I like collecting objects.

Sure I would love to have lots of whimsical porcelain figurines around the house. But being a very practical person, I don't want to have 'white elephants' which will add clutter to the home.

Some people like to display vintage teacups, saucers, plates. But with the lack of choice we have locally, the next best thing is to have other objects that can double up as a display and can be used for the house.

My little collection of vases

The configuration of this table changes a little every other week, depending on whether these vases are needed elsewhere around the house. This collection of vases, with the exception of the white potted plant on the left, are all hand-me-downs from my mom…yes, even the twigs in the jug are from her. With a mom who has amassed a nifty collection of antiques and other useful stuff in her home, it is always pays to hang out at her home whenever she is spring cleaning, or in this case, when she was giving away stuff before moving to her new place.

How about those ornaments hanging on the twigs?

For this handmade, the use of felt birds and leaves inject life to dull brown twigs and it is a great way to introduce colour into an area. I have suspended the felt bird ornaments with a thin fishing line that looks almost invisible against a white wall. So with a light breeze stirring the felt birds, they will look almost surreal, fluttering in the wind. 

This handmade is easy to do, just need to print out this pattern and follow the simple instructions. I promise that there will be very minimal hand-sewing to do 😉 This is fun and easy especially if this is your first time crafting with felt. Felt can be easily purchase from Daiso or Spotlight and similar looking twigs can be found at Far East Flora @ Upper Thomson Road for about $6.50 per bunch.

Just some tips for this craft:

1. Use normal cotton sewing thread (not cross stitch thread) in the same shades as the felt that you choose. 

2. Cut out the paper pattern and paste it on the felt with sticky tape, it will be much easier to cut out the pattern from the felt.

3. Do try to use the most 3 shades of the birds,to match the colour story that you have in the area where this is displayed. More than 3 shades will look too busy.

Here are some ideas how you can use these felt cutouts in different ways :

– You can combine a few of these ornaments on a string and hang it at your window, attach a bell and you have a whimsical wind chime

– A baby mobile can be made with these using fishing lines and twigs, just make sure that the cut outs and twigs are secured safely!

Would really love to see the unique ways that these felt birdie ornaments are used in your home decor. Have fun making this craft!

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Iced green tea. Violet red baby Carnations and Carums

It's been terribly hot the last couple of days, or is it just me? Nothing beats having a refreshing iced green tea on a hot, hot day.

I am into the 3rd week in this new abode and this is the 3rd bunch of flowers that I have bought for the home thus far. And I have to conclude that this florist that I have been buying from has a limited range of flowers, I guess having $10-14 budget a week will not give me much variety to start with. I guess I am just a cheap fresh flowers lover and will go with colour stories, rather than variety of flowers. Wish flowers were more affordable locally though…

I am sure some of you prefer to go with fake flowers for the home, as fresh flowers can't survive for long. However, if you want to start buying fresh flowers for your home on a weekly basis, do try these tips which have helped my fresh flowers survive at least for 7-8 days; 

1. Cut all the stems of the flowers in a 45 degree sharp cut, that makes them soak up water much better.

2. Remove the leaves that will be under water in the arrangement, but do not remove thorns from roses as it tends to shorten their life.

3. Use plain, lukewarm water for most cut flowers, Change water in the vase every 2 days.

4. Keep cut flowers away from fruit, which releases a gas that causes flowers to age faster.

Usually 7-8 days is good enough for me, as I prefer to refresh the fresh flowers in the living area on a weekly basis. Here are 8 more ways to help your flowers last longer. I have yet to to try these methods, so do share your experience if you have tried any of these methods that has worked for you.

Felt Citrus Coasters

Just completed this hand-made for the home; Citrus Coasters. Love this for a home with a neutral palette, as it will certainly brighten up the dining/coffee table. I was rather conflicted when I completed this handmade, could not decide if I should keep it for myself or give it to a friend for her house-warming. I finally gave in and decided that my home needed them more then hers at this point ;P

You can get the pattern and the instructions to make this coasters here.

We are finally into the September school holidays starting today! Need to start planning what to do to keep the little man busy for the coming week.

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Last year we made an 'avant garde' paper floral arrangement for the teachers, this year I decided to spare Kyle's teachers the torture by presenting them with something simplier.

Felt 'Bird cage' key holders

A simple craft that took only about 3 hours and looks presentable enough for a handmade gift. Drop me a note here or in FB if you want the pattern for this.

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