Archive | Art RSS feed for this section

Taking a Break

24 Apr

We decided to take a break from everything, especially the stress of worrying about when my DIY pinball machine package will arrive.

At the start of the week, on Monday, we escaped to Ipoh with some friends for golf, and I did not have the chance to post anything until I returned.

The following day, we continued our getaway to Damai Laut for two more rounds of golf. The small group was enjoyable, the weather was lovely, and the food was delicious. Having the buggy on course for all three rounds, the golf was not tiring at all. What more could we ask for?

Interestingly, we had shopping opportunities in Ipoh and Sitiawan, and we were happy to contribute to boosting the local economy.

However, in the blink of an eye, the four days flew by, and we are back home to our usual routine and extreme heat. This morning, I decided to cancel the DIY pinball machine order because there have been no further updates on its status, other than that the package is packed and waiting for delivery. Hrmph.

I have been waiting for over a month since placing my order on March 22nd. And each time I inquire about its status, I receive repetitive messages stating that my order has passed the stated delivery date, information I already know and don’t need to be reminded of constantly! Initially, I tried to be patient and understanding, but it has become increasingly frustrating. Moreover, the urge to build and craft is gone, especially with the wait. Sigh.

So, I am glad we took the break to forget about the unfortunate non-delivery and do the right thing to end the wait and move on.

Damai Laut Golf & Country Club

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

An Alternative Build

14 Apr

Building something is better than waiting and wondering when my DIY pinball machine package will arrive. I am not too upset about the delay. If it arrives, good. If it’s late, no big deal. I’ve waited so long already; a few more days make no difference.

Over the weekend, I received this cute little Snoopy DIY kit as an early birthday gift. It was a very thoughtful gift from my niece. I guess an alternative build is better than nothing, right?

It was an enjoyable Snoopy kit, and I completed it in no time. It now adds to my other Snoopy collection, an alternative to the DIY miniatures I have been doing all these years.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Contemplating a New Build, Part 3

7 Apr

A week has passed since the deadline, and there has been no change in the status of my DIY pinball machine kit. In other words, it has not shipped yet. Boo. At this point, my urge to build has waned.

Two days after the vendor missed the delivery deadline, as shown on my favorite online shopping site, I messaged them again to get a status update. There’s the usual apology message, asking for my patience and saying they are doing their best to expedite all orders on time.

“Doing their best?” I thought. Duh, I don’t think so. Are there so many ardent crafters like me who ordered this DIY pinball machine specifically that they can’t fulfill the deliveries? It’s now been two and a half weeks since I placed the order.

To avoid becoming frustrated with the situation, I might dust off one of the boxes in my stash and start working on an existing kit while I wait for this particular kit to arrive, or forget about this whole crafting thing! After all, the enthusiasm has died down now, with all that waiting for the kit to arrive.

Sometimes, things don’t work out as intended. In my case, contemplating another challenging DIY project after the Marble Run Spaceport, purchased from a physical store in the mall, has hit a snag due to this delay. The only consolation from this episode is my patience, something that is never a virtue of mine. Oh well.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Contemplating a New Build, Part 2

31 Mar

It did not take long for me to take the plunge and proceed with purchasing the DIY pinball machine kit. Forget the concern of where to place the finished Marble Run Spaceport, and forget about what to do if and when the pinball machine is done and completed.

The important thing here is the current moment in time, and that is to feel good and challenged, working on an intricate build. Let the kit arrive, and no need to contemplate but build!

Last week, I ordered the pinball machine kit from my favorite online shopping site. It has been more than a week, and every day I see the same status for my purchase: Seller preparing your order. Yikes!

Nothing is moving. Typically, when I order something, the status changes almost immediately, and I see the progress of the item, from being packed to being shipped, right down to the delivery date. Alas, none of this for my pinball machine kit! Boo.

I am worried that the vendor may not fulfill my order, as I have experienced cancellations in the past. So I messaged the vendor on the shopping site to check on the status. A computer shop assistant was quick to respond to my inquiry and even outlined the timeline for the order date and estimated shipping date to me. However, a week has passed since the shipping date, which they have acknowledged.

So they outlined a new delivery timeline and date, and asked for understanding and patience. What choice do I have at this point? I’ve waited so long already, and I shouldn’t cancel on them, right? Sigh, I wait then.

The next day, the shop assistant messaged me to say that my order had been packed and was ready to ship. The new target delivery date is tomorrow. I’m excited that there has been progress! However, I won’t celebrate just yet; I need to see that the package has actually shipped.

I hold my breath, anticipating the arrival of the DIY pinball machine. Keeping my fingers crossed, and stay tuned!

Tags: , , , , ,

Contemplating a New Build

17 Mar

I’ve been contemplating working on another DIY project similar to the Marble Run Spaceport. That piece was so satisfying. The kit I am eyeing is a pinball machine that I can play with once I finish putting it together. How cool is that?

