Pin That Idea

Some days when I just want to be inspired while I laze on the couch, I would be on my i-pad browsing interesting pictures of lovely random stuff on Pinterest.

Though I seldom have much space within the home to do big DIY projects, I can't help not attempting any of these seemingly easy projects especially when there is an opportunity and a reason to do one.

I made this wall art inspired by the many ideas I saw on Pinterest. This one has to do with kitchen towel rolls. For my project, I used mostly the kitchen rolls and some card boards.  I avoided toilet rolls because I wanted to avoid the E.Coli.

 The kitchen rolls were sectioned and joined into formations with glue gun.

 

Then, painted with acrylic paint.

  

And finally attached to the canvases.

 

They are now in a local Christian centre to greet the volunteers whenever they meet in the prayer room.

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Second Trimester

The past weeks have been very challenging for me. The almost daily nausea has been so severe that I was homebound for 8 weeks. I could hardly stomach any food and suddenly certain smell of food would offend me. I was hungry but I was also nauseous. Wherever I went within the house, I had a bag in hand. Although I've read and I've been told that this nausea will subside by the second trimester, it was horrendous as long as it lasted.



Well, I am just glad that my 16 hours flight back to homeland was not another episode of nausea.

I am now in the middle of my second trimester and I don't yet look pregnant. The older female relatives would joke about themselves naturally looking more pregnant than me.


 One of the things I did while I was back was to get pampered at the hair salon. 

The nostalgic classic found at chinese barbers or salons.

One doesn't need to read chinese to understand the comic.

During this trip, the nausea & poor appetite caused me to lose weight while I am pregnant. Though I had ideas of food I might like to enjoy, I did not always end up eating them when they were served before me. 

My favourite dry beef noodle hawker stall from Chinatown 

has an outlet in a mall but they do not have the noodle option I was craving for.

Am grateful that my in-laws and my hubby were so accommodating to this new fussy pregger who was also confused with her wants.

Living 6,500 miles away from homeland would always mean missing all the important events - weddings, birthdays... and funerals. I missed saying goodbye to a dear friend but I am sure he knows he is always remembered & greatly missed.



Sorry folks if you find this entry a tad too depressing. But hey, this is just part of my colourful journey. Sometimes, there is more beauty on things in black & white monochrome ;)








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Goodies From 6,500 Miles Away

 This afternoon I was pleasantly surprised by the arrival of this package.

The moment I saw how my name was written, I knew which angel sent this my way. 

It's from my crafter friend, Miss Kiraishi

And of course no gift is complete without a greeting card. Though she didn't 

make this herself, she chose a card that j'aime.

Now, I must figure out what goodies I could get her. It's my turn to spread the love.

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New On Board

Been wanting to share this good news from day 1 

but it seemed that now is the better time for it...

This badge is free, obtainable upon request from any London tube station counters. It really did help me 
especially when my tummy was not obvious under all those winter layers and I felt I needed to sit. 
If people around are vigilant, you could be offered a seat without needing to request for one.

Now that explains the low energy and all. 

A little peanut is growing!

Month 3 :)

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Craft Shopping Time!

This is like an annual craft pilgrimage I would go on to scout for more craft tools. For this reason, 
I would discover yet another part of England otherwise unvisited.

BSSBS would be one of the fairs I would attend and allow myself be 
tempted with craft goodies. 

This year they held it at the Ally Pally again. But this time it was a bigger fair, 
so it was held in the Great Hall. 

It was a rather long queue at the entrance but it was moving fast.

Finally, met Barbara Gray in person. Love meeting inspiring crafters from tv.

I was there from the start until they kicked us out. And while walking out, 
I noticed these murals in Ally Pally.

 

Can't. Wait. To. Play. With. My. Toys. Now.  ^_^

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Distress Markers?

Don't you just love it whenever you find new ways to use the craft tools you already have in your collection?


                          



This tutorial just caught my attention and enlightened me on how much more useful my distress markers are. Shall try this some day.

First Craft Tutorial by eyeARTyou

Dear crafters,

I finally plucked up some courage, budged, and made my first craft tutorial. I think I could go on and on with the tweaking but then that would mean this first tutorial will never be published.

P/S : View in full screen & delete the ad in window to enjoy the cartoon (it changes) at the bottom.

Hope you guys enjoyed watching it... I made the cartoon at the bottom of the video too ;)  I think video making could be addictive. If only it doesn't take up so much time. I also managed to dubbed the How to make coloured embellishments tutorial in Malay to cater to my Malaysian & Indonesian friends.






