Crochet Class @ Fabric Fanatics

Before the Covid-19 pandemic started, I have occasional crochet classes for beginners, normally at cafes. And then lockdown came along so no teaching activity for the past 2 years or so. After a long hiatus, I have finally started my first crochet class this year! It was a coincidence as I was at the right place at the right time and I just went with the flow, not hoping for much since I do have my day job and this is just my back-up plan for when I retire. After a few chats, I had my first crochet class at Fabric Fanatics, Summit Mall.

Thank you, Ashley, for having faith in me and given me this opportunity. I sure hope your Pokeball turned out good.

If you want a refresher class, we can have it at a mutually agreed cafe :-)

Thank you, Edel, for having me guide you through your WIP. I sure hope you managed to finish your shawl and booties :-)

If you are interested to learn crochet or you require a refresher class, please send me an email to discuss. My fee starts from RM100 for a 4 hours session.

Nyc Nat Nook: Crochet Workshops!

Did you know that I do conduct crochet workshops at Nyc Nat Nook? Aside from books for rent and mobile phone accessories for sale, I do sell some handmade crochet products and teach crochet during weekends.

If you would like to learn a new skill i.e. crochet, you can give me a holler and I'll advice you accordingly. Either a beginner or a refresher, I have suitable workshops for both category namely:

• learn to crochet a book/ e-reader sleeve
• learn to crochet a coaster
• learn to crochet a pokeball

More will be added in due time but if you have a particular pattern in mind, we can work something out. Workshops are by appointment basis as such please do holler for more details.

Learning to crochet a book sleeve is currently our most popular workshop :-) 

Below are some of our student's completed book sleeves:

For more details, please check out our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/NycNatNook/

Crochet: e-reader sleeve

Though I've been crocheting for so long, I've not made many book related items as I've enjoyed making dolls more! Oh well, since I wanted to have a book themed workshop, I've finally created this simple e-reader sleeve, definitely suitable for beginners.

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarn
• rubber band
• button

If you are interested to learn a new skill, you are welcome to check out my Facebook page for more details:

https://www.facebook.com/NycNatNook/

Throwback to my third crochet workshop

I've just completed another basic coaster workshop last Saturday at Lit Books for another 2 students. It was an amazing feeling, watching them finished crocheting their coasters!

Thank you so much, Audrey and Ai Jou, for the support!

Yummy coffee set from Lit Books!

I'm in the midst of coming up with videos for referencing and also a new workshop for book sleeve, most likely end of July! If you are interested to learn basic crochet coaster, please send me an email for more details!

Post-mortem: my second crochet workshop

After my first crochet workshop, with the feedback and suggestions gathered, I had thought about it long and hard... finally coming up with this 'Beginner's crochet workshop'. It's a crochet workshop meant for beginners where I'll teach basic crochet stitches and then to crochet a coaster. This time around, the class was smaller with a slightly longer hour which turned out to be successful! I was ecstatic when all 3 managed to finish a coaster each! I'll definitely keep to this syllabus for sure! So here are some photos captured by hubby...

Here are some random stationary photos I've taken of Lit Books! I love, love, love the environment here!

The yummy tea (or coffee for some) set that comes with the workshop package!

Thank you, Tung, Irene and Adelene, for having faith in me and given to me your full support! I am grateful and thankful for it! For our next lesson, we will move on to book sleeve!

If you know nothing about crochet and are interested to learn, do drop me an email at sholee68@gmail.com for more details.

CSM: Modern Sewing Market 2018

Modern Sewing Market 2018:

Modern Sewists Malaysia is having their annual market at Passion3 Research, Section 14 PJ tomorrow from 9.30am to 9.30pm. There will be lots of sewing paraphernalia and handmade handicrafts for sale, so if you are a handmade enthusiast, do drop by and check them out!

For more deets, please check out their event page here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/338531923319950/

Post-mortem: my first crochet workshop

I definitely have a long way to go... to learn... to practice... to preach...

