for boys quiltsWhat 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.

Health is Wealth

Beaded jewelry, sewing 8 Comments »


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?

Kitchen set

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.

PIF pearl beaded watch

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

A Miracle Called Friendship

Beaded jewelry 12 Comments »


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.

Onyx bracelet n pearl ring

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

Pearl ring

Onyx pin with Swarovski crystals.

Onyx brooch

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.

My New Dining Chair Covers

sewing 15 Comments »


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.

new dining chair covers

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.

 

Pic6

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

R. D. Jones And His Sewing Machine

Jokes 2 Comments »


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.

Happy New Year

Greetings 4 Comments »

To Everyone,

Have a Wonderful 2008.

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