Merry X'mas Gang!!!

I have waited so long to post this. The girls in Singapore should be receiving their packages on Christmas Eve. Fen in London should get it early next week, and Von in Chicago should be getting it 2 weeks after (sorry Von! I have not sent out yours for some funky reasons. You'll know later! Haha...)


NO! I did not sew the bears. All I did was embroider your names on scarves for these little stuffed animals. Each bear is a little different. Ladies, I picked one randomly for each for you (closed my eyes, said your name and grabbed one on the table.) No favoritism alrighty? ^___^

Roll Call time!!!

PY THE OLDER!


VON!


YJ THE GOON!


AH FEN!


CM!


AHMAH!

PY THE YOUNGER!


LASTLY, ME!


Just want to tell all of you I miss you! I miss home terribly. Next X'mas, I shall be home having fried carrot cake (and chilli crabs, hokkien prawn noodles, char kuey tiao, bak kut teh, satay & the best chicken rice in the world.)

Take care and enjoy the happy holidays!!! *MUAK*

Yay!!! Gingham Ribbons in the Store!

Hooorayyyy! I finally have gingham ribbons in the store. Actually, the real "motive" to purchase them in bulk is to make some funky stuff for my kid. I know it's too cute and sweet (especially the 2 pinks) and I had told myself (before being preggie) that I absolutely would NOT color-code my children with pinks and blues, but I find myself eating my words. I just bought a pink and grey rocking chair today. *gasp*

Okie! No more pinks. I'll shop for cool neutrals for my baby. And a chocolate or khaki stroller. And no cutesy graphics on the cot bedding. Well, that's even more un-do-able than chocolate ice-cream! How can any mommy resist all the cuteness?!?

What a White Christmas

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." The magnetic voice of Elvis kept drumming in my ears, in the silence of my cold empty apartment.

This will be the start of a lonely week since S. is away for a bit, but strangely I don't feel at all that bad this time round. Maybe it's because of my little one inside me (feel her somersaulting on some days,) or maybe it's because I'm so preoccupied being crafty (ha! I mean doing craft work.)



I have been sewing, finishing a bag (very belated bday gift for friend) and making cards. Yes, making X'mas cards when it's now too late to send out to friends overseas. Seems like I would never changed my attitude to "Never late than never." But hey, doesn't Christmas last 12 days?


These Christmas cards are similar in construction to Miu~ cards. Love the sheer simplicity and very rich texture of white card and embroidery laces. I have been having a thingie for white stuff lately. Been looking at white nurseries, white swaddling blankets and even a white-ish stroller (is it really impractical to get a white stroller?)



Okie, sorry to be distracted, back to the cards. I am very pleased to be invited to do a guest post on Chickedee-Chickedee today. My first contact with Ruth, lovely cheerful lady behind this blog was many months back via Etsy. She recently came to my little store, and I'm really delighted to be able to touch base again. When she asked if I would be keen to do a post, topic being anything craft related, I was very excited and thought I'll do a tutorial again. I realize it's one of those things people do bother to read in detail.


I won't go into the full tutorial on my blog, as you could view full steps on how to make this white-on-white X'mas card here on Chickedee-Chickedee. Of course, if you have no laces at home, you could drop by my little craft supply store! ^___^

Merry Christmas everyone! To family (though mom has yet to figure out how to turn on her 1-year-old iMac,) to friends (though you don't know your talented friend has a blog,) to strangers (thank you, you probably are the only ones chancing upon this.)

8 days more to go!!!

DIY: White on White X'mas Tags

5 top reasons why I've hesitated putting up tutorials on my blog. This is what I imagine readers think:

1) It's so damn easy, anyone could do it. We don't need to see it step by step!
2) A million people have done it, aren't you a little sloooowww?
3) You have like 50 views on your blog in a year. Who do you imagine teaching?
4) I saw this before in a book! Are you plagiarizing without any guilt?
5) Are those your nails? You need a manicure badly girl.

Today I finally overcome my silly fears and am putting up some photos and steps to show you how to make some freaking simple X'mas tags. White on white remains a true classic, and with the contrast of textures, you'll find that tracing paper can often be more delightfully used than mere trace work.


There will be steps to show you 2 tags made from the same materials. Really simple. Easy-peasy. :)



An overview of the materials needed. I am using tracing paper and a metallic white cardstock to create some shimmery snowflakes



Cut cardstock and tracing paper to preferred size. Mine's 6 by 15cm (2.5" by 6")



Use a 1-eye hole punch to create openings on both ends of the short side.



Cut ribbon lengths of approx. 18-20cm. Seal the sides with a lighter to prevent fraying.







