Kalena's Studio

Merry X'mas Gang!!!

2008-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-12-22T01:06:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-17T00:08:00.000-08:00

"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

2008-11-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-11-18T06:57:00.001-08:00

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

2008-05-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-05-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

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.

Enough Ribbons for 50 years...

2008-04-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

I just commented on a close friend's blog to tell her I have enough ribbons for all of us for another 50 years, and told her not to contemplate getting any from stores. That's probably an exaggeration but now that I look at all I have stocked up in my little store, I think it could be for real (not unless, of course, if I have a lot of ribbon-fan-customers.)

I need a ribbon shelf to store them neatly. I have been toying with the idea of converting one of our rooms into a pseudo retail store, with double layers of top-hung roller shelves displaying all the laces and ribbons, and a long solid wooden shelf for fabrics. Sewing machine on an island work table. Probably another book shelf? Superb plan! Probably a patio to sit and knit? Maybe a balcony to overlook a garden of fruit trees while sketching? Yeah... a new house would work well. ^_____________^

When you have a lot of paper and linen, and no sewing machine, you make...

2008-04-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

Linen postcards!!!

Haha.. just a little creation over the weekend. Have a lot of linens in small pieces, and especially love the textural heavy ones!

xoxo...

Fabric Postcards... Kinda like them..

2008-03-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

I've gotten blisters cutting through fabric and these 407 gsm cardstock, but it fills me with an inexplicable joy and satisfaction when I get a clean and fray less cut. I love paper and I love fabric, and whilst I procrastinate getting a new sewing machine, I think these fabric postcards are a natural product from all my sewing supplies and paper bursting out of my shelves.

Cutting through such thick card kind of reminds me of model making days in architectural school, just a whole lot easier when you don't need to care about scale and it's 2-D! Woohoo!

I've posted 2 sets for sale in my store. I don't think I can make a lot of them in a day, because my rotary cutter is not strong enough and my fingers are getting quite sore. Time to go shopping for a better cutter, hur hur hur...

Filling my store...

2008-03-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

I have been listing a number of items, and I'm really pleased with how my Etsy store looks now. I have vivid pictures of how my dream store will be like (favorite past time includes daydreaming). Here are some grab screens when my favorite items are on top.

One of my favorite items are the pink and grey linen bundle, which has always been a one of favorite colour combination (after pink and brown)! I would love to get some purple and olive linen to make some coasters and aprons, but having said that, you'd be stunned to know I am still shopping for a sewing machine? I have a terrible habit of buying things in the wrong sequence (if I ever mentioned I bought a standing cake mixer before getting an oven?) Haha... something I have issues understanding myself, a little too haphazard and impulsive I think!

Okie, I guess I should concentrate on getting a nice little sewing machine instead of more fabrics then!

Giftwrapping - Baby gifts

2008-03-01T23:27:00.000-08:00

I must have procrastinated more than 1 month to wrap these presents. S. finally remarked that I do it soon, before the baby stuff didn't fit the babies anymore. Ha! Little did he knew I was smart not to get clothes and what-not that wouldn't fit over time. I love to shop for baby stuff, they are so tiny and cute, but when it comes to buying baby clothes for friends' newborns, I resist every temptation to get even 2-3 sizes bigger than their present size. I heard they grow really quickly, and don't you think they look so snug and comfy wrapped in blankies? So I usually get photo albums, photo frames, blankies, burpies and stuff for mommy. Recently 4 of my ex-colleagues had new additions to the family. Great time to hit the stores again.. hee hee... and to the paper shops. I am a total packaging freak.

I came across this Japanese giftwrapping book which uses lots of fabrics. Really pretty, and I decided to use some of the newly bought linen. Yummy pink. I hope Teri likes the packaging as much as the linen hat and bag inside.

I'm really inspired...

2008-01-23T08:15:00.001-08:00

It's the type of shop I would want. Wooden matt floorings, turquoise and cream coloured shelves to ceiling height, filled with fabrics and sewing supplies. A sewing corner with an industrial sewing machine, huge windows with wooden frames. Loads of daylight, natural linen curtains with brown polka dots. Whimsical looking chairs with floral fabrics. Fresh white roses everyday.

All that inspired by one online shop I stumbled upon: Linnet

I don't know when I'll ever have the resources to finance and support a shop like this, but let's take a baby step at a time. I should start err... printing my own fabrics first? Get a sewing machine? My birthday's coming up. Will hint to S. that a sewing machine could have the power to steer me into a new found career.

Getting the same things in different colours...

2007-11-07T20:22:00.001-08:00

Well, if you have the habit of buying the same items in different colours, please drop a note here. You are not alone! (though I could well be the only queer one).

I used to buy shoes and pants in different colours when I find a good fit. Sometimes I am even tempted to buy 2 of the same pair of shoes (and I mean IDENTICAL) but I quickly stop myself. When the only pair wears out, it's always too late to replace it (I hope fashion can be less seasonal!).

