Smartypants

Smartypants

While we were in Bangkok, the husband bought me this book because I was reading the summary on the back cover and burst out laughing at the reviews (one of them said "Totally worth it." --TREES). I also really love Liz Lemon btw.

With every book he gives me, I always insist he write a note in there, so I'll have an aid to remember the occasion or reason for the gift. I'm a sucker for books with messages.

So after paying for it he borrowed a pen from the cashier and wrote this:

Yes. I married a smartypants.

Better choices

Better choices

Ever since I found out that I had cysts, I've been trying to be more conscious of trying to make better choices when it comes to the quality of life.

Sure, everyone makes their resolutions at the beginning of the year. Me, I'm a rebel you see, always living life on the edge, making resolutions in JULY. :o)

I'm trying to eat healthier. Less of eating outside food. Less of deep fried food fried in reused oil. Less MSG. Less processed meat. Less starchy carbs. Less sugar. When we cook at home, we try to keep it simple too, and I do like simple food where you can taste the ingredients. We never use MSG at home because we never found the need to. 

I'm trying to not drink too much of coffee either. I started with 1 cup a day and last year I was getting used to 2 cups a day.. and I've now cut it back to 1 cup a day again. I do get sleepy after lunch but I have to consciously force myself to reach for green tea instead.

For the past 2 days, I've been taking a small breakfast in the morning (cereal and milk, my favourite!), followed by a juice of green apple, Sabah snake grass and lemon. My parents got the Sabah snake grass for me last week after I told them about the cysts. I know, what a weird name for a plant heheh. I'm supposed to take it every morning after breakfast.

I'm also trying to be a better person. Spend time with the people that matter. Be generous with encouragement. Trying not to fight over stupid things. 

My grandpa is in the hospital now and I try to make it a point to see him on weekends just to try and feed him a meal or massage his legs or shoulders or something... anything! He has short term memory loss, but it seems that over the past few weeks while he was in the hospital, he seems to remember more than the usual. Apparently it's because he's now constantly being in the company of a lot of his family members, so it helps trigger and motivate his memory to work harder than usual (this is something Chak told me yesterday).

I'm trying to make better choices for leading this life of mine somewhere. 

It's no mind-blowing manifesto. 

First look at my first shorts

First look at my first shorts

I finally finished my first pair of shorts on Sunday!

Unfortunately it was dark by then, and weekdays it's always dark when I get off work, so I haven't gotten the chance to take any nice photos of it.

Here's a dodgy first look: sits at the natural waist, two mid-sized pockets, slim waistband, and fitted without elastic gathers. As previously mentioned, it took me 2 rounds of muslin tests to get the fit right. I still think it can be improved, but at the same time I'm also glad it wasn't a disaster.

And it really turns out that sewing shorts isn't that difficult after all! I'm looking forward to sewing more.

Right now, I'd like to get started on drafting a bodice block on the computer.. If only I could sew day and night!

Dup dup... dup dup...

After skimming through Winifred Aldrich's patternmaking book, I decided it was time I start drafting them for real. I had always wanted to make shorts, but there were barely any shorts pattern available online for download (most of them were elastic shorts anyway, which were ok, but I guess I am looking for a zippered one).

Buying a good pair of shorts has always been a problem for me because my ass doesn't seem to want to fit in nicely into any shorts without looking weird (and bordering on camel toe offense). I suppose it's because of my child-bearing hips hehe.

Anyway.

So I tried drafting my own shorts using the book's instruction on developing a basic trouser block. Instead of using mahjong paper, pencil, the French curve and the other long tailor ruler I have, I thought hmm why not try using a program like Illustrator instead?

Unfortunately drafting a pattern on the computer doesnt necessarily make the whole process easier like you're using a patternmaking software where you'd input the measurements and wallllllla! Basically it's just manually drafting the pattern according to instructions but doing it on the computer with some aid from computer brains.

