He catches flies
Pounces on crickets
Marvels at creepy crawlies
Yet when he spots this ant, he squishes himself up against the wall and freaks out.
I remove the ant before he (the cat) hyperventilates.
♥
come with me on a journey of discovery!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Proportion, proportion, proportion
I enjoy reading fashion blogs and in celebration of that, here's my first outfit post :)
I'm 5 foot tall (or short) and I don't mind being tiny, except that finding clothes that fit well can be exhausting. There's a misconception that clothing sized extra-extra small solves all; well XXS has more to do with weight and width. What I really need is Petite sizing, which is based on height and proportion. Many brands are catching on to this but unfortunately for me, petite sizes cater for those 5'4" and under, so most of my clothes still have to be drastically altered. In many cases, I need more than just sleeves and hems shortened, but that pretty much involves remaking the piece and it's just not feasible.
Due to these challenges, I tend to shop online and only purchase discounted items, to allow for alteration costs. If I find a basic piece that fits well, I'll get it in a few colours...I have some basics that are 15 years old and still going strong! I'm also forced to be creative and to get as many different looks as I can out of what I have. And once in a while, I'll splurge on a classic, timeless piece :)
I'm 5 foot tall (or short) and I don't mind being tiny, except that finding clothes that fit well can be exhausting. There's a misconception that clothing sized extra-extra small solves all; well XXS has more to do with weight and width. What I really need is Petite sizing, which is based on height and proportion. Many brands are catching on to this but unfortunately for me, petite sizes cater for those 5'4" and under, so most of my clothes still have to be drastically altered. In many cases, I need more than just sleeves and hems shortened, but that pretty much involves remaking the piece and it's just not feasible.
Due to these challenges, I tend to shop online and only purchase discounted items, to allow for alteration costs. If I find a basic piece that fits well, I'll get it in a few colours...I have some basics that are 15 years old and still going strong! I'm also forced to be creative and to get as many different looks as I can out of what I have. And once in a while, I'll splurge on a classic, timeless piece :)
Last week, I won tickets to see Dave Thornton at Artbar and wanted to wear something bright and cheerful to the gig. I got home from work and quickly threw this together. The nights are starting to get cold!
I love anything arty so the venue was perfect. Joel Creasey was thoroughly entertaining and provided a fabulous start to the night. Dave's show "A Different Type of Normal" was hilarious...anyone who can go on about typeface and fonts, complete with props, gets points from me.
He had me at Helvetica!
 |
| haha! |
Jacket: Portmans
Scarf: Ebay
Top: Witchery tank in Burnt Orange
Belt: random store in Malaysia
Jeans: Siwy
Boots: Costume National
♥
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Spotty galore!
Since my early twenties, I've felt that something epic will happen when I'm 32. 11 months into this mystical age, I wondered whether that was just a number I pulled out of thin air. On Sunday night, it became apparent that this is the age when I finally get the dreaded chicken pox. I've been vaccinated for goodness sake!
I had (well, still have) nearly 90 spots, about half of those were ugly and itchy. I'm still putting up with acne and now this? The body refuses to grow up, probably because the mind hasn't :) But really, this is taking the young-at-heart thing too far.
My sleep was interrupted by crazy dreams, I lost my appetite and I desperately wanted to destroy every mirror in the house.
On Tuesday night, I gave in. Mum had given me a list of herbal things to drink and my sister offered to track them down the next day. The care package that arrived at my door had herbs and so much more... vegetables, tea, honey, jelly and popsicles! *beam*
I got the stove fired up faster than you can say 'Masterchef' and I had pots of potions brewing away while I munched on bitter melon.
Here's a look at the weird and wonderful:
That evening, the fever and headaches were all but gone and only a couple of stubborn spots were itching. Yay to no more waking up at 3am to pop antihistamines! Double yay to having chinese physicians in the family :)
When I was little, mum always made a 'special' spinach porridge (congee) when I had a long illness. It was gross green and yucky mushy but I loved it because it was what Popeye ate to make himself strong again. Today, I was hoping to replicate it and failed, no surprise really. Didn't look anything like it. Didn't taste anything like it. Bleah.
The cat has been especially attentive throughout my ordeal...nawwww
I had (well, still have) nearly 90 spots, about half of those were ugly and itchy. I'm still putting up with acne and now this? The body refuses to grow up, probably because the mind hasn't :) But really, this is taking the young-at-heart thing too far.
My sleep was interrupted by crazy dreams, I lost my appetite and I desperately wanted to destroy every mirror in the house.
On Tuesday night, I gave in. Mum had given me a list of herbal things to drink and my sister offered to track them down the next day. The care package that arrived at my door had herbs and so much more... vegetables, tea, honey, jelly and popsicles! *beam*
I got the stove fired up faster than you can say 'Masterchef' and I had pots of potions brewing away while I munched on bitter melon.
