OliveBlue

Enchanted Forest

2011-11-25T06:16:00.001-08:00

Enchanted forest I call it. My pet sister, always with so many ideas and imagination designed this cupboard. She wanted me to paint uprooted trees, broken branches, fallen leaves, critters and yet make it a whimsical place to be lost in. That left me in awe! Took me 6 months to put the design together , looking through books, googling, imagining, dreaming etc. Finally this was accomplished. It was a joy while painting and relieved when completed. And double joy when my sister beamed with pleasure as I sent the piece over to her house.

Workshop - Stacked Teacups

2011-09-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

Workshop on 'Stacked Teacups'

SELANGOR/KL

Date : Saturday, 8th October 2011

Time : 9am to 5pm

Venue : Olive Blue Studio, Subang Jaya

NORTH

Date : Saturday 1st October 2011

Time : 9am to 5pm

Venue : Seberang Perai (contact Liza Zaid on facebook)

Open for bookings now. First 3 to register with full payment for respective venue gets

a gift each.

Organisers for other states/towns are most welcome. Call me at 0173144532, or email zaitunramli@yahoo.com or facebook (Zaitun Ramli)

My Workshop at OliveBlue Studio

2011-07-28T03:48:00.000-07:00

My very first solo workshop conducted at my home, just a little room which I call the Oliveblue Studio.

With very little response ie only 5 students, I still pursued the workshop as the participants registered are very enthusiastic and keen to learn from me and postponing would just dampen their spirits.

Anyway, it was a successful one as they all completed (well, almost with little touches and varnishing to be done by themselves) the project and they all did well producing the Timeless red roses! Good job, Azlina, Shima, Sue, Zarina and Zie.

gifts for the early birds who registered

project piece

Every one with the completed project.

Busy in class....

Roses and lace

2011-07-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Roses and lace, a combination that has always captured one's heart be it when choosing china, clothes, furnishings and even wedding favours, gifts and 'hantarans'.

This plaque I painted recently was inspired from a friend who wanted me to design a long plaque with pink roses and lace.

The laces are from my earlier designs of teapots and vases on a shelf. The roses in this design are not the stroke and blend style. It is painted with shading and highlight all the way. And the rose petals are blooming irregularly, which I think makes it nice and natural. Again, I am happy with this piece. It is also up for sale on Ye Oliveblue Shoppe for those interested to order.

Workshop - surveying interest and pre-registration

2011-07-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

I am planning to hold a workshop on this project ' Stacked Teacups'.

Dates : to be confirmed ( after Hari Raya)

Time : 9am to 5pm

Venue: Olive Blue studio, Subang Jaya

Contact me through facebook (Zaitun Ramli) or hp 0173144532 or email zaitunramli@yahoo.com

Other venues :

JB (facebook - Zalina Yunos)

Kluang (facebook- Norhasikin Hasnol)

Penang/Butterworth (facebook - Liza Zaid)

Perak (facebook - Norliza Hassan)

Oliveblue gifts

2011-07-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

My friends plan to throw me a party on 4th July! Thats what they told me, but they kept the venue and guest lists a secret. I had to be blindfolded to the place! Its a girls closed party, themed Oliveblue. There were games, lucky draws amongst the itinerary, all organized by Shida and Zu. Among the gifts for the lucky ones are pieces that I painted. It was an awesome party!!

Choice of doors

2011-06-29T16:54:00.001-07:00

Ever get tired looking at your plain cupboard doors? Transform them with a theme of the storage use for it.

Here, I am repeating the earlier designs of Vanity and China cupboard doors.

The latest I painted is all about golf.

old student, new student....

2011-06-26T03:57:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I have taught decorative painting to hundreds of people, probably even thousands now. Some paint for leisure, some with a purpose to further develop themselves to teach in this line and some learned to paint merely as a business of selling the painted items. Whatever the intentions are, I am happy that I have fulfilled my job and mission to impart knowledge and skills in this area to others, which benefit them in one way or another.

I am concerned about imparting the correct technique of painting, usage of proper materials and tools, managing best colour combinations and upgrading one's skill.

Now and then, I will have new students, some learning from scratch while others have knowledge and skills from other teachers. But it always feels good that old students will come again and again.

For instance, this morning, my long lost student, Tengku Norashikin, came for an upgrading class on roses! Shikin who now teaches from her home and commissioned to paint for customers was my first batch of students way back in 2003. She took 2 years to learn roses alone. In between she picks up on different flora and other subjects too. She also learned from my other fellow artists. After a couple of years she comes back to me for roses which I have different techniques and style from the ones she learned earlier.

Joining her this morning is Kamaliah (Kay), a considerably new student who religiously comes to my classes every Sunday or even on my Thursday class when she is on leave from office work. This morning Kay continued her painting on cloth pieces for her curtain. She is currently into teacups and teapots. She completed a couple of projects with me, amongst them is a plaque with china on lacey shelves.

There are many other stories of students to tell. That would be another chapter.

Keep on painting with a smile....!

Restoring Sentiments

2011-06-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

Alas! I have completed restoring these 2 old tempayan belonging to my brother and family. These tempayans has sentimental values to them. They painted the tempayans together way, way back in 1996 and 1998. At that time the siblings were little children.

It must have been enjoyable for you guys, Ibah, Boy, Mim, Is, Yaya and Ayap. So here, Achu (moir), selected the colours closest to the originals, maintaining the design with a little improved shading and highlights.

You guys actually did splendid job, when I observed closely as I was painting.

So here it is, all done up now for one of you to come and collect.

This is the other tempayan.

the old and the new

Workshop 'Timeless Red Roses'- open for bookings

2011-06-17T19:55:00.001-07:00

Decorative Painting Workshop
'Timeless Red Roses'

Date : Saturday, 16 July 2011
Time : 9am to 5pm
Venue : Oliveblue Studio. USJ. Subang Jaya

Now open for bookings. First 3 to register with full payments gets a gift
Contact me through facebook (Zaitun Ramli) or hp 0173144532 or email zaitunramli@yahoo.com for details.

