We Go Together, Like Rama Lamma Lamma Ka Dinga Da Dinga Dong

Guess whose house has been playing Grease over and over and over this past week?
Finally get this set of gift ready.  It's been way overdue.  Anne, my sister, I hope these will brighten up your day!
Follow TingTingMamMa

Chococat Zipper Pouch

Follow TingTingMamMa

AJ Zipper Pouch

This is a birthday gift for a very creative and artistic friend who makes everyone she talks to feel special and cared for.  AJ is generous and so kind.  She's stylish yet modest.  She's definitely a beautiful lady inside and out.  Happy birthday, AJ!

Follow TingTingMamMa

Bubble Pouch

I promised Joanna that I would make her a felt doughnut key chain awhile back.  But, if you know me, when I feel uninspired, I just could not get to the project.  The guilt and shame of not keeping my words just ate at me.  So, many moons later, I thought, why not make something else for her instead.  And I did.  This is a tiny pouch (Michelle Pattern) that sits in your palm, perfect for a lip balm and a small tube of hand lotion. I feel so relieved after handing it to Joanna.  But, guess what, on that same day, Joanna gave me a bag of fabrics!  Ooh la la!!  Thank you, Joanna!

Follow TingTingMamMa

Teacher's Appreciation Gift 2014

This year, JJ's class has all the wonderful elements to make it an awesome one.  The kids are all ready to learn, bright, respectful, and full of smiles.  The parents are all supportive and active, and some have become really good friends of mine.  And the teacher, Mrs. O, is just DA BEST!  She is an inspiration to all around her, always encouraging, loving, positive and so much fun to be with.  

She often jokes about her classroom organization.  But, I believe she's just being modest.  After all, she could always find what she needs in the right places and the kids never go home missing any homework or handouts.  So, my conclusion is that she just has much stuff in the classroom (I mean, which teacher doesn't!?) 

So when it comes to teachers' appreciation week, naturally, I think about making a large, roomy, carry-anything pouch for Mrs. O. 

It goes well with the iPhone pouch, too!

Love the pull tag and the large handle.  She could hang the pouch or carry it by the handle.

So thankful that the seam ripper was having a vacation for this timely project.

I think I should make one for myself next...

   Follow TingTingMamMa

Tutorial: DIY Cinnamon Christmas Scrub

Thanks to Pinterest, I have been reading about how others created their own beauty products.  From mineral make up, lotion bars, to lip balm, you name it.  Feeling inspired, I started making my own concoction of facial/body scrubs.  My first one was a disaster.  The mixture of nutmeg, honey and some other ingredient was so runny that I thought my face was falling off.  (scary huh, good thing that no one saw me...) And there was the lemon honey sugar scrub.  Nah, too citrus for me (though there was only 1 table spoon of lemon juice in that big old jar).
After a few experiments, I went back to the pantry and grab a few of my favorite things.  It was simple, yet everything I hoped for.  If I love it, then I think it's gift worthy.

Here's how I make my Cinnamon Christmas Scrub:

1 cup of sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp grape seed oil

Mix well and spoon into a jar.  Tie a ribbon or add a label to finish it off.  I tied my gift tag with a piece of thin elastic.

Notes:
The grape seed oil has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, and is fairly light.
Honey has antioxidants as well as antibacterial properties.
Cinnamon has anti-bacterial properties and smells great!

Note: this post is featured here.

 

Follow TingTingMamMa

Starting A Collection?

Just not long ago, I was gifted with a cute mug from auntie Shu-jen.  For some reason, I thought the chick looked awfully familiar.  Then, JJ exclaimed: "Mom, I have the same chick!" and showed me her cute Piyo Piyo chick piggy bank (back of the picture) from uncle T.  They now sit together on our display shelf, keeping each other company.  Love the vibrant colors and the adorable eyes.  The thought of collecting Piyo Piyo crossed my mind for a second.  Then I quickly scratched it off my head.  I, for one, know too well the price one needs to pay for a collection--the time, the attention, the money, the space...etc.  Nah, let's just keep these two and make sure they don't multiply.
 

Follow TingTingMamMa

A Girl Who Likes Blue

Kayla likes the color blue.  For her bday, I wanted to make her something blue.

 Kayla Bag is based on this tutorial.  I enlarged the pattern by 2 inches on each side, added an inside pocket, and a pocket on the back of the bag.  

Blue the fish keychain was based on Faith's sketch of Kayla's betta fish, Blue.  The big eyes were where I spent the most time on.  The circle stencils were very tricky to cut since they were so itty bitty.  It took me several tries before I was able to get perfect circles.  My eyes almost fell out from the tedious work.  It's now clipped on the Kayla bag.

Have a blessed year, Kayla!  Happy birthday!

 

Follow TingTingMamMa

Two Weeks of Roses

Between end of the school year and beginning of summer break is the crunch time for families with dancers.  This year, our family had two.

I have been slowly convinced that most ladies, young or matured, enjoy receiving flowers.  And that's how our houses ended up with many of them in just two weeks.

 This hot pink rose was a gift to JJ from Grandma.

 This one was from F's performance company during the Tiny Dancers' show.

 This bouquet came from F's best friend, Mimi.

Surprisingly, I got a red rose, too, for being the co-chair for the flower arrangement team for the performances.

 

Follow TingTingMamMa

Tutorial: Miss W Bag

 It's that time of the year when I feel like shouting woo-hoo to the teachers for persevering through a long, yet fast-paced and fruitful school year.
Teachers have so many amazing qualities: patient (to both the students and the parents), loving, smart (let's never forget this one!), encouraging, creative, resourceful, patient (did I mention this one already?) and energetic (what time do they need to wake up so that they could greet the kids in the morning @8?).
They also possess a sense of humor (especially when the unexpected should happen in class), strong, projecting voice that should last all day, everyday, strong legs (to be able to stand all day long), strong back and knees (being able to bend down to talk to little ones without having to call an ambulance).
They are also great readers in every way (stories, books and scratchy hand writings that are just impossible to recognize) and attentive listeners (being able to listen to 5 different versions of the same situation during a playground fight IS a talent.)
So, hats off to you, teachers!
Inspired by how the teachers are carrying the students through the school year, I made this bag for Miss W.
I wanted this bag to be roomy, simple, durable and fun so I could have fun making it, too.
This is how I made it:

Body of Bag:

Cut 2 pieces of denim (19"x16"), 2 pieces of printed fabric (19"x12").  

Overlock the raw edges to prevent fraying.

Turn under 1/2" on one side of each denim piece.  Iron well then stitch.

Applique letter "W" in the center (lengthwise), a few inches below the stitched line.

With right side facing, piece in the order of "denim, printed fabric, printed fabric, denim" (with the stitched lines of denim on the far ends).  Top stitch on the right side.

Note: I only lined the printed fabric (hand stitched the lining) since denim is quite sturdy so the bag is not heavy.

Making Handles:

Cut 2 pieces of 16" long denim at 1 1/2" wide and 2 pieces of 16" printed fabric at 1 3/8" wide.

Note:The extra width of the printed fabric will wrap around to the denim side to create that faux piping look.

 Top stitch.

 The Bottom of Bag:

Almost done!

Stitch both sides of the bag with 1/2" seam allowance.  Iron the seams open.

Turn the bag right side out and iron well.  I cut a board to size to support the bottom.

The sides of bag will have two beautiful triangles (pictured in the right center).  I am fond of this "paper bag style".  I hope this bag will bring a smile on Miss W's face.

featured on...

Follow TingTingMamMa