Candles for Easter

We've just celebrated Easter and prior to that I suggested that we could make decoupaged candles for all the families attending our church. The suggestion was well received and napkins were ordered from UK and candles from Germany.

However when pastor asked for volunteers to help me with the project there were none. I ended up painstakingly  making over 80 candles. It was hard work because a lot of precision was involved.

The Greek letters chi-roh (cross and P) stand for the first two letters in the name Jesus.  The fish symbol represents Jesus. The goblet is used in Holy communion and the dove and olive branch represent peace.

RAISING FUNDS FOR SPONSORSHIP TO BELARUS

Going on a missions trip is always a challenge. To date, I've been to a few in Asia and this year I'll be going to Belarus on April 22 - 29 with PASHLI  (http://www.pashli.org/) 

'Pashli' is a Russian word meaning "Let's Go". It is my desire to make a difference  to the economically deprived people of Belarus, who live in extreme poverty, despite the fact that their country is on the doorstep of the European Union. I want to make a difference by improving the living conditions and social opportunities of the orphan children and the neglected elderly in Belarus.

To begin with I'll need to raise 1000e for the trip there - airfare, lodging etc. On a personal basis I decided to make some soft toys and candles for sale. 

Details: With St Patrick's day around the corner I thought this little sock monkey with the colours of the Irish flag is most charming! 17 inch with no small parts like buttons that can be pulled. Price: 25e

Details: Handmade 14 inch doll with Japanese cotton fabric. No small parts like buttons that can be pulled. Price: 25e

Details: Handmade 14 inch doll with Cath Kidston fabric. No small parts like buttons that can be pulled. Price:25e

Details: Handmade Piggy with piglets. Piglets can be removed from the pouch. 12 inches (31cm) x 7.5 inches ( 19 cm) Price: 25e

Details: Handmade Ewe and lambs. Lambs can be removed from pouch.12 inches (31cm) x 7.5 inches ( 19 cm) Price: 25e

Details: Candles with an artistic difference.

                                           Height:   8 inches (20cm)                           Price: 10e

Height: 4.5 inches (12 cm) Price: 5 e

                                Height: 4 inches (11 cm)  Price: 5 e 

                                Height: 4 inches (11 cm)  Price: 5 e 

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.

ICA CASTLETROY GUILD: Maureen Sheehan Perpetual Cup: Upcycling tin cans

Every year ICA Castletroy Guild holds a craft competition. Any lady aspiring to win the coveted Maureen Sheehan Perpetual Cup this year would have to submit an upcycled tin can.  The details are in the notice that I've drafted below.

I've also done a few samples to give you some ideas of what you can do with the humble tin can. Let your imagination run wild!!

So once the judging is over, just fill them up with goodies (think flowers, candles, trinkets, candy, stationery, shells etc) and give them to good friends who'll appreciate them.

HAVING FUN WITH DECOPATCH

What's the difference between decopatch and decoupague? Basically they are the same thing except that decopatch is much faster and less fiddly diddly. With decopatch, you can purchase this super thin, flexible but also hard wearing paper and a glue that contains a varnish. Decopatch is like paper mache and looks fabulous on card, metal, wood, glass, plastic and paper.

When I was at the Knitting and Stitching Show in RDS Dublin recently, I couldn't resist buying some of these papers as well as some MDF (medium density fibreboard) forms: a garland of origami cranes (which now hangs prettily outdoors and acts as a wind mobile) and a flower tray.

So I've transformed the flower tray into something useful - to display Cadbury Roses. The trouble is the candy doesn't stay there for long and it is too tempting for some.

CHRISTMAS CENTREPIECE FOR THE TABLE

Once again I had the pleasure of being under Mary Lonergan's tutelage. At a guild meeting in Monaleen, members of the Irish Countrywomen's Association enjoyed a session of arranging a centre piece. We were each given a pack of interesting Christmas bits and fresh foliage.

Everyone was so involved and had great fun creating .

                                                               A fine display indeed!

This is mine

All the proud ladies with their creations

MAKING CHINESE DUMPLINGS A.K.A. JIAOZI

Jiaozi are a kind of Chinese dumpling, commonly eaten in China and other parts of East Asia. They are one of the major foods eaten during the Chinese New Year and year-round in the northern provinces. 

These dumplings typically consist of a ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together or by crimping.

One of the special crafts organised by the International Women's Organisation in Limerick was a demonstration of dumpling making. Susan kindly hosted the event in Croagh.

Upon arrival, we were treated to a session on the art of tea making and its significance.

Then we were shown how to make the dumplings. Traditionally, jiaozi were thought to be invented during the era of the Eastern Han (AD 25 - 220)^] by Zhang Zhongjing who was a great practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. Jiaozi were originally referred to as "tender ears"  because they were used to treat frostbitten ears. Zhang Zhongjing was on his way home during wintertime when he found many common people had frostbitten ears. This was because they did not have warm clothes and sufficient food. He treated these poor people by stewing lamb, peppers, and some herbal medicine in a pot. The broth was set aside and the mixture was then chopped up and used to fill small dough wrappers. He boiled these dumplings and gave them with the broth to his patients, until the coming of the Chinese New Year

Jiaozi may also be named because they are horn-shaped. The Chinese word for "horn" is jiao (Chinese: 角; pinyin: jiǎo), and jiaozi was originally written with the Chinese character for "horn". 

 Jiaozi look like yuan bao silver or gold ingots used as currency during the Ming Dynasty, and as the name sounds like the word for the earliest paper money, serving them is believed to bring prosperity. Many families eat these at midnight on Chinese New Year's Eve.

Once everything was cooked, we sat down for a most delightful lunch.