So Cute It Hurts

A mother's day photos

Hello out there.

I'm still here, long time, no update. Life has certainly gotten in the way of my being able to say hello in this space lately, that's for sure. I'm fairly certain this is a common occurrence, so i'm not being too hard on myself about it.

Finally, after way too long trying to find time to photograph my new girls ~ i finally found time today. I was so fortunate to adopt my first Miel (little girl at the first photo) and Lami (the other little one at the second photo). Very happy to be able to cross off Miel from my 2013 wishlist. I'm thrilled that they are both super sweet and possibly quite drooly. Don't you think?

I started a new project a couple of weeks ago with my friend Pei Li. It's not finished yet, but I'm excited. Let's just say there's going to be lots of Sunday afternoon cutting and piecing around here. More soon, promised.

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there, including my own.
Thanks for being so wonderful.
Love to you and yours!

adventures in sewing

It has been pretty quiet around here. Not because i want it to be, but because i've been busy with work these last few weeks. I'm hoping to find a nice balance soon. As busy as i've been, i am happy to say i spent a good portion of the weekend working on and finishing a little Zakka dress set for my dear friend's baby doll. Vicky, if you read this, i hope you like it.

Inspired by this, i finally got around to snap a couple of photos over the weekend. My little Ruki wanted to model this dress set with our favorite sweet fleur hat made by talented Tricia of henriette❦jardin. I've been working on and off on this new zakka dress pattern for months (yes, i've been known to get distracted). I know i didn't stick to the the pattern exactly, but i really dig how it turned out.

Very simple dress, BUT the little details make up for the simplicity. It turned out really nice and my little Ruki didn't want to take it off. Can you tell she is pretty psyched about it?

I added a pair of pink socks for flair and finished the zakka dress set with a the little petticoat skirt just because ~ i wanted to give this zakka dress set a puffy effect. I'm already thinking about making another new zakka dress set for my girls. Hopefully i can find the motivation to finish the next one in a timely fashion.

Happy Monday.
Have a beautiful week too.
Love to you and yours.

my favorite little pumpkin

Somebody got a new zakka dress set this weekend!
Made by her mama.

Lucky for me the sun was up this morning allowing me to photograph my little favorite pumpkin, Kuroo, wearing the newest zakka dress set i sew for my girls. I love how this little zakka dress turned out so much and the pattern is from me. It's so easy to whip up ~ i added a lace pocket for flare and a cute little pair of white socks to match. Cute? Perfect for little kicky legs, too.

The best custom miniature kitchen furniture package arrived this week from my best lady Vicky. She has always given me lovely gifts, and this parcel was no different. I could go on and on. I guess you know by now i'm a big fan of Vicky's sweet creations. The beautiful Shabby Chic kitchen wall cupboards with shelf, the kitchen sink and the lovely heart frame are perfect for my shabby chic kitchen roombox.

My girls and i also received an amazing custom Ranunculus hair accessory in the mail this week. Thank you so much, Pei Li. We LOVE it!

Thank you all so much for the sweet comments about my feature in "Everything goes with Ice cream" by Koralee Teichroeb book. It has been very comforting to read all your sweet kind comments. Thank YOU once again for reminding me that so much good exists in the world.

Happy Sunday.
Be well.
Love to you.

Everything goes with Ice Cream

Happy Sunday, friends.

After almost a year of waiting for it, my "Everything goes with Ice cream" by Koralee Teichroeb book arrived this week! I'm very proud to have gotten the chance to be part of such a great project and equally excited about how freakin' cool the completed book turned out. The book is wonderful and filled with yumilicious ice cream receipts and adorable little craft projects.

I was contacted by Koralee Teichroeb about participating in her new book she was set to publish completely dedicated to everything ice cream. It was such an honor to be asked and i of course said YES. The fun part was making one of my all time favorite childhood Red Bean Ice Cream Bars (one of my papa's specialities) and setting them out for a photoshoot with creating directions telling others how to make this recipe of their own.

The recipes in this book are roughly seasonal and very simple, yet so inspiring and clever. There is a recipe for Peach Cream Ice Cream that i am definitely planning to try. I am also excited about the Hot Chocolate Ice Cream Cubes. The Rich Hot Cocoa Mix is calling my name, as it would make such a perfect little gift. Doesn't that sound perfect?

The little crafts projects are such fun too! I would love to make Kari's adorable apron and Torie's pretty cone wrappers are definitely fun for a party.

To celebrate this ice cream occasion, i made a felted ice cream cone. If you are interested in making one of this adorable felted ice cream cone, the tutorial will be available at sweet Koralee's blog soon.

Blogging never ceases to amaze me ~ i've made great friends all over the world and now one of my childhood ice cream recipe is published in a neat book. How cool is that.

Have an ice cream today.
THANK YOU so much sweet Koralee. I love you.
Love to you and yours.

pleased as punch

I'm still here. I'm just spending most of my time focusing on crossing off each and every line on the zillion to do list i've recently created. Sad thing is ~ i'm only a so-so list-completer.

Look how spoiled my girls have been lately when it comes to one of our favorite things:  Mail. The other day my sweet dolly sister, Sue of ChantillieLane sent me these beautiful tutu skirts. oh my! These skirts are so well-made and maybe it's just me, but i think they are too cute for words. Truly.

Get this. Receiving these adorable tutu skirts made me want to SEW matching color tops for these skirts! I have had the urge since receiving them and just never followed through, but today i did and now my girls have some super funky adorable tops to match with their tutu skirts.

