Intersection of Maths & Crafts!

Finally, finally and finally........

Someone did finally acknowledged that craft is more than an unintelligent and a boring pastime! Just finish reading an article from the 'Scienceline' (NYU) titled 'New Math Tricks: Knitting & Crochet'. Based on the research done, they found out an intersection between crafts and maths. The craft mention particularly is knitting & crocheting. It is concluded that knitting & crocheting could provide a better insight into Geometry.

"Crochet, knitting and other crafts allow people to visualize, recontextualize and develop new problems and answers," said Carolyn Yackel, a mathematician at Mercer University in Georgia. Quoted from the article at http://www.livescience.com/technology/080606-math-knit.html

According to the article, researcher now are using crochet & knitting pattern to solve mathematical problems. Sounds absurd? Not really. I did mention in my first posting that designing and making crochet item is actually more to a game of maths. Increasing and decreasing of stitches to achieve the wanted results and to control the shape that you would like to make. It is a calculation that needed to be done before making any design. Even at the very beginning, calculation done will determine the last row of your pattern.

To better demonstrate the link between maths & craft, researcher had used crochet to reproduce the hyperbolic design that are not easily demonstrated using paper or plastic. By using crochet formula, the hyperbolic design are easily replicated and followed. They could easily determine the moving point at the item bend and stretch. Not bad of crochet modelling huh?

Kudos to all researcher and people that are really studying into the possibility of learning maths through craft and using craft to solve maths problem. Hopefully one day that people would really acknowledge that craft is helpful into the development of maths!

So the next time when you see someone knitting or crocheting near you, bear in mind that this person is actually doing nothing but maths!

Happy Crafting!

HOW TO make a recycle flower pot?

I did mention that i am a great fan of recycling. Not only that we could reduce the waste and protect the environment, we could also make pretty things from recyclable items. Most of the items lying around in the house especially in the kitchen is the perfect place to source for unused item for craft.

Due to my recent love for gardening, i was planning to put some plant in my office. Since i am not keen into buying one, so i was looking for a better way to reuse and reduce items. There are quite a lot of empty soft drinks container lying around, so i decided to do something out of it. Inspired by the idea of planting inside a drinking glass, so i have made these!!

As per photo shown, i do not use soil for planting as it require more care. So i have chosen to use 'Crystal Soil' to replace the conventional soil. It is popularly used as a substitution of soil for growing all indoor plants. (Mind you though, not all plants are suitable to be planted in the crystal soil - general rule: Plants that need lots of water may suitable for this). This soil can last up to two months without regular watering and also can be used for decoration and flower arrangement. It is made from polymer namely Polyacrylamide. Comes in tiny round or tiny square form. Soaking the crystal soil may takes up to 8 - 10 hours at the water ratio of 1: 180 - 1:200. However, water must not be too much as the color of the crystal soil may not turn out in the desired colors.
This is my own version of wine glass look-alike. Its really easy to make. Need only basic items and a few minutes to make this!

Okay, lets get started. To make the thing, you will need an empty soft drink bottle (any size will do). Tips: Get those with unique bottle shape. Besides that, you will also need super glue (those that grab in 3 sec), sharp blade and a pair of scissors.

Step 1: Using the super glue, stick the cap back to the opening. This is to prevent the water from leaking out.
Step 2: Decide where you prefer to cut as the body of your pot. Any length will do, up to individual preferences. Using the blade cut higher a bit from the preferred length. This is due to the difficulty to control the blade and the thickness of the bottle. Then, trimmed the excess length using the scissors as the scissors provide better control and accuracy. Do not throw away the remaining of the bottle.

Step 3: Using the remaining of the bottle, cut out the base of the bottle. This will be used as the 'stand' for our pot. Using the same method of cutting in Step 2, carefully cut out the base and make sure that the cutting is even on all sides. If not the pot will not be stable enough.

Last step: Paste the base and the cup together as shown above using the super glue. Wait a few minutes before you can move it. VOILA! Your recycle flower pot is done!

Now you can put any plants you like and display it around!

More craft & tips to come!

Happy Crafting!

Cute Muffin Crochet!

I really do like muffin, especially those freshly baked. Well, i am not talented at all in making real edible muffin. So i just compensated that by crocheting those that look alike but not for consumption. My friend always say that its better to make those that can be eaten, compare to those only for viewing! ;)

I did some research before i started designing the muffin, only to realise that there millions of delicious looking muffins out there! There are some nicely decorated and using most unique ingredients in making it. How i wish i could taste all the muffins!


So i have decided to make 4 different tasty muffins, which is Banana Muffin, Apple Muffin, Fruity Muffin and Oreo Muffin. All looks good enough to be eaten!


