It's getting all Christmassy

Our Christmas wreath this year. A triumphant use of scraps!

Ready

Handcoloured and ready to go on to Etsy.

Busy busy

As you can see I got the paper and what a difference that makes! Much happier now with the print. When they dry I shall hand colour them.

Also had time to make a hot water bottle cover. When I had sewed it it reminded me of a matryoshka doll, so I put an apron on and painted a face. I think it worked quite well.

Lino

I have started work on some Lino cuts. The paper I have is not printing them so well so off to look for some smoother paper today. Meanwhile I have been playing around with Hand colouring them.

Plus I have those 25 pairs of lever back earrings which are distracting me like crazy. So far I have made a pair of sea glass earrings, jade and now just made some Sugru black sculls. If you don't know what Sugru is you should follow the link and be inspired!Plus they have the cheapest international shipping ever.

Tart

Gosh I hadn't realized that I hadn't blogged for so long. In my defense I have been busy . And here is proof if proof was needed of one of the things I've been up to.

I am not totally sure I like this print, which I have hand coloured, but there you are it's done now.

Soho Festival

It was a great day yesterday in Soho. Hello to any new guests who came to the stall and picked up a card and are visiting.

We came away yesterday tired but happy and we have another great day to look forward to today.
Special thanks must go to Helen from Just Green for helping us to store our stock. Go visit her lovely organic shop in Soho and Forest Bird whose shop our stall was pitched outside of. Surely we got the best spot with coffee, nibbles and great clothes right behind us.Have a mooch inside it's lovely as are its wonderful staff, thanks girls!

More distractions

Here I am, I have devoted a whole day to sorting out my stock and finishing off and what do I decide to do? Well inspired by the wonderful Flora Douville, who produces a beautiful calender every year I decide to have a go myself. This is a round up of a year of work. I think it's rather good if I do say so myself.Now back to the grind stone.

Distractions

I have sooo much to do and finish off before Saturday and the fair. I should be working away painting and sewing, but who could resist the lure of Sham Shui Po and it's beads,string, ribbons and cloth. Good company( thanks Liina my crafty friend) good noodles and oodles of string made for a great distraction from the long list of chores.

Oh and as ever in Hong Kong look up, that's when I saw this great old pawn shop. Look at those windows!

Lamma FunDay part 2

Lamma Fun day was fun! Hello and thank you to all who came by to see Roz, Suzi and myself on our stall. We all did very well with our stock and got some useful feedback which I will put to good use at Soho Wine and Dine next weekend 1pm to 8pm. I will be attending that fair with Sheila from Turnaround, look out for us!

Lamma FunDay

It's Lamma Fun day tomorrow. I have made my two dozen cakes for the cake stall and myself and Roz Keep will be selling our cards too. It's my first outing for my Christmas cards lets hope the reaction is good.

I've photographed the cakes on one of my new giant sized serviette with the doily print in red. I don't think I'll try and sell any printed textiles tomorrow, I'll save them for the Soho Wine and Dine. Hope to see you at one or both!

Cards

Here I am stamping, folding and packing 300 Christmas cards. It's a labour of love. There is something very exciting about seeing your work printed. Still I may not love them quite so much if I don't sell any.

Chaotic

I wouldn't say I am a naturally tidy person, but when I start painting or printing the chaos doubles. This was an accidental picture of a small space on an otherwise swamped, layered used desk.

New makes

I thought I would show you some of the things I've been making for the Soho Wine and Dine Carnival were I will have a stall.The Snow globe card is one I've done as a Christmas card. It's blank inside but I have had some stamps made to print" Happy Holidays" and Seasons greetings to go in some. I am hoping to sell the whole run, but if I have some left leaving them blank may give them a longer life as just greeting cards.

This was a lovely shop in Sydney High tea with Mrs Woo. I'm trying to rethink how to display my printed textiles as I am participating in the Soho Wine and Dine street fair November 20th and 21st. It's very exciting and also quite nerve racking as I get new and different stock ready.

I shall be posting some of my new bits and pieces next week hopefully with the weather better for some outdoors photo sessions. Any thoughts or ideas on displays gladly received.

Doors

Some of my Sydney door pictures. I do love a good door. Maybe I should do some Hong Kong ones?For comparison?Mmm something to muse on.

Beautiful Sydney

Seems like we have spent an awful lot of time on holiday this year. Not complaining though.

Sydney was fantastic. It's a beautiful city that we had the chance to get to know when we lived there for 18 months. My love was rekindled on this visit, great food, great people, great fun what more could you ask for, more time perhaps?

Butterfly Lavender bags

I made these lavender bags for the craft fair in Discovery Bay and they sold quite well, so I shall be making some more of these. Meanwhile I have just updated my Etsy shop and put them up for sale.

Beijing doors

I do love doors and Beijing had lots of wonderful and interesting ones.

Painting

I have started working on my Christmas card design. I have put my name down to do a Christmas fair at the end of November and have realized that I had better get a move on to get everything ready. Having said that, I am having so much fun. Yesterday I printed up some napkins and tea towels with a new design and have been painting solidly as well. Heaven.

Beijing

One of the great things about being based in Hong Kong is the ease with which you can get to many great cities in Asia. We had a long weekend and took off to Beijing. We were not disappointed. Lots to see and do on a vast scale .

Lots of local colour
Interesting images
Great textures. Lots more to show you another day, we'll definitely go back

Backyard Bazaar

Yesterday on a bright and very hot day Small Island Store set up shop at The Backyard Bazaar in Discovery Bay. It was great to meet so many new people and to bump into some old friendly faces. Hello to any new friends who took cards yesterday and have just rocked up for a look.

A successful day and a lot of fun so I guess I better start getting ready for the next one and start making some Christmas stock!

Printing

This is the textile print I have been working on. Its a screen-print onto linen and I am going to be producing them as a set of 4 napkins blue on white linen and tea towels browny grey on unbleached linen.

I have been very busy printing sewing and generally creating.I shall be sharing some of my makes over the next 2 weeks. I am going to be part of the Discovery Bay Backyard Bazaar which takes place on 26 th September 10 am -5pm. Hope to see you there!

Custard Apples

It's still very very hot and humid. Yesterday was energy sapping sauna like. However what ails me is good for the island which is lush and green.

I was looking around the garden yesterday and I noticed our custard apple tree is loaded with fruit this year. It took a direct hit last year from a typhoon and we only got one apple. This year we have a basket worth's. Yum Yum. They really do taste like custard and apple.

Hello again

The summer is over, the children are back at school and I am back blogging. Lots of exciting things going on which I will tell you about before they happen. I hope all your summers were good, it's good to be home.

Going home

We start our journey back home tomorrow. First to Lyon then on to the UK and then back to HK a few days later. I'm hoping to catch up with a few friends in London and then its back to reality and a 6.30 start to the day.

To cheer myself up here are a few of my french door collection. Everyone should have one.






And finally a little something for the weekend.

Lazy days

Half way into the holiday in France and we have hit our stride, and are enjoying long lazy days of swimming, eating and generally lounging around. Fantastic.