Cultural Teachings - Chinese Knotting Design 中國結活學活用

 Here comes with my designs, enjoy!

Cultural Teachings - Chinese Knotting Pan Chang Knot 中國結活學活用

I am going to do the Cultural Teaching at Summer Bash YQR, and this workshop is 1 hour and I need to teach the participants how to do the Chinese Knotting. 

When we do the Chinese Knotting, we always work on the working board and sewing pins.  Working board can be form board or cork board.  This time, with 1 hour teaching, I use cardboard and tape instead.

I am going to teach: Pan Chang Knot / Mystic Knot / Endless Knot.

Pan Chang Knot is one of the most recognizable and symbolizes the cycle of life, meaning a smooth,long, happy life and is widely popular during the Chinese New Year.

中國結之盤長結

My design is simple because it is for teaching purpose:

Double Connection Knot

Pan Chang Knot

Double Connection Knot

Wooden bean

Double Connection Knot x2

Wooden bean in each cord

Figure-Eight Knot with multiple loops

Here comes the steps:

Yummy Yummy Kitchen - Oven Baked Caplin 烤焗多春魚

Oven Baked Caplin....... looks like difficult to make, but actually with the conventional oven, its EASY!

Let's go through the steps:

1) seasoning with salt and white pepper

2) place the caplin on the baking rack

3) 350F bake for 30 minutes

4) high-temp grill for 5 minutes, flip over, then bake for another 5 minutes

It's DONE! 

Papercraft Dollhouse

 There are website that has free printable 'papercraft dollhouse template'. I used their templates and made the following dollhouses.

Bathbomb Making

There is a time, everyone is talking about bath bomb making or you can see every beauty stores has bath bomb items selling, different colors, size, some even has scent in it. A lot of choosing from, and even more, you can purchase a kit and make it yourself, you can add your personal favourites in it while you are making it.

Last Xmas, I saw there was a whole set of DIY kit on sale and everything comes with the kit. After my kids and I finished making all, I keep the instruction and molds, thinking may be we will make it in the future.

STEAM Project Newton's Marble Cradle

Because of COVID-19, I am being temporary laid off and my kids are out of children for a certain period of time. We have to do some home schooling.  Besides thinking about academic learning, I still need to think about something else to teach them, including art, physical activities, science experiment, etc.

One of the science activities we did is Newton's Cradle, my kids called Marble Cradle. We were going to experience the scientific theory of force and transformation of energy.

Truth to tell, it's a bit difficult than I expected. 

10 minutes: DIY Eye Mask

Can't having a good sleep?

Too much noise? Lights are too bright?  Whatever the reasons are, try this 'eye mask', it may help you to get a good sleep and good dream. 

Even kids can make it as well, as a present in Mother's Day, Father's Day or anytime you want to handmade a present for you friends or your family.  Grab a piece of fabric, felt, elastic band as well as needle and thread (hand-sew).  That's all you need!

Xmas Gifts - Chinese Knots Decorative Ideas 中國結活學活用

Because of Covid-19 hit, we are suggested to stay home and reduce the gatherings. No more parties, I totally understand, however, Christmas is a big festival for everyone, I still want to do the Christmas presents even only drop off at the doorstep.  So I decided to handmade different gifts for my friends instead of shopping around.

One of my ideas is 'Chinese Knots', first because I have materials, second I remembered that my mom taught me to make the bracelet using the Chinese knotting skills when I was young, third with my unique design, that means it can't buy it from any store. That's also the reason I LIKE handmade.

Why the design is unique? Is it difficult for you to make your design?  The answer is: You can have your own creative design after you learn the basic knots.  The design is about the combination of different basic knots, so everyone can have their very own design.

Chinese Knots -It's originated from China and there is a long history in using knots for decoration on clothing or decorative items hanging down from the ceiling or on a wall.

It's also a symbol of Traditional Chinese Culture.  You can using the knotting decoration to make jewelry-necklaces, bracelets and earrings, to make keychains or any creative ideas that you can think of.  Chinese knotting can be as simple as 10 years old kid can make it or as complicated as you have to take few hours to finish the knotting.

My design is: instead of making keychains or bracelets, I make a bookmark with the Chinese Knotting because my friends love reading, hoping it can be useful for them.  Now, let's have a look.

That's really cool! Right?

What can we do with the Socks? ........ Snake it is!

There are so many socks left, some even not really wear once.  Kids are growing up, they said 'The socks are too childish, I am not going to wear it.' 

What should we do with all these socks?????

The idea coming out.........Sock Snake!!!!

Mini Sequin Swatch Cushion

All of sudden,  sequin swatch becomes so popular, you can find it on clothes, accessories like notebooks, backpack, pencil bags..... it's quite expensive as well.

I came across a piece of sequin swatch fabric while I was doing shopping. As it packed as craft material, it is relatively cheap. 

First idea I came up with is making a mini cushion, my kids can keep it in their bedside, or even take it with them when we are having road trip.

It didn't take long to finish it and it is super easy to make it too. 'Hand-Sew', that is what I did.

I still have few pieces left, as I mentioned early it is relatively cheap, I gave them to my kids and let them have their creativity to make something out. 

Can't wait to see what they make it out!

Fantastic!!! Genius!!! ~ Stuffed Animals Hammock Tulle

Stuff Animals never never enough for the kids, and as a three kids mom, I still buy the stuffed animals for them even I always tell myself  'don't buy it, they already have a lot'.

Looking at their treasury stuffed animals, I just don't want to throw it away, simply because too many, don't have space, or we can't keep all.....One day when they grow up, I believe they will make their decision to keep or throw away, but not today.

Today, they only want to keep ALL.

