New Cotton & Cloud Site is Up!

Long time no see! ;D

Finally I am so super duper happy to announce that my new Cotton & Cloud site is up.
This blog will remain as it is but all the new posts and cook stuff will be on my new site here:

http://cottonandcloud.com/

Please update the address ;D You can access the blog from the main site.

See you over there ;)

Latest Vintage Knitting Acquisition

A week has already passed? Wow! I can't believe it.
This week has been quite eventful. Testing my new site, training for the charity run, knitting various projects, making custom orders ...
Thank you for those who asked when Furry Friday will be back. It is still on and I have few people in my calender. It will start as soon as the new site is up.
Today (and to prepare for a cool weekend!), I would like to share with you my latest vintage knitting acquisition. I got this pretty baby cardigan and bootie from Wesley's parents' house when they were going through their attic.
I just love the stitches. I think I can recreate it.
This one is my favourite. Apparently this is a vintage ceramic cat yarn container. It is hollow inside where you put the yarn. Can you see a small hole on its mouth? This is where the yarn comes out.
Like this... LOL!
My next post will probably be either the charity run post or the announcement for the new site launch. Hope you guys are all going to have a great weekend!

The Winner is...

Here are the result for the draw for Pay It Forward giveaway!

First prize goes to:
Roobeedoo

Second to fifth prizes (10 x concealed zips 15cm) go to:
Anne
Andrea
Himiko
Tracy

Congratulations to you all!
Please e-mail blog@cottonandcloud.com and let me know your shipping info. For those who won 2nd to 5th prizes, please let me know which colour of zippers you would like (mixture is fine too :D) which you can see on this post.

Look forward to hearing from you guys! Have a great weekend :D

Success

Kumo found the biggest spider in our place and he was trying to eat it...
I managed to hold him before his mouth reached this poor (but really gory looking) spider.
The problem was that someone had to do something about him. Capture him? How? Kill him? I couldn't do that.
W suggested hoovering, but I was worried that would either kill him or snap his legs off and he would die in agony. So basically the responsibility to somehow rescue and remove this huge long-legged hairy spider was on me.
For the next hour, I was screaming and jumping around every time the spider moved around. While Wesley was threatening to hoover him if I screamed one more time. But in the end, I managed to capture him in a container and he was successfully released out side. Phew!!!
It was a strange feeling to hate the spider but at the same time to feel happy that he was able to escape.
So, to celebrate, I would like to show you my 80% finished shawl. It is looking gorgeous, I think. This weekend I will block it.
Also, I just wanted to share this photo which I took for the purpose of my new site. Although I decided not to use it in the end, I still think it is super cute. They look like crabs.

Hope you are all having a good week. It's been a mad crazy busy week for me. Sorry if I hadn't visited you. I haven't forgotten about it. I will do my best to pop around you and say hi soon.

FREE GIVEAWAY: Link your favourite online knitting and sewing craft shop!

It's Friday already! I have had a good week this week. Hope you all did too. The weather has been great, lots of knitting done, kitty cats are happy. How cool is that?

One of the shots for the pattern. It is looking really good :D

My shawl is over 50% done. Basically all I need to do is knit. The pattern is already written. Some of the video tutorials have been filmed. All I need is time to knit. I WILL finish by the end of this month... hmm.

Another shot for the pattern. This is going to be the cable yoke.

The other pattern I am creating is the long-waited Baby Cable Yoke Jacket. This is also nearly done. I just need a nice long weekend with lots of sunshine to take photos and videos. My plan is to finish in September.

So, today's post is all about GIVEAWAYS. Thank you Stephanie from Concerning Pancakes. I have been selected as one of the winners for the Pay It Forward Giveaways. Basically this is to select 5 people to send small gifts to and the 5 winners must in turn send small gifts to 5 people. In my case, it is OPTIONAL for the winners.

Now onto the detail for the giveaways.

PRIZES: I will select 5 winners.

Winner 1 will get this really cute Japanese craft kit. It's a felt card cover. It has everything you need to finish the project.
Winners 2-5 will get... 10 concealed zippers 15cm of the following colours: black, red, beige or brown. They are really great for dress making (e.g. skirts or trousers). Please let me know how many of which colours you would like (any combination is fine).

TO WIN (it's easy!):
Please put a link of your favourite online knitting and sewing craft shop.

DEADLINE:
The entry is now closed. Thank you for your participation!

Cute Japanese craft kit. It is a felt card case.

It contains everything you need to make this (the instruction is in Japanese). Check the plastic card insert!

Red zippersBlack zippers

Brown zippersBeige zippers

Good luck! Have a wonderful weekend!

I Don't Know Why

... my bed is used as a playground, cat bed and cat fighting ground. I can never really jump onto my own bed for a nap whenever I want because there are either 1) cat sleeping, 2) cat toy lying around, 3) too much washing dumped on it...

So today, I would like to share with you some of the photos of my naughty cats who spends 50% of their time on my bed.

They love playing on the bed since they were kittens.

Cat fights. Kumo (left) is a bigger cat but he is a little clumsy. Wata (right), on the other hand, is a very agile cat, but much smaller.

Friends now...

Everyday I pray for Wata's health as he has been diagnosed that he has a cancer over a year and half ago. Looking at many of the photo of him playing is really quite reassuring. I'll keep praying.

This Friday will be a giveaway post instead of Furry Friday. So don't miss out :D
See you then!

Furry Friday - Jo, Charlie and Bert

It's furry time everyone!

A door stop from Jo's shop. I love the little detail of things like the handle strap.

