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...

 

Thainie DIY: Bedside Table to Child's Dressing Table

I love all my IKEA hacks but I think this one has to be one of my all time favorite.  Was looking for an affordable little dressing table for my daughter and did not want something too girly or painted with bunches of cartoons.  Then I found these at IKEA and had an idea!

Forgot that there was also the IKEA children's chair that we had already too.

And put together, it was the perfect height for a little girl's dressing table with plenty of room for all her jewelry, hair accessories and even toys!

I used my Silhouette to cut out a stencil to paint a top border to dress it up a little and I loved how it turned out!

Thainie DIY: Washi Your Nyttja

I had searched the web on how to paint IKEA Nyttja frames, I tried sanding before spray painting and painting with acrylics but it just did not turn out right.  The spray paint sorta worked but once sanded it had a rough feel/look once it was sprayed over.  When I tried painting it with acrylic, after it dried it peeled really easily.  So I thought, how about washi tape?  It turned out actually pretty nice!  

 About spray painting or painting, maybe a primer would have worked but I couldn't be bothered now, I love the washi look!

Thainie DIY: IKEA Draggan to Dragon and Dinosaur Keeper

More to share on IKEA hacks, this is not really a hack but more of a re-use.  Check out this cute bathroom trolley IKEA Draggan (how can this not be used to store dragons?) turned Dragon and Dinosaur keeper.  Now my son can both store and use his little cart to pick up his dragons and dinosaurs around the room with fun and ease!

Thainie DIY: IKEA Besta turned Toy Playhouse

I've been working on a project and it involves IKEA hacks, will be showing the reveal soon but for now I wanted to share this hack that uses the Besta shelf to create a custom toy playhouse for your kids.  It can be easily customized for your girl or boy, who says playhouses/dollhouses are for girls only!!!

 So here's how you do it:

• You'll need
• Shelf
• Double sided tape
• Scrapbook paper
• Paper cutter
• Pencil 

• Get yourself a Besta shelf or any shelf that you want to repurpose
• If there is a back panel, mark the lines that you'll cover with wallpaper/scrapbook paper
• Cut your wallpaper and use the double sided tape to stick to the panel, if your shelf doesn't have a back panel then you can stick to the back of the shelf (hope that makes sense!?)
• Add toys and kids and enjoy!

*** I thought to make one for my son but with jungle themed wallpaper for his dinosaurs but lets see how this one goes.

Thainie Tees: Costumes from T-shirts

Remember my post about t-shirt costumes, well here are some past projects I had promised to share.

From top left to bottom right.

• Nutcraker Soldiers Costume
• Nutcraker Mice Costume
• Crocodile Tee
• Pirate Costume
• Cheerleader Dresses
• Father's Day tee

Thainie Art: Paint Watercolor with Acrylics

Did you know you can paint watercolors with acrylics?  I needed to make a costume for my daughter's international day and she was representing France, so I searched the web and found a cute idea of drawing and coloring on a white tee.  I decided to draw the Eiffel Tower and trees (easy enough right?) but when it came to painting with acrylics I thought it would be too heavy but since it was acrylics, I tried watering it down to create watercolor effect.  So if you would like to try this, I recommend:

• Start with a little dab of acrylic and work the water into it and you can create an ombre effect by watering it down more.
• Do little by little, let some parts dry and layer darker or lighter colors in.
• When done, iron the tee to set the paint so that it won't bleed in the wash.

Loved how it turned out and can't wait to try it again, maybe dinosaurs???

Pans Stand (IKEA Hack)

A simple solution for storing your pans.  I used the IKEA INREDA DVD Rack and just placed it into my kitchen cabinet.  It worked out perfectly and stored the pans quite neatly.