Happy 2011!

Wishing you love & blessings for the new year my lovelies. Wherever you are tonight, ringing in 2011, I hope you will be surrounded by loved ones & that you stay safe. 2010 was a blast & I look forward to 2011. Bring it on ;)

xoxo,
Murni

Harimau Malaya Berjaya!

This has probably been blogged & tweeted to death already but I just had to do a quick post & put this up: Malaysia won the ASEAN Football Federation 2010 Suzuki Cup!!! And to make this even sweeter, our Prime Minister, Najib Razak has announced tomorrow will be a public holiday! Congrats Harimau Malaya Muda. You did us all proud.

More Calendar Lovin'

There are years where I don’t buy a single calendar or organiser & not miss it at all but for 2011 I thought I’d better get my butt organised with the wedding just around the corner. So I splurged & got me not one, but two calendars! The first of course is Lisa Rupp’s hot air balloon fabric calendar for its special significance for my fiancé & I. This one is just meant to hang in my craft room & look pretty so I got a desk calendar for scribbling on but I did not get any ol’ desk calendar. It’s a DIY desk calendar. Yup. I just had to get the DIY kind. Hehe.

Now, Grandluxe is a local manufacturer of notebooks & organisers which first caught my attention 2 years back with their colorful & tasteful line of notebooks. Since then, all my notebooks are by Grandluxe which I purchased at Kinokuniya & when I saw this new desk calendar which is “designed to let your creative thoughts flow” I just had to grab one. Basically it’s plain & printed on quality black paper with little die-cut slots for you to insert your pictures or you can do whatever else that inspires you! Draw, decoupage, write a haiku or hey, you can do like I did above & write your to-do list (all wedding related) on a paper doilly & paste it on with some Japanese washi tape. The possibilities are endless & I look forward decorating the coming months.

Ok 2011, I’m ready for you.

The Nimbus Factory

Once in awhile I come across a shop online that makes me go “awww, neat!” The Nimbus Factory is one such shop. I love everything about it. The logo, the very simple yet adorable layout & omg, the products are just my kind of quirky & cute! If you’re in the market to get a calendar for 2011, you should check out their Happy Ocean mini calendar set. If I hadn’t already bought mine, I would’ve snapped this one right up.

Via Going Home To Roost.

DIY Nutella (Grown Up Version)

When I was a little girl, my mother would reward me with a small tub-like packet of Nutella especially if I’ve been behaving well. Ever since then I equate Nutella with something incredibly satisfying (not to mention yummy!).

Now, how about whipping up a batch of your own Nutella with a little grown up twist of using cocoa nibs & some espresso powder? Sounds good? While you’re at it with the help of this recipe from Bon Vivant, make me some too k? Thanks. (I need to get me a food processor, stat!)

Via Happiness Is.

A Small Patch Of Blue Sky

So folks, how was your Christmas weekend? As we don’t celebrate Christmas in this household, we just took it easy, stayed away from the malls & I took the opportunity to recover from my Jakarta trip & the combo of fever, flu & cough that usually comes after a bout of travelling & non-stop activity. The picture above was taken on Saturday, right before the rain fell, when Bobby the fiancé was making full use of the strong wind & played with his sports kite (he’s getting really good at it by the way). I was watching from under a lovely ol’ tree, taking shelter from the impending rain when I looked up & saw a patch of blue sky then the sun suddenly peeked out like a blessing. Thought I’d share the picture with you :)

Hey, It’s Christmas!

Merry Christmas to one & all! Here’s a great digital album with familiar Christmas tunes covered by indie artists like The Oceanauts, Eutopian Accident & Danny Legget (yeah, I’ve never heard of them either). I personally don’t celebrate Christmas but I love good music and folks, this is pretty good. Huge plus point is that it’s FREE! So go download it now & get into the that Christmassy mood.

Via Happiness Is.

Christmas Lights

It’s Christmas tomorrow so here’s a lovely new song called Christmas Lights by Coldplay to get you in the mood (the video is pretty rad too with vaudeville stage decor & the Elvis impersonators!).

To those celebrating Christmas, I hope you have a very merry one filled with wonderful & thoughtful presents, good food, good company & good cheer!

Love,
Murni

Be Back In A Few Days

Hello folks. I’m dropping in for a quick post just to let you know that I’ll be away till Wednesday on a wedding shopping trip in Jakarta. This month has been crazy frantic & I haven’t had time to schedule any posts so this blog is going to be quiet till I get back. In the meantime, do have a poke around reading my old posts here or here at handmadeKL.

