Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Mama’s Brand New Bag (insha’allah)


bag fabric
This is the fabric for my new bag.

DSC00412
My Old Bag

My old bag has served me faithfully for four years now. It’s just now starting to show signs of wear & tear.
Surprised me.
Yet I must exercise my sewing skills and thrive for more awesome-ness.
Now I just make my own bag just because I have a choice in the color, construction and fabric. So I’m now planning out a new, improved one. The pattern of choice is Make Baby Stuff.com’s free baby bag pattern. The pattern is very useful and you can customize your baby bag to your heart’s content.
My old bag had
  • one strap (eats into my shoulder sometimes)
  • inside pockets that are useless (too small)
The new bag’s plans are
  • wider shoulder strap plus tote straps.
  • Improved pockets
  • Re-enforced bottom (I have grown to dislike the saggy bottom)
  • More colors
I will keep you posted on this project. Insha’allah.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Gothmummi

Hey people, I found this video on Stylish Muslimah's blog and it had one of my favorite words:
Goth.
Yes, I like goth, mostly Gothic clothes.
I think Gothic clothes and Islamic clothes can go hand-in-hand. Yet that's another blog post by itself.



I love the way she is describing her way of understanding Islam and other people's reactions to her choice. I can relate to her because I was once Christian and I remember doing some of the same things she is doing to understand Islam like wearing hijab and serious soul-searching. I still love how people who are non-Muslim (professors especially) call themselves "experts on Islam" due to the fact that they have read tons of books on Islam. To me, those people are just being somewhat arrogant and they are hardly even called forth to truly explain Islam by the media. When they talk about Islam, it sounds like they have dissected some creature that's too big for them and they come across as haughty about something they cannot speak truthfully about or far worse they don't want to experience it. Islam is not a religion that can be learned from reading a book, it's best learning it first hand from a Muslim.

I strongly believe a person cannot truly understand Islam until they have actually experienced being Muslim or at least sincerely seek knowledge about Islam. That's my humble view in addition to Gothmummi's view.
I love how she is straightforward about her ideas and perspective. And she has alot of good points about the hijab: the outside & the inside. There are some Muslimahs who think the outside is more important and then there is vice versa.

The important thing is the why Muslimah should observe the "outside" as well as the "inside". Her viewpoint is very refreshing to hear and should a good reminder to the Muslims especially the Muslimahs that we, the Muslims, are being watched.

And Allah SWT Knows Best.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sewing Rant


"She wants me to pull more fabric out of where?"
Picture from "Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky"

I have a something to get off my chest about people expecting sewists to work miracles, whether it be magically producing enough cloth to cover a project when its not provided to the sewist being able to make a size 4 fit a size 26 figure.

Be sensible when dealing with us because your pride is not going to repair your pants nor let out your abaya.

That's my job and I expect to get what I asked for/agreed upon. I don't like "sweatshop" wages just because your husband is out of work or your light bill just got paid or you just paid for a previous project. Simply treat my request as a quote, be decent and bring the garment(s) back when you have the money. I don't need the personal fitnah (trouble).

I'm sorry, even clothes need some maintenance. It's a lifetime issue that spans across cultures, religions etc. Your clothes are going to need mending and altering. Unless you can do it, don't be a snob or unreasonably frugal towards people who sew for a living. Even if they are beginners or hobbyists or part-time, it's not fair to them. We don't wave fairy wand over your clothes and instantly they fixed like that.

Plus don't compare they do to what the seamstresses and tailors do in your home country or back in your time.

Just my thoughts.





Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Dick & Jane Curtains: COMPLETED

Remember the seemingly simple D&J curtain project:
Dick & Jane in the works

Well, it's FINALLY finished.
Yes!!
I know what you are thinking, it's curtains.
Simple little curtains with cute little D&J pictures, right?

See Gail being too over-planned and proud.
See Gail get her feelings hurt.
After being sick with sinus problems for a week and half, caring for a whining three year old who is mysteriously inquisitive about EVERYTHING all a sudden, being highly disappointed in a long awaited show: "All-American Muslims" and then my discontinued serger deciding "chew" up my work...

