{d day minus 1}

Busy (practicing), excited (to be on stage again), nervous (as usual), fun (of course!). It's tomorrow!

Today's rehearsal

{sad}

Those who have followed this blog for sometime probably noticed that I relied so much on Domino for decorating ideas, and I’m a big fan of this magazine. So, friends, you can imagine how sad I am to learn about the news today:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/28/domino-magazine-to-fold_n_161672.html.

{envie: red and gold}

Ok, last entry for today's special Happy Moo Moo Year posts :o)

Just because I checked my email box a few minutes ago and here I got a Chinese New Year message from Vivre - and can't help but having to post it here:



And here's a bunch of splurges I'd want to steal...at least as inspiration, in the spirit of red and gold - for a fortunate, happy, lucky and beautiful life and home!

{got idea: chinoiserie}

Ow, I'm really into everything chinese today, aren't I? In any case it's chinese new year, perhaps that's why I'm so inspired :o)

I had a bowlful of chinese noodle this morning to start the day (noodle for breakfast is something very common here) and throughout the afternoon thinking of my new found obsession: chinoiserie.

Sure, I swear by Domino everytime I need some decorating inspiration. And besides the chinoiserie print in the blue bedroom that I posted in my previous entry, I found some more quirky decor ideas which wowed me, really!

Now I'm thinking of what I may be able to do to give a chinoiserie touch to my room...


covering one part of my room with a shimmery chinese pattern, just right for an eye catcher


this chinese print gives a graphic focus on the fireplace, probably the idea can be applied to the bookshelves instead


how can't you feel abundant when you have a room like this? :0)


an idea for the bed side of the room


aw, chinese wall covering with light blue background! and the table tops details! a real mix of east and west. love it.

{reading list: china everyday}

A week ago, while browsing the design section at a bookstore in Jakarta, I saw this book "China Everyday" by Zhang Yao and Bu Yi (Page One Publishing Private Ltd), and was completely captivated by its retro design and by the way the authors present the chinese everyday life into something like a work of art. Oh yes, I guess the editors were right, they wrote this on the back cover: "A fresh and insightful book that is a piece of art on its own!" I picked it! And enjoying it now specially for the chinese new year :o)

{memories of style: first day to school}

My mother was my first stylist...that's true :o) And my father was the dedicated photographer who didn't want to miss these 'historical moments', his 3,5 year old eldest daughter's first day to school. All dresses are my mom's owns.


school girl in the making




some finishing touches


ok, i'm ready!


"what will my future be...i wonder..."

{happy moo moo year!}

Don't you think it's the perfect time for me to honor my chinese ancestors? And so I'm in the mood for everything red and golden today. Happy Moo Moo Year, great great grandmas and grandpas :o) XOXO from your moo-moo great-great granddaughter (yip, I was born in the ox year, too! so this is my year :-D)

{magical fancy}

I found out about a magical eye behind camera Amanda Pratt through Absolutely Beautiful Things today and her shots just left me dreaming this whole evening...


Wanna look fabulously good, wanna feel extravagantly good. I put on red, throw myself into a sea of pink flowers...


A girl like me can have a fanciful life too! It's magical.


And colorfully fun. Yes I can, I can! :o)

{love note from the sun}

A true lesson in living life...

kindwords: love note from the sun

A true lesson in living life...

{mr lincoln's definition of success}

I love love love encouragement...who doesn't? It feels really good reading positive quotes and advices from people who've been 'there done that'. Seems like I enjoy very much putting together those words into graphic cards. I think I could even start creating a section here called "a note a day". Probably it will gives me motivation to hunt for encouraging words each day, and challenge me to stick to a daily good-time habit. Who knows who knows. This makes me feel good somehow :o)

kindwords: mr lincoln's definition of success

I love love love encouragement...who doesn't? It feels really good reading positive quotes and advices from people who've been 'there done that'. Seems like I enjoy very much putting together those words into graphic cards. I think I could even start creating a section here called "a note a day". Probably it will gives me motivation to hunt for encouraging words each day, and challenge me to stick to a daily good-time habit. Who knows who knows. This makes me feel good somehow :o)

{about amretasgraphics and me}

I'm moving as much as possible free contents from amretasgraphics.com to this blog, since I've got quite limited space in my server. I think it fits nicely though, and I apologize if these posts cut the flow of the blog :o)








What's actually happening at Amreta's Graphics? I can tell you, it's a constant trial-and-error! :0) But of course, it's pretty much self-taught, and exciting!

I work on my graphics and website from a corner room in our family home, armed with a laptop, an optical mouse, a play list of my favorite music, hot coffee or tea - whenever I have time amidst my fulltime job and violin practice, in the evening after work and on weekends.

To keep me inspired, having stacks of books and magazines, lovely papers, vintage fabrics, and other crafting stuff around me is indispensable...

Probably drawing graphics is a hobby that outdid my madness about violin and classical music - and later I developed an incredible fondness of folk music, prints and designs.

It all started in year 1999 when my dad bought for me a computer and I was tempted to create my own graphics - pretty awkward in the beginning and my first graphics were quite 'weird', so to say. But over time after surviving all the trial and error and tweaking - I got this addiction and it's amazing how it's going, up and running, and I enjoy the 'adventure' very much. It makes me happy!



{In memoriam. Fadjar Sidik, 8 February 1930 - 18 January 2004}


Probably it all fell naturally on me as I started my adventure in this world by being born to an artist couple. I grew up watching dad putting his creative energy into canvases and mom into fabrics. Our house was full of dad's paintings, the smell of oil paints, and mom's collection of patterns and batik. Being an artist's daughter also meant I was encouraged to dream, and from early in life I made friends with Bach, Mozart and Beethoven :-) It meant I first became an art student at age 3 when I had to sit in dad's class whenever my parents couldn't find someone to babysit me. And traveling with dad meant visiting local artists and discovering the art of life in the new places.

kindwords: flower notes from tricia guild

I will I will I will always listen to decorating advices from Tricia Guild!

{flower notes: tricia guild}

I will I will I will always listen to decorating advices from Tricia Guild!

{weekend note}