Missus D

Genius and CopyCats

2012-01-26T12:03:00.001+01:00

The topic of copying is a really hot and sensitive topic, especially for creative people. I guess it is because we pride ourselves on being creative and we make a living and build our reputation on that creativity. There are also certain ethics, perhaps written or unwritten, in the creative realm that justifies our annoyance and frustrations when someone comes and does something similar to what we do.

What I have noticed in my interaction with people from different cultures is that their perception and definition of "copying" is different. Their response towards this issue is rather different too. So here is the disclaimer that this is my take on things as an artist and designer.

Let's define copying.
First, it is copying if a person took your artwork, scan it, print it for their own purposes, commercial or non-commercial, with or without your consent, with or without giving you credit.

It is copying if someone took your work and makes an inferior version out of it.

It is copying if someone took your work with your signature style and just changed a small detail as an excuse to say it is not copied wholesale.

It is not copying if both of you were inspired by the same thing, let's say, clouds, trees, owls, birch, maps, arrows, triangles, etc. I mean, come on, you borrowed all these ideas from nature!

What I find people are worried about most of the time where it comes to copying is that the sales and profits are taken from them and that your idea is not so "original" after all.

The truth is, if your idea seems good (i.e. making money), somebody will want to do the same thing.
Honestly, that makes me upset too, especially when somebody undercuts you by offering lower prices that you know is not fair recompense for the effort put in. (That is another topic.)

Don't worry, I am not for copying!
I am totally against copying because it just goes against individual expression. The reproduction of an idea to cash in on its profitability without giving due credit to the person is pretty immoral, to be honest.

I am against copying, but I am also against the hoarding of ideas and laying claim to ideas.
Personally, I think originality is about self-expression, based on your perspective. You create a world that you imagine. Perhaps there are more people in the world who have similar imaginations of their world, how it looks and should function.

Elizabeth Gilbert (of Eat, Pray, Love fame) believes that creativity or genius does not belong to certain individuals, rather that all of us "have" a genius. Similarly, I recently read Paul Arden's "It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be" and to quote him, "They (The ideas) are out there floating by on the ether. You just have to put yourself in a frame of mind to pick them up."

I tend to agree with them, and with Paul Arden's attitude towards ideas especially. Ideas are for sharing. And sometimes, I believe it is in sharing an idea that will help make the idea even better.

Final personal note and an interesting fact.
The luxury brand sector does not have patents or copyrights on their patterns for clothes. The reason is that these things are so basic that you cannot place a patent on them. Yet they are not worried about copies affecting their profit margin, because they said (I have to find my sources again), that those who purchase fakes are not part of their target market.

I recently opened a printable shop selling christian scripture designed as typography printable posters in June 2011. When I first opened it, there were no other shops on Etsy that only sold printables in this category. By November 2011, many other shops doing something similar sprouted up. I was quite surprised and secretly honoured that they would think my idea is good. I was also a little pissed off by those who try to underprice their work. But then, I had a thought. A few thoughts indeed.

Firstly, my reason for starting this shop was for something more than about the money. It's good that people are offering a variety of styles. Secondly, I have a completely different style from these other new shops sprouting up. Surely, my clientele is different from theirs. Thirdly, I started this business with a vision that includes the quality of the work I provide. As long as the work I do is up to my standard and that I am tapping into the source of my creativity, comparison will only kill the joy I have in doing my work so far. I am having a lot of fun, and finding out who is "copying" my business model is very distracting.

Finally, we should shut down people who are copying our work, the current system on the internet of policing for one another is great. But if someone wants to draw triangles, let them do it their own way.

THIS COULD BE THE HOLOCAUST OF CREATIVITY.

2012-01-20T14:53:00.002+01:00

I really wanted to spend some time sharing other things I learned from Paul Arden. It has something to do with copying... boy, is that going to be a controversial topic!

But, there is a pressing issue which I think touching on many things important to us. Free speech. Creativity. Democracy.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Of course, this could be the holocaust of creativity, but it will never kill off creativity altogether.

NO GRIT, NO PEARL.

2012-01-19T12:22:00.001+01:00

Last post I said I would share about two books that have provided so much wit, wisdom and humour.
Well, they are written by the same person, Paul Arden. Many knew him as an advertising genius. He was no easy person to work with, but those did, and went through his school of hard knocks and true honesty said they got the best education they could ask for.

For all in advertising, those who wanted to be good got him as a grit that would eventually turn into a pearl, if they took in what he said. And his books provided the grit that would help all of us, creatives and non-creatives alike.

I could probably spend many blog posts sharing the gems I found in his books, but today I will simply share the first truth I learned for myself after reading both his books, "It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be" and "Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite".

Be unapologetically passionate.

With great passion comes great intensity. And sometimes, people get offended by your intensity. That's normal, that's life. Being good has got nothing to do with being nice. Although, there is nothing wrong with being nice, except when you compromise with how good you want and need to be.

Also,
No grit, no pearl.

It's a huge investment in life to find friends who don't just say nice things to you, but can be honest and give you material to produce excellence in your life. Last year, I mourned the loss of a few "friends". Well, I thought they were my friends and I knew I could have done better in many ways too. And then I announced that 2012 would be the year I learn to be a better friend. Yes, it would mean to be honest (oh dear), that means at the end of that honesty, probably only one or two people are left standing. But those left standing would probably be the best investment in your life.

Poster from here.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race.

2012-01-17T18:13:00.001+01:00

Remember I shared I was going to do Project365?

Well...it was much much harder than I thought. I didn't have just one project that requires my attention every day of the year, but two. The other is #scripture365 which I am doing relatively well in.

Then there were the other goals I set, such as to push Missus D into the direction of providing patterns and kits, upgrade my products on Missus D Paperie, and to build Munikum up as a local handmade movement. Pushing yourself creatively really takes a lot of energy and I suspect I bit more than I could chew. The other part is a matter of pacing. It's only mid-January, for crying out loud. I don't think there's really a rush.

So what with the rushing about? Any results? Sure did!

So I drew up the pattern for the Bender robot eggwarmer, Cthulhu Eggwarmer, aka, Zoidberg, and the chick and egg amigurumi.

Then, to save you the hassle of looking for the right yarn, I've prepared some crochet kits. I really love the yarn supplied in these kits. Definitely great quality cotton. Doesn't that first picture of the crochet kit remind you of CMYK?

Finally, this #scripture365, which is pushing my limits and expanding my repertoire. I still have lots to improve, but I hope to see more classy, timeless designs for Christian scripture. By the way, I don't choose verses randomly. Each verse speaks and ministers to me for this particular day. You can check out my blog for the backstory for each verse.

Wow, for the seventeenth day of the day, I have achieved quite a bit! I always chide myself on the inside for procrastinating and such, but now I look back, I have been fruitful! Let's just keep going steady, I'm sure it is going to be an interesting year. It already looks to be one, considering we MIGHT have to do a seachange.

And to prove I really tried not to neglect Project365, I did try to take a few self portraits, which I am not good at. This is the best of the worst.

The next part about 2012 is self-improvement. For starters, I managed to borrow two really good books which are easy to read but packs so much wit, humour, wisdom and great advice. Will share that next post.

A Handmade Manifesto (in the making)

2012-01-08T12:24:00.003+01:00

Last year in late summer, a few of us got together and in a culmination of passionate discussion on the local creativity in Munich and what we wish to see happen in Munich, formed a local handmade movement called Munikum.

Since then, we have managed to organise two handmade markets, made many connections with designers and local public alike. Munikum is a platform for promoting local handmade designs and handmade culture, after the markets, we now have the opportunity to help host the "Etsy Handmade Nacht" (in English, "Etsy Handmade Night") from this year onwards.

As we gathered around the table enjoying dinner, we asked ourselves again, what does this handmade movement in Munich want to achieve? Why push this? I managed to find some time to sit down and think about it through writing. This is what I came up with. If you know more benefits of a handmade movement, let me know. :-) Are you involved in one in your local area? Feel free to share what your local movement does in your city.

Here goes:

Munikum is a local Handmade movement based in Munich. It started as a meeting of minds that desire to see a Handmade movement happen in Munich. We believe that the practice of making things ourselves provides many benefits to ourselves and our environment.

1. The joy of re-discovering our personal creativity.

2. Cultivating mindfulness: paying attention to the details of the present moment.

3. Stress therapy.

4. Connecting with people through creativity.

5. Appreciation for craftwork and its process- from the smallest scale (sewing, baking, knitting) to the largest scale(woodwork, construction).

6. Appreciation of local creativity- that of your friends and the city you live in. Instead of going with one style or methodology, we can see the individual styles of each person. That helps create an even more vibrant city.