What it does make easier (to me at least) is:
1. Able to construct lines in exact measurement required (just click to create a line, specify how many cm you want it to be, and at what angle)
2. Able to draw and adjust curves without a French curve (or a round saucer)
3. Able to make adjustments on the same pattern after muslin test, erase old lines and reprint it as a clean new pattern
4. Able to keep backups of each version of the pattern, ie I have a basic shorts block saved with different dates denoting alterations, in case I want to rollback to a previous version.

After doing 2 muslin tests (which, embarrassingly, is the first instance I'm doing a muslin test despite sewing for a long time because I've always been too lazy), I've gotten the fit I want, and am sewing the actual shorts now.

Now, fingers crossed.................

Back to school

Let's see.

I hated studying. I hated memorizing. I hated maths. I hated textbooks. After high school, despite scoring A's for maths and add maths (not really sure how THAT happened), I swore off at maths and was certain I'd never have to use it again. I mean, come on, do I really think I'd want to be an accountant?? Pffft.

Now let's look at what I'm doing now on a Saturday afternoon.

I'm reading a textbook.
On pattern drafting.
Which requires maths and accurate measurements.
I've been using rulers--huge ones, small ones, curved ones.
I've been whipping out my calculator.
It took me weeks to decide if I wanted to go with the Imperial measurement system or the Metric system.
After deciding on Imperial, at the very last minute I went back to the good ol metric system I learnt in school.
I'm bookmarking the pages with colorful marklets I "splurged" on at Jaseema's.
I'm having coffee and im focused (I hope).

Ok, you sonnuvagun named Sewing. You've got me.

I'll do whatever it takes to win you over.

Awkward.


Omar: Hey... Ching... is it true...?
Me: .........that I have a third nipple?
Omar: What!?
Me: Wahahhahahaha!
Omar: ... coz I'll be jumping for joy!
Me: hahah--...ew, WHAT?!

Work in Progress: In the Midnight I saw Blue

Saw this vintage dress a few weeks back and couldn't resist it because I've always wanted a blue polkadots dress! It was rather long and baggy with a full circle skirt that reached to the ankles (I'm not a maxi kinda lady), so I shaved off the length of the skirt (which took me forever to hem since I've never hemmed a circle skirt before). I also adjusted the bodice slightly (didn't want to adjust it too much because I liked how the bodice was slightly baggy without any major shaping darts), added an elastic to the waist to give it a bit more shape, and also replaced the buttons with gold textured ones from my stash. The material is slightly sheer as it's probably chiffon, and I guess with chiffon you just need to cinch it at certain parts to accentuate the shape, otherwise it flows really nicely.

I was lazy to wash it before working on it so now I got to wash it hahahaha... :p

Her Treasure

The husband and I live alone in his family home, a place that is filled with quite a number of treasures left behind by his late mother when she passed away when he was a teenager. It was a sudden passing, something I imagine would be really difficult to live with. Because of that, the house still has furniture, dining ware, and decorative items that were handpicked by her.

These items all form a little window that allows me to sort of "get to know her". I know she has a soft spot for ducks, she's good at sewing, she's a bit of an English Rose and she loved cooking. Kinda think she and my mom would've got along well together :)
I found a beautiful deer ornament (very solid, fell in love with it at first glance), and also six brand new spice jars (the latter at the perfect timing when the husband and I started buying spices to make curry pastes).

I always wonder whether she would like me if she were still alive and we got to meet...

The husband's diorama


HEART!

He made a diorama for his 1:18 cars and mechanic station tools, and I totally love it! It was so fun going to Jasima to get the corrugated plastic boards, car brand stickers, and at the same time I also got some sewing supplies there heheh.

I made a simple large checkered floor on Illustrator and we printed it out on glossy sticker paper. He designed his own workshop logo and put the whole thing together. Even though the diorama isn't dramatically complicated with caves and moss and smoke machines, I am so proud that he finished the project :D Told him that next time he can help our son build his.

Here are some pictures taken with Sen Hon's camera (thank you for letting us use it!!). I love shallow DOF-- guess I'm just shallow like that. HAH!

