Rainbow is my favourite colour

What is your favourite colour?  For most of my life, I could always answer this questions, easily.  But not anymore.  I love colour.  I love sewing with colour.  I love painting with colour.  I love all colours. It is safe to say, that rainbow is my favourite colour now. 

Last year, this idea came to me.  It took months to finally make them, with Christmas and a house move keeping me busy.

But here they are, my first zippered bag range, featuring my own screen printing.  8 different coloured zippered bags, representing the colours of the rainbow.  These ones have a cotton inner lining, next time I'll make some with waterproof fabric.

Which one is your favourite?

They are now in my etsy shop.

Have a colourful day.

Sewing is my therapy.

Last week I posted a little parcel of handmade goodies to Deb.   You could call it a random act of kindness.  I wanted to make her something, to say thank you for being herself.  To me, she is so inspiring.  I love reading her blog and following her on Instagram.  She makes beautiful quilts.  She works hard at studying at University and raising her kids.  I really love her honesty on her blog and on Instagram.  She is not afraid to talk about difficult things like her feelings. I wish I could be so honest.

I included a letter with the handmade goodies.  I only meant to say a few words, to thank her for being so inspiring and honest. In the end, it was a few pages long, confessing how 2014 had been the worst year of my life and the reasons why.  I talked here about my grief at losing both my Nana and then my Grandma last year.  There were other things that made 2014 an awful year.  I am not ready to talk about them here.  Maybe one day I will be ready.

Once I had posted the parcel to Deb, I worried that I'd dumped all my pain on her. She has experienced her own share of pain and grief, she is open and honest about it on her blog and on Instagram. I felt relief to have shared all this in my letter but part of me felt guilty for burdening Deb.

I did not and could not know how she would receive my letter. It was a complete surprise to me that my letter did not burden her but uplifted her.  (She wrote about it here on her blog). I could then see clearly, by sharing my pain and grief with her, I was acknowledging her own pain and grief.  We all feel better when we talk about these things, it is part of the healing process.  It is not healthy to anyone to bottle up their emotions.

Deb has helped to heal me. I feel stronger. I feel supported.  Deb is my friend (even if we have never met).  I loved making all these goodies for her.

Sewing is my therapy. What is yours?

Raspberry Rainbow goes to Market: this Sunday

Hi peeps,

This Sunday 9th February you will find me at the Discovery Bay Plaza Handmade Hong Kong market.

I'll be there from 11am to 6pm with all my hand made goodies.

Raspberry Rainbow will be at table 64B.

Have a great weekend.

Cat.

Handmade Christmas Gift Guide 2013: gifts for teachers, school buddies and work kris kringles.

Hello peeps,


Today is the last installment of our handmade Christmas gift guide for 2013. Cat and I thought we would add this category in at the very end to give you ideas of some handmade and DIY options that are simple, cost effective and meet a variety of personality types.  Here are some ideas to cover teachers, kris kringle work colleague gifts, kindergarten and school friends.

1. Notebooks - surely everyone loves a notebook?  I do!  These are a great gender neutral option made by Trink Arts - $91 HKD available here and another option from Quimmz - $49 HKD available here.

2. Zippered Pouches, handmade by me - $99 HKD - I give these to my girls teachers with their name embroidered on the inside - available via my etsy store here.  See below for details on how to win one of my travel zippered pouches. 

3. Customisable Teacher print from My Sweet Prints $28 AUD - store here.

4.  Pens from Chibi Run - though not strictly handmade, Germaine from Chibi Run has an enormous variety of excellent stationery options in her store here $70 HKD - store here.

5. Wire angel covered in Liberty of London fabric $70 HKD from Jane Planet Joy - this is one very clever lady who I know some of you will already be familiar with via her lovely presence on Instagram. Jane uses divine Liberty of London fabric to cover wire and wooden letters and they make really fabulous gifts...I know because I've gifted several of them and kept a few for me.  This one is available here.

6. Canberra Creatives Creative Case.  This is a monthly craft-in-a-box Project Kit delivered to your door.  The gift can be a monthly one, three monthly, six monthly or for the full twelve months. Prices start at $169 HKD - for full details visit the Canberra Creatives website here. 

7. Reindeer food DIY - these are a great option for kindergarten/school friends.  There are loads of tutorials around and yes, we've all seen it on Pinterest but I like this one by Milk Please Mum here who had her little one write her name on the tags. 

8. Cat's salted caramel popcorn in a jar DIY!  Add the popcorn, sugar, salt, baking soda and some instructions.  Easy peasy!  See the instructions here.  What a fabulous idea.

