tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61615492012-01-18T05:08:47.685+08:00Shuku's Creativity TimewarpShukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.comBlogger1721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-32066557529812868092011-12-03T00:30:00.007+08:002011-12-03T04:11:55.691+08:00

For Kenny Mah, because.Morning text message. I'm half-awake and still drowsy, but reading it makes me smile. We've been wanting to catch up for ages, and today's the day at last, and it -will- happen because we've planned for it and it better, or else...well there's no 'or else'. It is happening, and that's that.I'm late. Of course I'm late, these days it seems to be a chronic (and unfortunate)

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-48381610107931731552011-12-01T00:05:00.004+08:002011-12-01T00:15:29.068+08:00

...which explains why I am neck-deep in examinations until mid-December, and why I have turned into even more of an elusive hermit than before.I'm wondering how on earth I'm going to survive the next two weeks, when none of my coursework seems to want to come together, my vocal exam pieces are complete disasters, and my musicianship homework is in a shambles (granted, I did procrastinate on

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-64648215784956713132011-10-25T02:43:00.005+08:002011-10-25T03:21:17.465+08:00

Kim Klassen is amazing with textures. I stumbled onto her page by accident through reading something else, and I was hooked.Enough that I stayed up till 4am for two days messing around with textures and photographs. This of course is intentional sleep deprivation but I'm not blaming anything except my magpie attention span for it. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.This post of Kim's caught

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-63252302157309672422011-10-19T14:07:00.011+08:002011-10-19T14:37:52.540+08:00

So. There was this challenge photograph posted one balmy day by the brilliant Deryn Mentock. (All right, it was mostly hot and muggy here, but I'm taking artistic license here. Liberally.)With the photograph was an immensely eye-opening and wonderful link on how to make a colour palette. Don't go there if you don't have time to spare. It's addictive, this colour palette business. I was supposed

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-33847554876975893082011-09-21T01:36:00.005+08:002011-09-21T01:41:56.932+08:00

From the old Noir Files dated back a few years:There's always tragic endings in noir but there's always the mostmemorable kisses. If I was Vivian, would you be Marlowe then? One kissto last a lifetime - maybe that's how it feels, under a stark whitemoon with shadows like grey cats in the dark.Tonight is a dime-store pulp novel - the hard-boiled detective with his infinite cheap cigarette, the

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-11533319560588087012011-08-23T13:54:00.008+08:002011-08-23T14:58:21.053+08:00

These days I'm more inclined to let pictures do the talking for me, so here is what I've been up to of late: An attempt at Deryn Mentock's beautiful Boho Hoops; she's Da Woman, a fantastic teacher and a great mentor. Next time you offer this class, I'll be there! Subversive Lace: Blue Buddha Boutique's Staggered Japanese Lace bracelet. 0.5mm, 0.6mm and 0.7mm rhodium-plated copper rings.

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-63928901045021110542011-07-17T18:26:00.002+08:002011-07-17T18:30:49.154+08:00

...I wonder whether it's worth pouring in so much effort for things, only to be proved a second-rate coach/operator/person time and time again. Because despite all my dreams, maybe that's just about as good as I'll ever get.It's a wonderful feeling, knowing you always let people down.

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-90918231484856938712011-03-22T05:54:00.004+08:002011-03-22T06:02:00.329+08:00

I don't want to live to scale - small life, small box. I want to live large, dream big, make it count.I want to live, not merely exist.I don't think it's too much to try for.

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-16235451393698299772011-03-19T02:36:00.003+08:002011-03-19T02:42:27.904+08:00

I tend to have surreal conversations with my friends. Today is no exception, with the result that a chat about art prompts interspersed with random bits about Cthulhu plus my distinct lack of drawing practice, birthed this little monstrosity. The prompt, incidentally, was 'Fred'. No, I don't know why this came to mind. My mind is a scary, scary place, as evidenced by the appearance of John

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-21295473225096321092011-02-10T02:22:00.003+08:002011-02-10T02:32:39.773+08:00

Part of my sketchbook project - never tried Victorian lettering before and might not try it again!This year, I set myself a resolution to make myself uncomfortable. Not in the 'sleep on bed of nails every night and torture myself with really bad music' sort of way. More of a determination that if something comes along that isn't creepy, makes me panic at the thought of having to do it, and has

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-83660686997913856492011-01-05T18:11:00.006+08:002011-01-05T18:24:10.348+08:00

For Kenny, after reading about libraries and Neil Gaiman's marriageHow I loved him. Every night, waiting so eagerly to slip into sleep, easy as a scalded peach slips its skin – but of course, he was only a figment of fiction and I could hope, I could dream that perhaps I’d see his eyes as I’d written in a story so long ago.Dream’s eyes. The Corinthian had none, only sockets capable of so much

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-58387802599819542402010-12-18T16:13:00.002+08:002010-12-18T16:28:10.208+08:00

And once again I've let the blog go for a few months before updating. I know, I know. I'm always apologising for this, but the truth of the matter is, I -have- been busy with some key things in life. I've just been through a crazy three week period in which my first jewellery bazaar and my 2nd level Australian Kodaly Certification went head-to-head. I survived both with sanity a little less than

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-23551301746933511742010-10-28T13:39:00.006+08:002010-10-28T14:59:40.193+08:00

I've been absent from my blog for a looooong time - most of this is due to life throwing up a lot of busy-busy-busy with very little time to do any jewellery or creativeness that way. Well, that and I've been travelling - this time, I've just come back from Vietnam - Hanoi to be exact! A few of us in the choir I sing with travelled there at the invitation of the Vietnam National Symphony

