A Pantomime and Motif No. 17/25 - What's In The Heart

Once upon a time in the Eternal Kingdom, there lived a Queen who wanted everything and everyone to be perfect. So, when her subjects turn 18, they are sent for “Enhancement”— a programme to correct their flaws. The Queen holds a beauty pageant every year where she crowns herself as the winner. One day, her Magic Mirror, who cannot lie without literally cracking up, reveals to her that a new beauty has come of age—her own step-daughter. The poor girl is ordered to undergo a nip-tuck by the creepy Royal Surgeon. But she runs away to the Outer Limits, where she encounters junk, vermin and the rapping, breakdancing seven outcasts banished from the Kingdom for falling short of the Queen’s standards. The plot sounds familar?

That's Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs given a hilarious local twist - W!LD RICE's new pantomime! Hilarious and heart-warming musical comedy injected with the latest current issues like plastic surgury, tainted milk from China, reducing waste and recycling. Written by playwright Alfian Sa'at and directed by Singapore's funnyman Hossan Leong, the one to watch out for is really the Queen (the pantomime dame), played by Sebastian Tan. She (or rather, he) stole the whole show! And the children in the audience were of course delighted to see the children wearing animal costumes playing animals on stage. My children loved the music and the songs are catchy, the dances good, well, my personal review after catching it on its second night (27 Nov), it's a production not to be missed!

Back to tatting.

Like most tatters out there, I am tatting Christmas motifs for exchanges and for friends, nothing much I can show yet. But in trying to finish up some threads on the shuttles, here are 2 small heart bookmarks that I just made up as I tatted. I'm not very satisfied with them, and was contemplating whether to count them as part of the Motif Challenge or even to show them. After blocking, they look a bit better, so here are the small hearts. I will count them as Motif No. 17/25 - What's in the Hearts.

Tatting Meet-Up at Toa Payoh

We had another gathering yesterday afternoon at Sizzler Toa Payoh. Jacky was sick and Wendy couldn't make it. But we still have a new member - Rei, a full time working mom with 2 young children. Rei bakes a lot and just started tatting - here's her blog with lots of recipes and her new blog for tatting. We had lunch and chatted, we were most excited about Jullie's pregnancy, giving her lots of tips on her coming delivery, confinement, baby care, baby food, ....

Ok, we didn't forget to tat. All came prepared to do my little tree design. Here's the 3 of them working hard on it.
And these were what we managed. (From left) Aileen finished the tree and added a star bead at the top - ingenious! Next is mine in pearl cotton size 8. Rei is a beginner and she managed to tat the split ring. Jullie used size 50 (wow) and managed to tat the split chain. Well done, everyone!

Rei brought a surprise for us. Guess what? Hint: Notice the box on the left of the table in the first photo. And what's Rei very good at ? Have you got it ?

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Rei and the cake she baked specially for us!

Close-up of the cake in coffee-chocolate favour decorated with shuttles and tatting needles, threads and tatted lace. Only the threads and tatted lace are "real", the shuttles and needles were hand-crafted by Rei herself! Thanks, Rei !

We took a group photo before the cake-cutting.

By the time we left the restaurant, it was evening. Outside - why was everyone staring up and taking photos ?

Rainbow! There wasn't really any rain earlier, and although it was already getting late and dark, it was a beautiful one painted across the sky. A great ending to our little gathering!

Lucky Win in Collage Competition and Charity Sale

Last Sunday, I brought my 2 girls for a collage competition held in conjuntion with the Tree Planting Day held in Tanjong Pagar CC. The theme was back to nature. It was crowded and hot, and tiring carrying all the materials we brought there, the goodies bags, and looking after the 2 of them by myself, so we left before the event ended. Before we reached home, we received a phone call announcing Kristine won the consolation prize! We had to made our way back to collect the prize on stage, but it was worth it and Kristine was so excited!

This was done by Joey all by herself.

This was what Kristine and myself did together, and won the consolation prize in the K1/K2 category.

Some of the other prize-winning entries in all the different categoies by age. Yes, parents were involved, and some were real good.

I was tatting simple bookmarks and paperclips all week for Joey to sell in her school Enterprise Challenge, and proceeds went to the school's financial assistance for needy families. Nothing to show as she snatched up the bookmarks as soon as they were done, but all in all, she sold all the 22 tatted bookmarks, 10 tatted paper clips and 4 paper weaved hearts! It was a tough week tatting up all these with whatever free time I had, but it made her real happy and for a good cause too!

New Shuttles, More Amazing Works from Vicki, Motif No. 16/25 and Wizard of Oz

The artistic-looking acrylic shuttles made by Craig are pretty to look at, and since they are the bobbin-type, I just have to get my hands on them. They are bulkier than what they looked in the photo and do not come with hook (the one on both ends are GR8 shuttles). Well, I haven't tried using them, so no verdict yet.Dakota Burl in the centre, Acrylic Black And White Pearl on the right and Acrylic Yellow And Gold on the left.

Remember my summertime exchange from Vicki ? Well, we thought it was lost after waiting for 2 months and Vicki is such a gem to prepare another one for me. This time, it arrived much faster. See these treasures Vicki made - a thimble with a tatted holder, an amulet bag starched to look like an ornament! Can't thank her enough!

And here's my latest Motif No. 16/25 for the coming Christmas season - a quick tree motif tatted in 1 round if you can manage split ring and split chain. I haven't managed to draw the diagram out yet, it might be a bit difficult to follow the written pattern. I think the pattern cannot be enlarged, I will try to get the diagram done and re-post the pattern.

(11 Nov 08: Added the diagram in the pattern. I don't know why the following can't be enlarged, so if anyone wants to have the pattern, you can leave a comment with your email address or retrieve the pdf file from HBT's files:

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/gBwaSWEaKEWEIBgGhhhxktC8P-FvV3ochYZ2Xq70RgtzlgS10fnEU3Zpv-pjcSzxic1SKJ09kTRUmjyvuCxfRoT9IkZICOo5/ALL%20Patterns/Ellen )

We just came back from the muscial, Wizard of Oz, held at the Drama Centre Theatre. The script was developed by John Kane and the Royal Shakespeare Company, this is the best "children" muscial we have watched so far. Stretching 2 hours, the length is just nice. Props, settings and costumes are appropriate, creative and colourful. Songs are delightful. Yes, we enjoyed every moment. Now, we're waiting for 27 Nov for the next musical, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, directed by Hossan Leong!

Singapore Biennale 2008

Finally, we found time to visit the Singapore Biennale today. Singapore Biennale 2008 is the follow up to the inaugural event in 2006. Covering the 3 main sites, we walked from 12 noon till 6 pm, with only a break for a bite. My back is breaking!

These are at the South Beach Development site. The charcoal drawings on the wall show the 3D effect well.

One of my girl's favourites, "The Dancer":

Next, at the City Hall location, "Evolution Mythology" - gourds that resemble human faces which the artist took a year to grow and shaped the fruit almost daily with his hands.

"Operation Supermarket" - photos of common daily products and foods sold in Iranian supermarkets:

I like this best, but the 3D effect could not be captured on film. "I'm Not Expensive", an installation using aluminium plates, fibreglass, urethane paint and neon light, the figures (a dancing couple, a woman carrying a troddler, a car and a boy sitting down) will turn as we walk from one side to the other. Just amazing!

Finally, at the Central Promontory site. My boy and girl like this the best, "Location (6)" - a vast snowy landscape:

"Flight" - 4000 slippers perched on bamboo poles:

These are but only a small part of the exhibits. It was a well-spent day exploring all the exhibits, an eye-opener, just like the theme "Wonder"!