CLC Winner of A Alicia's White Felt Corsage Brooch

I am back from camp and first order of business is to let the random generator pick a happy winner for the beautiful brooch!

Congratulation to Carolyn Alexander. Check your email Carolyn!

I hope you guys enjoy this giveaway and I thank you for all of you spread the words, especially the blog love from Lynn of Tea for Joy, stay tuned for Monday, a fab giveaway from paper whistle is waiting for you. ;D

Happy Weekend

While you're reading this, I am probably just getting out from my camping trip. ;D

I hope you guys have a lovely lovely weekend!

Beach and youth, they go so well together, don't they? But I love to think I am young at heart, and I can see past the cellulite and enjoy the beach regardless. That said, I should really go on a diet and get more exercise, eating french fries and sitting 14 hours per day in front of a computer or my alchemy table is not exactly a healthy way of living. ;P

photo via dropular

Product Update - Feel good series

I've been doing individual pieces for a while, and it's about time that I do a series with a cohesive theme. If you read my profile, my motto in my jewelry making and design is to make people happy. This series was formed in a very subconscious level, none of the pieces were cooked up with a specific theme in mind, but I realized that their main objectives are all trying to achieve one main goal: to Feel Good. In this harsh time, a little positive thinking and encouragement goes a long way.

These are the first 2 necklaces that I am introducing, and I will have more creations that I will put into this line, which is something I've been working on for more then 2 months now, mainly because of the material of choice needed some testing.

I've been thinking about cutting words/letters as pendant since I started jewelry making, but doing people's name is just too boring. I realized that jewelry can be used to form a social bonding, and resulting a group of happy people, not just the wearer, and not through just aesthetically pleasing

My idea is that these encouragement necklaces can work in multiple levels in a way to make lots of people feel good about themselves.

1. If you buy the necklaces for yourself, you're reading the words to yourself as affirmation, "You're awesome" and "You = cute".

2. If you buy the necklaces for someone else, you're telling them they're awesome or they're cute.

3. When you wear the necklaces, you're telling people you interact with that they're awesome or they're cute, and I think, to make others around you feel good, you'll ultimately be the happiest person. After all, to give, is always a privilege.

By wearing them, you'll probably make a lots of friends, without saying a word. They will be listed next week since I am going camping this weekend. Yay, mosquito and sleepless night!

Friday Collective - Line Art

I've been doing more drawings because of the great illustrations and line art I've been collecting. It's really been a while and my hands are rusty, but I am going to get a new sketch pad and get down to it, hopefully will have something good to show you soon.

From top to bottom, left to right:

Pepa Prieto via Where the lovely things are

Pepperminite via Daydream Lily

Paperdoll from La Señorita Pil

Evelyn I from Eating ghosts

Sfe via We love your wall

Too cute

I've shown you how much I love Sarah Neuburger's work before. And this Bandit bag lunch sack is just too cute not to share. At $24 I'm so very very tempted.

And I have to tell you that I don't have Artist Interview Thursday feature today, because the artist was too busy to send back the answers in time. I hope she eventual will because I am really excited about her work and want to know a thing or two about her.

So I am sorry, if you're expecting a great read today.

On the side note, today is Dragon Boat Festival! This is a holiday originally to morn the death of one of my favorite ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, his famous work Li Sao is depressingly beautiful. He committed suicide by jumping into the river to show his love and devotion to the emperor and his country. A tragic character.

Something new

This headband was a total accident, it came from some casual doodling and somehow, it ended up a headband. I call it Monkey King because it reminded me of the Chinese folk story, the monkey king had an simple crown, and this is like an extended version of that. It's nice to tap into my heritage and culture from time to time. ;D

As much as people love my headbands, not one has find a home yet, so I am having fun just keeping them to myself, and wearing them out on special occasions. I have to admit, metal head pieces like mine draw great attention, especially from female. People really do stare...some with pointing fingers..., so they are not for the extremely shy type.

I am not sure I want to go through the trouble listing it, because I feel like nobody will take it home anyway. What do you say?

