[Wedding Series 2]- Birdcages

For a long time, birdcages never meant much to me. They were simply birdcages. Lately however, I've noticed that they are increasingly being used as decorative items not just in the house but at weddings too. Just last week, I went shopping for birdcages with my bride-to-be girl friend. She was given the option to buy or to rent.

Unlike their plain predecessors, these decorative birdcages now sport more detailed designs. Needless to say, they fit perfectly into an outdoor wedding. But who's to stop you from bringing the garden inside? Give your indoor wedding a garden theme with the use of birdcages and various other elements. The look is cheery, filled with the vitality and promises of Spring!

Play around and be creative with the birdcages-- to hold flowers, cards or as a table centerpiece.

I can almost hear the birds singing. 

[images from top: The Bride's Cafe

middle: Wedding Accents, Save on Crafts

last: Save on Crafts]

Vintage Ladybird

 

Pss... I'll let you in on a secret but promise not to laugh, ya? When I was a kid, I picked up reading real late. I recall going to elementary school and really dreading the sessions where we had to practice reading. The teacher would hold up a huge book. She would read a little, get us to read as a class, and also get students to read aloud individually. Before she called out a name, my heart would be thumping so loudly I was sure the kid next to me could hear it too. During those moments, I was sure the thing I wanted most in the world was not to be called. Obviously, my wish didn't always come true. I would find myself standing up and staring at the alphabets in the book. They were just alphabets strung together, some forming a larger group, some smaller. 

I don't know when exactly, but thankfully, somehow along the way, I learnt to read. I integrated into primary school pretty normal. That must be a huge "whew" for my parents. Haha. Why was I so slow? I'm not sure. It's not that I wasn't exposed to books. My mother read alot to me before I went to school. We went to the library frequently and my parents bought me books as well. I had a pretty decent collection of the Ladybird books. "Puss in Boots", "The Enormous Turnip", "Red Riding Hood" etc. I saw these on the internet recently and they conjured up the memory illustrated above. Did you own the Ladybird books too?

It's a shame we tossed out my collection when we shifted. It's so ironic because I feel like getting my hands on them now. I have a fascination with vintage things. 

By the way, I can write fine, right? 

[images from Flickr Vintage Ladybird Books]

Paper and Plates

I love paper. Don't you? Check out these paper plates designed by Joshua Gajownik. Nope, they're not the flimsy disposable ones you get at the supermarket.

Cute huh? Other than the obvious function of carrying your food, I think it'll be great as a gift after you scribble a message along the lines with permanent marker. The one on the bottom left reminds me of my pre-school writing book where I had to try my best to write within the printed lines. Top left reminds me of upper primary when I wrote my compositions on these writing pads. Top right? I hate all things Mathematics related, inlcuding graphs. Opps, did I just use a strong negative word on my happy blog space? I know you'll forgive me for this.

[image from Joshua Gajownik's Flickr]

Eat Your Tickets

Come enjoy some cookies with me? I've just put the kettle on for tea as well. Isn't the vase of daisies on the table pretty? I got them this morning from the market. They were beaming at me.

*Giggle* Delighted by these cookies, aren't you? Carbo and sugar make me happy but ticket cookies are cute! Guess what? I learnt that in Russia, there are 6 digits on transport tickets. It's believed that if the sum of the first 3 digits is the same as the last 3, you've got in your hands a lucky ticket and you should eat it. Hence, Art. Lebedev Studio designed lucky ticket cookies that I am sure would taste good too. Isn't that witty?

Oh, the plate's almost empty. Don't worry, I'll top it up. By the way, you look adorable with the crumb on your lip!





[images from Art. Lebedev Studio]

Who am I?

To some people, business cards are just business cards. It has to serve its function and help you with your networking. For us creative souls however, our business card says the world about us. It has to be the quintessence of our art. After all, if we aren’t the ones to lead the pack with beautiful business cards, then who? Check out these cool business cards. I feel like getting my hands on them just for collection’s sake.

Hairclips anyone? Useful for a bad hair day until you get to Yuka.

Talk about leaving an impression.

[images from creativebits]

Ivan of creativebits has done a great job on his post on creative business cards showcase and he updates it too! Click here to access his post and see loads more quirky business cards.

Announcements - Wedding & Wedding

I'm breaking 2 pieces of news today. You ready?

News #1: some fellow bloggers were wondering if I am getting married and have suggested that I do a wedding-related series. So, I guess I'll say it here *girly giggles* yes, I am getting married. We are intending for our big day to be in early January 2010.

I bought my first bridal magazine a few months back. It was joyous and exciting to be flipping open the cover of the magazine. I told myself then that that was a moment worth remembering. You know how people always say that pregnant women wear a glow on their faces? I am convinced that engaged women who shop for wedding magazines have that same glow! I browse these magazines in my spare time, sticking post-its everywhere and filling my head with decor ideas for my big day. Last weekend, I started my wedding inspiration journal. I had loads of fun and would like to share some of it with you.

[click on image to enlarge]

News #2: I have also decided to start a weekly wedding-related series, as suggested. These will be posted on Fridays and it will be on my preparation adventures, ideas from other sources etc. I love that in this way, I would be able to share great wedding-related finds with you and the posts would also serve as documentation for myself. How does that sound? I would like to invite you to go on this ride with me. Would you be keen to do so? Do let me know and I certainly welcome your comments or any ideas/suggestions you have related to this series. 

Meantime, have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday. 

Colour my World

Passing by a shop yesterday after dinner, I was captivated by something in the display window. It was a set of collector's colour pencils. I realised that colour pencils still fascinate me as much today as when I was a young girl. This is despite not having used them for a while. 

Even more than their functionality, I love them for how they look. I recall that getting a bigger set of colour pencils was always in my wish list. The BIGGER, the better. My eyes would then be able to trace the never-ending row of differing shades, moving from warm to cool. I appreciated the subtlety in the shades. There can't be just blue. You got to have sky blue, royal blue, navy blue... Hence, I was anal about putting the colour pencils back in their original positions. Having a pencil in the wrong position would wreck my colour gradient observation exercise!

After having these memories invoked, I decided to remind myself once again how beautiful colour pencils are.

This was and still is my dream set.

I had these double-ended ones and the Staedtler Luna set. 

[images from (in order of appearance): Discount Art Supplies, Muji, Ken Bromley Art Supplies, Sam Flax, Net for Nepal, K8 Memories]