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-83552334518411377292010-08-22T23:33:00.008+08:002010-08-23T11:00:09.279+08:00

So before this update gets even tardier, let me just set the record straight:1) I'm back from China! 2) We won three Gold Diplomas - Gold IV in Folklore with the Young KL Singers, Gold V in Jazz with my quartet, Caipifruta, and Gold II in Pop, also with Caipifruta. 3) Overall the Malaysian contingent came back with their heads high - the MIA Ladies Chorus were the champions in their category,

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-3258136145149931242010-07-15T05:43:00.003+08:002010-07-15T05:48:24.695+08:00

Incredible how fast time passes, but the Big Day is finally here! I'm leaving for China later on to compete in the World Choir Games held from 15th - 28th July in Shaoxing.I will most likely be internetless for the entire duration, since I'm not bringing Siggard in case of accidents (my laptop, not a significant other, just to set the record straight). Besides, a lot of sites are blocked in

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-86800147418333768092010-06-02T18:31:00.005+08:002010-06-02T19:25:51.061+08:00

My wonderful brother, who has gifted me with more useful things than anyone I know, recently ordered me a pair of Eurotool Ultra Ergo Pliers from Blue Buddha Boutique, where I got my lovely aluminium and stainless steel rings. I made the mistake of wrecking my current wire-work pliers while trying to work with the stainless steel rings, and I figured it was time to get proper chainmaille tools if

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-54281582081119499842010-05-16T03:10:00.005+08:002010-05-16T03:38:14.461+08:00

One of my best friends ever visited me at the end of March. I've written about Jeremy before in another post, and he remains one of the only friends from my university days whom I actually -see- on a semi-regular basis. All right, so two years isn't really semi-regular, but given I haven't seen my entire batch of crazy US friends since 2003 - well, you get the picture.In between juggling work

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-40126620188563007772010-05-14T19:32:00.007+08:002010-05-14T20:01:07.594+08:00

Some months ago, I was commissioned by a friend to make a bridesmaid's jewellery set. Her only stipulations were that it be simple, elegant and fuss-free. Given that the bridesmaid dresses were fuschia and white, I thought Swarovski pearls might add just the touch of elegance necessary. I also wanted to use whatever I had on hand in the interests of keeping costs reasonable, and also because

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-53738565167951330892010-05-07T03:03:00.002+08:002010-05-07T03:40:24.845+08:00

Once upon a time, when dreams were plentiful and less prone to being blasted out of existence by reality, there was a little girl who loved to sing. Morning, night and noon, she'd be warbling like the birds from sun up to sun down, and all manner of hours in between. What do you want to be when you grow up, the teacher asked at the end of each school year, and made the class write it down. The

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-10920828338523757172010-03-27T12:35:00.000+08:002010-03-27T12:36:03.739+08:00

My nearest and dearest are pretty unanimous about the fact that I've got an inherent tinkering gene - I can't ever leave well enough alone. This holds true for cooking, for music improvisation, and also jewellery.This is also usually a recipe for some sort of disaster. Just so you know.Many moons ago, when I was starting to learn that there is this thing called WIRE! which you can play with and

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-47064187163096867742010-03-24T15:21:00.007+08:002010-03-24T15:52:40.146+08:00

If I appear to have vanished off the face of the known radar blips of existence, well, I have. For a time at least. Creativity has been practically non-existent, struggling and gasping in between work, rehearsals, recording, frustration, and chafing at the non-productiveness of it all. I've been very close to giving it all up because I'm just so tired of fighting the malaise.But then, Life

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-15546671833647599302010-01-31T23:12:00.004+08:002010-01-31T23:32:31.180+08:00

Between the purchase of a jeweller's saw and the heady joy of being able to custom-create any shape of metal charms lies the murky depths of Survival, Rent, and Necessary Finance.In other words: I've been busy with work, rehearsals for main choir, lesson plans and more rehearsals with quartet and chamber choir, and the weather hasn't wanted to be cooperative when it comes to taking photographs of

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-79737519430661920882010-01-08T01:26:00.004+08:002010-01-08T01:52:33.392+08:00

...lord for this one is growing fainti do not think it goes all the way.-- 'Words from a Totem Animal', W. S. MerwinCarpe Anno - My first personal art journal entry since 2002 - a new beginning, a new skill. My old journal pages were usually for other people, I don't know why I never did any for myself. It turned out better than I expected, certainly. And, amazingly, I loved being able to be

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-87725619507193778132009-10-29T21:02:00.007+08:002009-10-29T21:18:02.489+08:00

After much experimentation, trauma, unplanned designed changes (ie: accidents) and screeches of utter torment - behold, the Two Lumps Necklace!Everything went together incredibly smoothly once all the components were in place. Aside of having to measure the chain links and aesthetically balance everything for the best effect, nothing out of the way took place, and no more forsaken laments of

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-47334083708268423222009-10-29T02:46:00.011+08:002009-10-29T03:55:09.134+08:00

When we last left off the Great Insane Two Lumps Necklace Project, the glued-together shapes were being flattened under a pile of delicious recipe books and awaiting verdict.Part 4: DOOM DOOM DOOM DISASTER DOOMWell. They turned out -awful-. I thought it might improve things if I matte-sprayed them, but nooooo, the ultimate consensus was that very little - save perhaps Cthulhu eating them or an

