Coconut buttercream marshmallow lemon cake

Last week I tried making Lime & Coconut Loaf Cake using this recipe but it turned out a tad too tart for my taste. So, today went back to the Lemon & Rosemary Loaf. This time with frosting and minus the rosemary. 

I used my mother's decades old cake mold and got this pretty shape. 

For the frosting I made Buttercream Marshmallow using two recipes. One for the ingredients and the other for the method. Making cake frosting always feels messy and complicated but all I had to do was mix 

1/3 cup of icing sugar 

1/3 cup softened unsalted butter

1/8 tspn vanilla essence 

and fold in 

3/4 bottle of marshmallow creme

I then sprinkled the Hawaiian Coconut flakes leftover from my last miserable attempt at baking. 

Lovely :)

Blank cards

Before I got a bit preoccupied with sewing, I started out wanting to make giclee prints of my watercolour illustrations. But there was a lot to consider. A good printer costs a bomb. Archival ink costs a bomb. 300 grams acid free paper costs a bomb. In other words, I just couldn't afford it. I also thought of getting them printed professionally but to keep costs down I'd have to print in bulk and I did not want to get stuck with too much stock. 

Now, I think it may not be such a bad idea after all. So, today I made a few mock up blank cards of my little birdies. I printed on the Toddler's art paper, then cut and pasted them onto some of my precious watercolour paper. 

These cards are W 4.5" X H 7" when closed. They are blank on the inside which makes them perfect for writing or ummm... painting whatever you want.

What do you think of this combo?

Businesscard holder

Last night I received a lovely email from a lady who saw my bags and pouches at TriBeCa, the pretty little shop in Bangsar Village II. She wrote to say she liked my work and was wondering if I could make something out of batik to hold her businesscards. I was so happy that someone took the time to email me such encouraging words and to make a request. I set to work immediately and sewed this little businesscard holder. I've been wanting to use my small stash of snap buttons so this was a great time to use it. 

Here's my first attempt...

Closed - W 4" X H 3"

I scratched the button in the process but it's still not bad for a first try me thinks :)

Opened - W 4" X H 5.5"

Two layers to fit in the cards.

I don't know if this is what she is looking for but I had fun making it. Thank you MM for your suggestion :)

Will let you know when I have some at TriBeCa. In the meantime, you can visit the shop and check out all the beautiful bags, clothes, homeware, printed artwork and other lovely things made by talented artisans from around the world!

Labels

I thought I should mention I also make my own labels for the bags. I had a TiMi stamp made at a nearby stationery shop and for the ink I use rubber dye to stamp onto cotton tape.

Here I am testing out my stamping skills.

Below are some of the labels stamped and cut. Unfortunately, there's a lot of wastage because I still have a hard time getting them centered, straight and clear but I so prefer making my own labels than having them professionally made. It carries through the whole handmade aesthetics that I am going for.

After stamping, I cut them up and sew the edges. I tried sewing the labels straight onto the bags and pouches but I found it really hard having to turn the edges in and keep them in place as I sewed.

So, for now I have to do the edges first and individually stitch the labels on by hand. Phew! I have to be honest, I don't know how long I can keep doing this. 

Batik Sarong Terengganu Project - Part 3

I have been wanting to share with you what we learnt on our trip to Terengganu but I'm still waiting for the pics we took. It's been an awfully busy time for everybody but hopefully I'll get them soon.

For now, here are more gorgeous Terengganu batik chop/block for you to feast your eyes on. I am, of course, oversimplifying the process but to give you a quick idea just imagine each piece had to be stamped with wax bit by bit, part by part and then dyed, boiled, re-waxed, re-dyed and re-boiled over and over again depending on the number of colours they decide to use. Each piece. All by hand. 

Vintage Batik Bags

I've been crazy busy making bags for the Putrajaya International Islamic Arts & Culture Festival (PIIACF) which will be held from this Thursday to Sunday, 30th October - 2nd November.

Here are a few that I've made from these vintage batik.

Zipper and gusset for this bag.

A pleat and a pair of short straps for this one.

Three panels of fabric sewn together to make the front.

And one piece for the back.

Will show more soon :)

Panji-Panji

My good old school friend H and her husband have built a couple of lovely little chalets called Panji Panji just minutes away from Cenang Beach in Langkawi that are now open for guests. She asked me to make some mini zippered pouches as gifts so I made a whole bunch with all the batik pieces and fabric I have left from the bags. It feels so good to see them put to use. And they make such pretty combos too.

The lovely Panji Panji chalets.

I could live here!

If you want to know more about the beautiful wooden homes of Panji Panji, click here and start making some plans to get away from the hectic city life. We are so going there soon :)

Butterfly

Cat caught this gorgeous mint green butterfly a couple of days ago. I've never seen this species before. Such beautiful colours. The white ones are more commonly found in our garden. Luckily, I managed to take it away from Cat before he tore it to pieces. You can see the wings are already tattered. 

In the evening he brought in a small bird similar in colour to the large one he caught some time back but it was too dark to take a picture. Some day I'll post some pics of our orange hunter.

Straps

Every bag is made from scratch right down to the straps. I start with cutting two strips of batik and two strips of interior fabric for each bag. Then I iron them before I mark the width and length using a template made of backing board. After that it's time to sew.

I then turn each over using the handle of a long paint brush. And finally it's back to ironing each strap. It's a loong process. Sometimes I look proudly at my heap of straps only to realize they are enough for just four of five bags. Not so great when I have to make eighteen! 

Commission

Last week my brother commissioned me to make a bag, a wrislet and a mini pouch which he needs by tomorrow. Luckily for me I managed to finish them today without any major mishap.

I used my foam stamps for the red on white pattern.

More stamped pattern on the other side.

Instead of making my usual tote, I added a pleat, a single long strap and gusset.

All boxed up and waiting for pick-up!

Batik Sarong Terengganu Project - Part 2: Bags and KLPac

It's been a crazy few days. Right now it's 10.08 am local time and I am supposed to be at the Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival, KL Pac with some bags I have made from the batik. I'm not there. Obviously. Yikes! The Batik Sarong Terengganu Project team have been there since 8.30 this morning setting up their booth - Teja Batik Workshop. They will be conducting a batik demonstration and other activities, so come on over if you are free. They will be there today and tomorrow.

It was so hard choosing which ones to cut up first. They look so good just hanging on the walls.

I started with the red polka dot piece that is now a half done bag on the right.

All cut up with interfacing ironed on. Waaaa!

Front.

The only bag I managed to get done! At 16.5" X 14.5" it's the largest bag I've made so far and the first with pockets.

Back.

See ya at the Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival, KL Pac!

Batik Sarong Terengganu Project - Part 1

Last weekend TIMI was invited to join the Batik Sarong Terengganu Project to meet the last few surviving wax resist batik cap makers. I will share with you what we learnt on the trip in the coming posts. But in the meantime enjoy a peek at some gorgeous Batik Sarong Terengganu. 

The toddler happily wrapping herself up in a sample piece.

Our stash! Some of which will be exhibited at the National Textile Museum, Kuala Lumpur.

Pink!

The pieces above and below are from Wan Mahadi Wan Ismail's workshop. Wan Mahadi Wan Ismail also happens to be a renowned copper wares maker.

Something more contemporary. Baby blue polka dots!

For more updates on the project please visit:

http://batiksarongterengganu.tumblr.com/