A weekend of a blogshop owner

If anyone is interested,
or even wondering

A weekend of a new blogshop owner
(okay, one who has not enough money to employ people ... yet)
:

- Rushing photo-editing and collages, designing backgrounds and layouts, for a launch on Sunday just so that it can coincide with the advert she paid hundreds for. All these while keeping an eye on the most-exciting-ever GE results

- Chasing people who leave orders but MIA after payment with emails and check back again. Or still gotta handle LAME reasons given for backing out of orders after asking me to reserved by saying "oh i realised its too short for me" when the measurements are on the site in the first place and it is a CROPPED cardigan in the first place. Like.. how long is your body???

- Sending blacklisted emails to deadbuyers that has to sound firm but not offensive. (ok if you ever tried placing an order then decide to mia after people reserved the items for you, DONT DO IT!. its freaking selfish and very inconvenient! plus there are others who are interested in the items but cannot get it just cos some deadbuyer is hogging the item)

- then contacting folks on the waitlist after a deadbuyer backs out

- Viewing blogs, requesting for quotes on advertorials. Paying them, discussing on details, then preparing pdf catalougue of items for them to choose the advert item

- Chasing the blogger whom u paid s for an advert and rushed to coincide a launch with her advert, cos up til 10pm at night you still dont see the advert!! (freaks out)

- Handling invoices, payments. checking bank account

- packing parcels

- advertising on forums

- doing accounts, oh, the bloody accounts *ergh!*

- discussing with my brother the freelance designer, whom i engaged to create a banner for the shop


Ya, that was a saturday and sunday for me.. tata weekend! Not to mention I have yet to stocktake my last batch of stock and have not found a good manufacturer to make my designs.... *murmurs*

So i know many friends who are also interested in doing this; well, i would say go for it, but so long you can accept the demands and commitment level. Yes that means forgoing many of your social events and having a 3D ass print on your home chair.

But at least, being busy for yourself makes everything so worth it.. :)

denial

"I found myself surrounded by men unable, or unwilling, to face the truth.

A change must be made"

-- Colonel Stauffenberg in Valkyrie

Post GE + Kintamani Dinner

Am still up at this unearthly hour rushing SP's launch tomorrow.
This is the fastest Ive ever tried to rush a launch, and i dont think it looks that bad eh

SashPetals Collection #4

~A Walk In the Park~

This is a larger collection of casual and feminine pieces which we all need, to look fabulous on our rest-n-relax days.
Do look out for:

Claude Monet - A chiffon dress with romantic ruffles
Kirsten Lace Layers top in White/Black - an imported ultra pretty and comfy waterfall layers sleeveless top in 2 basic colours
Florence Tee in White/Grey - A imported tiny pretty tee with chiffon and diamonte
Exbury Tuxedo top in Dusty Pink/Black - A must-have pair of shorts of really excellent quality (we kept so many!)
Lisse Ruffled Lace Bib top - A halter-like flattering cut top to show off your shoulders, with pretty eyelet-lace bib details

so, if you like what you see, please support us at OUR SHOP okay?

********

My lovely team gals organised a private farewell dinner for me that day.. was quite sweet and heart-warming to see my baby-ed girls rise up to organise this on their own without me knowing

Buffet Dinner at Furama Hotel


Happy Fruit talking non-stop, as usual




*hearts the lovely machiks who requested to join the team for this dinner*

Group Shot!
Did not understand why the lady asked us to do "peace" for every camera she used


After which we went poloroid crazy..


Behind the scenes




We are taking a break here, just to focus on how ZhuoXiu has done an excellent job in cos-playing SailorMoon!

Loves Happy Fruit..


Aha

Really had a great time.
These are the people I treasure the most here, and will be sad to leave them come Wednesday

* Hugs All*

Okie better go sleep , gotta wake up early for service tomorrow

WTF

This is my dear current 2-working days left workplace for me :)
double-u-tee-aff

From: ESTHER WANG Sent: Friday, 6 May, 2011 6:38 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: RE: Resignation - Handover of duties

Director and DD

I refer to my email last week. I did not receive your approval or comments since.