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-32746878678504909032009-10-23T19:00:00.013+08:002009-10-23T20:14:59.500+08:00

Last month, a friend asked if I wouldn't mind making a piece of comic-or-literary-themed jewellery for a deserving and worthy auction which she was kicking off for her birthday celebration. I was delighted, and thus was born what I've nicknamed 'Project Lumps'.The first hurdle was deciding what theme to pick for the piece. Both Tarlia and I devour books with the voracity of bottomless guppies,

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-77256048898133130932009-10-17T17:34:00.006+08:002009-10-17T17:51:00.275+08:00

'You made those earrings yourself? Do you know so-and-so? She does jewellery too, I had her fix some stuff for me, and she made this piece for me, see!'After the above brief exchange with a well-meaning friend, it took me a moment to get over the sharp twinge of annoyance, and then I went home wondering why I was so annoyed. After some serious thinking and taking the entire conversation apart,

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-48169251993438195682009-10-17T02:07:00.006+08:002009-10-17T02:34:12.175+08:00

I've been quiet lately, partly due to real life being rather busy and partly due to some stuff I've been wrestling with. Mostly the question of value - in this society, anything fancy and intricate is almost immediately viewed as more valuable than stark, simple lines and plain design. As my designs tend towards clean lines and simple aesthetics, I'm still sorting things out; that's another post

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-26984450543928966002009-09-11T18:32:00.007+08:002009-09-12T00:14:25.584+08:00

Some time ago, in an attempt to get out of my creative slump, I played around with my stash of annealed steel wire and some lovely blue-grey top-drilled pearls. This resulted in two lovely little pearl-wrapped links that I had no idea what to do with. I put them away, hoping that I hadn't wasted my time and that they'd come in handy some day.Recently, a dear friend of mine - the Other Half of

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-18329793492348259222009-09-09T16:49:00.002+08:002009-09-12T00:14:45.838+08:00

Sounded like an angel singing somewhereSounded like an angel singing'Sanctuary, sanctuary...let me be yourSanctuary, sanctuary...When you cannot find the lightOf your own shining starI will help you to rememberWho you truly are...'--'Sanctuary', Joshua KadisonListening to Joshua Kadison's 'Venice Beach Sessions' in a somewhat contemplative mood after a few weeks of creative block resulted in this

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-68804233209477525942009-08-10T15:19:00.009+08:002009-09-12T00:14:25.584+08:00

"Meh," she said tiredly. Shoulders slumped, arms curled around her drawn-up knees, she was the perfect dictionary definition of 'dejected' and 'discouraged'. He touched her shoulder lightly as he settled down to sit beside her. "It'll pass. Trust me. Might take a little time, but you'll get through this. You're tough. And I'm here for you, whenever you need me."She gave him a sidelong glance. "

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-28810073856323474862009-08-05T19:55:00.004+08:002009-09-12T00:14:25.584+08:00

Because today has been a strange and unusually discouraging day, it probably accounts for why this little piece insisted it be named Hope. I finished it too late to take any good pictures, and since I'm going outstation to help my boss teach tomorrow, this will have to do for now until Friday:I've been toying all afternoon with the idea of Talisman Earrings like this - little word-or-text charms

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-88331504685989367352009-07-30T15:58:00.003+08:002009-09-12T00:14:45.838+08:00

I never knew that the creative spark could be so infernally fickle. The last few weeks of my life have been spent battling an innate sense of 'I must be doing something wrong because I can't think of anything creative, and I can't make anything worth my time' and some horrendous weather that's got my sinuses all in a pother.For some reason or other, however, I've had aliens on the brain for the

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-27435078031565608102009-07-06T15:07:00.003+08:002009-09-12T00:14:45.838+08:00

I loathe being ill. It's the biggest cause of brain atrophy that I know, and one whole week of being unwell has sapped my energy beyond belief. However, I'm getting back there and trying to track down an errant Muse - which is probably on vacation in a lovelier climate than the one I'm ensconced in at present, but that's beside the point.My shipment of chainmaille rings from Blue Buddha Boutique

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-48165879741260598912009-06-20T00:02:00.006+08:002009-09-12T00:14:45.838+08:00

She's alive! She's survived those 260+ teenagers! Well, 'survived' is one thing, 'sanity' is another, but the kids managed to sing the (much shortened) entirety of Handel's Coronation Anthems from memory in 3 days. Was soooooooo proud of them at the night concert when they performed - the alto section that I was coaching stepped up to the plate and did marvellously too, was even prouder of them!

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-9187419712865626582009-05-28T23:34:00.003+08:002009-05-29T00:06:51.614+08:00

In a day's time, there are going to be some 300-400 children and youth milling around me and I'm going to wonder where my sanity is. In short, I'm festival staff in the upcoming Malaysian Choral Eistedfodd and 7th Young Singers Choral Festival which starts on Saturday. The competition involves the secondary school choir I've been tutoring for the last few months - that's one worry there already!