However, I need to resolve my predicament of displaying larger pieces, as my IKEA display cabinet has already been maxed out. The Spaceport has been sitting on my little workstation. I have no place to start a new project! Sigh.

So until I can resolve this issue, starting a new big project is wishful thinking.

The Spaceport has docked at my workstation!

Tags: , , , , ,

First Project of 2026!

10 Mar

I finally made myself work on a DIY project this year, my first project of 2026 after such a long break from an activity that I once loved and dedicated a lot of time to. Yay! As you know, during the Lunar New Year, I wasn’t feeling festive, and the weather during this time was terrible, alternating between hot and wet; it wasn’t pleasant.

Playing my games daily on the iPad was so addictive and unhealthy that I decided to recalibrate my routine. Time for crafting! I had stopped my crafting for quite a while, and all those unboxed miniatures that I had aspired to build are collecting dust! Ugh.

However, I did not unearth a box from the tower of miniatures. There are eight boxes altogether, projects of different sizes and difficulty. Instead, I bought a whole new type of model to work on. It is a mechanical piece that looks overwhelming but does not require glue. Looks like fun, yet intimidating.

The infinite cycle Marble Run Spaceport did pose a challenge, but only for a short while. I took five days to complete the DIY kit, several hours each day. Upon completion, there was a sense of achievement as the kit was a Level Four in difficulty!

My first DIY project for the year!

The mechanical part featured a USB-C connection, which was quite impressive, and not a battery pack like all my previous miniatures that required one for the lights. Amazing how things have changed and improved since my last build.

Now that I have completed the kit, where can I keep or display the spaceport without collecting dust? Sigh. A win for personal satisfaction, but a no-win for storage. With this niggling display situation, should I even attempt the remaining eight boxes? Something to consider for this year.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Carving Completes

11 Nov

Completing the three gnomes took considerable effort towards the end, after missing the first two deadlines in August and September. And my trip to Japan in October set me back even further. Upon my return, I dealt with a persistent cough that left me too drained to do much.

And when I felt better, I was busy playing golf and pickleball, leaving me little time to focus on the pieces. Eventually, I sat down and added several more layers of varnish before deciding they were good enough to gift the intended recipients. The completion was dated 1st November.

The final picture does not do justice to the gloss varnish that I have painstakingly applied. But the colors are so vibrant, I think I did a good job. Ahem.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Carving Continues, Part 2

23 Sep

I am at the tail-end of completing the three individual gnomes. I missed the deadline I set for myself, which was the end of August. And it is almost the end of September! I’ve got to get going on it.

Last week, I decided to push myself to complete this with love and dedication. I reduced my golf outings to focus on finishing up the pieces. And I must say it has been so fun and therapeutic to work on them.

Working on all three in tandem, seated at my workstation, I fine-tuned the surfaces and eventually applied acrylic paint. It actually took me only one day for the painting process! If I had known that it would take just a day, I would have prioritized this step sooner! Oh well.

I am very pleased with the outcome. The color choices of the pants are at the request of the individual recipients. At this point, it is only a minor touch-up to even the coat of colors. Lastly, a gloss varnish will be applied to the surfaces to complete the project.

Yay, I am a happy camper with my efforts, and I hope the recipients will be equally pleased to have them in their homes.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

The Carving Continues

19 Aug

Excited about carving again after seeing the Three-Gnome piece evolve, I decided to carve more gnomes, but single pieces instead of a trio. I found three wooden blocks from my stash and decided to work on them simultaneously.

On days when it was too hot to be out on the golf course, I alternated between the four pieces for the past several weeks. It wasn’t a daily process, though, and it took time. And since I completed the Three-Gnome piece last week, my focus is now on the three single gnomes. 

The task at hand is very exhilarating, especially with the new carving tools that I recently purchased online. When an unassuming block of wood evolves and becomes something creative, done with love and focus, the satisfaction and joy are immensely wonderful. 

I hope to complete the three pieces before the end of August!

Three more gnomes coming along swell!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Reviving an Old Project, Part 3

12 Aug

The Three-Gnome piece is a done deal! Typically, I use oil varnish to give my carvings a nice gloss, but there was a big hiccup at this final step.

The varnishes in my collection

The DecoArt DuraClear gloss varnish that I have used to varnish all my past carvings has gone bad! Four years since my last carving piece, the liquid left unused has somehow separated. To make matters worse, my other bottle of varnish, the Daler Rowney brand, cannot be opened! Something has disintegrated on the push-turn cap mechanism. A full bottle unutilized unless I drill the cap to salvage the varnish.

And I wasn’t sure if my oldest bottle of varnish, a Talens brand from my college days, that’s dinosaur years ago, can still be used. Dang! So many problems.

Taking a chance, the Talens acrylic glossy varnish came to the rescue with whatever I had left! But it won’t last for the next project. So I bought a new bottle of varnish gloss, a new brand called Marie’s. As for the other two, I might drill the cap of the Daler Rowney and throw away both the DecoArt DuraClear.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries