inspiration : Summer!

Hello friends,
Hope you had a good week so far and enjoying beautiful sunshine. I live in a country which, every season is summer :). No surprise that I love sunny mornings and a little rain once in a while. Sweet friends, how do you like some summery inspiration?. A little cheer to make you smile :). 

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And the excitement doesn't stop here :)

Come check out all the latest trends & cool tips from fabulous designers at Lets Get Trendy Now!3. You have until June 30th to play along & link up your projects to win many trendy prizes!. 

Good luck!. HUGS.

a walk we will go

Hello friends,

What a wonderful, glorious, loving day it is!. How is everyone enjoying your day, today?. Do you notice how much brighter our Sun is, lately?. And our sky is much bluer, even moments after dusk :). Mo more smog, here in the city. If you're enjoying this wherever you are now living, just breathe in the happiness.

At noon today, my beau and I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to drive north, to visit one of the older park in the neighboring state, Selangor. It is called the Templer Park, but nothing related to the Templars at all :). 

To my delight, not many people were around. Maybe tomorrow, Sunday. We reached there after an hour's driving, slow traffic as we get closer. I thought you'd love some nature this week :). Do enjoy!.

I don't mind getting stuck here at all :). 

Younger trees lining the small lane as we drove in.

People usually set up tents here for some picnics.

Closer to the entrance, the river is shallow. I wet my feet here on the beach side.

Then we drove uphill.

We parked nearby, the next moment I was walking in the stream. How I wish to dip in, but we don't even have towels!. 

Saw this blue-green dragonfly, sun bathing.

I saw only three families picnicked at this spot. Staying away from the crowd was easy enough :).

We saw a little trail uphill, to a swimming pool?!?. Excited, we were on foot, next.

Ferns and bamboo trees on both sides of the trail.

Ferns. Do you know their name?.

Happy, fiddle head.

Heard some noise up the tree. Oh, monkeys!. Could you spot one in the middle?. Didn't get a good shot at all, they moved so quick.

Thick jungle, and shady.

Still no 'swimming pool' though :).

I could see the stream down below, as we hiked.

Can you see it? :). I heard water splashes from up here too.

What a pretty plant.

Do you know the name ?.

Purple wild flowers too. 

Tired, we decided that it was enough hiking :). We turned back to our car and headed home. Neither do I see a swimming pool, nor a waterfall :). Still, I had fun.

Our car startled this monkey family on our way out.

They are called, the 'machack' monkeys.

Sometimes, they carry a baby. Don't be surprise, they are smart mammals. In the town's park, they know how to open a soda can & steal chips from your hand. Survival?. Yes. Lazy?. Maybe. 

Hope I made you feel fresh from this walk. I LOVE this kind of surprise, I hope there is more to come. I was JUST lucky to bring along my camera this time. 

Have a great weekend!. HUGS.

Lets Get Trendy Now!3 - Day 4 (Stitching)

Hello friends,


Are you enjoying cool projects @ Lets Get Trendy Now!3 ?? Amazing tips & artwork to admire, aren't they??.

Today is Day 4: Stitching.

It's my turn to share a few tips on stitching!. 

How do you like making a rustic love note, tucked in a tiny, clear envelope?. {Sweet enough as a gift}.

Just get comfy, grab a drink and enjoy this tutorial :).

Here's what I made: a secret note & an altered envelope.

Or rather, a stitched scroll :).

I used old plastic folder, linen scraps, velcros & thread.

I ripped a piece of linen measuring 2.5" X 22", and lightly wrote a quote on it in pencil.

Back-stitching, very closely to the letters.

Add a couple of eyelets & tie a string to one end.

It reads; " I love you to the stars and back".

I added a metal charm, tied up with a fiber for closure. Then, loosely folded linen into accordion folds. [You may fold into a tight roll, then display it in a jar].

Done. LOVE how tattered it looks!.

 Since I love altering so much, I didn't stop here :). Here's how to make the clear, altered envelope;

Cut out a piece of old plastic folder, measuring 3.5" X 9" long and stamp all over it with gesso. 

Stamping with 'very dry' gesso, allows sharp images on plastic.

Stamp lightly on newspapers prior onto plastic to thin out gesso and avoid smudges. You'd feel the gesso 'sticking' to the plastic when pulling off the stamp. If accidents happen, quickly clean with baby wipes, dry and start anew :).

Make a few simple folds like so, and the envelope is ready for stitching.

Then, stitch along seams.

Tips: Sewing on plastic sleeves are trickier than on fabrics because they are tough and transparent. 

1. Plan for minimal stitching, yet strong AND beautiful at the same time. [Any messy threads will show].

2. Select needles specialized for denim or leather if you're hand-stitching thick plastics together, like I did in this project.

3. It helps to pierce holes along the seams with sharp tools (i.e stylus) prior to hand-stitching. [a standard needle & thread will work if sewing on thin plastics like grocery bags].

4. Thread your needle with double strand of strong threads.

5. Secure plastic sheets together with metal binder clips while you stitch, for easy and neat stitches.

Add a sticker to hide velcros on the front.

Done. Clear packages are twice the fun!.

That's all to it. A tiny note to make someone smiles today. Good thing indeed comes in small packages :). Happy stitching!.

For more stitching tips, do visit Let's Get Trendy Now!3 Day 4. And, join in the fun for a chance at winning cool prizes everyday!. HUGS.