Upholstery Project #2: Dining Chair

Another set with different fabrics from Ikea

I had to have a little whinge about this dining chair! It wasn't easy to upholstery this set compared to the previous set. Cuz there is metal pieces right at the centre of the back rest and it just couldn't screwing/drilling into the right position.

Anyways, glad that it's all over now! =)

Challenge Day 22 Pt II - Minzy's Lotus

Challenge Day 22 Pt I - thoughts

I have to admit that am not that web savvy after all. Not sure if it was the term I typed it in Google wrong or ...?

Anyways, I like the idea of supporting the locals. Having said that, I am looking for a local supplier for Crystal Clear Resealable Bag, preferably a good price! So I can offer a good price for my art lovers/supporters. I have also hunted a few alternative for hard cardboard..but then again, prefer to look for something cheaper.

Oh, I have some ideas on how to wrap my works/sales items (teehee!) in the near future. :)

Next thing is to muck around on how to send my works/sales items via AusPost. :) Now am excited! :)

Challenge Day 21 - Artwork for the day

I know I love the magic of mushroom in the Minzy's World. But I have realized there is some slight changes on my artwork of late. It seems to have more natural approach. Not sure is a good thing or a bad thing but I like to keep it positive. There's always changes in every stage of life. As a matter of fact, art is quite equivalent to that. Art can be subjective and personal.

I also noticed one new habit of mine. Someday I found myself to be quite slack. Someday I can be very hardworking drawing and creating more than 1 artwork per day. To be honest with you, it does not take me very long to create one. But it does take me awhile to get myself settle when comes to some proper inking and printing by hand. I like making my hands dirty while being able to create all beautiful things. :)

Challenge Day 20 - Sketches for the day

I was having a ball creating more artworks from my hand-drawn illustration last night. It looks stunning, in my opinion.

There might be some changes on our living arrangement again. I hope everything goes smooth. Sometime you can't help it from certain changes. Sometime you just have to have faith on what is it going to take. A higher place? Or a not so pleasant place? Well, I hope it would be a higher (aka merrier) place.

All these potential changes are challenging me to do more. I have nothing to loose but to keep on going. :)

Challenge Day 19 - Love

Woke up very early this morning. Decided to make myself cosy in my jumper (bit cold even it's 24C) with good chillout music at the background...having an early start today.

I have LOVE as a theme at the back of my mind which I wanted to illustrate but I found it difficult for some reason. I wonder is it got to do with my culture (don't say am lame for taking that as an excuse! ;) ) Maybe it got to do with love is really that confusing in my mind? I thought love should be simple, yes?

Challenge Day 18 - Minzy's Mushroom Garden Being Framed

This is my infamous Chilli Garlic Fish which Mr Minzy loves alot.

I have this strong craving of wanting to have Chilli Garlic Fish for lunch today. So I made an effort to make it since I usually make them for dinner. I believe Peanut & me must have felt so good after having them. Haha! :D~

I managed to get the Minzy's Mushroom Garden linoblock print framed today. It looks good. Not sure what is wrong with my hand of late. Just couldn't capture a good shot of late.

So just you know, today is my 2nd day moving into my office room..alot to unpack and still in progress.

Challenge Day 17 - Spring Cleaning on Australian Day

It is Australian Day today! Did not do much...was still finding it hard to get a good shot of the linoblock print this morning. Or maybe am the one who is fussy and ms perfectionist? ;)

Anyways, I have managed to clear most of the paint tins and unwanted things from our 2nd room with much help from Mr Minzy today. Very desperate having my own space again! Hopefully all things will be ready steady set go in that room very soon.

Oh-yeah. Have not forgotten about my 3 months challenge - an art a day. Still doing it...even it is bit hard to keep the promises during weekend and public holiday. ']

Challenge Day 16 Pt III - Some mushroom lover too

Click Here for more information

Click doodlebirdie for more information

Please read on if you happened to love mushroom, stitching, crafting and all those folk arts' stuffs!

I chuckled when I saw Wee Folk Art's website by accident. Another Mushroom Lover! Hahaha :D~ What's more interesting is they have a whole page of FREE Open Patterns (who doesn't like free??) which I found them to be very interesting!

