The Amazing Race

Just finished watching the re-play of the current "The Amazing Race" on AXN. I am excited to know the cowboys and the dating models are still in the top 4, and the next leg would be the determination leg on top 3 to the final. The polices have been doing pretty well in the first few legs but fall short this time. They were the last to arrive in the Shanghai but since it was not the elimination round, they are still safely through the next leg.

Who are you betting to be in the final? For me, it would be the cowboys, the models and polices to be through the final. I don't quite like the brothers (Dan and Jordan), they are too sissy and sometimes in the legs, too emotional. Never know how they had survived this far.....

Global Roaming

Back in the late 80’s I had an album; it may have even been one of my first CD’s, or maybe a cassette tape, I can’t remember which. The title of the album was Cosmic Thing and the band was the B-52’s. There was a song on that album that has stuck with me all these years, it is called Roam. Needless to say it is about traveling with a free spirit. The phrase that stuck with me in that song is roam if you want to, roam around the world and I think it must have had a subliminal effect of my creative side.

This is a travel collection I have designed and I think that maybe somewhere in the recesses of my mind the B-52’s are bopping around in this art. I even remember the album cover having some psychedelic blend of the same colors I used in this collection. Well, coincidence or not, here is my own free-spirited travel collection that I have called Global Roaming.

Since I have designed this collection for the younger crowd, I also prototyped a number of product ideas that might appeal to them. This is one of the collections I have displayed in my show and I wanted to share the ideas here. It is a mix between travel icons and funky patterns targeting that age group that I used to be while bopping around in my first apartment to the B-52’s.

Happy Thoughts for April 30th, 2010

(source)

Things that made me happy today:

• It's Friday!!
• My sore throat is gone, yay!
• I've been trying to get on a better sleep scheduel and so far I've been able to (mostly) stick to it.
• I found my sunglasses (I lost them last weekend).
• I got a good bit of crafty stuff done this week.

What's been making you happy lately?

Springtime in Paris

Mon Chéri is a collection for those in love, even if it’s puppy love. The setting is Paris, and the mood is amour. You cannot fully appreciate the mood without the traditional symbols for the city of love; the Eiffel Tower and the french poodle. Add a charming café and a flower cart and the setting is complete.

This collection was transformer from a valentine I designed for my gal pals a few years back. It is one of my favorite valentines from the handmade creations over the last twenty years. Here are a few images of the valentine with its detailed bits and a charming candy box to complete the sweetness.

I think I'm getting a cold...

 I don't know how this happened because I haven't been anywhere this week. At first I just figured my throat was feeling scratchy because of allergies but now it's sore. It's more sore than allergies should make it. So somehow I caught a cold, without going anywhere mind you, right before the weekend starts...Bah humbug I say!

I'm just going to eat a bunch of fruit and drink a bunch of juice and pretend like that's going to make everything better by tomorrow. It sounds like a good plan to me, even though I generally eat a lot of fruit and drink a lot of juice (shhh! the cold doesn't have to know that). Right now I'm trying to sneak attack it with some cantaloupe (my poor mom keeps cutting up whole cantaloupes only to have me eat almost all of it, I can't help myself!).

So now that I've taken some medicine to dull the aches and pains I'm going to work on some things that have been rattling around in my head for a long time now that are for a very special boy in less than a month ^_^

Deal with teething

I am down with cough and flu.....again!

I was knocked out yesterday, slept almost the whole day and found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. It did not help much with Baby Jay being a 8 months old baby just have his first 2 teeth coming out from his bottom gum.

Baby Jay has fever twice; once last week and once early this week. After few intake of panadol, he is getting well. However noticed that he loves to put everything into his mouth. Teething is not a small issue for young babies, it tends to give babies discomfort and grumpiness. And what can parents do to make their babies comfortable? Here are some tips I read and hope it could help other parents with teething babies. It helps mine; not totally but minimise the discomfort my baby has.

1. Boil and then freese a facecloth/napkin. These are easy for babies to handle and easy for mums to store. Let babies suck the facecloth/napkin.

2. I don't know about other babies, my Baby Jay loves hard stuff. He does not fancy the soft teether, so I gave him a silver spoon. Like the facecloth, I place a silver spoon into the freezer for a while before giving to Baby Jay. It soothes the gum. Just don't leave your baby alone with the spoon.

