Happy Birthday to Mommie's Little Hero...

Happy Birthday Boy!! This is you taken when you were 6 months old.

Our special private moments

Goossshh where do I start writing about you....the most wanted child and the most lovable one in the family......you are very special in everyone's heart!! The most who challenge mommie and daddy's life also.......You were born on 18th December 2004 at 1:40am in one of the labor room at Subang Jaya Medical Centre. Mommie name you Nabil Adam Fiqri which mean Adam -the first prophet since you are my first son, Nabil - brilliant and Fiqri - mind. Mommie gave you a nick name "Nanang" and sometimes Mommie like to call you "Boboy" since most of your sisters always refer you using that name. Throughout mommie's pregnancy Dato' Dr Siti Zaleha has been faithfully attend to mommie's need. Mommie has been very hard to follow all the diet in order to have you. Despite of Daddy busy schedule, he hardly fail to accompany mommie for routine check up. Daddy was so happy when Dr Siti told him that it's a boy!. Finally, he will no longer be sorrounded by ladies in the house.

Mommie was bound on wheel chair right after gave birth to you. That was really painful experience but nevertheless, it was worth it!! Mommie had to attend 4 months of physiotherapy to learn to walk again. Mommie never thought that Mommie will walk again. Mommie cried days and night for two weeks without knowing what will happen next. Even Dr Siti was having a very big question mark on Mommie condition. The first 10 days of Mommie's confinement Mommie had to stay in the hospital bed. Daddy and Ayong came to care for Mommie everyday. Mommie can't even move. Mommie was in pain so bad until the doctor gave Mommie morphine to lessen the pain. Dr Siti recommended Mommie to see Dr Sabri to have thorough check up....then, mommie was put into the MRI machine....goosshhh that was really big pain to move you know.......

For the rest of 4 months, Ayong and Daddy had to bath mommie, put dress on mommie because Mommie can't even do anything on my own. Subang Jaya Medical was mommie's second home then. It was the toughest moment Daddy ever had....thank god...with our strong love bond and mommie determination, mommie able to walk again and recover.....

All your big sisters adore you so much and very protective of you. You are very lucky to have them around. They always volunteer to mommie to look after you. They spoil you too much!! But, Mommie knows that among all, Wawa is your favorite one right now. That's because she always has lots of soft spot on you and Ayong is always act sometimes worst than mommie......you will always dread of Ayong when she start calling your first name "Nabil"!!!...it means you are in trouble.........but trust me, Ayong love you so very much !!! (that's what she always tell me but sometimes she can't stand it anymore if you are being naughty or go against her word..)

Your special moment at the playground with Wawa

You are very special in mommie's heart. Eventough mommie can't always be at your side, mommie always treasure every moment with you when the opportunity come. You always wants to be smarter than your age...mommie thinks you are being very cute trying to chat with mommie on skype everyday eventough we only exchange an emotion icon and some alphabets you come up with without any meaning.......

That's about it Mommie has to say on your special day......thank god I am able to be at your side on your special day!!

With warm hugs & kisses

Mommie

Strawberry Picking Day

I have been very busy with my work commitment lately and was not able to take time off from work. The children had been helping me a lot around the house so I thought it would be nice to treat them for some outdoor activity. I can't think any better place to go other than going for strawberry picking ( saw rows of farms on our way to Yiwu the other day....).

So we took a bus last weekend heading to Yiwu, had nice Arabian food there and jump into a bus to the farm. These are some of the photos while we were at the farm :

Our lunch

Briyani Rice, Grilled Lamp, Fried Lamb Liver, Yoghurt Drink, Dal gravy...

Just came down from the bus trying to find which farm we gonna go.....

Jeanne & PeiPei accompanied us to the farm

The children had lots of fun picking their favorite fruits

Finally, we had 1.8kg of strawberry in our basket (after I told them to stop picking...) and make the left over strawberry into strawberry topping for ice cream.......






