The Shower

I'm so lovin' this new design The Shower from Threadless tees. I think it'd look really great on the boyfriend too. What do you think?

My boyfriend is cuter though.

Mimpi ♥ Twitter

Mimpi is now on Twitter lovelies! I've hitched a ride on the bandwagon so follow me here or check out my updates on the right side bar.

Sweet Dreams

"Sweet Dreams" from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

Happy Monday folks! Don't you just love the quirky little animation above? So fun.

P/S: Thanks for supporting Earth Hour. Let's work harder to make our future cleaner & greener.

New Links Page

Just a quick note guys. I've decided to streamline this little ol' blog by creating a separate Mimpi ♥ Links page. In other words all the links that were previously on this main page have been moved here. This in turn allows me to include more links in the future so if anyone wants to exchange links, drop me an email!

Earth Hour

If you haven't heard of Earth Hour by this time, you really should get out more often or at least switch on the TV or radio now & then. Tomorrow, Saturday 28th March from 8:30 - 9:30 PM, switch off all your lights & while you're at it, switch off all your appliances too to VOTE EARTH against global warming.

Earth Hour is an annual international event created by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund), held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Based on an idea successfully executed in Thailand in 2005,^[1][2] it was pioneered by WWF Australia and the Sydney Morning Herald in 2007,^[3] and achieved worldwide participation in 2008. (Thank you Wikipedia)

Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday. We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.



I plan to spend Earth Hour with the boyfriend, some lighted soy candles, a home cooked dinner & a great bottle of wine. How about you?

Dreamville

How surreal is this dreamy photo by kea-etc? From a set aptly called Dreamville, I spent a good portion of my morning going through the photographs & found myself wishing I could visit this lonely little paradise. Looks like a great place to escape to for a little self-reflection.




Seen via Bliss.

P/S: I haven't quite gotten over the issue I posted last night (which has actually been ongoing for more or less a month now if you managed to catch my rant) but I have faith in myself above all else & I WILL prevail. Bless you all for putting up with my whinging.

Sigh

I guess I should be flattered that there are certain quarters out there who feel the necessity to copy my designs or steal my ideas but honestly, I feel so violated. Anyways, you know who you are & shame on you!

Thanks to those who were kind enough to point out these imitators & continue to support Mimpi. You all never fail to rock my world. I will continue to work hard & bring you fresh designs... These imitators are gonna have to work extra hard to catch up with me from now on.

Chocolate Research Facility

I so want to work at the Chocolate Research Facility in Singapore. It's a "new brand & concept boutique-cum-cafe located at Milenia Walk which draws focus to chocolate - both in taste & packaging." I'll race you to it!


Seen via Oh Joy!

Pet Adoption Drive

Click on the image for a larger view

Come support the Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better adoption drive at NZX Mall, Ara Damansara on 28 till 29 March, from 11 AM till 4 PM. Open up your hearts & homes people!

(The map to the mall can be found on the image above. Please click for a larger view)

Grycja Erde

This place setting design by Grycja Erde is pretty clever. You line up your clear plate (this is key) on the placemat to create this amazing yet simple effect. I think it'd make a great conversation starter for your next dinner party, don't you think so?

See via Mint.

Popiko Mail

I'm part of the mailing list for Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better & every now & then they send out a plea for help. So far, every piece of news from them tears my heart into little itty bitty pieces... I'm really looking forward to some good news but dogs in Malaysia really have it bad so I think I won't be hearing anything good for a long while. Anyways, this particular story got me sobbing. Read it & weep.


(The following has been extracted from here & is written from the dog's point of view)

I was born in such a malicious way. My father, A rottweiler went wondering on the roads not accompanied by his owner and met my mother. From the rumors I heard, the owners of my father watched happily while my father copulated with an indefinite breed, sadly my mother.

Months later I was born. Unfortunately my mother was viciously dragged away from me by the spiteful dog catchers. I managed to run and hide myself in some bushes, where I felt my little heart sob and break to pieces silently as I watched them drag my mother away. Her eyes were locked with mine, I don’t know her fate, and I coiled myself together and cried silently because I know, I’ll never feel those playful bites and the love of my mother again.

How long could I just stay there in the shrubs all alone, hungry? I started wondering around. I walked for days, looking for food. I dint know how and what to eat, so I started digging squander from the bins. I dint know I offended some people, but all I did was to satiate my thirst and hunger.