For other venues, please refer to the respective organisers.

Johore Bahru - facebook (Zalina Yunos)
Kluang - facebook (Norhasikin Hasnol)
Penang/ Butterworth - facebook (Liza Zaid)

Workshop -Timeless Red Roses

2011-06-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

At last, with less painting at the furniture shops, I have the time to sort things out and am now able to start my solo workshops. Besides the regular Impiana workshops, my teaching partners, Aniza, Nora and I decided to conduct our solo workshops, something we thought about 3 years ago but did not get to do them yet.

It is encouraging to know that more and more people in Malaysia are into decorative painting and some even has become teachers themselves in this area, more so in the last 2 to 3 years.

With my painting knowledge and experience thru painting, reading and teaching, inputs and requirements from customers and advice from those with more experience has inspired me to impart the knowledge and skills further to the up and coming aspiring decorative painting artists and enthusiasts. There are many tips too to be shared as I teach.

I have painted thousands and thousands of roses. in various colours , shapes and sizes. I thought red rose is something I want to start-off with in the series of workshops I planned for.

The choice of wood piece (wall clock plaque) is something I chose based on my interest in unique designed clocks and something that the participants will find useful and decorative at the same time.

I hope there will be good response from all of you out there! In the mean time, I will also plan for basic modules to decorative painting for those who just want to try out 1 or 2 projects before they decide whether it is something they want to continue with.

Contact me at 0173144532 or email zaitunramli@yahoo.com

More Wedding Favours

2011-06-09T08:32:00.001-07:00

Designs on these boxes are bamboo with simple stroked flowers, which is inspired from a Japanese book on decorative art.

These oval paper-mache boxes are painted with simple side-loaded stripes and some floral designs on the cover.

These are little bears and teapots fridge magnets.

Bunga-bunga melayu

2011-06-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

My brother's orders for plaques of traditional flowers or as I call them, Bunga Melayu (Malay flowers) for his new house, is a refreshing change to the usual flora and fiona I painted. Most of the malay flowers are scented ones which are the Melur (Jasmine), Cempaka, Melati and Mawar (Roses). I had to google for pictures of Melur, Cempaka and Melati to get the designs.

The Bunga Raya (Hibiscus) which is the Malaysian national flower and Anggerik(Orchid) are Shelly Nelson's designs.

Sneak-peek

2011-05-18T07:39:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to show my student's (Zuraihan) project although it is just half-way done. She is painting things of her belongings scattered on a table and viewed from top elevation.

Besides the cup of tea on lace doiley, there will be a chocolate on the side.

Other things on the table will be a bunch of car-keys, a handphone and stack of letters.

Gifts

2011-05-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

When you can paint, there can be always something you can bring to friends on their invitation to occassions and ceremonies.

The hang-plaque I plan to give to a friend for tomorrow's morning coffee at her house.

This door-hang with 'open' and 'close' writings was a gift for my friend when I went to a tea party for the opening ceremony of her English Deco shop.

Colour Combinations

2011-05-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

I tried some colour combinations producing these roses.

Try blending Napthol Red Light and Burgundy with Smoked Pearl for the roses. Shade with Burgundy and highlight with Warm White.

Maybe some of you have tried this before but if you have not, do try for a sweet coloured rose.

The Prime Gift

2011-05-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

I am honoured when a friend, Saniah who is also a fellow decorative artist has asked me to paint something that she wanted to give to our First Lady at a Charity Function.

So here is a keepsake box which I painted flowers of the all-time favourites, the roses.

I hope you like it Datin Seri.

KL International Book Fair

2011-05-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

The 30th Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair was held at PWTC for 2 weeks last April 2011. We were at Utusan Publications booth on 24th April, to participate in the promotion of our earlier book on Decorative Painting, 'Amaze Yourself with Stunning Projects' and its translated version to Bahasa Malaysia, 'Kagumkan Diri Anda dengan Projek Menawan'.

People drop by to see us doing some demo painting and we had a surprise! Guess who visited our booth? The Deputy Education Minister, YB Dr Puad Zarkashi was doing his visits at the fair and dropped by our booth, I can say, quite impressed by what we are doing. Yeay! Its a lucky thing we had some ready-made items handy, to present him with our painted souvenir.

English Bath Cubes

2011-03-04T19:44:00.000-08:00

Painted these english bath cubes with scented florals design as the real ones in the soap dish. I have those bath cubes for many many years, given by a friend from the UK. Never used them as it was too beautifully packed and I kept them as a decoration in the powder room. Now, it comes handy to use the design for painting.

It's a guy thing

2011-02-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

Another cupboard door, this time for guys.

It is quite a challenge to paint something suitable for men. With the design inspired from the book, 'It's a guy thing' by Susan V. Cochrane, some from calendars, journals and fashion magazine, I managed to put these things together. And shall I say, I'm proud and happy with this work.

Forever 'Teacups n Teapots'

2011-01-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

I am forever loving teacups and teapots, hence painting them too. Here is a tall slim cupboard (shown here, the door only) with various teacups design and a 3-leaf screen with portmerion inspired designs.

Vanity Cupboard

2011-01-06T01:27:00.000-08:00

Things that young girls (or older ones for that matter, like yours truly) love : handbags, shoes, hats and lacey gloves, perfume and the whole range of toilettries, lipstick all all other cosmetic, vanity mirror etc etc. Woman, vanity is thy name....

And here they all are, painted on a cupboard suitable for girls room. It is for a customer. My Ayesha asked me why don't I paint them one. Well, maybe I should. Must find the time to paint things for myself!

Primula Villosa

2010-12-14T00:04:00.000-08:00

Primula Villosa or Blue Primrose design as in the Portmerion stoneware collection, here painted on a kitchen towel holder.

Tea, anyone?

2010-12-08T03:30:00.000-08:00

Its past tea-time by now though, but I just finished painting cup-cakes and bread on these pieces of cloth to make a curtain.