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-49451521962909805862009-05-25T03:34:00.008+08:002009-05-25T05:00:06.279+08:00

...or at least, that's how I felt yesterday after my exams! The inherent need to see something fresh and springish eventually led to these:Spring Greens: 20ga sterling silver hand-crafted earwires, cloisonne green beads, Czech glass bellflowers, Czech glass green beads. RM25This pair of earrings actually required a creative work-around - I don't have 20ga silver wires, and I wanted to make a pair

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-11958715399906703042009-05-24T00:27:00.006+08:002009-05-25T04:55:38.913+08:00

I've been somewhat scarce for the past 2 weeks or so, mainly because of the reason behind this:This is my Venetian Necklace, a test piece I threw together to use up a test piece focal and to try out some chain techniques. The reason I've been busy with finishing that is because my Trinity Guild vocal exam was on Friday! Not only that, I just got done with a concert with the Malaysian

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-51689187578285942712009-05-13T15:33:00.005+08:002009-05-14T00:26:41.888+08:00

Some days, the planned gets hijacked by the bizarre and the unexpected. This time, it was the unexpected. I'd gotten my hands on some 20ga copper wire so I could hammer out some hoop earrings. Being the smart woman I thought I was, I decided to make them roughly fish- or tear-drop shaped for ease of hammering them out evenly. After some brainwork about how to secure the wires, everything

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-89878117792951376402009-05-12T14:29:00.004+08:002009-05-14T00:26:14.751+08:00

I don't know about other girls, but I loved Susie Derkins. She was Calvin's arch-nemesis - well, at least HE called her an arch nemesis, she always had a witty retort ready and she always creamed him but -good- whenever he hit her with snowballs. What isn't there to like?This is one of the many, many reasons I love Susie. This + colour scheme in strip + weird brain = the Susie Derkins Earrings:

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-28767487588280324942009-05-08T15:42:00.005+08:002009-05-08T16:10:46.436+08:00

'The dame's scream hit an octave usually reserved for calling dogs, but it meant I had a case, and the sound of greenbacks slapping across my palm is music to -my- ears any day. After all, I'm not an opera critic. I'm a private eye.'--Tracer Bullet, Calvin and HobbesThat's probably one of the most memorable opening lines I've ever come across in all my readings, and I read a lot (my friends have

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-70463560696703214212009-05-06T21:39:00.005+08:002009-05-08T04:23:10.991+08:00

Boys and men aren't the only ones who go gaga over new toys, and they're not the only ones who like 'em either. I like power tools - I -am- a theatre graduate after all! So when I came across annealed steel wire in the hardware store yesterday, of course I bought it. I've been curious to see what I can do with the stuff ever since looking at Deryn Mentock's gorgeous work.New toys require

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-39737086530619210312009-05-06T20:23:00.004+08:002009-05-06T21:21:19.112+08:00

This was something I completely wasn't expecting at all - Corra, of De Cor's Handmades, sprang it on me. Talk about surprise! Thank you Corra! It's definitely a bit of a *blink blink* moment, given I feel very much like a novice still in the field. There's just -so- much to learn and I'm clumsy, and sometimes it's like pulling -teeth- to get something simple right!So, what I now have to do is

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-47186349383108537672009-04-30T23:40:00.009+08:002009-05-01T15:57:27.284+08:00

Once upon a time, a sedate length of parallel chain decided it had had enough of being boring, and went on a journey of discovery. Along the way, it met an exquisite European 4-in-1 whose silvery shimmy up and down the chorus line could send shivers down any red-blooded male spine, and oh, the nights they had together. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end and the 4-in-1

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-70380628330417402482009-04-19T04:03:00.008+08:002009-04-19T05:07:48.823+08:00

When I suggested, "I can make something for a present" a month ago and you said yes, sure, I was desperate. Creative rut for months and months on end, nothing to show except half-withered dreams and dry bones in a valley. I needed something, anything, to prove to myself that I hadn't lost one of the most precious things in my life - the ability to create something out of nothing, beautiful

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-91473751155836120262009-04-18T23:06:00.007+08:002009-04-19T01:16:39.054+08:00

...Girl met Boy and immediately wanted to punch him in the nose for being completely obnoxious. Not a very promising beginning, but faerie tales don't always start promisingly either. Real Life, taking a page out of a faerie tale, decided to go that route because Girl discovered a short time later that she and Boy had a lot more in common than both of them had ever thought possible. They agreed

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-66480792448582292802009-04-15T16:02:00.005+08:002009-04-19T00:32:07.760+08:00

I've been asked for a while to post what I've been working on this week so, Swati, Mei, here's your wish! I'm especially pleased because after 8 or 9 tries I finally managed my first pair of hammered hoop earrings, complete with detachable charms. Thank you sooo much for the tips Swati, they helped tremendously!==Rain. Steady, impervious, falling to earth, breaking into a million tiny droplets

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-16620124752547637952009-04-13T02:25:00.004+08:002009-04-19T00:35:29.758+08:00

There should have been an earthquake. Howling. Instead, there was only silence and a heat-drugged landscape, indolent under the heavy air. When the storm came it battered down relentlessly, washing all those words - everything that was ever said on that terrace - into the churning mud below. She watched as the crushed flower petals swirled over the edge, falling like tears at a grave, and

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-69967159665830918172009-03-17T05:27:00.002+08:002009-03-17T05:32:10.228+08:00

...very tired. Somewhere along the line, I lost my creative streak and it hasn't seemed to want to come back. I wonder whether I'll ever get it back, to be honest.I haven't created any wirework in God knows how long; my brain just blanks when I have to think of designs. I haven't any ideas and they don't seem to want to come no matter how much I tweak and fiddle and mess and fret. Whenever I

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-88391601786991604942009-02-07T14:34:00.003+08:002009-04-19T00:34:46.556+08:00

I cannot. I could not.Two new years: one over, one drawing to its final fifteenth day. Forever. Never. Two words poles and poles apart, magnetized by their very disparity. Who knew that it was so easy to switch from one to the other, just with the elimination of three letters and a replacement? It’s time to evaluate again – the measure of a life, the measure of a season, the measure of time

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-66297812379758417032009-01-26T13:26:00.003+08:002009-04-19T00:43:57.820+08:00

FOOL’S GOLDYou gave me the stars in a wineglassLike some errant fool, I let them fall:One by one. A piece of me. A piece of you.The world in a handful of skyAnd I dropped it all, lost it forever.--26th Jan. 20091.15pm Oh, and on top of that I screwed up my laptop settings apparently. It's a -wonderful- first day of Chinese New Year all right.

