Chinese New Year Craft: Easy Faux Firecrackers

"Have you been to the new T&T Chinese Superstore, yet?", I kept getting asked.

You've got to understand, for the past 10 years, I've been making do with my local grocers. I may take a few trips a year to Chinatown, in the downtown part of Ottawa, but those trips are rare. So, the idea of a superstore selling mostly Chinese groceries about 15 minutes drive away from my part of town is very appealing. However, 5 months later, I still had not gone. This is because I abhor crowded shopping areas, and I've been warned that it's a very busy store.

I finally made it to the store because I wanted to buy Chinese New Year decorations. Yes, that's right. Decorations, not food, made to go to the store. The store itself was huge, aisles were big and food were displayed neatly. I was ecstatic.
However, to my big disappointment, I found only very cheap, gaudy looking new year decorations. It's just like Christmas decorations, you know. Sometimes, you find gorgeous ones. Other times, they are just plain yuck.

To ease my pain, I spent $40 on (processed) food:

Oh, sesame cookies, savory buns, pocky sticks, dried mango, fish balls, lots of noodles..... yum!!!

Ahhh.... forgive the rambling. If you've stuck with me this far, thank you.
That regaling of my adventure was just to let you know that I was finally convinced that I needed to make my own decorations.

Ready for the easy, lazy girl's version of firecrackers?


Everyone has seen Rae's Easy Heart Garland, right? If you haven't, go see. I'll wait for you.

Same idea. Just cut rectangular pieces of red felt or fleece (I used fleeced recycled from my daughter's old sweater). Machine sew the pieces together in one straight line, lining up the pieces on an angle as you go!

I braided leftover pieces of khaki strips to create the illusion of a fuse:



I have a few of these hanging around the house.

There you go, a fast and satisfying Chinese New Year project.


By the way, this year's Chinese New Year falls on Valentine's Day. It's very hard for me to decided what to put up. The only thing good I can say about it, is that at least they have the red theme in common.

Sweater = Legwarmers + Scarf + Hat

I feel as though I'm always losing my winter accessories. The beret I made for fall that's supposed to take me through winter? Gone. My ruffly scarf? Missing.
Sigh, it can't be only me.... or is it?
Perhaps it is because I never lived in a cold climate, until I was an adult. I was never trained from a young age to keep those hats, gloves and scarves from getting lost.
So, what I'm trying to say, is that I can never have too many hats or scarves.

Anyway, I was encouraged by Meg's post on legwarmers to refashion this sweater into something more useful:


It was handed down to me in perfect condition. It is made of wool, and is very soft to the touch. The problem? Well. If it is not obvious in the photo, let me point out the extremely longgggg sleeves. Yes, it's a very strange sweater, and I could never bring myself to wear it, even though the sizing is correct.

So, the sleeves became legwarmers, the bodice became a cowl scarf, and the neck/shoulder area becomes the hat.

I absolutely adore the scarf. Love it.
I'm unsure about the hat. It's very warm and very slouchy. Maybe it is even too slouchy. However, I can easily do something about that.

About the legwarmers, I was not sure. After all, I do not have a lot of the fashion flair displayed by the many legwarmer-wearing fashion bloggers out there. It takes a little bit of "oomph", a little bit of sass to get away with it.
I got a lot of (good-nature) teasing from the hubs, whenever I put them on. However, they have since grown on me. Mainly because they are so warm and functional. They are almost as warm as my snow pants, and that's saying something. Perfect for those cold, windy and snowy days (such as today), when I'm waiting at the end of the street for my daughter to get off her school bus.
Who cares how I look like in them. I like them, darn it!

So, whenever I get a teasing remark from my husband, I'll just do a flamboyant pirouette, kick my legs up in the air and sing, "Fame! I'm gonna live forever, I'm gonna learn how to fly... high!"

My Infinity Dress

I did not get much of a chance to sew and blog last week. Let's just say, life got in the way! :)

Anyway, I wanted to get back to sewing with something quick. So I decided to make a convertible dress. Every version of the convertible dress seemed to lead back to Rowena's Infinity Dress, with good reason. It is a great dress.
I had changed it a little. Instead of a circle skirt, I made the skirt more streamlined. This is only because circle skirts tend to look a little childish on short lil' ole me. I also added a tube top to the dress, so that I can have better coverage.






