Monday, February 21, 2011

Curtains from Down South

Whenever she's back in Malaysia, my Mama would travel extensively for work. Like last weekend, she had to attend an event in a place called Pagoh (recently inundated by flood) where survivors of the flood were handed out more essential items and other stuffs.
Thinking that the area is quite far and would take several hours of driving, Mama and Dad left home at 5am. OK, so no cats were taken on this trip. We were unsure if people at that event would let us join or blend in. So it was just Mama and Dad.
Late afternoon saw them heading back home but there was a last minute detour. Mama said our home in Malaysia needs new curtains as we haven't changed any since we moved here eight years ago. Fair enough, said Dad. 
Thus, with glee in her heart, Mama helped Dad navigate the way to Tangkak, a town famous for its rows of textile shops. We're told Tangkak has a new rival, a town called Nilai which is nearer to KL and only about half an hour from the airport. Mama and Dad would pass by Nilai too on their way back to KL but Mama insisted that they should support the original textile haven. And also that as they were just in the neighbourhood, no harm in dropping by.
"Oh, if we're lucky, we maybe able to pick up some nice josapine pineapples too. I don't think we can get those in Nilai," she convinced Dad. As usual, she ended up with more that just the josapine, there were mangoes, bananas and salak in her shopping bags!
The old curtains we have were also bought in Tangkak eight years ago. As Mama sews her own curtains, she usually buys better quality (read: more expensive) materials that can last a long time. She was also planning on making some new pet cushions....hmmm....I'd like to see that happen. 

It was a Saturday and yet the main road wasn't busy....could be the results of  rivalry posed by Nilai.
Aaahh....the colours....the shops usually display materials for clothes in front.
If you can't sew, there's also the option of ready-to-wears.
More shops along the main road. Mama didn't know which one to go to at first.
Some scarves to match the clothes too....
Be prepared for the glorious colours of lace and satin.....
.....of silk and polyester.....
.....of rayon and georgette and voile...
Mama loves the cottons the best she said...there's a choice of Japanese, Italian or Swiss.
Angelina's note: Dad said Mama was singing as she was choosing the curtain materials upstairs while Dad browsed through some men stuffs downstairs. We're not showing the curtains and cushions materials we bought yet. Wait till Mama finish sewing them, OK?
About the rivalry posed by Nilai, no sweat said the Tangkak textile community. Most of them have opened branches in Nilai. Whatever you get in Nilai, it's also still available in Tangkak. Same quality, same price. Smart move, people!  purrrr....meow!
p.s. did we mention that Tangkak is also the gateway to the fabled Mt Ophir? 

22 comments:

Sandy said...

wow ! Your mama is so talented ! I can only sew buttons, and not very neat too :D hahaha... should learn how to sew someday

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Tante Sandy,
Very simple curtains and cushions, OK? She can't sew her own clothes. Well...someone has to support the tailors, she said. purrr....meow!

Cheqna said...

yeah, its time to take out that sewing machine..and good luck, hope can finish it before puasa..hehehe..

was in Tangkak many months ago, confident that I could easily choose the materials n go..but after 30 mins or so browsing, dah pening, too much ..hahaha..

errr..still have the fruits?..can i drop by?.. :-)

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Cheqna,
The sewing machine is still in the spare room! Will have to check supplies - machine oil, sekuci, thread etc etc - first. Fruits? Still have mangoes and josapine. Salak and pisang lemak manis are gone! purrr....meow!

~CovertOperations78~ said...

Your Mama is a multi-talented lady, Kitties! For us bachelors, a beach pareo pinned to a dowel rod makes a good-enough curtain!

Gee said...

i am sooooo proud u visit my hometown!.. :) just came back from Tangkak last nite!

mokja said...

Dell : woow...mamason likes sewing curtains and scatter cushions too.She says its therapeutic.It eases her tangled minds.But alas... the machine is down ...so no more sewing till she gets a new one.Nilai and Tangkak are the place she likes to go very much.

Cheqna said...

lucky you can still remember the names of the machine parts..hehehe..

:-)

Lady of Leisure said...

heeee banyaknya kain lawa2.. i love cotton, selesa pakai.. esp indian cotton/voile.. :)

Unknown said...

Ooooo I love your new template...If only I can get a blouse with that pattern :-).

Anyway, great pics.

You have such a gifted and loving mama who has an artistic eye and fantastic hands that can do such much!!

Take care and sayang your mama lots!

Salam

Cat-from-Sydney said...

CO78,
Mama has turned her pareo into ironing board cover....because some felines love sleeping on the board and use it as scratching board too.....har har har *evil laughs*

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty DearCats,
You're from Tangkak? Are you related to the princess from Mt Ophir? Lain kali kirim nenas ye....boleh? purrr....meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Dell,
Tell Mamason that my Mama said: jom buat rombongan Cik Kiah ke Tangkak. There are now spanking new budget inns in Tangkak so can stay overnight and get shopping overload. purrr....meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Cheqna,
We hope the machine is still OK. Haven't used it for eight years too.....hehehe.... purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Lady of Leisure,
Mama was really in haven....as she got to choose what she wanted without hurting her bank account. Dad's was though. People say cotton is cheaper in Vietnam but let's support the local economy instead. har har har *evil laughs*

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Paula,
Auw......I heart you too! Did I tell you Mama had surgeries on both hands a long long time ago? So she can't play tennis or squash or bowling anymore.... purrrr....meow!

aby said...

new curtain ..
sure yur cat will luv it,
at least they have something soft to test their sharp claws ..
he..he..

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aby dear,
Shhhhh! We used to have lace curtain at our Sydney home.....imagine the fun Brad & I had playing Tarzan and Jane! purrrr.....meow!

meowwmania said...

dah bertahun tak g tangkak, kat kota tinggi pon best juga nak bershoping baju ;)

=^..^= said...

Wat purrty purrty fabrics! We can't wait to see the new curtains. They'll be pawsome for climbing!

~Slash & Bronzy

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Meoww,
Kota Tinggi? Alah....jauhlah.... haven't been there for ages. purrrr....meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Slash & Bronzy,
OK we'll have a climbing party when new curtains arrive, eh? purrrr....meow!