When I'm afraid...

Assalamualaikum wbt and good day to everyone...

I'm not a particularly strong or brave person. I'm not unafraid of the dark, the unknown and the dangerous. Being scared is sometimes the right feelings to have. Why? Because it makes you aware and cautious.

Like pain, its a sign. Pain tells you there is something wrong with the body so you will seek for help. Acute pain can also help your body knows when and to what direction to withdraw yourself to avoid further damage. (in case of "pain withdrawal reflex"). You can endure the pain when you need too (unless its too severe you will need help) .

Fear is something we can endure too.

“Courage is not the absence of fear but the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all. For now you are traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be.”, quote by Meg Cabot.

"Scared if what you are feeling, brave is what you are doing." , quote from The Room by Emma Donoghue.

I find that sometimes we have to be the brave one in the group. When everyone is afraid someone needs to put up a brave front (God knows how you feel inside) to function and lead the group. Some people prefer denial, to avoid "the elephant in the room". For example, you know it but you don't say it. (Ala "Jangan tegur..." hehe) Some people choose to deflect a little and distract themselves.

This is my little distraction aka (bad) coping mechanism.

Tada! Mr Felt Cat 

Rear-view.

"Blood-seep through bandage" broken heart 

[haha... beating around the bush to reach the point,kan?]

Anyway... tomorrow is scary but I just have to face it.

p/s- I fear God and Hellfire though.

How to Hand Sew Your Own Little Felt Coin Purse

Assalamualaikum wbt and good day everyone!

Fancy a little felt coin purse? Either you can choose one of the wonderful felt crafters from Malaysia's Craftzone to do the job (They are real good!) or satisfy those itchy little fingers and make one yourself! I made one recently because...

1. My wallet do not have coin working coin compartment....
2. Im tired of exploring my bag for coin.
3. I happened to have a felt sheet with nice design.
4. Im a bit stressed. Ha!
5. Itchy little fingers.

So, this was born...

Me being histrionic via photoshop.

As you can see, the sewing bit is a bit ...err... erroneous. That aside, I think I did a good job considering I conjure my own little pattern out of nowhere. Hey, its for personal use too. So, fair enough! Oh, I thought of sharing the steps with you. Just in case... but note nowhere in the tutorial I will specify any measurements. Im not a ruler person so its all approximation.

So, enough with the pleasantries... So you will need these...

A set of clip button (?), one normal button for decorative purpose, some  felt sheets.

...don't forget needle, thread and scissors of course. I used a patterned one and a solid coloured sheet. It's up to your taste, really. Do cut them to desired size.

1. Position the clip button (Im not sure of the appropriate term) at the centre and sew them.

2. Then flip to other side... you will see a bit of unsighty thread marks. So I sew a button over it. It makes the purse cuter too I suppose.

3. Locate the inner clip button position and cut rounded shape according to its size on the other sheet.

4. Align them.

5. Sew them together by blanket stitch / insang pari. Oh, not shown in picture, use thread with same colour as the inner felt (yellow in this case), and throw some reinforcing stitch around the clip button.

Getting more interesting, right?

At this point I stopped and thinkof how Im going to get a shape that will allow the purse to stand on its own. (and I forgot Mr Google...) so thats where this 2 little flaps come into picture.

This require a bit of adjustment. Thats the art of it. ;p
So the height of the rectangle will determine height of your purse.  And the length will determine the maximum breadth of the purse, at the bottom. The midlength will determine the bredth at the opening side. To approximate the height I suggest you read on through a few steps and this will give you some idea before you start.

6. Mark the horizontal midpoint of the rectangle using pen/ cloth marker.Then choose appropriate height... and make a horizontal line around 1.5-2 cm.  This part will be folded later. Also mark one oblique line each like in the picture.
7. Oblique line will be the guide. Put the rectangle in between 2 felt sheets.

Its taking shape!

8. Sew (using any technique you like...) the inner felt and the rectange. Do not sew in the outer felt too.
9. Fold as shown.

Reinforcing structure.

10. Sew the base (the folded rectangle with inner felt).

Almost!

11. Sew the side (rectangle + inner felt + outer felt). Sewing direction is just a suggestion.

There you go!

12. Sew to the end. :p

So, thats all folks. There are a lot of better tutorials in the net, just in case I confuse you. 

Happy trying!

Auction for Charity Week : Handmade Garden Themed FIMO Penholder [ENDED]

Assalamualaikum wabarakatuh and hye to all....

To Dubliners.... Have you joined the wonderful street charity collection (FOSIS) already? It was an awesome day for me, so come on guys, support the good cause. Its still on! Its for the orphans. Check it out here.

Oh, and if you dont have time, but still want to contribute, why not join this auction for a lovely ....

Handmade Pen Holder: Garden Themed: Charity Week Special Edition

[CLOSING BID : Euro 115.00]

Those pens are for illustration purposes only.

So, how will this auction works...
I'll set the minimum bid to Euro5.00 (no I wont take a cent, full amount will go to Charity Week).
You can send your bid to this number 0857732182 or buzz me on my personal Yahoo Messenger (for those who know me). I'll keep you anonymous but I need to know who you are.
I'll try to update the highest bid as frequently as possible on this post, and on my ym status, or i'll tell you you have been outbid on the sms.
Bidding ends at 2400 28 November 2008 aka 0000 29 November 2008.
Payment and item delivery option (hopefully by hand) will be arranged between me and the winner.

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Happy Bidding!

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"Take sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify then and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily,your invocations are source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All Knower." (translated from 9:103)

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Disclaimer: I hope everyone can join this with good intention of trying to raise money for the orphans, so hopefully our niat is not to get the item only. May Allah bless us for all our effords.

++ I'm definitely wont be able to be online all the time, so its better to use text messages to bid. I'll try my best to update you if you have been outbid (on request).