Happy 53rd Merdeka!

Image taken from KLue. Thanks KLue!

Happy Independence Day fellow Malaysians! This year’s Merdeka theme is 1Malaysia Menjana Transformasi & how cool that we will have another national holiday this 16 September to celebrate the formation of Malaysia when Malaya joined forces with Sabah & Sarawak (Singapore too, but that’s a different story)! Now, I’ll leave the political discourse to other people (here & here) because as you know, here at Mimpi Murni we’re all about warm, fuzzy feelings so Selamat Merdeka lovelies. Fly the Jalur Gemilang high & proud.

DIY Printable Labels

It's been awhile since I posted a DIY so here's one that's a no-brainer. Just print out these shabby chic Cath Kidson labels & well, label away! Click here for the download & how-to.

Via Sweet Tidings.


 

Johnny Miller

Just had to share this amazing shot by Johnny Miller with you guys. I just love the light filtering through the glass… It makes me want to start collecting vases!

Via Oh Joy.

Home Is Where The Heart Is: All The Luck In The World

Jane of All The Luck In The World took some pictures of her lovely home & you know me darlings… the combination of white walls with mostly white furniture + whimsical, thrift shop decor always makes me weak in the knees so I just had to share it with you. Enjoy the pictures.

What Happened In 1981

My aunt just sent me this link for What Happened In My Birth Year & I must admit I was a little skeptical at first but I'm glad I clicked on over (thanks Tai Yi!). Don't let the simple, minimalistic layout fool you though. I found it very enlightening & rather thought-provoking plus it was lovely revisiting old,dusty childhood memories. It takes awhile to read the content so if you have 5 - 10 minutes to spare do check it out.

Cake Bunting

I think a bunting added to any decor is just lovely for a touch of whimsy but a cake bunting is pure genius I tell ya! Seriously, what’s not to love? These these sweet handmade cake bunting designs from dawn at kiki la ru have just been added to my wishlist.

Via Design Sponge.
 

A Love Letter For You

(Taken off the website) “Love Letter is literally a love letter painted on the walls facing the Market elevated train [of Philadelphia]. 40 local and international artists will paint the walls in august and the letter will be on view for one and all starting as early as Labor Day.

The project will encompass 50 painted walls between 63rd and 45th street on Market Street, a documentary film with scripted elements, a sign school and shop that will provide training for area youth and free signage for businesses on the market street corridor, and 2 books documenting the project. One of the books will be a small paperback that will be distributed to area businesses free of charge, for them to sell to visitors. The other book will be a larger hardcover book that will document not only the artwork, but the neighborhood and the inspirations of the Love Letter Project.

Love Letter is an unprecedented public art project by Steve Powers and The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. It is funded by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative.”

How inspirational! This reminds me of KL’s very own murals along the Putra LRT line starting from the Pasar Seni stop. Will try to find a link for that but in the meantime, please click here to see the rest of the Love Letter murals.

Via Design Is Mine.

How To Be Alone

It's time to move on so I thought I'd share a little something quirky. Being someone who spends most of my time working alone in my home office, I can relate to this How To Be Alone video by film-maker, Andrea Dorfman & poet/singer/songwriter, Tanya Davis. My favorite line from this quirky little gem has got to be, “lonely is a freedom that breaths easy and weightless and lonely is healing if you make it.”


Via CRAFT.

Her Approval

If you’ve been following my tweets & earlier blog post, you would’ve heard of my Popo’s passing. She was a fantastic individual & will be sorely missed by everyone whose life she has touched so I thought I’d share a little bit about her…

My maternal grandmother is of Hakka descent & was born in Beijing, China in the year 1932. She was sent to Malaysia in her teens & was soon married to my grandfather or Kong Kong as I call him (he passed away when I was about 12 & although I never really got to know him, I remember a quiet man who always did what was right in his own quiet way), was also Hakka originally from China. They had a total of 8 children, 6 girls & 2 boys. Life was not easy as they worked hard day & night to make ends meet while raising so many children.

It is these children & their spouses plus offspring, a total of 34 individuals (give or take) including many other relatives & friends, who came together over the course of 3 days for my grandmother’s memorial service. As is with most Chinese people, my Popo actually put aside some money for her funeral & all I can say is that she would’ve definitely approved the outcome.

It was during this time that I came to fully realise what a strong woman my Popo was. Even towards the end, she still pushed herself to remain mobile despite painful arthritis & fibrosis in her lungs which left her breathless. Despite this, she could still crack a joke & dispense good, sound advice so that we would take care of ourselves & of each other. She knew her time was coming soon but my Popo remained jovial, loving & strong & it is these qualities that I hope with all my heart that I’ve inherited.

As I look back on the night we all spent sleeping over at the memorial centre to accompany our Popo’s last night on earth, I remember the jokes we made over sleeping positions, the hugs & words of solace we gave each other in comfort. It is this memory that assures me pieces of Popo lives on in each of us… She would’ve definitely approved.

Shi Ngeok Lian

I’ve never mentioned this before but one of the people behind Mimpi Murni is my Popo (grandmother), Shi Ngeok Lian. This kind & generous soul who has always been a big part of my life passed away peacefully this morning. Already, everyone in the family misses her so much but we know she’s in a better place.

I’m going to halt the scheduled blogposts & orders for awhile till I get my bearings. I didn’t have time to stop this morning’s post amidst rushing to see my grandmother. Anyways, I hope you lovely folks can bear with me for a bit… I promise I won’t be long.

Oh, and thanks to everyone who emailed & twitted me earlier with your condolences. It truly means a lot.

Me & my Popo at my Engagement Ceremony last May before she got really sick.
I will never get to serve her tea as she has always wanted but I hope she’s happy to know
that I’m getting married soon.