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Easter Story

Last week, I have made quite a number of cards including some commission jobs. Will share those cards in my next blog entries.

Here is a simple card design with the background wordings again. The background page was chosen for this card based on the biblical content with its first line referring to the Resurrection.

During Easter & Christmas, I try my best to make/send cards that reflect the Reason these events exist in the first place. Therefore, I have chosen not to use bunnies or baby chicks on my Easter cards.

I love watching the heat embossing seal image/sentiment on to paper. It's like magic every time :)


Sharing this card at these challenges below :

Bearly Mine - Easter
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Easter / Spring
Whoopsi Daisy - Buttons or Bows
Paper Mill - Easter
Polka Doodles - Distressing





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I Am Back!

Glad to be making cards again. I have been admiring this recent trend for postcards and posters the past months - image on a background of wordings.

So here is my take of the trend using heat embossing.

It has been ages since I joined any of these challenges. Surprised And a little sad when I discovered some of the challenge blogs I followed have been discontinued. 


Submitting this card for these challenges :
My Mum's Craft Shop Blog - Spring Has Sprung
Bearly Mine Challenges - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday's Challenge Blog -  Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenges - Embossing
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Add A Sentiment
Stamp and Create - Spring is Coming
Paper Playtime - Sentiment Stamp
The Pink Elephant - Anything Goes
Kaboodle Doodles - Blings
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - All That Glitters


 
So, what do you think? Please leave a comment. I could use a bit of encouragement. A kind word goes a long way. :) 




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The Dreamer

Dear friends,

So much has happened the past weeks. I have yet to digest each and every one of them. The gloomy winter doesn't seem to help either. But I want to remember today as my first brighter day since the start of February.

I would like to share this following video with all crafters, designers... & dreamers. 
Dare yourself to dream (again). 
If there's no dream, there's no hope. 
If there's no hope, there is no life.
 

Take baby steps if you must. Dream a little, live a little. If everything seems too difficult, I heard chocolates help :) Apparently, chocolates is the answer to every question.


P/S : Missing you Jiffy Jeff, the Dreamer friend.

Chinese Valentines

10th of February, is the first day of Chinese New Year this year. The front window where my craft corner is, has been decorated with some chinese red paper cutting art. As Valentines Day is also around the corner, it has been even easier for fellow chinese here to find red clothes to celebrate the CNY.

CNY to me is about family... & food. This year, I would not be able to reunite with my parents and I am already missing the local food back home.

Meantime, I just made these birthday cards for my mum & an in-law and had them delivered a.s.a.p.

 
Hope they would like it.





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The Big 3

So, how does it feel to be 30?

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Artist in action...

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Alive :)

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What A Sewprise!

This morning, I was waken up by someone knocking on the front door. The delivery guy placed a box on the side of my gate. I stared at it in amazement. I doubted if it got delivered to the right address. I checked for my name... yes, it stated my name. The packaging itself told me what it was - a Singer sewing machine!!!

I stood there for a while thinking who would have sent it. The delivery guy asked if anything was wrong and I replied in a dreamy voice, "No... it's just that... I was not expecting this. It is a surprise gift". He chuckled and said,"Okay, enjoy then".


Later that day, I found out it was from my brother & sister-in-law. So thoughtful of them. Best birthday gift ever!




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The Christmas Month

This December was almost as busy as the last. After I presented & submitted my garment design, I had a little bit of breathing gap before I went on a trip to Amsterdam & Brussels.

It was a fulfilling time with my in-laws. We experienced love that reflects the Christmas spirit. How wonderful!

I managed to make some Christmas postcards & cards for my folks and delivered them in time. I realized how I missed making cards.

I look forward to some blessed restful time at cosy home with my hubby this Christmas. As the London public transports & eateries would be down on Christmas Day, we would definitely stock up our fridge. We won't want to be stuck at home with no food! Ahaks.

Merry Christmas, bloggers.




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My Life-size Origami Skirt

The fashion design presentation day cum CRIT for my precious-blood-and-sweat garment came (literally meant the 'blood' bit - poked my fingers with the sewing needle umpteen times). It would be an understatement to say I was nervous. But I was really prepared & fortunately the judges were pleased with my presentation & design concept.

I shan't bore you with the whole garment making details. So, let's let the photos do the talking...

    

       

        

What do you think?





Apparently, my work has been featured on the design school's website, blog & tumbler.


All in all, I think my ability to produce a presentation book and the right choice of concept made it to impress all members of the floor. I would say I could do with more practise on sewing manually & with the machine. :)

Mission Accomplished.







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