3. Is your baby not eating the way she used to? Teething may be the reason. Baby Jay started to drink less milk since he has his teething, however he takes small meals of white porridge. Sometimes he hardly eat or drink for a day, but the following day his appetite cames back. Try giving your baby a gum massage before mealtimes, nursing or the bottle. Missing a couple of meals is not a disaster, but if she continues to say no for a day or so, you must contact your doctor.

4. Gripewater is known for relieving colic as well as effective for teething. Although it may not eliminate the teething pains, it can help out with tummy upset that often accompanies it.

Frisbee Massacre

I tried to play frisbee with the puppy we found and he shredded it to piece like it was no big deal. It was like watching someone pull apart string cheese. I really want to play frisbee with him but I don't know if I should risk putting another one in the line of fire. He did let me throw it a couple of times for him before he destroyed it.

Sad frisbee is sad :(

Oh! My mom took him for a ride today and said he was super well behaved. He sat very calmly in the back seat and didn't bark at any people walking by or anything like that. He just sat there and watched everything go by and enjoyed it. He's so well behaved in so many ways with a little bit of training I think he'll be one of the best dogs I've ever known.

Something to Cherish

In just a few short weeks we will be celebrating a first time event in our home. It is time for our daughter to graduate from high school and it is a bitter sweet time for me. She is a wonderful daughter, which all parents want, but more than that she has become a dear friend. I’ve heard the stories about difficult times with teenage daughters. Well, in this home we have been blessed with quite the opposite. The last four years, those trying teenage years, have been the best years I have ever had with my daughter. I wish for all you moms out there, who do have daughters, the same blessing I have received every day of my sweet daughter’s life.

During the past few months I have had the privilege of working on a project for mothers and daughters. I can’t share all of the secrets yet, but I hope that when the time comes, and the product is available, many of you with daughters will not only be able to get this product, but will be able to share it with her as a memory that only a mother and daughter can have.

Here are some patterns from this collection. I have named it Cherish, as I think it best describes something you hold dear. The designs are soft, they are sweet, they are graceful and a bit playful. They are how I see what I hold dear to my heart, my daughter.

May you always cherish the daughter you have been blessed with, as I have cherished mine.

Lady Gaga: Paparazzi

I get so annoyed by having to plan every little thing out. This morning for instance, I'm in a lot of pain so I need to eat so that I can take some ibuprofen to hopefully take the edge off. The thing is I'm not really hungry but I know I wont be able to get anything that requires movement done until I get medicine >.< I think I'm still paying for going to see a movie on Saturday. I should be able to spontaneously go and see a movie without it hurting me days later. Please excuse my mini-rant.

Ok, on to nicer things...a couple weeks ago I gave myself a Lady Gaga/ Paparazzi inspired manicure. I didn't get any decent pictures but I'm going to try to shoot a video tutorial soon so that you can see them.



Oh by the way, the movie we saw was Kick Ass and it was awesome.

Beau Nouveau

I am sharing a floral line I deigned that is called Beau Nouveau, or translated, new beauty. I developed this collection from a valentine I sent out a few years back. The meaning, or theme from this card is beauty, but most importantly, beauty within. I used two different quotes in the card that share my sentiment. One is, “beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” The other is, “anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” I do think that seeing beauty in art, nature, your family; anything that warms your heart does keep you young, or at least young at heart.

Here is the valentine that inspired the collection. I designed the card in an different colorway than the Beau Nouveau collection. When you love color, you can’t be limited to just one colorway. :)

Eu Yan Sang for the kids

Both kids have a continuous series of sickness and with H1N1 still on alert mode, we need to take the necessary prevention. And what ever other parents recommend, we would try it out.

A friend of my SIL recommended Eu Yan Sang's Bo Ying powder as the friend's daughter like my girl always have series of flu and cold since start schooling. After taking Bo Ying a year ago, her daughter never have any sickness.

Don't know it is true or what, my daughter's flu gone after taking the compound for 2days. She has running nose more than a week ago and after I gave her Bo Ying, the running nose has gone. I even let my Baby Jay take Bo Ying but a very small amount into his milk.



6 small bottles for RM33.00! Phew, expensive powder, so I give little gal's half bottle every alternate day.