Warm wishes to you.
More soon, my friends.
Love to you.

V for Vanilla

Hard to believe that Valentine's Day came and gone. I hope it was sweet and full to the brim with LOVE. I'm still recovering from a lovely night out with a surprise gift!

I have been waiting for my dream doll and she has finally arrived on Valentine's day. Woot! Please meet my new girl, Vanilla. I named her Vanilla because i wanted a name that will remind me of her beautiful creator. Vanilla is a hometan Ruki with faceup by Olga (Vainilladolly). I have always admire talented Olga's girls and dream to own one of her beautiful VainillaLatis. Isn't she a pretty little baby?

I know it might sound silly, but i can't keep my eyes off her. I mean really, her beauty and sweetness are indescribable. I'm over the moon! She's such a keeper.

I am endlessly grateful to have been able to adopt sweet Vanilla from lovely Olga. She IS perfect. My girls and i are spending time getting to know our new little girl and loving her up, something that doesn't take any effort at all.

Weekends are so nice. I am looking forward to be cozy and lazy around my house.

Have a wonderful weekend out there.
More soon.
Love to you.

I struck gold...

when it comes to friends. Happy lunar New Year. I know i've mentioned it here loads of times, but i really do have the most wonderful friends. It makes me a little misty just thinking about it.

I'm just going to say that i REALLY scored in the friend department. The rattan handles above is just a gift from one of my lovely friends who happens to be amazing and so talented, i could gush about her for hours.

I found talented Maho Kaneko's creations via her book "Handmade bags and pouch CITE" ~ became a big fan and fell in love with her handbags and rattan bag handles. I am so LUCKY that my sweet friend, Mie Horiuchi, from Tokyo took the time and trouble to gift me one of her handles! This rattan bag handles is so well-made and maybe it's just me, but i think it's too beautiful for words. Truly.

I am head over heels for the sweet creations by Maho Kaneko of CITE. She sews such beautiful and colorful bags and accessories out of gorgeous fabrics and handmade bag handles. Here are some of her creations (Photo's courtesy of CITE).

Happy Snake Year sweet friends.
May it be full of joy and peace!
I left town driving home to celebrate and spend some time with family and love ones.

hello sunshine

Saturday was kind of a bust due to migraine city, but the lovely weather all day Sunday made up for it in a huge way.

Three words for this special Sunday morning: Ruki. Macarons. CottonCandy.

This is my submission to ~ TinyWhispers *New* RedBubble Store Giveaway. It's an amateur quality but i am glad i joined! Please come vote for me : Here.

Happy Sundaying,
I apologize for the lack of posts lately.
I'll be back soon enough.
Love to you and yours!

i like good paint with cute name

Hope your weekend was nice. Mine was. It passed a little too fast for my taste but i'm feeling pretty refreshed and ready for whatever my busy week dishes out. Well, at least i think i am?

I usually show items i've made from fabric, i thought today would be a fine day to show a work in progress i painted over the weekend. Although i certainly feel more at ease with my foot on the sewing machine petal working with various textiles, i had a really nice fun time.

Having not pulled out my brushes in so long, I forgot how relaxing painting can be ~ sometimes it can get very tedious, but yet very relaxing. Also, if you mess up, you can just paint over it. I like that part.

In case you are curious, i used a creamy white paint named Wedding Cake by Martha Stewart Satin Acrylic Paint. I was introduced to her range of paint by sweet Pei Li. I am so pleased with the result especially with that sheen of satin glow!

Martha Stewart Satin Acrylic Paint has a whole range of soft shades ~ extremely beautiful with really cute names. I'm pleased as punch about finding them at a local art and craft shop. I became an impulsive shopper and bought me a couple of different shades in sweet pink, green, blue, white and beige. I hope someday i will be able to collect all of her beautiful colors.

Hope your Monday is off to a good start.
Have a beautiful week.
Love to you.

1:12 dollhouse miniature scale. air dry clay. workshop.

I was feeling under the weather (migraine city) last two days. It was bad. I'm feeling much better and in catch up mode.

I finally got around to snapping a couple of photos of one of my latest project ~ Cupcake Deli Case workshop by my sweet friend, Pei Li, the 1:12 dollhouse miniature scale guru. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from her.

I've always wondered how dollhouse miniature cupcakes are being created. Finally, i had the pleasure of learning how to make these mouth watering miniature cupcakes! In this workshop, i've learned to create 4 different types of 1:12 scale miniature cupcakes to fill into an adorable deli case.

As with any first time project, there was a learning curve and some uncertainty at times. Pei Li was very patient and encouraging. Her knowledge and sharing personality made me feel confident and relax. I had so much fun crafting with air dry clay.

There is definitely a bit of wonkiness here and there, but i actually really love those parts. The best part though is starting a project i've been thinking about since last year ~ that and knowing i have gotten much more confidence with miniature crating using air dry clay. 

I know i've mentioned it here loads of times, but I really do have the most wonderful friends. It makes me a little misty just thinking about it. Thank YOU sweet Pei Li for helping me to fulfill one of my dream on the first day of 2013. A wonderful start to the year indeed.

I still need to finish the rest of the cupcakes, deli case and photo frame to be painted and decorated.
I plan to show some photos of it as soon as this project is complete.
Looking forward to sharing it with you.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend out there, friends.
Happy Sunday.
Love to you and yours.