work in progress

It has been slow on the creating front. Sometimes , I just have to run upstairs, away from my office and cocoon myself in my studio. Time stands still there. I worked on a little sheer minibook for Cziplee to use as a sample. This might evolve into a class celebrating mothers for Mother's Day , maybe in April.

I also have been quite obsessed with my UTEE. I made a batch of embellishments with Maya Road chipboard pieces, inked, stamped and UTEEd. Here's what it looks like bare...
And here's what it looks like after double embossing with Utee. I love how it turns out all shiny and glazed like an enamel treasure.

I coudn't help but attach one of the 'treasured ' pieces to the minibook using my crop-a -dile. =)

Here's a peek inside...

Other materials used: 7G stickers, Maya Road sheer scalloped album, Making Memories adhesive pearls & rhinestones, Love, Elsie ribbon, Basic Grey rub ons, Maya Road scalloped ric rac, MM Love story blossoms, American Crafts thickers, Kokuyo Dotliner Hold, Fancy pants patterned paper, Hero arts stamp, Tsukineko Brilliance ink, Maya Road microchips, mini chipboard buttons.

i think i can!

I feel like an Israelite, following the cloud, stopping and starting only by instruction. The New Year rings in and we have plans. To simplify. We have plans. To grow. And yet, we aren't really in control. As we are led, we move. Amazing!
Truly.

I made a decision before CNY to do something. Something that would involve 'stretching', 'enlarging'. A project , if you will. Since that decision I have seen mountains placed in front of me. One, what my physician calls a 'query flare' , got me covered in a mad rash for a week. More drugs, some time on my knees, and the mountain and my doubts, cleared. Yesterday I practically went weak with exhaustion and pain, while having reflexology at home, til my reflexologist insisted I go straight to bed, midway! I felt like my body was there, but I had left the building. For the first time this year, I slept at 11.30, thinking to myself, can I really do this on my own?
I was up and at my desk at 7.30 this morning. As I got out of bed, my eye caught sight of little Thomas, the tank engine, sitting on my night stand. A gift I cherish. I felt that, hey, I can do this!

A month from now I hope to see the results of this project. I expect that my life will change, again. I will see a dream take shape. I expect to be stretched & enlarged . (Sounds painful) I've got my hiking shoes on and mountain climbing gear but I expect I'll spend more time on my knees than on my feet . I think I can do this.
Truly.

cny

We wait and wait for Chinese New Year, not just for the family reunion and the celebration , but also for the break.
it is the only time most businesses in Penang close for an extended period. The only time for a well deserved rest.

This didn't happen this year. Philip's parents moved house just before CNY and most of our days were spent there.
At the same time I broke out in a most awful rash, which thankfully, has subsided.
Life is always changing . A doctor who treated me in Singapore once said to me, before I was about to move house, "If you think it will make you sick, it might and if you think it will be okay, it will." Maybe not the medical advice I had expected, but wise words that stuck and have carried me through many a trying time.

Some things remain the same . Every year before we set out on our CNY rounds, the children will 'Pang Teh', and we will give them our blessings with their ang pows. Some things remain constant. Like love.

mini love

I am absolutely obsessed with mini books! They are fun to make, ideas flow easily and I love the feeling of holding a completed project in my hand. Certainly some take longer than others, like this one. It took forever to cut out the heart shapes from patterned paper. I painted alternate pages with Making Memories scrapbook colours and reinforced every page with 7G gaffer tape. I'm not done yet and already the spine is threatening to give way! =) (more reinforcement)


Thinking of ideas for March classes, the trouble is, choosing just a couple!!

music room = home office

In December I started on a project to turn the tiny music room downstairs into an office. These things take time and a lot of thought. The trial period went well and all points to make this area a work worthy space were duly noted and pondered. (After many trips to the third floor studio/office to get stuff that I needed while working!)

So this Sunday I employed the muscles of the men in the house and they effortlessly moved the sofa bed out of the music room and with that it has been officially declared my home office. Now the living room looks a bit crowded , (erm, I mean cozy)although the alternative, giving the sofa bed away was met with much disapproval! More lazing around zones, though and after a trip to five nurseries to find some happy looking plants to fit into my new Ikea pots (I found one), the place has just the right amount of life injected.

Now , what can I do to get these guys to bring my 'real' desk down??

What makes you special?

First day back at school and Sarah had a whole lot of stories to share. Her new English teacher asked each student ,"Tell me your name, what you got for English last year and what is special about you". I don't remember ever being asked that on the first day of school. How interesting! Sarah said she was special because she likes dogs. Has anyone ever asked you this question?What would you have said? The first thing that comes to your mind?

Each of us is uniquely made. Ultimately special. And yet, it isn't the big things that makes us so. I thought about it and the first thing that came to my mind was the time I turned 40 and I started writing in my planner in ink. Before this, I used a pencil. Easier to make changes. Neater. Non committal. It seemed that with this tiny move I became bolder. Something worth remembering.

Why are YOU special? Go ahead, ask the question. Ask it around the house. On your next date. At the office. A whole lot of reasons worth scrapping are just waiting...

Focus

If I was asked what my theme was for the year, it would be FOCUS. (If, of course, anyone even has a theme )
After setting out my calendars and transferring my stuff from my old planner, I hardly had time to work on creating anything before Jan 1st was over. So, to set this year's creative journey in motion , I worked on a tiny Artist Trading Card for my ATC holder. It's the first one, it's tiny and it was fun. I hope to fill it up this year with all sorts of inspiration, memories, quotes and pictures. Anything goes with this project. I will be able to see how I change and grow, what products and trends I love. I'm loving it already . =)

something about january

There's just something about January that I love! A time for change,beginning. The newness of the day, filled with hope. Fresh.
Maybe after the festivities, the weight of the old year weighs upon your slightly weary self. January breezes in, with all it's promise. New planners, new calendars, waiting to be filled, to tell the story of your life in the next chapter. Everything seems possible today as you stare at the blank page, excitement bubbling, almost bursting.

