welcome to 2013

i ushered in the new year in an idyllic environment - a remote island off borneo, with limited electricity only from 6pm-7am, and pay by the hour wifi (which i wasn't even tempted to use)... it was refreshing to be unplugged, given the constant connectivity in our daily lives. it just shows how much we don't actually need it. every one seemed happy to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. and i very much did too.

this photo was taken on one of the walks down the beach, the water was amazingly clear and cool. these local kids were fishing, jumping off the boat and diving in. a good reminder for me this year to take time to unplug + enjoy :)

december days

this month started with hong kong's much welcomed music festival, clockenflap... despite the patchy weather it was a great weekend filled with talented artists/musicians, both local + international. this picture is of the international commerce centre, the tallest building in hong kong. it's a different style image to previous month's but i though it was rather interesting seeing the full reflection in a puddle at such an event. 

great start to the end of the year

the last quarter of the year seems to snowball with events, parties, projects, travels until it hits the tipping point of the actual festive season where being busy is an understatement. don't get me wrong, i'm not complaining, most of these things are by choice... but it's almost a choice of doing a or doing b. regardless, there's another thing to add to the calendar or to do list!

despite all that, there's been some great news that has caused for much celebration in terms of friends' predicaments + future, which is amazing given some things they have gone through this year, and are still going through - hold on to the hope that good things are yet to come.

i started this last quarter in a beautiful country, a place that's been on my list for a long time... even with great expectations, it did not disappoint. only an hour from hong kong, taiwan is a island full of food, friendly people, great coffee + cafes, outdoor pursuits + more - i have to go back to explore the rest of the place, but from what i've seen, i like it, i like it a lot!

this picture is taken from the train wereby i made use of my 3-day metro pass by going all the way up to tamshui on my last day. lovely open spaces + scenery along the way, i caught this train yard on the way back into the city :: enjoy.

what a stunner

recently the weather has been absolutely gorgeous in hong kong! this weekend i spent a lot of time in mui wo, lantau partly for moontrekker training and also visiting friends who have recently moved there. it is a great place, very relaxed + best of all is that you can enjoy the amazing scenery.

this was en route on the slow ferry...

it's HOT!

we're well into the summer months, hitting a scorcher of 34deg today! it's almost criminal making us work inside all day long wasting such a beautiful day. though once outside, you immediately melt in the humidity. to add to the heat, we currently have the abercrombie & fitch guys running around town... topless, oh my!

we all know distractions can be an adversary, one we have to work with + push through, and well it certainly takes quite a bit of will power to refocus our minds + thoughts from one thing to another. something that i've found helpful when walking around the bustling city streets is listening to some stunning instrumental pieces... and i get caught up in them, forgetting the crowds + pushy ignorant people... it's a lot more peaceful + it actually makes the day a lot better! you should try it some time.

and so this month's calendar is of a cyclist out on the railway tracks... maybe it'll help you escape from the heat or the busyness of your day.

just a tad late...

i know i totally missed july's calendar, i didn't really think much about it until at lunch there were some comments about how people have still got the old calendar up! it's nice to know people use them :) sorry about the lack for this month, if it's any consolation here's one for your records. it's a butterfly cage that is made entirely of chocolate! yes you read correctly, there was a chocolate art exhibition a while back where everything was made from the substance, much to my delight. this was a beautifully designed piece, very delicate + even the individual butterflies were made of chocolate + strung up!

refreshing plunge into june

this month's calendar is of rocky bay, porirua in new zealand. it was a beautiful crisp day + we went for a dive in this bay to mark the start of winter. yes it was cold!! with a water temperature of 13degree celsius, i wore a 2 piece 7mm suit with a hood, gloves + booties, having not been diving in a while i was a little apprehensive about getting back into such extreme waters. we had to kit up + walk down to the bay across the slippery rocks + mud. given the extra weight i had on, i slipped several times + laid helplessly on my back, struggling to get back up. my guide was awfully gracious offering his hand + help. despite losing my fin at one point + having ridiculously numb fingers + toes, it was great being back in. you lose all sense of time down there. the dive itself was an interesting one, with rocks + seaweed to navigate around, i spotted an octopus too!