7. Increase support of local artists and designers. Through encountering process ourselves, we are further able to look deeper into the work of designers and receive greater understanding into their work. This also means that we will begin to know good work when we see it!

8. Through supporting local artists and designers, you are also re-investing into the local economy, financially and culturally.

Handmade always sounds like a primitive term. And in Germany, many of us are even avoiding the work “handarbeit” simply because it doesn’t sound cool enough. No matter what the term we use, the whole idea of this movement is to get the city more involved in making something with their own hands so they can rediscover their personal creativity.

With Etsy’s immense support, we are able to bring “Etsy Handmade Nacht” to Munich, and hopefully with the craft nights, each of us can find our creative niche and make meaningful connections, face to face, with the people around the table.

A New Direction- Missus D Patterns

2012-01-05T17:23:00.000+01:00

I mentioned that Missus D will be moving in a new direction in 2012.

The honest truth is, selling amigurumi is hard. If you are selling them seriously as a business, it is a hard sell when you start to account for time spent crocheting it, photographing it, marketing it. I don't know how certain sellers on Etsy do it, but the truth is, I can't. So I won't.

Instead, since I receive a lot of feedback for my designs, I will draw up patterns for them and distribute them from now on. And because I really love the particular quality of the materials I used, I am working on offering kits too so that will also save the trouble for finding the right yarn.

To make it easier for those who love to crochet, I am sharing some of the techniques which I practice and feel are very sound for making beautiful amigurumi on this page. For me, technique is very important. It is the foundation for beautiful amigurumi. You can find the link on the right column.

DAY 3 #PROJECT365

2012-01-03T17:52:00.000+01:00

I already caught an inkling of how difficult this challenge will be for me, because I did not take a photo for yesterday! And then I did the worst thing to myself. I committed myself to another challenge!

That's me. Ambitious and hasty. Not a great combination.

I wanted some structure to my challenge. At first I thought I would do something like take a photo of myself everyday of the year. Then I felt it silly and kind of boring. Then something on Pinterest came to me and I thought it would be structured yet not boring. So this is the list that I am following every month for the next 12 months. The extra day for the month would be random.

Fingers crossed, I hope I follow through.

And, this is the picture of the day, based on the theme: clouds.

What about the other challenge I mentioned? Well, it's a challenge to design a poster for a relevant verse of the bible for the day. I'm calling it Project Scripture 365. I will post it on the Printable Scripture blog.
Let's see how being creative and disciplined will do for me this year.

Project 365 - Day 1

2012-01-02T10:34:00.000+01:00

I just jumped on board Project 365! It didn't take much convincing as I had an idea to do this, but to know there's already an entire community set up with it is quite interesting. I have a few different ideas for it though. Almost tempted to set up a few different accounts...

Since I started late, and I really like this shot, I chose it as my first one. Here I am, join me!

Are you doing Project 365 too? If so, let me know!

CHAMPAGNE AND FIREWORKS

2012-01-01T04:23:00.005+01:00

I was so excited by the fanfare of the transition from 2011 to 2012 that I am still here and writing this blog at 3.50am. This year, we stayed in Munich instead of spending NYE with friends at Wolfratshausen. Like before in Japan or Oz, it was just the two of us waiting for the clock to strike twelve. Throughout the night, we had over-excited premature fireworks, but then it all crescendoed into a roar of fireworks at midnight and the next thirty minutes that ensued.

I chose to use this video because I just really enjoy hearing the excited voices from my next door neighbours, little Paul and his dad Stefan. New year's is the only chance a German gets to buy lots and lots of fireworks and unleash them for the night. The final firework we saw was set up by Stefan and Paul.

We were really impressed. In our first year in Munich, Stefan told us that we have THE best view in Munich when it comes to the New Year's fireworks. I thought, hey yes, but I wanna spend NYE with my friends. So twice we spent the year with them. This year we have NYE to ourselves. We sipped on champagne while watching the night sparkle and roar with joy.

Another new tradition, I suspect, for us. Champagne for Christmas and New Year. We also found a pattern for anything French for our wedding anniversary celebrations. In the past few years, we've either had French food or brought ourselves to Paris unwittingly. We never plan to be associated with France in that way. We don't even remember our anniversary properly. It just keeps happening.

Just fireworks EVERYWHERE. But it was rainy, and cold. I got clammy, and shaky with the camera.

LOVE the view. Not just on NYE, but every single day of my life in this apartment. On certain days, we can see a clear view of the Alps.

I just keep getting too excited, shivery or fidgety for photo taking. But what's happening behind is more exciting.

That's kinda enough of me, isn't it?

Now to the very cool Mr. D. ~~Or, Dr. D, as he likes to be addressed.~~

What a blast walking into the new year! Here's to a beautiful start and a fruitful progression. May each day allow us to grow into beautiful human beings on the inside and out!

WELCOME TO THIS SIDE OF 2012!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.032+01:00

<<source>>

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

There's always a sense of anticipation for the next year. We don't know what it will be like, but we hope all the same that tomorrow will be better and brighter.

Here's to another INSPIRED year!
May you meet people whom you learn to cherish.
May the friends of yesterday continue to be the friends of tomorrow.
May you run but not be weary.
May the work of your hands be completed and achieve its purpose.

Missus D will be walking in a new direction. I will reveal it to you soon enough. ^__*

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE?

2011-12-30T16:43:00.002+01:00

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

2011-12-28T16:55:00.000+01:00

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

2011-12-23T23:59:00.001+01:00

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

2011-12-06T01:10:00.001+01:00

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

2011-12-05T12:40:00.001+01:00

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.

Hello!

2011-11-29T11:37:00.002+01:00

Hello peeps! It's been a little silent on this blog, I know...I've been working really hard alongside four other precious friends organising a Handmade market in Munich.

Getting things done was the easy part, but managing expectations is always a little challenging. Because we try the best to be as professional as possible (even though we are not even a company), sometimes I think people forget that we are just Handmade artisans who have big dreams for Handmade in Munich.
We need encouragement to keep doing this, otherwise artisans like us do not have a platform for our niche!

Anyway, after all is said and done, the friendships between the five of us have become much stronger, and this is precious to me, since I came to Munich two years ago without a single person here to call "friend". We went through a lot of ups and downs and to come out of these episodes still liking each other is indeed wonderful.

Missus D and [m]unikum

2011-11-01T13:42:00.000+01:00

November and December are usually very exciting months of the year for me. Even though it is cold, gets dark easily, this is the time to seek warmth from everyone.

On the first and second advent, Missus D will be at the Munikum markets. It is a pride and joy for me, because this is organised by the grassroots for the grassroots! We are just so passionate to see local creativity being celebrated in Munich. This is truly by the people, for the people.

If you are in Munich, I can assure you this will be a fun event to go to with your friends and family.

Here are the event details: first advent, second advent.

Come visit and say "Hi!" to these weirdos:

How can you resist saying hi to them, right?

So come by!!

And say 'Hi!" to me.

I like people. :D

Missus D at Hello Handmade

2011-10-26T17:46:00.001+02:00

** An exciting update! **

Found out Missus D was on TV! Joyous. You can see it here.

Together with all my alien friends, we made our way to Hello Handmade in Hamburg. They were all standing tall and proud, come odd as they are.

photo by Jessica of Gus and Ollie

Excuse me looking tired. I've had better looking days. I simply had too much fun in Hamburg, I have to admit.

photo by Mat Kirsch

At least the ladies on my left and right look great, so I put this up. I beg their forgiveness for me looking this way. Bah.

I wish I had some time to look at other people's work. Bugger. But these are my "neighbours".

Hamburg : First Impressions

2011-10-25T17:15:00.000+02:00

Harbour city, cultural and creative diversity, availability of seafood, cafe culture, vibrant and developing. Ever changing, ever growing, ever moving from one stage to another.

That's what Hamburg feels to me. There is a sense of grittiness. You can understand why it is a popular city for migrants to come to, because you feel that opportunity to reach your dream is perhaps possible.
This city is not boring at all.

Actually most of the photos are taken in Sternschanze. If you like fleamarkets, small independent labels, this is the place to go.

Production Fever

2011-10-19T01:54:00.000+02:00

I'm feverishly in production mode in preparation for Hello Handmade this coming Sunday. I have in stock many Missus D delights, but one always fears she didn't bring enough.

If you are in Hamburg during that weekend, you must drop by!

These one eye alien plants will soon be "planted" in a pot.

Making an appearance at Hello Handmade:

and more...!

More creative spaces: here.

Crochet Skulls

2011-10-18T08:04:00.000+02:00

Some people might have a slight aversion to skulls, because it's been associated with death, danger, voodoo, cannibalism and general bad ass-ery.

