lia's crafty journey

menu: asparagus with egg whites

2010-03-13T22:47:00.005+07:00

You see, I have this WONDERFUL aunty who makes THE BEST pempek, tekwan and all things Palembang food in the whole world and she also bakes indonesian layered cake (looks like baumkuchen but fatter), surabaya layered cake and carrot cake. Naturally, she has lots of egg whites lying around her house and this is what she does with her egg whites:

Put the eggs into little clear plastic bags, then tie it off
Drop it in a large pan with tap water
Boil these egg whites until they surface
You get little packets of cooked egg whites ready to be cooked to anything you want

So, what I did with mine today was cooked it with asparagus for dinner...I am no cook, but I can at least cook this :). These are some of the ingredients I used:

about 6 sticks of asparagus, discarded the hard part on the bottom
2-3 pieces of shallots
2 garlic cloves
some chillies

Heat up some olive oil, put in the shallots and cook until slightly yellow, then put in the garlic and chillies then put in the asparagus, put a bit of chicken stock powder and a bit of fish sauce then put in the egg whites then you're done :). Instead of using asparagus, you can use bean sprouts, long beans, paprikas, and many others.

I was also watching Asian Food Channel the other day and been drooling this beef stew, so I though I'd make one for me...so the beef was my diet menu for tonight :) Mr. Hubby and my Dad ate the rest.

The nanny cooked some chicken corn rice for the children today and they also ate carrot and beans today, there were some leftover rice, so Daddy and Kung-kung got to eat the rice for dinner too :)

A little note, if you ever crave pempek, tekwan, model and the likes or kue lapis legit/surabaya/carrot cake, and you're in Jakarta, you can always order them to my beloved Aunt at:

Angela Wilaisono + 62 21 5846740 or +62 8164817357

I guarantee you, they'll be excellent quality foods :) promise...my family is big on eating delicious foods

i was featured!

2010-03-12T12:41:00.000+07:00

Amesh, the talented writer, featured my scrappy clutch tutorial on Spice! magazine's March 2010 latest edition (it's the top right corner with Tas Dompet Perca as its title). She also featured the very talented sibebo (crocheter) and Karina Palle of made in indonesia. I'm just happy with my little splash of publicity :)...Oh, and that cover girl used to be my underclassman in elementary school. THANKS MESH!

tutorial: scrappy scaley zippered pouch

2010-03-09T23:23:00.000+07:00

Here is the tutorial for the scrappy zippered pouch. Do email me if you find any mistakes or if you need more explanations. Thanks and Happy Sewing :)

Here is the link to the instruction and template of the scales

artists' show

2010-03-09T22:27:00.000+07:00

I had the fortune to attend my sister's best friend's little art exhibition. We just came uninvited :). The exhibition displayed some of Indonesia's talented artists and Mr. F forgot to bring a proper camera, so I used my mobile instead...excuse the poor quality :).

This is the artist with one of her beautiful painting....Ms. Rubianti

One of her painting..Gouache pencil on paper titled "The Living" (correct me if I'm wrong, Rub)

and another one also Gouache pencil on paper titled "The Good Copy"

and this is her sculpture, I believe it's bronze, I forgot to take picture of the title :)

These paintings are done by Semuun Suparno, I find them quite interesting as well :), they're acrylic on canvas

I love this set titled "Purity" done on Resin by Maya Suharnoko

And Saw these cute porcelain sculpts by Tina Sutanto, these are made from Resin

scrappy zipper pouch

2010-03-09T16:46:00.000+07:00

I haven't been sewing lately and so I thought of using my pile of scrap fabrics :). I wouldn't say this was the fastest project nor the easiest...I've learned a few lessons here and there are a few things need to be adjusted...and I forgot to put a wrist strap and not to mention my contrasting ugly thread! oops.. :). But this sure was a fun one and would definitely post a little tuto on it soon :)

my little finds

2010-03-06T22:21:00.000+07:00

my little finds in the city of Hong Kong...I just didn't have time to go to all the interesting places...this trip was after all the misfits' trip :) not mine...I got 2 each of those lace like samples. I bought these at the wholesalers' district, but since I only bought a little bit, they charged quite high, but I'm happy I found these :)

tutorial: covered buttons

2010-03-06T00:32:00.001+07:00

I used to go around Jakarta, looking for a covered button tool, and they all said the same thing...I have to buy one of those big-heavy-steel-industrial grade tool. Not realizing that I have this nifty little plastic tool I bought awhile ago in Singapore at a Bernina dealer's shop called Motivac at Grandlink Square. I use the plastic tool using my own covered button tins that I bought in jakarta (not ones they supplied with the tool) and they're about the same size...and though a bit different in style, the plastic tool works on them perfectly....

