SEWING: She Wears the Pants「気分はマニッシュ」

She Wears the Pants「気分はマニッシュ」is the first English-translated Japanese sewing book that I owned. All my other Japanese sewing books are in well, Japanese, and it's actually quite a challenge to try and 'decode' it. Heh. So it was really with ease when I wanted to pick my next (Japanese) sewing project from this book; I didn't have to worry that I didn't understand a particular term or piece of instruction. Heh.

The book is penned by Yuko Takada and it's meant for ladies who are opting for the boyfriend look. The clothes featured are simple and classy. And even though there are completely no frills, there's still a hint of feminine sophistication - which I really like. (:

There are 20 different projects altogether. At the end of the book, there's also a small section that shows you how to choose and make the patterns, and teaches some basic sewing techniques.

No. 05 Velour Blouse

This piece is a combination of velour and knit - 2 fabrics which I have yet to work with. I really like the sailor-looking collar though, which takes structure from fusible interfacing.

No.06 Square Top and No.07 Fleece Jacket

The square top is an interesting piece - it's basically a long rectangular piece of T-cloth (Google says that this is a plain-woven cotton fabric.) with 2 arm holes. I'll probably try making this during the holidays!

No.12 Draped Mini Dress and No. 14 Semi-flared Culottes

I love, LOVE culottes! This year alone, I have bought 4 and we haven't even hit June. Haha. It's a real pity that I can't wear them to work but anyway, the one above is stitched from corduroy and fusible interfacing.

No.16 Tippets

These tippets are adorable and dress up any outfit in any instant! They do look a tad more challenging though, because of all the curves.

No.18 Dotted Blouse and No.19 Semi-flared Culottes

Culottes again! This is the same pair as the aforementioned one. And a dotted blouse that's made from a fabric with a dotted pattern in 2 different colours.

No.20 Belt Stole

The book ends with a knitted belt that comes together with a big safety pin, which is a little strange but I suppose it can double up as a scarf as well.

The small little section on 'Basic and Techniques'.

The patterns which come in 2 double-sided sheets.

There's a good mix of simple and more challenging projects, and various fabrics are explored. Instructions are succinct but there were some tiny bits which beginner me needed help figuring out.

The patterns for all 20 projects are compiled in just 2 double-sided sheets, which makes tracing the patterns a tad difficult. So I use Pilot Frixion pens (Pictured right above.) to go over the patterns first. These pens' ink goes away with some heat from the hair dryer. (:

-

No.10 Pompom Blouse

For my 2nd 'major' sewing project, I tried making the Pompom Blouse, without the pompoms. Didn't quite like the idea of having little fluffy balls hanging around my neck. Heh. But I do like the strip of contrasting fabric!

This blouse is a lot simpler than the previous one, so it took a shorter time to complete. The most challenging bit was actually sewing the bottom seam (Haven't erased the chalk marks above!). I must have tried sewing it close to ten times. Haha. And the front neckline sags a little. I think it was meant to cater to the pompoms but because I don't have them, it looks a little strange. Heh. I'm probably gonna make a little fold in the centre or at the side. Still very not perfect but yay, I did it! :D

She Wears the Pants (ISBN No. : 978-4-8053-1326-8) will be available from May 12th onwards here.

SEWING: Simple Summer Clothes 「夏のかんたん服 」

Last December, I decided to pick up sewing. It was something that I had always wanted to do, but was afraid that I didn't have the flair for it and would waste a whole lot of money. BUT given that I was already 'wasting' a whole lot of money on clothes and skincare products, I might as well divert my expenditure to a skill... RIGHT? Haha.

Anyway, the first sewing book I bought was 「夏のかんたん服 」, which means Simple Summer Clothes. This was recommended by dear Enid. Though the book is completely in Japanese, it's relatively easy to follow once you have had some help interpreting the diagrams and some terms. Enid taught me, but you can also refer to this online tutorial here or purchase this very helpful e-book, How to Sew Japanese Sewing Patterns.

-

No. 11 ノーカラーのブラウス

The clothes in this book are simple, comfy and feminine. I tried making the checkered blouse featured on the front of the book and it took like... 12 hours. HAHA. It was my first time working the sewing machine, so I had to keep ripping seams out because of really bad sewing. :\ The most challenging part was sewing round the curves, especially when it came to attaching the bias tape on the neckline. Still, it was really fun!

I have since bought several other Japanese sewing books, both in Japanese and English. Will be penning down more reviews in future! ^^

RAMBLINGS: When you are a hurricane.

