60 pieces Coasters + 8 pieces of Tatting Doilies...

Cayden is turning 1 this Sunday!! So, mom Christie got me to make 60 pieces of coasters for her guests and 8 pieces of tatting doilies for her relatives. She has approached me more than a month ago, cos she knew that tatting is not easy... Thanks for her understanding. I would say, this is one of the biggest orders I have!

Thanks to her too, cos I have a chance to 'practice' my tatting, though I've wasted quite a lot of thread =P, it's still worth to try!

They are really lovely. I'm using variegated Floral thread that I bought from Jessica and Ellen. The size of the doily is around 9cm. I hope Christie's relatives will like them too..

Besides that, there are something for the guests... 60 pieces of crocheted coasters... I got Betsy to help me to crochet half of them, cos I knew I won't have enough time to complete all. Thanks to Betsy for her help.

I bought the yarn from Betsy. It's a Japanese cotton yarn. Dear Betsy is selling her yarns online and her pricing is very reasonable... *Tsk*Tsk*

To view her online yarn shop: Click HERE

Singapore Toys, Games & Comic Convention 2009

Last Saturday we went to Singapore Toys, Games & Comic Convention 2009. Purpose of going was to visit my brother, Jin's booth. He and his friend rented a booth to sell their artwork. It was also our first time attending the convention and I was very surprised with the outcome! It was so interesting!

When I went in, immediately I saw Blythe Doll booth! My favorite doll... Sigh... My hub just refused to get one for me, cos he finds it very very very scary, especially the eyes... Anyway, I have one miniature Blythe Doll that I've bought during my trip to Japan 3 years ago.

My brother booth was located behind the Blythe Doll booth.. He, too, finds that Blythe looks scary!

This is my brother Jin,

And, this is his girlfriend, MayLing... Both of them are arty people.

Jin's work...

Others exhibitors...

Hmm... I bought something too... A doll that comes from Korea. Pretty cute. It is called Ddung...

He DID it!!

This evening, my boy managed to push himself up to sit on his own! I was quite surprise. Managed to capture it on my camera.

  

He is 6 months 2 weeks today.

Surprise Belated Birthday Gift from Usha!!

Yesterday afternoon, Ms Postlady knocked on my door so hard that I had a shock. She said my door bell is not working and worried that I couldn't hear her. It never does... =P Then, thankfully, she passed me the parcel... :)

I've received this special gift from my swap partner, Usha for my birthday.

I like the shawl very much... Usha called it a 'broomstick' shawl and pretty long too, I think at least 1 1/2 meter long. She sure has the patience to do it.. Thanks Usha for this lovely gift...

ATC Parade @ Bishan National Library

This evening, we went to visit ATC* Parade @ Bishan National Library. It is organized by Moses, Pauseability.

*ATC - Artist Trading Card.

Pauseability organizes monthly ATC meeting every 2nd Thursday of the month with a theme @ Bishan National Library. You make your own ATC of a size of 2.5 inch by 3.5 inch and trade with someone else during this meeting. Find out more here.

This year ATC Parade, I'm impressed by all their handiworks!! Very creatively done. I've 'secretly' snapped shot a few to show (Oooopss... No Photography in the Library)

By Moses, the organizer.

By my good friend, Betsy from Knotty Bicsie 

By my friend from Shuttle And Needle (SNN) Group, Ellen. She is also a tatting guru!

This is by Joey and Kristine, Ellen's two wonderful daughters.

By Ee Wei, who is currently in Canada. She posted back the ATC to Moses... ;)

 

And some other nice works by local and overseas artist.

I'll be joining them on the next session. However, with Joel around I won't be able to attend. So, told Moses that I'll just post my ATC to him and he'll trade for me... =P

New Experience

Joel is sick for the first time... He has running nose and cough... :( Thank God, no fever.

Last night, he didn't sleep well. Due to his nose block, he kept tossing and turning to find the right sleeping position. Then followed by coughing that cause by his mucous...He didn't make any noise or cry. He just quietly snuggled toward me and sucked his thumb for comfort. This is totally a new experience for me. I didn't know what to do. All I could do were patted his back and kept praying...

