From the monthly archives: April 2008

Ok, could not resist this other treasury either. Its full of amazing colours that just shout SPRING! Chosen by Iragrant, this Sophie Knot dress for kids especially grabs my eye. Of course it could be the cute young girl chosen to model that got my attention. But with those lovely eyes peeking at you over the top of a cup, who can complain?

Oh and be sure to check out the little blank book. Its really quite small (5 by 5cm!) but looks like it would be a great notebook prop for Barbie. :D

And oh, it is ending soon too. But better late than never found I say.

Although I love browsing through treasuries and using the poster sketch tool on Etsy, I have not been successful in cinching one of my own. Still that does not stop me from pouring through page after page of visual delight. After all, these treasuries are made by individuals, and all have such a great eye for colour coordination and make for an awesome visual spectacle.

My current favourite is this particular treasury by Staroftheeast. Filled with 12 blue themed products, it appeals to the closet blue fanatic in me. It is ending soon though. So be sure to check it out before it closes its run.

Was thinking of taking a break till May 2nd rolled around but obviously I did not. I have got a couple of new stuff all done up. Some have even been loaded to Flickr but not in the store just yet.

This piece, Change, features an antique gold plated pewter butterfly with two carnelian faceted rounds dancing around it. Strung on a 16 inch gold plated chain at an approximate drop of 1 inch and wing span of 1.5 inches, she flutters her way to your heart.

Large but not overpowering. Change has a certain calmness about her that speaks volumes of grace.

One of a kind. Comment to reserve… or wait till its released in store. Your choice.

EDIT :: Change has been sold. Thank you all for your support. :) *beams*

Now that the dust has somewhat settled, here is another sweet deal for you. Remember the pin buttons you saw? They are yours for the taking! One free with every purchase above $30, and a set of three should your purchase include an item from the Forest Friends collection.

Whilst stocks last!

It was an amazing day last Saturday when we packed our bags and carted our way down to Poppy. We got somewhat lost, making a wrong turn. It was fun though, exploring the quaint shops along the way. Familiar names like Pantry Magic and Da Paolo got us ooh-ing a little. But we had a task to do.

So off we went to the right place. Sarah, the lovely lady who is behind Poppy Inc has done an amazing job with decorating her home studio. It is full of flirty, feminine charm with a twist towards the victorian era that makes it a perfect place for a girls’ day out. Throughout the day she fed us with yummy tartlets and durian puffs that were as yummy as they looked.

We met many vendors turned friends. Amongst them Chloe who is Sarah’s daughter. Gifted with a talent for drawing and designing, she turns plain white canvas shoes into wearable art with her very own label of Fabric Inks. You can see her eye for design in the way she laid her wares, all strung prettily on ropes at the stairway.

Talent runs in the family because Sally, Sarah’s cousin has a knack of selecting pretty dresses that are completely ‘droolable’. She is the one behind Envy Me and really, you would envy her for being able to work in the company of such splendour.

Moving on from family ties, there are other vendors such as Susanna (Suzz.com) who brought her selection of bags and accessories. After having been flickr friends for a bit, it was great to finally meet in real life. And her sister who came with a delightful platter of edible goodies… cookies! Which really appealed to the tastebuds of the children. She conducts children’s cooking courses too.

Our friendly neighbour is Fancy Beads by Shahirah. A demure lady, and a teacher in training, she sells jewelry that are also all handmade. :) I think I spied her at Maad previously but had not really stopped to talk then. Better late than never!

OOI… a leather accessory importer was our other neighbour with belts and bags calling out to be bought. Really nice designs and soft to the touch. And as we all know, we cannot have too many bags.

I WANT THAT! is another awesome shop with a selection of bags and clothes. Manned by ‘da boss’ and her top notch sales assistant, they were a ball of fun. Not to mention the fun prints that they had selected for their bags all make for unique pieces that get everyone’s attention.

And of course… me. It was a whole spread of goodies this time round. Lots of new items. Lots of great opportunities to meet up with customers. Finally I can place a name to some of the online customers I have had. Thank you for making your way down. :) Much appreciated.

By the time it came for us to pack, we were completely exhausted but we had great fun. So where shall we go next?

Oh… of those vendors with missing pictures, I apologise. I took the photos at the end of the day. Heh. I was having a major sinus ‘blow out’ in the morning and was more ‘ruldoph’ than ruth by mid afternoon. (Suzz please send some pictures my way!!!) Thankfully it cleared by the end of the day! Now you know why I need rest right now. But do not let that stop you from checking the store out!

Many thanks, with lots of love, from us at Sparkle Thots. It was a great girls’ day out. We had fun and we hope you did too. More updates coming soon. Store inventory will be updated by Monday. Again, we seek your understanding if the item you were eye-ing was sold today at the fair.

