stuff I got from daiso
May 21, 2008 
Some cute ribbons and wooden toys I intend to make into cute crafts+ a body brush
Linen cloths… not sure what I could make with them yet..
stuff I got from daiso, originally uploaded by ellzrae.
May 21, 2008 
Felt Hairclips
May 13, 2008 
Some felt hairclips I made for a colleague’s granddaughter. Got the idea elsewhere though I can’t really remember the site. For instructions, have a look below. Time: 2hrs (handsewing & machine) + 2 hrs preparation. I have a pretty screwed up old Rainbow sewing machine from the 50s, so it takes forever to sew felt.
Stuff you need: felt of 2 colors, pinking shears, cute small buttons and small pieces of felt in assorted colors for decoration, hairclips (the metal type that bends to open)
Cut 1 piece of felt (12cmx3cm) or 1 piece (7cmx3cm) + 1 piece (6cmx3cm)
In this picture, I have cut a long piece of felt instead of 2 pieces to be joined up. I added a piece of red cloth as decoration on top. You can cut using a pinking shears to avoid too much fraying if you are using cloth instead of felt. I have used it as a decorative effect here.
fold the felt piece, making sure one side is longer so the hairclip can slip in. This is the time to design the overall look of the hairclip before you start sewing.
draw using a pen (or pencil if you don’t want marks) the shape you would be sewing. This is just guidelines. If you are good, you can skip this step. Sew along the shape, making sure you can fit the hairclip in. After sewing, further trim if needed and handsew a felt piece on the top side(heart,flower shape) and add a button to secure it. If you have kids below 3yrs, maybe its a good idea to not use buttons. And there you go! Have fun!
Felt Hairclips, originally uploaded by ellzrae.
Plum & raisin muffin
This was another delicious recipe from ‘Mind Your Body’. Tastes really good. Inside was fruity, sweet(caramelised plums & raisins) and moist. Family snapped it up. Just wished I made more.
4 ripe plums, chopped
225 plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
100g sugar (or less if you are watching sugar intake)
100g salted melted butter (or unsalted if u prefer for health reasons)
1 large egg or 2 small egg
120ml buttermilk or plain milk
200g raisins or dried fruit
Stuff you need: Mixer, Muffin Tray or Muffin cups, paper cups
Oven 200 deg C Bake for 20-30mins
1) Sift flour and baking powder and add sugar
2) Beat Egg, milk and melted butter in separate bowl.
3) Make a well in flour and pour in egg mixture
4) Mix but do not overmix
5) Stir in plums and raisins, do not overmix
6) Spoon into muffin cups and bake for 20-30mins. Test with skewer.
7) Serve Hot! Yummy!:)
Plum & coconut cake
Delicious plum & coconut cake recipe from ‘Mind Your Body’. I tried it and was gorgeous! I suppose you can subsitute pears, peaches, apples or any fruit that would taste good baked.
5 ripe dark red plums (cut)
200g butter
175 caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
3 eggs
200g self raising flour
120g DRIED desiccated coconut
100ml buttermilk/plain milk
lime & lemon syrup
1 lime + 2 lemons
150g sugar
100ml water
Oven 180 deg
Baking time:50-70 mins
Stuff needed: mixer & baking tin(24cm)
1)Cream butter sugar & vanilla until fluffy & light
2)Add eggs slowly beating well
3)Fold in flour, coconut & buttermilk
4)Pour into tin and place sliced plums on top (don’t press in)
5)Bake 50-70 until skewer inserted comes out clean
6)Make syrup and melt it in pan. Boil and simmer.
7) Pour cooled syrup over cake. You can make tiny holes in cake.
Remove cake when cool.
9) Serve with yogurt or icecream!
HEART necklace
Got this cute tiles from Spotlight. Were meant for scrapbooking actually. But they were a steal at $4.95 for all 24 letters. And I knew I had to do something with them…!
This is Day 1/Crafting 365
Reversible Bag
This was done for my sis as she wanted a bag that that could contain her A4 papers. Broke 7 needles on my old machine cause it was just too thick..! Sis likes it, I think. (She better, or I’ll take it back..!:) Pattern from Little Purl of the Orient (http://yscmama.typepad.com/little_purl/2005/09/bag_5.html)
Old fashioned purse
Sewing this with interlining was one heck of a painful job on my grandma’s old Rainbow sewing machine. Fabric is really vintage 70s and I’m giving this to my mum. She had a dress like that once.
