Year 2010 is coming to a close

How time flies. Year 2010 is drawing to a close. Have you got your diary/planner for 2011 yet ? I have just bought mine from the Popular book store and I have painted the cover with hydrangea and roses using the enamel paint.

So much things had happened throughout the year 2010. I have met so many interesting people. To those people who had become my customers, students and friends, I liked to thanked you so much for your support. Especially those that had bought my book. I have received an e-mail today from a customer in Sabah who had bought my book and together with the e-mail is an attachment of pictures of items that she had painted following the instructions from the book. I felt so overwhelmed by it because she had painted it so well....almost like a replica of my sample. This inspired me to write more books and who knows ... I may produce again this coming year.

I normally blocked any responses to my posting, but this time around I let you comment on the BOOK (in english or malay or mandarin....tak kisah lah), if you have bought it. For those who had not purchased it yet.....ehem...bila lagi ?

MIDI - 1 Jan 2011 issue

Just to let you know that my craft is featured in the DIY section of MIDI 1st Jan 2011 issue which is already out in the book shop. They had featured two crafts i.e decoupage on tile and painting of bottles using the enamel paint. If you are interested to know more, go and get it now.

Ipoh Folk Art Worshop - Garden Scenery

Yesterday I had the opportunity to conduct a Folk Art workshop in Ipoh again. This time the students had learned to paint Cottage & Garden Scenery on Tin. However there were also students who learned other designs at the same time. Very tiring day since there was a big traffic jam on the way back to KL.

Last minute dashed to Christmas

Last 2 days before Christmas was quite busy for me as most Malaysians likes to shop for festivals at the very last minute. Most people came to the shop to personalized their gift or buy some of my painted items. Here is a student who had learned to make a Christmas gift on the eve itself. Amazing!! everybody is so busy with work until no time to shop....that's life in the city.

Handmade Christmas gift

Christmas is just around the corner. Here is a student who learned to craft out a Christmas gift. It's not too late to do something special for your loved ones.

Anniversary gift

A customer had requested me to do his wedding anniversary gift for his wife. A round plaque with a family photo on it. Since the wife likes the English style design I had done roses and hydrangeas around the photo. Something I hope his wife will cherished, as I had put a lot of effort towards it.

Workshop in Ipoh

We are planning to do a workshop at Hillcity Hotel Ipoh on the 26th Dec. 2010 at 10.00 am till 4.30 pm. If you are interested to attend either one of these two projects please call 03-79555909 as soon as possible for more details.

Students from Sabah

In between doing the customers' orders for Christmas, I also managed to teach these two ladies from Sabah Folk Art painting.

It seems that the interest in Folk Art and decoupage in Sabah is growing....thus I have plans to conduct my workshop there next year.

Decoupage ceramic pot

I'm doing some decoupage on a ceramic flower pot as a christmas gift for a customer. However I've added some painting to it to make it more who;esome. Hopefully I can finished the 30 pots before 25th Dec.

Painted Coin Box

This is a coin box in the shape of a birdhouse. I've painted a garden scene around it and the roof has been crackled. One think to note, make sure that you paint the cover of the opening separately. Otherwise it will get glued together and difficult to open after you apply sealer or varnish.

Children's project

This is a young student doing some gingerbread girls. Of course, the interesting part for her is painting the multi-coloured dresses. This is one of the ways to get your children spend quality time learning something new and at the same time have a bit of fun.

Old CDs for decorations

You can actually paint the old CDs to make a mobile that you can hang from thr ceiling. Here I used the enamel paint to make the christmas motifs on the CDs. Then I string them up to hang from the ceiling.

A Recycle Christmas Tree

If you already have a Christmas Tree at home, don't buy a new one. Just re-use it and have it redecorated with new ornaments. Don't have to buy expensive ornaments, DIY using recycle items. I've used many recycle items as ornaments such as blown light bulbs, corrugated cardboard box, plastic covers, used bullet shell (yes, those bullet magazine shells that has been used to shoot crows...how original can i get.hahaha!!).

Christmas Fridge Magnet

One of the ideas for christmas gift is to paint old floppy diskettes with christmas motif and then stick a magnet at the back. Its cheaper....especially when you have a long list of people that you want to give presents to.

Remember, it's not being cheapskate but being creative !!!...anyway as most people say its the thought that counts. For those people who has to participate in a gift exchange event at the office, you can do the same ...its under 5 ringgit....hahaha!!!

Painting on tile

This is a student who had learned to paint folk art on wood but decided to experienced to paint on tile using oil-based glass paint.

Lace and Tolehaven

There were not many students who actually learned to paint Lace and Tolehaven techniques. This is is one of the few students that actually learned the two techniques and she had done it well. It's the first time the two designs had been combined together. It turns out quite appealing.

MIDI - 1 Dec 2010 issue

Just to let you know that the DIY section in the latest MIDI magazine had featured the craft that I did recently with them. Its about Mug and CD painting. Go and get the issue if you are interested to know more about this.

