An Artist’s Impression of Suzanne

Always game to dress up in Chinese costumes, this was no exception – except that it was all done in Photoshop down to the last detail. Suzanne loved it and had it framed and hung on the wall for all to see!!

It has been 6 years since the last post on this blog, but it is still being viewed, so I will share some memories of Suzanne and Tony when the opportunity arises.

Thank you and God bless.

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 21

Good morning! It has been 21 days of sharing some of my cheongsam collection with one and all. I enjoyed every minute of it, from choosing what to wear to where to be photographed!

Now that we are focused on year end activities, I will take a break from the Cheongsam Challenge too……and let’s see what the New Year brings.  Thank you to all your kind comments. I am pleased that I have managed to share some joy with you.

CC21 - 14 DEC 2017

Now on Day 21 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge, I am dressed in an electric navy blue cheongsam with teal coloured highlights. The embroidered peacocks in silver thread are filled with aquamarine, teal and sea green sequins. The perfect colours for ushering in the New Year 2018!!

My understated accessories allow the glitz of the fabric to shine, and silver sandals complete the ensemble. I might be 93, but am ready to go out for some toe tapping music and dance!

I am very grateful for all the blessings showered upon us in every way, and my wish is for God’s love to fill hearts around the world!

A very happy and blessed New Year to you and yours.
Suzanne

 

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 20

CC20 - 12 DEC 2017

Good day to everyone, in eleven days it will be Christmas and much is to be done in preparation for it.

Christmas is a time to stop and reflect on the hope for PEACE on Earth and how one person can make a difference!

It is easy to start with oneself. We need to be at peace with ourselves first, then make peace within our families and with our relatives, friends and neighbours. Like a stone thrown in a pond, it creates a ripple in the water, which will then spread far and wide.

So on Day 20 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge, I wish everyone a meaningful contribution towards bringing about peace to all around us.

My cheongsam for today is fashioned from fine silvery fabric with mirror circlets embroidered into the hem area which spreads out into the top half of the outfit. The scalloped edges with slivers of fringe finish the sleeves and hem delicately.  Naturally, the lining of white seemed to be the most appropriate colour for this cheongsam.

My pearl and coral accessories and self-beaded red sandals add just the right contrast to the ensemble. At 93, I think it is alright to wear a bit of glitz in the day too!

Did someone say white-red-green are the colours of Christmas? Well yes, but to me, the WHITE represents purity of heart while the RED is for the passion to do good, and the GREEN represents freshness and renewal/growth!

Merry Christmas and may there be PEACE in your hearts.

God bless.
Suzanne

 

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 19

CC19 - 11 DEC 2017

Everything is coming up roses, on Day 19 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge.

Beautifully embroidered roses in delicate hues of pink and wine are highlighted with strategically placed sequins, on the organdie fabric. I chose to go with a pink lining for visual impact! Isn’t it just delightful? I feel as pretty as a princess!

Crystals for accessories and my lacey filigree sandals, and I am ready for an evening out yet again. Who says at 93 one cannot go out to party in a lovely cheongsam?

A touch of Christmas is reflected in the glass jar of red ornaments on the writing desk. Yes, time is flying by!

Have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Suzanne

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 18

I am in the mood for gold today – Day 18 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge.

The batik sarong used for this cheongsam is printed with gold patterns as the main background with red flower buds and green design accents, while the edges are anchored in black. I trimmed the side shoulder opening and collar in matt gold satin.

To bring the red floral buds to life, I wore my red roses’ set which I assembled myself. And, of course I am photographed beside a gold bejewelled mirror for extra emphasis.

I am wearing red beaded sandals which have been worn with other ensembles, but cannot be seen in this photo.

Do the gold hues not lend a certain glow to a 93-year young lady?

Have a wonderful day and God bless.

Suzanne

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 17

Day 17 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge calls for an interesting batik sarong in brown and black, highlighted with leaf green.

Standing outside in the garden against a background of lush greenery, at first, and I just blended in with the vegetation! So I settled for an indoor shot with a trio of green plants instead.

