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!!

Textile and craft tours

Hello friends,
I know many of you share my love of travel, silk, fabrics, craft cooking and eating! This might interest some of you .....

Yesterday, my lovely customer Narelle from www.2worldtours.com.au came to see me to collect some lanterns. We got talking, and I'm fascinated with what she does - I think she has the best job in the world! She organises and accompanies small group humanitarian and cultural tours to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, India and Africa. These tours specialise in hands-on textile and craft classes, markets, silk embroidery, weaving and cooking with local villagers.

This has caught my eye - learning how to make the silk lanterns in Hoi An, Vietnam!!










Images from www.2worldtours.com.au


The Textile Arts Festival is on this weekend 25-27 June at the Convention Centre. If you are in Brisbane and this interests you, pop in and see Narelle.

I think I'd like to spend some time in Cambodia or Laos as I haven't been there yet! Who wants to join me????

What a great week!!

Aside from getting up at 4am to watch Australia get thrashed in the soccer, we all had a very lovely week.
Frankie is settling in very nicely, and Patsy is very happy to have such a sweet baby sister.



We have put her to work straight away - she has her own little bed set up in the warehouse in case she needs to nap!



Patsy has been showing her around!



And teaching her to check the paperwork!



Sooooo tiring though!



We are busy preparing for the next shipment - only 6 weeks away, but so much to do. I can't wait - there's so many new things coming!!! More on that later!

Keeping my fingers crossed Australia can win their match this weekend .........
or at the very least give us an exciting match to watch!!!!

Happy weekend :-)

Meet our newest assistant!

Hello friends! Meet Frankie :-)


She is our new assistant to my hardworking assistant Patsy!! She is 10 and a half weeks old, Shihtzu-maltese and has just joined our little family today!!

So, now I am a busy mother of 2!!! - when am I ever going to get time to blog!!!! ;-)

My new favourite .....

Hello friends - thanks for all the birthday wishes!! I had an especially nice day!

One of the reasons I enjoy travelling so much, is the excitement of trying new foods! And I was not disappointed on this recent visit to China. I discovered a brand new fruit I have never tried before - YANG MEI.



I spotted the lady selling this interesting fruit, and decided I must try this immediately :-) So my friend and host Mary bought me a bag to sample!



Mmmmmmmm - they taste as delicious as they look!!! Sort of like a cross between a raspberry and strawberry!!!



I have not seen this anywhere else in Asia that I have been, so was very curious ....
This is how it looks after a bite :-)



Have any of you tried this before?? I hope you get the opportunity one day!!! I even brought back home with me a bag of dried yang mei which I'm saving for a rainy day .... or a day very soon i think!!!!

Wishing you all a very lovely week!!

Custom-made silk signage

Hello friends! Look what I got in China!!

A custom painted silk scroll in Chinese characters for 'Lanternshop'. I just love it. Its now proudly hanging on my office door - I'm positive it will make me more prosperous!! :-) I also have some other styles which I'll show you when they are photographed - these will go in my warehouse/shop!



And here's my happiness hanging - love this too :-)



I've just about finalised the details for the next container!! So many great new designs of solar, led, paper, metal lanterns, fans, party decorations and more!! Very exciting .......

Also, its my birthday tomorrow!!! :-) Yippeee!! I'm having a 12 hour sale at www.lanternshop.com.au to celebrate!
Guess this means I'll be extra busy on Wednesday!! Have a happy week!!