in preparation ...

Mom has started her long leave from work in preparation of my elder brother's wedding. I can hardly believe it's in 2 weeks time! We went shopping on Thursday for all the things needed for the traditional gift exchange. I was driving, alighting Mom, SIL and her mom as they went to buy things as I looked for a parking spot.

We also managed to buy little baskets for the flower girl and boy! Mom sewed them up to match ANGBAO baskets... so cute right??


matching corsages
*recycled from my Cousin's wedding 7 years ago!! together with the big ANGBAO baskets*


On my side, I enlisted the help of Cousin J to make a frame layout to put at the reception area at the Wedding dinner. It's great to have a good crop session after a long time! It's also amazing to see how quickly and decisive J places embellishments while I take forever to do so!



Scrapping with someone else always motivates and inspires me to scrap and with possible layouts in mind! Since there were a couple of photos left over from what J printed, I went home and continued to scrap :) and here it is...

I love everything about it... from the backing paper from BG to the embellishments and I finally digged into July somo kit!!! i absolutely heart the little love word that is printed on the paper too!


Another Layout I did of my Cousins... if i remember correctly this is one of the rare photos of us together! We've never really posted for photos... what a treasure to keep :D




Have a great week everyone! :)

SO loved....

Younger bro called on Sunday - the weekly phonecall from States reporting that he is ALIVE and doing well.



With my elder bro's wedding coming up, lots more to talk about over the phone with last minute prep that he might be able to help with (?) or what he is to expect when he comes back that wedding week.




Anywayz! great news from that little kind brother who has certainly grown up lots during his 1 half year away...


he's thinking of getting mom & I a bag each... He was asking about the size that we would like so now i'm wondering is it this?


or?

or?

:D good to be the only dd at home? keke...

and what is all the nonsense about being a middle child??? i am so not attention seeking !!! HA

oh gosh!

it's NOVEMBER!

Crazy busy month it's gonna be!

To tick off from the ever growing long lists of to-do/followup with:

1. decide on job!! i need more info 1st!
   
   
2. Proposal for further studies
   
   
3. Brother's wedding - I can hardly believe it's this month... and the *quabbles* that has been going on at my place!?!?! - I can safely say *he/my family is/are SO not ready* - at least I have clothes to wear for the day?? haha
   
   
4. Help Mom prepare things for the exchange of gifts and for actual day.
   
   
5. Clean up house for wedding!!! - it's not my mess that I have to clean up though
   
   
6. I need to scrap! I've been buying a *fair* bit of irresistable SB products and I've hardly touched them!
   
   
7. Prepare for company incentive trip - is it already Nov? and 1 year in this company??
   
   
8. Tick off another ever growing list of things to do at office - reportts/proposals/planning - arghhh
   

I should be happy that there's only 8 things on my list?
there is always a silver lining in the cloud right?

&

after november...

... it's DECEMBER!!! when the shop starts to beckon with all the X'Mas sales!!
arghh... I am so glad I work far away from town!! *or am i??* >_<

my other favourite past time!!

SHOPPING! as in for clothes! something that I've not done for a long time... I am a sucker for shopping *DUHHH* but I am also particular about the types of clothes that I part my hard earned cash for!! Recently with all the fashion, it is really difficult for me to buy something that I truly like.

A couple of great finds that I made these few days are:

A quaint little shop at Haji Lane: http://soonlee.wordpress.com/
I am not a big fan of quirky, arty-farty kind of clothes or vintage that is usually sold at Haji Lane, although I am a great fan of such clothes! * just don't dare to wear them * hehe... This particular shop sells clothes that I like personally, lots of classic pieces that is so wearable for day and night functions, work and casual! Had to get that cute cardi that I saw when I was there!

--> confession! i think i am addicted to cardigans! I have so many!!

There's this other shop that sells lots of cardigans as well! I really can't remember the name. I am currently wearing my fav grey knitted cardi from them! What's so great about it? It's the length, the colour and it doesn't crease if I put it in my bag!

No harm taking a walk down Haji Lane to check out the various shops too!


