2008 ~ A year of Adventure ~

2008 for me was a year of Adventure, stepping into the corporate world as a Corporate Facilitator, meeting Business leaders and corporate clients in the marketplace. Most of the time, it was an invigorating, exciting experience. Sometimes physically tiring, sometimes mentally exhausting but at the end of the programmes and facilitation, satisfaction in a job well done. I am able to sleep at night with a clear conscience that i have done a good job all round.

Through constructive and most of the time, excellent feedback, i have garnered what i think are the factors which account for the kudos:

1. Facilitate with confidence
2. Relate with Sincerity
3. Plan with seriousness
4. Manage expectations well
5. Deliver Fun
6. Practise Safety
7. Focus on the Objectives
8. Walk the ground
9. Work as a Team
10. Take care of yourself
11. Don't forget your family
12. Always Claim on the promises of GOD

Here's to 2009 - THE BEST IS YET TO BE!!!

It's TIME to Move On, Brother!

The Rat Year is almost over. What did it bring for you? Well, it brought for me a lot of important lessons, the fundamental one being GOD is in Control of EVERY situation; and GOD has been faithful in every single of those challenging circumstances.

What will the year of the OX / COW / BULL bring for you? I certainly hope it's not a whole lot of B**S^#! But whatever it is , the best is yet to be!!! Cheers!

Pink Panther is Alive & Well!!!

This is another one of my favourite characters. Pink Panther doing a demolition job. (The smasher belongs to my boy).

Penguins ~ Never Have Enough of Them!

These residents from Antarctica appear in my blog again and again! Well they are quite easy to make. If you would like to learn how to make them out of Air-dry Clay, contact me;-)

A Thanksgiving Poem

I give thanks for the blessings God brings
Children awaiting their Christmas surprises
Jaded Christy is resting; awaiting a kidney

Families debate and decide where to spend their earnings;
Mohammad contemplates; while on probation;
Who he will meet and see (‘mom, don’t come, please)

I give thanks for the blessings God brings
Teens cracking their heads; movies to see and what colour to drink
Minnie, who has Microcephaly, enjoying her mountain spring

Marshmallows and raisins, blue and green
Chicken wings and charcoal
Not from NTUC please
Ribbons and ties
Hallmark
Only
Mary and John
ASD,
Joseph and Farid;
Shaking off
Their epilepsy
Grace, acting funny
But
Sitting on
A Chair,
Finally.

What Ignited My Passion in Clay

I remembered vividly that in my secondary school days, my art teacher introduced us to Das Pronto, a white clay made in Europe. Since then, i developed a passion for clay. I love the feel of Das with water and the ability to shape and fashion anything i feel like doing. For an intro to other types of clay, check this URL:
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayArticle?articleNum=ae0238

Here are some of my works in white air-dry clay (Japanese brand, available at Bras Brasah Art Shops)

Aquarium of sea life by Tanglin School students

The students of Tanglin School did the marine life, predominantly fishes, for their Open House last month. I added a few finishing touches and the teachers and the Air-Dry Clay Club students were very happy with the result. Well Done, students!

Karma Chameleon

Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green

~Culture Club, 1980s~

Chameleon on a bamboo - Full of character and life, the chameleon reaches out in search of delectable green ideas.

Great for Fun and Customer Training !!!

These are great games for Fun - they test your memory and reflexes; plus they are excellent tools to train your frontline staff who serve customers daily. Whether you are in the sushi or pizza delivery business, this site has variety for all.

If you have entrpreneurial aspirations, try managing a campsite and be the best campsite manager in the world!

Who says staff training is restricted to seminar rooms? Go and book a room with computers with internet connections and have fun!!! Organise friendly competitions with different departments and have a go at this game. Many other games with customer-oriented themes as well.

TRY IT!

Pizza Hot Deliver the Pizzas to the customers as quickly as possible!

Play this free game now!!

Youda Camper create your camp site and become the best campsite owner in the world

Play this free game now!!

Chin Dynasty Terracotta Warrior

Chocolate and Cupcake Delight!

