2009

Although 2009 has given me some really awesome news & wonderful experiences, I've also had plenty of disappointments & sadness especially towards the end of this year. To be quite honest with you, I can't wait to put this year behind me. I know I only share with you all my happiest moments (being featured in Malaysian Women's Weekly, interviewed on NTV7's Breakfast Show, Urbanscapes, Chic Pop, etc.) & nothing really personal but a lot of negative things went down too that I chose not to share. Why you ask? Well, Mimpi Murni is a very positive part of my life & all of you have contributed greatly to that positivity so I guess in a way, I didn't want to bring down that positivity with tints of sadness. After all, Mimpi Murni is & always will be special to me & I make a conscious effort everyday to keep it that way despite whatever happens. I sincerely hope this reflects here in this little ol' blog.

And so, I can't wait for 2010 to roll in! Bring on more good news, more reasons to be happy & I will gladly embrace it with open arms & an open heart. In the meantime, I look forward to spending some time tonight with the love of my life over some nice wine & good laughs.

Have a safe celebration tonight folks & in case I don't catch you tomorrow, Happy New Year! XOXO

Odosketch

I recently discovered this amazing online flash-based drawing application called Odosketch. It recreates the physical experience of sketching on a pad of paper with a variety of pencil colors, sizes, textures and imperfections that are supposed to make you forget you're sketching on a screen. The best part is this: when you click on one of the featured drawings, the playback allows you to view the artist's brush strokes from the beginning to end, including mistakes! I predict I'll be wasting spending a few hours at this site. Hehehe.

Post-Holiday Thank You Cards

Don't forget to send out some Thank You cards for the awesome presents you received this year by printing out these free PDF files in either Aqua/Grey or Lilac/Charcoal. There's even a blank card that you can customise too! What a great way to show a little gratitude to those around us who brighten our lives & not just when they give us a present under the tree ;)

Via Creature Comforts.

Anagram

Hello darlings, sorry for the late post today. Had trouble crawling out of bed this morning. I admit I'm finding it quite hard to concentrate on work right now because of the long holiday weekend plus I don't think I've quite recovered from all the Christmas orders. Perhaps I need another few days off to recharge...

Anyways, how what was your Christmas weekend like? Did Santa bring you everything you wanted? Well, I'm sure he did because you've all been extra good this year ;)

Oh, how do you like the images above? They're from a wonderful ad campaign for the Prague bookstore, Anagram produced by Kaspan advertising agency. I wish my books did stuff like that, don't you?

Via Black*Eiffel.

Happy Holidays!

Hey ya lovelies! As I mentioned yesterday, it's been a mad Christmas season here at Mimpi with heaps of orders pouring in from you lovely people that I must apologise for not having the time to update the blogshop since last month! I promise I'll be back real soon with heaps more lovely designs to woo you plus a special discount just for my mailing list members so stay tuned (It's still not too late to sign up)! In the meantime...

Let me also just say thank you to all of you for your support & loving! You never fail to inspire me to work harder towards fulfilling my dreams & so I hope in turn, you will be inspired to fulfill yours. May you have a fun & safe holiday season ahead! XOXO

Psst! The all new Mimpi ♥ Crafts page is up & running now with wonderful art & prints from The Fashion Forest. Check it out!

Mini Winter Story

"Hmmmmm..."

"It needs more gumdrops!"

Are you excited about Christmas yet?? It's just TWO candy cane chomping days away so I hope you have all your presents all wrapped & ready. Over here at Mimpi, I've been super duper busy getting all your orders out before Pos Laju puts their hands up & surrenders so I hope you haven't been missing my daily blogsposts (have you? hehehe). And now, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief as my last 3 packages were picked up a little while ago & I'm basically free till the next update (sorry for making you lovelies wait so long)!

Anyhoots, the pictures above are from Milk Toof & I just couldn't help posting it up here. I totally agree with ickle (note the small "i") although I'm pretty extremist as I think everything in life needs more gumdrops ;)

GoodBye Detergent

These natural scrubbers from Goodbye Detergent are made from things like peach pits, walnut shells & corn cobs. They eliminate the need of detergent as they contain natural abrasives. The scrubbers also come packaged in 100% recycled packaging which make them doubly eco-friendly. I've seen these spaghetti-like thingamajigs at Isetan KLCC (on the same floor as their grocery store) so you might want to head on over there to get scrubbing on your pots & pans.

Via Benign Objects.

Little Brown Pen

Looking for some last minute, budget friendly Christmas presents that you can whip up in a jiffy? How about purchasing & downloading PDF files for notecards, tags & calendars that you can print as many times as you want right at home? Sounds good? Head on over to Little Brown Pen for a plethora of seasonal printable art, planners & calendars & don't forget to check out the adorable video above.