Then this morning, he vomited because he coughed too hard. And again, he didn't show any discomfort, but smiled at us when we cleaned him up... Total HEART-ACHE!

Thank God toward the end of the day, he was better. Despite his cough and runny nose, he still smiled & played a lot!

When my aunt told me what worries her most is when her son fall sick cos she'll be very stress, I thought she's over protective. But now I totally understand that feeling... All moms want their children to be healthy and happy.

Joel is Half-A-Year Old...

Joel is 6 months old today! Time really flies.

 

He is really our bundle of joy...

I've been staying at home with him for the past months. Initially, I wasn't comfortable and felt insecure cos no stable income and I never really like the feeling of asking money from my husband.. However, God has been very very kind to me by blessing me with some "side incomes" that enough for myself and Joel.

Taking care of Joel by myself is really rewarding and full of excitements, especially witnessing his 'first-time'... =P I've also successfully get him into a routine. With this routine, I really have more time for my own. I learn one important thing, never let your baby decides his routine! It'll be a chaos.

Joel's routine (reference):

10:00am	Wake up & feeding
10:30am	Bath time
11:30am	I'll go downstairs with Joel to buy my lunch
12:30pm	Feeding & nap time
3:00pm	Wake up & feeding Some activities: - Play cards - Watch baby's program - Etc
5:00pm	Short Nap
6:00pm	Feeding Some outdoor activities *Usually at this hour, we'll be waiting for my husband to come back*
7:00pm	Dinner *My husband will drives us out for dinner*
8:30pm	Wipe body and change to PJ
9:00pm	Feeding & Bed time

Well, sometimes not that punctual but most of the time he'll follow this routine. :)

 

His progress since 3 months old:

• Able to hold his head steadily
• Can bear weight on legs
• He loves to coo and coos a lot!!!!
• Able to grasp thing
• And will put anything that he reaches into his mouth
• Loves to blow bubbles
• Recognize his own name
• Recognize mom and dad voices
• He loves to play his own hands and feet...
• Able to roll over
• Bad sleeping positions (sometimes can turn 360 deg)
• Able to sit momentary with support
• Stranger anxiety

Rent-A-Toy

Last two weeks, I've rented a toy for Joel... It was my first time and I think it's practical! I didn't know what Joel likes, cos he still very young to appreciate toys and infant toys are not cheap... One simple toy can costs more than S$50!! What if, he doesn't like to play, then it will be a waste... Then, storing the toys is also a challenge...

In S'pore, I've found 3 sites doing toy renting service. I've chosen rent-a-toy.com. From what I know, they have been around for quite sometime and they have varieties of good toys... Besides that, their pricing is pretty reasonable too.

For a start, I've rented this educational toy: Little Tikes 5-in-1 Adjustable Gym.

There are hanging toys and a motion activated "kick pad".

Joel loves to kick cos there are sound and lights. But after awhile, he'll get bored and he'll kick the whole toy away...

Renting it @ S$22.80 per month. Pretty reasonable, right?

Tatted Doily

Gosh! The drilling & hacking sounds are driving me NUTS!!! The whole block is participating in this upgrading program. Upgrading program includes: lift upgrading, replacing toilet and kitchen piping and installing new clothes hanging rack...

The noise has affected me greatly but I have no choice but bear with it... Thank God Joel is fine with the noise. He still can sleep through the noise!!

What I've been doing for the past week? Well, despite the noise, I've completed a few stuffs... Mainly helping Betsy on an order and making something for my dear brother. Will blog about them soon. Stay tune!

This is a tatted doily that I've made during my confinement... Suppose to give to someone but I was too late... :( Will have to post over then...

I love the color very very much. It's Flora thread that I've bought from Jessica.

Spring in Singapore

Made these beautiful brooches for sales @ MAAD over the weekends. You can find out more information by clicking on this link...

I've made them in green, yellow. pink & blue. Perfect for your blouses, bags, hair bands, hats/beanies, scarves and etc...

I'm selling one piece @ S$8.00. Buy any 3 @ S$20. They can be found @ Knotty Bicsie's store. However, I won't be there because I have to take care of Joel. Betsy, thanks for helping me.