...a small project became a struggle.

Nevertheless, I pushed on, learned how to rolled hem and got finished with the last and most decorative set of panels. Complete with ruffles. And six yards of rolled hemmed ruffles too. Top and bottom.

**Jane smiles demonically at me as she rides her tricycle**
Naah, I just need a "me" project.
Lol. 


Would I do curtains again?
Yes.

What is out of my sewing ability?
No.

Do I see a Babylock or Singer Serger in the future?
God-willing, yes.

My next project, insha'allah, will be something for me like a nice tunic-skirt set or dress.

Until then, live and let sew. 





Wednesday, November 9, 2011

D&J Curtain Project

Next sewing project is Dick & Jane Curtains.
Old school back again. Sew the next curtain. Now let's begin.
Say: Dick & Janeeeeeee!!!


That's right.
Dick & Jane curtains.
I grew up on Dick & Jane, my mom read it to me and they are great reader books. Teacher Cindy at my daughter's school commissioned me to sew her some new curtains for her classroom. She is a Dick & Jane fan and she loves to use Dick & Jane books in her class. I'm looking forward to seeing how the curtains will look in the classroom, insha'allah.

See Gail match up cloth.
See Gail sew.
See Zaynab read curtains.
"Go and tell Daddy, Zaynab," says Mommy.



It took me about 45 minutes to match up the prints. I want to conserve as much fabric as possible while showing off the lovely prints on the fabric. I got five windows to do, two plain pair of panels, two pairs with a little design, and one showcase piece, insha'allah.


Sally: "I can have a Decaf Viente Latte with Toffenut Flavor, please?"

Well back to work.




Monday, October 31, 2011

Zaynab's Eid Adha Wintermint Princess Frock

Assalaam waliekum & hello.

Eid Adha is coming up soon...very soon. For those who are new to Islam, Eid Adha is the Festival of the Pilgrimage to Hajj. It marks the final day of the Hajj, which is the religious ritual of Hajar's (rah) search to find water for her son, Ishmael. That's my two cents in a nutshell so insha'allah I'm wrong about anything just said please feel free to tactful correct me.

For me, the Eids mark a time for generosity upon my family and an impulse to decorate my daughter in ruffles. I'm usually over-planning and stitching away at some frock for my daughter. For this Eid, Zaynab shall have her last little ruffled frock. Insha'allah.

*Gail wipes away some tears*

So let me introduce the Zaynab's Eid Adha Wintermint Princess Frock...the underskirt anyways.


A profile. Zaynab was playing balletina. 
The back. Daddy was holding her hands as she spin around.

I took the idea of this frock from McCall's M6389. 




And the Feliz Dress.



More to come.









Thursday, August 4, 2011

Assalaam waliekum...I have BOOBS!!!!

I have been noticing a trend in Muslim fashions where designers basically forget/deny/don't attempt to realize that ...this is a new one to them
Muslim women have BOOBIES.
There I said it.
Yes, we have titties, knockers, breastseses, gorillas (my personal favorite) and I'm sorry yet the pastie hijabs are not going to work.
The pastie hijab work great on these women:
By the way, I love the scarf . Masha'allah. 
Seriously, why do Islamic fashion have to support the Westernized concept of fashion? 
What's up with the use of flat-chested models to bypass decent hijab?
Just because a Muslim woman have little to no boobbage, didn't mean little to no hijab. I would not even style the hijab like this on a non-Muslim model for the reason it promotes an indecent hijab style. 
But the majority of us who have not been blessed with a size 4 figure + lightly endowed with breast can't wear the pastie hijab very well.
I know the designers have to make the scarves look good. However sometimes the scarves are wrapped to where they can't even make it past the woman's nipples let alone the collarbone. I just saw some scarves where the sisters must have had massive hair or wearing about five scarves packed underneath the main one. To my observance, the main scarf was frighten of the breast area. 
My thoughts: (slightly bored tone) "Masha'allah, more almost camel humps or pastie hijabs."