Another great place I like is ESPRIT factory outlets for basic office wear like pants or skirts. Prices are usually 50-60% off the usual prices and sometimes with luck it's even 70-80% off! How wrong can one go with black / grey pants?

Other sale that I went for was the Raoul sale last weekend! I stood there for 2 hours!!! grabbing 6 shirts and 3 cufflinks for my elder bro, and 2 shirts for myself! It was a friday mid afternoon and the number of people there were CRAZY!!! lots of young executives and lots of even younger looking crowd grabbing clothes like there's no tomorrow! Prices for a shirt was $50 but as the numbers increase the price went down to 2 for $80 and 3 shirts for $90! come on! $30 for a Raoul shirt?? pretty good deal hey?

Also busy looking for nice dresses / gown for my bro's wedding next month *Gasp* gown is more or less settled but still keeping a look out! any good suggestions anyone? Dresses are the hardest thing for me to find! They are not cheap for a good one :( maybe I am just to fussy?

oh well! think my recent shopping escapades are to make up for the past few months of not shopping for *clothes* .

oh gosh! now i miss kookai.. hehe...

*shopping happy SMILE*

finally...

A couple of layouts that I did the past week.

My other hobby: jewellery making

{ my other luv}

The "WOO" side of the family...

{ it's all RELATIVE }

An altered mirror for a colleague who is leaving my team. It has been great knowing her. I gave it on friday and she loved it! :D

I think I am really into altered art! it's really cool to do and plus I seldom have lots of pictures to scrap about. To keep SB going I tend to alter stuff nowadays! hehe.. and plus it's so ego to scrap about me all the time rite?

***********

Roughly 5 more weeks to my bro's wedding... lots of things to prepare for my side of the family and of course the ever important: trying to find a gown/matching shawl/matching accessories has been keeping my mom and myself busy!

Also gotta pack up the house to make it nice n clean for the day! that i am dreading.. haha..

lost and found

Not entirely pleased by this layout!


Was trying pretty hard to complete it. Inspiration from Labeltulip gallery.


Still recovering from a bout of flu/sore throat, fever that likes to make its appearance every other few days!

Hope I get well soon! and have the mojo to scrap! :(

gosh!

introducing....

Lee Baby gal No 2!

to cousin/brother at the other end of the world, say hello to your new little niece :D


Cousin J popped on Tuesday 9.10.2007.

went to visit mommy and baby that evening! Both mommy and baby are doing great! Cousin J said it was an easy birth :D *kudos for her bravery!* She was walking around when I was at the hospital. Yippee...


G was wonderfully great! There were so many cute moments at the hospital! She acted like the real big Jie-Jie! She held the baby really gently, talking to her.

once we went out to buy some biscuits, G was so cute.. she rambled off telling mei mei

"I'm only going out for a while, I'll be right back okie, mei-mei?"


When BB cried, we convinced G that she needed to sing so that BB will stop crying! and BB did when G started to sing.. such a coincidence! We all clapped! *proud grin*



Happy mommy with Lee gal no 1 :D

and a happy ku-ku writing this post :P

[Tang]

Recently the topic that has been on the tip of the tongue of many around me is GIVING CREDIT! At work, my boss has been asking my colleagues and I do come up with a complete guide. We were using parts of information from some books and a large chunk from another single source. From the beginning of the whole discussion, we were careful that we were copying wholesale especially when it comes to books about plagiarism or copyrights - for fear of being sued. My boss and I kept reading the fine prints with regards to how much we are allowed to use the information. We are no legal whiz, so we had to break up each and every phrase just to make sure we understood and know where we stand! We never DENIED that we took info from the sources so I added a footnote of "adaptation", giving CREDIT to the original authors for their brilliant work, especially HARDWORK.

I found that GIVING CREDIT is also really important in the daily life around me! Even in SB, where layouts, ideas, and techniques are so easily available on the net, gallerys, blogs, etc. I always wonder if the layout I make is closely following anyone's. Granted, I am not a genius in creating stuff and often I am inspired by what others have done and I would like to attempt it as well. I feel it is COMMON COURTESY to ask for PERMISSION to attempt something along the same lines as the ORIGINAL CREATOR, rather then just rip it off and get comments like "wow you are so talented", when IT'S SO OBVIOUSLY NOT AS I WAS JUST FOLLOWING SOMEONE ELSE'S CREATION?