Christmas Stockings Cut-outs

I have painted these Christmas Stockings cut-outs recently to be hang as a Christmas decoration at the shop. Actually I had painted the same set last year but had already sold it. I still have some excess of this cut-outs if anyone is interested to paint. You can personalized it by inscribing your families name on it and hang it in your living room.

The launching of PostMe

Yesterday I attended the launching of PostMe the Digital Shopping Mall by Post Malaysia. It was an amazing event with Percusion group, Hip Hop Dancers, Beatboxer, Guitarist, Singers (Atila and Suki) and a great laser light show. A very up-to-date event for the press, merchants and guests of honour to be entertained at the Hotel in Subang jaya. Not only that, the food was in abundance unfortunately I'm on a diet...hehehe..

You must be wondering why I'm spending time there. Well, Ive been invited because I am one of the merchants selling some of my painted items at www.postme.com.my (under the category of art& collectibles - wooden item). Go and check it out.

Prinses Boutique Signage

Not too long ago I did a signage for a Boutique at the newly open shopping complex Empire Gallery in Subang Jaya. After many months it has open to public only very recently I managed to pay a visit to the boutique. To see for myself the big signage being put up for public display was awesome. The owner of the boutique was very pleased with the I catching signage. It definitely blends in with the concept of the shop which is more of an english style dresses. They also has put up the birdhouse that I had painted as a decoration and also the changing room signage. If you have time, go and check it out. Its on the 2nd floor of the shopping complex.

Teachers also needs a break

Speaking of school holidays, teachers also get a break and used their time to learn something new. This is my new student in Folk Art who is a teacher and who has the interest in painting, a deviation from what she normally teach at school.

School Holidays are here

These are some of my young students who came to learn crafting at my shop during the school holidays. Some mothers also learn together with the children. A good way to spent quality time together as a family.

Christmas Tealight Candle Holder

Here are some Tealight Candle Holder that I have painted with Christmas motif but using the transparent glass paint. A different outlook altogether.

Christmas Bottles

Don't throw away your unwanted bottles. Paint them up to use as a Christmas decorations or Christmas gifts...you can write some special messages on it. Here, I've painted three different version of Santa Claus using Enamel paint. You don't need to varnish after painting it but you can cetrtainly washed them if they gets dirty.

Christmas candle

Candles can also be painted using the Enamel paint. Here I did some Christmas motifs on it. It can still be burnt if you want to but who wants to do that when it is already so nice.

Beware, there are others in your household who may think that candles should be used for a more practical reason such as to lit up the house when there is a black-out. So don't turn back on your painted candles !!

Christmas Jars

Jam jars are normally quite robust and air-tight. It is nice to paint some Christmas motifs on it and fill it up with some cookies or candies to be given as gifts. You can paint on glass and tin surfaces using enamel paint. These jars are washable.

Santa Cut-out

It's fun to paint decorations for Christmas. Here are some Santa cut-outs that I have painted to hang in my shop. I still have some excess of the cut-outs for painting. Anyone who is interested to learn to paint like this can give me a call (03-79555909) and make your appointment.

Country Angels

This is another angels cut-out that I did with a country design. Look at the detail of the dresses and the colour combination. These angels should be in a Fashion show...hahaha!!!

Pen and wash Angels

Christmas is coming and I have started to paint some Christmas decorations. These are angels cut-out that I have painted using the pen and wash method. The item are painted using a watery acrylic paint and then line it using a pigment ink pen. Quite easy to do but you need to spray varnished it to avoid smearing the ink.

Refurbishing an Old Clock

This is an old plain clock that I bought some years ago and I decided to paint on it. I started by sandpapering it to get rid of the old varnish and then sealed the wood with the all-purpose sealer. After that I based it with a white background colour. After 3 coatings, I start painting the pink roses and then re-varnishing it again. It turns out quite nice.

Student From Bintulu

This is a student with his son who came from Bintulu, Sarawak. Another marathon of classes over the weekend, as she had to go back the next day. It has been an honour to teach a person who comes from far to learn folk art from me and I sincerely hope she gets what she came for.

Some people really took the effort and time to seek for knowledge of their interest even though they are so far away. Where as those that are just a stone throw away really took their time to get started even though they have keen interest.

What can I say, we are all just human beings....

Scenery on a little tin can

Here are two painted tin can with scenery which I have painted for the Jabatan Alam Sekitar's event not too long ago. Something you can paint as well for gifts or to be used as a pencil holder.

Anyway, Selamat Hari Raya AidilAdha to all Muslims. Our shop is open for business as usual.

English Tea

This student is learning to paint still life for her case a Teapot, plate, cup and everything realting to having Earl's grey tea. In order to make the still life to look real you need to paint it neatly and precisely especially the shading and highlighting.

More people into folk art

More and more people are learning the folk art technique of painting. Looks like its a tend these days. Nice to know that a lot of people are willing to try out.

Hydrangea on the tile

This is my experimentation of painting using acrylic paints on tile surface. Need to mixed the colors with glass & tile medium in order to make it stick to the surface. I also crackled the background.

Bears, Bears, Bears

One of the design that is popular among my students to paint are the two bears. Its mainly a good exercise for the stippling technique using the deerfoot brush.