Magazines promise a new you, and yet who can give this gift to yourself, but you.

I asked today, "What is a resolution/", and was told that it was something that you wanted for yourself that requires a change. It could be something simple or huge. You choose it, and you work it, it belongs to you and I wish you the best time trying to make it happen. Here's to 2008!

Christmas Is Here/ Worship the King

We look forward to the Christmas holiday and end up spending all day in the kitchen. What's up with that? There are those who love to cook, I have decided that while I am happy feeding my family, I am not one of those people. =) Still, we had 11 people around our table and it looked like everyone was happy. We enjoyed a bit of quiet , sitting in front of the tree before dinner and managed to get some special 'moments' on film.



Christmas day was packed, I could fill a whole album with memories but the one that touched me the most was seeing people gathered together for a single reason- to worship the King.

And with that I have come to the end of my project. I will not document the last few days of December, leaving Christmas as the ending point and the highlight. (Plus my book is full and I decided not to start a second one) This year, doing this was a little harder then last year because i blogged about it as well as created pages and layouts. It was quite a task, one I enjoyed and will cherish although, I must add, not for the faint hearted. December in itself is quite a feat.
The end of the year is always a reflective time for me, time to re group, take stock and look ahead. Who knows what lies ahead, but I do like to have a plan!

dec 24-merry

I cannot believe I used to sew and make stuff, this angel with the messy hair is part of a batch I made 8 yeras ago!going

Enjoy everyone! Have a blessed, blessed Christmas!

dec 23-gifts

It s fun giving presents. At our house, the gifts have been wrapped and are under the tree. (Sigh of relief!) I This bowl from China was an early gift, I love it and it comes in handy for all the Christmas and birthday cards I have been receiving. Now all I have to do is find the rest of them...

no room at the inn

The first thing that came to my mind when I awoke today were these words, 'no room at the inn'.

Yesterday a friend asked what we would be doing for Christmas. That got me thinking. Apart from the meal our family will prepare on Christmas Eve and visiting a friend's home on Christmas Day, it will probably be quiet.
I heard that Sarah's friends are going to the mall to 'countdown to Christmas. Will Christ be there?

This season makes me, for want of a better word, sad. Last year I walked alone on Orchard Boulevard, tears streaming down my face. Amidst the beautiful lights and decorations, in a crowd of merry makers and shoppers, I felt alone.
There were people replicating the nativity scene, dressed as Joseph & Mary, even an innocent baby, wise men in tow.


Christ was born in a manger, on a bed of hay. There was no room at the inn. The wise men, bearing gifts, followed the star to bow down to the King of Kings.
This is Christmas!

As our family prepares to break bread together, as we offer our humble gifts of love to each other, I'm hoping that there will be room in our hearts to receive the greatest of gifts.

"...for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." (Luke 2 :8-10)

Full

My album is full, packed from cover to cover and still some days to go. I'm thinking of getting another book to space things out, add some photos I missed out and more journaling. Looks like a lot of memories =)

dec 22-holidays

I walked away from my office at 4.30 this afternoon. My desk was still heavy with unfinished work . I wanted to stay,but people were waiting for me in my house. I'm not sure how I got here. I'm not sure how it will change after the holidays.

20 &21

dec 21-older

words that come to mind

early, blessed, delifrance, 7g, Utee, sushi,journey, wishes, blessings, grateful, older, still ok today, happy, friends,home, family,unload, unpack, laughter, candle, royal icing, surprise, undeserving, gifts, favourite things,
late, reflect, create, give thanks...

music opens your soul

The highlight of my day, stumbling upon a string quartet amongst a collection of frenzied shoppers, who may or may not know what Christmas means. Like water in a parched land. I stood and took in the beauty of their surely God given gift, these four ladies who unknowingly, unwittingly, made my day.

dec 20-getaway

If you have only a day for a vacation you can get a lot done. Especially if you wake up at 5.30am.
One of my favourite phrases which I picked up from 'celebrity' scrapbookers is "Enjoy the journey". I did. Every step, every mile, every minute. Observation: Things look different, sometimes dramatically so, from one minute to another.

dec 19-long story

Today started badly, at least in my head. I was sure I wouldn't be able to get all my work done, make it to my hair appointment at 5.30 and have dinner with Shirin at 6.30.( Breathe!)

As it turned out, I did manage to get my work done, pushed my appointment to 6.30 , met Shirin at 8.30. Worked on my pages, packed and now I am ready for my mini break/ artist date/ xmas shopping/ birthday getaway. Should be interesting! I'm not sure I have enough space in my book.

The time sitting at the salon would explain the long story. Grateful for the time to write. Dream. Catch up with my thoughts.
I am still deciding whether to leave my page with just the words or to continue with pictures.

dec 18-downtown

During the school holidays I try to incorporate a holiday feel to my days, for Sarah's benefit. My day is usually broken between work, home and trying to do something each day with her. We tried to find a jewelry shop downtown, someone whose work we've seen, who does handmade jewelry with semi precious stones. We searched for the shop but couldn't find it. As we drove we discovered new places we've never seen. Penang is a pretty place. After the rain, her beauty glimmers. We explored the tiny roads, the old buildings, life in the slow lane. A short respite from the escalating pace our life's road has taken.
We'll look for Jonathan's place again on Saturday.
The days are packed, working on my album at night provides a pause. Sometimes I get carried away.