ma vie trouvée

Is it really December 8th?

 

 

This week marks four months living back in the USA for us.  I really have no idea where this time went. 

Relocating back to the US is hard.  Really hard.  I am having more trouble adjusting here then I did when I moved to Brussels or Singapore.  Both worlds so different to what I knew, what was familiar to me, yet I never had an adjustment period. 

I miss the hot hot days of Singapore, the exotic travel, the food, my friends, my blog posts.  I was expecting this to happen and was glad the timing of our relocation brought us back during the holidays.  It is the perfect distraction - fun, festive, and busy.

I have always wanted an advent calendar filled with little surprises to help count down the days to Christmas, but no one ever bought me one.  So I decided to create one for myself  :   )   I picked up this advent house when I lived in Brussels, Belgium.  I started wrapping little presents back in 2014.  We were traveling a lot and I was buying so many things that is was easy for me to forget about them, especially when I wrapped each one immediately.

 

 

 

Fast forward.... I have an advent calendar filled with little presents from around the world.  Each little present packed with a memory of a trip I took. 

 

 

Just the little pick me up I need during my rocky transition......

What are you doing for yourself this holiday season?

 

Can you guess what these are?

 

I was at the Pearl Market in Beijing, China when I saw these little ceramic Asian ladies in a shop.  They are around 5 inches long. 

What were they used for? 

 

 

 

 

It was late in the day and a co-worker of D was giving us a tour of the market, so I had to select fast... something I am not good at doing.   Each lady had a personality, a different outfit, a look on their face...

 

 

 

 

 

I picked six of them... thinking I could use them as chopstick holders for a special dinner.

 

 

 

 

Did you have a guess at what they originally were used for?

 

The shop keeper told me they are ribbon holders used in sewing factory in Xian,Tianjin.  She said they were around 40 years old.  I would have thought older.  They are quite fragile, so it is interesting they were used as an everyday object in a factory. 

Can you image hundreds of these with ribbon wound around them?

 

 

 

 

Of course when I got home I wished I would have bought more... the story of my life  :   )   

 

 

FF: afghanistan vintage fabric

 

 

 

There are several little shops in my favorite mall in Bangkok,  Palladium World Shopping Mall (formerly the Pratunam Centre), that sells old artifacts, jewelry, beads, and fabrics from Afghanistan.

 

(front and back)

 

 

I always have to buy a few pieces that call me.  The mall recently revamped itself and my little shops have increased in price, so I did not buy as many as I usually do.

 

 

 

 

 

I also picked up a wooden stamp for my collection, from Afghanistan.

 

 

 

And for the record... I did create a collage with the fabric I bought in India a few years ago.  I have it hung in the middle of the room so there is very little natural light on the frame and it is hard to photograph with the glass - but you get the idea.  I am really happy with it.

 

 

 

 

The framer recommended the burlap background, which I think adds great texture to the piece.

 

 

 

What are you sharing today?

 

ff: fun finds from jakarta and sydney

 

 

 

It has been awhile since I have shared my shopping finds, so here is a batch from Jakarta, Indonesia and Sydney, Australia.  I am going into panic mode as we move back to the states in August.   BOO HOO!!!!

 

 

 

From Jakarta

This necklace is a bit bling-bling - but....it was a perfect match with the dress I bought.  How could I resist?  I am in love with batik fabrics and thought this pattern was particularity lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

And the sweetest little elephant beads in bright colors.  I did not try to match these to my dress.... it just happened.  Must have been my colors of the day!

 

 

 

 

These are vintage bridal hair combs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pretty belt buckle - I could turn it into a necklace with resin in the middle.

 

 

 

 

From Australia

The rhinestone jewelry is from Australia - I found at a flea market.

 

 

 

 

 

I also found this is Australia.  I have no idea what to do with it.  

I bet Amy @ four corners would know!

 

 

 

 

Off to Bangkok on Saturday - THE BEST PLACE for shopping!!  All kinds of goodies can be found.  One of my favorite places to shop is the Chatuchak weekend market - probably the best market I have ever been to!

 

 

Rojack - Stories from the Singapore Writers' Group

 

 

 

 

 

I am so proud of my friend Helena.  When we met in 2012, she was just starting to write.  Just two years later, she has a short story in a published book! 

