What is PèBo?

聖誕義賣 at Simple Market (四四南村) 12/22

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 08:28:00 +0000

All the proceeds will be donated to a local orphanage for Christmas. A heartfelt thanks to all who have participated in this good cause, and a special thanks to Joy, my lucky charm!

所有收入將捐給榮光育幼院。感謝大家的參與，希望這些小朋友們可以過一個快樂的聖誕節！

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:05:00 +0000

It's the week of Thanksgiving and I wanted to be festive, so I secretly made this pumpkin and place it on D's desk (after he went to sleep) to surprise him on Thanksgiving morning!

Materials: cotton stuffing, waxed string (used for sewing leather) to shape the pumpkin and to replicate the curls of the vine, a mix of yarn blended with raw wool yarn to tone down the brightness & to help with the transition of colors

The raw wool yarn was given to me by Janny when I visited her in Osaka last year, so thank you Janny! The yarn is unique and a rare find.

Pouf Poof, Long Overdue! No.1

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 16:30:00 +0000

A pouf was much needed in the house, but I'm a procrastinator until recently, I decided to get off my lazy bum and make it, so poof! There are now more poufs in the house to accommodate D and my feet.

Materials: a good mix of yarn + hemp on top for durability

Pillows for Les Bébés Cafe & Bar 貝貝西點

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:18:00 +0000

Can't have finished this without my PoPo, Mama Mei.

這幾個禮拜在高雄為了作抱枕，把媽咪家用的亂七八糟，每個角落占了我的道具 (染布桶在浴室，麻布在客廳，棉線在合室，縫紉機在餐桌上)，但是媽咪一直很有耐心的幫忙我把10個抱枕完成。有個師大家政系的老師的輔助就是不一樣。。。謝謝!

A celebration of Les Bébés, a tribute to 巧妙的 Mise en Place, the place where I met D.

Fan of Tainan 台南粉絲

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:55:00 +0000

二月去台南參加手手創作市集，晚上路過一個廟會，從戲台後面拍的。

神農街巷子裡微笑的門神。

高雄左營菜市場

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:38:00 +0000

阿婆寫的扛棒。

Impermanent notes. 留不住的留言。

Spring Collection

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 02:46:00 +0000

Moxa Infused Olive Oil
艾草橄欖油

Rice Tea Infused Peppermint Shampoo
玄米茶薄荷洗髮皂

Lavender Parsley
薰衣草洋香菜

Hinoki Hazelnut
檜木橧果

Sprinkled with heather, violet, jasmine, parsley, rooibos tea, rosehip & love.
灑上歐石楠，小紫羅蘭，茉莉花，洋香菜，波斯茶，玫瑰果 & 愛.

Infused Olive Oil

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:03:00 +0000

Making infused oil is a great way to incorporate the properties and benefits of the herbs into the oil. The infused oil can then be used to make soap or lotions.

These are the olive oil infusions for my future soap and lotion recipes. All have a very unique and soothing scent!

1. Calendula: promote wound healing, reduce inflammation
2. Moxa: dispel cold, warm acupuncture meridians, stop pain
3. Pu'er Chrysanthemum: antioxidant, reduce inflammation
4. Ginger Goji: dispel cold, warm acupuncture meridians, antioxidant
5. Lemongrass: natural insect repellent, reduce bad odor, anti-fungal & anti-bacterial

HOW TO INFUSE OIL:

1. Clean a glass jar thoroughly. Spray it with alcohol and let the alcohol evaporate. Make sure it's completely dry before you put in the dried herbs. I usually use a hairdryer to make sure there are no water droplets left inside the bottle.

2. Fill the 1/2 - 3/4 full of dried herbs.

3. Pour in the oil slowly to make sure the herbs are completely soaked and covered in the oil. Stir the jar a little to get rid of the air bubbles.

4. Seal the jar. Sit the glass jar in a warm place (eg. windowsill), and shake the jar a little each day to make sure the herbs are "dancing" in the oil. This will quicken the infusion process.

5. It's ready in 4-6 weeks! Strain the oil to get rid of any impurities. Put the remaning herbs in a large teabag/soybean milk bag, and squeeze until every droplet of oil has been extracted. Throw out the herbs.

6. Label the bottle (oil type, herb & date) and store the infused oil in a cool, dark and dry place. The infused oil is ready to be used immediately.

*The oil can become rancid or prone to bateria growth if moisture is introduced into the oil. This is why it is crucial to completely dry the bottle and the herbs before infusing it together.

Pocket Light 夜燈零錢袋

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:43:00 +0000

In the daytime, it is a "pocket", or a small pouch for your spare change.

早上是個零錢包。。。

In the nighttime, put in a LED flameless candle and it immediately transforms into a small night light! Make the corners of your home cozier.

晚上放個LED蠟燭，馬上變成小夜燈！讓家裡多點溫馨的氣氛。

How to Deseed Guava 切芭樂

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:35:00 +0000

The traditional way is to cut the guava, let’s say into 8 slices, then use a knife to cut out the seeds for each slice.