Decorative painting class continues....

2010-12-03T07:05:00.000-08:00

My classes took a break quite sometime, during fasting month, then drag on for the preparations of my daughter's wedding. Just started class 2 wks ago and here are some of the students' projects. Looks like we managed to get more golfers interested in painted clubs!

Decoupaged lazy-susan enhanced with paintings.

An old, tarnished silver tray transformed with Janzen design.

Bengkel Mega Sehari 'Indahnya Folkart' (Asas)

2010-11-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

Impiana Group Magazine of Karangkraf will be organising a 1-day Mega Workshop on basic level decorative painting at Kompleks Kumpulan Media Karangkraf, Seksyen 15, Shah Alam on Saturday, 16 April 2011. Grab the latest issues of Impiana, Laman, Dapur or Apartment magazines for registration to the workshop. Aniza, Nora and I will be there to guide you through the painting project. Hurry! Register and we will see you there!

Bengkel Sehari Indahnya Folkart (Lanjutan)

2010-11-12T18:23:00.000-08:00

Laman Impiana will be organising a workshop on decorative painting, 'Sehari Indahnya Folkart', this time an intermediate level, a follow-up of the first 7 series of basic workshops conducted in the last 2 years. The 1-day workshop will be held at Kompleks Kumpulan Media Karangkraf, Seksyen 15, Shah Alam on 5th February 2011. Hurry, sign up for the workshop through registration forms in recent Laman Impiana magazine. See you there!

Wedding Stuf

2010-10-28T20:54:00.001-07:00

This is the best part of my daughter's wedding preparation. I get to paint some things like signage to the wedding place and boxes for wedding favors.

wedding signage

favors for main table

Trash

2010-10-28T02:50:00.000-07:00

Its not trash I hope though it is a trash bin. This is one of my unfinished projects that has been hanging on for years. Sometimes I just can't get the right mood or design to start. Thank God its completed now.

Little paintings on little things

2010-09-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

Serving table

2010-09-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

It is always handy to have extra side tables or trolleys especially during festive season when you are entertaining guests and would need additional tables for putting glasses and cups or serving desserts.

Yatie's Kitchen

2010-09-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

Yatie's kitchen (Kitchen with a difference February 20th, 2010) was featured in the recent July-September issue Dapur magazine.

Dapur Impiana workshop1

2010-09-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

Bengkel Sehari Pesona Folkart organised by Dapur Impiana was held on 3rd July 2010. This is the first of the series that is planned for Dapur workshops. The painting was on chopping board/placemats with fruits design.

Mangkuk Setangan

2010-09-03T00:03:00.001-07:00

At home we call it the mangkuk setangan in Malay or more well known as kendi air, maybe a hand bowl in English or wash bowl? These are old style of aluminium ones which are painted with roses design. Definitely suitable for coming Raya with eating of ketupat, rendang and such. Always taste better eating with hands.

Bird Houses and other garden ornaments

2010-09-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

Enhance your garden with garden ornaments, especially those that can be painted. Some may be afraid to display things outside in rain and shine, but through my experience these painted items go a long way. This spade and watering can has been in my garden for 5years. The dust and rust makes it even more beautifully antiqued and distressed.
That just proves that the acrylic paint and varnish we use does last. However, you must ensure that the material used are those that can stand some time of rain and shine, like tin, aluminium, certain wood but definitely NEVER MDF. Those are strictly for indoors.
Of course there are certain things that will just wear off and destroyed after couple of years. then, paint yourself a new one!

Birdie!

2010-09-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

Beware golfers! We have ventured to the golf course. My sister in law painted this on my brother's golf club. Amazing ideas of painting!

Phnom Pehn Trip

2010-09-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

Like the birthday celebration wasn't enough, some of us continued celebrating with a trip to Phnom Pehn! We were there from 19th to 23rd July and had tremendous fun, visiting palace and temples, historical places, took boat ride on Mekong river, savour the food, relaxed with foot n body massage, and best of all SHOPPING. It was more of the companion we had of each other that made the trip an enjoyable one. There were adventures with our ride on the 'tut-tut' that got stuck when we went over a bump which was either too high or we were overweight! haha! We ended having to come down and help push the tut-tut over the bump which made half the town laughing!. We were also caught in their flood after a heavy rain, having to walk back to the hotel when tut-tut couldn't pass through the floody area.

50th Birthday Bash

2010-08-30T05:29:00.000-07:00

I had the most enjoyable time with my school friends of Convent Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ), Muar,Class of 77 as we celebrated our 50th birthday together last 10th July at KLGCC, Damansara. We have been friends since Std 1 in 1967 (I joined in Std 2 when I moved from Alor Star) and some of us have been classmates right up to Form5. Among those present were teachers, Headmistress Sister Marie Therese and Assistant Headmistress Mrs D Cruz. Some seniors and juniors joined in too that made the night even more special.

Everyone was busy registering and happy to catch up with old friends and taking pictures together. We started the night with singing our Convent School song. While having the western dinner the game started as we all have to leave by 12 midnight and there were so much in store for the night. There were games, singing our birthday song and blowing the candles as each hold a cup cake. And not forgetting lots of lucky draws.We also made a collection of donation to help a child of one of us.

The highlight of the night was the line up of contestants for the title Miss Fabulous50. Miss Sexy and Miss Congeniality. Judges were 3 people, a teacher, a senior and a guest for the night. Each contestant was required to interestingly answer a question by the DJ to win the title. Finally the titles respectively went to Mary Anne, Lay Hua and surprisingly yours truly!!

Agnes performed solo on a few Chinese numbers

My friends Lay Hua, Kat, Julie, Lee Hoon, Gennie and I performed the Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen dance. We practiced for 2 months at weekends and jam up at Mary Anne's place. My daughters helped choreograph the dance and trained us. The rehearsals and practice were better than this actual one but we still entertained everyone! Guess we got stage fright as the last performance we had was during teachers' day way back in 1977!

