My Love Birds & Tree of Life! Part 2

Following on from my blog "My Love Birds & Tree of Life" , here are the completed artwork/paintings for my living room wall. :) Complete with Christmas tinsel!
(these artworks were inspired by nature, colours from my living room & the world wide web! )

For those celebrating Christmas, wishing you happy, stress free & reflective weeks ahead as you prepare for Christmas...
Cheers,
Elaine

More Abstract Art earrings online...

In continuation from my previous blog regarding my Abstract Art earrings... Here are 6 more pairs I've upload to Gifted Moments online
Do check them out individually at the shop: www.giftedmoments.etsy.com
Thank you :)
x
elaine

My Abstract Art earrings go online...

As I have recently uploaded some of my abstract art earrings onto my Gifted Moments'online shop on Etsy .
Now, I thought I'd share with you a story behind this concept & how they all came about :)

Sometime last year, I was pondering on how can I combine my art painting with my jewellery making.
After some time experimenting on a few options & exploring the options if I want them to be abstract, still-life, realism, impressionism, quirky, cute, cartoony or .....
and FINALLY.... I decided I'd go abstract for this collection & went ahead with the creation.
These are just some of which I have selected for my online shop:

Do check them out individually at my shop: http://www.giftedmoments.etsy.com
till then.. happy shopping for Christmas :)
Elaine

My Love Birds & Tree of Life!

Hi there everyone!
Sorry, I have been a little quiet in my blog lately. These are just some of my "in the making" photos I have taken of two pieces of paintings I am working on; giving you a sneak peak of my most recent paintings I am doing to fill up my empty living room wall.
1) Love Birds
2) Tree of Life





More photos to come (of the finish product) so... stay tuned :)
Elaine

Dwarfs in my garden...

Some updates about my garden! My "7 Dwarfs" are complete! Now I just need to find "Snow White"... ;)

Mee Rebus!

Just the other day I was craving for Mee Rebus (one of the many yummy Malaysian/Singaporeon/ Indonesian dishes!) But want I was really after was a particular one from a place where I grew up - Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia.

I thought I'd try making it since I have not found any here in Perth as yet (Anyone who knows where to get this in Perth, please let me know). Anyway, here's my version of it. I must say I was quite impress with myself :)


Here's the recipe if you want to have a go (taken from www. rasamalaysia.com) with my own little twist(depending on avaliable resources in my kitchen) :

Mee Rebus Recipe

Ingredients:

Egg noodles ( I've used my left over pasta)

Gravy:

1 packet instant chicken curry paste (more or less to taste)
10 (about 700g) small potatoes – peeled and but into large chunks
6-7 cups low sodium chicken stock OR water
1 tbs assam (tamarind) paste – seeds removed (I did not include this)
1 tbs sugar
2 Knorr chicken stock cubes
Salt
Garnishings:
Hard-boiled eggs
Spring onions
Fried shallots
Bean sprouts
Your favourite sambal

Directions:

Boil potatoes until tender in a large pot of salted water (I just use water). Drain and mash until smooth.

In a large pot, mix together 1/3 cup of chicken curry paste with potato puree. Slowly add in low sodium chicken stock or water until a desired consistency is obtained. Stir in tamarind paste (if your tamarind paste is hard, dissolve it in a bit of water and then remove the seeds.). You might want to add more curry paste depending on your taste. Leave to simmer for about 30 mins. Season with chicken stock cubes, salt and sugar.

Cucur Udang/ Bawang (Prawn & Onion Fritters) ( I use chicken thighs)
Makes about 20 fritters

Ingredients:

10 (about 150g) fresh prawns – cut into thirds (I cut the chicken into tiny bits)
¾ cup dried prawns – washed and diced (I cut the chicken into tiny bits)
¾ cup onions – diced
¾ cup Chinese chives – diced (I use spring onions)
250g self-raising flour – sifted
1 ¼ cup water
½ Knorr chicken stock cube
½ tsp white pepper powder
½ tsp sugar

Method:

Place chopped dried prawns, fresh prawns(/chicken), onions and chives(/Spring onions) in a large mixing bowl. Add flour and water, mix until a smooth paste forms. Season with chicken stock, pepper and sugar.

