A Gift for a Bass Guitarist

Have I got a gift idea for you!

If you have friend or a loved one who is musically-inclined, i.e. in the bass guitar department, consider this wonderful gift of a bass note chart.

Measuring 8-1/2" x 11", it's a handy poster packed with 56 different chord notes for bass. It looks great by itself, or you can have it framed all ready for your gift-recipient to adorn his or her wall of a music room or studio.

Needless to say it's a great learning tool and one that will certainly expand the chord note vocabulary.

A Class Ring for Memories

After years of coming up with corporate gifts for employees, we finally got over the stage of mugs and t-shirts and umbrellas.

It's a blue denim shirt this year. A bit troublesome this one because we all had to go try out the samples for size. Still, it's a more functional gift, I suppose.

Strange that in school we never thought about getting something physical to commemorate our being together like getting a class ring, for instance. We only came away with some class photos and memories.

Hazier in Kuala Lumpur

The air over Kuala Lumpur is not getting any better. Took this shot of the sun this morning. Today is the third day of such a heavy haze enveloping the city and surrounding areas. Peat fires and land-clearing are the causes. Same old, same old.

Best to stay indoors. Need to do some shopping? Shop online!

Pretty trunks for pretty things

If you are looking for a box or a container to put your knick-knacks or your child's toys, a Tack Trunk could be the answer. Trunks are not only functional, they do also add some aesthetics to a room just like these that I came across at a curio/gift shop the other day. Check these out.

Pretty, aren't they? Hmm.. they'd make great gifts too, don't you think?

How to Choose Diamond Jewelry Based on the Cs

Diamonds and women have some kind of a love affair. Every woman dreams of having at least one piece of diamond jewelry. If you are looking for any kind of diamond jewelry, a good guide is to start with the 4Cs when choosing your diamond. The 4 Cs are Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. Choosing the right diamond jewelry can be daunting to some but with an understanding of the 4 Cs, you can make an informed purchase.

Carat is the standard and objective measurement of diamonds. If you are looking forward to saving on your purchase, you can avoid the magic sizes (e.g. 0.5, 0.75, or 1). For instance, instead of buying a .5 carat diamond, you can save more with a .48 stone. Diamond jewelry is appraised and the carat weight is usually an estimate based on the outside dimensions of the stone. Always keep in mind that diamonds with more weight will also cost more. Engagement rings are sold in .5 to 1 carat, and once again, don’t hit the full magic size to save on your purchase of any diamond jewelry.

Colour. In diamonds, it is hard to find perfectly colorless stones. This is because natural diamonds tend to have brown or yellow tints, but look more icy white. Diamond jewelry with noticeable color (light yellow) are rated ‘Z’ while the colorless ones have a ‘D’ to ‘F’ rating. Diamonds with G to J rating is near colorless, K to M has a faint yellow color, and the N to R rating comes with extremely light yellow color.

Clearness is synonymous with clarity. The natural stones have internal inclusions and external blemishes, as well as other imperfections. Clarity is the measurement of these impurities. It is rare to find flawless diamonds, and since imperfections can only be seen under magnification, the clarity rating will serve as the buyer’s basis. This is the general rule - the higher the number, the lesser is the value of the stone. F1 pertains to flawless diamonds, IF is for internally flawless stones, VVS1 and VVS2 have minute inclusions, while the VS1 and VS2 have minor inclusions. SI1 and SI2 have inclusions that are visible from under the stone, while diamonds with a rating of I1, I2, and I3 have visible and obvious inclusions.

Cut is one of the most important characteristics of the diamond. Cut makes diamond jewelry sparkle and this is what amazes people. The sharpness and cleanest cut is hard to achieve, and it can have a tremendous effect on light refraction and light performance of the diamond. Finely cut diamonds are fiery and clear.

Now that you know the different Cs, you can make the right choice. Picking diamond jewelry is a personal decision. It depends on the personal taste and financial capability of the buyer. Follow the recommendations above, and you can buy the best diamond in the market.