I'm going off to look around the web to find different ways of wearing this dress. It's such a cool dress. I love the soft, blue jersey.
Honestly, though, I don't know when I'll be wearing this, only because it's dressier than I would normally wear. Maybe it's time for a date night.

Patchwork Yoga Top

I had scraps from my sewing projects and I just did not want to throw them out. As all crafters and sewers know, hoarding can be hazardous to mental health.
I should know better than to keep pieces of fabric, but ya just never know!
Before you know it, you've got bags of fabric scraps and you are begging freecyclers to take them off your hands. Oh, that's just me? Er, forget I said anything.
:)

Meanwhile, I had thrown out a lot of my old exercise yoga top. Did you know that your exercise clothing has a lifespan? Especially if they have elastic in them? After a while, these items of clothing should be retired and not refashioned. Trust me on this one.

I decided that a yoga enthusiast like me can use some more yoga tops.
No pattern was used. I pieced fabric scraps together, and laid an existing yoga top on the pieced fabric, to trace out the shape of the top.
(Does this make sense? Anyone wants more details on how I made this? I'm about to make another top, so I can take more construction pictures as I go along.)

Here's my scrappy patchwork top,
And as my friend Tara likes to say, me being "Bendy"
I did not finish the neckline or the arm holes, because it was so much more comfortable that way.
Next time, I will also make most of the seams on the outside.

A Potential "Mum Uniform"

Yesterday, I read a very timely post at the House of Mirth. She asked if we wear what we sew.
I would say that I wear most of what I sew. The only that don't seem to get a lot of rotation are my dresses. I think most of the time, it is because I'm saving those dresses for special occasion. Other times, it is because of my reluctance to stand out too much.

Hello? Visible minority in a "white" part of suburbian Ottawa? Don't worry, I've never been a harassed or anything. This is Canada, after all. Unless of course, if you count the time when I was waiting in line for coffee. I was trapped into conversation with this older "gentleman" who very loudly decided to tell me why Chinese women make the best wives. Er, apparently we're subservient and hardworking. Yes, that was awkward in a very bad way.

Bad enough I'm not dressed down like the other mums, if I was to wear colorful dresses to run errands.... I'll stick out like a sore thumb. Sometimes, I don't care, but other times, I do. Sometimes, I badly want to fit in.

I took my most inconspicuous jersey fabric (in my defense, it is very soft and comfortable), and decided I will make a dress from it. It will be inconspicuous enough for me to be comfortable in, but still dressier than jeans and a top, or sweatpants and ratty top!

I did not really take enough pictures for a full tutorial, but this will give you a guideline on how I did it.
This method of sewing is rather liberating. Sometimes, it is just so freeing to not have to measure and be absolutely precise.

I took and old dress that fits me very well and copied out the silhouette of it:

Jersey fabric is very forgiving. I eyeballed the neckline:

Next I copied the sleeves:
It's a simple matter of sewing the right sides together:

And then, set in the sleeves:I finished the neckline, using a cowl neckline method similar to how Jessica described in her tutorial. It's not quite a cowl, not quite a mock turtle neck, but it makes this dress unique.

I hemmed the bottom and the sleeves to finish the construction. I wish I did a better job at the hemming....
So, here's the result:


I know, it's not very exciting(read: it's BORING!!!), but I've already worn this dress twice. I think it will be my "mum uniform". It's very easy to throw on, and I definitely don't feel loud in it. :)
Unless I decide to wear it with my red belt, of course.

My Crazy Canadian Kids

My crazy kids do not think that -10ºC is too cold to ice skate. In fact, the wind was blowing across the farmer's field into the outdoor rink. I'm pretty sure it was 5 to 10 degrees colder than that. However, they think it's perfectly natural to skate for over 30 minutes, and drag their very chilled mum tobogganing after that. And then, go for a swing at the playground.

Right, let me tell you, there's no way to look human in this weather. I couldn't take a self-portrait, but I was dressed somewhat in this:
At that point, who cares what I was wearing underneath all that! The things I do for my kids....

Anyway, I was going to do a sewing post today, but I have been really distracted of late with all the stuff that's on the news. So, instead I decided to post photos of my two very precious daughters, living their very care-free lives. Heh.

