A black fabulous cat, finally!

A black fabulous cat, finally!

Yes, it is really difficult to make dark colored sock pals, at least for me! I have made some, but then pulled them off from listing, because I am not happy with how they have turned out! 

However, when  I found and tried with right materials, what a surprise, I am pretty satisfied with this black cat! Learning from mistakes after 5 months!

Never said never! Doing craft is not just a hobby, but it can be very mental challenged. Stepping out of comfort zone is scary, but can lead to a new discovery. Right, not a new thing to know, but taking time to be comfortable to risk! 

I always like to dress my lucky pals, and I keep collecting “accessories” for them! How funny, and I enjoy the process. That is why I don't make them, I deliver them with my love and heart, and it can be a long delivery, a hard birth!

Writing a blog for my first black cat that I am pleased to put into my shop is something I  think seriously, because I have overcome a “fear” about my “hobby”, and it happens in daily life!

She is bold, simply fabulous! If someone loves her enough to take her home, it will be a blessing!

So, what will be next?

Hope and Faith

 “Hope” and “Faith” is something we need to hold on sometime, somehow in our life.

We have desires, dreams, and goals, so we plan ahead, work hard,  then either achieve to the life we want or simply things are working out, we alternate our directions. However, we never are able to predict all the unexpected changes on the path of living.

I have created a pair of  lucky pals -mini “Hope and Faith” before my surgery in June, because I need to encourage myself to cope with all the anxiety, fear of my illness, and the following surgery.

Did I know I would be sick to a point that I needed a major medical treatment? Of course not!

This was summer time, kid were off from school, weather was nice, sunshine still bright, we even had a summer vacation scheduled...

Constant pain kept bothering me in May. From my medical background, I knew there was something not right happening in my body. Becoming a patient from a healthcare worker is not a easy process mentally.

The following series of  pre-operation check was very tiring, but I kept creating my luck pals at the same time! I need something can distract my mind from all the medical stuff, really!

The result shocked me! A possibility of cancer made my tears unstoppable! How could this happen?

Doctor was kindly comforting me:” It is just possible...”, I began to think of my family, my kids, did I still have enough time for them?

Story continued..., surgery performed...., tumor removed...., fears never went away.....

I have tried to be strong, staying positive, focusing on recovering on those days in hospital. Yet, It was a long journey for me.

Thankfully and gratefully, it was not cancer! It is like I have my life back,  a second chance, even I have a big scar will remain with me forever. I don't mind!

Only “the” time we will know we need hope and faith to go through all the difficulties , only “the” time we can truly understand how important to keep hope and faith, and live on.

I always appreciate my life, and need to remember how much more I have now!

So, after surgery, I was inspired to create another pair of “Hope” and “ Faith”, and big ones! Just wish to help people inspired too.

Don't forget we all have hope if we keep our faith! 

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.

Helen Keller

Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.

George Iles

One big happy family

When Molly got her sister-Samantha, then Butterfly fairy arrived later, lucky pals family has become a big happy family!

So I gather them together for a picture day, everybody cheers and smiles! I am a proud mom!

I adore the dolls from twistyfishies shop very much , they are delicate and amazingly sweet ! Maybe because their creator is such a sweet and talented lady!

My lucky pals want to give Molly, Samantha, jelly fish, robot and beautiful fairy a big big hug! Welcome!

I just realize no matter of our age, old or young, we all love dolls.

As long as we feel and find the connection, the dolls we love seem able to return the same love to us!

A new adventure for Pinky Dots

Several days ago, Lucky Cat-Pinky Dots got adopted by a lovely family.

You will see her in the following link!

http://joiedetea.blogspot.com/2009/08/meet-your-new-tea-correspondent.html

Drinking tea is part of my daily life. Tea has been in my family for generations, that is why I drink tea more than juice, soft drink, or even plain water.

Chinese tea history can be traced back far long ago, and the taste, the ways to make tea all very different from other parts of world.

My parent has been my tea provider, they will visit the tea farm on the mountain in Taiwan, choose the best tea they think for me, a love from them. But I have so little knowledge about tea, just understand some terms because the tea talking from my parents!

After Pinky Dots got adopted, I had a opportunity to learn tea from her new owner-a young, talented, lovely lady who is a tea master.

Here is her brief bio:

I am Australian, nearly 30 years old, and grew up in Melbourne drinking quite a lot of tea for breakfast with my family - just regular old black tea! About 10 years ago I started to get interested in herbal teas and to learn more about them I studied Herbal Medicine. Since then I have always loved all the different herbal teas and really wanted to try to create some blends of my own. Over the last couple of years I have been discovering more about the different types of black, green and white teas and trying as many different ones as I can! So I am very excited to have my little shop on Etsy. In a couple of months I will be having my first baby, which is also really exciting, and I hope that after that I will be able to work on my dream of having a little tea shop in the real world as well as online!

