Friday, August 31, 2012

Don't be misled. Simple questions that empower buyers.

Recently I was alerted about a reseller who stole my photos and content.  She used it on her website and etsy shop.  I decided to write about this, in order to raise awareness amongst buyers regarding the issue of misleading photos that are sometimes used.  I want to focus on the deeper and higher meaning behind this whole issue, as it is one that buyers should be acutely aware of. 

We have all had experiences buying things off photos that were misleading.  

Once I purchased some glass jars on Ebay.  Photos are important to me, since I don't have the means to view the products in person. However when they arrived, I was sorely disappointed. It was nothing like the photos. The containers did not fit the jar openings nicely and they looked badly made. I asked for a refund because they were nothing like the ones that I saw in the photos. The photos were mis-leading. 

In today's world, supplying the products is just not enough, people are looking for value added service. How you create  meaning in the products you carry is important. How you present them as they are is important. 

While price is important, so is reliability 

Reliability comes in many ways - it includes 

- Sellers who present the item truthfully as it should be. No mis-representations.
- Sellers who spend time to experiment and research products, and takes pride to create photos and write a proper listing description for the product. 

And while reliability is important, trust is sacred. 

Can one really trust a seller who steals content (which includes writing) and photos and as a result mis-represents themselves?  

Even if the seller is selling a raw supply, but took someone's photo to show the products that were created with the raw supply, it is still a case of mis-representation because the seller did not create that. 

Before making a purchase, here are a few considerations which will help you to determine if you are dealing with a reliable and trustworthy seller: 

- Did the seller use the product himself or herself?
- Did the seller make their own notes about what worked and what did not worked?
- Did the seller think of creative ways that you can use the product? 
- Did the seller show you how to use it, in his or her own way? 

These simple questions set a conscientious standard which you can apply. Applying these standards should help to protect you as a buyer.

I hope in some small way this blog entry will serve to raise awareness on this issue.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Dollhouse Cake Shelf - Antique Green

My newest dollhouse cake shelf is painted in this beautiful shade of antique green. :)

Some of you might think it's a really bold, and perhaps an acquired colour. I cannot even explain how beautiful this green is to me. And I think that even the pictures are not doing enough justice. I just know I cannot take my eyes off it. Very antique, elegant, and it makes me smile.

Green has a special place in my heart. Perhaps it was a colour that I was obsessed with since I was a very little girl. (Yes green was my favourite colour when I was a kid, not PINK!)

I love everything green, even my food. Green cakes, green coloured drinks!! And then I went into elementary school and I think my colour taste changed as I turned 8 or 10 years old.

I bought a new colour when I went shopping last week with my aunts and mom. It was a green. :)
I was really eager to try it, and here this is my first result.

This piece is painted in many layers, to give it this antique look.

I took this side view of it just to show you how straight the corners are.


And a close up of the painted dollhouse cake shelf.


Another shot of the sides.

Available now in my shop here under Bakery Miniatures.

If you want a customized one in another colour or another size, feel free to pop me a message! :)

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Shopping for flowers

Sorry for the lack of updates. Work in real life as well as my creative pursuits work have taken most of my time away and there hasn't been much time for me to sit and write...

But today, I was very happy to go flower shopping with my aunts and mom.

I needed some flowers for my project and had to shop for some. These are the ones I bought, and I hope I would be able to use them well in my project.

It's very rare that my mom comes along with me to my craft shopping in Singapore, but she has excellent taste. She eyed this bunch of pretty flowers first, and I liked how it matches my project!



This is also another bunch that my aunt probably saw and thinks it would be a good fit for my project. 


Can't wait to use them...but first I still have more work to complete, and after a good rest, I shall start working with these flowers.

Have a wonderful weekend all! 

Friday, August 17, 2012

Coffee Flavour Fake Macarons

I'm still busy working on these fake macarons. This batch is coffee flavour ones. I have to keep stressing that it's fake just so that people don't think they are edibles. I did not know this flavour or colour is such a hit. Perhaps people really love drinking coffee and it doesn't harm to have a coffee macaron too?

Before I started getting busy with the macarons, I was also busy working on my second online tutorial! YESS! For those who are searching for online miniature clay food tutorials, I am working on the second one, but I got pulled away by a project so I have to devote my time on that instead. But I just wanted you all to know there is something in the pipeline...so do look out for it.

I'm welcoming my first overseas student this coming weekend, and it's always exciting! She wants to learn the English Tea Time which is one of the most popular workshops.

There were a couple more enquiries about this class by other students - but I ran out of some materials. I will be contacting those once the material is available SOON. The good news is, shipment is already on the way :)

My student popped a question asking how long it will take for her to travel to my place from her hotel. I found this really useful resource http://whereto.sg/ where you can input in your hotel address as well as your destination details. It tells you how long it takes to travel by bus or car/taxi. :) 

Have a great weekend all!


Monday, August 13, 2012

Fake Vanilla Bean Macarons

Here is a large batch of fake vanilla bean macarons sprinkled with cocoa powder.

There are for my recent project. I still have a few flavours to make...

Making these in life size have its challenges, especially when making them in large batches...

Let me organize my thoughts and I hope to share more when my project is about there. :)


Saturday, August 4, 2012

Miniature Clay Mold - Animal Cookies Mold

This miniature clay mold is new in my shop! Make 1/12 dollhouse miniature scale animal cookies using them!

How cute it is, with 14 different animal shape designs featured in this mold, you will have so much to play with! Opps, one of the design is actually a doggie bone ;)

I had fun playing with it the other day and whipped up a few designs - all while watching the Olympics and I pretty much only watch swimming, volleyball and triathlon.

I actually have a few more ideas for using this animal cookie mold, which I will experiment later.

Meanwhile, it's available in my shop under dollhouse miniature supplies.

Have a great weekend all!