I did it again & again & again... HELP!

Before I share my guilt... I would like to wish -

"Selamat menghayati bulan Ramadhan. Semoga Ramadhan ini menjadi Ramadhan yang lebih bermakna daripada Ramadhan yang lepas. Saya juga ingin memohon maaf kepada semua atas segala salah silap saya selama ini. Semoga ibadah kita diterima Allah..."

We will start fasting this Saturday & it is a relief that the school break will officially start. The truth, my girls have been cutting school this week ever since Tuesday. Test is over & with this outbreak, home is the safest place. Balqis anyhow was in her kindy today. There was a photography session which she refused to skip.

She loved the attention she had with the mask I made ;-)

Okay, back to the title up there. I did it again... You should know by now that I have been bitten by this sewing bug. A very big one I assume. What hindered me to get a sewing machine before was due to space. I'm an organised person. Really can't live in a war zone. I however , managed to get myself this rattan chest box at R&R Melaka. It really does its trick to store most all my sewing stuffs.

Notice that it is put the other way around by the wall? That is meant for Nadeen. The other girls know well that they are not supposed to open it at all. Many times Nadeen tried to do so but so far, no luck ;-)

The many not yet touched fabrics are resting underneath... Shhh!

Both the sewing machines & overlock machines are now sharing the big study table with the girls' desktop. At the corner next to the over lock machine is where I secure any sharp tools as I am pretty sure Nadeen will manage to solve the mystery to open the chest one day.

As some are aware my latest craze now is making DIY tudungs. These are a few of my needlework...

My maiden touch...

This one has a button at the back like the h*jaba

My raya tudung which Wardah loves madly.


A dear friend modeling the tudung I made for her & Nadeen in my niece kiddy tudung.

This one is my favourite so far...

Like them? ;-) The problem now here is I fail to control my lust over purchasing fabrics & more fabrics... I came across my first jersey materials in Kamdar, Mid Valley & the results are all the tudungs you viewed on top. I still have a few jerseys left but I fail to stop myself from getting more!

My first face to face with printed jerseys & cotton jerseys was at Gulati's. I was almost flying in happiness... Now, these were what I got myself. Frankly, they are still in fabrics. Not yet cut, neither sewn, deep down the chest :-)

I googled for more jersey materials just to find out how good is the quality I bought at Gulati's. Landed myself onto a few blogs & forums which mentioned a lot of "kedai kain SS2". Instead of further finding out about Gulatis's materials, I googled for the shops in SS2. Today, I made my mainden entry to both shops including the Kamdar nearby.

The materials I fell for at Mikawah

Though I was aware of the costly prices at Zhouhou, I just could not resist the many patterns offered. True that Mikawah offers better prices & quality too (I think...) but at Zhouhua, the many fabrics on displayed could really hypnotise you.

These were what I lost to.

They even have Japanese coduroy. Plan to make something for Nadeen & Balqis.

True like what HB said. This hobby which he thought would cut the household budget has turned into an expensive hobby. Errk....!

My Needle Creations

My Melaka trip day 2 needs to give way to this entry. I would recommend that you take a peep at my previous post here first (if you missed it of course) before proceeding.

Yes, I am into sewing these days. Something really remarkable don't you think? Anyhow, my passion in needlework has gone up to another level. It has come close to an addiction! Seriously!

In a day, I sometimes feel incomplete if I don't get something done with my Brother. It has been truly "at my side"...

Not only that, it has somehow become a remedy to my FB addiction too. Come to think of it.... what difference does it make when you fall to a new addiction from another? Sigh...

In the previous post, I mentioned that my only exposure to a sewing machine was when I made a baju kurung kedah for my mom. Well my best friend, a silent reader here called to inform that I presented one to her too. Now, that makes it 2. Other than that my knowledge in this field is almost zero!

On the same day I bought those 2 machines, I stopped by at a mall to get a few pieces of cheap cloth & a book.

The book

The book was not much of a help. However, the confidence my girls had on me & actually requested the designs they wanted made me find another alternative to fulfill their wishes.

Yasmin's choice

Wardah's

Balqis's

The instructions which made me staring rather than comprehending!

I am a mom but I am also a daughter. Called up my mom to play teacher. She was more than happy to assist & was also excited with the 2 machines. My dad agreed to stay late on a Wednesday (my parents come to my place on every Wednesday after their regular exercise at a clubhouse in Cyberjaya).

She made me see clearer & understood better in the art of sewing. Still, she is no professional tailor. She could not help me to comprehend the drawings in the book I bought.

We somehow managed to complete the top of Wardah's baju kurung. Thank you ma & abah too for waiting. Love you! They left for home at midnight. I did not manage to convince abah to put up the night at my place. He wanted his own bed... I understand quite well :-)

I completed the bottom of Wardah's baju kurung on my own. There was a problem but I managed to tackle it ;-) After all I had a magnificent teacher... Now this was my first project with my Brother. Wardah's baju kurung. The material was given long ago by my MIL. A satin cotton which she bought in Mecca.