Angelic Doll for Steph

Steph wants an angelic doll... She wants her angel in white and dusty pink dress... So, I've made her an angel with white and dusty pink dress & dusty pink wings with halo of paper flowers. Hope she'll like it.

Beanie for SY's niece

I've made this beanie for SY's niece from Australia... She's one year old this year. I really hope she can wear it...

I'm using cotton yarn for this beanie...

Happy 4 months old, Joel

Joel is 4 months old today. :) Specially for Joel, mommy and daddy are very proud to have you. You are God's best gift for both of us.

Joel's progress:

• Coos a lot! Hmm... Does this means, he will be talkative when he grows up?
• Recognize his mommy and daddy, he will smile whenever he hears our voices
• Love nursery rhymes, especially Humpty Dumpty
• Smiles a lot
• Drools a lot
• Licks and sucks his fingers and knuckles whenever  he's free or he's hungry
• Love mommy's milk!
• Colorful lightings attract him
• Able to lift up both his legs
• Likes to play with his fingers
• When lying on his tummy, he will be able to lift up his buttock
• And now, he is able to turn to one side. Shows that he's going to turn his body

I think that's about all...

My crocheted dolls...

I'll like to apologize to those who wanted to see listing of dolls that I'm selling. I don't really have any ready made dolls. I made upon request. But following can be your guideline. ;)

It's better to contact me and at least 1 or 2 months in advance.

From beginning, I never like to make repeated dolls. I like to accessorized them and make them different. If you observed carefully, all my wedding couple dolls are different.

The foundation of the dolls is straightforward. It involves sphere, cylinder, square and cone shapes. So, it's up to me how to assemble them and accessorize them. With different outcome, it always gives people the 'WOW' effect and this motivates me to continue making...

I won't claim that my designs are original because most of these dolls are inspired by my buyers!! They requested and I made them. ;)

10 Customized Dolls for Ivy

Ivy has bought a pair of wedding dolls from me couple of month ago. She brought them for her wedding shoot in Hong Kong! Wah, I've not been to Hong Kong before but my dolls did! Not bad!

Photo contributed by Ivy (with the blurry couple)

Their big day is coming soon. During month of March, she contacted me and wanted me to make 10 dolls for her sisters (姐妹). All her dolls had to be different. It was a challenge then, cos I was doing my confinement and not sure would be able to deliver. Thank God her big day falls in month of June and she needed them by end of May. THANK GOD! That's mean I have 2 months to complete them.

I had no clue what to do, so I asked for her all her sisters' profiles. To make my life easier, she asked me to make 5 angel dolls with different colors and another 5 customized according to her sisters character & favorite colors.

For these set of dolls, I'm using plastic eyes. My brother was the one who suggested that I should put eyes. Since he is the arty person, I should just listen to him. ;) The outcomes are AWESOME!

Doll 1: She's married. Has a bubbly & chatty personality. Also loves beaded stuff. Well, Ivy said she like to act cute. =P

I've made a doll with a bum at a centre and tie the bum with crocheted flowers. She looks mature but at the same time, cute.

Doll 2: She loves purple. Very artistic person and always tied her hair. She loves nature.

So, I've made a doll with side bum and wears a lilac dress with small flower.

Doll 3: She is romantic and likes to dream. Her favorite colors are pink and blue.

Hmm.... Dreamy, so I've decorated this doll with lots of flowers.

Doll 4: She's a teacher and has short hair. Her favorite colors are darker colors, like black, gray and dark red. Ivy said, she doesn't like cute stuffs...

Making this doll was a challenge because I don't really like to use dull colors to make my dolls. It took me awhile to think of what I should do. Well, the outcome is pretty cool! My brother likes it a lot.

I've made a red & black dress for the doll & crocheted a cardigan for her.

Doll 5: She's love pink! She loves to bake...

When I read her profile, straight away I knew what I wanted to make. A doll with a chef hat! Ivy loves her the most. Cute right?

Lastly, 5 angel dolls... Loving all of them.

I've made crown for them instead of usual halo. Besides that, all of them hold a heart.

I'm glad that Ivy LOVES them all!!! Her mom even asked whether any of these was for her. She plans to keep one of the angel dolls, but now, seems like she needs to give it away, to her mom.