Here's a look at the weird and wonderful:
 |
| Scary caterpillars ;) |
 |
| Delicate chrysanthemum |
 |
| Rock sugar to help wash it all down |
That evening, the fever and headaches were all but gone and only a couple of stubborn spots were itching. Yay to no more waking up at 3am to pop antihistamines! Double yay to having chinese physicians in the family :)
***
When I was little, mum always made a 'special' spinach porridge (congee) when I had a long illness. It was gross green and yucky mushy but I loved it because it was what Popeye ate to make himself strong again. Today, I was hoping to replicate it and failed, no surprise really. Didn't look anything like it. Didn't taste anything like it. Bleah.
 |
| Popeye food |
The cat has been especially attentive throughout my ordeal...nawwww
I'm getting to the scabbing stage now. I scar easily and badly so I'm prepared for the worst. There's already a hole next to my nose. Having googled "how to fix pox scar", it appears there's nothing one can do about a hole in the face. Ah well, I try to tell myself that it's only skin.
Life must go on, craters and all.
Life must go on, craters and all.
♥
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Butterfly Effect
I've always enjoyed looking at interiors and architecture. I have a stash of newspaper and magazine cut-outs of rooms, furniture and decorating stuff, from when I was in my teens. These days, if I chance across pictures that catch my eye and are envy-inducing, I just take a photo of it. This happens mostly at cafes and it often draws sideways glances. Well I get to pretend that I'm a design student, thirsty for inspiration.
I don't know why I do it. I put the photos in a folder labelled Pretty Interiors, and I don't see them again. I suppose if I happen to wake up one day and find a bajillion dollars in my bank account, I'd hire a couple of super talented people to help me create a gorgeous little home. I'd hand them this folder, bursting with styles and colours I love. Yeah it'd be the most eclectic and contradictory mood board ever.
Well I did look through the folder the other day. I was working on The Butterfly Effect, my latest series on Etsy when I remembered this wall of butterflies. I found my photo of it (wasn't very well taken, I admit) and realised that I happen to have the magazine - Inside Out's 10th birthday issue, May/June 2010 - so here's a better shot of it. This is in David Bromley's Melbourne home and he painted the butterfly feature wall. I would've never considered a wall of massive butterflies, but this bathroom, along with the chandelier, Eiffel Tower (to scale!) and bath tub changed that. It's true, a butterfly goes where it pleases and it pleases where it goes.
Butterflies fascinate me. As a child, I used to catch little blue grey ones and inspect them with innocent curiosity. Now I'll probably freak out if one lands on me unexpectedly. I'm drawn to the whole transformer thing. Does a caterpillar know what its about to become as its building its cocoon? Does it struggle during metamorphosis? Does it know what colours it'll get?
I guess it doesn't really matter. I bet it feels incredible to emerge from your cocoon, a new and improved version of yourself.
♥
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
You never forget how to ride a bicycle
April has just flown by. Hang on...we're in April?
Where has the time gone?
I must've either been:
(a) extremely busy
(b) an awesome procrastinator
(c) having fun
(d) all of the above, or
(e) none of the above
The answer is more likely to be (b).
But I prefer (c).
Where has the time gone?
I must've either been:
(a) extremely busy
(b) an awesome procrastinator
(c) having fun
(d) all of the above, or
(e) none of the above
The answer is more likely to be (b).
But I prefer (c).
 |
| Mum loves seeing the water |
 |
| Going back in time |
 |
| Feels like I should be wearing a head scarf and huge sunnies a la Audrey Hepburn |
 |
| Camera in hand, I'm relying on dad to keep us upright and dry :) |
 |
| Mum and sis going way too fast |
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| Quad-cycle |
Fun. Brought to you by About Bike Hire.
Yeah, DEFINITELY prefer (c).
♥
These boots are made for riding
At 6.17pm on 7th April, I drove away from Avonlea Farm Riding School with a heavy heart, I've just had my tenth and final riding lesson and will really miss spending Thursday evenings out in Darlington with Mac (horse), Tiff (trainer) and Amelia (fellow student). I'll also miss the five animals that I enjoy stumbling across - Chippy and Spike (cats), Penny (the hilarious goat), Bronte (kangaroo) and Sausage (dog).
The sun sets earlier these days and unlike in the past couple of months, I'm no longer blinded for most of the drive home.
I look forward to riding again but for now, my jodhpurs and boots will be put away indefinitely...
The sun sets earlier these days and unlike in the past couple of months, I'm no longer blinded for most of the drive home.
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| 10 March, 6.18pm |
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| 7 April, 6.18pm |
I look forward to riding again but for now, my jodhpurs and boots will be put away indefinitely...
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Avatar series
Oel ngati kameie
Ok I'm back on track after Avatarising myself.
I watched the lengthy movie twice in the last few days and picked out some scenes and characters for my Avatar Series on Etsy. That was the easy part.
Painting them was quite a challenge. None of them were turning out as I envisioned and the unpredictability of watercolour didn't help either. I'm pleasantly surprised at the end result though. *beam*
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| Avatarised palette |
Random thought: I think it's pretty cool that the Na'vi are blue, since the term Avatar is often associated with the blue-skinned Hindu God Vishnu.
Some lol material, Avahontas anyone?
 |
Bring on Avatar 2 :)
♥
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