Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

  Today begins the beginning of the Lunar New Year. For my family, it is the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Tiger , or more specifically  the Year of the Black Water Tiger.  There are many predictions published about  what this new year will bring.  ( just try Google - Year of the Tiger )  While individual predictions vary according to  your birth year and  your Chinese Z odiac animal, there is a general agreement amongst astrologers who say the tiger denotes strength, vitality and growth. These are qualities that will hopefully stand us all in good stead as we look to move past the uncertainty of COVID-19 in the past couple of years .  Here is a guide to find out  your own Chinese Zodiac animal  - Always check the new year's date if you are born in the early months of the year,  because t he first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20. According to your year of ...

Happy Chinese New Year - Kung hei fat choy.   Welcome to the Year of the Pig.  If you were born in the Year of the Pig (1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019) - what wonderful people you are ....  Men born in the Pig year are optimistic and gentle. They are very focused. Once they decide on a goal, they’ll put everything into it.  Women born in the Pig year are full of excitement. They attend social events whenever possible and treat everyone genuinely. Combined with their easygoing personality, they gain everyone’s trust. Have a great year, one and all.

Today begins the Lunar Year of the Dog... I started well  last week preparing my greeting cards  incorporating 'red' in my art works in time for giving and posting. Why are these so red?  Most of you can answer that as it is commonly known that the colour red for Chinese symbolises  good fortune and happiness. It is certainly the Chinese celebratory colour - unavoidable during Chinese New Year and other traditional and official holidays. Being the year of the dog, so many cute images of dogs appear in both traditional and contemporary New Year designs. I used Christmas Island stamps on my cards. The stylised  patterned image of a little dog is adapted from the Chinese character -very modern and festive.  Although I think the little red dog looks pensive, it is certainly a lovable and a reassuring  image. This thoughtful dog image certainly fits with what  Chinese astrologer Linda Lau predicts for this year.. .. (from  https://www....

Happy New Year  - I am sure you haven't missed the beginning of the  Lunar Year  - 2017 , the Year of the Rooster , in fact the Fire Rooster. I have in the past written many articles about celebrating the Chinese or Lunar New Year  in this blog - Year of the Monkey , Year of the Sheep/Goat , Year of the Snake , Year of the Dragon , Year of the Tiger .  I have often discussed lucky foods, family activities, the Do's and Don'ts of New Year celebrations and traditions. However, this year, how about some numbers?  THE LITTLE NUMBERS  3  The  official number of  public holidays for the New year Festival  although many workers have 7 days leave.  8   is considered to be a lucky Chinese number. Besides all of the other delicious foods created for the New Year celebration, it is customary to offer friends who visit during the two week period, a 'tray of togetherness' - a  snack platter. This platter has 8 separate div...

Happy Chinese New Year!  Gong xi fai cai! Kung hei fat choy!  Welcome, Year of the Fire Monkey.  Like Korean Seollal​, Vietnamese Tet, Mongolian Tsagaan Sarand Tibetan Losar​, Chinese New Year  in the northern hemisphere farewells winter and the year gone by and rings in spring and the fresh year. Making wishes for luck, prosperity and good fortune and warding off evil spirits are central to many celebrations, which vary across China and Lunar New Year cultures.    Many of my friends ask me how they can celebrate the New Year... I usually say, lots of delicious food with family and friends .... but there are some little customs which I follow - not sure whether they are just things I remember from my childhood or things I have read about or heard from others.  Things to do for Chinese New Year:   1. Clean  your house before New Year's Day - symbolic of cleaning away any misfortune, and preparing for the good f...

And so all good things come to an end .... "Where's Wooly? " is now over, having celebrated the first week of  the  Lunar New Year  -  Wooly, the sheep in eight different locations in Newcastle East.  Thanks to all the participants who so graciously lent Wooly a space in a prominent spot in their shops, galleries and studios.  Day 8, the last day, Wooly very appropriately spent at Wolfe Studios Building, Hunter Street Mall. Wofe Studios is a hub of creative activity, home to  artists working in various media . It is one of the projects of Renew Newcastle . Renew Newcastle is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. Renew Newcastle has been established to find short and medium term uses for buildings in Newcastle’s CBD that are currently vacant, disused, or awaiting redevelopment. Renew Newcastle aims to find artists, cultural projects and community groups to use and maintain these buildings until they become commercially viable or are r...

