a bag refashion

My mother got this from my sister (which she got from her office), a neon yellow tote bag with a product logo on it.

Well, you could understand why my mother hasn't use the bag inspite of it being a gift from her daughter.

I told my mother that I'll make over the bag which she happily agree and she requested it to be in neutral shade of brown color.

Then I found this batik among my fabric stash and made some kind of sleeve to cover the outer part of the bag. I'm quite satisfied with the result, since it's a simple refashion yet gives a significant difference. 

Just hope my mother likes her 'new' bag :)

Blog Award

Thanks Pimpi of Sawo Kecik for this Versatile Blogger Award ;) Sorry for the delay of posting this, it's just that I'm not so sure what to write about myself. Oh well, here it goes, 7 things about me:

1. I'm Moody. I mean REALLY moody.

2. I don't play by the rules most of the times.

3. I don't fancy cooking nor baking. But I do like to eat, though :P

4. I dig the Green Architecture concept, even had my final year project based on that. Yet I'm no green thumb, I failed on my every attempt at gardening.

5. My ultimate muse is not sewing nor designing.. it's music. There isn't a day when I feel too fed up to pick my guitar and sing some songs.

6. I'm more of an indoor introvert type (while my hubby's the opposite! Opposites do attract you know :))

7. I'm writing this on a rainy morning in my living room and thinking of making a cup of hot chocolate. Yum!

OK, next, I'll give the award to (drumrolls please):
1. Mbak Lia of Calyx
2. Rania of Fashioning Faith
3. Luluk of The Green Corner
4. Syanti of Rumahku Tie
5. Pimpi of Sawo Kecik (thanks for the award, here's another one for you ;))

First Refashion!

I've been wanting to do some refashion on my clothes for quite some time now, but things always got in the way (most of the times it's just lazy me :P).

Today I finally did it! My first clothes refashion!

Two batik tunics that were way too big for me have been transformed into two batik dresses :)

a hearty purse

Wonder what's inside?

It's a pretty purse from Mbak Andi Lia of Calyx!

I really love the detailed embellishment on it, clearly that it's done with high quality craftsmanship. The mixed media - pastel drawing, embroidery (thread, bead and ribbon) - made the beautiful texture, how this is truly a work of art.

And I like how the purse could change its look easily (you could even carry it as a tote bag!), it's like having many purses with only one! You could see the many looks of the purse here.

Thanks again mbak Andi Lia for the chance of doing the craft swap with you, I hope you like my purse for you as I adore your multi function heart purse :)

My first jin(s)jing

Look what I've got from Dita of Cemprut! It's her share from our craft swap :)

I love it! The dark brown faux leather compliments the jeans very nicely, with the black and white cotton fabric for the inside lining and the yoyo embellishment. Notice how the wooden buttons on the yoyos match the color of the faux leather.

And look at the bag tag, oh so cute!

Thanks again Dita, you make my day!

^_^

On a hot sunny afternoon..

..we went to The Helix - the new pedestrian bridge near the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort - because I was curious to see the bridge's architectural design which is said to be the first in the world. But since it was really hot, we - especially the kids - didn't exactly enjoy the trip and only managed to stay there for a short time.

I think it would be nicer if you go there in the evening or night to capture the pretty city light view. Yet you would probably not be able to enjoy the gallery where children's paintings and drawings are exhibited for public viewing.

Not only on walls but also on the pathway.

Look closer and you could see the details written on it, cute isn't it :)

The Playroom

I saw this playroom in Cheri's blog and very much amazed!
She managed to synchronize the kids' and parents' idea of a perfect playroom. You know how sometimes we adults tend to give way to the mess that the kids refer as fun, or at least I do. Yet with a playroom like this there's no way to complain, really.

Read about Cheri's quest for a perfect playroom here. Don't forget to watch the video to see the complete room with its fun details.

a small music corner

The table in my living room has finally changed into a music corner, a place to put the traditional musical instruments that we've collected from our trips to some different parts of Indonesia.

There we have a set of eight pitches Angklung (and currently we have one more pitch from this event), two Suling (bamboo flutes), a small bamboo xylophone and a Djembe (traditional drum).

The colorful throw on the sofa is the handwoven fabric I got from Lombok. I like how the overall look of the room turned out, it has an ethnic twist on the previous modern look, giving it a laid back and cozy feel. Sometimes I and hubby have our acoustic jam sessions there, mostly I'm on guitar and he's on drum. It's kinda therapeutic, very much like sewing :D

Enchanting Indonesia 2010

Last night I and hubby went to the opening of Enchanting Indonesia 4, an event of promoting Indonesia craft and tourism in Singapore.

We each got a batik tote bag filled with Indonesian goodies! From food spices to tourism brochures - giving me a view for next week's menu and next holiday destination.

The opening ceremony was full of traditional and fusion music, dances and fashion shows. Too bad I forgot to bring my camera so I can't share the festive pictures here now. My favourite part is the 'Angklung Interactive Show', where all the audience were given different pitches of angklung to play together as per instruction from the musician on stage. We played numerous songs from Burung Kakak Tua (folk song from Maluku, Indonesia) to Elvis Presley's (forgot the song title). We even get to keep the angklung we played! Ours is number 7 or 'ti', the seventh scale tone.

Ofcourse it wont be a great event without the food and craft bazaar. There are many booths represent many provinces of Indonesia, each with their own distinctive art and culture.

I couldn't resist to buy some of the goodies, like this white tote bag with embroidery of Ondel Ondel from Betawi (natives of Jakarta, Indonesia).

And a beautiful stone and silver pendant from Reny Feby Jewelry.

I drooled over the beautiful traditional textiles like Batik, Ikat and Songket but had to refrain my self since I already have a heap of fabrics that are still untouched. Yet I found some Indonesian Batik which not from Java origin, like this Batik Tabir from Riau. The motives and methods used to make the Batik Tabir Riau is different from the Batik of Java, yet each motive also has a certain meaning like shown below.

The event is still on until tonight, 4 July 2010. So for you who's reading this and happen to be in Singapore, spare your time to visit and experience a piece of Enchanting Indonesia.