DIY Notebooks

Hey guys!

It's September :D

It was my first time sewing using Simplicity Pattern.

I made few mistakes while sewing this. Nevertheless, I am happy with the end result!

DIY Notebook using sewing machine

Since I did not own any quilting clips (wonder clips), I used clothes pins as a substitute.

I used ribbons and washi tapes to decorate my notebooks~

It is so simple to make them! I think I will be making more of these! :D

Recommended Books:

Six of Crows & Crooked Kingdom

I love love love this duology.

They blow my mind and I have high expectations because of the reviews.

I am so glad to give Leigh Bardugo another chance as I didn't quite enjoy the grisha trilogy.

This duology did not disappoint me at all.

I absolutely adore all of the characters and I find myself thinking about them once in a while.

That just shows how much I am in love with the duology.

Enough said.

If you are looking of action pack with a good plot and some bad-ass characters, this duology is for you!

:)

  

D.I.Y (Simple Overall Skirt With Pockets!!!)

Meet my new kitten~

Kuro-SAMA~~~

Materials:

1m of fabric (Red Wine Velvet)

Strap holder (Reused from an old tattered bag)

Sewing machine

Matching thread with fabric

Ruler

A pair of scissors

^I used a footer for sewing velvet because velvet can be hard to work with as it is slightly slippery.

Pattern:

I drew a triangular-ish shape as the skirt and a rectangular shape as the top.

Then from the top, I marked about 4-5" down to make it be the front pattern.

I tried the pattern on and adjusted the armhole area (You can make it wider or narrower or shallower).

Cutting the fabric:

1x Front pattern

1x Back pattern 

2x 12" by 3" rectangular straps

2x 20" by 3" rectangular straps 

2x Circular shapes (pockets)

Putting it together:

1. Attach the pockets to the side seam-lines

2. Sew the front and back pieces together from the bottom, side seam line and leave about 10" (back) & 15" (front).

3. Hem all the sides (Bottom of the skirt, Rectangular sides).

4. Fold the strap into half and sew. Repeat it again at least twice. To make the shoulder strap more sturdy. 

5. Attach the longer shoulder straps to the back piece and sew.

6. Attach the shorter straps to the front piece and sew.

7. Using the shoulder holder and attach both ends of the longer & shorter straps. 

Since I have extra fabric left, I cut a rectangular piece to make a pocket in front.

So how did it go?

End Product:

This is my very first time working with velvet. I am so thankful for the footer because it makes sewing velvet so much easier. (The velvet is thinner because my country is always so warm!!!!)

I absolutely love the colour of this fabric!

There is plenty of velvet left, maybe I will make a skirt or dress.

I am so excited to start on more sewing projects because I've bought new patterns from spotlight for my birthday! HEHE.

Till then, stay tuned~

Recommended Book:

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

Over By 1 Day

Oh No!

I should have updated my blog yesterday!

I know it has been forever since I've written any sewing posts :(

I will try to post one when I start on a new project.

So maybe this is the best time for me to do some #gettoknowme favourite tag. HAHA.

1. Favourite Colour- Red
2. Favourite Food- Anything with Potato
3. Favourite Drink- Soya Bean
4. Favourite Book- Harry Potter , Red Rising & Demon King
5. Favourite Movie- Rise of the Guardian, HHTYD (Both), HP (ALL of the movies got to do with the hogwarts, wizarding world which J.K. Rowling creates!!!)
6. Favourite Korean Actor- So Ji Seob & Ji Chang Wook
7. Favourite Korean Actress- Gong Hyo Jin
8. Favourite Drama- Kill Me Heal Me, Healer, Remember, Nice Guy, Full House
9. Favourite Song- Complicated By Avril Lavigne
10. Favourite Month- December (Gives me Harry Potter Feels~) 
11. Favourite Pasttime- Sewing and Reading
12. Favourite Animal- Cat
13. Favourite Anime- Daa Daa Daa, Cardcaptor Sakura, Haikyuu, Attan on Titan
14. Favourite Country- New Zealand
15. Favourite Toy- Domo, Toothless, Totoro
16. Favourite Style- Casual, Vintage
17. Favourite Fictional Place- Hogwarts
18. Favourite Type of Song- RnB
19. Favourite Animation Character- Jack Frost, Hinata Shouyo, Mickey Mouse, Baymax
20. Favourite Media Platform- Tumblr