The models were like: I'm so happy to designate most of my scarf to my hair.

Or 75% of it to some massive decorative knot/flower thing.

Not all hijab styles are like this, I'm just going on my humble observation of hijab-breast phobia among Muslim fashions. Some may say I'm old-fashion or not hip or not modern, I'm saying that as a Muslim women don't the breast, on women, those two protruding globes that sometimes need a bra, are supposed to be COVERED.
Not barely covered with a hint of a hijab running across them.  
Some Muslimahs want to wear nice clothes with a bit of modern flare nevertheless there are limitless options to consider. Since the breast can't be shown, why not find clothes with appropriate sleeves that have decorations or skirts and pants were decorative hems. The sky is limits when it comes to Muslim fashions. 
And Allah SWT Knows Best. 

Friday, July 29, 2011

Recent Projects

I love working late night into early morning, hubby hates it but I love it.
The world is much quieter, my Zaynab would be asleep and I tend to notice things a whole lot better.
I just can't put my finger on why I love working at night.
This time I was preparing my muslin fabric early in the morning when I noticed that I used canned food to weight down my patterns while cutting. In the past, I used my roommate's canned cat food and it worked very well. I wanted some nice weights and I did some research.
I found:
DIY Pattern Weights
Great tutorial on pattern weights. Here mine at the moment.

Update: stuffed them with scraps and pennies.

I made Zaynab a very nice dress for a picnic at the local masjid however my grandmother passed away so she wore it to the funeral. Everyone thought she was adorable. I made a matching pair of bloomers for the dress too.



A beautiful built-in lining/petticoat. 


I ventured out to the local thrift to buy bedspreads for my Eid 2011 muslin and I found a super bad grab-bag of mostly sewing stuff. Can't argue with $1.40. 
I got these cool sewing accessories along with Singer needles and other sewing nick-knacks. 

A cool 1/4 seam foot.

And a hemming guide

Tune in for more projects.




Saturday, June 25, 2011

Current Events

Assalaam waliekum and hello, everyone.
I'm sorry about the recent drought of blogging on my part. I have been sick with some stomach issues for a while now. Probably something I ate or the weather. Nevertheless, I'm finally feeling up to blogging again and I have some things to show you.

A future project...



I normally buy Simplicity patterns however I saw some of the beautiful dresses being made from this pattern and I could not suppress my pattern-collecting tendency. Also Hancock's had a sale on Vogue patterns. I'm thinking about a lovely little Empire dress and I'm still working on what the sleeves will look like. I know one thing: I going to try plaid this year, insha'allah.


Monday, May 30, 2011

My View on the Camel Hump Hijab



This is the "camel hump" hijab.

Notice how it elegantly elongates the head, creating a look of beauty & prestige. 

The look is achieved with those.

Yes, the over-sized yellow hair-bow on her head makes "hump".
By the way, none of these pics are mine. 
(The shaytaans in their fashion designer's voice) 
Yes, it adds to the hijab, a touch of expression, personality and it's ohh so chic. Because original hijab is so boring, out-of date and your Grandmother use to wear such flat hijabs. But YOU darling should wear THIS to SHINE. 

I'm against these poufs because they are no different from women stuffing their bras with socks or using fake tans or wearing fake hair or wearing "booty enhancing" pants. It's all lying about the body. So what if you don't have big breast or a tan or long hair or a butt; lying about it is not going to make you more desirable. You are going to look "made up" and waste alot of time & money on stuff that is superficial. The same applies to Muslim women, putting a big hair-bow inside your hijab is "made-up" and defeats the purpose of observing proper hijab. It really makes the hijab loose its dignity & respect because the intention has been changed. In the Sight of Allah SWT, wearing such a fashion is ugly because the hijab is not worn in His Sake, it's worn to get attention and be fashionable. 


The Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

The Book Pertaining to Paradise, Its Description, Its Bounties and Its Intimates (Kitab Al-Jannat wa Sifat Na'imiha wa Ahliha)
Muslim :: Book 40 : Hadith 6840 
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Two are the types amongst the denizens of Hell, the one possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with their help. (The second one) the women who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others with their hair high like humps. These women would not get into Paradise and they would not perceive the odour of Paradise, although its fragrance can be perceived from such and such distance (from great distance).

Okay, now the Muslimahs who fashion their hijab in this matter can roll their eyes or whatever. 
However I have to ask this question: If this hair-bow is so pretty, then why not wear it OUTSIDE of your hijab?
I'm talking about how you normally wear it, like you want extra volume; two poofs will get the job done. So why not wear two gaudy, huge hair bows on top of your hijab. 
They are fashionable right?

Actually this look was used through history in cultures to show off beauty & status. The higher your hat or hair, the more you showed off your wealth and good looks. The women of Pre-Islamic times did this also.

We all know ayat 24:31:

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful. (An-Nur 24:31) 

If course, the poufs can't be worn OUTSIDE of the hijab, they attract the attention of people. So it is better to wear to them INSIDE the hijab, where they noticeably "hump" up the hijab. 

After all, they just a hair bow and hair-bows are not "haraam" in Islam. 

Yes, this is a hair-bow and hair-bows are not haraam in Islam however the hair-bow's intention falls short of the purpose. Hair-bows normally help pull the hair back, away from the face or to keep a braid from becoming undone. This hair-bow in particular, does all that but it adds volume to the hijab. The designers & wearers of this fashion cannot fool anyone including Allah SWT with this illogical justification of wearing an "innocent over-sized hair-bow on top of one's head then covering it with the hijab to conceal it, which knowingly creates a hump."

Now see how the lawful (the hair-bow) has been made into something disliked (the camel-hump pouf) through intentions. 

Muslimahs be aware of your intentions and be content with what Allah SWT Has Granted you.  So stay moderately beautiful about what you wear. 



Tuesday, May 24, 2011

DIY Blog of the Week



Hey everyone and Assalaam waliekum.

Craft Squirrel
http://craftsquirrel.blogspot.com/

My blog has been choosen as the Crafting/DIY Blog of the Week on this blog: 

I was really surprised and kind of cautious at the announcement at first. 
I'm thinking:"People are actually reading my blog?!?!"
However after checking it out, I did the cabbage patch dance. 
Alhamdiallah. 
I'm so happy.



Sunday, May 1, 2011

Undercover Muslim Rant: Part Deux



Im sure that many have have tuning in to the wonderfully coward-covered religious rights banning in France, I mean if the issue is about security issues then France should have grown some courage and addressed it as so instead of hiding behind "protecting the French culture" or "the bull-jive-niqab-equates-slavery" deal.
Nevertheless, that's another whole blog. 
 I saw this coming from miles away and it did not burn my biscuits until Mrs. Mona Eltahawy discussed her veiws on the niqab and hijab. 

How come the news always have to go to the extremes, in one corner we have a niqabi and in this corner we have a woman who wears nothing what-so-ever to let people know that she is a Muslim. 
Yeah, that should send up a little red flag on her view about her deen: she is hiding it. 

And the niqabi can discuss her view much better. 

Im not disrespecting Mrs. Eltahawy because her is my sister in Islam yet I do not agree with her "feelings" on hijab, niqab or Islam. To be quite truthfully, she sounds more biased than uneducated on the topic she is debating. 
And to be even more truthful, Allah SWT Says:
"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error." (Al-Ahzab 33:36)


Meaning that the Muslims have no say in the Decrees of Allah SWT & His Messenger (pbuh). The deal is done and the ink is dried plus as Muslims, our "feelings" have no place in religious matters. I sounds rough however I can understand this ayat. Because when people start going by what they "feel" in religion, things start getting twisted or completely left out. 

