Sunday, December 30, 2018

Crocheting #2

   بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم 



Apparently crocheting is a great hit - 
 
save image
 
...plus I got some 'advertising'... no I didn't ask for it haha!
 
On with the post.
 
I said I'd do another crocheting post, didn't I? Well - here it is - and with a lot of more crocheting videos.
 
Warning: PLEASE MUTE THE VIDEOS - YOU CAN READ WHAT THEY ARE SAYING BY PUTTING ON THE CC (CLOSED CAPTIONS)
 Warning 2: This is for more advanced beginners. You might need to know the basic stitches - chain stitch, single stitch, double stitch, triple stitch and maybe Tunisian stitch.
 
That's only some of the thousands of projects you can do! Maybe you can even crochet a blanket for a baby or yourself! Warning - it's a bit hard but don't give up. I finished my cushion in almost three days (9-13 hours). 
 
If you haven't learned the other stitches, you can check out this post. Um... happy crocheting!
 
Maimoonah T

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Crocheting

   بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم


السلام عليكم 



Have you ever heard of crocheting? If you haven't, you're missing out! Crocheting is NOT about getting crotchety, it's an art to do with yarn and a crochet hook. I am posting video tutorials below. Just scroll down!

It's similar to knitting, except knitting is done with two needles, not a crochet hook.
Image result for crocheting












Image result for chair coverThe two basic beginner stitches are the Chain Stitch and the Single Stitch. You might have also heard of the Double Stitch or the Triple Stitch or the... Tunisian Stitch? Uh, you might know it better by Afghan Stitch.

I've only tried the basic stitches. But I will try the rest inshaa Allaah.

I have done some practice making a scarf, then pulling the stitches out again. Currently I am trying to make a cover for the chair...

 Not this kind of cover, but something like it. I am using a kit that comes with 2 yarn skeins, so inshaa Allaah I will have some yarn left over after this project. Currently I'm on row 3... each row took me 15 minutes.

Wait. CHANGE OF PLAN. I turned it into a small cushion instead! Haha!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrkhDRZg0Ni/














 The kit is:


Learn To Crochet - Quincrafts.
Image result for learn to crochet quincraft
I wouldn't really recommend it as it gives a 'kiddie' hook and not the real thing, so you are better off with some yarn and a REAL crochet hook.
The instructions aren't really clear for a beginner visual like me, I had to look at some Youtube videos before I could understand it.

If you decide to start crocheting, or have already begun and you're stuck... (like me) then I can provide you with a whole list of videos.

Age I'd recommend for you to start: 8+. Younger children might not understand the stitches as it is a bit complicated. I started only now hehe!

I started by watching these videos. I decided to ignore the instructions in the kit, and began my own sample.

Amid many frustrations I managed to create a successful chain stitch. I struggled only because I always do things like these with my hand, not with a hook...!

EDIT: SOME OF THESE VIDEOS HAVE MUSIC. PLEASE MUTE - YOU CAN USE THE CC (CLOSED CAPTIONS)



Helpful Tips:

  • Every person is different. Even identical twins. So, if you are holding the crochet hook the wrong way, and you're comfortable, don't worry... I hold it at the top! 
  • Even holding the yarn - there's a few ways to do it. Sometimes when I'm doing VERY tricky work, I sweat, so if you're like me you might want it not to touch your fingers. Watch these videos above and see if you can pick up some ways to hold your yarn.
  • I suggest you don't start right away a project. Do a practice sample and pull the yarn out in the end so you don't waste it. That's what I did.
  • Lastly, I struggled with the slipknot. The easiest way to learn it - find a pair of earphones and practice on them. Be sure not to tie it too tightly - or you might not be able to remove the knot!
See you soon inshaa Allaah!


Assalaamu Alaikum
Maimoonah T
P.S: Look out for more crocheting posts - coming soon Inshaa Allaah!

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Book Recommendation #1

 
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم


السلام عليكم

Image result for book recommendation
I have decided to make a Book Recommendation Series, uh, every month? Maybe every two weeks as I cannot remember every single book I have read... Plus it's just not book recommending, it's also reviews! If you want to find more of these Book Recommendations *If you are reading this a month later, then click on the tag 'Book Recommendations'.

Book #1

The Boxcar Children


 

Image result for the boxcar children book 1

The Aldens begin their adventure by making a home in a boxcar. Their goal is to stay together, and in the process they find a grandfather.

