Simple Pleasures

Social painting at Artestiq

2011-09-25T16:22:00.000+08:00

A and I decided to have a relaxing Friday night out at Artestiq. It was amazingly peaceful, probably because everyone must have flocked to the F1 weekend. It was my first time painting on a canvas with acrylic. I must say, I loved it!

London, St Paul's Cathedral

2011-08-02T14:46:00.016+08:00

I missed London.

The last time hubby and I visited London was almost 2 years ago.

Many times when we travel to places, we rushed to see as many places as we possibly can to savor the new experiences and tuck them into memories to form part of our DNA. Sometimes these moments are forgotten when we get back to "reality" as we busied ourselves with our responsibilities, work and other activities.

When the dreariness of routine gets to us, it's nice to pull out these memory drawers and re-live those moments. Sometimes when I look at the photos which we took, I could suddenly smell, see and feel the places, as if I'm there once again. When I look at the pictures, I'm reminded of the beauty of the moment. Some of these photos surprised me though, it's as if I'm seeing them for the first time.

Online travel sites on where to stay

2011-07-24T20:28:00.002+08:00

Ooh, I was reading my week-old newspapers and stumbled on an article which introduced the online world of members-only hotel-booking websites which offer travel perks or home stays instead of hotels.

Great for travel research and reference:

1. Tablet Hotels

Hip hotels in the United States such as Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, and boutique hotels in England, such as the 42-room Number Sixteen, named Hotel of the Year by Good Hotel Guide.

Membership: US$195

Set-up: 2000

2. Mr & Mrs Smith

More than 800 boutique hotels and holiday homes ranging from beach getaways, spa retreats, ski lodges, safari lodges to bed and breakfasts. Notable hotel include the Establishment Hotel in the heart of Sydney.

Membership: Free to book but members get more perks. (US$30 to US$600)

Set-up: 2003

3. Jetsetter

Beach resorts, city hotels, safari lodges, cruise and train journeys with brand names such as Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Capella Singapore and Orient-Express. Vacation range from rafting in Patagonia to cycling tours in Vietnam.

Membership: Free, but by-invitation only.

Set-up: 2009

4. Design Hotels

More than 200 hotels with design concepts based on neighbourhood integration, sustainability and personalisation. Ideal for the architecture buff who appreciates the hotel with unique, quirky interior design and architecture.

Membership: Free

Set-up: 1993

5. Kiwi Collection

For business and luxury travellers. From hip hotels to palaces, ryokans, tented safari camps and inns. (The Lodge at Tikana in New Zealand's Southland. Wynn And Encore in Las Vegas. Hotel Costes in Paris.

Membership: Free

Set-up: 2003

6. Roomorama.com

Rental of apartments in 311 destinations.

7. AirBnb.com

A wide-range of accommodation choices including a houseboat in Amsterdam, an igloo in Greenland and a lakehouse in Thailand.

8. HomeAway.com

Also run VRBO.com, this offers a more luxury option.

9. VRBO.com

Run by HomeAway.Com, this website offers 100,000 rentals in over 100 countries.

10. Wimdu.com

Specialises in providing accommodation in the Asia-Pacific. Although you can rent a castle in the UK for US$12,000 a night, and a 3-bedroom apartment or a hut in the Philippines jungle for US$6 a night.

11. Homelidays.co.uk

UK and rest of Europe. Bed & Breakfasts, villas and cottages.

Cambodia trip

2011-07-16T23:07:00.007+08:00

We just came back from our trip in Cambodia and it was amazing.

Our first destination was 4 Rivers Floating Lodge at Koh Kong, which was absolutely tranquil.

Thereafter we headed to Phnom Penh and had an unforgettable quad bike tour to the country side of the city.

Here's a sneak peak on our stash of photos we took on our trip.

In case you are interested, we went to:

4 Rivers Floating Lodge

http://www.ecolodges.asia/

Nature trail Quad ride tour

http://nature-cambodia.com/

Sock monkey!

2011-07-16T22:30:00.001+08:00

Made a crazy sock monkey for a friend last month. Cool limbs huh!

Draw Cats

2011-05-02T16:01:00.004+08:00

I finally had some time today and I did
Carla Sonheim's Lab 1 from her book!

It's actually quite hilarious, drawing cats in bed.

I gave up after awhile and just sat at my table!

I realized, however, drawing with my left hand
resulted in some odd outcomes,
being a right- handed person.

Surprisingly, I thought drawing with
my left hand added more character.

I couldn't really decide which was "best"
or "cutest" as I thought they all look strange!