Now I have another important point, as "undercover" as Mona Eltahawy is being, if insha'allah she was to say something Islamically correct like do not eat pork or make sure you cover properly for Salat, THEN I have no choice but to heed what she says because she is warning me or the Muslims. Her not observing hijab does not put her outside Islam yet it does make her disobedient in the Eyes of Allah SWT. However since the speech that is coming out her mouth is based on her own nafs (desires or feelings), I could care less about what she has to say about hijab. 

To end this issue, I would like to say what my Baptist mother has said:
"You can never please people. And if people can't accept who you are then to heck with them."
May Allah SWT Make her a Muslim. Ameen.
That is alot of wisdom that non-Muslims follow on a day-to-day basis yet some Muslims cannot even stomach the thought of not being able to "fit-in with the non-Muslims" without compromising their religions. And they can't understand why they sometimes catch more Hell than they expected. 

And Allah SWT Knows Best. 
May Allah SWT Guide the Muslims. Ameen.



Saturday, April 23, 2011

Blast From the Past: Neapolitan Eid



The  Eid Neapolitan Dress.
This ice-cream inspired delight won my family and friends over. 
And people loved it. 
And I was very tired after this project. 
One Eid ago...


The Eid Neapolitan Feliz Dress today.
Since Zaynab's this dress, it has seen alot of wear yet no tear. I hope to keep it that way. On her first Eid debut, she played with some other children near an escaltor (they were not running) and rubbed mechnical grease into the pinafore of the dress. After the Eid Prayer, we made a bee line for the local Big Lots and brought Fast Orange Hand Cleaner. This stuff is designed to clean grease and motor oil and it cost only one dollar. 



Permatex 25113 Fast Pumice Lotion Hand Cleaner, Orange
Get's the job done with a lovely citrus fragance.

I was very skeptical about using it however I needed to get the grease out. 
After vigorious hand-washing, the ALL the grease was gone from her dress. 
I'm not kidding, ALL the grease, not a single smear or stain was left. 
Zaynab was able to wear her new dress to an Eid Party and Fast Orange became a favorite in my household.

More pictures of the dress:

Pretty bow. 

Cascading ruffles.

My favorite: knife pleats trimming the pinafore

Embroidery on the hem of the pinafore.


Now I want to create a dress similar to the Neapolitan Dress however I want sleeves. I could just do separate dress and pinafore yet I was thinking the attached pinafore is what makes the combination great. 
Like peanut butter & jelly or something. 
Also I like a good sewing challenge. 
Today I'm aiming to draft the pattern and pick out the fabric. 



Insha'allah I'll keep you posted on this project. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Mini Jubah Update

Remeber this number: Rewind: Mini Jubah

Well, here is the finished garment.


I was very proud of my mini jubah until I tried it on. Now I'm angry. The fit is VERY poor especially in the bodice. I'm swimming in it. Plus the back is long and graceful but when I move it bunches up on top of my butt. 

I wanted bishop sleeve like this:
See the beautiful puffiness. 
However due to my lack of pattern making skills, I messed up. The sleeve sags over my wrist instead of graceful puffing out at the cuffs. Yet I did a stunning job on the cuffs and the plackets. 



On the good note, I now have a decent idea of what I want my mini jubah to look like. I have another jubah mini on the way. As for this garment, insha'allah, it will be up-cycled into a dress. I'm totally saving the front for the ruffles. Keep posted. 





Are Burqa-Inspired Fashions Glorifying Female Oppression or Encouraging Women to Dress More Conservatively? - FoxNews.com

Are Burqa-Inspired Fashions Glorifying Female Oppression or Encouraging Women to Dress More Conservatively? - FoxNews.com

I say: Neither.

