Laying the background....

to build the collage layers..

and these are some pages of a signature

which is part of another journal using scraps on my table..

oops and here's a peek at my art space/mess ;)

I'm all set for a trip next week

Be back soon....

stay happy
steph

Yum Cha

Yum Cha or 'drink tea" in Cantonese

is almost like a ritual for some families..

where the get together takes place in a restaurant specialising in Dim Sum over breakfast , lunch or brunch.

we had our Yum Cha the other day and I thought I'll share some photos with you..

We had puerh tea with dried chrysanthemum buds mixed into the concoction..

( You may add a couple of Chrysanthemum buds with your puerh and it gives a very balanced
taste, if you think stand alone puerh is too strong)

Hot steaming buns are served in these bamboo steamers on a pushcart.

Deep fried wanton skins filled with minced meat, chillies stuffed with fish or prawn paste

These are sheets of steamed rice flour rolls,
and some are made with fillings like slivers of barbeque pork,
 or seafood, served with a soy based sauce.

Deep fried crab claws with fish paste, minced prawns on sugar cane, banana and prawn rice rolls deep fried and all of these are served with mayonnaise..

And if I have not tempted your taste buds for tea and everything nice...
do visit Kimmie and the
T Tuesday bloggers for more delicious Tea stories..

Happy T Tuesday!!!
steph

Around Singapore..

It seems like a long time since I last blogged...

I've been walking around town with my camera for the past few days..

as it's the long weekend in Singapore,

to celebrate the nation's 45th birthday.

 

So, let me show you around some places in Singapore...

First stop,

the Central Business District (CBD)..

and these little ones are jumping into the Singapore River

which flows along the CBD.

Then we walked along the river towards the pier overlooking..

The Esplanade (on the right) and the Raffles City Convention Centre (on the left)

The Merlion Park was one of the best spots to admire

the Singapore Flyer (top)

and

The Marina Bay Sands Hotel (MBS) and Convention Centre

This is another shot of this beautiful hotel and its surroundings..

taken from the Youth Olympic Park

 

and another with the double helix walkway in front of it..

The MBS is 57 storeys high and right on the top is the 

Sky Park...

The Singapore Flyer taken from the Sky Park

Fancy a swim on the 57th?

I had an enlightening weekend...
and I'm totally inspired..

and we've just had the biggest party in town...
Happy Birthday Singapore!!!

(PS I've not had time to edit some of the photos posted today..
hope you enjoy them much as I have taking them)

Stay Happy!!!
steph

Trash to treasure....

I wondered to myself which sophisticated title would befit this post...

(Blank...)

I thought really hard....

(Blank....)

And I looked at this piece which I completed last Sunday..

although it's a simple process of cutting and pasting...

the process of putting thought to reality
was something to be treasured.....

and here it is.... my art muse...

let's say...

"I just had to do it!"

(Description: collage done on glass bottle with paper napkins and images of butterflies)


"Creation is a better means of self-expression than possession;
it is through creating,
not possessing,
that life is revealed."

Vida Dutton Scudder


stay happy..
steph

Arteastiq on Tuesday...

We were out again on Saturday to the ..

Mandarin Gallery

on Orchard Road

And found this beautiful tea cafe..

ARTEASTIQ

as you can see, the decor is

chic and pretty.

The cafe is part of a furniture shop and

it's parked in a comfortable corner facing the windows with a view..

the colors on these chairs looks yummy and they reminded me of the color of macaroons.

( I admit these chairs did inspire me to dot colors on my tags found here and here...;) )

Well, macaroons are not on the menu here but a nice selection of

  tea brewed differently.

I ordered Oolong with Lychee tea.

This is the perfect blend...light and refreshing...

served with coconut cookies

and food...oh my

we had apple cake, terriyaki chicken roll on indian crepe (called prata in Singapore),

top shell mango salad, crab salad on toast, turkey ham and smoked salmon

included in the set ..

The experience at ARTEASTIQ was delightful

and we'll certainly be back again.

PS:  If you would like to create this brew,
you could purchase canned Lychees (which is used in this recipe as well)
Canned lychees are commonly found in the asian supermarkets. 

Happy T Tuesday and do visit Kimmie for the list of
bloggers who shares their wonderful tea stories.

steph

colors of joy....

"Wherever joy is, there can also be seen the presence
of beauty, goodness, righteousness and freedom."

Torkom Saryadarian


here's joy to you and yours....
steph

A matter of perspective....

"Once we conclude that the basic nature of humanity is compassionate

rather than aggressive, our relationship to the world around us changes immediately.

Seeing others as basically compassionate instead of hostile and selfish helps us relax, trust,

live at ease. It makes us happier."

The 14th Dalai Lama

Have a good week !!

steph