Nyc Nat Nook: Now opened!

I've been pretty busy setting up the shop as the opening date was getting nearer! The adrenaline rush was pumping high since I was so excited and can't wait to reveal the shop in it's glory! Painting the shop, furniture, decorations, stocks, etc... so much to do with so little time!

And finally....... tadaa!!!

We are now opened!!!

Since we are sub-letting a small corner, there wasn't any soft launch or grand opening. We will save that for later when we have our own shop ya! So for now, this will do!

Nyc Nat Nook offers:

• books for rent
• crochet gifts for sale and crochet workshop is available
• power banks, chargers and cables for sale

For more updates, please follow us at:

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

Nyc Nat Nook v1.0

I have always fancy having my own books and crafts cafe, day dreaming of the facade and whatnots. However, in reality, it costs a bomb to open one! I've done my homework and it's not cheap ya especially the equipment to run a cafe.

Fortunately, opportunity comes in another form...

So here I am, finally taking this huge step with hubby, setting up a brick and mortar shop! Though not the whole shop per se, it's just a small corner nestling within an optical shop and a cafe.

A little background to this special arrangement:
Well, it was the optician's idea to have a 3-in-1 shop where it's inter-related. We have the main tenant which is the optical shop, the cafe so customers can sit, read and drink coffee while waiting for their spectacles to be ready and lastly, my shop where customers can read, rent and shop :-) Something different and unique, right?!!!

Hence, "Nyc Nat Nook" has been born! Here, we plan to have:
- books for rent with random reads from classics to modern fictions
- crafts for sale with crochet workshops for beginners would be available
- accessories for ladies and gadget for mobile phones for sale

I know it seems like a lot for a small corner but it's something we believe in. Definitely a leap of faith for us *fingers crossed*. All I can say is there's a little something for every readers, crafters and gift-hunters... all under one roof! I mean nook!!!

No need to look further ya... coming soon so stay tuned!!!

Crochet: Looks knit book sleeve

As I'm a bibliophile, aside from bookmarks, I should be making book sleeves too right?!!! So here's a pattern I've discovered from the web, very easy to make with just chain and half double crochets...

http://mamaslittlemonkeysetsy.blogspot.com/2013/02/free-pattern-looks-knit-crochet-kindle.html

And this is the outcome! Though I prefer yarns from Nona as the quality is much better but since I couldn't find shops selling Nona yarns thus have to settle with Minlon. Thankfully, am loving the mixed colour yarn from Minlon so far and it's not as coarse as the single coloured ones!

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarn
• button
• hair tie

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.

Spotlight: Zarina Craft

Late last month, I visited a dear friend's booth at Modern Sewing Market 2018 @ P3 Research, Sec 14 PJ. She's into sewing and she does sew lots of stuff like quilts, baskets, bookmarks, bags, clothes and toys for babies but most recently, she's into something rare and unique... lingerie! Oh yes, you read it right!

Zarina teaches sewing at selected locations and she does take custom orders too. From quilts to clothes to toys and now lingerie, she's truly dedicated to her craft full time! Recently featured in The Star Newspaper, Zarina Craft is making headlines now especially with lingerie making! Well, I have jumped on the band wagon too, buying a set from her, hoping to sew some bras for Princess since she's always complaining of the ill-fitting ones available commercially.

Zarina has also published a quilt making book in Bahasa Malaysia which you can buy from major bookshops called Variasi Seni Asas Jahitan Quilt. You can also purchase it online here:
https://mall.karangkraf.com/variasi-seni-asas-jahitan-quilt.html

For more details, you can check out her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ZarinaCraft/

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/

Crochet: Fish bookmark

Well, I got lazy with this LOL! It's supposed to be a birdy bookmark, pattern from below:
http://creainthecity.blogspot.my/2011/07/birdy-bookmark_09.html

However, I didn't have felt in hand so I've shaped it into a fish LOL! So now it's a fish bookmark :-)

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarns
• Large paper clip
• Fibrefilling

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*

Crochet: of bookmarks, booties and workshops

I've recently made more of these! I've so enjoyed making it especially the cute little baby booties! Now looking for more colours to add to these pinks and blues for both!