1. You can use any other brands, I bought similar thing from Birch at Spotlight. And yes, they have various sizes :) (and you need to buy one for every size you have)

2. These are the tools I use....Do you see that empty spool? It is just the perfect size for the 22mm circle :)...I use the spool to draw circles (a 1000m gutterman thread spool)

3. Circle all the scraps you like. I like to make sure the interesting print stays in the middle of the circle so we get to use the nice print for the button

4. Put the circle scrap on top of the plastic "bottom" (wrong side up) then put the button on top of the fabric

5. Push in the button all the way so the fabric will scrunch in

6. Install the cover (can be plastic can be the same material as the button) and push

7. Put the plastic "pusher" on top of the cover with the hollow part facing down and start hammering it down until the cover fully submerged

8. Et voila...your cute little covered button :)

ms. lipsie's man

2010-03-05T23:43:00.000+07:00

I was reading my email from Cheri and I was finally home to open my lovely computer :)....aaaahhh home sweet home :). I must share this to you all...she's done a male version of my ms. lipsie! :) And it is oooh so cute (in a manly way, of course) :)...here's the picture taken from her lovely blog

on holiday....

2010-03-02T10:34:00.000+07:00

so there will be no postings from me till the end of the week :) though I've prepared a little tutorial on covered button :)...and for now, this is where I was all day yesterday with the 2 misfits :) and they had a blast!

buttons

2010-02-28T01:12:00.000+07:00

I didn't realize making these buttons can be so much fun and addictive too...I ended up making all these tonight :)

a cook book's cover for a new wife

2010-02-27T17:10:00.000+07:00

Yes....this is loooong overdue :) but I'm glad I've done it yesterday instead of last year for CK's wedding gift...because last year, I didn't have these cute pvc fabrics to cover her recipe book :). I hope this fits the book, trin....

tutorial: roscoe the diaper pouch robot

2010-02-26T18:13:00.000+07:00

fiuuuh....finally I'm done with this diaper pouch/change of clothes robot for my friend's baby boy :). If you're confused or you've found a mistake, please email me and I'll try my best to fix things :).

Here are the links:
Roscoe Instruction
Roscoe Pattern

pomme bag

2010-02-25T17:45:00.000+07:00

this is for one of my pay it forward buddy :)...I frantically finished this before my sister left...I thought the little apple looks cute on it and as alway...it's reversible :D

an apple for the fish

2010-02-25T10:41:00.000+07:00

mmmmm but fish don't eat apple, right? :)...something I did yesterday...I am still so into small crochet after all :)...my crochet things will be what I'm bringing for my holiday trip coming soon :D

a sister's request

2010-02-25T10:29:00.000+07:00

My youngest sister is leaving to Melbourne tonight, after almost 2months of holiday...I will miss having her around. She asked me if I could also make her a pouch for her make up brushes :). So, I picked this whimsical fabric, since she likes them...I hope I've made the right choice ;). My other sister emailed me as well and requested one for her...but no one is leaving to US anytime soon...so she'll just have to wait :p

a doily and a pouch makes a doily pouch

2010-02-24T11:34:00.000+07:00

I know....that sounds kind of lame hehehehehe...but here's what I made with one of the small doilies :), what do you think??

bigger crochet doily

2010-02-23T14:36:00.001+07:00

aaaahhhh...I've finally finished another one :) this one turns out to be medium in size :). But I love it

i'm into tags

2010-02-22T15:56:00.002+07:00

and I made these little veneer tags for my blog friend :), since I will be passing some of her fabrics today...I quickly made these these for her...Hope she finds them useful :)

dear baby sean

2010-02-20T15:07:00.000+07:00

we wish you a happy baptism day, Sean....may the Lord blesses you always :)...your mommy can use the bible pouch for other storage use too :)

a little tutorial from ms. at...a shoes pouch

2010-02-20T01:14:00.001+07:00

today, my other crafty friend came by my house to borrow the sewing machine...this friend of mine is usually at my place before her diving trip...because she has so many little projects she needs done for her trip (like making a diving cap, diving tag, etc etc). Today, she made herself some sort of pouch for her underwater lens (with velcro and all)...then, she saw this unwanted pants (ms. lipsie's hair) and decided to make it into her shoes bag....so voila...a shoes bag hehehehehe...after she finished the bag..I thought it was rather plain so then I appliqued my interpretation of shoe into the pouch (OK...I have to admit I'm not talented in the drawing department) then put in those 3 little buttons :)...very easy...she said it's a 3 minutes pouch....all you have to do:

1. Cut a piece of one side of your unwanted pants (she used the bottom edge hence no further sewing needed for the top where the buttons are)
2. Sew the bottom close
3. If you're using the middle side of your pants' leg then you have to fold the top twice and sew so there won't be any raw edges
4. Install the buttons...you can use all kinds of buttons...I use snap ons because they're so easy and sew-less hehehehehe
5. Done! or you can applique whatever you want or put one of your little crochet piece as a decoration (I was going to do that...but she gave me this "look" of saying it's only a shoes bag....so, no pretty crochet)

crochet crochet here and there

2010-02-18T12:06:00.001+07:00

I am soooo into these little crochet motifs....I have so many things I want to put them into :) hehehehhehee...I even bought a few more crochet books...I love easy and quick projects and I finished this one in an hour-ish time :)....not bad, eh?? :D....now my mom begs me to make her half a top...it's quite cute, actually...she bought this top from Banana Republic, if I'm not mistaken...and the top has this crochet-like top, which is kinda cute...but will take me FOREVER to make :)...I'm still contemplating the idea of making it :p....maybe later...

this will be done soon...