Today, SPACE is not a problem or concern for them.

As a mom, I really need to using my creativity to think, think, think ....

I came up with this idea - easy, simply and very cost-effective.

I call it "Stuffed Animals Hammock Tulle".

Covid-19: You can help making masks for healthcare workers

IF you are looking for DIY face masks, here it is.



During the current Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), there is shortage of PPE.

Talking about N95, surgical masks...let's ask and think: who need them the most? Please reserve all these PPE for healthcare workers.

Action Origami - Origami Magic Circle

A
Amazing and Challenging!


Click here to go to my youtube channel and look for 'Origami Magic Circle' video.

How Amazing! Once when you finished it, you will see how eight different colours keep rotating again and again.

Yummy Yummy Chicken - Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

For this series of Air Fryer Recipes, the steps are simple and straight-forward. And it all bases on my own experiences and my family's taste of food, that means how soft or how crispy the food they like.

1) Spray oil to the bottom of cooking basket to make sure the food does not stick.

2) Place the chicken thighs evenly but not overlap.


3) Preheat 350F for 5 minutes. Bake 350F for 25 minutes.

Yummy Yummy Kitchen - BBQ Crispy Duck / Oven Roasted Crispy Duck

Here comes the another recipe ....*glad that I remember to take photos*

BBQ Duck / Oven Roasted Duck


Ingredients and Seasoning:
Whole Duck

6 tbsp      Light Soy Sauce
2 tbsp      Shaoxing White Wine
(don't know how this wine looks like? please refer to my other recipe post: BBQ Pork)
2 pieces   Anise (break it into small pieces)
Pinch      Ground Cinnamon
Pinch      Rock Suger (melt)

8 pieces  Green Onion
8 slices   Ginger

Steps:
1)  Mix well all ingredients except green onion and ginger. Prepare to use later.

Lego Candy Dispenser

Nothing to do???

Feeling BORED????

Think about building "LEGO CANDY DISPENSER".

Once you start, you won't stop until you BUILD it!

After you built the first one, you will want to build the second, third..........You will certainly be proud of yourself  'YEAH!!! I built it.'

This is the first one me and my kids built together.  It took longer time than I expected to build it, however, we are all extremely exciting about it, and it turns out really works. The smarties are really slide down when we pull the lever.

Here is the video showing the steps in building it! Link here: https://youtu.be/z1vXovkfvhY

*Instructions are at the end of this post.
 

Have a closer look! We also make a money box next to it, so cool, right?

DIY - Origami Spinning Top

There is always something fun with a piece of paper!

This time is Origami Spinning Top.

I chose a few that I really like and made it out.







What you need to do?
1) Choose the paper pattern as your spinning top design.
2) Be patient!  It is not difficult to make it but it really requires a certain degree of patient in each steps.

DIY Projects - How to make a No-Sew Tutu Skirt / Dress

Making Tutu Skirt or Dress is easy and inexpensive, everyone can do it only if you are willing to spend few hours on it.

After learning the basic techniques that I showed in my other posts How to make a No-sew Tutu Dress, you can customize the color, the style or add any decorations on it, specially design for the child's fairy dress up party, Halloween costume, Christmas party, Birthday party.....

Using Microsoft PowerPoint to create your own Photo Watermark

Neither I am a professional photographer, nor a professional blogger, nor a professional writer.

I just want to share something I did, that I think may be helpful to others....like life sharing experience.  I really happy that my blog posts are being shared and benefit more people.

However, at the same time, I still want to protect my photos.  That's why I started adding a watermark in most of my photos.

Recently, I started thinking and trying to create my very own watermark that is going to use on all my photos, in this way, it feels like more professional and consistent in everything I work on.

The is my very own watermark!


Next question: Which Photo Editing Software should I use?  Do I need to purchase a license to use it?

Then I re-think about what the design I want on my very own watermark, the answer is 'simple design with my blog's name - AuRa Treasury', that's it!  And I don't want to invest in sophisticated photo editing software at this time until I am sure I am going to use a lot.

Then I started searching internet and there are lots of online tools and website that provide watermark function with small fees or even free of charge, here is how it works: upload photos and it provide you with different watermark design option such as font size, color, positioning, etc.

However, I prefer fully control on my photos and my watermark, I use Microsoft PowerPoint to create it.

Here is the video showing all the steps.

Here are the steps:

1) Open a new blank project in Microsoft PowerPoint.




2) Remove the existing templates.

Yummy Yummy Kitchen - Chinese Style BBQ Pork

Wake Up in the morning, suddenly have a thoughts:

1)  I should write a post about my cooking.
2)  My husband told me few weeks ago: May be you should write something about the food you cook. Your food always tastes so good.
3)  Actually, I already wrote the first recipe, it happened when my co-workers like the BBQ Pork I made, then I wrote the recipe and shared with them.

However, I haven't really think about put it in my blog at that time.  Don't know why, suddenly thinking about share it in here.

I need a name for these blog posts, came up so quick "Yummy Yummy Kitchen"

As I said, the first recipe I wrote is Chinese Style BBQ Pork....here it is!




Ingredients and Seasoning:
700g    Pork Shoulder
4 tbsp  Lee Kum Kee Barbecue Sauce (Char Siu Sauce)
1 tbsp  Light Soy Sauce
1 tbsp  Shaoxing White Wine (Kitchen White Wine)
optional - freshly grated ginger (it helps to soften the pork)

I always choose the Pork Shoulder that has little fat in it because it helps in baking. (explain later). 

I buy the Lee Kum Kee Barbecue Sauce at Superstore, or any Chinese Grocery Store.

Any Kitchen White Wine should work, it doesn't need to be Shaoxing, that just the brand I can buy in here.