That's all for now....will update with my stitching progress later.....looking forward to have my Christmas break in Malaysia.....and my food hunting session too.......




Hugs
//siti

MY STITCHING BASKET/BISCORNU SAL BLOG

Hello Again....

I am sooo excited to share our new blog http://ourbiscornubasket.blogspot.com/ ....this blog belong to me and my colleague, Izzy (she is the one who organize our travelling plan, arrange our travelling needs etc...).

We are the ladies in the offie who are into stitching and crafting....we came up with the idea after Izzy told me that she wanted to try her hand on stitching a biscornu. Then I volunteer myself to stitch a long with her....the rest is history!!. Our objective is to stitch one biscornu a month to have full basket of biscornu by end of 2009.

Please visit our blog and we had started our January SAL for biscornu with "Pretty in Pink" theme. We will have different theme in each month.....

Happy Stitching!

//siti

My finish for November & December....

Hi All Stitching Friends!!



Just a short update on my latest finish.....both are for Seasonal Ornaments SAL ...

"Be Thankful"

Freebie pattern from one of the website (Can't recall which one....)

32 ct Mystery White Linen

Combination thread from DMC 839, DMC Color Variation & Carrie Creation "Mandarin"

Start on 17th Nov, Finish on 30th Nov 2008

This one take me longer than expected because I use 32ct linen and I need to put my magnifying glass while stitching it. I wanted to finish this as a fob but have not really putting much effort to start stitching for the back portion. I use the oval hoop for the sake of taking the photo to make it look nicer (LOL..).

"Glittering Christmas Tree" by Angela Poole

Cross Stitch Collection Magazine Issue 164 - X'mas 2008

Zweigart 16 ct Rustico

DMC 304

Beads from Shamrock Craft

I don't celebrate Christmas but I like all the patterns feature on most of cross stitch magazine for Chrsitmas theme. Stitching this one is very fun and fast too. I think I take about less than 10 hours to finish stitching partly because I choose one color thread (I love French redwork soo muucchh..!!). Assembling it into the pinkeep take me less than 30 min. I had difficulty of tying the satin ribbon for the top portion. That cause me 3-4 times trying to tie it correctly.....nevertheless, it was really fun and I plan to have more pin keep for my next project so that I can have full ornies in my basket......hu...hu.....I am now working on another piece for my 2nd ornie....I also have a few stitching coming up right now, hope to share with you here in my next journal entry.

I am sorrounded by lots of colleagues who celebrate Christmas and they come from all over the world. The office will be very quite beginning next week as most of them are flying back to their "nest" .....we will be having our Christmas party in one of the Muslim Restaurant about an hour drive from our place this Friday. This is part of the team end of the year gathering. My boss decided to have it in a Muslim Restaurant so that all his Muslim employee will be able to attend.

To all of you celebrating Christmas.....Have a very Merry Christmas (how nice to be able to see white X'mas again)......have a safe trip back and for those who are not celebrating Happy Holidays!! Enjoy the break with your loved one. I am also heading home for 5 hours flight with the children on 27th Dec....goosshhh...looking forward for my food hunting and catching up with all my former Mizzou friends in Malaysia!!! and a week break out of China!! (happy dance...)

Hugs

//siti

Happy Birthdy to Mommie's Star!!!

I am happy that I have a chance to spend my special moment with my little star

(even tough she is as tall as me now....LOL...)....today is my eldest's 15th Birthday!....Happy birthday to mommie star, Ayong!!!.......

You were born on 07th December 1993 at Dr Wan Clinic in Bukit M. We name you Nur Nabihah Najat...mom and dad decided to pick "NAJAT" means success as your third name because after three year of waiting for a child, Mommie and Daddy finally have you to the world. The minute the doctor broke the news to us, it was the best moment we ever had....we jumped for joy, I was treated well by Daddy, he really spoiled me from minimising my house cleaning to whatever you can eat all......Gooosshhh...time flies very fast!!

