Renulek's Wiosna 2015 WIP 9

I used Lizbeth size 40 Col. 125 Seascape for this round. Only 2 more rounds to go and it is done.  It is getting quite large too. Measures about 14 inches now.

Asiatique & Porridge for Supper

Our first visit to Asiatique on our last day in Bangkok. It was a shuttle boat ride on the Chao Phraya river from Saphan Thaksin. Opens from 5pm to 12 midnight. It is worth one visit. You can dine by the river in one of their many restaurants, catch a show or muay thai, enjoy live music or shop.

But the highlight of our evening was supper at this porridge stall about 300m from Saphan Thaksin BTS station. The last time we were there was in 2007.

Orchid and Driftwood Animals

This orchid has the loveliest shade of purple.

I love the home decor ideas in Bangkok. So much so that I wished I lived there. So many things to get that just will not fit in your suitcase. Unusual lamps, furniture, indoor & outdoor water features, plants, ceramics etc. You name it, they have got it and all locally handcrafted. What we find here at home is so, so, boring and almost everything you see is imported.

Corona WIP 4

Wierd colour scheme or not, this round is done. Tatted motif by motif while joining to the previous round. For each motif, I used about 2.5m on shuttle 1 and 3m on shuttle 2 with split rings and split chains.

Next is another 12 motifs. I am contemplating between a variegated or solid colour. Logically it should be a variegated but I am inclined to a solid colour.

Glass Sculptures @ Changi Airport

These glass sculptures caught my eye at Terminal 2 Changi Airport. Is this mosaic glass art? Fresh flowers were arranged in the centre. It was surreal but at the same time it reminded me of the Rafflesia flower. I am not sure why, perhaps because of its size.

Renulek's Wiosna 2015 WIP 8

I was a little behind on this but Round 7 is finally done.  This seems to be an additional row added to the original. I had planned to use the variegated thread but decided not to. I have just begun tatting Round 8 in the variegated thread.

Singapore Mourns

The loss of a great man who dedicated 
his life to his country.

Rest in Peace

Lee Kuan Yew.

Corona WIP 3

This is Round 7 half done. Still need to do 6 more of the same motif. I am not sure about the colour combination but I am sticking to it. I hope it doesn't turn out too wierd. That light purple is Lizbeth Size 80 #646 Purple Iris Light.

View from OUE Building

Top photo is a panoramic view of the Singapore Esplanade and the Marina Bay area. We were having lunch at the OUE Rooftop. You can see the ships in the background. In front of that is all reclaimed land where the Marina Bay Sands building and the Gardens by the Bay are located.

The second photo is from the other side of the bay with the central business district buildings, Clifford Centre, the old post office which is now the Fullerton hotel.

The photo below shows the Esplanade area while the last photo contrasts the old architecture Fullerton hotel (right) with the new One Fullerton (left).

Taken from the OUE Rooftop

Taken on ground level from the Fullerton Bay Hotel

Tatted Centrepiece Completed

This is finally done. Pattern is found in Aunt Ellen's Treasury - Tatting Patterns on page 35. Tatted in Altin Basak Size 50 threads in light blue (367), blue (324) and apricot (324). It measures about 20 inches across. 

Thank you all for your encouraging comments throughout.

South Sea Pearl Necklaces

I have been enjoying this. Stringing pearls that is. Silk thread is used and a knot is made after each pearl. The clasp is 18K white gold with diamonds specially designed for these strands. Aren't they gorgeous?

Corona WIP 2

Round 4 was a little tricky but 5 & 6 was fine. It isn't too difficult. My Josephine chains seem very thin compared to that tatted by Fox here.

I will change the thread colour for the next round which is individual motifs. That will take some time to tat. 

I hope more tatters join in. It is never too late.

Moving House

Not me, but the Marigolds. You can see some measly blooms but hopefully in their new home, they will do much better. They need lots of sun and feeding.

Is today Friday the 13th again. Last month the 13th was a friday too. Lucky or unlucky? Most of the time it is just another day.

Renulek's Wiosna 2015 WIP 7

Round 7 is done. Next round will be tatted in the variegated thread. I currently have three projects to tat: this one, the blue and apricot piece which is almost done and the recently started Fox's tat-along Corona. I'm swamped but enjoying it.

Red Kalanchoe

I have had this plant for years and it has never flowered in my balcony because of the lack of direct sun. It was a cutting from my mother's garden. This year I decided to severely prune it's off-shoots for propagation. The one shoot remained, decided to flower after a fertiliser application.

I'm happy!

Corona WIP 1

This is Ben Fikkert's pattern in his Floriade book. Fox asked if anyone was interested to tat along with her and I was game for a challenge. I would think twice to tat it on my own because it is an extensive piece of tatting.

This is rounds 1 to 3 tatted in Lizbeth size 80 in Red Burst (#147).

Chilli Lover's Sandwich

Chilli is a regular condiment in most eating establishments in Singapore. What do you do if you get a boring toast of butter and kaya (coconut jam) for breakfast? Spread some chilli and make yourself a savoury sandwich. All that was missing was some ikan bilis (little anchovies) and that would be AAA's favourite sandwich which his mom makes (without kaya that is).

The Grey House

While on the highway crawl to our family reunion dinner, we passed this strange structure. Are you wondering if that grey building is a house.  It is a house but not for humans. If you enlarge the photo, you can barely make out the tiny holes in the concrete wall. This is a bird nesting house for swiftlets that make edible nests with their saliva. It is a traditional Chinese delicacy that enhances general health. More infomation about birds nest listed here.

Renulek's Wiosna 2015 WIP 6

Round 6 of this doily is done. This round with the last, looks very pretty. Decided to use orange crush in both rounds and the previous flowers which seemed to pop has now faded into this design element and shaped up nicely.

Smokey

When my sister's cat meows, it sounds like he is saying 'now'.

"Feed me"

'Now'

"Let me out"

'Now'

"Play with me"

'Now'

"Fill fresh water in my bowl"

'Now'

"Pay me some attention (instead of the dogs)"

'Now'

He is a sweet cat. 

Who can resist those eyes?

Tatted Centrepiece WIP 5

The remaining twelve daisies in apricot is done and blocked. That is my new blocking board, not as sturdy as my irobot packing box lid but it can be built to a larger piece. Got it from Daiso ($2 shop). It came 2 in a pack so I got 4 packs. 

The doily is now at its finished size of approximately 20 inches across. It is not done yet. I have to tat some filler flowers in between the daisies. You can see one at about 4 o'clock.  

Hoya Blooms

The Hoya carnosa bloomed in time for the new year. I got the plant at the garden show in August last year. It has a mild fragrance but the flowers do not last longer than a couple of days. But aren't they just beautiful?