But I found a shortcut. 1) Cut the guava in half.

傳統切芭樂的方式是先切片，比如說8片，再用刀一片一片的切掉芭樂子。

但我找到一個撇步。先把芭樂切一半。

2) Use an ice cream scooper and in one scoop, take out the seeds. It becomes a perfectly halved-sphere crater.

用冰淇淋杓把子子一球全部挖出來。

3) Proceed to slice the guava. Put the scooped out seeds into the blender and make a guava shake! Guava seed is rich in iron, but it is difficult to digest due to its hardness. That's why I've always heard “don’t eat guava seeds, or it will make you constipated”. However, my mother-in-law said if you can grind it fine enough in the blender, guava seeds can help with constipation, making it a smoother ride.

挖掉後再將芭樂切片。挖出來的子子留下來可以打芭樂汁哦！芭樂子含豐富的鐵質，但是因為較硬，不容易消化，我小時候常聽大人說芭樂子吃了會便秘。但是婆婆說，用果汁機打得夠細的話，喝了可通便，避免塞車。

Why Mouse? 小老鼠

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:35:00 +0000

Mouse Dimension: 5 x 2 x 2.5 (excluding tail)

What’s up with the mouse? You see it in most of my pictures. Well, it has a purpose. It gives you a sense of proportion of the photographed object.

這隻小老鼠為什麼常常出現在我的照片呢？因為它的用途是跟照片裡的東西做個比例。

Where did this mouse come from? Chance encounter! When we stopped over Gananoque, Canada this summer to see The Thousand Islands, we stayed at this B&B called The Athlone Inn.

我們去加拿大千島湖玩的時候碰到這隻小老鼠。它跟我們住在這個民宿裡。

The inn's charm (built in 1877), the cozy rooms, the delightful breakfast, and the hospitality of the inn owners, Jason & Miranda, made the stay so memorable. You can feel their love for the inn by the care they put in it, the thoughtful details that catch you by surprise, like the mouse in the bathroom or the fresh flowers petals garnishing the homemade waffles.

民宿很溫馨！你可以感受到屋主對的愛，細心的想出不同的方式來讓主客的回憶更有趣，像放一隻小老鼠在浴缸邊，或是採新鮮花瓣來點綴早點。

We purchased the mouse as a souvenir and left a note in the guest book. Friends from Taiwan.

小老鼠就買回家咯！走之前在留言本裡感謝屋主的熱心招待，也畫了台灣的地圖，形容遠方來的台灣朋友。

Soap Matters 好肥皂＝好心情

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:39:00 +0000

Why do I love soap? Because it is so intimate. It hears you sing. And it welcomes you, even when you are at your most unkempt and foul, and then forgives you, cleanses you, and let you start anew. Everyday. A good shower + good soap never fails to lift my day.

為什麼我會愛肥皂？因為它是跟我們最親密的日常用品。它聽我們唱歌，也清新我們，讓我們天天有一個陽光的開始。洗浴＋好皂＝好心情。

After spending countless hours browsing handmade soap shops in Taiwan, D encouraged me to take a class and make my own soaps. At first I was reluctant, and then became addicted, lol. These are my most recent cold-processed soaps, with new recipes that I formulated.

D看我那麼愛肥皂就鼓勵我自己學作肥皂。剛開始不太想，但一作起來就上癮啦！這兩個是我最近想出新的配方作出來的冷制手工皂。

Hazelnut Hinoki (Cypress Wood)
榛果檀木
Hazelnut 榛果
Rice Bran 玄米
Coconut 椰子
Castor 蓖麻
Palm 棕櫚
Hinoki powder, yogurt
檜木粉, 优格
Hinoki essential oil 檜木精油

Lavender Parsley 薰衣草洋香菜

Sweet Almond 甜杏仁
Rice Bran 玄米
Coconut 椰子
Castor 蓖麻
Palm 棕櫚
Lavender buds, parsley flakes, yogurt 薰衣草花苞, 洋香菜, 优格
Lavender essential oil 薰衣草精油

Looks delicious right? Smells wonderful too. Every time we enter the bedroom, it’s like walking into a field of lavender flowers. And when the lavender dissipates, the cypress comes in with an earthy aroma, as if we were falling asleep in the woods.

看起來好吃，聞起來好香！每次進臥房就像走入一片薰衣草園，等花香散開後又走入一片檜木森林，等著我們來休息。

Rattan Backknobber 藤背鉤

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:56:00 +0000

What is a rattan backknobber? It's a massage hook, a very useful tool to massage those hard-to-reach muscle knots (myofascial trigger points) in your back, especially the ones along the border of the scapula. Muscle knots can cause a lot of discomfort and tension in your back and neck. If you are constantly in front of a computer, you know what I'm talking about.

長期在電腦前會讓我們的背與頸部很累。這個藤鉤是好用的按摩器，可以按到自己手按不到的地方，疏通背後緊繃的部位。

When you use the hook to massage the knots, you will experience a very sore pleasure and relief. Massaging the acupuncture points on the right is a great way to release tension in your scapula, shoulder, upper back and neck.