Mary Anne performed a solo of Tina Turner. Very entertaining, look at the crowd watching in awe!

Another performance was an impromptu, calling the seniors and juniors for a dance to a Hindustani song Kuch kuch hota hei. My sis is the one in blue/purple attire. Turned out so well and fun, we had so much laughs!

And we, students and teachers dance till midnight. Well, Cinderellas have to go home before midnight!

Tiffin carriers

2010-08-29T04:16:00.001-07:00

Finally this is done! So sorry Liza, it took me so long to complete this. If you are following this, hope you are happy with the tiffins, though you have not seen the real one yet.

And thanks to Aniza for the scenery design.

Blue Rose

2010-08-28T01:02:00.000-07:00

I have never actually seen one real blue rose, at least not in Malaysia. Have you? Let me know if you have. Would be interesting to know. So this one is created for a client who wanted blue coloured roses.

Back To Roses

2010-08-28T00:39:00.001-07:00

The love for roses never die, be it for customers or yours truly. It is always nice feeling painting roses. And the satisfaction when it turns out beautiful, enhancing plain furniture and simple plaques.

Fit for the Queen?

2010-08-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

Guess this. Will show more after Raya.

Green is the colour

2010-08-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

Nothing new, the same teapots and teacups. but since I like these green coloured ones that was requested by a friend, I still like to share them with you.

More Blue and White chinaware

2010-08-22T09:05:00.001-07:00

For orders contact JUNE at 0192126756

There is another source of obtaining Blue and White china. Those interested can contact JUNE at 0192126756. She supplies Spode with 'willow' and 'churchill- the blue room collection' designs. Hurry, you may be just in time to serve the Hari Raya feasts in these beautiful blue and white china!

In addition, she also has a set of 4 decorative plates also by Spode with Thomas Kincade, a famous artist, design. These 4 designs are familiar to me and has inspired decorative artists to paint the scenery design.

Hurry, pick up the phone, the blue and white collection is just a call away!

Wedding Favours

2010-08-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

It was a great honour when someone has commissioned my friend and I to paint butterfly fridge magnets as wedding favours for her son's wedding last July.

We had to paint altogether over 500 pieces and was given ample time ie about 6 months prior to the wedding. We were also given a free hand on the design and colour choices which makes work a lot easier. Here are some of the pieces of multi-coloured and different floral designs.

And for the main table, she requested for painted teapot coasters with coordinated napkins as in the pictures below.

We went to the wedding and was happy to see guests happy with the favours. And the beaming us too when we were praised for the well done job by host and guests. Whoohoo!

Bread Carrier

2010-06-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

I painted this carrier for a customer who wanted pictures of bread. After a long search for the design, I managed to combine referring to Aniza's painting and some serviettes. So, here it is.

Hydrangeas season

2010-06-19T08:17:00.001-07:00

'Tis hydrangeas season amongst my students. Prior to that was season of pansies. And there are some other interesting pieces from Jo Sonja's design like the Fruitcake (bird) on the blue tray. Others are the first step roses and tulips. These pictures are all beautifully painted by my students in the class at my home.

An interesting piece

2010-06-18T03:33:00.000-07:00

Having to paint something new, something different is so motivating and satisfying.This piece of plaque I painted for my dear Kak Masnah is meant for her workplace/studio for her hobbies of painting, sewing and other craftwork. Of course it was not my idea from scratch but bits and pieces from different books and objects at home put together. Voila! Its my proud masterpiece. Besides the things that can be seen in this size of picture, if you look closely there are 2 threaded silver needles on the left.

A dash of Red

2010-06-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

My house decor is basically off-white with touches of subtle olive blue . When a friend gave me this nicely hand-made red cushion during my morning coffee with friends at my house early this week, she was afraid I could not put it in my living room. But I do not mind because a striking colour of an item gives another breath of freshness to the overall decor. I like the cushion so much. Thank you Kak Jan for the lovely gift.

Blue and White Collection

2010-06-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

Contact Shidah Noor to buy the following collection of blue and white items. 0192283083 or 0356388845

My friend Shidah is all so crazy for blue and white collectibles. She has started using blue and white china since a long time ago when very few within our circle of friends, or probably amongst the locals, learn to appreciate them. She now sells these blue and white china and other decorative items in blue and white designs like cushions, curtains, table cloths etc. She also has nice white laces to enhance the blue and white collection.
Shidah has asked me to advertise in my blog as I do paint blue and white designs too . Anyone interested on these blue and white items shown can directly contact Shidah Noor at 0192283083 or 0356388845. Hurry. call her and you can get some free decorative tips from her. As a result of these interest, it has brought me to find out more on Blue and White history.

Blue and White china are evergreen collectors items of porcelain vases, tablelamps, cups and saucers and the rest of tea or dinner sets. Besides having them as decorative items in the house, many also use them regularly for daily meal servings. Blue and White ware in Chinese 'qing-hua' literally 'Blue flowers' designate white pottery/ porcelain decorated under the glaze with a blue pigment, generally cobalt oxide. The earliest invention was in the Middle East in the 9th century through the decorative experimentation on white wares. The first China blue and white wares also started in the 9th century in Henan Province China. It was tracked back to the Tang Dynasty where those were primitive blue and white products. It was then well developed in the Yuan Dynasty. These were the start and has influenced the Islamic and European designs. By the beginning of the 17th century (that was the century that folkart also came about), the blue and white wares were directly exported to Europe and America. European manufacture of blue and white porcelain started in Germany in 1707 and the early wares has strong influence by chinese and oriental patterns. Many European countries followed this trend. The factory in England produced a style known an Chinoiserie and also followed the manufacturer in Delft Netherlands has resulted in the English Delftware.

The current blue and white wares are combination of the above history at one time or another, with high-end designs by Spode, Churchill, Johnson Brothers, Royal Doulton etc and the lower range are regular porcelain with no significant brand names from abroad or locally produced which are also beautifully designed. Our very own local Air Hitam, Johore ceramics have been famous for its blue and white and other designs and colours.