Serve this to your best company of friends!!!

Traditional Teochew Rice Kueh

On Today's Menu is the traditional Teochew Rice Kuey with traditional ingredients and the best glutinous rice from Thailand. Only the best mushrooms are used and freshest vegetables from Cameron Highlands.

For dessert, we have the best Ang Ku Kueh in Singapore, some say even in Malaysia. Comes in peanuts, Yam Paste, Green Bean paste and the new CoCo Crunch & Milo filling.

Bon Appetit!

{Products done in Air-Dry Clay}

The Turtles, The Cow and the Elephant

"We're not twins"
"I'm not a pig"


"And there's such a thing as a BLUE Elephant!"

Chicken Little (Did NOT Cross the Road)

"Where do you think am i?"




"Yes, at Eiffel Park !"

Inspired by Botero

19 April 1932 ~

Fernando Botero, World renowned Sculptor and artist, visited Singapore from 2004-12-09 until 2005-02-27. I had the privilege to see his signature rotund sculpted pieces all over the Esplanade area. Spent a lot of time there reading the pieces from different angles.

One permanent piece, Bird, is placed at the Singapore River since 1990 and its patron is UOB.
Botero on his practice of sculpture:

'When I deform things I enter a subconscious world rich in folk images. For me rotundity in art is linked to pleasure. Basically it's a matter of rationalizing natural impulses.' (from the OAS Museum).

I am continually inspired by great artists and sculptor like Botero. Below is a Jumping Clay piece inspired by F Botero:

Eye-catching Elmo

Elmo is perhaps the most famous personality which every Singaporean child would ever know because there are so many Elmo merchandises. "Tickle Me Elmo" is an example. He currently hosts the last full segment on Sesame Street, titled Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers.

His puppeteer is Kevin Clash, who uses falsetto to produce his voice.

Why is he so famous? Is it because he is so eye-catching, all decked in the primary colour which screams "Hot"? Is it because to the Asian eye, Red is so traditionally outstanding? Is it culturally, subconsciously an object of desire which makes the patriotic blood boil with pride at a feverish level?

Take a look at this tableau, all made by yours truly, in Air-Dry Clay. Does Elmo stand out ever so prominently? You tell me.





FYI, Elmo is the only Muppet ever to testify before the U.S. Congress. At the request and with the assistance of Rep. Duke Cunningham, he testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education in April 2002, urging support for increased funding in music education. [Source for this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmo]

Groovy Grover

Grover in different languages:

In Germany his name is Grobi, a possible diminutive of the German grob, meaning "rough" or "rude".
In Portugal he is Gualter (Walter).
In Spain he is called Coco.
In Latin America and Puerto Rico, he is known as Archibaldo.
In Brazil he is known as Arquibaldo, although recent broadcasts retain the name Grover.
In Norway, he is known as Gunnar.
In Egypt, he is called Antar.
In Israel, he is called Kruvi, which is a play on the word kruv ("cabbage").
In the Netherlands and Sweden, on the other hand, he remains Grover.

C is for COOKIE MONSTER!!!

[picture: Jumping Clay Cookie Monster]

Cookie Monster made his Sesame Street debut in the first episode, interfering with Kermit the Frog's "famous W lecture" by eating a model "W" bit by bit. He turns it into an "N", a "V", and finally an "I", to Kermit's frustration. He then tries to eat Kermit.

In his early appearances on the show, Cookie Monster seemed somewhat scary to younger viewers, as he personified the childhood fear of "being eaten by a monster".However, this fearsome image did not last long, and Cookie Monster quickly became one of the most popular and beloved characters on the show.Cookie Monster's theme song, "C is for Cookie", is one of the most famous songs from Sesame Street.

O Oscar!!!

"Don't bang on my can! Go away!"
(Oscar is made of Jumping Clay - Can is made of tin, coloured)


The Thrash-lover with the other Thrash-lover




According to Sesame Street Unpaved, "The character of Oscar was inspired by a nasty waiter from a restaurant called Oscar's Tavern in Manhattan. Jim Henson and Jon Stone were waited on by a man who was so rude and grouchy that he surpassed annoying and started to actually amuse both Jim and Jon. They were so entertained that going to Oscar's Tavern became a sort of masochistic form of luncheon entertainment for them, and their waiter forever became immortalized as the world's most famous
Grouch."