The week has passed, my team members are still submitting waivers, leave and roster changing requests etc for my endorsement and approval.
Beyond the administration aspects, they also have no idea who their next team leader will be.

Over the last few years our team has built up a close bond. It is quite sad that when they asked me about their next team leader, and I had to tell them that I did not get a response from my bosses. I wont be surprised if they feel that they are “at a loss” now, or that their concerns appear unimportant.

Even though our teams are small, I feel that it would be better in everyone’s interest if you can allow someone to take over the handling of these matters. I don’t think it is simply a matter of taking over technical duties. I believe that given my involvement with the members so far, the new team leader would appreciate first-hand information from me, on the member’s strengths and weaknesses, what they have done so far, and what are the areas to look out for each individual.

I hope you can also understand that given my 2 working days left next week, having to spend time to raise this issue and briefing the next leader definitely does not give me any form of benefit or advantage. I only hope for the team’s sake that they wont be neglected, and you can be fair enough towards the next leader and members to not to let them experience an abrupt change in team leadership.

However, if you feel that I do not need to be involved in this, then I shall abide by your decisions, and proceed to finish my work duties accordingly.




From: ESTHER WANG Sent: Friday, 29 April, 2011 2:26 PM
To: Subject: Resignation - Handover of duties

DD

I attach a list of my main tasks and the details of handing the duties over to the proposed officers to take over. I have consulted their respective team leaders on my proposals and obtained their agreement. For your approval, please.

Also, Team1B leader remains to be appointed. As I have only about 6 working days left, I would suggest that we allow the new leader, as appointed by yourself and Director, to take over the team management next week. I think it would be useful for her if I can have some time to brief her on the members’ performance and needs.

If you need me to clarify on the handover details, please let me know and I discuss with you at your convenience.

Thank you.

SashPetals May/June 2011 LookBook!

Was staying up to prep for SixPegs' Sunday advert for SP.

Could not keep these preview images to myself after I was done.. Here is whats coming up, hopefully, all by the end of May 11.

Ok this has alr been launched

This is a special Luxe series.. very cocktail event..



V nice "Gals Night Out" wear in this one..

and


A sweet and casual Walk in the Park!

Looking forward to the actual launches.. do let me know what you think k


Nite!

of My Inspiration

Did I say

I am so inspired by Katie Holmes...

(haha not just cos she is Tom Cruise's wife.. )

Cos she has her own style and her own fashion line. not to mention she is gorgeous enough to be featured in them herself


Someday, I wanna do such a shoot too. prop myself on (or maybe, behind) a ladder
amongst my models and my very own designs

Dream Big

midnight peekaboo

I am looking up beautiful gardens now. they are for the great big next-next launch

I love flowers, yes, thats despite my fiery nature.
So i was thinking of theme-ing the next-next launch after beautiful gardens in the world

Last year's trip to Paris, we ventured out to Versailles with the ever-adventourous EH, and man, I was amazed at the garden they built, acres and acres of greenery




It was as if Marie-Antoinette had to run away or play hide and seek all the time...

I remembered it was scorching hot the day we were there- and i mean the serious type of hot where you may really get a heatstroke there and then. i think the temp hit 40 deg at some point during the week we were there.

So i only took a shot of the garden from the palace


we were hiding in the tram all the time during the garden tour.. urgh. it was that bad

remembered the greenery outside The Lourve was something simple too, amazed at how people just laid there to get a little sun




Gardens can be majestic pieces of art in God's glory.
Inspiring..



ok enuff garden talk.. do look out for the launch then

Nite nite..!

prost

I am such a procastinator
Link buttons have not been up here to go to SP since weeks ago. argh..

and i was supposed to go and bathe like an hour ago, but once i sit, I cant stop clicking from here to there

then slowly, it became clicking through the raw photoshoot pics and deciding to work on the next next launch already..

okay id better go bathe first before I talk more, here is the SP blog entry on our next launch on Monday 8pm!

