Leaving on a jet plane....

Leaving on a jet plane....
Originally uploaded by florspace.

Can't believe it. Its just 2 more days and I'll be gone. For a while, tha is. After completing some more custom orders, (I've got to learn to say no!), I'll be off to get some supplies today. Mum will be helping with my little Mini Zippereds production factory. Apparently, she's learnt to enjoy making them. IMO, they're terrific things. Small, relatively cheap, nifty & you can't live without at least one! After my Private Reserve Collection at $8 each, I'm sourcing for gorgeous fabrics locally so I can continue to bring you quality without the cut-throat prices. ;+)

Anyways, I work at 5.20am today, right before it started pouring heavily. Its been pouring rather frequently these days and its become tough to even go out. I'll be lugging some packages to the PO today so rest assured, rain or shine, they will go out. Couldn't sleep after that, and I spent about 2 hours watching the sun rise, the rain pour and the clouds move. Add some romantic music and this is virtually a movie! Think of how often you can sit around watching the clouds change. Can be therapeutic. Try.

Ok, I'm off to the PO, supplies shopping and getting ready for the big Phantom of The Opera thing tonight.....

lamentations

Yikes, I've forsaken my blog. Many times I want to do a post but somehow manage to wriggle out of it. Travel date is nearing and um, still not packed. I've been shopping too. Bought some stuff I've always wanted, small stuff. Actually I've been missing my Luella recently. I'm not much into IT bags but I had to have the pink Luella when it came out couple of years back. I had to go to Japan so I made a painful decision to sell it for the trip. It seemed like a good idea at that time but now it just hurts. I hadn't even used it then, it was new, luscious leather in a very enchanting pink. Double sigh. Like every other girl, I feel the leather bag will complete me. Now its feeling a bit empty and very naked. :P

Today was a going out day. I don't like going out so much here coz there's nothing much else to do 'cept shopping and thats detrimental to my wallet & plastic, not to mention eventual pointlessness. I intend to visit museums, sit around in alfresco cafes and read in the botanic gardens in sydney, all because the weather permits. In 33DegC here, all you want is get into a mall, or any air-conditioned place for that matter. Its a tuesday so pple generally want to get home after work. Going out during early weekdays mean a little more space for breathing. I love walking around when people are rushing by somewhere. I found some lovely large deco tapes, a ton of Q-Lia irresistible stationery, Kamio die-cut notepads and Tenorikuma stationery & pencils. I'd prolly take pictures in the morning. I ended the day with a Mocha at Coffee Bean. They were shutting but the nice lady made my drink anyways. I drank it while reading Cold Feet, a novel.

I've been looking for music too. Recently I found out the tune Carrie & Miranda ran around to in the cold war episode, satc was by MC Solaar. Spent a night listening to his tunes on youtube. Listen to him if you haven't already. I always thought rap was crap but this guy.... I can't place it, its definitely something else. Its really touched me in some ways. I like La Belle et Le Bad Boy like everyone else but Caroline makes me wanna cry and Solar Pleure feels heavy. The effects for Nouveau Western & lalalala is great. Its difficult to place a feeling but Solaar makes me feel like the problems I face are so tiny compared to what people face out there. In a way, I'm whining about nothing... when I actually have everything...

I hate making decisions. Hate when I have a choice, crossroads, fork, whatever. I'm afraid that if I make a decision, and things happen, I can never revert to what I was before. Its like getting married. If we break, I would never be single, I would be a divorcee. Its a harsh realisation but thats me, afraid of forever committments & responsibilities, afraid of being labelled, afraid of losing anything. I'm allergic to "you have to do X", it makes me wanna run off. It takes a lot more courage to do what I have to than to just yield to the little voice in my head to run off. I treasure the freedom to change to do anything, but is there a time when we have to make a decision to grow up, settle down, get a job, mortgage, insurance, cars...? Emma of Sugarcane gave me something to think about - what can I do without? I don't want to predict the future me but I know it drives me nuts to think about money, the eternal dividing of resources, opportunity costs, credit card debts, bills, all drives me up the wall. I don't need designer items all the time but I'll be lying if I say I'll be happy in sweats & jerseys for all my life.

Is there a way to actually balance the need for creativity and the need for financial stability? Or do we have to pick something and stay there? And even if we decide to pick the other more desirable/seemingly unstable choice many years later, will we be the same person in the same frame of mind, making the decision for the right reasons? Good on paper vs uncertainty, which decides your life?