Mimpi ♥ Pick & Grab Flea Market

Yes, yes, I know I should be updating this here blogshop but honestly, with all the custom orders & remake requests for Christmas, I can't seem to find the time to do a much needed update. I'm so very sorry to keep you kind folks in cyberspace on hold (I'll try to make it up to you somehow) but hey, if you're in KL, specifically around the Hartamas area, do drop by Lah Lah Land's awesome Pick & Grab Flea Market happening this weekend for some last minute Christmas shopping!

Mimpi Murni will only be there on Saturday & just like before, I'll be offering a 20% discount on all my jewelry for one day only! Plus I'll be launching some brand new flavours for my handmade, cocoa butter based lip balms like Lemon Cheesecake, Chocolate Truffle, Lychee & Coffee & Kahlua! Yummmmmm.

The market details are below so don't forget ya? See you this Saturday ;)

Date: 19 December 2009 (Saturday only)
Time: 10am - 5pm
Venue: Hartamas Square, Desa Sri Hartamas (map below)

DIY Gift Bows

Perfect for the upcoming gift exchange season, here's a simple tutorial on how to make your own gift bows plus do a little something good for Mother Nature. Click on over to Jessica’s amazing magazine gift bow tutorial on How About Orange & get a head start on your gift wrapping folks!

Via Twig & Thistle.

Noto-Fusai

Taken off the website's product description:

Form meets function in this canvas scene clock by Noto-Fusai.

A functioning clock is embedded in scenes from real life, either as a clock in a park or in a street scene, providing a new, more decorative way to tell time.

I've been looking for a clock for the boyfriend's house (can you believe he doesn't have a single clock in his house! I always feel like I'm running late for something at his place)... I don't think he'd object to such a this simple monochromatic piece of functional art, wouldn't you agree?

Via Oh Joy.

Bunny Tote Bag

Ok. You've probably seen tonnes of foldaway shopping bags & they're a dime a dozen but have you seen a foldaway shopping bag that transforms into an adorable stuffed animal? Yeah, me neither. I want the one in black please. And brown. And grey while you're at it. Buy it here, like, NOW before the bunnies hop away (they ship internationally, yay)!

Via Happiness Is.

Monique Lhuillier

My jaw just dropped when I saw this wedding dress by Monique Lhuillier worn by one very beautiful bride. Check it out in all its brilliance below & prepare to be envious. Oh, and doesn't the bride look like a fairytale princess? Lucky girl.

Via Free People.

DIY Cereal Box Village

Remember yesterday's post on a village pillowcase? Well, I found the next best thing that you can easily DIY: a Cereal Box Village! Simply take any ol' box (it doesn't have to be a cereal box) & recycle it into an adorable little village by snipping it here & there, slap on some paint or fancy paper & voila! I think they'll make an awesome Christmas decoration too if you keep it red & green as illustrated below (although I personally like the bright colors above) & maybe add some fake snow (a.k.a. cotton wool). Full tutorial here at Bella Dia.

Via Creature Comforts.

Mimpi ♥ PayPal

Did you kind folks know that you can make your payments for your online orders at Mimpi Murni with your credit cards via PayPal? That's right, Mimpi Murni is a Verified Business Member of PayPal so come flash your plastics for a dose of Mimpi lovin'!

It took me awhile to create this here tutorial on How To Make Payment via PayPal so I hope it'll help out those of you who have never used PayPal before. Don't worry, it's really simple & practically fool-proof! ;)


Here are some info on PayPal according to Wikipedia (don't you just love Wiki?), "PayPal is an e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the internet." Now, PayPal has been around a really loooong time & possesses an excellent & not to mention proven track record compared to many other online payment gateways. Both merchants & buyers are protected while using PayPal as buyers can shop securely without revealing their credit card details to merchants & merchants are in turn protected with PayPal's excellent fraud detection system.

But the major plus point in my opinion is that no extra fees are imposed on the buyers so you won't have any of those nasty hidden charges showing up on your credit card statement. Another glorious improvement at PayPal is that it now accepts Malaysian Ringgit for Malaysian customers! What's there not to love?

If you have a question regarding how PayPal works just leave me a comment below & I'll try my bestest to help you out.

Village Pillows

These awesome Village Pillows by Rachael Cole are a set of cushions that fit together to form the landscape of a tiny make believe town. I think they'd look lovely on the bed & will make dreamtime that much sweeter. Click here to view the full collection and shop online.

Via Design*Sponge.