Heard that snow jelly (Xue Ge Gau) also help in strenghten lung and body immune, so I bought a pack of uncooked snow jelly to try. Should have add some red dates, as the smell of the snow jelly is not that nice. My girl hardly take the snow jelly, so end up hubby and myself finished them up. I still have half pack left, so maybe I will try it with some red dates. Hmm, what else to add to make the taste better?

A second hand

We went to few used car dealer shops this week. Hubby is helping an uncle who is looking for a 4-wheel drive. And it tempted me to buy one myself. A second hand car (Mazda) for only RM20,000. Well, it looks good from what I can see but not so sure on the condition of the car parts. Maybe I have to get advice from my dad. He himself just bought a second hand Harrier, which still look brand new inside out.

Enough.

Enough.

I still have my old girl; she is still in good condition. And I do not have money allocated for a new car.

On another note, I was clearing some old baby clothing for a friend. A friend is going to deliver next month so she is asking for baby clothing. Since I am planning to "close factory", I might as well give the stuff away. The new baby needs them more. And how much storage container I have save from all those clearing......Yes, can store books and other stuff into them; to be moved to new house later.

RetroDeco

Retro: Imitative of a style, fashion or design from the past.

Deco: Short for Art Deco—the predominant decorative art style of the 1920’s and 1930’s, characterized by precise and boldly delineated geometric shapes and strong colors, and used most notably in household objects and architecture. Shortened from the French to mean decorative art.

Well, I can’t say it better than the dictionary. This is the only collection that I have created entirely with masculine appeal. The colors, the shapes, the mood; all from the inspiration of the Deco period.

Whether it be a McCoy vase or the Chrysler building in New York City, there is almost nothing I can’t appreciate about this period in art. The artists of that time were amazing. Their style and attention to detail was found in fashion, fabrics, home decoratives, furniture, jewelry, perfume bottles, transportation, archetecture; just about anything designed in the 20’s and 30’s. Fortunately, much of it can still be appreciated from a trip into a large city, or a trip to ebay.

Two years ago I displayed this collection at the show in a style I felt most fitting for the mood of these designs. Here are the photos of that display.

If you’re looking for a dapper tie, come on by! If you’d like wall covering for your renovated deco home, I’ve got just the paper. If you need some flair in the air for the upholstery in your 747, the sky’s the limit. If you’re a blog-junky looking for a little eye-candy, try my sweet to the core baby and feminine collections. Pick a post, any post, starting just a few days back. But, if you want a manwich (tell me that doesn’t date me:) you’ve got the meal-deal with this collection.

In just a few short weeks I’ll be headed to the large city and I’ll take a moment out to appreciate that best example of all Deco arts, the Chrysler building.

All the way

Distance is not an issue when it comes to good food. And I really mean it. You can say we are "giving face" to a friend who just operate a Foochow specialty stall in Batu Kawa, but if you are looking for good Foochow food, the drive is worth it.

Chin Yuan Yuan coffee shop is just after the big bridge in Batu Kawa. Our friend just rented a stall for its kampua, mee sua and kong pia business. The kampua and mee sua are great but what I really like to recommend is its kong pia.



Minced meat filled kongpia, RM0.70 per piece. The kong pia size may not that desirable but it is sure crunchy and tasty. I don't remember tasting a great kong pia in Kuching. So you must give it a try.

After our tasty Foochow breakfast yesterday morning, we went to our new house in MJC since it is on the way back. We got the keys from the developer the day before and gosh! There are some minor rectification need to be done from the developer's side, like the leaking ceiling in our car pouch, wet paint on the wall in our main bedroom and the hollow in one of the stairs. So they need to make good before final handover to us. The neighbour next door is also doing some renovation, so I guess they would be moving in soon. Hmm, before I am busy with my shop, I will do some hunting and planning for my house first! Oh dear! Busy me!

Into the MLM world

MLM is nothing new to most of you. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved or link to any MLM corporation. MLM which is synonymous with direct selling is like a magic itself. MLM is nothing but copycat and duplication of networks.

In my previous company I have joined a famous MLM company. I like its products but never keen on expanding my network and thought of obtaining financial freedom from it. The plan is perfect but it needs hard work. I were not a sales person. My upline kept pushing me, and getting me to attend talks but that time I did not see the potential and urge to push forward. Talking about the marketing plan and doing network was way above my league. I still join this company and used some of its products.

