inspire & be inspired...

Still Alive!

2010-04-10T22:23:00.002-04:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged in so long here. The holiday flurry of selling had left me quite tired. I spent the last few months concentrating on other things in my life. For one, I've taken Bikram Yoga and am learning to focus, balance and be tone/fit. I've also been trying to step it up a notch with healthier eating habits. As much as I'd like to think I can be great at all things; I've learned that I'll do better if I concentrate on less things, and stay sane at the same time. Sometimes it's better to take a step back and re-evaluate what my priorities are at the present moment. I still love to craft but my mind just hasn't been as into it as much. However, my Etsy shop is still alive and I am slowly getting back into the craft fair scene. My first stop will be with my lovely NewNew team at our 2nd Spring Cavalcade. Hope to see you there!

Handmade Cavalcade: Tomorrow!

2009-12-04T15:25:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited. I still have some work to do but here are a few things that will be coming along with me tomorrow to event.

We've also been featured in several mediums including AMNY and the Village Voice. How great is that!

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/around-town/shopping/Shoptacular-The-Handmade-Cavalcade-78339182.html

http://www3.timeoutny.com/newyork/tonyblog/2009/12/where-to-shop-this-weekend-brooklyn-loft-holiday-handmade-cavalcade-and-more/

2 More Days until Cavalcade!

2009-12-02T09:21:00.001-05:00

With over 50 Metro New York artists, designers, and crafters bringing their handmade creations together for this one-day shopping event, this year promises to be even more fun and exciting.
The Holiday Handmade Cavalcade runs from 11am-8pm on Saturday, December 5th, at the Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry Street.

Be sure to enter our free raffle for a chance to win some creations from participating vendors, packed up in hand-embellished tote bags. Raffle tickets are free with each purchase, so the more you shop, the more chances you have to win....

So join us for some holiday cheer in our handmade shopping wonderland. Spread the word, tell your friends, and we'll see you there!

Handmade Holiday Cavalcade coming Dec 5th!

2009-10-28T09:34:00.002-04:00

Save the Date: Nolita, NYC.

Tangerine + Tiffany

2009-10-20T09:40:00.004-04:00

Amanda Fuller of Amanda Fuller Designs created this most lovely spread and I just had to share. I love the combination. If I were to get married again (haha) I'd definitely consider this palette. It's so bright and fun. Thanks for including my tin - it fit right in!

A new Leaf...

2009-09-27T13:44:00.003-04:00

Most people I know dread the end of summer. When Fall is here, Winter is soon to come. I feel differently though. I couldn't wait for the hot & rainy Summer to end. I look forward to the fresh cool air and am thrilled that it's Fall. Inspired by the new change of weather, I purchased a set of these lovely stamps from Hero Arts. It stamps quite nicely and I just love how the leaves pop!

Happy Fall!

Is it summer already?

2009-06-22T10:06:00.009-04:00

I've been on a blogging hiatus! I'm starting to feel stressed out again. Time to step back and re-focus.

I realize how difficult it is to simultaneously sell at craft fairs/venues and also work on online sales at home + keep up with a full time job. While I do have fun at fairs, I've decided that I really need to vet which venues to accept. While both have it's advantages (it's fun to meet customers and see their reaction. Immediate sales are gratifying too) it's very hard to do both well and maintain a somewhat sane life. I'm constantly worried about forgetting things and making sure I have enough time...etc.

So I'm feeling pretty good that I haven't signed up for anything in the next two months. It'll give me some time to figure out what to do. I already have some goals in mind in no particular order.

1. Eat healthier (more whole grains, greens & less sweets like cupcakes!)
2. Work out consistently
3. Push husband to do the same for the above
4. Declutter our home and organize better
5. Hang out with friends (I'm horrible in this department)
6. Take Sam(dog) out more
7. Work on increasing Etsy shop sales and custom orders at home
8. Learn to live more meagerly (only buy what we need; not what we want)
9. Be a better food shopper
10. Save money

On other news... My latest custom order. I spent roughly 1.5 months making 250+ of these wedding favors. I normally would have required more time but this came to me kind of late; so I worked my butt off every night and weekend to make it happen in time for the bride's wedding. The bride was quite pleased and made all the cutting, gluing and painting worth it. I hope to do more of these in the near future.

I believe her wedding just past so I wish her a happy happy marriage!

I love how the photos came out. It's amazing what a fancy SLR camera can do.

Etsy Treasury

2009-05-08T10:48:00.001-04:00

Thanks to muppleton for the feature!

The SHC is tomorrow!

2009-05-08T09:21:00.003-04:00

I should have worked last night but it's been a rough week. So instead the hubs and I treated ourselves to Indian food at SEVA in Astoria and it definitely hit the spot. My stomach can't handle huge portions, so I have enough leftovers for lunch today.

Anyway, it looks like I'll be busy tonight. Please check out the coupon sheet below for both online and in-person shopping for this weekend! For those that won't be able to make it out to see me, below is a "Free Shipping" coupon for all online purchases. Though it's not stated on the sheet, I'm afraid it will not include any custom orders.

Busy busy busy...

2009-04-29T13:28:00.004-04:00

Been busy working on a large wedding order... 275 favor tins to be exact. I'm also prepping for two large events. The Spring Cavalcade - May 9th & 10th and Renegade - June 6th & 7th!

I recently wrote a post for {theNewNew} "A Thrifty Way to Spend the Afternoon" featuring my dog Samantha. Check it out while I get back to work...

Celebrate a {NewNew} Season with the Spring Handmade Cavalcade

2009-04-22T14:45:00.006-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Celebrate a {NewNew} Season with the Spring Handmade Cavalcade

NEW YORK, NY – March 13 – Spring is in the air, and with it come the social affairs that take advantage of this beautiful time of year.With this in mind the {NewNew} heads to the Bell House in Brooklyn onMay 9th and 10th to host the Spring Handmade Cavalcade. This two-day shopping affair will feature gifts for grads and moms, fantastichousewares and pretty paper goods for hosts and hostesses, and apparel and accessories for any occasion.

Since its inception last September, the Handmade Cavalcade events have built a loyal following, and helped launch the {NewNew} as acollective that introduces a steady stream of emerging independentdesigners and artists to the local community. Recognized as a leader in local happenings, the event has already garnered major sponsorships from Yelp and Etsy, two major forces on the local and handmade scene. In keeping with tradition, the Spring Handmade Cavalcade will bring 30 vendors to the Bell House, a magnificent two-room music and events venue in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn.

"We're thrilled to be able to hold this event in such a gorgeous setting," said Kristen Couse, who is coordinating the event. "Like our Holiday Handmade Cavalcade at the Knitting Factory last December, wehope to establish lasting beneficial relationships by bringing the local communities out to support local businesses. Shopping from independent artists keeps money in our communities and makes an investment in our neighborhood.”

This local focus extends to the event's collaboration with charity partner St. John's Bread & Life, which addresses the issues of hungerand poverty in Brooklyn and Queens. A limited edition artists' book will be available for sale to benefit the charity. In addition, shoppers who make a donation will receive a surprise handmade gift.

Free, limited-edition tote bags are available to the first 200 visitors who RSVP on the event's website, and can be picked up by visiting on either day of the event up until 1pm, Sunday May 10. And everyone who makes a purchase at the event will be able to participate in a raffle for one of ten artist-embellished totes chock-full of handmade goods.

To add to the fun, DJ Joshy B will be spinning Brooklyn spring-time soul, hip hop, funk, and indie rock while you do some unique, handmade weekend shopping.

What: The Spring Handmade Cavalcade

When: Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10, 2009. 10am–4pm both days

Where: The Bell House, 149 7th St. between 2nd and 3rd Aves, Brooklyn

About the {NewNew}

The {NewNew} is an eclectic group of independent artists devoted tofostering a creative and supportive environment among its members. Thegroup encourages a spirit of camaraderie through craftsmanship andcollaboration, and strives to help its members achieve success on botha personal and professional level. Created in the summer of 2007, The{NewNew} brings together Etsy artists from NY, NJ and CT to shareresources, search new marketplaces, and seek out business opportunities in the tri-state area.

Brooklyn Flea tomorrow!

2009-04-17T08:44:00.006-04:00

I very excited that the Brooklyn Flea will be in full swing starting tomorrow. The weatherman (aka, husband) says it should be a very nice and sunny day. Yay! Make sure you come out if you're in the neigborhood. If you've been a loyal fan, please note that the Fort Greene Flea is now on Saturdays!

I'll be busy tonight prepping for the Flea and making another Bridal order. Oh and trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight that's quick and easy.

Red and Black Scrapbook tins

2009-04-11T22:42:00.004-04:00

Right before I left for Paris, I completed a set of red and black themed scrapbook tins for a West Coast bride. (I love that the wonderful world of internet allows me global transactions!) 7 tins in total. She asked for "vintage, pin up girl feel kinda wedding" And here are the lovely results.