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-81214347887377882202009-01-24T00:09:00.002+08:002009-01-24T00:21:37.670+08:00

The phrase 'it never rains but pours' isn't particularly something that figures in my vocabulary but of late I've had to admit it's held noxiously true. Progression of this evolution of thought follows as below:1) 3 months ago, my computer, Catalina de los Angeles, started freezing up and locking for no good reason. 2) Opened up CPU, cleaned dust out.3) Freezing and locking up became worse.4)

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-68759664985243004502008-12-21T20:21:00.002+08:002008-12-21T21:14:40.048+08:00

Today we made history.Today, the combined choir of the Young KL Singers, the Malaysian Institute of Arts Music Department and the KL Children's Choir ended their three-day run of Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings Symphony at the Dewan Philharmonic Petronas with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. The show premiered on the 19th of December. Four months of blood, sweat, more tears than I could

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-14944011912713316062008-12-15T17:41:00.004+08:002009-04-19T00:35:29.758+08:00

Tired, sick, discouraged. Maybe that's why the dreams are so vivid.***Dark night on the streets. Grey, formless, it’s mixed up with another dream where I remember bright lights in a shop window – triangles and other ornaments in red neon and sparkling fairy lights. Lots of people. There always are lots of people, all faceless and nameless and they’re walking quickly, always never showing their

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-36712143826465983992008-12-08T23:13:00.009+08:002009-04-19T00:32:07.760+08:00

Creative blocks stink.They sit in your head, weigh down your psyche and weight your hands so when you pick up a marker or a pair of pliers, nothing presents itself. Not even the veriest smidgen of an idea. Other people's work becomes a source of wide-eyed admiration and immediate despair, and you want to throw up your hands forever and just give up because nothing will ever, ever be good enough

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-1182510028113221192008-12-08T14:31:00.005+08:002008-12-08T15:19:55.525+08:00

Somewhere along the way my blogging habit went out the window, somewhere around the time I lost my mind I think.In an attempt to correct this, Chris has very kindly tagged me in a desperate attempt to get -something- going, or so I think anyways - sneaky but effective, dude!So. Here we go, the Seven Random Things About Me Meme:1. I am a Confused Soprano. Technically, I am a lyric soprano but I

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-76540852177581029762008-10-08T13:36:00.002+08:002008-10-08T13:39:43.698+08:00

...I am, actually, still alive. In rather more zombified fashion than previously. Highlights of the last few months include:1) Research/vacation trip to UK - there are pictures. Marcelo, yes, I got the HMS Belfast from the outside (badly!)2) 7 nights of choir rehearsals a week3) See #2.4) Making a drop spindle last weekend.5) See #3.More later, when I've scanned some stuff!

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-61351466744488635822008-05-21T22:54:00.005+08:002009-04-19T00:35:29.758+08:00

There's a plane somewhere over a vast expanse of sea and sky right now, on course for Thailand. Somewhere in there is my best friend; with him, neatly packed, is eight years in a life encompassing past and present, condensed into eight days of a crazy, often heat-filled, wonderful visit.How do you compact eight years into eight days? A year crammed into twenty-four hours? How do you measure

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-53745290646717456822008-05-13T13:50:00.002+08:002008-05-13T13:59:06.681+08:00

...because The Brat tagged me, so I'm here to execute some mild revenge in the form of 'It is always a bad idea to tag me, weird things show up.'So. Pick up the nearest book (with at least 123 pages).Turn to page 123.Find the 5th sentence.Post the 5th sentence.Tag 5 people.Nearest (actually the only) book at hand: Thinking with Type, Ellen LuptonPage 123, 5th sentence: Similarly, modern

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-78558261124800419292008-05-06T02:58:00.002+08:002008-05-06T03:21:17.324+08:00

Singapore hit like a rush of adrenaline. Four days later I emerged from its clutches triumphant, bearing expanded choral horizons, Kurt Weill music scores, and a spoon. In other words, I'm back from the Choir Music Camp in Singapore, armed and dangerous and waving flu medication everywhere as a preventive measure against the Flu Epidemic that evidently barrelled on through. With six members of

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-59161890081521950802008-04-30T02:53:00.004+08:002009-04-19T00:35:29.758+08:00

It began with umbrellas and ended with books, and dinner, and crazy-talk and lots of laughter. And the realization that fencing duels don't quite work very well with brollies instead of foils, but what the heck, it's fun.Sometimes, all that matters is the crazy things. Totally random MP3s and the strangest comments in a conversation ever. Fleur, purple fluff, 2am dissolves into hysterics over

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-64989381256637019842008-04-17T01:51:00.002+08:002009-04-19T00:43:57.821+08:00