Heat up oil in a pan or a pot for deep frying. Drop a spoon full (I used a Chinese soup spoon) of batter into the oil and deep fry until golden browned. Avoid overcrowding the pan and do this in small batches. Leave aside to cool.

Serve with mee rebus!

Long & chunky!

Introducing my long chunky chain necklaces to Gifted Moments online

Name : Blue Sensation
more info visit: http://www.etsy.com/listing/83416024/necklace-blue-sensation-acrylic-beads

I also restyled these pieces. I think they are more user friendly than the previous style :)

Name :Green Sorbet
more infor visit:http://www.etsy.com/listing/64696725/necklace-green-sorbet-acrylic-beads?ref=v1_other_2

Name: Louise
more info vist: http://www.etsy.com/listing/64683564/necklace-louise-black-white-pearl-glass?ref=v1_other_2

Headbands go online...

Introducing 4 of my headbands to my Gifted Moments Online store
These pretty pieces were a combined effort. My good friend, Jaclynne crocheted the flowers & I stitched & beaded them up :)

Name: Pastel Green Lace Lady
more details & photos of her, click on
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81288538/headband-pastel-green-lace-lady-wool

Name: Red & Black Number
More details & photos of her, click on
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81288693/headband-red-and-black-number-wool?ref=v1_other_2

Name:Jungle Beauty
more details & photos of her, click on
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81288452/headband-jungle-beauty-wool-swarovski

Name: Red lady
more details & photos of her, click on
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81289148/headband-red-lady-wool-swarovski

My first Bedroom door plaque/sign

As you may know, I have been a busy little vegimate with this new home of ours. After a few mad weeks of cleaning & scrubbing, I am happy to report that it is actually liveable now :)
I would like to share with you some of the things I have been doing around my house.

One of the bedrooms' door has some ugly little holes made by the previous owner, and it had to be covered up for sure as we are not getting a new door as yet! So after a few days of thinking & consultation with my fellow housemates, a little painting comes to my mind & I came up with getting a plain wooden door sign plaque and started my painting. This painting was inspired by the donna covers in the bedroom...

In the making photo....

the finish product..Till the next blog... have a great week ahead!
elaine

Meet my Rosies

My latest necklace addition to my Gifted Moments online store:
Meet my chunky rose charm necklaces I fondly named Rosie Blue & Rosie Black

Rosie Blue necklace:
To see more photos & details, click:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79480780/necklace-rosie-blue-chinese-butterfly?ref=v1_other_2

Rosie Black necklaceSee more photos & details, click:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79493499/necklace-rosie-black-chinese-flower

Join my facebook "Gifted Moments" page (click"Like" for updates on promotions & to be eligible for 10% off all of my online products when there's no other promotion!)


Elaine

Restyled

Recently, I have a look through my jewelry designs and found some I was not too happy about. So, I've decided I'd restyled them ;)
here they are, my new jewelry make over:

Lavish Forest necklace:See more photos & details, click:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64164889/necklace-lavish-forest-rainforest-jasper

Cream Rose chandelier earrings:
See more photos & details, click:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64774274/earrings-cream-rose-chandelier-with

Little Sis Cream Rose chandelier earrings:Some more photos & details, click:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64774383/earringslittle-sis-cream-rose-chandelier?ref=v1_other_2

Now, I'm HAPPY ;)

Join my facebook "Gifted Moments" page (click"Like" for updates on promotions & to be eligible for 10% off all of my online products when there's no other promotion!)

elaine

Food Galore

Some of the yummy delicious dishes I've had last week.

Jhonson's fusion dish, an Italian & Chinese combo:
Fusili pasta in clear meatball soup served with cut cillies in soy sauce.
Kuantan's famous crackers:

Keropok lekor (found & bought by Kevin):

Kevin's carbonara


Ben's Baked fish & cous cousHave you had any good food you'd like to share a photo of?

Here's to many more good food to come!
CHEERS!!
Elaine

Best Penang food in Perth!

