Salam! (look to the right, y'all)

Not an Advertorial

Dear Ksatriya,

If you're reading this, I haven't even had breakfast while writing this post for you. You owe me one big bowl of kolo mee. Lol.

Words. This is my drug of choice. I've always loved reading, and during my travels in my previous life, when I'm bored I'd even read my snacks' packaging just so that my hungry eyes have something to feast on.

Another fellow word addict that I know of is my dear friend Ksatriya. He's taken it to a whole new level though, not just by reading and writing but singing the words that flowed from his own fingertips.

I was first introduced to Ksatriya last year by a beloved mutual friend, Sylvie. I've come to know him as someone who is extremely talented when it comes to poetry and singing (and therefore I hate him with much envy in my heart..hahahaha) and brilliant with words (whenever I have a bad day, this dear friend really knows how to cheer me up). It's amazing to see someone who is gifted in something (in this case, he's pretty nifty with words) uses his gift to make a positive impact on others.

Recently, this singing and rapping poet launched a new song called "Salam", which you can find, at the time of this posting, on your upper right hand side. Give it a spin and listen to his rich, smooth voice. If you want to embed this player in your blogs, let me know so I can personally ask (read: hound) the artist himself to contact you and give you the codes.

And if you've listened to the song and would like to give Ksatriya a shout-out on Facebook, click here to go to his profile:

Now let me have my breakfast in peace. Lol.

Visit my online crafts store, Axxessories for unique handmade accessories that won't break the bank!

C.O.P.Y.C.A.T.

The inspiration for my designs come from what I see around me, and also from my research online. One of my favourite craft references is Martha Stewart's Crafts section of her website.

When I still a teacher and we had to come up with class projects, Martha's site was where I would usually go. As there weren't many craft supplies shops in my hometown back then, sometimes I would have to change the materials and techniques to fit what I have. For this reason too, many local crafters order their supplies online. I have yet to join them as I do not buy in bulk (yet) and won't benefit from the discounts these online suppliers provide for bulk buys. What keeps my prices low are the many trips around town to find the most affordable shops without compromising on the quality.

While it is normal for designers to be inspired by the things she/he sees and reads about, it is another thing altogether to go to a (supposedly) friend's craft site to see what she has in her store and blatantly copy her design ideas almost each time they come up.

I had long wanted to blog about this ever since I found out a fellow local crafter who I personally know had started copying my work, beginning with the simple Terms & Conditions section of this site (which I had worked on with a few friends of mine).

Then I started to notice that almost each time I come up with a new design, a few weeks later I would stumble upon imitations on her craft site. While I am flattered that she found my writing and craft ideas inspiring, what really irks me is the fact that she dares to say that she "crafts from the heart".

It's akin to someone who plagiarises a novel and then have the audacity to say that she wrote it from the heart.

I count myself as a writer and also a crafter/designer, and my work is valuable to me. I take pride in whatever I produce for Axxessories, particularly because a lot of thought and sweat is involved in each creation. There's the research to do, followed by conceptualisation and discussions with friends and family, and also the hunting trips afterwards to find the perfect materials. At the end of the day, when an item is completed and is satisfactory to me, I find that all that hard work is worth it because I provided something good.

If a crafter wants to copy my work, at least credit me for it, maybe even contact me and ask me for tips. Although Matt Groening, the famous cartoonist who created The Simpsons, admires our Malaysian-born Datuk Lat and has a lot of respect for him, you won't find any characters in The Simpsons looking like Kampung Boy.

There aren't many local crafters in Malaysia yet, so it's good to stick to each other and compare notes and suggestions instead of producing replicas of Axxessories items on the sly. It's what China does a lot these days, producing replicas of items from another countries and that is why people tend to look down at Made in China knock-offs.

A Crown Fit for the Queen of My Heart: Sparkling Daisy Hairband

What can you possibly give to a woman who went to great pains (literally and figuratively) to give life to you?

Everything you can lay your hands on. Hehe.

My mum is a girly girl (or should I say woman? Hmm). She loves all sorts of jewellery, especially sparkling ones. While I can't afford to buy her blinding diamond jewellery (yet), I have something fresh and bright that she can wear to parties. I thought I'd make something for her so that no one will have the exact* same gift as hers.

