Phew…. I can finally relax after a very hectic month.

August 2011 has been a very busy month for me.  I think my blog missed me too (^_^)

Building Our Family Kampung House

It started with a trip back to my village or ‘kampung’ as we called it here for the purpose of looking at the cleared land that my sister planned to build her house.  It was long overdue and it was what my late mother had wished for.   My cousin’s wife (Mailin) told us that as soon as the land was cleared, she dreamt of my late mother who looked really happy and told her how excited ‘she’ was that a house would finally be built on that piece of land.  Hmm…. It seems that the spirit world is still connected to our world after all.

Anyway, here you can see my nephew Jonathan parading comically with his red umbrella on that cleared land. Hehehe….. so cute.

The appointed contractor, Jay (in the middle) and his nephew.

At first, my sisters (as usual) were reluctant to disclose any details with me.  I don’t know why but they usually end up telling me when things got bad and needed help to bail them out.  Maybe they were scared of me because I’m the oldest sister and a very strict person. But they still come to me because I am the only sibling with a good sense of judgement.  Same thing here, i.e. they didn’t have any plan, just the money to build the house and tons of impatience coming from my younger sister.    

This is the house plan that I designed.  Thanks so much to this wonderful site:  floorplanner.com

Hmm.. not too shabby right? The website's great.  Anyone can use it for free for your first plan.  The best part is you can see your plan in 3-D.  Really cool.   

For the front slopping side of the family house, I have found this gorgeous picture as sample.  I think I can create this.  Fingers crossed ^ ^

Money Plant

One morning, I was surprised to see this weird looking thing sticking out from the “Money Plant” that I bought many years ago so I took a picture of it.  The “thing” was actually its flower.  I googled the plant’s real name and came to know that its real name is Zamioculcas Zamiifolia or simply ZZ, a plant from Eastern Africa.  Heyyy.. wait-tha-minute... All the while I thought it was from our Borneo jungle!  How come? Hmm… Anyway, it is a poisonous plant ~ so no chewing on leaves heheh.

Three Gorgeous Island Castaways ~ -Mabul -Island, -Semporna

Well..err not really castaway hikhik… Just went for a look see over at -Mabul -Island from 5th August 2011 with my girlfriends.    So much has changed since my last visit back in 1997.  I was scuba -diving in -Sipadan then and accepted an invitation to go on a speedboat ride to -Mabul.  Back then it was only populated by a small fishing village and many coconut trees.  I remembered always looking up ‘em coconut trees fearing that a nut will suddenly fall down hitting my head.  Heheh.. crazy.  Niways, there was only one –resort there and a very very long jetty.  Waaa.. the island has changed completely. Nowadays, the fishermen communities have quadrupled and so were the number of –resorts and –tourists.  It feels more like a small town now.   We visited almost all the –resorts.  The most beautiful thing I found about this island is how abundant and close-by were its live corals to the shore.  The sea was crystal clear with visibility up to the bottom of its seabed.  Sadly, I was unable to join my girlfriends snorkeling because of my 'period'. 

There was one strange experience I encountered on the island though.  On the last day of our stay, at about 3 am, I was awaken because of a sudden strong wind that hit the island.  I was feeling a bit uneasy.  Then, I heard a very strange very sharp whistling sound.  It was really weird.  To me it sounded not like a whistle that one blows.  It was more like a voice.  Sea Sirens e.g. Mermaid definitely came to mind.  I was glad that one of my girlfriend, Angel heard it too.  She told me that at first, she thought that I was whistling because she saw me walk to and fro the chalet window that early morning still in the dark.  Hmm.. this one I will never forget.  

A view of Mount Kinabalu from our plane.

 Fishing ships in -Semporna.

One of the -resort in -Mabul.

My girlfriends ~Angel & Sue 

Me : -P

I just love these lights at the Spa.

Sea Snake sleeping.

Going back.

Ha... my pretty blue toenails hehehe.

