Hello

Hello. How are you?
I posted something here early September on my mini break but felt awkward and took it down. I then meant to follow up another post right after that but my days been carried away with my 17m/o and of course, my break has since begun. Thank you some of you who spent time writing emails and left me comments right after the post. It really warm my heart knowing that people do care and the supports from like minded like you!

So here's a little update what I have been up to while I was looking for my creative mojo (self seeking really) during the time I was away. I have spent many quality time looking after myself. I am feeling alot better now. I strongly recommend everyone should do that some time! Have a good break and feel recharge!

I have been to Creative Women Circle's recent talk at Frankie & Swiss' venue.

 everyone is getting ready before the talk starts

 Guest Speaker: Shelley Panton!

Look at the crowd. So concentrating!

Click here for more on what Tessa got to say on CWC's blog! Yeah, I know this is such a late update but it's better than never being blog ;)

My parents who are living o/s came to visit and stayed with us for 3 weeks. We had made a plan traveling to Tasmania for holiday when they are here. These are some of the beautiful Tassie shots we have gathered.

 Sheffield

 Enchanting Garden, Cradle Mountain

Will hopefully be back for more walk at Cradle Mountain when Peanut is older. Mind you, we did the Dove Lake (2 hours walk) with her. She was so tired and fell asleep on her dad's shoulder.

 Ross

 Hobart - Please note this is not Salamanca Market

Get to visit the infamous Salamanca Market. It was a pity the 3 of us had gastro when we were in Hobart. So we ended up staying low key throughout the 4 days stay here. On the positive note, I think I like Hobart. :)

 First experience of snow at Mt Wellington! :)

 The view on the way back from Mt Wellington. How stunning!

 Street Art? at Elizabeth Street, Hobart ;)

A visit to Mona Museum

It was a quick visit and may I say. Do Not Miss This if you ever have a plan visiting Hobart!!

I think I will finished off this post here. Will hope to write a few more posts in regards some news. Once again, thanks for hearing me out and supports! Enjoy the sun especially if you are from Melbourne :)

Oh, before I go. My Madeit's store is offering FREE POSTAGE for any giclee prints this month. Don't forget to visit my BigCartel's store too. I have finally made the plunge, pay the monthly fee just so I can get more products listed with them. So, Happy Shopping will ya! Irene xx

Photo Post: Japan

Things are just a bit busy in real life as I have now
spend more time with Peanuts but here.
It is quite impossible to squeeze 1000 pictures into this tiny post.
So, this will be a simple photo post (not in proper sequence)
in order to make things moving along.

As you know, we went to Japan during our recent holidays.
Glad to be there after talking about it so many years!
My love for their Japan's art & culture are more intense!

These are some of our personal photo shoots

which we took during the recent trip in Japan.

As you can see, I am into surface texture
as well as pattern design.

 The outlook of the shrine after another..

but this one is very unique in my opinion.

at Muji!

Love this shop! Too bad there's none in Australia.

 

Bookstore in Matsumoto

A very relaxing stopover

before heading off to Kiso Valley

 

Ahhh! Linocut Print of the previous owner

of the Tajimaya Inn, Magome

 Spotted some geisha in Gion, Kyoto

 

Monkeys at work ;)

 

after work...not as packed

 

 Roppongi Hills

There are too many highlights in Japan:

the trip in Kiso Valley (Tsumago n Magome) and the hiking track!

Love the people in remote area than in the city's.

Friendlier and simple life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiso_Valley

 

grasshopper on the food tray, anyone?

 public toilet (one of the kind) ..in Kyoto

 care to join this little fella at the naughty spot? ;)

So am back from the long holidays

We have been back to Melbourne for approx. 2 weeks now. It's just crazy reflecting about the whole adventure. The jet lag, the tiredness (oh, it's not easy traveling with little one in the plane), the running around (my 10m/o is so different now that she had spent 5~6 weeks living with my parents' during our travelings) with my daughter. I love spending time with her as she slows down my day. She reminds me what a beautiful life I have.

Spending more time with her which means quietness here too. I used to feel bad for what I should have done and what not. Now, I look back, with no regrets. Anything can wait but family will always come first. Peanuts is growing up so fast and I am worried 'what if' I might miss out 1 second watching her growing up cheekily. :D

So this is the come back post. And would like to share with you a few photo shots which I really like.

So we went to India. Traveling to India wasn't one of my plan this year.

Hence it was an unexpected adventure for me.

One of the market stalls in front of the temple in Orchha

India is very confronting.

You will understand what I meant looking through my photos.

 Do you know the roof were made from cow's poo?

It's dirty, chaotic, messy, colourful (yes) and crowded.

 One of my favourite shot - The slice of life in India

People are hungry and desperate there.

I felt stressed and not relaxed traveling in India.

That, is something which I did not expect to experience.

 You see mostly men on the street and shops.

So..where are the women?

 One of the food stalls

 Morning market

 at the Taj Mahal

All in all, we have a very mixed experience traveling around India.

Just wondering was it got to do with the driving-us-nuts-driver we hired?

Or is it because it's India we are dealing with?

Our highlights of the trip in India will have to be all the erotic sculpture temples in Khajuraho.

Khajuraho, India

Another highlight was a very precious moment that we spotted just right in front of the temple in Orchha.

