musical melon
Melon's moment musical
Furisode kimono is my old collection, dollsville
mars 06, 2007
février 21, 2007
the timeless mandarin parlour
One midnight at the Mandarin Parlour, surprisingly it was full of activities
Longevity cranes bought from the terracotta army site are now guardians of the Parlour
Nocturne is looking for some food
At New Year the unforgettable "blue canned" cookies
a timeless gift at new year
Peony was playing with the little green "missing each other" birdie (this was granddad's birdie, it was called gigi birdie and she used to like to see it in bath in the terrace under the sun)
Phuong just put back her string instrument after playing
Parlour still in construction... it's a timeless parlour
février 18, 2007
the "economist"
Phuong, as sequel to last episodes of the lunar chinese new year, has won the blythe sized piggy bank in the mandarin parlour, not only because of her disguise as a pig that won mom's favour, but evidently also because of her piggy dispositions - that of pragmatic, not to say greed or misery attitude towards material possessions, that cannot be easily distinguished from a simply good saving and investment habit.
Counting the lai see, red envelops of money gift given by adults to children, when being greeted "Kung Hei Fat Choy" (or may health and prosperity come to you), Phuong was almost blissful with every single pitch in into the piggy bank. .... The Mandarin Parlour was full of piggy elves, petit and big everywhere.
She secretly wished that this year would be a 'fat' year, as fat as a pig, of course in terms of prosperity... She thought when she's grown up, she will be either a banker or an economist...
In her indulgence in her dolly thoughts, she fell into sleep in the Mandarin Parlour...
The piggy bank elves remain her guardian angels
Phuong was wearing Dollville's cihiness dress, in cute toadstools linked by numbers as in a picture book, with tote with cheongsam lady and cyan clogs in bamboo motif
février 12, 2007
the gourmet mandarin parlour
An array of new year food at the Mandarin Parlour
Clockwise from rear row left, rice, boiled chicken (behind lotus roots), Big Bowl combo dish, roasted ducling, crispy deep fried dumplings, New Year Pudding, turnip pudding, 'longevity' noodles, sweet pastries, roasted piglet, sesame pastries symbolising piling of gold
février 11, 2007
piggy love
Cast: Mandarin Parlour
Nocturna (nf), Peony (goldie), Phuong (ll)
Nocturna (soliloquy): Let me fetch my piggy bank, i need it for the new year, may monies pitch in like avalanche!
(Peony and Phuong overheard in delight ...)
Phuong plotted in consipiracy. She is the red riding hood with a wolf's heart...
Peony was quite spotaneous. She seized it!
Helpless little Nocturna
Phuong: Don't touch it girls
... i can't help it! i heart piggies
The girls: awww she is a real piggy... *faints*
Piggy banks (thought): We become so popular... i said we made it ... even thought they talked about socalled passbook savings, investment funds, internet banking... Our piggy days come..
The girls are wearing sugarmag 2007 lunar new year outfits
février 04, 2007
array at the mandarin parlour
The Mandarin parlour proper is in fact located at my other dwelling (where all the furniture of the parlour are there but i am reluctuant to transport the girls there)... Here is a rehearsal of the conception with some pieces here and there, with the gang of oriental girls, Peony (goldie), Nocturna (nf), Phuong (ll) and the visit of Chamomile (mmlb)
For the auspice of new year, it's a parlour of symbolic material possessions to the point of excesses..., not unlike the mentality of many at this time of the year ! The three girls cheered at the gadgets and went playing in the parlour
Phuong assumed the lion dancer...
Peony checked out the piggy cash boxes... Nocturna wouldn't let anybody touch her piggy bank for life.
Group portrait posed as array of piggy banks 
the mandarin trio portrait
janvier 28, 2007
spring is in the air
The delivery of festive flowers... to the oriental room, i called it the 'mandarin parlour'
The mandarin parlour, together with a study and a bedroom, will be the living space for several girls, Nocturna (nf), Peony (goldie), Phuong (ll), or Chamomile (mmlb), Lili (lm), Magdalene (vcb) as well.... - an idea still in construction
The salon of the mandarin parlour is for the time being furnished with a pearwood ching dynasty imperial day bed, ming dynasty high back chairs and high vase sidetable and redwood long end table. Also on the wall wood carved new year picture from Yangjiabu, Weifang, Shandong (northwest china) and a persian carpet .