Photo shoot flowers DIY (1)

Just went to collect the flowers for the DIY project to prepare for tomorrow's shoot. And Mr Flowers Supplier had a little surprise in store for me. He apparently left the stall for a while during the day and came back to find that his baby's breath and forget-me-nots had all been SOLD OFF, by his ultra-efficient stall helpers. So we had to rush around a bit to find replacements. We did anyway, though for I suspect a high price, partly because it's the goddamn Valentine's Day season. Anyhow, we managed to produced the goods:

Pomander

15 stalks of fuschia roses (Mr Supplier did as told and removed the netting one day earlier to allow the roses to bloom fully, and he got me nice big ones from Holland). A big bunch of forget-me-nots (if I hold the bunch with both hands, my fingertips touch) for about $13 from another supplier who probably overcharged me. A 37cm-in-circumference wet floral sponge ball (bought earlier from FarEast Flora). Lilac ribbon. A satay stick and clear tape.

I prepared the sponge by submerging it in water completely for about 5 min to make sure it's thoroughly soaked. Poke a straw through the sponge, without pulling it entirely through. Use a florist wire to tie both ends of a 50cm long ribbon to it, and put the wire through the straw. Draw out the wire and attached ribbon through the straw, then remove the straw completely. Make sure the ribbon does not go through the hole completely. The loop at one end will be the handle and the tails at the other end will be used to secure an anchor at the bottom of the sponge. To make the anchor, cross two 4cm long satay sticks and secure with clear tape until tightly bound. Tie the cross anchor to the sponge with both ends of the ribbon. Trim away the tail-ends if desired, or u can leave them behind like in the photo above. Cut the roses, leaving behind 3cm long stems and poke them through the sponge at random spots leaving some space in between for the forget-me-nots. Trim forget-me-nots to desired length and fill in the gaps.

Sungei road find

Dropped by Sungei road's "Thieves Market" after visiting the temple yesterday. Found this typewriter that is still working and bought it for $18 after some bargaining. All it needs is an ink strip and it will be ready to go! Hubby said he will have lots of fun fiddling with it and restoring the exterior. There is something vaguely therapeutic about pounding hard at those keys and seeing each word being etched out onto the paper,like you really MEAN everything you write(say).

There were also many old old manual cameras lying around, the Yashicas and the like, and even a Singapore-made Rollei which was going for $120. Took some effort to resist making a purchase. But I will be back for more.

Boutonniere

Originally intended as a flower girl basket, I can see this being adapted into a boutonniere for the groom, as long as it's flowers with long stems. Works with the hoop too, although i would drop twirling the ribbon around it. The ribbon weaving at the stem is ingenious. Vintage Glam offers a DIY tutorial.

Salsa Recipe chunky version

Was sending this to Teresa and decided to keep a record here, in case I can no longer remember it in future.

Ingredients

Red and yellow peppers, diced.
big fat ripe tomatoes, diced and drained
garlic chopped
small red onions, chopped
basil, chopped
bay leaves whole
chopped chili padi, (for spicy versions)
olive oil
salt to taste
some rock sugar, if not ordinary white sugar also can.
can also add a small stock cube for stronger flavour.

Steps

1. heat olive oil in saucepan med heat, add garlic and chili (sweat chili longer to reduce spicy-ness). When garlic's colour darkens a bit, add in onions. Leave onions to sweat till soften.
2. Fry the colored peppers till they soften a bit.
3. Add tomatos and bay leaves and basil. Fry a bit more. When the juice start to boil, turn down heat to low. Continue to simmer till juice is reduced to the consistency u like.
4. Add salt to taste. Then some rock sugar to balance the sourness.

Lust

Lubitel 166+

Start saving now ~ HKD3120 with cable release and color flash.

via lomographyasia

Holga!

I ordered a Holga 135, a 35mm film version of the classic Holga 120. Decided to go for the 135 mainly because I don't think I can always unload the 35mm film from a 120 in a completely dark room and if i shoot outdoors, that means I cannot change the roll after finishing the first one without losing all the images. The 135 is more convenient but cannot shoot square photos or produce sprocket effects. It is however cheaper cos 35mm films come in more (like 36) exposures and 120mm in 12 exposures max i think. Also bought a multi-color flash. Can't wait for them to arrive at the end of the month.

Khloe brings them in.

Red candles

Red ball and pillar candles from Ikea. $4.90 each. Think I need 2 balls and 3 pillars for the wedding photo book table. Plus small bunches of roses/forgetmenots, crepe paper with ribbons.

Eyes

After an unusually strong cup of coffee this morning.

via my funny eye

How we say hello

Check out this project by two photographers who live in different cities and have been collaborating to put up one photo each a day based on a pre-agreed theme per week (Mon-Fri only). On Fridays, the theme will be revealed in the comments section. ~ how we say hello

Ribbons Winter 2008

This rounds up 2008.

Theirs

was the marriage

we envied

mandarin ducks at the edge

of an artificial pond

Karen Cesar

*~*

kneeling

in blue Speedwell

we let them go

a school of brilliant flashes

then the dark pond took them

Kristy Karkow

*~*

two heads of garlic

sit in an empty room

his last request in this land of winter

the constant calling of crows

Thelma Mariano

*~*

on the stoop

of a foreclosed home

a cigarette turns to ash

in a moment

it will all collapse

Mark F. Harris

The Tanka Society of America