Shopping in my Closet : A Summer Outfit

Hi guys! Today I'm introducing a new section in my blog called "Shopping in my Closet". I got this idea from a beloved aunt of mine. She lived next door from my parents' house and she would have lunch with us every Sunday. After lunch I would always ask her, "What are you going to do this afternoon?" and one of my favorite replies from her was, "I'm going shopping in my closet!" And she did have a magical closet -- I would run to her every time I needed a cute party outfit!  

Shopping in my closet. Isn't that a blah to TADA! idea? We tend to accumulate a lot of stuff and sometimes we forget what's in there. 

Let me show you what I found: 

This is a kimono made from sheer, light fabric.  It doesn't have any buttons or closures so the front drapes gracefully. 

It was a gift from a dear friend of mine. But I've never worn it. Eeeep! Not because I don't like it but because I don't know how to wear it. 

But with a little more digging in my closet, I came up with these combinations:

Kimono + blue tank top + jeans = an outfit for movie night or brunch with the gang that I can wear with sandals and a straw bag...TADA!

Kimono + white top + denim cut-off shorts = I can wear this to a backyard party or a day at the beach...TADA!

I'll wear it with my favorite hat and a pair of sneakers or flip flops...TADA!

Maybe I can also wear the kimono with a plain sleeveless dress or as a bathing suit cover-up. I would love to know if you have other suggestions, too.

I hope this post has inspired you to shop in your own closet and turn your everyday fashion from blah to TADA!

Happy Father's Day

I love coloring books because they remind me of childhood and at the same time, I am able to create something and enjoy moments of mindfulness.

Today I chose this tranquil lotus pond with a few golden dragonflies.

The lotus flower grows in muddy waters but rises above it and blooms beautifully. Dragonflies, likewise, are symbolic of overcoming times of hardship.  These kind of remind me of dads and fathers -- the ones with lots of love to give and who go out of their way for their family.

So to all the Dads out there, THANK YOU for everything! Happy Father's Day!

Sketching Faces like Jane Davenport

I first heard about Jane Davenport at the craft store. She launched a line of paints and travel sketchbooks that really caught my fancy. I checked out her work and was truly impressed.

She draws these whimsical and dreamy portraits: 

I love the femininity of her ladies, her endless imagination, and her creative use of mixed media.

She has this beautifully written (and illustrated) book where she teaches her style of portraiture.

The book starts with a compilation of materials.

And each page has an easy step-by-step process on how to build the elements of the face.

Then she demonstrates how to use colors and layer materials.

Because I want to incorporate people in my watercolor paintings and travel journals, I read the book from cover to cover and practiced along. I have a long road ahead, but here are a few photos tracking my progress:

Trying out scale and balance. And sketching eyes and lips.

Practicing noses and ears.

Adding color and trying to get skin tones right.

I sketch as often as I can (here on old date books; it's a good way to recycle...TADA!) Practice makes you better!

And here are few attempts at mixed media: 

Next time, I hope to show you new, more colorful, and improved portraits. 

Car Plate Crafts

Well hello there! Thanks for stopping by today.

Whenever I go to flea markets, I stumble upon a box of old car plates and it makes me wonder what uses there are for them. Unless the country or state printed on it has specific meaning to you, then maybe you'd go collecting them.

Recently, I've seen several creative ways to turn these car plates from blah to TADA! 

Let me show you:

Car plates are cut up to spell words or names.

Why not frame car plates for sentimental or motivational reasons? As a souvenir of your first car, the place you grew up in, or the city your future self would like to live in.

A group of car plates dresses up this restaurant wall -- a nod to well-traveled owners.

Several car plates molded to form this star...TADA! 

These last two photos were from a New Jersey hotel that had really hip, but not too precious, art work. I think these car plates highlighted the creative vibe of the hotel and showed off some state pride.

How about you, what would you do with old car plates?

Mirror, Mirror

How was your weekend, friends? 

I got this freebie from a community event. 

It's a useful compact mirror. But I thought it was quite blah. 

Here's how I turned it into a TADA!

I used glue, scrapbook paper, a pair of scissors, a craft punch to yield rounded edges, and dimensional magic glue.

I cut the paper to fit the cover (and also to hide the brand) and with the help of the craft punch, I rounded the sides. I glued this onto the lid.

Then I put a layer of the dimensional magic glue for a raised, glossy finish.

I let it dry for several hours.

And here it is, my cute and oh-so girly compact mirror! TADA!

Stand By Me

Around the same time last year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married. And just recently, their baby boy arrived!

Like most people around the world, I watched their wedding rites on television. I love a good wedding, and one that involves royalty -- even more! I watched when Prince Charles wed Lady Diana and also when Prince William married Kate Middleton. The pomp and circumstance, the guests, the hats, the outfits, the first kiss...I adore all of that!

Even if it was a big wedding, it still felt intimate and personal. The love between Harry and Meghan was palpable. 

One of the memorable moments during their wedding was when the choir sang "Stand By Me."  Here's another version where they sang aboard an airplane. What a treat to the passengers!

What an appropriate song for matrimony!

Here are the lyrics. It was a good excuse to practice my brush calligraphy. My favorite line is "No I won't be afraid, just as long as you stand by me."

When we got married, my husband and I danced to "I'll Take Care of You" by Steven Curtis Chapman. How about you, do you have a favorite song that gets you all emotional? 

A Beautiful Biscuit Tin

A good friend of mine lives in Hong Kong and everytime he sees me, he always has a gift. It's usually food because food tripping is one of our favorite things to do. We always egg each other, "Here, you have to try this!", "And this!", "And this!" even if we're stuffed. And that's a mark of a true friend -- he or she wants you to take pleasure in his/her foodie discovery.

One of the things he let me try were these almond flakes. Light as air, buttery in every bite, and had just the right crunch from the slivered almonds. You can't stop at just one. Needless to say, they were polished off in very little time.  

But all was not lost because the almond flakes were packed in this adorable tin!

The bakery that makes it comes out with a new design every month to protect counterfits! I think it would be dangerous to have the bakery near me because I would be there everyday for the baked goods and to collect all the new tins that come out. LOL.

This one was designed for Mother's Day. And I could definitely feel the love between Mama Bear and Baby Bear. 

I've kept the tin with the promise that it'll always have a treat inside. When I feel like I need a snack or a sweet nibble after dinner, I just have to open the tin.  Here's what I've put inside so far: 

Molasses cookies flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger

Chocolate chip cookies with peanuts and pretzels

Fudgy chocolate Crinkles

Simple Snickerdoodles

Brown sugar shortbread

And even popcorn!

To this day, I've started quite a collection...TADA!

Do you like to keep biscuit tins, too?