Hubby is another person that I knew involved in few MLM companies. It is not like he wants to, but forced to. Just to "help" a friend, he said. Lol! How many of you telling me that you join direct selling willingly??? Elken, Melelia, are some of the direct selling companies he joined. And every months I could received up to 5 direct selling catalogues for him. Just 6 months ago, he was introduced to another direct selling company. Cosway!

Yes, and that how I am involved into the business. I am back into MLM. Recently Cosway started to spread its wing to opening more retail shops around Malaysia and we are one of the store operators that applying for the retail shop operation. So for the past 6 months I have been busy with the application, interview and training. Some blogger friends were wondering what I am doing currently, so that is what I have been busy about. Getting ready for the shop. It is a long procedure but hopefully everything will be finalised by next month.

So if you do not see me much around the blogging world, you know what I am busy about. Guys, wish me luck okay?

The Lovely Puppy

We're still searching for a home for the stray we found living under our house. He's gotten way past being shy around us and now loves to play and get cuddles all the time. He's such a sweet dog. I hope we can find him a really good home soon.

He was nice enough to pose for a few pictures yesterday so I thought I'd share them:

Quotable Quotes: April 21st, 2010

Eric Erlandson (former Hole guitarist) on Courtney Love:

How is your personal relationship with Courtney today?

I have no idea what it’s like to live a single day in her shoes. I try to focus on the beautiful, strong, courageous soul inside her and not get caught up in the debris of the outer shell. I hope someday she’ll be in a good place and be able to see our time together in a new light.

(source)

Bits & Snips

Bits & Snip, the Earthen collection

There are a number of basic patterns that have shown up with slight variations within my collections. Well, in the spirit of recycling I have now compiled them into a collection of their own named Bits & Snips. This basic set of designs can be easily combined with many of the themes I create.

I have designed a multitude of colorways and wanted to share them with you. It’s hard to pick a favorite color palette, as I believe just about any color has beauty when used in the right combination. And it’s hard to say some colors are in, when all colors are in, just in the right way and with the right mixes.

I will be the first to admit that 80’s sea-foam green, mauve and country blue replaced 70’s harvest gold, avocado green and poppy red. However, any color can have its place any given decade, as long as it knows what color-neighbors to live next to and what kind of lighting makes it most lovely. This is how we get to enjoy all the hues whether they are bright, muted, pastel, drab, compliments, tonal and even neutrals. So, enjoy Bits & Snips in all its many colors!

Bits & Snip, the Vineyard collection

Bits & Snip, the Harvest collection

Bits & Snip, the Holiday collection

Bits & Snip, the Soothing collection

Bits & Snip, the Sherbet collection

Bits & Snip, the Essentials collection

Bits & Snip, the Springtime collection

Bits & Snip, the Sunshine collection

Back to normal

After good sleep last night, I feel very good today. No more headache, dizziness and hangover from lack of sleep the night before.

I got my trading license this morning. Yes. My very own company under my name. Happy. Now I can proceed with my next plan. I also make final payment to my developer and by this afternoon, I can collect my house key. So another house added to my name (more like joint name with hubby lah). *wink*

Everything supposed to be smooth but sometimes things turn unexpected on you. And that involve cost. Like my air-con for instance. We installed the new aircon about 8 months ago and few night ago I have some problem switching it on. So after calling our contractor to check on it yesterday, we found out about its faulty wiring. So need to re-do the wiring later. Same time get them to pull out additional point in our bedroom. We have been sharing one point for air-con, computers and fax, so it is overloaded. So need to pull additional cable and point for the electronic appliances.

So guys if your house like mine, with 4 air con unit and like old house, mostly not enough of powerpoints in bedroom, probably you can get your contractor to check on your wiring once in blue moon or upgrade to 3-phase. It may be costly but safety is the priority here. I am getting my new house electrical load to be upgraded.

Yawning

I need to get a nap after this......I have been yawning the morning away. Did not do much, supposed to take nap after sending both kids away, but could not get an eye shut. So instead, I follow hubby out. First, went to view a second hand car for his uncle who is interested in 4-wheels vehicle. Then had breakfast with him at Hui Sing.

Now we are in hubby's office, he is talking to customers on some properties in Kuching while I am online. I wonder how long I could hold myself. We would definitely stayed in office till lunch time and then sending off the customers to bus station later. Sigh!