*as it is handmade, even two items of the same design will not look exactly the same*

So I got busy last night and below is my mum's Mother's Day present. She doesn't know how to use the Internet, so this surprise is technically still a secret. Hehe.

If the hairband looks a wee bit familiar to you, that's because I kind of revamped Miss Daisy Hairband with Blue Dot with a liberal dose of sparkling goodness.

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com (yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

New Creations On Hold

Dear readers,

I have not been feeling well since Christmas last year, and therefore have not been able to come up with new designs for Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day as planned. It's hard to feel and get creative when you're busy stuffing your nose with tissues.

I hope it's not too late to wish my Chinese readers Gong Xi Fa Cai; I flew home on Wednesday and spent mine with my family. It was a good trip (although I did fall sick again while there).

As of now, I am putting new creations on hold until I get better. In the meantime, feel free to browse through old blogposts for anything that might catch your eye. :-)

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com

(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Announcement

Hi folks!

Axxessories will be closed from 21st December (Tuesday) to 3rd January (Monday) for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

I thank you for your support and understanding, and I hope your Christmas and New Year's celebrations will be epic! :-)

Miss Daisy Hairband and Ponytail Holder

Dots and petals are also available in other colours upon request.

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Tetra Ponytail Holders

Dots and petals are also available in other colours upon request.

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Animal Felt Keychains, Part 1

Say hi to Oly, the Olyphant....

...and his friend, Oranje the Orange Birdie.

Both animals, inspired by wild elephants and birds of paradise, are made primarily of felt. Oly gets some love going on with love-shaped sequins and paste-on eyes, while Orangje is decked with emerald-hued beads and yes, she has the same eyes as Oly.

These two best friends are available in other colours by request. Kindly state your colour preferences (if any) in the Additional Notes section when you e-mail your order.

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Baby Felt Bib

This bib is also available in other colours by request. I kind of like this shade though; it reminds me of carrots. :-)

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Christmas, The Axxessories Way, Part 3

These are three new additions to the Christmas accessories family. To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Christmas, The Axxessories Way, Part 2

Say hello to cuteness overload!

For those of you who think that jagged-edged Christmas stockings are a bit too unconventional for your Yuletide taste, fret not, because I have these Smooth Mini Stockings made just for you!

Measuring 15cm in length (not including the ribbon) and 8cm in width (from toe to heel), these Smooth Mini Stockings come in two variants: Red (SMS 01) and Green (SMS 02). Selling for only RM6, they are ideal for hanging on your bedroom door (or any door that you like). You can hang them on your Christmas tree as ornaments!

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Square Sparkles Hairbands

These simple hairbands which are bejeweled with sparkling square beads are perfect for dress-me-down-gorgeously days!

Priced at only RM8 (a steal!), they come in three colours: Ravishing Red (SS 01), Bewitching Black (SS 02) and Gorgeous Green (SS 02). Other colours are available upon request.

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Christmas, the Axxessories Way, Part 1

Hey there! I'd like to introduce a line of felt Christmas stockings, embellished with ribbons, beads and a little bit of the fluffy goodness!

These socks are made out of felt, fabric ribbons and depending on the design, some of them will have fake feather boa and beads too.

They were recently featured in the Axxessories Facebook Fan Page. The first Facebook Fan to comment on each photo will get the item for free*. One lucky fan has won the Lady Gaga-inspired JES 01, and the other two are still up for grabs!

So get over to Facebook today, click the 'Like' button to be a fan, and you can be in the running to win some cool surprises reserved only for Facebook Fans!

To purchase, kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*prices quoted do not include delivery charges

Watch out for this space, because there's more to come, and it's not just stockings!:-)

P/S: A Facebook Fan who has won an item by commenting on the item's photo will not be eligible to win other items in the same album. This is to make sure that other fans have a chance to win an item.

Be a Fan of Axxessories on Facebook!

Good news, everyone! The Facebook Fan Page for Axxessories is finally up!

