So Cute It Hurts

A Les Macaron Purse

I'm still here. Hope your weekend was lovely. Mine was great with lots of lounging and quality time relaxing at home.

Remember the collaboration project i mentioned a while back? Over the weekend, i finally got around to finish this big collaboration project, the Les Macaron Purse. And by big i mean a wonderful collaboration with one of my very talented sweet friend, Pei Li.

I guess you know by now that i'm addicted to sweet Pei Li's faux macarons. Around end of last year, i contacted her with a collaboration idea ~ sweet classy purse with her beautiful macarons bag charm. After many exchanged of emails with brainstorming on ideas, designs, searching for the perfect macaron fabrics and materials, the Les Macaron Purse was born.

As with any first time project, there was a learning curve and some uncertainty at times. This book and this tutorial were both very helpful. I tweeted the pattern a little to suit my taste. This is a sweet and simple purse with many inside organization (very much needed). I added a heart shape magnetic button for flair and finished in natural linen trim just because.

The best part though is completing a project i've been thinking about since last year ~ that and knowing i now have another project that will always remind me of my friendship with sweet Pei Li. I'm pleased as punch with how it turned out.

I'm hoping to add this Macaron Summery Purse to the shop very soon. I've been a lazy shopkeeper, but that is about to change (i hope). However, if you are interested,  please send me an email at qlinesocuteithurts(at)hotmail(dot)com. I have the macarons fabric (pink and brown) and bag charms in other colors.

Happy Monday.
Happy beautiful week.
Love to you and yours.

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.

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.

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.

I don't blame her

Now that the holiday season is over, things are slowly returning to normal. Well, mostly, i'm still finding it a bit difficult to get back into a routine. For now, or at least for this weekend, i will continue to savor the slow, stay in your pajamas a little longer days of post-holiday hubbub.

The highlight of my new year was definitely last Thursday. Pettibon's here, indeed. She is so beautiful. She has the cutest little face i've ever laid eyes on. Her sisters (Coco, Kuroo and Ruki) love her. And so far they seem to be okay with me keeping "baby Pettibon" around. Pettibon also seems quite pleased to be part of our family. We're thrilled about all of this because we sure wouldn't think of parting with her. She's a keeper. A beautiful, snuggle little keeper.

I was really lucky and very blessed to be able to adopt her from sweet Linnette of LottaKalott. Pettibon has stolen my heart. Linnette's gesture of allowing me to adopt her has shown me that indeed i am fully capable of creating enough love in my family for four little ones. Welcome, sweet Pettibon. The girls and i are so very grateful and thankful we get to call her our baby girl.

Pettibon is a pirate Lea from the "Treasure Island and Pirate monkey" event with a beautiful face up done by a Chinese artist called "Hidden Dream" (Phyllia). This girl has seen the world, from Korea to Norway, from Norway to France, Spain and back to Norway. Now Malaysia.

The girls and i had quite a blast with Pettibon's photo-shoot (trying on so many different color wigs but we love her as a blond). Pettibon picked only to wear this pair of cottage bloomers by sweet Tricia of h. jardin. I don't blame her, she traveled from a cold country to a very warm tropical country. It's gonna take her some time to get use to the new environment and the heat. The girls are trying their best to make it easy for her. I could see that going over really well.

Sweet Linnette even gifted Pettibon's favorite pink shoes and some of her favorite outfits! They are just so adorable and i am sure this girl is very happy.

Hope your first weekend in 2013 is full of good times.
Have a good one out there.
Love to you.

sweetness of a friend

I'm feeling much better and in catch up mode eventhough i woke up with a nasty cold this morning (i don't know how i managed to get sick again). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my self-prescribed combination of medication, movies and a long nap will contribute to a speedy recovery.

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. The gorgeous dresser above is just a part of my miniature kitchen gift from a lovely friend, Vicky, who happens to be amazing and so talented, i could gush about her for hours.