Here are pictures of blue and white porcelain by Spode.
There are also coordinated blue and white cushions in roses and toille designs. A dash of white lace here and there gives a soft touch to the setting /arrangement.

I am in MIDI magazine

2010-06-01T06:08:00.000-07:00

The 1st June issue of MIDI has an article about me and my job as decorative artist. Grab a copy to read details. In the magazine. also featured a collection of decorative painting items, could be products by any one of you decorative artists out there. And also another advertisement of the upcoming workshop by DAPUR magazine.

What's cooking?

2010-06-01T05:55:00.001-07:00

Eversince Safiyyah started her holidays, she cooks a lot, meaning having save my cooking time, I can paint a lot too! But now is June, soon she will start her college again. Today she serves Red Pasta for lunch and White Pasta for dinner as written on the Laura Ashley Teapot Board. By the time I decided to take the pictures, the lunch is gone so, only manage the shot of dinner here.

Paint till you faint

2010-05-13T06:45:00.000-07:00

I have been painting and painting and painting but sometimes its just the same or similar design and colours again and again that I feel faint. Have you ever experienced the times that your painting pace gets so slow as its the same work (same kind of painting) everyday? It just comes once in a while. And I have been feeling it since past few weeks. Today is somewhat refreshing, painting blue and white on various blue backgrounds. No wonder I'm working faster today and produce better output. Well, when it comes to painting you just have to get yourself into gear whenever work gets monotonous and leads to boredom and laziness. Switch by doing other things for a while like watch TV, go shopping, hang out with friends or better, take a holiday! Then you will come back to paint better. That, definitely works for me!

Mirror, mirror on the wall

2010-05-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

Even the simplest mirror frames can be made more attractive by painting beautiful designs on them.

And if you do not have a frame, make one by painting on the
wall all around the mirror!

Students' projects

2010-04-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

These are recent students' projects. They are happy, I'm happy too!

pink flamingo

tulips on faux vedigris background

Roses on 'balang'

Indahnya Folkart Workshop Series 7

2010-04-30T00:37:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday 24th April 2010, Aniza , Nora and I conducted
the 7th workshop of Indahnya Folkart organized by LAMAN of Karangkraf. About 40 participants attended this time and everyone seems happy with their achievement for the day. To the participants who are viewing this, thank you for your participation and hope to see you at the next workshop (for DAPUR on 3rd July and an intermediate level for LAMAN which already is in the pipeline and dates will be informed soonest possible.

Decorative Painting Book (BM version)

2010-04-28T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Alas our Decorative Painting book which was out about 2 years ago has now the Bahasa Malaysia version. The cost is RM31 and can be purchased at MPH and Popular bookstores nationwide.

Cutlery box

2010-04-05T06:17:00.000-07:00

The recent box I painted with cutlery designs
and again tea set.

Papillon

2010-04-05T05:25:00.001-07:00

The easiest way, for me, to inspire myself when thinking of designs is to paint the things that I like. Other than my love for collecting teacups and teapots I love to collect anything that has butterflies (papillon in french) print, be it Portmerion set of china or scarfs and clothes or even wrapping paper and such. I love to watch butterflies every morning in my small garden as I water the plants. It will be a start of a beautiful day.
So I started to paint butterflies, on cloth, furniture and other small wooden and tin items. Friends who share the same interest makes it easier for me to paint for them. The paintings shown are things belonging to friends.

Painting on cloth

2010-04-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

The beauty of decorative painting is that one can paint on almost anything by using the same acrylic paint and just adding the different medium. In this case painting on cloth needs the textile medium as an additive to the existing paint.

I have painted on tea-towels before as shown in the earlier topics. Recently two friends Zubaidah and Yatie came out with a brilliant idea by asking me to paint on pieces of cloth and they patch them up to become a curtain! Here are some pictures of the pieces of material and the sewn curtain.

DAPUR Impiana Workshop I

2010-04-05T00:11:00.000-07:00

Dapur Impiana of Karangkraf Group will be organizing a workshop on decorative painting (Bengkel Pesona Folkart) on Saturday 3rd July 2010. This will be the first workshop for Dapur and as the name of this magazine implies, the series of workshops planned are focused on painting of things in the kitchen like fruits, vegetables, bread n buns, teapots and teacups and such on kitchen utensils. As a first workshop, the project is a basic one ie painting of fruits and flowers on a chopping board. Again Aniza, Nora and I will be there to guide you. So hurry and sign up for the upcoming workshop.
See you there!

Stools

2010-03-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

I have painted so many stools in the last 9 years. Here are some recent ones, with the favourite flowers of all times - Roses.

Bulbs

2010-03-13T16:46:00.001-08:00

Flowers emerging from its bulb looks pretty.

Indahnya Folkart - Asas Siri 7

2010-03-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

Laman Impiana Karangkraf Group will be organising the 7th basic decorative painting workshop on 24th April 2010. Aniza, Nora and I will be there to guide you. So hurry sign up and see you there!

More Furniture Painting

2010-03-09T07:05:00.000-08:00

I am now a regular furniture painter/artist after doing so for the past 7 years, more so in the last 3 years. Here are more pictures of furniture from June's Selayang and Indahreka Cipta, Shah Alam.

People say decorative painting is sedentary work. Well, to a certain extent it is, as most small items can be completed by sitting on a chair in front of a table for hours and hours.

However, for me, painting big items is a challenge as I need to maneuver furniture and balance myself at times. Sometimes I stand while painting or sit and sprawl on the floor, and at times climb a stool or step-ladder for painting tall furniture. As an advice, find the most comfortable position while painting. It does not only ease the painting technique, but also care for our body so as not to have unnecessary muscle/join pains. Happy painting!

Class in progress

2010-03-08T23:24:00.000-08:00

The class last week seems a big satisfaction for Kak Zakiah who completed her teacups on teabox project and also for newcomer Sharon who completed here first project on daisies. Kak Shidah is still continuing her plate with Jo Sonja design of Butterfly Garden.

