Away & The Winner...

Something urgent and important came up since earlier this week and i have been on such a rollercoaster! we've been away most of the time and i am sorry, it is trully unavoidable.

Anyway, here's the winner of my first ever giveaway!

come on Aidan, pick us a winner!

oops, sorry, a little bit blur..

there we go! there's our winner!

Congratulations Mai! Drop me an email with your full name and address and i'll ship those goodies right away!

(p.s: Hardy is away and therefore, Aidan had to pick a winner on his own. not a problem since he can now count when i mentioned to him "pick just ONE!")

THANK YOU so much to you guys for playing along in this. perhaps i should have another one once i've reached my 100th sale!? and better luck next time! sending you guys lots of best wishes for everything!

Have a wonderful weekend guys.. will post what i did for Hardy in my next post!

Frrreezzzinnngg!

This is our second day waking up with white covered grass and trees, snow covered cars and roofs... it's freeeezzzingggg!! but i love it! christmas markets are all on and we think we might go to a few this year since we missed them last year. we heard and read that the Dusseldorf one's pretty awesome! lucky it's just 45 mins away from here!

We have a lake near our home. and if it gets really REALLY cold, the whole lake will be frozen and there will be people scating on the ice! it's so much fun (and scarry) to watch! will dig up a photo of last year and add it in here later when i have the time! remind me if you must!


This is just gonna be a short one from me. i'm off in a bit for some quality family time with the boys. its sunday!!!

Oh, since i mentioned short, did i mention to you that i went to the kapper (hairdressers) and had it cut really short? yep. short! hardy came home and said "theres a schoolgirl in my house!!". hahaha.. i take that as a compliment!

Enjoy your sunday everybody! have a good week ahead. will be posting more yummy stuff at My Honeypot and more a cooking post here soon!

*Bambinos*

Here's something a little bit more colourful compared to my previous post! i love making baby stuff. they simply make you happy, chirpy, smiley...

You can dress them up with plenty! you can layer them up or put some glitter glue on them to make them shine!

You can find these stickers at My Honeypot. i chose to cut a couple of them. perhaps you can just simply leave them in its original size, like the last picture. the best thing about these stickers is that you can paste them onto your kid's walls or wardrobe. or simply use them to make greeting cards or any of your scrapbook layouts!

A clear example of you dont need much to craft! now.. isnt he a cutie pie?! ;) GrrRrrrRrrr...

Vintage & Black

To be honest, i havent been in the mood to blog lately.. everything's fine... we're all doing good, Hardy's back from Portugal, Aidan's well.. its just one of those days... I've been planning on the basement and busy keeping everything else well balanced - chores, hobbies, bringing up a son, family time etc. if you know what i mean... the basement looks wonderful! all my stuff are still on the floor! it's getting exciting!

I must thank each one of you for leaving me a word or two and the response towards My Honeypot's been wonderful! i will be adding more from time to time so be sure to check them out! 

And thanks to this blog, i've made a few new friends! its always wonderful to get to know new people, their likes, their crafts and their lives, wherever they are! isnt it wonderful to share?!

Anyway, a couple of wooden plaques with vintage laces for my basement. just one of the few things i've made for a spot downstairs where i'll be storing my stuff. i just love the vintage look! i still can make a couple more if anyone's interested... we can hang them at the door, put them against the wall on your shelves, hang them on your frames (like how i did it in the photo)... put them anywhere!

And here's a card i made last night. whipped this one out before i snuggle both Hardy and the duvet to bed. less is more sometimes, dont you think?

And just incase if you're wondering, 'Prettige Kerstdagen' means Merry Christmas in dutch!

Will share some bright coloured cards after this! thanks for hopping by!

~Stars and Snow~

Its getting darker as i type. winter is here, it's 4 and it will get dark by 5. and by 6 or so we can get to see the stars! but no, no snow.. it's not snowing yet! we're still in our 10c and sometimes 13c. still cold!

I've been playing and seeing too many stars and making too many snowflakes lately! still on my christmas stuff. i will only stop probably on christmas eve! not that i'll be celebrating anyway! 

Some felt ornaments i made last week. i love the fact that the bells jingle everytime i carry them here and there! Aidan loves them and cant stop pulling them! i had to say please at least twice for him to let them go!

I am loving the fact that it's almost the end of the year. simply because the sale starts after christmas! but to resist the temptation to shop is another thing! i am not really a shopper, i'm more of a browser, and i love to look for bargains and i love going to markets! but anything's on sale is definitely good for me! but on the other hand, where did 2008 go?! it went by so fast! am i the only one who's feeling it?!