The little details are unbelievable. She even made me little beautiful items to go along with the dresser ~ swoon! A while ago, i chatted with Vicky about making a Kitchen roombox for Coco. I was seeking advice from her with miniature funitures and she gifted me this dresser. Thank YOU for your overwhelming generosity, Vicky. I LOVE each and every thing you sent. Coco loves them too.

This dresser even have functional drawers! The theme totally matches my shabby chic rose kitchen roombox. It's a dream come true to be able to collect some of Vicky's gorgeous work! Pretty fantastic, wouldn't you say? I would. I'm over the moon.

I love having a friend in United Kingdom.
I have another miniature project to show you very soon.
Until then, be well!
Love to you and yours.

time for a change

After it being up in the air for a while, it's probably safe to say that i am finally getting everything sorted out and moving to a new job opportunity some time this April (soon). As expected, i'm feeling a wide range of emotions about this move.

As you can probably understand, i've been dealing with a lot of sadness about moving away from all the great friends i have made in my current company. I am going to miss them so much. They know who they are. I love them to bits and can't imagine not seeing them every weekday.

I don't even know exactly where this new job opportunity will lead me, i just know that it's time for a change. Because the flipside of having an extremely long years of comfort level with something that is the same, is the potential to overlook the new, and squeezes out the possibility for any new wonderful times to happen in place of what was.

I am going to stay open to how everything in my life, both professionally and personally evolves, and to do my best to arrive at all of my experiences being the best person i can be in that moment. And trusting (something i'm still working on and i still need small reminders) that everything is working just as it should, even when i can't quite see exactly how it is coming together. Because when i trust, life flows easier and i feel so much better.

But on the flipside of all this, i can hardly wait to land in the new place and see what the future holds for me there. Good things are defintely on the horizon for me. That I know.

A special thanks to sweet Wini, Pei Li and Vicky, for walking along side with me during the times of uncertainty. You have been so kind to me. Spring is indeed a wonderful time for new beginnings! (Vicky you are so right on this)

It's a beautiful life. It really is.
Onward and forward!
Love to you and yours.

i heart mail. yes i do.

I've been meaning to post some mail goodies during the Valentine's week. Better late than never.

It might sound silly, but there is nothing quite like receiving a surprise package filled with amazing goodies from Canada by the lovely Koralee. The packaging alone is amazing, but opening the cupcake paper cups stickers covered, beautiful Canada stamp laden package to find such lovely treasures is indescribable.

Koralee is such a sweet lady. If you don't know her, you should drop by her blog and take a look around. I always enjoy her lovely posts, which happen to be full of beautiful photos and handmade treats.

The green tea and that adorable "Arts and crafts keep you sane" book pretty much sent me over the moon. Very dainty and pretty fantastic, wouldn't you say? I would.

More soon.
I'm off to make me a cup of organic hot lips.
Happy Sunday and wishing you a lovely merry week ahead.
Love to you and yours.

welcome Dragon year

This weekend is full to the brim with Chinese New Year prep and merriment. It's a tradition to take a drive to Chinatown during this festive season. As anticipated, the trip to Chinatown was full of good times ~ with hours of wandering around selecting Chinese New Year cookies, lanterns and a few goodies for the little apartment. My sister and i even managed to soak up some sunshine and some exercise.

I'm looking forward to wonderful lazy days, naps, a goodly amount of tasty food and drink is also definitely on the list. It's a good opportunity for me to THANK YOU for reading, for commenting, for emailing me just to say hello, and most of all, for reminding me that so much good exists in the world. May you and yours have a wonderful Dragon 2012!

Happy holidays to you and the ones you love.
Love to you and yours.

Sincerely Yours

I'm keeping the holiday decorations extremely simple this year. I put out a few new things with a little table-top tree in my little creative space. I'm looking forward to Christmas breakfast, a tradition to watch this Christmas movie and bust a move or two to my favorite jingle tunes.

Even my little shy girl is dress for the occasion with her adorable brown reindeer hat. Feeling very bright and cheery around here indeed.

Merry Christmas and God bless us, every one!
Love to you and yours.