Sunday Stickies is a column where we reflect on the past week and pen those thoughts down on sticky pads. Expect notes to ourselves and others, advice, reminders for the week ahead, quotes, and anything random actually. Our schedules in July and August are fully packed with art markets, datelines and more datelines. It never rains but pours right? However, this is definitely a happy problem and we kinda like dancing in the rain. In this week's Sunday Stickies, we may come across as grumpy old ladies going on and on about busy schedules and the severe lack of time-off and sleep but don't take us too seriously. We honestly like the heavy workload. It is assuring to know that we get to be busy and we have big projects to sustain us. New work opportunities and projects mean growth for the company and a chance to explore new ventures for our studio. We had many meetings this week but the meeting in the air took our breaths away and we became giggly puffs instantly. We probably lost all forms of professionalism for about 10 minutes but life is too short to be always serious, right? Plus, we got ourselves a new Hello Kitty labeller for some studio work because life is also too short to have boring office tools! Min: What do you do when you are in a long and boring meeting? I often find myself dreaming of ice cream and wishing that the meeting will wrap up quickly so that I can finally indulge in some decent food. A part of me understands the importance of meetings and discussions but the other part feels that too many meetings are a complete waste of time. Sometimes, I wish most people will come prepared for a meeting, and by prepared, I want to have constructive conversations and a solid plan to move things forward. It can be extremely frustrating when the parties meet without any prior planning and time is wasted sitting around, looking important. #grumbles Jia: How important is your hair to you? That was the question on my mind for the past few days. My brother is a long-term supporter of the Children’s Cancer Foundation and has taken part in a few Hair For Hope events. Every time I watch my brother and the numerous participants shave their heads to raise money to aid the kids and families impacted by cancer, I am always filled with admiration and respect. My hair is my ultimate comfort blanket and as much as I want to support CCF and its events through active participation, the only thing I can really do is to donate to the cause! Perhaps, one day if I can raise $50,000?
- Are you ready for August? :) With Love, Min+Jia.
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Jia and I have attended many wedding receptions in Singapore. While some receptions left us basking in the loved-up atmosphere, many just didn't cut it. I adore weddings and I am the guest who tears a lot during the entire ceremony. I am also the guest who cries when I spot the bride in an ill-fitting gown and her face plastered with bad makeup. It gets to me more when the venue is scarcely decorated with run-of-the-mill props - if there are even props - and fake flowers. No wedding couple should have to go through a memorable day like that! Just no. I asked a couple of friends and most of them don't care for a wedding theme. Many said that having a wedding theme is too costly to maintain while a colour theme is easier to achieve - matching dresses and colours for the bridal party. I seriously beg to differ. A wedding theme sets everything in place while a colour theme helps to keep everything in check. And to clear the air, not all wedding themes cost an arm and a leg! As a bride-to-be, I am very aware of my wedding budget and priority. As such, I turn to Pinterest with hopes of recreating that Pinterest-worthy dream wedding on a budget. It's no easy feat but for the sake of a beautiful wedding reception, it can be done! All it takes is some creativity, imagination and the best of friends. Rustic Charm Most wedding receptions are held in hotel ballrooms in Singapore and there aren't many local venues that can offer tall forests and backyard barns. However, it is not impossible to include rustic elements at a hotel ballroom. In fact, we just did a wedding styling that was oozing with rustic charm. If you are doing the decorations on a budget, we recommend gathering some burlap, wooden pallets, crates, bales of hay and tons of small dainty flowers. Pair this look with candles, fairy lights and lace for a touch of softness and romance. This theme is cost effective but you may have to gather your bridal party to hunt for recycled wooden pallets and wooden crates with you. For this theme to work, always remember that recycled items work best! (images above from clockwise 1, 2, 3, 4) Flower Power Another hot favourite among wedding couples is a flower themed wedding. Flowers play a huge part in any wedding but a flower-powered theme literally fills the venue with a lot of flowers. A huge cluster of hanging flowers can create a dreamy look. Fairy tale, bohemian and garden themes are highly dependent on flowers in order to achieve the ideal look, so don't ever go easy on the flowers! The more the better. If budget is a concern, simply head to floral wholesalers or nurseries and approach them for bulk pricing. It is definitely going to save you a whole lot of money! Jia and I love going to the wholesalers and nurseries to source for flowers whenever we are styling any event. Bring your bridal party along and we are sure that you will have a blast looking at all the different types of floral available! (images above from clockwise 1, 2, 3, 4) Watercolour Romance