I was very moved when we saw a young family having a stall just like everybody else. 

The dad was holding his naked bottom newborn baby girl cooing away side by side with his wife. 

They looked so happy together. Life seems to be simple and content for them.

It reminds me do not take for granted on any circumstances in our life.

How many times have we whinge about owning things we do not have

but forgotten to appreciate the things we are having? I cried instantly.

 Will finish this post with my favourite shot amongst all

So you may ask will I go back to India again? I thought I wouldn't.

But I actually told Mr Minzy that I would last night.

Another raining afternoon in Melbourne

Feeling bit odd to write (or type) after not writing for approx. 9 weeks or so. Things are bit haywire at the moment. At least in Minzy's world is. Trying to cope with the time differences between Msia and Melbourne. FYI, it is 3 hours difference. I guess it is normal for my body system to have my proper breakfast at Melbourne's time late morning..and my proper lunch at Melbourne's time at 2-3ish.

Been looking at what others are doing in their creative land. Never stop observing..especially tis season.

Absorbing their inspirations, smelling the colors, observing the trend..hoping to getting soak into the spirit of being creative again!

I missed being creative when I was away! My day tend to pass relatively quick when I am being one. Sometime a tiny break is good for my creative soul as it always lead me to another breakthrough, another new venture to another different new shapes/inspiration.

I hope to upload some new drawing and more soft toy here very soon. Maybe should do something which got to do with christmas. Thank God for good music. Minzy loves Chillout's music. That is the only thing accompany me beside Peanut when Mr Minzy at work.

Am back in action ...not for long

Hey all! Finally, a dream of traveling to Western Australia (WA) after years of promises from my husband. It was a fabulous experience doing this road trip from Victoria (VIC) to Western Australia (WA). I won't carry away in this post with too much of information on our trip. But it was sure a nice thing to be able to spend some quality time with my extended family.

I knew it is not an easy thing to get back to Minzy's world after 3 weeks of holiday. But I guess I have to start from somewhere. Otherwise it is not moving anywhere. So, I started some very small project. Hopefully is presentable enough to give it as a gift for my bestie's baby girl when am back to M'sia in 2 weeks time. :)

Yes, am going away again. I thought I should utilize my free time now that am on my own. I miss seeing my parents. I want to see my family. I miss M'sian food. Yes, we love our food. ROFL!

I hope to get some softies done before my departure. I want to see more of screen print experiments going.

Recent lesson learnt:

1. I have spent enough time sitting on sulking over the experience the fact about my previous job.

2. I saw a lot of true faces behind the mask on how people portrait me.

3. One tend to see who is your true, genuine and supportive friend when you are going through the rough time.

4. Appreciate and enjoy the fullest of your daily life.

cold bear from Melby feeling tired in warm weather

We are traveling around Western Australia for 3 weeks. So won't spend lotsa time here. But I hope you enjoy your Spring this October. Wish we could have Melbourne's weather in WA hey..

Places which we spent time so far..
3 days of INSANITY-marathon road trip from Melb-Norseman
- Stopover at Port Pirie (Bleh)
- Nundroo (Nundroo is located on the Eyre Highway 160 kilometres west of Ceduna and 347 kilometres east of the SA/WA Border.)
- Norseman (Be spending 3Nights2days with the family)
- Hopetown (Beautiful Sand and Beaches. Saw my first snake at 2 miles Beach. Eeek! Spent a night at the Seafront Caravan Park. We drove past Fitzgerald National Park on our way to Albany. Beautiful national park! So many wildflowers and blackboy!! :)
- Albany (more National Park. Giant Rock on the Sea. Blowhole which I couldn't see it..scared fell off from the rock..to the sea. W saw it though)
- Denmark (had a breakky there)
- Walpole (Treetop walk. It's all about trees. Valley of the Giants. Tree expects by now..spent a night at friendly backpacker.)
- Pemberton (Giant tree climb..not us. Too scared to climb that freaky tall tree. Ripped off fee just to enter the park and have a look at that freak. LOL)
- Busselton (Spent 4Days4Nights with MORE family)
- Dunsborough (some shop browsing and lunch.)
- Cowaramup (Some very cool shops here. Including Candy Cow.)
- Margaret River (shop till we did drop. Found the book I wanted! Went for a swim, FINALLY. Windy. Sunny. Icy sea water.
- Perth (HOT! Kings Park. Fremantle. Arty Farty market. Subiaco. 2 fantastic dinners in Subi. Saw some very neat houses at the West. Driving to beaches after beaches. Had a detour walking around the city. Still prefer Melbourne. :P)
- Norseman (Did my first golfing+my first fishing with the boys at Esperance. 3Days2Nights with family)

- Ceduna (Spent 1 night here. This place is not as spectacular as what we thought it should be compared to our first visit early of the trip. Sad..)

- Port Wakefield (Had to stop here. Very nice and comfy motel. The best and reasonable price by far!)

- Adelaide (Had a detour in the city for approx. 2 hours since both of us have never walk around Adelaide ever.)

- Hahndorf (A well preserved township with strong German origins. Very tourist place and I like it cuz it is something different. Plus, we were the tourists;)

Long way driving home (Melbourne). Arrived home at late Sunday midnight. :)