45minutes later we emerged + made our way back up to the car. the sun was a nice warmer, but i too cold to do the second dive, so have left that for another day. also my body is still recovering from the workout getting across those rocks!

may day

this picture was taken a few weeks ago at pui o as we started our hike back to mui wo on lantau island. the old village homes + sedentary life we witnessed was calming, almost allowing us to reminisce of days gone by. it just seemed right to have this as a black+white photo. would you agree?

as days go by

i've been digging through old print photos for some upcoming big birthdays this year, which has been a wonderful trip down memory lane of childhood friendships + growing up. it's exciting to see how things have changed, the paths we've all taken + looking to what the future holds for us all.

the photo for this month is from my time in dunedin, new zealand. we were returning from a road trip down south, tired, looking forward to a hot meal + shower... the beautiful dusk was her way of welcoming us home.

drawing on inspiration

i just attended a talk by hong kong based photographer alex capri, who works with black & white photography, both digital + film capturing stunning fine art pieces of serene, natural beauty.

inspiring to say the least, his favourite elements, as evident from his showcase tonight are trees, clouds, naturally occurring lines + curves that subsequently evoke motion in a still image. aesthetics are important, you need to be captured by the image, and then he likes to let himself wander around.

so on my way home i was thinking about what image to use for this month's calendar + this one from my trip to india came to mind. the linear lines, a tree (!), three main subjects + how it somewhat allows you to wander around seemed to work.

admittedly it's not the best photo, i was on a moving bus so it was a little difficult to get it exactly how i wanted, something i need to work on. also he emphasised that should should always carry your camera around. will try to!

run seb run!

congratulations to sebastien who finished the half marathon in a great time - 1:40:02!

also, a more exciting thing is that the fundraising target of $1,888 was greatly exceeded by the wonderful generosity of friends + family supporting sebastien + smile train in raising a total of... $8,326!! wah, that's a-mazing! there's definitely a lot of smiles for those miles :D

we just received some pictures to share with you all:

seb - the man himself, running for a great cause

our design even featured on sift cookies!

a smile for every mile!

doing what you enjoy the most is made more worthwhile when you help others at the same time. so i was more than happy to support + sponsor through my momumen designs, delphine + sebastien in the standard chartered half marathon run on february 5, 2012.

having done the race myself (just the half), i know it's not easy + it's great that séb is doing this for a good cause, to raise money to donate to smiletrain.org - an organisation that helps children  his nephew, jules jiehu was born with a cleft palate + harelip, and found abandoned in wuhan, china. adopted into a loving french-italian family, two-year old jules has already had one operation + will undergo further surgery.

the momumen design below is the first in colour! we kept it bright + bold so it will stand out on the tshirts + other supporter materials. excited to see how it turns out!

please visit sebastien's page + support :: fundraising page (some people are donating more money the more time he shaves off his personal best!)

jules jiehu

"run seb run"

just run it

i've always had a love affair with the beach... the rush of the waves, the saltiness in the air, the sinking of your toes into the sand, it's incredibly calming. it's the perfect place to start + end the day, something i plan to do more often.

juquehy, along the coast of brazil is known for it's beautiful white sand beach, which was definitely enjoyed last christmas. morning runs offered peaceful reflective moments, syncopated with amusing ones as other people celebrated their morning walks in teeny tiny garments... it is brazil! the beach was more than ideal, a long stretch of around 5-6km, relatively flat with some inlets. the beach on either end is lined with dense green forestation + several small islands were not too far from the break.

on my morning runs i witnessed the start of the day with vendors, opening up their carts with coconuts + snacks, others setting up sun chairs + umbrellas for hotel guests... the heat of the sun could be felt, it wasn't even 8am, but what a way to start the day : )

there are a few running events on this month that though i'm not participating in, will be supporting in some way or another... so more on them soon.

one quiet evening in juquehy, we wandered down the beach for a stroll + to catch the sunset, it was beautiful + features below in this month's calendar :: now imagine running on it, go on.

new waves of 2012

a moment of all moments is the turn of the clock from one year to the next. this moment was spent standing on the beach in stunning punta del este watching fireworks coming at us from all directions, exploding just above our heads + lightning up the sky. amazing!!

when i was younger, i always thought the few hours after midnight foretold what your year will be like... so 2012 for me this year will be with loved ones + by the beach (that is part of the plan!)

as always, a new year brings an opportunity of change + renewing. it's like the change of tides + new waves come to refresh, though some may be more challenging, you have to keep your feet on the ground + know that come what may, you'll still be standing at the end of it all.

this picture is of jose ignacio where we spent a number of days - a beautiful beach with equally beautiful people. the lighthouse at the end is a little reminder when you start to lose your way. 

be ready for all that 2012 has for you + enjoy it!

last weeks of 2011

i know we say this every year, but they do seem to be going faster! i guess it's an age + time thing, as i mentioned earlier to someone, we're not spring chickens anymore ha

it is starting to feel christmasy, with the smell of pine trees outside my building, roasting chestnuts + the cooler weather to wrap up in. had a gingerbread latte today + decorated a christmas tree, haven't written any christmas cards yet, but will definitely get on to them soon. postal dates + deadlines are looming, some have passed already eek!

