Why....

Why is it so difficult to fry pancake?
And I thought it's the easiest meal to make? :/

I burnt the first piece.

Why my pancake looks weird? :/

Improvement....

Pancake stacks and honey....
(please ignore the burnt one)

Yummy

Things I really want to do now

1. Must complete kiirey.com ASAP. It's 70% done. Need to write description and fix pricing on each products...which is the most tedious part of the job. *sigh*
2. Read books...read plenty of books, read all the books available, read all the 1001 must read books. Hmm...maybe start with 100 first? Wait...I think better finish The Devil Wears Prada first.
   
3. A cup of frizzy cold drink, fruity flavour. Not Coke...prefer sparkling juice.
   
4. Sleep and then when I wake up tomorrow, is not a Monday
   

Yarns and Colours

Few weeks ago I bought alot of beautiful and colourful yarns from Petaling Street.






I wanted to try crochet and make amigurumi. Amigurumi are tooooo cuteee....look at these cutie pies creatures.

Very cute ockypus from necessarynonsense


OMG...such cute seal tutorial from AmyGaines

How can anyone resist this cute penguin from AllAboutKendra?

Useful tutorials for those that wanna make amigurumi too. ^^
http://www.hookandneedles.com/2008/03/22/amigurumi-tutorial-1/
http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/

P/S : yes, the tutorials are super easy to follow. I never try my hands on crochetting before and I learn the step-by-steps from www.hookandneedles.com but so far, I'm not that good to make any amis yet. hehe.

First Try in Rubber Carving

Another new experiment on craft. Trying on rubber carving. It's fun, easy to craft but difficult to master. Geninne inspired me to carve. She's a very very talented stamp artist.

Ok, now look at what I did.... :p

First try, with Geninne's tutorial. Uneven lines, and smeared. :/

Second try. Own design. Still look weird and uneven stamping area. But outerline looks better this time. :p

My tool.

They are actually wood carving tool. They are sharp but the carving is not precise enough. I think I need to get a proper (better) tool for rubber carving.

Rubber stamping is messy :/

And Nici says 'Hi'

Onigiri Anyone?

My first try on making onigiri softie from felt. It's for a swap on swap-bot and they were already on their way to my swap partner. Hope she loves them. I think they are very cute and perhaps I could sell them in my shop too.

The one with the odd shape is my first try without proper template.
Poor guy...but he's still looking cheerful. :D

Should I Change my Blog?

Ok, I registered a domain name which I am not using at the moment. At first, I thought up this name (together with my sis, Deb) for our online shop. But then, I put the whole shop construction on hold (yea, very frustrating..hosting, designing, shopping cart, content management..argghh) and so now, the domain name is floating around in the web.

The name --> www.farawaycolours.com

And after awhile, I thought the name is not so suitable for an international online shop, because of the spelling colours. Of course I would like to use the English English, colours but then, American English writes colors. So, it will be a difficult (confusing maybe?) domain name to remember. So, not a good choice and I would have to think of another good business name.

Any suggestion?
Please comment. I need need need idea. Thank you.

Oo..what's shop? Selling what?
Will be anything beautiful, treasuries, special findings, zakka, special design, handmade and art (by me and also other talented crafters and artist), accessories, colourful, vintage etc.

So, the name with -colours might not be a good choice for a shop name but since I'd already bought this domain name, so perhaps I should use it for my blog? Give it a new domain name? Will it be good? How do I re-direct my readers to the new url, whenever they click or type on my old domain name? @_@

I should have took IT degree.

Spreading the Love to the Homeless

You Complete My Heart by NottyPooch

I did a little bit of charity for the homeless through Etsy. Bought some cards from an Etsy seller and have her sent to one of the admin who's organizing the charity together with Meals-on-Wheel that brings nutritious meals, handmade greeting cards and companionship to thousands of homebound elderly New Yorkers.

Mini Valentine Card by CaraScrapNStampArt

We can send our own handmade cards (which I wanted to do so) but the cards has to reach the Etsy admin before 2/Feb but I bought some cute owl valentine cards and have them deliver from the US (with free shipping too...how considerate of the seller ^_^).

So, it's not always about business and making money. Have you do any charity lately? So...it's about time that we be less selfish and care a little more.

Click the badge if you would like to read more on this and perhaps participate too for spreading a little bit of love around.

You think you don't need LOVE? Think again....

The little heart collector by carambatack

I was just 20 minutes into watching Meet Joe Black (yes, I am just watching it now....) and have to pause and blog about a quote from this movie.

'Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.'