THE ART OF WARDaughter mine, perfect the artOf lipstick soldiers on chessboard squaresOf kingdoms won by hourglass curves.The venom of a lover’s kissBrings queens to their knees.The power of guns versus the power of rouge:The darts of smiles have triggered shotsOne glance of the eyes, a jealous rage.Daughter mine, know these artsAre lies:Half-masticated fairytales Disgorged From trusting

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-25084542477158524292008-04-04T22:33:00.002+08:002009-04-19T00:32:07.760+08:00

A spectacular wireworking disaster with an attempted sculptural pendant last week left me with a pewter bowlful of twisted wires and unfinished frames after three hours of total disgust and non-productivity. Last night, being a masochist, I fished one of the mangled frames out, bent things around a bit, and decided it just might be workable. Until I mucked up the wire-wrapping. So I took it to

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-38358945458705604662008-03-31T04:50:00.003+08:002009-04-19T00:35:29.759+08:00

Since last weekend, I have been the proud owner of a mostly-recovered, non-Photoshopped spine, and a beautiful silver iPod Nano, courtesy of my rockin' brother (the iPod, not the spine. That would be a little freaky.) I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I will once I get around to downloading the new iTunes! Aside of that there have been many shiny pretty objects that I'll get around to

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-79034009371033580442008-03-21T00:31:00.003+08:002009-04-19T00:32:07.761+08:00

I suppose it was inevitable that the Flu Pandemonium would catch up with me. That would be the last two days, and I'm immensely thankful for the institution of Public Holidays so I can rest, after having to take sick leave on Tuesday. For whatever reason, the typical flu muscle aches seem to have settled in my lower back and hips, making it deuced painful to move, sit, stand, or bend. It's been

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-69452603533814750202008-03-13T22:24:00.002+08:002009-04-19T00:32:07.761+08:00

...which result in 3.20am bedtimes for young women who obviously don't know the value of the perfection that is sleep.To be fair, it was my intention to go to bed somewhat early. It was a perfectly good intention. It's also what the road to hell is paved with, so I've just added a new cobblestone to the already wide and bumpy path.But I got caught up in the Coiled Earrings Tutorial, by the

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-37017993873696332022008-03-10T11:48:00.002+08:002008-03-10T11:58:11.835+08:00

References to Sylvia Plath not withstanding, this past week has been absolute madness, necessitating the burial of my head within the bell jar of work and an ostrich-like tendency to stare fixedly at anyone embarking on a different topic of conversation that does not involve 'Hong Kong' or 'Children's Choir'. I should emerge this week with (most of) my sanity (somewhat) intact, and get back to

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-14931414652659261852008-03-01T21:50:00.002+08:002009-04-19T00:32:07.761+08:00

An epiphany occured this afternoon after two hours of costing trips for the Children's Choir sent me flying to take a break, in the form of photographing the jewellery pieces I've been working on for the past two weeks. Namely: I have a tripod. Yes, I have a desk tripod. It came with my camera some three years ago. It's also been sitting in my clothes cupboard for the last three years because I

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-39146858387121670112008-02-26T17:23:00.003+08:002009-04-19T00:35:29.759+08:00

Stress must be good for me. Well, let me rephrase that. CERTAIN levels of stress that don't reach the state of my previous job must be somewhat good for me. Over the last few days, work has been just a touch busy; the result is that I find myself wanting to draw or create more shiny wire things even if I have to push myself to do it. I haven't done any jewellery since the weekend; it feels weird,

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-90987551988147723622008-02-21T02:47:00.004+08:002009-04-19T00:39:48.454+08:00

One of my favourite people in the whole wide world happens to be a furstack. It's a bit complicated to explain, but suffice to say that a role-playing game involving large furry felinoids who shed, and punky, demons-fear-to-anger chicks produced an in-joke whereby the player of the felinoid was promptly dubbed 'Furstack' and has remained so for the past eight years. (I sent him fur in Kosovo,

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-56472832297765251182008-02-18T01:27:00.003+08:002009-04-19T00:37:08.987+08:00

People watch movies to have fun. People watch movies to relax. I apparently watch movies to sketch. I finally caught Sweeney Todd on the last day of its showing, and all I have to say is: Theatre graduate + beautifully costumed and made up film + Sondheim = Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. No more comments necessary, hein? So of course I had to sketch it. The

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-2344531563104884382008-02-09T20:58:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:37:08.988+08:00

There's a tradition, at least among some of my choir friends and I, that it doesn't matter what date Chinese New Year falls on. The weather? Will be HOT. Scorching, unadulterated, completely and unbearably hot, even if it was raining cats, dogs, and frogs just the week before. Nothing this year has disproved the trend yet. As a result, I fled my furnace of a room for downstairs, and the

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-91404101245313322462008-02-08T01:57:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:37:08.988+08:00

Every family here in Malaysia has different traditions for celebrating Chinese New Year. In mine, we give my mother's plants haircuts.This requires just a wee bit of explanation so it doesn't sound quite so odd. My mother loves plants. More to the point, plants love her. Think of a benevolent Poison Ivy, and you have an idea of how our garden looks like, and how plants behave around Mom. Got

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-29651856219368599392008-02-06T02:28:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:44:14.528+08:00

on a good night they say sometimes sixty meteors fallan invisible one streakedpast my windowsank into the darkwithout a soundcould have been your heart breakingcould have been minebut minewould echo like an hollow tin boxheavy with melted dreamsmaybe i heard though it fell so quietlyi never knew it had goneelephants have graveyardsmemories do tooor so they sayi wonder where falling starsgo to die