Here's a card i made last night. i thought i might give light blue and red a go. probably the two colours i've work with the least. i've underestimate them both! i should be more adventurous with my choice of colours next time!

Be happy and merry everyone!

The 'Little' News & a Giveaway

Over the years since we moved here, i have been collecting a lot of stuff and so we've decided to convert our basement into my craft haven! Hardy is almost done with the basement (i feel so loved!). we hope to start on the flooring now painting and wiring are all done.

I thought i might share some of what i have with you before i 'sayang' and wont let them go even more!

So, some of you might have noticed it, and some of you might have not. but i've created another blog under the same profile with the stuff that i'm willing to sell and share.

My Honeypot

I will update it once a while to add more yummylicious stuff!

It's wonderful to get to hear people tell you that you've inspired them. i'm overjoyed with such comments and emails. grateful to have made new wonderful people in here, and so i've decided to have my first ever giveaway! a step closer to get to know most or, some of you! Hardy and Aidan will both pick a winner on the 26th of November (a very very special date!). we will let you know the next following day. all you have to do is just write to me a couple of lines telling me about yourself/your crafts with your name (or nickname if you chose to be anonymous) as well as your email. and the lucky winner will get to receive these items.

Receiving is certainly nice but nothing can beat the feeling of giving and sharing!

Good Luck! and as they say it here, Success!

Curry in a Hurry

We've been having simple meals lately. saves me time now that Aidan eats whatever we eat. by simple i mean non malay food! to have such a heavy dish is quite rare for us these days. good, some might say! i am also very selective with what Aidan eats. i try to make his food as interesting and as balanced as possible but he's quite picky with his greens! but mama's smarter! ;)

Anyway.. here's a simple dish i tried last weekend. we normally treat ourselves with prawns once in a while, like a month or once in a couple of months. Aidan is not ready for prawns yet, so this meal was entirely for the two of us - Hardy and i.

My Prawn Curry in a Hurry

400g fresh prawns

1 1/2 cups coconut milk

4 cloves of garlic (whacked and sliced)

4 Kaffir lime leaves (half shreadded and half leave it as a whole)

2-2 1/2 Thai fish sauce

A handful of fresh coriander (chopped)

1/2 tsp fish curry powder

Oil

To blend:

1 lemongrass stalk (bashed and chopped)

4-5 fresh coriander stems (chopped)

2 kaffir lime leaves (shreadded)

3 green chillies (seeded and chopped)

Method:

1. Blend all ingredients into a paste and set aside.

2. Heat wok with oil and add in garlic.

3. When garlic turns slightly brown, add a teaspoon of the fish curry powder. and stir for a tad bit.

5. Pour coconut milk into wok and bring to the boil over a medium heat.

4. Add 1 or 1 1/2 tbsp of green paste and shreadded lime leaves and add fish sauce. stir well.

5. Add prawns and/or other seafood. careful not to overcook them!

6. Just before serving, add fresh coriander and you can adjust the flavour with probably more of the fish sauce or the paste. but not salt!!

Give it a try and let me know!!

Traditional

Christmas is definitely in the air! i can smell it almost everywhere! we were in Stratford last week, while in the UK and they've already put up the lights on the high street. shops are playing christmas songs, decorations all up for sale! it's glorious! my oh my.. it's already end of the year! can you believe it!?

Anyway, just thought i'd share this with you. made a few cards using the traditional colours - dark green and maroon. i love the simplicity of it all. its always wonderful working with felt! the snowflakes makes it all wintery and snowy!

Here's a couple more! dont just just love the white trimmings at the sides? thanks to the best herbadashary supplier of mine, Harry on Sonja who carries beautiful gorgeous stuff every week!

That's it from me for today! i promise i will be posting a cooking post next! i managed to cook this really nice curry dish, and i'm very excited to share the recipe! oh, and the announcemnt! i almost forgot! so stay tuned!

-Sweet Sofea's Hanging Board-

It's amazing what the internet can do! it simply connects people! i managed to 'bump into' an old friend early last month. we go way back to uni days, some good 14 years ago! its been really good catching up with him. he has a beautiful family, with 2 beautiful girls.

He then asked me to make his younger daughter, Sofea a card for her 5th birthday. i decided to make something else - a hanging board to hang in her room. i added two tiny little cutest pegs so that they can change the photo or whatever note Sofea wishes to hang.

From the pictures her daddy showed me, Sofea's such a sweetheart. she's really talented, incredibly sweet and a charm that can melt each heart! i'm gonna look out for her in catalogues and brochures when i'm next in the UK!

I simply love making girly stuff! they are so much fun! thank you Azam! its been great catching up! lots of love to all of you in Reading!