Let the wedding season begin. I just finished two more bridal orders. Will post shortly.

Love is In the Air Wedding Suite

2009-03-06T10:12:00.005-05:00

A brand new wedding suite handstamped and finished off with a shabby chic lace pattern. I spent hours on this one and I'm quite proud of the result. I am happy to announce that this is now available in my shop.

Saturday Evening

2009-03-03T20:43:00.004-05:00

I love being home. This weekend we had no plans which was great! We ran a few errands, went out to brunch, hung out with the dog, picked up some food and dined on a smorgasbord of hearty bread, chorizo, organic grapes, some yellow peppers and a bottle of sparking wine and enjoyed a movie together. The simplest ways to spend together is the most memorable.

22 Days until Paris {Oui Oui}

2009-02-20T10:07:00.006-05:00

I'm in love with the water color paintings by Carol Gillott of ParisBreakfast. Her pieces are just amazing! It seems so real doesn't it?

This just amplifies my excitement to get to Paris ASAP and eat my heart out! I'm going to have to walk miles and miles each day to make up for all the food I'll be trying.. I fell in love with Paris the first time I was there two years ago and it will be the first place I'll be re-visiting again. It's not something we do because I've always figured that there's so much of this world I haven't seen yet but I think visiting a second time will allow me to appreciate Paris even better than before.

Valentine's Dinner

2009-02-18T20:40:00.007-05:00

Hubs surprised me with dinner this year at home! I was shocked. Making dinner is a huge ordeal for him because he doesn't know how to cook!

Tomatoes + Fresh Mozzarella + Basil = Yum!

Plated..

Lasagna!

Mini Red velvet Cake from Martha's Country Bakery - It's good but much heavier than most Red Velvet's I've sampled. Hubs loves the cream cheese frosting. I found it to be a bit heavy. My favorite is still at Sugar Sweet Sunshine!

He really earned his brownie points. The house was clean and dinner was home made. I don't ask for a lot (well sometimes I do) but it's the simple things that make me feel loved.

And there's more! The next morning, Hubs made us Banana Bread. It was made with whole wheat flour + he substituted Splenda instead of using sugar. Not too bad healthwise eh? The bread was super moist and really good, perfect with my cup of home brewed coffee!

Banana Bread Recipe (adapted from a blogger who I forgot to jot down and now I feel awful, sorry!)

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temp
1 cup Splenda
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 large bananas)
2 eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional - no nuts for us)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease one 8 1/4 by 4 1/2 inch loaf pan and dust with flour.

In a bowl stir together: flour, baking soda, salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, beat together: butter and splenda until blended. Beat in the banana (just drop it into the mixer, you don't have to pre-mash), then beat in the eggs until completely mixed. Don't worry if the mixture looks lumpy and curdled. Stir in the nuts.

Add the dry ingredients and stir until just blended.

Pour into pan and bake until a toothpick (or chopstick as I always use) inserted into the center of the loaves comes out clean, about 50 minutes.

A Day at the Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo

2009-02-18T20:34:00.003-05:00

My first Show for 2009!

2009-02-06T12:38:00.005-05:00

This weekend promises warmer weather so I'm hopeful that it'll be a fantastic weekend! On Sunday, I will be venturing out to Dumbo with my scrapbooks and greeting cards at the new Winter Pop Up Market along with {NewNew} members joyella & jantar.

Hope to see you there!

Etsy's Special Delivery

2009-01-23T10:43:00.002-05:00

Etsy is sponsoring a fab event this Valentine's Day. They are currently accepting handmade Valentine's Day cards and partnering up with City Meals on Wheels to distribute a meal and card for VDay! So fun!

I'm not the best writer so I borrowed a verse from the internet and handwrote it in each card.

Read more about it from Etsy's Storque!

Valentine Goodies

2009-01-17T23:41:00.003-05:00

Simple yet still a bit playful.

Sunday.

2009-01-11T21:31:00.010-05:00

Sunday Breakfast
A few years ago my Mike & I went to Australia and had possibly the best times in our lives (besides getting married of course.) One of my fondest memories was of a day trip we took to see some caves. It was a long excursion and although seeing the caves was pretty cool; we almost deemed it not worth it until we made a pit stop at a small little shop for some scones and tea. It was very English which was a bit odd but those were the absolute best scones I've ever tasted in my life...

American scones just don't cut it I'm afraid. Anyway, I finally attempted to make Joy of Baking's scones and it wasn't as hard as I thought (considering I'm not a baker.) Fortunately I didn't need to use the kitchenaid for this which was great because I don't really know how to use it. I did ask my husband to prepare the Mock Devonshire Clotted Cream last night so we would have it nice and cold this morning. The scones came out quite well and was perfect accompanied with the cream & preserves we bought back from out Catskills Hiking Trip.

Served with English Breakfast Tea

Sunday Lunch + Dinner

One of our buddies were gifted two boxes of Omaha Steaks over the holidays. Lacking cooking skills & a grill, he brought the steaks over and handed it over to me. I'm not great with the grill but I did my homework and I think it came out well. I'm sure that the fact that the steak itself was of high quality had a good deal to do with it.

A good steak must be accompanied by some good sides right? For two hours, I multitasked over the stove and made Elise's Pefect Mashed Potatoes, Good House Keeping's Bacon Maple Brussel Sprouts, and Ina Garten's Maple Roasted Bacon. The roasted bacon was a hit! It was super easy to make too! Also pictured below is a small side of kielbasa + sauerkraut. We had an unexpected guest so I thought I'd add it to the table just in case.

Peter Luger's Steak Sauce is the best! I never eat steak without it now.

Tacos + Tortilla Chips

2009-01-08T20:32:00.003-05:00

Authentic tacos are so yummy! I decided to give it a try last week.

The spread: Corn Tortillas + Grilled Chicken + Cilantro + Raw onions + Lime + Homemade Sofrito + Store Bought Salsa Verde + Homemade Spanish Rice (simple recipe of Sofrito, olive oil, tumeric for color and rice)
We ended up with a lot of leftover corn tortillas (like 95 tortillas!) So I made tortilla chips. I also squirted some lime on the chips for an extra zest. In less than 15 minutes, we snacked on a bowl of healthy and hearty chips! The husband approved!

I served it with store bought salsa & guacomole. We tried a new brand of salsa and we both didn't like it. In fact, I've never bought a jar of salsa that I liked. I much prefer to make my own. The guacomole was really good though!

Show Your Gratitude - Free Shipping

2009-01-05T11:38:00.004-05:00

Now is the perfect time to say thank you for all of those wonderful holiday gifts and meals you shared! Sending a handmade card is a beautiful way to show your gratitude. The shops featured below are offering free domestic shipping on their thank you card sets from January 5 through January 15.

Please check my Handstamped Gift Set section for my current selection of Thank You sets. Domestic shipping has already been removed from these listings. Please click on Etsy Greetings for other Etsy sellers participating in the "Free Shipping" Offer!

Oui Oui

2009-01-04T12:56:00.006-05:00

I'm starting off 2009 nicely with a trip to Paris. Ah, the city of lights. It's been two years since I've been there back when the hubs proposed. We will be back in March travelling with a good friend and his wife. Here are the preliminary plans: frolick in Paris for 3 days then head out to a few one day trips outside of Paris. We hope to visit the Palace of Versailles, Palace of Fountainbleau and Castle of Chantilly. We've had talks of visiting Mont Saint Michel which is beautiful and would be awesome to go to but it's a bit far. Not sure if we can make that happen.

Paris is really beautiful. I'm not a history buff so I'm not good with remembering names and places. In fact if my husband wasn't so knowledgable of so many facts & trivia, I'd be quite lost.. What I love most about Paris is how it made me feel. I love how old the city is. I loved the feeling of walking on cobblestones and discovering cozy little shops. I loved walking along the Seine and soaking in the Parisian life. We got lost a few times just walking around and we were just fine. Of course, I loved the sweets: eclairs, crepes, macarons and washing it down with cafe creme is the best!

The travel bug in me keeps growing. I just can't help it. In an economy like this, I really ought to be saving my money but hey, you have only one life to live, right? I leave this post with a few quotes that ring very true for me taken from travelbliss (how appropriate!).

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” - Martin Buber

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” - Saint Augustine

“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” - Paul Theroux

“If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.” - Glenn Clark

“I see my path but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” - Rosalia de Castro

“Like al great travellers, I have seen more than I remember and remember more than I have seen.” - Benjamin Disraeli

Why do you travel?

Paris photos of my last trip here, London/Paris 2006

I'm currently searching for restaurant recs, good & affordable, anyone?

