Thainie Places: Elvira (and not the Princess of Darkness)

A lot of people always ask when and how did I get into sewing, well I started sewing about 5 years ago, just after my daughter was born.  I wanted to make Halloween costumes for her as well as other crafty projects.  I looked around and checked out Elvira's sewing center at Taisin Square (right off the Phra Khanong BTS Station).

A couple of years ago the cheapest machine was 4,000 baht but now they start at 8,000 baht, other brands in the malls are cheaper but the thing about buying Elvira is that it comes with a membership that gives you discounts off sewing supplies, a subscription to their sewing magazines (with patterns and projects) and the best thing is you can get free lessons there as much as you like, they are very happy to help, even in English --- since it's more seeing than saying anyways.  I still remember breastfeeding and then popping out to an hour sewing lesson.  Other brands are usually the same with giving lessons but at times (also when there's only one staff attending) in the malls the space is not adequate for lessons so it's nice that you can pop into here anytime.

So I suggest if you want to give sewing a try, research the machine you want and also look at your budget.  You really don't need an expensive all automated machine (even though they're really cool and easy to use), you can even bring in a project that you want to work on and test the machine out with it.  

There's also so many videos and how to's online nowadays when I didn't have the time or when I needed a refresher course on sewing different projects.  Let me know if you have any more questions, happy to help!  Happy crafting!  

Thainie Finds: Transparent Thread

Did you know about a little wonder called "invisible thread"?  It is really useful for when you do machine quilting and also using it with embroidery.  It can even create a hand stitched seam that looks really nice without actually hand stitching yourself---when machine stitching, you're top and bottom thread is a color thread and so if you pop this invisible thread in your bobbin, you can create a hand stitched seam!  Here's more info on invisible thread.  I will have to post a pic of invisible thread in action but for now I have only used it to hem some pants and also sew some shopping bags.  Another use is when you're working with a really colorful print and you don't want to use color thread to distract from the print.  Try checking it out!

Sold at most department stores in the sewing section, I got mine at Siam Paragon on the 5th floor where all the sewing/knitting supplies are.  Price 90 baht.

Thainie Reads: More Mo Please

I have always been a book lover and I knew that when I had kids I wanted them to love reading as much as I did.  Well, having kids now and especially in this age of high tech gadgets like their toys and the iPad, I'm relieved that they still prefer a night of reading books than clicking on their iPad.  

Lately, my 5 year old daughter has been crazy about reading Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie book series.  They are absolutely delightful and perfect for emergent readers.  He is also the author of the Pigeon books that my kids think are hilarious, especially when my hubby narrates them in funny accents!

Try checking them out by visiting Mo's website here.

Books can be found at all Asia Books and Kinokuniya bookstores, prices range from 200 baht upwards.

Thainie Gift: Bon Voyage Book

One of my daughter's friend from school is leaving after this school year, her family is moving to another country (sadly this is a regular occurrence when your child is in an international school).  I wanted to find a gift that a couple of her other classmates can join in with too.  

In Thailand, we have a "friendship book", it's a book of blank pages that we pass around to our friends and they decorate some pages to commemorate our friendship, we do this usually when we're about to graduate from high school.  So I thought about putting together a book that her friends can all draw and write their messages in.  But of course that was too simple for me!  I thought why not throw in a book about Thailand so that her and her whole family can enjoy too.  

I picked up this book, When I Grow Up (in Thailand), sold at Asia Books and Kinokuniya.  And my daughter had decorated her page for her friend and I also printed some photos to add into the book as well.  We added stickers and remember that die-cut washi tape, that went perfect in this book!  So we'll pass this to her other friends and they'll get a chance to decorate it too.

Also made it more customized by printing her head and then sticking it onto the kid's head on the book cover.  And there, a wonderful going away gift idea that can be used with other books as well.  *** Of course, we have to mention to the kiddies that this is a very special case and that you shouldn't really write in your other books!!!  Wheww!

Happy crafting! 

When I Grow Up (In Thailand) by Janice Santikarn, 300 baht, ISBN 974-91727-9-5.  Sold at all Asia Books and Kinokuniya bookstores.

Thainie Finds: Washi Me Happy

I'm kinda loving the newly revamped 4th floor at The Emporium, I mean like I didn't love it before since it was the stationary and toy departments!  Well look what I stumbled upon... washi tape that were also die-cut!  This is going to be perfect for an upcoming project.  Stay tuned.

Masking Tape 190 baht-Round Top IC4DESIGN, The Emporium 4th Floor

Thainie Finds: Frozen Costumes

It seems that anything Frozen is hot now and also selling out!  Well if you would like to get your hands on an Elsa or Anna costume, you're in luck, Ri Tah Rae has them and they're gorgeous.  The Elsa costumes (2,900 baht) are ready but they are still working on Anna (estimated 3,400 baht) since it's a total of 4 pieces.  Sizes start at XS which is about 2-3 year old size. 

Ri Tah Rae can be found here...