Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Blog Feature Giveaway
I was featured at Nature Manipulated's blog a few weeks ago. In that feature there was a give away of one custom item from my ArtFire studio. A week after the feature a wonderful and familiar studio was chosen to be the deserving giveaway winner, Andrea Designs on ArtFire.
Andrea Designs is an interesting ArtFire studio with wonderful handmade knits and baby cloths. However studio owner Andrea envisions that the variety of items in her studio will increase and has chosen to get a custom business card design that would communicate this, while keeping the studio's identity, as her giveaway prize.
Andrea was such a wonderful person, she printed out the cards and sent me a photo of them. This is the first time I have received photos of designs I've made and it is a wonderful experience. Thank you Andrea!
Here is Andrea's blog - Andrea W Designs Blog
Andrea Designs is an interesting ArtFire studio with wonderful handmade knits and baby cloths. However studio owner Andrea envisions that the variety of items in her studio will increase and has chosen to get a custom business card design that would communicate this, while keeping the studio's identity, as her giveaway prize.
Andrea was such a wonderful person, she printed out the cards and sent me a photo of them. This is the first time I have received photos of designs I've made and it is a wonderful experience. Thank you Andrea!Here is Andrea's blog - Andrea W Designs Blog
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday Feature - Boutique-A-Holic by Nevita
Boutique-A-Holic by Nevita - is where you can find handknit scarves and baby clothing as well has beautiful, intricate Gobelin tapestry. Shop owner Nevita learned her skills from her grandmother when spending time with her grandparents during school holidays. It became a hobby and later her passion.Next Feature
If you like to be the next feature, please visit the featured studios and comment below. Please include your studio or shop link in the comment so I can be sure which one you want featured.
Please note:
By commenting on a feature post you are registering for a chance to be featured next.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use images from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use information about your items and yourself from your studio or shop for the feature post only
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Versatile Necklace IN THE MAKING
If you've seen my work in progress pictures, this was what I was making. It is a versatile necklace, worn 5 ways as a necklace and 2 ways as an adjustable bracelet (17/20cm).
It still needs some fine tuning to ensure safety when wearing and needs to be photographed. Here are some photos of the necklace in action.
Standard lenght
Four other ways to wear it.
It still needs some fine tuning to ensure safety when wearing and needs to be photographed. Here are some photos of the necklace in action.
Standard lenght
Four other ways to wear it.
Monday, January 25, 2010
January Custom Banner Giveaway
Every month I will be giving away one custom banner to one ArtFire studio. The lucky ArtFire studio will be chosen from this Chatterbox Forum Thread.
January - Noveena Artisan Studio
Here's the banner I made fore this studio -
Clicking the image above will take you to Noveena where you can see the banner clearer.
Here are some beautiful pieces from the studio -
January - Noveena Artisan Studio
Here's the banner I made fore this studio -
Clicking the image above will take you to Noveena where you can see the banner clearer.
Here are some beautiful pieces from the studio -
Sunday, January 24, 2010
WIP - Work In Progress
I have 2 on going project at the moment. First is a necklace/chocker/bracelet and the other is a Chinese styled lamb shank stew. It is my first time making them both! So pray for me!
Lamb shanks is in the pot for 2hours now and needs another 1 hr.
3 - 4 more links and I am done. After some fine tuning and testing, this little piece is ready for some photos!
Lamb shanks is in the pot for 2hours now and needs another 1 hr.
3 - 4 more links and I am done. After some fine tuning and testing, this little piece is ready for some photos!
A Cleaner, Clearer Look
I am giving my blog an overhaul too. I find that the previous look was very cluttered and as I keep adding widgets on the sides it gets more and more stuffed with things and colour.
It's time for a clean up, so my thoughts, writings and ideas could flow through a whole lot easier. De-clutter, make way for the sunshine!
It's time for a clean up, so my thoughts, writings and ideas could flow through a whole lot easier. De-clutter, make way for the sunshine!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
My First Ever Treasury!