Look out for our:

- " Her Charming Confidence" chiffon long-sleeved top in 2 colours: Classic Black & Fair brown. The long sleeves and bottom are smocked and looked best tucked in. So THE-LOOK right now! This piece also comes with a matching inner slip, with rows of diamonte from pit to pit. Definitely worth the price!

- "Uniquely Artistic" Rayon Dress in Classic Black and Character Teal. I had to get the teal piece for myself as the colour was so unique! The cross-tied back adds much attractiveness to this classic piece.

- "Pretty Popular" Chiffon and Lace top, in Pure White and Dusty Pink. The lace details across the neckline is flattering and simply to nice to resist! You can't escape looking feminine yet so well-dressed.

So whether its a piece to reward yourself during this Labour Day, or to prepare stylishly for your internship, we hope you can find something you will love in this collection!

See you for the launch on 2nd May 11, Monday, 8.00pm !

Our Shop : http://sashpetals.livejournal.com/
Our Blog : http://sashpetals.blogspot.com/
Email us : sashpetals@gmail.com

Love, Summer, and all Seasons @ SashPetals

Independence

Just another week or so to go..
Having mixed feelings, but clear that this is the right decision

Anyhow
Will work on the proper link buttons from my blog to SP in a bit
Launching the next coporate wear series next monday
there are 3 designs but with colours, amounting to a total of 6 different pieces
and best of all, there are sizes for my fav pieces this time round. A sneak Peak..

I kept a piece of this for myself, with the pretty victorian lace, why not..
and we got a total of 3 sizes : S, M, L for the same design in black
so that we all can choose a nice and slimming fit/cut



Photo Editing got a little easier as I worked around the edges with Photoshop, and found shortcut methods

I chose to see that things are getting better. Come on, we all gotta trust God, have Faith, and be positive.
And most importantly
rub off that spirit on someone else

Love..

wth

Sorry.

Gonna apologise first cos im going to sound damn arrogant here.

there more disillusioned I am with you all
the more i believe in my own capabilities.


I shall do my part in dismissing my disappointment
and focusing on the latter. I know I can and I will do it.
At the end of the day, whether you can, or you can't, is your issue and not mine.

SP buttons

Hi Folks

Happy Sunday..

was at home doing nonsensical light testing and backdrop experiments with Dan.

wanted to do up link buttons to SP and our blog, but have to stop now to go pick up my granny, aunt and cousin to my folks for some of my dad's wonderful mutton soup. God bless my dad!
*slurps*
even gonna bring some to Dan's mummy

but anyhoo, only the blog button link is done.. if you wanna see what goes on in our heads behind the launches and products, here is where the 2 of us will Lor-Lee-lor-sor
click pic to go!





Oh ya , in case anyone wonders, im sticking by an evolved name to avoid direct linking at my workplace now, since i am still, technically, a public servant.. with an unknown next employer


toods!

recovered eyes and recovered soul

feeling especially fresh this weekend..
been drained pre-decision to resign
drained during resignation (ya, gotta write a long letter to explain why i refuse to "consider for a week")
drained post-resignation. breaking the news to people here i actually care about. made 4 gals cy in a day. was especially heartbreaking to see them, esp the usually jovial happyfruit, cry

i know im no hero or anything. and I would have stayed for them if only the picture was just about all of us. unfortunately no

well, more resignation emo talk nearing my last day - 11 May 11
til then..

*********

At least, im happy that my eye seem to be recovering! after a real painful eye incision of course
spent months in specs. at first, i was really enjoying that intellectual look
after that, as I eased into the look, i felt plain nerd and CMI
haha

im that shallow, yes

Got my annual took-crap reward - my Prada Nappa Gauffre clutch in black



I love how it can go with your slack weekend frock
and how it will look very glam also, when paired in formal wear
gonna try it for my next formal event.. June?