Kitchen stuff - now the pot still calling the kettle black?

2010-03-08T23:10:00.001-08:00

Make your kitchen more interesting with painted kettles and pot-covers.

whistling kettle
and 'kuali' lid

Dare to be bold

2010-03-08T21:44:00.000-08:00

Try these vibrant and bold colours for a change. Deep red and pink roses goes well on this bright green background. Soften the design by a dash of lavender-coloured filler flowers.

The Powder Room Collection

2010-03-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

Liyana's Engagement Ceremony

2010-02-26T07:00:00.001-08:00

The bride-to-be

How time flies..... my baby girl is engaged to be married. Such a joy and we had so much fun planning and preparing our own decor for the ceremony with help from friends and family. Liyana did her own hantaran. Here are some photographs to share

The mini-pelamin for sarung cincin

The table setting

The tepak sirih

engagement favours/door gift

The hantaran

Stylish bookmarks

2010-02-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

Cakes, cookies, crackers serving ways

2010-02-26T05:56:00.001-08:00

It may be too late for Raya, Christmas or even Chinese new year, but here are some things I painted for your next table serving ideas.

ordinary tins, painted, ideal for crackers, biscuits and such

My friend Shidah serves her keropok/tumpi/rempeyek in this beautiful tin. Kak Masnah uses it as a vase for her table centrepiece floral arrangement.

cake stand, tissue box and cookie bottle holder in pink and green

You can have a matching table set for serving cookies and cakes.

cake cover

Plain glass cake cover can be made more attractive with some flowers painted on it.

You light up my life.......

2010-02-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

Sorry, not you darlings.... but these pretty candles. There is actually a special candle medium that you have to use when painting candles. From my experience, no varnishing required but leave it to cure couple of days before handling/using them.

Jansen's painting tapestry florals

2010-02-25T06:45:00.000-08:00

I learned from my friend Aniza to paint Jansen's painting style and attempted on a 3-leaf screen. It took me couple of practices to get into the style and it was enjoyable doing the screen. It turned out beautiful, so says the customer, my dear Kak Masnah. She loves it. Look even better at her house complement by her beautiful house and nice collection of decorative things.

Family day gifts

2010-02-23T03:36:00.000-08:00

My family of 14 siblings and our children have our annual Family Day since a couple of years ago. During these special times we normally exchange gifts. my gift to my siblings last year were tea-towels with hand painted teacups and teapots.

In 2007, my gifts were more personalised; bringing them down to memory lane as I have their childhood photographs, photographs of our old house in Kedah and such all printed like stamps and decoupaged on to a box, enhanced with minimal painting. unfortunately I have lost most of the pictures when my laptop was stolen. Here are some that I still have to show.

China Storage

2010-02-22T06:28:00.000-08:00

As an extension of the topic 'Teacups and Teapots-I like coffee I like tea' in 2007, here are more ideas of such paintings. This time I painted for June an impression of teapots and teacups on a shelf of a cabinet to store chinaware; also randomly display of chinaware on a cupboard door and a row of teacups/teapots/vases in a frame.

The Larder

2010-02-22T06:18:00.000-08:00

Do you have a walk-in larder or pantry? Or simpler, just a cabinet or cupboard to stock all your non-perishable grocery. Even better when you can paint on its door! Here are pictures of randomly displayed bottles, tins and boxes on a larder door.

Kitchen with a difference.

2010-02-20T09:00:00.001-08:00

You can change your kitchen with a wave of a magic brush. Of course in this case the magic does not come in a split second but it is in the desire of the owner for painted cabinet doors and the passion of the artist [in this case, yours truly] to design and paint them. So voila! From modern designed black doors, its now cream, antiqued and 'trompe l'oeil' (a french term meaning 'trick of the eye') to look like a cabinet within a cabinet.

The doors under the sink are original louvers. The third door was actually plain but I painted it to look like lattice to complement the other 2 doors.

On the long doors, Yatie wanted a topiary design and since she loves roses, we decided on a rose topiary in an urn to coordinate with the rose borders on some doors.

Old chair new stool

2009-10-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Kak Masnah sent me this old chair. She said she wanted it transformed to something usable and she likes the painting with some crackling and antique looking.

Took me a while to think of a design. Finally, inspired by Jo Sonja's Chinoiserie painting, I painted the chair or rather the stool [since its without a backrest] a background of Black Berry with pink, purple and blue flowers with Opal instead of the Whites. The centre of the stool is crackled Opal over the Black Berry and painted with monochromatic scenery.

Pretty in blue

2009-10-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

After painting so much on white furniture, June and I agree to make a change. by moving to blue coloured background. Fully blue cupboard would be too overwhelming, so we concentrate on portions of blue and left the rest of the cupboard white.

Pink flowers go very well and sweet on blue.

A more subtle effect are white flowers on antiqued blue.

The blue in these pictures are shades of what I call Olive Blue.

Book Promotion at POPULAR book store

2009-10-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

We had the usual book promotion at Popular bookstore at the Curve on 1st August 2009. The 3 of us took turns with the demo on decorative painting. Now our books are available at Popular, The Curve

Indoor Garden

2009-10-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

The concept of indoor gardens in a home is having a landscape in a certain area of the house which is soothing to the eye and relaxing to the mind. you can enjoy the lush greens, colourful flowers and beautiful garden ornaments.

By painting, similar objectives are achieved, maybe a little further too as imagination can put anything in a painting. There is a customer who loves garden scenery that has it on her amoir in her bedroom so that she can enjoy the garden even while she rests in the night.

Note: the postbox with No.23 on the painted envelope is a student's project.

