Hand Sewn Project in Thailand Continued....

I'm still here in Bangkok, Thailand, visiting my 93-year old mother.  She is stable but very frail and weak.  She still remembers me but she can't really carry a conversation.  She seems weak and wants to sleep all the time.  Sometimes she would sleep through her meal time, we had to wake her up.  At first, I planned to stay 5 weeks and go home to my dear husband, but I extended my stay for another month.  I feel that I haven't had a quality time with her.  On top of going shopping with my sisters for various things, I'm keeping myself busy with projects and exercise activities.  I'm still working on EPP hexagon pieces, will stop when I run out of paper pieces.

I originally planned to use my hexagon pieces for my new iPad cover, but I changed my mind.  I wanted to do embroidery instead.  Before I came on this trip, I was looking through my book stacks for the red works embroidery, but didn't bring any with me.  When I was looking around in Pinterest, I saw so many nice red works.  This is what I came up with so far.

Enlarged flowers

 I used one of my smallest hexagon piece for the snail's body.

Enlarged snail.

I'm very happy with the result so far.  I'll take it home and finish sewing it into an iPad cover at home.
Will post finish project later.

This is Bang Sue train station at 6:30 am.  The parking lot is on the left side of this photo.

It's really hot in the past few day.  Now that Songkran is over, Thais just have to take bath more often during the day.  Near my mother's home, there is a train station where I go for a walk in its parking lot early in the morning.  It's a good exercise and makes me sweat a lot.  I got there at 6:30 am and there were quite a few people there already.  I love early morning hours, it's nice and cool.

Have a blessed day!!

Happy Thai New Year!!

4-13-15
Happy Thai New Year to everyone!

Today is Thai new year which is also called Songkran festival. It's the day of celebration and pay respect to elderly. Most Thais go back home to visit their elders. They would pour some fragrant water on an elder's hands and wish them happy, and healthy new year.  In return the elder will give them blessings.  Another way to celebrate is to throw water at each other. It makes perfect sense because April is usually the hottest month of the year! I remember how much fun I had throwing water at total strangers, and no one got mad.....  What a fond childhood memory!!

Here are some pictures.

Back to my hand sew project, I think I've caught a handsewn bug!  I was looking for some sashiko thread to add to my collections and needles, so my #5 sister took me to a store that caters to crafters and home sewer.   Look what I got from there for under $20. 

Hand sewn projects in Bangkok, Thailand

So far the  trip has been wonderful.  It's hot and humid but that is to be expected in this area of the world.  I get to be where I grew up and be with my mother so it's all good.

One of the reason I came during this time of the year is because I get to go to my father's burial site.  It's about 4-5 hours drive from Bangkok.  It's such a beautiful area.  My husband and two children came here once in April of 1997, our first trip as a family back to Thailand.  According to Chinese tradition, during this time of every year children will go back to their ancestors' burial site to make food offerings and to pay respect. We brought food and paper goods for the ceremony. We cleaned up the surrounding and decorated the area with color ribbons, flower petals and a small wreath. Some family will bring small cans of red and green paint to repaint the lettering on the tomb stone. My sister had ordered the ground keepers to do that for us. At the end we lid fireworks. They were so loud and gave such a nice touch at the end.  It's a day of remembering and offering gratitude. I'm grateful for my parents for working hard all their lives to provide for us.

My father's burial site, such a beautiful location

For this trip I decided to try my hands on English Paper Piecing.  I chose the hexagon shape to start.  First I worked on 1 1/4" size, then moved to 3/4" size and now I'm working with 1/2" pieces.  To my surprise it's as addictive as other quilters said it would be.  I must have made close to 100 pieces so far.  I knew I wanted to make them in black and white color theme, but I have no idea what I'm going to use them for at this point.  I may use some for applique for my new iPad bag.  I'll write more about that.

Have a great week everyone!