Click the 'Like' button to be a fan and share the page link with your friends. By being a fan, you'll be the first to know of Axxessories Facebook updates, and you might be in the running for special surprises reserved solely for lucky Axxessories Facebook fans. ;-)

Butterfly Bead Hairbands

Photo, left to right: BBH 01 (Purple), BBH 02 (Blue) and BBH 03 (Red)

Sleek and simple. These two adjectives sum up what Butterfly Bead Hairbands are like. They are perfect for girls (or Beckham-like men out there :-p) with hectic schedules who wish to add a special touch to their hair but without the fuss.

A Butterfly Bead Hairband is made of a thin hairband wrapped with a length of fabric ribbon and embellished with light purple butterfly beads. If these butterfly beads look familiar, that's because you also saw them in Baby Hairband 01.

At the moment, Butterfly Bead Hairbands are available in three colours: Purple (BBH 01), Blue (BBH 02) and Red (BBH 03). Each one of these bejeweled babies retails for only RM7*!

Kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*not including delivery charges

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Cassie, who is one of my clients, a fellow blogger and a dear friend, for helping me snap photos of Baby Hairband 01 and Baby Hairband 02, Sequinned Hairband (Sapphire Blue) and also Pink Furry Fascinator.

Thanks!

Pink Furry Fascinator

Photo: FF 04

A dear friend had ordered a pink Furry Fascinator for a costume party that she's going to be attending soon. This fun-loving girl has always had a soft spot for everything pink since our school days. A very girlie girl indeed. :-p

I first created Furry Fascinators for a bridal shower that a client is throwing for her best friend. You can read about them here.

A Furry Fascinator consists of a thin hairband wrapped in fabric ribbons and decorated with strips of fake feather boa, beads, floral wire and a fabric rose. It costs RM15 (not including delivery charges).

I can custom-make it according to your preferred colours and materials other than the ones I mentioned earlier, but it might not cost RM15 as it depends on the materials that you requested. Kindly mention your specifications when you e-mail your order to me.

Please follow the format below and send your order to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

Sequinned Hairband

Photo: Sapphire Blue (SH 01)

I have a confession to make:

I love this hairband so much that I'm not going to sell it! :-p

Of course, I'll still make new ones for customers, but the first model of this Sequinned Hairband line, Sapphire Blue is mine and mine alone. In fact I already wore it today to a special event to match my top!

This hairband is made of a plastic band, fabric ribbons, sequins and beads. For now, the Sequinned Hairband is available in four colours: Sapphire Blue (SH 01), Emerald Green (SH 02), Ruby Red (SH 03) and Rose Quartz Pink (SH 04).

Although the Sequinned Hairband sparkles, it is versatile enough for a casual weekend when you just want to add a pretty touch to your jeans and T-shirt, or to formal events since the bling factor adds a bit of sparkle to your overall look.

You can get a Sequinned Hairband for only RM10*, but if you buy three (3) Sequinned Hairbands, you will get a special price of RM27!*

Kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*not including delivery charges

Baby Hairband 02

Photos: BH02

A few days back, I made another baby hairband, but this time I used cream lace and embellished it with red and pink ribbon roses. I can also make the same hairband using other colours according to customer's specifications.

The Baby Hairband is available for just RM8* but if you buy three (3) Baby Hairbands, you will get a special price of RM21!*

Kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):
Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:


*not including delivery charges

Baby Towel Bib

Photo: BTB 01 (top), BTB 02 (bottom)

A few weeks back, I made these two Baby Towel Bibs for a couple who recently had their second son. As you can guess from the embroidery on the bibs, the baby's name is Sam.

I noticed how bibs in the market are quite small, and we all know how messy kids can be when they're eating, hence I used towels to make them. Towels are absorbent and thicker than the usual bibs, so your child's clothes are less likely to be stained. Towels are also bigger, hence more coverage!

For this blogshop, there won't be any embroidery on future bibs until I get better at it. A Baby Towel Bib is available in this blogshop for only RM5* and buying three (3) Baby Towel Bibs gets you a special price of RM12*!

I can make Baby Towel Bibs according to customer's chosen colours. Kindly e-mail your order in the format below to axxessoirees@gmail.com
(yes, it's spelled as axxessoirees):

Name:

Email Address:

Contact no.:

Address:

Item code:

Additional notes:

*not including delivery charges