Tai Parfait

Whoever came up with this is genius! The cone is actually traditional japanese red bean cake, you can choose other fillings as well like custard. Fill the top with ice-cream or just plain cream and fruits. Priced around $6 to $8 each, it makes a really substantial dessert.

The mouth is soo huge!

Polka Dots

Totally loving this B&W polka dot print. So much so I decided to make a day dress with it, one with butterfly sleeves and a matching striped jacket.

My thread spools have also gotten larger.

It's almost like quilting, cutting up big pieces of cloth into little pieces of cloth.

Even appliques, cloth on cloth.

Final Dress! The sleeves aren't as fluttery as I would like them and the skirt needs a layer of lining as well.

 Otherwise, it looks like a great combi.

Stella McCartney Autumn/Winter 2015/2016

Daughter of Sir Paul McCartney and established fashion designer, she became Creative Director of fashion house Chloé before launching her own namesake brand Stella McCartney in 2001. A lifelong vegetarian and PETA supporter, none of her clothes/accessories are made from animal derived products.

She designs for real women and real women buy her clothes to make it part of their wardrobe. She also designs childrens wear seasonally, a trend other designers have picked up as well.

In 2004, she began collaborating with Adidas to create fashionable sportswear for women, unheard of in the industry before then. I always see new stuff every year under her name at Adidas.

Her current range of bags, named Falabella (after miniature horses). I think you can recognize it coz lotsa fashionistas spotted carrying these bags.

Cheese Utensils from Mainland Cheese

From Cold Storage New Zealand fair, Mainland Cheese had a promotion to redeem this cheese cutting set with every 2 blocks purchased. The handles are soo teeny tiny.

Salonpas Ice Cold Spray

Salonpas is well known for their pain relief patches and rubs. Recently they launched Ice-Cold Spray for post-sports cool down and relief from the sweltering hot weather. It's like a blast of air-con and I bring a bottle along everywhere I go, instant relief when I am waiting for the bus in the afternoon sun.

Buy from Guardian or Qoo10, $8.50.

Tori-Q Bento

Japanese BBQ bento with pickles and rice seasoned with seaweed and togarashi. My favorite lunch combo of late, $6 to $8 a box.

Re-sewing a Yukata

This yukata (cotton kimono) was a gift more than a decade ago from my uncle & auntie who frequently visit Japan. I have never worn it before and now have decided to re-sew it into a summer dress.

It's actually easier than I previously thought it would be. The collar is removed to be used as a  binding for the new collar. The wide sleeves are removed to add onto the skirt. There is a notch under the bodice where the sash (obi) is supposed to wrap around, I followed that marking to cut the fabric into two pieces.

To make it knee length, 9" is cut from the skirt portion and this 9" of fabric gets cut again into 3 portions lengthwise to be added onto the skirt. The skirt is now double the size of the bodice and gets reattached to the bodice.

Yukata size 10 now fits my size 22 frame nicely. Finally, I have sewn a wearable outfit for myself.

Victoria Beckham Autumn/Winter 2015/2016

This former Spice Girl started her namesake fashion label in 2008 and has been putting out stellar collections every season since. She designs for herself and other celebrities agree with this design direction wearing it as part of their wardrobe.

Last year she opened a store @ MBS!

Victoria Beckham also designed an eye-wear collection, nail polish collection and handbags.

Redeem Trolley Bag

Cold Storage promotion over GSS, redeem a free trolley bag instantly when you spend $25 on P&G cleaning products. There are a few designs/colours that are given out randomly at checkout and I got this Charmin version. It's a really good trolley bag with big grooved wheels for traction on rainy days and a comfy ergonomic handle. Dragging my groceries from this shopping trip was a breeze coz it felt soo light.

Oxy Pimple Cream

This is a product I have used since secondary school and still do today, Oxy pimple cream $6 to $7. OXY also sells facial wash, duo pads etc its all good in the name of keeping your skin clean and fresh. The duo pads are good for people who don't use makeup, like mid-day in school.

When I feel a pimple coming on, I dab a generous amount of pimple cream on and around the area then go to sleep, waking up the next day to clear skin. The trick is to be generous in application and leave it on undisturbed for an extended period of time.

Snackz It

Taiwanese fast food, costs $10 for main + side + drink, all served within minutes.

Fabric Swap

I swapped some of my batik with a friend to get this beautiful gold & teal songket. I am not sure where in Asia this comes from (Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia?) it had an airport duty-free tag on it and then I found this sticker, so its from Indonesia.

I chose a design to showcase this print in its entirety as I love the colours and geometric patterns on it. Sexy details of shoulder cut-outs and slit all the way down the back.

The hem doesn't need to be sewn up as it ends exactly where the fabric ends.

No zippers, just a sash that you can do away with as the waistline expands.

I tried to sew this in metallic gold thread, but it got really scratchy so ornamental thread is not really for clothes.

I loved this dress pattern soo much I made 1 more dress with a long skirt using my remaining orchid purple seersucker.

Think it looks better worn back to front, that large peephole bodice really makes this outfit pop.

Zac Posen 2015/2016 Autumn/Winter

Did you know Zac Posen interned with Nicole Miller early on in his career. Glamour is his thing and all the beautiful clothes come with an extra edge be it a sexy cutout or unusual draping.

His designs are always on the red carpet, that's why the name sounds familiar.

Katie Holmes @ Met Gala 2015 in custom Zac Posen, to match the night's theme.

Katerine Heigl in Zac Posen Pre-Fall 2015 @ Golden Globes 2015.

Olivia Munn in Zac Posen Fall/Winter 2015 @ Vanity Fair 2015 Oscar Party. 

For everyday clothes, there is Zac by Zac Posen.

Zac by Zac Posen prices start from $400 for a top to over $2,000 for gowns.

Prices start from $2,000 for Zac Posen.

Currently, he is the Creative Director @ Brooks Brothers (menswear).