Consumption Wednesday

It's Wednesday already, the best cure for the mid week bore is to buy something small, and affordable. This week's Wed Consumptions are:

Top: Dionisius House Tote $30 from Poketo. All my tote bags are kind of old and worn and I love this colorful Tote bag inspired by the song Three mushrooms from Gilberto Gil. Oh the Bosssa Nova. Wishlisted.

Bottom left: Vinyl Pockets Shower Curtain $20 from UrbanOufitters Online only. I dream up some silly ideas with this one, but it's a bit too personal to tell you....

Bottom right: SusyJack is one of my new fav stores. This set of Arrow Clips is just too cute. $5.5

I heart this

Cute clouds and airplanes. You know I love this kind of things. ;D Made for MTV to warn us about global warming. I can so feel the heat lately. I drank a big cup of slurpee to cool down the other night. We are trying to use the a/c as little as we can, to cut the electricity bill, and to help out about this vexing issue.

Inspiration Tuesday - Natasha Klimchuk

I don't know where I find Natasha Klimchuk's photographs, but I love what I see. She's from Moscow.

Click, Look & Comment Giveaway! White Blossom Corsage Brooch from A Alicia Accessories

Hey there! It's another Monday, and it won't be a drag because I managed to bring you this exciting giveaway. ;D

Featuring Anna Alicia's White Blossom Corsage Brooch made with felt. I've featured her work here before as Monday find, and since then, her beautiful works were featured in Modish, Design Crush, Decor 8, Design is Mine and Tea for Joy to named just a few. So Anna from London is very busy filling orders and preparing her work to appear in the shop of London Fashion and Textiles Museum. I'm so very excited for her and equally excited for you guys to be able to win this brooch. She's so very kind to save up one for you guys to win it.

This is the giveaway I so desperately want to enter myself. ;P

To enter, name your favorite item from her shop by commenting to this post, you need to provide a working email for contact and valid entry. 1 entry per person except:

*People who help to tweet about this giveaway will get 1 extra entry. Add @yellowgoatetsy to your tweets so that I know you help to spread the words and write down your twitter account along with the email in the comment for me to connect the two.*

This will end Sat May 30th, 12PM Hong Kong time. Winner will be picked randomly.

Now, click, look, comment and spread the love.

New Blog Crush

I used to work in Advertising, honestly, people may think it's a glamorous existence, but in reality, it can be degrading sometimes, especially when you're a creative and you have some great ideas you truly believed in, but got rejected by a little pout from a client. People like to go with safe, proven, but used ideas. At least that what I've been seeing.

I have this new blog crush of Steal our ideas, and I spent a great deal of time reading all the posts from it. There are some really great one like the beard stickers for the back of your monitors, iphone interactive apps, and I like this cigarette warnings change. The messages are more personable then death, which instill fear, but once people get pass that, it does nothing to stop people from smoking, but instead, have messages that tells people how it will affect them socially is actually more relatable and make them think, but the "These will make me look creative" is a LOL. I think of Mad Men right the way.

via

Click, Look & Comment Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Birdcage Cards. Your comment was picked by the shop owners of Mae.

Check your email!

Happy Weekend

Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the beach or the pool if you can. We have rain here -_-, but I'm crossing my fingers for next weekend. I hope it will be sunny but cool...hard to get this time of the year though ;D

There are only a few hours left for this week's giveaway, if you haven't entered, go now!

Also, stay tuned for Monday, there's another really exciting giveaway you don't want to miss.

photo via

Cute room

Nice color, checked
Nice print on wall, checked
Vintage furniture, checked
Comfy sofa, checked

My kind of living room. ;D

via

Makes me happy

I went to mainland China last weekend for a half day stroll, mainly just shopping and walking around, and I brought this pair of glasses for 2 Yuan, that's like 0.29USD. Just when I thought things can be pretty cheap in Hong Kong, crossing the border just proved me wrong.