Each muffin is unique in terms of the pattern of the muffin itself, not including the toppings. For Banana Muffin, there are slices of round and long cut banana as the toppings. While for fruity muffin, i have specially chosen a half strawberry, a cherry and slices of mango and peach as the toppings. Not forgetting some hazelnuts as decorations. For Apple Muffin, three slices of cut red apples is just perfect for the cute muffin. Lastly is my favorite muffin of all, the Oreo Chocolate Muffin. The toppings off course including quarter slices of Oreo biscuits and sided with some slices of chocolates. Great combination for a muffin!


So the tips of the day:

When designing an item, the exact size must be determined in relation to other items. The size of the item must match the ratio of other items. For example: the size for the muffin must be set before making the toppings as it cannot be bigger than the muffin. Everything must be in the right ratio. Surely you would not like it if the toppings are bigger than your muffin!


The keyword to designing is to EXPERIMENT! Always let your imagination run wild and always have the courage to try!

Hope that you will like my cute muffin!
All patterns available in Ebay.com and soon in skymagenta.etsy.com.

Happy Crocheting!

My First Crochet Design! –Fruit Cake Recipe

I always wanted to design my own crochet pattern, so I could have full control of the size, color and how it will look exactly what I wanted. People may say I am too fussy, but that is what designing is all about. It about create something that is perfect in my context of view.

For the first time, I wanted something different and in the same time not that complicated. Trying my skills for designing for the first time really did give me some challenging moments. Jotting down the instructions during the crocheting process is not what I usually will do. So it takes a moment or two to get used to it.

Inspired by the bakery shop next to my workplace, I have decided to design a fruit cake. Cakes always give me the impression of memorable occasion and could really cheer up anyone. My personal favorite would definitely be Fruit Cake. The combination of freshly cut and colorful fruits really captivates me.

So Tips NO.1: Know your basic stitch very very well.

To those interested in designing your own pattern, understanding of the basic crochet stitch is an essential. Different stitch will produce different effect and height. So before designing anything, must decide the correct stitch to be used to achieve the desired results. Not forgetting to ensure the right gauge & tension used!

Designing for 3D or Sculptural crochet is different from others as it needs the designer to think in 3D form rather than just in flat surface. Imagination is important!

For my fruit cake, I have chosen to make in half moon rather than the conventional round. This shape and the light yellow base could make the toppings of the fruit to stand out. For the toppings, I have selected some of my favorite which consists of mango, peach, cherry, apple and strawberry!

Tips NO. 2: Ensure balance of color.

General rule of color is to balance between dark and light colors. And to decide which features that you would like it to stand out. Always remember that to pair dark background with light colored details and vice versa. However, there is always an exception. Just experiment!

Hope that others will like my pattern!

The pattern is available in Ebay.com and soon in Etsy.com.

A taste of French living

Sitting under a shady umbrella with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and surrounded by the smell of newly baked bread by the road side would be the most enjoyable moment one could imagine. No, I did not go to France for this purpose. Neither did I leave the country for this. Instead I went to a French themed resort in the hills of Bukit Tinggi, Pahang Darul Makmur. Owned by the Berjaya Group, it is the first resort built for this particular theme. Located at 3000 ft above sea level would mean that a lot of uphill driving. Since this is my first time visit, expectation couldn’t be less.

From my hometown, it takes about 2 hours of travelling via car to get there, oh.., that excludes the ‘minor’ traffic congestion along the way. Along the KL – Karak Highway, we took the Exit 805 just after the Genting Highland exit. After some 30 km over going up the hill, we finally reach the resort – Colmar Tropicale!

It is kind of refreshing to see different architecture in Malaysia. The resort consists of two rows of French inspired buildings with matching interior decorations. Visitors will be welcomed by the huge draw bridge at the entrance which leads the street inside the resort.

Just beside the entrance, we checked-in to our pre-booked one bedroom suite, which leads us to Block ‘Fuschia’. Situated at the end and facing the street, that should provide a nice view of the buildings. Our room is bigger than I expected, with dining and living hall. But I couldn’t ignore the sign of aging furniture especially the couch!

With the complimentary pass in hand (part of the room package), we headed to the other place of attraction nearby. One of the places is the Japanese Village. Since the place is not within walking distance, shuttle bus was provided for visitors. Since its Sunday and lots of visitors, seems like it is going to take some time before we could able to board the shuttle bus. Hated to wait anymore, we decided to drive there. Trailing the shuttle bus, we reach the Japanese village. Since they do not allow any vehicle near the place, we could only walk up the hill with the steepness of 20% ! The place definitely worth the walk, situated inside a tropical forest, the place is refreshingly interesting. With the man- made Japanese style pond & rivers, pictures taken here will surely be nice. One could see a Japanese style hut beside a pond fill with Japanese Koi. This hut also offers Kimono rental and tea ceremony, with a fee off course! For those who really desire to experience the Japanese style of living might want to consider staying in Tatami Suite and to enjoy the Tatami Spa as well.

