It's Zara again!

Hello dear cyber readers, I'm sick today :-( Thats why i finally decided to take a break from my hectic packing and blog. This one is so so long overdue but it really is one of my most adorable collections to-date. These were commissioned again for my niece Zara by her lovely mom for the past Eid. A bit unorthodox for Eid, but the mommy just fell in love with the cute Japanese pattern books, who wouldn't ?!

So here they are , ta-ra !

Set 1

Pattern from this look, she loved the simple Sunday School look, so i tried to keep the choice of material from being too garish.

Set 2,

I just love the itsy bitsy shorts, cuteness personified. I couldn't resist making the 2nd one from pink, Zara is just so cute! These from this original photo:

These two patterns are taken from this book. Its definitely worth it, the patterns are modern, fresh and so very boutique. Does take some fiddling to do but the results are so gorgeous!

And here, the last, a simple peasant long sleeve tunic

Met Zara's mommy ( Intan) recently and she wants more! Well, not a problem except that postage will later cost a bomb :-)

The movers are supposed to be here in the next week and there's still tons that I need to sort out. The kids toys are giving me a headache, I'm telling them, thats it, no more toys from now on. Its amazing how much trash 3 little tykes can horde in their bedrooms! At least now, Adam has moved away from toys and into collecting books and he has become such an organised little person, its scary! Have a feeling it skipped a generation and he's getting it from my mom's side of the family :-)

Thats it dear readers, the kids are hollering for their dinner , sigh, a mom's work is never done.

Honeymoon in Netherlands :-)

Honeymoon ? Ummm yes, coincidental let me assure you :-) Hubby had a meeting and some work in Rotterdam and for the first time ever, asked lil old me to come along! Yeahhhh , of course I couldn't say NO, so I said YES BABE! 

Its been 7 years since I was last in Europe and I think 15 since I visited Netherlands, so was really excited. It was a 12 hr flight from KL, took KLM. Not too bad, KLM seats are wider and the crew was very friendly. They also happen to be cheaper than our national airline by RM1.4k :-) ! I was greeted at Schipol International Airport by a Fog! Not so great when you're moving from 32'C to 10'C overnight! That day cleared however to a bright but still nippy day. Here's the view of Rotterdam from my hotel window. 

Netherlands is essentially flat with the west coast going below 8m below sea level, yup a scary thought! So the rule is, if there's a flood, head west or up north to Switzerland! Rotterdam itself is a modern city as most of it was destroyed during WW2. The surrounding countryside however was so beautiful, green pastures with sheeps and cows grazing and lovely little houses.

We visited the Binnenrotte Farmers market that Saturday, and let me tell you, it was a feast for the eyes. Gorgeous fruits and vege's, fresh fish, cheeses by the rounds and the flowers were heavenly. I'll let the pictures do the talking :)

And here's something for you crafters! 

Found a row of stalls selling fabrics from cotton to satin to fleece and even upholstory fabrics and stalls selling notions and trims too. I was hopping up and down, its like being in crafters haven. Couldn't resist getting a few things hehe, but they're not for me :-)

 On Sunday took a 1hr train ride to Amsterdam. Beautiful gothic city with its criss cross of canals and tall tall houses that looked liked doll houses.

Visited the Red Light District, how could I not ! But photo taking is forbidden there, so sorry, no photos but did take some of the surrounding streets , as my Mr J terms it, 'the support services'!

One thing, if you see a 'coffee shop' , this is not your average coffee shop, they'll serve you coffee but laced with marijuana! But laws are strict in that you can only consume it inside the premises only and be of age. If you want normal coffee with a doughnut, go to a 'cafe' :-)

 We stopped at a 'cafe' and had hot chocolate. The best i've had, a block of choc on a stick that you plunged in steaming fresh milk till melted and add a dollop of cream, aaaahhh heaven.

Netherlands is easy to get around as its a worm hole of tram, metro and train lines. The Dutch are people who either walk or cycle, which I think is an excellent way of getting around plus with their excellent public transport, who needs a car ?!

Well, thats it for this post, I'm still recovering from the long 12 hr journey home, contracted food poisioning at Schipol Airport, so you can imagine the horror of the following 12 hours. I kept eyeing the door and calculating my odds of survival if I jumped ship !

But fear not, there will be more stories of Netherlands and its neighbours in the months to come as I will be moving there end of November. Yup, a bit sad of leaving home but excited of new experiences, packing will be a nightmare though. So till next time , au revoir ( ummm thats french !) The Dutch says Tot Ziens!