What's in the bag?

Here it is...The pinnacle of crafting....the ultimae decadence! LOL I can't seem to rave enough about this one. I made it last week before um, I got dizzy spells again. It took 3 days but I had fun! Fabric placing was a bit tough but at least I got some decent placements out of it. I think the Mini Zippereds are kinda like those swedish circular prints which I totally love as well.

Me thinks this makes a great bag starter set! All you need is well, your stuff! All descriptions are available at the listing. I know its short and all but I'm totally beat from crafting all day. I had to finish Tisha's Doll wallet coz I've been sick & slacking off and she needs it for someone's birthday this weekend! Yikes, Its totally horrid of me but I've gotten it all done, thrown in some real good goodies so hopefully, it'll make up for the lateness. Whew! I've also gotten recent packages all packed and ready so it'll be dropped off tomorrow when I accompany my mom for the colon check. I'm gonna have to sleep early tonight, my biological clock's all screwed up and I've done too much shopping. I blame PMS, migraines and procrastination.



So I leave with one last look at this bag of decadence.

B back soon.

Plush for Pup & today...

I'm making Mini Zippereds for Plush For Pup's raffle! Those poor animals need our help. So PLEASE, go buy their raffle to win stuff! Raffle tickets are only $5 to PlushForPup@yahoo.com and you could win baskets full of swell goodies!


How to make a lunchbox from cd spindle. Random surfing brings out the best in life! I can't believe we missed this idea entirely. I love bagel sandwiches. But wait, are we supposed to dig a hole thru the inside stuff as well? Oh well. I still love this idea anyways.

I finally get my lazy ass onto updating the zakka section on my website. Its annoying how procrastination can really get the better of me. Though, I've been working non-stop and time is still somehow flying. Hm, maybe I'm just tired.

Stuff I really want, after sneaking into some stores today. - Flip Flap, the big one with the white pot. I've been wanting this for a long time but never got around to buying it and I figured a plant can't be worth paying that much for? We'll see. I also need a black satin cocktail dress, like those from the 1950s. Good for weddings, operas and concerts. Yes, I watch operas and classical concerts ever since high school. I'm kinda sick of wearing black pants and floaty tops. No dress off the racks seem to please me. They are either too small, too frilly, too complicated, to lousy.......God, I'm picky. I'm just short of visiting bridal salons for fear of pestering me about bridal packages. Do people in the states/UK/rest of the world get this problem? DH used to enjoy the attention and teases me. I do so much eye rolls, its funny how my eyes still stick around. I kinda like this one, but worried about the material & workmanship as usual. Sigh.

I'm in the process of making a really really cool Bag starter set with the Rillakuma (San X's Relax Bear) fabric I scored. Its a really decadent set so keep your eyes peeled!

Zakka updates

This pic was taken yesterday at 7am when I was, yes, still awake....well, before I was knocked out of course. Sunrises are rare for me.

I don't even know why I'm still here. Its 4.30 am in Singapore and I'm thoroughly a nightbird now. I've broken my own record of staying up all night working at the comp, packing orders and answering people's messages. To think I used to sleep at 10pm. And the worse thing is time seems to slip away like running water. I'm barely breathing, working non-stop, pictures, sewing, mailing, buying supplies, running around, packing....And yeah, my suitcase's still lying around with a tiny heap of things inside.

Shouldn't I start packing already?
What the hell. I like blogging. So here goes.


This bag - courtesy of Melissa who entertained my neuroses when I told here I'm besotted with it. She did a swap with me. It was actually made for her for the Handmade bag swap on swapbot. Actually I can't cable knit worth a damn. I can only do straight knits and crochet which I do for fun, punctuating my sewing so I don't burn out and well, burn everything. Anyhoo...this bag is as lovely as expected. Its insane, but I slept with it beside me when I received it yesterday. The yarn isn't scratchy, its actually pretty sturdy yet soft cotton. I love this style very much as well coz I'm a huge fan of clutches. I still can't forget the one Carrie took to Mr. Big's place and discovered he was leaving New York. That one was great. And now I have a fabulous clutch too...good for loads of stuff. Thanks Melissa.


Obnoxiously adorable mugs I couldn't help picking up. Is that why I hate shopping? My money keeps flying. These are mine!



