Book Binding 手作书

It was about two years back when I first learned of book binding art from an inflight magazine. There was an article about a lady who conducted book binding workshop and also showcasing pictures of her beautiful work. I was so impressed with the craftwork created by her. I tried to get in touch with her to sign up for her next coming workshop. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the one that fit my schedule. I slowly forgotten about it after a few months and swamped with my work. 

Years passed, then about a month ago, I saw the posting in Facebook about a book binding workshop. I got so excited. I know I have to sign up for this one. I dragged my sister-in law along to the workshop too as she is as crazy as I'm when comes to crafting. 

The class was so fun. It's not as difficult as I thought it would be. The tools and equipment needed to bind a book are nothing fancy too. I have bought books about book binding and I haven't a clue on those instructions written in the book so I gave up. I'm so glad that I've signed up for the workshop. 

You can learn more about the wonderful book binding instructor here @ LittleSyam

This is my first ever hand-sewn book, I'm so proud of myself :)

Simple tools/equipment require for book binding

kettle stitch binding - isn't it beautiful

Front cover of the book - with cute little cat zipper charm as bookmark

I chose a different design of fabric for back cover, I think it's cool

My first hand-sewn book

Fabric Mobile Phone Cover 水玉手机袋

I am not a big fan of electronic gadgets. Hence, I never follow the trend of mobile devices in the market. Mobile phone to me is merely a communication tool ~ making phone calls or sending text messages. 

On my birthday, hubby gave me a new mobile phone. He said it's time to upgrade my mobile phone. According to him, with this upgraded mobile phone, we can communicate at a lower cost. Well, this new phone, though can do lot more than just a piece of communication device, I will try to keep it at making phone calls and sending text messages and may be picture messages :). I hope I won't be addicted to this piece of equipment like so many people out there ~ can't live without their smartphones! I am sure there is a way to balance technology and the traditional methods of personal communication.

Let's take a look at the new clothes I made for my new mobile phone.

Fabric cover for my new mobile phone

Leather snap button makes a charming fastener

A little lace and cotton tape to add style

逛书展

我不算是一个书虫，但是我挺爱逛书店，也很爱买书。但是在我国要购买中文书籍并不是那么方便，而且价格偏高。虽然书局里有着不少的中文书籍，但是种类有限，大部分的都是以参考书为主，要不然就是每每我们在网路上已经看到某本书已经面市的讯息，但是在这儿还是寻觅不到它的芳踪。所以每每那里有书展，我就一定不会错过。

近10年来我国开始出现了一些以中文书籍为主的大型书展。对于爱书人来说，这可说是一项天大的喜讯。因为在书展上除了有大量不同种类的书籍，我们也可以购买到最新出版的书刊，而且也可以享有特惠价格，帮助我们减少荷包的出血量。。。。

学校开始放假了，又是逛书展的季节。昨天我们又逛书展去了，琳琅满目的书籍，令到我们眼花缭乱，肾上素急速飙升，双眼发光，恨不得将所看中的书籍都抱回家。哈哈！！！

看看我们的战利品。。。

买了不少我以及小孩都很爱的绘本

除了中文书籍，也买了好几本英文丛书

Clay-tivity - Part 1 可爱小女生相框系列

Haven't been playing with my clay for a while. There are so many projects that I wish to do and sometimes I don't know which one should I be working on. This is usually what happened, I may be on sewing project one day, and the next day I want to play with resin clay. Haha..and usually I will just follow my heart, as to what I feel like doing that day. Not a good practice in terms of project management. Oh well, I'm the boss :D

Lately, I have got several ideas for my clay project (while I was working on something else). But I haven't find time to actually transform those ideas into the real thing. So I quickly wrote it down on my notebook before I forget. 

I am working on a girl series this time. In this series, I tried combining fabric into my clay project. I have been wanting to come out with a project using these two elements together, this is my first attempt.  Here is the first piece of the work. I used lace and denim in this piece of work.

More to come :)  

Little girl at the farm

Little girl series photo frame

Little farm girl

Mother duck & ducklings

Children Apron 可爱卡通围裙

I have been meaning to make this for a while ~ an apron for my son. I have apron for both my children. Those aprons were bought from store before I'm into sewing. My children would wear them when they are helping out (or rather playing) in the kitchen. My little helpers can do simple tasks like washing the rice & vegetables, cutting vegetable, cooking noodles & oatmeal, cleaning the dishes etc. While it's fun having them in the kitchen, where we chat and discuss on the meal that we are preparing, it's challenging at the same time. Why? The work goes more slowly and less get done than if I would do it alone. Well, patience is the key with little helpers in the kitchen. I constantly remind myself to relax and enjoy the company. 