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-70329774392941042302008-01-31T22:30:00.001+08:002009-04-19T00:32:45.716+08:00

My camera was, for a while, held captive by Another Party - actually, my father wanted to borrow it for something, which deprived me of its presence and the ability to take photographs (however bad) of the jewellery obsessions that have consumed me for the last month or so.Given the photographs came out -really bad-, I somehow think perhaps the camera should have -stayed- with my father....Anyhow

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-72639239605311746152008-01-31T02:04:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:52:46.600+08:00

In my case at least, that's the truest statement of the month. A short summary of all the madness that's happened in between would read:Found a store to get gorgeous, unique glass beads; bought more wire and got addicted to wirework as well as chainmaille; started sketching again; sang original songs for friends' album launch and murdered songs with nerves; may be recording demo song or two in

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-68494823501592539602008-01-12T04:48:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:32:45.716+08:00

1) Swear you'll get to bed at a decent hour, because sleep is important.2) Find a pattern for chain maille that looks so easy, an evening could see it done.3) Resist.4) RESIST! YOU SHALL NOT BE MOVED, nay, not even budged from your resolve! A pillar of stone, you are, to temptation!5) You steadfastly put away your tools, only to pick up an o-ring here, a jump-ring there, and the flower chain is

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-70560725984501350102008-01-11T03:43:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:32:45.716+08:00

People get addicted to cocaine, alcohol, video games, and reality TV shows, among other things.I, on the other hand, get addicted to making jewellery. (Well, and books and art but that's another story...)And this just after one class today for proper wirework techniques. Cue the Doom Song from Invader Zim here. I came home from music rehearsals having made two bracelets at class, and proceeded

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-41283513477534886002008-01-04T03:17:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:37:08.988+08:00

...it mucks up your sleep.As in, it's 3.20am, and I'm still up. Why? Because the Sketching Itch is worse than the infamous Seven Year Itch, and it demands Immediate Attention. It also is the perfect way to ruin an even more perfect little sketch, but more on that later.And more on the really mad day that transpired too, only later as well. I don't know why this kept insisting it wanted to be

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-75309256535784992612008-01-03T00:20:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:37:08.988+08:00

Ring them bells St. CatherineFrom the top of the room,Ring them from the fortressFor the lilies that bloomOh the lines are longAnd the fighting is strongAnd they're breaking down the distanceBetween right and wrong...I could never remember any other verse to this song when I was younger (Bob Dylan, and I heard it covered by First Call eons ago). Ring them bells St. Catherine - maybe it was just

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-58473046951125723122007-12-08T00:32:00.001+08:002009-04-19T00:37:08.989+08:00

Sometimes, epiphany takes getting whacked on the head with the clue stick and the absolute obvious. Normally, this happens in the shower. At least, for me. The only answer I have for why this is so, is that my muse, Poggy the Green Hamster, lurks in the darkest recesses of my bathroom. Given there aren't any darkest recesses in my bathroom bar the cistern and the sink, the how remains an

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-64062976624481246262007-11-22T23:50:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:39:48.454+08:00

First, the news everyone's been asking about:WE WON A SILVER! WE WON A SILVER!The category that we were in, the Asian Open, has no medals - they just have diplomas, and there are 10 categories to each diploma. So we had a Silver V, which, considering we have been practicing for just 17 sessions for this (just over a month after our production ended), is good enough for us at this point!One of

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-92205146610054413792007-11-04T13:52:00.000+08:002007-11-04T13:55:47.426+08:00

And I'm gone for the Asian Choir Games from 4th - 11th November, and thus netless!See y'all in a week! And hopefully with good news...

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-75947614243393468372007-10-21T03:36:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:39:48.455+08:00

The problem with only having time to work on costume plots at night is that night goes into the early hours of the morning far too quickly for peace of mind.Ergo, currently. It's 3.30am, I'm supposed to be up for a full day at about 8am, and my brain refuses to shut down because I started work on the costume plots for the Christmas play at about 12 midnight. I'd have done them earlier but I

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-31899807409977694512007-10-19T00:57:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:37:08.989+08:00

Taking the bus to get home from the city is like putting a goldfish out in the middle of the Autobahn and telling it to stay alive - and avoid getting run over. I have to take 2 buses to get home from work: I change off at one small, rickety-looking bus stop right smack at the side of a hellacious highway crossing and board the next sardine can to hell --I mean, highway to --well. You get the

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-21253307315041067382007-09-20T23:28:00.000+08:002007-09-20T23:43:43.690+08:00

Meet Miss Fleur, everyone. Doesn't she look sweet? Such a lovely shade of in-vogue shocking pink too - Elsa Schiaparelli apparently made that the in-colour in the 1930s! I spent a bit of time putting her outfit together for her lovely escort, who's taking her to his film noir themed university ball tomorrow evening. I'll admit it's the first time I've ever put together a coordinated anything

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-22776852808915807942007-08-30T00:21:00.000+08:002007-08-30T00:24:35.611+08:00

I QUIT! I QUIT!Oh. My. GOODNESS. It feels so wonderful...More updates and news later but in the meantime: FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! THANK GOD I'M FREE AT LAST!And just for memory's sake, here's some last moments in the operation room a week ago, trying not to freeze to death in there, and all I had was a ball point pen:My boss doing an open case. He moved too fast for me to finish it so it's

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-54532329162818852532007-07-17T00:46:00.000+08:002007-07-17T00:59:54.634+08:00