This is one of my favourite wedding themes and it is definitely trending in the wedding theme department. Our studio has been swamped with wedding projects involving watercolours! Watercolour invitations paired with dainty calligraphy/brush lettering is gaining popularity fast among couples and it is easy to see why. Depending on the artist's style, watercolours can add a delicate and whimsical touch or a bold and imaginative look to your wedding stationery. I adore the idea of having a watercolour background as a feature wall and I will adore it even more if it is a photo booth background! Don't you agree that a DIY dip-dye lace table runner is such a great idea? (images above from clockwise 1, 2, 3, 4) - Don't you just love weddings? What is your dream wedding theme? :) x Min Sunday Stickies is a column where we reflect on the past week and pen those thoughts down on sticky pads. Expect notes to ourselves and others, advice, reminders for the week ahead, quotes, and anything random actually. It is wedding season here at honey&gazelle Design Studio and we are absolutely loving it! Weddings are such joyous occasions and we love to be part of all that jazz and celebratory fun. We are definitely in a wedding bubble and our Pinterest account is truly reflecting what we are obsessed with. Browsing through Pinterest has really inspired us greatly as we currently have quite a number of wedding commissioned projects and wedding styling projects on our hands. Wedding season is real! We had an opportunity to style a wedding reception this weekend and we went all out in the DIY department. Getting our hands dirty with DIY projects is something we both enjoy and look forward to, so there's no way we would pass up an opportunity like that! The Event Styling arm of our studio is without a doubt, one of our favourites. It is a pretty tiring process to style an event but once you get into the whirlwind of ideas and crafts, you just keep going and going and going... Min: Wedding season is the coolest season ever. I have been dreaming about my wedding day since I was a kid. Well... they say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. Kudos to you if you got that song reference! Now that I am a bride-to-be, planning and actualising a real wedding is as stressful as it gets. But I guess all that stress is a happy problem, and I am just beyond thankful for talented, patient and supportive bridesmaids. Besides being a bride-to-be myself, I get to be my friends' bridesmaids too. All the love and celebrations in the air are making my heart swell with so much happiness! I truly love weddings! Jia: Anyone who knows me can attest to this fact: I am not a morning person. But alas, a super packed work schedule meant that I had to get up around 5-6am for the past week! Now I totally understand why it is so important for Min to have breakfast in the mornings… I really needed the extra fuel to keep me going. However, even with the breakfast fuel in me, I was still a walking zombie on most days which led to many little accidents and Min’s constant exclamations/chiding whenever I dropped something or walked into something. All I want to do now is to sleep in until I wake up naturally. Come on, just give me one day please!
- Now, which do you prefer: weddings or waking up late? :) With Love, Min+Jia. For the past few months (or actually, half a year), we have been knee-deep in the wedding preparations of Min and our other close friends, as well as wedding styling for clients. If you took a peek at the screens of our mobile phones while we are in transit, you would most likely see images of flowers, gowns, table settings, decorations, and engagement rings. Yes, we are always doing some sort of research on weddings! As we wrap up a wedding styling project, we thought it would be fun to share our curated thoughts on awesome flower choices for weddings. When it comes to florals, we have pretty different preferences. Min adores her lush greenery and botany options, while Jia loves big blooms and she cannot lie. 10 points for you if you got that song reference… or should it be minus 10 points for knowing such a terrible song? Whatever it is, we hope that this Curate post will give you some beautiful floral inspiration! Min 1 // Philodendron Leaves I have always referred to this leaf as a 'tropical palm leaf' because of its size and colour. This particular Philodendron leaf is my current wedding botany craze because of its deep green colour and unique leaf shape. I love how sleek it looks in a glass bottle and especially how the sheer size of this leaf makes a stunning stand-alone centrepiece. I don't think it is necessary to adorn a wedding venue with flowers. Ferns and leaves can also be elegant and romantic! (click here to go to featured flower arrangement) 2 // Proteas Proteas is the national flower of South Africa. I once received a bouquet of wild flowers with a deep red Protea for my birthday and I was so captivated by its shape. When I was in Cape Town earlier this year, I saw Proteas growing in its natural habitat and it was so beautiful. Its unusual bloom will definitely spruce up any bouquet. I honestly had enough of roses as the go-to flower pick for wedding bouquets! It's time to throw in something fun and exotic! (click here to go to featured flower arrangement) 3 // Magnolias I am attracted to all things Magnolia! The use of the solid large white petals against a sea of deep green leaves in wedding floral arrangements is incredibly stylish and slightly less mainstream. If only it isn't that hard to find Magnolia in Singapore... at an affordable price. (click here to go to featured flower arrangement) 4 // Eucalyptus Eucalyptus has been one of those 'Cool Girl' wedding floral picks for the past few years. There is just something attractive about its muted colour and the way it pairs very well with almost any flower. I think it elevates the entire look of the floral arrangement to a whole new level of "coolness". (click here to go to featured flower arrangement) Jia
