C ring black steel and red lampwork earrings

"Everything happens for a reason... "

Last few months, I'm experiencing a frozen shoulder. I felt devastated as I have shoulder pain and limited movement thus limiting my ability to make metal jewelry.

With that constraint, I came up with different material to work on jewelry.

This earrings is made of C ring ( or clamp?) adorned with red lamp work dangled on sterling silver ear wire. It's a material that is sometimes overlooked, but could create a unique piece of art.


It's true, if I haven't had a frozen shoulder, I won't be making this...
Wouldn't you agree?

To learn more about this, please visit my Etsy store.

Monarch Trail in Milwaukee County Ground

Looking for Monarch migration? Try Milwaukee County Ground on Watertown Plank.

Depending on the weather, you may be able to see Monarch. I learned that this year migration may be late. So, today, went to Milwaukee County Grounds to check out the Monarchs. After looking and looking for a monarch, we 1 close to the sycamore tree.

Our daughter sharp eyes caught the monarch and I (of course) have to take the picture. We saw the chrysalis on the bottom of the butterfly

To learn more about the monarch trail, visit themonarchtrail.org.
Or you could follow twitter themonarchtrail

LeDuc's, our favorite Glacial Drumlin Trail stop in Wales

Glacial Drumlin trail is one of our favorite bike trail. It's paved, surrounded with bushes and mostly flat. We started at Sunset Park in Genesee and head West.

It takes about 2.5 miles to reach Wales, which is about the right distance when everyone needs a break.


When you get to Wales, get off the trail, take right to Elias street, take left on the stop sign ( you will pass Kettle Moraine High School), and another left on the next stop sign.
You will be on Summit (hwy 18) and LeDuc's is just across the street.

Or... you could keep going, pass the bridge and off the trail. You will see Pick N'Save next to you.

The food are great, the chocolate shake rocks. My favorite is beer battered cod and chocolate shake.

We plan to go back for more before the weather gets too cold...

Chiyogami Paper Magnetic Bookmark, A Unique Gift For Travelers and Readers

Since I was in Architecture school, I admire papers. At one time, I was able to tell the weight and quality of the paper just by touching. So when I was in Indonesia for summer, I just have to buy some hand made papers from Indonesia which has beautiful texture and color. And when I was in Japan, I bought some beautiful Washi papers.

I decided to make Magnetic Washi Paper Bookmark. This idea came because I sometimes lost my bookmark if I accidentally grab the book in the wrong way. Not only that, with a 3 years old at home, she plays with my stuff, dropped my book and I lost the last page I read. This magnet book marker stays in the last page I read even though the baby dropped the book.

The size is about 1" x 3". It comes in many different color and pattern. Each bookmark is stamped with artist's name in Japanese characters/ Hanko (not pictured).
It's truly one of a kind piece.

It's great for reading in public transportation, car, beach, anywhere you travel as you don't have worry your bookmark accidentally slipping away. Great gift for travelers and readers...

To learn more about this, please visit http://bigib.etsy.com

Taste of Madison

Have you tried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Eggroll? Or Indonesian Perkedel Jagung? or Firecrackers Shrimp? In case you're wondering what to do for this Labor day weekend, don't miss Taste of Madison.

Around 70 booth set up with variety of food that could satisfy every palette. If you are not sure what to start, stop by the GoldnPlum Chicken van... which I think will surely caught everyone's attention.
A few of my favorite ( too many too mention...) were Canolli, Chocolate Egg Roll, Calamari and the classic Sweet Potato Fries. The kids like Gelato.

With perfect weather, great food... it's surely a treat for us....

Bitter melon recipe

As I was walking to Waukesha Farmers market, I saw a kind of vegetable I used to know. It's called bitter melon. As the name suggested, it's bitter... but good...
My mom used to cook it. Today, with a little "bravery", I decided to cook one.

What you need:
3 medium size bitter melon, 3-5 cloves minced garlic, 2 table spoon minced onion, 1 red pepper(I was out of red pepper, so I use sweet banana pepper), chili soy bean paste, oil, coriander, salt and pepper.

Here's how I cook it.
Cut the melon in half and clean the seeds. Cut about 1 cm thick and put in a bowl. Sprinkle some salt, toss it around and set it aside about 20-30 min.
Then, squeeze the juices out and rinse it well. The salt would help ease the bitterness.

In a pan, add oil and stir fry all the ingredients above. When the melon looks cooked, add soy bean paste, coriander, pepper. Taste it before you add salt.
It's ready to serve.

I eat it with steam rice. Hubby doesn't like it. Which made me wonder if we should prepare this for the chef and the city...