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Scrap Fabric challenge: DIY vintage summer top (Sewing Hacks)

August 2nd, 2013 § 0 comments § permalink

Scrap fabric challenge: DIY vintage summer top

This fabric brings wonderful memories of when I was a little girl. My mom made an adorable sailor outfit with a matching top and short. Unfortunately I misplaced the outfit. I love the color and texture of this light fabric, I am not sure what it is. It brought me through many summers without AC . It’s very youthful and happy perhaps because of the memories.

I am using a pin to make the pattern, a technique my mom came up with and taught me, for this scrap fabric top made from different pieces of cloth sewn together.  You can make a copy of clothing or anything you like with this method. To add more flavor to this top, I decided to use my mom’s old top as the model. As a little girl I loved to play “try on mom’s clothes”. I also like that it looks like a similar top I saw in a Korean fashion blog recently. This project was for fun, no rules apply, I just made it up as I go and see what comes out of it.

So play, I keep it fun and it’s just scraps anyways if you mess up. This is my first time making a complete pattern. I hope you’ll enjoy playing around with the idea.

Basic pattern components

Scrap fabric challenge: DIY vintage summer top

* Remember to add extra 1/4″ all around the edges for the seam.

Making pattern A & B

This is the easiest part. The goal is to get two pieces of fabric that will cover the front and back of the body width and lengthwise. Pattern A & B are rectangles sewn together for this need. You can get creative and use triangles, squares or any shape you want with your scraps. To make it easier, if you have more fabric, you can make two rectangles instead. Also play around with the pattern of the fabric such as using horizontal and vertical patterns in the fabric to gives it more style.

Scrap fabric challenge: DIY vintage summer top

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Cheap creative tool: Super fast way to peel roasted chestnuts

July 6th, 2013 § 0 comments § permalink

I’m so happy to discover this little plastic gadget in a bag of fresh roasted chestnuts I bought today. I love fresh chestnuts but it takes forever to peel, I give up after few tries. It’s not a favored task for a lazy person like me. With this little helper, I finished the bag in less than 15 minutes. Very satisfying and fun to eat. It’s a keeper for future home roasted chestnuts.

Unsettling heart VS Mom

July 3rd, 2013 § 0 comments § permalink

2 am, I am tossing and turning with the fan on. I couldn’t sleep not because of the heat but because of an unsettled feeling.  I haven’t had this feeling for a while. I tip toed barefoot down the cool hall way floors and slip into my mom’s bed wanting some comfort as she is snoring like a babe. I wonder how she does it? How she is able to sleep so soundly and effortlessly? I hug her foot and tried to sleep. Her fan stops and my heart flutters more, this uneasiness was just not settling. I could no longer find the peace and comfort in her presence as I always did. Why? Have I grown too old and become too worldly? I slowly slipped away again and she stirs, “Leaving because the fan’s off?” she mumbles in her sleep. I respond pathetically not wanting to disturb her further, “Yeah….”, but then I manage what was almost a whisper, “…my heart feels unsettled for some reason? I don’t know what influenced my distress?” as I tracked my way back to my room. She muffled, “Settled or not settled heart…sleep first.”  Sheepishly I agreed,”Okay I’ll try….” and bam I was asleep. How amazing was that? Mom is powerful even as an adult.

Reminder: There’s a time for everything, night-time is for sleep and nothing else. Worrying won’t help or change anything.

Monsters University Snail: I admire his determination

June 27th, 2013 § 0 comments § permalink

It’s been a tradition for me to take my mom to all the good Pixar movies and we couldn’t miss this one. She is now the kid in the family. The movie was awesome, my mom laughed and randomly shouted in Chinese during the entire movie. As you probably guessed, her english is worse than mine hence the natural reflexes. She gets very exited while watching movies, yes, even cartoons. It’s embarrassing, good thing we were in the dark and hey, all the other parents couldn’t control their kids either.

I just wanted to do a quick post on this cute little snail. He’s not a significant character in the movie just a little guy that appeared for a few seconds. His only line was, “I can’t be late for the first day!” then he takes a deep breath and runs with all his might. Of course he doesn’t go very far, it’s so hilarious. By nature he’s not quick but is oozing with determination and positive energy. He doesn’t give up. That’s what counts! He’s a very good role model, wouldn’t you say? I am also slow by nature, his infectious determination was so sweet, cute and encouraging. I just couldn’t help but notice.

Screen Shot 2013-03-08 at 9.51.34 AM

~ Image found on PixarPost

Tame baby hair with a bandana

June 25th, 2013 § 0 comments § permalink

For those of you, like me, who have disobedient course and STIFF hair, you can fix those nasty cow licks and spiky baby hair with no hair products or heat. I tried many ways including a cap to hold my hair down, it left a ring around my head that was not any flattering then my hair sticking straight up.  I was daydreaming a way to make my hair stay down naturally. I knew wet hair behaves well and if I could hold it down in place after it dries then everything would be perfect. I recalled, usually after I took my head band off of wet hair, my hair would become more stubborn and no amount of effort would make it flat again until the next shower. What if I used a big head band over wet flat hair? Would my hair stay in place then? I didn’t have a huge head band so I experimented with a t-shirt. It worked pretty good with exceptions to the long drying time. Hence I used a piece of large thin cloth, a bandana, I bought at Daiso for a few dollars. The bandana worked perfectly with quick drying time.

Materials:
Comb
Bandanna or large piece of square fabric
Hair clip
Hair dryer (Not heat option, you can just leave the bandana on until your hair dries)