1 // Tulips So clean and classically chic, tulips are definitely one of my favourite flowers of all time. I love having the option of minimal floral accompaniments when putting together a tulip-centric centrepiece. Just a bunch of fresh tulips in a glass vase is enough and oh, so gorgeous. (click here to go to featured flower arrangement) 2 // Peonies Ah, peonies. I am a sucker for big blooms and I would have to say that peonies have one of the most magical full blooms of all. They are so breathtaking in springtime and a fresh bouquet of sweet-smelling peonies always make me swoon. Do you know that peonies are regarded as a symbol of a happy marriage?(click here to go to featured flower arrangement) 3 // Hydrangeas Besides tulips, blue hydrangeas are another of my favourite flowers. The voluminous shape and feathery soft petals makes for such a lush and comforting sight. Using hydrangeas will instantly add a touch of romance and femininity to any occasion, thus these pretty flowers should be a consideration for all weddings! (click here to go to featured flower arrangement) 4 // Daisies Fun and lighthearted, daisies are a great pick for a casual and relaxed wedding. They fit easily into various themes, from an earthy rustic concept to a cheery garden setting. I smile every time I see daisies and I always photograph wild daisies if I happen to chance upon them when I am out and about. They are just the happiest flowers to me! (click here to go to featured flower arrangement) - What are your dream wedding flower arrangements? Do you like big blooms or unique ferns/leaves? With Love, Min+Jia. Sunday Stickies is a column where we reflect on the past week and pen those thoughts down on sticky pads. Expect notes to ourselves and others, advice, reminders for the week ahead, quotes, and anything random actually. Phew, we made it to Sunday! It has been a super packed and busy week at the studio as we worked on new product designs and client projects furiously in a bid to stay ahead of our schedule. In our line of work, last minute projects tend to pop up when you are the most hectic, creating an even bigger pile of work that needs to be done as soon as possible. By the end of Saturday, we had gotten confirmation on two projects that we thought were out of our reach. And thus, in a span of six days, we had secured four new projects to our dizzying disbelief. It's alright, it's okay, we can do this. At least, this is what we have been telling ourselves for the past twelve hours. Beyond all that disbelief and surprise, we are extremely stoked about the new opportunities and doors that have opened for us. Now to get our act together and put our best foot forward! Cheer us on! Min: What a week! Jia and I had many errands to run and we are so thankful to have a car to ferry us around. In a span of 8 hours, we combed 10 locations, had 10 outfit changes, ate 2.5 meals, and drove under different weather changes - cloudy sky, drizzle, thunderstorm, and full sunshine. The weather in Singapore never fails to amaze me. I can't believe how I managed to pull all that off while driving with a spoilt left mirror! Nothing but God's grace and protection, and Jia for being the world's best co-pilot and mirror adjuster. Well done, Jia! We both deserve a gold star for A* teamwork. A busy week and a new addiction to a relatively new game has left me with very little sleep all week. As a result, I missed a couple of alarms in mornings and I hit the snooze button a wee bit too much this week. I don't usually respond very well when I don't get enough sleep. But that's normal right? Currently, I'm dreaming of a day dedicated to nothing but sleep, sleep and sleep. Jia: A friend in need is a friend indeed. Well, I was the friend in need this week and was so touched to receive unflinching help from so many of my friends. Have you ever tried hunting down wine crates and wooden pallets recently? I used to be able to find so many hidden gems in alleyways and dumpsters but sadly realised (and acknowledged) that it has been getting increasingly difficult to source for such materials.
In case you were wondering why I would need to find such random objects frequently, let me explain. I have been dabbling in theatre set design for many years where I would often need to find props to create realistic scenes. Along with honey&gazelle Design Studio's event styling services, random object sourcing has become a regular activity for me. For the past few days, my friends (and Min's dad!) have been graciously helping me out with my urgent search for wine crates and wooden pallets for a wedding next week. I feel so extremely loved and grateful! To all my friends: I love you guys and I would totally do anything for you as well. Thanks for sticking by me and tolerating my nonsense for so many years! Big hearts and kisses to all of you! <3 - Did you have a busy week too? Share with us your stories! :) With Love, Min+Jia. |
Min+JiaThe humans behind honey&gazelle Design Studio. When we are not frantically working, we share our mishmash of thoughts on design, life, and love here. Grab a cuppa and stay for a bit! Categories
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