For me skulls are bones from living things, and how fascinating they are! They protect our brains and are the containers for organs I hold dear. The channels for many of my senses are located within my skull. They are important indeed.

After creating my own version of the skull, I wondered what the skulls of my imaginary aliens would look like. Here are some for you to see.

Very cute, aren't they? They should make cute halloween decorations.

Printable Scripture loves colour too

2011-10-14T19:24:00.001+02:00

from Printable Scripture on Etsy

Printable Scripture usually comes in black and white. And it is true I like the simple Scandinavian feel, however, I also know that many of you have a favourite colour or want the print to go with a particular look in your room.

Previously I offered a few selected choices as there are always so many shades to one colour. However, lately, I am thrilled to discover a new system which might help you and I find the best shade for your own Printable Scripture.

And this, I believe is the advantage of buying a printable, I am able to offer you the exact shade of colour which you ask for. If I were only selling printed copies, my offering would be much narrower. I'm glad to be able to serve you in this way.

So here's how it works: when you purchase a print, you can pop over to C loford to choose from 500 colours. In your message to seller, note down the RGB code, and I will be able to customise your poster according to the exact shade you request. The only warning is that what you see on screen will always be a little different from the actual printed shade, however, this discrepancy happens all the time.

On another related news, Paisley Print Shoes is hosting a giveaway in which you could either receive a $20 voucher from yours truly, and there are no losers in this game. Participants will also be rewarded with a 50% discount at Printable Scripture. Have you seen my printable calendars? They are the perfect affordable stocking stuffer this season. Just order one and you can print as many copies as you wish at little expense.

Dear Jen from Paisley Print Shoes also delighted me by sharing a picture of her wall where one of my printables is hanging.

Can you spot where my printable is?

Missus D's Expedition to Planet 1BD-i

2011-10-07T14:39:00.001+02:00

These past few days, I was at home recuperating from my once-a-year cold. I was not utterly unproductive though as I managed to publish the first ever Missus D catalogue/portfolio on Isuu.

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

I also can't believe that in two weeks time I will be in Hamburg for the upcoming Hello Handmade Market too. It will be my first time in Hamburg, and the first time in a market of this scale. Looking forward to lots of fun. All the the 1BD-i range in my catalogue will be there at the market!

If you cannot be in Hamburg during that time, you can buy direct from me at my Etsy shop. Need I say more that buying from the designer means you bypass the wholesaler and even the retailer to get the best price possible.

Being Visionary

2011-10-07T14:07:00.002+02:00

+ One Eye Alien Egg Warmers +

I shared last week about how the way we set goals reveals to us who we are. I also mentioned that sometimes we are idealistic because we see things that we cannot understand yet. The demise of Steve Jobs reminded me again the things you can achieve if you have a vision and work hard to see it happen.

Steve Jobs taught me more than a few things about how we could live our life in the most gobsmacking satisfying way. It's been said so many times, he was truly a passionate visionary. We learn from him that success was never quite a straightforward path. Because he believed in what he saw, and had the fortitude and persistence to keep doing it, he overcame many setbacks.

Jobs was a hard worker, no doubt about it, but he didn't just put in labour and time into his work to make himself a success. I believe the league of visionaries like Jobs have a trait that makes a huge difference in their lives. That trait is called insight.

Insight is a kind of self-awareness. On a micro-scale, it is the understanding of who you are and what you have within you. It is being real with ourselves, knowing what we are good at and not so good at that allows us to allocate our resources to the things that matter.

I believe insight provides a path to act on what we envision. If we have insight about ourselves, we know how we can contribute. If we have insight into the world, we know what the world needs.

Setting Goals

2011-10-03T20:29:00.003+02:00

:: source ::

Goal setting is something we are constantly doing in our lives, therefore, I was curious about how we set goals. I asked a few people this question:

Do you
1. Set an attainable goal you know you can reach,
or,
2. Have a slightly unattainable goal that you work very hard towards?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I asked a few friends and more than half my friends chose number 2., which is also my choice. I was personally surprised actually, since I attribute my goal-setting pattern to my idealistic nature, I didn't expect so many to be dreamers like me. There is no right or wrong to question, rather, it reveals the way in which we motivate ourselves.

If you are the type who set attainable goals, you are probably a practical person. You take one step at a time, are able to focus well on the things before you. You prefer seeing the details and getting the details done right and on time.You probably like setting attainable goals because you are methodical and have a linear way of doing things.

We of the idealistic lot of the latter choice love thinking far ahead. We love painting big picture plans, and once we see it, we are motivated to make it happen. However, in our rush to the finishing line, we often neglect some details or get impatient.

Attainable goals are good if they stretch us and push us forward into the next goal. And sometimes, even when setting attainable goals, something unexpected happens, that might frustrate those who tend to want things to happen according to the way they predict. We need to always make room for that and think of that as an opportunity to stretch ourselves and be creative in troubleshooting.

Idealistic people enjoy setting slightly unattainable goals because they are born seeing things they cannot understand yet. However, this can frustrate other people if they are unable to communicate the vision well. They can work in a chaotic manner, which sometimes confuses themselves and other people. There might also be a lack of detail.

I don't know if my analysis is correct, but I observe this in myself and my friends. Contemplating this and seeing these traits in myself and others help me understand better how I work and how I can work with others. From here, we can understand our weaknesses and tendencies and find the right kind of help to see better and move farther.

Crochet skull

2011-09-29T11:14:00.001+02:00

When I first saw Crochetbloke's crochet skull, I knew I had to give it a try myself. He doesn't supply a pattern, apparently it is in a book, but for me, the fun is always seeing something and trying to figure out for yourself how to make it. My pattern is different from his, I know for myself where the difference lies, but here it is!

More creative spaces here.

Impressions of Oslo

2011-09-23T17:21:00.002+02:00

As promised, here are some photos from Oslo. If you love nature, islands, the sea, seafood, anything nautical, I think Oslo might be the place for you. It was definitely the place for me!

We visited the viking museum, which was fascinating.

Saw the new Holmenkollen Ski Jump. I just love the design of this ski jump.

For me, the Oslo Opera House found a new place in my heart. It was built to resemble an iceberg, and you can access the roof through a series of ramp. Great local design just makes my heart happy.

We also had lunch in the Opera House restaurant. The food is not cheap, but food is never cheap in Oslo. I recommend the seafood soup. It's the best!

Vigeland Park is as everyone says, not to be missed. All the sculptures are evocative. And instead of the ideal ancient Grecian poses and proportion, the sculptures reflect real bodies and proportions. The emotions and expressions are interesting, and you are drawn in to each sculpture.

The city had the food festival and book festival happening in different parts of the city. We had such a good time just eating fish cooked in a variety of ways.

We thought "Elg" was Elk, and we were mistaken. Even the picture of the "moose" didn't help us since I am not so familiar with these kind of animals. But the burger was really delicious!

Finally, for education, there were examples of different kinds of fungi.

Oslo impressed me so much, I can't wait to be there again. Now I understand why people keep going back to Norway! We saw our dream home perched on an island on our cruise too, but the weather was bad, so we did not take any pictures during the cruise. Next time, perhaps!

Alien Eggwarmer Totem Pole

2011-09-22T11:05:00.001+02:00

I've been working on replenishing my stock of alien and robot eggwarmers for the upcoming Hello Handmade market and a store order. This will also be my first time in Hamburg, so I'm pretty excited!

Want to show you the photos of Oslo, but no time yet. Crochet takes up all my time and hands. It's a tough life indeed.

Wanna spy on other people's creative life? Go here.

I spy with my eye

2011-09-21T16:35:00.001+02:00

by Vanessa Kirsch

I'm so thrilled! I could not make it to Hello Etsy, but a fellow Etsy friend, Van, spotted my little one eye alien plant sitting on Etsy's handmade non-virtual frontpage in Berlin. They are available for sale here in a variety of eye colours!

If you didn't make it to Berlin like me, you could still listen to the talks. My friend Eleanor, who also gave a presentation at Hello Etsy gave some really good tips on which talks NOT to miss.

While my dear friends were all in Berlin, I was in Oslo. What a stunning city it is! I came home to lots of work, but I will try to share some pictures soon.

Mouldy Rock

2011-09-11T14:52:00.002+02:00

I was recently engaged to do some custom work on a rock. The client had the idea of putting mould on a rock. She engaged another fibre artist, Elin, to make some mould for her and when it got sent to me, my job was to crochet the mould onto the rock.

The client requested for grey yarn, which I don't normally do, but now that I do, I like the idea very much. Instead of going with a lace pattern, I went organic, creating many holes through which you can admire the nature of the rock.

The funny thing is, everytime I crochet a rock cover, I end up loving the back. Making organic patterns on rocks is a pretty recent thing for me, and I'm beginning to love the idea.

