Would love to slouch here by the beach

What a lovely room! I just love how everything is kept low-lying with the small steps and changes in levels defining the separate spaces. (from marie claire masion via delight by design)

Chocolate research facility

These arty chocolate wrappers are apparently from a shop in Singapore called Chocolate research facility. Anyone heard about this? I want to be a part of it!

Enchanted Garden

A beautiful mural found on a door out in the middle of nowhere in Brussels. This image reminds me of some secret doorway to an enchanted garden from the pages of a fairytale. Found here.

Shop in a church

Designed by Merkx+Girod architects, this contemporary bookshop is designed within a former Dominican church. I am sure many of you must have seen this but since I have been buried under a rock for a while, I don't recall seeing these images before.

From a design point of view, I really love how the neat rows of books lined up in a modern black steel structure form a contrast with the ornate interior of this gothic church. The colours of the books also stand out really well against the neutral tone of the stone surfaces.

I am not sure how to respond to the image above. I thought at first it was a reading area...but found out later it is a coffee shop. Beautiful as I think it is, I am not sure if it is quite appropriate to locate a crucifix-shaped coffee table at the location where the altar used to be. I guess in true Dutch fashion, the designers have succeeded in coming up with yet another controversial project... (via)

Mad mad week but I'm back!

It has been a mad mad week juggling the babies, orders from my baby online store, organising a hen's night and overseeing the details of my best friend's wedding. I have always consider myself quite an efficient multi-tasker but I have to admit that this past week has been quite stretching.

I miss blogging and all of you out there! I will share more about my friend's wedding once I get down to uploading the pics. Meanwhile, it's surfing time at 3am in the morning at my favourite design websites. I will be back soon with what I find!

Tea Note

Lovely packaging for tea from a Japanese website called Tea-note.

Muji Craft Box

This craft house box from Muji is simply too cute. Think this will make a holiday cake gift box. Available here.

My Best Friend's Wedding (invitations)

I spent the last few days working on the church wedding invites for my best friend, Elaine. A talented designer herself, I felt really honoured to be entrusted to design Elaine's wedding invitations for her.

Elaine and I have known each other since we were 12, and I can say that I don't know of anyone more similar in interests and taste than her. For the design of her invites, I decided that a simple and classic handcrafted wedding invite would reflect Elaine's timeless sense of style.

We decided to keep the cards simple and focus on subtle elements such as the selection of the font and texture of the paper. While scounting the web for a wedding calligrapher, I chanced upon the work of Laura Hooper. As soon as I set my eyes on Laura's work, I knew at once that we had to engage her to do the calligraphy for my best friend.

Laura is well known for her intricate, unique and delicate style of calligraphy. She offers a variety of services including 29 different calligraphy styles for envelope addressing, placecards, etc., and even draws the most gorgeous maps.

I finally settled on a beautiful Allegro Script , which I paired with a San Serif block-like font, for the invite to achieve a simple classic look. Not long after contacting Laura (who is super prompt in her responses), I received the gorgeous artwork and was on my way to gocco-ing 125 invitations by hand. I also got Laura to handwrite the address of the lunch reception which I screen-printed on tags (above) to accompany the invites.

(above) Screen-printing the cards by hand using my beloved gocco! I simply love the imperfections, blotches and everything behind this labour intensive process!

I finally completed the invites at 4am this morning and sent it out. The bride-to-be loves it and I am one happy friend and bride's maid.

Chocolate Pie, anyone?

Made of 70% milk, 20% dark and 10% white chocolate, the Chocolate Pie Chart is just too irresistably gorgeous and yummy-looking to pass. I will go for the milk and leave the dark for my husband. Available for sale at Mary & Matt's General Store. (via Hi+ Low)

Wall mounted Crates

I love this storage idea. (via Creature Comforts)

Shabby Chic Charm

I came across this interior from Sandbox Studios and fell in love with the shabby chic charm of this room. I just adore how the bed seems to be propped up by the neat stacks of books and wooden crates. And the bare branch and elephant just completes the pretty picture in this lovely light-infused room. (via Pause4thought, via Soon Lee)

1950's Royal Typewriter (Restored)

I would so love to have one of these...

An exception

I usually don't post anything "political" on Laissezfaire although I had to make this an exception as this video above is just too funny to pass. I couldn't stop laughing at "McCain's dance expressions". But I know Obama can dance. I have seen his dance moves on Ellen. Quite impressive!

Anyway, funnies aside, I think the recently concluded presidential elections in the US was pretty inspirational and deserves a special mention on laissezfaire. I was particularly inspired by Obama's rousing acceptance speech and touched by McCain's gracious concession speech.

Congrats from Sunny Singapore to all Americans for being a part of this historic presidential elections! I wish our own elections were as inspirational and exciting as yours!

Corner Forest

I really love it when designers turn the most common objects one would usually not bat an eyelid to into beautiful objects. Such as these paper toilet rolls above by yuken teruya.

Yuken Teruya is a artist whose work involve manipulating everyday objects and transforming their meanings to reflect on contemporary society and culture, such as the growing consumerism of contemporary society, depleting natural resources and other problems associated with globalism.

By cutting trees out of paper bags and cardboard toilet paper rolls, he creates meticulous and intricate art works which relate to broader concerns. In each bag and roll, the shape of a tree is created without adding or removing anything, just by cutting out and folding the paper from the bag itself. (via Oh Joy)

Dear Creatures

Love these grainy pics from Dear Creatures. (via Three Potato Four)

Printable matryoshka labels

Download printable matryoshka labels and to-do list sheets from Yasmine at A Print a Day. (via HowaboutOrange)

New patterns by Jessica Jones

Jessica of Jessica Jones Design emailed me recently to let me know that she has restocked her etsy shop with lots of patterned goodies--like cool mousepads for $10 and postcard sets for $6. Many of these will make nice for stocking stuffers and affordable gifts for Christmas.

