Three button fairies

I put these three button fairies in the mail today. They are off to three different people. It's part of an international exchange which I joined. I enjoyed the tussie mussie exchange so much, I decided to join another. I pick those that require me to make something which I have never made. I really had fun making these button fairies.

Seasons Greetings

Belated Christmas greetings to you. Happy Holidays and hope you have a Happy New Year. It has been a busy period. I made these tags for family Christmas gifts. Tags were made using coloured cards. I trimmed the corners, added some Christmas stickers and punched a hole. It added some colour to the normal curly red ribbons I usually tie on my presents.

Waterlilies, blue rice, landscape, chair and porridge

Beautiful blooms which I could not resist taking a photo of. I wish I had my Canon digital camera. Took all these photos with my Nokia phone instead. Waterlilies of various colours. Aren't they just beautiful?

Blue rice?? No it is not genetically modified. It is just dyed with the blue petals of the butterfly pea flower (Clitorea ternatea). The rice is used for making a local dessert, a nyonya kueh which is eaten with kaya (coconut jam). Hmmm.. have not had that for a long time.
There is a recipe here http://susanchuasg.googlepages.com/pulut_tai_tai.html
but I have never tried to make this myself.

I love the grass along this walkway with a water feature on the right. It is actually a landscaped garden of a shopping centre called Esplanade.

Love this chair too. I dream of lounging on it watching sunsets at the beach.

This is for a friend MM. She asked me to check out this porridge stall and I did. It was a nice change and had the porridge two days in a row. It was smooth with minced pork, kidney, liver, small intestine, egg, and the eu char kueh. Yummy with a distinct burnt charcoal aroma.

How different are they?

My two cats have different personalities. Umi is a little anti-social. She would rather sit by herself than be with other people or Tsuru. However, Umi answers when I call. She can even carry a conversation with me when she feels like it.

Tsuru on the other hand is very different. She is my doggie-cat, meaning she will follow me everywhere I go and will sit next to me, she is my constant companion whenever I'm home.

One month to Christmas

Christmas decorations went up a month ago. This year's theme is fairyland with snowflakes in the trees. What I love are the lights hanging from the side of the building.

A giant Christmas tree inside Ngee Ann City. It's about 3 storeys high.

Tussie Mussie Exchange

I participated in a tussie mussie exchange, my very first exchange. I thought it would be fun to make something for someone and in return receive something that is made by someone else. I love new craft challenges and with the exchange, I needed to get it done by a deadline. What a pleasant surprise to get this package. It just made my day. I had such a fun time opening it. Inside, everything was beautiful, thoughtfully handcrafted and chosen. We were only told who to make the tussie mussie for but did not know who we were receiving from. I loved the surprise!! Thank you so much!

Tsuru cooling off

The temperature is an average 32 degrees Celsius all year round. I cannot live without the air conditioner. Tsuru is the same. This is how Tsuru cools off when the air con is not switched on. She also loves a good tummy rub.

Tatting project done!

I tatted this card case using Delica beads (DB104) and Flora 20 cotton thread (#216) as a gift for a dear friend. She works at a place which requires her to wear this awful looking lanyard and a security card key. When she wears the lanyard she cannot wear her beautiful necklaces. So I decided to make her this so that she can still carry her security card key with her while looking fabulous. With this card case she can either wear it on her wrist or tie it to her laptop bag. It has a flower and loop clasp to prevent the card from falling out. More Czech glass flowers and leaf dangles down.

Alternatively she could hang it from her handbag. This bag of mine was bought from a weekend market in Australia. I got it from a lovely lady who handmakes it. It's been mine for a number of years now.

Tagged!

I was tagged by Pat Winter

Here are the rules which you must abide by if you are tagged.

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs


7 random and weird facts about myself

1. Simon, Rose, Barry, Duke, Sundae, Phui phui, Umi and Tsuru are names of all my pets, past and present.

2. Ruby is my birthstone which I love but these are my other favourites: moonstone, sunstone, labradorite, tourmaline, opal & emerald.

3. I feel that I should have been a farmer. I think it’s in my genes. However when I took a quiz to find out my ideal career some years ago, it listed bus driver / driver of heavy machinery. That is strange as I’m a bad driver. Hmmm perhaps if given proper training I may be able to handle a crane.

4. I lived in Japan for a year on my own. I had my own rented car and apartment. I drove through meandering roads among rice fields to work with Bon Jovi blaring on the car stereo.

5. I have attended a number of different schools and lived in several houses/apartments over the years. If I can count correctly, it’s 9 different schools and 18 different houses/apartments.

6. I love to travel but dislike sight seeing. I’d rather spend some time in one place and experience the everyday things that the locals do.

7. I love working with my hands especially in making beautiful things. I like repetitive but also love variety. I jump at every opportunity to learn a new craft.