Food for the Gods

2009-01-03T00:47:00.002-05:00

Santa (aka hubs) was very good to me this year. He gifted me a bunch of great things but amongst the loot of goods, he spoiled me with fancy schmancy gourmet chocolate & Dark Chocolate Drink from Marie Belle. I've never had really good Hot Chocolate before. It's so thick and delicious - too decadent to have everyday though. The chocolates are so good - it melts in your mouth. I have a month to eat it before it spoils and unlike most Chocolate lovers who usually gobble it up in one sitting, I like to savor mine. Life is good.

A New Year!

2009-01-01T19:18:00.002-05:00

How quickly a year has gone by. 2008 has been a fun ride and I look forward to what the New Year will bring. I haven't really thought about any resolutions for '09 but I can happily say that the ones I made last year was a success! Forward and onward - wishing you and your family a Happy, Safe & Prosperous New Year!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T00:47:00.002-05:00

Christmas is here!!! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

I almost didn't make any Christmas cards this year; but here they are! Unfortunately, I sent the cards out a bit late so it might not reach its destination in time. Ah well...

My card is published

2008-12-22T22:11:00.004-05:00

The card above was selected to be included in Laura McFadden & Deborah Baskin's 1000 Handmade Greetings: Creative Cards and Clever Correspondence! I haven't seen the book in person yet but will definitely make the trip to Barnes & Nobles when I have a chance.

Handmade Greetings rock!

A Musical & Fine Dining

2008-12-22T20:24:00.003-05:00

Our Anniversary was spent dining at Jean Georges Perry St. followed by one of the hottest Broadway shows, In the Heights. The food was yummy and the show was spectacular! We really enjoyed it. Even though we live in NYC, we don't venture out much to all those things that all the tourist flock to NY to do. Yet when we travel, we do everything a tourist would and more! I guess we really do take it for granted; that everything is within reach so we often push it off. We really shouldn't think that way. We miss out on so much this great city has to offer. I hope we can indulge a bit more in the New Year and enjoy all the shows, art galleries and museums.

Steamy Kitchen's Holiday Giveaways!

2008-12-15T10:01:00.000-05:00

Win it!

http://steamykitchen.com/blog/2008/12/11/holiday-giveaway/

3:39 am

2008-12-13T03:40:00.003-05:00

It's 3:39am and I ought to be asleep but I just spent the last 2 hours trying to figure out how to do something. I got my hubs to help me and finally got it to work; to learn immediately after that there was a much faster shortcut. At times like these, I feel like such a flake. Ugh!

Ah well whatever. Tomorrow will be a better day because the hubs and I will be celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary! That's a freakin' decade my friends! We're very excited. I'll update more after our Anniversary Date.

Etsy Shop Local in Asia

2008-12-12T09:18:00.000-05:00

I just read this fantastic article about Etsy Sellers selling across the world, specifically Asia - Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Phillipines, South Korea and Malaysia. It's so great to learn that there are such creative folks all the way across the world from me. It also heightens my interest on travelling abroad to Asia. I've only been to Japan so far and would love to visit as many Asian countries as I can. I already have plans to visit Hong Kong (where I was born) and Thailand in 2010. I seriously can't wait!

A few of my favorites from the article:

Starry Designs

Saplanet
RaesCreations

Handmade Holiday Calvalcade Hosted by NewNew

2008-12-08T15:53:00.000-05:00

The NewNew's first Holiday Show happened on Saturday. From what I heard and saw, it was highly successful. I kind of regret not selling with my teammates, but I knew I had too much going on. I am so proud of my teammates and am hyped up to join the fun next year!

I asked my husband to take the photos (gave him something important to do while I chatted with most of the sellers.) I tried to get to everyone but it was a bit overwhelming and we had to get back to our metered car. Sorry if I missed a few of you.

Packed with buyers!

In this photo, from left to right, there's Tyshawn from Redbridge, the Gift Bags in the back and Marty from dewonapetalhome.

Click here for the rest of the photos..

Pucker Up!

2008-11-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

You Stink Soap - I just love the name! Haha. I also happen to love anything lavender - soap, lotion, salt etc..

It's not easy finding a good lip balm even though it seems like all lip balm makers uses the same few ingredients. I absolutely love Nordea's lip balms. It glides on smoothly and tastes er... feels great on my lips.

Another great name - bunnybuttapothecary! It certainly makes Wai Sze Designs sound boring! I also dig the label packaging too and there is a great variety to choose from as well.

MoonMaidenSoap - Love the name, love the packaging and it comes in a box! Great stock stuffer indeed.

I'm so obsessed, I almost want to make my own lip balm... but I won't... I'll leave it to these bath and body professionals and the million or so that sell on Etsy. It's amazing how many people are making natural lip balms free from artificial chemicals. It's a fabulous thing. Good bye commercial chapstick forever!

I also love the Buy 3, get 1 Free deals or Buy a certain amount and get a price break deal. For someone like me who can't leave the house without her lip balm, this is an extra incentive and greatly appreciated.

Guilty as Charged!

2008-11-28T14:06:00.000-05:00

To my delight, I received a wonderful free Blackberry Lip Balm from Etsy Seller, dennisanderson last week along with my purchase. It smelled so yummy and often times, I don't care too much when I receive free stuff because I usually get things I don't need/want. (I have a clutter phobia - constantly throwing things away..) Anyway, to my horror, I came home to this after doing some Black Friday shopping this morning.

Looks like Sam thinks the lip balm was yummy too because she devoured half the tube, plastic and all!
A closer look... bye bye lip balm!
*25% off is happening now in my shop!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale Starts Now!

2008-11-27T11:01:00.000-05:00

Best Offer Yet Starts Now! I'm giving thanks to all my wonderful customers. Starting now through Monday, enjoy 25% off entire store! (excludes custom orders and shipping) Please purchase and wait for your revised invoice before paying; or I'll send a refund!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Candy Cane, Snowflakes & Birds

2008-11-25T21:32:00.000-05:00

A few new additions to my shop. I really love the simplicity of these tags. I rounded each corner to make it a bit more special. The twine adds just the perfect rustic chic-ness, don't you think? I love twine; I want to use it on everything!

My favorite by far... but you should know that by now if you've been following my work... hehe.Two more days until Big Ole Turkey Day. Can't wait!

My first Giveaway!

2008-11-17T09:39:00.001-05:00

I'm giving away two fabulous Holiday Cards on the NewNew website. Check it out!

I Heart Vegan Friendly Soap

2008-11-16T00:11:00.000-05:00

I'm hoarding soap & lip balm and no one is going to stop me!

Inspired by Nature

2008-11-12T20:33:00.001-05:00

Old Country Road
Rose Cottage

Escape from the city

2008-11-11T22:12:00.000-05:00

The hubs and I packed our bags and took our dog to the Catskills for a long weekend. It was a bit chilly and wet but oh so rustic and beautiful.

My hubs is becoming quite a photographer. This is my favorite shot, yup of my wet Merrills. Haha.

We hiked for 6 hours! At one point, I thought I wasn't going to make it, but we trudged along through 2 hours of mist, climbing over loose rocks and the rustling of a bear! Visit my flickr for more photos of our outdoor adventure.

NewNew's Monday Giveaway!

2008-11-10T21:47:00.000-05:00

Start the week right with these beautiful handmade earrings from the talented Lingua Nigra! Best of all, it's free! Click on photo to give it a twirl! Best of luck!

Cafe Au Lait

2008-11-06T08:46:00.000-05:00

Like any woman, I love to shop. Unlike most women though, I don't just enjoy shopping for clothes, shoes or handbags. I shop for much more than that. Amongst the things I love include home goods, gourmet foods, most things at the Container Store, and scrapbook supplies. I recently found a new and inspiring website entitled, Capture the Moment which showcases stamps and ideas from a line that's new to me, called PaperTrey Ink. It's a simple website filled with a plethora of acetate stamps that are very easy to use. The best part is that PaperTrey Ink has an Angel Policy which means I can use their stamps to make cards and sell in my shop. Making sure that a rubber stamp company has the Angel Policy is so important - wouldn't want to get sued over a $4 card I just sold, ya know? Anyway, I've been eying the following stamps sets created by designer Heather Nichols. You rock Heather, love these stamps!

I'm so inspired by these cards!

If you haven't guessed it by now, yes, I'm a coffee addict. A coffee a day keeps the doctor away, right? Love tea & cocoa too of course!

Reflecting

2008-10-30T12:30:00.000-04:00

Over the summer, I happily engaged in a bunch of craft shows. Now that the summer is over and I've had a few shows checked off my to-do list; it's time to reflect. It's interesting how different I felt before doing my first show and now having done quite a few. I was nervous but excited. Now that the summer has gone by, I feel more confident with my craft and it's been awesome meeting customers and noticing what they tend to gravitate towards.

Craft shows has taken its toll on me though. It's not easy waking up at the break of dawn on a Sunday morning, load up the car and trek it over to Brooklyn. I'm so lucky to have a supportive husband who doesn't complain (too much) and is willing not just to drive me over and pick me up but hang out and help set up and close down at the end of the day.