Modern Basics Geared for Toddlers

Another collection I have been working on for the show in a few weeks is geared for the parents of babies who prefer a modern style, thus the name ModTod. It’s basic without boring, it’s tech without geek, it’s whimsy without fancy. The colors are so cool, they’re hot. What more could you want? :)

When we had our baby boy almost thirteen years ago I would have loved to find prints out in this style, and I’m not even mod or tech. The gears say it all. Our boy, who is totally tech, inspired this collection. He’s always inventing, always constructing and always gearing up for the next engineering project.

When he was born I found a vintage illustration that I used for his baby announcement. It is of a toddler examining the mechanics of a kitchen egg beater. We thought it the perfect icon for what we imagined our baby boy might be about, at least as he grew older. Funny, that’s just as it seems all these years later.

So, to those who are more contemporary than traditional, more mod than retro, more less than more, I present ModTod.

Happy Bunday! April 18th, 2010

Happy Thoughts for April 16th, 2010

 (source)

Things that made me happy today:

• I get to see my wonderful boyfriend in just a few more hours <3
• I'm going to Criminal Records for Record Store Day on Saturday. You can find records stores that are participating on their site if you want to check it out.
• That I was able to make food in advance for my boyfriend and I to eat this weekend. This way I'll have time to help him clean up and destress more.
• I painted my nails with a cool Lady Gaga/ Paparazzi inspired design (I'll try to post pictures soon).
• I ordered myself this new dress.

My kind of ABC

After almost 2 years, I finally go back to aerobic class this morning. I attended the morning session in Hui Sing this morning. A bit rusty after so many months of lay off, but I am glad to be able to sweat and do some work out again. I will definitely continue the class while I am free to do so in the morning. And not only I attended aerobic class, I also get sweaty in the kitchen.

I am getting better at cooking soups. My first time on ABC soup, and what I like about soups is they are simple to prepare. just throw everything into a pot of boiling water. And why they are called ABC, my daughter asked me. She did not see any alphabets in the soup. It is called ABC because it is supposed to be full of vitamins and nutrients. Correct me if I am wrong.

I used carrots, potatoes, big onions,and chicken meat for my ABC soup. You can add tomatoes and salted mustard for savoury and salty tastes but I like my ABC soup to be sweeter. You can thaw the chicken first so your soup wouldn't be that oily. Simmer for an hour and then add a teaspoon of salt to taste. Voila! Ready to serve.



On another note, check out my new hair cut. Nice or not? If you are wondering why I took a snap in front of staircase, it is because while waiting for hubby to collect some documents in a lawyer firm upstairs, I was loitering around the staircase and decided to snap a shot of myself out of boredom. *wink*

My tree will be planted

Yes! I checked my e-mail this morning and got the following reply to my previous post :

thank you so much for participating in our initiative and making your blog carbon neutral! Your tree will be planted this month by the Arbor Day Foundation. The scheduled start plant date is Monday, April 19 and the trees will be planted by a contracted crew. The roads are being plowed, all contracts solidified, and twelve shipments of 150,000 seedling each are being assembled. We thank you for the support!

There are still some trees looking for a sponsor. So if you know some people who have a blog or website, pass it on and we'll make their blogs carbon neutral too!

So friends, please give your support to this meaningful programme. Thanks.

Out of the woods . . . and into the world

Today I get to share my favorite children’s collection. I started developing it when I was three, wearing a little woodland dress and being a bit of an imp from the woods, myself. Well, that’s a bit of a stretch, but the seed was planted back in that little forest of long ago.

The collection, Woodland Tails, is scattered about with enchanted creatures of the forest floor, and walls and any other place you can only image this little gathering of charming misfits. They did find a home to call their own, but I can’t share that location with you, not quite yet. I will let you know where and when to find the gang and how to adopt them into your own home.

I have the little creatures packed up and ready for display again this year for my show in May. A couple of years ago I took them along when the gang was just beginning to gather, but now they are a full pack, ready to assemble in the Big Apple. I will share those Woodland Tails remixed photos from the show once I’m back, but until then, I have a few pics from the Woodland Tails premixed show from 2007.

The fun thing about this collection is that it has appeal to a wide age-range. It can charm the babies and the babes. My seventeen year old just altered her composition book with the pattern of the creatures intertwined-with-vines on a bright poppy ground. The coral canvas shoes are another fave of hers.