June 12, 2008

The joy of Sore thumbs and Numb fingers

"The Joy?"...you say
Yes indeed... there was heaps of Joy involved in my Sugar pulling and blowing experiences.... I'm not going to lie; I'm not exactly in the best of moods recently. I wish I could be blogging more 'happy' posts... but too much has been going through my mind.. and I guess there's lots for me to be anxious about in my life.It would be awesome if Su could be enthusiastic and cheerful all the time; but I suppose the wall of reality smacks me in the face every so often.
I'm excited; scared; grateful and disappointed all at the same time. About what? ... well; despite how this is my 'journal' there really are some things I find too personal to speak about here. I love sharing my thoughts with everyone; but I'm sure you all don't want to listen to a whiner either! hehe. "Just a bunch of cry-babies", Chef Ewald would usually say in his charming Swiss accent.
I sometimes wish I was in class all times of the day. In class, where I knew what I was doing; where I learnt new amazing things from my Chefs and where I was in my own little corner space... safe to play with my pieces of sugar and free to mess up as much as I liked. Don't we all have fun places we go to in our minds where we blow a bubble; step in and forget about the ugly world around us? Where you have 100% concentration on doing what you like?
For me; that's our sugar blowing class.
It requires all your attention when you make these hot and fragile sugar pieces...and it's so easy to get distracted; break a piece; snap something off or pop a bubble right through! and trust me... your heart breaks every time you see a perfect looking piece crack down the center.
Sure~ it hurts my fingers... burns like a ***** too... but the sensation and satisfaction is definitely worth every bit of it.
I've been facing out the world lately in my little sugar corner; Chef Ewald occasionally pop's in to see how I'm doing to help correct my techniques...and Chef James' 2 cents worth on my display is always very much appreciated as well. All other intruders are not welcomed in my happy place. Hell~I have damn itching and stinging HivES all over my face and I'm able to ignore scratching them while having hot sugar in my hands! *sigh* yea.. contact dermatitis the doctor says.. I say it's an evil itch making me look like a monster! ... *sob*
Well; I'm off .... will leave you pictures of my blown and moulded sugar pieces...Hope I'll be feeling better tomorrow; ..flying off to California in the afternoon.
....I'm graduating soon... not sure if I'm ready to celebrate yet..
...I'm not even sure what I meant by saying that..
It could just very well be a random thought it my head.
*laughs* ...sigh.. Su oh Su.. They don't call me Queen of 'Over Analysis' for nothing~ *grin*

16 comments:

Unknown said...

this all looks like a lot of fun. no wonder you want to be in your own little corner. i like the 2 swans you did. i think it'd make a good wedding cake topper. a bit risky b/c it might fall off and crack to a million pieces, but definitely something for folks to "ooh" and "ah" at. (: i'm thinking of ideas for my wedding, and i'm going to add this to my list. thanks for all your inspirations!!

Sarah said...

The roses and snowmen - literally breathtaking.

What a talent to be able to create such beauty!

Hope life gets sunnier for you.

Anonymous said...

"..where I was in my own little corner space... safe to play with my pieces of sugar and free to mess up as much as I liked. Don't we all have fun places we go to in our minds where we blow a bubble; step in and forget about the ugly world around us?"

This passage you wrote reminds me so strongly about one of my favourite book. It's called "Eat Cake" by Jeanne Ray. I strongly recommend you to read it if you haven't read it already. I read it last year and the first person that came to my mind when I did was you! The main character sounded like you so you might enjoy it. ;) Give it a try.

Oh, and also...don't know what happened but hope you cheer up soon! =)

Par said...

wow... congrat...nice work of art.

My Sweet & Saucy said...

I loved looking at all the amazing art work...oh, to be back in school again! It looks like so much fun!

Eli. J Jewelry said...

Those roses are gorgeous!

Breadpitt said...

su , cheer up ... ! i know how painful it is handling hot sugar mass and how awful it is when the fragile art break appart......

Apa itu said...

Contact dermatitis? Did you use rubber gloves? Are you allergic to latex? Avoiding them altogether gets rid of the itchy rash

Jennywenny said...

Sorry you're having a bad day, and welcome to california! Thanks for the wonderful photos, I'm very jealous, if there was some way I could give up work and do what you're doing I'd do it at the drop of a hat!

Jamie H said...

I've been reading your blog for over a year now (love your recipes!), but I don't think I've ever left a comment.
Anyways, your blown sugar pieces (particularly the swans) are gorgeous! And as for your worries, I'm sure that your sunny, optimistic personality will carry you through whatever obstacles you face :)

Beks said...

I'm trying not to be too cheesy but I'm sending out towards you all my positive thoughts and well wishes. Enjoy the weekend.

Just.Me. said...

hi there. i'm sure if it's you, everything's gonna turn out well :)
cheer up and all the best!

-caressa

Anonymous said...

hope u feel bright and cheery again real soon.
as usual must tell you how pretty & delicate the works in this post looks = )
m

Anonymous said...

There is something so especially light hearted and joyful about sugar pieces. I only tried it once on my own from a one paragraph recipe. I made a white rose for my mother for Mother's Day. She could not accept that it was sugar and that I had done it. A cool (in concept not heat) skill.

Anonymous said...

I've never left a comment before even though you're on my blogroll and I visit here often ;) I could not look at those sugar pieces and not write something to you. What absolutely exquisite works of art. Only a true, creative soul could create something so beautiful, so transient for the pleasure of others.
Honestly, you are a superstar!

Su-Yin -Décorateur said...

oh wow guys... thanks so much for the comments. I sincerely do apologize for the late reply.
As you can tell; I've been so busy with graduation; packing up..leaving the US and such. *tear*
Sigh*... hate to leave this amazing place. The notter School and Ewald has just been incredibly inspiring for me.
No worries with the contact dermatitis guys. I've been having the medication..and my face is all good now :P hehe. THANK god! I was scaring myself in the mirror everymorning for days~

gloria: hmm I'll definitely check that book out; I've heard lots about it!

sweetrosie: thanks dear :) thanks so much for leaving a comment. It's real sweet of ya