I found doodlebirdie's etsy store by accident too. I thought her works were very niche and cute! :)

Challenge Day 16 Pt II - Ducky Morning Out

These was what I was doing in the morning (having the ducks' companion) while Mr Minzy went for a run at the park..I had a video clip (too big to load here I reckon) showing they were running towards me when I was trying to feed them. And one of the little one pop his head towards our camera and gave us a surprise hello! Hehe.. :)

Challenge Day 16 Pt I - LinoBlock Print

Hey Hey! Too much distraction as Mr Minzy is having a day off today. Finally get the chance to get these LinoBlock inked and printed! Looking forward to frame it up very soon! :)

Challenge Day 15 Pt III - Rubber Carving Block 2

I like this one the most! :)

Ahh...this Orange Red is much accurate compared to the others.

It was a good idea to stamp all of the fabrics with all of my designs. I thought it looks good in my honest opinion! :) The only down side of doing this is my back is sore from standing and bending for more than 30 mins... Haha..

Will find another way to make it easier for me cuz my baby bump is getting bigger and heavier. I guess that is the main reason why my back is feeling sore so quick compared to when I was having a flatter belly. ;)

Challenge Day 15 Pt II - Rubber Carving Block Print 1

Fabric Inks on the Rubber Carving Block

The end result... :)

Still remember the Rubber Carving Block which I have carved on Challenge Day 9? I finally get the opportunity to get more colors from the store the other day. Here's some progress I have done so far..

P.S: (I think it might be my camera's setting..the color doesn't turn out to be as orange red as it should).

Challenge Day 15 Pt I - Inking & Printing Day

So the linoblock is done and ready to be inked and print. Here's a sneak peak of the ready carved linoblock. Will post some updates with some latest progress soon. :)

Challenge Day 14: Eggless Dates n Peach Chocolate Chips Cake

Ok..don't be fool by the look of the images above. They taste damn good alright! :) It's eggless and it is very moist...

These is the recipe for you by high demand...;) I have modified this recipe slightly. Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions in regards of this recipe. Happy Baking!

Eggless Dates, Peach, Raisin & Chocolate Chip Cake

13/4 cups white SR flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp bicarb.

pinch salt

3/4 caster sugar

1/2 cup butter

3 tsp yoghurt

Flesh of 3 peaches, chopped

150g pitted dates

A good drops of chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 180c/350F/gas mark 4

Use two 23cm/9inch sandwich tins.

Cook the dates in water and bi-carb until soft - bring to the boil and simmer very slowly, covered, for about 10 minutes (the mixture should form a jam consistency). Cool slightly and puree until smooth.

Line and grease the sandwich tins. Sift the flour, baking powder, bicard and salt into a bowl.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add the dry ingredients (including date puree), one third at a time, alternately with the yoghurt, beating well after each addition.

Add the peaches into the cream mixture, and mix well.

Stir in the raisin and the chocolate chips, and spoon into the prepared tin. Bake the cakes for about 30 mins (check if it's cook. Otherwise, a further 15 mins in the over is necessary). Cool on a wire rack.

Challenge Day 14: Mushroom Garden (Day 2)

Still ongoing..should be done by tonight I reckon...

Challenge Day 14 : Inspiring Pictures

Did I ever mention to you that I am also a Retro lover?

For some reason Owl is somewhat easily found no matter where and what.

I dig this a lot. White, clean and classy!

Here's more of my random found inspiration images. A friendly reminder that all these images are for inspiration purpose and personal references only.

Challenge Day 13: Mushroom Garden (LinoBlock Carving)

Here's a sneak peak on what am up to today....

Challenge Day 12: Inspiring Pictures

Isn't he cute? :)

Just loving this!

Hello Birdie

Love the illustrator's stroke

Love that chair

I reckon you can purchase similar concept shelves at Ikea.

I love Red! Red is sexy!

We have a lot of these similar plants at our place...
it actually makes the whole place very cosy and nice.

