The Tassel's Worth the Hassle

300 Graduation Favours for ICS /
Deadline, 29th May 2010:

It is the Graduation season again... exams, certificates, graduation robes, caps, tassels, goodbyes and good lucks! A season filled with ambitions and mixed emotions: excitement, relief, happiness and sadness, success and even disappointment...

Well, I worked on an order for the International Community School: 300 favours to be distributed to the graduates' families and friends during the Ceremony (30th May 2010). I wanted to create something that will stand out and at the same time reserve memories in a way or another.

Hence, I crafted those mini-certificate favours where each included a chocolate. These have the School's logo on the outside and all the Graduates' photos on the inside (see below).

I wanted to maintain the graduation spirit, so I thought of presenting those favours in graduation caps which very much compliments the whole theme (this is how they'd be distributed to the attendees).

Last but not least, Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2010!

Always remember... The Tassel's Worth the Hassle!

The Good Times

Suad... I miss you... Actually, we all do.

I am dedicating this post to you...

Well the thing is, I was looking through all my arty/crafty stuff (from the past year) and I came across this customized newspaper clipping I made and framed for you before you left to UK; it was the first volume of "The Good Times" [dated September 14, 2009]...

It brought back memories... Back then, we knew we were going to miss you, but didn't expect to miss you this much!! You're not only our sister; you're our friend...

The Fake Eid Celebrations!

I just can't wait till you're back in AD...! Thank God for internet, gmail, facebook, MSN, and this blog... I can get your up-to-date feedback/thoughts/comments whenever I need them... You know how much I love sharing with you any ideas that come to mind, and I very much enjoy getting your feedback [your opinion (as you already know) is super-important to me...]

I also know that you're not always interested... I can sometimes actually visualise your "booo-rr-iiinngg" face expression and your shoulders shrugging carelessly... but that never stops me from going on and on with my ideas and getting them through to you =p

To cut a long story short... This is a little note to tell you how much i miss you, for good times' sake!

I love you xx

Just Like Mommy's

Yes, I'm stealing your title Farah!

Photo Courtesy of Farah M. Shamma ©

Salma received those gorgeous baby converse shoes which tempted me to pair up with her and get ones for myself!! Like Mommy, like Salma! Waiting for Daddy to join the club: COMING SOON!

Like an Elephant: Never Forget

As promised... I am working towards completing the top 4 most important items on my to-do list.

Happily I've got some updates!

Good news: The graduation is postponed for a week; so I have more time to work on the favours... I made use of this time, decided on an idea and got the supplies, will resume working throughout the coming week to have those on time (early would be good too).

Even better news; I completed item #2 of my "top 4 to-do list": a customized baby gift for my friend's newborn boy, Faisal... I think it turned out nicely (see below)... It is a personalised cute little elephant mini hot water bottle cover (with a mini hot water bottle / height: 12 inches)... I embroidered it myself (obviously!)... I find those very beneficial for babies; I often used hot water bottles to warm Salma's crib...

I love the concept... something new, something different... something unforgettable!

Photos Courtesy of Farah M. Shamma ©

I also did a few tasks from items #3 and #4... things should be going smoothly... will keep you posted...

Good night!

To-Do Lists!

My endless struggle with completing my to-do lists is still never-ending! Ugh... I have a passion for writing to-do lists... and when I say passion, I mean that I actually very much enjoy (and put so much efforts into) writing them... I plan them well, have them in nice organised bullets, I even type them, sometimes over and over again...

Everytime I write them, I sincerely intend to complete them but couldn't! I even bought a novel "The To-Do List" by Mike Gayle hoping to get inspired and find a way to strike off most of the bullets on my list, ticking them would also be okay... but sadly, finishing off the book itself is still on my list of things to do (I get credit for completing the first 6 chapters)!!!

Anyways, what triggered this post was that I was preparing my to-do list for the weekend and realised that there is over a 50% chance that I won't get most of the stuff done, if any... instead, I thought of writing down this post and committing myself to whoever gets to read this, that I will try, and again I repeat, trrryyyy to complete (on time) the top 4 items on my list:

1. School Graduation Favours (Q: 300) [due Sunday 23rd May 2010, before 3pm]
2. Customized Baby Gift (Q: 1) [due Monday 24th May 2010, before 5pm]
3. Baby Shower Favours (Q: 20) + Customized Frame (Q: 1) [due Sunday 6th June 2010]
4. Salma's Birthday [due Thursday 11th June 2010 {actual is on June 14th, celebration on June 12th: weekend}; this includes:

• First Year Frame
• First Year Calendar
• First Year Album
• First Year Video
• Birthday Cake Order
• Food & Beverages
• Favours
• E-invitations + Invitees
• Decorations
• Birthday Gifts
• Card from Mommy & Daddy
• Cutlery

I will keep you posted on how well i progress... and the marathon begins... here I go!!

250... and more to go!

250 Engagement Favours for Reem and Patrick /
Deadline, 17th May 2010:

This was my first official order for my childhood friend's engagement. I had offered to do Reem's engagement favours 3 weeks back, but she had only confirmed last Wednesday; hence, I only had 5 days to work on those... I was extremely excited to take on such a big job (250 is a lot of work... especially when every single box was handmade from designing, to drawing, to cutting, sticking, decorating and filling up with candy). Her party theme was hot pink and apple green. She wanted customised chocolate boxes filled up with sweets. I did a few samples and I ended up doing those:

I filled up those boxes with gorgeous yummy macaron and marzipan...

I completed the order on the 18th May, at 1.23am and they looked GORGEOUS at the engagement party last night; I got many compliments... felt great; was worth every fold...

This is the final result:

Beginner's Luck

Good morning!

I had very grand plans to starting up my own business noorart: bead, paper, scissors specializing in customised favours, giveaways and gifts that are purely handmade! However, being a wife, a mother of a beautiful 11months daughter, Salma, and a full-time employee, it was getting pretty difficult to meet my family's needs and demands while taking in many large orders! So I decided to freelance instead, no strings attached: meaning, I take whatever orders I find reasonable instead of being committed to accepting all orders when having an actual business. Also, I decided to blog, to generate and share ideas, to practice my passion to craft and do art, to inspire and get inspired. This is my window to find people with common interests, that could totally relate to this passion, support my work... This is my breathing space...

I will still use the name and logo that I planned to use for my actual business (I designed the logo - I graduated with a Design Management degree; partly a graphic design major). And maybe someday... one day... I can start my real business... I can only wish... so wish me luck!