here's the calendar for this festive month. it was coincidentally taken on christmas eve in oxford. though the camera work is debatable, from recent photography lectures, you have to put yourself in the photographer's position + try to understand what they were thinking to appreciate the image. train tracks on a cold winter's night creating a nostalgic feeling, of holidays + travels far away, of new beginnings + fond memories, a journey to share + sometimes to go at alone. being unfocused draws upon emotions, perhaps a teary blurred vision or even the speed at which one is traveling. or more likely, it was just poor lighting + cold shakey hands!

happy holidays wherever you may be spending them!

coffee, cupcakes + christmas cards

christmas is a special time + we all have wonderful memories of past years spent with family + friends, waking up to opening presents under the tree, feasting on great big meals, and napping it off in front of the tv... die hard was always on in our household!

and so this year we're bringing together a few of the things we love - coffee, cupcakes + christmas cards, on an evening at knockbox coffee company, with some mulberry moment artwork on display (some never seen before!) in support of viva christmas parties.

please join us on

friday, december 2, 2011 

from 6pm onwards

hk$100 donations - you'll get a coffee, cupcakes + christmas cards!

viva christmas parties

a non-profit organisation called viva, works with local communities mainly in africa, asia + latin american to look after + care for children at risk. their mission - together we can give more children a safer, happier + brighter future. every year they run viva christmas parties, inviting children in the community for a day of fun, food + games, so donations + proceeds raised on this evening will go towards giving these children their very own special christmas moments this year.

hk.viva.org | current expedition - walking home from mongolia

knockbox coffee company

enjoy a unique coffee experience at knockbox. a company run by enthusiasts that offers espresso-based as well as specialty coffees with fresh, home-roasted beans. we sell beans, we sell equipments, + we share coffee-making skills!

shop b, 14 tai ping shan street, sheung wan, hong kong - click here for a map

facebook.com/knockboxcoffee | read a review of the place

hope to see you there!

moo-vember

i know this is a rather moody background, but for some reason i find it quite peaceful! i love how the blue skies are peering through the darken clouds. you can see them. they are there. and because of that i find peace in this imagery.

the past few weeks have been a rather testing time for of number of very close friends. it's hard not to be drawn into their situations emotionally as well, and though there have been restless nights there is hope and love, prayer and friendship. it's been wonderful witnessing things changing for the better, and even though some are still going through the valleys, what we can do is journey with them and point out the blue skies behind those heavy clouds.

quite fittingly as an accompaniment to this, is the inituition's piece - the sun heals us.

tminus3

oops, it's half way into october + i haven't put out the calendar yet, sorry about that! good thing there's only a few more months left of this year, the past few months have been a crazy blur, but all we can do is keep trucking on.

though as always, the last few months of the year is hectic with getting the christmas collections out, fairs + extra special designs/cards. if you're wondering, yes we'll be at a few holiday fairs, so will keep you informed of those + also we're just finalising a few details with some new shops that you'll be able to find mulberry moment in very soon! exciting.

if you are super organised + fancy getting onto your christmas card writing now, k11 - dymocks + hk book center will be displaying our festive ranges shortly. it's never too early.

here's the october calendar for all of us busy + unorganised people who are in need of a prison break. this was taken after a trip down the mekong river -

a little perspective

we're a few days behind with this calendar, but it's not the end of the world + we're getting back on track with the help of sophie. she's recently taken a liking to the camera + has been busy happily snapping away on her worldly travels. i love seeing the world from her eyes, so innocent... it's refreshing!

'i want..' this is how it began

if you're interested in gaining perspective from a two year old, please follow her tumblr for regular updates - through the eyes of a 2 year old.

in the meantime, enjoy this month's calendar courtesy of sophie, taken at her granny's place:

my little sophie

it was actually two years ago that I did my first baby thank you cards, and it was a pleasure to do them for my first niece - sophie. she was only a few weeks old in these photos - she was so tiny!

we decided to make them as postcards, so they would be be easy to send out without the additional cost (or waste) of an envelope! they were printed digitally on 350gsm white card stock as we were only doing a small number of them. we received some lovely feedback, and also a recipient in australia who was expecting herself, liked them so much she ordered some, exactly the same for her baby girl!

sophie just celebrated her second birthday and as she's in enjoying herself in the uk, i sent along the details for her baby tree as part of her birthday present. in the meantime i'm looking after it and watering it for her until i see her in a few months!

here's the birthday girl, all grown up...