Somehow, Mr. Murphy of Murphy's Law fame always finds me just when I think life will be a -bit- more settled...One of the things he sent along last week was a blackout that lasted about an hour in weather that could easily steam wrinkles out a shirt, humidity-wise. Not that the heat was far behind either.So I decided to be productive, as I've been artistically -barren- for a few weeks and that

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-56764793895142988152007-06-24T02:44:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:39:48.455+08:00

...we've gotta trail to blaze. Or so go the words to Steven Curtis Chapman's 'Great Adventure' but at any rate, I've been saddling up for a great many things happening, hence the abrupt absence. Many apologies! Didn't mean to worry people...Summary of events as follows: Choir rehearsals, chamber choir rehearsals, concert rehearsals and rehearsals and rehearsals and food poisoning and

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-79939948356354690882007-05-10T23:58:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:39:48.455+08:00

...is one that absolutely -refuses- to allow you to go to sleep until you've sketched that tantalizingly fascinating pose on the PoseMania site, and done a chibi (super deformed Japanese overly cute style of drawing) caricature of Whisper in the Deep Shadows.And it's 4am on a workday.I really, really shouldn't encourage my mind to do that but over the years I've gotten accustomed, to paraphrase

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-59396212826012766652007-05-07T01:48:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:39:48.455+08:00

...and that's A Very Happy Birthday in Commonspeak for the rest of everyone!Happy birthday to my brother! He's spunky, talented, a -kick-ass- drummer and audio engineer/producer, good-looking, and one of the people I admire most in the whole wide world. Have a great day, bro --about time you had something -good- happen to you and I am SO GLAD you got that Tama Masai!Love,Sis, with a promise of

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-14494406351443105772007-05-02T19:48:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:37:08.989+08:00

How in the world can a choke hold be so difficult to draw? More specifically, when the person -giving- the choke hold is a few inches shorter than the intended victim - every picture reference I've Googled around for generally has the choke hold giver as -taller- than the poor chap they're trying to suffocate.Times like this, I'm convinced I really, really don't know how to draw and should go for

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-45782622773012809482007-05-02T12:50:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:42:57.371+08:00

And she emerges from the buried depths of the slough of days and stress. With a mallet of doom. And a shield called 'ALL STRESS MUST DIE!' and a sword named 'GO AWAY IF YOU DON'T NEED IT NOW'...It -has- been a horribly stressy and busy month, with work taking up the biggest chunk of it, and choir and chamber choir coming in a close second - but those are RELAXING busy chunks of it. Our first

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-46821286387229491532007-03-22T22:57:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:42:57.371+08:00

So.I started singing lessons two weeks ago, after convincing myself it was worth the Friday evening traffic jam and hyperventilating over sounding like a fool in front of the teacher.It didn't go quite that badly of course, but she did have to teach me how to breathe properly - this being one of the main reasons I decided to take lessons in the first place. The first twenty minutes were a whole

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-8972946144816678312007-03-09T01:39:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:42:57.372+08:00

My brother, bless him, dug through an old hard drive in disrepair and sent me this:That's Nikki, taken in 2004. His favourite pose - flattening out like a little roast suckling pig, because the concrete was cooler than the weather. He used to get so dirty if the ground was damp, it drove my aunt (his rightful owners were my aunt and uncle next door) crazy.I miss him. I think I will for a while

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-34118698076041843582007-03-07T21:10:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:42:57.372+08:00

To everyone who sent their condolences on Nikki's passing, it helped more than you could ever imagine, all the thoughts and the kindness. Thank you so much.I don't know whether anyone else in my area saw it, but Monday evening, I saw a full rainbow in the sky out the taxi window - and it stayed either alongside or up ahead in the big dark expanse of rainclouds the entire way to my choir

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-1068693611820730722007-03-07T02:22:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:42:57.372+08:00

R. I. P.Nikki1994 - March 5th, 2007Golden labrador retriever, companion, family, and friendYou'll be missed, Dawg.You were so much part of the family, I can't imagine it without you now.No more pain though. I miss you already.Wish I had taken time to draw you for real, because the memory sketch doesn't do justice to just how special you were to us all.

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-13999270456826791242007-03-02T21:55:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:42:57.373+08:00

And she resurfaces, like a whale...Yes, oops, a month went by and I haven't posted anything, mostly due to life happening and just a general malaise that's been hard to shake. Chinese New Year just went by, and it was good and vacation filled, and...I think I've calmed sufficiently to be able to write with impunity once more. So! I was tagged, about a month ago, by the lovely Constance as

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-1169832402754204832007-01-26T22:49:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:42:57.373+08:00

My friend Marcos posted these wonderful pieces and the black-and-white abstract apparently has a story to it. I looked at it again today, and this little short vignette floated to mind.So Marcos? This is for your abstract piece, inspired by the lovely lines!Once Upon a SpringtimeIt wasn't that he liked being the Grim Reaper. Times changed, even fashions changed and if his current attire looked

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6161549.post-1169313438070597572007-01-21T00:25:00.000+08:002009-04-19T00:42:57.373+08:00

It's past midnight, I've just gotten back from the most wonderful performance by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Australian group The Song Company, and I consider it still the 20th, since I'd intended to put this up yesterday and not managed to. Artistic liberties and such, you know?Today is the second anniversary of my grandmother's passing.It's also my birthday.It was a long ride

Shukuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258042395311417934noreply@blogger.com3