And I love the glasses because it looks like my first pair, funny how I hated it because it's deemed as the dorky kind, but now, is the hip stuff. Fashion, one day you're in, the next day you're out. (sorry, can't help it)

Friday Collective - Multicolor Search Lab expriment

Do you know the Multicolor Search Lab? I had so much fun playing around, and my color theme for this week is really something I'm feeling right now. Hot. But in a more muted kind of way. We've reached 31 degree Celsius this week, I can't imagine what would it feels like when it's August.

From top to bottom, left to right:

hotel view, jump, Mr. Nārang, buddy icon, Dale Chihuly 5, -|_|-|_|-|_

I finished a custom order from a friend yesterday. He saw my silver logo necklace, and wanted to immortalize his kitty into one, and he picked a picture of his cat jumping in the air, here's the result. My husband thought I did a puma logo. ;P

If you have a pet, and want to make a silver necklace out of their picture, I am all for custom order. ;D Just send me an email.

Stary Stary night

I am going camping next week, I wish it's as romantic as this, but staying up all night is just not an option for me these days, I had my share when I was much younger, now I really just want a good night sleep. My last good night sleep was during a camping trip like 6 years ago, probably because I was just tired. ;D

I heart this

This is very cute, in a Michael Gondry Science of Sleep sort of way. Click image to play.

via

Consumption Wednesday

This are two of my new favs, especially they are very affordable.

1. Wishy Washy from Suck UK , a soap so aptly named, and so cute and genius. £7.50

2. This is the cutest shinny animal bottle opener from Urban Outfitters. Not that I open bottles, but I love the old bottled sodas. They're still available in the traditional eateries here and I always order a small bottle diet coke for hot summer. (Diet coke really is my on and off, love and hate vice.) $20

I heart this

Sakula Sakula...paper cherry blossom installation
via

Tilt shift coolness

I was really impressed when I went to see the "Small Planet" show some years ago. Originally I thought it's all modeled but of course it's only a photographic technique called tilt shift. This video combines a series of tilt shift photos and it's a cool piece of stop motion.

If you wonder how to take tilt shift photos, I really have no idea, but you can make some digitally here. It work best with pictures taking from above. I have yet to find a fitting pictures to play with it. Let me know your results if you have time to try it out. ;D

video via

My little splurge

I told you I splurged a little recently. I brought this vintage camera from etsy seller jwhite2. I was so happy it arrived, and decided to take some photo with it. I brought it mainly thinking it can be a great props for my product pictures. (I have to give myself some reason to buy things...)

Plus I had some fresh pink ranunculus from the flower market. Well, they're not too fresh, they're the frozen kind so the color is not ask pink as you see here, thanks to a bit of photoshop magic (got inspired by Ez. ;D), it's very beautiful in the pictures.

Click, Look & Comment Giveaway! Removable Fabric Wall stickers from Mae

My Yellowgoat friends, I'm hosting some very exciting giveaways on my blog, many goodies are scheduled in the coming weeks to appear here every Monday for you to win. To kick start this "Click, Look & Comment Giveaway" series is the absolutely fun store of Mae.

Peta, the artist behind Mae is from Australia. She creates removable and reusable fabric wall decor stickers.
Unlike your regular vinyl stickers which you can only apply once, you can take these off and use it again. Now, this is definitely the wall sticker that I've been waiting for. I was so sad to part with my vinyl sticker when I moved to my new apartment.

Her wall stickers designs are really playful and cute, they are perfect compliments to any blank wall. I know that Ez was instantly smitten and did some impulsive shopping. ;D

She's so very kind to offer this set of Babushka Dolls to 1 winner.

Her question for you guys is:

What outfit would you dress your 'dress up doll' in?

Check out her store and the dress up doll stickers then comment to this post with your answer. You need to provide a working email for contact and valid entry. (1 entry per person)

This will end Sat May 23rd, 12PM Hong Kong time. Winner will be picked by Peta herself!

Now, Click, Look and Comment!

What do think about the new banner and the new layout?

