A Pyramid of Fatty Pork

It was juicy, tender and delicious and yes it was one continuous strip of pork carved out from a block of pork. The chef must be very skillful to do this. Look at how thin it is. This braised pork was served with greens and freshly steamed pumpkin buns.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #43

This Broomstick Picot Snowflake pattern is from Martha Ess' new book 'Playing with Picots'. Do you love it? I do!! and it was quick to tat. I am amazed at the broomstick effect and it was fun. Thank you Martha. You can link to this page for the book purchase. The grey one is tatted in Lizbeth Size 20 in Silver (#605) and the white one is tatted in Milford Size 60.

Flower, Bird, Fish & Insect Market

We chanced upon this market at Xizang Nan Lu after visiting Dongtai Lu Antique Market. AAA found this market far more interesting because you get a glimpse into the insect for pets/gaming trade that the locals indulge in. It was a hive of activity and we were happy to be there. Majority of the shops here were chock full with insects such as cicadas, grasshoppers etc. and all the interesting stuff that comes with rearing and fighting insects. There were some bird pet shops, an aquarium shop, plant & flower shop, a shop that sells fishing equipment, etc. 

Walnuts - I did not know what they were for but they must be prized as some were displayed in showcases. I looked it up and I found this article on Walnut Therapy which was very interesting. We may even find some inspiration for tatting designs in them. Watch this report by CNTV here.  Now I wish I had bought a pair.

What did I actually buy here? I bought some jade beads which I strung up into a necklace and a pair of earrings.

Dongtai Lu Antique Market

Dongtai Lu is filled with street vendors selling antiques - original and reproductions. We were there quite early and some stalls were not open yet.

 

On our first trip to Shanghai, we bought one of these clocks. It does not keep good time and needs to be wound every day. They are probably reproductions but a lovely touch to your desk.





The above two mechanical clocks are interesting. I also saw some old combination padlocks but instead of numbers, you have to choose the right Chinese characters.

Old colourful biscuit tins

Ceramic figurines

You must be wondering what I bought. Just a chain maille(?)  bracelet with a dragon head.

Now how did it become a choker? Buy 2 bracelets and you get a better price.

'Iris by the Lake' Necklace

I bought this lampwork vessel years back from an Etsy seller Devil Woman Beads. I often keep things I love for some time before deciding what to do with them. I even kept them with coordinating beads thinking I would string them together to make a necklace, one day. Well here it is. 

The lampwork vessel came with a gold wire around its neck but it did not match the wire I used for the wigjig motifs so I tatted a ring around it. It is then wired with beads into a short chain with a lobster hook which can be attached anywhere on the long necklace. I used charoite beads and green fresh water pearls with copper-toned chains and findings.

This necklace is another birthday present for a good friend.

Thinking of Gian

Look Gian. She is almost smitten.  

Do cheer up!!

 What am I looking at?

What blue eyes?

Oh, those blue eyes!

Hmmm . . .

Old Teapots

Would you like having tea from these old teapots? They are actually ceramic art pieces we saw at the Shanghai Museum. These two below are water jugs.

Will show you more on another post of what else we feasted our eyes to. Maybe next week.

Aquamarine Layered Necklace

I was told these are aquamarine beads when I bought them. I am not so sure now but they look pretty and I thought paired with silver they would look grand. Wired in 925 silver wire and findings, I mixed rectangular aquamarine beads (1 oval and 6 rectangular) with Thai silver beads and focal pendant.

These are actually 2 separate necklaces which can be worn layered long or short to create one look or worn separately. They are a belated birthday gift for a good friend. I hope she likes them.

 

Baby Photos

No digital camera then so I had to take photos of the prints.

Umi was a stray kitten. For a couple of weeks, she was all alone at home. How lovely if she had a companion. Then came Tsuru.

Tsuru was a cute kitten - ugly but adorable. She had fur all over the place.

  



For some time they had fun together but as they grew older, they would rather spend their time apart. They do chase each other around the house on some mornings.