Simply because designers often like to exploit or exaggerate the garment to get some shock value and to get the "fresh look".
Plus they dislike the reality of the garment's use.
In this case: Islamic clothes are suppose to cover/protect the wearer's awrah, not put the awrah on display.
The hijab, the nijab and the burqa are not "sexy" garments.
They are not meant to be worn with the bare minimal of clothes.
They not meant to be worn to make the wearer "sexy".
Sorry to be a killjoy here however designers focus on putting the awrah on display.
That's why models often look like pieces of art in order to display a purse or a blouse while showing legs or whatever is bare. Muslim fashion designers often fall into the same rut yet it's worse because they KNOW that the wearer's awrah is on display but they promote it anyway.



Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Reply to My Reply Test...Yeah.

Hang in there!

This is a test.
Blogger has no reply to the readers' comments.
Yeah, I just crawled out from under my rock on this one and I'm trying to fix it. I want to reply to my readers so I have been reading up on "reply" remedies. I have found one and would like to know if it works.
I have a huge favor to ask: when I reply to your comment, please reply back.
This is only a test.

P.S: Insha'allah you have came across some help on this topic, tell me know. 

Thursday, February 17, 2011

My View on the Layered Look

forums.thefashionspot.com
Nice color but can I get everything a little longer, please?
 
 
Seriously, I do not how much time, money and effort it takes to layer on stuff that is too tight or thin plus to make a voluminous, multi-scarf hijab yet I know that it simpler to be practical. I'm a khimar/abaya/mini jubah Muslimah, so my selection centers around clothes that are easy to match, to pray in, to express individuality and to look decent. 
Plus it's something I can wear with grace even when I'm old as dirt, insha'allah. 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet in Islam, it's under the garments. Muslimahs are supposed to focus more on their deen than their looks. To non-Muslims, we are supposed to appear modest (read the tafseer of 24:31), well-groomed and in good taste with our clothes unless it's the Eids, then we shine. 

After you have kids, it's a totally different game. Unless you have the time & money, the game is getting a variety of looks from a wardrobe that is quick and simple to put on. You don't want to invest alot into a look that is destroyed by children in seconds and the everyday of battle against wear&tear. 
That's just my opinion. 

The problem with the layered look is that it appears very impractical and "thrown together". It's as if they took one garment that was too tight or too short and tried to save it by using other garments. Then to top the layered look off, a high end hijab wrap fit for a model and the Muslimah is wearing it to Walmart. Once again very impractical and pointless.

So my point is, insha'allah, trendy Muslimahs can buy or put effort into unsuccessful layered look then why not just buy a decent abaya or kameez salwar or mini jubah and save themselves some money and time. When Muslim women wear clothes outside, those clothes are supposed to cover our figures and present us as Muslims. We are not supposed to look like non-Muslims wearing over-sized turbans and half of our closets.

I can understand that some Muslimahs came into this deen with alot of non-Muslim clothes that are now unusable however what's the point in layering stuff that make the Muslimah look as through her closet regurgitated on her. 



Sunday, February 13, 2011

Undercover Muslim Rant



An "undercover" Muslim is a Muslim who basically avoid the requirements of Islam to fit in with the Western culture. They don't wear hijab or greet other Muslims or do anything that would let people know that they are Muslims. It's a two-way street of annoyance, undercover Muslims get their feelings hurt when they don't get their rights from other Muslims. And other Muslims get angry when undercover Muslims get embarrassed or look down on them just because they have assimilated into the culture.
However I really don't appreciate the outcasting or not getting salaams just because they feel uncomfortable with their Muslim identity. I don't get the respect I deserve from non-Muslims yet I don't compromise my way of life for their approval. And I would never look down on undercover Muslims for not being like me on the account that Allah SWT is testing me differently from them plus I don't know their lives like that.
I know that somebody will, insha'allah, respond:"Well, everyone practices their faith in their own way."
My reply: What does being cowardly about your own faith has to do with practicing it correctly?
I'm sorry, yet to me, it's like a nun getting mad at people thinking she's not a nun because she is dressed like a regular woman. And everyone practically knows how nuns should dress and everyone has some idea about the modesty stated in the Bible.
That nun has an obligation to her Lord and the same goes for the Muslims.