The baju kurung

Notice the matching scrunchie?

I opted one of the many patterns from my Brother...

... & the sleeve.

So? Did I pass? Hehehe... Next, I decided to make a long skirt for Yasmin using the same material. Here is the result ;-)

I have to admit that I made a few alterations to her skirt. Not because it didn't fit, but I was kind of struggling with the frills. Furthermore, the first ribbon colour I chose did not suit her. With the new colour, I am quite satisfied with the end product. Oh yes, I made a headband for her too.

My second visit to a bigger bookstore after owning my Brother was an accomplishment. I found a book entitled "Sewing for Dummies" but decided to get this one instead... & my decision was perfect!

The thick book

To answer to the thought in your minds... No, I haven't completed reading. It is like a textbook to me. Nobody reads textbooks from page to page. Errr... do you??

The author is very good & precise too. I have learned a lot from her book. Hence, upon discovering a book with the same author, I without hesitate bought it. As expected, it gave me a clearer picture. I sure recommend this book if any of you decide to make children clothing.

Based from Balqis's choice of dress, I decided to try making my first dress. The material I chose was very cheap. At RM3.80 per metre, a failure wouldn't regret me.

The only turn off was the colour. It was rather too pinkish to me but not to Balqis. She totally adores her mom's handiwork.

Balqis with the dress I made

The belt was a recycle from a leftover material I found in the closet. Those flowers, I bought at 50sen each. Well, I need to get suitable colours of ribbons next time around & make my own. Right?

I also sewed this net cloth to add a wide flair to her skirt. She feels like a princess. Even though I only spent less than RM 15 altogether ;-D

I made a dress for Nadeen too using the same material I used for Wardah & Yasmin. Not only that... I also ventured my first experience with smocking!

Nadeen with the dress

The smocking which I am not so proud of...

The attires made for the elder girls which they put on for the first time in Melaka were pretty simple to make. The cloth was ready with stretched material at the waist. Seam one end to another & you get yourself a skirt. I made lining for the skirt though as it is a bit transparent.

I did not cut Yasmin's skirt to suit her height. Instead, I handsewed the extra length at the bottom. In Wardah's case, I sewed the bottom hem with the machine but added straps on top. I chose to sew 4 simple straps & to be worn with a knot on each shoulder.

The dress

The lining to the skirt

I bought the cloth at a textile store in Carre*our WMaju. Very cheap too . RM5 per metre!!

Now check this out... I have decided on a label name. MNC which originally meant My Needle Creations but Yasmin came up with a better one - Mama's Needle Creations. ;-D

Sewed this at the side of their lower garments. They sometimes complain of the label at the back of their neck.

A label on a pair of pants I made for HB. We declared the pants as a Father's Day gift. Hehehe!

Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there & especially to my beloved abah & bapak. Love you both & I am indeed grateful being your daughter.

Here's my mom on her 62nd birthday recently.

Now that's HB with the gift Balqis made at the kindie.

Time to hit the sack. More sewing tomorrow... Woohoo!!

Another toy?

It never did cross my mind that one day, I'd get myself involved in this. What I meant by this was a new passion I had recently possessed. A couple of friends did try to encourage me but it never worked. I totally rejected such ludicrous idea.

Somewhere last month however, I fell upon a friend's FB photo album. In fact, it was after like 2 weeks she uploaded her first project photos only did I feel like checking them out. It had been in my FB news feed for days. Friends commented but I was just not attracted to the picture.

It was after she uploaded the 4th album of her works that I started to show some enthusiasms. Browsed through all her previous works & from there I began dreaming of yet another toy...

Since my recent toy is still new, planning for another needed lots of strategies & plenty of research on my part. Hehehe... (No way! I don't play the old trick!! If that's what you're thinking...!) Deep inside me I sort of felt that I could win this negotiation ;-D

HB is never good with words but there is an exception. I have to give credits though to his choice of words in writings. In verbal I knew long, long ago he was bad & even though he had tried, he is still at where he started! Hehehe... Once, he commented on my FB status that I had hidden talents. Hmmm... With that statement, it carried the 50% of the negotiation points ;-D

Woohoo!! I won! I got myself the new toy... & I am sooooo in love with it. Such a brilliant thing! Should have gotten it earlier. Now this the toy, fresh from the box.

Any idea yet?

How about now?

Here comes the box & I pretty sure you do read well ;-)

Yes, I at 34yrs & 7 months own my first sewing machine. Before, I was so worried of space... as if "portable" is an alien word.

It's computerized with many stitching patterns to choose from.

Errr... not only that. HB just had to overdo it again. He got me this too.

Rested on one of the side tables in my bedroom is an overlock machine (mesin jahit tepi).