For this layout, I GIVE CREDIT to:

Cousin J - who always blow me off with her fabulous layouts and most recently her lines of album covers!

jamie waters - love her photography, and clean simple lines in her layouts!

&

to everyone around me *near & far* who INSPIRE me everyday!

I GIVE MY CREDITS and *hugz* to you all!

1st class @ a LSS

I attended my very 1st *official* SB class at MWL last weekend. I really like Aida's {page in a bloom shadow box} so that was my choice when it came to redeeming a class.


Aida was really patient and clear in her instructions. *Thanx Aida!*

Only bummer was
1) no available shadow box . It was all sold out and we have to wait 3 weeks for new shipment to arrive . (so in the meantime, I used the ever versatile Ikea frames *heart*)

2) no instructions. I am so anal that I forget the instructions!!!

This is what I did during the class -
a wedding feel kinda bloom for my bro and future SIL...
hope they like it... :D

Had a picture of G lying around, so I decided to make a fun/cute bloom for her!
I absolutely love the colours here! :P

Oh! update on my flower noteboard pressie! Little Gal's mama loved it! yippee!!! was a great party at safra toa payoh gym... lots of kids, lots of adults mingling, lots of food! nice to see the my ex students again... Thank K for the invite :D

I think I'm addicted to altering and this page in a bloom project! haha...

way over...

yepz... national day is way way over... but since i took a nice picture during the preview parade that I went to, I decided to scrap that cool picture that I had.


not prizes for guessing the inspiration of the colour theme!

TFL !!

original...

Before scrapbooking, there was jewellery making that interest me... *another expensive hobby!*

The appeal came to me recently again and I've been collecting interesting things which I could take apart and redesign to make it my own *albeit inspiration from books and other designs*

These were made last night....

some interesting beads

another set of beads with different colour theme from the necklace above

A little gold leaf attached to the necklace for a bit of fun!

close up of the floral design of the main charm in both necklaces

Both necklaces are for sale!
Great ORIGINAL & HANDMADE gift for someone special....

Interested? Email me at fiona.woo@gmail.com to enquire
Thanx!

thanx to my elder bro who volunteered to model the necklace while I take the pictures!

can you feel...

the WIND???

succumbed to temptations and of course VANITY and went to extend my eyelashes!


took a while for the people around me to noticed it! but who cares! i like it.. although it can be a bit hard to manage at times!

Oh well.. all for the price of beauty right?

a pressie

not very good at altering things. As I mentioned before, no formal lessons taken but listening to advices on altering stuff from more experience scrappers!

Thanx for the advice! *you know who you are!*

the flower note board with stamped writing pads

close up of name and painted peg
her personalized board with her name

The flower board took me quite a while to complete.. I find altering things require lots of 'strategy'. knowing what come 1st and the next step forward. I had to be very clear with with I wanted to do! Well, very pleased with the final product! End result is amazing nice! hehe... although I couldn't embellish anymore even if my life depended on it!

Hope the little 5 year old gal who's receiving this noteboard will like her present! well, at least I hope her mummy likes it too! :D

I have to say altered stuff sure make a great gift!

TFL!
Have a great weekend!

on a high!

I am proud to announce that I am on a scrapping high... been doing layouts but slow to upload them... hehe... cos I wanted something to blog about? hehe...

{happiness is all in a smile}
{ me *heart* Birkenstock } close up of the title, i cut out parts of the box.
the word Birkenstock is from the box.
also cut out the side with the picture of my favourite Birkenstock model.

TFL!

eta: Thanx Cousin J for the lovely OA papers! Isn't it great to have a cousin who is on 2 *probably - I have to be politically correct!* most wonderful kit clubs? Even though OA pps has not been released in SG yet, I had my hands on it for the longest time and couldn't bear to use it until now! hehe... THANX again!

i *heart* ikea frames

Another layout in my favourite white Ikea box frame especially for my mom's friend. This time I had a photo to work with! However, I also thought I wanted to allow changeability of photos so I did not adhere the picture to the layout and used hambly overlay as a "pocket" for the photo.

i *heart* Hambly overlays!