You were easily taken care of while you were a baby but drinks milk frequently and eat well too (up till now you still do anyway!! LOL...). But, a bit naughty while you were in primary school.....mommie and daddy still remember have to go and spy behind your back to make sure that you go to your religious class in the evening and call your school teacher every now and then to check on you. Those days had gone now!! You have grown up to be a very responsible doughter and big sister to all your siblings.

You love your little brother Adam, more than anything

else in this world and always protective of him

all the times. You look after your siblings well while Mommie is away, making sure that all your siblings have their need fulfill....packing all their clothing whenever all of you require for travelling with us, giving them moral support when they need me, gosshh there are so many countless good things that you have done for us which make mommie working life much more easier.....You took care of Mommie while Mommie was really sick and bound on wheel chair after having Adam....You always remind Adam to be a good son because he had caused mommie life (that was funny since you also mentioned to him to find good wife so that all of us can stick together and can still take care of mommie....that time Adam was merely a small baby... :-) . We share our same interest for the love of cooking and baking......you are a great cook and baker.....you are able to prepare very good baked potato with white sauce, spaghetti sauce as well as baking at your age....your sisters and little brother always praise how good you are in the kitchen (sometimes mommie can be jealous of that....LOL....)....

You take your life seriously...even small matter make you really upset sometimes.....you are always reminding mommie to be patience and good to others whenever Mommie is upset at someone in the office or dealing in day to day issues.....that was very nice of you!!....You also adore your Nenek (Grandma) so much....always talk about how good is Granny in the kitchen, how nice to be able to eat Granny food.....I can see you miss her soooo muuuchhh while you are away with me in China.......every little thing we do you will always mentioned about her.......

Mom and Dad always thankful to Allah for giving you to us....in whatever you do, we always pray that success will always be with you........even tough, sometimes we have our differences, believe me...we always love you and you are not only my daughter but also my best friend I ever had.......we share all the stories, chit chat about anything we feel comfortable to talk about.....you are also daddy's blue eye (yeaahh I acknowledge daddy always side you whenever we fight on some tiny issues).....and sometimes we also fight because of you...LOL... and you will be the peace keeper.....and ask us to stop fighting!! Do you know how long did Daddy took to convince me to agree on buying you a new laptop??....Gossh that was never ending discussion until finally mommie gave in.......

Before mommie end my journal on your special day....this is Daddy's sms to you "Happy Birthday to my lovely daughter. You are becoming beautiful individual and excellent big sister. I am proud of you!"

With lots of hugs & loves,

Mommie

Life is full of Love & Laughter....

Thanks for stopping by and check on my journal.

I will be making just a short journal this time due to my hectic schedule. Life has been very busy with work commitment as well as taking care of my four little pumpkins. It has been a very blissful month with lots of activities with the children. I always dreaded of being alone again once they are back to Malaysia. My small apartment has been full of laughters and noise for the past one month. The weather is very cold lately and we have less time to spend outside. The children has been staying in door and easily get hungry most of the time. I caught them taking frosties middle of the night in numerous occasions. But, I am very happy and always looking forward to come back from office early also thinking in advance everyday on the menu....we have lots of fun on girls cooking session trying out different recipes each day, shooping for our grocery togather, playing monopoly, strolling around town whenever the weather is fine outside.. ...The children has been picking up Mandarin very fast, my eldest, Nabihah, can now shop for the vegetable at a local market by her own. This is partly of my encouragement for them to learn the language while I am away at work also some help from our personal tutor, Jessy....she has done a great job teaching them :) ....

However, I am trying my best accomodating my time for my stitching piece. I had finished my Thanksgiving Ornament Challenge end of November and one of my Christmas ornaments finish into pinkeep today. I have done a bit progress on my firts LHN "Comfort" piece. I will post the photos in my next journal entry.

I am off now for my second Christmas ornament challenge and I hope you have a great weekend!!!!

