WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE?

I am quite aware that many of us have a crush on Zooey Deschanel. I am no exception. She's such a chill girl, she's the kind of girlfriend I would like to just laze in the warm summer weather by the river playing and singing songs with. The good thing is she probably knows how to sing all the songs I love.

So here's the question: What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Mr. D had such a busy year and spent so much time at work, my favourite Christmas present this year was having him at home all week. Even when that meant having him annoying me for fun. So come New Year's Eve, this may sound oh-so-boring, but I'm going to have only Mr. D with me and have a quiet merry time eating the product of the storm I will whip up in our almost non-existent kitchen and watching the fireworks from our apartment. (We were informed two years ago that we have one of the best views for fireworks in Munich and finally we get to see it for real.)

No playing with fireworks this year. I did for the first time in my life last year and it was fun but once is enough in this case.

So, how ever which way you will enter into the new year, make sure you are doing it the way you want to!

See you on the other side!

IT'S A NEW SEASON

I have been considering what to do with Missus D on Etsy. It has been a joy being able to design and create through the technique of crochet and the medium of fibres. I will continue to do it, however, I sense that Missus D needs a new direction and way of doing things. So with that in mind, I need to "clear the studio" a little. It would help my clear my mental studio too.

Therefore, for now until an indefinite time, Missus D is on SALE! Well, I'm slowly turning the sale 'button' on. Right now, the chickadee section is activated.

HOLIDAY GREETINGS

Hello friends,
It's been a while since I signed in and shared my life. It's just that I was so busy with the organisation of the handmade markets in Munich that right after the season was finished, all I wanted was time off!

Anyway, I had time to play a little. I thought this tutorial for DIY bokeh filters was really interested and I wanted to take photos like these.

source

I tried, but my knowledge of photography is quite limited to the non-flash auto. The result was mixed, but not so bad that cropping could not rescue me a little.

So this gives me something to occupy myself with this holiday, improve my knowledge of photography and knowing how to further use my DSLR camera!

Looking back, I have been so utterly blessed! I thank God for the journey I am on and the people I do this journey with, Mr. D especially. Take care this holiday, be safe, feel loved, take the opportunity to be well-rested and we'll see you on the other side soon!

Love much,

Missus D

p.s. There will be a big and wonderful sale on all Missus D shops come the new year!

Mushrooms on the Rocks

They take so much time, but they are so much fun!

What do you like best? The ivory base or the black base? 

I have a customer asking for a happy green base. Gotta go to the store to find happy green now.

Will be in store soon, when I get the time. :-)

Oh yes, the [m]unikum markets are uber cool and over for this season, but if you still have the appetite for more, there's also the super duper cool Design Market at Farbenladen in Westend, Munich. A lot of alternative stuff, handmade with an urban street edge.

On being Asian

Having been born in a family oriented Asian culture* and then living in independent, individualistic Western cultures* allows us to have "out of the body" experiences. Once in a while, we have a really good laugh at different attitudes to life, parenting, work and humour.

My parents, bless them, are a wonderful source of hilarity. And they are not even like some full-on Asians, who would, for example, fight tooth and nail to pay for your bill. So what did they do exactly?

Asian parents want their children to grow up and get married quickly, but they also have a problem cutting the apron strings.  

For example:

1. At my ripe old age, my parents still want to hold my hands when we cross the road. They believe they are trying to protect me. The only reason why, at my age, I would hold my parents' hands while crossing the road is because I am watching out for them. I guess it all works out in the end.

2. My mother still thinks she is best in her methodology of doing everything. She insisted on packing my suitcase for me because she thought she would do a better job. I let her, because I was just too lazy to resist her. But I have to say, she really does do a great job and packing. They always say you inadvertently become your parents as you get older. I'm proud to inherit that trait if I do.

By the way, I have been out of my parents' home since I was eighteen. I still get treated like a teenager whenever I get home. Apparently that's the last they properly saw me, since I was living overseas from then on. They say they cannot treat me like an adult. I quote my mother, "You will be my child until you have a child of your own."

* There are intricacies to each Asian/ Western culture. I do not mean to stereotype each culture, nor are they exact dichotomies of each other. There are some Western examples that emphasize independence but are also very strong on family values. There are Asian examples where familial bonds are not so strong. But there are patterns and certain distinctions between the two cultures. Also, I'm not so good at being politically correct. 

Because I haven't been home in Singapore often enough, the changes in this small city often deals me a great shock. But there are still bits of Singapore I recognise and love. I hope it doesn't disappear so soon.

Hawker centres. 

Eating by the road side. 

 Camping by the beach.

Beachside restaurants.