Since I was really sick last weekend, so this week is all about stuff require no physical activity (apart from my fingers...) So the new banner and the 3 column layout had been up for a few days, love or hate? Would love to hear what you think!

Also I included a little contact me on the left hand column, for you to get to me easily. (It's one of the picture from my honeymoon album. ) ;D Also an about page too! I like how it's all more "professional looking" in blog language. ;D

Happy Weekend

This is a picture I took while I was traveling in Bay area. They have this awesome kite flying festival during summer which I forgot where. I use the poladroid to process it. ;D

For this weekend, please join me to:

1. Make a chill lovely salad

2. Pack it for a little picnic

3. Enjoy the outdoor

4. Have a Happy Fun weekend and document it with your cell phone camera.

Stay tuned for Monday, I have a great giveaway waiting for you guys. ;D Sometimes, there's something to look forward to even for Monday.

Friday Collective - Pink Balloon

The pink balloons. They are exploding, literally, around the internet. ;D Here's a few selection from flickr. Enjoy.

From left to right, top to bottom:

Comme du bonbon by Laurence, Nooo, Come Back!!! by KY photography, The balloon people (part one) by antonkawasaki, pink balloons by crokkedeyebrow, Everything's Just wonderful (Explore!) by mgm photography

I heart this

Nothing speaks more volume to me then childhood, something that passes by so fast and I managed to have only small and vague pieces of memories before innocence was lost. I had a photo of me and my brother at the beach, nearly exactly the same as this illustration from Tutti Studio. All I can remember is the sun burn of that particular summer.

found via Tutti following me on twitter

Artist Interview - Ez of Creature Comforts

Hello my dear readers, it's Thursday here already and I'm so happy to continue with my Bi-weekly artist interview series.

I cannot tell you how excited I was and still am when Ez of Creature Comforts agreed to come by to say hello and answer a few questions.

In my brief history with blogging and jewelry shop adventure, Ez definitely helped me a lot. She's one of the nicest blog writers out there, who, responded to my email in 2 seconds time, and she is genuinely kind and love the work she believed in. Not only she created a popular blog, she also has two very lovely shops here and here which have some really great prints with her beautiful pictures and package materials in her signature style.

Her answers are eloquent and honest, she is giving us a peak of her life and sharing her devotion to the pretty things we all love to see in her blog and her photos.

Please send her all the kisses and best wishes since she's been a bit sick lately. I sure hope she recover soon and continue with her amazing finds and be such a inspirations to me and to her readers out there. Here's Ez, xoxo.

Why did you decide to start blogging?

When I started blogging (about 3 years ago) I had no idea what a blog really was, but thought I would give it a try after coming across a few blogs that I really enjoyed.

I was also going through a divorce and was struggling with depression (not because of the divorce) and blogging soon became a way for me to pull myself away from those dark moments... even if only for a little while each day. Gradually it became easier and easier to see the beauty that was all around me the more that I sought it.

How have you evolved with your blogging style through the years?

Well, since I really had no idea what I was doing when I first started... it has definitely evolved over time. It's hard for me to see my blog in the same way that others do, but I hope that it will always be a reflection of me and the things that inspire me. Knowing that others also find it to be a source of inspiration makes me happy to no end!

Did you ever think this blogging thing will be full time and as successful now when you started out?

I certainly never started out thinking I'd do anything with my blog... I didn't even know what blogging was all about. But somewhere along the line I realized that there was a potential to keep blogging and maybe even have a tiny income from it. I hope that the success of my blog will continue, but at the end of the day, the connections I've made and continue to make through blogging are the greatest reward of all.

I love your photography, what kind of camera(s) do you use?

Thanks so much! I currently use a Nikon D300 and am barely just learning how to use it. I also have been teaching myself photoshop for a while now, so most of my images are experimented on with that.



I know you said you live in a small town, so do you take pictures in your town or you usually go a bit farther?

I don't usually venture too far outside of my town, but when the opportunity arrises to travel and take photos I always really look forward to the change of scenery.

