Monday, February 21, 2011

Scrap-busting: Apple Pincushion



I made jammy pants for myself using a pattern from Heather Ross’ Weekend Sewing and as a result, I have a lot of scraps from these two flannels. I made Huck Finn’s pants for Arwen (pattern in the same book) and these apple pin-cushions.

The blue one was the first prototype. I stuffed it with batting scraps (finally, I managed to get rid of those, or put it to good use) and the panels are a little bit wider and it looks more like a pumpkin, to me. 

The second apple, I sketched a slimmer panel for the template and this one looks more like an apple to me. I took these pictures potraying these pincushions as Apple’s Ipod/Iphone for the fun of it. The captions are actual Apple taglines.



Friday, February 18, 2011

I’m featured in NUR March 2011 issue!

Earlier this year I blogged about my interview and photoshoot session with a journalist and a photographer from NUR magazine here. I almost forgotten about it until I casually wonder into a news stand in Alamanda after dinner earlier tonight. They have already stacked up March issue for most of the magazines so it got me wondering whether they’ve NUR’s March 2011 issue too. I found it after a short search and flipped the pages; and lo and behold; I’m in the pages of the magazine!!!!! The feeling is indescribable!!!! It’s the first time for me to be featured in a printed media... it’s so surreal... Alhamdulillah for this rezeki. Do get a copy of NUR March 2011 issue from your local news agent :)

It’s been a special Friday for me. Penuh rezeki, Alhamdulillah. After posting my knitted stuff toys in DSLR Malaysia, I’ve got requests for quotation from two of it’s members. Such an impact a photo can make. And then, my first appearance in a magazine... I’ll be smiling in my sleep tonight :)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

NYC Cab revisited: A fresh perspective

I made a post about my knitted toys here at the beginning of this blog and the photos were taken from a camera phone. As today is the theme day for DSLR Kelab Malaysia, and the theme is ‘vehicles’, so I shot this, this morning. The photo does justice to this little cutie :)

I’m slowly turning this blog as a gallery for my photography as well. How it has evolved... One of the main reasons I took up photography more seriously was for this blog. To have better pictures. I’m glad I did and I’m having fun doing it.

A big about Kelab DSLR Malaysia. It’s an open group on Facebook and I was invited by a friend. They have 1 Hari 1 Foto assignment which is in line with my Project 365. You get to post only one photo a day and have members of the group comment on your picture. I can really see a lot of improvements in my shots from my earlier ones in my personal project. At the end of the day, the admin will choose a few best pictures and have them in the Wall of Fame for the day. I am elated to have mine chosen twice! It’s here and here. What more, it’s challenging to compete with photos of nature, sunset, sunrise, macro shots of bugs and what have you. Mine were more on still life and the stuff in my sewing room. So, to be picked into the Wall Of Fame is really an honour :)

And if you’re interested to view my Project 365, you can go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danialraziq/sets/72157625671861223/




Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Jammy Pants for Mommy

Last weekend, I made jammy pants for myself. I used tiny pink flowers flannel. The pattern came from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross, one of my favorite designer. I made a short version for my hubby with corduroy. 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

A Little Update: Dewi and her Shrug

I finally get to meet an old friend from primary school; Noornina Mohamed Saad when she dropped by last thursday to collect her daughter’s shrug. We’ve not met since we’re 11, after my Penilaian Darjah 5 when I had to move to Kuching, following my dad’s posting to the airforce base there.

The meeting was quite brief as Nina just got back from work and has her youngest son waiting in the car. With goods changing hands, we bid farewell and hope we could meet up again and catch up. I asked Nina to send me pictures of Dewi when she tries on her new shrug.

Nina kept her words and tagged me in her photos on Facebook. I took the liberty to digitally enhance the photo. My heart swelled with pride to see how gorgeous Dewi look modelling the shrug. It fits Dewi well with a lot of room to grow in. I hope she gets a good wear from it. Thank you Nina for giving me the chance to knit for your pretty daughter.



Thursday, February 10, 2011

Casting on: A sweater for Alif

I’m working on a new knitting project for Erpha’s handsome prince, Alif.  For this project, I get to use my new acrylic needles size 3.75mm. Looks like glass needles kan? I feel like Cinderella with her glass slippers, just that in my case, it’s glass needles... feels so fairy tale like :)


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Scrap-busting: A beanie for Danial

The long Federal Territory plus Chinese New Year holiday came and went. For people like me who don’t really have a kampung to go back to, it was a relaxing period to just spend the day at home and go out for meals. Oh, I celebrated my 9th Anniversary on February 2. After nine years of marriage, it was the first time Azrai brought home flowers for me. Isn’t that sweet? It’s not that he never thought of that. It’s just that we’re a practical couple that flowers seems to be a waste. As it is now, it’s wilting away in my kitchen. But the thought of it is touching. Thank you my dear husband for being my everything...


On Chinese New Year, I went to BookExcess in Amcorp Mall but didn’t get any magazines or books. Nothing really caught my fancy. But I managed to snap this photo outside the building. Isn’t it pretty? May the year of the Golden Rabbit brings prosperity to us all.



Feb 4th, was my MIL’s birthday. We took her out for dinner at Outback, Bangsar Village. I asked Azrai to snap a photo of my MIL but the photo didn’t come out quite good enough. So, I give you this, instead:


As far as activities in my sewing room, I managed to sew me a blouse and wore it last Sunday. No picture. Husband is not a shutter bug and I cannot take my own picture. The first picture of Danial’s beanie is made from the scrap sock yarn. From two balls of 100g each sock yarn, I made a pair of socks for Azrai, a pair of socks for Danial, a baby gift set of a pair of socks and beanie (No picture yet) and Danial’s beanie. 

I postponed the delivery for fabrics and finished goods till after the long weekend as I don’t want any mix-up at the post office. 

I hope you had a great time being with your family over the long weekend, as much as I did. 

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Knitting Inspirations


I was sorting out my yarn stash yesterday only to realized that I’ve close to 100 balls of yarn stashed up!!!! How did that happened? (Ngeh, ngeh, ngeh) I’ve mostly cotton or cotton blended yarn in sport weight and DK. I do have a bag of chunky wool yarn and some sock yarn.

I want to destash some. Email me if you are interested in getting these yarns. I’m also doing a shout out if you’d like me to make/knit knitted bodice like Arwen’s Apple of my eye dress. The price for the knitted bodice starts at RM25.00. Let me know the colour you want, and the measurement. I need 1-2 weeks to knit the bodice (depending on the size and workload).

Last monday, MamaDaniel came to send her quilt for embroidery and stayed awhile to learn to knit. My first student :) She brought her own yarn so we casted on using her yarn. Having interest plays a BIG role in picking up a new craft and Alhamdulillah she has a lot of that. She started knitting in no time, despite the awkwardness in holding the yarn and needles for the first time. With practice, I’m sure she’d get the hang of it.

The invitation to learn knitting is open. It’s not a class. It’s more on a one to one coaching. You can go to a yarn shop but you have to buy everything; needles, yarns, and what not before they teach you for free. Be ready to invest RM100 and more to get free coaching. That’s how I started.  Or, you can come and sit down with me, pick up one of my needles and scrap yarn and knit a few rows before you decide you want to knit seriously. You can even knit a whole blanket or sweater using my needles on loan before you get a pair of your own.

I leave you with a picture of my knitting needles.


Nuffnang