Red bag
Red bag
Made this bag for myself using this the lovely canvas type cloth I bought. Pretty hard to sew, although the person who first made the bag took only 10 hrs, I took almost 30 hrs (3 days) on my old sewing machine, handstitching buttonholes and french-seaming and bias-taping everything. No wonder i’m exhausted. Time to get a new sewing machine.
Pattern from Craftgrrl (http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl/4250051.html)
Minimalist Scarf
Scarfs are back in fashion, but broke as i am, I couldn’t make myself spend $29.90 on a scarf. I rather spend $6 on farbic and 5hrs sewing one… not very smart, but hell..
ikea hacker: a desk with lots of storage space
ikea hacker: a desk with lots of storage space
My hack is up! Yup that was made by my sis and I.. I so love IKEA. My dream job is probably working in IKEA as a visual space designer, fitting cupboards and decorating spaces..
MAAD @ Red Dot Museum
Went to MAAD @ Red Dot Museum on 2nd March. Got this few trinkets: Top left : BATDNA from Roomism , a nice chinese ideogram (water) from Amy Handmade Ceramics and a wooden dolphin necklace which was my birthday present from Lina, my good fren from secondary school.
Was really surprised to see handmade ceramics at MAAD. According to Amy the stall owner, the necklace feels like granite but is actually made from a special clay imported from USA. She makes cute ceramics based on rabbits too. What a lovely lady. I do wish I had her job, always thought working with clay would be very therapeutic. Nana, the owner of Roomism, was a delightful lady to talk to. Her illustrations (not shown here) are gorgeous and one could see she was brimming with ideas. Maad is a nice handicraft market to while away some time chatting to various creative people. Do check it out.
Almond Chews
Baked this cake the other day, it’s called ALMOND CHEWS. really easy for the beginner baker and turned out nice just in time for tea..!
160g butter (i used salted)
1 1/4 cup caster sugar
1/4 cup soft brown sugar (cake turned out too sweet, you might want to cut down)
2 eggs
3 tsp vanilla essence
2 cups self-raising flour
150g chocolate chips
150g flaked or chopped almonds
icing sugar for dusting (optional, i did not add in)
1)Grease shallow baking tin (30×20cm) or use cake tin as I did. Line with baking paper.
2) Place butter, caster sugar & brown sugar in saucepan and stir until dissolved. Cool. Preheat oven to 170 degree C/ 325 Fareheit
3) Beat eggs until thick & pale with electric beater. Add vanilla, flour and cooled butter mixture. Mix well. Stir in chocolate and half of almonds. Spread into the tin and sprinkle remaining almonds on top. Bake for 40 mins, until golden. (I baked until 50mins)
Centre is soft and chewy, Leave to cool and flip over in serving dish. Cut & serve or decorate with icing sugar. (recipe courtesy of periplus)
Square Patch Maki
I didn’t make this but this is really chill.. LOVE IT.
quote: “catalog team-
created for the NEW Catalog Magazine team! they’re so cool and they’re up with a myspace page now.
read more at our blog. link through www.flickr.com/people/makisquarepatch
Uploaded by maki ♥ squarepatch on 9 May 07, 1.43PM MYT. “
Cute Jelly
Konnayaku jelly- a kind of sticky jelly that supposed to be bouncy & chewy. Added some cute toothpicks and cocktail fruits. The retro containers are from my mum.
How (not) to kill your fern
How (not) to Kill a Maidenhair Fern-
Left: Plant just transplanted from office environment with cool temperatures of 27 celsius and moderate shade and high humidity & water provided by fish pond just beside it. It was happy & flourishing.
Right: 5 months later, after plant withered within 1 month of being at the window with full hot sun 33-35 celsius & bad watering.
Current temperatures are 26-32 celsius, sunny (but trying to put it in shade using netting) & water & pebbles at bottom of tray to provide moisture. Plant is starting to throw out small fronds about 2mm long in response to shade & humidity.
Just added some pebbles to prevent evaporation from top of soil. Crossing fingers that in 1 week the fronds will start growing out.
fabric
My dad and I took a walk around town to look for nice fabrics- at our last stop at Geylang Serai, we finally found these canvas like cloths. Quite pretty, could probably make some totes or cushions out of them. Was really looking for more subtle patterns but seemed few shops had even the canvas like fabrics. Oh, yup that’s my ugly nekked sofa at the back.
teastrainer
Got these two tea strainers for my dad and mum, whose birthdays were only few days apart in January. The cake is for my dad, and the teapot, my mum. Really sweet looking. They cost $8 each.
felt leaves
Felt leaves bought from Daiso where 4 come in a pack- $2. Earrings to go with my bag when the felt leaves are sewn on. Neat..!
