Bone tired ...

I've been baking all week ... was so preoccupied I hadn't had the chance to take much photos of my cakes. Made about 20 cakes this week ... even if I had things all organized and baked 'at leisure' (unlike last year's the 20 cakes in a weekend), its still has been a tiring week, with the one million and one last minute things to do before the Chinese New Year and the cakes to bake in between...

... which leaves me no at all to scrap!

But here's wishing all of you who celebrate the Chinese New Year , a Happy and Healthy Chinese New Year! 'Nian Nian Yu Ye' ... ;)

A shift in focus ....

So i admit, there's a certain lull in the paper creativity department. Other pursuits have taken precedence. Since I've more or less made enough cards to send out to friends and family, am now focusing baking - the Chinese New Year after all is just around the corner.

Been planning my baking load - with Gantt Chart and all (!). I've got at last a dozen orders to fulfil before the eve of the Chinese New Year and before the actual baking frenzy there's alot to do in terms of preparations and organization.

Its going to be mad the next few days - baking into the wee hours of the morning. Very tiring too. But there's always a sense of achievement at the end of it all ... someone somewhere out there is enjoying the cakes of my hard work!

And also, there's the novelty of that new blog of mine - a current fascination. Since I got the DSLR, I've been taking loads of pictures of the dogs. Figured, since I've always wanted to write a tale of something someday, I might as well start with my dogs. And so it is, Tuffy's Tales i.e. www.tuffytails.blogspot.com

You're welcome to view that anytime ...

CNY cards

Made a few more Chinese New Year cards since the last post. Was so caught up in getting them posted realised (too late) while I was lining the latest batch of cards to be pictured that a few of the new batch of cards are well on its way across the seas to their various recipients. No harm done, just my pictorial record of cards made would not quite be as complete. No loss really. Designs really evolve with time and experience.

I really enjoyed making this year's CNY cards though esp. breaking out of the mould of cards are made out of 'all bits of paper'. This year's cards had tassels and paper pussy willows cut to size. I guess with all that CNY decorations up in abundance one simply can't help but be inspired.

As i write this, its been raining daily for almost a week now and I can't help but notice my papers - the cardstock base I've been using are begining to warp with moisture! Its already bad clothes don't dry in the day (unless you have a dryer) but to see one's paper collection wilt with moisture is more than one can bear. I think I need a dehumidifier! Not sure where to find one of those machines ... the only place I know use them are museums.

I suppose on the bright side, the sun will come out again (only a matter of time now) and things will dry out eventually - my beautiful papers ...! Its a good thing they are alot hardier than antiquarian books and documents. Am not always this optimistic. But its a new year, time to 'turn over a new leaf'. ;)

Shanghai Tang Hues

Inspired by Jazzie's collection of Chinese New Year cards (thanks K for sharing!), I've spent the last few nights pottering on my version of CNY greetings.Admittedy, had it not been K's designs I would still be at the 'drawing board' - listlessly uninspired.

My first hand made CNY card made last year was origami inspired. I wanted to do something different this year but didn't know what until I saw K's ingenious use of tassels.

Purposely made a trip to my (now usual) ribbon/craft shop in search for tassels. Fortunately, they had some displayed else I would be lost at how to describe tassels in Chinese. I also thought those paper 'pussy willows' (one of those great many things closely associated with Chinese New Year) that was being sold could also be used in those CNY cards - giving cards that added dimensions and textures though making it a little bit harder to be enveloped and posted! (well, if we're starting on tassels one might as well indulge!)

So here's my version of CNY cards - a matching of colours that reminded me of those rich Shanghai Tang hues i.e. vibrant brights on dark base.