Happy stitching!
//siti

In Memory of Sheila Hudson

Hi All...I am saddened to hear the passing of one of my favorite designer, Sheila Hudson in March. Her work is always shared and displayed in the Cross Stitch Collection or other cross stitchers magazine in the UK.

Photo of Sheila credit to http://www.crossstitchermagazine.co.uk/

Phil came for a business trip and brought with him two latest magazine for me all the way from UK. I was so shock to read one of the letters from other stitchers. Since I relocate to China, I do not have an excess of buying the latest magazine except via online.

I love her work....she made beautiful flower's charts. I will definately miss her, so does other stitchers who admired her works. May god bless your soul.....

//siti

Card swap is heading to Malaysia this weekend....

Finally, after months of delay, I managed to put my final touch on all the cards. I will be saying goodbye to my other half this weekend and he will bring along the cards back to Malaysia for mailing to the organizer.

My creative fingers are busy putting togather the tiny winny things on the card......see how I spilled all over the table my tiny roses just to pick and play with the colors against the card.

Viollaahhh...sitting pretty in my stitching basket just for photoshooting....

Wrapped with satin ribbon, labels with recipient names and inserted a small Crossitch Bookmark kits inside the card.......ready to sail back to Malaysia.....

For my fellow swapper, hope all of you enjoy the cards and thanks for participating ......I appreciate your company!!!

On my stitching update, received my charts order all the way from Utah, all from my favorite designers......LHN, CCN & LK...goooosshhhh they are all soooo lovelyyyy........and can be lasted for rest of my 2009 stitching ......LOL...

Then, right away start stitching the thread pack of "COMFORT" by LHN....my first stitching experience using the Crescent Colors.....brilliant!!! Love the soft color Diane picked for this thread pack. The color change gradually compared to the rest of the hand dyed floss I use before. Diane does have a good taste and lovely design of all her thread packs. I had also put up my order for her Coffee & Tea thread series already.....that will be my last chart spending for this year (hopefully....evil grin!!!). Diane latest creative ideas on "Sea To Shining Sea" really caugh my eye....way goes my $$ again......got to start my piggy bank for those series for my 2009 purchase!! (goosshh provided I stitch whatever I have first on LHN.....good motivational excuse for puchase of new charts...LOL... ;)

The frog came for a visit for this one, how I hate that!!!...when that happen, it really spoiled all my stitching mood......if you notice, I had miscounted the blackbird at the right side.....lesson learn from this one, do not take your stitching for granted....it looks easy but it's not.....cause for me I got carried away while stitching this one!! At the same time, I also started my SAL for the Thanksgiving ornaments but unfortunately had forgotten to take a picture of my stitching....I almost finish my small piece....should do that before the 30th .....

I guess that's about it...I was not able to spend so much time on my laptop while I am home as the kids are with me in China now.....in fact, I wrote this entry during my lunch hour in the office....nevertheless, I still have a few hours at nite stitching.....

Till then, I hope you had a very good Thanksgiving holiday and to my long lost friend, Betsy from Sturgeon, in case you come for a visit, it's nice to rekindle the friendship after so many years of silence.....I miss your pumpkin pie!!!

For those celebrating the X'mas....I bet all of you are busy putting up your tree by now....and lighting the house......I miss the bright lighting along the neighbourhood at Rosemary Lane, Collage Avenue and University Avenue...........

Happy weekend stitching....

//siti

Viooolllaaa it's done!!

I started this on Sunday 16th Nov 2008. This picture were taken on Monday.






On my 04th day of stitching.....








Finally, this is my small floss tag after spending 30 minutes stitching assembling both side of fabric.

Since I only have a very small eyelet in my stash, I opted using lace instead. My second floss ring attempt and I am proud to say that I'm making good progress and improve my stitching this time compared to my 1st attempt. Sit at the background of this photo are 4 kits and a box of pin I received from Raph & Veronique during their last trip back from France...both of them really spoiled me with these Lanarte kits. Thanks you both for these lovely kits!!! Love them all.......

