observations

-i am actually finding tiny pockets of time to create
-there is calm in the chaos
-i think planning seriously helps
-people always say sarah looks like me but i think she looks a tad more like PL
-i feel like a character out of the bible
-i am not klappy the cat =)
and this:
“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” - Goethe

tiny canvas

I played hookey (how DO you spell that?) yesterday afternoon and went to watch "Eat, Pray , Love" . Nice. My brother said he cried, I thought I would too. =) Anyway, I paid the price by working late last night at the shop. Sigh.
Sarah's still not well . I made this little layout on a tiny canvas to cheer her up. I wanted to paint and add tulle... but this is what you get in a bite of time. Better a tiny layout then none at all, no?
Now my scrap table is a mess again... oh, but I love Crate Paper's restoration collection. Classes in 5 weeks, featuring these products. Ok, on to the next thing.

{fine things}

I'm camping out in the living room, surrounded with notebooks and piles of paper and my laptop. Sarah has a fever and I'm keeping her company down here. I have been around the world this morning, sourcing for interesting things to carry in the new store. Scrapbooking treasure will have to share the stage with a little adjacent area which will house an even older dream:
smida {fine things} .
Always in love with beautiful objects, art and the perfect gift, smida {fine things} will be an expression of that love. So everyday, I take a little detour from paper & crafts and wander along , totally mesmerized by the distraction. There are so many creative souls out there, people make the most beautiful art in all forms. Intricate hand sculpted dishes, beaded jewelry, antique hair clips, silk table runners, hand woven heirloom rugs, everything you can imagine. And Art. Oh yes! Art. I have a rubber stamp and it says "Art helps me breathe". Art in all forms. Anything you create, with your hands and from your soul is art to me. So, sometime in the next couple of weeks, we will launch our new website and it will introduce smida {fine things}. =)
It's taking me much longer than I thought to put that together so it will be a slow evolving process but I can see where it's going. Oh, I hope someone , someday buys me one of those pieces of heART. If you can think of anyone whose work is worth featuring, let me know.
Tell you more soon.

surely

For the first time in weeks, I could not sleep til 3am. I did not purpose to stay awake. But my thoughts did. More like doubts and a tiny creeping in of fear, not to mention the 'what ifs?"
Sleep must have come eventually. I sank back into the pillows after Sarah kissed me goodbye on her way to school, for a bit and then the fighter in me resurfaced and I was at the table, eating my cereal and 2 scenarios played in my head.

1 : Peter, sitting in a boat, sees a shadowy figure. Slightly, ok seriously, taken aback, asks, "Master, if it's You , ask me to come". Jesus, walking on water, most lovingly and gently answers, "Come". So Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk. On water.
presently, the winds howl and the waves start to tumble and Peter realizing the reality (his own reality, not His master's) begins to sink. Jesus stretches out His hand and pulls Him out, with the most loving & gentle rebuke. "Why did you doubt?"
*sheepish smile*
(unauthorised translation, from poor memory)

2: Bits & pieces of 'Life of Pi' and the movie with Tom Hanks , stranded on a desert island. (can't remember the title) Main theme or key word 'ALONE' Underlying theme: Overcome.

I should be on the way out of the house, I'm going right now but I had to release some of the thoughts in my head. (picture a balloon pumped to full) So there, writing is good for the soul. Fears and doubts suitably tucked away. Spirits back up.
The joy of the Lord will surely be my strength.

And yours.

Oh yeah!

(illustration of store front by Ming. artist, son & encourager)

maybe a sunset

I attended a Steven Covey seminar , ten or 12 years ago, it was called 'What matters most?'
I'm not sure why I suddenly remembered that. Maybe I was thinking about Philip & I-Ming, on a road trip, all the way on the East Coast, driving on the coastal road, father & son on a grand adventure with no plans, no hotel reservations. They might have been driving through a sunset, awed by the vastness of the South China Sea or thinking about where they might stop for dinner , or rest for the night.
In the seminar, they showed a video about time. What could you do in a year, a month, a week, a day, an hour, a minute ...a second? In the time we have , we make choices about the things we will do. Sometimes we have grand plans but busyness prevents those plans from ever materializing .The work we do , that was meant to help us live the life we want, takes over until our days become like overstuffed closets , threatening to take over all our space physical , spiritual , intangible.
Surely God intended for us to work. Each of us doing our thing, working at home or at an office, on a field or on a boat. Surely He intended for us to work hard, doing our best, being our best. And yet He rested. And surely He intended that we should too. Rest. Refresh. Recreate. Regroup.
It's been a pretty hard week. I've done so many different things. Some lugging around . Some stock taking. Site checks. Some packing. A whole lot of inventory. More than a little panicking.Early mornings. Trying to fit in some exercise.4 o clock Mummy time. Running back to the store. Late evenings. Remembering that I'm a mum & a wife.
Remembering what matters most. And what it's all about. And then it's the weekend.