I also realized that it's not so easy attending craft shows, selling my goods online, work a full time job and be a "good" wife. I've been so busy multi-tasking that I don't have time to sit down and actually enjoy it. That's not good. Most importantly, I haven't been able to devote time to crafting creatively. Surprised huh? I've gotten to a point in my craft where I can repeat some of the designs and still keep it fresh and fun; but I yearn for those days where I spent hours upon hours surfing the net or walking around the city looking for inspiration.

Hence, I've decided that I need "focus" back in my life. I will commit to less craft shows, but spend more time at home to craft creatively and hope for my online orders. Christmas is just around the corner and will be my 2nd as a married couple. I look forward to all the fun festivities and eating of course!

No worries though, I'm still going to participate when I can. My next show will be a new one for me; at the Brooklyn Indie Market (BIM) on Sat., November 15th. I'll be sharing a space with Michelle from dirtylovesclean.etsy.com. So excited about this! And I'll probably make an appearance at the Brooklyn Flea (my mainstay) in December.

Promos Needed!

2008-10-23T19:09:00.000-04:00

Promotional Opportunity: Hip NYC Holiday Craft Fair Now Accepting Samples and Promos
The Holiday Handmade Cavalcade is a one-day shopping event showcasing three floors full of handcrafted goods. It will take place in New York City at the Knitting Factory, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday December 6, 2008.

The event is being organized by The {NewNew}York Street Team (http:// thenewnewny.com). The group is partnering with many sponsors including Etsy & L Magazine (www.thelmagazine.com), and a large crowd is expected.

Anyone who RSVPs for the event online will be eligible to receive 1 of 200 complimentary, limited-edition goody bags which will be packed with Etsy Goods from across the US. The group is now accepting donations for the goody bags. This will be a great way to promote your business to thousands of NYC consumers & gain exposure around the holiday season.
Types of donations accepted include samples/smaller versions of your product (soap, earrings, prints, etc), promos (pins, buttons, magnets, etc), and coupons/gift certificates. Business cards, postcards, fliers, or other such items will not be included unless they are attached to a sample/promo/coupon. Please send samples & promos in lots of at least 10-15 items(200 item max).

Contact handmadecavalcade @ gmail.com with the subject line *promos* for the address of where to send and with any questions you may have. *Donations must be received by November 21, 2008.*

Getting ready for Christmas...

2008-10-19T11:56:00.000-04:00

I have a stack of Holiday themed paper that's been waiting for me to use along with some vintage-y Holiday stamps. These sets are currently available in my shop in sets of four. Happy Holiday Shopping!

I'm also working on Holiday gift tags, to be added to my shop in the next week or so.

Love Every Moment

2008-10-17T22:44:00.000-04:00

Tonight one of my bestest friends stopped by for some last minute help. One of my closest friend, whom I've thought of as a brother and have known since high school will be getting married tomorrow! Words cannot express how happy and excited I am for him and his new wife to be.

Table Numbers & Menu Cards made for the wedding.
Handmade notecard for the Bride & Groom
I included 3 personalized notecards for themAnd a last photo of the bachelor before the biggest day of his life...

Soap Giveaway!

2008-10-17T11:33:00.000-04:00

I have a weakness for handmade soap. I would love this... you can too - click on photo to the {NewNew} Team's Monday giveway!

Let's Celebrate!

2008-10-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

A quick gift for our friends celebrating their 10 year Anniversary! I decorated a paper bag with some ribbon and pretty paper... along with a stamped image of a wedding cake.

Inside, I included a hand written card and a sweet little scrapbook for her to fill in. I even added a gluestick so that she has everything she needs. She loved it and so did her husband.
10 years seems like a long way to go, but my friends have made it seem very easy. I've never seen a couple more "together" than they have been. I admire their love for each other and makes me look forward to my own 10 year Anniversary!

Chinese for Dinner

2008-10-11T11:33:00.000-04:00

I've been trying to cook more lately. I've been scouring the internet looking for healthy and easy to make recipes. Last night, I made a healthier and lighter version of Sweet & Sour Chicken thanks to Jaden at Steamy Kitchen. The meal came out quite well and both my picky husband and sister loved it! My photos are not nearly as crisp and perfect as Jaden's but these will have to do for now.

We had to stop by the Chinese market before dinner to pick up more Jasmine rice (how can an Asian household be without rice?) While we were shopping, my sister picked up a container of Vegetarian Duck. She said it's a must try, and indeed she was correct. It was delicious! I also cooked up a side of Chinese Broccoli to round off our meal. Jasmine rice flavored with chicken stock (that's how my husband likes it) finished off our Chinese meal.
A close up of my Sweet & Sour Chicken Dish. This was so easy to make and so yummy too! I don't make Chinese food often. I find cooking Italian much easier; but I think this may the beginning of something good here...

Is this really paper?

2008-10-06T13:00:00.000-04:00

I love paper, specifically scrapbook paper. It's come such a long way over the years. My all time favorite brand of paper is Basic Grey. I am constantly inspired by their mix of colors, texture and of course, the rustic-ness!

I'm in love with their latest Ambrosia line. Who wouldn't with these clever names?

Marmalade

Smoke

Entice

Clementine

Mandarin

These colors are perfect for a Fall Wedding album or Back to School project.

A Sneak Peek

2008-10-03T23:36:00.000-04:00

Over the last several months I've been working with a bride-to-be for her rustic styled Fall wedding; which falls right in line with my style especially since my wedding was very similar. As you can imagine I was elated when she allowed me the honor to take on such an important task. I've been working on the wedding programs, thank you cards, table numbers, signage and I am thrilled to say that I've finally entered the last phase of the project; the placecards!

I normally have a rule not to post any custom work until well after the date of the event has passed, but I am too excited about this baby that I just can't resist to give you one sneak peek of one of the signages I made.

I've had awfully good luck with many of the brides I've dealt with thus far and Jennifer has been nothing but a pleasure to work with. Not only is she responsive and understanding with the numerous emails I sent her; but most importantly, she is appreciative of what I do and just as excited as I am about handmade!

This is what I live for. Now if only I can do this full time...

Full details will be posted after the wedding. Stay tuned!

A Bit of Glam..

2008-10-02T20:44:00.000-04:00

Right before I left for my Anniversary trip to Costa Rica, one of my good friends called me for a favor. She needed 20 bridal invites and she needed it quick. She found an image of the invites she wanted and would have ordered through them but they did not have the colors she wanted. In less than two weeks, we emailed each other back and forth and met up at Paper Presentation to choose the perfect colors and ribbons.

After a few hours, we finally made our selections and I hurried on home to make them. When I accepted this challenge, I thought it would be a piece of cake. I spent more hours than I thought I would just creating a mock up. I overestimated how much time I'd need to trace, cut, and then erase the pencil parks on these little gems. Not only that, I was quite busy at work, stressed out, and also had a full on bridal custom order in the works. To make matters worse, I didn't buy enough materials, made mistakes and had to return to the store twice! I knew I was overworked! I knew I took on more than I could handle. I felt so bad though. I felt that I didn't give this project 110% of my time and efforts as I normally would with every other project I've taken up. Luckily, she was and still is a great friend and very understanding; but I've learned my lesson. It's wise to slow down, take my time and not rush! I also need to learn not to say "Yes" to everything that comes my way.

Another true labour of love. ... I think it turned out well despite the fact that these glamorous shoes are totally not my style; but it's more fun that way.

NewNew's Monday Blog Giveaway!

2008-09-29T20:29:00.000-04:00

Monday's are usually a drag, won't you agree? To life up your spirits a bit, every Monday, the NewNew Team will be giving away one awesome handmade item. Check out what's offered today!

Hoot Hoot...

2008-09-25T12:41:00.001-04:00

I've been super busy and have neglected my blog. I returned from Costa Rica with high spirits only to be greeted with just as much work as I had before leaving! Yikes!

The good news though is that my creative streak is back.

Introducing my new love, Owls!

Happy Fall!

Love Paris

2008-08-29T19:56:00.000-04:00

I have very fond memories of Paris because my DH proposed to me along the Seine River by Notre Dame. From proposal, engagement, wedding planning and finally married to our honeymoon... our first year of marriage is nearly complete... but not without another adventure. Tomorrow we'll be travelling to Costa Rica to celebrate our 1st Year Anniversary.

Handmade Calvalcade - 9/13th

2008-08-23T11:37:00.000-04:00

My lovely NewNew team members are venturing out of the city and going to Beacon, NY. Read more about it here!

Supply Sale at the Brooklyn Flea - Sunday!

2008-08-22T21:33:00.001-04:00

My fellow handmade artisans from the NewNew Team are cleaning out our closets and selling our craft supplies at a super awesome discount on Sunday at the Brooklyn Flea. Take advantage and make sure you make the trip. It'll be totally worth it!

