Truth of the day

How to make a million dollars: First, get a million dollars.
~ Steve Martin

House of Noble

Couldn't resist having this title after I took this shot. Kinda reminded me of door knobs against big red doors that you see in chinese dramas! This pair consists of burmese jade with a lovely shade of translucent green with gold filled ear wires.

Thought for a lifetime

It is not how much you do but how much love you put in the doing.
~Mother Teresa

Words of wisdom for the day:

Cheer up, the worst is yet to come.

One to treasure

I visited my mother a few days ago to keep her company as my dad has taken a short trip somewhere. While she was glad to have some peace and quiet in the house (and I'm sure my dad would say the same), I thought it'll be nice to have dinner with her. I haven't been all that good visiting as often as I should. And my parents aren't the type to complain. They've always been respectful of our need for space and I'm grateful for that.

Anyway mom had asked if I would like to have my grandma's jewelry now. I guess I never took an interest in my grandma's or my mom's jewelry. I knew one day they'll be mine to keep and when that day arrived, I'll be proud to hold them as they are reminders of my family tree. I don't quite trust myself with jewelry that I don't often use as I have the tendency to misplace little things. So I always told mom that she should keep them. Well, this time, I decided to keep these gorgeous jade earrings! I had missed looking at them the last time perhaps, it wasn't 'my' time to appreciate jade but this time, I simply love them!

Jade is said to symbolize beauty, nobility, perfection, constancy, power, and immortality in Chinese culture. Oooh, I'm going to feel like I'm all of that when I wear them!

Save planet earth, recycle plastic bags

Today, I was at the bus stop and heard two ladies talked about how indignant they were about the possibility of having to pay for plastic bags in the future. Frankly I think the move to pay for pastic bags should have been done years ago! I always feel that I should do more to save the earth and taking public transport is one way to go but there's always more to do. This month, I pay a closer attention to plastic bags.

Really, why can't bring our own bags when we're out shopping? These days, recycled bags are handed out for free and mind you, I see people taking more than their fair share of free recycled bags and I wonder- will they be used again when they visit the stores? Recycled bags are made such that they are light and foldable so unless you intend to do your groceries in your dinner gown with a little small black handbag, I don't see why we can't just place one in our 'daily' bag for use. Unless of course, the plastic bags are reused for a good purpose. Then again, I don't know what people do with tiny plastic bags that they give out for when you buy a pen or a packet of seeds? Do we actually need a bag for them? Wouldn't they fit into our handbag or pockets? I was delighted that the lady behind the counter had asked me if I needed a bag for the CD I just bought. Whether her boss was trying to cut down cost or she was trying to do her bit for planet earth, I could have given her a hug! Maybe this would work better, hug the person who asks you if you really need a bag instead of slapping them when they don't ask you and just give you one. I love that ad!

According to wasteonline.org.uk, the use of recycled plastic resulted in a reduction of energy consumption by two-thirds production of only a third of the sulphur dioxide and half of the nitrous oxide, reduction of water usage by nearly 90% , and a reduction of carbon dioxide generation by two-and-a-half times.

So do your bit. If you don't need another plastic bag, just say "I don't need a bag thank you I have my own".

My etsy store and other ramblings

I've been busy this weekend getting started on etsy again. I hope people will visit and like what they see. There are so many jewelry artists out there and I am in awe of so many of them! Many of them spend years perfecting the craft, I am amazed most of all at those who can transform mental into something so delicately beautiful! I love my day job and while I would like to just give it all up for love of beads, the reality of it is that I need it to enable me to afford to make pretty things! I'm lucky though becasue I enjoy what I do. I always think that indulging in the arts and crafts and other sorts of hobby is good for the soul. I think I take after my dad who has driven my mom crazy all these years trying to find ways to make things better in the house, so she'll come home with a lamp repainted or a shelf for her onions or a new picture frame up somewhere and the latest model of the rice cooker, he's like the asian version of Tim the tool man.

Ok, so I'm aware I'm rambling and I also have to bear in mind that I may be the only life form reading my ramblings so I will stop rambling.

Ok so back to my etsy store. It's been exhausting trying to to set up shop at the flea markets so I'm taking a break and going on etsy. I've got a banner up and thanks to Yini who had helped me set it up. She's got some lovely graphic designs going on and she's just started shop too so drop by redrubyonfire.blog.com when you can. I've managed to figure out how to put etsy on my blog this morning and am quite pleased with myself for now.

Jenny

Cat's eye in lavender topped with a crystal in deep red and fancy caps. Sterling wired ear hooks.

Roots

Today the husband points out that I have been sitting at the large table for several hours either doing my work or creating yet another pair of earrings. I am not in the mood to leave the house and stay contented at the table in my most comfortable and one of my oldest T and shorts. "Look," he says, "if you're not getting out soon, you'll start growing roots".

Crystal

I couldn't resist getting these lovely crystals. All elegant on their own.

Mother of pearl

Gorgeous mother of pearl and I thought it befitting to top it off with a swarovski pearl and hung on handmade sterling silver wires.

Spanish rose

A cluster of black rose onyx, flirty carnelian, and freshwater pearl. I love the red and black combination.

There's no place I'd rather be

A few of us met for dinner yesterday and the subject of national day songs came about and everyone at the table couldn't quite agree on whether this year's song by Kit Chan would be high on their list. It's definitely high on MY list. I don't think it's a 'real 'national day song like our previous Stand up for Singapore, Count on me Sinagpore or One People, one nation. These were songs that made you want to cry with pride and protect Singapore with all your might. No, this year's song didn't evoke that feeling in me but it spoke volumes to me in a different way.

Being away for some years, I always thought that it would be great if we had the four seasons, if we had Granville island, if we weren't so 'crowded' all the time, if we had houses instead of flats, if only Singaporeans smiled more, and if.... and if... but at the end of the day, I also had my share of ifs when I was staying away from home. If only they had chili crab, if only the food centre was a walking distance away and you could get dinner at $2.50, if only the buses came every 15 minutes, if only they could just be more efficient with their service, if only they had friendly hdb cats, if only they made wan ton noodles like that aunty at street 22. And the thing about 'unsmiley people', you know what? They are the ones who will lend a hand when you need one.

I don't think there's a perfect country to live in and I have my share of complaints but really, there's no place I'd rather be.

Happy 42 Singapore.

Strawberry dimples

Another one of these sterling works of art one piece only. This time in the shape of a dimpled heart that reminds me of strawberries. I'm still deciding if it should be dressed up a little more but decided to show it in its original form for now.

Tumbleweed

I had carefully kept these beautiful works of sterling silver for some time and have always been relunctant to part with them. I think maybe it's time for them to find an owner to take them for walks now. One piece only.

Sabine

Lovely laboradites all on its own coiled in wire wrap. Sterling silver ear hooks.

Amazingly Serene

Gorgeous trigangular amazonites with its ends a little upturned as if to say let's dance! Wire coiled with surgical steel wires.

Okra

A few nights ago we had lady's fingers for dinner!! All right so we had one. We had started to plant a few pots of them a few weeks ago and it had started to bear fruit recently, how cool is that! Just outside our gate. I also learned that its proper name is Okra, not to be confused with Okra the biscuits. And guess what, it is somehow related to the Hibiscus. It has a pretty yellow flower that seems to only bloom for two days or so before it wilts and the fruit shows. I am guilty of eating all the Okras when it's cooked with curry, no sharing, all mine! heh heh

Here's a recipe of fish curry from The Blue Ginger Restaurant

http://wineanddine.asiaone.com/Wine%252CDine+%2526+Unwind/Recipes/Ethnic+group/India/Story/A1Story20070519-5488.html