Tie a flat knot. It's easier to use a double-sided ribbon, but if you use one sided ribbons, it might be worth looking at a simple tutorial on flat knots here.



Almost done. Just 1 more step.



Use a punch with a X'mas motif. I have one with a snowflake. Punch snowflakes on the tracing paper, as and where you please. DONE!!!!



Now we're off the 2nd tag.




Fold cardstock and tracing paper into halves.



Create cut-outs with punch.



Cut ribbon to length of approx. 15 cm. Put double sided tape on 1 end.



Secure both tracing paper and cardstock with ribbon.



Done!!!



Yayyy!!!

Another Fine Day! Featured in Scoutie Girl!

I woke up yesterday and had the most lovely surprise (it's as good as a surprise party I'm telling you...) I had a message from Jan, talented textile designer behind Daisy Janie, and writer at Scoutie Girl, which features fabulous finds from indie designers and artists. It was a really encouraging message and she told me she wrote about my cards in her blog. I couldn't believe my eyes and started jumping up and down. Normally I would snooze a little after checking my emails, but yesterday's was a tip-tap morning in the kitchen. I fixed a quick breakfast, and got back to my desk to re-read it again! Woooah! It's real!

You could read more about the feature here. I am very grateful to have Miu~ written about. While she doesn't yearn for excessive fame and attention, she's glad that more people are reading about some of her stories.

Hip Hip Hooray! Miu~ off to a new home...

I'm so excited I sold my first Miu~ card. It's one of my favorite too. Have been keeping busy with card making. It turns out to be really relaxing and therapeutic. Honestly, I had been so distracted and busy with so other things (somewhat unimportant) and got so focused on my pregnant woes that I have forgotten the joy of crafting and baking. I'm so glad to be in touch again.

Here are some photos of my creations. Though tedious to make, it's loads of fun matching the colors and cutting minute pieces of fabrics.










I also have a very bad habit of tracking the number of views of each card on Etsy. Well, I don't get many views in my store to start with, but it keeps me excited and all hyped up about which card has the most appeal, even if it tops the chart by a mere 5-10 views.

Okie, I think it's time to start thinking of a new series. The last (and only) series is sofa-centric. I'm hoping to start something for the kitchen and bedroom. Time to start drawing again! There's always a big inertia for me to start sketching. I guess I'm more of a penknife-and-scissors than a pen-and-pencil person.

Really glad someone bought a card from me! I hope I have a happy customer. Can't wait for the card to reach its new home miles away.

The Magic 500

I was looking through some page views on my online shop, and I kind of got a shock at this one, with 500 views in a month. Well, I think I never seen many of my items close to 200 views, least say 500. I am not sure what happened, maybe it was featured, or maybe item views had a bug? (NOOO!!!! hope not...)

Then, I went to take a look at the number of hearts, it was really nice to be hearted by 500 users! Not that it is many by comparison (I think many great sellers have thousands), but it still put a little smile on my face.

I'll do a post to commemorate any "1000" figure, if I should ever reach that.

Off to bed to dream about 500 hearts, 500 cookies, 500kg of luscious chocolates, 500yards of funky fabrics...

Zzzzzz..... ^_-

Miu~ continued...

It was Sha's birthday in the end of April, and I made her a card to remind her to keep her promise. I am not sure if she likes pink floral, she isn't too girlie, more womanly I should think, but one thing about folks who seem too "cool" sometimes behave (or restrain) to upkeep the reputation. We have yet to meet up, and I am highly skeptical if she remembers our bet. I bought so much paper, made a few feeble attempts to add new designs (but not very successful) and am even looking for a scoring machine to try keep this promise. She BETTER remembers. ^_^

Well, Miu~ is back. I have 6 more designs, all sofa-centric. Here's a sneak preview of 1 of them. The pink & black is Sha's. This design can be customized with a date.







I ought to find a way to sell them, or I won't have much motivation to make more... Okie, will think of ways! Maybe another shop on Etsy? Hmm, maybe. Oh, just a little side-track, I once rented a slot in a flea market at Tanglin (shopping area in Singapore) more than 10 years ago. We (technically I was the one who rented, but 3-5 other friends came at different times to help man/hang around the store) had a little floor space of about 1m by 1.5m to place our goodies. I probably only had 20-30 cards for sale, and I sold 1, the ONLY one I didn't hand make!! How more encouraging can this be for a teenager with budding aspirations to be an artist of some sort. Is this a bad omen for Miu~ cards? Oh noooooo....... noooooooooo!!! Somebody wipe this bad memory off me!!

P.S. After thought of flea market experience: Maybe over-zealous friends had overcrowded store and blocked the views of potential buyers. Yes, I think that MUST be the very reason.