School Year Drawing to a Close

Last few days of school for the kids. I'm kinda going to miss walking to school with them. In spite of all the traffic noises around us, we still manage to get some conversations going.

The other day, Audrey was telling me all about Pizza Planet on Toy Story 1 and how you can eat pizza there but no place to sit, where there's play area, and where you can buy some drinks.

Samuel usually walks quietly beside me and corrects me when I say the wrong name; he pretends he is Buzz Lightyear one minutes, Sponge Bob Squarepants the next, Bob-The-Builder a few minutes later.

The only thing I don't miss is the the Shanghai heat that we end up arriving at the kids' school dripping wet.

Thanks DesigningMoms

Wow! I just saw a small bit about my kids matching cards on Designing Moms. I've just had a chance to read thru blogs I follow and didn't see this until now.

So cool!

Thanks, Cat.

Freebie: Dots Paper Pack

This took longer than it should to be posted online. But really quite happy with this new set of paper packs. Now available for download from aCloset.com. Check them out now.

Custom Fabric

oh la la! Just found Spoonflower via Fantastic Toys and so so so excited about the possibilities... The cool thing is they can ship to China! Okay, China may be the source for textile products but I cannot seem to be able to get customized fabric in small quantity... everyone I checked before can only make them in big orders.

Anyways, I've got some designs that I would love to get printed and just excited thinking about this... (he!he!he!)

Father's Day Card

Father's Day is just around the corner. I've managed to get my kids to do their 'surprise' for Daddy last Sunday, whew!

In case you're a bit late in organizing anything, here's a little freebie card that you can download, print and add some little writings before giving to daddy. Click on the image above to download the PDF or click here.

ENJOY.

Thank You for 4-day Weekends!

We just had a very enjoyable and productive 4-day weekend while kids had only 3 days off, back to school on Sunday.

Day 1: Thursday


Lots of walking around our neighborhood. Did a couple shorts using fabric bought from Ikea about 3 years ago! Quite happy with the result. Pattern from Betsey & Joey which was also something I purchased years ago and never got the chance to do anything with. I made the kids shots longer than pattern and added a cotton lace edging on Audrey's. They wore these the next day when we visited a family friend. These were my first ever sewing project and can't wait to do more...

Day 2: Friday

Spent almost all day at friend's apartment compound. We had lunch picnic, then kids played in the big sand pit which has real beach sand flown in (from somewhere), and more playing in the other playground area with climbing frames and more.

Day 3: Saturday



Went on sightseeing bus to check out Shanghai. Got a few new Japanese linens purchased on local 'ebay'. They are so yummy. Decided to immediately make another pair of shorts for Samuel from same pattern as Ikea shorts and a Lazy Day Skirt for Audrey from the Oliver+S, found via SouleMama.

Day 4: Sunday


Kids had school that day. Perfect as this gave me and Simon some personal time. Decided to check out my favourite hang-out, a very very local area of Shanghai that sells wholesale/retail stuff. This is what I ended up. The elastics on the left will go on kids clothes and I have another plan for these, too. The wide ribbons are from a new stall that just opened and had wall-to-wall of gross grain ribbons! Didn't know which one to buy. Buttons made of shells will be for some project I've been planning and will be selling on my Etsy shop shortly. This area of Shanghai is my equivalent to those craft stores you have in the West.