I'm back!!

(This 'backdated version' is supposed to be posted before I went back to Malaysia for summer school hols last July but due to time constraint-as I was busy packing & totally involved with the kids-it has been already in the draft for quite some time.. anyway...just feel like publishing it now..better late than never, right??)

My kids on last day of summer school waiting for school bus pick-up, happily sitting on my newly-painted bench..I've created an easy-to-care summer garden with more greeneries rather than flowering plants..

Hello Summer!! (Goodbye Spring..) Yup..with scorching summer sun rising up the temperature to almost 44C out there (sometimes even higher especially now in August..) it's a good reason to stay indoor all-day long with the soothing power of 24-hrs aircon, somehow also looks like a turning point to pick up my long-abandoned brushes, paints & woodpieces(haha..)..

Actually all this while I've done quite something which I love apart from painting - sewing(well lucky me I haven't lost my skill..lol..) & DIY stuff(later will show off some of them..) & a bit of decorating(will share with you all my new love for French Country decorating style) & gardening as well..also would like to mention(especially to my dearest friend May Sim who gave me a box of paper souffle cups, two packets of all purpose ready-mix flour along with her secret recipes hoping my interest for baking- cupcakes in particular- will bloom soon here) - Well..I've started baking, May!! Yeah..just sounded like"it's-not-me"..yup but the truth is I've started making cookies(simple version lah!) & yummy muffins(blueberry & double choc) too..hahaha...Doesn't matter if the ingredients come straight from Betty Crocker boxes and all you have to do is just add in water, two eggs, butter & vege oil, right? Hulla..that's good enough for me for a start...& my kiddies juz luv them!!-Surprisingly I've just got into a habit of surfing the net searching for more & more recipes(of course the simpler the better lah..) & slowly absorbing some tips & tricks from those baking sifus...(& thanks to the fact that I understand the ingredients better by their molecular structures & scientific functions from those days in my Food Science lab..)

Yumyum...My first try-out on muffin(blueberry muffin)...hmm..really happy with the results..

It was my turn to host a 'makan2 time'..Lotsa food & stories to share with friends from Sunfish Lane..Thanx for coming(Bib, K.Jina, K.Yati, K.Yasmien & K.Ellie)..there goes my diet...


I cooked 3 dishes(after almost a sleepless night in the kitchen the nite before) - Fried Macaroni( for the kids), Bihun Tomyam udang & Bubur kacang(yup..my specialty) served with teh & nescafe tarik...

Back to my sewing task...Hmm..Here's some of my lovely tapestry wallhangings(just can't have enough when it comes to tapestry products, they just simply irresistible, especially those with wording!!) which I bought raw from the US...meaning they came unfinished(I think they look just gorgeous even unfinished), so I have to use all my quilting & patchwork skills(aka 'magical touch'*wink*) to make them more presentable like adding borders, backing, binding & loops for hanging as well..Thanks to a friend here who lent me her brand new Singer sewing machine..otherwise I have to wait for this coming July to bring my Pfaff quilting machine here...Even with some limitation(s), I managed to complete some of these sewing projects.(Updated version-my Pfaff SW is here with me now -just being 'unveiled' from its box along with few other boxes of deco items which I brought along from Malaysia).

..I'm touched by the wording...


Topiary theme has always been my favourite..(I added both wallhangings with green bindings made of 100% American cotton from a local sewing materials shop).



Country garden & birdhouse theme runner, blend perfectly with my country collection display items


'I have a kitchen because it came with the house'..love the wording & the detail(if you can zoom-in), proudly hung above my kitchen door frame

Heart-theme placemats & runner...simply gorgeous..(somehow I found that tapestry products made in India are of better quality than those made in China-both workmanship & quality wise..)



Lovely tapestry cushion covers with country life & teddy bear motifs which I bought from Australia

A souvenir from Madinah Al-Munawwarah..beautiful autumn scenery wallhanging tapestry with classic frame. A pair of tassel at each side of the rod is a perfect complement to the existing theme.



QUICK KITCHEN TOUR..



My heart sings every time I see this shelf...I felt in love the moment I saw the porcelain 'tea' canister, 'salt' tin container & the chicken wire egg holder at a local home centre..they remind me of my country kitchen back in Malaysia..The cow tray was my my first painting project ever since I moved to Saudi..

Good products speak for themselves..another awesome tapestry pieces(floor mats) which I bought from a local home centre..


A lucky find...a floor mat featuring an old sign with a cute girl & saying which I got at a let-go price from a local carpet shop(Made in USA)..

My Chef Collection (aka kitchen helper)- always makes me smile whenever I'm in the kitchen..

An easy way to show off my kitchen & tea towels which I've been collecting for the past few years..It also helps to brighten up my dull kitchen cabinet & disguise my rarely-used dishwasher..(but plz make sure your kitchen is free from those crawling buddies aka Mr 'C' & Mr 'L'(cockroaches & lizards..ouchh..)



MY DIY STUFF...


Above: An old tired-looking garden bench which we got at a discounted price from a local garden centre(it comes in a set of 2 benches and a table)
Below: After several coats of white paint, I added a little bit of cream(buttercream) & raw umber paints to make it looks like shabby chic & rustic piece..



Handy-lady's work..I just love the thrill of making unassembled things turn into what they're supposed to be, like this buffet cabinet which we bought from IKEA(Dhahran)..It took me the whole morning to get things done A to Z..(Note:A cordless drill/screw driver is a great help to tackle this task & please make sure you read & understand the instructions carefully or you might end up with UFO-unfinished object..haha..)

**I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my Muslim viewers, beloved family & friends - "SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI, MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN"...