按這些針灸穴位可以放鬆你的肩胛骨，肩背與肩頸。按的時候會又酸，又疼，又爽的感覺哦！

The thing about this tool is that it’s not very cool to have. It’s very old-fashioned, something my grandmother would buy. And the grip is rough on the hands. So what to do?

但是這個按摩器看起來真的很菜市場，只有阿媽阿公會買的東西。手把也很粗，不好握。怎麼辦？

Why not clothe it? New outfit, new look.

幫它穿衣服！年輕多咯。

Cardboard Cathouse 紙箱貓宅

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 06:44:00 +0000

Last year, we started to care for a neighborhood wild cat. It’s a three-legged Calico that roams our lane - the poor thing must have lost her leg by the fox traps in the mountains. To provide her with outdoor shelter, we simply put a cardboard box on our porch.

去年我們開始照顧一隻野貓，只有三隻腳，很可憐。我們放一個紙板箱在門口，讓它避寒。

We named her Tripod. The front left leg is missing.
我們幫它取名叫Tripod。缺了前左腳。

After reading this book, I decided to build Tripod a house…
看完這本建築101的書，我決定幫Tripod建個窩

…out of a PC-home cardboard box.
用PC-home的貨運紙箱盒。

It's a mansion! The slipper gives you an idea of the size. There's even a skylight for light and ventilation.

有天窗，好採光，又通風，是貓豪宅啊！

How did I do this? Easy. Tools you will need: scissor, tape, construction knife, pen. Since this house was made last year, I will use another cardboard to demonstrate.
怎麼作？很簡單。工具：剪刀，膠帶，美工刀，筆。

Step 1: Find a cardboard box big enough to fit your pet (I underestimated the size one time and Tripod had to “back in” like a delivery truck when entering). Secure the bottom of the box with tape.

找個紙板箱。要夠大哦！箱底用膠帶貼好。

Step 2: Angle the “roof” and mark the slant. The space between the two flaps will be the skylight. Replicate the lines below.
把“屋頂”的角度畫下來。中間的空間是天窗口。

Step 3: For the DOTTED lines, use a construction knife to make a shallow cut on the surface of the cardboard. Do not cut all the way through! For the SOLID, lines use a scissor.
虛線用美工刀，輕微割紙板的表面（不要割深）。實線用剪刀。

Step 4: Fold the dotted lines.

折虛線

Step 5: Tape the corners together.

兩個角落貼起來

Step 6: Stand it upright. This is the structural support for the roof.

這個建築物是來支撐屋頂

Bird's eye view.

Step 7: Fold over the flaps and tape it securely to the structural support.
把屋頂折起來，用膠帶貼住

It should look like this.

Step 8: Use wide tape (e.g. duct tape) to seal the edges of the roof. Fold the unused portion onto the façade.
用膠帶封閉邊緣（覺得會”漏水“的地方）

Step 9: Use a construction knife to cut out a grand entrance. Your pet is officially a homeowner!
用美工刀割出大門。你的寵物是個屋主了！

Beware though. Once Tripod moved into her mansion, other male cats (who wouldn’t look at her twice due to her handicap) started to court her.
小心哦。自從Tripod住進豪宅，以前看不上它的男野貓都開始追它。

Pauper's Socks 破破襪

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 04:57:00 +0000

The things you love the most are usually ones that stood by you everyday, through thick and thin, like a pair of socks.

So what to do when you exhaust it? Discard it?

我們最喜愛的東西多半是天天陪我們過日常生活的，像一雙襪子。等它累了，破洞了，這麼辦？扔掉嗎？

No! Patch it up! A scissor, needle, thread and fabric scrap is all you need to make Pauper's socks. The blue fabric scrap is a sleeve leftover from a sweater I used to make a pillow cushion (previous post).

補起來！只需要剪刀，縫衣針，縫線與廢布就可以再次給它生命的機會。

Ta-da!

More lovable than ever.

更值得愛。

Sweater Pillow 外衣變抱枕

noreply@blogger.com (PèBo) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 04:26:00 +0000

This is D’s beloved sweater back from his college days. It’s 15+years and it’s so worn, with lint permanently stuck on the fabric that he decided to forgo his sentimental attachment and toss it out.

But wait. What better way to commemorate his school and education by making a pillow cushion out of it? To the sewing machine!

這是 D 的大學運動外衣，已經15多年了，舊到不行。該丟了，但捨不得，還不如把它變成一個抱枕來做記念呢？

Don’t throw out the fabric scraps (in this case, the sleeves of the sweater). Its usefulness will surface one day.

廢布留下來！有一天會用上。

The back "strip" is the trim of the sweater that gives it a tighter fit at the sleeves and the waist. The gray tab is a pull tag that I sewed.

Underneath the pull tag is the original tag. Made in USA? Now Made in Taiwan.

這是原來的商標。我用手縫回去，加上一個灰色小掛勾。美國製作？現在是台灣製作。

An addition to my collection of handmade pillows.

沙發多了一個新朋友。