The initial plan was to make a baby sized blanket with a ladybird theme because ladybirds are deemed to bring good luck. But of course the I let my over-zealousness take over and I ended up with a teen sized blanket.
Who is excessive? Not me! Nek!
Pop up hand-sewn appliques are a nightmare to make but extremely gratifying when completed.
A big part of the project was made with recycled fabric remnants…
pieced together in harmony. Her first baby steps to being green! :)
That’s the back of the blanket…
flaunted by these lovely international dollies.
Well at least her birthday presents for 12 years has been sorted out!
I so love unicorns, phoenixes and all mythical creatures. They ferry you into fantasy land, give you that something unrealistic to think about, and is just pure fun. That’s why I couldn’t resist buying this yard of beautiful fabric even though I thought it was costly (by my meager standards). I made it into a weekend bag and the rest is history.
Have you had an item which you kept since young, for it meant the world to you and cannot be replaced?
I do. It’s an old patchwork baby blanket that my great grandma made for me more than 30 years ago. Its disintegrated beyond shreds now, so much so I feel embarrassed to post a photo of it up. Even my mum, the master of all hoarders in the universe, wants to get rid of it.
Actually I might post a picture of it one day. When I master enough courage.
And then you’ll cringe. You’ll see. You just wait and see!!!
So what I am trying to say is, that rag of a patchwork blanket had inspired me for a long time to actually make one myself. I made an elementary level mini blankie for K-gal and beanie before, but it wasn’t that much of a real patchwork deal.
Therefore I decided to torture myself a little more and made this.
It took me more than 3 months to finish this as I am not familiar with sewing yet and made a few blunders along the way. But I have to say it’s worth it, and I’m happy with the results.
I shall make a faint attempt at showing you how it’s done, but I am still a novice myself so don’t shoot me!
First cut strips of your desired fabric and join them on the wrong side. Press the seams flat.
Cut squares out of the strips and join them on the wrong side, alternating the design and again, press the seams flat.
Cut strips of border fabric and frame the squares together by sewing around them on the wrong side. This is then what you’ll get.
Then just join them all together and add borders, batting and binding to complete. I forgot to take photos of the action but will share them for my next project. Stay tuned!
I finally understood why many women want the house with the white picket fence. It’s beyond cute, and the perfect symbol of a happy, contented family living in a suburban house filled with children’s running footsteps down the halls, dotting it with laughter.
This “house”, which is a neat little cafe tucked on Saiyuan near Rawai beach on Phuket had such a picket fence. Not that you can see any of its closed up photos here because the dork who is writing this was so mesmerized she forgot to take any photos of the actual white picket fence.
If you don’t ever want to read any of my post ever again, I would totally understand.
But I did take photos of what I actually really NEED in my future white-picket-fenced house. I want a patio like this, with a huge tree next to it, installed with a hammock next to the squirrel highway (you can’t see it here but those bottle brush tails were so utterly adorable I wanted to bring some home).
And old, white-washed wooden furniture like these, where many evenings would be spent over a pot of tea watching the sunset.
Where, most importantly, such creatures would be invited to stay as long as they fancy.
It’s new! It’s exciting! It’s finally up! K-gal’s webshop has some of the most unique, interesting stuff out there. She has painstakingly taken many many months (or was it years K?) to scout for indie artisans around the world and their creations, and putting it together all by herself. The end result is a delightful mix of fun, quirky, handmade-with-love crafts that you probably can’t find elsewhere.
Well, well, look whose here, people! *swaggers into the room*
I am back! You must have missed me terribly, haven’t you?
Hello? hello?
Anybody out there??
Yooooohoooooooo…….
*crickets chirping*
Anyway, this trip to Shanghai had been quite amazing. I had the funnest time I ever had with the girls, ate the best pizza in Asia..
(the zagat rated Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo), and learnt more than I ever did in a short week. Shanghai charms like she always had, with her old..
and her new..
(a Gaudi wannabe?)
K-gal and I also found quite a few interesting indie designer shops at An Fu Road.
Among them this cute, whimsical cafe named after the owner’s daughter, Mia.
We visited the gallery when we had time..
before immersing ourselves in plotting for world domination.
Until I met him, who took my heart away…
But unfortunately, I couldn’t handle this amount of cuteness.
And so I ran back to..
where my heart really belongs.
Every once in a while you find an inspiring story that propels you to work harder for your dreams. This had been mine for the moment.
Not that I want to be a professional Muay Thai fighter now, but I am reminded that passions and dreams must be chased to be fulfilled. And that is perhaps where we can then ultimately find happiness.
One of the happiest news one can receive from a friend is that they are expecting a new life. Imagine my joy when I know my dear K-gal is baking a wee beanie! I decided to make a taggie blanket* for her even if I’ve never really sewn properly in my life. I have to say the expression on her was worth the hours of back bending, eye squinting, finger poking labour.
*The brightly coloured tags, or ribbons, around the blanket are suppose to provide tactile stimulation to the babies as they develop their sensors.
I would be writing a step by step instruction on how to make this blankie so watch this space!