You have a very distinctive feminine style from your photography to the things you pick, how would you describe your own style?

The ironic thing is that everyone I know describes me as "feminine" but I don't see myself that way at all. I must be in denial or something. ; ) I guess I'm really laid back and pretty casual for the most part (though I do love a good pair of shoes). On most days you can find me in a pair of jeans, well-worn tee and some sort of hoodie or sweater (I'm always cold). If I'm feeling fancy I'll throw on a fun accessory or do something different with my makeup.

I'm sure you get tons of product submission daily, do you have time to take a look at all of them?

I think it's one of the greatest things about being a blogger and one of the toughest. I used to wish that people would send me product pitches and story ideas, and now I wish I had a secretary to help me sort through them all. LOL It's gotten a little bit out of control lately (I'm working on it). But I'm grateful that people see my blog as interesting enough to want to contact me at all... so no complaints! ; )

What's your one most important tip for people who'd like to submit to you or other popular blogs?

I think personality is huge. I realize that it takes effort to email countless blogs, but it takes a lot of time for we bloggers to read through each email . Seeing something fresh, inviting and personal is always a plus.

I know from my experience, you're very quick to respond emails, you seem to be glued to your computer, how many hours a day on average you spend sitting in front of it?

I feel like I might as well have the computer glued to me most days. : ) It's embarrassing to admit, but generally I sit at my computer for 14+ hours a day (6 days a week). Over the next few months I'm hoping to work out a better schedule for myself, but at this moment I haven't figured out a better way to fit everything in that I need to. Maybe we could add more hours on the day. ; )

What about house work? Like cooking, cleaning and all that? I know I'm getting very lazy with it. :P My husband has been eating TV dinners, a lot...sorry...

Housework has definitely taken a back seat lately. I do cook dinner for my daughter every night, but it's not usually until late at night (before I get into bed around 1-2am) that I try to do a quick 15 minute straightening up and prep for the next day. Then I go to bed and start it all over again the next morning.

I always imagined work on your own time will allow me to go to outdoor cafe and enjoy the sun and blogging and working at the same time, that never happens to me, how about you?

Oh my... wouldn't that be lovely! I have to say that there isn't a lot of extra time in my life for hanging out and such. Every available moment that I do have I spend with my daughter. I think a lot of people imagine that my life, or the life of a blogger must be a glamorous existence, but the truth is that it's a challenge (just like any other job) and you are bound to your own schedule and must self-motivate every day (not the easiest thing). However, one amazing thing about working for myself is that it's allowed me to be with my daughter when she's had sick days and such. And even though I'm busy working at home, I still get to be with her for most of the day. I do love that.

Has your daughter developed any artistic taste like mommy?

My daughter is currently really into acting and has always been incredibly funny and charismatic. I enjoy her antics and can't wait to see what she'll be like in the months and years to come!



I love your "Inspiration board" posts, how did you manage all your clippings? I always want to have a system, but I am really not good at organizing, I'd love to have some tips from you.

The number of links I come across in a day would require a super-human (not me) to remember. I use Wishpot to store and sort all of my finds. I keep everything organized in categories and can add notes and tags to fine tune each category even more. I couldn't survive without it!



Ever come across something so beautiful, you decide to keep it yourself, and not blog about it?

In a lot of ways my blog is like window shopping for me. I come across so many incredible things every day (and I'm no moneybags) so I've developed a pretty strong impulse control. That being said, I do have a weakness for art and handcrafted art pieces (like my recent purchase from Abigail Brown ) . I don't think there's been anything that I've decided not to share, but on occasion I've purchased a one-of-a-kind item before blogging about it just to be on the safe side. ; )

What's the best thing ever happen to you after you started blogging?

Friendship! I have met so many amazing people because of my blog and that is what makes any difficult times worth it. I just adore my readers and my friends! I think I'm the luckiest person alive to get to wake up every day and share little bits of my inspiration with people all over the world.

Is it hard to blog everyday and come up with something new and exciting?