"I am not the first person you loved. You are not the first person I looked at with a mouthful of forevers.
We have both known loss like the sharp edges of a knife. We have both lived with lips more scar tissue than skin.
Our love came unannounced in the middle of the night. Our love came when we’d given upon asking love to come.
I think that has to be part of its miracle. This is how we heal. 
I will kiss you like forgiveness. You will hold me like I’m hope.
Our arms will bandage and we will press promises between us like flowers in a book. I will write sonnets to the salt of sweat on your skin. I will write novels to the scar of your nose. I will write a dictionary of all the words I have used trying to describe the way it feels to have finally, finally found you.
And I will not be afraid of your scars. I know sometimes it’s still hard to let me see you in all your cracked perfection, but please know:
whether it’s the days you burn more brilliant than the sun or the nights you collapse into my lap your body broken into a thousand questions, you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I will love you when you are a still day. I will love you when you are a hurricane." ― Clementine von Radics -
I JUST watched 'The Notebook' and my gosh... As sappy as it was, I friggin' love it! I can't believe I took so long. Okay, so I actually really hate sappy stuff. But I only hate it when I'm over it. Haha. Anyway, I'm reading the book now. And the book pales in comparison to the film, which is so very, very strange because we all know that the books are usually better. But Nicholas Sparks is so s-l-o-w. Like every movement of the protagonists is calculated and has a meaning to it. So does not happen in real life (Hello. Pur-please.). BUT I'm still going to finish it anyway. It has been so long since I last picked up a book. I know. Shameful.   It has been a while since I last 'rambled' here. I feel like my thoughts are so frivolous and trivial now that they are just not worth penning down. I try to run everyday after work. Once dinner is done, I do random stuff, reply to texts and end the day with a phone call to my bestie. And that's it. I think my work is meaningful enough but I feel like there should be something more. Unfortunately and as always, I just can't put my finger on what it is.   But surely, life is more than this.

SPOTTED: Getting Skin Ready for Valentine's Day!

The day of sweet nothings, lavish bouquets of roses and floating hearts is upon us once again. It is said to have started with Saint Valentine of Rome. He was imprisoned for marrying soldiers and their loved ones illictly. Whilst in jail, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, and fell in love with her. Unfortunately, it was another story of Romeo and Juliet, and right before his execution, he wrote her a letter and signed off 'Your Valentine' as a farewell.

So... No matter how commercialized Valentine's Day is said to be, I think the story behind it makes the day meaningful and worth celebrating. Whether it is with friends or with your soul mate. (:

And to get my skin ready for the day, here's what I'll be using!
(Psst! SK-II's products can be found online over at Zalora. Click here to check out their Pinterest page!)

SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence
The darling of SK-II contains more than 90% Pitera to help you achieve the 5 key dimensions that characterize crystal clear skin; texture refinement, firmness power, wrinkle resilience, spot control and radiance enhancement. It also helps to maintain the skin's natural renewal cycle and balance the skin's pH levels and sebum secretion, keeping both both the oily and dry areas are well-hydrated. Click here to read my review!

SK-II's Facial Treatment Mask
This sheet mask is drenched in the Facial Treatment Essence, providing an intensive 20-minute hydrating session for your skin. I like to use this before a big day or an 'emergency' because it leaves my skin well-hydrated and with a luminous glow.

SK-II's Stempower Cream Compact Foundation
The latest addition to my makeup routine, this cream foundation ensures that my skin is hydrated all day.

LOOKBOOK: The sailor and her book.

Sailor dress from a small shop in Orchard
-

One of my favourite sea scenes is from C.S. Lewis' The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, where Prince Caspian was tasked to find the seven lost Lords of Narnia. I was actually hoping that it would be as exciting as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad but umm guess not. Still, I enjoyed both the book and the movie thoroughly. I probably should have featured the book in the above shots instead of Dark Tales, the book I was reading then. Ah well. Another time, perhaps.

Anyway, the dress is made of comfortable cotton that's rather thick. This makes it perfect for the wet and chilly weather we have these days. The design and colours are sharp, so the dress is appropriate for most occasions. I like that the bottom flares out a little and swings and swishes as I spin. (:

Dark Tales is the first 'horror' book I have read in years (Let's see... The last one was True Singapore Ghost Stories XX.). This book is the child of a writing workshop, organized by the National Library Board. Titled 'Spin Your Supernatural Yarn', the workshop saw Verena Tay, a local writer and storyteller, challenging participants to, well, spin their own spine chillers. The book is given out at Kinokuniya bookstores.

The book consists of 5 short stories and each read like a piece of composition. It was an easy read, though the writing didn't exactly appeal to me. Nevertheless, I think such initiatives are good. Many of us don't write anymore.

FILM: Heathers

"The extreme always seems to make an impression."
-

Took a break from editing photos with Heathers. I really like Winona Ryder. Anyway, this website here spoke beautifully about the film. I'm not quite sure what to make out of it though, now that I'm approaching a quarter of a century. Even when I was a teen, I never really got to know teen angst and pretty much cared for my zits and grades on equal levels.

