linkwithin

I thought I moved blog, but then I managed to add linkwithin in this blog meanwhile I couldn`t do it to my other blog,.... bcoz of different platform. what to do?!

2500km from Bologna to Tenerife

Can you see the shadow of La Gomera behind me?

Our second trip to Tenerife. This time we got here by car from Bologna straight to Cadiz Spain... and from there took the boat for 48hours on board. I can't say I like to be on the boat for more that 2 hours but we've done with that anyway.

The trip started in Bologna Italy. We drove along Genova-Ventimiglia-Nice-Cannes(France)-Barcelona... along the way to the south of Spain. We studied google map first before we departed. We took motorway (payment) because we couldn't afford to get lost. Franckly we spent 3 nights on the road. I don't want to get to the details for this part. It was wonderful though... I've never seen the night- sky full of stars like I've seen in the south of Spain. The temperature was quite chilly in the night but the sky was clear ..you noticed the sky above you crowded with stars!. I must admitt.. south of Spain is wonderful. Along the road I saw the palm trees.. houses and small building with Arabic influenced and some road signs written in Arabic. I regreted I didn't take any picture when we were on the road. I was exhausted I guess. When we arrived in Cadiz the following morning.. It was just on time. We couldn't find the sea port at first. We went around this Cadiz town which is actually pretty nice place. I stayed in the car though. Couldn't be bothered to do the sight seeing since I just wanted to arrive at the port. After two times drove around the town.. we decided to ask someone. Why not asked someone before you get lost? Lesson learned!. Apparantely bcoz of the port is in the middle of the city and instead of paying attention to the signs..I'd rather look for open coffee shop. In the end we arrived at the port.. did the check in.. realized we arrive two hours early.. so we went into the city center. Bought a bottle of local wine (delicious!)... some snacks and return to the port. We departed in the afternoon after all cars and caravans parked safely inside the boat.

Me with a new hairsyle (shorter and messy ;p)

Some things I noted are : The Italian motorway was expensive (obviously not for some people).. The fuel/Benzina was nearly 2 euros/litre - we all know that. The French motorway was expensive and real coffee was hard to obtained (unless if you don't mind with instant coffee from the machine vendor for 2 euros). The Spanish motorway was ok (cost and coffee was good).

On board they served you with 3 times meals (bfast/lunch/dinner) and they were very much acceptable. My husband complained though.. he's Italian after all ;p. Before arrive in Tenerife.. the boat stoped by in Lanzarote and Las Palmas (correct me if I'm wrong)... then Tenerife was last. We arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife... It's the main city. We didn't bother to stop by or look around but drove straight to Las Americas (where the tourist are). It was about 96km. The whole island is not that big.. you can walk it (if you out of your mind!).

We had our rental appartement in Playa Americas for a few days. After that here I am (present tense) still looking for a suitable place to sleep and to sew.

Don't hesitate to poke me if you happen to visit Tenerife ;p

Istri Teladan website

These last few weeks, I've been busy imagining things, about my dresses, the need to do some packing, the departure, and about my new website, which I created for me and my girlfriends, so that we can keep sharing files and keep inspiring each others. Here's the website www.istriteladan.com Now we have a FREE GIVEAWAY as a gift to everyone who leave a comment there. While the picture above is taken in Salaborsa Library in Bologna Center. I admitt I like Library for some reasons, apart from they have many English books, which I can read or borrow. There in Salaborsa you can find a cosy bar to relax and have a sip of coffee, they have free wifi connections sometimes (most of the time no signal), basically it is an easy meeting point if you happen to be in Bologna Center. It was early march, the weather was warm sometimes chilly, I had the courage to only wear jeans jacket. I wore my favourite trekking boots, very comfortable to walk. I had batik green vest underneath, and my hair was just washed. My tote bag is newly made, I have the story HERE Now I am really going to pack my stuff because we already have the boat booked... Gosh!

Random Event in 2011

I must have been bored these days. As you know... I don't have my sewing machines handy. When I wake up in the morning... I go straight on line to check my facebook and stay there until my back hurt bcoz I'm sitting on the stool. Like they say... I like fb bcoz all my friends are there. I can't wait to leave the country by the end of this November. Bcoz right now I'm dying to want to sew. I have already some project in my head. Alright then... stop complaining! I complain a lot since I live in Italy...LOL.

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Second Picture is taken around September 2011.