Some days are more challenging than others, but overall things tend to go smoothly (thankfully). The hardest days are when either my daughter or myself get sick. Then all I want to do is curl under the covers and sleep.



When you're 5 years old, what was your "I want to be --- when I grow up"?

Well, I always loved animals so I was probably wishing to be a veterinarian. But that quickly changed when I realized that there would be needles involved. : )

Any plan for vacation? You deserve it, you're working very hard.

I wish! I will probably plan some sort of a break when I move to the East Coast this summer. I will need to get settled into my new home without losing my mind, but other than that I don't see any vacation time in my immediate future. I'm okay with that though... I love blogging and so it's not as if it's torture to go to work every day. Overall I really feel lucky to get to do what I do.

If you can be an animal, what would that be?

A bird. Absolutely! Just watching birds soar through the sky brings tears to my eyes. I wish that I could join them on their winged journeys. They are so beautiful and carefree.




What's up in the future for you? Any specific plan for your blog or your shop?

Wow...the future is wide open I suppose you could say! I am moving across the country in a few short months and I'm sure my life will change a lot because of it (all good ways I hope). I hope to continue growing my blog and bringing new and interesting finds to my readers every day. And I just might have a few tricks up my sleeve...you'll have to wait and see. ; )

All pictures are from Ez's flickr photostream

Consumption Wednesday

I'm trying to get more organize with my blog so that I can have better balance between blogging and doing my jewelry.

This is a feature that will stick, Consumption Wednesday. I know economy is down, but if Adam Smith and all the other economists are right, we need to spend money to create more money. I had a recent splurge, so I decide to just share my wish lists. They can be cute items, silly things, clothing, beauty products and anything and everything I think I need/want. ;D If you find anything you want to recommend to me, send email to mrs.fungwongyeung [!at] gmail.com, I'd love for you to give me some input!

First up:

1. Half pint glass creamer $15 @ fredflare.com- I am lactose intolerant, so I haven't had diary products for like almost 9 years now. This is the cutest and best thing for me, because I can fool my house guests the soymilk is actually milk... via Happy Mundane

2. I love the Ice Invader, but this Gin and Titonic $6.99 @ Perpetual Kid is so fittingly design, I love how it's all tilted in your glass too.

Oh, and stay tuned for tomorrow's Artist Interview Thursday, the wonderful Ez of Creature Comfort is answering quite a few questions from me.

I wish to sit on this and blog about it.

This is like a chair for people who can't stop moving while sitting, I used to be like that, then was forced to kick the habit, because it's not "lady like" and of course my teachers wouldn't allow. If only I have have a chair like this.

via Likecool

I heart this

There was a contest going on Mid-Century Modernist for this poster by technical illustrator James Provost which I totally heart. I didn't write about this because it's an hard one. You have to name all the chairs and their designers in the poster. After a month or so, it seem like there's still no winner, at least from the comment, nothing is announced. I didn't have time to try, but now I am really tempted. Some are really popular one, but there's a couple hard one in it...

Tuesday Inspiration - Quirky Illustrations

I have been collecting lots of inspirations, and this is another round of illustration inspiration. They are all in a somewhat quirky kind of way which makes them very fun to look at. Click the image for enlarge version. You can buy some of them as print too. ;D

Can you tell I still can't shake off Little Edie? She's wearing Channel in that drawing...

From left to right, top to bottom:

Too shy no.3 by Rosie Music, Julie Morstad, Jonas Löfgren for Lula Magazine, Retro Print by Paola, Raquel Aparicio, Sal Ali, Sophie Blackall

Monday Find - Grey Gardens Inspired

I just finished watching the original Grey Gardens documentary and it's really hard not to be affected by the eccentric Beales ladies. So when I was trying to come up with a theme for this Monday find, I couldn't help myself but to search through the vintage sections. (I have to pause the "from the people who hearted me series" for a bit, until I have enough new hearts to come up with a nice theme)

