Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Softie for Mirabel - My Creative Space


Yay, I finally finished my Softie for Mirabel. She is the twin sister to Abbey's doll. They are not identical twins though, as they have different hair colour.


She has a reversible shirt, to suit her mood. I also made an extra pair of hair elastics, so her new owner could have a matching set.


If you can't make a softie (quickly, as they need to be with Pip by 7th December) then you can make a donation to Mirabel and support them this way. If you read the Mirabel stories, you will see all the amazing work they do. I had tears streaming down my face reading all the stories.

Creative peeps here, and today is the last My Creative Space for 2010.

Have a great day.

Cat.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Home made sushi rolls


Abbey has asked for home made sushi rolls for her kinder snack today. They are easy to make (when you know what to do)

Maybe I'll do a post on how to make them, if anyone is interested?

Have a lovely weekend peeps.

Cat.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

My Creative Space


Dotty doll has a sister. I finally finished her earlier this week. My artistic director on this project stipulated her doll had to have her eyes open. Abbey is still deciding on a name, she has been testing out many different ones, such as Pink-red, Red-rosie, Red-dotty and yesterday she was called Gabrielle (after one of her lovely kinder teachers)


I have almost finished my Softie for Mirabel. She is the one below with no face. I still can't decide on the right look for her. I better hurry up!


Zoe has been having fun playing with these dolly sisters and giving them lots of cuddles. It is so cute, she is growing up so quickly.


Visit kootoyou and pop in to visit so many lovely creative peeps.

Cheers. Cat

Thursday, November 18, 2010

My Creative Space


This week, every spare moment has been taken up with making two new dolls. One for Abbey, and the other will be my Softie for Mirabel.

Dotty doll has been very obliging and modeling the fabric choices for us - Abbey has been artistic director, choosing red hair for her doll and most of the fabric to use (her brief: pink pink pink)


My little pink obsessed cherub also chose pink shoes for her doll, what a surprise.


Dolly legs are also fun to play with. You can put them in your ears.


And pretend they are drum sticks too.


Have a great day. I am off to sew on some more dolly arms and legs.

Visit the land of creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

Cat

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Tuesday's treasures

These chives are very special to me. Early in 2004, or it could have been late 2003, my Grandfather gave these chives to me. He carefully removed them from his own garden. He lovingly wrapped them in newspaper for me. He then put them in two plastic bags so they would not make a mess in my car. I remember it took him ages. I am ashamed to admit it, but that day I was impatient and just wanted to get home, I was not that bothered about the chives. But he insisted I take them. I still remember him getting them ready, his slow laboured movements. His shallow breathing, his lungs struggling with emphysema. How he wrapped them up ever so carefully, with love, for me.

At the time his health was failing. In the following months, it was sad and difficult to watch this fiercely independent man, so used to doing everything for himself, being bedridden and reliant on others for almost everything. In a few weeks it will be 6 years since he died. I still miss him and think of him often. I wish he could have met my children, they would have loved him.

Who would have thought a pot of chives could make me cry today. These chives are so special to me, so treasured, evoke such memories.

Grandpa, we love your chives. I have kept them alive and we love cooking with them. A few times they have died back, and I have been anxious I may have killed them, but they keep growing back.

I am so grateful you took the time that day to give them to me. I don't know what I will do with them when we move to Hong Kong. It will be strange to be separated from them. I guess these chives have become like an invisible link to my Grandpa, one of the last real links to him I have left to treasure - apart from the happy memories.

Here is a photo of me and Grandpa taken 7 years ago at my brothers wedding, where I was one of the bridesmaids (so long ago, I have short, red hair!)


Pop over and visit Clare hosting her last Tuesday's Treasures today.

Cat.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

My Creative Space


There are so many things I should be doing. Such as packing and sorting for Hong Kong. Making more Christmas presents. Finishing my softie for Mirabel.

But when my little Miss 4.5 asks if I want to play "play dough" with her, how can I say no?

When she was much younger, I tried to stop her mixing up all the play dough colours. It did not really work. It is not much fun keeping all the colours together. I am now glad we mix them all up - look how beautiful little play dough stars can be.

Pop over and visit Kirsty for many more creative peeps.

Have a lovely Thursday.

Cat.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Tuesday's treasure


My Grandma recently gave me these old ice cream containers (note that the one on the right says it is artificially coloured and flavoured, like this is a preferred option - how times have changed)


Both of them are filled to the brim with all her embroidery floss. So many different colours. What a collection.

Her arthritis is so bad now, she says she will never use them ever again. Actually, she has not used them for years, but has held onto them just in case. This gift makes me happy and sad all at the same time.


I feel so honoured to have received them. Every time I have rummaged through them looking for just the right colour, I get a little goose bumpy.

Now I need a lovely box like Clare's to store them in. Many more treasures to be found over at her blog.

Hope you are having a great day.

Cat

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Hong Kong in a (long) weekend



We are so lucky to have had two amazing weekends away in a row. I'll have to have a separate post for each one, to do them both justice. Last weekend (plus two two extra days) were spent in Hong Kong. It is only a 9 hour flight from Melbourne (short to us as we are used to flying to the UK, which takes around 22 hours flying time)


I don't even know where to begin to tell you how much we enjoyed Hong Kong. It is an amazing city. We found it so easy to get around, even with two kids in tow.


We did lots of touristy things like have yum cha and have a ride on the Star Ferry. When we got on the ferry, Abbey asked us when was the ferry ride. We said this is the ferry ride, but she thought were were going on a fairy ride. Too cute.


We were staying on Lantau Island, near the air port. Lantau Island is only a 30 minute train ride to Hong Kong Island. One of the must see attractions on Lantau Island is the Giant Buddha (the Tian Tan Buddha Statue) You catch a cable car which travels over Tung Chung Bay and up over some mountains, with these amazing views. It is a 25 minute ride each way, and the views are spectacular.




You then walk up 200 odd steps to get right up to the Buddha statue. I can tell you it was a long walk up (and down!) as I was carrying Zoe in the baby carrier. I guess I got the better deal, as Chris had Abbey on his shoulders all the way up.


The statue is huge. And amazing.


Teddy came with us. Of course. She had a good time too.


More amazing views on the way down.


We also visited Kowloon Park and even had some time to check out some apartments. This trip has removed most of the fear of the unknown about moving to Hong Kong. I am looking forward to our big adventure to begin. But first there is a lot of packing and sorting to be done.

Happy Thursday to you :)

Cat