Been spending a fair bit of moo-lah ($) on SB stuff! arghh... I have been warned that's it's always like that after a CHA when all the new releases are out! Sad though as I kinda feel mojo-less... due to a couple of unfortunate SB discoveries.

*chin up, shoulders up FIONA!*

it's the weekend, go and have fun! hehe.. yepz.. will do just that tonight!

{ 4 each other }

Another layout using August's SOMO kit.
Totally loving the different prints in the pattern papers in the kit!

Did you see the Sept kit that's up? Oh my.... loving it as well... did you see that cute ribbon that looks like a measuring tape and all the stamps and the papers! NICE!!!!

Totally...

hate *really hate* the long agonising wait that I am enduring at this moment. it's been like this for the past 3 days! argghhh when will my torture end *sweetly i hope* !!!

{ look here! }

I had to dig into my new supplies from SOMO kit... Totally *heart* the July kit and can't bear to use it... So i decided that I should start scrapping with the Aug kit 1st.

photo from my elder bro's wedding photo shoot.
Don't mind me saying it again, ain't the kids just cute! hehe...

Thanx cousin J and IG for a wonderful crop session with lots of snacks and the discovery that Sara-Lee has yummy Apple Pie. Darling G woke up from her nap to discover how yummy Daiso's Caramel Corn was and kept coming to the table to reach her little hand into the packet! Thinking of it now, should've got the camera ready! We were all just too busy scrapping, chatting and playing with G!

mixed feelings

just "saw" an ex-college friend online.. after saying "HI" the next message was... "I'm getting married"

That was probably 15 minutes ago that I talked to her over msn... Now I am left with lots of mixed feelings! I am definitely happy for her. It has not been easy for her to have come so far in her relationship. Truthfully, it was almost like a chase around *half* the globe, from w/i Australia to Singapore... her boyfriend faithfully followed her to Singapore when she decided to work here for 2 years.. and faithfully followed her back to Australia when she decided she had had enough of him and of Singapore *Singapore not in a bad way*.

Now she is getting married *in Nov! 10 days before my brother's! I hope I can make it for her wedding in Aussieland* ! Oh darn am I surprised and it just makes me wonder about my own perspective in life. Interestingly, the topic of marriage *much to my dismay* has been THE topic surround me - questions were posed by"concerned" colleagues and friends. My reason *truthfully* is that I am not ready and I don't think I suit marriage with such a strong-headed character.

But boy oh boy, my close friends around me are certainly joining the ranks of marriage life and leaving me all alone....

Relax...

... it is times like this, when I am feeling kinda burnt out that I really miss ...

Freo

*fremantle, Perth*


I love walking that stretch of road leading to the weekend market for a nice hot homemade savory crepe, immersing in the sights and sounds of a bustling market, walking by *and of course into* the rows and rows of eclectic mix of clothings, savouring the paper wrapped and awfully scrumptious meal of fish & chips at cicerellos & of course the sea... such clear waters and such peace.

how i wish i could be there everyday! I really miss the year that I stayed near Freo, where it was my 'playground' every weekend!

A request (II)

Yesterday was a friend's mom's birthday, not knowing what to give, I was commissioned to do something for the lovely lady...

A pretty tall call as I had no photo to work with and 2 days advance notice!!

Cracked my head as I took my 1 hour bus journey to work and I finally came up with:

I so *heart* the ikea 3-D frames...

close-up of the embellishments!

Also not knowing what to title it, I just gave it a very general one - Memories - so that happy mummy can constantly change photos and it will still suit! :D

I have to say

.
.
.
.
.
.

I AM VERY PROUD OF MYSELF

and totally pleased / loving with the final product as well ...


*Update on my SOMO kits!* It has landed in Singapore and safe and sound at cousin's J's place... hehe.. can't wait to use it! Yippee

*YEO* dudes

Not to be *biased* and scrapping only about my niece G, i also scrapped my 2 nephews (well I get more pictures of her esp from her mom!).

