packaging

i do enjoy packaging items and have slowly learnt that it does not have to be too complicated or involve too much :) while PP and i lack a colour printer, thank God for a simple provision of washi tape to add colour to little tags. we wanted to wrap some gifts we got from bangkok (such a wonderful wonderful time), and the children's day gifts as well. here's how they turned out :) 

first, we printed the text on thick white paper (got 250 pieces of 200gsm paper at a steal of $23 at art friend). we intentionally aligned the text more to the right to allow space for washi tape later :)

then, we cut them up.

stuck washi tape at the sides.. this part makes me wish i have a greater variety of washi tape haha!

 

then, we used a single-hole puncher to punch holes and tied the gifts up.

 

 

alternatively, you can punch holes and add washi tape on both ends :) rounding the corners of the tag creates a different look as well!

can't get enough of this baker's twine which i got for a STEAL at a random bookshop in bangkok! it was a gigantic roll, for only sgd$2! i was so thrilled and i grabbed all that was there :)

all these took less than an hour to complete :) children's day is a little more simple this year, considering the amount of things we have in our hands (house, baby...). we got some stationery from bangkok and packed them in the paper bags you see above. while the gifts are not hand-made, we hope they will find them useful and like them still :)

suan phung - part 2

blogging about suan phung brings back beautiful memories of the blessed time we had. oh, how i love travelling! while im not a particularly adventurous explorer at heart, i do enjoy stumbling upon places and unexpected things, especially those not within the itinerary :) i guess blogging is a little way of mine to recall all these wonderful memories and count my blessings over again :)

thank God for a safe place at Suan Phung that we can retreat to at the end of the day. While it is largely a quiet town, you'll be surprised at the little elements of modern, vintage and craft scattered across this place. one of the places that is a must-go, is a candle haven. i have no idea what is its actual name, but i'll let the photos speak for themselves :)

There is a small eatery right at the entrance of the place which serves yummy thai cuisine, ideal for lunch :) we ate our lunch out of tingkats. so old-school! :)

drinks were served in bamboo cups which we got to take home as souvenirs :)

near the entrance, there is also a small shop scattered with countless hand-drawn tshirts for sale :) after much gesturing and hand signals, we finally managed to communicate what we wanted to the lady, who drew 5 customised tshirts for us with the design we wanted, and our names :) this lady is very talented indeed!

in this place, candle wax is like the canvas on which the artist works on. everywhere you turn, you will find yourself intrigued by amazing wax sculptures :) apparently they have a place set up to conduct workshops or classes :) i do wonder if it's possible to sign up for one!

kettles of different-coloured wax!

 

 

an artist at work :) it was intriguing to watch him. the wax, and his hands, had to be kept at a certain temperature so the wax would be mouldable. it is definitely a skill that takes effort to pick up!

 

as we continued to walk on, we found ourselves in the most AMAZING candle shop ever! 

 

this marks the entrance of the shop. i probably spent a good 5 minutes just outside, snapping pictures :p

 

 

 

here, you will find a huge array of assorted candles, all very intricate and unique. definitely one of a kind :) there are alphabets, hearts, and the list goes on and on. they also sell a variety of other souvenirs :)

 

 

 

 

i have countless photos but these are just a few to give you a glimpse of the place. my favourite feature? a little section that allows you to buy a postcard, write on it and mail it on the spot after purchasing a stamp from them :)

im not a big fan of candles but i thoroughly enjoyed myself. i was very impressed by how they integrated the vintage theme interior with their candles, and at the same time, the place was surrounded with greenery, giving the place a very unique "suan phung vibe" :)  if you are there with a group of loved ones, you will plenty of photo-taking opportunities! there are swings, vintage vehicles and nice benches all over the area :) bring a tripod! it will come in handy :)

fitw is going to a bazaar again :)

this will probably be the last in a long while :)