With rocks, everything is custom made, you can see more of my work here.

Finder's Keeper and Work in Progress

2011-09-09T14:43:00.000+02:00

If I were an animal, I'd probably be a mynah bird. I can't help picking up stuff from the environment around me. This time it's a pine branch. I brought it home and was inspired to take photos with it.

The last one is a work in progress simply based on circles and corals. I used the rainbow pastel yarn I bought from a flea market.

If you are interested in seeing more creative spaces head this way!

Extreme Crochet and Wool Week

2011-09-07T20:57:00.000+02:00

The reason I love crochet, I think, is the same reason why I have a passion for architecture. It's the sculptural potential that compels me. Also, I'm a pattern and texture lover, with some simple stitches, you can create a multitude of shapes and textures.

I'm so grateful that the yarn loving community love to share and show their work online. Through them, I have been inspired and awed by the possibilities.

[source]

Have you heard of hyperbolic crochet? Yes, crochet is actually a very mathematic activity if you have done it. Being able to multiply is actually helpful!

More crocheted wire reefs,

[source]

Any mention of Shauna Richardson makes me cry. In total admiration.

She makes me embarrassed to call myself a fibre artist. Her brilliance, should simply be seen. Words aren't enough.

[source]

LOOK AT THAT! (I know, I wanna scream.)

You can watch her process here:

Lionheart from ACJ VIDEO on Vimeo.

We went from smart crochet to BIG crochet, let's move on to small crochet. It is definitely not easier at all. The precision and the details are just as challenging.

[source]

Mariella's work is amazing! I don't know what else to say except to go read her blog and be in real wonder about how she did all these with a really small crochet hook!

By the way, do you know it is WOOL WEEK? How exciting. Too bad we don't have programs like this in Munich. Should be lots of fun there in London.

Some geeky stuff going on

2011-09-06T14:29:00.000+02:00

Recently, I was commissioned to create a particular robot for a Battletech geek's daughter. He actually named his daughter after a robot. Hmm. Let's leave it at that. :-)

Anyway, the challenge was pretty great because the body of the robot consisted of many shapes I rarely tried out. It took me two months and many hours of trying to to get the scale and shape correct. I had never seen or heard about this particular robot, so I had to take the time to understand the shapes in its

three-dimensional form too.

View of Daishi (Dire Wolf) from the front.

The commissioner requested for the name of the child to be embroidered. It was a challenge, but I'm happy with the result.

What made this robot extremely complicated was I had to make many small parts and sew them on together. This bit is always challenging since you want good alignment.

We used a lot of safety eyes for the missile pods.

Because it is top heavy, it cannot exactly stand on its own. But with some support, it does stand up nicely. That was the part I was most happy about. It looks great standing up!

With this job complete, I can finally focus on the Hello Handmade Market of which I will be part of, and also two other markets during the Christmas season.

The Handmade Movement in Munich

2011-09-03T02:11:00.001+02:00

I can't believe I went for about a week without blogging! Well, I have been preparing for the launch of a new network for designers, artists and makers in Munich. This has been part of my heart since observing the handmade scene in Munich in the past two years.

There are so many creative people around in Munich, yet we do not have a platform nor events for us to connect and showcase our work. We have fleamarkets, and urban art fairs and high art, but there seems to be no suitable space for small, independent creatives, who work on a smaller, local scale. So we have decided to set up a group that will allow us to network and and increase the presence and appreciation of handmade design in Munich! Our group is called Munikum, and we have a Facebook page. Join us and be part of the ride! Soon we will have a website too!

[source]

It is so much hard work really. But I love hard work, since I know it pays off!

[Printable Scripture]

[Missus D Paperie]

Indeed, I am one of those people who have motivation posters as my cheerleaders!

Everyone needs some relief from this heatwave

2011-08-25T00:58:00.001+02:00

I came across these websites that had me up in stitches! Could not help sharing it and hope it will make your day.

This one had me in tears by the end of it.

27b/6 - Nightmare designer annoying the hell out of people.

Clients from Hell

My favourite from Clients from Hell:

Happy Thursday!

Printable Scripture and why I do it

2011-08-23T12:13:00.001+02:00

If you haven't noticed, back in June I opened a new Etsy shop selling printable scripture posters.

The concept is very simple. I love playing with typography, and I love the Word. So I put those two together. I chose to sell my work as printables as I wanted to make these posters accessible easily. There is no shipping, waiting time is just within 24 hours. You can print these from your printer cheaply, or go to the professional printers, which is also cheap. If you choose to print it professionally, know that you are injecting the money back into your economy.

This is a work of joy. It is an honour to be able to help other Christians adorn their walls with the Word of God because God tells us to print these words on our hearts. The more we come into contact with these wise words, the more able we are to live it out.

This month of August is dedicated to my father and is named Project He because it is his birthday month.

We're getting close to the end of August, and I'm wondering what theme I should go with in September?

Strange Fruit

2011-08-20T23:03:00.002+02:00

This may be slightly off topic. But I think perhaps it should be filed under "design". Nature's design.
Nature provides us with so much variety, it's amazing.

There is an apple tree near where I live that produces apples with red cores.

Anyway, we ate it, it was very sour and tart, and just extremely crunchy. Perhaps not many people will like this variety, but we do! We put it in our salad. I want to make apple pie out of this too. Soon.

Well, slight digression, but worth sharing! Happy Sunday!

Update: Rhymes with Magic let me know there is more information about this variety of apples. Fascinating stuff!

Finger knitting

2011-08-18T01:34:00.000+02:00

Remember I shared about some great DIY tutorials? Well, I really liked what V and Co. did with the jersey knit bracelet. Also, I was also interested to find out more about finger knitting. I knew about it since my time in Japan as they had many books on that, but I was more focussed on amigurumi at that time.

So I gave it a try with some scrap fabric of mine.

I took a cameo earring a friend gave me and turned it into a charm of sorts. That weird brown colour is of jersey knit, which is stretchy. And then I used a red batik scrap which wasn't. However, because it has been knitted, there is a small stretch factor to it. It is comfortable to wear. For someone who doesn't have the habit of wearing bracelets, it speaks alot. I can't wait for Mr. D's T-shirts to wear out so I have a good excuse to use it for more fabric accessories.

This is made out of some polyester scrap fabric from the extra length of my dress. Turns out it frays alot, which depending on your taste, can be interesting or not. I just hope it would stop fraying though!

I have a board full of DIY tutorials for various things on my Pinterest account, feel free to have a look and be enthused!

For more creative spaces, head this way!

DIY Love: Why buy when you can make?

2011-08-15T19:45:00.000+02:00

Well, in search of ideas and inspiration, I came across some really simple but fun DIY ideas for accessorizing yourself and your home. Pinterest has been a great place to find inspiration. I have a board here filled with really cool stuff you can easily do with things you find at home.

So, here are a few I recommend highly!

1. V&Co has a really beautiful blog filled with simple tutorials that make a massive impact. One of my favourites, which I tried (today) was making my own jersey knit bracelet. Basically she taught us finger knitting, which is such a fun activity to do! In Japan, finger knitting is considered really good for the brain. I've not only made bracelets, but necklaces and headbands with them already... :D

2. If you are into geometric shapes now, Dismount Creative has a great simple tutorial on making a geometric pendants from clay. It's so pretty! I need to get some clay now!

3. I've been trying to figure out how to sew. I would like to make clothes on my own, for myself. But being a novice and a lazy person in general means I like simple tutorials. Here is one for a really pretty skirt on Creative Spaces!

4. Finally. This website has convinced me I SHOULD give knitting a try. Surprised? Yeah, I can crochet but I can't knit. It's time to learn so I can make some knitted T-shirts for myself. Wool and the Gang really know how to style their outfits very well! I just wanna wear ALL of them! They have tutorials teaching us how to knit.

source

I'd totally wear this now!!!

I'm always on the prowl for nice DIY tutorials. Feel free to have a look at my boards to see what's out there you can have fun doing on a free day!

So darn easy baked potato!

2011-08-13T10:24:00.002+02:00

Do you ever have those days when you feel so lazy to cook and don't know what to do?

As long as you have an oven, this baked Hasselback potatoe is just fantastic! Well, I gave it a try already and I have to testify as to how easy it is to make this. You can get the recipe here.

Together, we are an ocean

2011-08-11T01:08:00.001+02:00

This is a quote I was inspired by after watching a TED talk. If you would like it on your wall, click here!

I like watching TED talks. There are some people out there who have really big hearts and live from their heart. One of them is Dyan deNapoli who has a spirit I admire. If I were ever terminally ill, I would want her attitude of hope against all odds to guide me through. That's what allowed her to rescue those penguins. I don't want to give too much away. Here is the video which I highly recommend.

