CHINESE NEW YEAR CRAFTS

For me, Chinese New Year tops the list when it comes to celebrations. Although I'm away from my home in Malaysia, I still try to do all the little things associated with it. First of all sending cards is an age-old tradition. I couldn't find any in Ireland so I decided to make some.

As my daughter Audrey was born in the year of the Rooster, I decided to make her something special.  The red packet (ang pow) in the rooster's packet contains a monetary gift. This again is a Chinese New Year custom whereby we give ang pow to family and friends who are single.

I love farm animals, so I decided to make some four-legged friends as well.

The piggy is my favourite - that's a given.

Audrey's 21st Birthday

It's a lovely thing to eat out and having a good reason to do so makes the food all the more delicious. So we headed for Molly's to have a scrumptious evening meal as technically following Malaysian time (8 hours ahead of Ireland) Audrey would have turned 21 at 4 pm today!

Though unplanned, we all ended up having fish. Fish cakes and the salmon florentine en croute were really mouth watering.

For that someone special, it is always very satisfying to make something special. This is what I came up with.

The little key (on the card) has bloomed into a big key. (hanging on the tub). 

The card came with an ang-pow. (monetary gift) Undeniably a bit of extra on the side is always very much appreciated anytime.

I filled the tub with Reese's chocolates and all the adjectives that describe Audrey because she is one very good daughter. The only restriction to the number of adjectives used was the size of the tub. 

Every mother thinks the world of her child. But to have other people actually affirm how wonderful your child is, is another matter altogether. In this area, there is no lack. 

In fact I got a card recently that read

 ' Audrey is mature beyond her years. You are due a congrats for raising her this way. She relates to people very well and goes on well with our children. She's always a pleasure to have around....'

They say there is no manual for parenting. But I choose to defer. All I can say is that the Lord has blessed me with three great children and He has guided me and taught me how to be a parent.

So on your birthday Audrey, I wish that you will continually....

1. love and be faithful to God and live a life that is worthy of Him 

2. respect and love your parents and siblings 

3. attain great achievements and be courteous at all times

4. be in the state of contentment (this is beyond happiness which is ephemeral)

5. be in great health

6. live the dreams that you have

7. look beautiful: inside and outside

8. find favour with the people you are with 

9. enjoy and use your talents and giftings

10. know that you are made of more (Psalms 139)

................ with love from mumsie and dad.............xoxo............2015

Zohre's farewell

It's not everyday that you meet a nice person who then becomes your friend. Then before you know it, she has to leave for another city. I met Zohre at the International Women's Organisation in Limerick. Hailing from Iran, together with her husband Ali, Zohre was with us for a while before Trinity College offered Ali a post doc scholarship.

So we decided to have a little farewell coffee morning for her at Valerie's house.

No gathering is complete without a lovely cake. The Iranian flag made all the difference!

It is in the details that warmth is spelt.

So I made her a memory box because she is so very loved by Ali and by all of us....

And a card so we could all sign and wish her all the best for her future...that everything she dreams of will come true many times over...

I will surely miss Zohre because she is such a lovely person...so talented and artistic but most of all she has a good heart.

Rhapsody in blue

Blue calms the soul. A combination of blues and creams brings out a certain ambience of peace and tranquility. I made these cards from Do-craft papers and ribbons, Gorjuss toppers and lace.

Robyn's First Birthday

I believe that babies bring out the best in us. When it comes to milestones, it is indeed a pleasure to be able to share the joy of the occasion. Michael and I went for our grand-daughter's first birthday party and the occasion was beautifully themed. Minnie mouse made her presence felt and that reminds me, I must book a ticket for Disneyland before the child in me disappears.

The gorgeous angel was the centre of attention and had no lack of kisses and hugs and presents. I decided to make her a card and a cat - way before I went back to Malaysia because I knew that with the jet lag and all, my creative cells would go into slumber mode.

The materials for the card came from a variety of places: the background card stock which I've embossed is from Gorjuss (Scotland), the toppers are from Craftcuts (Philippines), flowers, heart doily and bling from Big (Malaysia).

The cat is made from Cath Kidston print and I still have some of the material left over to make into a shopping bag.

The proud parents

The handsome grand pas

One for the album

And not forgetting Minnie Mouse, created in 1928, but has never aged since.

Chinese New Year Cards

It has been a while since I went near the crafting room as I was away on holiday in Malaysia and Bali in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration. This year, Chinese New Year falls on 31st January till 14th February, a total of 15 days of fun and festivity. It is also the year of the wooden horse according to the Chinese Zodiac. The best part of this festival is the meeting of friends and family and of course lots of food.

Michael and I met up with my primary school friends and we had a great meal at Royale Chulan hotel in Kuala Lumpur. One of the highlights of the occasion was the tossing of the Chinese raw fish salad ('Yee Sang') for prosperity and for everything good. Other items associated with the new year celebration include mandarin oranges, the lion dance, drum performance and exotic food like waxed ducks and sausages.

Prior to the new year celebration, we observe the tradition of sending out cards. Last year we celebrated Chinese New Year in Ireland, so I made loads of cards as there were none available in Ireland. This year I made only two cards as there were lots of beautiful Chinese New Year cards sold in shops in Malaysia.

Good things come in pairs

Sitting on the steps of Trinity College, Dublin

Good things come in pairs.  We clap with both hands. Chopsticks come in pairs. A glove, sock or shoe would be quite useless if the matching partner is missing. Even the chinese character of joy when duplicated becomes double joy.

So I have made a number of cards and tags which come in pairs and complement each other.......'

Autumn Projects

It's Autumn, my favourite season. Leaves are turning red and falling. Summer plants are saying goodbye and Hachi spends more time in his kennel as the weather gets colder and the winds blow stronger.

This is a tag using Autumn colours.

This is an altered jar with Halloween candy inside. Think chocolates in the shape of tiny pumpkins!

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And this is a notebook with all the lovely fallen leaves and rose petals on its cover