Makes Me Wonder

What does it take to look like this at 47 years of age, other than, PERHAPS, a lot of photoshop?

I stress PERHAPS because there is a massive "hoo-hah" about how Demi Moore's image has been heavily touched-up for the cover of December's W magazine. Better yet, how her head has been cut-and-pasted onto the body of a supermodel.

What I want to know is, why is there so much hate going around? So what if she's been photoshopped? I'm sure it's not the first time a cover has been "improvised".

And, honestly, I really don't think that chunk of missing hip on the cover is a result of bad photoshopping, but really a happenstance of the wrong mix of camera angle and standing position.

In any case, it's not like she looks ENTIRELY different from her candid, can't-have-been-tampered-with red carpet shots...

Come on, all these au naturel shots don't lie: this very blessed 47-year-old is obviously Rawking It. Without photoshop.

So what's all this noise about? Sour grapes, methinks.


(via W magazine)

Thing To Remember

(via icanread)

Don't Mock Meat

I am a Sweet and Sour Pork maniac. I go to any Chinese restaurant, and must order Sweet and Sour Pork. I judge a restaurant's credibility and worth, based on its Sweet and Sour Pork.

But, since turning vegetarian again (I was vegetarian for a few years before Maya was born) a couple of months back, I have had to give up all my Sweet and Sour Pork dreams. Yes, I am vegetarian... with a little bit of seafood on the side every now and then. Yes, THAT type of "vegetarian".

Sweet and Sour Mock Pork looking tantalisingly like the real stuff...

So, yesterday I headed to a Chinese vegetarian restaurant to check out their mock meats. I had a craving for Sweet and Sour Pork, and went to settle for the alternative.

I tell you, they look so REAL... the "Beef" and Asparagus in Oyster Sauce, the Honey Glazed Roasted "Pork" Ribs, the Diced "Chicken" with Chilli and Cashew Nuts. I thought "This is SO COOL!"

Until, of course, I bit into the Sweet and Sour "Pork". Two words, man: NAS. TEE. It had a creepily spongey texture, and tasted distinctly of soy, and nothing like pork. Needless to say, I was crushed.

Anyhoo, I'm sticking to my vegetarian guns. It seriously feels good: I'm more energetic, positive and have developed a more "eat to live" attitude towards food, rather than having craving and gorging fits.

Not to say that meat is no good for you. But hey, whatever works right? One thing for sure, I won't be getting my meat-kicks from mock meat. No more mock meat for me. There's always Sweet and Sour Vegetables. :)

(pic via veganfriendly)

New commissioned stuff

This is for a lovely client in the UK who has been supporting my art.

The earrings are a version of something I had done way earlier. It's a stunning colour combo, and dramatically long.

The statement necklace with little earrings set is a customed one-of-a-kind creation she wanted for her mum. I thoroughly enjoyed working on the set, because the combination of stones sort of evolved from a colour scheme and concept she had provided me with. :)

Pink agate, turquoise, vermeil, 14K gold filled ear wire

Agates, jaspers, turquoise, quartz, with non-tarnish brass wire and closure

Jasper and turquoise, with vermeil and 14K gold filled ear wire

Let's Do Laundry

Maya has been trying to fatten up her bank balance towards a waveboard, and finding ways and means about it. So she's been helping around the house, for a nominal fee. Fact is, she's is getting quite good at folding and putting away the clothes.

And yesterday, Ruhi decided to whip out her ironing board and help with the "ironing"...

"Look Maya! Sophie is chewing on Daddy's underwear!!" And instead of salvaging Daddy's underwear, they stand there and laugh their heads off.

Maya, on her way to becoming expert clothes-folder. Just look at those super neat piles!

And why Ruhi needs to wear her swimming cap to iron the clothes, I have no idea.

My Own Outdoors II

I have always had this thing for my own little outdoor space.

Here are some more specifically functional outdoor spaces that I am drooling over. By "specifically functional" I mean barbeque, beer and besties. :)

Mmm... see those two beers right there?

Now THAT'S what I call a BBQ backyard!

*sigh*

(pics via housebeautiful)

No Stopping Now

For the next week or so, I shall be churning out jewelry like nobody's business. Well, technically, it's my business. But you know what I mean.

Isetan, the department store that carries MAYA & RUHI, in KL, is having a special Christmas promo-thingy. And Rachel, my Main (wo)Man in KL, has suggested I supply her with Little Somethings that would be ideal for holiday pressies.

(And she's off to the worktable...)

(pic via gettyimages)

The MAYA & RUHI Holiday09 Collection - Ice Princess

I discovered these gorgeous shell carvings, and I just thought them perfect for a Holiday Collection. They remind me of icicles - dramatic, with a tinge of mystery and oh-so-pretty. Here they are...

Ursula

Sasha

Natalia

Irina

These are just a few of the designs in the collection, and they will be available in KL soon. For exact information, Rachel knows best.

Things These Two Get Up To

Yesterday, Those Two turned my bedroom into a full-fledged bookshop, complete with different sections for different book series. I had no where to go for my power nap, and ended up not having one... :S

Getting Back Into The Groove

Yes, something I must do today in order to get some orders out, some projects completed, and some projects started.

I must admit, I have been procrastinating. Endlessly giving in to temptations just sitting at the computer, watching TV, flipping through my magazines. Somehow, that's all I can muster in between cooking and doing the rounds of ferrying These Two here and there for their various activities.