It's Thursday! Have a look at others' creative spaces...

The Weekend

2011-08-10T17:54:00.000+02:00

It was a wonderful weekend as we entertained some friends whom we haven't seen in two years. They dropped by Munich on the way from Canada back home to Singapore.

We went to Nymphenburg Palace, which, after two years of residence in Munich, I have never been to. The garden is fantastic. I wish I could visit all the follies, but it was a rather warm day and walking the entire grounds is challenging.

Another interesting place we happened by was the statue of Ludwig I of Bavaria, which was turned into a Michael Jackson shrine. Nobody ever bothered to remove all those Michael Jackson paraphernalia, and I'm curious to find out why of all the statues on this boulevard, the statue of Ludwig I was chosen. In any case, I was greatly amused.

And not a gathering between my friend Elle and I would go by without us having a crafty pursuit. She had a try at making a crocheted lace rock. I think she did a wonderful job.

I made one more vintage lace covered rock. After finishing it, we were again intrigued by the "back" of the rock.

Beyond the weekend, we've been catching news of some senseless violence in London and now also Manchester. It is appalling considering all the innocent people caught in the middle of it. We are praying that this will stop. Violence is never a way to express anything.

Project HE

2011-08-09T17:02:00.000+02:00

August is my dad's birthday month. And since I dedicated July (mum's birthday month) for Project SHE, I thought August would be great for Project HE. I am on the lookout for scripture that would encourage and affirm men.

Do you have any favourites for the guys?

Missus D on Pinterest

2011-08-03T22:34:00.001+02:00

Are you on Pinterest? I just started getting onto Pinterest. I know about it for a while now, and resisted doing it because I don't want my "internet footprint" to be too big. But I caved in. It has become my place to bookmark all the things that are inspiring and should be shared. I like that I can have all my moodboards on one page.

So if you are on Pinterest, leave a comment and give me a link so I might be able to check it out!

Here's me on Pinterest!

SHE

2011-08-01T09:34:00.000+02:00

I rediscovered Proverbs 31 while going through the book of Proverbs in June.

I have to confess I used to hate Proverbs 31 during my uni years because the ladies in church would love to "preach" (read:nag) about the smart, charming, noble wife we have to become. I guess that was because with university, we were focussed on forging a career and these well-meaning ladies were teaching me how to remove stains from table cloths and diapers.

Today, I look at Proverbs 31 in a much different way. In the past, a woman's job in society was to be wife and mother. It didn't matter if she was also a deacon in church, or a wholesaler of fabric in the market. She was a wife and a mother.

When you read accolades about "the" noble woman, you'd realise SHE doesn't take the passive role of receiving money from her husband. SHE is one smart and resourceful woman. SHE can make things. SHE can manage people. SHE can manage finances. SHE makes investsments. SHE works hard. SHE doesn't forget the poor and needy. SHE is tactful. SHE knows what to say. SHE is prepared. SHE is cheerful.

This woman is basically, on top of things and totally aware of her surroundings. This, I totally respect.

Which is why I have a series of SHE in my Printable Scripture store now.

Dedicated to my mum, who is all of the above.

zen garden

2011-07-29T10:39:00.001+02:00

A serene, pensive zen garden was what I thought of while arranging these rocks.

They are now in my dawanda shop.

******
More creative workspaces here and here.

One woman's junk is another woman's treasure

2011-07-25T21:26:00.001+02:00

My friend and I decided to try our luck getting rid of our stuff at the neighbourhood fleamarket.

Well, let's just say I came home with more than I left home with...sigh.

I saw these funny novels selling for 20 cents (Euros). The covers all had very tacky '70s images. Must be about the adventures and romance of a particular Dr. Frank. Heh.

I spotted two beautiful tables. However, while setting up, these two guys came out of nowhere and snapped one table away. I really loved that table and felt the pangs in my heart for the rest of the day! It was gone for a mere 5 Euros and it has those lovely tapered mid century legs. It had a drawer and looked like very sturdy furniture. What time was it taken away? At 6.15am. I could not believe myself.

So I quickly went over to look at the other table, which is a telephone table, must be from the '60s or '70s. Anyway, it had these illustrated lining on it, which was so charming! I immediately bought it without thinking for fear I would be separated from it just like the other table. Got it for 3.50 Euros.

I saw this lovely apron too going for just 1 Euro. Goodness me. But I didn't buy it.

Found these lovely vintage lace scraps. I HAD to buy it. I knew what I wanted to do with it the moment I got it.

I got a ball of pastel rainbow cotton yarn for just 50 cents. Should have gotten more. But I remember what I was thinking. I have a serious problem with hoarding yarn. Oh well. Anyway, keep reading onwards to find out what I did with all this lace.

So, I turned this telephone table into my bed side table. My novels finally have a place to go.

Here's what I did with all that lovely lace! This reminds me of a Carpenters song which had a line that says "white lace and promises". I think this stone is perfect for holding wedding rings! Swoon, my favorite stone of the moment.

My other favorite is this! In ivory.

Miss Petit Stein.

Love the subtle pastel shades of this cotton yarn.

They should be in the shop soon!

More crocheted stones released

2011-07-22T18:00:00.005+02:00

It rained all day on Wednesday, so on Thursday when the sun peered through the clouds, I could not resist a walk through the garden to my favourite spot to release my crocheted stones.

Chestnuts getting ready.

Love cloud formations.

The river was engorged. I did not expect a sight like this, but I should have, considering how it rained cats and dogs the whole day on Wednesday. The mini pebble peninsula is totally under water.

Thursday.

What it looked like last Sunday.

So I left one of them on a tree.

And another one.

Where it gets baptised by the waters ever so often.

This Project Beautify is my first urban art project where I pick up stones from this tiny river beach along the Isar, cover them with crochet work, and release them back into the 'wild' beautified.

If you like my crocheted lace stones, you could purchase them in my shop!

How-to: Crocheted Lace Covered Stones

2011-07-21T18:28:00.006+02:00

Ever since I started posting pictures of my crocheted covered stones (or rocks or pebbles, I've stopped considering the difference nowadays), I get a few emails and comments from people about how they'd love to try this out. I'm not so good at writing out tutorials, so if there is anything I need to explain further, feel free to let me know!

So, you need these items.

A stone you like, a hook, a needle and some cotton yarn.

A pair of scissors would be nice too.

I usually do freestyle, but for the purpose of this tutorial,

I will use a book which will show you two patterns for you to try out.

I got this book three years ago when living in Japan.

Often had to stop myself from going to the craft store right after I got

my pay because I could possible empty out my wallet buying

these beautiful books!

The pattern is from Ondori.

So, I chose this pattern here.

And this one!

Should be simple.

A few people have asked my for patterns.

And here's the reason why.

I follow Japanese patterns.

Don't like them written in English.

Too weird for me.

If you need help with these crochet symbols, try this.

So, I started with the first pattern.

As you can see, it's not big enough to cover the stone/rock/pebble nicely.

I decided I would follow the pattern of the third tier of the second pattern.

Now the size looks better.

I chain stitched around the motif to create a circle.

And then double crocheted it.

Now the lace covers the surface of the stone.

Every time you reach the edge, it is time to reduce your stitches.

I reduce the number of chain stitches each tier.

It's really trial and error.

You have to make sure it fits the rock a little tight or just right at this stage.

Once I get to the underside of the stone,

I fit the stone right into the crochet work and

try to lock it in tightly with as little chain stitches as possible.

By now, it is finished.

But I like to add a circle of single stitches to finish off.

It's really up to you how you do it.

Once you are happy with your work,

snip off yarn leaving behind a tail to tie off and tuck in.

FIN.

Top 3 Important tips:

1- Having a basic foundation in crocheting granny squares and motifs is helpful.

(If you need some basic patterns, I'm happy to share a few privately with you, just email me)

2- Try to crochet to the edge of the rock.

3- Once you get to the edge of the rock, it is time to reduce stitches.

This part relies a lot on trial and error. But practice makes perfect!

To see more creative work spaces, go here.

Crocheted Lace Covered Pebbles now in Shop!

2011-07-19T21:33:00.001+02:00

Forget the ring pillow. The ring rock will last even longer!

I totally love my new creations! Crocheting these rocks are utterly calming and therapeutic. I find myself grabbing a rock and just working on it whenever I feel stressed (or wish to procrastinate on doing something I like less).

Whatever. I'm a housewife, why would I feel stressed?

Anyway, these crocheted lace covered pebbles, or rocks, or stones, whatever you call them, are available in my store now. If you wish to buy more of them, I do have bulk discounts, just drop me a convo or email and I will send more information to you.