More additions to my deco tape collection. Loads of cram cream and stuff. They are actually for sale. Big ones are $5, medium rolls in the second pic at $2.20 and the small ones at $1. Email me.

This is my new dish. - "We missed the Chicken Dance" I like dishes of late. Funny thing is I don't have 2 matching ones.

Yummy candy for people who buy stuff.

Restock! Yummy Strawberry purses. They're furry but the fur doesn't come off unless you yank. Its ultra adorable... Duck egg blue popcorn pot picked up at a sale. Cute acrylic strawberries ready for charm making.

I think I'll hit the hay.

Some stuff about me...

I got bored with posting and thought I'd do one that's totally illogical and pointless.
Wait, this list is prolly for me to reminise when my hair's all white and my teeth has fallen out.

Some stuff about me...

My shampoo is squid ink black. My hair was in weird colors through my teens coz school didn't allow us to do any weird stuff at all. Yeah, we were all against the law at some point or other. Now my hair's black, jet black and I intend to keep it that way. Isn't asian beauty coming back?

I work better at night (10-4am). I'm very very cranky in the morning and I refuse to take coffee. Coffee gives me an existence of about 4 hours and after that I am out. I used to take it only in the late afternoon or evening to get through the last hours of the day. Now I work at the comp at night so no need for coffee, the internet's as exciting as a rollercoaster.

I type better and faster than writing. I used to have penpals til I was grossed out by my own handwriting. I have a friend who had the same problem as me when we were in junior high. We were famous. So I now type. No penpals. Good writing, good fonts and easy erase. Best thing since sliced bread.

Grammar mistakes drives me nuts. I spend my waking hours scrounging for them. I swear any such mistakes made on my blog is totally unintentional and its due to lethargy. This place (Singapore) is a gold mine for them. I often tell sales people I refuse to buy their products because they can't articulate. Sue me.

I'm Sensory-Defensive. I get very upset when people unintentionally has sudden contact against my bare skin. All my neuro senses rushes to that area and I can't think of anything else for 5 minutes and I have to slap or scratch the area. And yes, it gets worse when I'm in Singapore. Its like being in India. I can't turn around without knocking into people. I need space.

I like lavender, lilacs, eucalyptus, sandalwood for smells. I don't do vanilla & sweet scents. I'm partial to fruity & woody notions. DH wears Chanel Allure, courtesy of me.

I'm not into kids and the usual family type stuff. I think I had my fill of it since young. And I can't deal with myself & my life, I refuse to bring someone else into this world to share my problem. My friend Aaron says, "Can't solve the problem, share it out". And I've seen waaaay too many parents who can't handle their kids. If, I ever have a kid, the kid will the center of my universe. No offence, but I think I can't handle a career, a family, a husband, parents and myself all in one lifetime. I'm a perfectionist and doing a half ass job on everything isn't me. Somehow I'm also not the marrying kind. I'm still single but DH is almost already DH so its like that for now.

I'm a visual and sensual person. I like lomo photography, art installations, craft, poetry. I visit museums & old places. I feel things, take it in and breathe it out in my own way. I like jazz for relaxation, classical sometimes & chillout for music coz they give me space to think a lot. Sometimes I think too much. Permanent radio station for here is Lush 99.5fm.

My imagination runs very wild. I don't watch anything remotely scary, unless I'm sure DH will be around 24/7, or at least at night. I can't handle things like showering alone after a scary movie. I can't be told things halfway coz I'd imagine the possibilities of the rest and settle on the worse case senario. I was notorious for mystery/supernatural essays in junior high. My teachers still talk about it. They tell me I have to stop when I get to high school so I did. But I still blame Agatha Christie.

I hate white flourescent lamps, bulbs, tubes. Neon ones too.

I like most colors as long as they fit the theme. My room is in black and white only. Somehow I dislike purple a lot and have no idea why.

I read magazines over lattes at cafes. American & Australian Vogue, Harp B (A&A), STYD (Aus), Cotton Friend, Cotton Time, Style (SG), Sometimes architecture magazines, Her World & Elle (SG) too.