This island looked interesting.  But I don't know its name.

Arrived in -Semporna.

Non-stop Sewing

I’m actually a lazy seamstress but this time around I did pushed myself to complete incoming projects and I’m really proud of myself.    I’ve managed to design, cut and sew five pieces of clothing for my workmate’s  flower girls dresses as well as Otromen’s, Brenda’s and her daughter’s Baju Raya for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2011 celebration.    It was a great personal achievement record for me.  Mind you, no one has paid me any money yet... Heheh except for Otromen who brought me to see the musical fountain at Perdana Park.  So  I consider his due paid ^__^ 

To be honest, I don’t really want to be paid for these projects as I was sewing for friends and loved the learning process along the way.  Unfortunately when the sewing ‘marathon’ ended, I ended being sick myself.  Caught the flu.  Darn the warm weather! Heheh.  Thankfully I’ve recovered.  Unfortunately, my sewing enthusiasm has receded too.  

Here are pictures taken during and after the projects.

Yeayy.. I finally bought a mannequin from Iron-Nique (KK) in Bundusan.  The store manager was a very kind man and sold this mannequin for only RM 100.  God bless him :-)

Bride's Flower Girls Dresses

Colour ...................  Olive Green

Material ................  Japanese Cotton

Sewing Notes ........  El needed them to be slightly longer i.e. the waist and length of dress.  Also the girls were skinny 10 year-olds so needed to cover their shoulder blades at the back.

Skill Learned ......... First time sewing little girls dresses and attaching tulle netting.  Also, learned making cute flowers from pieces of cloths from -Youtube crash course heheh.

Final Vote ............... Customer satisfied.  I attended El's wedding reception and saw the girls.  Their dresses  fitted perfectly.  

Yep.. I make my own pattern.  It's still a learning process.

The many pieces that I wonder how long it'll take to sew together..

I broke two needles doing this project.  Luckily the dress didn't got hurt hehe.

The finished dresses.  I just loved them.  

The flower I made. ~Love love

Otromen's Baju Raya

Colour  ............   Black

Material ..........  Japanese Satin

Sewing Notes ..  I've already made his last year's baju raya so I have a ready pattern.  But I added another inch on his collar and sleeves and reduced the width of his cuffs.  He has a cute belly now so have to add a few inches to his waist err.. note the chalk drawing on the cloth heheh.  

Final Vote .......  Satisfied.  He can't wait for Hari Raya to come heheh.

Otromen's pants.  Note the addition made on his waistline.  

He requested a smaller back pocket and add cover so that his wallet won't fall off during prayer.  

I added gold patterned ribbon to make the Baju Raya interesting.  This gold pattern was chosen as it  matched his Kain Samping's pattern.

Otromen trying out his baju hehe  ^_^

Mother & Daughter Baju Raya
Colour  ................   Lime Green
Material ..............   Chiffon and Satin Lining
Sewing Notes ......   Reminder to self ~ never ever take last minute sewing project (bad for health) hehe. 
Skilled Learned ..   I used bias cut for the daughter's skirt i.e. maximum bias at the knee so the skirt turned out like a mermaid cut.  As for the mom's, it's the first time I made a strapless dress (Very important note to self; since it is a strapless dress, aside from around the breasts area, I must also take chest measurement above the nipple i.e. around the armpit area to ensure that the dress will fit perfectly after it is zipped.  Make it tight babe!).  
Final Vote ...........  The daughter was trilled that she has a nice and different looking dress to go round celebrating Raya with her friends.  The mother's happy with her dress too.

Girlie trying out her dress.

She said, "Thanks auntie".  Heheh.. Can't believe she's a young lady now ^_^

This is her mother's dress.

I've sewn boning on the neckline of the strapless dress to keep it from gaping.

Owkayy.. that's about it for August 2011.  Really really tired.  I think I am taking vacation from sewing for a year heheh.. Just kidding.  Anyway, good night everyone.  Stay safe and God bless.