Have you seen the sign up box for newsletters + whatnots? Have you signed up? I’m working on putting a newsletter in place.

There’s also another reason why I’m having a list. You see, along the way I have received interests/requests to buy the zakka (esp Japanese) finds, including books featured on Bloomize and many times I wish I had the stock to put up for sale. So, what I can do is if I can get hold of any of the stuff and plan to sell it, I will blast out to my list first. So if you haven’t already informed me, please sign up so I can inform you when things are up for grabs. Think privilege. Think private sale.

Thought I should also let you know, the first “newsletter” I had published was in Primary 5 (when I was 10 going 11). My classmate was my only subscriber and so was I her one and only. Our newsletters were hand-written on cute notepads and sent out only during school vacations, when we were apart (no computers those days). What was the content? Hmmm…riddles, jokes and young girlie naive stuff! We had giveaways too, you know!

I’m also welcoming zakka sponsors to rent a space here. It’s specially opened to small (or extra small) shop owners/crafters. It won’t cost you an arm or a leg, I assure you.

Finally, I’m signing off early, Labour Day tomorrow, back next Monday. Have a restful weekend!

Greengate’s signature colours and prints (think Cath Kidston) are no doubt appealing. However while going through the online catalogue, the few pages with a splash of beige vintage wash (see below) seemingly appeal more to me than the rest.

Um, but this could be purely a “virtual” fancy. If I do get to see the full range in person, I might favour something with more colours. But I like the beige (think linen) too!

Good thing I don’t have to decide right now!

[Images from the 'Scents of the Season' 2009 catalogue]

Need a cute stapler that really stands out? How about this one with a chubby owl seated on top? Yes? Then snatch it up quick at Chalinn*s!

What a delightful way to keep warm + cover up boring mugs! I’m all smiles today! More of these pretties in Knit Storm.

Made of polycarbonate plastic?
Nope.

Has phthlates?
Nope.

Any PVC?
Nope.

How do you know?
The wonderful people at ZRecs contacted the respective manufacturers and posed the same questions to them. Check out The ZRecs Guide for a complete list plus other listings of safer products for kids.

* Those manufactured after July 2008

My family and I went up Jurong Hill to a hilltop restaurant for teppanyaki recently. Though it’s not a big hill, there are 2 carparks – one at mid-level and the other on the peak. Whichever one you choose to park, the restaurant is still close by.

We headed straight to the peak, which was for most of us our first time on top. We usually settle on mid-level.

What’s interesting up there is a sign that says “Garden of Fame” and looking around us, we saw many trees with plaques.

So if something’s worth plaquing then it has to be something significant or historical or both, right? And since we are ardent plaque readers, we went under different trees asap. Soon we had a list of countries where their leaders and dignitaries planted a tree on this plot to mark their visit to Singapore, during the 1970s.

So who came and did the gardening?

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and other VIPs arrived from Sweden, Norway, Iran, Tongo, Barbados, Japan, Canada, US and Indonesia. There is also a tree planted by our first president Benjamin Sheares.

There were many signs pointing out that Self-made Stationery – Handmade goods for myself (手づくり文房具)) by Udagawa Kazumi, would be a good book to get, while I was still in Tokyo in February. Good + simple ideas to replay, explore and build upon. Without further ado, allow me to show you those signs:

Envelope-accordion

Perforated notepad

Magnetic paper clip holder

Page marker, using the edge of an envelope

Fabric book cover

Used-ticket covered notebooks

Gift bags made from envelopes with and without window

Blackboard and chalk both make me uneasy. The surface, the powdery texture, the dust and the fragility are enough to make me squirm and shake. Yet all that won’t interfere with me admiring a nicely written blackboard standing outside a cafe or a florist shop or even liking this assortment and these clocks.

More:
Chalkboard contact paper
Chalkboard paint
Liquid chalk marker
Chalkboard candle
Chalkboard magnetic coasters

Hailing from Bristol, England, Rowena is a multi-talented artist whom I’m glad to have stumbled upon on Etsy. Rowena majored in printed textiles in Edinburgh College of Art and went on to work as a freelance illustrator specialising in collage and photomontage. Her work has appeared in BBC Wildlife Magazine, The Guardian, The Observer and many more!

Her other talent shines forth at Red Ruby Rose where she makes these attractive clutches! The fabrics she picks look like they were meant to be! And on top of that, she has a special collection made with her own fabric prints. If you like to own one of the Red Ruby Rose clutches, there’s a giveaway happening on her new blog!