Never Leave Home Without Your Sewing Machine

It's been a while. What have I been doing? Well, making some things, going some places, getting a bit bored and wondering what I'm doing living in a foreign country without my sewing machine. Yes, I had a few bad days last week. We were short of money (oh boy, there's a new experience...), I had very limited supplies and it was (it's always) too hot to take a pleasant walk outside. So I hung around the apartment and got rather grumpy and lonely. Oh well. I'm almost over it. I even took some photos of housewares and brooches I've made recently to show you but I can't get my mobile to talk to the computer so I'll show you this instead...




This is 'warm poppies set' by foundling. They come as brooches or attached to hairpins and I think they're lovely. They're made from found silk(ish) blouses and beads. Foundling has a website, a blog and an etsy shop. That's dedication to your craft!

I've also been thinking about my younger sister and her beau who leave very very early tomorrow morning for their very exciting EuroTrip. Hurrah! They've worked so hard for this trip which surely makes it all the sweeter. Don't you wish you were going with them?

You know when you make something and you think 'Oh boy, this is good!', then you take another peek a little while later and you think 'Oh for goodness sake, why did I make that?', so you spend half a day trying to improve it but you're watching Arrested Development (one of my favourite TV series) while you do and don't really make any progress brooch-wise because your too busy laughing at Buster cut sick about his mum? Well, this is one of those times. I made these brooches yesterday. Looking at them now I think they're OK, but I know that by tonight I'll be in a quandary over them again.




I think if I just keep working at them they'll begin to resolve. It's difficult, not having access to all my usual materials. But then, that's a poor excuse, isn't it? I went for a walk down our street just before the afternoon thunderstorm set in and took a few photos. Hopefully they'll be the source of inspiration!

Things I Have Recently Made

OK, so the images aren't fantastic, but at least it's documentation.  Proof that I'm doing more than swimming and asking myself 'which mall shall I go to today?'.  Actually, we have to tighten out belts here so I think I'll be making more things this week.  And 'teksi' rides can be expensive.  I'm a little shy about working out the public transport system on my own.  Maybe I'll make my own commuter 'softie' and feel more empowered.  

The following softies I made from patterns that came out of, funnily enough, "Softies".  I posted about that book last week.  I make my own softies (you can see some at made by maude) but this is the first time I've ever followed a real, proper pattern to make them.  It may well be the first time I've followed a pattern to make anything since high school! 

'Dorian the Dog' - original pattern by  Chika Mori.  I used different colours to those used in the book, but I learnt how to blanket stitch, daisy chain and make a french knot! Oh la la.  Dorian is tiny, about 5 x 8 cm, and I think he's pretty sweet.

This chappy here is 'Snow Bunny' - original pattern by Tamar Mogendorff.  My bunny is very different to the one in the book.  I've used completely different fabrics and didn't follow the instructions to the tee.  I really didn't think I liked where this one was going when I first assembled the body, but after I embroidered the face it got some personality and the whole softie came alive!

This is a particularly shoddy photo.  The whale looks far more interesting in real life.  This is called 'The Lookout' - original pattern by Michelle Valigura.  It's called 'The Lookout' because the original softie has a bird perched on top.  The bird used foam and feathers and a googly eye. The whale originally has a googly eye also, but I embroidered one for her instead.  I can't quite reconcile the fabric and plastic mix.  I'd feel strange popping a bead on something textile based I'd made.  A button though, no drama.  I wonder why that is?  I think I'll make the birdie and see how I feel after that.  I am impressed by the whales gloomy disposition though! 

In case you're new to links in text, you can click on the artists names above and visit their websites.  They're all wonderful and inspiring.  Highly recommended! 

We Have the Technology

We have, or rather Thistler has worked out how we can send images from my new phone to the laptop. Goodie! First up the salads I made the other night before unceremoniously smashing my face against a glass door. On the left beetroot, feta, mint and lemon. On the right zucchini, garlic and mint. I bought a big bunch of mint that day. That's not canned beetroot, by the way.



This is where we live. I'm at the pool nearly every day with my trusty towel and well equipped bag (You know, equipped with phone, book, lip balm, pen and paper. Poolside fare.) Our apartment is on level 3, and that's it there, the one with the blinds closed on the balcony.



A selection of goods bought from our local supermarket 'Cold Storage'. Their motto is 'The Fresh Food People'. I wonder if they're another Safeway/Woolworths brand?
You can tell I pretty much bought these for their packaging. The little boxes are soy milk ('miko' brand) - which was thinner and sweeter than my usual brand in Oz. The shiny packet is 'caramel corn' - chocolate covered corny sweet treats. They had the same texture as twisties. Not very nice, really. But the packaging was irresistible. The other packet is a rice/corn cracker snacky thing that has overtones of carrot. It did, really. I'm hoarding this packaging. I expect it will re-appear in a new form sometime in the future.

I Walked Into a Door

Really, I did. There's a sliding glass door that leads onto our balcony, where we had dinner last night. As I picked up our plates and turned to take them inside 'SMACK, YELP, CRASH'. Yeah. I walked right into the freaking door, recoiled, fell to my bottom dropping bowls and cutlery in the process. I let out a yelp/grunt (this seems to be my primeval response to a sudden shock) as there was the almighty sound of crockery smashing.