I just do not understand when someone said love is not important. Why does ppl have to think it's best to find someone who can love you more than you love him/her? If that's the case, then have a dog or a cat, they will love you regardless how little attention or love you give them.

Yes, it's not easy to find true love....but if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.

Every year there's a list of resolution

Printable calender by littlebrownpen

Ok, I do this every year. So might as well keep the tradition for 2009 too. Hope today is not too late for a resolution list, but well it's just 4th of Jan, just nice to start kicking everything anew. :)
For a moment I thought I was going to stop writing resolutions because it seems so kiddish and pointless as I may not even accomplish 20% of the written promises. For then again, after reading every blog that starts their first post in 2009 with a list of confident resolutions, I know resolutions are not just broken promises. They are friendly reminders, helping me to go through my life, keeping me on track and not to forget my aims, passions and promises I made to myself.
So here we go:

2009...what are you?

New beginning by sjengraving

1. Buy and manage a functional storefront to sell indie crafts, creative accessories, clothes and everything special and beautiful. Ok, this is pretty important to me. And this also includes selling at Etsy. Marketing and promoting stuff, sourcing for new materials/products, networking...lots of work to do.
   
2. To love my full time job (duh...). Ok, sounds like something impossible but I need this to be happier. So either I try to love my current job or find a job that I will love. If #1 is successful, then #2 will be cheering out loud. Hehe.
   
3. Be healthy. Eat healthy, live healthy and think healthy. (meaning...more exercise? argh, ok I will walk more)
4. To have a strong and lovely relationship. (just keep doing what I have been doing all this time :D )
5. Debt free by March 2009. And will not be using credit card anymore. I got this new debit card that is super great! And I can withdraw my Paypal funds to this debit card too, how awesome can that be? XD
6. Read more books on the shelf before stacking on new ones.
7. Learn screen printing and book binding. (yes!)
8. Buy a new camera for better photoshoot. (when #5 is accomplished)
9. Double my bank savings. (ho boy.....)
   

~~~~~~~~

A very resolved big-eyed blonde by thedreamygiraffe

Ok, better keep the resolution short and sweet (as usual). And oo...better to remind myself of things that I shouldn't do this year

1. No travelling. (In order to make resolutions above happen....T_T)
2. No more impulse buying on craft books or any books (refer to #6 above)
   
3. No more online games. (No more Perfect World!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will miss my werefox)
   

~~~~~~~~

What about my 2008 achievements? I don't want to brag about it (haha)...just say, I'm pretty happy and enjoyed 2008.

Craft with Colours

Sharing more colours from my finished crafts :)
Have been stocking up a lot lately but no time to list everything on Etsy yet.
But has always been fun making them. ~~~lalala~~~

Bobby Hair Pins

Coin Purse

All other lovelies, cuties and felties

For more pictures, check out my flickr photostream.

Xmas Celebration 2008

A simple but merry celebration at Chun Hui's place.

Gift under the tree

Preparing for the gift exchange.

Vertigo, the host.

The crowd.

Can't wait for the gift exchange session. Wonder what I get?

Ok, pretty irony. I got back Kin Fai's present, which I wrapped for him. -_-

No gift can match the host's.

Pretty eh. I mean, the picture. Taken by very expensive DSLR camera...

The couple

Enjoying the food.

One of the drunk

Joined Project Wonderful, co-host Etsy Malaysia Local Team and going pro on Flickr

Ok....this is what I am keeping myself busy with lately:

1. Joined Project Wonderful
   I am creating my own ad space and also hosting ad space in my blog for other small business owner. A way to earn small bucks and also to promote my lil business.
2. Co-host Etsy Malaysia Local Team
   So many things to do....I am helping Huey to host this local team where we Etsian in Msia get together and have fun. I couldn't imagine how much work I have to do, post in the blog (ok, I am a lazy blogger, how am I suppose to keep up with that?), maintain the Flickr group, and also to promote the team and invite more ppl in.
   
3. Going Pro on Flickr
   Paying $24.95 a year to host unlimited pictures and get on the track of the Flickr community isn't a bad idea after all. I am starting to have fun organizing my pictures, commenting on other ppl's pictures, have ppl comment on mine, joining unlimited groups...wooo...just too much fun.
4. Setting up my webstore.
   Not going to rely too much on Etsy, because they are only limited to handmade and handmade only. And buyers has to register to Etsy which is kinda 'leceh'

Ok...got to go to buy myself some ad space. hehe....

Groovy Market

Me, Deb and Mei will be setting up a booth at Groovy Market on 29-30th/November. We will be selling clothes, bags, accessories, handmade crafts, jewelries and many more goodies.