One day, a kind lady, saw me wondering and called me. She called me Puppy. And each time she came calling for me, she had food in her hands. Along the way, I met a friend. A white crossed breed puppy. We were friends. We roamed around together. We waited patiently for anyone from the neighborhood to offer us food. Sometimes, we were lucky.

We got food like chicken rice or bread. Sometimes, some people offered us spoilt food but we quietly ate it, as I said, to gratify our hunger. I did my duty as a dog. I defended most houses. I didn’t allow strangers near the houses that fed me. I did all I can to make sure all those kind people who fed me slept safe at night. But one very mean man didn’t like what I did.

He caught me one day and broke my front left paw. I watched him injure me, wondering what I did wrong. I howled in pain, I begged him to stop but it was too late. My bone could be seen, I couldn’t feel my paws anymore. I cried wondering what I did wrong. All I did was chase people away from the homes. Those mean bad people. For months I suffered in pain.

The kind lady whom calls me puppy took me to a place with a lot of dogs. All of them were in pain. She addressed him as a doctor. The doctor checked and walked off. Soon enough a worker came to this kind lady and said there was no assurance that my bones will unite.

The kind lady was heartbroken and brought me back. Since that day, I sit outside her gate. I guard her house. I take care of her. I still go visiting with my other friend to other houses that offer me food. I still guard their house. It’s been almost 6 months now since I injured my leg. I walk with a slight hobble. I mind my own duties but yet people abuse me.

People hurt me. They hit me because I seek shelter under their cars. Recently I slept in the trash area of a home. No one was home, and that cruel man that broke my leg came and closed the doors of the bin and locked it from outside. I was gloomy and cold inside. I shivered out of dread, till a girl came screaming and opened the doors. If this girl didn’t help remove the wood that locked the doors, I would have died.

But all I wonder is why can’t I have a decent home? Why can’t I be like any other dogs that are loved by their owners? All I need is a roof over my head and some food. Perhaps just some clean water too. But im not asking for much, am i? I’ll offer you more than you can imagine. I’ll protect your house. I’ll make sure no one gets in without your permission. I won’t hurt you if you’re kind to me. I won’t make much noise. I will take all your whipping and pounding. And I assure you that I’ll be your faithful companion. Just give me a home, that’s all I ask for….i’m not as bad as you think I am…all I need is a chance…and a home…

Potential owners & sponsors for this unfortunate dog can call 019-3576477 for further details. Thank you for your kindness.

Golden Paper Flowers

I saw these pictures on Design*Sponge & my jaw dropped as I read the article posted alongside. Each little piece was hand cut from golden paper, folded & assembled by the hands of Johanna Burke pictured below. I simply can not imagine the blood, sweat & tears that went into this installation as it's so incredibly detailed. This is simply awe inspiring, wouldn't you agree folks?

More details of this project here.

Put An End To Hunting Baby Seals

Got this in my inbox last week via SPCA: "Russia announced on Wednesday that it would ban the hunting of baby seals, effectively shutting one of the world's largest hunting grounds in the controversial trade in seal fur."

Yay! Let us rejoice for baby seals everywhere! The killing of defenseless baby seals can hardly be called a "hunt" & it is not only cruel but extremely barbaric so let's work to put an end to this arcane practice.

Here's the full article from the International Herald Tribune.

Clipboard Inspiration Wall

This is such a great idea to keep an inspiration wall looking organised & interchangeable that I might just try it, although I might need quite a lot more clipboards as I collect lots (& I actually mean tonnes!) of images & prints.

Seen via Modish.

Satu Suara Campaign

Newsflash folks! Remember I hinted about an upcoming event? Well, Mimpi has just been confirmed to participate in the Satu Suara Campaign happening this Sunday at One Utama. There will be performances by Meet Uncle Hussein, OAG, Reshmonu, Dafi & Laila's Lounge along with plenty of activities such as Tai Chi, Capoiera, Silat, fashion shows & lots more to keep you entertained!

Date: 15 March 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 11:00 - 6:00 PM
Venue: New Wing (near Ralph Lauren), One Utama

Hope to see you there!

Vintage Suitcase Pet Bed

I can so picture making this sweet little pet bed. It's so simple & I can't believe I didn't think of it before as Bowie (my lovely 7 year old girl English Cocker Spaniel) just loves to jump into my suitcase when I'm in the middle of packing or unpacking! All you gotta do is upcycle a vintage suitcase, remove the top, add the legs, add pillows, add one lovable kitty or doggie (for example Bowie) & you're done!

