Mimi's Day (Part 2)

..thankfully, all was good. He asked for a invoice and took off with the card.

On mother's day, I was presented with this...

and this...

Yes. My own husband asked me to make a card for myself. So I charged him. Fair? H was also quite chum he found a cheap florist. Details he needed to share with me. [We do have such a loving and understanding relationship don't we?!] I give him full credit for applying the stickers on the envelope.

He reasoned I'm glee when I make stuff. Uh huh. So, second mother's day and we've already resorted to me, making my own card. I'm not quite sure what to make of it. You tell me. I'm quite sure H is waiting for the day where he can ask Jellybean to draw something.

H, if you're reading. You still owe me money.

On a more serious note, we had a lovely celebration. The night before we were out with my parents, my sister and her inlaws, H took me to breakfast and I prepared a steamboat dinner that night for my family.

Hope you had a good one too.

Mimi's Day 2012 (Part 1)

Hope you had a lovely mother's day! Jellybean calls me 'mimi'. To be precise- it's always 'meeee-mi'. Hence, this post name.

At the end of last year, I started Partybaby. For those who don't know, I design invites, decor and other party stuff. Before Partybaby, I designed a few wedding invites, basic logos and made cards. Throughout all these years, I never got such a unique order as this one:-

This client showed up a day before mother's day and was very precise on what he wanted. He requested a unique mother's day card, specified the wordings and even chose his papers-colour scheme for me to work with. While I was designing his card, he was anxiously waiting just next to me- which made me VERY nervous.

I wondered whether he'd like the end product. Usually, customers with special details are more specific with their designs. Making handmade cards for such customers are...well....risky. Because of his urgent request, there wasn't much time to brain storm, nor really do a draft of the design. I knew it was a do-and-go project, one with no changing, no going back. I was just simply- screwed if it went wrong.

He was a nice man though, he asked for a quotation and agreed on the spot- despite the higher fee. He was quiet throughout the hour, just observing though not intruding- which made me more nervous.

So a while later, I came up with this...

...stay tuned....

What's occupied me

Jellybean and Partybaby.

In the past few weeks, I had another baby. Partybaby. Though I didn't have to go through nine months of pregnancy or nurse this little newborn, it has taken up any moments my real baby does not occupy.

Currently, Partybaby has a range of custom partyware and soon, some kitchenwares. In brief, you choose and place a order for a design you like, I receive the order and customise the invitation and partyware with your details. Then you can print it or even email it at your convenience.

So..lets say Molly's turning two, you give me your details and you'd get this...

 ..a digital invitation...

...a 'Molly' bunting...

...and party essentials which consist of thank you tags, canape/fork toppers party flags, buffet/name labels which tie in with your whole theme.

Then you just print it and party real hard.

Anyways...so if you'd like to know my other baby more..pop on to 

www.partybaby.com.au

H's THREE O!

H and my birthdate is exactly one week apart. So, a week later..we had more celebrations. I had this big plan- at the stroke of midnight, I'd appear with a candle on his cake to surprise him. Later that day I would surprise him by driving him to lunch and his present. But...err.. it didn't quite work that way. All of us fell sick a few days beforehand- I had spent the previous nights holding Jellybean to sleep as she had a bad fever..and the rest is history. So by the time it was H's actual birthday, we were all pretty tired and just wanted good rest.

This is how it was spent...

At the stroke of midnight, all weary eyed and just minutes after putting bub in her cot, I presented H with his ice cream cake. He blew the candle, didn't even cut the cake..and we went to sleep. Yes, pretty anti-climax aren't we.

But I do have to stress I made a cake. Despite it being a no-bake, just combine an freeze..I made it k. I made it! ...With a sick hubby, sick baby and viral me! ...Here's presenting a Connoissseur ice cream cake dolloped with Lindt chocolate and berries.

Oh..I did present my hubby with a card and present too. It was all aeroplane themed this year..in conjunction with his birthday present.

Another take on a easy 3D card. Told you I had a thing for these. Again, pretty good effort for a ill-feeling family k. Please clap. [I'm very encouraging aren't I?]

Lunch was spent in Nobu. Superb. A post about this another time but here's a peek to get your taste buds going...

Even Jellybean wanted to steal some!