Crochet pebbles released

2011-07-18T12:55:00.001+02:00

It was a really warm and sunny Sunday. I decided that I would release the first phase of my crocheted pebbles "into the wild". The walk through the garden to get to the pebble beach was always filled with interesting happenings. Never a dull moment, yet serene at the same time.

I released the crochet pebbles at various parts of this beach and picked up two more to crochet on the spot.

This is my personal urban art project with the thesis of returning items back into nature beautified. It is a response to the way we consume our planet. I plan to leave them on various parts of this area. Hopefully in time they will be substantial enough to make a certain impact. But just like many natural processes, it will be slow and steady.

See what others have been working on!

Rock of the Day : Cacti

2011-07-14T17:51:00.000+02:00

After my shroom rock, I was inspired to think about other vegetation on our rock. Cacti came to mind.

I always have a back shot of my rocks because I love the finishing.

Rock of the Day

2011-07-13T02:19:00.001+02:00

See other creative spaces ===> here.

Saturday Summer Fun at Glockenbachwerkstatt

2011-07-12T15:04:00.000+02:00

A few of us Etsy mates in Munich are going to be part of the Handmade corner at the Nachtflohmarkt (Night Flea Market) at the Glockenbachwerkstatt on Saturday. The weather forecast is good and the thing I am excited about is that we will have a DIY section where you have some fun with washi tape and stuff. If anyone is interested in figuring out crochet, I'll be happy to help out too.

The fun part is that my friend who is also the brainchild of Tiripitiri designed this flyer and she made it plain so we could 'pimp' it up with some handwork such as machine stitches or paint. What a great idea!

There will be a swap meet there too, so you can also bring in some clothes, accessories and swap with others.

DIY Goodie Bags with Washi Tape

2011-07-11T14:39:00.002+02:00

Sunday was the birthday celebration of a great friend's birthday. She was so busy with everything so I had the wonderful opportunity to help make goodie bags for her guests to leave with. It was actually done on short notice, so I simply had to play with what I have.

It was really simple actually. All I had were:
1. Manila tags
2. Washi tape
3. Kraft paper bags
4. Bakers twine

Oh so simple! Only thing I wish I had is some alphabet stamps to stamp a 'thank you' instead writing it. I will get some when I have the opportunity. Otherwise, I had a lot of fun and the birthday girl was really happy too.

I made all these tags and each one was unique for each guest!

A Productive Day

2011-07-08T01:41:00.001+02:00

One of my customers requested for Proverbs 31:29 because it is special to her. I can see why. It's such a wonderful affirmation for a woman to be told that. While making it, I was thinking of my mother.

And I've been thinking a lot about my mother, partly because it was her birthday two days ago and partly because we've been praying for her health. I can't wait to see her when I get back to Singapore.

It's available in my printable shop if you would like to get it for that female role model in your life too.

Many July babies around me. Saturday will be my brother's birthday, Sunday will be my friend, Anne-Marie's birthday, followed by another two friends on the 14th, mine is on the 15th, another friend's on the 16th... it's hard to keep track!!

Anyway, my friend Anne-Marie is having a birthday gathering and I offered to help her make a goodie bag! It's just another great excuse to play with my washi tape. :-)

A couple of weeks ago, the Etsy team in Munich had a craft night and the theme was washi tape. Needless to say, we went crazy!

I decided to use one of my washi match box to hold my mother's birthday present!

For dear Anne-Marie's goodie bag! Can't wait to finish it and show the end-result!

And of course, the crocheted rock of the day!

A productive day it has been! (Only you don't know how unproductive yesterday was!)

A walk through the garden

2011-07-06T02:25:00.000+02:00

We all got a cute surprise today walking through the English Garden and seeing sheep and goats grazing in the field. We don't usually see them there, of course, but English Garden was created partly for pasturing. That it happens in this part of the city- yes, we are not out there in the countryside- is just amusing. It was so cute just hearing them 'meh-ing' everywhere.

So, why was I at the English Garden again? To add to my rock collection, of course. I'm starting to see that I am not the only one to do some public art on the pebble beach. Last week, I found painted rocks on one part of the beach. Today, I found someone had made some sort of a dam. I can't wait to make my own contribution soon. I will release my rocks to the wild when my dear friends come down to Munich for a visit.

Rock on this summer!

2011-07-04T16:29:00.001+02:00

Leave me with some pebbles, cotton yarn and a hook and this is what you get. I really enjoy making them since it is all freestyle - just do what you feel like doing at the moment, very therapeutic.

This is all I did on Sunday...

Have a look a more creative spaces here.

July project.

2011-07-01T11:35:00.003+02:00

The river Isar, or rather this stretch of the Isar, is one of my favourite spots in Munich. There is a pebble beach which extends to the centre of the river. A popular spot in winter and in summer.

One of my favourite activities is picking up pebbles. And recently I started crocheting them! And got really hooked in it.

I think I may have found a July project. I'm quite excited actually since I have always wanted to do a urban installation such as what people do with yarn bombing. We consume resources all the time and we always return waste, rather than something beautiful back to the environment. I want to 'kidnap' some rocks, beautify them and then 'release them back into the wild'. The whole idea is just a reversal of what we seem to be doing recently. I will use biodegradable yarn so it will return back to the earth nicely.

Ooh, and I'm happy for anyone to join me in my endeavour. Imagine a pebble beach full of crocheted pebbles!

More creative spaces here.

Project Wisdom - Day 30.

2011-06-30T21:50:00.000+02:00

This is the last installment of Project Wisdom. Since Proverbs actually has thirty-one chapters, I did two today. :-)

Proverbs 30 here.
Proverbs 31 here.

I will embark on something new soon.

Did you like that one eye alien plant? Actually I make it too.

Summer days

2011-06-29T11:59:00.002+02:00

We have had bouts of rainy and grey weather and then yesterday, the mercury went up to 31 degrees centigrade! No doubt everyone had the same idea to go frolicking by the river. I wish I had a better camera, but maybe it's better fuzzy. This is a naked suntanning friendly zone.

This is my favourite bit of the Isar River, in summer and in winter, there are always people around here.
I got some pretty pebbles here and try my hand in creating some crocheted rocks. Hmm... it is rather addictive... you can learn how to do it here. However, once you catch the gist of it, it's great to be able to go free-style.

Project Wisdom - Day 29.

2011-06-29T09:39:00.000+02:00

Phew, so I kicked that old habit called procrastination and did this first thing in the morning. Very gratifying since I'm not tired by the end of the day. We are welcoming the heat happily, but it sure is sapping my energy!

Printable here.

What are you doing to enjoy this summer or winter (for my friends in the Southern Hemisphere)?

I'll show you what I did yesterday in the next post! :-)

Project Wisdom - Day 28.

2011-06-28T11:01:00.001+02:00

I've been cutting it so close! But summer finally arrived in Munich, it makes me want to go out, and when I'm at home, it makes me sleepy. I should try to do this the moment I wake up next time!

Printable here.

Project Wisdom - Day 27.

2011-06-27T23:54:00.000+02:00

True and sweet friendships are hard to come by, but if they do, they are one of the greatest blessings in life.

Printable Here.

Project Wisdom - Day 26.

2011-06-26T11:54:00.000+02:00

Since I grew up with a British education I have to include both versions. I am much more used to seeing it as 'honour' to be honest. This isn't exactly what the verse says, I think the verse is a little more 'brutal', so I rephrased it in a way that would suit the purpose of a print for the home. The meaning is still there.

Printable here.

Project Wisdom - Day 25.

2011-06-25T23:56:00.005+02:00

This, I admit, is so challenging to do. It's rather counter-intuitive. For me to do it, I will have to change the way I think.

If you know me personally, please constantly remind me, when I have such a situation of having anyone who antagonises me, to do good to my enemies. I will be so thankful to you.

Printable here.

Christmas in July

2011-06-25T17:06:00.001+02:00

I didn't exactly plan it this way, but since I've got my 2012 calendars done already, and the 2011 calendars are halfway through, I've decided to offer all my printable calendars for 50% off this whole summer.

You are allowed to print as many copies as you like to give to friends and family, as long as the digital copy and the printed copies are not put up for resale. (Play nice!)

If you didn't know, I started another printable shop for the sake of categorisation. It's called Printable Scripture and I'm slowly moving the relevant listings there. The scripture printable calendars there are also on sale. And for June, all net proceeds goes towards helping rebuilding communities recently wrecked by natural disasters.

Project Wisdom - Day 24.

2011-06-24T11:06:00.000+02:00

I like today's from a home decor point of view!

Printable here. All net proceeds go to support Architecture for Humanity's work in rebuilding communities.

Project Wisdom - Day 23.