Love Every Moment

2008-08-10T22:26:00.000-04:00

The item that my customers love most are my scrapbook tins. By now, I've sold quite a few; but sadly, once it's been sold, I never get to see what's done to it. Today was different though. I was at the Brooklyn Flea today, and a friend bumped into my table without knowing I'd be there. She checked out my stuff and it so happened that she needed a gift and my scrapbook tin happily made its way into her hands. I was delighted that she loved it. I didn't expect to hear back about it but being just as crafty, she took it home and within hours, she gave my scrapbook tin life. I won't share her tin here for privacy purposes, but it truly made my day; so thanks S. You rock!

I don't think I've ever blogged about my wedding scrapbook tin - the wedding album I made to use as a sample to show my customers what my tins are all about; so here it is filled with photos of one of the happiest days in my life.

Day Trip to Governor's Island

2008-08-04T21:42:00.000-04:00

More photos on flickr: Governor's Island Set

Governor's Island is now open! Mike told me about this several weeks ago and we've been wanting to check it out. It was pretty neat to take the free 5 minute ferry ride over. We went on Saturday afternoon, after a lovely but pricey brunch at Sarabeth's to celebrate a friends birthday. Despite the downpour, we decided to take our chances and headed on over. I didn't really know what to expect but it turned out much better than I thought. We had so much fun, yet we were still in the city. Governor's Island is still a work in progress but they plan on implementing many eco-friendly solutions such as, free Bike Rental*on Fridays! Unfortunately, we were there on a Saturday so we paid, but it was totally worth it.

I'm not a history buff, but there's something about visiting historical places that moves me. I may not know anything about where I am or what I'm looking at; but being here and seeing for myself what's existed for decades before I was even born is quite amazing.

*Bike Rentals are only free for the first half an hour as advertised on the website.

Christmas in July Sale

2008-07-26T19:06:00.000-04:00

There's a lot of good things to come from the summer months. Outdoor brunches, iced Soy Lattes, mini weekend getaways and of course tons of grilling. Unfortunately, summers in New York City do not fare too well for me. It's humid, muggy & in the past month quite rainy! I am looking forward to the Winter - dreaming of hot cocoa, thick snuggly sweaters & a fresh blanket of snow.

Check out my etsy shop for my current promotion, half off all Christmas cards. Offer ends August 29th.

Oh and I'll be continuing my presence at the Brooklyn Flea tomorrow. Hope to see you there!

Wedding Season

2008-07-17T23:41:00.000-04:00

For the next wedding you'll be attending, don't forget to drop in and select from my elegant chic collection of handmade cards - perfect for some wonderful wishes and blessings for the newlyweds!

Sunday Dinner

2008-07-13T21:54:00.000-04:00

My wonderful pots have been de-virginized. (if that is a proper word) Thank you for the suggestions; I finally decided on Pot Roast; perfect for a Sunday night dinner.

10 minutes of prep work; 3.5 hours of braising on slow heat and a bit of praying..and the outcome?

Absolutely fantastic! As Tyler Florence's recipe suggested, I went back to the stove every 1/2 hour to baste. I was really hoping that this would be good, and it definitely surpassed my expectations! Most of the main ingredients were bought at Whole Foods. It's more expensive, but we feel it's important to eat organic so we try to do it as often as we can. I also threw in some potatoes to round out the dish & I used rosemary that I've been growing from an herb pot I keep at the back.

This is what Mike came home to after a session of biking with Stan. Stan decided to stop for dinner too and this pot yielded generous portions so there was more than enough to pass around.

Next Sunday, we're having a few boys over and I think I'll be making another pot recipe. Hmm, what to make?

You know you're old when...

2008-07-09T23:06:00.000-04:00

...You get excited over getting kitchen stuff for your birthday! For my birthday, Mike got me Le Creuset pots!! For those who know what it is, I'm sure you'd be just as excited as I am... Oh look at the possibilities of what I could make with these babies. Any suggestions or recommendations? I'm a Le Creuset virgin, lol!

Mike took me out to Momofuku Bar for dinner and it was interesting, in a good way. As a surprise, Mike also invited a couple of close friends that were into Asian Fusion and I was quite thrilled to have companions to share the food. I'm not a food critic so I won't go into too much details, but I'm not shy when it comes to food, so we ordered a whole bunch of side dishes to try. Some of it included their special for the night; pig tails, fatty pork buns, fluke and veal sweetbreads. Of course, we also got ramen. I wasn't a big fan of the broth base for the pork ramen, but the ramen definitely had a good chewy bite to it. It's slightly different from the traditional ramen I'm used to but good in it's own way.

Though I was beyond stuffed, Mike also planned to take me to the newly opened Chocolate bar in the Village and of course, I obliged. I got an iced mocha & indulged in a piece of salty dark chocolate caramel. The caramel was not chewy at all and surprisingly soft. I didn't taste the salt too much though. I also bought a Dark Chocolate - Strawberry Jam graffiti bar for later.

Finally at home finishing up the night with my best friend, Sam... Life doesn't get any better than this (okay it does) but so far I feel great to be a year older.

Table Inspirations

2008-07-03T10:38:00.001-04:00

There's something about eating outdoors that feels so wonderful; especially when eating at a table dressed up with a few simple yet elegant details. I love this photo below. It was one of several reception tables at what looked like one fabulous wedding. The rustic glass containers, paired with a small bunch of lavender buds and of course, the piece that puts it all together; the damask table runner really makes this setting so perfect. It's oh so chic and so inviting. This decor can easily be transferred to my own backyard, me thinks.

Source: thewhiteheads

Journal & Scrapbook your next vacation

2008-06-15T23:40:00.000-04:00

Whenever I travel, I take tons of photos. I’m sure you do too. Most people keep the photos in an album, in a box or leave it on the computer for future reference. What ends up happening though is that the photos get lost within the million other photos that are taken.

The next time you go on a trip, do yourself a favor, and get a small notebook or journal. Remember to grab a pen too and take some time to jot down your thoughts during the journey. It doesn’t have to be a huge essay and you don’t need to add in all the historical details (that’s what the internet is for) but what is most important is that you jot down how you felt upon discovering a new destination; be it the grand beauty of the ancient ruins of a Mayan civilization, eating through Tokyo or immersing yourself in the world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef. (I have experienced all three) Although a photo is worth a thousand words; pairing a photo with a small description, especially of your own thoughts is priceless.

Aside from journaling, another great tip is to keep your eyes open for free mementos. Scout out free magazines that include all the different excursions you’ve done. Those with photos are even better. Keep those airline tickets, train tickets, brochures or any ephemera you may obtain along the way. Here’s another tip: At the end of the day, when you get back to your hotel, take those brochures, tickets and receipts and separate what you want to keep and what you don’t need. If you can get a pair of scissors it would make the task much easier. If not, just fold along the parts you want to keep and carefully tear it. Give yourself room for error; you can always clean it up with scissors when you get home. Put everything in an envelope or if it’s small how about storing it in one of my altered tins (decorative and practical) so this way you don’t end up going home with a pound of garbage and nothing will get lost.

I wish I could tell you that I have journaled and scrapbooked every vacation I’ve been on. Sadly, I have not. However, I do have one that I can share with you. Here are a few layouts of my trip to Australia.

On the bottom left, I created a "post card" and added a real Aussie stamp.

Magazine clippings and a business card from an Italian restaurant that we dined in.

Airline tickets.
And last, a bit of journaling to make it truly ours.

My tins are going to Chicago!

2008-06-14T22:04:00.001-04:00

You may recall that last month I sold at Artists & Fleas. Well, the highlight of the day was meeting co-owner of Dilly Lily who loved my scrapbook tins. My tins will be featured in her shop. Here's a sample of the tins that will be shipped to Chicago. I am so excited to be in a brick & mortar! I'd love to visit the store and see it in person. My tins really mesh well with what I've seen on the website. They do a lot of wedding planning; right up my alley! Can you tell I'm super happy about this opportunity?

Wai Sze Designs in Action

2008-06-11T16:20:00.001-04:00

I've been busy selling my wares and it's been fun and... hot. Here are my next two appearances.

{Sunday, June 15} Seventh Heaven Craft Fair, down Seventh Avenue in Park Slope. I will be in the Craft section between 11th and 13th streets

{Sunday, June 29th} The Brooklyn Flea, at 176 Lafayette Ave in Fort Greene Brooklyn from 10 am until 5pm. I share a Booth with the {NewNew} Etsy Street Team.

Hope to see you there!

Father's Day

2008-05-30T08:26:00.000-04:00

Father's Day is June 15th. Don't forget to get your Father Day gifts!

His & Her - Hobbies

2008-05-23T12:29:00.000-04:00

We all know what I do for my hobby. Now, husband has a hobby too! He recently purchased a spankin' new mountain bike. I think it's so cute how in love he is with his new sport. I just hope that this isn't another one of his toys that he plays with for a while and then forgets in a few weeks. We can only hope!