I got a wonderful news this morning, I was featured in a treasury! And it is such a beautiful treasury of grays, I love grays so this is really nice!
Grey's Anatomy by CowlickCutie
The featured earring -Marbled Grey Round Dangling Earrings
The marbled bead was hand made by me. The earring has a matching bracelet in my Etsy shop. I have a few more oval ones, which I think I will be making another bracelet soon.
Grey's Anatomy by CowlickCutie
The featured earring -Marbled Grey Round Dangling EarringsThe marbled bead was hand made by me. The earring has a matching bracelet in my Etsy shop. I have a few more oval ones, which I think I will be making another bracelet soon.Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday Feature - CozyLittleCave
CozyLittleCave - where you'll find original oil and acrylic paintings to help you make your own little cave just a bit cozier. Shop owner Tess has a background in architecture, painting, design, animation, dance, and art education. After perusing her options, she came to terms with her passion for painting and expressing the beauty of the world around her.Next Feature
If you like to be the next feature, please visit the featured studios and comment below. Include your studio or shop link in the comment to be eligible.
I will be changing the format a little to make posting quicker.
Please note:
By commenting on a feature post you are registering for a chance to be featured next.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use images from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use information about your items and yourself from your studio or shop for the feature post only
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
RedRubyonFire on Etsy Major Overhaul
My Etsy shop - RedRubyonFire - has undergone a major change! I've decided to list some of my hobby pieces and have been making more over the last few days. Here are some.My style is a little medieval/renaissance but simple not to be to over the top. It's like a medieval meets minimalist look.
I am in the process of looking for more findings and beads. Once my shop picks up you will see slightly bolder pieces. I am hoping that it will be soon!
Please drop by and let me know what you think! Thank you!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Thursday Feature - Creative Critters
Creative Critters is a very unique studio on ArtFire! It is a studio that takes you away to a fantasy world of fairies and mythical animals. It is filled with intricate polymer clay sculptures that are so interesting and detailed. It also has handmade dolls and plushies.Featured Top to Bottom -
Miniature Manor House Sculpture - $87.00
Lighted Glow in The Dark Pumpkin House Sculpture - $99.00
Kacey a Lovable Cloth Doll - $35.00
Gnome Pen Fantasy Sculpture - $33.00
Next Feature
If you like to be the next feature, please visit the featured studios and comment below. Include your studio or shop link in the comment to be eligible.
Please note:
By commenting on a feature post you are registering for a chance to be featured next.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use images from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use information about your items and yourself from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Ooooh I've been featured!
This is the first time I've been featured, so it is quite exciting for me!
Get your chance to win a custom design from my shop, here is the link! Nature Manipulated - Blog
Get your chance to win a custom design from my shop, here is the link! Nature Manipulated - Blog
Monday, January 11, 2010
Recipe - Chicken Rice for the Soul
This is a typical Malaysian styled Chicken Rice Recipe. Some call it Hainanese Chicken rice and some call it Ipoh style Chicken Rice. Either way, I think this recipe is a little bit of both and ends up being how I like it.
Chicken Rice is a quick and complete meal. It has many ways you could modify it to suit the taste and preference for you and your family. This recipe is just the basic and I will share some options at the end. This recipe might seem long, but I have written it out as detailed as possible to benefit the less experienced cooks.
Usually it is a 3 to 4 part meal, consisting of the chicken dish, rice, soup, chilli sauce and an optional accompanying vegetable dish. Sounds like a whole day of cooking? Not really, actually if planned well you will not spend more than 30-40 mins straight in the kitchen! However I would suggest you read the entire recipe before starting on it!