I can't stay away from Blue Potato chips & ganache truffles. I like Prestat's handrolled ones. I also like really good mud cakes, krispy kreme, cupcakes & fresh brownies. I'm partial to milk chocos with nuts or fruits in it. I don't do much of dark and I hate white. No liquer chocs. I also like ice-cream from Haagen Daz's, Ben & Jerry's & Andersen's of Denmark. I have to finish the whole bag or tub when I open one. Its bad.

I love fresh raw salmon. I eat a ton of them when we visit the Fish Market in Sydney. Although I won't mind a fresh grilled on in olive oil or Japanese style, with skin and all. I adore a good Sashimi salad, a smoke salmon salad, greek salad with fresh goat's cheese, grilled chiken salad or a caesar's salad if I'm in a rush. I also like squid ink spaghetti with carbonara sauce.

I can cook. I love to use good chunk of beef skirt for a teriyaki & garlic pepper steak. I know its unconventional but its soft, totally juiced up & oh so yummy. I'm a medium rare fan. I paint the surface with thick teriyaki sauce then fry the outside on slightly lower-than-usual fry heat, then simmer it slightly with virgin olive, loads of fresh garlic mashed, fresh grined Tri-color peppercorns & chopped pasley. Try it. The flavor is a total explosion!
Of course I do other usual stir-fries, baked chicken in a myraid of flavors, Japanese dishes like onigiri, noodles & fried spam rice, recipe courtesy of my friend, TC. I bake as well, cakes, cookies, tarts, etc. The only thing I can't make is creme brulee & chocolate.

I'm allergic to tobacco & I can't drink much. Though, I'd love sips of Wolf Blass's Grey label red, or other slightly aged sauvignon. I seldom do whites, though I like dom perignon & vodka lime when I'm dragged out to clubs. Reason for why I don't club - tobacco. DH likes brandy & the grandad port. I much prefer green tea, wheatgrass & lemon or strawberry Pellegrino please.

My life is re-runs of Sex & The City, The Simpsons, House & a ton of other movies. I can't watch the programs here; they are Singlish loaded and wrecks my head. It was better in Sydney though I mostly grew up in American pronunciation. I read chick-lit now, had too much mystery & thrill in my earlier days. I do pick up things like Freakonomics & Affluenza by Oliver James.

I'm spoilt & hate generic wearables. I either try to get interesting designer pieces because they fit better & last or I make my own. I don't like T-shirts that say the designer name in big words on them. Though, I am forced to get basics from Bonds & Muji. I like quirky things & black shirts.

I'm allergic to mohair. I tried to put one on but after putting one arm into the sweater, I had to stop. My arm was red and horrid for a week after. I have to wear natural cottons, baby merino wool or cashmere. I don't do fur much. Its murder and its trouble coz they fall out. I want to shave my head because of the same reason.

I have to sleep on pure egyption cotton.

I choose bookshops & libraries over clothing stores for shopping. They are quieter, or at least people are forced to be quiet. New books and magazines get me excited. New clothes often smell funny. I do shop for my swaps at the usual cute places though. And I like Jason's Marketplace for groceries, Meidiya for Japanese ones & Liberty Market near my place for a quick in and out. Though, I can't visit the grocer's when I'm hungry. It gets disastrous.

I like vintage. I collect dresses from the past. I have 2 leather suitcases from Sydney's vintage shops filled with very old books and a very old leather hatbox from Glebe Markets which I had to fight someone for. I also have an American Tourister round hat case from a lady in the states which I absolutely adore. I like altered vintage jewellery and get them from talented etsyers. Naturally, I own bags and shoes from the past as well. I have a funny tendency to believe things were better in the past. I got over the funny smell from vintage things when I got a really pretty pink nightie from a store in Sydney some years back. It was my first vintage buy. I make it a point to visit markets & vintage stores in sydney when I get back there every year.

I miss my 29th floor apartment at Forum Tower in Sydney. DH still lives there, albeit at 11th. That apartment was the holy grail. We faced the north & the view was virtually unblocked for miles. We could see mountains and rainbows stopped in front of us. It was THE view, not a view. Reminiscing about having a drink on the balcony and soaking up the night skies really hurt.

I get upset when people tell me I'm cute. This translates as childish to me. Isn't it why I couldn't get the important jobs? They just won't believe I can do it if I look cute. But somehow it looks like there's no way in hell I can ever look sophisticated. Just doesn't happen.

I'm partial to french and japanese things coz IMO, they make the most effort at what they're doing, therefore yielding the best results. I learn from them as well.