Do you ever notice the many different types of clubs you end up joining without actually joining? Owning a dog automatically put us in the dog club. People find it so easy to approach us with Sam and we find it much easier to start a conversation with other dog owners. Upon meeting so many different crafters lately, I feel like I entered the craft/business oriented club. Of course, now that we're married, we're also in the Marriage club. Mike already feels like he's in the bike club and is already planning his next adventure with his biking buddies. It's really interesting how easily we can fit in based on our interests and status.

So my thought for the day: if you want to make new friends; find a new hobby, change your status, adopt a dog and you're automatically in.

I'm always trying to sneak in a photo with Sam in it. Hehe.

Snapshots with Sam

2008-05-23T11:59:00.000-04:00

When taking photos with Sam, well any dog for that matter, don't be surprised to take a ton of snapshots just to get a few good ones.
I think this one below is my favorite.
An eventful weekend ahead, have a good one!

Recap: Artists & Fleas

2008-05-17T22:15:00.000-04:00

I teamed up with Amanda from MamaRobot today. It was gorgeous and sunny except for the strong gust of winds and thus knocking our tent over. We started outdoors, but after a few hours the wind forced us inside.

So, this is my second time selling and I already feel like I have a 2nd job. It's quite exhausting to say the least, but I certainly learned a great deal today and I met a few great people too. I feel really good about being a part of the craft market environment. I really like the one on one contact you get with your customers. It's nice to know what works and what doesn't.
Here is Amanda with her lovely onesies. It was a hot item for pregnant ladies and friends of. My favorite is the green tee featuring her own design, robots!
This is a display of our setup before the wind knocked our tent over. We had a promotional table of freebies featuring Etsy.com & {NewNew} Etsy Street Team. People just love free stuff!
A view from the inside at Artists & Fleas

May 17th: Artists & Fleas

2008-05-14T10:14:00.000-04:00

Just got a spot at Artists & Fleas. Looks like I'll be spending my Saturday in Williamsburg. Come visit me if you feel like shopping.

Photo from: Wallyg

Photo from: Etsy Labs

Happy Engage-versary

2008-05-13T14:52:00.000-04:00

A brief background: My husband Mike & I are college sweethearts. We met through one of my best friends, whom at the time was trying to find me a boyfriend. She didn't however, push Mike towards me because he didn't seem to be my type. I think she was right, he wasn't my type, but lo and behold, he was the One I was going to marry 9 years later.

The proposal happened in the beautiful city of Paris on May 13th. It was right after a horrible dinner at a tourist oriented French bistro. Mike suggested we take a stroll to Notre Dame. We spent some time inside and then Mike lured me towards the garden. Sadly for him, the "gated" garden was closed for the evening! He seemed very disappointed and at the time I didn't understand why.(We came here on the first day of arrival.) We proceeded to loiter in front of the Notre Dame for a good 15 minutes. At this time, I started to wonder if something fishy was going on.After 7.5 years of being with him, I knew this day would come, but I really didn't expect it to happen in Paris (then again, why not Paris?) so I was a bit delusional trying to figure out if he really was planning on proposing or was I really just imagining things. It took Mike another 15 minutes to finally find a spot on a bridge behind the Notre Dame. Unfortunately, by the time he actually proposed, I was in a bit of a daze. (The dude made me wait ½ an hour!) He did go down on one knee, but I made him get up right away (I get embarrassed easily.) The last thing I saw was my rock, I eventually said "yes" and that was that. It was truly perfect.In retrospect, he almost had to propose at the Eurostar rail station 2 days prior(en route from London to Paris) because he hid my ring in his back pack. The security guard thoroughly searched his bags and almost pulled out the ring (stored in a PSP plastic holder) while I was there standing next to him. So.. although I had to wait ½ hour, I'm glad it didn't happen at a rail station!

Oh how I wish I could be in Paris right now.

Brooklyn Flea May 11th

2008-05-11T21:22:00.000-04:00

I woke up at 6:45am this morning with one thought in my mind, "What the heck did I sign up for today?" It was so early and I had a moment weakness to just return to my peaceful slumber. Eventually, I made it out the door and to Brooklyn. It started off really warm but as the day progressed it got pretty chilly and windy. All in all, it was a great experience. I made a few great sales and met some interested buyers which is always a plus in my book. It was great being with a team of other vendors. I never felt alone! Thank you: Kimmchi, DewOnaPetal, KarensMonsters and Fofolle for selling beside me and making sure I was all smiles!

I'm so glad I finally did this and look forward to more in the summer. My next show will be Sunday, May 25th. Until then, I think I'm going to be recuperating.

I used photos from my wedding and honeymoon to showcase my scrapbooks and it was really good that I did that because it caught a good amount of attention. Without it, I think my customers would have had a harder time understanding how to use my scrapbooks.
See my bird below in green? Someone offered to buy it but I declined. I think my bird is going to come with me to every show from now on.
Now I must get ready for my 9 - 5 job tomorrow.

I've got mail!

2008-05-05T20:46:00.001-04:00

Remember my post, The Magic of Snail Mail? In response to my post, I received a surprise letter in the mail today, all the way from Australia!

Nga, you're awesome for not only reading my post, but acting upon it. I have friends who live right nearby who rarely call to catch up, but you reaching out made such a huge difference!

Not only did she write me a heartfelt letter, she even included a surprise of paper stuff.

I am almost tempted to jump on a plane, return to Sydney just to give you a hug for being so sweet!

Sneak Preview

2008-05-04T19:10:00.000-04:00

I stopped in at the Brooklyn Flea today to check it out. There was a great vibe and I'm feeling good about it. I met a few fellow NewNew Members hard at work. Of course, I did not go home emtpy handed. I bought Strawberry Lip Balm & Herbal Soap from Nordea-Soaperie. I started using the lip balm right away and loved it and the soap smells fantastic. I think I really am more of a bar soap kinda gal (as opposed to body wash).

I was also eyeing CharlieandSarah's Wellie's Tote Bag. It's so darn cute!

There was also a lot of great & inexpensive furniture. Mike & I saw a few pieces but one got sold and nothing else really fit in our place.

I made a mock-up of my table last night and I'm very pleased with how it looks. This is a snapshot for your viewing pleasure. What do you think? I'm so psyched!

I could have just bought some paper bags and left it at that, but of course I couldn't. I made 30 so far. I'm not sure if I'll need more...?

In case you forgot...

Sunday, May 11th & Sunday, May 25th

10am--5pm

Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School

Lafayette Ave. @ Vanderbilt Ave. & Clermont Ave.

Fort Greene, Brooklynhttp://brooklynflea.com

In the midst of chaos..

2008-05-01T19:35:00.000-04:00

I received a rush order request from a very good friend and supporter of my work; so of course I had to oblige. These are card invitations. She asked me to make the cards and she'll handle the invite insert. The soiree is acqua & red themed. With all the work I've been doing, I need a break, so unfortunately, I won't be attending her party. Nevertheless, I wish her party a great success!

Promise to post up a sneak peak.. soon. In the meantime, I've been busy like a bee!

Brooklyn Flea

2008-04-24T21:37:00.000-04:00

One of my goals is coming true this summer. I'll be selling my wares at the Brooklyn Flea for the very first time. I'm nervous yet excited. I've been busy cranking out as much goods to sell as I can, while researching and preparing; along with all the administrative stuff.

If you're in the NYC area, please stop by and say hello!

Sunday, May 11th
Sunday, May 25th
10am - 5pm. (Rain or Shine)

Lafayette Ave. @ Vanderbilt Ave. & Clermont Ave.

Here's a sneak peak of my table banner. I'll try to post up some of the stuff I'll be selling next.

NY Daily News

2008-04-22T23:20:00.001-04:00

My moment of fame..

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/weddings/2008/04/20/2008-04-20_trash_the_wedding_dress_preserve_the_mem.html

Aruba: One Happy Island

2008-04-19T14:36:00.001-04:00

I went to Aruba this month with my one and only sister. Today is her 25th birthday so I thought it'd only be fitting to write a post about our first trip together. We spent 4 days in lovely Aruba; known for it's Divi Trees, never-ending white sandy beaches and the people are geniunely nice. It's quite fitting that Aruba is otherwise known as "One Happy Island."

On to the photos:

It's been confirmed, we are sisters yet we don't look alike.

Aruba is seriously windy nonstop. When we first got there, it wasn't so bad. See my sister's expression?
And the after..
Anyway, moving on.. We stayed at the Westin.
Nice pools but we were drawn to the beach. As my gift to my sister, I treated her to the spa. No photos but we had our massages outside in a cabana. Massage was only okay by my standards, but the ambiance made up for it.

At sunset..

We didn't hang around the beach the whole time we were there. We did some sightseeing on a Jeep Tour.