Oh, and didn't you just melt when you saw the kitten/model above? He's called Norton. Argh. Too. Stinkin'. Cute.

Seen via Poppytalk & can be bought here (but I think it's been reserved already).

Growing Old Together

I love this wedding invitation. It's simple & yet goofy, a great combo hands down. It made me laugh too.






How cool that the couple got married at the Adelaide State Library? It was one of my fave places to hang out at while I did my time studying at the University of Adelaide as it's a beautiful space & well, I love libraries in general.

Soaked

I'm back from my dive trip folks! Tioman rained, rained & RAINED so I got soaked in more ways than one! We managed to get about 4 dives in TOTAL out of the 8 dives that were initially planned... Boohoo. Luckily visibility underwater was quite good despite the downpour. I got to see a Turtle, a Black Tip Shark, schools of Barracuda, some surprisingly docile Trigger Fish (they're notorious for attacking diver's fins while nesting), Eels, Cuttlefish (that doesn't sound very exciting but trust me, they're fascinating) & plenty of beautiful fishes along with some spectacular coral formations. No doubt the rain didn't help but Tioman to me is still pretty awesome for diving. I can't wait for Sipadan though as I'll be going in July for what promises to be the best dive trip ever! Wheee!

Oh, I just realised that my scheduled posts didn't come out as, er, scheduled. Sorry for that. They're up now so do have a looksee. On another note, I've got a few lovely new designs lined up to share with you so stay tuned! Those on the Mimpi Mailing List should expect a little something as soon as I get back into the swing of things.

Once again, thanks again to everyone's patience & understanding. I promise not to run off on holiday anytime soon ;)

DIY Photo Booth

Here's a great little idea for your next party: a photo booth! Renting an actual photo booth can cost a bomb so why not DIY it? Here are some simple instructions taken off (& slightly modified by yours truly) from Evite:

1. All you need is a digital camera, a tripod, a photo printer, 2 sheets of fabric for the backdrop & "entrance", some props (feather boa, fake mustache, funny hats, etc.) & a relatively quiet corner away from the party to set up your photo booth.

2. Use several tacks to hang a sheet from the ceiling a few feet away from one wall & perpendicular to the other. The sheet will define the booth, with the open end becoming the entrance. Make a sign saying "Photo Booth" with "Entrance" & arrow under it. Hang a second sheet against the back wall as a backdrop.

3. Set your camera on the tripod & on an appropriate distance away from the backdrop. You want enough room for you guests to ham it up without disturbing (& accidentally pulling down!) your backdrop. Don't forget to hook the camera to the printer & set out the props.

4. Write some simple instructions for your guests to follow like the following:

1. Put on whatever props you like and get ready for your close-up!

2. Without picking up or moving the camera, turn it on and set the timer by [insert instructions for your camera here].

3. You have 10 seconds to take a seat and strike a pose.

4. Photos will be printed for you. Simply return at [specify a time a couple of hours after the party starts] or the end of the party to pick up yours!

5. Now go enjoy the party! Just come back to print photos in batches at the appointed times.

Printable Press

Ever since I spotted that adorable budget wedding last week (no, I'm not getting married anytime soon folks!), I've been poring over wedding blogs & came across these lovely invitations from Printable Press you can print right at home with your own printer! Ingenious.

Here are just a few of my favorites from Printable Press...

More Paper Cranes

I love laid back weddings. Especially ones that were done on a budget & yet manage to look so gorgeous & well planned. My hats off to Nancy & Ethan along with my heartiest of congratulations.

Oh, and did you spot the paper cranes that the happy couple folded themselves to use as decorations? They folded a thousand white paper cranes together to symbolise their patience & understanding for one another. Neat! Another great idea for those paper cranes I'm itching to fold.

More pictures below & you can read + see more from this lovely wedding here & here.



P/S: The pictures from Bali are taking forever to upload & seem to get stuck at every other picture so if you want to see the pictures, head on over to my Flickr album where they will be slowly but surely uploaded to.

I'm Back!

Hi ya lovelies! I'm back from a lovely time at Bali but I think I now need a holiday for my holiday. We kept a pretty packed schedule with early mornings & very, very, VERY late nights... Somehow I managed to squeeze in some quality spa time so I was blissed out anyways. I'll post up some pictures ASAP.

