Belated Birthday Cake + Giveaway

I was expecting snow over the weekend when I was back to Basildon.

But I was disappointed as there was no sign of snowing even it's freezing cold.

As I usually do when I'm home, I spent sometimes in the kitchen baking.

I never mention that I've subscribed epapers from PChome which is a chinese website from Taiwan.

There's a great selection of free epapers you can subscribe, that's how I got the recipe from.

When I read the epaper, I was so tempted to try that.

It's also the perfect time now as it's the season of chestnut, plus it can be my belated birthday cake.

The recipe uses Grand Marnier to increase the depth & favours.

I didn't follow the recipe fully as I didn't have the chestnut sauce directly translated from chinese.

I think it's not the same as chestnut puree so I decided to take the caramel apple but use another recipe for the chestnut mousse.

I was absolutely satisfied with it.

Chestnut is earthy & rich but the caramel apricot & apple is fruity & tangy, so the combo gives a subtle & intense favour.

Jewellery & Muffins

I haven't been very productive recently, especially in making jewellery.

I don't know what to make & bake, sometimes simply not in the mood to.

But I keep up with making muffins as I have muffins for breakfast.

I don't always post the recipe for muffins as I use the same recipe again, with a little variations, like using different fruits, spice, tea, coffee or cocoa.

I just have to post these raspberry & apple muffins, it's soft, moist & sweet.

I got inspired by a new book I bought from WH Smith, it was on sale for only £6.

I was stunned by the price & I quickly grabbed one before it sells out.

It's a great book, packed with great photos & lots of inspirations!

I couldn't wait to try out the recipe of coffee & caramel muffins for my next week breakfast :)

Giveaway

I mentioned about a giveaway couple of weeks ago.

A bit late, but here it goes.

I'm giving an adorable perfume bottle charm made of sparkling Swarovski crystal & freshwater pearl, finished with a phone strap (all components are of sterling silver).

It can also be worn as a necklace, chain not included though.


To enter, simply leave a comment from now until midnight on Wednesday 6th October (UK standard time).

Only one entry per person & the winner will be drawn randomly.

Please leave an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win :)

I will ship worldwide so this is opened to anyone.


Good luck!

UK Handmade Wedding Gift Guide 2010

The wedding gift guide of UK Handmade is out now!

It can be read online here.

I'm so excited about it as one of my lovely necklace 'Blue' is in it :)

Pearl Necklaces

I have been busy with my study & baking, so I haven't worked on my jewellery recently.

Finally got some necklaces done during the week & also finally joined twitter, please follow me on twitter :)
I also managed to join a giveaway event held by UK Handmade in November.
I will announce more detail closer to the date.

Beside the giveaway, I'm also thinking of joining made4aid to raise fund for the charity, but I have no idea what to donate at the moment.

Yue the Jewelry Online Store

Launched my handcrafted jewelry online store!

Yue the Jewelry

Gifts~美欣，生日快乐~

Sunny & nice weather today.

But I didn't go out, just stay in my room working on the bead crafts.

All of these are for my friends in Malaysia.

I have no ideas what to make, so I make these bead wraps again.

But I have used more kinds of stones this time.

Tiger eye, blue howlite, fluorite, calcite etc...

今天是美欣的生日，又老一岁了，呵呵！
最近有点怀念我，美欣还有保娟读中学时三人行的生活。
现在我们都长大了，也在为各自的生活而忙碌。
我不常和她们联络，是我的错，太懒了。
她们生日时，我都会寄礼物回去。
不过有时拖太久就是了，真是抱歉了，朋友。

Butterfly

Going to see the musical 'Les Miserable' on Tuesday.

This is the 1st time going to see musical in a theatre even though I've been to London for many times.

I know musicals generally take about 3 hours, hopefully I won't fall asleep~~~

I made this butterfly for my mother as a replacement.

I made her a yellow one before, but she lost it when she went to a casino months ago.

She met her friend (maybe not, just a person she knows) who got it in London airport.

She didn't get it back, instead she let her friend kept it...

Well, I think she's just too kind as the materials cost a bit as there're Swarovski crystals.

现在上班有点力不从心似的，我想可能是工作太久了。
想要放假了，可是要一个月后才有假期，真是太痛苦了。
看在每月的薪水份上，挨下去了！

Stone Wrapping~~Fluorite 2

Green & grey fluorites.

Last 2 fluorite stones (12mm) in my stone collection.

The motifs not only for keychain, also on mobile phones, hangbags etc.

I think this is a perfect gift for anyone so I'll order more stones of this size.

Keep in touch with my old friends in Malaysia ^___^

I haven't contacted them for a long long time, make me feel guilty.

Hope everyone there is getting on well.

这个周末假期过得蛮快的，不过过得还蛮充实的。
做了些手工，打扫房子，补充食物。 。 。
另外，也和很久没联络的朋友联络上了，大家都过得还好。

下个周末回家去，星期日是我三姐的生日，所以打算去吃点心。
生日礼物也还没准备好，不知道要准备什么好。

Double Hearts~~母亲节快乐

Today is Mother's day.
I had a meal with my family before coming back to London.
I still a report to do plus the japanese homework,
all of them are due in tomorrow T.T

我的姐姐，哥哥都有回家和我妈一起庆祝。
我弟他因为上个星期回来了，所以今天没回来。
我把这两颗心送给我妈了，可以挂钥匙或者挂手袋也行。

再过一个星期就会没那么忙了，到时候就可以继续我的手工了。
也可以好好看看我上个星期才买的小说^v^

Stone Wrapping~~Fluorite

This was already given to my friend as his birthday's present.
I didn't attend his birthday's party held on 13rd, which was just before the Valentine.
I don't like to go out at night, that's why I didn't go.
Well, I'm just lazy...

My eldest sister has come back from Malaysia today.
Well, I didn't meet her before coming back to London.
I can get the souvenirs from her later ^___^

Heart with Flowers

I bought the rose beads a long time ago, I couldn't think of what to make by that time. So when I saw the red round beads with textures in London, I remember I have seen a heart motif made of these materials from a bead book I bought last year. Although I didn't follow the method exactly from the book, the result wasn't too bad. In fact, I'm quite pleased with that. I can attach it with a mobile phone strap, it can then be hanged on a mobile phone or on a handbag.

Earrings Holder

My college has just started so I don't have many times in jewellery making. That's why I miss out so many posts this week. Well, I made an earrings holder today, this was from a japanese bead book. As I don't have many spare times, I just used the diagram from the book and added some explanations in English. This was very simple to make, yet decorate your place nicely. Try out using other beads and colours.

Flower hairband

This hair band is perfect for any girl with long hair. The method of making is included.

This was my second trial to draw out the graphic solution. Well, I think it wasn't too bad. I drew all the shapes in Words, then retouch in Photoshop. I think I won't have many times in this as my college is about to start, only 1 week left. Try my best to draw out as much as I can then post it on the blog if I have time.

Beautiful Butterfly

This was made a long time ago. Well, just put this up so that I don't miss too many posts. This was made especially for my mother so that she can put it on her new LV handbag. I would say Swarovski crystals are really sparkling and good quality. Actually, I made 2 of these, one was red which was given to my sister. We don't live together so I can't take a photo of it.