Its been a year since ...

...the discovery of paper thrills. Who would have thought the simple beginings of card making made out of fancy paper punchers painstakingly adhered together (I still have a few of my first Christmas cards) led to a finer appreciation of paper products and stationaries, the art scrapbooking, sewing and even photography!

I've since come to a greater understanding why it is important that a person has other pursuits (healthy and worthwhile, of course!) apart from work ... because for most work can sometimes be a real pain. Sometimes having to deal with crisises (usually not of one's doing), incompetences, tiresome politics and the stress that comes with the rigours of the day.

I daresay for most, work has become somewhat 'passion-less' yet, out of necessity we learn to be adept at what we do (while for some learn to be truly skillful in the art of 'busy bee-ing' while not letting others do all the work!) But for most the 'work' (whether in name or in the true sense of the word) we do at the end of the day defines us, our very identities. It's all consuming that all 'new' conversation almost always begin with the curious inquisition of 'what one does (for a living)' and old conversations end with 'work'.

Unless one revels being defined as a single-dimensional (more or less) 'work horse', picking up a hobby offers one the opportunity to 'get out the box' and to enjoy different experiences and moments that life has to offer. It's not only therapeutic, it's absorbingly enjoyable (for a change) and satisfying - to just be in one's element.

Happy new year, everyone! May all your dreams come true.

A fortunate fluke

This are the picture results of a fogged up lense - resulting from the changes in temperature (from air conditioned car to humid outdoors. I've never been able to capture 'candle lights' that particular way with my cantankerous compact ... Am more than pleased how the simple shot of the dinner table turned out.

But, ask me to repeat the effects i.e. fiddling along the technicalities of aperture width, shutter speed, filter etc. I wouldn't have a clue ...! I do however have some pretty nice pictures to be developed and scrapped ...

This be the cake ...

... that came with the card made for Dad. A cake inspired by Nigella Lawson's Christmas cook up that was shown on the Food Network recently, and the fact that Dad, though not quite having much of a sweet tooth, is a fan of fruit cakes. I suppose I could have 'dress' the cake up abit with royal icing but then it would just be too sweet to our liking :p (while royal icing minus the sugar would not be 'royal'. :p)

Joining the ranks of DLSRs ...

Finally got DSLR photo taking capabilities! Subjects now can take on that certain 'depth of field' effect - given I get all that twiddling of features 'right' and don't hold camera still enough. Am so pleased ... Its a piece of equiment that yours truly been admiring for years but never quite found enough reasons to get one until today, that is.

Woo hoo! This baby takes pretty decent photos at night without flash too!!

Now on to better pictures! Got to work on basic understanding of digital DLSRs. The chap (who also happened to be a professional photographer) that sold me the camera was giving me quizzical looks when I described certain digital terminology and effects in 'baking and scrapbooking terms' ... Got to work on acquiring a new range of technical vocabulary and photo taking skills, of course!

A birthday card for Dad

Glad I finally got this birthday card done ... I've been musing over design stage for weeks now. I had some designing block - realising I tend to gravitate towards the feminine i.e. florals, pastels ... while Dad will always appreciate a homemade card from his daughter, I wanted one that reflected something less flouncy and floral-ly.


Had card cut ou from polka dotted 'sixth avenue' paper by American Craft. The
'mini envelope'was cut out from vellum paper and bordered with glitter glue. Gleefully found I had some metal alphabets stashed in the deepest darkest corners of my drawers (forgotten treasures! sometimes it pays to dig...). Must make mental note no to acquire any more scrapbook supplies until I've taken a thorough inventory of what I actually have stashed throughout the various boxes, drawers and shelves!

Felt booties card

Imported the christmas booties idea into making christmas card - christmas felt booties hanging on clothes line, complete with mini pegs! :) Had to miniaturize the christmas booties to fit card. Used glitter glue to give booties that 'striped' looked.

Homemade Christmas Decors

More felt Christmas decorations made from own template(s) that's drawn and cut out from left over cardstock-like paper. Felt pieces (that are cut out from template) are then blanket stitched together and stuff with polyster fillers.

Christmas tree booties

Been sewing again ... this time 'twas sparked by some felt Christmas decorations sold by Russ at one of the local stores.

This is my first batch of booties to be hung up on Christmas tree. Still working on the next batch of Christmas tree decor. Will post pictures when done. :)

Altering 1-2-3

Ok, my bad. I haven't gotten round posting gift just yet. I found when i was making my way to the post office that I couldn't find a 'nice enough' envelope to house the items. Instead, I found a discarded empty box (which have fortunately hoarded) - perfect enough to hold the 'kebaya' and card without trying too hard (e.g. the folding, the squeezing etc).


I indulged myself ... its not everyday I get to play around with pink hues! So what I did was to cut out pink manila card as box base - to cover up the original box prints. Next step was to layer the pink base with matching patterned wedding wrapping paper that had to be cut out to size.

Next step came the embellishing - which was accomplished fairly simply with various bits of ribbons and lace. Admittedly there was not aforethought in the design alteration. I happily went along cutting, sticking and matching according to present fancies. Come to think of it, I probably spent more time looking for perfect fit box ...!



And there u have it, an altered gift box to nestle the 'kebaya' and card. Next step is to wrap the entire box up with brown wrapping paper, label and post to Greece.

The cookie addition ...

Tried out packaging the chocolate chunk cookies made a couple weeks back (see cookies peeking behind card). It's a trial run - for that small simple homemade Christmas gift ... I daresay, its made those humble homemade chocolate chunk cookies alot 'dressier'!

Believe cookies are long gone now ... happily devoured by some happy reciepients. The ironic thing about baking is that as much as I like to bake I don't usually get to taste the end product. By the time its 'done', have more than my fair share of cake batter (from licking remnants off spoon and fingers ;) and have somehow worked up an immunity to the delectable aromas of cakes and cookies in baking.

The next bake project are them traditional English minced pies. So pleased that can FINALLY find filling for minced pies on the island of Borneo. What used to be was that if i were lucky, I'd be able to find them at the nearest M&S supermarket -which usually requires air travel, before they run out OR reccee the most well stocked supermarket in that particular country or area; and having to pack boxes of groceries or hand carry bits (that can be quite heavy) that simply cannot be chucked into cargo. I've lugged home gammon, bags of whole wheat flour, all manner of cheeses into taxis, onto trolleys, braving the scrutiny of security, customs, immigration; and when they won't allow trolley access, literally lugged them around by hand - usually that means having to suffer some kind of muscular ache the day after ... All that trouble ... just because the local supermarkets don't have 'em!

So you can imagine the thrill of finally being able to find them here. Woo hoo hoo!

For a Greek wedding

S (the very same presenter of felt flowers and grosgrained ribbons) and I got this for a friend from Greece who's getting married in January. We wanted to give her something authentically Malaysian ... and we settled for one of those fine Nyonya intricately hand stitched blouses - which hopefully fits her!

Still unsure whether to attend or not ... checked with the country's airline carrier too - they don't fly Athens direct... the alternatives would be long, meandering and tortuous (KCH-KL-LON-ATH or KCH-KL-CDG-ATH or KCH-KL-DBX-ATH) ... and I have to admit the older I get the less excited I get about air travel. Am morbid about breathing in canned air that's probably infected with someone's cold/flu virus! And there's also the issue of logistics - moving between airport terminals. Just moving in between Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 can be another journey altogether especially when you're shackled with bulky and heavy luggage. I've not factored in security, immigration and customs checks (usually not at all friendly nor welcoming) .... nor the usually LONG queues, the stress and being jet lagged.

The card was made from some really nice white embossed 12x12 cardstock-like paper I found at the local craft shop (in KCH too!). Since it was already quite pretty, all that was needed to embellish were ribbons and a couple of mini 'bells' tied together with silver string.

So in the mean time, while that debate ensues (to go or not to go...??) in my mind, I better mosey down to the post office to get this posted before I lose track of time and the wedding has come and gone!

Out of scraps ...

... comes cards!

From my present load of scrap bits - yes hoarder that I am ... i can't bear to throw out all the itty bits of paper cut out or left over. And this is what I made out of piecing and matching the bits of paper together - like an easy jigsaw puzzle - except you're allowed to cut out pieces to size! The green Christmas trees cut out from left over cardstock. The bits of ribbons, cut out to embellish card.

Finally found some use for my snow flake eyelets that surprising held quite well ... I think I may have finally mastered the art of adhering eyelets. The last time I tried, I ended up wrecking both eyelet and paper - from my over enthusiastic banging ...The trick - is in the hammering. Must remember that am not hammering nails ... they are dainty eyelets.

Must write something about the 'American Craft' felt flowers and yards of really beautiful striped grosgrained ribbons and felt a good friend of mine presented me the other day. They were such lovely bits (thank you S!), I couldn't wait to do something about them.

Out came a flowery felt bouquet of a birthday card, made for Mom who's birthday happen to be today! Also cut out bits of that fancy grosgrain ribbon to make the Christmas tree's 'stump'.