December 2010

July 2011

High time for another update! Things are moving so fast it is hard to keep up with it all.
My last adventures documented in July seem like a life time ago already.
In August I went back to Nepal to finish some new work, we had the Gift Show in
Melbourne, then the Fashion Exposed, also in Melbourne. In September I had a special trip,
my mother joined me for a nearly 3 week stay, her first time in Nepal.
We chose that time because of the festivals, Darshain and Tihar, I had never been in Nepal during this time before.
It was a great time, and my mother enjoyed the trip very much. There was a bit of culture shock, but all in a good way,
and to see all the different festivities, to be made welcome so much by the family, and to be part of my life in Kathmandu
were all really new experiences for her. She even had a few days without me as I had to go for a quick trip to China. Everyone
looked after her very nicely and I'm sure I wasn't missed much at all.
The next trip was to Indonesia, meant to be a small holiday with my husband combined with some work, it turned out we had 2 days
holiday and the rest of the trip was hard work!
I am still on my mission of natural fibre-natural dyeing and did some research in Indonesia, met some wonderful people doing very interesting
stuff and am developing some work with them also.
Keep an eye out for our naturally dyed leather thongs with recycled rubber soles........
Anyway, the new year is very close by and already many events are in the pipeline.
I don't want to give away too much, as I'd like to surprise with finished products rather then
just talk about what I want to do....but.....we have some wonderful new developments. I will post a special Blahblah
on the natural dyeing on all Australian wool that has a comfort factor of 99.9% (most people wouldn't
guess the fabric to be wool) but will give a few sneak previews.
I do want to tell you that I am really excited about what I'm working on and hope to translate
all this into a wonderful range of natural products both in felt as well as in fashion.
Anyway, below are some photos of the last few months.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my readers, I wish you success, love, health and happiness,
(in no particular order) and look forward to catching up with you in 2011.

Melbourne Gift Show August 2010

Colleen and John posing....stand is nearly ready.

NEPAL September/October 2010

Two mums.

three Nepalese beauties.....
oops, make that two Nepalese beauties!

Baitika
This is a lovely part of Tihar festival where brothers and sisters
celebrate by the sisters preparing lots of food for their brothers
and the brothers giving their sisters nice presents.
Mahes with his three sisters, Moya, Lolita and Rabita.

I was given the honour to make the Mandala for Tika, this is
done in front of the front door and is a Circle of Life, made from flowers,
coloured powder and rice and is done to make the home more holy.

Everyone helped to finish it.

In the streets everyone was making mandalas in their
own way, it made for a very colourful walk around town.

Some of the offerings being prepared.

Indonesia:

John enjoying a Fish spa...hundreds of little hungry fish
nibbling away at the dead skin on your legs, hands and
whatever else you stick in the water. I didn't quite get it...