Ugly Darling

My goodness, what is this ugly thing? What on earth is that? Is that an owl? ...Those were the responses that I have got when others saw this little hand sewn plush toy. Well, I believe this is not the usual kind of plush toy that you would see in a toys section of a departmental store. But the interesting thing is that I knew what it was at the first sight! There was no need to ponder or wonder at all, not even for a second. I just knew who and what it was when I received it as a gift for my trip to Osaka in June :) ...I love smelling its nose occasionally or giving it a squeeze at times before bedtime. I remember how we read the story about the ugly duckling when we were still kids. And I have decided to call him Sunny Baby aka Ugly Darling...one and only Ugly Darling in this world, you know. Remember my blog post about ugliness is a form of beauty? Ha, the story continues...

Pretty little gift

I can still remember clearly the blanket which my grandmother made for me using her near antique sewing machine many years ago. In those years that I had that blanket, I was kind of like Linus and his security blanket, one of the characters in Peanuts. That blanket provided much warmth and comfort not only physically but I must say, emotionally and psychologically. Once in a while, I knew I just got to sniff it a little and a whiff of it never failed to soothe, especially before I slept every night. I had used it for many years and it soon reached a stage where no matter how stitches one can sew, they could never stitch up all the tears. It was really worn out and torn after many years of being such a great companion in my sleep. One day, Mummy decided that it was beyond 'repair' and dat would mean it got to go into the trash bag. Many years now, I know I really still miss it. I think I had not really received any handsewn items since then. You know, it's really a joy to know that there are lovely people in my life who sew and handmade gifts are always much treasured. It started with Erinna's handsewn lunch bag and then subsequently there were quite a few gifts from Mark that were handsewn too. The recent one was a tissue pouch :)   

My trip, my gifts

 I was pleasantly surprised that the travel journal that I had received as a gift came with a handsewn pouch again and to me, every pouch seems to depict different moods.  What do you think this would depict?

 Got this handsewn plush toy as a gift during my trip to Taiwan. Hmm, ugliness is a form of beauty. Do you see the beauty in it? Know what, I think I do :) 

Art is not always about something new but I think it's the ability to make use of what's available to create originality. I thought this label attached to the handsewn plush toy was really a brilliant idea!

It's mine

I bet you cannot deny the fact that personalised gifts have a way of bringing a smile on your face. It did that day when I received a lovely cookie that had my name on it :) Couldn't really bear to eat it. I guess some things just need to be appreciated longer visually. Thanks Snoop for delivering this lovely cookie. Should I eat it? Should I not eat it?  

Lovely gifts

You know, there are gifts in life which can never ever be bought...Count yourself blessed if you have ever received one such gift. I know I am blessed...thanks to those lovely people in my life.

They matter

I really did not expect to receive another of "The Little Black Book" (Well, at least that's what I call it). Somehow, I thought that in this digital age, blogging seems more of a hassle-free way to express one's thoughts, feelings, opinions and share experiences. Well, well, well, a real surprise to receive this black travel journal prior my holiday trip to Korea and with the journal also came a hand sewn or handmade pouch to keep my journal...what priceless and lovely gifts they are! Real thoughtful and sweet! I decorated my little black book with rabbit stickers...Hmm, I thought they went well with that little cloud sewn onto the pouch :) As I wrote my experiences in my black journal, I could hear voices ringing around me..."Why bother?". Deep in my heart, out came another voice..."They matter." 

The colour of my fingers

Some people in your life simply refuse to give up on you and what you are capable of doing. They continue to have that faith and belief in you despite the numerous failures you have had from past experiences, despite you almost being at the verge of giving up on yourself. I have never had green fingers (I think I probably have black fingers), I 'killed' almost every plant that I had tried planting. Even cactus wouldn't survive long in my hands - tried and proven. At times, in my busyness, I simply forgot to water them and tending to them has always been a challenging task to me. I guess I need help understanding them at times. The only surviving plant that I own right now is a gift to me and it now sits nicely at my workstation, well, still looking good.

My very good friend wrote me a card...

To my very good friend...I was looking at those photos that I have taken this afternoon while we were having our late lunch but none seems to be as beautiful as the one above. You asked me to read the card only when I'm home, I did... Thank you for reminding that we have been great friends for more than two decades, goodness, I really couldn't believe it! Are you sure?...Thank you for remembering those times that we were still students in school, my uniform, my silly hair fringe, my purple pencil case and all my highlighters in it! It's real sweet of you to still remember those little things that I thought I could have almost forgotten if not for you :) It really means alot to me to have you in my life, thanks for this precious gift - your friendship :)

Priceless gifts

A nicely designed handmade card, I am so very proud of you, Nura! Thank you Angeline, Nura and Belinda, you almost moved me to tears with this and your lovely messages :)

You will never ever find another similar handwritten card like this one in the world, this is the one and only special handwritten card...Thank you dear Miss Tan :)

Things

A gift from Rika all the way from Japan...seemed to have thoughts going through my mind when I first saw this gift

I don't think I have met Rika for more than three times and the last time we met was quite some years ago but somehow, it's difficult to forget her smile. She seems to always smile with and from her heart. To me, that's the most beautiful...

