Social Networking

Received an unexpected mention in Straits Times yesterday. It was a nice personal piece from Mui Hoong who paused by on Thursday last week. I am glad that she enjoyed the time spent.

This is one of the great things about having set up shop - meeting people, especially those that are quite different from my usual circle. Better yet, we have often had a chance to have some good conversations too.



Lately, I have started trying out social networking on the internet too. Facebook is a new arena to me. Still groping my way around but am thankful for new friends like Betsy who showed me some of the neat stuff.

If you see the right side of this blog, you will also notice 2 other communities that I have just joined - Indiepublic and atcards (for artist trading cards enthusiasts).

Sure gives a new spin to the idea of 6 degrees of separation.

Quirky

Just to share some interesting finds from the net.



I like the look and feel of the illustrations at Russ Street. Doesn't the sight of these horses make you just want to take a closer look?



Butt Biting Bugs! What a whimsical idea.

Now, to something less quirky.



A word of thanks to Leonard for his blog entry about Pauseability. If you like to know more about Jumping Clay, do contact him.

It's 1st September and I would like to say Happy Teachers' Day to all my hardworking / heartworking friends out there doing a wonderful job making a difference for the younger ones.

No Kidding

My friend paused by with his family. His two children, Jonathan and Joan, have been to the angel-clay sessions and have enjoyed themselves. While the adults chatted, they explored the shop and was soon intrigued by the special paper punchers.

What amazed me was how quickly Jonathan thought about making a banner with a string of bears as soon as he punched the first one and was drawing in the details. And in no time at all, he created this proto-type. Notice how he has given different eyes to each bear. I am amazed and amused.

Joan, his younger sister in Primary 1, also made a lovely little card for me. Her dad and I share the same birthday and she was so sweet to make this card especially for me.



These kids are such delights.

I have been working hard at getting more publicity for Pauseability. Don't seem to be making much headway. Did have a pleasant surprise when my friend told me that Pauseability has been featured on CityPatrol. Thanks CityPatrol Officers! Check it out!



For the rest of you who are reading this blog, here's my desperate plea: pass the word around about Pauseability to 10 people in the next week. Ahem, and if you have yet to find time to pause by, you deserve to reward yourself with a trip. Hee!

Heart 2 Heart

A professor asked her class, "Why do people shout at each other when they are angry?" The class discussed and a number of answers were offered but none that the professor was satisfied with.

Finally, the professor said, "When people are angry with each other, their hearts are far apart. That's why they shout. But strangely, the more they shout, the further their hearts get, and the louder they go."

The class was intrigued, and the professor went on. "On the other hand, when 2 people are in love, their hearts are very close to each other. That's why they whisper sweet nothings to each other. Sometimes, they needn't even use words but let their eyes do the talking."

How true. So, the next time you are angry and knows that your hearts are far apart, let things cool down and when you know that your hearts have become closer once more, that would be the time to speak.

Yet another inspiring story from last Sunday's Chinese newspapers.

And the picture shows one of the latest artist trading card "Sew in Love". Have you made yours yet? Do keep a date with me on 13 Sep at 7 pm for our first atc trading session at Pauseability.

ButTons of Colour

These buttons are such visual and tactile delights. They came to me in a crumpy plastic bag, mixed with 2 rusted screws, bits of dust and thread and that faint smell of sewing machine oil.

I enjoyed sorting them, taking in the colours and then cleaning them. Those that came in a huge lot, I strung them up. Felt a little like I was wasting my time, so I set a time-limit to get it all done. Overshot the time but I really was having a good time. Finally, I laid them all out, took a good look and snapped some photos.

I bought these from a shop that is closing down. The old couple that ran the shop has decided to call it quits. When they heard that I have decided to venture into business, they kindly chided me and wondered aloud why I would choose such a path.

It has been 3 months since setting up shop. Pauseability has been around for a quarter of a year just at the blink of an eye. If you ask me how business is, I presume that you are asking if I am having brisk business and making money. Honestly, I am not. It is still far too quiet as far as the cash register is concerned.

Yet, things have in fact been anything but quiet. The number of things I have been able to do and the variety of people I have had the chance to interact with have been beyond my wildest imagination. Looking through my Flickr and I can only say that God has been tremendously good to me. Transforming an empty shell of a shop into a cosy space, setting up an exhbition about my childhood days and having people turn up, and making numerous handcrafts that surprises me how nice they look. Talking to the old man who takes his walk wearing his baseball cap, seeing the neighbouring hairstylist meticulously create his handmade gift for his girlfriend, meeting someone else who remembers Yippee! magazine, and enjoying the company of my friends who pause by with their wonderful children. The list could goes on and on.

There continues to be those moments when a stretch of days go by with no one pausing by, and it does make the sense of hope of business picking up seem suddenly so hollow. Dipping into my savings and watching the amount dwindle is no thrill either. And I wonder if my patience will ever outlast the indefinite wait. Doubts peck at my confidence and I sigh.

At those moments, it does seem just like the old couple who sold me the buttons have said, what a silly (or as I would say foolhardy) choice that I have made.

BUT i am having TONs of COLOUR that God has so graciously added to this part of my life. For this I am delighted and it makes the tough parts worth it. (Can't help the lame play of words ... haha!)

Enjoy this plate that is brimming over with But-Tons of Colour!

Music and iMages

I am so going to gush about this wonderful discovery.

Photos from Flickr are picked up up based on the lyrics of a song and then these images are put together into a music video. Each time you load, you get a different set of photos. Each image is taken by just about anyone at all in the world. Beautiful.

And as the photos stack up, you still get to move them and click on them to see who took them and what else is in that Flickr album. Wow!

You must not miss the Astronaut Project. Uber cool!

Tonight, I am looking forward to a wonderful event - the iConcert which showcases the original compositions and performances from the youths in my church. A CD will also be launched called Spirit Flux. Amazing.

A Little Bird Told Me

I am excited about the next new project at Pauseability - Artist Trading Cards trading sessions. Artist Trading Cards or ATC are miniature art 2.5" by 3.5" that has gained some popularity among artists and hobbyists. Any medium can be used, from painting, photography to collage. Only that the size must be 2.5" by 3.5".

I first came across ATC earlier this year. When I met Richard through the 70's exhibition and he showed me the beautiful ATCs he has created, I decided to start trading sessions. Imagine how exciting it will be to have different people bring their little spot of creativity and sharing this with each other.

Richard's collage ATCs are first-class works. I have made my own humble attempt and this bird ATC you see above is my freehand drawing.


And taking about birds, just today I came across the Little Bird project that started in Germany. The online gallery is just such a treat to look at. You can get a poster for which a big part of the profits go to UNICEF. Go take a look and perhaps it might inspire you with your first ATC project.


ATC Trading Sessions will be on the 2nd Thursday of every month starting 13 September from 7 to 9 pm. Be there!