Anyhow, I chose the following 2
and rendered in my ArtStudio app:

Garden Buffet

2011-05-01T00:55:00.001+08:00

Aren't these origami star boxes cute?

My sister is back from Australia and we organized a garden buffet for her this evening. Being rather busy, I wanted to add some decoration and personal touches in the least possible time, thus the idea of a simple origami theme was attractive.

My sister was inspired to add a splash of color with an origami teabag star. With my Ikea Moroccan lamp, the table was set to go.

Bunny

2011-04-30T11:56:00.007+08:00

I love Carla Sonheim's works!

She makes drawing so fun and happy! I so love her blog. On Thursday, I couldn't stand it much longer, I ran to the bookstore after work and grabbed her book Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun.

The above bunny was inspired by her Tutorial: Bunny Power - Easy Tombow Rabbits.

As you can see, I "painted" the bunny with ArtStudio. I paint and draw predominantly on ArtStudio. To be honest, I haven't drawn with pencils or paint with brushes much. In fact, I feel very intimidated with the traditional mediums than the technological medium! It does seem kinda odd.

Well, I will fix that soon because I've signed up for a short course in May with
LASALLE College of the Arts Drawing using the Right Side of the Brain. Hooray!

It was an accidental stumble upon the ArtStudio app that I started to "draw and paint" regularly as I can do so while waiting for the bus or traveling in the train to and fro work. So when everybody around me thought I was playing with my iPhone, I was actually drawing.

How can I survive without my iPhone?!

Have a Super Saturday!

Hamsa

2011-04-30T02:00:00.000+08:00

Hand of Fatimah

2011-04-30T00:09:00.005+08:00

I am very intrigued by "hands" this week.

I suspect it was because I saw a pretty necklace by Monsoon.

Initially I thought this was a "heart-in-hand" symbol which according to wiki, it is a symbol of charity, given from the heart. However I noticed on the Monsoon website that this called the Hand of Fatimah!

The Hand of Fatimah, also called the Hamsa, is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa. This Muslim talisman subsequently passed into the Jewish tradition. Even Madonna was spotted wearing a Loree Rodkin diamond-studded Hamsa amulet.

The hand has been a symbol of blessings, power and strength and is used as a superstitious defense against the evil eye. Anyhow, the Hamsa has become a trendy and popular "good luck" charm.

Whimsigals blog has a very inspiring crafty project on the Hand of Fatima which I thought it was absolutely gorgeous!

Linda Altshuler's Hamsa Yisrael is fascinating.
It is a mandala of a circle of peace and protection of the Jewish homes.

Now, how's that on hands?

Do share what are your favourite images on hands and what does it mean to you!

Pink haired Kimmidoll!

2011-04-27T23:58:00.001+08:00

Today my colleague gave me a pink haired Kimmidoll for being a rebel. According to many people, I'm quite a misfit in my job.

Isn't she such a cutie?

Fairy blessings

2011-04-27T23:55:00.001+08:00

May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come though your door.

An Irish Blessing Poem

SoulCollage No. 3

2011-04-26T23:31:00.001+08:00

I'm soul amazed that I'm soul satisfied with making my SoulCollages!

It's becoming quite an addiction. I find it extremely relaxing to come home after my day's work and cut out pretty amazing images and put them together intuitively.

SoulCollage No. 3 jumped out at me readily:

I am One who indulges my inner child.

I am One whose inner child is creative
and sees the world in the
brilliance of colours.

Calm Happiness

2011-04-26T19:06:00.002+08:00

This is a portrait of inner peace and happiness which stems from self-awareness of mindfulness and faith.

May your dreams come true.

SoulCollage No. 2

2011-04-25T20:09:00.008+08:00

Today I shall try to make sense of my hodgepodge of images.

Firstly, I've no idea why I transported a corporate lady to Provence, looking into the sky full of queer things: a butterfly, a fairy, a bird and a wedding cake.

Now, I understand from whats-your-sign.com a butterfly is a symbol of transformation. Interestingly, a butterfly is associated with the soul in many cultures. According to animal-symbols.com, a bird is a symbol of human soul and it represents goodness, joy, wisdom and intelligence. In DreamsStudy.com, to see or cut a wedding cake in your dream, symbolizes harmony and domestic bliss. You are enjoying life and have a bright happy future ahead of you.

So today, I hear my soul saying:

I am One who has abundance and blessings.

I am One whose inner spiritual guidance
will lead me to
my personal transformation and freedom.

Namaste.