Yes, boring, resistant to change, predictable, that's what my friends would call me when they go shopping with me. I'd prefer adjectives like "classic" and "sentimental". Ahhh... do I hear some cheer from the like-minded? ^___^

When the same habit translates to craft supplies, it becomes a different story though. We may need paint, colour pencils, pastels in full palettes, but to get the same printed fabric in all available colours? Even I am finding it a little too indulgent. For all being said, I still indulge. (okie you can slap me...)

I had tried to stop but I just can't (searching for self-dicsiplline. See? I can't even spell it properly.) The only way to go on is to figure out what to do with them. I use very little fabric (as of now), so I have to find ways to use more. I have a close friend who exercises frantically to enjoy loads of high calorie food; I think I am close to grasping her theory. Haha...

Miu~ on facebook

2007-10-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

It's awful weather:- howling winds, uprooted traffic lights, bent trees, falling road signs. All appointments were cancelled; I was home (almost) the whole day (still manage some grocery shopping!) and I did 3 pieces of graffiti on facebook's superwall (it's an application that allows you to make send drawings/messages with brushes like how we did with the old ).) I drew Miu~ the optimistic cat (again!). They must realise I am terribly glued to the laptop.

I raced a virtual pet on facebook (aka (fluff)Friend) over 60 times over 10 hours to earn some virtual money. Such an animal abuser. I even gave the poor giraffe 2 shots of coffee to help it race better! Awfullllll me. I'm still praying the weather would be better tomorrow, so I can check out a few places in Taipei, but weather reports are clearly asking people to get real and stop wishing for the rain and wind to go away. I'll have loads of time to work on a friend's wedding invitation! Yippieee~~~

The brief: "Something auspicious, preferably red, without being TOO red." Huh, it's a little ambiguous here, but I'm very excited about the opportunity to be involved in their wedding. It's just 2 months away! Such a rush, I should get on it as soon as possible.

I'll do a post when it's ready. :)

Silkscreening Miu~

2007-09-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

I had been waiting for this workshop for a month, and when 29th September finally came, the Saturday morning seemed especially cheery. It had not been easy looking for silkscreen classes where I reside, and when I finally found one I could attend, I jumped with a big HOORAY!!!.

Though a short session (yup it's 3 hours, I'd hope it's a full day workshop so I can keep printing), I learnt 2 basic techniques with loads of hands-on:- Mono Screenprinting and using Reduction Screen Filler Stencils. For those completely new to the concept of screenprinting (yup, I was totally new a month ago as well, and watching how-to videos on youtube helps), you might want to take a quick look at screenprinting on Wikipedia before you read on.

For Mono Screenprinting, screen mono prints are using water-soluble crayons, pencils and fabric dyes drawn or painted directly onto the mesh of the screen. Once your image is completed on screen, a transparent base is used as a vehicle to transfer it onto the paper. The image can be used once or up to a few times, before the image fades out.

For the latter, a screen filler is used to create or edit images by closing areas of mesh, preventing them from printing. Each time you squeegee, you print 1 colour. If you have 3 colours on your image, you print thrice. Quite a lot of work actually, but loads of fun. Below is a simple diagram showing the filter meshes and the resulting print.

The floral image (with green background) is printed twice, once with green, and the second time with brown.

It was a great workshop at Tyler Print Institute of Singapore. Another part-time course I found was hosted at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, it spanned 10 evenings over 10 weeks in August/Sept, and focused on printing on fabrics (which I love). I am not sure if courses like these would recur. If you know of any other silkscreen printing classes coming up, please do drop me a note!

Miu~

2007-09-12T02:52:00.000-07:00

I got fixated on Japanese fabrics since a month ago, and I can't seem to resist them. I haven't got a sewing machine (sigh.. no oven, no sewing machine, something in life is just missing). I tend to consider for the longest time when I shop for "equipment" of any sort. I go crazy looking at specifications, learning about functions & features. I dwell on every single detail and consider and reconsider every need and future need. Ha! By the time I finish the research, the model is outdated, and no longer sold. "L" for loserrrrrr. While I am not too quick on buying the BIG things, I jump and almost pounce on all the small little indulgences. Weaving seamlessly between shelves of ribbons, bales of printed cottons & linens, I am quick (and almost too eager) to part with some cash.

Okie, back to Miu~, this card features a contented cat sitting on an armchair. I wanted to find a way to start using all the ribbons, paper and fabric I have. I find it therapeutic to draw wallpaper and furniture. Voila... I showed it to Sha when we met up last week. She said she would open up her bookstore when I make 1000 of these, 20 (or is it 50?) designs. She would sell them in her shop. Well, I don't think I'll reach 100 anytime soon, because it's horribly tedious to ink & cut & paste, but this somewhat informal remark is giving me an awful amount of interest in making them, because I *REALLY* wish for the day Sha has her dream book store! I know she would find so much fulfillment in running it (and reading everything on the shelf!).

1000... okie, 1 at a time.