As some of you were aware, I just had my first crochet workshop last Saturday. As it turned out, I was a little too ambitious having the feather bookmark as the subject matter, thinking that even beginners are able to grasp it soonest. Sooo... I was very wrong. I assumed that everyone would be able to learn crochet easily and able to finish at least half but in reality it was the opposite. Sigh!

After receiving and dissecting all the feedback, here's a summary of my learning curve:
1. I should have concentrated more and reiterated on the hook and stitches. As highlighted by Ai Jou, muscle memory is important for crochet. Hubs also shared the same concern where more practice is required for the basic stitches before perusing the pattern
2. The need to categorise the workshop i.e. basic, intermediate and advance. Not everyone is born the same so different level should have different expectation
3. A proper step by step plus a simpler pattern would have helped instead of this, now I felt, complicated one.
4. A much longer time required especially to have better practice of the basic stitches before perusing the pattern
5. A smaller group instead of a big one, max 6 pax would have sufficed.
6. Should have a proper YouTube video made for the students too

As a first timer, it sure hits hard but I gotta learn from it and not cry wolf. Sad that it did not panned out like how I would have liked but I am so glad that these 9 wonderful ladies were so supportive! So much encouragement and kind words truly made my day! I definitely looked forward to many more workshops with a much better curricular! So I've lots of homework to do, more Googling and hopefully, the next one is a success!

After much rant, here are some of the fabulous photos taken during the workshop! Thanks hubs!!!

A panorama of the cool Lit Books!

All in full concentration!

Enthusiastic ladies!

At the end of the day, I'm so glad I do have a student who finished her bookmark! Tung, thank you so much for your due diligence and tenacity to finish it! Congratulations!

A much heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Lit Books for the wonderful tea set and comfortable ambience.

Last but not least, thank you so much to the 9 ladies for having faith in me and joining my first workshop. It will not be my last but rest assured, I have taken all your feedback into consideration for future workshops ya!

CSM: Crochet feather bookmark workshop this Saturday!

Finally, my first crochet workshop! *syiok sendiri*

I'm actually nervous so I do hope I don't start stuttering while teaching the fine ladies to crochet this feather bookmark! *fingers crossed*

Though it's a closed door workshop at Lit Books tomorrow afternoon, I just want to share that if I do survive it, I'll want to make this a permanent workshop with more classes and different products for the public either in a group or one-to-one :-)

Thank you to all who have supported me through the years! Fully appreciate it! *bowing*

CSM: Art therapy this Sunday!

Creative Intuitive Painting Workshop @ The Artsy Craftsy Studio:

If you are looking for a one day painting workshop or some art therapy, you can check this event out as they are having a workshop sale!

Click the Facebook link below for more details:
https://www.facebook.com/events/157549831598452/

KLBAC: DIY Mini Book Workshop 2.0

I had so much fun at the workshop last Sunday that my initial plan to capture the step by step of how to make the mini book has gone out of the window! So much laughter amidst the seriousness and concentration that beckoned one to forget the time! Who says bookworms do not know how to have fun???

It was clever of Diana, our KL Book Appreciation Club (KLBAC) founder, to have this idea of a workshop... combining the love of books with bookish accessories. So naturally it would attract us crafters and book lovers alike to participate. In fact, this is the second round of a DIY mini book workshop and thankfully I was able to join as it's held at Artisan Coffee PJ! The first one I had to give it a miss as it's in KL.

A sample of a book charm bracelet

Our teacher is the very talented and also one of the esteemed group admin, Vivian! In fact, she sews and makes loads of book sleeves and journals for sale at:
https://www.facebook.com/brackets.handmade/

My kit and a sample of the bookmark

Aside from the kit, our workshop package does come with a coffee + cake set!

Yummy iced latte and cheese cake from Artisan Coffee

After finishing the second mini book, I was contemplating on the third one as cutting through those thick pile of books was no easy feat! In the end, I had to lah since there was still ample of time...

