For someone who loves to dismantle pens, I find it especially therapeutic to carry out refill transplants. It’s either when my favourite ball-point runs out of ink, or when I favour a pen body more than its ink, that I would want a change of ink.

To do that, I will raid my *pentry* to find a suitable donor, particularly amongst the free pens gotten from talks/seminars that write well. So when a match is found, I will trim the length of the plastic ink tube AND stick masking tape around it to make protrusions, when necessary; in order to model after the original. And it makes me happy when the new donor fits perfectly (and no rejection occurs)! Plus I don’t have to pay for anything!

I met Clara when she visited bloomize and left me a comment. And as always, I’m glad she did. We were both very happy to have met another Clara (how not often does that happen!).

I went to her shop nuvonova and it was clear to me that she’s one talented designer who makes jewelry, sews, binds books and illustrates as well! I adore the pouches she makes with unbleached cotton fabric which will make great gift bags.

If you have an online shop, I would love to visit and share your work here at bloomize. Invite me by sending me an emailing or by leaving a comment. Rest assured, I visit every link left behind! And I always revisit the shop.

The beautiful sight of tulips in my friend Liz’s garden and outside the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island (Northern Michigan) has gotten me into a mood for tulips.

One of my favorite features on our local Home and Decor magazine is the Big Idea page, where I like to be surprised by an idea to re-use something for a different purpose – like framing up old tees as artwork and this one; converting a foosball rod to wall hooks. Though not everyone has a foosball table but it’s just an idea to toy with.

[Image from RS Barcelona/Singapore Home and Decor magazine]

How to slim down calf

Water retention causes calves to expand.

Steps:
1. Wear a stocking, which is a good replacement for massaging oil.
2. Gently stroke upwards for 3 minutes.

How to slim down waistline

Exercise by breathing through the stomach.

Steps:
1. Kneel on all fours.
2. Hold an empty 1.5L bottle in your mouth and blow into it. Don’t move the shoulders.

Is your pillow the right height?

This is to measure the distance behind the neck (with reference to the head) which should correspond to the height of your pillow, for better neck support.

Step:
Use one hand as a vertical guide and measure the horizontal distance with a ruler.

How to avoid waking up to a puffy face

Do you have this problem?

Step:
Make a U-shape formation on your pillow with 3 towels. This is to help in blood circulation and prevent water retention.

Don’t miss part [1]. I hope these tips will come in handy. If you’ve got your own tried-and-tested tricks, let me know please!

More:
The Earthquake Rose

Having trouble taking my eyes off these French frames (and the lovely room setup) from Byrdie Kids, a spinoff from a new decal shop Byrdie Graphics.

The lamentable weather we have been enduring on our island is less than ideal for a picnic under the BLAZING sun. But looking on the bright side, the immense heat is excellent for drying laundry!

I’ve been diligently baking bread for the last 2 weeks and have always been faithful in using Dr. Moerman’s basic recipe from an out-of-print book. I used it for my maiden loaf (which tasted like rock) years ago and have sticked with it since. Now the bread’s more palatable and I like to dip it into curry or any gravy.

Ingredients:
5 cups 100% whole wheat flour
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp raw honey
1 1/2 cups lukewarm low fat milk (I use rice milk, about 2 cups or more)
3 tsp dry yeast or 6 tsp fresh yeast

Steps:
1. Mix flour and salt.
2. Dissolve honey in lukewarm milk.
3. Dissolve yeast in half of the milk mixture and leave it until a huge froth appears. Add it to the remaining milk and gradually to the flour.
4. Mix until a soft dough is formed. Knead for 5 minutes.
5. Leave it to rise for about 1-2 hours.
6. Knead again and place it in a pan. Butter the pan when necessary.
7. Leave to rise for about 1/2 an hour.
8. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 40 minutes. Be careful not to over-bake. Bread makes a hollow sound when knocked from the bottom.

Interesting info from Japanese tv programs.

1. How to improve long-sightedness

Steps:
Part I
1. Roll eyeballs up and down -10 times
2. Left and right – 10 times
3. Diagonal – 10 times
4. Rotate – 10 times
5. Repeat steps 1-4 10 times

Part II
1. Look at the palm lines for 10 secs
2. Look away for 10 secs
3. Repeat steps 1-2 10 times

Do parts I and II daily.

2. How to lift sagging eyelids

Step: Bring the ring finger towards the middle finger and use tape to hold them together.

The muscle stretches from the tip of the hand all the way up to the eye. Doing this helps lift the eyelid.

3. How to reduce double chin

Step: Tilt head back and stick out your tongue 10 times.

4. How to reduce waistline with a pair of sneakers

Where to place the shoes?
Determine the extent of the body’s balance. Lie down (face up), bend the right leg, then place the feet over the left leg’s knee cap and observe the height of the knee cap. Repeat with the left leg. Watch the segment at 5:25 (time).

If the right knee cap is higher, it means the right pelvis is higher than the left side. And vice versa.

Steps:
1. Firm up the shoes by stuffing papers inside.
2. Lie flat and face down. If the right knee cap is higher, place one shoe at the protruded part of the right thigh. Place the other shoe below the left hip. Relax in this position for 4 minutes. Reverse the position of the shoes if your left knee cap is higher.

More quick tips next week!