Wait, there is the fifth C which is the diamond certificate. It is sometimes called the grading report because this contains a complete evaluation of your diamond that has been performed by a qualified professional. Listed on the certificate is the recognizable, individual characteristics that each stone bears.

Why is a Clock not a good gift

A timepiece may be a good gift to give away except not a clock if your gift is going to a Chinese.

Why?  Because to give a clock figuratively means to send off someone, as in death. Choi! Choi! So you see, giving a Chinese person a clock is a definite no-no. But a watch is a-okay because the word for watch in Chinese sounds entirely different from the word for clock. I know, this sounds superstitious but, hey, we are Chinese!

Looking for Baseball gifts and awards?

Sourcing for corporate gifts and awards can be quite a daunting task as you can quickly run out of ideas if you have been doing it for a while.

Getting gifts for sports is no different as choices could be limited and rather monotonous even from different sources as my colleague found out. He was excited when he came across baseball gifts at RESportsInc.com. This site gave him some ideas to work from and to bookmark for future.

Key-chains make great gifts

Key-chains make great gifts to bring home for friends and family from your travel. They occupy very little space in your luggage and don't spoil when you reach home.

If it's key-chains in my shopping list, I'd certainly be looking out for key-chains that not only function as a key-chain but has another purpose to it. A key-chain that also acts as a bottle opener would be what I'd look for in a key-chain, for instance. Having such a key-chain would be like having the best personalized bottle opener with you all the time. People may not be using a bottle opener all the time but when they need one, they have one on hand. Just like having a Swiss army knife in your bag, you never know when you'll be needing it.

Buy tulips for Mother's Day at Sungei Wang Plaza

Each year around this time of the year, fresh tulips are being flown in from The Netherlands by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. No difference this year. Surprise your mom with fresh tulips this year or indulge yourself with a beautiful bouquet of these fresh air-flown tulips and in the process contributing to a charitable cause.

Hand-pick your own colourful bouquet of beautiful tulips at the 14th KLM Annual Charity Tulip Sale which will take place today at the Concourse Level of Sungei Wang Plaza from 11am onwards.

Priced at RM5 each, there will be 3,500 stalks for sale including the double tulip. Proceeds this year will benefit the Special Children Society of Ampang (SCSOA). The fundraiser targets to raise RM28,000 this year.

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms out there!


Source: The Star..Saying it with lovely tulips

Buying gifts for ladies is easier. Methinks..

I am of the opinion that it is easier buying gifts for ladies than for men. I suppose men would beg to differ. Gifts for ladies can include skincare products and perfume and flowers too, of course. Do we give flowers to men? Maybe. Sometimes.

However, skincare products can be a bit tricky unless we know the brand the recipient is already using. The other day, a colleague received as a gift, some gift vouchers for Clarins products. She was beaming because that is the brand she uses.

Have you received gifts that you had absolutely no use for? Easy solution. Give it to someone who has a use for it.

Apple gadgets for Mother's Day gifts

I read in The Star that 91% of mothers who took part in a survey said they wanted an iPad as a Mother's Day gift instead of fresh flowers. The survey conducted by TechBargains.com revealed that most mothers in the United States wished for the gadget. Many years ago, the gadget of desire would probably have been an ipod touch though this Apple gadget is still an object of desire for many.

The survey also showed that 59% said they would not spend more than US$50 (RM153.50) for gifts and 19% would not buy any gift for their mothers.

The Weirdest Gift

What am I going to do with this pentair pool light she asked. That's a girlfriend who got this little surprise from a lucky draw she participated at a home-ownership launch one Sunday.

Have you ever experienced the same about getting gifts you have no idea what to do with? I suppose in my friend's case, anyone with a swimming pool or a spa pool may have a use for it.

Just out of curiosity, what's the weirdest or most unusable gift you have ever received? I can't wait to hear what you have to share. In the meantime, check out some unusual gifts received in the comments below.

Beautiful Push Presents to Warm Your Wife's Heart

Ever heard of push presents?