(Source:http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Oscar_the_Grouch)

All about KERMIT

Would you believe it if you know that Kermit the FROG first appeared in 1955? In addition, information has it that the prototype Kermit was created from a green ladies' coat that Henson's mother had thrown into a refuse bin, and two ping pong balls for eyes. Also, the creator added his collar at the time to make him seem more froglike and to conceal the seam between his head and body.

Kermit is one of puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous and beloved creations, which was why Kermit was performed by Henson until his death in 1990. Since then he has been performed by Steve Whitmire. He was voiced by Frank Welker in Muppet Babies and occasionally in animation.

Kermit was a regular character on Sesame Street throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

The roles played by Kermit:

1. Lecturer (an easily frustrated one)
2. News reporter for Sesame Street News.
3. Stage Manager (Muppet Show)

Jim Henson once claimed that Kermit's job on the Muppet Show was much like his own: "trying to get a bunch of crazies to actually get the job done." It was on this show that the running joke of Kermit being pursued by leading lady Miss Piggy developed .


The various songs he sang on Sesame Street tended to be meaningful in nature, most memorably his song "Bein' Green". I personally like "The Rainbow Connection" of course.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_the_Frog
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kermit the Frog

Of the many puppets in Sesame Street, Kermit must be one the many outstanding ones because he is given a very important role: One who holds the mike must be very important right? He is also given an evergreen song for us to remember him by, and i absolutely love the lyrics. I also like my Jumping Clay likeness of Kermit. Do you like it?

I hope you'll like both the Clay one as well as the beautiful Youtube video of the Green One singing...

Sesame Street Sublime

As far as i could remember when i was growing up, i looked forward to every single episode of Sesame Street every Saturday noon. On my b/w TV, followed by the colour TV, the puppets have followed kids like me into 2008. I remember the counting to 10 and then the Alphabet songs and of course these lovable and adorable characters. To make them into Jumping Clay is proof and testimony of their everlasting durability.

These 6 characters are the famous personalities on this familiar street scene which i have created. Looks like the actual set ? ;-) From left to right, Oscar, Kermit, Elmo, Grover, Big Bird and Cookie Monster!

All Things Penguin

Of all the things i like to do using Jumping Clay, Penguins are one of my favourite. I have a tremendous liking and affiliation with Penguins sice young. The first object i drew when my mother enrolled me into an Art Class run by the then Outram Park CC was, guess what? A PENGUIN! It's easy to draw and the clours are contrasting.

Doing it in Jumping Clay is fun too as it allows you to put on the penguins a choice of colours and poses, as well as moods.

"Penguin keychains" - Done by two girls from Raffles Girls Primary School



"Gone Fishing" - Can be customized.
For Price enquiry, Call 96625929.

Air-Dry Clay Class ~ Tanglin Special School

The students of my clay class have seen improvement over the months as they tried out a Korean brand of air-dry clay. These students really like the activity as they come week after week, making object after object. I'm glad they enjoy the hobby.
Some mastered the basics at a faster rate and they are challenged to produce products for sale while the beginners find satisfaction in making something they are happy with in class. All projects will be displayed and i hope they derive a sense of achievement when they see their works being displayed.
(middle picture - Ching Xiu making an Oreo for sale)

Talking about commitment - Whenever i arrive at the school, helpful Jason, a boy not from my clay class but from another class, will greet my at the car porch and help me to bring the things into the classroom. I'm proud of him and his sense of duty. Thank you Jason!

Right now, the teacher-in-charge, Mrs Hong, and myself are preparing for the year end sale, which will see fund-raising being done for the school. Of course, the most important is still the sense of achievement for the 20 over kids. Sometimes, a parent volunteer, Helen, will come and chip in and help out with managing the kids as well.