March was....(a long overdue post)

....a hectic month for me.
Firstly, I packed myself off to China for a 7N/9D tour which took me to Suzhou, Hongzhou, Wuxi, Nanking and Shanghai. Those cities are actually about 2 - 3 hours drive from one another and with the new expressways that China has been building, the journeys weren't tiring and the cold weather was of some help! BTW, the temperature was always below 10 deg. C and dropped below zero during the nights, but by that time I had warmly checked into the hotel!

I went to Shanghai because DD and two friends won a trip to represent their uni/Malaysia in the Henkel Innovative Challenge and since I don't have to pay for her fare....I took the opportunity to visit....lol.

The Oriental Pearl Tower (formerly used for TV broadcasting)

The China Pavilion
(only one still open to public viewing after the 2010 World Expo)

More photos here. :)

After China, it was time for NNC 4th Anniversary get-together at Rose's house in Shah Alam on 19th March. Like previous years, there was a gift exchange among the members plus a GINGHAM HEART challenge set out by the Headmistress aka MW! I quickly set to work on the heart since it wasn't too difficult to put together. My inspiration was from one of Tilda's design.

~ Tilda inspired heart ~
the background is a knitted cushion cover

Cupcake Apron - exchange piece drawn by Mel our resident cupcake Queen.
The apron fabric was a dish towel bought at Ikea. ;)

All the Pretty Hearts!
(photo by Nik)

I'm not going to repeat what happened on that day. It's here, here, and here!

- o - o - o - o -

Before the month ended, our company hosted the Annual dinner for all the staff in Penang. So we make our way to the Pearl of the Orient on Friday 25th March. We stayed at the Golden Sands Hotel, Batu Feringgi, Penang, but the dinner was held next door at the Rasa Sayang Hotel. This year each branch has to put up a performance (and it was a challenge) and I'm proud to say Ipoh branch won the first prize for our rendition of "Satu Malaysia" the theme song of One Malaysia! Yeah, Ipoh branch boleh!! :D

Ipoh branch BOLEH! Yeah!

The next day (early evening) we boarded the Superstar Libra for a cruise to nowhere. It's the first time I spent the night on a boat (a large one), but I still felt the boat rolling on the wave and it made me dizzy for a while! lol As we sailed at night, there was not much to see (and it was also raining), I spent the time inside the casino and lost some money! :(

A view from the upper deck

Phew! How the month flew.....thank you for visiting!

NNC-Card Challenge

Tis' the card I received from Emily. She included a crocheted heart-shaped bookmark in purple!

NNC-Card Challenge

A card challenge co-ordinated by Ying was announced end August 2007.

Quote:

What to do : Made a handmade card by yourself and send to your partner.

Supplies:Ying will send the supplies to you. ( Free, of course!! :-)) .You make the card using the supplies given, yes, all the supplies, and IF you want to add your own supplies , please not over 3 items.

Sign Up : start from now to 9/September. Please give me your full name, snailmail address and email address. Please sign up via my private email:.........Ying will assign the partner and send the supplies to you by 10/September.

Due Date to send your card to your partner: 30/September.Please be on time.Please scan your card before you send to your partner, if you can't scan please state it when you sign up.

Unquote

The players were:

Barbara Jack

Charlene Ng

Melanie Tan

Nik Ainun

Usha Ranee

June Tung

Lillie Liu

Rose Jonid

Radha Kumar

Emily Chiam

Janet Chan

Ulla Fredriksson

Ying Pang

and my partner was.......Emily Chiam and this is the card I created for her!

Emily's fave colour is purple and the only thing I had on hand in my stash was the purple ric-rac!

I think my card turned out rather mediocre :(

WIP ~ Finished Work

This is what I've stitched so far Bouquet for Cheryl:

This is a challenge - BJ offered to reimburse the Carrie threads we used if we can finished stitching this chart by 31/12/2007!

Have also completed the cushion cover for Mel for the Cushion Cover Exchange on NNC co-ordinated by Lene. Send it out on 5th July 2007.

NNC Wish List Exchange

Yesterday, I mailed the reversible tote bag to Margaret. It's pink on one side and the reverse is blue! This is my second exchange on NNC, the first being the pincushion! I have finished my obligations, but have a number of WIP to complete - namely:

1. Fairies x-stitch from Marie Barber's book

2. Tulip quilt

3. Ripple crochet

Then it will be Bouquet for Cheryl a challenge thrown by BJ of NNC and distributed of Carrie's thread. It's her way to promote Carrie's thread in this region and we purchase 5 skeins of CT and stitch the Bouquet by 31st December 2007. If and when we finish the project by that date BJ will give us 5 skeins of CT free of charge. I have already placed my order - I'm going to stitch it using Joy Noel (a multi-colour variegated in shades of christmasy colours, namely green, red, gold, etc). Besides this, I have also ordered a skein each of Fall Splendour, Purple Pansy, Over the Rainbow, Lagoon Green and Lumiere de Cheryl. Each skein costs RM4.00. I hope I can complete this challenge on time!