9. Cloud brooch by Each to Own $141 HKD available here.

10. Bookmarks, these are made by Zippy Zippy - $70 HKD and are available here.

11. Polyhedra Note Cards (set of 10) $187 HKD. These are designed by the very awesome Messagemark and can be found here.

12. DIY polymer clay pinch pot.... I am at risk of being obsessed with polymer clay projects and this is a great, simple project to try via Spoonful here.

GIVEAWAY: I'd love to make one of our lovely blog readers a travel zippered pouch in their choice of fabric. Leave a comment here or on Cat's blog. One person will be chosen at random on Saturday 30 November in the evening (HK time) and I'll post anywhere in the world.

Thank you all so much for your lovely feedback on Facebook and Instagram in particular about our series, we've really enjoyed sharing our finds and love of the homemade and handmade with you.

Much love,

Cat and Cat.

Handmade Christmas Gift Guide 2013: gifts for us

Hello,

Today's handmade Christmas gift guide is all about us, Cat and I, or gifts for other ladies in your lives like sisters, Aunties and girl friends.

This list *may* be full of things we want for Christmas.

1.  Oh my gosh, how cute are these porcelain cloudy dishes/trinket plates by Urban Cartel $187 HKD, etsy store here.  I'd love one of these (are you reading this my Shropshire boy?, hint hint)

2. I love all that Lamina at Do A Bit creates, her hand printed pouches are stunning, Fuchsia Poppies pouch $150HKD, etsy store here. 

3. Yes please, who wants a crochet granny square brooch or a hexagon chain brooch?  Me, me, me! Ali from Ali Pink makes these and they are absolutely fabulous!  $150 HKD each, etsy store here.

4. How lovely is this To Kill a Mockingbird brooch by House of Ismay?  $129 HKD, etsy store here.

5. DIY tutorial: Make your own polymer clay necklaces, here on Arts & Crafts by The Red Thread.  This tutorial is excellent, it inspired me to try making my own earlier in the year and I've made a few ombre ones since, you can see them here and here.  Cat has made some too, she has a story to tell on her blog here about making them the first time (and almost burning her house down!)

I am so thoughtful (or cheeky) that last month I put together an etsy Treasury list of Christmas presents that I'd love to receive, you can see it here.

What do you want for Christmas?  Do tell us.  

Cat xox

My (head band) Creative Space

Hello peeps,

Today I sewed up some fabric headbands for the big girl.  I had promised her that if she got her hair cut shorter, I would make her some more and she could wear head bands to school everyday instead of having it up in bobbles.  We had to stop the morning hysterics of her complaining how much it hurt to comb her very long hair.  Yesterday she (finally) had approximately 20cm (8 inches) chopped off, so her hair is now much easier to manage in the mornings.

The fishy and panda fabrics are for Abbey, the cats are for Zoe.

I have made these fabric head bands before, you can see them here and here.  

They are based on the pattern from mmmcrafts.  I have altered the pattern and made it shorter to fit the head bands I have.  I also reduce their width, I do not like them too big on little girls. I add iron on interfacing to the wrong side of the top fabric so they keep their shape. 

They are quick and easy to make and can be washed when they get grubby (and they do).  Not to mention, you can wear a different one each day depending on your mood as they are easy to change. 

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year.  This year I managed to make many hand made presents.  Of course, many of them were zippered pouches.  Here are two I made for Abbey and Zoe, I embroidered their names on lining.  I love hand made!

All the Creative Spaces are over here.

Have a great day.

Cat xox

It's giveaway time!

Hey peeps,

So who wants to win one of my hand made fabric zippered pouches?  You can choose what size (small, medium, large or travel/pencil case)  You can choose what fabric I make it in.  I will post to any valid address in the Universe.

All you have to do is like my Raspberry Rainbow Facebook page and leave a comment on the post about this giveaway.  Easy peasy.

I'll pick a winner on Sunday 11th November at 8pm (Hong Kong time) using random.org.

 

I am looking forward to making the lucky winners fabric zippered pouch.  What fabric and size would you choose?

 

Good luck!

Cat xox

My Raspberry Rainbow Etsy shop is here!

Hi lovelies,

It is with much excitement I can announce that my Etsy shop is (finally) open.

So far, I have zippered pouches (in 4 different sizes, three sizes have straps) and hair bobbles.  More items to come soon.

Happy Sunday to you.

Cat.

Meet the Gang, hair bobbles and zippered pouches

Hi peeps,

I have been very busy lately.  I am happy to say, I am very close to opening my very own etsy shop.  I am so excited and terrified all at the same time.  But more excited to be honest.

