House & Garden Magazine Feature

Hello friends, its been very busy lately now as we are into wedding and party season, and I haven't had any time for blogland :-(

I wanted to share this picture of our beautiful lanterns and ribbon featured in Australian House & Garden Magazine (November issue). I love it!! Did any of you see it???

Hope to see you all again soon!!
Cheers, Karen

Blog neglect!

Hello friends,
I'm sorry for my absence. First I was in China for 3 months, and now since I've been back I've been really, really busy. Its just been all business, no time for play - but hoping to change that soon!

I now have professionals helping me with the photography for the business - such bliss!! We even spent a half day at the beach working! Everyone was happy, as the hardworking assistants Patsy & Frankie came too!

What do you think of the photographs!! So fabulous, and taken at my local beach in Brisbane!





Hardworking assistants helping to find a suitable location to place the stock!!



I have been blogging on the business blog, but will be back on this one soon I hope!
See you all again in Spring! Only 3 weeks to go ......
Cheers, Karen

A step back in time

Have you seen any of these Chinese movies? Winter Jasmine, Lovers grief over the yellow river, Master of taichi, or Wordless love? I haven't yet, but I plan to.

I spent a day Cuan di xia, the historical and beautifully preserved Ming dynasty village where these movies were all shot. It was a beautiful day spent in the mountainous countryside, and was a really nice break from the craziness of Beijing. The village is located on the mountain, so it was actually a day of exercise as well, and of course, there was delicious fresh food to enjoy too!










Of course, I had to include a lantern pic!

I had such a great time in China, and took so many pics! I will post more as soon as I can!
Its been so busy since I've returned, and another container of lanterns is arriving next week for Lanternshop!

I hope you all have a lovely week!

I'm back!!!

Hello friends,
After 3 long months, I'm back from China!! I've missed so much in blogland as its not possible to access Blogger from China - so much catching up to do!!!

I had such an amazing time - a truly awesome experience.
The first few weeks were spent working (shopping for Lanternshop and organising the next shipment), then the rest of the time studying, immersing myself in the culture and food, and playing tourist!!

When I get over my tiredness in the next few days - I'll post more pics and details of my adventure!

Here I am in Zhejiang province with my friend Mary playing dressups!! So much fun :-)

China Visit

(image from blog.chinatraveldepot.com)

Hello Friends!
Its been ages since I've been here .... and it will be ages until I'm back again!!!

Soon, I'm heading back to China for a long trip, but this time (fingers crossed) I'll be having some fun and tourist time too!

I'll be doing work for the first couple of weeks, then spending a couple of months studying and immersing myself in Chinese culture. I'm planning to do some homestays and English teaching, and I'm expecting/hoping to improve my Chinese and enjoy myself at the same time!

Thankfully, Mr Lantern will be assisting with running Lanternshop while I'm gone so I won't have to worry too much about the day-to-day business stuff!

Will miss you all, but will be unable to visit you while I'm away as I cannot sign into my blogger account from China .....

See you all again in July!

Happy New Year

Hello Friends,
Happy New Year, Happy Chinese New Year .... and everything else in between that I've missed!!! Its been ages since I've blogged here, but time has been flying this year and I can't keep up!!
Patsy and Frankie are doing very well and working hard too! I'm still studying hard with my Mandarin and am planning my next buying trip in the next couple of months!
So, I probably won't be back on this blog for a little while, but plan to still keep blogging on my business blog Lanternshop.
Hope you are all healthy and happy :-)
Cheers, Karen

Happy Xmas!!!

Hello friends!!
Xmas has come early for me - I've just seen that we have been mentioned in Australian Home Beautiful Magazine (January 2011) edition! WOW!! What a nice surprise!




Patsy, Frankie and I would like to wish you all a very Happy Xmas and New Year!! We hope to be back to blog-land more frequently in 2011!!!! (this will be my resolution)!!

Cheers :-)

Quick update!

Hello friends! Its been ages since my last posts ..... where does the time go?? So here's a very quick update!
Things have been busy at the Lanternshop - my assistants have been working very hard too!!
We've had a container arrive which has been fully unpacked - lots of nice new paper lanterns and lighting!!
Behind the scenes we have been working on the new website! A bigger, better and more beautiful site which is going to run much more smoothly than the existing one. Hopefully this will be launched in the next week - and ALL of the new products will be available then too!!
The next container has been finalised - this should be here at Xmas! What an awesome present for myself!!! :-)
My Chinese is progressing nicely (but slowly) and I'm proud to announce I can now write my name in Chinese characters from memory!. My name is Ying Hua (cherryblossom). I'm planning another trip in the new year ..... so had better keep studying ferociously.



Just one picture today - its my new favourite colour in the paper lantern range - EMERALD! Love it.

Wishing you all a very happy week ... and I'm hoping to be back to regular blogging soon xo
Karen, Patsy & Frankie

Silk Lanterns - Special Offer

Hello friends,
Now is the perfect time to decorate your outdoor living spaces! Beautiful Vietnamese Silk lanterns in the traditional (cylinder) shape, with LED battery operated lighting string!!





They look stunning by day, and create a serene atmosphere at night! These would make a very unique Xmas gift!

While stocks last, only $99 plus $12.95 delivery anywhere in Australia!! Visit us at www.lanternshop.com.au

Beautiful Vietnamese Lanterns

How beautiful is this???? This his how I dream my garden will look soon ........