It seemed really really loud. Oops. Sorry neighbours! Of course the security guards came wandering by (we live in an apartment complex with grounds, we face the front entrance) to investigate this domestic dilemma. By this time I was back inside, stunned and nursing a little bump on my head and swollen top lip. Thistler went down to explain. I was so embarrassed and a bit annoyed - it was quite a nice meal! I'd made beetroot salad, so there' s a suss reddish smear on the floor now.



my fall was not nearly so perky, sassy or well executed...


p.s. This incident occurs after the waiter at our local resturant sent Thistler's glass stein of beer (it's a German themed resturant, ok?) flying, smashing on the ground and giving Thistler a good dousing in the process. That was Wednesday night. We're going out for dinner tonight. I hope there's no broken glass...

More Bangsar for Your Buck

I've just come back from an exploring adventure in downtown Bangsar. I grabbed a ride with Thistler in his morning 'taksi' to work. Nothing opens till 10 in KL, so I did a bit of wandering in the sticky heat. Through the obligatory mall, past the 'Village Grocer' (masquerading as a supermarket) and over the road. Main roads here are tricky to cross - the drivers are far more unpredictable than say, the Sydney Rd variety. No one really uses indicators, so it's not uncommon to see cars weaving in and out of traffic lanes willy nilly. Wits about you indeed.
After successfully navigating the road I wandered down a street and stumbled upon a fresh produce market, exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to find! Hurrah! A variety of fruit and veg, flowers, meat...What? Yes yes, chicken carcasses, cuts of beef, whole fishies. On display. In the heat. Not even ten o'clock in the morning yet and I was sweating! Anyways, I was a bit overwhelmed by the produce and failed to procure anything. That's been happening a lot lately. I walk into a supermarket and am at a loss as to where to start. Wits abandoned roadside perhaps?
Sorry I don't have any photographs yet, I haven't quite worked out how to upload images from my phone. You can, however, check out Thistler's comprehensive photo essay of what we did on the weekend. His lovely bosses took us for a drive in the Cameron Highlands, about one hour out of KL. It was beautiful. Lots of tea plantations. And skinny, windy roads. We were nearly sideswiped by a bus! Crikey, it was a hairy ride but worth it!

OK, before you get totally bored...

This is similar to my lunch. Mmmm mm, banana leaf meal. Mine was veg and very filling! Traditionally you use your fingers but they gave me cutlery so I used my spoon (this was my first banana leaf meal). The waiter came over to see how it was and I asked him if I should use my fingers and he said no, not really. I think next time I will though!
Check back real soon for photographs. I am keen as mustard to upload some pictures of events, places and things I've made. In the meantime have a look at AprilMay's blog for this beautiful pair of earrings (they make me wanna pierce my ears) and curbly.com for this AWESOME book recycling project. I know a few lasses who would find this tutorial inspirational!

note: I had trouble linking this tutorial. I think the site was super busy. You can find the tutorial on the front page, just scroll down a little and it's to the right under 'What's Hot', called 'How to Make a Handbag out of a Recycled Book'.

Oh Hello!

This is Bangsar, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur. We live here, somewhere. So here I am, after a week or so of incommunicado! So sorry about that but it was difficult to get near a computer with the Internet. And now we have the Internet on in our apartment, so these updates should be regular as clockwork once again!
Kuala Lumpur is lush and steamy. The first thing I noticed was the abundance of trees. I could see their outlines in the predawn as the plane taxied in Sunday morning. There was a bit of an airport fiasco, Thistler and I not actually seeing each other for about 45 minutes. Ahem. Not quite the reunion I had imagined. Tired, grumpy and fending off over enthusiastic 'Taksi' drivers is no way to meet your beloved after a significant absence. Never mind, we managed to get a giggle out of it eventually. So far I have explored a mall or two (a mega mall, mind you) and our local burb. And the swimming pool. We are going for a country drive this weekend, up into the highlands! I've also been making things, but have no pictures yet unfortunately. I can show you this though...




'Softies, Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals' by Therese Laskey and Leah Kramer. My sister in law gave it to me before I left. What a clever and thoughtful lady she is! Can you believe it's my very first contemporary craft book? Not a very good record for a contemporary crafter. It's a lovely book and I've already made two softies from it. I'm trying to be good and follow the instructions to the tee, but I can't help skipping some and embellishing others. Oh, I know that's what it's all about, but I wanted to try and challenge myself by actually FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS instead of skipping ahead and troubleshooting later. Still, they are LOADS of fun to make. What a thoughtful sister in law I have!
Thank you for your comments. Yes, we are making a bit of a nest here. We're not allowed to hang anything on, nail into or stick anything the walls here so it'll be a challenge to get around that one!

Thistler and Me. Soon.

It's just that kind of day, isn't it? Howling wind, branches and debris flying around, rain splattering on your washing. Snuggle up folks. Take a hot water bottle to bed. Sigh.

The Final Batch

Well, for now. I think. Unless I get the urge to chain myself to the sewing machine and crank a few more out before I leave on Sunday, at 1.15 am. Crazy time to fly, huh? Taking this flight means I maximise goodbyes and hellos with nearest and dearests. The big hello being reserved for Thistler. Everyone else, to my distress, is a goodbye. Oh well, onward and upward chum. Speaking of Thistler, have you seen our new apartment yet? Have a look here. I had no idea it would be so swanky!
OK, back to the purses. They are the last I'll be making for a month, at least. I have really rediscovered a pure joy in making these babies the last few weeks. I'm gonna miss em! Although considering I am already sweaty with excitement at the thought of having a studio again, they may reappear sooner than I think.
In other news X and I had a sweet morning together, and topped it off by making these funny fruit faces. Then we ate our eyes, noses, ears and lips.