December ATC Session @Bishan Library

It's time of the year for Christmas deco.  So, here we were folding some nice origami trees in the December ATC session, they are good for ATCs, greeting cards, tags or simply as ornaments.

More origami for the next ATC session on 14 Jan 16, but this time we will be folding for Chinese New Year!  The theme for the ATCs is CNY - Year of The Monkey.   

ATC Exhibition. East Coast. Locked Room. Movies.

Finally the ATC exhibition is up! We put them up during the Nov ATC session.  The theme on books was not easy, but we did it!  The exhibition at Bishan Library will run till the Dec ATC session on 10 Dec 15.

My fractures on my right foot have healed although the muscles and everything else except the bones, are still sore and at times, painful to walk.  According to doctor, these healings come after the bones and will take some more time.  Guess that goes any December travel.  But having cooped up in the house for 2 months and with the children starting their school holidays, it's time for some activities, with the help of some oral medicine and anti-inflammatory creams.

I always cycle in Changi direction, this time we went the other way. The renovation works at Area A East Coast Park were completed and now links to Gardens By The Bay East after Area A. I cycled to Marina Barrage and back to Area C leisurely, while my girl and her friend skated. Very sunny day and I had to slop on so much sun block, but it was a great day.  Enjoyed the very beautiful garden and sea views.

Locked rooms are springing up everywhere in Singapore since they first started some 2 years back. Have you escaped from one yet?  We went to the Circus Of The Dead in Clarke Quay Central.  Took an extra 5 to 10 min on top of the given 1 hr to free ourselves from the room.

The lights were a bit too dim to work efficiently, though it did match the atmosphere.  The room was comfortable for a group of four, although they will take a maximum of eight. The time passed fast, whether or not you are watching the countdown clock. There were so many ups-an-downs. Well, we would have gone to a second room if the rates are cheaper. We ended up catching the movie "The 33".  Can you keep your sanity when buried deep underground for 69 days? There are certainly miracles. Just like how Philippe Petit walked on a tightrope 400m above ground between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in 1974.  Did you hold you breath watching "The Walk"?  I did. 

In a Creative Mood

My boy was busy with his prelim exams during Sep Teachers' Day celebrations, so he did these and gave his teachers only during graduation day (from Junior College). Baked the macarons with the help of his sister. How time flies, my boy is taking his A-level exams already, and going NS in another 3 months!

Kristine has been reluctant to tat because of sweaty palms, but here's her attempt almost totally on her own.

Here's my new tatted lucky clover design - simple and sweet. There is of course a bookmark version simply by extending the stem and adoing a tassel. 

I haven't been participating in many swaps, so only these few works to show. This abstract postcard came from Lee Kirk (USA).  Look felted but it's actually a fabric wipe.

Next is Paper Traders' "Over/Under" ATC swap, whereby we create a design by painting over a layer under it.  Mine were easily done once I get the idea going, by sponging distress ink on a cut-out word 福 over prints of 如意 stamped with a Chinese seal which I craved during one of the library workshops I attended.  I love the effect and the very oriental look! 

Received a poppies card from Debra Claxton (USA) and a pumpkin card from Beckie Holso (USA).

September and October ATC Sessions @Bishan Library

I had a very bad fall earlier and ended up with 2 v-shaped fractures and a broken bone on my right foot plus abrasions all over, and couldn't attend the last 2 ATC sessions at Bishan Library. Rita conducted the Sep session, while Mdm Au helped with the Oct session.

We will be putting up the ATC exhibition at Bishan Library next month, and it will run from 13 Nov till 10 Dec 2015.

Some New and Older Works

Tatted a new ginko leaf, but does it looks like one?

The light bulb design looks cute, I tried to do 1 myself and thought some tatted flowers would add some interest.

I have problem drawing realistically and on the other end, doing abstract. These are some attempts on 4"x6" cards.

These 3 are done with alcohol ink marbling for the base colours, topped with spreading distress ink using baby wipe, accented with dimensional pearl paints and coloured glues. Titles: (From left to right) Junctions, Receiving, Want to Dance.