Ingredients:
1) One whole medium sized chicken (please go for free range)
2) 2 cups of Thai fragrant rice
3) 3-4 large slices of ginger
4) One large white onion
5) A bunch (5-6 large stalks) of spring onions or shallots
6) 2-3 cloves of garlic
7) Small Lebanese cucumber
8) Coriander for garnishing
9) Soy sauce, Sesame oil, Salt and white pepper to taste
Chilli sauce
1) 2 large Chillies (Asian large chillies)
2) Fresh ginger the size of the nail of your thumb
3) 2 small cloves garlic
4) Soy sauce
5) White vinegar
6) Brown sugar
This recipe will serve 4 medium size eaters or 2 large eaters!
Here is how to:
The Chicken Dish
I will start with this as it might be the most daunting part of the whole meal. But trust me, once you go through this recipe, you will find that it is a walk in the park!
1) Start with getting 1.5 liters of water to boil
2) Cut your spring onions to seperate the bulb part and the leave/green part. To do this grab the bunch with the bulb right at the bottom of your palm and cut at the top of your palm. Add the bulb (white) part into the water. Keep the green part for later.
3) Roughly cut up your white onion and add to the water together with 2 ginger slices.
4) Add about 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce to the water. Taste before you add the chicken, and add more if needed.
5) When the water is boiling rapidly, carefully place in the whole chicken into the pot.
Now you have 2 option to continue cooking -
a) Busy Woman option
1) After adding the chicken wait until the water starts boiling again.
2) 5 mins after the water starts boiling, cover the pot and turn off the heat completely. You don't have to move the pot to a cool heating plate, just leave it alone.
3) Go to work, finish what ever you are doing. Come back around 6-7 hours and your Chicken is cook right through!
b) I've got time, it's the weekend option
1) After adding the chicken wait until the water starts boiling again.
2) 5 mins after the water starts boiling, cover the pot and turn the heat down to low. Leave the pot for 20 mins and turn off completely.
3) During this time you could move on to the other parts of the dish.
The Chili Sauce
While you are waiting for the chicken to cook, you could prepare the chili sauce. This chili sauce is a particular one we have with Chicken Rice and is different from dipping chili sauce.
1) Add all the ingredients in to a blender together with half a cup of water and blend. That's it!
2) If you do not like it too spicy, try reducing the amount of chilies or remove the inner parts of the chili.
3) Wear gloves when working with chili, this could help avoid any accidents!
The Rice
The rice for this dish is not plain white rice, but rice that is soft and delicious you would not mind eating it on it's own.
(Please start this only when you have completed 'The Chicken Dish' part, to ensure that the soup is full flavored)
1) I make my rice following 1 part rice to 1.5 part water. If you like it other way, please modify the recipe. So for 2 cups of rice I will use 3 cups of soup from the chicken. Yes, you know the water you use to boil your chicken in? That's it.
2) Put the soup in a pot and turn on the heat to get it boiling
3) Heat up a frying pan to medium heat and start sauteing the chopped garlic with some vegetable oil.
4) Before the garlic browns, add in the rice. If you washed the rice, make sure it was drained well before pouring it in!
5) Countinue stirring the rice in the pan for around 3-4 minutes, then pour the content of the whole pan, into the boiling soup. Please be careful when doing this part!
6) Do not stir the mix in the pot. Just leave it to come to a boil, then turn down the heat.
7) When the rice has fully absorb all of the soup, turn the heat off and stand.
The part about sauteing the rice with the garlic was a little Chicken Rice secret shared with me by a wonderful cook of a friend. Even she doesn't know exactly why, but this was handed down to her by her mother. I have tried to cook the rice without this part and it just did not work out as well. So this part is important!
Plating and Presenting
There are several ways you could plate up this dish. Either an individual dish or the Chicken in the middle to share. Up to you!
Plating the Chicken
1) Cut up the chicken to pieces, depending on your preference. Either to quaters, 8 or 16 parts.
2) Place it on a large plate.
3) In a small bowl add 2 table spoons of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. Add in one large ladle of soup. Pour this mixture all over the chicken.
4) Garnish with Coriander and sliced up spring onions.
