Stitch 2 Stitch

It’s now 11.12pm as I’m typing this post so it’s still a valid 2009 post. Who would have thought that 2009 would pass by so quickly, eh? Well, it has and now, like it or not 2010 will soon dawn on me in less than 1 hour.

For many years, NY has been just like any other day. Back home, we used to just open a bottle of liquor and drink ourselves [Mummy, Sis and I] silly after mass unless we were at a family party. I dare say that I have not celebrated NY outside my home like at a club or anything like that. And even if I have, perhaps it was just that once and I thought to myself, ‘Never again!’. *lol* There are many reasons why I prefer to stay indoors on Christmas/NY and all that. It’s simply because everything is ridiculously priced, superbly overcrowded and you can expect more drunk driving and road rage, as well as incrowd fighting. Of course these are all club related but then again, if you’re not home, then one would probably be out partying right?

I can’t blame age for this for I’ve felt this way for a long time. In fact, during my clubbing days, I used to go on Fridays because I hated the Saturday crowd. I went clubbing coz I love dancing and you can really dance as much as you want on Saturdays coz it’s super jammed packed! Friends always made me go on Saturdays but nup, Friday was my night out. I used to go after choir practice. *lol* Talk about a superb balance of partying and praying eh?

Ok, enough carrying on like an old lady. So what has 2009 been like for me? To be honest, most of it is pretty much a blur. After we got back from Malaysia after Christmas 2008, we were mostly just waiting for KR to arrive. I guess, the most exciting thing that happened to us was the arrival of Kathleen-Rose on 28/4. And perhaps the beginning of my current madness passion, sewing which began somewhere in February coz Ted bought me the sewing machine for Valentine’s Day. Talk about romantic presents eh?

I’m actually quite glad that Ted bought me that machine and I got so into sewing. I think I’ve made 95% of the girls wardrobe! For that I am actually quite proud. And then in July, Mum and Ted got me my Overlocker for my birthday and I have not turned back since! Actually, I can’t imagine how I managed pre-serger. lol I would like to say that I have progressed a fair bit since the time I first started but I still have a LONG LONG way to go as I have a lot of perfecting to do. I think I’ve gone off track here…

Now where was I? Ooo, right..after that, it was just one day at a time. There were several other issues that need not be talked about but other than that, 2009 came and went, just like that. I am definitely looking forward to 2010 simply because we will be heading back home in May! What else could be more exciting????

Anyhoo, here’s hoping that 2010 will be more fruitful for you and may you be prosperous, both health and wealth wise. Happy crafting and God bless!

I thought it would be a good idea to take a walk down memory lane and be reminded of that moment when you first completed that first piece of sewing item you did. It doesn’t matter how long ago it was but if you have a picture of it, let’s see it! And after that, the latest piece of work you’ve done to see how far you’ve come along on this crafty journey.

While I don’t have a pix of that apron I first sewed in home ed class back when I was in highschool some 15 years ago, I do have a pix of the first piece of sewing I did when I moved here.

This is a baby sling I sewed for Arianna when she was about 1 yr old. I know it took me ages to actually get started sewing although dh had bought me one of those tiny sewing machines for my first Chrismas out here. But when I finally did sew something, it was this.

The pattern is a free one and the fabric used is flannel for the inside and on the outside is a batik sarung. From 1 sarung, I got 2 of these slings so if you’re attempting to make one of these, you can give one away as a gift.

This is my absolute newest completed projects. I’m on a break now trying to figure out what to sew next!

Now, come show off your first sewing item. If you have any online photo album, just pick the first piece of sewing that you’ve done. That’s what I’ve done here anyway. Looking forward to see what you’ve done and how far you’ve since come. And once you’re done, don’t forget to link back and leave me a comment so I can come drop by and take a peek!

This year, as usual, it was mostly a private family affair. Our usual routine is this : Christmas Eve party at Ted’s friends place, open presents in our own home on Christmas day first thing in the morning, get ready and head over to IL’s and spend the day there.

So this year was no different. Instead of my babbling away how Christmas went, I’ll let the pix do the talking. Note that is mainly a pix post. We didn’t take any pix of the Christmas Eve party so we start of with opening presents at our home.

Christmas morning :

Daddy helping Arianna with her presents. Obviously loving her pressent from Godma.

Is it my turn yet?

It is! It is!

The after-math! We didn’t have time to clean up the mess after opening the present coz everyone was asleep till late. Only I was up at 6.30am to feed KR but as usual, she will go back to sleep after awhile and leave me the only one awake!! :/ Hence, we came home to SUCH a big mess after spending the day at the IL’s…super yuck!

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa’s :

Bonding with Grandpa. From memory, I think I have the same shot as this with Arianna….

Surrounded by her new buddies….

One heck of a special pix!!! They have not taken pix together so this is new. But a very GOOD new….

The ginger bread house which I don’t have the heart to eat~ Told MIL that I didn’t know where to start and she told me at the back. Why, I’m not sure but I sure as hell don’t want to eat it! Was told to start at the backdoor.

Christmas lunch was great as usual – MIL is a superb cook!!! We had prawns for entree which left me so full but out of respect and appreciation, I finished it. I think if I couldn’t Ted could and would! lol

We literally spent the day there till after dinner time. The girls even had a nice long and comfy nap too – Arianna had like 4 3/4 hrs and KR about 3hrs. And I have no complains about it at all!! Bet they were REALLY pooped from all the excitement. lol Poor little things….

All in all, it was a great day and well spent. Still trying to get over the food though, too much!!!!