The fabric used in the tote bags are from her new collection. They are available by the yard here for anyone who wants to make their own:

thanks for letting me know, Jessica. Keep up the gorgeous work!

New Collection at Sparklethots

Ruth of Sparkle Thots has told me that she has just restocked her online shop with lots a brand new collection of pearls, silver and gold items. Many of the items would be very pretty and would be perfect as a gift or for adorning a bride and wedding entourage on her special day.

If you like any of the items, you will be happy to know that Sparkle Thots is doing a FREE SHIPPING promotion. Just spend above SGD $50 to receive this offer. Enter code [GIFTED08] upon check out.

(above) Drop of Golden Sun (SGD$45)

Rolling Pin

This rolling pin has raised lettering that prints into your pastry. Beautiful!

Exchange your envelopes for some cool pins!

Sweetie Pie Press is collecting security envelopes for her new pin set. If you send her your old envelopes, she'll send you a set of pins. Sounds like a sweet deal.

Letterpress Clocks

Gorgeous Letterpress Clocks on scallop cards by Cursive New York.

Beehive Kitchenware

I had blogged about the pretty kitchenware by Beehive Kitchenware in a previous post. Here are more of my favourites from their latest collection. above: Dolly Coaster Set
above: Baby Spoons

102 Dwelllings by Dosmasuno Architects

Spanish architects Dosmasuno have completed an apartment block in the Madrid suburb of Carabanchel. Encased in a pristine galvanished white mesh on a linear facade facing the sun, this block is designed with playful cantilevered modules on its opposite side. Kind of like a Sejima-meets-MVRDV project.

Despite the seeming irregularities on the protruding face, this apartment block actually consists of 102 dwelling units of the same layout. A wonderful example of how economies of scale achieved by repetition can also create interesting forms.

For more pictures, click here.

Marie-Thérèse Gown GIVEAWAY!!!!

I guess now with 2 girls, one cannot help but venture into baby websites and blogs filled with pretty little things just for girls. Like this Marie Antoinette-like dress I saw here today. And the creator of this dress, Kathleen, is giving this dress away!! All you have to do is to link back to her post! Deadline is Friday 10/24/08.

The very very talented Kathleen does bi-weekly giveaways on Grosgrain and I must say that almost everything she whips up with her sewing machine is beautiful! I also love this, and this, and this. Somehow, her pictures really captures the mood of the dresses and costumes she makes. Glad I found this site today.

Sharing the journey

I am feeling so much more refreshed now after a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. The past week has been a big process of adjustment for our family since we returned from the hospital...

Juggling the different needs of a newborn and 2 year old has definitely been challenging, especially with very little sleep, nursing round the clock while while fighting a cold virus, and maintaining an online shop with a backlog of orders and enquiries received while I was away. Hopefully things will settle down to a more predictable schedule soon. For now at least, I feel much better after a nap and the house is all quiet as the babies are now sleeping.

I really missed surfing the web and blogging over the past 2 weeks. Thank you all for checking in and for your well wishes. It really warms my heart to know there are so many friends round the world that I got to know through this blog that are able to share my joy at a time like this. There are a few special people I need to thank at this point and whose work I have been wanting to share on this blog for the longest time.

First of all, Ron of Eyedeas Photography, a very talented wedding photographer whom I got to know through laissezfaire. I was very touched when Ron offered to take my pregnancy pictures when he first heard I was expecting back in March. We feel really blessed to have Ron document this very special moment in our lives for us. He has not only blessed us with his friendship, but also he very special talent in photography. Thank you so much again, Ron!

(above) My pregnancy pictures taken by Ron at week 34.

Ron also does overseas wedding shoots so do contact him if you like his work to check on his availability. He does get booked up quite fast so you have to reserve his time early! You can also check on more of Ron's current work on his blog and website.

And just before I left for the hospital last week, Dorothy, designer and founder of the Dotted Line sent me a beautiful package of her latest creations from her new design label specializing in nursing wear, Dote Studio. Thank you again, Dorothy!

Dorothy, whom I also got to know through laissezfaire, recently gave birth to a beautiful baby, Ellis. Before entering the fabulous world of fashion, she spent her days in a small cubicle at a large international financial institution. She decided to follow her passion a few years back when she took up a course in fashion design and started the Dotted Line. With her new journey into motherhood early this year, she wasted no time in getting started with her second business venture, Dote Studio when she got fed up with the lack of stylish nursing wear available in Singapore.

Dorothy had contacted me some time back to help design her new label. While I was occupied with several projects at that time, I am really glad I took on this project as I wanted to be a part of it since I was once a nursing mom myself who was frustrated with the wardrobe options currently available. The process of designing the label for Dote Studio was very enjoyable as Dorothy would be what I call an "enlightened client". She knew what she wanted...something simple, feminine and elegant, but did not limit me in terms of the design process.

I can't wait to try on the clothes that Dorothy sent me below once that postpatum tummy becomes less visible.

above: Mist puff sleeve dress (S$109, US$75 approx)above: Slate Top. (S$69 or US$48 approx.)

I probably won't look as good as the model above but at least I will feel good! No more frumpy nursing clothes....yay! Dote Studio ships internationally at S$15 (or US$11 approx) per item. For more info, do visit their website.

Dote Studio will also be collaborating with Maternity Exchange, Singapore, to offer more nursing options in the coming months. I am also glad to be involved in designing a simple clothing label for this -Dote for MX.

Besides designing 2 fashion labels, Dorothy also writes regularly on her blog Drastic Measures which covers fashion, crafting, design and daily life. Another 2 thumbs up for this multi-tasking mom who has ditched the corporate rat race to follow her passion!