FILM: Argo

On Monday, M and I caught Argo. And just like what the sister said, the film left you holding your breath. I swear my heart was in my throat towards the end of film and my legs were trying to run with them. Yes, I was actually running while seated. In the theatre.

While we walked down the aisle at the end of our emotional marathon, someone behind me commented that the cinematic wasn't good. But I like how contrasting music was used during the chaotic scenes. And okay, I can't quite comment on anything else because I'm no film critic. But the film was good for me because even though I knew all would be saved in the end, there were still moments when my heart rate quickened, when I couldn't breathe and the whole time, I dreaded the (im)possibility that they would be discovered.

And when I was left to my thoughts at night, I couldn't help but wonder what I would do if I were Tony Mendez. And then, it made me think about Judgment Day. Something which I haven't done since I was in my early teens. When I was first asked if I would deny Christ when the day came, I answered with a fierce no. But before I slept, I thought about it again and I realized that it wasn't a definite no. Who's to say that I won't wet my pants in the face of death and try and bury my head in the ground? Given my pretty shaky foundation of faith now, the unfortunate has a greater possibility of happening.

But anyway, back to Mendez (I really didn't mean to talk about religion.). I teared when he wrote a postcard to his son and told him he would miss his birthday (Okay, tears are threatening to fall. Now.) and when his wife didn't pick up his call. I trembled when he past through checkpoints and when the soldiers eyed him with a mixture of suspicion and slight hatred . And I thought to myself that I didn't have his strength. At all. But you know, how people always say that in trying times, we draw strength from somewhere (From God, the Christian part of me says.) and we pull amazing feats... So I'm comforting myself with this thought, that I have the possibility of not being a total coward when the time comes.

And times like this, I really wish I had a black belt in Karate. But the girly me really doesn't want to get bashed up.

RAMBLINGS: Rose-tinted glasses.

Got this from the sister's blog.

(pause)

GAWD. I WANNA WATCH!!!

OUTING: A Day at Cinelesiure!

Two weeks ago, Fel and I teamed up to take part in Cineleisure's Next Online Sensation!

Initially, we thought we weren't shortlisted but... We were!!! :D For our first challenge, we are to blog about how we spend our day at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard before attending 'The Hunger Games' Gala Premiere (The promotional movie posters were out last year and I have been waiting ever since!) on Wednesday's evening!

As we both had classes on Wednesday, we decided to chase away the Monday blues with a day at Cineleisure. (:



Here's me! I was dressed in Love, Bonito's Mustard Kory Knit Top and New Look's jeggings.



Meet Fel! Fel and I have been in the same schools all our lives (Not counting kindergartens.) but we only met in junior college.

We were exempted from P.E. lessons so whilst others were running 2.4km under the scorching sun, we bonded over Taiwanese and Japanese dramas, songs and of course, eye candies! Heh.

And here's how we spent our day at Cineleisure!



Located at 8 Grange Road, the mall is a popular hangout among youths with its wide range of shops. It has everything that you need! Shopping? Definitely! Checked! Pasta? Checked! Japanese cuisine? Checked! Chinese food? Checked! Cheap food? Checked! Tibits? Checked! Theatre? Double checked!

I usually go to Cineleisure for movies and I love the shops on the third floor (Read on!)!



The first thing we did after we met up was to look for food! We were both famished and our tummies needed food desperately but we were so spoilt for choices that we couldn't make up our minds.

After a ping-pong discussion, we finally settled on Pastamania. It has been a while since I ate at Pastamania because I was eating so much of it in Year 2 (Can you imagine pasta for supper almost every night? I don't know how I managed that but I was so hungry. All the time. Blame the school?).



I ordered my usual Prawns Aglio Olio (I picked anything that's Aglio Olio.). Heh. And I learnt from Fel that Pastamania actually has student's discount of 30%. Haha! So much for eating there often...

But anyway, umm... I still felt hungry after that. And it didn't help (My figure.) that Shokudo - Japanese Coffee House was directly opposite Pastamania! I love their Kinoko Wafu Aglio Olio!



Shokudo - Japanese Coffee House is right beside the escalator and with its trays of ice-creams outside, it is pretty hard to miss!

The place is really cheery with bright yellow stripes adorning its wall. On its other side, you have the huge windows of Cineleisure overlooking the roads of Orchard! It makes meals really relaxing and 'chillax'. (:



And... TADAHHH!!! My plate of Kinoko Wafu Aglio Olio!

This is my third serving in a month since Juliet introduced it to me. Hahaha!