This was my all-time favourite when I was about 6 or 7 years old. This is dedicated to grades 2 to 6 and older children who have difficulty in reading, yet want a longer story to read without struggling.
The author didn't mean to write a whole series, but more and more letters from her fans made her reconsider it. The story was set in... well I don't know, but it's almost a hundred years old, I think.
Caution, the original series are only up to 19 books! The others are more... modern, I feel. I don't know why, but reading the non-originals made me NOT satisfied and very uncomfortable.

I would recommend this ages 6+.


Book #2



Black Beauty

Image result for black beauty oxford 

 Black Beauty spends his youth in a loving home, surrounded by friends and cared for by his owners. But when circumstances change, he learns that not all humans are so kind. Passed from hand to hand, Black Beauty witnesses love and cruelty, wealth and poverty, friendship and hardship . . . Will the handsome horse ever find a happy and lasting home?

 I have had this book for many, many years! I cannot count the number of times I have read it, nor can I count the times I have looked at the cover illustration. I loved every paragraph of it!
It is meant for older children or very young adults. I suppose the age is... hmm, 8-13 but... the full version IS very sad, so if you're looking for a normal, no tears (not that anyone cried) book, then the book for you is the shorter version. I recommend Ladybird Classics. I have both short version and long version Alhamdulillaah. Note: this book is VERY old. Probably in the late 18th century.

The age I will recommend this is 7 to 12.


Book #3

The Adventure Series
Image result for the adventure series by enid blyton 

The Adventure Series by Enid Blyton, an English children's author, is a series of eight children's novels. These books feature the same child characters: Philip, Jack, Dinah, and Lucy-Ann, along with several adult characters. Jack's pet parrot, Kiki, is also a standard feature in each novel.

These books are great favourites of mine. I used to read two novels per day... until I ran out of books. This is appropriate for all ages. I believe Enid Blyton hasn't written any non-appropriate books, except for magic. I think the reason why it's called the adventure series is because after every word 'ship' 'sea' 'island' there are two words 'of adventure'.
I recommend reading them in order, but you don't really need to. You can read the first book, then the last book, then the fifth book, and so on in this order. 
I think a good age for these novelettes is 9+, as younger readers might not understand the plots fully. No, I'm not being negative! : )


Well, that's it for now, 3 or 4 books coming up next two weeks inshaa Allaah!

Try to guess what the next post will be about! Hint: it is something handmade yet looks machinemade.


Assalaamu Alaikum
Maimoonah T
 

Monday, November 26, 2018

Rock Buns & Notebook Design

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم


Yesterday I decided to make some Rock Buns. Now, I didn't think of making Rock Buns at all, but I was browsing every post from Crafty Muslimahs, and I came up on this. Rock Buns. So at about 5:00 PM I started making it, and I had done the first steps when I realized I had no dried fruit. So I took some baking chocolate sitting in the fridge for some weeks and chopped it up into fair-sized bits.

Share our buttonThe recipe calls for one cup of it, but I didn't want it too chocolaty and the sugar was way less than the chocolate. So instead, I cut up about 3/4 of a cup and refrigerated it for about 10 mins (the time I took to cut the chocolate).

Then I followed the rest of the instructions and in total I had to put six on a glass tray, and it was three batches, so I made 18 rock buns in total. It says 9-10 rock buns, but I made mine half small, half large, so it was mixed up.

This is actually the first time baking alone (no help from Ramlah or Ummi, just some occasional help from Abi whenever I felt nervous about the oven) that I managed not to cut myself or burn myself too much haha. (I'm careful, but not when I'm not careful).

It did make something like what Crafty Muslimahs did, but much more burnt out. It's even better the next day!

I would definitely recommend this as a good recipe for little kids to make. That is, if you don't mind them really getting messy with their hands (unless you have an ice cream scoop, which we don't)!

https://craftymuslimahs.blogspot.com/2017/12/rock-buns-recipe.html

Now for the next: a craft!


Again, this is from Crafty Muslimahs, and I would certainly recommend it as it makes hardly any mess at all. Even if you don't like glitter and have about six big bottles of it stored in your craft cupboard, this is a great craft to make for a gift. The problem is, I didn't follow the instructions and used ordinary clear tape instead of double-sided tape. It did keep coming off and I think I need to hot-glue it on or something. That is, if the clear sheets don't melt halfway...

This is what theirs looked like...








...and this is what mine looked like.


Honestly how different, I really think Crafty Muslimahs looked better. I mean, using a red notebook with a green feather and some green and gold glitter and some sequins? And of course, in the night with no natural light and a shaky camera. But it does look good with natural light.

