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.

aCloset Giveaway #3

Here's your chance to wish 2 balls of the Vitamin Yarn in Pink and Apple Green.

Leave a comment to be entered into the draw (using Random.org's generator). Good luck.

Birthday Goodies

So so excited with my new birthday goodies. Simon brought home loads of books and magazines from Hong Kong for my birthday and these will definitely keep me occupied for the next few days; we have 11 days off from work starting tomorrow.

And then I got some eye candy goodies in the mail from a local online shop. I've planned on doing more embroidery so these would be perfect to start off with. Don't the colours look yummy?


And some Zakka style leather strings which I will be using on some mini album projects I've got planned (more on that later). I love the colours and the texture.


Watch out for the Giveaway# 3 coming up on Friday.

Squeezing in Some Sewing Time

It's been crazy here the past few weeks. In between preparing for the kids' birthday and work, managed to finish a couple sewing projects.


Made another Oliver + S Popover Sundress for a little girl named Anna, who was also celebrating her 6th birthday around same time as my kids'. And this one I'm rather proud because I was somehow relaxed. And on this one, I used a new technique I was learned, French seams, which made for a nice clean finish.


Added some little crocheted edgings and flower, too.



And finally, I'm making my very first quilt. I thought I'd do something simple inspired by a blog post I read a while ago (which I'm embarassed to say I cannot seem to find the link anymore) and recently Amy Karol's Easy Lap Quilt from Bend The Rules Sewing. I'm not really this would be even classified as a quilt but I'm not really bothered. Anyways, I'm putting this in the kids' room floor as the back side will have a dark blue cotton fabric with skid-proof dots. Will post more when I've actually managed to finish this. I've managed to finish the piecing part. Now comes the quilting part. Wish me luck!

aCloset Giveaway #2

Giveaway # 2 is a pack of 'sticky' stuff. 2 rolls of cute decotapes and a bunch (9 of them) of cute flocked stickers.

Leave a message/comment before Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 9:00 PM EDT to be entered into the draw. As like before, I will use the random generator.

Good luck.

WIP: Prepping for Kids' Party

Running out of time and somehow I feel like there's still so much to do... My kids' birthday is next week and I've planned on making some of Bakerella's cake pops for the day itself and another batch for the party. And in between, I've been busy making the no-sew tutus for the girls and superhero capes for the boys.


At least now I've finished cutting the cape fabrics and making the initials in felt. Just need to sew up the capes tonight.

With the few minutes I had this morning before walking the kids to school, managed to squeeze in some time to make some star toppers for the mini cupcakes and jelly boats.

Used the kids' star-shaped punch which turned out to be just the right size. Folded some scraps of scrapbook paper in 2 and punched the shape near the fold or at least 1 of the pointed bit was on the fold. This way I don't have to stick 2 together and spending time trying to align them. Also just used some random colours whatever scraps I had left.

These are some of the stars that has been punched out. Not perfect because of the fold but I don't think it's a major issue.

Add a bit of glue in the middle and used the toothpick to spread the glue a bit before putting it in place.

And then closed the other half down and pressed to adhere the star and the toothpick together.

Giveaway #1 Goes to....

This first giveaway goes to "ikkinlala"! Congratulations! And hope you enjoy the yarn.

Watch out for the next one coming up on the 18th of September. Thanks again for all who participated.

aCloset Giveaway #1

The first aCloset giveaway will be 4 big skeins of South Pole Yarn in the colours you see above. Only 1 winner.

Luxuriously soft worsted weight yarn. Made of 100% new wool from New Zealand and Mongolian Plateau cashmere. This is the same yarn and quality that is exported to the US and Europe. So nice to knit with its silky cashmere-like luxurious texture. And it's a good weight for knitting sweaters/jumpers. Not a great fan of wool but this one is an exception.

Each skein is 125g. Machine washable on gentle cycle. Suggested needle size: 4.25mm - 4.50mm or US size 6-7.



All you need to do is post a comment and let me know what you can do with these yarn. Cut-off time: Sunday 9:00pm US EST (which is 9:00am Monday, in Shanghai, China).

Countdown to Christmas Starts This Weekend

New Books

So so so excited with the new books I just got in the mail.

Handmade Home signed by Amanda Blake Soule... excited to try out some of the ideas in the book.


Stitched in Time signed by Alicia Paulson... (kids wanted to read it before I could). After I managed to flip through it, itching to try out the ideas in the book.

Design-It-Yourself by Cal Patch... I am instantly in love with this book with clear instructions on how to take measurements and creating your own patterns. I can't wait to read it in detail and sew some of the simple clothes in the book.

Popover Sundress

Last night I finally finished the Popover dress for Audrey using the pattern from Oliver+S, free from Sew Hip magazine. It was a bit nerve-wracking for me as I worried about not doing a good job of it esp. since Audrey wanted Heather Ross' Far Far Away Unicorn fabric and it wasn't cheap. But I was glad that it turned out great (if I may say so) and importantly, she wanted to wear the dress today. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to take a photo of her wearing it as I was late for work.

Ended up making this reversible as I thought the Far Far Away double gauze fabric was a bit too thin. And had to improvise a bit with the length on this side as I only have 1/2 yard, not enough to cover the required length. The yellow side is also made of double gauze cotton but slightly heavier weight which I bought about 5 years ago for less than a dollar for 5 metres (!) at the very original fabric market in Shanghai (the market has since moved twice to the current location which I don't like much and too far from where I live). Back then when I bought it I wasn't sure what to get the dressmaker to make with it. Glad I kept it.

By the way, j saw that this Popover Sundress pattern is now free for download. Check it out now.

My experience with Oliver+S patterns have been fantastic so far; detailed instruction and easy to follow illustrations. So for a newbie like me, it's quite a nice way to learn. Next up in my list of things to sew is the Sailboat Top, Skirt & Pants pattern I bought recently for my twins.