The Wikipedia says:
A push present (also known as a "push gift" or "baby bauble") is a present a new father gives a new mother when she gives birth to their child. In practice, the present may be given before or after the birth, or even in the delivery room. The giving of push presents has supposedly grown in the United States in recent years.

I say that is a good practice for fathers all over, wouldn't you agree?

Now that you know what a push present is, personalized push presents are readily available online when the time comes. One site I came across is Redenvelope.com. They have beautiful and elegant push presents any mom would love.

Now that she has given you your first-born, it's your turn to give her twins. These Pearl and Diamond earrings, I mean. What were you thinking?

You can also show your sympathy with a Gift

Words of comfort and flowers are common ways of expressing sympathy and condolence in a time of bereavement. You can also show your sympathy with a gift if words seem awkward or if distance does not allow you to extend personal sympathy.

PersonalCreations.com has a wide selection of sympathy gifts and memorial gifts.

They have gifts ranging from wind-chimes to memorial stones and memorial stakes for pets, cardholders to lockets and other jewelry, Scripture prints to photo vases and more. Currently, there are discounts for selected items.

Card-collecting and Gift cards

Plastic card-collecting is becoming a popular hobby. Though most of them come in a standard size, the colors and designs on them make for an interesting collection.

One's collection can easily grow considering the fast pace in which shopping and entertainment outlets spring up and with it the introduction of loyalty cards. Telcos, gas, hotels and airlines also contribute to the number of plastic cards being introduced.

Let's not forget customized gift cards. Besides making great gifts, the variety of designs and colors of these gift cards would certainly delight many a card-collector.

Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention and Exhibition (KLIB) 2011

If Batik is your cup of tea and you would like to know more about this art-form or craft or if you are in the Batik business, the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention and Exhibition (KLIB) 2011 held at the KL Convention Centre may be up your alley.

Started yesterday, this three-day international all-things Batik event organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia, includes presentations in the form of papers, workshops, demonstrations, panel discussions and art & craft as well as multimedia displays. A wide range of themes are covered including from the history of batik to versatility of batik to technique to transculturalization of batik, marketing batik and more.

Inaugurated in 2005, people from various fields – artists, designers, students, lecturers, people in the batik and handicrafts industry, batik enthusiasts and aficionados have been attending this Exhibition, which has a wide array of batik fashion and products. You won't want to miss this once-a-year Batik extravaganza for the chance to pick up a beautiful batik piece of art - a batik shirt, dress or kaftan for yourself, batik art to decorate your home with or other batik souvenirs to bring home as gifts for friends and loved ones.

Head on over to the KL Convention Centre for this fourth edition of the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention and Exhibition (KLIB) 2011. Admission is free.

DATE AND TIME:

KLIB Convention 2011
9th - 10th Dec 2011:
10:30am - 6:00pm

KLIB Exibition 2011
9th - 11th Dec 2011:
10:30am - 5:00pm
The exhibition is open to the public and trade at all times.
Visit: www.expomal.com/klib

ADMISSION:
Minors of 16 years and below will NOT be admitted. All visitors must be in proper business attire. The organiser reserves the right to refuse entry to those deemed inappropriately dressed.

PROGRAM DETAILS:
List of selected speakers for 2011

1. Mr. Ray Pierotti - surface design for painters, weavers, textile designers and interior & architectural designers - USA

2. Mr. Alexsey Zaytsev - The connection of the variety of technics in art works of batik - Azerbaijan

3. Ms. Miyoko Kawahito - Ori-nui Shibori (Folded and Stitched Tie-dyeing) Technique using Awa Natural Indigo- Japan

4. Ms. Lee Creswell - Creating a batik using Cold Liquid Wax and Seaweed Solution - UK

5. Ms. Monika Salva - batik-diversified textures of wax in contemporary textiles -India
More international speakers..

Malaysian Speakers
1. Prof. Dato' Najib Dawa - Malaysia Batik

2. Prof. Madya Khairul Aidil Azlin - Enhancement of Batik Indigenous Design Through Indigenous Knowledge

3. Dr. Nazlina Shaari - Environment Friendly Mordant for Natural Dyeing Process in Batik

4. Mr. Edric Ong - Asian Textiles in world fashion

5. Mr. Eddie Yap - From canting to textural brush strokes to shibat (shibori+batik)

Visit the Kuala Lumpur International Batik (KLIB) Convention & Exhibition 2011 website for more information.