To do this project, click on the link below.

https://craftymuslimahs.blogspot.com/2018/09/diy-back-to-school-notebook-cover.html


Well, that's it for now... or not?
This is a picture of how the sky looked in Qatar at 12:00 PM, the day it rained. We were blowing bubbles outside. Also the sun was pretty bright so I couldn't see what pictures I took.















Assalaamu Alaikum
Maimoonah T

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Canon Photography & Air Show!

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم
Alhamdulillaah, I've been going places these weeks. Last Friday we went to the beach for the first time in more than a year! Ramlah loved it and got soaked (so did I) plus the water was cold... signs of winter! 
Before I continue anymore, I'd like to say, I received a comment a year ago, which I saw but did not reply to. 
Assalamu Alaykum Maimoonah!

We enjoyed reading your post; it was very funny and entertaining. We also live in Qatar! We are four sisters (Hanifah, Maryam, Zainab and Sumayyah) and we love to craft and bake.
Do visit our blog at https://craftymuslimahs.blogspot.qa/.

Wassalam,
The Crafty Muslimahs

I saw it and I read almost every post, alhamdulillaah it was nice! And yes, nice isn't used as a word-full-of-meaning, if you get it, so let me say another word... lovely? Fantastic? Fascinating? Yes, I think fascinating would do. And I mean it! : )

 A few days ago I went to the air show... no wait, not a few days ago. I went long time ago....

I took some pictures from my Canon IXUS, and here they are! I really hope they are good quality...


















They twisted and turned in the air, and by the way, the last pic is a heart with an arrow in it.

Before we went to the air show, we went to Sheraton Park, here are some pictures!


Me walking!

 Look, here's Ramlah and Abi and Ummi!
 Can any of you name this bird? I think it's a Laughing Dove!
 Hmm, why did I take this picture?
 I haven't seen a Myna bird around for a month.
 It's so deserted at 8:00 AM
 This is where we went to first. And yes, that's Ramlah!
The grass was quite wet, and so was the trees, so I couldn't go climbing, anyway I can't climb trees, never liked the idea, until now...

Last but never quite least, I have a surprise for you! Little photographer Ramlah took my camera and took some pictures, and one of them turned out beautiful! For some reason, I'm fascinated by it. It shows her finger... wait, I'm not spoiling the surprise.

And no, it's not photoshopped, haha. Yes, it's a little blurry, but I like how the picture turned out to be.

It's pretty late here, so I'll have to go to sleep now.

See you soon, inshaa Allaah!

Assalaamu Alaikum

Maimoonah T


 

Tuesday, November 06, 2018

Feedjit Out of Use

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم

Assalaamu Alaikum,
I hope you enjoy my Radiant Space, and the other blogs that are there.
I love putting up new posts and others.
My email is: ummmaimoonah@gmail.com
If any of you want a series of books, please email me, saying the series name, and Insha Allaah, I'll have it ready on the blog.
Insha Allaah.
And also if you get confused with my blog send an email to me and soon you will know every inch of my blog.
At the top of my page, I have a translate button, so that any body who does not know English can translate into his/her language.
Press the HOME button to go to top again!
At the top of my page you can click "BACK TO THE PATH" and you will go home.
So insha allaah you can learn how to go around my blog without getting stuck.
And a bit of advice:
If you can't see my 'WHO IS READING MY POSTS' gadget, close my blog tab and open it again. Then you can see it.
I have also changed my blog address and name to Maimoonah's Radiant Space.

Assalaamu Alaikum,

Maimoonah

 (Above is my introduction message I wrote when I created this blog.)
So just about 9 months ago I realized the Feedjit program I installed on my blog isn't working anymore... So just today I took some action and looked it up... It turns out feedjit is a non profit third party program that has shut down due to:

Feedjit is unfortunately no longer available. The service was run as a hobby site for many years. Due to emerging cyber risks and regulatory requirements, it is not possible to continue to operate Feedjit as a not-for-profit fun service without incurring significant costs.

For this reason we are regrettably shutting down the service.

Both Kerry and I hope you enjoyed Feedjit for the many years that it was running. If you are looking for a way to view your website traffic in real-time, I recommend you install Google Analytics and check out the real-time view.

Regards,

Mark Maunder.


And no, obviously I haven't written it. The owners of Feedjit has. I need to use another third party program like Feedjit, any ideas?
I'm currently trying Google Analytics, but it's quite muddling. Anyway, I'll try that out.