Here is a sneak peek of what I have been making. Of course there will be zippered pouches (in 4 different sizes)

There will also be a large selection of hair bobbles. I have so many other ideas swirling around my head, but I best get this shop open first.

 Squee!  I am excited.

Have a great day.  Cat. 

My (Red Ric-Rac) Creative Space

Hi peeps,

Wow, is it really Thursday again?  The weeks are passing by so quickly at the moment.  I want them to slow down a little.

This week in My Creative Space, there has been lots going on (again)  Yay to that, I say!

Of course, more zippered pouches are being made.  Always the zippered pouches.  I am seriously addicted to making them.  I am slowly building up some stock, ready to open my etsy store.  Soon, soon, I will get there.  I was buzzing last Friday as I sold a total of 7, yes seven, zippered pouches to two separate friends here in Hong Kong. It is such a thrill to see people love your creations.

Abbey is so excited to finally have some wobbly baby teeth.  She has watched so many of her friends lose their first, and subsequent teeth.  It was not until a few weeks ago that she got her first wobbly tooth, now there are 3 wobbly ones that I can tell.  I am secretly making her this cute tooth fairy pillow.

Lastly, I really need to finish this new skirt.  One for me!  I have had this fabric to make me a skirt for 2 years now. Ridiculous I know.  I have been making hair bobbles out of this fabric, but thought I better make my skirt now before there was no fabric left for a skirt.  

 

I am using the pattern New Look 6843, view A.  I already have 3 other skirts using this pattern, and I love and wear them all the time.  It is very quick and easy to make and very comfortable to wear.  This time I adjusted the pattern and tapered in the side seams a little.  I actually made it last month, really quickly one night, it was completed apart from the hem and the button hole.  I got it in my head I just had to have red ric-rac around the hem, so my new dress has been unfinished until now (I finally got to Sham Shui Po last weekend for the ric-rac)

Today I will sew on this cute little duckie button, and tomorrow I will be wearing my brand new, hand made skirt.  

What have you been making?

Have a great day lovelies.

Cat.

The green and purple

Hi peeps,

Don't you just love it when your day goes to plan and you can finish off things that need to be done.  Thank you to the toddler for playing so happily by herself today.  Often, when I have sewing I "have to do", I procrastinate and start a new project (do you do that too?  Please tell me I am not the only one)

Not today.  I was determined to finish these zippered pouches.  Two of them are gifts, one is spare (for me? probably!) and one a friend commissioned me to make (such a compliment, she wanted one of my large zippered pouches!)

I have not been happy with the straps on some of my other zippered pouches, the ones I use almost everyday.  I have one I use as a snack bag for the girls when we are out and about, it is used most days, and often hung from the handles of the stroller. The straps don't hold their shape, and get all bunched up.  They need to be reinforced.  So this time, I added a very thin iron on interfacing, and top-stitched over the whole strap, 4 rows of stitching.  I love the look of the top-stitching.  They are very firm now.  Only time will tell if this is sufficient reinforcement, I'll test drive the spare one, and probably keep it for me - you can never have too many zippered pouches, right?

I got all fancy with the straps on the purple zippered pouches, and patchworked some of the fabric scraps with the strap fabric.  It was really fiddly to do, but I know I will use this method again as it adds such a special touch.

Both of the purple zippered pouched are to be gifts.  One of the recipients is my Nana and she has sewed all her life, so I felt the pressure to make hers just perfect.

It will be so hard to part with these purple pouches.  I love how they have turned out.  But that just gives me another excuse to make even more zippered pouches, right?  Yes, definitely!

Yay to it being Friday!  Have a great weekend you lovely people.

Cat.

My (is it May already?) Creative Space

Hi peeps,

How can it be Thursday already?  Again!  Plus it is May, another month has ticked over.  This year is flying past so quickly.

Today, in my creative space, I have one finished butterfly zippered pouch (with a strap) and one more to complete.

I need to remove the elasticised waist off this pretty new top I bought from Marks & Spencer.  The elastic is too tight and not very flattering on me.  I love living in a country that has Marks & Spencer!

Here is last weeks Strawberry dress, all finished.  It was the perfect dress to wear for a fruit themed party at kinder, Abbey loves it.

Happy creating to you. 

Cat.

My (messy) Creative Space

This week my sewing space looks like this.  Rather messy.  But good messy, in my opinion.  Lots in the making.  Nothing finished - yet.

I am in the middle of making some pink sparkly bunting, two rattle cubes and another assortment of zippered pouches.   Many of these will be Christmas presents.

Pop in and visit some other Creative Spaces over here.

Happy Thursday to you.

Cat.