By the way, here’s a little sneak peek of yesterday’s Craft Party. The ingredients buffet was completely demolished by the end of the day! :P

Etsy Malaysia Secret Santa

I just can’t resist sharing this Etsy Malaysia Secret Santa gift I put together with you lovely folks on blogland. Anyways, I’m pretty sure my recipient doesn’t know I exist on Blogspot & Twitter so this little sneak peek won’t hurt + it’s a Secret Santa thing so she won’t know till she gets it, right? Right. Hehe.

I had quite a hard time figuring out what to make & give for someone I’ve never met or communicated with, so I just stuck to her wish list (luckily she had one!) & added a few things that I wouldn’t mind receiving myself. Hope she’ll like it. Things I included: my homemade French Vanilla lipbalm + a new tinted lipbalm (will be releasing it soon, watch this space), some soaps that I also made (just for Christmas gifts), some note cards that I hand stamped, a couple of postcards with Dura’s gorgeous illustrations, some quilting fabric quarters & a notebook to jot down craft ideas.

You like?

Crocheted Butterflies

I know I’ve blogged before about these hand-crocheted alpaca wool butterflies found at Oeuf but they deserve another mention I think. I so wish I could crochet.

Via Aesthetic Outburst.

DIY Plush Christmas Carolers Pattern

Aren’t these chubby plush coralers just the cutest things you’ve seen? Make them with this handy tutorial by Gingercake.

Via CRAFT.

Craft Fair Shopping List

I think this shopping list & mini pencils given out at the D.I.Y. Psi craft fair is ingenious! We should have something like this at our markets, don’t you think? I know I for one, would find this really handy especially when it comes to Christmas shopping.

Via CRAFT.

Sometimes It’s The Little Things…

 

Yesterday was my mother’s birthday but instead of the usual present + dinner + birthday cake celebration, Bobby suggested we take her out on one of our little road trips. Where did we go? We went to Pantai Morib to have really cheap yet yummy seafood, fly kites & laze around while chatting. As I gave my Mama a great big hug at the end of the day when we dropped her off home, she told us this was the best birthdays she’s ever had.

 

Love you Ma.

 

Globe Chandelier

My, my, my. Isn’t this Globe Chandelier created by Benoit Vieubled stunning? Even my fiancé who walked past earlier when I first saw this stopped in his tracks when he glanced over my shoulder at the screen & now we both can’t stop thinking about it. Gorgeous.

Via Black*Eiffel.

Freebie: Typographic Gift Tags

Like many people who are into design & perhaps more specifically, graphic design, I’m a certified typographic nerd & these hand-lettered holiday gift tags made by Amy are certainly making the nerd in me very happy. It doesn’t hurt that they’re a free download too. Download them here (thanks Amy!).

Via Eat Drink Chic.

Craft Party #2

Hey folks! I know some of you have been waiting an age for me to arrange the next craft party & I have to thank you ALL for your unending patience while I get my act together. now, I’m happy to say that everything has been confirmed & set into motion so I hope you will be able to join us.

This time around with gift-giving season just around the corner, I thought it’d be awesome to share with you one of my favorite things to make especially when I’m pressed for time but want to go the DIY route; sugar scrubs & bath salts! Yes indeed, you can whip these up in a matter of minutes with ingredients from your kitchen & they never fail to impress. Want to learn how to make these with other craft lovers? Here’s how:

date: 19 December 2010 (Sunday)
time: 10am - 12pm
venue: Wondermilk cafe, 41 Jalan SS 21/1A Damansara Uptown
project: DIY sugar scrubs & bath salts
fee: RM30 (includes 2 x 250ml glass jars, access to an ingredients "buffet" & instructional booklet with recipes for sugar scrubs & bath salts)
seats are limited to 20 pax so register now to avoid missing out!

head on over to the handmadeKL blog for more info & remember folks, a craft party just ain’t a party without your support, enthusiasm & love for crafts so let’s make this second one as great as the first, if not even better! wheee, i can’t wait!

Roald Dahl

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it” – Roald Dahl.

How true.

Undoubtedly, I am a big fan of Roald Dahl’s body of work. He wrote extensively from fiction to poetry to autobiographies to screenplays although he is most famous for his children’s stories (with Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Matilda & The BFG topping my list). It is my honest opinion that no library is complete without a little Roald Dahl.

