Jackie's la la za za

Owl in Japan

2009-12-10T10:42:00.010+08:00

Owl in Tokyo Disneyland

Owl roaming in Universal Studios Japan

Hooting around in USJ

Owl is reading in Asakusa Kanmon Temple

In the oldest temple in Tokyo, Asakusa Kanmon Temple saying Hi Hi to all

Jayne's Day Out

2009-11-22T12:56:00.007+08:00

This picture was taken on the 14 Nov, Saturday, at around 630am, when my princess, Jayne was going to a 2 Days 1 Night Kampong Experience and Desaru Adventure organised by her school as a Brownies Education Trip.

This was the first time Jayne was travelling without daddy and mummy by her side to a foreign country. Her daddy and I were worried sick of her well-being in Desaru and counting down to the minutes and seconds before her call at at night (@10pm) waiting to hear her voice on the phone.

Beautiful Sunday

2009-11-15T11:17:00.004+08:00

Another Sunday......this is one Sunday that i m looking forward to because my darling princess will be home at around 5pm later this evening.

She is away from home for a 2 days 1 night Brownies' Overseas Adventure trip to Desaru in Johor, Malaysia on 14 & 15 November.

Knitting is a sure a relaxing, mind soothing hobby :) while she is not at home, i knitted quite a lot which is good as it takes my mind off from thinking of her.

This is the first time she is away in another country , without her daddy and me.

She called last night in her hotel room after her Brownies activites that all the girls were having lots of fun in the day. She and the other 3 girls (quad-sharing) intend to have their mid-night snack party till 12pm - WOW !!

My Mini Sock Exchange is here

2009-11-04T11:11:00.009+08:00

Besides the wee tiny mini sock, see the great gifts i received from Margi.

There is a mini sweater matching the mini sock (now Jayne is asking for a tiny doll to wear the sweater and to play with.... where am i going to buy such tiny doll ....LOL !!) . You should see it - the workmanship is very really good and the stitches are even and neat, the colours matches very well. It got to be a knitting guru to knit such delicate piece of work !

A lacy purple bookmark, a stack of recipe cards, 2 pieces of lovely colour fabric and a friendship bracelet for Jayne from her daughter. (Oh, that is so sweet of her daughter :)

Thank you for being my exchange pal, hugs !!

October Finishes

2009-11-02T08:47:00.018+08:00

Owlings

My Summer Top

Wee Tiny Socks

Mini Sock Exchange

Owlings

2009-10-26T09:12:00.010+08:00

Owlings is my first project using the Premium 8 Inch Double Point Bamboo Knitting Needles from here.

These double pointed needles works WONDER ! I feel great holding them, knitting thru' with the yarn.

See how beautiful the yarn and the needles sit nicely on my palm :)

I have since finished knitting, however i m still searching for the correct size buttons to be sew onto the fingerless mitts.

I hope to find the "eyes" soon so that the owlings can start hooting.....

KP

2009-10-18T10:02:00.014+08:00

One of my KnitPicks cable joint came out, and after much checking around, with the good reputations from the company and good recommendations from fellow knitters, i would like to request for a replacement.

Upon hearing my plea, a friend of mine is willing to help me, and she even ask me whether do i need to purchase stuff from KP, she can mail them over at the same time.

Oh how wonderful !!

This box arrived at the time while i was out picking Jayne from the school, hence the Postman left a Delivery Advice slip.

With the DA reference, immediately called to check and was told that the package will be in the Post Office the next working day, and offered a few options for collection, i chose the one that to be delivered to my house again on the next next working day.

I have to wait for 3 days before i can see my goods. :(

At last, my box came :)

Jayne loves to be the one to open up, and she even helps me by doing the design graphic paint on the picture.

I bought a set of the classic straight 14" Harmony wood needle set and the 4" Harmony Wood Double Pointed Knitting Needle Set plus the 5 different length Options Interchangeable Circular Knitting Needle Cables.

Oh, how i love my KPs.....thank you so much, my friend.

Knit One....Lite One

2009-10-13T08:54:00.007+08:00

Nothing unusual, just another TV knit project.

Jayne is knitting this scarf for a girl from Beijing, China in an exchange school programme.

Now come the fun part - is knit lite needle :)

Some knitters might or already have this type of knitting needle at home, BUT is our first pair of "knit Anywhere...Even in the dark !" No. 13 (9mm) 14" (36cm) HUGE (kind-of-a-funny of holding them on our hands while knitting.

The FUN element we had during the process of "see mom....is lighted up ! wow, is heavy !! playing in a room, switching off the lights just to see how bright it is " is much worth than the price of $2.99.

We tried to take photo, there isnt any good ones to show how beautiful the needles move in the dark.

Her freind has since returned home, bringing this little gift from Jayne.

75 pieces

2009-10-10T10:01:00.019+08:00

These came in yesterday *Happy Dancing*

I don't knit with double point needles these day due to my knitting tension but how can I resist of not buying :)

I have a project in mind to knit using the double point needle *again*

It is raining now while I'm writting and posting this entry. I hope this heavy down-pour is able to wash away the dust that has been piled up on the ground, these days has been warm and humid and sincerely hope to have a cool day.