FYI, I'll be having my first ever crochet workshop at Lit Books, Tropicana Avenue mid of next month! I'm truly excited and nervous at the same time since it's my first time doing this LOL! All the starter kits have been prepped and ready, just waiting for 'The Day' to arrive! Wish me luck *fingers crossed*

Crochet feather bookmark with charm

Please refer to my previous post: http://www.sholee.net/2018/02/crochet-updated-feather-bookmark.html

Crochet baby booties

Please refer to my previous post: http://www.sholee.net/2017/12/crochet-baby-bootie.html

Amigurumi: BB-8

I am so happy to have discovered this pattern and gladly crochet it for hubs! Star Wars' BB-8 has been hubs favourite little robot, aside from R2D2! So here it is, the final product!

Pattern designed by Casey Barnes. What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarns
• Polyester fibre-filling

Crochet: updated feather bookmark

Finally, I was able to locate the English version of the feather pattern by chance and have crochet it correctly! You can view the English version here:
https://www.gavacrochetlove.com/2017/07/how-to-crochet-feathers/

The original version is here:
https://www.tejiendoperu.com/crochet/plumas-reversibles/

It has turned out beautifully and I've added a charm as a bookmark!

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic mixed colour yarn
• added a charm

Crochet: baby bootie

Recently crochet a pair of baby bootie for a colleague's baby full moon. It's a first for me! Found this easy and fast to make pattern here:
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-30minute-bootie.html
FYI, I did modify it a bit to match the type of yarns used.

Lovely baby bootie!

What I've used:

• Milk cotton yarns

Amigurumi: Bubblegum the Polar Bear

I've decided to crochet this polar bear because Christmas is just around the corner! Furthermore, this pattern is really easy to make, simple and fuss-free.

I've obtained this free pattern from:
https://amigurumei.com/2013/12/16/free-amigurumi-pattern-bubblegum-the-polar-bear/

Hi, I am Bubblegum!!!

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarns
• polyster fibre filling
• sticky felt
• plastic eyes

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!

Crochet: Feather Bookmark

I wanted to make some simple bookmarks so I was happy to have found this pattern. Unfortunately, the mix colour yarn that I had was coarse so the outcome was horrible! Looks like I have to hunt for thinner, softer yarns for this feather bookmark but I didn't want plain coloured ones... which I do have a lot... hmmm...

Pattern from:
https://www.tejiendoperu.com/crochet/plumas-reversibles/

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarn from Daiso

Amigurumi: Corgi

Hub's colleague had a corgi and he wanted a crochet doll of it. I've finally found the pattern from Googling and it's a scanned copy from a Japanese pattern book. Not an easy feat as it's all in Japanese and the scanned pages were not complete! Anyhow, this is the completed amigurumi which I sure hope he likes it!

Hello Handsome!

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarns
• a pair of safety eyes
• safety nose
• fibrefilling

Crochet: Poncho

I have made this poncho based on Stip & Haak's pattern though I've modified it according to the desired length and edge. Definitely a challenging project, mainly due to the length and weight LOL! It took me weeks to finish this, thankfully ahead of the deadline!

What I've used:

Cleckheaton Country Wide 14 ply 100% wool yarns - in Mile and Black colours

I sure hope Naz likes it!!!

Crochet: Brim Hat

Recently, I was commissioned to crochet this brim hat and it took me awhile to finally get it right. The outcome definitely turned out nice and a satisfying project indeed! This free pattern was from:

http://interunet.com/hat-crochet-pattern

Naz, thanks for the support! Hope you like it as much as I enjoyed making it! She has actually commissioned the brim hat and a couple of susuwatari's too plus a poncho which is work in progress!

Thank you, Naz!

What I've used:

• Cleckheaton Country Wide 14 ply 100% wool yarns 50 gm x 5 skeins used for this hat
• Colours: Mile and Black

Amigurumi: Vanna's Choice Amigurumi Pig

Hope this little piggy will enjoy the London weather! I've gotten this pattern from:
www.LionBrand.com

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarns
• Fibrefilling
• Eyes
• Keychain