My son's apron which we bought a few years back is wearing out. So the project for this time is an apron. I have several cartoon prints fabric in my collection, I asked my boy to choose. He picked the "Toy Story" fabric. It's a green background fabric with characters in "Toy Story" movie printed all over. To make the piece more vibrant, I matched it with orange checked fabric. The orange does go nicely with the green.

After I cut out the fabric, only then I realised that the fabric is kind of too thin to fall nicely. So I lined it with a brown checked fabric.

Here it is, a new apron for my son.

今天的作品就是为儿子缝制一件新的围裙。

孩子们都很喜欢在出厨房内帮忙。帮忙洗米，洗菜，洗碗碟，切菜以及煮面，麦片等等。对他们来说，与其说是帮忙，趁机玩乐应该会更贴切一些。对于我们来说，越帮越忙会更加的反映出我们做父母的心声。。。哈哈哈。。。。

无论如何，我都是很享受跟孩子们一起在厨房内一起讨论午餐/晚餐的菜单，一起准备食材的美好时光。我相信这些欢乐的回忆是千金难买的。虽然多了小帮手的热心协助会拖慢我准备食物的节奏，拉长烹饪的时间，以及会多了很多需要处理的事项，但是很坦白的，我很享受，很乐意有他们的陪伴。

儿子之前用着的围裙已经相当的破旧了，是时候帮他换件新的围裙了。挑剔的他就在我的收藏品中选了这个有著名动画片“Toy Story”主角的布料来做他的围裙。

接下来的欢乐时光就让这个可爱的卡通围裙来陪伴我们吧。。。。。

'Toy Story' Kids apron - front view

Checked brown - Back view

Lovely Notebook Cover 美丽的书衣

In this electronic world, most people can't live without their electronic devices. No doubt it is really convenient to organize ones daily activities such as appointment, meeting, clearance sales (yup, to me it's an important event :D), to-do list using the electronic devices like smart phone or tablet. But for me, I still prefer the traditional way of organizing my day-to-day life ~ keeping a notebook. My sister-in law once teased me that my notebook is my 'smart book' haha...

The wonderful part of using a notebook is that I can add drawings, stickers, or stamped it. I can also paste name card, receipt or any interesting flyers onto the notebook. Notebook comes in different sizes and designs. I particularly like vintage and retro designs. As for the notebook size, I go for A6 size. It is not too big nor too small, just ideal to be put inside a handbag. Every time I visited the bookstore or stationery shop, I just can't help checking out their collection of notebooks! Prices of the notebooks also vary depending on the brand and quality. There are expensive and exclusive ones like Moleskine, which I would love to have one myself, there are also inexpensive ones which are affordable by all levels of people.

I have no budget for a Moleskine at the moment, but I can make a unique notebook cover for my inexpensive notebook. I came up with two designs of notebook cover. Both are  using the combination of polka dot fabric and floral prints fabric. I love it!

Sweet pink polka dot with tiny floral prints

Little brown spot with vintage floral prints

New handmade clothes for my notebooks

Printed cotton tape adds the finishing touch to the piece

  

Bread Stories 面包的故事

I love bread since I was little. My mum used to pack bread for me and my brothers to bring to school. But that time, the bread we ate was nothing fancy. We bought our bread from Indian bread man (a.k.a roti man) that sell breads and cakes on his motorcycle. That's the way the Indian bakery operated at that time. The bread man came by the neighbourhood everyday in the afternoon, rain or shine. He would ring his bell signalling that he is here. People who wants to buy would waive at him at the gate. The bread we usually get is the plain bread loaf without egg. That's the memory of bread during my childhood.

Over the years, more and more bakeries opened up in the neighbourhood. The breads that the new bakeries supplied were different from the Indian bakery shop. It's fancier, the sweet breads and buns. Somehow, I still prefer the plain bread loaf.

My mum taught me to make my very first loaf of bread. Since then, I started baking my own bread. The bread that I usually bake is either the plain white or wholemeal bread loaf. It's simple and easily be taken with any condiments or even ham, egg or bacon. I have started to collect books on bread making too. I find baking a bread is a lot economical than cakes. Simply because the amount of butter and eggs required in baking a bread is so much less than those required in cakes and sometimes you don't even need eggs or butter! So it's healthier too. :) 

Here are some of the breads that I bake for my family. It can be taken as breakfast, lunch or dinner. 

Milk bread （牛奶面包）

Milk bread - close up

Parsley bread (香菜烤饼）

Parsley bread with chicken curry

Brown sugar bread loaf （黑糖面包）

Polo bun (菠萝包)

Multi-grain bread loaf （杂粮面包）