Recommended Drama- Queen for 7 Days (Park Min Young looks very pretty and her acting is amazing! :D)

1st Day of Ramadhan

Hello~

I finally got my stack of fabric to work on new projects!

Last week, I made myself a lace skirt. HEHE.

It turns out super cute.

I can't wait to wear the skirt out.

The japanese sewing book is a good buy. :)

Recommended korean dramas:

Tunnel

Picture Credit: To rightful owner

Tunnel is a drama about a detective named Park Kwang Ho.

He accidentally time traveled while he was trying to catch a serial killer.

He eventually found out the real reason why he was in a time-slip.

It is either to catch the killer or stay in the future (without identity).

It sounds typical because of the time-travelling concept.

However, after ending the series yesterday night, I think the writer and team has done a fantastic job.

*Applause*

I absolutely love the suspense this drama gives.

It's not perfect, plenty of loopholes, but I can deal with them because the storyline is super good.

I love the ending of this drama- not too dramatic or unrealistic.

Great Job to the team of Tunnel!

I am so thankful to OCN because it has been providing good Thriller dramas and I hope they continue to do so.

Favourite Books for the 1st Quarter

Phew, I almost forgot to write a post for this month.

Hey guys~ I purchased some fabric online and I cannot wait to get my hands on them. HEHE!

It's been forever since I've last sew. I miss sewing so much! I can't wait!!!

Yesterday, I went to Daiso with my younger sister and bought few items.

I felt like painting because I didn't want to waste my long weekend without doing any DIY.

So I ended up buying a pack of square wood.

I was actually worried that my acrylic paint would not work well with the wood.

Thankfully, my worry was for nothing.

Instead, painting over the wood made them pretty.

However, I screwed up so badly while writing the first quote over the paint. LOL.

Nevertheless, I am satisfied with the outcome.

As the title said, I have decided to make a list of my reads for the 1st Quarter.

If you're wondering if it was hard for me to name the list, nope is the answer but numbering the list was super difficult for me.

Anyways, I still managed to list down my top 5 favourite reads~

5. Falling Kingdoms series By Morgan Rhodes | Genre: YA Fantasy | 6 Books

If you are a sucker for YA Fantasy, I believe this series is something you may love. What I really like about this series is the writing style. I really really really love reading POV of main characters. It allows me to feel closer to the characters and at the same time makes me think and try to understand a character's decision, behavior or feeling. The plot is predictable and yet unpredictable which I favor a lot when it comes to a book. Every time the book ends, it leaves me wanting more. I've read 4 books in the series and I cannot wait to get my hands on the 5th one. Also, the last book is coming this year! I can't~

4. An Ember in the Ashes series By Sabaa Tahir  | Genre: YA Fantasy | 4 Books

When it comes to this series, I have to say it has many beautiful phrases. I love how distinctive each characters are. Also, I absolutely impressed with the way she portrays The Commandant. I swear she is like the most hated fictional character I've ever read, she is just so cruel. I've never thought there's a character who can win Dolores Umbridge! The magical element in this series is unique and I just want to know more. I've read the first 2 books and I cannot wait for the 3rd book to come which is in 2 years time! I believe it is worth waiting.

3. Illuminae files By Amie Kaufman & Jay Krisoff | Genre: YA Sci-Fi  | Trilogy

This series is by far the most unique writing style- It gives me galaxy and robotic feels while reading them. The plot is special on its own and I just love that fact alone. The humor in the plot is wonderfully written amidst of the chaos that is going on in the book. I know some people do not like Sci-Fi genre but I think Illuminae is such a great book that you should give it a try despite not liking the genre itself. This series is a trilogy and I've read 2 books. The last book will be out next year. Yay!