Had a great time catching up with Fei (have not seen her for like 6-7 years now) in the city today. There's a cafe I like to go to have my Chai Latte in the CBD. So I took her to Journal Cafe. Their Chai Latte is (imo) more 'organic' and natural. It was a pity that I forgotten to take a shot on how they make it cuz we were having great time chatting away. :) All in all, I reckon I have found my mojo back and that explains why am feeling a lot better today. :)

If you have been following my blog long enough, you will know I love pattern, interior design, architecture buildings (weird ones), colorful and niche designs, Marimekko, Home decor, anything handmade (nice one of course)... I actually enjoy cooking and baking for my love ones. My new fetish is of course falling in love with all kinds of mushroom. LOL! That is why there's so many mushroom in this blog ;)

Here's some pretty thing I found and I hope you dig them too.
P.s: (All these images are for inspiration purpose and personal references only. I couldn't remember where I gather all these pictures due to it was a random found.)

Challenge Day 11: Minzy's Mushroom Runner

Minzy's Mushroom House

This is how I feel sometime..just take off and run! ;)

I have been strike by the hormone for the last few days. Hence, am finding bit difficult to create anything. My sis-in-law told me just look at the other side of the down part..at least Peanut is growing bigger and that should be something worth celebrating! Heh. Gotta love sister's power! :)

Challenge Day 10 Pt II: Thankyou :)

It can be quite lonely writing and uploading the blog day-to-day when you thought there's no one reading what you have written/typed. Guess what really happening? Apparently the analytics' result actually tells me there is a huge increase on new visitors visiting my blog!

I just want to thank all of you who stopped by and spent some time hanging out at my blog. You have no idea it means a lot to me. I hope you will continue to come back following my progress.

Thankyou for the supports even you were quiet :) Hugs to all!

Challenge Day 10 Pt I: Minzy's Mushy Tower

Here's one of my recent work

I have decided to take it easy today. Simply as it seems like today is my low day. I hope tomorrow is a better day for Minzy. :)

Challenge Day 9 Pt II: Rubber Carving Block

I am finding it hard to focus on sticking on my 3 months challenge as my energy is running low today. I guess I have come to the point where I have to make a decision quick on deciding which printer and a scanner to purchase. Honestly, I am dying to have my etsy store to be launch.

So this is what I have decided to give it a go. You are looking at the Rubber Carving Block. It is my first time carving on the rubber block. Felt like a big rubber/eraser. I need to get more variety colors as I only have red fabric color in stock.

Challenge Day 9 Pt I: Minzy's Little One (Color Version)

Here's Minzy's Little One in color version.

It has been a wet day in Melbourne since this morning today. It is windy, constant period raining and hailing. It is indeed a very rare scene (is that just me?) midsummer in Melbourne. All in all, I love listening to the sound of raining.

I put some effort to make it like a story for Minzy's Little One. Hope you like them all! :)

Challenge Day 8 Pt II: Minzy World's New Character

Sneak Peak of Minzy's Little One

A bit of struggling to draw as much as I would like during the weekend. As I usually spend quite a bit of time doing things I don't usually get to do during the weekday. However, I still manage to draw some new character for Minzy's World. Will give them some color very soon.

Challenge Day 8 Pt I: Ink Drawing of the day

Challenge Day 7: A busy day out

Click the image for larger view

Spent most of the time out and about today. Done a lot of walking. Got some sun tan which makes my skin looking happier now;) Bought more fabrics for the other pair of dining chairs. YAY!

I did something different for Minzy's World site today. You will notice something different if you are using Firefox instead of Safari. Can you see there's a little black mushroom icon next to the blog's link? Aha :)

If you also like to have something similar like mine (with your own design)..visit here and follow the instruction from there...and you will have your own icon in no time!

I had some doodle sketching this morning before leaving the house this morning. But I think I best post them tomorrow.

Challenge Day 6 Pt II: Tree Of Life being framed

I have managed to get this picture frame from Ikea few weeks ago. A home for one of my early sample work - Minzy's Tree Of Life..finally. :) Birdie...stay away from entering Minzy's World.. ;)

Challenge Day 6 Pt I: Minzy's Boom-Boom Owl

Sneak Peak of Minzy's Boom-Boom Owl

Look what I found in Minzy's World today? Just discovered that Minzy's world do have some living creatures too!

Please meet Minzy's Boom-Boom Owl ;) Still fresh from the oven!

Challenge Day 5 Pt II: Token Of Love

Remember those Minzy's Mushroom lino color sample prints I did on Challenge Day 3? I managed to make some Token Of Love from there. It will be given to Mr Minzy for his great supports! :)