Every day, I'm lucky enough to get my little glimpse of daily life in one of my favourite places, Vietnam, courtesy of http://saigon-today.blogspot.com and http://hanoi-today.blogspot.com.


A big thankyou to Simon for taking such a spectacular lantern picture, and allowing me to share this photo with you all. I must also mention he was also kind enough to advise me on the best places to get great coffee on my last visit!

Visit Simon's blogs for more great real-life Vietnam pics!
Have a lovely weekend, and Happy National Day holidays for my Chinese friends!

Moon Cake Day!!

中秋节快乐 - Happy Mid-Autumn Day!

Today is Mid-Autumn day, also the Moon Festival Day, so tonight my friends, is the time to eat the delicious moon cakes!

Here's my box of moon cakes - so beautifully packaged and presented!



Of course, we are having a little party at my place! (the hardworking assistants are VERY eager to participate)!!!




Best wishes to you all!!!!

Beauty Shopping ..... Saigon Style!

One of the great things about Vietnam that I love, is you can buy absolutely anything you may need (or didn't even think you may need) from street vendors!

No need to go into exclusive and expensive stores ........ but if you are game, here's the best way to get some incredible bargains!

This lady has a mobile beauty products shop - nail polishes, creams, lotions - and more!



and, after buying all your products, how about a new hairdo??? There's even room to park your motorbike!!!



Everything a modern girl needs when travelling :-)

Have a lovely week my friends!

I spoke too soon .....

Yes, just one day after blogging about Patsy being such a 'good girl', here she is today, joining her little sister in trying to destroy the couch. And I thought they were supposed to be my hardworking assistants .........





Its nearly the weekend :-) Yay!! Hope you are all having a lovely week!

Frankie

I can't believe Frankie (hardworking assistant Number 2) is nearly 6 months old!!

Here she is doing what she does best - destroying the lounge and cushions.
Note, Patsy is no-where to be seen in these pics, she's such a good girl ;-)






Lucky for Frankie its hard to be cranky with something sooooo cute :-)

Wishing you all a very happy start to Springtime (or Autumn for some)!!

Its a busy time for us now, but am hoping to visit you all soon!!
Cheers, Karen, Patsy & Frankie

Just in time for Spring .....

I'm back! Its been ages since my last visit to blog-land. I've been submerged in boxes and stock for the last 10 days, and have only just come up for air!

Here's some of the new goodies!!



Many new designs and colours in the paper lanterns, parasols, fans and more - just in time for Spring .... only a few days away now!! :-)

Have a lovely weekend my friends!

Feeling lucky???

Hello friends, hope you are all enjoying a relaxing weekend!

Here's a great opportunity for someone lucky!! :-)
My talented friend Mimi of Bonjour Romance is having a great giveaway! Make sure you visit to check it out!

Part of the prize is a subscription to her new e-mag Belle Inspiration. The first issue will be launched 15 September! I can't wait to see it, and I'm extra excited as I've written a really interesting and exciting ?!?!? (hopefully) article that I hope you will all enjoy!!



Here's a little preview to tempt you .......



Good luck!!

Makeover day!

Yes!! Today was beauty parlour day! Don't we look gorgeous!







Laughing in the car on the way home :-) We got the 'giggles'

Chinese Greeting

Ni hao (hello) my friends - Yes, I am learning mandarin Chinese!! I have only had one lesson so far, and wouldn't call myself fluent yet ...... but I am working on it with great gusto!



When I was in China recently, I found it incredibly difficult to communicate and get my way around - and as I will be returning again soon, this time I'm going to be much better prepared! I'm even learning the Chinese characters too!

Prior to my last visit, I could only say 'hello', 'thankyou' and 'lantern', and, as you can imagine, this didn't get me too far!!

So, wish me luck - I'm gonna need it!! (and lots and lots of study, practice and patience too)!

Thought I'd share a couple of pics of my trip. This one is my favourite.
A very studious young man doing his homework outside his parents market stall. I really admire his dedication!



and I love the way the Chinese can nap anywhere!!



Wish me luck my friends - I'll keep you updated on my progress :-)
Have a great week!

Dedicated to Lanterns!

Hello friends, hope you are all well!! A busy business has kept me away from blogging (sigh), but I'm back now :-) As my days are all about the lanterns now, I have made a brand new blog, dedicated to the Lanternshop.com.au business.

Click here if you'd like to have a look!!

Since April, I have wound down the decorating business, and the importing of dragonfly ceramics, etc. as I just have not had enough time to do it all well, so the main focus now is Lanternshop. :-)

I am still keeping this dragonfly blog as I have made so many great friends here, and wish to stay in touch with you all! I will still update when I can, and of course, keep you informed of life with Patsy and Frankie.

Hoping to visit you all soon xoxo

Sneakie Peakie ....

Hello friends! I can't believe its been two weeks since I've been in blog-land! Where did the time go???? .....
I've been buried deep in admin and IT stuff, and working on a new blog too (details coming soon). And of course, my two fluffy babies have kept me distracted :-)

My next shipment is just about to hit the high seas - and here's a sneak peak of the new wedding parasols!! 9 colours coming, including my new favourite - Mango!!
I personally picked these colours last month in China, and cannot wait to see them arrive in Brisbane, just in time for Spring Weddings! I am taking pre-orders, so contact me via the website www.lanternshop.com.au.

More pictures of other goodies to come soon (I Hope)!!!






Have a lovely week!!