2. The Raven Boys series By Maggie Stiefvater | Genre: YA Fantasy | 4 Books (Completed)

This series is amazing and I love everything about this series! All of the main characters are contrasting, complex and yet so endearing. The plot may be a little difficult to apprehend in the beginning but you will find yourself so absorb, you cannot stop reading, then it is coming to an end and everything that happened in the beginning makes perfect sense! This series is so good that I think about it all the time. You will love this series if you are into a book surrounding smart, intelligent, badass boys.To be honest, I was afraid this series won't be to my liking but I was so glad to pick it up from the library and then I ended up being obsessed with it! Ahhh~ My feels~

1. Red Rising trilogy By Pierce Brown | Genre: A Sci-Fi | Trilogy (Completed)

I cried at every book in this trilogy. I don't really cry over books which explains why this trilogy is number 1 on this list. This trilogy makes my heart wrenches for Darrow, the main protagonist. I love how he isn't perfect at all and I can understand him even though he makes the wrong decisions. It is a dystopian setting with Sci-Fi. The plot is remarkable and extraordinary. I can visualise the world Darrow is in and how imperfect and wrong that world/ system is. People who love dystopian might consider reading this trilogy because the plot is unique and Pierce Brown is such an amazing writer who deserves more recognition for his masterpiece- Red Rising. 

Photos Credit: Google

TBR May: 

Shadowhunters Academy

 Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Lunar Chronicles- Winter

Update on my life

Hello every body!

I hope you have been doing great!

And I know, I was gone for a very long time.

Hence, I would like to give you an update on what I have been doing during my absence from blogger.

1. Reading
   I've been spending plenty of my time reading. I realised that last year I didn't read as much as I used to back in 2015. Reading is a very good habit and I shouldn't be lazy when it comes to reading! Therefore, I followed some booktubers which could recommend me some wonderful books. I am so glad to have stumble across few great booktubers over the span of 2months. Their recommendations have make my February reads enjoyable.
   
   
   Best picks:
   - Illuminae Trilogy ( The last book is coming out next year!!! )
   - Falling Kingdom Series ( The last book is coming this Dec. I haven't read the 5th book because some one else is borrowing it from the library. Never mind patience is virtue! )
   - The Raven Boys Series ( I've only read the first book and OMG I cannot forget how the story goes! I love it so much. I cannot wait to borrow the next three books from the library! )
   - Red Rising Trilogy ( This is one of the best adult sci-fi fantasy books I've read. I am currently reading the 2nd book and I am not disappointed! Also the 3rd book is in my possession. Woohoo! )
   
   
2.  Upcycled
   I haven't bought any fabric this year because saving money has always been a priority in my life and I wish to purchase fabric at a cheaper price. Both making it difficult for me to buy any kind of fabric I wish to own. D: Since I do not have any fabric, I played with my old clothing which I rarely wear and I've never worn before. I swear sewing has been my most favourite thing to do over the weekend, I truly enjoyed upcycling so much!
   
   
   
   
3. Overlock machine
   I was working on a project and my machine sounded weird. It's a super old machine which I refuse to believe it cannot be salvaged. I am planning to buy machine oil to see if it helps solve the problem which I hope it does. It upsets me every time I think of it. I have so many sewing projects I wish to carry out but why won't my machine work with me?!?!?!?!?! :( I guess I have to go back to using zizag stitching.
   
4.  Korean dramas
   I am currently watching 6 dramas. Some of them are just meh and three are fantastic (Defendant, Voice and Chief Kim). I am planning to switch to Japanese dramas when some of them end. Though I may not. I'm not sure.

Well, that's about it. Till then!

XOXO,

Mahirah

Recommended Movie:

Koe no Katachi (A silent voice)