Flickr Favourites

1. my gaudy, 2. Untitled, 3. morning sky, 4. Untitled, 5. sunshine and rain, 6. starry night peacock, 7. two deers, 8. Polaroid Spectra Pro, 9. The Book Collection, 10. Untitled, 11. ., 12. butterfly jam, 13. Adam and Halli's Wedding, 14. Bug., 15. Bug has a new bear, 16. Big bear, 17. vintage children´s book 1977, 18. white-hat-girl-2, 19. I Can Fly, 20. junior deluxe, 21. Euroslide, 22. red dress with scalloped collar, 23. Pause for a shot, 24. dream a little dream, 25. "The poetry of the earth is never dead."

I love having a look at my Flickr favourites from time to time for inspiration & ideas. You can click here for a closer look into what turns me on ;)

DIY Fabric Flower Garland

Ok. So I have a thing for flower garlands & buntings. Honestly can't get enough of them. They're festive, cheerful & you can usually make them with whatever scraps you have laying around. Here's a nice a little tutorial from Once Wed by the folks of Dolci Odille to whip up your own fabulous fabric flower garlands (try saying that really fast 7 times while you're at it). Have fun!

Comment Moderation Is Back On

Like many people, I hate getting spam emails & text messages but I most especially hate spam comments! So since they are a few of you out there who are incredibly tak malu (shameless) & tak beretika (unethical), I am switching back on my comment moderation even though I hate having to do so.

You see, I really appreciate it when you tell me what you think of my blog posts as it's always great to be acknowledged but it really sucks when some people misuse the comments section for self promotion & it especially sucks when they leave a comment that has nothing to do with the post. Even though I don't get a whole lot of comments & I really should be happy to get any comments for that matter, it really irks me. Sorry for the inconvenience folks! :(

Kindle

Being an avid reader & lover of all books (hardback, paperback, brand new, worn out & my latest fix, e-books on my iPhone) I'd love to get a Kindle for Christmas. I love the convenience of having one device with a few selection of books that I can carry with me wherever I go & it's especially great to read at night as I won't disturb the man with my late night reading (he's the kind of guy that can't sleep with the lights on).

Right now I'm reading a lot of classic books that I've been downloading from the iTunes store but I got to admit that Kindle has got my sweet little iPhone beat on the title selection. With over 300,000 title to choose from, you can download up to 1,500 book into your bad boy within 60 seconds on a wireless connection & it has a battery life of up to 2 weeks on a single charge! How amazing is that? Only problem is, it doesn't seem that Kindle will be available for Malaysia anytime soon. Oh, the tragedy!

See You Tomorrow!

Be at the Buy Nothing Bazaar tomorrow at Rasta, TTDI between 11am - 5pm & you'll be able to get some Mimpi Murni jewelry at 20% off for one day only!

You won't want to miss it so click here for more info. See you soon! ;)

Wolly Pockets

Taken off the website:
Woolly Pocket soft-sided garden containers are the ideal way to grow healthy gardens - indoors and out. Green Thumb optional. Pockets are simple to install and maintain. Just place and fill with beautiful, full-size plants. Breathable sides release excess moisture and aerate soil. Waterproof lining helps keep walls and floors dry.

I like. Only problem is I have a decidedly Black Thumb :(

Via Oh Joy.

Mimpi ♥ Buy Nothing Bazaar

Christmas is just around the corner my lovelies, so come score some amazing deals for your loved ones at the Buy Nothing Bazaar happening this weekend! Yes, yes, "Buy Nothing" is an oxymoron as we of course want your help to stimulate local economy by actually buying stuff! Heh.

Anyways, I've got lots of new designs & old favorites remade just for you & everything available will be going at a whooping 20% off! That's right my lovelies, it's the Mimpi Sale that you won't want to miss that will be taking place for ONE DAY only at the Bazaar!! Details below...

Date: 5 Dec (remember, this SATURDAY only!)
Time: 11am - 5pm
Venue: Rasta, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (map)


See you lovelies there k? You won't regret it ;)

SarahSeven

I can't even begin tell you how much I love these dresses by SarahSeven. The details, the fabric, the cut, even the photography is amazing! Oh, be still my heart.

Winston

Since my last post of dogs with accessories got a fair bit of response from some of you here & on FaceBook (my posts here are RSS'd to my notes there), thought I'd share another adorable find. Everyone, meet Winston the jewelry wearing pup. Winston, meet everyone.


Can you say, "awwwwwwwwww"?

Via Free People.

Jack Kerouac

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars…" - Jack Kerouac (On The Road)


One of my all-time favorite quotes. Although I'm a bit more practical when it comes to who I associate with (not all my friends are mad), I just love that this quote reflects a desire to take life by the horns. By the way, On the Road is a fabulous read.

So as we approach 2010 I've resolved to live it up for the coming year. Have you thought of your new year's resolution yet?


