{Made by PH} Dungarees Duo for my Duo

I have not been sewing for a while, my machine had been quietly collecting dust due to my busy schedule at work and at home. 

Finally, I got my inspiration when teaching my boy about Germany (in conjunction with World Cup fever!), he learnt about where Germany located on the world map (using our little globe), the culture and cuisin of Germany (using the iPad), and when I saw the traditional boy Dungaree for the German,I immediately fell in love. I knew I had to make one for my boy. The thought of  making him a Dungaree (or more accurately, a suspended pants) had been lingering on but I just had no time to sew at all... Till last night, the duo gone to bed early and I snatched the time to sew. I wanted a matching pair this time, in continuation with the me & mini me series..

These are the outcomes of my spontaneous designs. 

The Dungarees Duo.

My little handsome was so happy to put on his suspended pants the next morning, posing confidently  with his golden football.

Looking smart while practising his piano. I added buckles for the shoulder straps so the length is adjustable.

Notice a strip of star ribbons in the front of the pants? big guy thought it's a little girly but I don't care. The designer makes the call. >;) this is the first time I installed  snap buttons. They are really handy and I love that rustic look with these buttons!

My princess C was delighted to woke to to this new Dungaree dress too. Obediently let me wore it on for her and posed with her pink teddy..

Couldn't stop admiring herself in the mirror reflection..

While I quietly admired her cuteness..

I added the leafy pattern on the front pocket. Thought it breaks the monotonous of the dress pattern.

Allow me to show off the neat finishing on the back. I added elastic band for the waist so it fits perfectly . 

With just 2 yards of the corduroy fabric, some tools and a trusted mac, these 2 pieces cost me only a fraction of what I would have to pay if buy from kids boutique.

For anyone interested, this is the toolset I used for making the snap buttons. Lucky big guy helped as I'm really not good with hammer. *blush*

Perhaps, I shall sew more often. It makes me really really happy & feeling accomplished. 

What do you think I should sew next? *thinking hard again*

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

{Book Review} Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, fun book for the earlyreader!

This has been my little handsome's favorite bedtime book for the past 1 month. Every night even after we have read other books, he will still BEGGED to read his favorite book. "Stick man!", he yelled in excitement.

Personally, I enjoy reading this book with him too (despite we have been reading this for over like 20 times or more?) . It is fun to read with all the rhymed text and the series of unfortunate incidents that Stick Man got into that made the children want to read on more. I particularly love the twist at the end of the story, how Stick Man finally got home to his Stick Lady Love and stick children three after the long adventure that kept him away from home.

  

Stick Man
Written by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

What is the Story About?
"Stick Man lives in the family tree With his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three." But it's dangerous being a Stick Man. A dog wants to play with him, a swan builds her nest with him. He even ends up on a fire! Will he ever get back to the family tree?


It started with me reading for the first 2 nights, but subsequently my little 5 year old decided to take over and I just relaxed and listen to him reading aloud. He loved this book so much that I wonder when would he finally allow us to move on to next. :)

His favorite parts had got to be these:

"I'm Stick Man, I'm Stick Man, I'M STICK MAN, that's me!"

"And I want to go home to the family tree!"

and

"Stick Man, oh Stick Man, beware of the snow!"

"Stick Man, oh Stick Man, beware of the sand!"

"Stick Man, oh Stick Man, beware of the girl!"

The illustration is rich and captivating. It is also interesting to find that there are so many ways to play or do with a stick!

Want to make reading more FUN?
Check out the tips on sharing this books with little ones, as shared by Scholastic.

Something You Should Know About the Author...
Did I mentioned Julia Donaldson is also the author behind the best-seller children book, the Gruffalo's Child? We have 3 of the books and they are all beautifully illustrated with great story line that captivate the curiosity of the child. I shall share about the books in a separate post.

Can't wait to read this fun book with your little ones? Find it online today..

Scholastic 

Book Depository (free delivery world wide)

Amazon.com

Have fun reading!

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

{Smart Toy} Animal Safari, make Stacking Fun!

This is one game that almost any boys or girls will like, stacking the wooden animals vertically and ensure nobody falls. I got this as a birthday present for a little boy and he was hooked onto it instantly. The one good thing is, this game can be played solo or as a team game with 2 or more friends. 

It comes with 8 pairs of animals and a special dice - lion, ostrich, monkey, elephant, hippo, crocodile and zebra. You can opt to it towers style (throw the dize and stack the selected animal onto the tower) or free style (stack the animals in the most challenging ways you can imagine)

Tower style. My little handsome so focused on balancing his monkey.

Go free style and be creative, stack side ways instead. 

Or up the challenge, stack them up in a pair.

For my little girl, I simplify the game by asking her to find the same pair of animals. So nobody is left out. :)

Easy storage, one A4 size box to fit all.

Instruction is at the back.

Interested? You can get this from any Popular bookstores nationwide. It cost RM89 per box at the time of purchase (or was it RM99? Arrggghh.. pardon my dory memory..)

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

{Art and Craft} Kid's Art Placemats

We had quite a lot of art work at home proudly done by my duo, either from their preschool art classes (they have really creative & encouraging teachers!) or when we do painting at home. I placed their artwork on shelves, on the wall, in storage boxes, and finally I thought of a new idea.. Why not make them into placemats that we can admire everyday as we dine? Just had to send them to the stationerary shop for lamination and pay a small fee. 

They are colorful, vibrant, and most importantly, are their lovely work.

I made them double sided. More economical and offers more fresh views. :)

For the Mother's Day cards they made for me, I cut them into half and have them sealed as back to back.

Now storage is no longer a problem. High 5!

My duo were so happy when I showed them their 'new' placemats designed by them. So, why not surprise your little ones today?

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Oneswith appropriate and specific direction to the original content. 

{Tutorial} Little Bubble Dress, repurposed from mommy's dress

Do you have any maternity dresses that you are certain that you won't be needing them anymore? I had a couples left behind and sitting in the storage box for past 2 years..

So instead of letting them rot slowly, I am on a mission to repurpose them into something pretty for my little girl, and this is the second creation of my mission. The first creation is this halter princess dress.

The little bubble dress.

It's made of knit fabric in thin black lines. I thought it looks a little plain so added 2 little red ribbons which really stand out beautifully.

Fits perfectly on my little bunny girl.

Why do I call her my bunny girl? Not a moment that she can sits still. Almost all photos of her are blurry.

In total in only took me about 40 minutes to complete this dress as the ruffle is ready made and only minimal sewing required. Read on the pictorial guide and you will see why it's such a simple project.

Here goes the super easy TUTORIAL.

Step 1: pin & sew

I adjusted the width according to my girl's existing dress, make adjustment according to your toddler.

Step 2: cut & hem

Keep the extra as you'll need it for the straps later.

Step 3: pin & sew

Step 4: cut shoulder straps

The extra pieces from step 2 comes handy now.

Step 5: sew straps & turn

Step 6: pin, sew & decorate

I used red ribbons to create contrasting visual effect, but you can also opt to use buttons, crochet flowers or just leave it as is.

That's it, the little bubble dress is READY!!

I'm happy that my little girl can now wear a piece of what used to be mommy's maternity dress. :)

Happy crafting!

Copyrights © Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones, 2012 - present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any materials/photos within this website without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Pui Hua and Fun With Little Ones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.