Korean Handmade Jewelry ala Dami

One thing I discovered in Namdaemun is the plethora of little handmade accessories and jewelry artists/vendors that you can find in Korea. Sure, the ones in the Trillion building for example are making jewelry for wholesale and you can find everything from cheap trinkety type accessories to the more sophisticated feathers and pearl accessories.

There are also quite a few independent handmade jewelry makers around. By far though, my favourite is Dami on Karosogil (see my earlier post on this cool shopping street in Sinsa-dong). Their jewelry is delicate and easy to match. Their style makes it easy to layer several necklaces together and they also sell sets which are always more tempting than just buying one necklace. I think that's the point!

Their earrings tend to be the dangly type and are exquisite. They have a range of hair accessories as well but I never really pay any attention to them as I am often too distracted by their necklaces and earrings.

You will find Dami at the top end of Karosogil opposite Cafe Nescafe and right next to Farmers which specialises in Hair Accessories.

Dami
542-6 Sinsadong, Gangnam-gu
T. 02 51 8620
Opening hours: 1100 - 2200
Closed on Sundays

Happy Malling!

Every once in awhile, you come across something that just cracks you up. This happened to me recently while waiting for the lift to take me to the CGV level at I-Park Mall for my rendezvous with a certain Vampire called Edward Cullen.


You've got to give them credit for coming up with new words.

National News Headline Could Use with Some Editing

Here's what one of the headlines in the Joong Ang Daily English news website reads today: Korea grants refugee status to gay

I think they need to get the editing checked out. The word "gay" is typically used as an adjective and sometimes a noun but I think the accurate way to write it is to add the word "a" before the word "gay and then "person" behind it.

Mondays are Slow Days

It's Monday and I wake up to a white wonderland. There are huge puffy snowflakes flying across my window and it's so pretty! I was just complaining to a friend the other day that snow should be fat and fluffy not the kind of wet drizzly bits that we had a few days ago. So I get my wish. This will also mean that the streets are probably clogged with traffic that can't move faster than 20km an hour because the city council is not quite as efficient with putting grit on the ground.

If you are living in the hills like in Sambuk-dong, Itaewon-dong or Hannam-dong then you are probably pretty screwed if you plan to go anywhere quickly with a car. Expect to find detours or more accessible roads to navigate down or up. Hopefully by the time you leave your house, some of the neighbours have cleared their driveways and many other cars have passed through the main roads which will clear the path to a muddy slush which will be extremely helpful.

Meanwhile, it's 10.38am and I am still in my robe watching the snow fall and looking forward to being able to build my snowman. Oh and if you were planning to go to Lotte or Shinsegae Department Store today, you won't be able to. Traffic is one thing but they are closed on Mondays. I found out the hard way.

Cool Tip on Making Your Own Bias Tape

Although my blog has a lot of food related posts to it, I also do a bit of sewing which I don't really post about. I have done quite a few projects of late - purely for personal pleasure and sense of achievement really than anything else. Also, it feels great to see a completed piece of work and it doesn't hurt when your friends like it too.

One of the things I had to learn earlier on when I took up sewing again was making my own bias binding/tape. I find putting binding always add that bit of detail that makes a something that started out as being ordinary (but nice) just that little bit more interesting. It's like buying a top that comes with a free matching necklace or brooch.

Sample of bias tape I made to add to the edge of this baby blanket.

The blanket was made with batting and quilted in 3" squares. It's pretty but plain, the blue and white bias edging transforms the blanket.

Anyway... I found this cool tip from The Green Wife who has her own blog. Besides knowing how to put together bias binding/tape (I am going to stick to the word 'tape' as it is shorter to type) the hardwork is ironing the edges in. This video tutorial from the Green Wife will show you a simple and totally clever way of doing it in no time!

Make your own bias tape. - Savvy Seams
Sewing on bias tape. - Angry Chicken

It's Green and it's Delicious - Pandan Cake

There aren't many types of food that is green and tastes good like Pandan Cake. I had a craving recently and decided to hunt down a recipe (a reliable source from House of Annie) to make it myself. I then found out that I needed a chiffon cake thin and also Cream of Tartar (which I couldn't find in the local supermarkets). Luckily the Seoul International Baking Fair was around the corner so I went with some friends and found both items at the show.

Making the cake wasn't too difficult but it was quite time consuming beating the egg white and I had so many egg yolks left over after that. I could have made the cake slightly less green but I thought the colour was rich. The cake turned out beautifully and smelled so good as it was baking. I made the mistake of greasing the cake thin (NEVER grease a chiffon cake tin as it can prevent it from rising) but I was quite lucky as the cake still rose.

Overall I was quite pleased with my first attempt. The cake was moist and springy but I felt it could have been fluffier. I have had some advice on that. Some were that I had to beat the egg whites for longer, another friend said that perhaps I could have added some baking powder etc...
We shall revisit that later when I make my next one. I have tried the same recipe with orange and that tasted totally yummy too. Perhaps a lemon one next?