Saturday, February 5, 2011

Happy New Year!



It's Day 3 of the Chinese New Year! We spent Days 1 and 2 trying to do Chinese things. I say "trying" because it's weird celebrating Chinese New Year without family here, or mum's cooking, not to mention the fact that I'm quite hopelessly unChinese in practice. The girls and I visited Emily's and Jenna's classrooms and did a little Chinese presentation on CNY. We got all dressed up in our fancy Chinese outfits - the sorts that hang in our closets the other 364 days of the year- and handed out clementines and red packets containing chocolate coins to the kids. In order to get all dressed up, I had to first go rummage in my Ethnic Outfits Closet* for something I could still wear post-baby. 

Found this Chinese blouse I sewed -what, almost 20 years ago. 


See - princess seams! Told you I put them in everything. I think it is funny that even back then I was print-averse. This blouse was a sample I made for the seamstress who later outfitted our high school choir for a vocal competition. Not quite as flattering as the classic mandarin-collar style but it was going to be mass-produced, so we wanted to be kind to the poor lady who had to sew them (and she had small children at home with her, besides!). Alas, I cannot show you a picture of me actually wearing it now without being immodest- I can no longer button it up. But still wanted to share it because:
  • it's Chinese New Year and I needed a Chinese-looking thing to photograph
  • this is probably the only garment about which I can say I made everything from scratch, including the buttons (although no, I didn't farm the silkworms from which to harvest the silk to spin into the fabric).
  • it's always funny to see stuff I made years ago- he he he!
  • it's always funny to see how thin-as-a-rake I was years ago
  • it reminded me that I must do a tutorial sometime on making those frog buttons. Would anyone be interested? Or is this way too ethnic?



I didn't make those last four, incidentally - I bought them in Singapore, as samples for the tutorial-that-hasn't-happened-yet. They're easier than they look, except first I need to google "Turk's Head Knot" to refresh my memory on the knot technique. And maybe I also need to sew myself some new Chinese outfits that actually do fit, so those buttons actually have somewhere to go.

Why yes, I do have an entire closet of ethnic outfits - what else can I play dress-up with? It contains sarees, aodais, qipaos, kurtas, baju kurongs, sarong kebayas but not a kimono or hanbok (yet). I used to wear them to school when I was a teacher. Ridiculously flamboyant, but hey, I was a different person before motherhood tamed me. Plus, it was all in the name of cultural education. 

Happy new year, everyone! Eat lots of food. And you folks back in Singapore, eat one million teeny fried shrimp rolls for me.


18 comments:

  1. You must have been an awesome teacher! I'd love to learn how to make those buttons - my first thought looking at that outfit was actually
    "those buttons are really cool!"

    I LOVE princess seams! I put them in my wedding dress (and both prom dresses, plus nearly everything else I've ever made for myself - for Emma, too...) Augh, just realized I have NEVER made ANYTHING for Lily (to wear)! Poor abandoned third child!

    And oh, the rakishly-thin pre-child persona... I have vague memories of that version of myself! ;)

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  2. I, for one, would *love* to see a tutorial on the frog buttons! I've always loved them, but I had no idea they were something one could actually create at home. My in-laws will be picking up some silks for me on their next trip home to Hong Kong, so it would be great to be able to make some frogs to go with some clothes for my kids.

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  3. Mmmmmm, shrimp rolls! The white frog buttons would look so cool on a new white shirt for the summer. New year or not, I'm always looking forward to the warm weather again. A tutorial would be great. I didn't know they were easy, they don't look it. And weren't we all thinner, once.

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  4. Wow, can you actually teach us how to make them? Wonderful! Please?

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  5. A tutorial would be great! I'd be very interested! Thanks!

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  6. I never comment on blogs (hence me being anonymous- I don't have one of the listed accounts!) but I would love to know how to make frog buttons. I would also love to see the other ethnic garments in your wardrobe. Maybe you could share an outfit once a week?
    I always love checking out your blog and you are so generous with the tutorials you share with us.
    Happy New Year.
    Ange

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  7. Am LOVING those buttons. A tutorial would be awesome. They look so cute!

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  8. Yes, i would absolutely love to learn how to make those buttons! Your tutorials are always easy to follow, and you inspire me everytime i read your blog. Happy New Year from Sweden! Linda - lerolai

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  9. i just love that you have an ethnic closet!

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  10. A frog-button-tutorial would be very welcome, I've recently bought some buttons like them but it would be so much nicer to be able to actually make them :-) (Don't worry about them - or anything - being too ethnic. Beauty is beauty!)

    Thank you,

    Sabine

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  11. Yes, Yes! I would love a tutorial on how to make them! My old neighbour back in Singapore - I used to live in Bedok - made them and sold them in Chinatown. They were so gorgeous but I was always to scared to ask her to show me how to make them. So, a tutorial wold be great, thanks!

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  12. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to learn how to make those fabulous buttons! I'm Canadian and NOTHING is too ethnic for me... :) Lesley

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  13. I'd love to see the tutorial for those buttons. I am Chinese and I don't even celebrate the holiday. What a shame! My excuse for the year is: I have a 17 months old to keep me busy! Well, I promised myself to do something next year.

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  14. I, too, want to know how to make frog closures. My mom always put them on her fancy, oriental styled, garments. I would also like to see some of your other ethnic styled garments.

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  15. I would love to see a frog closure tutorial. I have accumulated quite a stash in my travels as well I found they have often fallen off my girls' CNY outfits and require replacement.
    Happy New Year!
    {and I agree with everyone above!}

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  16. Happy CNY to you too! The extent of our celebration was going to our favorite place for dimsum brunch. We are Filipino not Chinese but we each have our favorites. We saw many little boys and girls in their (sometimes fake fur-lined) Chinese garb that Sunday.
    I love that you have an ethnic clothes closet -- as a teacher, as someone who sews and as someone who hoards handmade. I have not actually made any ethnic clothes for myself or my kids, but I can totally see that happening in the future... hello, upright butterfly sleeves! The traditional formal garb for men is the Barong Tagalog and my son has one from when he was a ringbearer... he's gotten a lot of use out of that, and it is a sight to see a whole party of them.
    Frog closure tute echo here, I have a few silks/brocades that cry out to be festooned with them.... pleeease?

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  17. You are simply amazing! I love to see what you are making. Your mind must never stop. Your blog is my favorite to follow. And yes! Teach us how to make those beautiful frog closures!

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  18. I hope you and your family had a great New Years Celebration.

    Yes, yes, yes! We would love your tutorial on how to do those lovely closures, and ethnic is a very great thing! Even more so, authentic techniques! Bring it on!

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