I'm addicted to fabulous cottons and canvas fabrics from Japan and mangle linens from the west. I empty my pockets for them. Its insane.

Running around for my shop drives me nuts but I still love it. Somehow spending time on my shop really makes time run like hell. Its already April 07 but I don't feel it at all. I might need a marketing manager and secretary soon. Maybe a new studio and 2 seamstresses?

I dream of being an artist with solo shows in museums. I still want to own a massive white washed gallery in a prewar shophouse with a studio at the back. I'm partial to static and performance installations. Though, I won't mind Aleksandr Petrovsky's whole-floor thing in satc. Yum.

I'm also dying to do an installation with sound and touch as the theme.

Webpages I have to visit everynight. My shop, Flickr, Wikipedia, The Superficial, Google. Webpages I frequent. YouTube, Etsy, ebay, LOF, website, movie mistakes & a whole load of other crap.

**Edited 209589473298583 times because I have ADD and perfectionism.

Warring week...

Pictures from top clockwise - Lunch at Delifrance with mum after Malaysia cemetry visit, Marks and Spencer heavenly choco biscuits aka the reason I'm fat (that reason becomes Krispy Kreme when I'm in Sydney), Newspaper clip about Sydney saving the world from global warming (where the hell are you guys!?), Pellegrino - my one weakness (oh and blue potato chips!), Black Sheep Mini Zippered also featuring Blossomhill's Pink Elly coz I love them!

What a week! After the launch of the whole Private Reserve Collection, I've been busy busy busy! Definitely not complaining coz I really enjoyed making them! This time my dear mum chipped in quite a bit which is why I could manage to churn out that much! It was like a factory down here! We joked about being our own little sweatshop. Not that mum found it to be particularly funny coz she was doing it out of kindness. But in the end, she loved sewing them up! She's a really great dressmaker, does quite a few pieces of my clothes. I design them, she makes it possible! I'm a really bad picker so I appreciate her tolerance. :P I'm just real glad people love my creations! Oh yes, I have to tell you guys this, the price is a tad higher coz the fabrics were really really costly. DH said I should've raised it higher but I thought he was nuts! I mean rationally, I won't even pay as much myself, so I didn't. I'm still living on instant noodles, but I'm happy making stuff under the sweltering heat here. Whee! Sauna life! *eye roll*

Then Something Happened Tonight - Tim of Etsy Administrators convo-ed me and told me Sanrio things ain't allowed on Etsy! Boy was I crushed and a splitting headache on top of the incessant cough and throat problems hit me. I knew I had to remove a couple of my listings and move them to my website. But it also meant 4 hours, which was what I did just now. *wipes sweat* But I guess its all going to happen anyways. Though, I guess I'd better count myself lucky I actually got to list and sell quite a few Sanrio fabric-ed items at my etsy shop before. My arms are falling off as I type this and my back is calling for help. I might go sleep soon. Its like 4 am here and I've almost totally beaten my own record for staying up for work. I'd already spent hours today working on totes, purses and packing up my very very messed up work area! My mum was giving the ultimatum. :P

I feel like I've been through a war this week.

Hope you guys are having a better easter!

(My throat's not allowing chocolate eggs. I think I want to buy a stuffed bunny.)

Happy April Fool's & *Drum Roll* The Private Reserve Collection!!

Its been a long wait or what?! Well, not so long for me coz I'veen been busy preparing for this big launch. Yeap, I'm finally deciding to bust out with my private loot in very very limited numbers so hurry if you love them coz no more thereafter! As you know from my previous post, I'll be leaving at the end of the month for Sydney til the end of June so hurry hurry! ;+)

These fabrics need no introduction at all. All pure Japanese imports, pure quality and pure joy! I get a real sense of happiness whenever I take a whiff of these fabrics. Don't ask why!

The second set you're seeing here is the Sanrio Collection. All super duper cute! There's no way you can find Sanrio Linen and cotton canvas anywhere! Its all here, up for grabs! ;+)

This set is the French Collection, all the most adorable french fabrics all the way from Japan! If you love everything french like me, you'll love these!

So, there you go! I'll let the pictures do the talking! See you soon at www.florspace.etsy.com

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p/s: I heard some protests about the too-limited numbers so I'll try to accomodate as its needed. See? I'm nice! LOL