Big K is 4 and small K is 3. It was small K's birthday. Big K knows I am a teacher so he is rather well-behaved with me around *at least I hope it is that way* while small K is kinda temperamental at times. But what I really love about these 2 boys is how they look out for each other ALL the time *well almost - at least when I am there to witness it*. If I have something for 1 kiddo, he will automatically ask if the brother has it too. so sweet right?

on the scrapping front...

I had an interesting conversation with IG today. We were discussing STYLES, as in scrapping styles. So I told her, it's so coincidental that she mentions about a personal style of scrapping for I was just thinking about that yesterday as I was scrapping the layout for my nephews. Initially when I started scrapping I had so much issues with finding out my style or rather the *composition* of a layout. After a few layouts, I realised that my style is "cut-cut-cut" (cutting out flowers or papers) , or so I thought.

Then came yesterday, as I was doing this layout, I had so much idea for it as I started taking out the papers, but then halfway through, I lost my mojo! It took me an awfully long time just to be satisfied with choosing the right embellishment, the placement and the final layout!

IG conveniently pointed out an old layout that I did of G that she thought should be my style! To be honest, that layout was done with lots of help from cousin J, the most talented CRAFTER that I know *who despite being 7 months preggie is actively scrapping/sewing/working*.

Oh well.... I might just explore my style in that route but also experiment more styles at the same time. In fact, the more I think about how I want to create an LO the more stressful it becomes and the harder it is for me to create one! No wonder they say:

YOU ARE YOUR OWN BIGGEST CRITIC!

I so totally agree with that ;P

busy...

been pretty busy since i last posted preparing for some altered projects to be given away as birthday presents... SB is such a great way to make handmade present especially for people!

alphas and flower wood board at 'resting' after I applied a layer of mod podge over them... can't wait for the next stage to continue with altering... hehe

personally I find altering quite a challenge and requires lots of meticulous planning as well! ... ok, granted i've never been to any 'formal' SB classes to learn creating layouts *other than going for crops & a lesson with cousin J* or learning to alter *although i meant to do that*. so now it's my 1st foray into the world of *alter* so wish me luck! and lots of creative juices

another BKK LO

I have resisted buying a cutterpede for the longest time because

1) It is far too expensive for my pockets
2) I have been 'trained' to use the traditional cutting mat and ruler to cut paper! that is the poor kindy teacher way
3) storage space!


I started this LO approx 12am in the morning... quite an unearthly hour for me but I was quite inspired by my new cutterpede that I bought 2nd-hand from Pris. Thanx for the great deal & new mat! I surprised myself by completing the LO in around half an hour! of course it helped to have a cutterpede to do all the paper cutting.

at 12.30am in the morning, my brain's kinda dead.
i just took a few brads and placed them randomly
i also started to staple ribbons to the LOs in random and I totally love the effect it made!
something so unlike me... as I am quite anal about positioning of embellishments! hehe

TFL!
have a great weekend!

completed...

As promised a photo of the birkies that I have for a LO... took another picture from top view. I am still contemplating with picture to scrap! I am ADDICTED! as you can see the new pair of birkies (silver) is so CLEAN, I can't bear to use it!

also finally completed the altered box.. nothing fanciful with the embellishments! it is so hard to put more there without looking cluttered!

and just came back shopping from spotlight with IG... yippee I have more projects coming along! :D SB is so great for making handmade wonderfully thought out gifts for birthdays!

smiley grin

nothing beats waking up to a great msg:

Hi. Better start taking pictures now.

Cos all your kits are coming with my shipping!

It's been sent last friday. So would be there this weekend! :)

Excited???

Of course I'm excited! hehe...

*jumping up and down like a mad woman*

Thanx cousin J for the sms :D I'm camping over to your place this weekend to pounce on the poor postman the moment he arrives to get my hands on the kit!! :D

still....

... feeling under the weather :( Nursing that sore throat with lots of "nin jiom' sweets. It's so funny how at the end of the day I feel okie and think "great! I should be okie tomorrow" but no I would wake up feeling that dry throat and 'heat' from my body! Not good at all...