Visited the Ostrich Farm

I sat on one..
Held an unfertilized Ostrich egg..
We also stopped by the Butterfly Museum.
Do you ever see those butterfly displays that are quite expensive? Well, you should only buy the displays that have butteflies that are partially broken and not exactly perfect; because the perfect ones are the butterflies that were killed for the sake of profit! I'm not sure if this is entirely true but I've always been wary about buying these type of displays even though it is very pretty.

I ate a ton of fish and seafood but my best meal was at a small, casual spot called, Jamaican Me Krazy. The fresh made Fruit Punch & Jerk Chicken was amazing and afforable too! My sister enjoyed her Jerk Pork very much as well.

Breakast on the boardwalk.

Almost every meal we had was eaten outdoors.

Aruban beer: Balashi
Oh, and we witnessed 3 weddings during our stay. I've read about destination weddings but to see it in person really makes me think how great it is. I'm already convincing my sister to have a destination wedding when it's her turn to get married.

Happy 25th Sis... see you tonight!

Subject: Wai Sze Designs rocks!

2008-04-18T10:10:00.000-04:00

Hi there,

I just had to write you a quick note (albeit not snail mail) and let you know how much I love your style of handmade goods! They are truly inspirational for me and I love seeing what you come up with. Hope you are having a lovely day :)

-Laura
-------------------------
This absolutely made my day. Thank you Laura! I heart you <3

The Magic of Snail Mail

2008-04-12T10:49:00.000-04:00

When I was younger, say 8 or so, I had a penpal that was arranged for me from my elementary school. We exchanged letters every other month. During that same time, a good friend of mine who lived in my building moved to California. It was the saddest day of my life in my childhood, but we promised to keep in touch through letters. Indeed, we did. Then in Junior High School, my best friend and I also had the habit of sending each other letters despite the fact that we only lived 6-8 blocks away from each other.

20 years ago, I didn't have a computer at home so mailing letters were the best way to go. I always looked forward to mailing out my letters because I knew that soon enough, I would get one back, sometimes covered with stickers on the envelopes too. I devoured each letter, sometimes reading it twice and then putting it away in a safe box so that no one else would find it.Nowadays, I no longer mail out letters. Instead we use e-mail. It's just so much quicker and my hands tend to cramp when I write too long. I still look forward to the e-mails. The content is still intriquing to read but the excitement has slowly dissipated with the end of the snail mail era.

Perhaps that's why I make handmade greeting cards. I hope that people remember how great it feels to receive a handwritten note. It doesn't have to happen every month, but if you can manage to send one on birthdays or on occasion, I'm certain it will bring a bit of happiness to the receiver.

Last month, one of my friends turned 28. I didn't text him or e-mail him. Instead, I wrote him a card and mailed it. He called me to tell me he received it and how he appreciated it. It was a simple gesture, but I think I did my job. Snail mail may be old-school but the magic of the handwritten can be powerful. Try it. Next time it's your loved one's birthday, avoid the emails and texts; and send it snail mail.

Felt + Brooch

2008-04-03T12:23:00.000-04:00

I love brooches; it's the perfect accent to any outfit. It adds the right amount of color and makes it fun. Life should be fun right? Make it with felt & I'm completely swooned.

Smeeta

PrettyinPosies

PaperFish

Wedding Scrapbook

2008-04-01T21:09:00.001-04:00

A few posts ago, I mentioned a new custom project. I finished the book a few weeks ago but never posted it, so here are a few samples. I had so much fun making this from beginning to end. I hope to make another custom scrapbook soon!

The Bridal Shower Layout

The Proposal

The Engagement Party

Getting Ready

The details
The bride will not be receiving this for another few months. Oh how I wish I could be there in person to see her reaction.

Phrase of the Day

2008-03-27T11:45:00.000-04:00

"Forget the past. The future is now. My plan - just roll with it."

Do you have goals? I certainly do. In fact, I have several at the moment.

1. Be healthy
Plan: Weight Watchers

I've never been on a diet. I don't believe in diets because I love eating too much and to be constrained not to eat something.. well forget it, just kill me now. But I realize that whatever I've been doing has not been working and I need a change. This is my change. It's been 3 weeks and I've lost 4 pounds. I haven't really gone all fat free because I don't think that's the way to live either, but I have certainly decreased my portions significantly and have chosen to eat more low calorie foods. How do I feel? Eh. I find it hard not always feeling full but only satisfied, but then again it feels good not to have the 'itis.

2. Sell my stuff in person
Plan: Get involved.

If you don't know me, you would probably never guess that I'm very introverted and typically a shy gal. I don't jump up and down for joy when I get party invitations. I'm not a fan of hanging out at the bar to shoot the breeze. I'm just not very socially active. My perfect day is to wake up bright and early, have a nutritious breakfast that hopefully includes coffee/tea, fresh pancakes/french toast & eggs; followed by a few hours of crafting; an hour of excercise; time in front of the tube or engrossed in a book and a hearty dinner. By myself. You get the point. I digress. The reason I say you would never know that I have such a personality is because I'm a very different person once I get out of my comfort zone that is, my home. Once I'm out there, I can be very socialable and engaging. Weird right? Call it the Jekyll/Hyde Complex. So anyway, this year, I want to join one craft show at the least. I want to see how it's like to sell in person and to meet the buyers who support us.

3. Be a good wife
Plan: Don't get upset over the nitty gritty & Do things myself.

It doesn't matter how many years you've been in a relationship with someone. There are always new things to learn about your significant other that you never noticed before. Time changes and so do people. I know that we have a very solid marriage. Life is pretty good but on occasion we still argue about stupid things. And I know it's normal. But, I admit, sometimes it's my fault and not always necessary.

I am also very dependent on my husband. When I'm home, I'm pretty helpless. I make him do everything. Case in point. I've never ever thrown out the trash. The first time he was away, the trash got full and I waited for my sister to come over and asked her to throw it out. The second weekend he went away, I promised myself that I would finally throw out the trash! And I did it. He came home & noticed that the bag was not as nicely fitted into the garbage can as it normally should be and asked me about it. My response, "at least I threw out the trash!"

What are your goals and what's the plan?

Let the birds sing!

2008-03-21T11:21:00.001-04:00

I think it all started with my wedding, no.. probably not maybe it was on a trip to Virginia last summer.. an antiquing trip to be exact - that I fell in love with birds. I got the birds from Michaels and the little plate from Handgrown Pottery. I don't know what it is but birds make me happy. I'm trying to start a collection. This is my makeup cabinet which sits in my living room on the way to the front door. I just recently bought it at Home Goods and love it where it is. I'm a get up in the morning and get going type of girl, so the less hassle the better. One day, I'll have a whole room devoted to my clothes and accessories, but until then, this little spot in my living room will do. Oh and if you're wondering what's inside the Tea bin - it's where I store all of my Essie Nail Polish.

Handmade Wedding Series on Etsy!

2008-03-12T10:33:00.000-04:00

Have you heard about Etsy? When I first opened up shop on Etsy, no one really knew about it or what it was about. Now, you can hear about Etsy not only on Indie magazines but even on Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray. How awesome is that? Most people shop at Etsy for gifts, for themselves and mostly for fun; but did you know that you can even shop for all your wedding stuff on Etsy as well?

The lastest news on the Storque(Etsy's zine) is its plan to push it's Wedding Category. I think it's terrific news! Not only can you find the most unique and customized ring pillows, wedding rings, invitations, jewelry, bridal party gifts, card box and even wedding dress for your Big Day, it may quite often be more affordable than anything you'll find in the commercial arena. Yes, you can get both quality and affordability all in one marketplace. There are really some great stuff out there. As you all know, I DIYed most of my wedding. In retrospect, my wedding served as a guinea pig for the wedding items that soon emerged after I got married. My top items for weddings include my:

Custom Mini Scrapbooks perfect for Bridesmaids

& Custom Altered Tin Favors

Please do check out the Wedding Gift Guide! There is a plethora of great items out there! Also stay tuned for a whole category in the Storque featuring Wedding DIY including tips for planning your own.

Word of the Day - Busy

2008-03-10T15:51:00.000-04:00

My husband was away this weekend watching baseball with a bunch of his buddies. Although I sorely missed him, I accomplished quite a bit in two days. First off, I dragged my good friend to a Home Show in Brooklyn that showcased 6-7 uber talented Etsy Sellers. Despite the heavy rain and cold weather, we made the trip and are so glad we did. Not only did I get to see the beautiful work in person, I also met a few great sellers too. Perhaps, one day I can be selling some of my work in person too. Hmm, that's a thought.

Oh and to show my support, I bought a shirt. If I had it my way, I would have bought from everyone but a thing called "budget" prevented me from doing so. The lovely Kim from kimmchi.etsy.com designed this.