Source: KLIB

Buying a Confirmation gift

Cash may be a versatile gift but sometimes, you want to give something that has a lasting power or a gift that will be treasured long before the cash is gone.

If you are looking for a Confirmation gift, Personalized Creations is the gift-shop to check out. They have a wide selection of Confirmation gifts from keepsake trinket boxes to cherry wood and glass photo frames to sterling silver charm bracelets, silver rings to birthstone pendants and many more. Choosing an item you know it will be treasured allows you to send a confirmation gift with a personal touch no matter where in the world the recipient is.

Great Gifts for Men from Personal Creations

Do you have trouble getting gifts for men? Some of us do. Worry no more. Here is a great gift idea.

A galvanized beverage tub from Personal Creations is just the thing to get for a guy. When he finds it so convenient to have his friends over for a few cool drinks, he'll thank you for it. Check out the site for more gifts for men.

Come to think of it, a beverage tub is also just the thing for a housewarming gift. Summer's here and barbeques just won't do without cold beverages. A beverage tub would be one perfect gift for a new homeowner!

Inset shows beverage tub on a stand.

Nature's Vision - Nature Fundraising for a Greener World

The next time you are involved in fundraising, bring it a notch up by using products that contribute to the environment for a greener world.

Natures Vision Fundraising with 30 Years of fundraising experience, supplies top quality fundraising products and provides environmental fundraising ideas for schools and organizations.

They have a wide range of nature fundraising items in their catalog. There are organic t-shirts with a variety of animal prints and colors, 100% cotton hats, jewelry items, wallets, carnival bags, mugs and sports-bottles, pure soy candles and diffusers, bath towels, towel ponchos, gift items and more.

The best part about choosing Nature's Vision for all of your green fundraising needs is that you will be raising environmental awareness as you raise funds. Part of the proceeds from sales go towards environmental causes, for example, Gulf Coast restoration projects, nature conservation projects and efforts to support a sustainable future for our planet. Nature's Vision donates 6% from the sale of World Wildlife Fund products to the WWF to support their global conservation efforts. Your purchase of t-shirts from Animal Planet benefits the principle partners of R.O.A.R., Animal Planet's project to help make the world a better place for animals.

Nature's Vision is a service-oriented company. They are committed to providing you with products of the highest quality. To make your next fundraiser headache free, they individually package each item and then bag each seller's order separately. This translates into easy order fulfillment and distribution for you and your team, with no need for you to repack or sort anything. Think Nature's Vision for your next nature fundraiser need!

Fundraising for a Greener World.

Gift Wrapping Supplies

If you are one who enjoys doing your own gift wrap instead of letting the service counter do it for you, this Paper Mart site is for you.

Paper Mart is without a doubt the largest and most complete packaging store. I have not come across any store just like it. You can find all kinds of gift wrapping supplies and packaging material. Just bags alone, you can find from fabric bags to food bags to shopping bags and shrink bags to vinyl bags and more, each with a number of different choices to suit every need. As for boxes, there are cardboard boxes, corrugated boxes to gift boxes to jewelry boxes and many more. Even their range of gift wrapping papers alone is mind-boggling!

Other supplies available include tubes, baskets, pouches, ribbons, bows and ties, papers, plastics and films, even supplies for party and crafts.

Navigating the site is easy. Supplies are further classified into types of packaging categories such as Animals, Baby, Candy, Christmas, Floral, Jewelry, and so forth.

Paper Mart is definitely a place to shop for gift wrap and packaging supplies. Don't just take my word for it, check out the site. I am sure you will be amazed at their wide selection of supplies.