Al-'Ankabut - 29:2

"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested. (Al-'Ankabut 29:2)"

Allah SWT Test the Muslims by their level of faith. Every Muslim is tested differently and Allah SWT looks for sincerity and commitment from His followers to distinguish the lying from the sincere. Example being the rich Muslim's wealth is a test just as the poor Muslim's lack of wealth is their test.
One would think that to be a committed Muslim that one would have to follow what has been set in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet pbuh not the desires of Mankind & themselves.
Yes, that means that a fellow Muslimah may be harassed by the local police for wearing niqab.
Or a Muslim brother maybe looked down upon for having to step away for prayer during work.
Or a Muslimah is rejected from getting a job because she wants to wear her hijab.
Yet it's part of the program. We have ran across this situation several times in the Quran and the Sound Hadith so there is really no surprise. And one never knows the rewards of having patience and being sincere when Allah SWT Tests us. Sometimes what we see as a horrible test can be the best thing for us. Allah SWT Knows us better than we know ourselves. The sister who is harassed may bring others into Islam, the brother may be rewarded with a better job position or the sister may find a much better job. And that's just on the worldly level.
And this is because Allah SWT Loves the Sincere and the Patient.

All of this is very sad but as Muslims, we should have some idea of the obligations and tests of our religion. We can't say we are Muslims and try to dodge our religious obligations just because we want the approval of others and money without the consequences. Muslims who do dodge what Allah SWT Has Decreed are really missing out on the benefits of enriching their faith and getting great rewards for doing small things like greeting other Muslims even if they don't greet back or not of their status/nationality.






Saturday, January 15, 2011

Mini Jubah

It's time to stitch myself some new threads.
Again. 
And I have not forgotten about my daughter and husband.
My plan is to make a mini jubah outfit for myself. A mini jubah is a garment worn by Malaysian Muslim women. They are usually knee length and come in an array of colors, fabrics and styles.

    
                                           
Formal or Work
(photo from Kakchik's Wardrobe)

Casual (photo from Into Cheqta's Closet
My casual mini jubah is inspired from a maternity blouse with an empire waist and ruffles. I have sketch out some basic ideas. Empire waisted tunics and dresses are my best friends. They are comfortable and suitable for hijab because the waist falls under the breast which is covered by the hijab then the skirt conceals the hips. Some people say that the empire waist makes women look like they are pregnant but that's because the lady choose an empire waisted garment that had too much gathering in the front. An empire-waisted garment with alot of gathering in front is cool for maternity wear whereas pleats look much better for the front for non-pregnant ladies. 



I also wanted to try out this great little DIY back in the 70's book: The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book by Sharon Rosenberg & Joan Wiener. I found it at a local bookstore for $3 and it's simple & sweet to follow. The author is very laid back in explaining her projects. Terms like groovy, cat and funky are used. So insha'allah, you get this book, please read it before starting any project. 


My friend gave the fabric years ago and I have now figured out what to do with it. 


I love me some ruffles, so I'm adding some to my tunic. 

Here is a very long strip (about 80" inches) of black fabric that I have prepared for ruffling. I used my serger to narrow hem the raw edges. What I like about the narrow hemming is that it gives the strip more texture and body. Ruffles are a good way to use up your fabric scraps and a simple method to personalize almost anything.

Insha'allah more updates soon. 








Monday, January 10, 2011

Snow in Chattanooga

After two days of warnings and people wiping out the milk, bread, and snow shovels at the stores: We have snow.
It's so beautiful and powdery in the morning light. Awesome colors of cool oranges, subtle purples, and shimmering golds. I am waiting for the daylight to see the mountains. My daughter wanted play in it and hubby & I were like: no. We were able to compromise down to watching hubby clearing the snow from the van & driveway while she throws handfuls of snow at me.

A view of my street

Sunday, January 9, 2011

In Need of Blogging Advice

First, I would like to ask my fellow bloggers about overcoming the humbleness of journaling about your projects.
What I mean is that I trying to post more but I keep talking myself out of it.
Do you guys have any tips?

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