fabric bookcover

I made a bookcover with linen.

It has a slit on the back of the front cove and a band on the back of the back cover. The seam on the band should not be this way up... So please be careful how to put it before sewing.

Knitta Please Artworks Are Up

I have finally went to Montague Street to see the artworks in situ. These are the ones that are knitted by Sabina, Bella and myself. I am very pleased with the green fuzz.

Knitta's Little Helpers For 69 Meters

On May 13th, the BID will sponsor an installation by artist Magda Sayeg, founder of Knitta Please. Magda and volunteers from New York's knitting community will wrap all 69 parking-meter poles on Montague Street with colorful knitted sleeves.

I have signed up to help out. Here are my little helpers for this project all the way from the Fog City (and sometimes sunny) San Francisco.

Bella {age 12} helped me cast on the first row


Shadow {age 1} tried to doggie-proof the yarn


Sabina {age 8} showed me how to cast off after speedily knitted a foot of artwork in a short amount of time



I have chosen the color theme called urban jungle - an olive drab camouflage combo with a dash of active green fuzz.

I will post pictures of the installed knitted artwork next, after the May 13 installation.

Handmade is the NewNew

My embellished tote for the Spring Handmade Cavalcade.

Check out the front and the back. It is like Dr Jykell and Mr Hyde.

But, which is the front and which is the back?

Read My Palm - The Future Is Handmade

I need some new aprons for my work shop to run with my slab roller. Once again, I take out my sewing machine and my silkscreen squeegee.


The fabric is 7 gm cotton canvas. I also used 4 yards of half inch cotton twill tape in sage green for the binding. The neck band is some natural colored cotton twill tape I salvage from a shopping bag handle.

Below is the apron spread eagle. The motif here is "The Future is Handmade", hand screened by me.



Below is the twill tape details. I have re-enforced the ends in multiple reversed zigzag stitches.



Another version in "Coo Coo, Take me Home" a.k.a Mid Town Manhattan Flâneur. I have salvaged the neck band from a Royal Air Force key chain.



Below is the pattern. It is a very easy project. I hope you enjoyed my versions.

Sew Sew Eco Tote!

A new laundry bag sewing project. I also hand screen the design on the bag. Everybody needs a laundry bag! I have also use this bag to take shipping boxes to the post office and transport my silkscreen on the subway.

The bag measures 23 wide x 19" deep. The strap is about 20" long in 7 gm cotton canvas. Tri-color cotton twill tape binding.



There is a build-in elastic tie to roll up the bag when it's not in use.

Getting to know my sewing machine

I finally have a chance to sit down and get to know my sewing machine. I have chosen to make a bag with some plain cotton canvas and cotton twill tapes. With one hand on the manual and one foot on the pedal, I figured out how to make different stitches like; straight stitch, zig zag stitch and wow! LOOk! overlock stitch! I then learned how to wind bobbin, change the sewing feet, all very exciting stuff with this new-to-me machine.

There are many settings on this Pfaff 6122, it seems a bit over-killed at first. Now that I have learned it, I am happy to have them. I am looking forward to making my first subversive quilt.

I always forget little things that I need before I go out. I made a tiny bag to collect *those* things to hang on the front door. While doing this project, I am reminded how I used to design and make my own school bag when I was a teenager.




Then I went a bit sewing crazy and made 2 more eco totes and some individual sandwich and soda totes.

Good News and Bad News

Good News: I found my camera!
Bad News: I have no idea where the USB chord-thingie to plug it into the computer is... *sigh*

So add that all up together...
No new pics! TT^TT
Well, I could always use mom's camera, but, it's so slow!

Anyways, I've included some pics of the two kitties.
Hope you like.
Domo and Shadow.
Aren't they cute! (o//////o)... so cute!

Warm your stomach - Ten minute Shabu Shabu

I have recently learnt how to make a one pot quick Shabu Shabu. This week, the weather has been hovering below zero. This is a quick, easy and nutritious dish to have.

At first, I thought Shabu meant claypot, as it sounds similar to the Chinese words. Upon some researching, I found out that Shabu Shabu is the sound of swishing meat in a pot of hot broth in Japanese. Chinese False Friend!

So, here's my version of the recipe:

10 oz :: 1 pack of thinly sliced beef
1 onion :: thickly sliced
8 oz :: 1 pack of enoki mushroom
16 oz :: 1 pack of ribboned Japanese Yam Noodles
8 oz :: 1 pack of Shitaki mushroom
8 oz semi firm tofu :: cut into large cubes
2 cup :: Swiss chard* :: cut into 3 inches length
2 tbps :: bonito fish flakes
2 tbps :: Mirin cooking wine
2 tbps :: soy sauce

* Traditionally, nappa cabbage is used.

