Handmade Gauze Blankie

 

Kayla and Kayden Ng are the youngest member in Ng's family, Gab's cousins. Today is their fullmoon, just done sewing these pair of gauze blankie.

When I started sewing it yesterday, I was totally have no idea what happened to the seams, they tripped and skipped... it wasn't a pleasant start. Gauze is not what I thought so, unlike cotton, so then googled about 'How to sew gauze' for some fast tips.... It seemed everyone has the same problem, some said:"Gauze grows!" I don't quite understand what it means by 'grows'.

So I tried laying a piece of paper strip under gauze fabric, ahh haaa! It works very well, so went I cut many strips ready for these two blankies.

I never stopped figuring out why seams tripped and skipped... ya... I kept thinking about it.

Somethings I observed:
1) Gauze usually is double layer, I used size 14 needle, it could go through the first layer, I saw fabric kept pushing (stuck) into needle hole if I didn't pull it tight. needle might not go through the 2nd layer well, I think it is better if it is size 9.  I guessed that was the reason why seams tripped

2) I supposed it may also occur even using size 9 needle, googled fast tips, some suggested to press it (iron), and others which I think very troublesome. Try using long strip of paper lay under the fabric, and it went smoothly and neatly.

I hope these tips help you in sewing gauze fabric.

I am an artist

I have never in a business line selling stuff before, all I know to do is music and teaching. Pricing the products are most of the time I measure by the cost and add up a little of my effort and time that has consumed. 

People who are little musical trained or non, may not understand and perceive music in totally different way than a musician. Agree? 

No doubt as an artist, every effort counts, in order to perform a piece, I know exactly what it takes to master a piece, to work on those little details on all elements -- notes, tempo, rhythms, sonority, articulation and dynamics, after mastering these you have to relate each other to expression and emotion... erm.... ok. 

Let's see what it takes to sew a product. 

Travel back and forth - purchasing raw materials - idea - designing - measuring for main fabric, lining and sometimes the quilt batting - make templates - cutting - matching fabric patterns, threads and other accessories - sewing. 

Looks just like that, nothing much, ya... true, nothing, I can get this from shops and stalls. Because we don't see the time here, the idea, the uniqueness, the effort, the skill, sincerity, enthusiasm, passion.... May be you would like to convince yourself by reading this 101 reasons to buy handmade products.

Doing this indeed sometimes is undercharged, to buy a quarter meter of a piece of fabric is very costly, a small ring costs RM3 each, you would be surprised. 

I have friends suggested to use cheaper materials, sewing with wider seam, I am an artist, I don't gain an advantage or profit by trickery 偷工取巧.

What it takes to bake a cake and cookies.

Travel back and forth - purchasing raw ingredients - measuring different ingredients - baking tools - mixing and blending - boiling and heating on certain ingredients - baking.

Looks just like that, nothing much, ya.... true, nothing. I can get this from bakery shops. Because we don't see the choice of the quality of the ingredients, it's true, when you put RM1.60 per kg flour and RM2.40 per kg flour on the table, you can't tell the difference. 

Why are home-baked cakes are better than commercial cakes

Some told me that ** bakery's cakes are very soft, better than your cakes, indeed, yes, I first thought so, then later I found out, they put in some ovellete to increase the softness, also serves as a preservative to extend shelf life. 

I was suggested to mix the ingredients with half cheaper products, you see.... I am an artist, I don't gain an advantage or profit by trickery 偷工取巧.

I like this quote:

Cake baking is a hobby for many but it requires an artist's talent to create the right flavour texture and taste. >.6

Life. Liberty. Getting crap done. WD-40

DID YOU KNOW?
What IS The Main Ingredient of WD-40?
Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40?
No Cheating.....

WD-40 ~ Who knew!

I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup.
I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).
I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.
He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do....
probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.
Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.
It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I was impressed!

WD-40 who knew?
"Water Displacement #40".
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.
WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.
Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'Water Displacement' Compound.
They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth attempt, thus WD-40.
The 'Convair Company' bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.
It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.
If yours is plastic, it works just as well as on glass.
It's a miracle!
Then try it on your stovetop.
It's now shinier than it's ever been.
You'll be amazed.


WD-40 Uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floor that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5. Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters, as well. (Ya gotta love this one!!!)
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic / terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.
18. It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen flooring.
It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.
Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Remove those nasty Bug guts that will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...
22. Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes grease splatters from stovetops.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38. The favorite use in the state of New York, it protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41. It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!
43. If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the moisture, allowing the engine to start.

P.S.
As for that Basic, Main Ingredient.......
Well.... it's FISH OIL....
Who would have guessed ? ? ?

God's favourable Chinese New Year to all!

A very different Chinese New Year that fills with God's favour and love. Wishing all my family and friends have a God's favourable blessing Chinese New Year

God has blessed me with a free face-lift to my car window's tint firm by Shirley, God has blessed me with additional bonus from Debbie, God has blessed me with long long list of German cookies order, I am so blessed by His favourable blessing.

God prepares everything I needed, He supplies even before I ask from Him. Washing machine stopped working last two days, as I was arranging mechanic to fix it, instead of complaining 'Why now?' I realised God has prepare the amount for the cost of repairs. I remember last year there were many times I heard of washing machine produced loud sound and I laid hand to pray for it, saying... 'Not now...'. haha, I know it sounds silly, well I did it all the time. And now it is the perfect time, where I have enough for the fixing. He is Jehovah, God is my supply. 

God has blessed me with two good helpers, one is Melaleuca another is Gabriel darling. I never let Gab done anything washing but just laundry and vacuum-ing, as I know detergents chemicals cause harm to him. 

Ever I started using Melaleuca products, I let him wash dishes, mop the floor, cleaning fans.... I think he will hate Melaleuca if he ever found out the truth... hehehe. 

Anyway, I am so BLESSED, at last I want to tell the world that God's favour is upon me~ May you be blessed too. 

No... not throwing away

Spring cleaning, another two days to Chinese New Year, it is the culture to have a spring cleaning before CNY, every year.. no exceptional. This has been doing since young.

Something that is not going to throw away, that would be my music books. This cabinet is placed in store room, not all the books here, some are still in piano room. Collection from my very grade 1 till now, once awhile will still get some good books from music shop, will buy majority jazz books and new composers now.
Upper level are resources got it after grade 8, preparing for Performing Cert and LTCL. Not all of them here, some are kept in another cabinet.
2nd and 3rd are all piano books from Baroque to Romantic period composers, 4th are for guitar and violin books + contemporary composers, last tier is for theory and aural books.

These are my precious property.