2011-06-23T23:34:00.000+02:00

Get it here. :-)

Just a few words

2011-06-23T13:00:00.004+02:00

Well, you may wonder why the photos are the same... it's really a template!
This is a much more environmentally friendly way of doing things, since I do printables with the environment in mind.

As long as you have a decent printer or a local printing shop nearby, having pretty prints at home can be really simple and affordable. Save on shipping cost, no need to wait for things to arrive or worry they get lost in the mail, pay for just the design and you have control over the other factors.

They are all available here.

Interested in other people's workspace? Try here and here. :-)

Project Wisdom - Day 22.

2011-06-22T22:14:00.001+02:00

Nobody dislikes generous people!

Get this printable here.

Wonderful Woodcuts

2011-06-22T00:22:00.002+02:00

I never cease to be fascinated by printing techniques.

I discovered Tugboat Printshop which does woodcut printing. This is one of the traditional techniques which is really labour intensive. Respect to those who do it!

They show you the process of woodcut printmaking, which is fascinating to say the least.

And I cannot believe that these prints are woodcut prints. Astounding work.

My friend Sri of Oraber does woodcuts too. Amazing work!

Project Wisdom - Day 21.

2011-06-21T11:49:00.000+02:00

It took all the willpower in me to not buy anything more than I planned for at Ikea. They were having a midsummer sale and prices were slashed like crazy. So with all the discipline I mustered, I got my Ribba frame. Finally.

The frame is resting on a stool I took from this couple who salvaged it from somewhere. It looks old, has scars on it, but that's the beauty of it. I used a doily Mr D's nanna's friend made many years ago and my lovely alien plant.

You can get the printable here, all proceeds for the month of June goes towards support Architecture for Humanity's work.

Project Wisdom - Day 20.

2011-06-20T10:26:00.000+02:00

Already at Day 20. Time flies! Get the printable here.

I will finally get my own Ribba frame today! Also, I picked up a salvaged stool from a couple who is moving away. So I can't wait to have my own little photo shoot of the backdrop.

Project Wisdom - Day 19.

2011-06-19T23:17:00.002+02:00

I got the visualisation image here.

All printables are part of my fund raising drive to help support the good work of Architecture for Humanity.

Intrigued by Rosie Hardy

2011-06-19T20:21:00.000+02:00

Came across the works of Rosie Hardy and I am utterly intrigued by the surrealism! She did 365 days of self-portrait, what can I say, she looks great in front of the camera too. Makes me want to learn how to use my wonderful camera better.

Project Wisdom - Day 18.

2011-06-18T11:52:00.001+02:00

Printable here.

Home Improvement

2011-06-18T09:17:00.000+02:00

I like picking at other people's trash. Not general trash, but things related to home and decor, such as pieces of furniture or frames etc. A few months ago, I scored these huge green frames. They're not very pretty, but I'm a sucker for frames, so I took them.

I took them apart, now it's just the back and the frame. At one time, I sprayed the frame white, thinking I would do something with them. But I did not. Anyhoo, they look better kinda dirty white than christmas green. Why people would want green frames I do not know.

I always wanted a wall full of pictures and frames, but since this is a rental, I can't afford put holes in walls.Then yesterday I had a brain wave. I took the back of the picture frame and painted it white. And then hung it from the wall and used washi tape to put a "moodboard".

Now I look at that wall and it makes me feel happy. It's just a simple collage of stuff I have around the apartment.

Ha. That picture at the top right is of me when I was a toddler.

Note frame on left. I decided I would spruce it up with Christmas lights and make it a display of sorts. Not much planning involved, just did what I felt like. At first I thought, I could hang my necklaces.

And I added a few photos too. Just because I'm a sentimental fool. This is Dad and me on my special day.

When lit up in the evening, it looks like this.

Project Wisdom - Day 17.

2011-06-17T15:55:00.000+02:00

The media has an over simplified view of love - in that it is an emotion, a feeling that can change over time. I think that feeling is a sign of what could be either attraction or love. Love as far as I can understand from the bible is almost like a complex machinery with parts called patience, kindness, forgiveness, self-control, etc. Well, you know where I got that from. To have endless love for someone is to constantly have a reserve of patience, kindness, forgiveness, etc, for that person. So the good news is, there is one aspect of love where you can't help falling in love (it's called attraction, chemistry, instant spark!) and then the other part is where you stay falling in love through the virtues of love.

So here you go, today's wisdom of the day!

I'm using this project to help support Architecture for Humanity build communities. If you would like to help support and get a free printable in return....go to my Etsy shop. :-)

Shop Update

2011-06-17T11:46:00.001+02:00

Ever since I brought a whole (BIG-ASS) cup of Lego back from Copenhagen, I've been obsessed with them. I was inspired and wanted to make accessories out of them, which I did. Now I'm proud owner of one Lego necklace and two Lego brooches.

They attract quite a bit of attention, especially from the guys (yes, girls...how about it huh??? *wink wink*). If you are single and available and like geeks, this will help create some conversation!

I now have these in my personal collection:

I like playing around with the bricks and creating patterns in the heart.

I LOVE this because of the thick chain. I also love the way the chain was constructed. Hard to find. I made a few more of this and it is also available to you in limited numbers.

I'm a little obsessed with skulls right now.. and this was just cute. Also in the shop now.

Also others I have made and are now in the shop:

Ooh! Another one that I love love love. Note extra knobs. They come with the necklace so you can choose one to your fancy for the day. Or put all three on the heart.

La Petit Necklaces. If you prefer skinny chains, I have some really cool black ball chains.

The heart with patterns is my personal piece, but I do have the "whole" heart in the shop.

If you like them, grab them! They ain't here forever.

Project Wisdom - Day 16.

2011-06-16T11:23:00.001+02:00

Today's printable: "Far better to be right and poor than wrong and rich." - in other words, don't sell out.

In June, we are supporting the work of Architecture for Humanity for helping build communities.

See what others are up to in their creative space in Germany and all over the world.

Project Wisdom - Day 15.

2011-06-15T14:52:00.000+02:00

Halfway point! It's been good. I'm getting back into the design mind again. Even my brain is hungering for architectural stuff. I think I want to start doing some graphics too.

I find it amusing how most people who buy my printables often say "Pretty please, this is a last minute gift...I need it quick." And that's what printables are great for, last minute stuff.

Now, for my confession. I haven't really got a Ribba frame lying around at home. I've been wanting to go to Ikea to get one, but you know, Ikea is always somewhere in the 'burbs and an effort to get to. SO I prowl the net and search for beautiful images, "borrow" them. And play photoshop with them. Today's image comes from here, lots of pretty Scandinavian stuff.

And this is today's wisdom of the day. The Message version always has a funny for understandable way of saying it, "Fear of God is a school in skilled living- first you learn humility, then you experience glory." That is simply saying, everyone starts small. Another bit of the bible also says "Don't despise the days of small beginnings".

Isn't it funny. when you look at leaders and wise people around us, who would have imagine this is what they are when they were babies?

If you like this printable, you can get this here. I would like to honor and support Architecture for Humanity's effort in helping build communities so June's proceeds go to them.

Project Wisdom - Day 14.

2011-06-14T20:24:00.000+02:00

The whole verse actually says "A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in our bones."

Our thoughts can actually eat us alive. So many people nowadays become physically sick from stress. It's a good thing to keep in check matters of the heart, don't just relegate them as mere emotional stuff.

I hope I don't sound like I'm nagging, but this is quite close to my heart. I was often moody as a teenager and then depressed easily as I grew older. Then incidents in my life helped me realise my attitude does affect my well-being, and from then onwards, I keep my heart and attitude in check. I haven't had a bout of depression since!

I decided to do a visualisation of how your printable poster could look in an interior setting, so I "stole" an image from here and did a little photoshopping (the one shopping which doesn't require money!).

Anyway, you can grab this printable for yourself here. For the month of June, all proceeds go to Architecture for Humanity.

Hello Lovelies!

2011-06-14T13:05:00.004+02:00

Etsy has some of the loveliest things you can ever find! These are some of my favorites...

and yes, ok, you see my bunny ear eggwarmer and "Hard work pays off" printable. Of course!

I do what I love and I love what I do!

Project Wisdom - Day 13.

2011-06-13T13:26:00.000+02:00

No short cuts.

That's what it takes!
Available as a printable. Proceeds go to Architecture for Humanity.

Project Wisdom - Day 12.

2011-06-12T19:01:00.001+02:00

It's so simple, doesn't even take much effort to make someone else feel good. So why hesitate with cheerful words?

Available in shop as printable.

Project Wisdom - Day 11.

2011-06-11T22:48:00.001+02:00

I find this to be very true. People either live with the mindset of scarcity or abundance. With scarcity, you are always afraid to give because you think that's all you have. But the bible speaks of a God who created the universe, who is that Someone with an endless supply. From that point of view, there really should not be anything to fear about giving away or blessing others.