Have a nice knitty moment and a wondeful weekends, my friends.

Stitch and Scarf

2009-10-08T08:58:00.009+08:00

This is Stitch -

Jayne's cuddle soft toy bought from Hong Kong Disneyland while we were there.

Oh...... no no, Stitch doesnt come home with us wearing the scarf.

Jayne knits the scarf and put it on Stitch for a photo shot before giving it as a gift to her little mei mei (little sister).

Stitch is also the "bridge" connecting Jayne and her mei mei in their online webcam chat.

Mei Mei has a Stitch soft toy too, who loves to play Peek-a-Boo with Jayne and her Stitch very much.

Jayne picks this colour as she knows mei mei love to eat grapes and like Purple.

Yarn - Patons (Powder Puff)

Needles - 5mm Clover circular needle

Pattern - Jayne's mindless knitting of all knit rows.

Sweat-It-Out

2009-10-03T10:39:00.012+08:00

With my new pair of sneakers,

Walking hand in hand with daddy,

In my school canteen, waiting.....

Getting ready....

Helping each other to check that our gears were in the right place.

Watching the Instructor demonstrating first..

Here we go ...

This Rock climbling event was organised by the school during the September school holiday. It was an 2 hours course.

It was not as easy as it seems ! They enouraged each other while making their way up.

Jayne was using all her strength to climb her way up.

Steps by steps...they made their way up.

They told me the feeling was good when they managed to climb to the TOP.

Where was I ? As usual, I was the photographer, looking up, cheering for them on the ground.

Hello Hello Hello and Hello

2009-09-22T09:46:00.013+08:00

Lately i have been receiving Emails, SMSs, MNSs on -

"woman, how come there isn't any update in your blog", "do u know that your last blog entry was on 3rd August", "was i very busy?", "your blog was almost 2 months since the last entry", "am i doing ok", "am i still in the knitting world", "my friend, your blog is collecting dusts"...etc etc

Thank you to all my friends for your concern, kind reminders, and wishing me well messages. I am OK, doing well, UFOs flying around in the house......ahahahah

Goodies

2009-08-03T09:03:00.010+08:00

Another package with full of love and affections arrives on Thursday @ 12.18pm !!

There is a box of Macaroni gratin (with well written, neat handwritting on how to cook), a packet of Tofu crispy snack, a pack of Plum flavour sesame seeds, a cute looking box of biscuits, a sample pack of Shiseido Maouillage lipstick colours, two packs of wooden buttons and not forgetting the Hamanaka Flax K linen & cotton yarn.

I will be using these light-weight yarn, (25g per ball) for Hey Teach ! as a knitalong project with a dear friend.

A Little Twin Stars notebook and a all-in-1 pen (with black, blue, red and green and also a mechanical pencil as well) is in the sweet pink wrapping bag. These are the gifts for Jayne. She loves it very much.

Thank you once again, Izumi, for these lovely gifts.

Jayne's Splodge Cake

2009-07-19T10:08:00.003+08:00

These colourful splodge cakes are our afternoon treats. Jayne has this recipe from a children television show, Finger Tips.

I am not involved in the baking this time as I am happily chatting online with a dear friend. She baked the cakes by herself, I am so proud of her.

Bread making workshop

2009-07-17T16:58:00.009+08:00

My family love to eat bread very much, with the intention of baking my own bread for them, i went to a breadmaking workshop this morning, learning the art of bread making.

We are introduced to bread making, what are the basic ingredients and how to make a sweet dough.

Using the sweet dough recipe, we make Cinnamon Raisin bread, Curry Potato Tuna Donut, Coconut Flat Bread, Chicken floss Bun, Red Bean Bun and Hotdog Roll.

Coconut Flat Bread

Clockwise - chicken floss bun, curry potato tuna dount, hotdog roll, cinnamon raisin bread and red bean bun.

The Cinnanmon Raisin bread is the product of using a bread machine.

My favourite is red bean bun with sprinkle white sesame seeds. Jayne loves the hotdog roll and her daddy prefer the curry potato tuna dount and the hotdog roll.

I am very happy that Jayne and her daddy enjoyed eating my first batch of handmade bread.

My first package from Japan

2009-07-14T08:16:00.022+08:00

My package from Japan arrived yesterday around 6 in the evening, moment after we came back from Jayne's school field trip to Chinatown. I did not expect the Postman will come at this hour, in fact it was the first time i had my package at this "odd" hour. Anyway i am very happy to see him, thank you, Mr Postman.

These are in the box -

4 balls of nicely wind up Sawayaka Cotton #15 ( a bery sweet light Pink).

2 balls of Cotton Neat

2 balls of Hamanaka Kawaii Akachan Pure Cotton

These are the Pierrot brand cotton yarn that I want to knit in such a hot and humid weather, thanks to my dear friend in Japan, for sending it over to me. There is a very cute green key chain too.