And my dear Canadian friends, I'm sure you've heard by now, but in case you haven't, the Government of Canada has announced it will MATCH every donation up to $50 million in support of Haiti from now until February 12. Please help, every little bit counts.

Seven Red Things

I've been tagged by Meream.

Two simple rules:

Post photos of 7 red things in your home.

Tag 7 people to do the tag.

My engagement ring.

Red Flower lights strung on a houseplant.

My domestic assistant - it does a great job cleaning under the beds. It's very well used, as you can tell from the scrapes and dents on it.

Pillows that brings that much needed splash of color to my living room.

Another machine - this one's much used as well.

Cap of a bottle of red vermouth.

Part of a phoenix that hangs in my bedroom. My mum got this for me when she visited China. It's paper cut. Isn't it gorgeous?

It's an interesting exercise for me to try to take semi-interesting photos. I need more practice! I'm trying to be a better photographer, I really am.

In return, I tag Jeannine, Nenette, Aunt Lolo, Laura, Myrnie, Melissa and Nick.

Sweater to Girl's Dress - My Favorite Kind of Refashion

This was one of my favorite sweaters, but it has since shrunk*. It was over 10 years old, but was still in wonderful shape. So, I'm very glad to be able to give it new life.

*or perhaps I've put on a little weight since then :)


I believe this is one of my favorite way to convert a sweater or t-shirt into a dress.

I reduced the size of the armhole and sleeves, added a band to the waist, and gather the neckline with an elastic. It's a very effective refashion.

The polka dot fabric is leftover from a birthday top I made for my sister. I think it works even better in small burst, such as on this dress, rather than as the main fabric.

Some hearts to make the dress prettier:

This is a birthday dress for my little girl who is turning 4 in less than one month. Actually, I'm rather pleased with myself. I usually wait until the very last minute to make birthday dresses, but this one is all done. Pat, pat, Su!

Distractions, and Homemade Dishwasher Powder - Totally not Related.

Why, this pile of absolutely mindless reading:I'm an unapologetic reader of thrillers and romance. Currently, I am obsessed with finishing this pile. So far, it's been relaxing and so fun, because it's a different pace from my crafting and sewing. I'm almost through the pile, so I believe I will get back to my projects very soon!

Oh, on a different stream of thoughts, I believe that I am a totally conflicted in my efforts to be more eco-conscious.
On one hand, I compost, plant my own vegetables in the summer, collect rainwater,recycle, am generally careful about reducing waste, reuse fabric from old clothes, and try to reduce my family's consumption of electricity and water.On the other hand, I drive a minivan (don't get me started on how much I would rather drive a teeny honda civic instead), live in the suburbs and use all sorts of appliances to make life more fun and convenient for me.
Yeah, it's not going to happen, people. I'm not going to be the "green" person I'd like to be.

However, I guess, we do little things here and there.

• I'd like to report that we've been successfully making homemade clothes detergent, and it's been going well. The clothings are still clean(cleaner?), and we are definitely using less packaging.
• I don't buy all-purpose cleaners for my kitchen counter tops anymore. Instead I fill a spray bottle with water and about 10-20 drops of tea tree oil. Sometimes I add a little white vinegar to the solution. The tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that has an astringent smell to it that is not altogether unpleasant. Less chemicals, saving money and the environment? That's all good.
  

• My husband was so impressed with the laundry detergent, that he wanted to make dishwasher powder. Mainly because he can't stand the amount of detergent we go through, and he was certain that the commercial brands have all sorts of unnecessary fillers and chemicals in them. I was initially very wary about washing our dishes with this mixture. I did a lot of geeky reading of chemical sheets and toxicity of various chemicals that go into the mixture, to make sure we were not going to be poisoning ourselves. There was no indication that recipe is bad for health. No worse than commercial cleaners, even the eco-friendly ones, anyway. Well, we do eat off the dishes after all.
  

After some investigating, the man decided to use a variant of a recipe he found from The New Homemaker and a few other websites.