If you are interested to learn more about her and her tea, you can follow her blog or visit her shop:

www.joiedetea.etsy.com

Good luck to Pinky Dots and her new adventures!

My collections of “Quotes about Luck"

Where there is great love there are always miracles.               by Willa Cather

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.     

 by Coach Darrel Royal

                                                                                                                                 

Each misfortune you encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck.                                                                                     by Og Mandino

Each of my days are miracles. I won't waste my day; I won't throw away miracle.                                                                                     by Kelley Vicstrom

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?                                                 by Jean Cocteau

Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.                                                                                      by  Ralph Waldo Emerson                       

I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.                                                                       by Thomas Jefferson

The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act.  

                                                             by Barbara Sher

Men of action are favored by Goddess of luck.              

                                        by George S. Clason

If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.  

                                                             by M. Angelou

Being deeply learned and skilled, being well trained and using well spoken words. This is good luck.                                                                               Buddha quote

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night.                                         (Irish blessing)

Luck is what you have left over after you give 100 percent.        by L. Coleman

My lucky finds!

I really felt lucky to have them with me!

If you found something unique, and delicately handmade with love and thoughts, won't you feel special to have them, and cherish them!

I will let the pictures tell every thing!

I do have good shots of Molly and friends, but the photo of pendant won't tell the true beauty! Sorry!

Molly and friend ( amigurumi dolls and toys)from www.twistyfishies.etsy.com

Venus pendant: www.TDNCreations.etsy.com

luckypals

www.myluckypal.etsy.com

The inspiration! Maneki Neko

The inspiration!  Maneki Neko

Maneki Neko, have you heard of it? A cat with legend!

There are lots of stories about Maneki Neko, I like a site that is very interesting for people to explore more about this cat:

Lucky Cat Museum

Link:http://donaldmoon.tripod.com/neko/clubmenu.html

I am not Japanese, but a Chinese.

However, for some reasons, Maneki Neko, lucky cat seems has been everywhere since I can remember. What can you say, Asia is global too!

When I began to create sock animals for my kids several years ago, I made 2 huge dogs! My boys were amazed by I could turn regular socks into stuff animals! Then, I stopped! Those 2 dogs were all the sock dolls I had ever made!

Someday, I was washing dishes, and saw the Maneki Neko  (a gift from my family years ago ) sitting on the counter....., I started thinking.....

My interest of making sock animals is coming back strongly, and this time, 

Maneki Neko is my inspiration!

There are several symbolic meaning of Maneki Neko, Beckoning Cat, Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Fortune Cat, or Money cat. Maybe it is why this cat is so popular! It represents a very positive energy! 

And that is exactly I want to recreate- A positive creation with a cute way, in my own sock dolls! My lucky pals were born!

Not only lucky cats, lucky dogs, lucky pigs, lucky ducks..have joined the lucky pals family through my hands!

I want people feel relaxed, to smile, at ease, have a break when they look at my pals! Just not be too serious, lovely feeling is good for health!

Again, think about how amazing that a cute little pal can do for your life? Luck is every where as long as we believe it is there.

Prosperity will be around if we hold our lives up positively!

You can meet my lucky pals @ www.myluckypal.etsy.com

Say Hi to them!

Craft Thearpy

I always believe when we are able to express ourself, it is healthier, more positive impact to the wellness of living.

Art and craft came to me when I was facing a life changing event.

During that down time, doing art, and involving all kinds of crafting forms helped relocate my mind to more focus what I could accomplish.

Art therapy is one thing that people are aware of the benefit of self-help for coping with issues in life.

I would like to add : Craft therapy!

Just look around, how many people love art and craft? why? Not only try to make a living. It is a very positive way to release negative energy  from inside, and gain confidence from the work created by our own hands and mind!

When I set up my shop, when I think about what I want to do to combine craft and therapy for myself and buyers. I decide to make “ My Lucky Pals”

During this down time almost everywhere, and everyone. We all need something to smile at, laugh at, feel warm about, experience the love with......

So I call my  handmade pets as lucky pals.

I felt relaxed and easy just by creating them, and even happier after I completed, and looking at their smiling or funny faces.

And I wish, my pets serve a purpose: bring some positive impact to people who adopt them.

Self-improvement can come from everywhere, if you believe in good things will happen, it will happen! Law of attraction, isn't it?

Please visit my site:

www.myluckypal.etsy.com.

And I will follow up more stories of them!