Wooly's  Chinese New Year celebrations are coming to an end.... Today, Day 7, Wooly enjoyed a great day with friends at Hand to Hand Crafts, 1 Wolfe Street  ( corner of Hunter Street), Newcastle Here's an extract from a  great story  about Hand to Hand Crafts,  published in the Newcastle Herald, about a year ago.  Hand to Hand Crafts amid shelves lined with neat bundles of wool in an array of colours, ... Established two years ago by the support service, Response, the handicraft and haberdashery store provides training and employment for people with a disability who are aged over 18. Nearby businesses in the Hunter Street Mall support the store by ordering specially made tags and bags...  Part of the appeal of the store is its extensive range of Jo Sharp, Patons and Sublime English wool, as well as a variety of embroidery threads, but there's no doubt that (trainee) Hely and his co-workers, such as Angie Cox and Mandy Moore, enhance a vi...

Wooly was looking a little nervous today. She spent the day with Tony Rufo - Barber and Hair Designers, 64 Hunter Street , Newcastle East. Wooly shouldn't have been concerned .... here's one the reviews from a happy client...  A wonderful old Italian barber and son combo. Great prices for men's cuts, and a decent hot shave. The man's shave is going extinct - men reclaim what's yours and see your barber for a shave from time to time. Tony is a great and much-needed local presence in an inner-city neighborhood that is only slowly building a life again. Where will Wooly be tomorrow ,25 February, Day 7 of the Chinese New Year celebrations...  Here's a clue for Novocastrians - another long established business in the heart of Newcastle  Where’s Wooly? Click go the needles -  today Wooly is ready to give a hand. 

Wooly has been up and down Hunter Street, Newcastle Where's Wooly ? Day 6 : 24 February Such an easy clue , you are sure to find her ......   It’s not a wool shed, but here you will find Tony Baa Baa at work.  It will be a change from Day 5 when Wooly was amongst the latest fashions at Hunter 81, Shop 2 , 81 Hunter Street, Newcastle. 

crowds gathered on the foreshores for "Light Up Newcastle"  Light Up Newcastle - Lantern Walk for Chinese New Year 2015 ..... lanterns, lanterns, lanterns everywhere and a rare moment when the family was in one place at the same time ..... and harbour views... Postscript:  Wooly spent a lazy Sunday at Timeless Textiles, but will be found in a new location on Monday morning ( 23 February) - Day 5 clue for Where's Wooly? Wooly 9 times 9 - no mutton dressed as lamb here. 

Today, Day 3 of the Chinese New Year celebrations, Wooly visited My Souk Drawer ....Shope 102, 160 Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle....    Entering My Souk Drawer you are confronted with row after row of spice buckets and display cases that hold a vast array of your typical curries, salts & peppers. Scattered amongst these are the blended varieties such as the Ras-el-Hanout a Morrocan spicy twist of rich sweet flavours that perfectly accompanies pretty much any dish.   ( text and photos from www.hunterhunter.com.au)  Wooly has had a very hectic few days, so will be having a day of rest on Day 4. You can still post a photo of Wooly any time on 22 February resting up for another big week, Post on Instagram or Facebook to win a chance in the draw for a lucky red envelope at the end of eight days.  Clue for Day 4 :  Where’s Wooly? At home today where woolly felt fibre abounds. 

Day 2 ... Wooly spent the day at the City Pharmacy  where Bob is the pharmacist who obviously "likes Wooly's greasy wool and other products medicinal " ( that was the clue to her whereabouts)  Now , she 's wagging her tail behind her  to her next location ... hope you can find her ... here 's the clue  Where’s Wooly? It’s Spicy Wooly today -mmm, perhaps chermoula slow roasted lamb shanks?  

"Where is Wooly?"  is a Chinese New Year event sponsored by Timeless Textiles Gallery in Newcastle, NSW.  This wool felted animal ( sheep/goat) appears each day for eight days in different locations. Anyone who posts photos of Wooly in her various locations on Instagram or Facebook will go into a draw for a lucky red envelope ( containing a Timeless Textiles gift voucher) Day 1 was very busy. Wooly started the day off with an interview with Jill Emberson on the Morning porgram of ABC radio 1233.  Then, off to location 1. The clue was " Wooly wishes you a Happy New Year and wonders artistically what's around the curve? " Of course, Wooly was at Curve Gallery, 61 Hunter Street, Newcastle East. Where will Wooly be Day 2 - 20 February? Here's a head's up with the clue.... Old Bob loves Wooly's greasy wool an other products medicinal.  Good luck and Happy Chinese New Year