However, I did feel better yesterday :) After teaching, went out with Mom and Bro to do some serious damage on our pocket - custom-designed jewellery - oh darn! I love them too "think pink and white* and has been seriously dropping hints that mom shouldn't give it away. But as we made 2 sets, she said we could keep 1 set - as it is meant for future purposes! erm.. nono! idea is: I GET ONE SET AND MOM GETS THE OTHER... oh well.. as the only daughter I still get to keep my mom's jewellery right - hey! stop that the evil look!! I am not eyeing my mom's jewellery... I've been contributing to it the past years since I started to work but of course not expensive pieces! But great pieces nonetheless *wink*... ANYWAY back to the subject. I love the pieces made! so I want to keep them too! maybe it's more the matter that I dun like to share, in this case I don't like the fact that another person has the same piece of item that I have! wahaha... I AM a spoilt brat!

After that serious spot of shopping, mom and I went down to Raffles City for some 'lighter' shopping... to pick up the birkies that M kindly reserved for me! There was a crazy number of people in that shop! and Yes! I am one of those crazy people who keep buying birkies! but they are oh-so comfy! IG and I were talking and we said we should do a LO on our birkies! I have to date 5 pairs and counting... not a lot considering an ex-colleague of mine said she has 19 *i am sure i did not hear wrongly* pairs and they are all madrids! I am still SANE!!

I've not been to raffles city for a long time and my! it has changed alot - renovation and shops moving to different levels! mom and I had trouble finding the foodcourt and ended up asking a tourist where it is! erm... ironic isn't it? a local asking a tourist where the foodcourt is? haha...

************************

But today... woke up not feeling good again :(
Staying home to do a bit of cleaning, laundry and chauffeuring...

totally feels good to just be at home all by myself once in awhile doing things that I wanna do without someone bugging me from behind! keke...

and yes! I still need to finish my altered project :(

A request

A colleague saw a card that I made for a friend's wedding and requested if I could do a couple of birthday cards for her. As it was meant to be sent overseas together, I did not want to have too much embellishments on it (to add to the postage weight) . Obviously 1 is for a guy and the other a gal! Spelt the guy's name wrong... you know it's not steVEN.... it's the french way... STEPHEN! arghh had to redo the name.


Glad my colleague liked it anyways! and hope the birthday boy and gal like them too!

a change indeed

I finally decided to change the skin of my post, after finding it totally boring. Now it's bright and cheery... a bit too bright? erm....

it's almost 10pm. Thought I would hit the sack soon after reaching home from work! But obviously not! played around searching for downloadable blog skins hence what i chose. (if it's too glaring do let me know and i'll change the skin again to sometime more pleasing) .

anyway I think the sore throat that I felt was coming along is not FAKE.. it's real! but then i've been making myself go to work as my appointments are back to back and I really need to be in office to clear up and continue with some work! (I can't believe I'm saying that!). The weather is getting to me as well! arghh... hope it's going to be a better week soon!

on the scrapping front... i've been trying to do some altering and experimented with mod podge... i think i was quick successful with it after getting detailed instructions from I. However, feeling under the weather has not helped in 'sending' any mojo my way to complete the project! hope that starts to pick up soon as I really need to complete it soon... hopefully *fingers crossed*

hope everyone is feeling much better than me! and that the horrid weather is not getting to you as it is getting to me :(
Take care you all!

Photo shoot

It has been a busy weekend trying to help co-ordinate my elder brother's photo shoot... So this layout took 3 days to complete! The only lesson I learnt from it was never to do that cos I totally lost my mojo at the end and just added 1 -2 things and that was it!

so this being my end product.....
Results from the photo shoots!

Kids took a while to warm up. Big K (in the vest) was the most photogenic one of the lot! Even the photographer said so! G was in a few other shots needed a bit of coaxing to smile but totally loved the hairband and flowers she held onto. Small K needed more coaxing and seeing kor kor taking pictures he wanted to join in too!
A fun enjoyable event nonetheless! :D


oh darn... back to work tomorrow after a nice long weekend! Erm.... do i feel that sore throat/fever coming along??? :P