Memories on Display

I am a firm believer that photographs are moments captured on paper. Every photo holds a memory or a story. Countless are the times when it has taken me an extra second to recall the memory behind an old photo. Without the photo, would that memory be otherwise lost in my sub-conscious sea of thoughts?

While I have multiple external hard disk drives containing systematically labelled folders of photos in digital storage (a back-up for my back-up), I also like to have as many photos as I can printed and displayed. There is only so much surface and wall space for picture frames before your house starts looking like a cluttered mess. There has to be alternatives.

My most recent solution involved trying to be innovative in my crocheting (goodbye scarfs and hats), magnets, and making use of the fridge as an additional surface for display wonderful memories. Also, the hubs moved into a new office and wanted to have some photos up on his whiteboard (I picked ‘manly’ colours for him to counter the doily frills).

These magnetic crochet doily frames are the solution to your kitchen’s photo needs is right here. I wasn’t able to decide which colours looked the best so I ended up making a whole bunch of them in different colours and putting them up on Etsy. Only 4 of them are up for now, but I actually had these made in 10 different colours –sheepish grin-. Oh, the woes of not being able to make up your mind!

Make it your OWN

Can’t believe I haven’t shared this yet (with all the traveling I’ve been doing in the past month) – the latest addition to my repertoire of crafted products. You know that feeling where you’re just bursting to share something with anyone who would listen cos you’re so excited about something? That’s how I felt after I made this.

Make her happy with one of these | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

These made-to-order personalised notebooks make perfect gifts of any occasion (or even no occasion at all). You can be sure that I’ll be churning these out as gifts to my own friends and loved ones!

(See more)

Restocked: Crochet Cross Bookmarks

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

Made more of these lovely bookmarks. Fell in love with these ever since I saw one in my mum’s Bible when I was a little girl. Since then, I’ve learnt to make some of my own, and I’m glad I did because they make really great gifts!

(More pictures here)

New Year, New Phone

I’ve fallen off the grid for the past week because we were back in Singapore celebrating the Lunar New Year. I also took the chance to get the new iPhone 6!

I’d already planned to get it last year but it was always out of stock during the period we were back. I did crochet a phone sock in anticipation though, and I finally get to use it!

My wedding photo-adorned phone fits into the phone sock perfectly. | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

Love how tidy my stitches are. | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

My phone snuggly within. | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

P.S Happy Lunar New Year to all those celebrating it! Technically, 10 more days of festivities to go!

Gifts for the Festive Season

The festive season is here, which means orders at the Etsy shop have gone up these past weeks. Would like take some time to share some of the made-to-order travel journals that I’ve stitched.

Ethiopia | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

This was ordered by a thoughtful friend as a gift for someone taking a trip to Ethiopia.

Australia and New Zealand | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

I wondered how I would squeeze two countries in one cover. But I must say, I really loved how this turned out! This is one of my favourites.

Florida | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

This was also ordered as a gift. Love the colours on this one! And it made me reminisce about my trip to Orlando the whole time I was making this.

Fresh from the Oven

So here’s what I’ve been up to craft-wise.

My recent creative pursuits | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

As you can see, I’m still working on my drawing/doodling skills. But mainly, I’ve really been making great headway in my crochet projects.

I’ve learnt to crochet alphabets! Oh the things I could do with them!

For starters, I decided to stitch the initials of two of my good friends onto my hand-stitched notebooks for their birthdays! So far, I’ve sent one of them off, and I’m mailing the second one out today. I’m so excited for them to receive it! Of course, they don’t know it’s coming their way – it’s a surprise!

Looking forward to the multitude of other projects I could do with the crochet alphabets!

The other project I’m mighty pleased with is a set of heart-shaped coasters. They turned out so pretty I could hardly bear to use them. I’m sure everyone will love them too!

Love these coasters | Photo credit: Juxxtapose

And so, I’m very excited to announce that I have put this product up in my Etsy Shop cos I really want to spread the love around! You can click the link for more pictures!

P.S The notebooks with crocheted initials will be coming up soon! (:

Bobble Stitch Zip-Pouch

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

It’s been awhile since I posted anything I’ve made. I’ve been sporadic in creating items cos I’ve been distracted by other pursuits like trip-planning and reading. Getting easily distracted is a bad habit I have to shake off at some point. I do love trip-planning and reading like a rabbit loves her carrots though.

Here’s the latest from my workshop – I chose the red, white, blue combination cos I thought it would be a vibrant shock of colours (as opposed to my usual muted choices of whites and greys). But it ended up looking a bit 4th of July-ish, which I guess is kinda cool too.

September was a ‘no-flying’ month for us. But it’s the first of OCTOBER! And we’re flying off the Dubai this evening (: May your Octobers be filled with cool autumn breezes, beautiful fiery leaves, brand new adventures, and exciting experiences. Have a great October everyone, and happy long weekend (for the relevant countries)!

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

There’s this drink they make in the Malay prata shops called Neslo. What it essentially is, is coffee (Nescafe) mixed with Milo (a delicious chocolately energy drink). I used to drink it all the time when I was staying at the hostel of my University. Being young and having a healthy metabolic rate meant that we frequently had suppers out at the Malay prata shop just behind our hostel. And this was my go-to drink. (yes, I could still fall asleep after drinking this caffeine-infused energy beverage)

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

Obviously, I cannot find my Neslo here, and although it sounds like it could be easily replaced with Mocha, it still tastes different. Incidentally, we just found and bought Milo capsules for our Dolce Gusto coffee machine during our last trip back home, and it hit me that I could make my own Neslo!

I mixed the Milo capsules with a capsule of coffee and it turned out pretty good! (: Although with twice the serving, I ended up with a huge cup of it. Not complaining about having too much though. I slurped it all up.

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Update: The Travel Envelope has been put up for sale here!

 

The Travel Envelope

NEW and coming soon on Juxxtapose is this travel envelope that I’ve crocheted. I travel pretty frequently so I know it really helps to have all your travel documents in one place. This envelope-designed pouch serves this purpose.

I’ve made it just large enough to fit your passport(s), a pen (for filling out forms) and long enough to fit your boarding passes. And it’s still small enough to be slipped easily into your handbag.

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

In front, I’ve stitched on a floral ‘stamp’ as the finishing touch to the envelope.

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

And, at the back, a hidden button added under the envelope’s flap to secure your items.

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

And there you have it – the travel envelope, all ready to whisk you off to your next adventure!

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

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Update: The Travel Envelope has been put up for sale here!

Latest on Juxxtapose

Photo credit: Juxxtapose

Here’s what I mailed out today – first thing out of my workshop post-vacation. It’s a map of Western Europe with 4 countries marked out (can you spot the 4?). It’s also the most intricately designed travel journal I’ve stitched thus far, and I’m quite pleased with how it turned out!

Well, anyway, that’s what I’ve been up to these past couple of days.

(More on how to get your hands on this: here!)