1- Stir fried the onion with little bit of oil in an iron pot. Once the Onion is browned, arranged all the ingredients in the pot. Pour 1 cup of hot water, add the soy sauce and the cooking wine and the fish flakes in the water.

Here, I have put in one pound of shrimps. They were very fresh in Chinatown that day.

2 - Boil the pot for 5 minutes with the lid on. Arrange the meat on the top, when the meat is pink - about 1 to 2 minutes - serve the pot at the table. The meat will continue to cook to perfection at the table. So, there you have it!

3 - You can make dipping sauce however you like to eat beef. I made a concoction of soy sauce, sesame oil, hot oil and some cilantro. Mustard and horseradish would be nice too.

Thanks to Michelle who gave me the recipe and the blog link to the original inspiration.

OMG!!! It's a.... (Hey, what IS that, anyways?)

Well... I'm back!

And now, by the request of my aunt, I am posting this project.

It was posted before on Craftster. [Link here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=278112.msg3146706#msg3146706 this version has more pics AND stories]

These Sock-monster-thingies were made by my mom and me. ^^

This one is mines. And following is some background information about its species.

The Rainbow Sea-Dragon

Despite its name, the rainbow sea-dragon is actually really timid and shy. This particular species can be seen occasionally swimming near the shores of the sunny Rainbow Mystery Island. The diet of rainbow sea-dragons consists mainly of quixote shrimp and lamp squid. sometimes, the rainbow sea-dragon will eat a Polka-Dotted Sea Monkey/Duck Hybrid as a treat. This strange animal has not yet been classified into a specific group, but some scientists believe that this creature is a mammal. This theory is yet to be proven.

The jewel on its forehead is one of the best indications of the rainbow sea-dragon's age. This shown jewel indicates age equal to a human child around the age of 6. The oldest known rainbow sea-dragon is approximately 450 years old, and counting. Scientists have estimated that 1 sea-dragon year = 25 human years.

The ribbon indicates gender: pink is male, and blue is female. So this here reainbow sea-dragon is a male.

These tentecles coming from the back of its head it how this species of sea-dragon moves around. The side two have all the movement, and the middle tentacle is the steering. The only other way to explain this phenomenon: to see a rainbow sea-dragon in motion for yourself.

Next up is the....[drumroll, please!]

The Polka-Dotted Sea Monkey/Duck Hybrid

And for easier typing for me, the polka-dotted sea monkey/duck hybrid will be referred to as the sea monkey or the monkey/duck. Or something else like that.

The sea monkey is often depicted running away from its only, but feared, predator, the rainbow sea-dragon. In the above picture,as well as many others, you can see the predator lurking in the background. This rare sea creature spends most of its life underwater. It tries its best to spread happiness all sround the world, but then again, it is very hard to when you are constantly stalked by predators worldwide. Another disadvantage that the sea monkey/duck has is that it can only stay out of water for a limited amount of time. Some of the older sea monkeys have gone away, deep into the sea, to sulk on the fact that it can't make others happy.

Its belly button is a reminder of its duty to bring joy and happiness everywhere. The sea monkey has these happiness-transmitter antennas that have a 2-mile radius.

These hyper little guys work hard to keep the world happy. Those who spend their lives sulking almost never get a mate. They feed on the residue of tears, called teardew. It is collected on a weekly basis.

Sea monkey/duck hybrids are extremely trusting and are easily tricked into getting eaten. Even so, there are still many more sea monkeys out there, bringing happiness to the world.

The End of Story Time

I have another little guy waiting to be posted, but my camera is currently in the "Missing item" state... so... yeah...

Anyways, See you later! ^^

Sew Obviously It's My Camera Case

I bought a new point-and-shoot camera and I needed a DIY fabric case since I am an indie-crafter wannabe. This is my second sewing project after the laundry bag with Coo Coo the pigeon. (Please do not point a rotating finger to your temple, Coo Coo gets offended easily)

I have chosen a brown 'crazy daisy' print with turq felt as the lining. Not only is the high collar turn cuff a fashion statement, but it also act as a surplus SD drive holder if needs be.

Bag inside out

The new camera that I bought in a camera store in San Francisco. I am glad I did as I could test all the cameras and see the shots on a computer right there and then. The camera I thought I like and the price was cheaper on Amazon turned out to be just a cheap camera.

The camera tie is also a bolo tie and loop handle for carrying.

Camera case designed and made by May Luk (Sew Obvious Production) All rights reserved 2008-9

~May

Just Thinking of a Gocco Printed Note Card

This is our second print project with the Gocco printer. It is an all purpose note card entitled Just Thinking dot dot dot.

Please click on picture to see larger view

Original design Bella L. Copyright 2008

Production assistant: May Luk

Finished tracing

Artwork on plate ready for exposure

Gocco style color separation

Designer-printer hard at work

Finished cards!

~May