Gotto hit the sack....TGIF!!!! One more working day before weekend....and I had changed my mind not to travel to Shanghai this weekend as we are going to Hangzhou next weekend to send Rozi off back to Malaysia....means I can start on my SAL Ornaments tomorrow night...yippiee.......

Till then....stitch 123.....stitch abc .....and stitch and stitch..........

Stitch your stress awayyy.....

//siti

Weekend stitching -3rd week of November

Hi All....just a short update for the weekend stitching which I should have uploaded earlier...

Freebie from Caron Creation

Stitch on 32ct linen (trying to finish off my linen stash.....)

Thread : DMC Color variation...the color is so superrbbb...love it!!

Finish : Plan to finish this into a floss tag

This is my 1st attempt of using color variation thread and it is soo smooth sailing.....and I like it so much until I went overboard ordering of 24 colors all in a set.......ggooossshhh....that will lasted for ages!!! I have been treating myself well lately shopping for some of my favorite LLH, CCN and LK charts......anyway, the last time I shop for their charts was somewhere last year.......guess it's about time I spend before year end.....It has become a personal ritual for me shopping for my charts once a year and piling it up and never take an efffort to stitch them (dumb...dumb...dumb...).....One of my 2009 stitching resolution is to try to pick one each from LHN, CCN and LK plus that will require me to be more organized and committed. I also been in contact with Vonna from http://thetwistedstitcher.blogspot.com joining her SAL ornaments she organized at http://seasonalornaments.blogspot.com/. Thanks for accepting me into the group. Yeaaahhh...had to keep up with the Thanksgiving challenge.... ;)

I have been visiting some other stitcher's blog which had inspired me a lot .........giving me some motivation to improve on my stitching schedule and be more organize .......some of them has done a good job sharing and motivating each other......I also went through some of their wishlist item.....who knows Santa will come for a visit sending my gift for Xmas ...hooo hoooo hoooo........

The children are around so I will not have enough time to allocate for my stitching at night. Last night I only managed to stitch for 2 hours. We are planning to visit Shanghai this weekend, so there will be no stitching activity this weekend. I wanted to spend as much time as I can with the children and my other half while there are here with me. I have schedule all my holidays up to February already, which mean will be back to Malaysia in Dec and subsequently in end of January/early Feb for Spring holidays.

Before I end this entry, allow me to share some of our pictures togather taken last week while we were in Hangzhou....

Ueya, Adam, Rozi, myself and Wawa minus Yong.......

Rozi and his troop....

Also, a beautiful piece of cross stitch finish into a wall clock which I found in one of the local shop here..........I almost bought the kit but the stock unavailability had save my pocket!!!

I shall be updating all my stitching status and 2009 stitching plan & resolution here in my next entry. But first, I have to be organize.....go through all my charts, select which one to be stitch, checking & make a list of all my WIPs/UFO, make full use of my aida's and linen stash.....and importantly list all my 2009 stitching plan.....till then...Happy stitching!!

Stitch your stress awaaayyy...

//siti

Looking for Floss Ring Tag Exchange Partner/SAL - LHN

Hello Stitchers out there....

I am looking for an exchange partner for a floss ring tag. If you are interested to have an exchange with me please do drop a line at the message below.

I have been keeping "A Stitcher's Prayer" chart by LHN and have not had enough time to stitch them. I am planning to stitch some portion of the pattern out of this chart. This will be my second attempt for a floss ring tag. I take this opportunity to start stitching on my LHN stash collection.

The exchange does not necessary from LHN, it can be any other pattern as long as finish as a floss ring tag. But I would prefer to be stitch on any linen or evenweave, if you do not mind. The duration for the stitching will be from end of November and mail out by 1st week of January (I am a bit flexible on the timing as long as you are able to let me know your best available time to mail out the finish piece is good enough for me)

Hope to hear from you out there. Please be advise first come first serve basis is apply.