We.. Indonesian gathered for Idul Fitri... where everyone's wore "kebaya".

I travelled 2.5 hours in the car to reach the party where it was held in Montebelluno - Treviso.

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3rd picture is taken on early October 2011.

It was my girlfriend wedding day which held in Marzabotto.

I didn't sew her wedd-dress... (I wish I had)... but I sew my own dress on the far left.

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4th picture is taken in somehere around San Dona di Piave.. (I think?!)

I forgot when... but still in 2011.

The dress I wore was inspired by Japanese kimono which I like so much.

Clearance the house

Today, from morning..(not that morning actually),, alright.. from it was still daylight until dark, me and my husband we tide up some stuff in the house. This won't be the last I think... It wasn't the first though. This means we organize our stuff, clothes... everything basically. Which are stay and which aren't. I found many old stuff, bring back old memory.... but I don't miss them until I found them again. But I don't care. We are leaving..right!? For now we have to leave everything behind in my parents in law house. Because the house we are live in at the moment is for sale. We have to empty the house so that it's easy for people to view it.

I already save all my sewing stuff hidden somewhere. I piled up my fabrics inside the wardrobe. I hide one of my sewing machine in the corner. The serger and the others two will be inside the wardrobe. Notice that I have 4 machines.. (at the moment ;p).. I want some more though.. ;)

One day I'll pick them up. I don't know how... ** imagine if we decide to live in Canary then how am I going to pick them up?**

My husband said, he'll buy me another machine if I have an urge to sew at any cost in case...LOL... let's see ya.. we don't know what tomorrow's hold.

Good night everyone.....**hoammmm

The Souvenirs

Yesterday.. my girlfriend had a party but I couldn't come. The party was full of fun and game.. so I would like to participate anyhow. I thought I might aswell make some souvenirs to give away to whoever come. I made hair scrunchies again bcoz I have many left over pieces around the house. I include my business card on them for promotion.

June 30 2011

It was my b'day, on the 30th of june. And we went out for dine, took this picture... me in apple green dress. I made this dress already a while ago. Didn't get a chance to wear it until that day. The material is silky cotton, Indonesian batik printed which I bought in London. The design is tube dress, like it alot.. elegant yet relaxing.

Happy Easter 2011

Still in Bologna... happy easter everyone ^_^

Crack up eggs after the "egg battle"

eggs chocolate!

Best mate of mine

I inherited this beauty from my husband grandfather. He used to make man suit with this machine. Basically that time he made a living with this. It is kind of vintage but works like an industrial machine. My favorite!

My serger machine. My favorite number two.

First sewing machine I bought. Very usefull bcoz its "arm free".

Christmas 2010 Preparation

Christmas 2010 is coming. And like every other year.. I always struggling what to give to people close to me. Something (if possible) that is not too common such handmade stuff. So my husband said to me to try to make a few bags as a gift. There then I started again.. from one become two and so on.. oh well then I may aswell make more and more bags for www.ritney.etsy.shop

So that people..special person like you can also have a special handmade bag from Ritney's.

Pile of fabric

pieces after cutting

The Fallen Idol

Yesterday I was feeling a bit low bcoz my little Idol didn't win the competition. This girl I'm going to talking about..she's only13 years old but she's able to sing many difficult opera song. Basically she's one of the "Indonesian talent" participant. It is a talent show.

You can judge the quality of her voice yourself by watching this video.

Her name is Putri Ayu and she's one of "Indonesian tough cookie" ;)

Have a great day everyone.

Batik Indonesian Scarf

Last sunday I went to Indonesian party here in Bologna. It was cold and rainy but very warm inside the house (obviously bcoz of the heater) but also ..warm feeling bcoz you meet with your friends..laughed...chat up.. etc.

Everyone bring their own specialities of various kind of food. Most of the time we eat Indonesian food. Then we chat in Indonesian language.. happy time basically. Apart from the cake I brought.. I also brought my collection of Batik scarf. The one I made from 2 meters of fabric. I cut it lengthwise.. finished all edges with rolled hem. They are soft and warm against the wind though. I tried the scarf already for London windy weather.. and it does keep my neck protected.

you can find other colour of batik scarf on www.ritney.etsy.com

that's me on the far left wearing the batik scarf. The ladies are my friends.

this is my beautiful Indonesian friend with blue batik scarf as a bandana.

you can wear it on your waist aswell as a belt.