It was quite a pressure really when he bought that too. Frankly, the only thing I ever made using a sewing machine was a baju kurung kedah which was way during my teen years. It was for my mom on her birthday. My sister, a home science stream taught me, a commerce student. That was my one & only machine sewed material! (Well, used to be a fan of cross-stitching).

Seriously.. At one point it made me think. What have I gotten myself into?? I somehow pledge to myself, though how white those two toys are... they won't be another white elephant collection in the household!

Reading - The Journey

Listen up! I am here proud to announce that I have pick up READING again....! Yes. After like soooo looooong , I finally won the battle against whatsoever lame & unintelligent excuses I came up with for giving up the hobby I used to love so greatly.

My journey of the reading kingdom took me way back when I was 8. (lost to Yasmin, hers started at 7). Then I was a member of a library which was abolished to make way for IJN-Institut Jantung Negara. The books of my choice were books with colourful pictures & should not exceed 20pgs. Obviously, I could have finished reading those thin books within 10 minutes... but it was so cool checking out books with your own name written on that small piece of paper at the back page ;-)

At the age of 10 or probably less, I started to appreciate Enid Blyton's short stories. "Anytime Tales", "Bedtime Tales" & Amelia Jane series. Hooked with EB, I continued with Famous 5, Malory Towers & St.Clare's series (no Yasmin, I didn't read Secret 7 then). At 12, I felt that reading EB was rather uncool. I changed to "Nancy Drew Files". A year after, introduced myself to "Sweet Dreams", "Sweet Valley High", "Sweet Valley Twins" & fell in love with those. Other books untouched. I remember my brother whom I hired as my walking library. He was then in VI, wld pass Central Market daily to take the mini bus home. There was this bookstore inside CM, selling pretty cheap books. In fact we could rent out books. If I found any interesting book, I would look for the oldest of its batch. The older the book, the cheaper the rent. Sometimes, I managed to get 50sen for the rental but the condition of the book was very sad. But who cared, as long as readable...

After SRP, I was into Danielle Steel's & then Sidney Sheldon's (or was is Sheldon's first...). Steel never failed to make me cry. That was how engrossed I could be with the protagonist & even with the plot.

At 16, I came across a novel left by my aunt in her room. I sneaked reading the book & fell in love totally with the story. It was my first Jude Deveraux novel - "Highland Velvet". But by this time I had to restrain myself from reading too many novels. Had to put my studies first - SPM.

This was the Highland Velvet that made me so curious to read. Hahaha...!

This is the copy that I bought for myself somewhere last year. Hoping that the cover is not that inviting... ;-)

After SPM, I went back to reading business. Then, was head over hills with Jude Deveraux's & Judith McNaught's. Was really really crazy over their novels! What more... I was in a relationship... & love was in the air! Hahaha!

In college, I ventured other authors'. LaVyrle Spencer for instance and Jackie Collins too. Still cannot runaway from the same genre. Well... love was still in the air! I am definitely a fan of Spencer. Then still made my regular visits to the same bookstore at CM. I think, I have covered all Spencer's books that the store had for rental.


Familiar with Mills & Boon or perhaps, MB? I skipped this era. Tried reading it once... OK, the truth! I found loads of MBs in my aunt's room. I chose one MB & somehow was attracted to the cover of Highland Velvet. Whoaa... MB was very dull! Of course, what was MB in comparison to the genius touch of Deveraux ;-)

I do read biography/autobiography books too. The books will I never touch are thriller & horror. OK... am the coward type. I do sometimes get eerie watching CSI! Go ahead & laugh... I doubt , Harry Porter is a good read for me!


I married early (well...). After having Yasmin, my reading materials were more to books about parenting & babies. My magazine changed too from Cleo (I own the 1st Malaysia issue!) to Mother & Baby. I tried reading books but felt guilty. I was not the type of reader who is discipline with time. There was once I didn't sleep all night just for the sake of finishing a novel which I had read before! Imagine that! So, once becoming a mom I tried my best not to get involved with novels. Now, I opt for Women's Weekly. Malaysian issue of course... cheaper ;-)

Once, Yasmin refused to read a Famous 5 book which was given to her by my friend. She did not like the title, sounded scary - Five Go To Mystery Moor. In order to convince her, I read the first few pages of the book & ended up reading it till the end!

Along the way, I have influenced one person. Not Yasmin. That's inheritance... hehehe. It's HB. He failed to understand the luxury of reading. However, a couple of years back, he joined the boat voluntarily. He's more into Grisham's & Archer's which are not really my cup of tea.

Now, my target is Wardah. She is very much like her father. Not into books but like father, like daughter... easily influenced. I will slowly include reading as one of her hobbies. Time will tell but so far she is making quite a good progress. Will keep you updated ;-)

As for now, I am a Kinsellaholic... hehehe. Thanks to Shera. Will blog about this another time ;-)