We thank you for your support. Some items CANNOT be remade due to a scarcity of materials and a desire to retain exclusivity. :)

Stay tuned for the special promo we launched today. A little freebie with any purchase above $30 or if purchased from the Forest Friends range.

But for now, pardon us as we rest!

Did You Know?

Shipping with Sparkle Thots means a couple of things. It means making sure your items are suitably packed in ziplocks and carefully placed in bubble lined envelopes before being sent off for shipping. It also means checking (somewhat paranoid) that the name and address written is correct. On both the slip and the mailer.

Then it means lugging Jayden off to the post office to queue till we get to the counter. :)

Almost done… Settle the administrative issues then… this is the important part. To you anyway.

Locally (Singapore), your package will arrive within 2-3 working days. Typically Singpost offers next day turnaround but they just would like added time in case things goof up. Internationally, the times vary depending on location. But expect an additional 2 days added to your standard due to the tracking process.

What it means practically for you and me, is the added assurance for you that I actually posted the package (aha!) and not kept both the item and the money, and for me, the assurance that you receive it. If in the event the package goes missing, we can call the corresponding postal services involved and get their attention.

How is it possible? The magical tracking number! It requires that some physical human being is around to receive your item. If not, a little delivery notice is slipped under your door. In the unfortunate event that no postman knocks or no notice is found, arm yourself with the tracking number (also known as RA No.), and call the post office.

Sometimes by some fluke the postman did not drop the note or it got misplaced or goodness knows what happened.

When you call the post office, you can do one of several things. Redirect for collection at another post office more convenient to you, have them resend another day or pick it up directly from the post office.

If you are overseas, and your package has not arrived within reasonable time frame, call the post office! I have learnt through some nail biting experience that while we (my dear customers and I) are waiting patiently for the package, the postal agency and decided to sit on it. Maybe put it in some box that they admire everyday. I don’t know.

So a friendly call to remind them that you actually want the mail delivered gets it into your hands. Weird but true.

Important Websites to Note

  • to track the package
  • to transfer the package to be picked up at another post office
  • to arrange for redelivery
  • list of Post Offices (opens a pdf file)

But of course, if all this is too much information, and you are in Singapore, come on down to the fair today! Toodles! I am off to the fair already.

The boxes of goodies have been packed. All three stacked in a row. One for bracelets, one for necklaces and one for earrings. The bounty looks good. And it is with a smile I start at the table decor.

Which rack to bring? I love them all.

Halfway through it dawned on me that there was no name plaque. Nothing to loudly proclaim that this space was proudly decorated and, dare I say, feminised by Sparkle Thots! So off to the trusty printer I went and got this done. Printed on lightly scented paper with a slight shimmer, the sign is ready. With it I stake my place, inviting you, one and all over for a bit of girlish delight.

I think tomorrow really promises to be a day of fun. What with the light refreshments and drinks? In a lil house in Chip Bee Gardens too! With other creative vendors, I join in inviting you over for the day.

So remember, once again…
76 Taman Warna Road, 10.30am to 6.30pm

PS:
Online customers (and friends), the store still remains open if you are not able to make it in person. It has been restocked! I do ask for your understanding if something sells out during tomorrow’s sale and I am unable to finish the deal. All internet orders, paid and closed before midnight tonight will be honoured :- I will remove the item from inventory and not bring it for the sale.

PSS:
Tomorrow will mark the launch of a special mini promotion that we are having with Little Odd Forest. Each purchase will be entitled to a little extra something. Good for both online and offline purchases. Now surely that will get you going? (More details of the promotion will be out shortly!)

palomas nest

Am a little slow on the weddings series but this post should make up for some lost time.

While surfing around Etsy, I stumbled upon Paloma’s Nest. A quaint lil shop from the heart of Texas, it is full of serene white porcelain pieces that are at once homely and peaceful. What first caught my eye was the “Will you marry me?” dish. Especially useful for those who get tongue-tied at the key moment. Besides, it can be reused as either reception table decor, alternative ring bearer dish (instead of pillow) and further used as a decoration centrepiece in the newly weds’ home.

But why stop there? Consider getting either for the home or the bridal party as thank you gifts, these other items. The chirpy birds would fit perfectly in a spring themed or garden wedding as table decor! Imagine them holding a small pyramid of candies and I think you can get the picture. The gift box set of 2 small plates make for a personalised gift and speak volumes of your gratitude. Enhanced further with the Thank You” ribbons, you probably will get a squeal of delight from the blessed recipient.

Her store has loads more treasures. Go in for quick browse now. Or go one step further and ask for a personalised set made just for you. Surely a dish with your names and special date inscribed would be a welcome addition to your display table?

Even though I do not have the luxury of creating an inspiration board, I create one virtually. Through the internet that is. Over time the number of blogs I have in my subscription is amazing. It currently stands at 122. More are added on a weekly basis!

All together, they create such a desire to craft. Even things that are definitely not my strong points. Hmm.

Do you have a favourite blog? Just how many do you read?