The most important things in life are not things...To this day, this is still what I feel about things in life. The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen...To this day, this is still how I feel. Do you feel it?

The celebration continues...

A product of Speck ...A piece of artwork..."Waves" by Eve Duhamel

Today, a group of colleagues surprised me with a cake! Well, they were trying to hide in various corners of the staff lounge, all ready to 'pounce', haha, that was really interesting! Reminded me of how my close ex-colleagues used to celebrate my birthday at my previous workplace :P ...Received part 2 of my birthday gift from Mark today too. He has been into online shopping recently and has purchased an iPhone cover for me, delivery was a little late although he has kinda purchased it more than a month ago :P The design...they call it "Waves", I like the colours and the curves in that design. I feel that it has presented a real cheery and playful outlook, well, simply because art should be fun :) Guess what, I am carrying around a piece of art now, ha :P

Rainee

I am gonna call him Rainee. Rain or shine, I know lovely Rainee will always be there by my side. Thank you Kat :)

Goodie Goodie

I felt like a factory worker, packing stuff into bags just now. Brainless job but somehow enjoy it at times :P Ha, can still remember how Miss Tan has always described the way I would pack all my goodie bags every year, yes, she's right, the items in every pack would be packed in the same order and same position :P Didi who is back for a holiday thought it's Christmas when he saw the whole living room filled with those gift packs. Hope the little gifts will bring much delight and joy :) ...Didi is playing that "Imbecile Test" app on my iPhone now, haha, good luck! It's probably high time he exchanges that Blackberry of his for an iPhone :P

Some tea?

It was a pleasant surprise that I got on my table last Friday. An ex-colleague was back to visit. Ha, wasn't the gift a little early? :P Nevertheless, it's really thoughtful and sweet of her! It was a long day at work on Friday and certainly needed a cup of tea :P

It was handmade...from the heart

The best gifts in life cannot be bought...It was a handmade card, photographs were taken by Snoop who has been pretty 'flowery' in her photography, at her workstation and in her blog recently :P ...Nice shots, showing three different perspectives with individualised character in each even though it's the same flower...It will certainly be a much treasured gift :)

A reason to smile

There is always a reason to smile every single day of our lives, isn't it? Little and simple gifts in my life have always been the reasons for my smile :)

Gifts from...

Mysterious gifts have been left in my pigeon hole for the past two weeks, wonder who they could be from? Could it be from the guardian angel thingy that we have at our workplace?...Well, whoever that may be, real thankful for that thoughtfulness :) Ha, love surprises!

What's within

It was kinda marred when the two slices of cake were placed on my table, wondered what the slices of cake looked like originally :P Nevertheless, no matter how the looks have changed or altered, the content remained unchanged, it was savoured delightfully. Hmm, I think I also tasted sweetness and thoughtfulness in the cake...thank you Yue Niang :)

It's peanut butter!!!

It has been quite a while since I last tasted peanut butter spread. I know I cannot have a jar of it at home because I know I am capable of finishing it. I can even eat it on its own, I remember when I was much younger, I would use a spoon and scoop by scoop eat the creamy peanut butter from the jar, like I was eating ice cream. Well, I better not be caught by Mummy lest I get a real big scolding from her. She has never allowed us to buy peanut butter spread :( Well, maybe it's a good move coz it could really cause heatiness if consumed excessively :P

The angel in my fairy tale lives on...Today, the familiar bundle wrapped up in that familiar piece of cloth, traditionally looked like an obento, was left on my table. Good! Ha, I knew I did not have to think about what to have for breakfast today. Bought my usual milk tea and took time to enjoy the sandwiches. The tanginess and sweetness from the marmalade worked well with the peanut butter, bringing about a refreshing taste early in the morning. I have a confession to make...finished the two portions of sandwiches, one for breakfast and the other for lunch. Ha, not willing to share especially when it's peanut butter!!!

Air...fresh air

Mark said he would pack some air into the lunchbox that contained the food I prepared for him when he returned the lunchbox to me. The 'air' was delivered and placed on my table the next day, I took a whiff of it. Well, no smell of nature but sweetness certainly filled that lunchbox. Oh boy, real sinful sweetness! The bread below was real soft and with that kinda topping, I felt like I had committed one of the biggest sins in the world when I ate it :P