 

 

 

 

The crazy thing is that when we planned our girls trip to Bali, it turned out to be the same weekend that the book was having its debut at the Ubud Writer's Festival - so we were there to support her!

 

 

 

 

The opening was held at the posh restaurant Rouge.

 

 

 

The book is an anthology of 19 short stories written by members of The Singapore Writers’ Group.  The stories are written by both Singaporean and expatriate living in Singapore.  My friend Helena (far right) is from the UK but has been living in Asia for thirteen years. 

ROJAK is a Malay word meaning eclectic mix.   An appropriate title for this anthology of short stories from a group with such diverse backgrounds and experiences.

 

 

 

 

Helena's story, Where I belong, is loosly based on a memory from her childhood.  It is a story about a young girl, unsure of where she belongs, wanting desperately to fit in. 

 

During the book opening, each author read a passage from their story.

 

 

 

 

We had a fun evening and Helena did a great job with her reading.

If you are interested -

You can downlaod the kindle edition of Rojack HERE:  for only $2.99. 

Or you can buy the book HERE:  $11.66.

 

Helena is also a very talented photographer & painter  :  )

 

 

 

 

Congratulations Helena! 

 

 

FF: loving my new flip flops

 

Aren't they fun?

 

 

 

 

and so "me" with the travel quote...

 

 

 

 

 I get a kick out of the Asian language to English translations... they are always just a little off.

 

 

 

 

What did you discover this week?

 

 

 

 

More treasure from Asia - hill tribe fabrics and jewelry!

 

I have a serious problem - I can't stop collecting!  And I keep telling myself it is okay because when I move back to the states, I will not be able to find these cool things.  So here goes... my latest batch of treasures from Bali, Bangkok and Chaing Mai.  

 

Lovely prayer beads from Bali.

 

 

 

Fabric from Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The blue one below is a table runner and I bought it directly from the woman who made it.  She is from the Hmong Tribe.

 

 

 

 The first step in creating this batik fabric is to design a pattern on paper.

 

 

 

 

The design is very intricate.  She extracts the blue dies from local plants.

 

 

 

She was so proud of her work, as she should be. 

 

 

 

I bought this vest from a store.  It is also made by the Hmong tribe.

 

 

 

 

When I tried it on I had a white T and white cropped pants- it looked really cute.  

 

 

 

 

Decoration from Afghanistan costumes.  Purchased in Bangkok.

 

 

 

 

Paper thin silver for jewelry and cards. 

 

 

 

 

Misc charms.

 

 

 

 

2015 is the year of the goat / sheep - so I picked these out to make Chinese New Year's gifts.  At the speed I move, I need to get started today!

 

 

Okay - not quite sure if I will wear this one, but we were photographing the children of the woman who was selling them.  So we purchased a necklace as she and the children were so sweet.

 

 

 

 

They are part of the long-necked hill tribe - more photos of these stunning women soon!

 

 

 

The elephant might be fun in a collage.

 

 

 

 

My Ganesha from Bali - made of bone (probably cow or buffalo).

 

 

 

 

I was in Chinatown in Singapore and saw a necklace like this for $85.  I made this one for $6.  Supplies purchased in Bangkok.  It is quite heavy so made of something other than plastic - maybe glass?

 

 

 

 

Jewelry from my favorite shop in Bangkok.  It is owned by two young sisters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue necklace purchase at the Chatuchak Market in Bangkok.

 

 

 

 

Glass beads from Bangkok.

 

 

 

 

 

 What treasures did you find this week?

 

 

 

 

friday finds: $1.00 jewelry bits and pieces

 

On Saturday, my friend S. and I hit the People's Park Centre here in Singapore (across the street from the Chinatown MRT exit E). 

I usually buy my jewelry supplies and findings in Bangkok, but there are a few fun stores in Chinatown with decent prices (with the sale they were great prices)!

All of charms were purchased at: SM Beads Store #01-43.  They had hundreds of little bags with every theme you could imagine.  I think I need to go back for round two.

50 cents per pack (40 cents US)

 

These were each $1.00 per pack (80 cents US).

 

 

 

 

 

I found this pagoda design and was purchasing one pack with two charms for $1.50, then I found this pack of 6 (exactly the same) for $1.00, so if you have the patience to dig through the piles... there are treasure to be found!

 

 

 

 

 

 Scissors - two sizes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my niece who is into softball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thinking about Christmas...

