Two jobs

September 24, 2022September 24, 2022Leave a comment

How is it that being young could be being energetic? Could it be possible that youth would not need 8 hours of sleep? Could it be being the one person that you like to spend time with would give you energy?

Would that energy become your force of life? Can I not use logic, my little knowledge of science to explain this? I can’t comprehend what’s happening here.

Things that I remember vividly was how small he was, and how he would share with me stuffs that he loves like cars: race cars, branded sports cars, energy drink, bodybuilding, jokes in tiktok, friends, music, and just about anything!

Now is that he’s working. Not one job but two. One that is obviously not in his favour and another one that he keeps just so he will have enough money.

Sometimes these situation make me starts to be sceptical about my decision, about my being his mother, about what I’ve thought what is right.

All I hope is simple. That he’s healthy, happy and living his life in gratefulness.

Scan scan scan

November 1, 2021Leave a comment

That’s the thing now, scan to check-in to work, restaurant, supermarket, mall etc. Then need to check-out once we are out from that premises. Many a times, I forgot, so in the record, I was staying overnight in a strange place like the mall or even my office.

There are also places that have faulty thermometer scanner that scared the hell out of me. Can you imagine someone with 38.4 degree Celsius walking around? My brain would have been toast!

Anyhow, that’s the new normal now. It would feel strange walking around in open space without mask on. It is consider a luxury that we can be in places that doesn’t require mask, but the risk are there. So whenever we go to the gym, we are given a tiny cloths with sanitising spray so we can be our own janitor and make sure to sanitised those equipment that we are going to use and after we’ve used them. Number of people definitely come down to half the capacity.

In terms of number of user, it is not a bad idea, considering that I would prefer less people around me while I do my exercises and I don’t need to wait for my turn till the other person finish using the equipment. However, it is such a relieve that we can go back in using the shower and locker now, rather than having to sock in sweat till we get home for our own shower.

That’s it, scan to check-in and later remember to check-out.

3 compartments zipper pouch

February 6, 2021Leave a comment

My version of a 3 compartment zipper pouch

How this zipper pouch came by? Well.. I found a cute 3 compartments purse bag through Pinterest. And it leads me to THIS POST – DIY 3 compartments purse bag by Sewing Time. I just had to try it. But I would prefer to have a zipper on it as I’ve this phobia of my phone falling out from pouches (which didn’t really happened).

Before this, I’ve made a zipper pouch with flap from Craftsy through The Harris Tote & Clutch Wallet by Diane Spencer Ogg. Diane called it Clutch Wallet by the way. Through that tutorial of her clutch wallet, I get to learn about doing the flap which I normally won’t do.

Another tutorial which has a similar way in sewing the flap is by Karina Uzeda. She loves to use binding to finish off most of her bags. Since I prefer not to use binding, so I’ve skipped that part. Karina has lots of free tutorial in her blog.

Both Diane and Karina has insta and YouTube channel, you can easily search for them.

So, here are some more close up of the zipper pouch I’ve made.

Since I didn’t use a thick lining fabric, I’ve enhanced the snap area with some fusible interlining. Which I would recommend to fuse think lining with a thin layer of interlining actually..

Here you can see where the card slot is.

Well.. that’s it. Just wanted to share this and hopefully inspire you do DIY your own pouches from the tutorials that I’ve shared here.

Customized zipper pouches

February 4, 2021Leave a comment

Done these two under the request of my colleague.
She wanted a simple pouch where she can put her phones, money and maybe cards for those short trip to the store nearby. So I’ve made these, one with card slots inside and one with slip on pocket outside. Both with wristlet for the convenient of having both hands free to hold other things.

Ever since the movement control order started, we have been limiting our trip to go out. Plus we try to not linger inside a store. So really.. those trips become short and precise. Having a clear head on what we wanted to get, got our temperature checked, checked-in using MySejatera, get in the shop, grab what we wanted, pay with contactless payment and leave the place. Remembering to sanitized our hands as often as possible. Masks on at all time!

Let’s just stay safe, stay healthy and with an active body and mind, let’s get go through this together.

Small backpack on a budget

January 2, 2019January 2, 2019Leave a comment

Happy New year!!!

Have sewn up two backpack in one go, but took me several nights to finish this.

Got this free pattern from So Sew Easy. Their pattern is available over at Craftsy.

This backpack pattern is free. However I’ve altered it to the way I like it.. For instance I’ve combine the bag base with the side panel and I’ve sewn the seam hidden for the one using cotton materials.

As for the PU material, I’ve used binding following the instructions. Still I find it better to hand stitch to close up the binding, to have a neater look.

I’ve also not include the swivel hooks on the strap as I find it not necessary.

Fulfilled customer’s request

September 6, 2018September 6, 2018Leave a comment

IMG_20180906_135813 This is one of the request with the specific outer fabric. Some more below..

But, let me show you the lining first..

IMG_20180906_135832 striking colour and and huge contrast with the outer fabric.

Well… The next two are the same pattern. Still, I wanted to show them off here and hopefully not too soon and kill the surprise, cos they’re going to be used as gifts.

IMG_20180906_140443 IMG_20180906_140421

I’m crossing my fingers now that I need to prepare for a hand made market in November. Hoping to make more handmade before than and hopefully it is well taken by the market then.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..