Well, she didn't say no printing.

Hur Hur Hur...

Falling in love with Cranes & Sakuras

2007-09-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

This fabric didn't quite catch my attention on first sight, but I have grown to like it so much it's therapeutic to look at. If you have a queer shopping habit of scrutinizing almost fabric in the store, and looking at the shortlisted ones 10 times before considering thrice and finally deciding to buy the same pattern in multiple colours (I only needed 1 though.. hmmm), you would probably know how I feel. "Precious find...oooo.. ahhh....might as well get the purple, and the brown.. and the..."

I don't know if this would fall under "excessive shopping", but it's certainly turning me into a collector of various kinds of art supplies, most of which I use, but some of which I can only bear to admire with growing appreciation.

I should really get kicking to get started on learning about screen printing my own fabrics. After rolling more truffles *promise* :)

These fabrics are available in my little Etsy store.

Un-serious design

2007-08-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

I wonder why I have to wait till the middle of the night (or rather morning) to start working on this. It's 3.11 am, and I felt a strong urge to do some graphic tweaking in photoshop. Strangely (Insanely would be a better word), I think I am starting to miss those hell-no-i-won't-do-it-again days when we worked 48, sometimes up to 60 hours non-stop in the architectural studio. We would procrastinate (we prefer to use the term "conceptualize") and then start doing some "real" work almost always too late to meet the deadline. The only difference (and it makes all the difference), is that now I don't have a deadline to meet, and I am enjoying the process a lot more.

This isn't really the sort of work we did in archi school. You would have not been taken seriously if flowers or pink appear on your presentation boards, and criticised with absolutely no tact nor mercy. We do it MONOCHROME, cool, with dignity and austere simplicity. *period*

Haha... I am just hoping friends from the field won't pop in here and start sneering at how i changed!

Credit of the beautiful damask floral print/pattern goes to The Inspiration Gallery.

My First Sale!

2007-08-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

really really really excited when I saw an incoming message regarding a sale I made at Etsy 2 days ago. It didn't register that I sold something till I read the 2nd time. I thought it was an invoice at first. I froze and I logged on to Etsy to check. Delighted, exhilarated and nearly jumped out of the seat. I don't know if I am over reacting, but I can't hide how thrilled I am, it felt like I have won a lottery ticket (though I had never won any...ha!)

I packed it neatly in rolls, and in clear bags to avoid creasing and soiling, and off I went to the post office.

Can't wait for these ribbons to reach the buyer, and I am hoping the buyer would like the items as much as I do. Hur hur hur...

I did a search on ribbon fan bloggers some time ago, half-suspecting that there are many ribbon fans out there, united by this fetish and addiction. Gosh I was right. Out of all the ribbon blogs I have checked out, I can't help but read and reread Jody's blog: Confessions of a Ribbon Addict . I have silently read it for a few weeks, I think it's time to leave a comment on how I amused I am at some of her candid posts.

Yes! 15 August 2007! I think I would remember this day dearly:- someone actually liked something from my online store and click on "Add to Cart"!

Some Items from the store...

2007-07-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Haha.. just want to do a little test to see if this works. It's supposed to show a 3x3 grid with some of my items in the store.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
kalenastudio

My Online Store!!!

2007-07-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

I am really delighted to have found Etsy. It's *THE* place to buy all things handmade. Loads of talented artists are selling and sharing their experiences on their sites and blogs. I remembered I spent about 5-6 hours on Etsy some months ago, admiring the various art pieces, some super-duper-cool bags and I swear I could feel the artists' passion and hard work gleaming through. Each store is adorned with a banner, items well described, photographs well taken. I bet everyone took pride in setting up their online stores.

I'm currently putting up some of my ribbons for sale! Kind of ashamed of it actually, when almost all fellow Etsy-ers had something they made. Maybe I should step out of the kitchen and get back to the studio. Well, I still took joy in setting up MY FIRST ONLINE STORE! haha... I'm quite excited really. I took close to 4 hours putting it together, and am still listing some items. I"m looking forward to putting some of my paper products up soon. How soon is soon? Hur hur hur... I don't quite have an answer.

Fellow Etsy-ers, please feel free to drop a note. Do come round to my corner!

About Kalena's Studio

2007-07-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Kalena's Studio. In case you wonder if Kalena means anything, it's actually my name (Karen), in Hawaiian. A good friend once did the translation for me, and I really love it.

I cannot define the real scope of the studio's work yet, as I am still building my portfolio from a series of ongoing projects. A lot artwork is under steady progress, and I'm still learning some fabric printing techniques. My favorite materials are paper, fabric, ribbons and graphic. While I seek to retain a certain amount of focus in this blog (of which I am not sure, as of now), this blog serves dutifully to keep precious memories for one who hopes not to suffer memory loss in future, but is surely having difficulty recollecting now.

Take a peek at Kalena's Kitchen for some chocoholic fun in the kitchen!

I also have an online store selling sewing supplies and cards! Come visit!~~~