I am at home this week (hurray!) so Kumo and Wata are both really excited and wanting me to play with them. Wesley says that they usually sleep until I come back home so I am making a special effort to play with them every day with their favourite toys.
If you have noticed that I have been visiting you guys less, I do sincerely apologize. Definitely nothing personal. I have been working hard on my new website and time is passing like a speed of light. Do please drop a line. I will always reply and visit your blog soon afterwards :D

I have an keeping an eye on this bib. It's super cute and happy. I think this will be one of the baby shower gift that I will include for my sister.

Today is all about Jo from Today We Are... and her cute kitty cats.
Jo can sew (I mean really sew). She makes everything from small sewn items to her own clothes! Just visit her blog. She writes so well (on the banner, it says Today We Are... with something different each time) and I know you will all enjoy her blog.
She also has her own shop called Full of Handmade Things. As you can imagine, you can find lots of handmade things made by Jo. Images I put here are all from her shop. You know that she made the with lots of TLF. They a lovely :D
Jo is also a mother-to-be (congratulations!). The baby will be sorrounded by full of handmade things. How wonderful is that?

It's so pretty! She is the kind of lady who does things properly, even a small item like tissue pokect. I love the way strips ribbons are sewn at the opning. It maked everything so special.

Let me introduce you to:

Charlie, the haughty tortie (3 and a half)

Bert, the black and white moggie (2 years old)

How did you find your Charlie and Bert?
Charlie came from a local osteopath, whose young cat had kittens. She'd given them all away very young (a bit too young really), so that when we went to get Charlie she was the last kitten left, but only 8 weeks old. She's consequently certain she's human.

Bert came from my sister-in-law, who already had four cats, when one of them had a litter. We brought him home when he was nine months old, so he was very well socialised and is very much a cat.

They make an interesting mix.

How would you describe Charlie and Berts' personality?
Charlie is very independent, and definitely knows what she wants, whether that's a treat, the door opened, or me to sit down so she can get on my lap or gravy. She comes to find me to ask me for whatever she needs, and everything has to be on her terms. She's a cautious cat by nature, and can be a bit jumpy (though not in a thunderstorm, and she doesn't mind a bit of water either), so we're careful to introduce new things slowly. She loves to knead her humans, but hates having her tummy rubbed, and likes to be in enclosed spaces.

Bert is a lovable fool, and the most laid back cat I've ever come across. His answer for everything is to roll on his back to get tummy strokes, especially if he knows he's done something naughty, like knock everything off the mantle piece, or rip open the food bag even if there's food in the bowl. He has no idea what he wants really, but loves to come and lie in whatever room I'm in, and opportunistically follows everyone into the kitchen just in case there's any ham going spare. He hates thunder, and a single drop of water is enough to send him running.

What is Charlie and Bert's favourite toy?
For Charlie it's probably cardboard boxes turned on their sides to make a den, or propped up to make a tunnel. Bert goes mad for a squeaky thing on a string, which he can chase for hours.

What do Charlie and Bert eat?
They have Hill's science plan light, because they're pretty much indoor cats aside from the time they spend on the roof terrace. (Bert wouldn't last two minutes if he was an outdoor cat to be honest - he's just not very bright.)

Sooooo tiny! This is when Charlie was a kitten. So lucky to be with Jo. Don't you just love her little button nose? AAAwww.

What is your favorite website for cat (e.g. shop, arts, toys etc.)?
Oh gosh - well I like vetuk.co.uk for food and feliway supplies, and petplanet.co.uk where I recently bought a bed for Charlie that she finally deigned to sleep in, but for laughs it has to be http://icanhascheezburger.com

What do you like most about living with Charlie and Bert?
Whenever I come in from being out (and this includes just putting the rubbish in the bin) Bert comes running to greet me squeaking. He can't miaow, but he tries. And I love hearing Charlie chirrup from somewhere in the house, asking me where I am - we have some lovely conversations, and she's very loving. The house is always welcoming with a cat in it. I also love waking up in the morning - they wait for the alarm to go off, and for us to say good morning to each other and then come onto the bed for a cuddle.

What is the most annoying thing that Charlie and Bert do?
Charlie likes to lie on our clothes. We know this and yet we still lie things on the bed, so really I'm never annoyed at her but myself. I actually think it's quite nice that she likes to be on things that smell of us.

This is my favourite photo. Bert on his tmmy up, holding a bird cushion. Charlie looking cautious. They are great furry pair!

Bert just tries to open food of all descriptions, and get anywhere he's not supposed to be. He does like to barrell Charlie out of the way to get at whatever interesting thing she's looking at, and she's so much smaller than him, and looks so upset it makes me a bit cross with him. He's not really a thinking sort of cat though so it's hard to stay mad at him.

What is the most memorable moment with Charlie and Bert?
For me it would be when we came back from being in Japan for two weeks last year. For four nights when we got back Bert slept on my pillow wrapped around my head, and Charlie slept on my chest. It was very hot but I felt I'd been missed.

Which part of Charlie and Bert's life style do you care most about?
Their mental and physical health. It needs a bit more work since they're indoor cats, so lots of attention and games, and lots of affection.

What has living with Charlie and Bert taught you?
A home isn't a home without a pet in it. I used to think all cats were alike but it's so not true - they have their own personalities, their own wants and needs, and they are definitely capable of giving affection.
Thank you Jo, Charlie and Bert!

Just a quick news, I will most likely be importing my blog into my new site sometime soon (yay!) so I haven't booked anyone for the next post just in case. I will keep you posted on the new Cotton & Cloud in the coming week :D

But... please remember ➜ If you want to participate in Feline Friday (any pets welcome!) please don't hesitate to contact me. I would be delighted to feature you! :D

Have a great weekend everyone! :D (meow!)