Am in trouble from my Bro for letting this go dusty, it has actually been a year, the bike parade is next week, then the lantern parade and the Lyceum artwork for this years play Peter Pan. I've already had some important meetings where I present my "research" consisting of things like lists of characters (peter,wendy,hook,smee,tigerlilly...) Gangs (pirates,mermaids,lostboys,indians) and places (treehouse,ship,tipi,lagoon) So I'm actually back to where I've left off, but let me fill you in on some of the happenings in between.

Most importantly and excitingly I've become an auntie to the beautiful Miss Daisy Florence MacKay. Yesterday 09.09.09 seemed to be a special day as she became one kilo in weight, so its onwards and upwards for the littlest MacKay now.

Funnily yesterday as I was playing my somewhere over the rainbow music box in celebration of this special day, it occurred to me that although Daisy seems so tiny to us now she will one day be the "big cousin" to all the other kids in the family.

Other things that happened are...

Finally finishing the Gorgie Farm Mosaics, sponsored by cups of tea, chocolate hobnobs and the film and tv quizbook - this was a proud day for the Gorgie farm Gang as we had worked so hard through the winter on these amazing mosaics. Am meeting with the farm next week to talk about another project for this winter...watch this space...


Also completed the Caledonian Forest Mural at Cumbernauld Primary, the kids were really excited about this being their mark left on the school before they went to high school. The painting was truly amazing and all their own work.

lots and lots of kites have been made

Discovering that my boyfriend was a child cake model was a turning point for me, after making a replica of the origional 1984 model I havn't looked back, this Frida Kahlo cake was made for Alchemy Arts 4th anniversary (international womens day) and a fairy palace was made for granny D's 90th birthday,

SOPHIES LANTERN PARTY!

Sophie's 6th birthday was in August but she has been biding her time for the perfect birthday party, she carefully chose 10 lanterns from the Gilmerton lantern parade and 10 special guests will be selected to come and decorate them before a procession through the meadows. There will be hot chocolate for those who are 6 and mulled wine for the glamorous assistants...

Carnival Chaos at Edinburgh Zoo!

Yesterday was the second day making a life size family of Asiatic Lions with Primary Schools at Edinburgh Zoo. Every year for the Dusshera Festival, a parade of icons made by Carnival Chaos is taken down Princes st and up Carlton Hill. There a Giant Paper Mache idol made by inmates from Saughton Prison is fired at with a flaming Bow and Arrow, Fireworks go off and every one celebrates. This year Carnival Chaos has asked me to lead workshops with school groups at the zoo to make a family of Lions which will go on the parade and then be displayed permanently at the zoo.
A little kid wandered into the workshop when it was in full swing and said, "Dad, what're they doing...?" and the dad said knowingly "They're making lions, out of......tape"
We have been looking for names for the Lions from the kids, and my favourite so far came from a little boy who on his way out patted the male lion on the head and said " see ya later, Big Man"

PEDAL Bike Parade Sept 2008

After a busy bike decorating workshop on Fri afternoon, Sunday was a glorious day in Porty for the parade. Riding the Alchemy arts bike trailer along the prom with a Polish accordinast as a soundtrack felt like the best place to be, Knitty kitty took a break from pedaling the 6 person cozybike and said "all weekends should be like this"... and I think she could be right!