Earrings clearance sale!

OFFER! Only $4/pair.
Click image to enlarge

Now selling past-seasons' stock at an irresistable price. Only those shown in the photo above.

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Stock Clearance! Big Sale!

Ever since I attended the National Library Board's inaugural Book Exchange Day a couple of years back, I have not been missing the annual event every subsequent year.

This year's Book Exchange 2012: Give A Book, Get A Book," was held last Saturday, 28 April 2012.

The heavy rain earlier that morning obviously had not deterred the hordes of people from turning up. By the time I reached around noon, most of the bin shelves were empty and it took me some effort to pick out only five books which I liked. Most of the books had ended up in baskets that eager participants were hoarding around the atrium. Many others were seen carting away their finds by the trolleyloads!

OFFER! Only $4/pair.

So now I've got "new" books, waiting for their turn to be read in my cupboard. But then, I also have new earrings waiting for new owners in my cupboard too! And just because I'm eager to clear my stash, I'm selling these at a big discount!

Interested to take them home to jazz up your own wardrobe? Get a pair of these quirky, handmade earrings for only $4 a pair! Brand new items! Not worn!

:: See how to order

*Check older blog posts for details on each individual item on sale.
* Leave a comment if you have any queries.

Creating a Terrarium

Living in a apartment doesn't allow me the luxury of planting trees on terra firma or creating stunning landscaped gardens that other homeowners have. But thanks to a balcony that gets kissed by the morning sun - and visits everyday by cute little sunbirds that announce their arrival with loud chirps - I get to indulge in some high-rise gardening with rather satisfactory results.

Recently, I have been intrigued by terrariums, especially those enclosed in pretty glass containers. From elaborate plantscapes to simple designs, setting up one of these self-sustaining eco-systems can be a lot of fun. The result will liven up any coffee table or office desk.

Here's are two very simple mini terrariums that I've created:

An open terrarium with cactus

Red and green frittonia growing in a glass bottle
    

Quick How To

Step 1: Choose your glass containers and plants. If you're making an enclosed terrarium, make sure the plants are small enough to fit entirely in the container when covered, with some room to grow.

Step 2: Line the base of the container with the following in this same order.

1. A layer of small pebbles
2. Sphagnum moss, available at gardening supply shops - I bought mine from Far East Flora
3. Soil

The pebbles create a form of draining so that the plant roots do not trap too much moisture, which may result in rot. Sphagnum moss is useful in maintaining the layer of soil above it and not seeping down gradually into the pebbles.

Step 3: Gently arrange your plants inside the container and packing the soil firmly around them. Popular plants for terrariums include frittonia (nerve plants) and other non-succulents.

Step 4 (optional): Top up visible soil surfaces with coloured sand or pebbles. To add interest, you may include little figurines or rocks to create a nice little landscape with a story to tell.

Caring for Your Terrarium

• Do not have the urge to overwater the plants. Enclosed terrariums usually do not require watering for weeks. But do play by ear. You may give your plants a drink whenever the soil appears to be parched.
• Remove leaves that have whithered quickly.
• Trim overgrown leaves or repot plants that have outgrown the containers.

t.d.m. Saturday Flea Market

Much as I've wanted to, I've never set up stall at a flea market... until today. A neighbourhood RC had organised a Saturday flea market held at the void deck and so I decided to give it a go.

The crowd trickled in very slowly and business was pretty lull not only for my stall, but every one else. Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience! Thanks to friends and family who stopped by to lend their support, as well as those who purchased items. >_<

Beads Passion @ Far East Closed

I was informed that Beads Passion, run by a friendly Chinese expat couple, would be moving out of Far East Plaza recently and therefore had to go and collect back my stuff that had been consigned there. Thus ended my foray into retail @ Orchard... for now at least.

A Gift of Flowers

Here are three pairs of floral-theme earrings that I gave away as a gift recently.

Clockwise fr top left: Pot of Posies, Ikebana, Chrysanthemum Ocha

Pot of Posies
Each tiny pot is brimming with an assortment of pink and blue blooms - acrylic flower, faux pearl, transparent blue faceted bead and wooden flower-painted blue bead.

Ikebana
There's something so subtlely charming about Ikebana (Japanese art of flower arrangement). A single flower peeking from a shallow dish of slender leaves, or an angled sprig of branch in tangent to a small bouquet of blooms - Ikebana is all about minimalistic beauty.

Chrysanthemum Ocha
Chrysanthemums are usually yellow, but these earrings with green chrysanthemums are in a vibrant green hue that reminds of rolling tea plantations and Japanese ocha. Gives a whole twist to the term Chrysanthemum Tea, don't you think? A sky-blue diamond bead here, a quirky acrylic blue-striped bead there, dangled with a flower basket bronze metallic charm - it's earring Ikebana!

Krabi

My friend, C doesn't wear costume jewellery because of her skin allergy. But she has a new dress that she would like to accessorise with a nice beaded necklace and so she "commissioned" me to customise something for her.

This 4-strand azure-hued necklace was made with crystal-like acrylic beads, sprinkled with flower-motif wooded beads and two-toned glass baubles. Fishing wires were used instead of metallic ones and C just has to fasten it round her neck with the navy blue, grosgrain ribbon - no metal hooks needed.

It'll remind C of her recent beach holiday in Krabi, Thailand filled with blue skies, pristine waters of the Andaman Sea, relaxed hours on the sandy beach in casual beach wear and lots of sun tan...