August 25, 2018Leave a comment

sunshine crutch bulk

More sunshine wristlet pouch to show.

Did these using all my favourite fabrics. One of these is an order from colleague who loves pink…so, you know which already?

One is using fabric that was brought back from a dear friend all the way from Texas.. now… That’s previous, right?

sunshine crutch 2 sunshine crutch 1

Below are two that’s made by fabric that I bought online. Love how they turn out. sunshine crutch red 1 sunshine crutch red 2

Thanks to bagstock who offer this pattern online.

Happy weekend!

Minikins pouch

August 12, 2018Leave a comment

cotton candy Been busy lately trying to catch up with the a bag a day challenge which started on 1st August over at Sew Sweetness FB group.

Above picture shown the cotton candy pouch in Large. I’ve changed a little bit in its design by adding vinyl at the bottom part. I’ve also added side D-ring for strap if I were to make it. However it turns out that I need way more fabric than I thought to make a handle.

The pattern call for a normal skirt or zip #3 but I’ve used a zip# 5 here.

I’ve tried using the smaller zipper on the other cotton candy pouch, and it is ok though. However, I’m going to use zip #3 more often now.

You can check out the pattern at SewSweetness.dot

Happy seeing you all..0

Note on eating out

March 25, 2018Leave a comment

Was in one of the local Chinese restaurant that offer good meal recently. I know this probably is not a good time to show so much meat here during this month, Good Friday is coming, remember?

However, I just want to record my gratitude here, being thankful for all the blessings that we are having now.

There was a function going on at that time and we were hiding behind the divider curtain, with speaker that couldn’t be shut down on our end as the function didn’t occupy the whole floor. Lucky that they didn’t, else we won’t be able to even have dinner there. Amidst all these, I’ve enjoyed my time with family.

On another note, if you run out of idea what to cook, try eating out with family, I mean the more the merrier, ‘cos you can try more variety of food, hopefully you’ll get inspired in trying out new dishes too.

All these dishes are those that I normally either can’t or not able to cook and enjoy at home, cos I got fussy eater, plus .. Let’s face it, I’m not a brilliant cook (note to self).

Venue: New Wong Kok Restaurant, Jalan Kolam, Luyang.

To Saigon

March 6, 2018March 6, 2018Leave a comment

Vietname Pho with lots of herbs and bean sprout

I just came from a trip last night, my first ever visit to Ho Chi Minh city, or some people call it Saigon. Still have that Vietnam coffee after taste, and that bruises on my hand (will talk about this later).

Seen both the struggling street with night market (which seems to have more tourist than locals) and the modern shopping mall with branded goods, working class in suits and heels. Locals that don’t speak English at all and tour guide who are well verse in English. Seen also rude customer who doesn’t give the effort to communicate with non-English speaking workers and demanded to know when they can have their pedi-mani session, which at the end being turned away, most probably the chose not to serve them (ha! serve you right!). Seen also spa center that asked for tips which made the whole thing way more expensive than it looks and tourist area or pit-stop that sang you traditional songs and ready a basket for tips.

Seen locals who speak in simple foreign languages to serve their foreign customers, including Malay Language, English and Chinese. To me they are really friendly, sometimes over friendly that they’ll hold your hand just so you don’t walk away after asking how much is their stuff cost. Next sentence follow will be “How much you buy? How much how much?” (in a very strong Vietnamese accent). Next thing is you started to bargain with them. Something from 250,000 dong can turn out to be 150,000 dong! Depends on where you are and what things you are bargaining at.

You’ll find lots and lots of hand craft things, including from wood, fabric, bags, shoes, key-chain, magnet, fresh flowers in baskets.

We stay near to Ben Thanh Market. So, every night around 6:30pm, bikers going pass with their stalls, yes, the canvas with steels and wheels! They’ll be holding on their bike in one hand and another hand on the canvas, even the whole wardrobe! In minutes, they’ll be able to set up their stalls, within half an hour, all their stuff will be hung nicely and ready for business.

Wifi is available every where, with closed access. So if you are in a restaurant, you can easily get the password from the waiter or look out for it at their menu. So, grab yourself a cuppa, have a seat and you’ll be able to surf the net again without having to get a local data card. No worry about getting lost, people are very helpful just as long as they know where do you mean you want to go.

You can see Starbucks and Coffee Bean here and there, even Baskin Robins. Though local coffee is the cheapest and original, ha!

Another thing, if you want to get across the road, don’t worry too much on the motorcylist, as long as you keep on your pace and cross the road on a green light, even when it is red. ‘cos in coming traffic can turn right on a red light. Do watch out for cars though, it is harder for them to avoid you. Face mask is available vastly in the stores everywhere. And you’ll see Grab service using motorcycle. You can tell by their helmet. Give it a try if you are adventurous, but you’ll need proper dataline to do that.

However, there are some motocyclist who prefer to ride on the pavement, so do be carefull even when you are using the walkway. I got bump into by a motor while walking on the pavement, and got a blue-black on my hand. Anyway, nothing major..except leaving a hole on my blouse’ sleeve.

If you love high places, a view from the top or to step on to an iconic building, try Sai Gon Skydeck.