Image by Amy Borrell (aka Cake With Giants), via Creature Comforts.

My Weekend

Hi folks! Thought I’d pop in for a bit to share some pictures I took with my iPhone + Instagram over the weekend. The fiancé & I had a wedding to attend in Seremban on Saturday so we took the opportunity to stay a night there before pushing off in the afternoon to Melaka (yes, we love to sleep in during the weekends). Once there, we met up with my cousins for a bit (wish I could’ve spent more time with them), ate a lot & then went to play kites by the beach. Here are some shots from Melaka…

Don’t let the picture fool you, it was super hot & sunny in Melaka not
to mention crowded at Jonker Street! People were spilling over the
sidewalk thanks to the Malaysian & Singaporean school holidays.

This has got to be the best antique shop along Jonker Street with the
widest selection. Even the sign looks like an antique don’t
you think?

Our first food pit stop for the day was at 13 States, located in one
of the alleys off Jonker Street. It's very peaceful compared to the
crowded shops along the main street & I was particularly delighted
over their decorations which was vintage & kitschy. The food is pretty
good too so I would definitely recommend this place to anyone
looking to get away from the heat & crowd.

Had to take a picture of this famous Chicken Rice Balls place but we
didn’t stop to try it because our main objective was a shop
opposite…

Jonker Dessert 88 is a must if you’re at Jonker Street. It’s over-
crowded (we shared tables with a family) & it’s all self-service but man,
the food is awesome! Hands down, the rojak buah pictured above is
the best I’ve ever had (the added chakoi makes all the difference) & you
must try the famous cendol.

With our bellies full & the sky still clear, we ended our trip with a little
kite flying which is my fiance’s newest hobby. We headed on over near
the site of the former Eye On Malaysia where there is a large, open field
by the beach. Enthusiasts, both young & old were all out flying their
colorful kites & the sky never looked prettier.

Weekends like the one I just had make it rather hard to go back to day to day life but luckily I love my job. How was your weekend my lovelies?

Lissie

 

I stumbled on this video of new-to-me Lissie singing acoustically & it gave me goosebumps. I’m a big fan of this sort of goosebump-inducing music if you can’t already tell. Hehe. Anyways, happy Friday all & have a great weekend ahead!

Freebie: Printable Wrapping Paper

Don’t have time to rush out & get some wrapping paper for a gift for that special someone? Download these free wrapping papers by Mae (an Australian company that makes these amazing fabric decals) print them out in either A4 or A3 sizes & you’re set to start wrapping. Aren’t they just so sweet? Head on over here to start downloading.

Via Twig & Thistle.

KLue + Etsy Malaysia Crafty Art Market

Hi all! I’m still recovering from my weekend which started off with the first ever Crafty Art Market followed by kite flying on Sunday (yes, it rained & it was very muddy) then birthday celebrations for my fiancé. I won’t get into the details of it all but I do want to share with you about my experience at the Market.

Kudos goes out to Shermen of KLue & Michelle of Kinder Soaps (also of Team Etsy Malaysia, of which I am now a proud member of) for organising a successful event. It was very well thought of & executed plus the location around The Bee at Jaya One was just the right combination of easy accessibility & cosiness. People just kept coming despite the rain, so much so that I hardly had time to sit & catch my breath! The success of this event strengthens my conviction that this whole handmade movement is not just a passing craze but something that is here to stay as more & more people turn to lovingly handmade & unique crafts instead of generic & mass produced products. My only one regret for the event is that I didn’t have time to meet & chat with all the lovely vendors although I have a sneaking feeling that I’ll be visiting their Etsy shops soon as I saw quite a few things that I’d like to make mine (click here for a list of all the vendors). Man, I just can’t wait for the next Crafty Art Market!

Oh, and not forgetting you lovely folks who took the time out to drop by & say hi: Thank you from the bottom of my heart… I can’t even begin to tell how much it means to me. I hope some of you who went away with a little piece of my Mimpi love them as much as I loved dreaming them up ;)

Here are a few pictures I managed to snap with my iPhone…

My table all set up

  Me & my lipbalms

Michelle’s son Rueben who was so happy to just play in his pen & gurgle away. 

Isn’t he adorable? I just want to eat him up!

DIY: Snow Globe Postcards

I'm a sucker for snow globes & postcards (amongst many other things as you all know) but when combined… well, let’s just say it’s an awesome combination of kitsch & creativity that I live for! Go ahead, start creating with this tutorial by Giddy Giddy & make someone’s day by sending it in the post.

Via Whip Up.

Freebie: Printable 2011 Owl Lover Calendar

Who doesn’t love a good owl print? Who? Who HOOO? Sorry, I couldn’t help myself :)

Anyways, Shivani of My Owl Barn lets you customize a printable 2011 Owl Lover Calendar featuring the work of 30 artists for free. Yup. Free. Simply choose the owl or artist that grabs your fancy for each month & it generates a neat little downloadable PDF that you can then print out (on nice, thick paper preferably) & gift it to your favorite owl lover(s)!

Via CRAFT.

Mimpi Murni ♥ Crafty Art Market

You all know Etsy right? It’s only my favorite place in the whole world wide web, hands down & I’ve mentioned it soooo many times in this blog that it should be ingrained in your brains by now.

OK, now guess what’s the exciting news? Etsy Team Malaysia (Etsy sellers from Malaysia obviously) has joined forces with the awesome folks of KLue to bring you the first ever Crafty Art Market this Saturday & Mimpi Murni is SO FREAKING proud to be a part of it! I finally got off my butt & created my long-dreamed of Etsy shop (which is empty at the moment but will be stocked up after the market). Here are the deets…

Date: 27 Nov 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 11am – 6pm
Venue: In front of The Bee, Jaya One
Facebook Event Page here
List of participating Etsy sellers here

So if you’ve always loved shopping on Etsy or would love to support local crafters & artisans, do drop by for a dose of 100%-handmade-in-Malayisa-goodness this Saturday.

Streetwise Shopping

Mimpi Murni was featured in The Star’s Weekender last Saturday along with the awesomeness of My Favorite Tees, Things Eye Made & The Brollies! Read the article here which is all about the Chic Pop Street Market. Thank you Mei Li for taking time out to feature us. Hugs & kisses also goes out to the lovely darlings of Tongue In Chic who have supported Mimpi Murni from DAY ONE. You guys. Are. Awesome.

Do What You Love

You know I’m all about doing what you love & doing it well so this series about women doing what they love in conjunction with Gap's 1969 Jeans collection is right up my alley. This particular video features Anna of Rifle Paper Co. whose blog I’ve had on my Google Reader since forever. I love her work & she’s such an inspiration to me so I hope this little vid will serve to inspire you in turn. Don’t forget to check out the rest in the series will you’re at it!

Via Rifle.

Horoscopes

Clockwise from top left: Aries, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Libra, Leo & Gemini.

This month’s Vogue UK has a fantastically whimsical Star Sign editorial shot by Tim Gutt with model Siri Tollerand. I’m a Gemini & I just love my star’s simple styling with the mirror.

Via Stop Stealing My Look Com.

Sagittarius

Pisces

Aquarius

Capricorn

DIY: Scrap Paper Notebooks

Here’s a great way to resuse scrap paper by turning them into notebooks with a little glue. A simple project you can whip up & in no time at all, you’ll be stocked up with enough notebooks to last you a loooong time. Tutorial here.

Via Design*Sponge.

Gifted

Gifted is an amazing digital magazine that celebrates the gift of giving & if you’re like me, you know gifts don’t have to be restricted to birthdays & holidays. I’m making full use of the resources & DIY project ideas from this nifty mag for my loved ones & I suggest you check it out too ;)

Via Creature Comforts.

Aidiladha

Sorry for going MIA on you these last couple of days. Been trying to spend with some quality time with my family while trying to juggle orders takes superhuman effort sometimes & something just had to give. In this case, I had to put this here blog on the back burner for awhile so I do hope you’ll forgive me.

And hey, while my back was turned, Raya Haji crept up on me & a small group of my family + close family friends are fulfilling their Hajj as I type this. I  really couldn’t be prouder of them & one day hope to go on the pilgrimage too. In the meantime, here’s wishing all my fellow Muslim Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha! May Allah bless us all.

Lodekka

See that double decker bus? Well, it’s not just a bus. It’s a shop on wheels. A shop on wheels filled with vintage dresses named after the make of the bus, Lodekka to be exact. How fabulous is that?? After being laid off from work, the owner, Erin Sutherland restored the bus in 6 months & lived out her dream of starting her own business. I particularly like this one quote of hers from an article in The Oregonian, “This is one girl trying to turn her compulsion into a cottage industry…” Just perfect! See photos of the restoration over on Facebook.

Via Frolic.