Serendipity

2009-10-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

During one of the morning coffee in my home with Kak Masnah [our adorable sister in life], Aniza and Nora, we stumbled upon an interesting discovery about ourselves. 42yrs ago, in 1967, I was schooling at St. Nicholas Convent, Alor Star in Std 1. Little that I know that during that time I have a senior in Std 2 whom I will meet later in my life ie...... none other than my painting buddy NORA! In 1968 my Dad was transferred back to Muar. Johore so I did not get to 'meet' ANIZA who also happened to be in the same school in 1969. Nora was still there though. So that makes the 3 of us the SNCees. It is serendipity that we meet later in our lives through decorative painting.

Sound of silence

2009-10-26T02:48:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, I know I have been quiet and hiding somewhere. I have excuses like busy with my 3rd daughter enrolling into varsity, then our laptops were stolen. But Safiyyah has settled in campus and I have bought a new laptop 2mths ago, so I guess it's poor excuse. Ha ha! However. I have been painting a lot and will share them as I update. See ya!

LAMAN IMPIANA WORKSHOP V and VI

2009-08-05T01:48:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 25 July 2009, the three of us again conducted the fifth workshop organised by Laman Impiana of Karangkraf Group at Carlton Hotel, Shah Alam. There were 40 turnouts this time. The programme is still tailored for the basic decorative painting. Then on 15 August, another workshop [sixth] was held at Karangkraf office in Shah Alam. We have planned with the editors of Laman to start the intermediate programmes next year , still continuing the basic programme and also may introduce project-based programmes

A different perspective

2009-05-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

As folkart has spread and diversed into decorative painting, the painting style can be just ANYTHING as creative as you can think of. My daughters are not so much into flowers and sweet lolly designs and told me what they like. So here they are... shoes, handbags, perfume bottles silhouttes on contrasting background adding ribbons, lace, prints, stripes or polkadots. Turned out chic..! Im pleased!

Tick Tock and others

2009-05-02T21:28:00.000-07:00

I painted many clocks recently for customers, none for myself as usual.

And other recent paintings are small items like switch plaques and simple welcome or kitchen signage.

Other items painted are a memory box in the shape of a book that I painted for a cousin for his wedding and a cutlery box that I tried a new design which I looove so much but still sold it!

And there are other small stuff...

... and bigger items/ furniture.

International Book Fair

2009-05-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

Last 19th April, Aniza, Nora and I participated a painting demo in conjunction with promoting our book at Utusan booth during the International Book Fair at PWTC. We also had some things displayed for sale.

Children's Apparels

2009-03-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

Before painting, I use to design and sew little girls dresses. During that time I have models in the house ie my Safiyya and Ayesha and my little nieces. Now they are not little girls anymore and Hannah got all the hand -me-downs. I made only party dresses and I still keep them for Hannah to wear at parties or dinner functions and for memories sake. Since Hannah was born, I gave up sewing because of my fear of handling scissors, pins and needles while having a small baby crawling about. It was then that I took up painting.

Testing the market was great experience. Initially I managed to display the dresses for sale through a pharmacy. There were only 10 dresses then. Within 2 weeks, 8 were sold. That was encouraging. Later I supplied to some boutiques within Klang Valley.

In 2007 during Hannah's slumber party. her sisters organised a fashion parade as one of the activities and Hannah and her friends are taking the runway with my designs!

Breakfast with painting pals

2009-03-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

This morning Aniza, Nora and I visited Zan in her new home. So much to talk about, painting and our wonderful lives and probability of conducting painting workshops in Kuwait. Wow that's something to look forward to. Zan our friend whom we got to know through our shared interest in painting, lives in Kuwait. She's back for a while and we meet to catch up on things.

Zan use to be my friend, Oyah's decorative painting teacher long time ago, even before I got started. I look up her website and find her painting fantastic and her sharing of knowledge in painting was really handy and practical. Then 2 years ago, my friend continued learning from me. Aniza and Nora have met Zan earlier, and during one of the makan-makan at Nora's we were introduced.

We are planning to have a joy painting session together before she leaves for Kuwait.

LAMAN Workshop 5 & 6

2009-03-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Get hold of LAMAN Impiana March/April 2009 issue to register for the upcoming decorative workshop series 5 (25 July 2009) and series 6 (15 August 2009). We will still be doing the basic project of 3 simple flowers on a plaque/placemat. Hope to see you there.

Disneyland, where dreams come true....

2009-03-23T04:35:00.000-07:00

Hannah and I went to Hongkong during the last school holidays. The peak of the trip was of course Disneyland, not only Hannah's dream but my dream since I was 10yrs old, come true. We had lots of fun, enjoying the ambiance, going for the rides, watching their endless performances and experiencing real life disney characters (lucky they have not grown older, still the same as I pictured them 40 yrs ago, heh heh) and sighting the most beautiful fireworks at the end of the day. Hannah's cousins were there too and that was double fun for her! Triple fun she said.

In hongkong, we went around town. Some art work at the mall again attract my eyes. This time its watercolor painting of buildings.

And in Shenzen, China there was a painting of colorful chinese middle-eastern like design which I saw during our dinner at a muslim restaurant.

Because of the sunny and cool climate, the flowers bloom beautifully. These pictures inspire me to capture the flowers into my painting.

Painting Again

2009-01-23T06:01:00.000-08:00

Wow! It was quite a long painting break but surprisingly I did not miss it when I was in Mekah. Now that Im back home that I feel I need to get hold of the brush.

I have started painting again, even before the new year. Infact I was painting on new years eve!

Currently I am trying to complete some unfinished projects at home, and has also been commissioned to paint at the 2 usual places. If you are interested to buy painted furniture do visit my friends' showrooms at Indahreka Cipta at Section 27 Shah Alam and Junes Furniture at Bandar Baru Selayang. You can also get unpainted furniture and some other small decorative items there.

My art classes commenced about a month ago, every thursdays and fridays. Lakshmi, hope i can manage the old fashioned rose before your next lesson.

Here are some pictures of the newly painted stuff.