*********

oh ya did i say
I love the support that Dear is giving me now

like
letting me use his Galaxy Tab to launch our collection, cos we were having dinner @ Jack's place with his folks
Geek! Geek!

and also

buying and setting up this lovely home office corner in what I like to call "our First Class Cabin suite"



He got me the nice samsung screen to help me photoshop without the head+neck aches,
bought and assembled the ikea drop-leaf table,
and brought me to try out one of these chairman-chairs and i got to pick one that I can sit comfortably while "working", and even fall asleep in

all these though i am going to drop my comfy-pay job just like that.

Love him to bits ;)

SashPetals Collection 2 Preview!

Hi Folks

If you are wondering, SashPetals is moving slowly but surely

First launch was managed by me, and i learnt to edit better photographs through the wonderful feedback given
Also some feedback on sizes..
appreciate them all, cos we really wanna improve!

Bunny & I have really been working hard to plan the next 4-5 launches even. We are still at the teething stage where we discover and reconcile our different definitions, expectations, threshold and methods which SP is going to run.
But it only means that we both care about SP and really wants to see it work

Ok.. excited about the 2nd Collection which is coming up next Monday 18th Apr !
so excited, i asked to steal this photo for sneak preview the moment Bunny was done


This is a real beauty of a collection. All the pieces were selected overseas at this precious place we found. I guess both of us were in a lacey mood that day and we picked out so many romantic and feminine pieces, that we formed a Lace themed launched

Bunny titled this "Lace Veiled Dreams of You". Her inspiration came from a rather sad story about loss. no spoilers.. rem to watch the launch if you wish to know which book it was from.

All I can persuade you is to join the mailing list lar! got promotional codes and get regular updates on our launches, why not?
our next few launches are really great, so great i wanna keep apiece each!
so ya.. dont miss out ..

VISIT OUR SHOP:
http://sashpetals.livejournal.com/

+ pivots +

Monday...

This would be a pivotal week for me. Im putting a stop to the nonsense and the treatment I think i dont deserve

Yes I would be handing in my letter tomorrow. it felt right

Last year, i had the same intention, only to have changed my mind and held on another 6 months after being stabbed hard in the back
yes, stabbed
poisonous anonymous letters of me to the entire management
punctured tyres with screws in tyre grooves. twice.
i was indignant, so i stayed on to prove that I am not a quitter.

Because i believed that all the things i have done so far, is for good.
such decisions can sometimes be unpopular decisions

plus there was the bonus i think i deserve

but now,
its no longer about winning and losing
its about my life
move on, already

"I have known Esther for 5 years. Since Apr 2006, we have worked together in the ... Division, URA. I was the one who trained her in handling complaints and enquiries from parking offenders. Given her intelligence, diligence and good EQ, she was able to take on the onerous job of the public liaison work faster and more competently than many other new recruits whom I had recruited and trained in my last 10 years at ... What I find endearing about her is that she is unlike most of her Gen Y peers, who tend to exhibit restless and self-centred behavourial traits. Esther is definitely more matured and has a broader perspective in analysing the work issues and problems. She understand very well why unpopular and unpleasant decisions have to be made and will not flinch at making them. What Mr Lau and I valued her the most is her “never-say-die” attitude , her cheerful and frank personality and being always considerate towards her bosses, her peers and colleagues. "

Ex-mentor's email introducing me to a prospective employer
and Shifu already arranged a tentative meeting with another on thurs

and i appreciate all of you out there who have showed concern for my impending "unemployment"
though I might have declined your offers, i know for a fact that your intentions are kind and well. As I have explained, im not looking for high post and high pay now
I just want to work, learn, and be happy

I feel very loved with all these support
esp Dan
as a husband, who is about to carry the financial burden of 2 spendthrifts living all by himself
telling me
he supports me to take this break and i need to do that makes me happy
and telling me that we will make it with the little bit of savings we managed to gather after the wedding last year
and that he supports my work for SP in every way he can.