Stitch away all your stresses......

//siti

Weekend stitching - 2nd week of November

Hello again,

I had some weeekend stitching activity which I organised with my cyber stitching buddies. This is the outcome.

BEFORE

AFTER

Stitching this piece really take more time than I am expecting. Initially I thought I can finish within 6 hours of total stitching, It prove me wrong. I only managed to finish one side of the border last weekend. Maybe I focus another 50% of my attention to watch the movie. That took me 3 movies all togather (LOL...).....Definitely Maybe, The Holiday and Mamma Mia.....

Finally I had decided to frame the finish piece instead of making it into a pinkepp. I hope to finish stitching tonight but looks like I am going to be busy cleaning and preparing for a night stay in Hangzhou since the kids will be here tomorrow.

On another stitching update, Carol reply my email on my request for HOE......allow me to celebrate with happy dance....thanks to Catherine and Carol ...looking forward for another interesting stitching activity

I have been peeking into 123stitch shop off late....that is not a good sign!! I have been thinking of ordering some CCN, LK and LHN charts........I definatley need some professional help!!! Help me god.

That's it for my short update....I guess I will have to revisit Windy Willow's Little Roses next weekend also my biiigggeesstt project the big Roses....goosshhh.....

Till then...happy stitching and hope you have a productive week ahead...

Hugs

//siti

I am soooo excited....

Yeaahhh it's school holidays again in Malaysia...time for the kids to spend their time with me in China. I will be very busy this weekend preparing for their needs beside as usual some stitching activity togather with my cyber stitching buddies. I already bought an additional winter clothing end of summer a few months ago. The last time they were here we travelled a lots so they only stayed for a couple of days. So this time I have to get some blanket for winter and a few pillows.

I will be travelling to Hangzhou to fetch them. The journey will take me 1.5 hour on train to Xiaoshan then take a cab to the airport. I plan to bring the kids for a short trip around West Lake the next day before we jump into 2.5 hour bus trip back to my apartment.

I am so excited...can't wait to hug them....they will stay till Xmas then I will be taking them back end of the year. Rozi have to fly back by end of Nov to start her new job (good luck D in your new place...). He was on sabbatical for 3 months after his VSS. Thank god he can find another job faster than we expected. He had been enjoying himself staying with the kids at home and at Yong's side for her PMR. I felt so badly that I had to fly back on her first day of her PMR. That morning I woke up 4 am to catch the flight back at 8am. I was the only person who looks so unhappy and miserable. It was a very sad moment for me, I was trying very hard to hold my tears. Sit silently beside the flight window trying to hide my emotion from the person who sat beside me. I was so quite thoroughout the journey. Well that's life.......sometimes we have to be strong to overcome with an unfavorable situation ......

My next trip home will be in Dec for a short trip, then next one will be end of January for Spring Holidays, With the work commitment on project basis it is very difficult to get the time off. Usually I have to plan all my holiday schedule at least 6 month ahead. Also, I have to discuss my plan in advance with my boss. Then when the time come to submit my leave application, my boss will come up with his favorite sentence "Again....how many days a year you need a holiday??" (As if he lost his memory already...LOL...).Goosshh sometimes I hate to confront him whenever I am trying to get his approval....sometimes when I just email the application, then he will say "ahh hhaa now someone does not want to talk to me anymore"....but nevertheless, he has been a very good boss despite of his bluntness towards us. That's it....I dont really like to talk about my work here...that's not my main objective of having this blog......

Anyway....yippiee ...yippee ...happy dance.....soooo excited to be with the kids soon......

Gotta continue my stitching...till then...thanks for reading

Hugs

//siti

ps ever since I found my "little heaven", the craft shop that having lots of xs stuffs from DMC/Zweigart etc, I always thinking of buying more printed fabric, linen, wooden frame, ring........gosshh I really need professional help..........thank god I found it after one year I've been here........LOL....