Christmas Decorations - Twinkle Twigs!

Have you had a chance to read today's Straits Times?  Green Issues is featured in today's Get Crafty column! :-)    I was very honoured when Rachel Chan, a journalist from ST, dropped me an email about appearing in the column - thank you, Rachel and Mark (the photographer)! I was asked to feature a Christmas ornament to their readers. It is a Christmas star made from twigs, and it's a great craft to do with the kids.  In case you missed it, here's the tutorial!  

Note: If you want to view other Christmas ornaments I've made, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post for the links.

DIY Bottle Shaker for Baking Soda

Do you save your glass bottles? I saw this at Apartment Therapy.  Glass coke bottles were reused as salt and pepper shakers - ingenious.  I don't recall seeing salt and pepper shakers at Chinese dinner tables but I'm sure they will be conversation makers.  

DIY Refashion - Skirt to slouchy shorts!

Yay! I finally got the hand sewing done.  My original piece of clothing was an elasticated circle skirt with a row of buttons going down the front. It's been with me since forever and I love the print but it was time for a change.  I was thinking of using it as lining but that would be a waste, wouldn't it?  The good thing about this refashion was I didn't have to measure out my waste  waist, there was no need to tuck in any fabric and no need for zips!! Woo hoo!

Benefits of hand sewing

Well, my sewing machine is still in hibernation. It needs a deep, deep clean or the handyman to come over and fix it.  But the last time the handyman came, it cost me S$50 but he did give me some tips - clean after every project (which I have been very lazy to do, so shame on me for not listening), and to oil the machine every month.

So, while it sits on my designated craft bench, I've decided to go back to basics with hand sewing my skirt. But it takes forever, I hear you say.  Yes, it does, but I've found that there are benefits.  As I was down with flu for the past few days, hand sewing was more therapeutic to me than wrestling with my sewing machine.  

1.  It's good to have a little peace and quiet when you're doing hand sewing - it feels like meditation.   Sewing machines can be really noisy - shhhh!

2. Hand sewing is portable, a sewing machine is not even if it does have a carry handle! All you need are your needle, scissors, pin cushion and thread :-)

3. It's very difficult for you to break a needle in hand sewing.  Hands up if you get frustrated with broken needles during machine sewing, especially if your fabric is too thick or you've sewn over a pin - me, me, me!

4. I have more control when I'm hand sewing - no need to fiddle with tension, stitch length knobs and all. Plus, I know I'm going extremely slow with hand sewing, unlike my sewing machine. AND, I know I won't damage really delicate fabrics!

5. Hand sewing saves a bit of electricity - is that a bit far fetched? Well, the light bulb on my sewing machine is extremely hot. 

6. You can use a thimble to protect yourself against the occasional stab!  The dangers of being stabbed by the sewing machine are probably higher - just kidding....

Hey, I'm almost finished with my refashion project.  Will have it up soon :-)