Pockets of Time

These days, I just feel like the days go so fast with each waking moment spent doing something. I guess you can say never a dull moment. So many things to do and projects to start on top of the usual 10 hours at work a few evening hours during the week and full days with kids on the weekend.

This will probably be the last couple posts before Blogger stops supporting my blog on 01 May, and before Simon gets round to moving my blog to our own blog system.

Getting into retro Chinese stuff: My new trainers for only US$5 +/- which are so cool! These Hui Li brand shoes are made by one of Shanghai oldest brands and are currently the latest trend and are actually sold overseas for around 60+/- Euros! Plus the red laces are free :-)


Tried to take a photo of the box unfortunately our cleaners have put them in the trash before I got a chance. The box still has the same 1970s style of design and graphics.

Found some spirograph for the kids at only US$1.00 per set and didn't realize these are not easy to find anymore. The packaging are so cool as they have these old 1970s style.


I've also finally decided to cut into my AMH Good Folks fat quarter stash. This is going to be a quilt to commemorate our 10th year anniversary. I have to admit math is my weakest point and that is why I've stayed away from quilting really. Anyway, I decided to grab images of the fabric online and put together the design digitally to see the sizes and how they will look with light linen sashing...
or dark red/burgundy-ish one.
Haven't completely decided... I may end up not adding a sash but use a dark red binding.


I've finished trimming them and the kids helped lay them on the floor according to the picture. They even helped me with the measuring tape (though how accurate the measurement was, I'm not sure).

Last bit on sewing... I think it's time to park my Oliver + S Popover Sundress pattern. I love the pattern as it's quick and a great dress to make esp when I'm always pinched for time... but I have already sewn too many of them for the little girl in Australia, Paris, and in Shanghai.


Finally, as a little Easter treat, I revisited Bakerella's Cake Balls. I found her own recipe for the Red Velvet Cake and I decided to try it out. I LOVE IT! It tastes even more yummier than ones I've used before. Moist and light and so perfectly right.

Made cake balls with less frosting but I still cannot seem to get my candy melts to have a smooth finish like on hers... not sure if it's because of the brand I used (Wilton's, which had to be purchased in Hong Kong) or if I did not heat it enough.


I haven't given up yet even after a couple attempts. I know I will do some more of this.

Sewing with Knits and Stretchy Fabric

Ever since I saw this post from Made, I just knew I had to make some for my twins as I still had some in my stash. The first one turned out alright though not perfect as I was still trying to get myself acquainted with sewing stretchy fabrics.

Then I decided to make 2 as I really want to make the shirts even better. There is also a helpful tip from Omni Creates which is quiet helpful.

So 2 shirts later, I had 2 broken ballpoint needles and 1 bent one....


I really really really would love to be able to sew more and thought about getting a serger but after reading Omni Creates's tips, I knew I can do it without a serger (cannot afford to get one now so had to weigh options)...

I haven't given up yet and in fact have my kids' knickers (or undies) fabric all cut up ready to be sewn based on this pattern. Hopefully this time around, I'll be lucky... fingers crossed.

Happy Chinese New Year!

We are so excited that Spring has arrived (according to the Chinese Lunar calendar) though wish the weather will also cooperate! We want to wish everyone a prosperity, health, luck and happiness in this 'Year of the Tiger'.


An aCloset tradition, each year we give away a free and unique stitch marker for every 6 stitch markers ordered. Because there is only a limited quantity available. So hurry and get your limited edition stitch marker now.


Check out the shop now.

CNY 2010

Chinese New Year is coming up. One of the rare times I managed to get to the 'Old Town' to buy some annual CNY door decorations to usher in good luck for the coming year. This time I cut back on buying only 2 decorations; 1 traditional 2-pc scroll for our front door and another 2-pc Year of the Tiger ones for the kids' room door.

Long time coming

It has indeed been some time since I managed to blog just about anything. For some reason when December started, we got swamped with work which is great of course, as it made up for the very slow beginning of 2009.

So I've been trying to find little pockets of time in between work and weekend with the kids to do something. Our Christmas presents for the family unfortunately still has to go out! It's awful and I'm fortunate my family has been quite forgiving about the lateness. I guess they get to have Christmas all over again... the gifts will finally and definitely will be out this week and I'm so looking forward to that!

I thought I'd share a few things I managed to get done over the last few months in pictures rather than words; or at least I'll try not to blah too much...

Our Advent Calendar: This is the finished version of what I blogged about some time ago here. A new tradition for us which we will be taking out of storage every Christmas. My first project that involved a lot of hand sewing and embroidery. The kids loved taking turns getting the ornaments out of the pockets.


One of the projects I thought I wouldn't be able to do this year - a December Daily - inspired by Ali Edwards. This gave me a huge sense of accomplishment as I managed to persevere in spite of all the late hours I had at the office. Plus everyone contributed, even daddy! I am looking forward to doing this again in 2010. Pictures can be found on my Flickr.


My first foray into making softies and dollies. This was from Wee Wonderfuls. It was quite an experience and can't wait to make more. Made these 2 plus 2 sleeping bags, 2 jumpers or overalls and 2 backpacks as gift to Margot, our French neighbour's daughter. They were all leaving Shanghai for good and I thought these were perfect to remind her of Samuel and Audrey. They've been playmates ever since we moved to the current address so it was quite sad to see them go...