5) Place slices of cucumber around the plate.
6) Serve the soup on the side.
Your Chicken Dish is ready to serve!
Options and Preferences
If you don't like poached chicken, I know some who don't, what you can do is bake the chicken in high heat after they are cooked. Do this after cutting the chicken up to 4 parts, then bask the skin a little with some oil and put it in a hot hot oven so the skin crisps up without drying out the meat.
Chicken Rice is a quick and complete meal. It has many ways you could modify it to suit the taste and preference for you and your family. This recipe is just the basic and I will share some options at the end. This recipe might seem long, but I have written it out as detailed as possible to benefit the less experienced cooks.
Usually it is a 3 to 4 part meal, consisting of the chicken dish, rice, soup, chilli sauce and an optional accompanying vegetable dish. Sounds like a whole day of cooking? Not really, actually if planned well you will not spend more than 30-40 mins straight in the kitchen! However I would suggest you read the entire recipe before starting on it!
Ingredients:
1) One whole medium sized chicken (please go for free range)
2) 2 cups of Thai fragrant rice
3) 3-4 large slices of ginger
4) One large white onion
5) A bunch (5-6 large stalks) of spring onions or shallots
6) 2-3 cloves of garlic
7) Small Lebanese cucumber
8) Coriander for garnishing
9) Soy sauce, Sesame oil, Salt and white pepper to taste
Chilli sauce
1) 2 large Chillies (Asian large chillies)
2) Fresh ginger the size of the nail of your thumb
3) 2 small cloves garlic
4) Soy sauce
5) White vinegar
6) Brown sugar
This recipe will serve 4 medium size eaters or 2 large eaters!
Here is how to:
The Chicken DishI will start with this as it might be the most daunting part of the whole meal. But trust me, once you go through this recipe, you will find that it is a walk in the park!
1) Start with getting 1.5 liters of water to boil
2) Cut your spring onions to seperate the bulb part and the leave/green part. To do this grab the bunch with the bulb right at the bottom of your palm and cut at the top of your palm. Add the bulb (white) part into the water. Keep the green part for later.
3) Roughly cut up your white onion and add to the water together with 2 ginger slices.
4) Add about 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce to the water. Taste before you add the chicken, and add more if needed.
5) When the water is boiling rapidly, carefully place in the whole chicken into the pot.
Now you have 2 option to continue cooking -
a) Busy Woman option
1) After adding the chicken wait until the water starts boiling again.
2) 5 mins after the water starts boiling, cover the pot and turn off the heat completely. You don't have to move the pot to a cool heating plate, just leave it alone.
3) Go to work, finish what ever you are doing. Come back around 6-7 hours and your Chicken is cook right through!
b) I've got time, it's the weekend option
1) After adding the chicken wait until the water starts boiling again.
2) 5 mins after the water starts boiling, cover the pot and turn the heat down to low. Leave the pot for 20 mins and turn off completely.
3) During this time you could move on to the other parts of the dish.
The Chili Sauce
While you are waiting for the chicken to cook, you could prepare the chili sauce. This chili sauce is a particular one we have with Chicken Rice and is different from dipping chili sauce.
1) Add all the ingredients in to a blender together with half a cup of water and blend. That's it!
2) If you do not like it too spicy, try reducing the amount of chilies or remove the inner parts of the chili.
3) Wear gloves when working with chili, this could help avoid any accidents!
The Rice
The rice for this dish is not plain white rice, but rice that is soft and delicious you would not mind eating it on it's own.
(Please start this only when you have completed 'The Chicken Dish' part, to ensure that the soup is full flavored)
1) I make my rice following 1 part rice to 1.5 part water. If you like it other way, please modify the recipe. So for 2 cups of rice I will use 3 cups of soup from the chicken. Yes, you know the water you use to boil your chicken in? That's it.
2) Put the soup in a pot and turn on the heat to get it boiling
3) Heat up a frying pan to medium heat and start sauteing the chopped garlic with some vegetable oil.