Back from Mekah

2009-01-23T04:29:00.001-08:00

Its been a month since I came back from the Haj pilgrimage in Mekah al Mukaramah. Everyone has their own story and experience. Words couldn't really express the soul experience and spiritual journey that I had; my feelings between me and Allah but it was such wonderful and unique feeling, all I can just say is that I want to go again and again and again- be it umrah or haj and I wish to take my 5 girls there some day....AMIIN.

It was good meeting and making friends with muslim from all over the world, manage to communicate though we speak different languages, be one of the almost 4million people there, getting to pray in congregation in masjid nabawi and masjidil haram, aware but still amazed as how we pray the same way though we are from different countries, background etc and experience performing the total haj ibadah learning faith and patience. I was also down with fever and cough for a long time but got better towards the end of my stay. I can go on and on...

On the physical experience, as usual I know how to enjoy myself wherever i go. We visited historical places, I had fun shopping for souvenirs, getting books and Qur'an, admiring beautiful sejadah, tasted some saudi food and meet up some Malaysian friends for coffee. While walking through one of the shopping area I spotted some interesting tromplleil paintings. Have not had the time to find out about Arab painting tradition, probably one of you friends and readers could highlight me! Here are the pictures of the paintings on walls of the arcade.

So now im back home more refreshed and energized than ever and has started painting after 10 days of rest; guess the longer I wait to start work, the jetlag seems could go on and on.

Updating Previous Events (cont)

2008-10-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

The English Garden (August)

Besides painting, my other interest is ID. I had an opportunity to design an english garden concept for a client. It was a small, partially-roofed deck area which calls mainly for container garden. Most of the garden accessories are from Indahreka Cipta and of course the plaque Le Jardin Anglais, the english garden in french was painted by me. Enjoy the pictures!

Wanita Hari Ini (September)

I was invited to be featured in TV3 Wanita Hari Ini with Azlin, owner of Indah Rekacipta about painting on furniture last 8 September. That was my first experience in a live telecast programme. It was only a 10minute segment, therefore much that I wanted to share couldn't be said. But it was a fruitful one as subsequently there were many callers interested to learn. Indah Rekacipta will organise a series of painting workshops next year, hopefully. For those who are not familiar with the name Indahreka, they are a wholesaler in house decor items especially furniture, situated at Section 27 shah alam. Have a look at the screen behind me. Those who watched TV3'Semanis Kurma' on thursdays during the fasting month would have noticed the white furniture painted with floral design, sponsored by Indah rekacipta .

Updating Previous Events

2008-10-19T23:42:00.000-07:00

I have missed updating certain events since last July. Here they are:

Vicky Nicholson workshop (July)

Craft Haven organised a workshop for decorative painters last July at Da Vincci Art Centre, the Curve. It was still about roses, but totally different technique and style. This is my 2nd workshop conducted by foreign decorative artist, last year I attended one by Sandra Smithers which mainly covered usage of different mediums to painting.

This time, besides learning the technique of strokes for the rose, we learned about using Magic Mix in painting, background and the roses too. Like the word says, it is like magic! Now I manage to achieve a smoother texture of strokes, especially painting larger size of roses and leaves. And it helps in doing a gradual shading to the background.

Though the course fee was quite steep, it is a lot more money saved than for me to go to Australia to learn a small project like this one. It was really value for money as I feel I have learned a lot and gained painting tips from Vicky, and has applied it to my recent paintings. I hope we will see you again in the near future, Vicky.

Congratulations Craft Haven for the success of the programme and hope that you will bring in more artists teachers from abroad next year. I had a wonderful time with other fellow decorative artists, met old friends and made new ones.

Art Demo at Amcorp Mall. (August)

I was invited to do a demo on decorative painting during the MERDEKA Carnival at Amcorp Mall. Nora and I turned up with our books for sale and some items as samples as we did not have the time to paint on short notice, or rather i did not have things for sale, Nora managed to paint a couple of plaques. Turn out was not good, probably it was too early (11am on a saturday), but I gained the experience and met some people interested in this field. And proud to see my name on the 'Events for today' board for the Merdeka Carnival, as soon as we entered the mall.. Yeah!

ATTN: Email address changed.

2008-09-27T00:33:00.000-07:00

On some technical problems, my email address have changed to: zaitunramli@yahoo.com
Thank you!

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

2008-08-02T11:31:00.003-07:00

Hari Raya is just around the corner. I am not really prepared. As long as the girls clothes are bought and sewn and cookies ordered and bought, im safe. I am still in the midst of painting customers items and trying to get all done before hari raya. Looks like some could be completed only after raya. Apologies, maaf zahir batin, he he.

Told myself that tomorrow will be my last day to complete painting projects for raya. I need to do some marketing on Monday, clean the house on the same day and cook for hari raya meals on Tuesday. Raya will probably be on wednesday. Hope I can squeeze sometime to get myself some new clothes, cosmetics, perfume and accessories, otherwise I will just have to do with the old ones.

I painted many items during the fasting month and love them, unfortunately they are all customers orders, fortunate for them though. So, bye bye beautiful things. Here are some of the things that I have painted recently. I especially love the trompe'leil cupbord in limewash background and the blue kettle with hanging teacups.

Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin

Teacups and Teapots

2008-08-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

'I like coffee I like tea'..., in my case I love teacups and teapots with or without coffee or tea.

I have a collection of them, some bought, some gifts and some family heirloom from my mum-in-law. It does not matter whether they are local or imported, old or new but I would choose my collection based on its shape and design, motif and colour.

I extended my interest by expressing them on to my painting. And its always such a pleasure to paint them as the result would be so rewarding. My customers love them too.

Olive Blue Treat

2008-08-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasant surprise last 4th of July when my daughters threw me a surprise birthday party. They planned it all, told me they have their activities with friends and get their Aunty Shidah, a dear friend of mine to guide. I was overwhelmed with joy! Didn't know at this 'tender' age of mine that I have the most wonderful party, ever, at a very special place with special food accompanied with door gifts and Oliveblue theme and presents from friends. Thank you so much everyone especially my 5 beautiful babies, who made this day a very special and wonderful memory that I cherish and treasure. I love you all.