As a person who adopts this as her truth, I know it still is a discipline to live these wise words because our world is telling us to live for ourselves. That is why I think putting these wise words up and constantly meditating on them will help our body to respond better when opportunities to bless arrive.

Now available in shop as printable. All proceeds from the month of June goes to Architecture for Humanity.

Art in Prague

2011-06-11T15:10:00.002+02:00

Walking the streets of Prague is like being baptised in art and culture. I haven't been to a city that permeates art through the pores of its buildings. That being said, I have to say I was uneducated where it came to the Czech Republic (I called it Czechoslovakia until my dear Czech friend corrected me). Oh the ignorance!

But Prague has taught me to see beauty in a new light. It is a beauty that is not pretty at all, rather, it oozes from the wounds of various regimes and the city's own demarcation of boundaries. Many great literary figures and artists were born out of this struggle.

I was impressed when my Czech friends told us they frequently go to music festivals, art galleries and various cultural events in their free time. These people really know how to have fun, and I just love how life-embracing they are.

Project Wisdom - Day 10.

2011-06-10T23:56:00.001+02:00

All of us gain from watching what we say.

Printable available now on Etsy. All proceeds go towards Architecture for Humanity to help build living spaces for communities.

Project Wisdom - Day 9.

2011-06-09T11:39:00.000+02:00

Proverb of the day.

They often talk about wisdom and knowledge in the book of Proverbs, but what is the difference between the two?

For me, wisdom is to know that you know, and be able to apply your knowledge in all kinds of situation. Also, noted in the scriptures is that wisdom is not separate from morality. Wisdom should make us persons who know right from wrong even in a grey world and know how to stand in such a world without crumbling or becoming a one-sided fanatic.

I need to list this up on my Printable Scripture Etsy store now, and since I am back from my Prague trip (photos to come!), I should recover and slip back into my "everyday" life soon.

Project Wisdom - Day 8.

2011-06-08T11:47:00.000+02:00

Here's the beautiful thing about wisdom: wisdom is wealth itself, it can also lead you to earthly wealth itself. Ironically, once you have grasp wisdom, your earthly wealth will be considered nothing.

Another litmus test to our wisdom: if we still latch on to earthly treasure, then we still need a lot of wisdom.

Project Wisdom - Day 7.

2011-06-08T11:42:00.000+02:00

Argh. Being on holiday makes it difficult for me to do this.
Not much introvert time, and too tired by the time we get back.
But here we are. Day 7, albeit a day late.

Is insight something you are born with? How do you develop insight if you can inculcate it into your life?

Project Wisdom - Day 6.

2011-06-06T09:41:00.000+02:00

I missed Day 5... whoopsie doodle.

We're travelling and it's a tad challenging, but I will try to do something for Day 5 soon.

You can get a printable file of this here. The purpose of this project is to raise funds for Architecture for Humanity.

Project Wisdom - Day 4.

2011-06-05T10:35:00.002+02:00

Oops. Day 4 was prepared on Day 4, but I spent most of my day travelling, so didn't have a chance to post anything up on the net until today. But here it is! Day 5 will come soon, albeit a little later.

Guard your heart. I always thought "guard your heart" means protecting yourself from being put down by people but yesterday when I read it, I thought it means much more than that. The proverb gives the reason for guarding our heart, and it is because our heart determines the course of our life.

If our heart determines the course of our life, I think it has something to do with protecting our character, personality, our talents and faith, belief and who we are and what we can do to really contribute to this world. There are so many forces in this world pushing and pulling us. So much temptation, so many demands and distractions. To reach our destiny, it is therefore necessary to "guard our heart".

Available in my Etsy store for fund raising purposes. My charity of choice is Architecture for Humanity.

Project Wisdom - Day 3 Part 1.

2011-06-03T10:56:00.003+02:00

Proverbs 3 has so much wonderful gems. Words like that are so universal it shouldn't matter if you got them from the koran, the talmud, the i-ching or the bible. But the bible does say God is love, and we were created out of love. Hence part of our journey in life involves learning about the off-shoots of love, such as loyalty and kindness. These two traits, should you find them in a person today, you would almost want to call them saints.

Available in my Etsy store for fund raising purposes. My charity of choice is Architecture for Humanity.

I will share more later today, I have to run some errands which requires going into the city.

Project Wisdom- Day 2

2011-06-02T23:15:00.001+02:00

Simple, yet a lifelong challenge!

Am now reading the first fifty pages of a nine hundred page biography of Hitler, already it seems to me a problem with him growing up was that he did not have the steps of good men to follow after.

Looking at my own life, I'm grateful that my father let me know who were good role models to follow in the footsteps of. Also, even when he wasn't a christian, he used to chastised me with "is that what your Christ tells you to do?" It was effective in making me think who Christ really is to me.

Available in my Etsy store for fund raising purposes. My charity of choice is Architecture for Humanity.

More Strategies on Selling at Markets

2011-06-02T11:53:00.000+02:00

Over the last two weekends, I had two stints presenting and selling my work. And I got two tips, which many of you may already know. If not, it's good to think about it.

1. Point of sale - it always helps not to package too quickly. If your stall is not too busy anyway, take your time. This gives the customer opportunity to look at more of your product while the sale is taking place. You never know, he/she might end up buying a second item. Also, it's nice that others are seeing you handling a sale, it will naturally increase curiosity about what is so interesting that someone is buying something from you.

2. Music! We do know about the role of music in retail. The choice is so important. Often it should be relevant to the context of the event, but sometimes doing something different can be quite revolutionary. My friend and I did an experiment playing different kinds of music every time our stall was empty.

Interestingly, Britney and Avril brought us girls who brought boyfriends. Take in mind that we had mainly a young crowd at the art fair. The boys who were also managing the stall cringed, but we brought people in.

So we chose what the boys had - rastafarian music. That worked too. The rhythm, I suspect was quite beckoning. We saw people moving to the beat while browsing through our stuff. And with this group looking quite happy, others were attracted to see what the buzz is about.

Funny right?

If you have any experience of these, do share!

Project Wisdom - Day 1

2011-06-01T10:36:00.004+02:00

Day 1.

I've been putting my love for typography and the scripture on the backburner for a while now. So for June, I'm reading one chapter of Proverbs everyday and plucking out the verses that inspire me.

One everyday.

With Didot.

Available in my Etsy store for fund raising purposes. My charity of choice is Architecture for Humanity.

Stroke Art Fair and various contemplations

2011-05-29T22:24:00.001+02:00

I had a wonderful time at the Stroke Urban Art Fair the whole weekend. Thanks to my friend Sven, I had the opportunity to present my work here.

Sure enough, my robot, alien and monsters collection attract quite a bit of attention.

Being part of this event also got me thinking about today's art form, and what we are in fact doing with art. In architecture school, what we were always taught where it comes to the difference between architecture and "just a building" is that architecture provides discourse. Somebody was trying to express something through the design of a building.

Once in a while, actually quite often, we hear people lamenting about the lack of originality in some art. It is utterly possible. But I think art nowadays seem to go at least two ways. There are those artists who have a very distinct and unique style which everyone is enthralled by. The other type of artist is one who makes observations on the world around him/her and uses his/her artwork to provide some commentary.

In the second case, it is so possible for people to seem to be "unoriginal". You need to see beyond the surface.

( I seriously wish I could provide information on each artist, but I forgot to record them. If you see someone you know, please let me know! Thanks! )

I was also thinking about my work, and how my work is often easily put down simply as a lowly craft, or a "cute" toy. That is not my intention, and it doesn't bother me when people say that. Even though we often say "art and craft", art is often considered a "higher form" and "craft" as something "lowly". My intention is I can present my own commentary that really combines art AND craft.

So, that was my weekend, I'm utterly knackered now, though I can't wait to start a new project in June. I'm going to focus on preparing for some christian typography printable art, using the thirty-one proverbs of the bible as inspiration. I will produce one printable a day, though June has thirty days. So I will produce two printables for the final day of June.

Wednesday Workspace: Parody of parody

2011-05-25T11:39:00.002+02:00

Last week I got some customised embroidery done for my crochet beer bottles. Finally got to cutting them into pieces and the sewing them with a blue felt backing. Blue and white for that Bavarian association. The brands of the beer are a reference to Mr. D and his geeky ways, and of course Futurama.

source

Olde Fortran is a parody of the classic Olde English 800, and mine is a parody of that parody!

Sewn up.

Also made another one eye alien plant. I think I'd call this Leela. Do you know why?

source

Stroke Art Fair tomorrow, can't wait!

See other creative spaces here!