Flowers for tea....

I almost forgot about tea today...

so much has happened

it's not just brewing and drinking a cup of tea but

it's about ...

the state of the mind..

it involves the senses....

and ultimately

a renewed self...

and so

amidst a chaotic day at work...

I freed myself

to brew this flower tea...

light and refreshing

and certainly a beautiful sight to see..

the petals "blooming' right before me seconds after hot water is poured into the glass.

and so while I was coping with some "turmoil"

within me...

this act of setting aside time for tea is truly an uplifting experience..

Thank you so much Kimmie and the "gang" of tea bloggers...
I look forward to reading your stories 

each time...

simply me
steph

what matters most....

collage on 5" x 5" canvass

The things that matters most in our lives are not fantastic and grand.

They are moments when we touch one another.

Jack Kornfield

have a happy week!

~ steph~

I want to remember....

these precious moments....

where 

we took long walks...

on the beach..

and drinking hot chocolate at the jetty...

marvel at mother nature and her beautiful creations...

buying fresh vegetables from the market...

and looking forward to artistic finds...

(goat's milk soap in the most luxurious and delicious flavors!)

(wooden block printing stamps intricately carved..

you'll scream with delight when you see this.. 

well I did but I had resisted buying with some regrets now..

what was I thinking! I can't possibly...............CARVE these.... LOL! )

(beautiful handmade artistic glass beads)

trying to cook like the masterchefs..

(Laksa fried chicken!! yums...and the kids loved this...)

wearing silly hats while making art....

(this piece was done with a teeny help from me and I asked her to think of a word

and she chose "pride" saying that her teacher in school told them to always take pride

in their work....)

I had loved and will cherish every moment spent with you

and I love you so much.....

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

steph

Crack and Tea...

a pun in the word indeed.....  ;)

We were at the Skinny Pizza where the interiors are

done up in an industrial theme .

 we had...

Ahi Tuna Pizza...

which is made of paper thin crusts (which I prefer):

very crispy, with a lovely sauce, pistachios for added crunch and avocado slices.

Topped with tuna cubes, a sprinkle of parmesan and wild rockets or arugulla leaves..

and of course tea is (are you ready for this?)

"hip hop chai tea"...

(they do have such fancy names in this eatery :)  )

and certainly with everything so light and healthy...

I'm ready to dance..... :)))

Join Kimmie and the wonderful Tea Tuesday bloggers for an artistic journey with tea..

Have a good week everyone!!

I might pop by from Coff's Harbor where I'll be visiting my sister.

stay happy

steph

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