Our Journal

Meet Denise: co-founder of interior design firm Habit, and also my long-time friend and ex-colleague.

It's been over a decade - somehow Denise was an easy friend to make, and an easier friend to keep. During our rare but always caffeinated catch-ups, it doesn't take much for us at all to jump into unreserved conversation about our highs and lows, and laugh in wild abandon over the oddest things. As a friend, she's someone I can count on to call me out on things, and to shoot the elephant in the room. She's a keen observer, fiercely loyal and owns a wicked sense of humour ( and more recently, a ragdoll named Mao). If there's one thing that I've learnt from her professionally, it would be that excellent work takes unwavering perseverance and commitment. So, I'd like to share with you a little bit more about her in our WS Woman journal...

Meet Alexa Ong: local illustrator and freelance art director; the owner of Wood&Lead (her creative avenue for whimsically crafted products).

We visited her studio at Pearl's Hill Terrace on a relaxed Saturday morning. Sharing the space with other like-minded creatives, Alexa makes this intimate corner of the room her home away from home. With a family of house plants lined along the ledge of the window by her desk, and a collage of framed prints dotting her studio wall, her workspace is reflective of her creative practice that is playful, homely and relatable.

Gathering around a large communal table in the studio, we delved into conversation on her creative journey and practice, while sharing laughter and yet another of life's simple pleasures - in the form of one too many chocolate bars.

As the founder of Shop Wonderland, Melissa runs a beautiful cafe and floral studio out of a shophouse along Telok Ayer Street. Aside from the many delectable offerings of hearty fare and indulgent cakes at her cafe, I simply fell in love with her floral studio on the second floor - a space filled with natural light and the lingering scent of botanicals.

In a world that glorifies the pursuit of perfection and novelty, I often return to and seek out inspiration from the most familiar of things, and I wondered if other women shared similar sentiments. Amidst the festive bustle at Shop Wonderland, I had the pleasure of time to catch up with Melissa as she spoke about her craft as a florist, what grounds and motivates her in work and in life, and how she finds respite and joy through it all.