I cannot name 7 people with blogs to link to and will probably not fulfill the rules for being tagged. I hope I will be forgiven.

I will however name 7 Etsy sellers who have some beautiful items which I love.

1. DesignsByAnnette.etsy.com I love her style

2. artwearbymona.etsy.com I love the wirework especially with the seaglass

3. kpglassjewelry1.etsy.com I love the square glass earrings

4. beadcharmed.etsy.com I love the beaded boxes

5. MaggiesMarketPlace.etsy.com I love the china shard pins and altered art pieces

6. t8designs.etsy.com I love the charm & optical lens necklaces

7. fringe.etsy.com I love her cool knits

New tatting project

I started on a new tatting project today. I'm making this for a friend which I hope will be done in a few days. You will see what it is when its done. Did you notice the lovely tatting shuttle? I love this shuttle with the wisteria flowers handpainted on it. It tats very well. It's handmade from UK and you can request your choice of flower or image you want handpainted from http://www.lace-bobbins.co.uk/

Blooming Oncidium from my balcony garden

My balcony faces north and does not get sufficient sunlight for flowering plants but they do put out flowers occasionally. This is an Oncidium hybrid from Thailand. Beautiful large flowers (2 x 2 inches) for a small orchid plant. Only one spike with four flowers which are long lasting. It bloomed 3 weeks ago and still going strong.

Pearl and pink purse necklace

Knitting is done. The knitted purse flap is far right. Will sew up and add embellishments. I may use some pressed glass flowers instead of the dagger beads. Maybe in pink and gold. Come back and have a look in a couple of days.

New knitted purse necklace

I'm embarking on my second knitted purse necklace. This time I'm knitting the flap instead of using the glass flap. The first one was teal green and bronze, this one is pearl-coloured beads with dusty pink silk threads.

Knitting with beads project: Teal green purse necklace

My knitting with beads project is done. It is a tiny beaded purse (5 x 6.5cm) to be worn as a pendant with matching beaded necklace. It's knitted in bronze brown silk thread with cut glass beads in teal green (1.5mm) with a bronze glass flap, embellished with bronze daggers (16mm length), green glass teardrop beads (6mm) and round faceted Swarovski crystals (4 & 6mm). Necklace is strung with Swarovski crystals (4 & 6mm), Swarovski glass pearls (bright gold, 6mm), fire-polished glass beads (metallic green & crystal amber, 6mm length) and emerald green cathedral glass beads. Necklace length approx. 76cm / 30.5inch (excluding purse). Beaded fringe of the purse hangs another 6.5cm down.

The 1st photo is for display only. It should be worn long. There is no clasp in this one but if one is added, you may wear it short (double layered as in the photo). This necklace is only a sample for me to keep. If you want one for yourself, I can custom make one for you in your favourite colour (depending on what is available).

This could be that glamourous addition to your simple outfit for the evening or a special gift for someone who has everything.

Knitting with beads

Knitting is done! Now it's time to sew up and to embellish. Should be ready soon.

My new project: Knitting with beads

I learnt knitting in school and the first thing I knitted was a hairband. I learnt it again from a friend many years ago. The first sweater I knitted was with large needles and it was done quite fast and easy. The sweater was for my sister. We were so crazy about knitting, we almost bought up the whole shop as they were having a closing down sale. I have a cupboard full of yarn which has not been touched since then. Well, this time round, it is with tiny knitting needles and beautiful beads. This is what it looks like so far.

My new project

Before I start on this new project, I've decided to take a photo of the materials. I am learning to do this so hopefully with some time and skill, it will become something beautiful. What can you make with some thread, beads and two needles. I'll try to document this as it goes along.

Earrings for two ladies on the 18th floor @ P.Y.

I hope they will like these earrings which I made specially for them. They are in their favourite colours. The green one is for N and the pink is for M.

Handmade journals from Shelly

These journals I got from Shelly are just beautiful. She handmakes each with quality materials. Colours are vibrant with matching tags and lovely ribbons. The first one is for Sylvia. The second one is mine to catalogue my own jewellery and the third is for ED.

Check out Shelly's shop here: http://www.susiea.etsy.com/

My kitchen

Looks like a lot of clutter. Yep, as long as I know where everything is. Still missing in the photo is the stove. Too greasy to show you. I sometimes cook in this kitchen and when I feel like it, I bake a cake. Tonight, I felt like making pizza. The dough is left to rise while I blog. The kitchen cabinets are from Ikea, the cheapest ones we could get in 1997. Doesn't look that bad.

My mother's Vanda

Vanda Miss Joaquim blooms in my mother's garden. I recently took two cuttings and trying to grow them in a pot in my balcony. May be quite impossible to get it to flower as it needs full sun. It is the national flower but it's not widely planted. Let's see whether it will grow in my balcony.

Above is my tatted version of the Vanda Miss Joaquim flower. I'm still experimenting. Which one best represents it? Neither?