 

 

 

 

 

Because these elephants are larger (2 1/2 inches), they were $3.00 (2.40 US) for six.  Still a deal!  They have a clasp on the back, so they can be made into a necklace.

 

 

 

a close up...

 

The next two were not part of the $1 sale, but were on special - buy one get one free.  These guitars ($2.50) are for a friend who is in a band - hope she does not read this post!

 

 

These are for me - I loved them (still in my elephant phase).  They were 2.00 but with the sale they were free!

 

 

Here they are all sorted and ready for creating!  As you know - I am an expert at purchasing, but bad at using.  I am publicly committing to making a piece by next Friday   :   )

 

 

We also found this sweet ribbon - I love the wooden spool it is on -  2.00 (1.60 US).  We bought this at Sing Mui Heng 01-05A.  There are a handful of other jewelry supply stores in People's Park Centre.

People's Park Centre

 

 

Off to make a piece for my deadline  :   )

 

Linking up to Kim's Cafe - Friday finds.

 

hand carved wooden stamps from India - but did I really need 16 of them?

 

Yes, I did need 16 of them and here are 10 reasons why...

 

10)  Just look at how beautiful they are. 

9) They are all hand carved.

 

 

 

 

8) Look at these three birds - each so special and different...

 

 

 

 

7) How could I pick just one elephant?

 

 

 

 

6) These match...a border with a stamp.

 

 

 

 

5) I had to have these two - you can print 2 colors with them!

 

 

 

 

 4) They are very unique to the designs of India - what if I never go back?

 

 

 

3)  They are like little souvenirs - I could hang them as art.

 

 

 

 

2) I actually bought extra to give away as gifts...

well maybe I will give one away!

 

 

 

1) And the number one reason is they were so cheap!

They ranged from $1.60 to $3.50 each... $44 for all 16 - how could I resist?

 

 

If you are ever in Bangalore and want to purchase what's left....

the address is

Devi and Co.  130/130 Ebrahim Sahib Street.

Parallel to Commercial Street - the main shopping street.

It is not really a store more like a booth with a front desk - just ask for the wooden stamps and the owner will bring you boxes out. 

He does not bargain!

a flea market in Jakarta

 

Jalan Surabaya Market is an antique or flea market of sorts in Jakarta, Indonesia.  There are tiny individual stalls that run for several blocks selling a few real antiques and some knockoffs.  Interestingly, it is a posh part of Jakarta. 

 

 

The stalls are so crammed (see above), you can barely walk into them.  You can find some fun items like the traditional puppets below.  Just remember to bargain hard!

 

 

Don't you love this old swan with a gem on her head?

 

 

 

What did I buy? 

My prized possession, a batik cap (pronounced chop) for stamping images on fabric.   I have wanted one for years.  It is made of copper and is a piece of art itself.  Caps were created in the mid 1800's to speed up the printing process that was being done by hand with tjanting tools.  

 

 

I took this photo with my hand in it to show the scale.  It is a pretty big one and I only paid $20 usd for it - the vendor was asking $50.  I have seen them on-line for $80 on up, so I negotiated a deal!

How is it used?  The batik maker presses the cap into melted wax and applies the stamp on cloth.  You place the edge of the cap on the fabric to make sure that it is positioned correctly, then press firmly on the textile to leave the wax imprint and repeat the process until all of the cloth is covered. 

 

Here it is from the back, showing the handle.  I would love to try it with ink to see if I can make a print... but I don't want to get it messy - a dilemma indeed!

 

 

Other finds - vintage rhinestone pins for the hair, which I will use to make necklaces.  I paid between $3 and $5 for each.

 

 

 

I thought they were very interesting and quite different from the rhinestones in Europe.  They were used for weddings and special occasions.

 

 

 

A necklace which I will take apart and add beads.  I was thinking freshwater pearls.

 

 

 

and a broken bit for $1

 

All have entered the magical room and have been played with, sorted, labeled, and filed.  Never to be seen again :  )     Sigh.   When I purchase my "special" junk - I usually only buy the pieces I can visualize making a creation out of.  I even create the piece in my mind... I just have problems getting them out.  Any suggestions for this?  Discipline?

If you want to read more about our adventure to Jakarta, visit our travel blog - TheXtra Suitcase.