السلام عليكم


Maimoonah.
P. S: Yes, I'm coping my signature from my first post.
P. P. S: I like using my old signatures.
P. P. P. S: Don't you?
P. P. P. P. S: Enough post-scripts!

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Back... and better

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم
 

Subhanallaah, I've not written here for almost a whole year!! I've neglected this blog for many months, and I was just checking my stats. I got quite a few page views yesterday, and last month was... 126. And I haven't visited this blog in about two months now. I wasn't that busy, but I was busy enough. A toddler who still loves obstacle courses and wants to play every minute is enough to make up for triplets. I wish there was two of me. Then maybe Ramlah would be good. 

In September, I turned eleven, so that means I'm TOTALLY eleven! If you've been reading my blog for a while, you would know I was born in Ramadhaan 10th, so, yes. Ramadhaan in 2018 is over, and alhamdulillaah, September is over too! 
Ramlah is two and a half. We're just trying to get started potty-training her, but due to a haphazard schedule we weren't able to get her to start it. 

I am also on a new email, which has 'baker' in it, and if you take notice of it yes, I'm baking and cooking now Alhamdulillaah. 
My best friend says I've changed, and yes, I guess I've changed by now. You might have thought so, because I think my style of writing is better now. 

My computer also broke down some months ago, so I've lost many of my books, and a special one. It's the Flighty Fox book. I remember telling you this long time ago.

Reviewing the first year I got my blog: 

Maimoonah's Radiant Space
I still remember when Abi made a site for Ummi, and about a week later I asked Ummi if Abi would make me a site for myself. I think she asked me 'What for?' and I said, "To write stuff." Well, I didn't exactly say that, but at least it was close to what I said. So, upon hearing that, she said, "Well, you can make one on Blogger, like my blog." I was thrilled, because I didn't know at that time what exactly it was to make a site. 

I made the site at about Magrib, Friday, April 15th, 2016. Two years ago, and it's going to be the third year.

You can see my very first ever on-my-own-site post here. But that is not my first post on a site. I did some Blog Takeovers when Ummi was pregnant with Ramlah, and she approved of them and posted them. I did about six, just ignore the first post you see. Click here

The VERY first post is this, click here.  I was eight years old at that time! I can't imagine it! I wrote it on Tuesday, 15 December 2015, I can't remember what time but I know it was in the night. Three years ago! 

I actually got my blog a week and a day after the 7th of April.
 
Looking back on the Blog Takeover series, I can't imagine I made only about six spelling mistakes on each post, haha.  

Subhanallaah, is that really me? I look so small, and it's not because of the vastness of the dunes! I was eight years old then.

Coming back to the subject of my own blog, I notice as the years unfold, less and less spelling mistakes follow up. Even if I don't edit this, I would get only about two spelling mistakes in total. The secret to not wasting your time on editing is, when you see a mistake the word before what you write, you need to BACKSPACE and correct it. Don't waste time moving your mouse in slo-mo. 

Looking on my second post 'What I Do In My Spare Time', I also notice I have been waiting for three winters for it to snow! This winter, we almost got flooded out, what has never happened in Qatar. There has been many damages to life and property, and some people lost many, many things! Subhanallaah, we can only ask Allaah to protect us.

I made a poem and put it up. I actually copied Part 2, I really don't think I could write a poem like that.

And here I wrote my first really successful story, the first of the 'Fury' series. More poems...


Alhamdulillaah, I think that's enough to write for today. Oh, I almost forgot, Ummi signed me up for a Sewing Camp program. I rate it 9/10, because for the extra '1' I don't know the next thing they will put up, and it's NOT boring! I learnt to embroider my name, and I'm going to get a sewing machine, inshaa Allaah. I'm also waiting for my badge to arrive in the mail. 

Actually the registration is closed for now, but they will reopen later inshaa Allaah. You can join the waiting list!

Also if you do have any good ideas how to keep a toddler entertained, without becoming messy, you know, just comment with all your ideas! She's a touch-and-feel-it-all, so I've tried obstacle courses, football, Blokus, and the like.

Maybe later this year I will do a Companion's Quest Quiz, so stay tuned! Winners can do a guest post - a poem or whatever you want. But it all depends if you can enter, if you do enter anyhow, if it's for fun or to test your learning, I'll go ahead! Please give me a comment with your opinion (continue or not). You can comment as Anonymous, but on only ONE rule. You must verify with your email address.
 
Let's see how the site stats grown NOW, inshaa Allaah!  

 السلام عليكم
   

Maimoonah
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