Halfway there...

I was so happy to finally meet some new faces though we have been conversing much online via the Facebook group. It's good to put a face to the name so to speak LOL! The best part, there were actual crafters among us! I felt so at home in their company! I was so, so glad I could be there and make their acquaintance!

Our eclectic group

Thank you ladies, nice knowing all of you! A special thanks to Vivian and Diana too! Not forgetting Artisan Coffee for their hospitality and space though the corner we were at was kinda dark... hopefully they could brighten it up more!

With my fellow crafters, Elaine and Michelle!

My masterpiece!!!

So I've managed to make a necklace, a key chain and a bookmark with mini books! And this concludes workshop 2.0!

CSM: The Artsy Craftsy Creative Workshops in November 2016

For the creative minded, here are the workshops available in November at the The Artsy Craftsy Studio! From journal to calligraphy to macrame, just in time to handmade some Christmas gifts for your loved ones!

CSM: October 2016 Creative Workshops by The Artsy Craftsy

I'm in awe with what is being offered by The Artsy Craftsy this month! Unfortunately the timing is off! Darn!!!

So many creative workshops for the many different palates :-)

I sure hope I'll have a chance in the near future to try it out... I'm most interested in the fabric painting or watercolour or journalling... gosh the list can go on and on!

Anyway, you can check them out here:

https://www.facebook.com/theartsycraftsy/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1067576193334663

Etsy Resolution 2016

I’ve recently embarked on a new journey. It somehow came naturally and timely. I was still thinking if this or that will work. And then this suddenly came to me in many directions in social media i.e. Facebook, Instagram. I hesitated at first but then thinking I actually have nothing to lose. It’s just a matter of opening a virtual shop on an international platform with high traffic! I just need to make more, snap more and upload! Easy peasy!

What am I mumbling about? Well, it’s the Etsy Resolution 2016!

Etsy is an online marketplace to sell handmade or vintage products to millions of customers worldwide. It's a simple shop solution for independent artists, crafters, and makers.

Etsy has started this resolution program for their South East Asia crafters in a way to promote their platform and also getting us to open a virtual shop to sell our crafts. So to start right, they have actually created this program to guide and teach us all there is to know about the online craft business.

After a few weeks of recruiting, the Etsy Resolution 2016 has started on 25^th January 2016 and will carry on for 4 weeks with different topics plus having 3 of their esteemed vendors as our mentors in their Facebook group.

It is also an opportunity to learn the tools that you need to start your business, learn from talented mentors and gain support and feedback from other like-minded individuals. The purpose of this programme is to connect, inspire and collaborate with one another - a place where we can share our stories, our goals and our challenges. I encourage you to dare greatly, drive your creative passions and break down our barriers to build a strong community. We are better when we are together.

At first, I was reluctant to blog about this but then if I don’t publicly say it then I might not get it going in then… correct? So here goes the start of my new journey which I do hope will evolve into something successful... wish me luck! *fingers crossed*

If you are also interested, do check out their website:
https://www.etsy.com/resolution

My first Amigurumi!

Amigurumi is Japanese stuffed dolls made from crochet. Majority are cute and cuddly for little girls or just for collections. Also ideal as gifts. So when I saw Fabric Fanatics had a March special workshop with Hooked, I just had to check it out myself!

I used to crochet many moons ago, taught by a friend and subsequently self-taught from books I had. I mostly made table mats. You would have seen some through my handmade website, http://nyc-nat.blogspot.com. So going for this workshop was a blessing for me since learning something new!

After contacting Fabric Fanatics, I was given a list of dolls to choose from and also to decide how many sessions required... all depending on the doll I choose. After placing RM50 as deposit to book a slot, I finally chose Caterpillar which came with 3 sessions for beginner. Since it was a March special, the first session was free so I just needed to pay for the remaining 2 sessions! FYI inclusive of materials ya... yarns, fiberfill stuffing and hook. Why I chose beginner and not intermediate? Well, I have not crochet for so long... even can't remember how to start it off! So I definitely need to start from scratch *sweat*

Some of the dolls available

I totally enjoyed the workshop... got to know a few good ladies... learning in a conducive environment. It was perfect. Took some photos of Fabric Fanatics during my last session...