4) Before the garlic browns, add in the rice. If you washed the rice, make sure it was drained well before pouring it in!
5) Countinue stirring the rice in the pan for around 3-4 minutes, then pour the content of the whole pan, into the boiling soup. Please be careful when doing this part!
6) Do not stir the mix in the pot. Just leave it to come to a boil, then turn down the heat.
7) When the rice has fully absorb all of the soup, turn the heat off and stand.
The part about sauteing the rice with the garlic was a little Chicken Rice secret shared with me by a wonderful cook of a friend. Even she doesn't know exactly why, but this was handed down to her by her mother. I have tried to cook the rice without this part and it just did not work out as well. So this part is important!
Plating and Presenting
There are several ways you could plate up this dish. Either an individual dish or the Chicken in the middle to share. Up to you!
Plating the Chicken
1) Cut up the chicken to pieces, depending on your preference. Either to quaters, 8 or 16 parts.
2) Place it on a large plate.
3) In a small bowl add 2 table spoons of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. Add in one large ladle of soup. Pour this mixture all over the chicken.
4) Garnish with Coriander and sliced up spring onions.
5) Place slices of cucumber around the plate.
6) Serve the soup on the side.
Your Chicken Dish is ready to serve!Options and Preferences
If you don't like poached chicken, I know some who don't, what you can do is bake the chicken in high heat after they are cooked. Do this after cutting the chicken up to 4 parts, then bask the skin a little with some oil and put it in a hot hot oven so the skin crisps up without drying out the meat.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday Feature - Ellesbeads & Valmade
Since this is the first feature, I will do a double feature!
Elle's Beads (Raleigh, NC)
Featured L to R
Smoky Quartz Dangles - $10.00
For the Love of Purple Earrings - $5.00
Mother of the Sun Earrings - $9.00
Funky Shell Earrings and Necklace Set - $20.00
Elle's Beads Blog
ValMade (Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)
Featured L to R
Big Bird, Little Bird - $12.00
Hand Knitted Baby Booties (Blue) - $10.00
Get Well Card - $3.50
Train Birthday Card (5 yrs old) - $3.50
ValMade's Indie Public
Next Feature
If you like to be the next feature, please visit the featured studios and comment below. Include your studio or shop link in the comment to be eligible.
Please note:
By commenting on a feature post you are registering for a chance to be featured next.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use images from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use information about your items and yourself from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
Elle's Beads (Raleigh, NC)
Featured L to RSmoky Quartz Dangles - $10.00
For the Love of Purple Earrings - $5.00
Mother of the Sun Earrings - $9.00
Funky Shell Earrings and Necklace Set - $20.00
Elle's Beads Blog
ValMade (Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)
Featured L to R
Big Bird, Little Bird - $12.00
Hand Knitted Baby Booties (Blue) - $10.00
Get Well Card - $3.50
Train Birthday Card (5 yrs old) - $3.50
ValMade's Indie Public
Next Feature
If you like to be the next feature, please visit the featured studios and comment below. Include your studio or shop link in the comment to be eligible.
Please note:
By commenting on a feature post you are registering for a chance to be featured next.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use images from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use information about your items and yourself from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
It's Feature Time Again!
It's time to start features again! This time features will be more interactive and requires a little more participation from future features.
This is how it will work.
1) A feature will be up on Thursdays,
2) All interested to be in the next feature, will post a comment about the featured items or studio and include a link to their own studio (Etsy or ArtFire),3) I will use www.random.org to pick a random comment and that will be the next feature,
4) All featured studio will get a cute animated 'I am FEATURED!' badge for their blogs or studios! (this badge will link back to the feature page)
That's it! Who wants to be first?
Please note:
By commenting on a feature post you are registering for a chance to be featured next.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use images from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
You are also agreeing to allow me to use information about your items and yourself from your studio or shop for the feature post only.
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