Chestnuts

Two weeks ago we went to a little town called Piamaggio. It's located around the mountain close to Firenze..(not that close actually). It was already month of October.. so sometimes can be windy and chilly. Anyway..we went there to visit "gli zii" which are aunty and uncle from my husband side. But to make the visit doesn't sound like an obligation..so we said we're going for the chestnuts picking.

It was my first time doing that kind of activity. Nor that I crazy about it. Maybe I won't go next year. I'm not a mountain "Heidi" kind of girl. I caught flu after that though.

But..but..but.... apart from that flu.. I was actually enjoyed it.

We went by car first ..park our car on the side of the forest which full of Chestnuts trees and if you walk more deeper you may lucky enough to find mushrooms. We met few peoples went there for mushrooms picking. Need some knowledges though about mushrooms if you want to pick them. Otherwise you end up poisoned in the hospital ;D

We walked not that far from the car parked. Under some tree..mu husband said.."hey..there are alots of them here".

"where"? I said..bcoz I didn't see any chestnuts on the ground.

Then my husband show me with his feet how to open chestnuts from it shell. The shell is quite sharp full of thorn.. I hurt myself many times.. thats why some people use gloves. To cook them ..we prefer roasted. But some people likes to boil them and put some spices..anyhow..I don't know.

oh.. before you roast them.. you may want to slice the skin so they won't explode.

Thats all I can say about the delicacy of Chestnuts.

Free Fly

A week ago I fell from 3meter high to the floor. Apparantly I hit the floor with my bump first then my back and back of my head. When I realize what happened.. I already lay down on the floor with dislodge arm. My husband rushed to take me to emergency. I was there in the hospital for like 6 hours. It was monday and busy day. I couldn't stay but I need to stayed!. So finally they X-ray me.. whole body but not my arm. Which healed by miracle! ^.^ I went home... feeling boneless. I stayed silent for a few days but managed to pull myself back together. Started sewing and feel happier. The day after..my husband replace the board on our brand new floor bcoz it's spoiled. Oh well.. sh**t happen sometimes..

This pic taken the day before the accident. I was just enjoying the new floor...

Welcome to a new comer

I just arrived back in Bologna and the comune there invite me to a welcome party for a new citizen. So there I was show off with Italian flag ^.^ The dress made by myself. I supposed to put on my pump shoes instead.. but I lost 'em somewhere around the house. I spoiled my entire look ;(

Every kitten

Do you recognise the cute face on the picture? It's kitten. The reason I stop my bike when I went back from the dentist. I find it impossible to walk by one without say hi...huhuhuhuhu.......... Currently I don't have one. We live in a flat. It is unfair for kitten to live in a cubical place. Unfair for human aswell..

Subscribe to La Mia Boutique

It's a b'day gift from my mom in law. They give 50% discount for 1 year subscription. It's Italian. So sometimes I just guessing to construct some garment ;).. why not. Just like Burda we only have it in Italian. But I get used to it... used to guess..haha In my opinion.. this Boutique gives more urban clothes. Sometimes I find similar dress cut like the one on the shop display here in Bologna.

A day out in the farm

We went to my Gf house the other day. Her house located in the country side. Where she can accomodate kitten... dogs... plants.... friends.. or about anything. We had BBQ... splendid!

she also has this kitten which always make me smile coz during summer time he get so skinny with the big head and bull face. Then during winter time become big CAT with thick fur and puffy pawn...loves it

set up etsy shop

In the end i realize I made to much gadget to enjoy myself. So yesterday I started to set up etsy shop to accomodate my cluters. My head spinning doing this. What a hardJob to make a first step. My husband says once I get the handle of things will be much easier. I welcome you all to drop by and have a look on my shop : http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7640073 If u find nothing listed there meaning my head still spinning... HA.. hope you find something though. I will update the stuff regularly.

Happiness is..

How many people knows what is happiness actually means? What does it matter anyway? Some people even fool themselves *maybe includes me* to think that they are happy. How many people dare to ask themselves : "Am I happy?". Do they brave enough to answer the questions honestly. But they do have the courage to blame someone elses over their misery. Does alots of cash makes you happy? Helps though. Poverty doesn't makes you happy either. They say happiness comes from within. I learned not to rely my happiness on someone elses. For me.... the feeling of achievement; freedom and self satisfaction are my happiness. I bet there is more... I'll add it later once i figure it out. Let's be Happy then ;)