2010-02-18T01:51:00.001+07:00

I hope.... :p...here's a sneak peek at what I am currently working on...a baby diaper and change of clothes pouch...it's for a little boy about to be born some time next month :) and yes, I've prepared the tutorial as well :)...I wish there are 48 hours in a day...and by the way...I have 100 followers! woohooo (well, not quite...because my sister followed me, I forced my husband to follow me and I followed myself...)

lia goes back to school

2010-02-17T13:04:00.002+07:00

well, not really...it's only an intensive course in basic pattern drafting at LaSalle College Jakarta :D...something I've been wanting to do since last year...it is done every Saturday for 6 weeks, a total of 30 hourse course (5 hours each class). I did my first skirt block (yayyyyy) and many skirt variations from a single block! Today, we're finishing the bodice block :) I am so excited...this is all very interesting to me...not easy, but interesting (much better than engineering courses! ha!)....I was peeking at another class yesterday, and looking at these girls finishing up their design on actual garments...made me feel so envious :) I wish I took fashion design then...they looked so cool...just like project runway hahahaha...but I don't regret my decisions in life and very happy at where I am now...doing basic pattern design :)...hopefully, I'll be able to do advanced pattern drafting :). At least looking at pattern magic books would hopefully not be so intimidating to me anymore :)...Here's to the hope of better sewing knowledge :)

That crazy Ironing lady is my very good crafty friend, Chia...who refuses to have a blog to display her wonderful creations :) and whom I drag to join this class :)

My equipments :)...lots and lots of odd shaped rulers :p...finally I am no longer scared of using them :)

The bodice I was telling you about...it will hopefully be finished by the end of today's class

kreativ blogger award

2010-02-17T12:10:00.001+07:00

As I was browsing today and a few days ago...I found out that I'm the lucky recipient of Kreativ Blogger Award....I'm both excited and embarrassed...excited because...somebody in the world actually think I'm creative...embarrassed because I don't feel all that creative, but thank you Amesh and Fiona, for acknowledging me as your fellow craty-woman :)...I truly appreciate this :D

So, on to the conditions of the winning :)

1) Copy the award to my blog
2) Link to the person who has given me this award
3) Tell 7 interesting things about myself
4) Choose 7 other blogs that I want to give this award to
5) Link to their blogs
6) Comment on their blogs that I have given them this award

So I've done number 1 and 2....number 3 is a bit tough...don't think they'll be interesting...but here goes:

1. I hate waking up in the morning...when my misfits are up in the morning, I ask the maid to play with them (see...I'm a slacker)

2. I love to eat...too bad my body does not have high metabolism :p

3. I used to be a civil engineer for the sake of becoming an engineer...well, at least I get to use my autoCAD skills for drafting patterns for my readers :D

4. I was in a boarding house during my High School years in Brisbane and hated it sooo much but came to term with it and ended up loving it :D

5. I change hobbies very often...but finally settled with sewing and everything crafty...I am yet to try my gocco prints...anyone care to join me?

6. I wish there's a crafty group of youngsters here in Jakarta...would be so much fun...and I wish there's a biiiiig craft store

7. I'm an impulsive buyer...specially when I have a new hobby...I want to buy everything related to that hobby, in hope that one day, when I need something, I have it in stock :p...(it's hard to find supplies here in Jakarta)

Here are my nominated blogs:

1. By Night a new and very crafty blog...you will love it there :D

2. Su Loves Sew is an avid knitter and Sew-er :) she's just incredibly talented!

3. Tante Hilde is a creative Tante :)...she makes beautiful dolls...I LOOOVE her dolls :)

4. Mary Wingham SAL is a collaborative crafty blog by talented ladies! One of them is Nima

5. lolo craft a very talented mommy who can juggle her family time and craft time

6. a little world makes the cutest felt mobiles and everything felt :)

7. ducks in a row makes cute craft for her beautiful children :)

It is sooo hard to nominate people...because I can just go on and on and on and on :). But those are my picks :) for now.

xoxo

Lia

to pat with love

2010-02-16T00:44:00.000+07:00

Happy a quarter century my dear sister (in law)...I hope you had a blast today and here's your first gift...I haven't got the time to sew you your other gifts :p...please wait patiently for them to be sewn...This is a make up brush holder and I will make 1 for myself too...eventually...I used the outer fabric from ink and spindle, the lining is some wool material I got from Majestic Market :)