P/S: Another fave quote of mine from Mr Kerouac: "Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

Lizette Bell

Here's a little explosion of color by Lizette Bell to hopefully brighten up your dreary Monday blues. How's your Monday so far my lovelies?

Via Oh Joy.

Sick Leave

Sucks to be me right now folks. I have a fever & my laptop just won't start so as someone told me on Twitter today, it's probably a sign that I should take a little time off to recharge. So I'm going to sleep off my fever this long weekend & pray to the Tech gods that my lappie will be ok when I go pick it up from the shop on Sunday. In the meantime my darlings, please excuse my absence from the blog & your emails may go unanswered for awhile but fret not, I'll work on it when I'm feeling better. Happy Raya Aidil Adha!

Edit: I just found out that all the data on my laptop has been corrupted INCLUDING all my back up data. I'm so screwed but thank God for Google Docs & Flickr. All is not lost.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Faire House

Who would've thought plates masquerading as clocks by Faire House could look so chic and functional? These images make me wish I was brave enough to drill a plate since fitting in a clock mechanism would be pretty simple... Now where did I put that drill & goggle?



Via Decor8.

DIY Heating Pads

Christmas is practically a month away & I've been on a look out for something nice & thoughtful to give my family members who celebrate. At the same time I'm looking for a something that's not going to break the bank so what's my solution? DIY of course! And I think I might have stumbled onto a solution which will come especially handy for those cold, rainy days we've been getting....


Yup, heating pads! Here's a great little tutorial filled with plenty of handy tips in case you want to make them yourself. I made one for myself awhile back for my menstrual cramps & it works like a charm so I'm hoping my loved ones will enjoy them too. It's a super simple project & I honestly can't wait to get started! Off to find some pretty fabrics now... Happy Monday all!

Handmade Nation

The following was taken off the official Handmade Nation website:
Handmade Nation documents a movement of artists, crafters and designers that recognize the marriage between historical techniques, punk and DIY (do it yourself) ethos while being influenced by traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, feminism and art. Fueled by the common thread of creating, Handmade Nation explores a burgeoning art community that is based on creativity, determination and networking.

In 2006 first time director Faythe Levine traveled to 15 cities, interviewing 80 individuals. Levine captured the virtually tight-knit community that exists through websites, blogs and online stores and connects to the greater public through independent boutiques, galleries and craft fairs. Interviews were also conducted in artist studios and homes of the featured makers.

And I'n super excited to find out that it's now available on DVD! You can get them here or here & I'm getting a copy of my own for sure as I'm an ardent supporter of all things Handmade (as you, dear readers, know).


Check out the trailer below. It's going to make you want to shout "Yaaaay, Go DIY!" & it especially makes me especially proud to be part (albeit a small part) of the movement :)




Via CRAFT.

Home Is Where The Heart Is: Yvestown

I now have serious room envy after seeing these shots of Yvestown's newly decorated sun room. Happy Monday y'all!

Updates!

Hey ya lovelies! After working my butt off over some custom orders all week after Chic Pop last Sunday, I finally have a little time to update my now very empty blogshop with a few new designs & classic remakes. So mosey on over to Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets & More to check out my latest offerings! Hope you'll ♥ them.

By the way, how do you like my new business/jewelry card folks? I gave Dura the talented maven of The Fashion Forest free rein & she came up with this dreamy little lady that I'm lovin' right down to the little cleft on her chin & voluptuous lips! Look out for a copy of this card in your next order from Mimpi Murni!

In other news, I'll also start carrying a small line & limited line of The Fashion Forest on the blogshop soon along with some exclusive calendars & Xmas cards so once that's up you'll be the first ones to know, I promise! I also have some limited edition t-shirts by Mia Palencia that I'm super excited to share with you real soon so stay tuned.

In the meantime, have a look around my latest jewelry collection & have a great weekend my lovelies! XOXO

Emma

I have to admit that I am a HUGE Jane Austen fan. I've read all of her books & keep multiple copies of Pride & Prejudice at home along with a digital version on my iPhone. However, Emma has a very dear spot in my heart as it was the very first Jane Austen book I picked up at 16 after finding out that Clueless was based on this particular book (yes, yes, I love chick flicks too!). Ever since then, I devoured all of Ms Austen's work. So imagine my delight when I found out that the BBC has a new Emma series showing & someone has kindly uploaded the series on YouTube! Thought I'd share it with you just in case you're as big of a fan as me ;)

47 Meters Is All You Need

Yup. This house is only 47 meters & I love it. It's simple without being minimalistic, chic without being frou frou & modern without being dated. Simply put, it's perfect.








Via Lake Jane.