MRT morning rush

2011-04-25T18:48:00.004+08:00

The daily morning commute to work from Bukit Batok station to Raffles Place is such a nightmare!

People push and jostle their way in and the passengers are packed like sardines. I absolutely hate the lack of personal space.

I do hope the mrt situation will improve...

SoulCollage No. 1

2011-04-24T21:54:00.006+08:00

I am very excited about my first soul collage.

I couldn't contained my excitement when I discovered this process. I took out my drawing block paper and cut them into card-size as well as made a frame. I didn't use the frame much but I think it will be useful when I need it. I took an old magazine which I kept them because I love the pictures in there so much and started the intuitive process of cutting out images that I am drawn to.

I had to consciously remind myself to let go of thinking and to give in to the intuitive process. It was harder than I imagined! I had to remind myself to try not to make sense of it. It was awkward initially and, indeed, it was stressful! But I once I completed the act of assembling and gluing the images together, I cleared my mind and took a second look.

Suddenly, it came to me:

I am One who leaps with faith

in the presence of my inner goddess.

I am One who finds balance and inspiration in both nature and city living.

And I felt a tremendous sense of relieve and liberation.

Invitation to SoulCollage®

2011-04-24T18:18:00.002+08:00

Project SoulCollage

2011-04-24T17:27:00.016+08:00

I found myself drawn to dreamlike paintings and artwork which are meaningful and soulful.

In particular, I’ve been drawn to images found in healing cards and angel cards. I started to become curious about mixed media and the surrealistic effects of combining a variety of medium as a form of art expression. I felt a strong inner longing to express something from within.

One day after a dentist’s appointment, I wandered into a paper and craft shop which sells delightful materials for scrapbooking and got a copy of Somerset Studio magazine which coincidentally the March/April 2011 was titled Simple Pleasure, which was the same as my blog title! It must have been an angel of synchronicity.

It opened my world to the art of paper and mixed media. From there I discovered a new world of art journaling, collages, scrapbooking and artful blogging from the very cool Stampington & Company.

At my favourite hangout bookstore, I bought a book called Creative Awakenings: Envisioning the Life of your Dreams through Art by Sheri Gaynor and was very inspired by the concept of the art of intention where she invited 11 artists to join her on twelve months of dreams. Each artist picked a month to engage him or herself with the EnVision Art of Intention Process where the artists created their intentions from their own experiences, desires or needs. During their chosen month, each artist mull over her art of intention piece and keep a journal of experience, where finally each artist wrote a personal essay on the experience. Throughout the book there were useful mixed media techniques and tips to help the reader creating her personal book-of-dreams journal.

Thus sufficiently inspired, I wanted to create some card-size mixed media / collage which will represent my inner soul’s callings and started to search the internet for soul collage. Imagine my delight when I discovered the world of SoulCollage® by Seena Frost! If you are intrigued about SoulCollage® like me, I’ve placed a list of links relating to SoulCollage® as well as inspiring blogs on the right side bar to help you find out more on what is it all about. As described in squidoo.com, Soul Collage is an artistic, soulful adventure into your soul which is part collage, part artistic journaling and part therapy.

As such, I’ve decided to embark on a personal 12-weeks Soul Collage journey which I will share with you my outcome each week. In the process, I would like to take time out to listen and understand my soul. I shall practice mindfulness in my daily life instead of tuning out which I have a bad habit of doing so! This is my action to my pledge for Action For Happiness by taking Action 27: Get in touch with your spiritual side.

Have a wonderful day.

Nutmeg art

2011-04-23T19:27:00.004+08:00

There's a cool fruit sculpture at ION Orchard by Kumari Nahappan.

It totally caught my eye and I love it!

Digital drawings with ArtStudio

2011-03-29T07:37:00.004+08:00

More digital drawings with ArtStudio.

A foodie indulgence

2011-03-27T10:21:00.007+08:00

Hubby and I decided to head to Italiannies at TripleOne Somerset for an indulgent dinner.

As its name suggests, Italiannies serves Italian food where pasta and pizzas are freshly made.

We love it!

Gotan Project - Santa Maria (HD,1080)

2011-03-22T00:33:00.001+08:00

Gotan Project Live - EPOCA. DVD

2011-03-22T00:27:00.001+08:00

GOTAN Project concert

2011-03-20T23:58:00.008+08:00

I went to watch the GOTAN Project at the Esplanade this evening with my lovely friend, A.

Gotan Project was amazing!

Gotan Project is a musical group based in Paris with eclectic genres. It is tango music yet electronica trip-hop and nu jazz.