I think, it's the perfect costume for Monday. ;D

1. Vintage magical forest gypsy dress from Dear Golden Vintage $36

2. White heel size 7.5 from Allen Company Inc $32

3. Antique photo from And so forth $8

4. Ansco Vagabound Box camera with traveling case from Junk Culture $25

5. Vintage Avocado Green Carryon Suitcase from Scooters $25

6. Floral tapestry carpet purse from persephone vintage $26

7. 2 French Broaches from Aviva's Atelier $15

8. Cat eye magnifying reading glasses from 20 Century Finds $50

9. Plaid Metal Lunch Pail from Soumi Girl $15

10. Chiffon scarf and daisy brooch set from Vintage Bouquet $26

11. Doily girl print by Trace my face $20

Happy Weekend

I'm craving Popsicle, watermelon, strawberries or coconut favors... They definitely represent summer, and it certainly feels like it's here with the sun shinning throughout the whole week and on to the weekend.

For this weekend, I hope you can join me to:

1. Enjoy a easy homemade frozen treats

2. Dance with silly moves

3. Kiss your love ones

4. Have a happy Mother's Day! Make her this if you are in a crafty mood


photo credit willsfca

Shop Update - Bird's eye view

It's Friday, they say it's the best time to list something on etsy. I guess people are more in mood for shopping with the weekend freedom. ;D So I listed this Bird's eye view necklace today, inspired by China's "Step Farm" I felt in love with the organic form and I always wanted to something with layers.

A couple friends saw it in facebook and they're already smitten...I hope you guys like it too.

Friday Collective - Flickr this week

I'm very behind in term of anything Internet related this week but my mother in law is loving and flaunting the necklace I made, so that makes me happy and made my week. Too bad I didn't get the chance to take a photo of the final version to show you.

Oh, you may notice the layout has changed a bit here, most notably the right column, well, it was really messy before, so I clean it up, tick off those unnecessary widgets. I hope you guys like it. ;D

It's great to see other people being productive, so here are my picks from flickr this week, from left to right, top to bottom:

nature, fine little day; Un p'tit coin de paradis, azurblue; loou; you're nothing but a pack of cards!, ellenmoss; sophie on tuesday, dom.odonnell; _some; 105/365, Andrea McClain; Full Space, fric_de_mentol

Work in progress, mother day's gift

Mother's Day is looming, quick, so I decided to make my mother in law something. This is what I have so far. My mother in law is a really happy person, and ever since we get married, she seems to be on cloud 9 and never come back down. She's also a huge supporter for my jewelry shop, and bought some stuff from me left and right as gifts to her younger friends. (She insist that I don't give her any discount at all...how can I not to though?) I gifted her a necklace before and whenever she wear it, she'd be very proud and tell everybody I made it, how special and talented I am. I have become somewhat of a show off for her. ;P

So, Mother's Day is this Sunday, I know it may all seem like every merchant in the world is trying to sell you something based on an arbitrary holiday, but, if you have a special mother or mother in law, make her something, anything. It's always nice to get something that's handmade with love.

I have to finish this fast since I am going to see her tonight. So I'm off to my work table and work some more with my burnt fingers...my hands had been suffering this week...

Free Magazine - Little Things

I stumble upon this young bi-monthly magazine "Little Thing" while I was doing some research, and I'm totally swooned. This magazine is very Japanese/Euro inspired, from the layout to the editorial, but it's from China. I know I've been talking a lot about China lately, but it sort of hit me like random, not that I intent to.

This is actually a print magazine, but you can view a 7-10 pages preview if you're not a register user, once you're registered, (their web layout is all bilingual, you should be able to fly through the registration without a hitch) you can download the whole magazine for free. Only for PC user though, it comes in windows executable files.

The best thing is that they have features for lots of handmade artists from all over the world. It's really very sweet. Now, you can spend a whole afternoon flipping through them.

The winner for the giveaway contest

My giveaway over at Design Crush is finished and congratulation to Janil, her name came out from the bag of many recycled paper slips with hand written contestant's names. Sorry if you didn't win, but there are many many other contests you can win something. Check out Etsy giveaway.

