My IC's July Craft Challenge Contribution

Bulan kemarin aku dan Tata melewatkan IC Challenge karena kami berdua sibuk dengan proyek-proyek La Conchita. Bulan ini, rasanya sayang sekali kalo lagi-lagi melewatkan tanpa ikut andil dalam IC Challenge yang bertema Sky (Everything in The Sky).

Ga perlu terlalu lama berpikir untuk challenge kali ini. Kebetulan ada 4 pasang circle handle yang belum juga dipake di proyek La Conchita karena aku dan Tata sama-sama belom tahu cara bikinnya, hehehehe.. ^_^v

Kebetulan beberapa waktu yang lalu nemu owl bag tutorial dari Pinterest, dengan beberapa modifikasi dan peyesuaian, akhirnya jadilah si O'ow Owl Circle Handle Bag ini yang aku buat untuk pertama kalinya.

Lumayan menantang juga bikinnya disela-sela deadline kerjaan, tapi setelah lihat hasilnya, rasa capek langsung hilang (berganti nyesel kenapa itu paruhnya si O'ow miring??? huhuhuhuhuhuhu )

Mungkin suatu saat akan lebih disempurnakan lagi supaya lebih rapi dan fungsional.. Untuk saat ini, aku simpan untuk kenang-kenangan dulu aja deh ya.. :D

"Facebook Like and Share Fundraising" Hoax

Yesterday, one of my facebook friends shares a picture of a baby with saddening condition. The baby’s chest is wide open showing the insides, and it looks so painful that I almost break into tears seeing the condition. The information stated that facebook will donate several bucks whenever a person shares or likes the picture.

I don’t know why, but I think this kind of claim is not legit enough. I refuse to believe this information without valid evidence. So I start searching for the information, and my suspicion is confirmed. Facebook will never donate anything for any ill babies’ pictures that you share on your timeline. In fact, this hoax start to receive a lot of complains from offended parents and families.

As quoted from Facecrooks.com, “Many of the children have passed, and imagine how devastating it would be for the parent to see the likeness of their child being misused in this way.” 

As a mother, it is very hard for me to see innocent children suffering because of illness that way. We don’t need to keep on reminding their respective families about their children’s suffering. I don’t know what the purpose of people creating this kind of hoax is, but it is definitely a part of insensitivity and the lack of empathy towards other people’s suffering.

Many people don’t think twice to share the pictures for the shake of “humanity”. In fact, when I tell my facebook friend about this fact, he refused to take down the picture and insisted that he did the right thing because he cared about the baby’s well being. I can’t force my opinion so I left the debate without further argument.

I just hope people will start to think carefully about anything they post or share on any type of social media, so there won’t be any misunderstanding or misconception happening about the idea of “humanity”.

Starting Up a New Journey

It is amazing the amount of changes I have and still experiencing in these 3 Months.

First of all, I bought a Janome sewing machine last February. I never touched it since I have zero idea about using a sewing machine. I always hand-stiched my previous craft projects before, so when I have the chance to use a sewing machine, I feel like a caveman seeing a TV for the first time. "What kind of sorcery it is??"

Then suddenly, my bestfriend, Tata, a very talented crafter, if I may add; purchased her own Janome sewing machine too. I was like very overwhelmed with the chance of learning along with her. And we really did.

She encourages me to make my first tote bag, and here it is the first craftwork I made with my new sewing machine.

If you see the "La Conchita" watermark there.. well it's our collaborated brand. La Conchita is a craftstore project which created in the middle of February this year. We had a rough start, but we start to get a grip and stronger step now with our new found interest on cute bags.

I even made my first dress for the second IC gathering as you can see at the picture above. If you think I sound too smug, that's because I really proud of my self right now hehehehe..

I wish i wasn't afraid to start learning, and I thank God for sending Tata right on time before my sewing machine rot in its box untouched. Now up to the next project, a private sewing corner in my house. What do you think? Does it sounds too ambitious? XD

Crafty Man of My Dream

My husband is not crafty at all. Even as mechanical engineer, he rarely uses his skill to create mechanical things. This fact makes me have a secret mission to bring out the “crafty men” inside of him.

Unfortunately, since craftiness is often associated with women hobbies, my efforts don’t have too much result for now. He often messed up with my mass projects just because he thought he can make it in an express way. He simply doesn’t have the motivation or interest to create things with his bare hands. I don’t know why, this makes me get even more challenged to find “Manly Crafty Projects” for him.

This is how I came into this supermegafoxyawesomehot blog, ManMadeDIY.com. 

Chris Gardner, the man behind this blog is a brilliant writer and maker who believes that sewing machines and tablesaws alike belong in the workshop. How awesome is that?

The blog contains valuable information, tips and tricks, DIY projects, and many other interesting things.

I even use this article to make some assessments before I buy my first sewing machine

 How To: Buy and Use Your First Sewing Machine

He posted useful and often fascinating tutorials such as this bizzare knitting project

up to boyish projects like this magnetic silly putty and seed bomb.

How To: Make DIY Magentic Silly Putty

How To: Make a Seed Bomb

He also shows how to create various interesting home decors projects such as this Wooden Nintendo Controller Coffee Table which can actually works, and also this rad Tree Branch Coat Rack.

DIY Idea: Make a Tree Branch Coat Rack

Handmade Wooden Nintendo Controller Coffee Table

And when you think that’s enough to make you fall in love to his manly craftiness, check out this romantic custom art tutorial he made.

He’s literally the crafty man of my dream. Now let me find a way to make my husband get attracted to his projects so his long hibernated craftiness can be awakened all at once. 

Blogger's Block and Crafty Themed Gathering

Let me admit one of my biggest flaws: I am a big procrastinator. I often delay my tasks to the last minute just because I'm in the mood of doing other (less important) things. And this situation lead to other flaw; laziness.

Maybe this is the main cause of my blogger's block. I only check this blog to see the updates of my favorite blogs. I didn't even check new comments (2 comments to be precise, from 2 kind friends who have been soo nice visiting my blog and leaving their tracks). I know I need to get rid of these bad habits, I'm working on it.

Meanwhile, almost 2 weeks ago, my friend Tata and I were sponsoring the first Indonesian Crafter Gathering in Malang. I was challenged to make a nice party and decided that since it is crafters' gathering, we have to make things as crafty as possible. I was in charge of the decor and snacks, while Tata took care of the venue and lunch menu plans.

Here are some of my work results.

The Snack Table

(Tata made her famous cheese stick for the light snacks inside the orange cans)

 "Buttons" Cupcakes

it is quite easy to make the buttons, but you can check the tutorial here.

Sausage and Noodle "Thread Spools"

(recipe)

Tissue paper pompoms to brighten up the decor, here is the tutorial.

Here is how the entire venue looks in before the gathering started.

And yes, I made the goodie bags too :D

It was nice, it was fun.. and the crafts swap was very exciting.
I made this darling as inspired by this Sewing Kit in a Jar pic.
Unfortunately, since i can't find  a mason jar which has detachable lid, I have to use regular jar with a little bit improvisation for the pincushion lid.

The bad news is, since I was in a kind of hurry when making this emergency sewing kit, I didn't take any picture for the entire process. I will make another one and post the tutorial if you're interested :)

Choose Joy

6 amazing months of my life