Desk Snapshot

It feels weird painting traditional roses especially when I am surrounded by all these wonderful tropical flowers here in CM. Not so strange I guess when I think in the next month or so I will be painting some Christmas stuff soon in 45C heat!!

Working out colour balance and techniques before final artwork

One of my finished flowers

Afternoon Tea in Singapore

Last Sunday was one of my perfect days - shopping then catching up with friends for afternoon tea! The Regent Hotel has one of the best Afternoon Teas I've ever had. It's actually a buffet of everything I love and even more - Caviar, Smoked Salmon, freshly made scones and souffles to order, chocolate fountain, Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding, macaroons, ice cream.......if only every afternoon could be spent like this.

An enjoyable 4 hours....

The Tea Lounge

Lots of yummy things on offer

Unfortunately, I don't have many good photos of the food so check out this review for more gastroporn shots.

Little India

Little India is a riot of colour!

Freshly made floral garlands

Loving all the colours and kitsch

Bindi anyone?

Wasn't quite sure what these were? Some sort of coconut..

Beautiful old Singapore Buildings

Even the street signs are gorgeous

Singapore Fling

This weekend, I stayed at the Wanderlust Hotel in Little India. "Wanderlust is a left-field and totally experimental boutique hotel set to draw madcap voyagers and curious travellers to its doorstep". Each of the rooms are decorated in Pantone, Mono or Whimsical Style. 


I stayed in the Pantone White Room which was a bit too white for me. As everything is all open plan and tiled, I literally was sleeping in the bathroom! It was a fun place to stay though I think I would've preferred a room with more colour. What I did love was the Kiehl's toiletries and the gorgeous little handbook they give you with maps, blank pages to take notes, photos, artwork and places to visit in Little India.

The hotel is set in an old school building built in the 1920's

Loving the tiles on the facade

fun and eclectic lobby

Indian wallpaper

Love the details such as the Campari Light Fittings

Pantone Room

One of the Whimsical Suites

All photos from the Wanderlust Hotel.

From the Dalai Lama

We LOVE ice cream!

A friend took us recently to iberry Ice Cream - it's a popular Thai brand that offers 'sugar and spice and everything nice'. This franchise (more like mini fun sculpture park) up here in Chiang Mai is owned by a popular Thai comedian so he has his face on everything, including this huge yellow dog. I love going to new places, where the food is good and you are also inspired & delighted at the same time.

The comedian's head is on this huge yellow dog!

Fun and colourful interior

Interiors - fun and colourful, just like ice cream. 

You can get your photo taken with his face.

Great shop - I bought a little green bag to go with my scooter!

Image from pikeletandpie.com

Blue and White

I am loving everything Blue and White at the moment - they're just screaming out to be included in one of my new paintings.

Dragon Vase at MO.

Thai Style Decoration

C19th Chinese Textiles

Plates.

Random Cups and Vessels

Have a LOVELY day today!

I had some of these left over from a previous painting

so I quickly painted something up yesterday afternoon.....

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

Vintage Lanna Textiles

In all the markets and shops here in Chiang Mai, there are countless versions of these beautiful textiles. Some have been made into bags, others sold as fabric remnants. Most of the antique textiles are actually from Thai (Hmong & Yao) baby carriers. A surprisingly number of these are actually made in China!

Traditional baby carrier. Image from pillove.blogspot.com

Gorgeous Embroideried detailing

So many wonderful colours and styles

These are all Thai/ Lao style.

Divine Blessings

How gorgeous are these resin Buddhas? They've been blessed by the monks at Doi Suthep Temple here in Chiang Mai by the monks.

Would you say something?

Recently, I saw an older gentleman exercising at our gym but he was using the equipment incorrectly - bad posture, slamming of the weights etc. I know I'm not a qualified fitness expert or anything but I know when someone looks like they're going to injure themselves.

I really wanted to say something but I thought I better not as he may get offended. I asked my M about this and he said I did the right thing and kept my mouth shut. But I think I should say something if I see him next time....what would you do?

How far can you go actually go talking to a complete stranger before 'you cross the line'? Isn't this the same as telling someone they've got something in their teeth or they've tucked their skirt into their knickers accidentally or their fly is undone?? I think telling someone they smell or have bad breath is completely inappropriate unless they're sitting next you on a 16hr flight but even then, would you say something?

Love to hear what you think about this and whether you've said anything?

Flower Power

This past weekend was the 35th Chiang Mai Flower Festival and Parade. Over 30 floats of wonderful floral sculptures, beauty queens, military personnel, marching bands, costumed performers and dancers paraded through the main streets of Chiang Mai. It was an incredible spectacle and the flowers were divine! Because CM is surrounded by mountains, it produces an ideal climate to grow many of the native flowers.

The parade was supposed to start at 8am but didn't get going until 10!

Amazing costume and colour

The bands were excellent - one played 'Ghostbusters'

I love the Thai woven textiles

Miss Indias

The work and detail was exquisite

Love a bit of bling!

Rabbits were very popular

Passing along the moat of the old city