Day is done. And the sun glides below the horizon. Here. And there, too. And then rest.
What matters most? In a year, a month, a week, a day...

Always the same things. Work. And rest. Family. People. Home. Giving thanks.
Then a new week. Putting the big rocks in a jar & then pouring in the sand to fit into whatever space is left. The big rocks being what mattes most.

I think I'll give my Mum a call now. Have a meaningful weekend!

elfing

Sarah was helping out in the store today, in between getting her homework done. Four years ago, this was what we were doing around this time of year. Look at the old shop!

The store is in a bit of a mess right now, with boxes everywhere and the class table half covered with product & stock balance sheets. Still, some folk came by and happily rummaged about, looking for stuff, as if looking for buried treasure.

And I'm thinking if we should go to the Xmas Bazaar this year . It's early this time . In the beginning of November & I'm not sure if I can pull it off without the chief elf. (smile)
I'll think about it.

next phase

Yesterday we went across to the site to see them start work on the new store. After more than a month of meetings, revisions, budgeting, selecting colours, materials and more revisions, we are done with the designs and have embarked on the next stage; building. I must say I have the best design partners. They are professional with a capital P, sadly , rare in Penang but I am glad that we're working with them. They listen and they accommodate every little one of my many requests, paying precise attention to every detail. And here we are. No tantrums. No conflict. Almost like a dream. Thanks Jamie & Joyce!
What you see here is one of the final drawings, I can't wait to see it in the flesh. =) I enjoyed the whole process so much, as if design was in my bones. ha ha! I would have to live to be at least 192 to do all the things I think I might like doing. Of course, up next is writing that time management book. (just kidding)
So, what have I been up to? Well, loads of inventory! I'm actually getting into a groove with that, but 7 weeks , I'm not sure is enough time. I 'bought' some new Prima Say It In Crystals as I was working. Perks! Apart from that, made some Xmas cards with Sin Yee. I was not the commander in that exercise, but it was good fun and I'm learning all the time.
It's coming together , slowly, but most certainly and if I keep to my schedule, I'll get there. Eeeep, positive thinking had better be the thing because i feel like I'm climbing Mt Everest. Pray with me that i'll find a super Assistant Manager & soon.
k, back to work...

so much to celebrate

Recently I've been on the road alot. 2 weeks ago, I attended Priya's wedding in KL. We took the long route through Singapore, to visit my mum who isn't well. So in all the rushing to get prepared, I forgot to bring the card I made for her. Priya is the eldest daughter of a very dear friend, Kiran. She has inherited the wit & charm Kiran possesses and her caring spirit. It was a beautiful evening, I'll post photos soon. We arrived in KL, 25 minutes before the event & had to clean up quick. Still, I am glad we didn't skip the party. So many friends were there, so many of them have been so special to us that they're like family . Our family was all together, too. Quite rare these days.

With all the coming and going, I've been writing my thoughts and to do lists on bits & pieces of paper , and finally, I sat down and got it all in order. We just passed the '2 months to go before the new store opens' mark, so I'm having to unearth all my time management & organizing skills here. All my tasks now have a time unit attached and now I have to assign dates to them. It actually looks like I'll be able to get it all done. With help. =) I sat to talk to God the other morning, pouring out & telling him about the ridiculous amount of different things I had to accomplish to see the store open. I told Him I couldn't do it and asked if He would help. The thought that was in my heart was "Foolish child, why did you doubt". A gentle rebuke. Tinged with a warmth that filled me . So I'm believing that His hand is an inch beneath my soaring self. I could have chosen to be free from all this extra work, but I am free. Free to choose and I chose this. Now I wait to see His hand sweep across my life as this crazy dream becomes real.
Somehow I've found some time to create. Cards for special people, including Jessy. And some material for upcoming classes. When all this is over I might be able to write a book on time management. Ha ha! And I don't know where the energy is coming from but there seems to be an adequate supply, for which I am grateful .
I'm expecting to learn some lessons in the coming weeks.