(For those who don't follow my tweets, when I find something that I like to eat, I will keep having that until I'm sick of it and then, I move on. Lol. And I LOVE Aglio Olio!!! *has a fangirl moment... for pasta?*)

I love how juicy the mushrooms are and the spaghetti isn't too soft or hard... Al dente (To my amateur taste buds, anyway. Heh.)! Have a try if you are there. (: I have already converted the boy into a fan. *beams*



We filmed a little here and it was a little embarrassing. Actually, the whole filming process was! Haha. But we were never going to see whoever who saw us again so... *shrugs*. Haha.

Filming was something different for Fel and I, as bloggers. I did a few videos but those were done in the comfort of my home. Heh. It was really fun, especially when you do it with a bud! :D

And now, let the shopping begin!!!



The first shop that caught our eyes was Brat Pack. Located on the 2nd floor, the store is a burst of bright colours!!!

They have shoes and clothes but what drew me like honey draws bees were the wall of hats and the very colourful pouches and bags! I don't really like wearing hats because my hair's really flat. BUT I still like trying them on! Heh. My favourite is the newsboy cap (Could have been due to my want of being a newspaper girl and having a newspaper route when I was a child! It looked so fun in Little Archie comics! Actually, it still looks fun! Haha.).

The pouches had those henna designs on them. When I was in junior college, I liked those designs a lot. I printed them out from the Net and spent hours trying to draw them (I tried to draw tattoos too.). But umm... I failed Art so... Moving on!



Minikin is your typical girly store, complete with pearl headbands, whimsical rings and necklaces and pretty ribbons! Displayed prettily in cubbyholes, a girl can spend hours there without noticing the time.

And it was here that heard some ka-ching from us! Heh. Fel got a headband with a pink ribbon that's dotted with white and a ring with wings on it. And I got a pearl headband à la Blair Waldorf and a fairy ring. :D

Psst! Check out Fel's entry here for the loot!



This is the third floor (My favourite!) and quite possibly, the first shop that you would spot is Becky Berry!

This shop has everything looking vintage; From phones to mirrors to dresses! It was a lovely place to spend time in and discover 'treasures'. For those who love those huge, vintage spectacles, say hello to your haven! :DDD



Rockstar could be the most well-known shop of all! The walls are in stripes of different shades of pink and I have long declared that my future house is going to have them too (Much to the horror of the boy.).

I think the sister first brought me to this store and I have made multiple trips back. It has purses and pouches with letters printed on them, English school teacher's bags, plants in pretty containers, rows and rows of Penguin books, earrings and of course, clothes (What would a shop be without clothes?!? *laments dramatically*)!



We then made our way to Sticky! Sticky has been around for quite some time and though I have eaten the sweets, I had not seen how the sweets were made. I love food stores where you can watch the chefs prepare the food! It's like an art, to be appreciated. (: And oh yes, I love how colourful the store is!

The man making the sweets handed us some and ka-ching! We each bought a packet. :D Come to think of it, I think I'm gonna have one right after this entry. Heh.



Some other stores in Cineleisure!



And we mustn't leave out The Editor's Market! Your one-stop place for unique and Lookbook-worthy clothes!



Neoprints and Anime eyes! Haha.



We ended our Monday with dinner at A.venue Bistro! The place is decked out in old English decor and it seemed a little like we were in a train carriage. Like in Harry Potter! Haha.



We both had salmon and just because my stomach's really the size of two, I had tiramisu too! The salmon was really tasty and the skin was cooked to a crisp, just the way I like it. (:



On Wednesday, Fel and I attended the Gala Premiere for 'The Hunger Games'! I swear Wednesday took f-o-r-e-v-e-r to come!

And here's my outfit! A walking advertisement for F21 again (And forever one.). :D



A breakdown of my outfit. (:



And here's us in front of the huge poster at The Cathay! :DDD

'The Hunger Games' is based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. It stars Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique in 'X-Men: First Class'.), Josh Hutcherson (The best friend with 'bad blood' in 'Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant'.) and Liam Hemsworth (Or more popularly known as Miley Cyrus' boyfriend. Haha.).

Set in the post-apocalyptic world, Panem (Or North America, as we currently know it as.) is divided into 13 districts. Each year, a boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts will be chosen to battle it out... Something like 'Battle Royale' in reality television style. It serves as a reminder to these districts of the Capitol's authority and is a punishment for their rebellion.

Quite frankly, I don't like the idea of the story (I'm currently reading 'Battle Royale' and I don't like it either. But it's one of those must-read books so I'm reading it. I don't think I can stomach 'Lord of the Flies' though.). But it's jam-packed with action and I love anything that has romance. Heh.

The movie follows the book pretty closely, though I thought that some important details were left out (Like the meaning behind the mockingjay bird.). But it was a really exciting 2 hours, that kept me on the edge at some points and had the audience and me laughing at others. :DDD



A snapshot of Fel and I before the movie!

Before I leave...



... Here's the little video that Fel and I made on Monday! :DDD



Have a pleasant week ahead and thanks for reading! (: