New Site Design

Hey dreamers, check out my website mimpimurni.com to keep up to date with my work. The site is still a work in progress but I'm quite happy with it… at the moment that is! Being someone who designs for a living, I change things around at the drop of a hat so don't be surprised if things look a little different by the time to log onto the site. I am, however, really loving the simple & clean look. Drop me a line & let me know what you think!

Hanna Melin

Fly Away With Me print by Hanna Melin. Sweet & simple with a painterly feel, just the way I like it.

 

About Time...

Why, hello there! I decided it's time I shake off the cobwebs from this little ol' blog of mine. Trust me, dear neglected readers (are you still there?), you have never been far from my thoughts. After all, this blog launched my business & was what set me on this wonderful, colourful path that I am on. I have met so many of you readers in the years that I've been blogging & it never fails to thrill me that there are actually people who like what I like & who read what I have to say! In all honesty, I don't think I would be where I am today without you. So, for that, let me say a heartfelt…

Thank you for your support through all these years & through my many changes in so many different directions. Heck, I'm a fickle-minded Gemini through & through so expect quite a few more changes to come! But trust me, this blog will never be far from my thoughts :)

It hasn't been easy, these last couple of months. I've had to question what do I REALLY, REALLY want in life & hard as it is to pin it down (hello Gemini!) I'm comfortable with the answer. I'm going to take the next step in making my long-held dream a reality. I'm keeping it to myself for now, but I think making this incredibly vague declaration is going to help me kind of cast it out to the universe & hopefully, things fall into place. I am, after all, a huge believer that the universe gives you exactly what you need, when you need it. Don't get me wrong, you can't just sit around waiting for things to happen but you have to work on it with integrity & faith. 

Thank you, over & over again. Xoxo

Happy Fasting!

Last month started out pretty slow but soon picked up to break neck speed & I have yet to properly rest since mid June. Don't get me wrong, I love my job with every fibre of my being but boy, am I looking forward to finally winding down a few projects & to start some new ones soon!

We Muslims are about to start a month of fasting which represents a time for self-reflection & cleansing. It's also a time for my favorite Pasar Ramadhan! So here's wishing all fellow Muslims salam ramadhan al-mubarak & happy fasting!

 

Quill & Fox

This card is one I would so frame after giving it to my husband. Read the designer's profile here via Storque.

 

Paper To Petal

 

This book marries my love for crafting & flowers, and I can not wait to get my hands on it! It will be released in August & you can preorder it on Amazon (which is what I just did). I'm seriously drooling over these pictures....

 

Abigail Brown

I've blogged about Abigail Brown a couple of times (here & here) & I'll keep on blogging till the whole world knows about her amazing handmade birds. I hope someday I will be able to purchase a peacock for myself (£500 pounds! Sob sob)

 

DIY: Piñata

 

Looking for a slightly adult version of a piñata? Well, how about DIYing this flower filled piñata? I think it's a marvellous idea & I hope one of my clients will let me do this one day!

Via Free People Blog.

 

 

Home Sweet Home: Gu Qi & Mobai

 

This Beijing home of furniture designer Gu Qi & his graphic designer girlfriend Mobai is the epitome of cool in my books. The use of wood & the abundant light & airiness of the space is my dream come true.

Via SFGirlByBay.

 

Real Beauty

 

This commercial by Dove really hits a nerve for women everywhere. If you're a woman & haven't already seen this, please do & if you're a guy, please show this to the women in your life.

Dove's description of the commercial: "Women are their own beauty critics. Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful. At Dove, we are committed to creating a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. So, we decided to conduct a compelling social experiment that explores how women view their own beauty in contrast to what others see."

Remember ladies, you are more beautiful than you think!

P/S: Once you've wiped away those tears welling up in your eyes, check out the men's version of the commercial. Hilarious!

 

Air Filtering Plants

Recently I tried to talk Bobby the hubby into getting a home air filtration system as he's a smoker. But those dang air filtration systems are ugly. And big. And did I mention they're ugly? Yuck. So the next best thing is to get plants & these 10 plants are rated the best in filtering the nasties out of the air we breathe by removing 90% of formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene within 24 hours. 24 hours! More info via Going Home To Roost.

 

DIY: Fabric Typography Wall Art

Here's a way to create large typographic art for your walls without creating holes & a mess. Tutorial via Curbly.

 

 

A Little Cat Lovin'

I'm sure Hassan, my very spoiled & much loved cat, would appreciate a teepee of his own. Via Free People.

 

As the cat of a self-proclaimed craft maven, I'm also pretty sure he'll be miffed to get a hand-knitted, catnip stuffed mouse. Via Mungo & Maud.

 

Hassan is such a sweetheart (he's great with everyone, other cats & dogs, kids & adults alike) so what better way to dress a gentleman cat than with a bowtie? Via Silly Buddy.

 

Beth Emily

Ethereal art like Beth Emily's gets me every time. I sometimes wish I had my own little gallery so that I can feature & sell art prints like this.

 

Peter Som

Peter Som Makes A Bouquet from Anthropologie on Vimeo.

 

Here's a little insight of how a bouquet is put together by fashion designer Peter Som. In the video he talks about his design philosophy too which I found interesting.

 

Via Etymologie.

Surprise Message Box

 

Aren't these just darling? Custom & handmade by Pamela Loops based in Paris, I think they make the perfect gift for someone who loves all things cute & unusual.

Via Happiness Is.

 

Want: Bouquet Art Print

 

Majorly crushing on this art print of Oana Befort's original watercolour illustration simply titled Bouquet.

 

DIY: Rope Coil Vessel

 

Now here's a craft I could get hooked on. I have a slight obsession with boxes & containers that my husband can verify. I think taking the DIY route might help my bank account too. Tutorial over at The Red Thread.

 

 

Adzwan + Lynda's Happily Ever After

 

I love customers who have offbeat ideas & are willing to try anything. This is why I had so much fun working on Adzwan & Lynda's akad nikah or solemnisation dais for yesterday (the dais was provided by Felda & the chair by the famous Pak Abu who also decorated the couple's reception).

 

 

Lynda is a big Little Mermaid & Disney fan, so naturally she wanted an underwater fantasy themed wedding. As a diver & Disney fan myself, this was totally up my alley! I didn't want to turn things too hokey though as an akad nikah is such a special & intimate affair, so I kept the floral arrangements sweet & very simple as requested by the family, while adding in elements that reminded me of corals & seaweed, like Hydrangea, Pincushion Protea, Celosia Cristata, Dusty Miller & Eucalyptus plus of course, some sea shells my own father gifted my mother many years ago.

My favourite flowers for this particular project were the different varieties of Ginger flowers I managed to find so I also added them to the bride's hand bouquet (pictured below) along with a couple of clay starfishes I handmade myself. The groom's boutonnière has a small sprig of Hydrangea I plucked off the bride's bouquet along with a one of my tiny little starfishes (which I forgot to take a picture of along with the guest table centrepieces *slaps forehead*).

 

As I'm still fairly new to floral arranging, I still have tons to learn so I am grateful for every opportunity that comes my way. Thank you & congratulations Adzwan & Lynda! May you live happily ever after...

Home Sweet Home: Leah Goren & Dylan Ousley

I love this sneak peek of the home of illustrator & surface pattern designer Leah Goren & her graphic designer boyfriend Dylan Ousley. Mainly because it reminds me of our own apartment with its mismatched furniture the landlord threw together & the art, prints, plants, memorabilia & various tchotchkes Bobby & I have collected over the years. Check out more pictures of their apartment over at Design Sponge.