The recipe:

1 cup of Borax
1 cup of Washing Soda (not baking soda)
1/4 cup of Kosher Salt
1/4 cup of citric acid

Shake it all up, and store in an airtight container. We use about a tablespoon per wash. And yes, it works like a charm.

edit:
Some information on Borax for you reading pleasure.
http://greenliving.about.com/od/naturalcleaning/f/BoraxDishes.htm
http://www.greenfootsteps.com/borax-information.html
And Washing Soda
http://www.greenfootsteps.com/washing-soda.html

Oh no! I Ironed a hole in my New Top - Simplicity 2733

"When life gives you lemons, twist some of the peel into a martini."


I made a new top for a New Year's eve bash that we attended, but as always, I forgot my camera, so I couldn't get any pictures. After I washed the top, I was going to snap a nice picture so that I can do a proper review of the pattern (click here for the patternreview.com review). I decided that it could use a little ironing.
And then...
Disaster!
This is the first time I've ever ironed a hole into anything. What kind of fabric is this??? (Sure, Su, blame the fabric)


Sigh! I was a little upset for about, oh, a minute of so. Then, looking at the whole experience in a positive light, I realized that the hole was on the front left bottom. If there was to be a hole, this was not a bad spot for me to patch it.

The first patch:
I was going to cover the bottom randomly with polka dots, but changed my mind.

Instead, I took strips of the fabric and ruffled them:

Strategically pinned them to cover the patch:

Sewed the ruffles on slowly and carefully.
After sewing on the ruffles:


Added on some ruffles on the top right corner to balance out the effect:

Fancy Schmancy, eh? Shh... don't tell anyone!

Wrap Cardigan Love!

One of the things I planned to make this new year was one of those drapey jersey cardigans that I see popping up everywhere. Well, to be honest, I was really tempted to buy one several times, but I kept reminding myself that I sew now. Those cardis look like something I could really make. Of course, wanting to sew something, and actually sitting down to design and sew it is something different altogether. Luckily for me, Megan created a wonderful version and very generously shared it with her readers! I used a lovely red double knit that has been waiting to be turned into something wonderful.

How much do I love this cardigan? So very much! It's wonderfully versatile, but my favorite way of wearing it is with a belt.
I don't usually describe my attire, but as a tribute to Megan and her love for personal style blogs, here goes.

Wearing: Megan Nielsen Cardigan Wrap, random black top from my dresser , Forever21 double braided belt in dark brown and skinny jeans from Aéropostale.



Mmmmmm (low humming). Whoop sizzle, whoop sizzle.

Er... I was trying to make a lightsaber sound, in case that failed to translate through words.
My girls and I were having fun at the science museum.
Yes, I'm a dweeb.

Happy New Year!

image by ba1969

For me, 2009 will be the year remembered best for:

• Seeing my oldest daughter blossom in Grade One. I was a mess the first day she went into her full day school. She has been doing well. In fact, her French has surpassed mine. Her enthusiasm, courage, "go-for-it" attitude, has encourage me to go after my dreams

• Fulfilling one of my dreams of teaching yoga. Being able to share my passion and love for yoga has been a dream come true. It was a matter of realizing that I don't have to be the best yogi. Perhaps being so imperfect makes students relate to me a little more? Usually shy and tongue-tied around strangers, I am amazed that I am able to teach large groups of people. I'm even more amazed that they come back for more. Hehe.
  

• Seeing my shy 3-year-old come out of her shell. Always in the shadow of her gregarious older sister, my little one has finally found her own voice. Shy, sweet and reserved, she has found a way to so "NO!" with authority (or is this just a threes thing?).
  

• Closing a stressful chapter in my husband's career. After working 11 years in a company that has been "restructuring" non-stop, and having survived rounds and rounds of lay-offs, he is going to work for a new company! Dec 31st was the last day of his employment with the old company. It's a new page in his career and I'm so happy for him.

• Deciding that it doesn't matter that even though I'm not the most articulate writer, imaginative photographer, accomplished seamstress, etc., I can still have a lot of fun blogging! I never imagine that blogging could be something I'd enjoy. It does help that I have such awesome, supportive readers such as you! So, thank you! Thank you!

Not a day goes by, that I am not thankful for my family and friends.
Not a day goes by, that I am not glad that I'm reminded why I love my husband.
Not a day goes by, that I am not humbled by my daughters' spirit and vitality.
Not a day goes by that I am not aware of the privileged life that I live.

I hope this new year brings you peace, joy and fulfillment.