SUMMER ART CREATIONS

It's that time of the year where everything is blooming and looking very good. So with the beautiful spate of good weather I decided to do lots of stuff with a floral theme.

Barrels

Inspired by some barrels that I saw in Durrow last summer, I began hunting for empty plastic barrels to paint. The owner of River Spices (Indian takeaway) gave me 2 small chutney barrels. I wanted a bigger one so I went to the milk market to source for one but I didn't like what I saw.

When I visited my friend Catherine, I saw some blue barrels and it was so nice of Ned to give me one. He loaded it into my car boot - a perfect fit! So I've transformed the barrels into 2 planters and one water butt to catch the rain that runs down the gutter..

I like the saddleback pig because of its distint black and white markings. So I modelled the water butt after the piggy.

Path

I couldn't leave a path in its original state.   I had to give it a makeover.

and the original path below

Wigwams

I planted more climbing plants so there was a need for bamboo/willow wigwams.

Pallets

I saw how pallets were painted at the Bloom and Clare garden festivals last year and so I decided to try it out.

Cable wheel

I turned this cable reel into a small table.

Food Cover

And to keep the pesky flies away, this is a bee hive with a difference!

I spend much time in the garden and it's all very worth it....The roses are all blooming and there is also a bumper crop of vegetables

I bought a chimney pot from a Recycle Centre in Scariff and did mosaic work on it.

and decoupaged a plastic chair

                         ..............made two floral hair clips to match my dress

                                   gave 3 bedroom windows a new stained glass look...........

       and finally did mosaic work on the window sills which won a lot of admiration from passers-by .               ............

SUGAN TEACHING

When I learn something, I love to teach others.

A year ago I went to the Slieve Aughty mountains and stayed there and learnt how to weave a sugan chair. At that time I had sprained my ankle badly but nothing was stopping me from learning such a beautiful craft.( (11 May 2016 - Making a Sugan Chair
http://kreatifhands.blogspot.ie/2016/05/making-sugan-chair.html)

I also wrote an article about it in my column for the New Straits Times Malaysia. (A Chair by Any other Name would make a Great Seat - http://soo-livinglifeasitis.blogspot.ie/2016/08/a-chair-by-any-other-name-would-make.html )

A year later I contributed a sugan chair to the Scarriff Cooperative Cafe. When the director heard about it he contacted me and said there were several sugan chairs that needed repair and asked if I could teach?

I thought it would be a lovely thing to do and so the coop put up a notice. It was a free workshop for anyone interested. The only thing was the participants could not bring the chairs home.

I ordered the rope from Dublin and when the day came I had three eager participants. They were all fast learners and in two hours we wove new seats for 6 chairs.



One of the participants said it was very interesting that a Malaysian was teaching them an Irish craft. He also asked me about the history of the sugan chair and I readily shared whatever I knew. Then he asked whether I knew other traditional crafts. I said yes: willow basketry and limerick lace making. Then he  cheekily asked if they would be having Malaysian satay later. In fact, two of them had been to Malaysia before!

It was really great to teach those who are good with their hands and we had a wonderful time that Saturday morning.

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.