I am blessed, truly
and i dont think i have lost the battle after all


funny, i actually started this post pretty sure i dont want to blog about leaving my job
but i eventually did it.

SashPetals is Born!

SashPetals is Born!

Ok, if you have not seen me recently (or seen the swollen eyes i have, working late every night)
you might be wondering what is this "SP" ive been talking about

Over the past few months, Bunny & I have been pretty psyched and busy with our new online shop



It has been nothing but exciting .. but so so so much work learning photoshop and editing the blogsite

but i love it!

So far, we have launched some wedding corsages designs, but come Sunday 8pm, it will be time for our very first apparel launch

We are starting with light steps, with some pretty, vintage, and light pieces. Kicked off with a 4 hour outdoor shoot that day, whe Bunny, RR, Dan and I were sweating crazy but trying so hard to keep our model cool..
But I love the shots, really. They were taken mainly by Dan but I did supplement some shots with my trusty lumix






For our celebratory debut launch promotion: Just quote "SashPetals is Born" in your order, and you will be entitled to a 10% discount off all items you purchase for this debut launch! :)

Our next launches will feature lace-beautiful, cocktail dresses, and a series for a sweet in you

Do head over to sneak a peek at

Our Shop: http://sashpetals.livejournal.com/

Email us: sashpetals@gmail.com

& do help us promote! Luv!

no crap

im cooped up at home again, organising photos from Thurs shoot, selecting them really selectively
i dont think i'd have time to edit them tonite, will do so at hume tomorrow..
dont get me wrong, i luv my dad and mum - in-laws but 2 hours of taiwanese boliao drama? id rather sit with them and use the time to do SP stuff

anyway thur's shoot went well. Thank God for giving us great weather and a good sport in Kelly as a model


this gal is so chio, i find it hard to believe we are from the same family.. haha

anyway thanks to the team for the hard work, sweat, and koo-li-kang!
so looking forward to the launches and more shoots to come!


Weekend weeeee

Busy

On leave tomorrow for our first photoshoot with Kells
which explains why i dared to stay up til this late just to figure out how to make these buttons work on our site



It didnt just involve hours of linking pages together
it included hours of photo-editing which I am still so Noob at

ok im still not going around to "promote the site" cos we are not ready to take in MTM corsage orders, when the photoshoot for our apparel is tomorrow
which means more photoshopping, page linking, and tonnes of admin


but here is a preview...

corsages went up first since the samples were ready, but what we hope will be more active is the apparels, which we painstakingly travelled to pick if anyone's sick of the stuff seen on most sg blogshops..


I swear to you im looking like this now,


after hours of staring at a 10 or 11 inch thing...
(oh i so want my huge all-in-one, esp the gorgeous Sony one, but i dont want to spend that kind of money now with SP still building up and all)

argh... cmi. hitting .. pillows.... soon...

yawn prawn

aha im actually pretty tired now..
but popping in to say: hi, friends

***
Went to Shifu's newly reno-ed house today
his collection of public service medals and photographs of his hand shaking that of our past 3 presidents and LKY
hwah


i got eye never see tarzan; talk to him like i speak to my dad . haah

****
Had to work this morning, but happy fruit's silly whatapping kinda cheered me up

*****
Am thinking SP thoughts all the time:)

ok for Luxe?


and does this part of Shifu house just look like a cosy cottage?

****


Treated shifu and nuxia for crab dinner at Long Beach, East Coast, followed by tea and toast at Siglap
been a little while since i last met them. this time there was an "uninvited guest".. ghost



****

Some Lomo Love
as i've always had a love for an beach sunset




for a moment I travelled overseas...
either that, or pretty flowers do exist here!



Me & Dan's fav shot


U might see this on SP's artwork
More on that later..
til then