H has a obsession with planes. Seriously. He can tell you which seat numbers are next to emergency exits, the seat configuration of different planes, which airline just bought how many planes and so fourth. ..So, I got him a flight simulation package and if I must say so myself- It was so cool!! He got to be a pilot for a day, got a real co pilot and flew Jellybean and myself as his passengers. Jellybean wasn't too chuffed though- she wanted to push all the buttons and destroy the headsets. Hmm.

And here it was- his first flight ever and he delayed it. Ahem.

..And here's the entrance to his plan of the day- uber cool!

He loved it...totally loved it! Yesss!!

And err...saving the best for last- we ate cheap takeout that night and went to bed. I'm a good wife aren't I?

Hope you had a lovely day love... 

Getting My Groove Back

After Jellybean's arrival, my hobbies and interests have been put aside. Cooking has been simplified to 30 minute dashes and anything else just revolves around my child.

After using 1 hour and 15 minutes to put Jellybean to sleep, I got the odd timeslot to finally make a card- in ...one year? Although it was something fast and simple, I do like the outcome. I have this new thing for 3D cards.

Congratulations cousin.

Fashion Problem Solving

Jellybean is currently undergoing a fashion crisis. I'm serious!

I love rompers on babies- they're easy for nappy changes, I don't need to think about all the mix and match stuff and they're very practical. However, Jellybean's currently at a age where dressing in a romper looks like her mum left her in in her pjs. And, we can't have you all thinking that can we?...You get me right? Ok, maybe you don't understand my crisis, but I insist.

Oh! In also have another issue; I hate how after my bub wears a onesie paired with pants, her tummy becomes segregated. Is it just Jellybean?! It's a big issue for at-home mums k? I have nothing else to think about but her tummy looking segregated.

And how about dresses for Jellybean you say? Well, I have this other ongoing issue about non-walking babies with dresses- it rides up when you carry them, then their nappy shows, then it rides further until their belly button shows and the next thing you know their whole chest is exposed. Ok, maybe not the latter, but you get the picture.

So a few months ago, I had this special liking for turning onesies into dresses- ala lazy mum way.

I took a onesie and some left over material, and combined it to make a skirt-onesie.

I was so relieved I solved my bub's fashion crisis. I'm currently hired to solve all her problems you see.

So here's bub, playing in her onesie dress. You might also notice my toes on the bottom right- but hey, I got a photo. [You have to excuse my poor photos as of late, getting a camera out seems like a daunting task when a fidgety baby is around.]

Dear Jellybean-June 2011 + Mama's first shoe attempt

Oh Bubba!

The time has come again.

You're officially a yelling, kicking, grabbing, laughing, smacking, salivating... huggable six month Jellybean now. Time has sure flown by! Whatever happened to my little pocket sized baby?!

Just a few days ago, Mama made you a brand new pair of shoes. Pink felt shoes. Papa thought it was hysterical so cute he wanted a pair too. Really. Its Mama's first attempt, so don't be too critical here.

If you absolutely can't tell and need to ask me in the near future, my dear, its a rabbit and a carrot. Why does Mama insist on giving you such a weird unique dress sense? Because I think its cute. And I might as well dress you in whatever I like now 'coz you wont let me do that later on!

See, here you are testing your shoes. They're more comfy than Louboutins I tell ya!!

Lots of Love

xoxo

Mama.

Savouring Romance

Here's news! Have baby- no romance. It just a equilibrium that occurs in human relationships. Honest. And here's more news, when parents try to romance it up a notch, baby decides to do a poo, or cry- you choose.

Ok, so its nothing new. But it does take a whole lot more effort than before.

Since Jellybean is officially superglued to me, I needed to spice things up- fast, nearly instant. So I got this card from kikki-k that basically doesn't writing. It's uber fast I tell ya, just stick stickers! So fun too!

Yeah, I know, I've gone for the fast and easy way out. What card making?! But hey, I did something.

In-Your-Face-Clue

Jellybean is due anytime now- and if you haven't figured out from my other posts [such as this one], you'll definitely figure out the gender from this post! It's a dead give-away.

Yeaps. We're having a pink Jellybean!

I couldn't resist making her a romper complete with matching flowers and snap buttons at the bottom.

I don't know if Jellybean will ever end up wearing it- because I got the sizing from one of her existing onesies and never got a proper pattern- I really should of got a actual pattern considering I wasted quite a bit of fabric from my first attempt.

Oh! And I have a thing for frilly bottoms. They make any butt look cute- girls butts anyway. Maybe tomorrow shall be a matching hat? Maybe.