Besides books, handicrafts is my other heaven!

I felt nostalgic during my last session... time really flies when I was totally enjoying this moment. Really had a fun session albeit the traveling hassle (public transport is so inconvenient in Subang Jaya) which made it so worthwhile. Nice knowing the lovely ladies too...

Thanks teacher Amy of Hooked for her guidance and patience ^.^

Thanks Kelly of Fabric Fanatics for putting up with my many questions and mah fan!

My first Amigurumi... a caterpillar!

Location: Fabric Fanatics @ Summit USJ Mall, 1st floor.

Not sure when I'll opt for another session... but for the time-being... Googling for more easy patterns to practice *wish me luck*

Cooking Class: Herb Crusted Sea Bass with Garden Stew

Previously on Cooking Class, you can read my first experience here, the first recipe here and second recipe here.

This is the last post featuring the last recipe, Herb Crusted Sea Bass with Garden Stew (or ratatouille).

What is ratatouille? From http://www.suite101.com/content/ratatouille-recipe-a25085

Ratatouille (literally stirred chunky stew in French) is a great year-round dish. During the summer months, when fresh vegetables are abundant, it makes for a light, easy dinner. In the winter months, it can be transformed into classic comfort fare. Think of it as more "French concept" than "stew" - and let your imagination run wild. Ratatouille responds well to interpretation and experimentation.

Back to the class, sea bass fillets had been marinated with salt and pepper and kept in the chiller prior to this, to save time. We were told to mix the ingredients below for herb crust.

No utensils, no fancy machines, just with our bare hands! Not for the squirmiest type :p

Bread crumb, butter, lemon zest, fresh thyme, fresh oregano, garlic, black pepper and salt properly mixed. Set aside and continue with the garden stew.

 

Cut yellow zucchini, yellow onion, green capsicum, red capsicum, brinjal and tomato into small cubes. Here onwards, photos will be sparse as Hubby was feeling tired already :-)

Place a little oil in the sauce pan, once heated, add in cubed onions. Stir-fry until fragrant. Add in tomato paste and puree, stir well until redish. Add all the cut vegetables to saute and stir well. Add in some stock, let it simmer and cook until tender. Lastly, season with salt, sugar and black pepper to taste. Set aside while we worked on the sea bass and herb crust.

Place the fillets on a plate. Grab a handful of herb crust, padatkan and place it on top of the fillets.

Pre-heat the Samsung Microwave Convection Oven to 250’. Once heated, place the fillets in. Select Convection, dial 8 mins and press start. Easy peasy! If your fillet is thick, then bake for at least 15 mins. Not too long as worried the crust would be burnt off :p

While waiting, we can start garnishing it by placing the garden stew first on the plate. Then place the fries on top of the stew. Oops! Forgot the fries… it’s easy… baked the whole potato then placed it in the chiller. Once ready, cut it into strips, ensure it’s dry and then deep fry it in a pot of oil. Once fried, season with a little salt. Back to the plate, after the sea bass fillets are baked, place it on top of the fries.

The finished dish: Herb Crusted Sea Bass with Garden Stew… looks like fine dining, right???!!! :p

You can view the full recipe here. Yummy yummy! 

Thanks to Samsung, I’m glad to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to learn cooking in a professional way. It was a pleasure using the Samsung Convection Microwave Oven… totally user-friendly at it’s best!

Thanks Cilantro, with a fully equipped kitchen and a skilled Chef Joel, teaching and guiding us. I have totally enjoyed my cooking experience here :-)

Thanks to Hubby too for all the fantastic and beautiful photos!