An early 'Ang pow'

Ang Pow meaning red packet or red envelope is a must during the Chinese New Year (CNY)celebration and a theme I choose for my favourite holiday Mail Art exchange. It is customary for married couples to give children and unmarried adults money inserted in red packets known as ang pow, as a gesture to mean that the recipient will enjoy a fruitful and wealthy life.

Today, the prevalence of the colour red, and firecrackers, form part of the CNY celebrations throughout the world, as a part of custom and tradition. The festival, which once also marked the beginning of spring in China, begins on the first day of the lunar calendar year, the first day of the new moon, and ends on the 15th day, known as Chap Goh Meh, the last day of the full moon.

And so, my MA is in RED which I improvised the design from Tantes Zolder - My Aunt's Attic into a lantern with gold metallic thread. The envelope comes with a cord, longer for a pouch or shorten it by knotting the cord on both ends for a wall hanging. Its lined with red batik fabric which you can see only on the flap.On the other side of the envelope where the addresses are, I sew in a golden mandarin orange ornie with Chinese knots on its end onto the flap to weight it down. Enclosed for my partner, Pirre in Finland ~ a Chinese New Year Card, 2 new angpow packet filled not with money but a strand of red floss in each and a Chinese ornie with the word 'fook' meaning luck on one side and 2 mandarin ducks on the opposite side which brings the meaning of love or happiness. There's a write up on the Chinese New Year as we are to provide a little details on our favourite holiday theme. The postage is of an ancient coins.
Chinese New Year will be sometime early February in 2008.

Received words from Pirre today that my MA arrived.

Oh! oh! must share this too......I won a draw for a PS chart from Monique..read her posting on October 27....my first win from a draw. It came as a total surprise. Seriously, I didn't expect to win as luck is never with me. Thank you so much Monique.

YOU MADE ME SMILE

I've been awarded the 'Smile Award' by Dawn. Thank you Dawn. Likewise, you have touched my heart too.

I will not name anyone here but would just like to add that each and everyone of you have made me smile and so this award shall go to all of you who comes by. You have all been awarded.

Pierre, thank you for your e-mail with regards to the MA's arrival...a great relieved.

Thank you everyone for coming by.