When I think of having some authentic Penang dishes in Perth & am not in a cooking mood, one place that comes to my mind is Tak Chee House in William Street, Northbridge!
Hubby & I started with an entree of Penang lobak! (Minced meat with special seasoning wrapped in bean curd sheets & special sauce.)
Hubby had Penang Har Mee / Prawn Noodles! ( He requested extra pork lard!)

I had my all time favourite - Penang Fried Koey Teow! YUM!
My tummy was very HAPPY! :)

"Pink Immaculate Heart Of Mary" Rosary

Another addition to my rosary design collection. For more photos & info about this simple & beautiful piece, please go to my esty shop. Click on :http://www.etsy.com/listing/79171461/rosary-pink-immaculate-heart-of-mary
Have a wonderful weekend!
elaine

Wet Winter!

my latest Etsy Treasury:
Welcome to Winter in Australia! Featuring artworks & crafts from Australian artists.

click this link for a close up look at them: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzUxMzYxMnw1MzcwMTk3NjQ/wet-winter

Pork....Knuckle...

Aunty Helen decided to have a feast of Pork Knuckle last Saturday. It was my first experience with this part of pork... It was very Yummy!
And with the combination of German sausage & German salad!
*note to self: not to eat any meat a few days before :)

Shop Open!

Hi Folks,
Gifted Moments is now OPEN!

CURRENT PROMO:
30% off ALL ITEMS!!!

MUST type in 'GMOPEN30' in Apply Coupon Code section when checking out to get this offer! Ends 31st July 2011

More new handmade jewellery to come :0) Stay tuned!
PLEASE GO TO:
http://www.giftedmoments.etsy.com/
Elaine

Still unpacking, cleaning & arranging...

OK... FINALLY our big move IS all over.... and for the past couple of days... we have been very busy cleaning up our new place, unpacking, deciding which to keep & which one to give away or into the bin & arranging & trying to juggle our full time job too!
So, I reckon to keep my sanity... I'll reopen Gifted Moments after the End of Financial Year i.e. 11th July :)
Till then... back to work! Enjoy your week everyone!

The BIG MOVE!

We (me & hubby) have finally purchased our own place and now the BIG MOVE begins!
Due to us packing, cleaning, vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing, unpacking, fixing, rearranging, there might be a few disagreements on where to put some things (but I hope not too many) & sorting them out, etc, etc, etc... it might be a while till I post another blog.
Also, my Gifted Moments''online shop will be temporary closed & will be scheduled to reopen by 27th June 2011.
Till then... take care & see you soon after all is a little settled :)

Elaine

Pretty Crystals & Royal Wedding

Finally, I am posting up these 2 lovely earrings I have made after being so inspired by Kate Middleton when she wed her Prince in the recent Royal Wedding.

I named this one "Kate".

Kate is made of 16 tiny 4mm silver shade round faceted Swarovki Crystals strung together using non-tarnished silver wire surounding a beautiful 12mm clear teardrop faceted Swarovski Crystal in the middle and finished off with sterling silver earring hooks. Kate measures 45mm including earring hooks.
For more details & photos, please visit:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75527726/earrings-kate-swarovski-crystals-with

and this one "Catherine"

Catherine is made of two elegant & generous size 18mm clear teardrop faceted Swarovski Crystal each placed in the middle of a sliver teardrop earring finding and finished off with sterling silver earring hooks. Catherine measures 55mm including earring hooks.

For more details & photos, please visit:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75528529/earrings-catherine-swarovski-crystals?ref=v1_other_1

On the 29th April Friday 11am (6pm Perth, Australian time),
His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales married Miss Catherine "Kate" Middleton at Westminster Abbey.

Like 2 billion people all over the world, I was extremely excited to witness the Royal Wedding. Which part of the ceremony did you like best?

For me, apart from seeing the beautiful dress, the famous balcony kiss, I love the special prayer which both Prince William & Catherine Middleton (now known as the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge) composed which was read out by the Right Rev Richard Charthers, Lord Bishop of London, during his sermon:
"God our Father, we thank you for our families, for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage. In the business of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen "

Wedding photo courtesy of:
http://justjared.buzznet.com/photo-gallery/2539223/kate-middleton-prince-william-royal-wedding-first-kiss-06