Meatballz

Meatballz

We both finished work at around 8-ish today, I popped by Presto to pick up some groceries and we made meatball Tagliatalle. The meatballs were huge and smelled amazing even before they were cooked hahaha... A real yummy recipe by Jamie Oliver (the only thing we changed was to add one yellow onion into it).
This recipe would probably make a great burger patty too. Mmmm. When I told the husband "Hmm, must learn how to make the Ikea meatballs too", he looked at me like I was loco and said "What??! This is WAY better than the Ikea meatballs lar!"
Awwww. Monkey.

Whitest King Alive

Spotted Adrian high up on the VIP balcony area at The Whitest Boy Alive's gig and the next morning I finally got to ask him the burning question that bugged me all night.

You can be sweet, sweet, sweet



Last week my bff Jean had her pre-wedding photoshoot, and Lobak was the photographer! So excited because he's also shooting them on film... can't wait to see the photos :D I took some shots for fun on my iphone... trying to learn how to do video composition and editing. Originally I had a cute song by My Little Airport on it, but then upon consultation with Jo and Lobak separately, it turned out that song was about teenage heartbreak (Lobak said it was very badly written too hahahah), so erm, not suitable. So I ended up writing a song for the video.

Jean and Tung are like a TVB couple, and I find them cute in an unexpected way (they never show affection in public). I absolutely love them hehehehhehee :D

Tutorial: Big floppy hairband

Tutorial: Big floppy hairband

While watching reruns today, I made this big floppy bow hairband. It's huge, floppy, and er, kinda huge. And it cost me about a hairband I had lying around, some jersey scrap, and some time.

Super easy and you can make shitloads. You can make them in any size, any colour, and for anyone. Perhaps Jiggles might like one..... hehehehe.

Pin it

I got this little leopard at Koh Samui, and the pretty bow brooch from eBay. It belonged to someone's grandma's massive collection.

Made these elastic belts while watching Criminal Minds. It's a good Saturday :)

Auditors

Audi walks into the office...

Audi: I forgot to zip this morning. (turns around and sees a stranger sitting at the desk doing work) Oh hello! Are you an auditor?

Auditor: (nods and goes back to work)

Audi: Ah... Well, the first four alphabets in the word "auditor" is my name, like A-U-D-I...

Auditor: (still hard at work, no response)

Audi: Hee. Hee. Hee? ........................ok obviously not the right crowd for this.

Like a G6... well, almost.

Jhen: Who was that guy?
Me: Fariz.
Jhen: Fariz Movement??
Me: -___-"

The Amcorp vintage lady has a permanent shop now, and i couldn't be happier. She's located near Popular. Love her vintage stock and the prices are way fab. I rarely shop online these days.

The belt is one of my favourite finds at an old tailor shop. I love this blue cardi. More on this next time :)

Wednesday

Wednesday. Kinda PMS-ey, kinda dead-ey. Cooked halibut for the first time. And portobello too! The husband bought white wine, and we toasted. He asked me why I asked for white wine out of the blue, and I said "Happy mooniversary," and his eyes went @_@ and he tried to hide it by morphing it into a delightful face and said "Happy moonivesary babyyyyyyy" HAHAHAHAAHA. I don't even know if that word exists but at the beginning of every month we "celebrate" it whenever we can, whether it's a movie night in or movie night out or dinner or even doing nothing. I thought it was lame when we first started going out (especially those first few months when you don't know if the relationship is even gonna last hahaha) but I think it's kinda sweet now :")

Thanonchai

Thanonchai directed this ad. It gave me goosebumps, and makes me want to live and chase my dreams.

I found an old interview he did with Agency.Asia, and absolutely loved how honest and humble he was. Here's my favourite excerpt from the interview that made me laughed out loud:

"I'd like to say that advertising is like a "shit". If we produce the advertisement that can do just advertising, it's like you put the shit on the concrete floor. But if we create the advertisement that can make highly sale for clients and can also change the way people think to be a positive way. Advertisement becomes an inspiration to the audience to do better thing in their lives. Then, that advertisement is like a shit that you put it on a grass field and it becomes a fertilizer and make the world even better. Advertising will not be just an advertisement."

Thank you, Thanonchai :-)