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]

Christmas Gift Wrapping

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, the other at the peak and whichever one it is, the restaurant is still close by. We headed straight to park at 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 on the ground.

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, mostly during the 1970s.

So who came and did the gardening?

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

How to wrap a gift professionally