During Christmas, everyone is getting someone a present but I really wonder if people buy presents for themselves. So this year, I decided to give a present to moi – 3 backissues of Ottobre!

I got Summer 3/2006, Summer 3/2009 and Winter 6/2008, and I was so over the moon when I got them just 2 days before Christmas!! How sweet….. But there is one problem though…..with so many new books and patterns, I am way overwhelmed at the moment! LOL *grins sheepishly* And because of that, I’ve actually just stored them on my shelf until later. All I managed to do is flipped through them and mentally noted what I wanted to sew but that was it. I can’t seem to get myself over there and sew something!

I think I still need to ‘recuperate’ after all.

I have been in the mood for some free patterns lately and this is my latest. The free pattern is from Sewing Mamas.

Both made from knit [CM, recognise the knitted mushroom fabric?? ]

The pattern is easy to sew but I think there is a slight mistake which I think is not intentional. I believe that the measurements may have been switched ie. the bodice calls for it to be 6″ wide and the strap 3″ [unfolded] so I followed as per instructions but when I sewed it on, I realised that it looks a little out of proportion so I switched the measurements and it looks fine now. Hence, the bodice is 3″ and the strap width is 6″.

I can actually see myself making more of these as I actually completed them both within a day, technically anyway. lol

I cut out the fabric the night before and stitched the straps up and finished both dresses the next day. The girls wore the dresses to a Christmas Eve party as I coulnd’t wait till New Year!! *lol* One of the perks of being able to whip something up there and then.

Did I ever tell you about the time I whipped up a pair of 3/4 leggings for Arianna just before mass as her other white pair was in the wash?? LOL And it only took about 1/2 from start to completed leggings. Gee, we’re a spoilt bunch of mamas aren’t we? Whipping up clothes just like that…..

TFL….

Here’s wishing you and yours a wonderful and blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. May 2010 be more prosperous, health and wealth wise. Happy Stitching!

Lots of love,
Ted, Yvy, Arianna & Kathleen-Rose

I really feel blessed when things that I don’t expect to happen, happen. Of course I’m talking about good things. One such good thing is striking up a new friendship with a VERY VERY talented quilter, Sam. She makes the most awesome quilts ever…and what a heart of gold she has too.

Look what came in the mail for me today!

What a sweetheart eh? When she told me that she was sending these stuff over….I couldn’t believe it! And now that it’s here, I know it’s true. LOL I can’t wait to try some of those Otto Women’s patterns especially the summer ones. And getting 8 flannel FQs is definitely a push for me to try and make a quilt myself. I don’t know how I’m going to do it or where to start but I will. At least hopefully in time for winter 2010. lol

Thanks so much again, Sam….you really made my day!! ((hugs))

A big big thank you to Tracy for writing up this really cute and simple newborn overalls pattern!! Despite so close to her due date, she is really churning out patterns like there was no tomorrow! lol Thanks again hun, I had fun making these and most likely will sew up more.

Since KR is no longer a newborn, try 8mths past that….I decided to try and modify Tracy’s pattern so it would fit KR. I thank my lucky stars…..by lengthening it and widening it a little, it actually fit!

I sort of screwed up the buttons actually. LOL Snapped them on wrongly but heck, can’t really see plus this was a trial pair so the next time I make one, I’ll be sure to pay more attention. That said, I think if it was a tad bit longer, it would be perfect-o!

Thanks again, Tracy!!! TFL….

After that really major, by my standard, dress that I did for KR, I really took time out just to recuperate and take things easy. But I think I’m over the burnout and I’m back!!! Well, my sewjo is anyway. LOL Recently, since I’ve been sewing dresses for the girls what with Christmas around the corner and all, I’m so into dresses and skirts now so I decided to sew up a Hertta Skirt [#19, Otto 1/09] for Arianna. I had this pattern traced out and ready to sew but never got to it.

I call this one Sweet Hearts. The pattern was relatively simple but I had a LOT of trouble with the waistband. Found it really fiddly so next time I will just make life easy for me and just do the normal way of putting in the elastic. After all, the blouse will cover the top part anyway so why bother with all the complex sewing? But that’s just me though.

Arianna loving the skirt lots coz it also has a pocket and she can put her ‘girap’ in. lol Don’t mind the wild hair…someone just woke up from her nap!

TFL…

I woke up to our door buzzing at 7.30am this morning. I wasn’t impressed but knew that if it was this early, it’s normally a parcel and I was REALLY looking forward to this!

It’s my Chrissy parcel from Mum in Malaysia!!! *does the Christmas jig*

Mainly fabric which she’s being buying me really and more importantly, it contained our family recipe Christmas fruitcake!! And I bet she made this one especially for me coz I know for sure it’s got more cherries in them!! It’s taking me all my might to resist cutting the cake up and gobbling it down. The aroma of the brandy is just killing me ever so softly…I don’t know if I can last till Christmas! LOL

On the fabric front, she’s sent me 3 pieces of cotton batik sarungs, 2 lightweight flannel which I think will be suitable for spring/autumn and even this crazy chilly summer that we seem to be having occasionally this year. I am not complaining though – give me cold anytime!! She has also included a shawl which is normally worn with Punjabi suits but since I can remember, I’ve always ditched mine so will have to figure out what I can made that with. It’s really thin and cotton if I’m not mistaken with some handsewn beads as well.

Of course she also sent us Christmas presents although I wasn’t really expecting anything since she was already sending me these stuff. But needless to say, I’m happy that she did send us some. Never say no to Santa!!

Thanks so much, Mummy….you’re the best. Can’t wait to see you in May!!! {{hug hug, kiss kiss}}