Arigato gozaimashita, Izumi.

Big Big Vesper

2009-06-28T09:33:00.028+08:00

My Vesper is doing fine (actually) but somehow or rather, inside me, i m not happy with the size it is now even though it is a loose fitting top.

In order to make the Vesper not so baggy-looking, i need to overlap the pleats more, i have to rip off many rows of stockinette stitch.

It is the first time i use a life-line on my knit piece, i m glad that this life-line method comes handy.

Jayne enjoyed winding up the yarn for me, and at the same time, i taught her the use of the life-line and how it works.

Mr Frogging isnt not as bad as everyone thinks !!

Jayne's crochet granny square

2009-06-23T11:00:00.006+08:00

Jayne was crocheting granny squares at the same time as I was crocheting mine.

I've help her to learn crochet, it was a pleasure to teach her, passing on my love of crochet to her. I'm sure she will in return pass her passion to her children too.

While looking at some of mine Crochet Today! magazines, I can tell from the look of her eyes and her sweet comments that she loves the adorable blanket for baby, beautiful granny square throw, classic afghan for the home.

I know what I will be doing next for her.

You may see her works in her Little Jayne's flower crafty corner .

Crochet granny squares exchange 2009

2009-06-22T16:24:00.010+08:00

Make something using an unlimited amount of granny squares (and include 2 stash for your SECRET partner) was theme of the NNC Crochet Granny square Exchange 2009.

I've received my granny squares from my exchange friend, Usha from Malaysia. She crocheted 2 table mat, a pin cushion and gave me a roll of ribbon and a crocheted flower.

My exchange items were a set of table mat and 4 coasters. I put them all in a drawstring bag with a wooden crochet needle.

Hope she will like it.

Good morning Sunday aka Happy Father's Day

2009-06-14T09:42:00.008+08:00

A sunny (as usual) hot, humid Sunay, the Daddy is teaching the Princess how to clean the bikes.

She is in charge of cleaning and polishing while the Daddy is in for the fixing here and there.

The Princess is dripping some oil to the chain to enable it for a smooth ride.

With a few repair tools and cleaning aids, our bikes are as shiny as gold.

We will be heading for the park later this evening to ride our shiny bikes.

I love....

2009-06-07T14:11:00.011+08:00

I love sunset, these photos were taken on Friday's evening, from my bedroom's window.

I love plants , they brighten up the room.

I love to stand by the window watching sunset.

I love Evening, as night fall, it will cool down the heat wave.

K2 Skate

2009-06-02T09:51:00.010+08:00

We were at the East Coast Park last evening buying new Skate.

Jayne chose the K2 Athena Alu and the daddy chose his K2 Moto.

Both of them are gliders, be it on the ice or on the land.

It is a good thing that my husband and my daughter like the same sport.

Where am I ? I was on my bike, behind them taking pics and enjoying myself, watching them play.

See that red sign board there, that is our favourite fast food outlet. We had our dinner there.

Hot Hot Vesper

2009-05-31T15:22:00.019+08:00

Today's weather is high at 33deg, a hot and humid early afternoon. These are taken from my kitchen window.

See how my clothes swaying in the hot wind.

I must be crazy to cast on Vesper in such a hot hot humid weather.

I guess love wins !

I love the loose fitting, simple top down with a pocket design. Pleats are hand stitched after the knitting is complete. I think this will be a big challenge for me as i have never done pleats before, and would like to see how my hand-stitching skill is on a knit top.

This is the first time I have 360 cast-on stitches on a 32" circular needle. I have to tie short stash yarn (left over from the crochet granny squares and other projects) to mark every 50 stitches.

For those who like to knit Vesper, a kind reminder - please leave long enough yarn.

As this is a long-tail cast on, i started off with my 5 arm length of yarn, thinking that it will be enough, but alas, I am 100 or so stitches short. Oh boy !! this is the first time that I cast on 500 over stitches at one time!! I can feel the numbness on my left hand fingers.

This is so far my work-in-progress looks like. I hope to finish as soon as i can before my love for it "dies" out due to the heat wave even though i m in an air-con room.

From egg to coaster to pencil case

2009-05-25T09:17:00.004+08:00

Granny Square can be big or small, single colour or mulit-colour, and will not stop at just one square.

I crocheted 8 granny squares at one-go, thinking of using them as coasters. However, my daugher loves the colour very much, so i took 4 pieces, a zipper and hand sewn them into a pencil case for her.

Another happy "customer" !

From egg to coaster

2009-05-22T09:56:00.011+08:00

I joined NEEDLESnCRAFTS and signed up for Crochet Exchange 2009 recently. I cannot show the project that I have completed till my partner has received it.

However, I can share some of the coasters that I crocheted.

Remembered the Sunny side up egg, these coasters were the continuity from the egg. Jayne wants me to make something out of them instead of using them as coasters. She loves the combination of the colours very much !

Let me see what I can do with them, and gives Jayne a surprise !