Business and social online platforms

Being mid-forties starting an online handmade craft business in this digital era is quite a challenge, albeit an exciting one. It is also quite tiring! Especially if you are a paokaliao one-man show ie. design, brainstorm, make, amend, improve, take LOTS of good photos, take videos, list on Etsy, list on Shopee, list on Lazada, upload on Facebook page, upload on Instagram, upload on TikTok, blog, promote, promote AAAAAAND promote.

*catch breath*

So. Many. Platforms to keep track of.

Seriously, to learn all these, I have to delete 7 years of childhood memories to make space for new information storage. I'm now a screwed up adult. Heh.

Where was I? Oh yes, social media platforms, that have conveniently become business platforms too. I just created an account on TikTok and making videos last week, showcasing my handmade goodies for the first time. All the while, it has been photos only. Clean white background and my trusty digital SLR camera. With videos, a good tripod and smartphone is all you need. It takes me on average 5-10 minutes to record some satisfactory videos.... BUUUUUUT, 30 minutes to choose the song! HAH! 

And then after uploading, I'm back at the main feed, I got hooked on the endless scrolling of funny POVs, funny cats, funny kids FOR 3 HOURS!

So addictive this TikTok. Very bad.

Oh, after uploading on TikTok, it will automatically direct me to Instagram to upload as well. ANOTHER 3 HOURS of scrolling through funny POVs, funny kids, funny cats, funny animals, amazing destinations, touching stories. 3 hours of laughing and crying.

I'm so tired.

Anyway, here are some new creations I made.

Casual handbags with key hook inside.

 

Decorative concrete oval trinket trays.

Elegant pretty cards with pocket sleeve inside to hold vouchers or cash note gifts.

All these are available on:

Shopee

Lazada

Painted Planter Pots

I must be very free and crazy to paint 12 little terracotta pots! My painting mojo just hit me and this was sometime in February. I gathered these mini pots from Daiso, my favourite Martha Stewart Acrylic Paints, some brushes, and lots of design ideas brainstorming along the way. This project was more of a fun try-out. 

Materials. Important tip for brush, use soft nylon flat type for acrylic painting, it gives a smoother finish. Another good alternative is sponge brush.

First coating always look uneven because terracotta clay is porous and absorbs water and water-based paints.

It will take a few coating to finally look like this, at least 3.

After painting the base colour on the pots, it was time to create different designs. Here are some of the methods I used.

I created a scalloped pattern using masking tape cut with scallop scissors.

These patterns were drawn using permanent marker pens.

I also painted a terrazzo pattern and this was surprisingly easy because the shapes, size and positions are so random that it's OK even if you made a mistake. The only hard part is choosing the colours.

So fun. The next step is to add wording/name on the plain ones. 

Some styling shots.

Other than flower pots, I think it'd be cool to make them as candle vessels. So I bought some soy wax, wicks and fragrance, all excited to make candles for the first time. I'm a bit nervous about this one because I have never done any crafts that involves boiling / heating yet. I guess this will be another post, so stay tuned!

How To Sew Mitered Corner Hem - Tutorial

Mitered corners are when two edges meet at a 45 degree, creating a 90 degree corner. There are a few ways to sew a mitered corner hem and I've tried the simplest most 'shortcut' way which basically is estimate, fold and sew along as you see. Risky and not very neat. 

I've searched for the proper and professional way on youtube and all of them involved drawing a lot of lines, and ironing. I am not a fan of drawing a lot of lines, also ironing if it's not necessary. 

So I came up with my own modified version. And because drawing lots of lines is a hassle to me, I used my good ol' distance/width judgement with consistency. If you prefer drawing lines to be more confident, feel free and go ahead.

Prepare your fabric, tweezer to turn the corner inside out efficiently, fabric pen and ruler.

Start a first fold on one side. 

Then fold the next side.

Hold the folded sides down and pinch the corner.

Fingers still on the fabric, slide it to the table edge, in half.

From the edge of the table, bring the two sides together, still pinching the same spot.

Put the folded corner down on the table, place a ruler in a way where it's 90 degree from the folded side, and draw a line which is the yellow dashed line on the picture.

Sew along the line.

Do all 4 corners.

Cut off most of the corner, a distance from the sewn line.

Also, snip off the sharp stray corners on each sides.

Now when you open up the corner, and flatten the inner part, it looks like this.

Then turn the corner inside out

Almost there.

To finish up, do the second fold or fold over to make the complete hem starting at one one side first. Start sewing the hem.

Press on the next hem side when you reach the end of the previous hem, at the corner. Continue sewing the new side.

The underside of the mitered corner hem looks like this.

All corners done!

Neat and nice!

If you're wondering why I made this small piece, it's an inner pocket for a tote bag.

More bags coming!

Starting a new life

While many working folks cleared their leaves at the end of 2021 and have begun their Monday Blues at the start of 2022, I have started my indefinite leave days. Gosh it feels so carefree.

I'm into my second week of 'leave' and there is no "Ohh, time flies, my leave will end soon and I will be back to the daily grind for the rest of the year again". I have never felt this pure joy. The days belong to me now. How liberating is that!

Though I manage to steal shake-leg moments in between house chores, I'm starting to appreciate and enjoy the peaceful moments at home, and not working-from-home. I usually leave the TV on, Channel News Asia on default, but recently, I'd leave it off and just lounge on the couch, looking out the house. I was totally immersed in the sight and sounds of my home ie. the huge mango tree rustling in the cool breeze and the moving shadows on my garden. I could just sit there and be in the moment. Now I know what is luxury.

I am also enjoying my clean space! Ahh, all the spring cleaning hardwork paid off. It's great way to start my creative projects. And this space will be in a mess again, heh.

Prayers do get answered...

First week of freedom

 And here I am, at my first week of freedom. I'm no longer bound to a corporation, a company, a team or a boss. No more work emails, weekly meetings, night meetings and performance reviews. It's a strange, surreal and thrilling transition. 

People normally resign to join another company to gain more, to develop their career further and reuse their skills and experience. 

I resigned, period. I'm not going anywhere, period. I have no plans, period. I pulled the handbrakes and switched off the engine. To some, this is unthinkable, but to me, at this moment, is the sweetest taste of midlife second chance.

Am I about to mess up my life? Hell yeah, and it's going to be a BEAUTIFUL mess. Heh.

So what happened this week? Monday 3 Jan 2022 was my last day as a 'Scientist'. Since I was not on site, a courier arrangement was made to return my company laptop and other assets while they clear and pack my personal items at the Singapore lab office to ship to me. During my last video call with my boss, bless him, he showed me my personal items that was at my workstation, one by one to ask if I would want them back. One by one. Umbrella la, bags la, face cream la, food container la, even 15 cents coins. Quite an unforgettable clearance meeting, hahah. While still bound to my laptop for farewell emails and replies, and any last minute clearance procedure, I waited with bated breath till end of the day. And then I shut it down, unplugged everything and packed it up. This is it!

Did I lie down and shake legs after that? NO! I was on the move NON-STOP. Cook, wash, clean, throw stuff, declutter, reorganise. On. Repeat. I spring cleaned a lot, and it felt SOOOO good. But I'm SOOO tired. Gosh, I feel like I'm on a rainbow now.

My prayers were heard...