Given the rather dense pattern of the fabric’s front panel, there is no front button opening. Hence, simple accessories that complement the colours of the cheongsam were chosen while bright green sandals complete the ensemble.

At 93, it is a wonderful start to the day when all is well-coordinated.

God bless.

Suzanne

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 16

 Good morning and a blessed Sunday to one and all.

Today is Day 16 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge and I opted for a deep tomato-red batik cheongsam. (Feeling festive, perhaps?)

CC16 - 7 DEC 2017This sarong fabric happens to have one overall floral and leafy pattern throughout, hence the front and back of the cheongsam are the ‘same’.

The side shoulder openings and collar are trimmed with matt gold satin, and the simple Chinese style buttons are fashioned from the same coloured trim.

Posing against a backdrop of lush greenery helps to let the deep tomato-red of the sarong fabric steal the limelight. In addition, note that I accessorized the ensemble with understated but elegant crystals and pearls. However, I just had to complete the look with my self-beaded sandals in a similar tone of red (could not resist that)!

At 93, there is no holding back on being stylish (still)!

Have a wonderful day and thank the good Lord for every blessing!

Suzanne

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 15

Hello and happy Saturday everyone!

How do you like my Peony Pink batik sarong cheongsam for Day 15 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge? (Oh my, we have been at this for two whole weeks! Here’s hoping that you continue to enjoy the Challenge.)

Though I have many outfits in different shades of pink, I do love this particular pink and the closest colour comparison I can think of is the peony flower. Also my absolute favourite flower.

CC15 - 6 DEC 2017

The diagonal strips on the front are filled with flowers in complementarily pleasing tones of purple and wine red while the cumin-coloured leaves provide a neutral base.

I chose to trim the front side shoulder opening with wine red satin and the Chinese style buttons are rather decorative in an effort to emulate the batik flowers. It gives me such joy to design my outifts with the optimization of colour coordination in mind.

Then comes the final touches to the ensemble. Black pearl accessories and self-beaded sandals in charcoal and I am ready to be photographed!

At all ages, it is important to be well-groomed and dressed appropriately to greet the day, and even more so when one is 93!

God bless us all.

Suzanne.
 

 

 

 

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 14

All that glitters is not gold! In this case, it is glitter paint for fabric.

Today being Day 14 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge, I thought it would be fun to share with you my DIY touch.

CC14 - 5 DEC 2017I outlined all the flowers and leaves on the front of my batik sarong cheongsam, to add some glitz to the heaviness of the black background.

With the slightest movement, the glitter outlines seem to dance in the light – if only fleetingly. The lines are so lightly drawn and yet gives the cheongsam a life of its own. Of course one can buy batik sarong fabric that comes with commercially done glitter outlines around the patterns, but it is so much more fun to create the same effect by oneself!

If you will notice, this cheongsam has the matt gold trim a few inches higher at the hemline, just to bring some point of interest to the otherwise plain black hem.

And the same trim at the front shoulder openings are slightly angular – again, just for visual interest.

The accessories add to the colour contrast of the whole ensemble while the gold-faced sandals complete the outfit perfectly.

Yes, even at 93, I try to present a well-complemented dress sense at all times.

Have a wonderfully creative day.

God bless.

Suzanne

The Cheongsam Challenge: Day 13

It is an overcast day and pastel colours come out to play, on Day 13 of Suzanne’s Cheongsam Challenge.

For a change, the patterns and colours of this batik sarong fabric are subtle yet eye-catching in a tranquil sort of way. Very gentle on the eye and makes me feel like a flower! Even at 93!

I chose to show both sides of the batik – that is, the ‘head panel’ and the ‘body panel’ on the front of the cheongsam. The opening on both sides of the front shoulders enables the top section to be of the contrasting section of the fabric.

To emphasize the pinkish-red hibiscus flowers, the edges of the outfit are trimmed in matt red. The same is used for the simple Chinese style buttons. I happen to love hibiscus, which is Malaysia’s national flower.

To complete the ensemble, I embellished it with red rose accessories (I told you I am young at heart..) and paired it with dark red beaded sandals – all of which I beaded myself.

CC13 - 4 DEC 2017

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Suzanne