And this will be my last giveaway for 2009.

If you question the manly fingers, they are my lovely husband's. My dark skin chocolate dream....haha..

Shop Update - Taking off earrings

Sorry this week is all about my stuff, because I've been very productive and creative lately, so I made lots of things and have been working on more. Some great ideas are still in the oven, testing, tweaking...I hope they can turn out the way I want them to.

So, this is another pair of new earrings from me. I cannot write it better than my product description, so here it is:

I went to an outer island for a long weekend, and I saw lots of eagles hovering above my head and I came back and made this pair of earrings.

They are asymmetrical because in nature, nothing is in perfect symmetry, and that's what makes it interesting. After I studied animation, I am obsessed with observing nature. One of the golden rule in animation is overlapping, means not everything happens at the same time.

When you watch slow motion of birds taking off, their wings has a bit of delay from one wing to the other when they spread it.

This pair of earrings is to capture that split second moment when the tips of one wing is fully spread, and the other is rolling out. The next second, the bird is in the air. So I call this pair "Taking off".

Noticed my bad skin? Yup, I got some serious sun burn from the island trip, so I put on some heavy make up to taking product shots...or else you can see my nose being roasted red. ;P I am applying aloe all over now...note to self, sunsreening is never enough.

Shop Update - Half full half empty earrings

You may have noticed that I took down all my Objectications. I just feel that they don't fit with my progress and my shop's other products anymore, at first I thought I'd just want to reshoot with better pictures and put them back up, but then slowly I changed my mind, and decided that some pieces will be act as gifts to my friends and family.

But then one night, I thought about the mug and came up with this half full half empty idea to give the "just a mug" a new depth, so I decided to give my mug a rework, so viola!

And it's priced at a much more affordable price then before, because I managed to work much faster now, especially on simple silhouettes, which greatly reduces my labor charges, and I brought a digital scale, which gives me precise calculation in determining the material costs.

So, I hope you like them, and will take them home.

This week will also be my major new products week, I've been working hard on new pieces that I'm really excited to show you throughout the week. ;D Stay tuned.

Kids Republic Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the fastest growing city in China, and we have been told again and again that it will take over Hong Kong's status. I don't know what it means, but from the look of it, it's getting more and more better looking. Shop wise at least.

This is a children themed book store in Shanghai named "Kid's Republic". It's designed by Japan Architect firm SAKO. I love how it's very playful and the tree house is a really nice touch.

The thing I don't like about Hong Kong is the lack of book selections, and most of the kids these days are forced to read practical books that it's force feeding knowledge and English vocabularies. I feel tired flipping those books myself. What happen to learning through fun? I'd love for the bookstore to open a branch here.

Oh, I'm so sorry my lovely readers, I am unable to do Monday Find for this week, since I don't have enough time and I've been working on various new products. :D Stay tuned this week for many new things from me.

photo(C)Chen Zhong Hai

Happy Weekend

The world is all very concerned with Swine Flu right now, but it shouldn't scare you off for a happy weekend. We just have the 1st confirmed Swine Flue case from a Mexican traveler, the whole hotel is now in isolation mode, the news again looks like something from Outbreak again.

But, I was right here in Hong Kong during SARS, I survived, so I'm prepared to survive again. Salute to life, be happy because we are alive and well, I'm going to have fun today, regardless.

photo by: daily pleasure

Friday Collective - Blog Love

Today is start of a long weekend here in Hong Kong, May 1st is Labor Day and tomorrow is Buddha Birthday, so Happy Labor Day and Buddha Birthday my lovelies! The perk in living in multicultural cities is really the holidays, not that I'm taking a break today.

I've been neglecting to update the side features, especially the blogroll content. The best thing of keeping a shop and a blog is that you get mentioned and get some love by strangers across the world. I discovered I have some Russian love because I get mentioned in Lookatme.ru. :D Can't understand anything over there, but it's lovely nonetheless.

So, thank you for the love and mention, xoxo. Click on the banners to go to the lovely blogs. :D