So I have included this classic dance ditty, to try and kick-start my day. It is, after all, the perfect day for a perfect day. (I hope.)

Makes Me Think

(via icanread)

On my Lust List...

Petal to the Metal - Sasha handbag
MARC by Marc Jacobs

Isn't she lovely? There is a marsh brown that's pretty gorgeous, a russet-orange one that's very cheerful, and a purpley blue one that is quite to-die-for. But I think this classic black one rawks the hell out of the pair of swallows. Too cute. GOT. TO. HAVE...

It's That Time Of The Year

Oh boy. The shops have begun decorating for Christmas, and so should I. So here goes the "Buy 3 Get 1 Free" thing at my Etsy shop. Great for gifts and stocking fillers... check it out! ;)

Gratuitous fabulous jewelry pic

Star Cuff at Ben-Amun

So elegant and edgy at the same time. So Rihanna to Raquel Welch, Katy Perry to Cate Blanchett. Isn't it just super?

All Wii-ed Up

Last night, I discovered the joys of Wii Tennis. And today, I am discovering the pains.

You see, I really get into the game. I take it personal - with the computer. I'm so into it, I am all over the room lungeing/diving for the ball, and whacking it with 'precision'. While waiting for the computer to serve, I am bouncing around, to keep the energy going, 'coz I want to slaughter 'him'. 15 minutes into a game, I am sweating like there's no tomorrow. I should really consider investing in those head and wrist sweatbands a la Bjorn Borg...

... I'm really digging the checkered top and baby-blue shorts too.

So today, I cannot lift my right arm. I can feel the burn in muscles I never knew existed. I can feel a strange pulling and a dull ache in my upper tricep just outside of my armpit as I type this. And I had a really challenging time cooking up fried noodles for lunch, with my left arm.

I need to prime my left arm up. As much as I love to Wii-tennis, I don't want to develop alien-esque unequal sized arms. Tonight I will be playing lefty.
(pic via tennis.com)

New Wedding Commission

I have been immersed in this project for a friend until the past Thursday. I was at the wedding yesterday, and boy did the stuff look gorgeous on the blushing bride.

This "diva" set, the bride wore with a stunning maroon and fuchsia gown with very modern geometric detailing in the ruching down the front.

The "princess" set was for the church ceremony in the morning. She wore a lovely, classic white strapless number paired with a bouquet of peachy-pink eustomas.

Watch this space for the two sets in action! ;)

The day's church ceremony was an inspiring and heartfelt affair, while the night's banquet was upbeat, heartwarming, fun and intimate, all at the same time. It was a lovely, lovely celebration of the couple's love for each other, as well as the love from their friends and family.

Thanks Itmam and Jo! And all the very best for your future together! :)

The Waiting Game

Every Friday, I dedicate my evening and night to Them Two's ballet lessons. We set off from home at around 5.30pm to have dinner and be in time for Ruhi's lesson at 7pm. As soon as Ruhi's lesson finishes at 8pm, Maya's lesson begins. And this usually goes on until around 9.30pm.

Yep, these are my Fridays. A couple of hours of pure, unadulterated Waiting. Of course I try to make them a semi-productive couple of hours. I bring my magazines and/or my trusty jotter book to sketch any ideas that might come floating into my mind, while half-watching the girls do their thang. But most of the time, I would rather be sitting at my worktable crafting up something or the other.

Inadvertently, Ruhi, who has come out of her lesson and joined me in The Waiting Game, will make attempts at culling the boredom.

She is entirely serious about making things look fabulous. Here is a bracelet, and the beginnings of a matching, "super-fabulous" earring...


... that reaches the floor.

Today is One of Those Days...

(via ffffound)

November's Monthly Giveaway Result

This month, Maya enlists the help of Megan and Kezia - school chums she had over for a slumber party.

Kezia writes down the participants' names...

...Megan shakes up the box...

...and Kezia attempts to say 'Hi' while the drum rolls.

Congratulations, Elizabeth! Please email me your mailing address, and your prize will be on its way! :)

Thank you so much everyone for playing! It has been really good fun. Hope to see you around the blog AND at next month's Giveaway!

Holiday Baubles in action

Ruhi had a Diwali party/concert in school a week back, and was very happily involved in a Bollywood dance item.

The teacher had informed me that Ruhi was to be decked out in full Bollywood glory, so I took her to the salon to get "mehndi" (henna) done, and tweaked one of the Holiday Baubles that she chose, to a clip-on for her to wear for the night. She was SO happy!

New stuff on Etsy

I have decided to call these my Holiday Baubles. Perfect for primping yourself up with for that special party this festive season.

I love how they are a sumptuous 6.5cm, with loads of colour and class. So sophisticated yet fun, elegant yet vibrant.

These are exclusive to my Etsy shop, so head there now for a closer look... ;)

Monthly Giveaway

These are from my Tamara de Lempicka Collection. The design concept started out as Evil Eyes, but have since evolved into Wrapped Solitaires.

Cream Swarovski pearls are wrapped with non-tarnish brass wire, and topped with 14K gold-filled earwires. Elegant, classic, with just that little bit of edge. ;)

Just leave a comment at this post if you are interested in receiving these for free! The winner will be announced on November 4th's post, so you have until then to leave your comment... Good luck!