My friend bought a shirt as well and a gorgeous necklace from joannetracydesigns.etsy.com. Her shop is very lovely and this is by far my favorite.

Anyway, I've been getting quite a bit of custom order inquiries lately. Not only do I have to keep my head on straight as an executive assistant by day, but I'm also multitasking between different custom orders at home now too. It's been challenging but most definitely fun.

Here's a project that I just finished. A client of mine is a photographer. He wanted me to customize a altered tin favor for him to give out to his own clients as his "Thank You." I thought that was very sweet of him and also a great idea too. His requirements: anything that matched Chocolate Brown. I added some sweet candy and tied it with a string and tag. Voila!

Here are the results.

Well it's Monday. Back to the daily grind and one more day until my husband comes home.

A New Focus

2008-02-29T10:31:00.000-05:00

My shop is constantly evolving and I'm continually working on my craft to make it better and fresh while keeping with my rustic chic style. So, if you have been keeping up with my shop, you'll notice a whole new look coming your way. Here are a few of my new inspirations. Oh, and if you've been following my blog, drop a line, say hello, and as always I'm open to any suggestions or feedback!

Custom Wedding Scrapbook

2008-02-27T13:47:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to announce that I have a new custom order. A client has asked that I make her bestfriend a wedding scrapbook from engagement to honeymoon. It will be premade and she'll add in the photos later. I'm pysched. It's been a while since I've taken on such a huge project like this but I really love these custom orders. The theme of the scrapbook is going to be pink and lots of it. Here are some of the supplies that I will be using.

Lace Medallion 12x12 K & Co paper

Pink Paisley 12x12 K & Co paper

Belle Pink Acanthus 12x12 Amy Butler PaperPink Metallic Chipboards Heidi Swapp
Lovespell Cardstock stickers Doodlebug

I can't wait until my supplies come in so I can get started!

Sam loves Snow

2008-02-23T06:48:00.000-05:00

It snowed in NYC yesterday. The snow is so pretty when it falls, that is until it's ruined by cars and people. Sam loves romping in the snow. Her full thick fur keeps her very warm. If she had a choice, she'd even sleep in it.

Awe a smidgen of snow fell on her nose, too cute. She's not sure how to react to this. Snow on ground, okay, snow on nose, not so much.

I seriously love my dog. I feel so grateful everyday to have her in my life. She follows me around everywhere. She is loyal and she is so darn cute. Oh, I love my husband too of course, but seriously I am in love with dog!

If you're a dog owner, you know how difficult it is to capture a photo with your pet. See my examples. None came out too well, Sam wasn't in the mood to pose with me yesterday. Hrmph!

Custom Order - My wedding tins

2008-02-18T21:25:00.000-05:00

A client of mine purchased the rest of my wedding favors (yep, the tins I used for my own wedding.) I almost didn't want to part with my favors. Even though my tins were already made, I still needed to work on it. It wasn't all in the best condition because when I made my tins for my wedding, it was the first time I made it. I didn't have the formula set in stone yet so there were a few rounds of trial and error. Now that I have it pretty much down, I wanted to make sure it was perfect for my client, so I actually had to re-do most of the tins. Some weren't cut right the first time around; it wasn't glued on well enough or there wasn't enough paint on certain areas. It was another labor intensive project but luckily there were only 30 to tackle this time. I am very happy with how it turned out. I really love making these favors. It's so much fun especially when I know what I'm doing now, lol. The bad news though, is that I'm running low of altoid tins. I must get more soon because I have a good feeling that I'll have another order soon.

NYC

2008-02-18T21:20:00.001-05:00

It was a nice long weekend, too bad it's almost over. Boo! We did something unusual today. We went to the Empire State Building. One of our best friend was in town and he brought a couple of Georgia folks with him. They wanted to do something touristy so off to the Empire we went. It seems so normal to do tourist stuff when travelling, but not when you're in your own city. It was nice though. I'm so used to the hustle and bustle of the people and the cars, that it's hard to believe how quiet and peaceful it can be when you are viewing the city from a distance.

My husband got a really good shot of our college, Baruch. It's the silver ship like building smack in the middle of the photo.

PS. Happy VDay everyone. It may be a commercial holiday, but who cares? Live and Love everyday.

I heart thee..

2008-02-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

It's super duper cold in NYC today. I made a delicious dinner of pork chops, stuffing & snowpeas. Sorry no photo of the good meal. After, I indulged in a warm cup of English Breakfast tea & 2 Chocolate Truffles. Instead of crafting tonight, I decided to take a break, and "window" shop. Enjoy!

Grapevine Earrings

These earrings would be the perfect accessory for an exotic destination like Marrakech.

Bits and Pieces Fabric Scrap Collection

I don't sew but this photo gives me so much inspiration. Maybe I can use incorporate it into my greeting cards somehow? Suggestions, ideas, anyone?

Simple Love Mixed Media

I can't even begin to describe why I love this so much. I heart the mix of colors, layers and shapes but most importantly, the word, Love just makes it perfect.

I Love you Paper Wreath

This is amazing! An intricate design of paper cones, how brilliant!? This would be perfect on my bare walls!

Love Day is near, are you ready?

2008-02-06T22:35:00.000-05:00

Some believe in Valentine's Day and others destest it for being another Hallmark marketing ploy. Either way, I embrace love everyday and especially on Valentine's Day. Lately I've been inspired by you guessed it, love.

This is my favorite so far; a miniscrapbook & journal altered tin. Add photos and a message!

A few cards:

Superbowl

2008-02-04T15:37:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I think it's a miracle that Mike and I fell in love and sustained such a wonderful relationship. I say this because we have practically nothing in common. We don't eat the same things. We don't watch the same television shows nor do we like the same movies (in most cases) He loves computers, video games & sports. I am the complete opposite. Except for our love of travelling and our dog, we do not share in the same interests on a day to day basis. I get aggravated with computers/gadgets, love the idea of playing video games but I'm a horrible player & sports - well I just don't get it. I once went to a Mets game with Mike on a scorching hot July day. I was so antsy in my seat that I took several trips to the concession stand just so I'd have something to keep myself occuppied. I ended up spending $50 on junk food!
Over the years I've tried my hardest to like what he likes, but trying is mental, doing is real. So this year, for the very first time, we are having our first football, oops I mean Superbowl party. It's going to be a small party which should be much easier to manage than say having 20 people over yelling and screaming. I'm going to have plenty of Superbowl friendly food around. For the first time, I will sit down among my husband and his buddies and watch the game. I don't mean that I'll just wait for the commercials, but I will sit through it. Now that I've said it, I must do it. Stay tuned and Go Giants!?

---------------------------------------------

As you all know, the Giants won! It was an amazing game coming from a girl who has never watched football before. I sat through most of it. I tried to understand it but too much was happening too fast for me to quite get it. Despite, not knowing all the rules, I actually enjoyed it. I didn't hide in the kitchen, but I sat with my fellow Giants fans and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a couple of diehard fans in the room, my husband included. It got pretty exciting and while I can see why, a part of me wonders; how did they become such loyal fans? It's quite perplexing to me that not only in our living room, but there were thousands, maybe even millions of people out there in the world, all rooting for their favorite team at the same time. I rooted for the Giants because they are from New York and most importantly, I sat among Giant fans, and for a few moments I felt like I was a fan too. Obviously, it made it all the better when they won. I'm sure in a few days I'll forget all about football but I'm looking forward to the next Superbowl.
For our first Superbowl party, we had a few must have's: Pizza Bagels, Chicken/Cheese Quesadillas, Crudite & hummus, Pigs in a blanket, Fresh fruit platter and Black and White cookies. We also had chips with salsa, guacomole and french onion dip as well.

Lime & Mellow Yellow

2008-02-03T12:46:00.001-05:00

I just finished a huge order of 100 altered wedding tin favors for a soon to be bride. I'm thrilled at the result. It also helped that the theme colors are vibrant and spring-y. I'll be shipping these babies out in a day or so, can't wait to see what she thinks in person! She was also a super sweetheart throughout the process. I wish all my clients will be as great to work with as she was.

The inside - It's empty but she will be adding her own mints. Not all the tins are exactly like this. I alternated with the paper used in the side view of the tin.

Side view:

The bottom:

A box filled to the brim with tins:

DIY Wedding Details

2008-01-29T20:39:00.000-05:00

Wedding planning was a two part act. Planning the logistics end of it (picking a venue, finding the perfect dress, hiring a limo, getting the tuxes.. etc) and the other half was all the DIY I did. Here goes in no particular order:

Headband Necklace
Invitation

Bridesmaids Gifts - Handmade gift bag & scrapbooks

Altered Altoid Tin Favors

Thank You Cards

Jar of Wishes Message Stand

Programs

Ring Pillow

Wow, that's a whole lot of DIY. In the end, through all the labor and a few headaches, it was totally worth it. Look at us. Don't we look relieved? The fun has just begun, lol!