I'm still trying to recover from my Bali trip, catching up with my emails, posting comments people have made during my absence (I moderate as I hate spammers) & filling orders. Oh, and guess what? I'll be off to Tioman Island this weekend for a scuba diving trip! Yup, the dive season just opened & I'm off to revel in it! I'll be gone this Friday evening & will be back on Tuesday to (hopefully) get back into the swing of things. Hope you guys can bear with me.

Anyways, pictures from Bali soon! XOXO

Braided Headband

Spotted this simple yet awesome tutorial for braiding your own hair as a headband!!! Obviously this would only apply to those with at least shoulder length hair though. Anyway, this has got to be a great DIY option for those fancy headbands eh? ;)

Passe Partout Photo Frame Clock

Hello, good idea! Spotted this on Decor8 & immediately wanted one for myself. You can fill the frames with anything you want... Pictures, dried flowers, scrapbooking material, anything really! I'd fill mine with handmade feather butterflies, paper cut outs & charms I've collected over the years. You can get yours here at Dutch by Design.

Your Creative Style

Here's my result for the Creativity Quiz.

I seem to be taking quite a few quizzes huh? Hey, it's a fun way to waste 5 minutes & (sometimes) offers an insight or two. More quizzes I say!

Found a link to this one at How About Orange & thought I'd give it a whirl. It's a Creativity Quiz from YouUniverse & I think it's fairly accurate. Try it out yourself & let me know what you think.

Paper Cranes

Isn't this a great idea?? I spotted this at Oh Joy & it totally inspired me to make one for myself! I've made paper cranes before but for the life of me I can't really remember how to so I Googled it up & found instructions here, here & lots of videos here.

Your Personal Style

Apparently my style is Modern Classic. Who'd have thought? I thought my style was Shabby Chic with Weird Eclecticism thrown in for good measure. Anyways, suss out your personal style with IKEA's online Find Your Style tool.

Tim Walker

First spotted this picture over at Oh Joy & was transfixed. I immediately Googled the photographer Tim Walker & came up with a plethora of amazing dreamlike pictures! I love his imagination, elaborate use of props & his amazing locale picks. There's really nothing not to like about this guy.

"It rained outside, so we camped inside" Devon, England.

"The Dress Lamp Tree" Northumberland, England.

"Lily & Spiral Staircase" Gujarat, India.

No More Rants

I've decided to take down my long-winded rants I posted up earlier about some crappy things that have happened to me the last couple of days which pushed me over the edge. So much so that I seriously thought I should end my Going Indie posts & stop trusting people in business all together which is not what I'm about nor is Mimpi. Also, this blog is a happy place & I really should keep it that way. My apologies for boring you with the petty details & getting all emo all over you.

Luckily I will be going off to Bali tomorrow for about a week (yay!) as I desperately need a break. Don't worry though... I've scheduled some blog posts to pop up during my absence so you'll have something to read about while I'm away. I'm nice like that :)

Hopefully I'll be able to come back with an optimistic perspective about the issues that I'm facing or better yet, put these damn issues behind me once & for all. A big THANK YOU to everyone who continue to support Mimpi. You all never fail to blow my mind. XOXO

Rants

This post has been removed. Read why here.

Glass Jar Frames

Spotted this brill idea of recycling glass jars at Design*Sponge! So simple: all you gotta do is grab a couple of empty glass jars (I've got tonnes from all the pasta I make thanks to Prego!), measure your picture of choice, cut it up, roll it slightly, insert it upside-down, turn over the jar & you're done! Full instructions (if you need it) over here at Photojojo.

Use glass bottles too while you're at it!

Adopt A Miracle

Watch the first ever SPCA Public Service Announcement directed by Yasmin Ahmad & sponsored by RSPCA International. It's a tear jerker (at least for me as I'm a big cry baby), so be warned.

Be kind to dogs & cats people. If you have the heart & space in your home, why not adopt a little fuzzball as an addition to your family? They never talk back & will always love you no matter how crappy your mood... Now why can't everyone be like that??

Circa 1988

Patricia from PattyBelle reminded me of this picture last week so I thought I'd share with you a little blast from the past. This is a shot of my class 1 Dahlia at Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Taman Melawati, 1988. Can you spot little ol' me yang muka masam? Dunno why I was so glum... Anyways, this picture never fails to crack me up!

Thanks Baiti & Zairi!