We Got Our Fish... Now... Take Us to America (We Hear the Burgers are Good)!!!!

These guys were super-sized to be shipped off to the US for a house-warming gift. Got their names sewn, well, not directly onto their bums, but they're like.. tagged. I wanted to do something abit different this time around, seeing as how I got my new sewing machine (got the Singer 8280 in the end... Don't know if I should be regretting it as I also saw another Brother model that looked REALLY appealing.... OH WELL.) & I wanted to try out the zig-zag stitching.

'Take us to your leader. What's that? AMERICA?!?!'

'Did you stick something on my bum???'

These guys measure about 39cm from the tip of the ear to the base, as opposed to the original guys, around 23cm.

'Tony & Jiahui - $89 + $5 (embroidered eyes) = $94 each

The Qween Wants a New Sewing Machine... But Which?!?!?

I don't need a fancy-shmancy one with 80 built in decorative stitches or something.... But I would like SOME, cos you never know when you might need it, right? I also want one that can sew tough fabric, like denim. I'm using the old school pedal (ok, fine... TREADLE) type that I have no complaints about really. I just thought I would like to have a new-fangled one. I have narrowed my search down to 2 models (for the price, really). They are basic ones, really. They are:

Singer 8280

All the specs available by clicking on the model number above. What really confuses me, though, is that the signage at Courts says that it's got 23 stitches. At the Courts website, it says that there are 14. The Singer website says 7. I assume it's 7 built-in stitches & 30 stitch functions (buttonholing, etc) if you toggle around with it. The auntie at the counter demonstrated sewing on 3 - 4 layers of denim for me. I saw many mixed reviews though. Sigh. $199 at Courts, normal price (apparently) $499. Don't ask me. I don't work there.

Brother BM-2600

Again, all specs by clicking on the link. This one has 25 types of stitches. Impressive enough for me. The thing semi-jammed when the makcik was demonstrating the embroidery stitch for me, after which she claimed that you need to use the smooth type of embroidery thread for the stitches to look nice. Ok, the fact that it jammed on thin material made it seem iffy. Many mixed reviews as well. $219 at Courts. Mother's Day promotion deal going on at the Jurong Point atrium for a steal at $155. I have till Sunday (18/04/10) to think about it.

*Pulls my hair out*

A little help here? Anyone? Please?

Doesn't He Look Happy? :)

This just in:

Fiddly resides in a car now. He got renamed. His name is Cranky now. Here he is, settling in.

'Well, this here spot's quite comfy. I might stay here for awhile. And stare that this new human.'

'Now.......what does this dial thing here do?'

I feel like some cold crab now.

Grabs & Fiddly the Crabby Cousins

These crabs are safe to touch & nice to look at!

Fiddly is a Fiddler Crab. He just wants to watch TV right now.

Grabs seems a little bored in front of the gogglebox, though.

I think they are badly in want of more aquatic pals.

'Got More Fish?' Gang

These 3 guys, I call the the 'Got More Fish?' Gang because they look like they've just eaten a truckload of fish & are looking for more.

' Got More Fish?' Gang on the prowl for more fish

God(frey). His favourite pastime is to run around the garden & chase butterflies.

Mow(reen). She likes to lie across a ray of sunlight.

Fysh(er). He is MAD about catnip.

God Mow Fysh. Got More Fish. Get it? I hope they got more fish. I might have to go to the market. Even better, I should design & make some too. Stay tuned!

Rooney & Red, the Sock Monkey-Inspired Cats

These 2 love to lounge around the couch & watch a spot of telly. They are always together & love each other very much!

Rooney & Red, at the telly... again.

The inspiration behind the design of these cats is actually from Sock Monkeys, which I find a totally genius use for a sock!

I basically sewed a piece of jersey material into a tube & fashioned the long arms & legs accordingly. The hardest bit about this was actually sewing the arms onto the body AFTER the body/tube had been sewn up. Also, for the sock monkey, they teach you to leave the opening for stuffing the monkey in the CROTCH area, which I don't really like, as it's a little tougher to handstitch the crotch, which is a rather tight & awkward area to stitch up, rather than say, well, a straight seam, like the side of the leg. That's for the socks though. Since these cats weren't made from socks, I left the opening in the upper back, whilst sewing up the body/tube.

I should have done the arms 1st, but it was just a trial & error thing. Well hey, at least NOW I know.

Rooney - $79
Red - $79 + $5 (embroidered eyes) = $84

Chrys & Belle (to China We WILL Go)

Cooee!

This is Belle.

This is Chrys.

These striped kitties were specially made for adorable 5 year-old twin sisters Chrys & Belle, who were back from China visiting family. Just like Megan & Matilda, they have been personalised as well.

Unfortunately, the girls had to go back whilst the kitties were being born, so for now, they (the kittens) are currently in-between homes. Fear not though, they will be back! Well, sometime, at the very least.

Chrys & Belle - $59 + $5 (embroidered name) = $64 each

Megan & Matilda

Well hello there!

Megan & Matilda, sitting on a stool.

These two sweeties were made especially for the god-daughters of a friend. all features hand-stitched & they have buttons which give them their zonked-out looking eyes. They seem happy enough, though.

Showing off their ink, I mean, stitches.

Again, these little girls were made from socks. The girls names were embroidered by hand.

I have yet to receive feedback from the new owners of Megan & Matilda, but I hope they like them as much as I enjoyed making them. :)

Megan & Matilda - $59 + $5 (embroidered name) = $64 each

Charlotte, Numero Uno, Left the Nest

Cooee!! This is Charlotte the cat. She was ordered for my friend's 2 year old niece (the real Charlotte) who was visiting from Australia. According to the friend, she was hugging her all the way to the airport & refused to let him snatch it away, proclaiming 'Mine! Mine!' each time. Isn't that sweet? Well done, Charlotte! You have found yourself a good home!

Charlotte was made from a Propeds sock & her features were hand-stitched with lots of TLC.
She is approximately 44cm tall.

Charlotte - $69 + $5 (embroidered eyes) + $5 (name on bum, not shown) = $79