Posts Tagged ‘mommy stuff’



Following our introduction to the first Artist Collection collaboration, this week’s What’s In Your Bag? guest is none other than our first artist, Su Lin. Mother of three and artist by blood, Su Lin finds the time to work on her creativity in many aspects, one of which being painting through the heart and soul.

1.What is the most important thing in your bag?

Without a doubt, my handphone is most essential to me, not to mention my Moleskine diary. I write down all my appointments and dates inside as well as my children’s schedule and their extra curriculum activities inside. Also, you’ll never know when a good sketch is going to come your way ;)

2. As a busy mom of three, do you find it hard to get organized?

Not really, I’ve grown accustomed to the ins-and-0uts of juggling my daily schedule. Great bags like Gin & Jacqie’s do help ease the traveling quite a bit! Also, never underestimate the importance of that handphone! Just to be in touch with people and especially for my kids to get hold of me or in case of any emergencies!


3. Besides the inevitable itch to paint, what is your favourite past time?

Tennis! I can play tennis everyday :) Of course I love to bake and decorate cakes. I will bake anything from bread, to muffins and to cakes. It’s very therepeutic in some ways, and a completely different form of art on its own. My close ones are regularly playing guinea pigs to my endeavors, but I find that these activities really bring me closer to friends and family alike. It just makes me happy.

The Artist Collection is available for purchase at Gin & Jacqie, and if you would like a custom designed painting by Su Lin, email us at info@ginjacqie.com for more details!


We just revealed our Artist Collection, a collection of bags that are individually hand drawn and painted by a local artist, Su Lin. She highlighted her free and easy sense of art onto our Jodie Totes, and uses a permanent marker along with acrylics to bring the bubbly animals to life. We’ll be writing more about Su Lin in next week’s What’s In Your Bag?, but for now, check out the rest of her adorable artwork *here*!


Riikka Kantinkoski (RK Design) has created the Automatto/Playmat, a vinyl playmat for children featuring a wonderfully illustrated town layout. Printed by eco, non-toxic colors, it’s the perfect addition to any playroom, and has even added optional paper buildings!


I don’t know if my bub really, really needs the newly-launched DVF x babyGap kids collection, but I really, really want her to have every piece available. Now, to conjure up the best plan possible to steal my husband’s credit card…


My Space by liya Mairson, a recent graduate from Shenkar Institute for Engineering and Design, has created a cardboard folding play area designed for the benefit and imagination of children aged between 3-6 years old. With the idea of saving space in mind, Iiya developed this concept of folding space into a flat surface made suitable for packing and unpacking within the confined walls of small apartments and living areas. This ingenious layout is folded into a parcel flat enough to slide under your child’s bed, perfecting the idea of non-fussed and carefree playtime.


A month or so back, we received a surprise from one of our loyal customers. Imagine our delight when we opened the box and found brownies adorned with prints from our own bags! Needless to say, we had a hard time not staring at them for hours on end, but when we eventually dug in… ohhh, the textures and flavors that came from within.

Paisley Petals is the brainchild of Nanthini Retnam, an avid aficionado of the yummy kind. She started the home-based business solely on passion and the many compliments she got from feeding dear friends, and hasn’t looked back since. From cupcakes, to birthday cakes, to a small selection of what she titles “Boozy cakes”, Nanthini has grown accustomed to the fact that she is, indeed, made to do this.

Since we had a chance to meet up with her last weekend, we took the opportunity to pick her brain (and her bag!)

1)    What are the most essential things in your bag you can’t leave home without? 

 That would probably be my craft knife and my paintbrushes which always come in handy for tidying up cakes on-site. Now with my tootsie roll, things just became a whole lot easier as I don’t have to worry about forgetting something because all my smaller tools can be kept organized neatly in there. (No more on-site panic attacks!)

1)    We are delighted to see a baker using our craft basket! What are the most important things in your craft box? 

 My craft box serves two purposes really. When I’m working on a cake project, it usually contains a range of fondant decorating tools such as some flower and letter cutters, a rolling pin, my measuring tape, a small cutting mat, a dusting pouch as well as my fondant modeling tool set. When I’m on the go, the craft box doubles as a caddy for me to carry with me packets of wet wipes, some extra decorations and sometimes spare frosting on top of the decorating tools that are already in there.

1)    What were you doing before you started your online bakeshop?

 I come from an IT background where I worked as an information systems engineer in a local engineering firm for many years.

 2)    What made you make the decision to make this change? 

 It was definitely a struggle for me initially to make that decision, but eventually I came to a realization that it was the right time for me to pursue my passion in baking and cake decorating. It’s been a challenge so far but also a truly fulfilling experience.

 3)    Roughly explain what your shop represents or why the name Paisley Petals.

The logo/name came about as I was looking for something that both reflected my personality as well as my preferred style of cake decoration. Looks aside, my biggest and often only concern is the taste of my cakes and other baked goods. My menu consists of some pretty unique flavors as well as a few good ol’ fashion favorites – all taste tested and approved of course!!

 Paisley Petals has come up with a promo just for Gin & Jacqie followers and blog readers! Simply LIKE them on Facebook, and mention “GIN&JACQIE” to redeem 20% off either her yummy plain bittersweet fudge brownies, retailed at RM50 for 9 3″x3″ pieces, or her cream cheese swirl brownies, retailed at RM55 for 9 3″x3″ pieces.

Terms & Conditions:
1. Self collection only (from KL Sentral).
2. Like the facebook page and email the coupon code to paisleypetalscupcakes@gmail.com.
3. Minimum 3 Days advance notice.
4. Only for orders placed before 7th April, 2012.
5. Limited to two(2) sets of brownies per person/coupon.


I came across this awesome art project that involves Photoshopping your child’s artwork alongside their photographs. The best part is, no matter how much of a noob you are at Photoshop, the link includes a super easy and direct method to creating that ideal picture to be framed in the pride of your living room wall.


Finally, a book that gets our children to be as Pantone-inclined as we creative moms are! Pantone: Colors will be available from the 16th of this month, and I don’t know about you, but with its color-friendly charts and monochromatic characters, I’m not about to resist purchasing one for my bub!


How amazing are these lampshades from Radiance?!??! The fox and the bunny would fit so perfectly in my baby girl’s nursery ^_^


Designmom’s easy DIY monogram mug tutorial calls for a bunch of markers, a few kid-friendly mugs, and the creative hands of your little ones. While this is such a darling project for those of you who have and are at wits end trying to come up with a solution to a day of bonding without the telly, I reckon I’d use this idea as a specialized door gift at parties.

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