My (practical) creative space

This week, my Creative Space has been about solving a few little problems by sewing some useful and practical objects.

Hong Kong, since we arrived in July, has been hot and humid.  I find we are all drinking cold water from the fridge more often, it helps you to cool down, from the inside.  But cups and glasses of cold water in a hot room sweat leaving little pools of water everywhere.

So some fabric coasters had to be made.  No more little pools of water, the fabric coasters soak up the excess water.  Sweaty glasses problem - solved.

The second problem we had was chopstick transportation (the kids training chopsticks)  When going out for dinner, taking clean chopsticks for the girls is fine but bringing home dirty ones in your handbag or wrapped up in a flimsy serviette is not on (in my opinion)

So I made this extra long zippered pouch, lined with a waterproof fabric.  Kids chopstick transportation problem - solved.

It took me two weeks, but I have now finished my latest stack of zippered pouches.  I had to take and share a photo.  I think they all look delicious.  Gosh I am so addicted to fabric.  I already have another (smaller) pile cut out and ready to sew up.

Happy creating (and problem solving) to you.  Visit all the other Creative Spaces here.

Cheers, Cat.

My very own raspberry rainbow, to have and to hold

Words can not express how touched I am by the lovely Jennie from A Little Vintage.

She made this gorgeous card and zippered pouch.  For me.  I squealed with delight when I opened the package.  A real raspberry rainbow that I can touch and hold.  It makes me smile every time I look at it.  Regular readers of my blog will know that I am rather addicted to fabric zippered pouches.  I can't get enough of them.

Pop over and see Jennie's gorgeous hand made dolls, they really are exquisite.  

Thank you so much Jennie.  When I gifted you the fabric, I was happy knowing it would be used and appreciated and turned into your beautiful creations.  It would not be gathering dust in our storage room. 

Have a lovely weekend peeps, I am off on a solo adventure, more about that next week :)

Love from Cat in the land of the Raspberry Rainbow.

My (first Hong Kong) Creative Space

Yay, finally something creative is happening around here. Something other than unpacking boxes and assembling furniture.  I had to unpack some of the boxes though to find my sewing machine, overlocker and fabric.

This is my first Creative Space since moving to Hong Kong a little over a month ago.  Today I am making more zippered pouches.

I have to fiinish these by tomorrow night, so I best be off and get sewing.

Pop in and see all the lovely creating going on over here.  I have missed being a part of Our Creative Spaces, I love Thursdays!

Have a great day, Cat.

My (travelling) Creative Space

I am working on a few little things this week, but there are no photos of them yet.  I have been busy packing and sorting, so not much creating happening (boo)

This is what I made my mum for Mother's day a few weeks ago.  A cute zippered travel pouch.  I put some Hong Kong money in the pouch too, so she is all ready to come and visit us when we have moved to Hong Kong.

It is the perfect length to fit her boarding pass and other travelling documents. I find it much easier to have them all in the one place when they are needed. Zippered up, nice and cosy. 

I have a funny feeling I will be making lots more of these.  For starters, I want one for ME! Then, I guess my Shropshire boy could really do with one too.  

Don't you think they make a great gift idea?  So yes, I will definitely be making more.

All the Creative Spaces are over here now, in a new home.  Do pop in and visit.  You will be glad you did.

Happy Thursday to you.

Cat

My (girly) Creative Space

This week I have had fun making a girlie birthday present. One of Abbey's new kinder friends celebrated her birthday today. Since they met just over a month ago, Abbey and her new friend Ellie have become almost inseparable at kinder. Abbey asks me many times most days what is Ellie doing now? Where is Ellie? When is kinder next? When I ask her what she has done at kinder, it always involves Ellie. It is so cute to see and makes me all squishy inside. My big girl, all 4 years of her, is making friends. I am so proud of her.

Ellie's mum summed it up perfectly - they are in love. And it is true, they both adore each other and play so well together.

This week I have been smiling as I was sewing, knowing these creations were for Abbey's dear friend.

I sent Abbey to kinder one day last week, and her mission was to ask what Ellie's favourite colour is. Mission accomplished by my little snoop, Ellie likes all the colours of the rainbow.

Abbey helped me choose which fabric's to use, and I made Ellie a zippered pouch and two headbands.

Little girls can never have too many hair bobbles (hair elastics), so I made some of these too.

To finish off our home made present, Abbey painted some brown paper with a colourful rainbow to use as wrapping paper and drew Ellie a birthday card.

Happy Birthday gorgeous girl! We had a wonderful time at your party.

Pop in and visit all the lovely Creative peeps over at Kootoyou on Thursday.

Cheers, Cat.