Fat Quarter Burping Set

I fell hopelessly in love with some cute fabric but didn't know what I'd do it with it!

My justification: it was on sale; it was only a fat quarter and it was cheaper than a Big Mac.

Being impulsively hormonal- as everybody is during pregnancy, ahem, I made a burping-feeding set in about one hour.

It consisted of a drawstring bag which held everything together: one that could even hold future cutlery.

A burping cloth so the little jellybean won't spill over momma...

And a tiny-weeny bib for a newborn so she doesn't puke over herself.

All for the cost of a Happy Meal.

Wedding Invitation

One of my wacky ideals is to be a card-invitation maker. I always thought it would be a cool job! 


I've been fortunate enough to be entrusted by several family and friends to do invites and stationery for several occasions. Luckily, all projects have turned out great and no one has had regrets- so far!


You might remember a while ago when I first proposed a wedding invitation for a family member. After several weeks of contemplation, we then changed our minds to this and from there, it grew to a whole new [and more exciting] thing all together.
  

A whole new set of stationery was derived- one that all of us were really happy with.

The really exciting part was to see the vision merge with reality. After doing such proposals, there's a few back and fourths with the professional printer to make sure fonts were fine, colours turn out right and I got the exact material with relations to cost.

Ta-daa!! This was the fun part [or not so fun if it didn't turn out the way it was suppose to be].I was utterly content. The colour was the exact Pantone I had in mind! Phew! 

And best of all, the bride and groom loved it! Bonus points!! 


Too bad I can't make it to their wedding- I'm just so glad I did something for them!

What have I been up to?

Besides being a total glutton, I have done some efficient things. I promise. Really.

This is what I'm currently working on- a cot set for the bun. It is taking me quite a while and I have no valid explanation really- but it will be done I promise! Well, it better be done soon anyway.

It's going to be a owl- I'm going for the whole forrest critters theme...and maybe do some matching decals too. But in the meantime, let's just dream small and make sure I finish my first nursery project!

Personalisation to it's Finest

You know how I'm a tad free and not up to my usual routine? Well, I've been twiddling my thumbs and came up with this ingenius idea! Really!! Since I haven't got any of my scrapbooking stuff here, I thought I'd embrace another craft altogether- sewing. Well, it started off with that idea anyway- which then lead me into a craft shop - which meant me spending a lo-o-ong time in there - and then lead to this idea. (Amoungst others!)


I got sick of plain baby bodysuits. They're kind of generic unless you pay a hefty amount- and not like they're not good, just that they're plain, boring and same old looking. 

So err..I transferred a plain yellow bodysuit into this. I don't know why, but seeing H's surname on this tiny thing just cracked me up. I think it's his surname- but lets not go there. I nearly appliqued it onto the butt area, but if you've got any Chinese inheritance in you, you'd know that sound isn't quite acoustically pleasing especially when it comes to the rear end. 

Ok, not a super-genius idea- but atleast when my kid gets lost others can help me look for him/her?!?! Or I can start my baby league. Now I'm just wondering whether I should applique something on the butt. What do you think?

I must be so lucky..

Lady luck must be on my side because I get gifts for no apparent reason. Either that or Marlenemust really be thinking about me! lol.

Look what she made!!

She makes dull notebooks so awesomely cute its hard to use it. 

 

Complete with ribbon and buttons. Irresistible.

 Theres even cute birds!

I'm telling you, this girl is so spiffy she's printed her own postcards. Professional or what?! I really need to steal her ideas someday- sorry Marlene! Don't believe me?

See? Ain't she cool?! She's a professional graphic designer and makes super cute cards too. Head on over to her sites! Here for her blog and here for her cards.

Happy Mother's Day

How was your mother's day? Mine was full of bears! I sent these two mascots over to present the cards to my mums...but Mum No. 2 wasn't very pleased because yellow bear over here was sporting this..

then she asked me who's Bill. ....not impressive huh?


Ok..enough about bears. I just suddenly found it fascinating that my bears hold cards. I was obviously very creative that day! *Roll eyes.

I made this one by stapling some ribbon together and uhu-ing a diamante ontop to make a flower..

Then I made this on with plain paper, stamps and ribbon. It has a Hermes feel to it don't you think?

...Then I went super crazy with pink embossing powder and made so many envelopes which I'm naming my Pink Collection- as if I'm some snazzy fashion designer!

There were flowers, damask patterns.dots and more...









But I had fun being in my crafty-imaginary world.