Next stop, we went to the Botanical Garden, situated just beside the Japanese village. It offers a wide range of exotic flowers and plants as well as the nice view of greenery. One of the true attractions there would certainly be the Ryu Zan Tei restaurant situated inside the garden. Imagine having dinner accompanied by thousand of flowers and plants. Something one could not easily forget.

Before going back to the resort, we stopped by the Rabbit Farm. As the name suggest, lots of bunnies there. All tame and friendly enough to play around with the visitors especially children. But not much to be seen at the place.

After wasting much energy of walking up hills, it is time to fill our stomach. The resorts offer a few French cuisines specializing in grilled/roasted meat, pizzas and pastries. Besides that, visitors may also choose Thai cuisine. Just to remind you though, the restaurants close REALLY early. Being as early as 8 pm on weekdays or 9 pm on weekend / public holiday. For those who plan to have supper late at night, it is advised to bring your own food or buy take away for later consumption. (We bought a Pollo pizza for that purpose!)

On the day time, the place do offers some activities for the visitors. There are a few shops selling souvenirs, custom made souvenir and hand wax sculptures. One of the shops that really caught my eyes is the plaster figurine painting shop. The shop offers lots of varieties ranging from action figure to scenery for painting. Being a DIY person, I can’t resist but ending up buying 3! Being here means definitely has to buy something as a token of remembrance. So I choose a plat with the scenery of this resort and not yet to paint it! (Caution: it is not as easy as it looks, especially in blending the color tone part!).

At the centre of the resort, situated the main stage where visitors are treated with performance of dancer and other activities. The performance held twice a day, noon and night on particular day only. Other than that, the place does not offer much entertainment. For visitors that wanted to get away from hustle bustle of the city, this is certainly the place to be. It is peaceful and scenic enough for relaxation and to relieve stress.

As a part of our room package, we were treated for a breakfast ala French the next morning in La Blason. The buffet breakfast offers a variety of sausages, French pastries and some local food. All you can eat!

After that we headed home with memories of Colmar Tropicale! And lots of photos too!

Hope to be back here soon!

Crochet, Craft & Me.

My greatest passion of all is to be able to indulge in the process of art & craft. I couldn't really recall when it started or how it started. Maybe it happen before i really could save the memories in my brain. I only could faintly remember that i used to bring some yarn to kinder garden to make Macramé! (By the way, i am only 6 at that time!)

Being a crafter, i have an eye for details & appreciates intricate details of art work and handicraft. Making an item with intricate details is not easy, lots of time and effort being put in it. Not including the meticulous process. Most crafter would agree to say that the greatest satisfaction is to complete the item to perfection and others to appreciate your creation. Things that money couldn't buy, i would dare to say that.

Since young, most of my school holidays was devoted to my own craft 'project'. It might be something silly to me now. But at that time, imagination did run wild and anything feels possible. Teaming up with my cousin sister, we did all kind of craft project! Something that i wish i have the time to do it now, having a full time job means i have less time for it. So whatever time i have now, will be devoted to my beloved hobby.

Most crafter could not resist to see material in abundance, me included. The moment i saw some usable items or material, my mind would immediately think of what i can make with the material. This would lead to collecting some stuff that i think usable, maybe in near future. So now you know where the clutter in my room came from! ;).

I am also a great fan of recycling, many great items could be made from recycled items. It become a rubbish only when you do not have the creativity to turn it into something useful. My latest creation was turning the unused mineral bottle into flower pots. Yes, i do like plants too!

Among many crafts, my one and forever remain my favorite would be Crochet. After spending 20 years crocheting (i am not that old, i just started young only!), it still amazes me with the transformation & varieties it could offer. Imagine with a hook & yarn, you could make lots of wonderful thing. Sadly, the stereotyping still exist among most people that, crochet is for old people that have nothing better to do! Most crocheter did appreciates the legacy of vintage pattern, but is does not mean its for old lady only.

I am moving away from making vintage pattern, because i believe that younger generation need something creative and new to attract them to pick up the art of crochet. So now i started to design my own crochet pattern, specializing in Sculptural Crochet. Designing a crochet pattern is not as easy as you think. Its more to a game of plus & minuses and playing around with the stitches to create the desired shape & pattern. It takes years of practice & understanding the concept of Crochet before you could really design something. Considerations must be made for details such as size, shape and level of likeliness of the real item. There is no fast rules on this, but always experiment with different yarn, color and hook to achieve different results. Experience would only be gained from trial and error.

I have started selling my design on Ebay.com and soon in Etsy.com. This blog would be my portal for all my design and craft. Will be giving out free instructions on craft and crochet soon.

Happy crafting!

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