Come visit our booth ^__________________^

Artist of The Week

I am going to make it a habit to feature as much talented artists/crafters that inspire me as possible. And today, I will start with Steppie.

Her crafts and arts are blended with bright colors and cuteness. And most of them are animal-themed too. But there is also some cute ninja characters.

Mixed media paintings

I have not purchase any ACEO from Etsy yet and when I want to, I will get those for sure.

This is my personal favourite, the hand painted panda bag.

Deer moleskine journal, very zakka-ish. I like this kinda stlye a lot.

Visit her shop if you like her creations or her blog if you want to follow her work.

My clay babies grew some hair....

Ok, finally, my clay dolls grew some hair. They have been lying naked for a few weeks (months) behind my lap top and some of them cracked due to the heat generated from my lap top.

Ok, tomorrow will gloss my little dolls. And then wait another day for them to dry and shine. Then only I can make them some clothes. Hish...so much work.

Baby dolls need time to grow. Patience. Patience.

My Shops....busy busy busy

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade Kiie.etsy.com

Opened a second shop for selling supplies and seems like it's doing much much better than selling my handmade crafts. Hey, not that my craft aint any good but supplies are always easier to sell. More sales mean less personal time. I have to spend hours packing my goods to ship. Label them nicely, tape them securely and double check. Now I have to drop by the post office almost every week, with 4-5 large package to mail out. Sometimes lunch hour break is not enough for me, I have to go to the PO early in the morning (and late to work).

With 247356 sellers on Etsy, I have to swim very hard out from the crowd and make myself noticeable. Marketing is really the hardest part. I spent more time in marketing than I spent on crafting. BTW, just created myspace, please add me if you like my crafts and arts :) www.myspace.com/kiiess
And there's so much more networking site such as flickr, facebook, friendster, indiepublic, Etsy forum, etc...how can I manage them all? I can't dedicate so much time to this when I have a full time job which sometimes I have to end up working until 9-10pm.

But I am looking seriously into making my craft business full time. Hey, it's not unrealistic ok. I read these articles all the time to inspire and motivate myself that one day, I can really quit my day job. :D

But there is so much more to learn and do:
-Photoshop (to edit my pictures, add effects and I am looking forward in selling digital images too)
-Dreamweaver (to create my own website, I can't depend on Etsy all the time)
-An effective way (and cost saving too) to withdraw my money from Paypal
-More art and craft techniques
-More research
-More more more time!!!!

It's Impossible to Tell You How Much I Love You

Girl: Tell me how much you love me.
Boy: Look up at the sky.
Girl: Stop changing the subject!
Boy: Just look.
(Girl looks up to the sky)
Girl: What am I doing?
Boy: Tell me how many stars are in the sky.
Girl: That's impossible.
Boy: So is explaining my love for you.

Cutie Pie

Lalala....~~~

Ain't they cute?

Lazy blogger tries to blog again

A blog a day keeps the misery away.

Seeing 3 comments on my last post after I went MIA for 2 months from blogasphere, really makes me very happy and touched. Thank you very much!!

KL life is fun. All my best friends are there (except poor Yokie in Penang). Work sometimes finishes quite late, there's one time I had to work until 10.30pm (and it's a Friday!!) and then went back into the plant the next day (it's Saturday lorrr!!!). No biggie because some other colleagues experienced working till 3-4am. But most of the time it will be 7pm and I will be at home, lappie switched on, preparing my dinner and then will finish my dinner over some drama or series. After that, will be Poupee time while chatting with my friends. And Etsying too. I never go out after work on any weekday. I can say, I'm a very indoor person. :D But the worst thing is, when you don't have anyone to go home to. It's a very horrible feeling when every single day I go home to an empty house (I have a housemate which I don't talk much to and we communicate through MSN). Well, at least I still have my hamsters to go home to. :)

Lately, I've not been crafting much. But trying my hands on a lots of other crafts and art. Will blog about this later.

Here's my next big plan :D

The Lazy Blogger is Back

Ok, you guys know it has been my bad habit to blog once in a month or maybe longer. But currently, I'm really not in the mood to blog or craft or do anything. July and August were not a good month for me and my friends. As we grow older and older, the path of life seems harder and harder to walk through.

Three of my best friends ended their relationship with their bfs. And I'm not doing so well with mine. Ai...sad things don't want to talk anymore.

I am keeping myself busy with crafting and going out with my friends. We keep each other company. We give each other support. I am really happy to have them. Just like the four women in Sex and The City.

I have made some changes.....

Then

Now