Another attempt.  Again, I used alcohol ink with water for a marbling effect as the base, added some fabric scraps, used coloured glue sticks and textured paste (DecoArt Paper Perfect).  Titles: (From left to right) Unveiling, Possibilities, Shimmering.

Although I am quite pleased with all these, I don't think they qualify to be called abstract art, do they?

Kristine did the polymer clay charms all on her own, including those for Teachers' Day presents. Baymax of Big Hero 6 is about 3 cm tall.

Found more of Kristine's drawings.

After so many failed attempts on her own ...

I decided to accompany her to a class, ...

and finally, some decent macarons baked by Kristine!  Italian method does work better than French method.

 

Yet to Show Some Old Swaps

Pam Colosimo's (Canada) spring tag book is finally here, the one she graciously re-sent after the original one went missing in the mail.

We had a bookmark exchange in May over at NeedlesnCrafts. Swapped with Diane L. Merlock (USA). I sent tatted bookmarks.

Sweet hardanger bookmarks Diane sewed for me and tatting threads she enclosed.

My finished butterfly ATCS for the Futterby Butterfly swap which Nikki hosted over at Paper Traders.  Remember these stencilled-printed butterflies with stryofoam? I added die-cut flowers and a quote about butterfly.

ATCs received from (from left going clockwise) Sandra Dewling, Pam Prosser and Barb Adams.

I joined my first swap at Mini-books. Jill Filey (USA) sent me a spring theme mini book 5"×5". 

My first attempt at explosion books. It's done but I haven't heard from Michelle whom I'm supposed to send to. 

August ATC Session @Bishan Library

Have you hand-stitching before?  What do you stitch on?  We tried stitching on all types of paper from thin origami papers and magezines to normal drawing board to thick postcards. All  work fine, just make sure you prick the holes first with good support of the paper and take tender care during the stitching.

We managed to gather a good size of moon-themed ATCs for the library's mooncake festival celebration on 5 Sep.

My moon-themed ATCs.

Swapped 1 for Judy Kwek's ATC done on colouring with baby oil background.

We will be doing tea bag folding in the next ATC session on 10 Sep 2015.

12 Different Workshops

This time round, I attended 2 workshops held outside the library.  We went to DESINERE studio at Oxley BizHub in Ubi for paper pleating.  If it looks simple to you, then you have to try it first. It sure takes lots of patience to fold and lots more practices to get it to look presentable!

We had more fun going round 3 letterpress machines to print the blank bookmarks over at Papypress. A real treat to see and use these machines and more vintages ones too. 

Copper pipes are retro-looking and lend itself well to concealing wires inside. Here we did a copper lamp with some help - we cut and bent the pipes, drilled/screwed the base and assembled the whole lamp.  Got me reminiscing the technical classes doing metal works and wood works during my Secondary school days.  Missed those lessons although filing metal was real tedious for me!

Have you seen any sand animation show before? I have seen some very impressive ones. Thought I'll give it a try, but it's not easy if you are a perfectionist yet not an artist. Luckily it was a group effort.

Another new friend, Vicki! 

I am really bad at copying and worse at drawing and painting, this was the best I could do.  I'm actually quite pleased I managed to complete it at the very least. 

Do I miss the times writing calligraphy in school? Yes, but not the exam portion though.  With a number of coloured markers available nowadays as an alternative to pens, it is pretty easy for anyone to just pick up one to write without having to clean up all the messy ink. 

Another try at screen printing, but this time done with a transparency, and hence the screen can be re-used for different designs. 

Time for some sewing!  We made a face mask from scratch!

More sewing with felt.

Another embroidery workshop, but this time on paper.  All were samples done by the instructor, I only sewed the cover on the top right-hand corner.  Yes, Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favourite authors!

Here we did a carousel book, good as a display album.

And the most recent workshop - fritography.  We didn't do the firing ourselves, but we get to cut and pound the glass into bits. Quite fun, but the fine glass bits can cut easily too.

 



July ATC Session @Bishan Library

Moses was back in Singapore for a break and brought us through 3D drawing with simple lines.

Traded for one of Sor Huan's butterfly.

I have not been in the crafting mood for a while with much lesser time on hand.  Hope things will pick up pace soon!