The scarves for Stephanie and Bernard. I wasn't sure if I could do this as I've never sewn with silk before but wanted to use bits of silk I had lying around so decided to just do it. So happy with the results. Did not use batting as I didn't want it to be heavy since the cashmere wool on the other side was already enough weight.



Kidlets by JCasa. Made 6 for my colleagues each with their initials and different fabric.




There's actually more but I thought I should wait until my family has received their gifts or it'll spoil the surprise.

I'm working on a stuff for Chinese New Year... And stuff for kids to do over the 1-week holiday.

And also finished making a Tooth Fairy Pillow for Audrey. Check it out here.

Too many things to finish

At the moment... scrambling to finish our first handmade advent calendar inspired by Inchmark, making presents for our neighbor who's going back to France for good, making Christmas presents for relatives, cooking, baking, and hectic days at the office.


Growing up in the Philippines, we had a lot of traditions but we never had an Advent calendar. I only found out about Advent calendars when my husband introduced it to the kids when they were 2. So the past couple years we've bought those which comes with a chocolate in each date. And now, I decided, it was time we had something that we will last for years to come and not so commercial hence all the late nights.

The kids keep asking when will it be Christmas and when can we start using the calendar... Audrey has already picked out which ornament goes into which date and pocket. Being a girly girl she likes pink stuff at the moment...


One thing I'm excited and can't wait to start sewing with is this recent purchase of vintage fabric. These are very traditional and are typically from the Dongbei Province in China. The level of detail are just amazing and is not anymore evident in the fabric you get at the market nowadays. Apparently these dates back to when you need to have a coupon to buy fabrics, probably around the time of the Cultural Revolution. I just love the goldfish motif. There's 2 fabric weights - lightweight corduroy and medium weight cotton.


Chinese characters mean 'double happiness'... goldfish or fish in general symbolize abundance.



The peonies in full bloom means: fortune comes with blooming flower. Peonies are always an auspicious element in a lot of Chinese paintings.

Freebie: More Paper Packs and Tags

To those who downloaded the new batch of scrapbook freebies, THANK YOU. I've made more freebies for download for you. As a small request, if you can share whatever you've used the freebies for to the Group Picture Pool.

More Christmas theme to add to your December album. Just click on the images to go to the download page(s).


So excited with this set of tags below. Just so Christmas-y. These icons are the same designs I'm using for my first handmade Advent calendar, which I will post later, and thought they would make great tags, too...


These paper packs below are inspired those cross-stitch patterns. I got distracted at work the other day and had the itch to do these patterns. I am planning to use these on a new album I'm working on which the kids will give as gift to friends of their who are leaving China for good. I'll also share the album and templates later on... ... so here are the paper packs.



On a final note, to avoid getting multiple 'order confirmations' emailed to you after downloading the freebies, please wait for the page to finish downloading before clicking the 'submit' button again.

Don't forget, this weekend, everything in the shop are 50%!

Shop Update: Sale

Check out the shop now for more details.

Freebie: Big Christmas Download

I know it's been a while since I last had some freebies. Been planning on posting new ones but with life's many interruptions coming my way, I decided, a big Christmas freebie would be even better.

So here goes 3 sets to get you started on a '25 Days of December' album or journal...

Here's 5 Photoshop layered templates which I've started with a paper and a tag for you. Just add your photos and other embellishments you may already have in your stash. Rotate the pages or flip the photo clusters and you get yet another layout.

Here's a series of festive Christmas-themed paper pack. Total of 9 patterned papers.

And finally 25 date tags to use with the album pages all with shadows ready to use.

Do come back soon as I may end up posting more Christmas-themed stuff to supplement this batch of freebies.

And lastly, it would be great to see what you've done with these...

Thanks. Enjoy!

These days...

These days... just want to sit down in front of the TV and watch TV series on DVDs and knit...

These days... work has been picking up and so have been working until late every night. Sometimes not getting home until 2am...

These days... still have lots of unfinished sewing to do but just too tired to go near my sewing machine...

These days... we've been exploring Shanghai on foot on weekends with the kids and they've been great sport...

These days... experiencing more migraines than before...

These days... kids doing great in school, with teacher singing praises...

These days... Audrey is into art, doing all sorts of drawings, crafts, painting, cutting, even on her own...

These days... Samuel has been on daddy's computer trying all sort of games online, and even good at it...

These days... life is good.

My Life Now

A couple weeks ago, I outdid myself and finished a little book within a couple days! This was inspired by Molly Irwin's version (sorry Molly if mine is a bit of a replica to yours but I just liked your style and it was the easiest way to go about it) and link from Stacy Julian's blog. I thought it would be a perfect gift to myself as I turn the big 4-0. There's actually more stuff I had forgotten... Maybe I'll add it as notes on a separate page.


All are digital pages from various sources. The panel with the photos were printed on a linen cotton sheet (maybe this is also called a bookcloth) which I found while the other side was printed on a thick card stock in order to give the pages printed on linen some stiff support.