random stuff

-my muscles still hurt from training on Sunday
-please let me find a seriously good store supervisor
-designs all done, we start renovation next week
-i have too much stuff
-so good meeting up with old friends last friday
-can I really do it?
-slowly, slowly

home & it gets busier

I got home last Saturday night and then I got sick . This immune system of mine can hardly fight anything so I got a bug and I am woozy with the Cipro but still working. Small renovation going on at the studio. Going smaller so that we can get bigger and hours meeting with the designers. I love doing that! I had the best time at the MWL Sizzix retailers event. The people were all warm and super COOL and the food was divine. Plus I got to work with some of my heroes. jasmine, Aida & Mei Mei. We were there for 12 hours that day and only realized I was tired while waiting for dinner at Thai Express with I-Mei at 9.30. Yet the day wasn't over. It was a long drive out to visit Mum. I cannot describe how I felt when I saw her. She was frail and thin. Claressa says the doctors are leaning more heavily to the fact that the cancer is back. I'm asking God why a person who gives her life for others would end up with this as her lot.
So the wonderful day ends on a sad note. In the whole huge happy place that is my life, where I look around and there is nothing I am not grateful for, not even my 'health' there is this desolate place and I'm praying that God will breathe life into it.
So then I 'm back in my room. Home for 2 days. Sometimes I feel when I come to Singapore it's home, I'm coming home. But there's no one there. Oh, but I-Mei was there. Hanging out with me almost 24/7. (smile) We ate a lot of noodles and saw/ bought/ coveted a lot of scrap stuff. I managed to get everything into my bags. Free stuff from the event. Scrap stuff. Goodies for the baby, who is 17, including stationery (of course), a gift for passing her driving test and a fun, very French 'tres chic' satchel (to show off at school) , books, catalogs, more gifts... one would think I was away for a month! So everything fit and on Saturday morning I went out while it was quiet for some, err, quiet time. And by 12 I was ready to go home.
As I passed my old school I took a picture of this old building. What used to be MPH bookstore where I hung out a lot, on the way to the bus stop, at the old National Library. Stopping to eat mee siam at the old hut of a sarabat stall. And then taking a bus home with my best friend Shirin. A lifetime ago, and now Sarah is at 2 years older then I was then, looking a tad like me with all the exuberance and enthusiasm I had then and still have I think, maybe, just a notch down.

Life is always changing. There's a song I love by Anita Baker, from long ago. It goes, 'life is always changing, constant rearranging, nothing changes with you. I go to a million places, see a million faces, but none as fine as you...'
Nice. If you have someone in your life that makes you want to sing that song to(or play the song, heee..) give thanks. If there is someone or some people as fine, who will hold the net beneath you while you take flight and soar to the most dreamed of places, who will watch the kids, go to the market and make tea when you're weary and happy and your heart is bursting with joy...don't forget to say Hallelujah. To say Thank you Lord and to tell them that life is always changing and that you're so very glad they're not!

It sure is nice to be home.

hero

Sarah thinks it's really hard to buy gifts for guys. The things they like are way out of her league & budget. Things like cameras & i pads. Cars. "Girls are easy, you can buy them earrings!" she moaned. In the end, she made her Papa a coupon for another granite slab for his garden. He will, of course have to take her to purchase and transport the slab home.I finished the mini, minibook I started in Mr Papa's honour. I wonder if he even likes it with pages of glimmer misted, citrusy colour. But I poured myself into it, with the little snatches of time I had. Usually late at night. So much is going on in our lives right now. Exciting ,challenging, exhilirating. Things that keep all your brain cells working . Sleep is easy these days, when there is time. (grin)


In all this busyness. In the looking forward, making this little book reminded me of the constant that is family. That the main driving force, the intangible power that keeps us going, is love.
In the days ahead, I will get busier and more immersed in the' building' of the new store and all it entails. I hope that my people will know, if I do forget to tell them, that their love carries me.
That all the little gestures & sacrifices, coming home to help, coming home to celebrate, being there always. In spirit, in words in encouragement. All these I want them to know, inspire me, define me, lift me up. Their love allows me to be the hero in my own story.
Heroes make heroes.

Dad & the phantom

Not a real phantom but a Rolls Royce. Philip brought one in for sale and Dad got his lifelong dream of sitting in one. He kept asking for the photos and I had purposed to make a layout for him but I had a problem. Dad was wearing green, Mum was wearing purple and the Phantom, was wine red. Yikes!
With Dad not feeling well lately I thought I'd just do it. So I converted the pictures to 'Antique' and worked with a subtler green & purple. We put it in an Ikea frame and Dad & Mum were pleased. Enough to put it up with all their other photos in the dining room.

(smile)

work of heart

I set a goal for myself. 2 layouts and 2 cards a week. This week I haven't made anything. But last week I think I made my quota =) Well not 2 + 2 but I'm letting myself off the hook because this one took a whole day to put together. Not including all the coordination it took Alka and the other ladies in our Tuesday group. I don't do commissioned work because it takes too long. And, ok mostly because it's really hard to do what other people like.

So anyway, everyone wrote their messages on little squares. I was to use green & yellow, Jo's favourite colours. And butterflies please. And so I began on a Wednesday morning, after a 'meeting' on Monday with the ladies. Christina and Lerks sent their stuff on Tuesday and Nie left her houseguests to give her writing to me on Wednesday afternoon. I worked like an ant , but when I had to print some more photos, found that I was out of photo paper. So off to the mall, no time to dawdle and back to finish off the gift.

We decided to do a quilt style project, because Jo makes beautiful quilts. I had fun making the little spool, thread & all. Nice change to create for a gift instead of a class. Although I'm thinking we might do a similar class.

It was done by dinner time and we still managed to get to Dad's place for our tri weekly 'sleepover'. Puff, pant.

Happily, Jo loved it. She said we made her cry. The guys pretended to be mad they weren't asked to write. Maybe next time.

celebrate in colour

The other day Philip said "you like colorful things". Hmmm. That's an interesting observation .I look at my layouts and cards and I see mostly muted shades. I-Mei & I talked about this and we challenged each other to take it up a notch, with colour. Most of the night we played. Brighter. Bolder. Totally out of our comfort zone. =) She came up with 2 cards for our Fancy Schmancy card class on the 5th of August & I started working on this minibook, possibly for a class but there will have to be some modifications. The idea was inspired by this little stamp with the sentiment, 'YOU make me happy'.

I worked mostly with So Sophie paper by My Mind's Eye. In store now! And loads of glimmer mist. A departure from my usual shabby palette but I think they work pretty well, especially when you're celebrating someone. I guess I'll have to clear up & turn in now. But I'm eager to keep going.
Hope there'll be some scrapping time tomorrow.

pretty sweet

So finally I got some time to work on my 'week in the life ' project. The other day I did the opening page and today I managed to finish a whole day's worth. There were so many photos and it was hard to choose which to use. Thankfully I wrote all my thoughts down cos I surely wouldn't have a clue what these photos were about. Now it's July and the photos were taken in April. Reading my journaling I see how things change and how quickly. Some days I wrote a long story. Some days not so long and some days just thoughts or random list type observations.
Two things to note about day 1, how tired I was about having the decision to open the new store or not and thinking to myself, 'I should join the gym'. 3 months later, I have made that awful decision & I have, yes indeed, joined the gym. Yay, me! I had endless conversations with God during this time. Sometimes I felt that the answer was in me. Other times "I will give you the desires of your heart". One day, I couldn't even remember what they were. And another day I asked 'ALL the desires?' I'm surprised my family still talk to me for if I was sick of thinking about it they must surely be sick of hearing me out and helping me make sense of it.
'This too shall pass..." holds true as it always has and ever will. This week, it is all behind me. I'm watching tv with Sarah, body balancing at the gym for all I'm worth, feeling strong and hopeful. Spending the afternoon yak yakking with a friend & scrapping. Maybe not ALL the desires of my heart. Just the one that means the most. Seriously, the answer is in you. All the answers are in you. As He is.
What can change in 3 months? You would not imagine. Everything. And nothing. And it still looks pretty sweet. Midlife is a pretty interesting place.

some days you wish...

some days you wish you could be somewhere else, doing something else...

lazy sunday afternoon

Skipped the 30 second commute to my office for a test drive of the Audi Q5. High tea at Suffolk House , some fun cardmaking and finally started my "week in the life" project (held off since April)

weekend| family| cardmaking?

Not the usual , before bedtime activity at our house, but here's what we did one night last week. The lot of us! It was fun. The blue card with the colourful buttons was made by Sarah. She wasn't afraid to work it with the distress ink. Tried it on my yellow card but not with such confidence and boldness. That's the way she plays the piano too. Nice! I have got to stop making cards.

for you

Cardmaking, I'm learning, is tricky business. As a scrapbooker, I tend to want to put too much stuff on. Often, the simpler option looks better and says what you want to say more clearly. This was a really easy 'stamp, cut and paste ' creation. But it took a while to get the colour the way I liked .


This is for the one who always runs to get the umbrella when it rains. and when it's sunny. =)

another monday

I made cards again. I took out all my stuff to work on my 'week in the life' project, but I put them aside. Usually it's too late to start. Midnite is about when I'm free to create. If I start then, I'll be up until at least 2 or 3. Not a good idea. Especially with all the stuff to do. And, the photos that I had printed at a new shop were really bad. The colour was off. Everyone's face was orange. Sigh.

So it's Monday! We closed the shop on Saturday for 6 weeks. Summer break, catching up on back end work, preparing for a big change, some travel and hopefully some downtime. Not today though, end of the month errands and stuff. Life things, you know. You could scrap and make cards all day! But life is pretty exciting outside too.

I'm off to pick Sarah and maybe have a nice lunch with her . Last day of exams! =)
The card is for a friend, special request.