Creative Catholics

New Look

2010-09-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

With the help of the new Template Design feature introduced recently on Blogger, I decided to give my blog a new look.

Hope you like it. Please do come back again as I just got Christine Das' permission to blog about her work. As a teaser, she is the artist who has painted all the new 14 stations of the Cross for our new church building.

STOP Press! - CrisKroz album launch is on Friday, not tomorrow

2009-12-02T02:37:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, I just received an email from one of the members of CrisKroz. They have rescheduled their official album launch to Friday, 4 Dec 2009, instead of tomorrow afternoon.

Venue is still the same - Wisma MAA, KL
Time: 3pm

So if you wanna get their autographs or take pictures with them, you know where to be ya.

Have fun and please get their albums...

If you can't make it there and would like to have a copy/copies, email me at: hazelong888@gmail.com

Over and out ;-)

It's a Card, no, it's a Nativity set, no, it's BOTH!

2009-11-29T08:59:00.000-08:00

Comes as 6 cards/Nativity sets in one pack.

At first it opens up like a card. You can write your greetings and wishes on the light blue patch below.

Turns into this Nativity scene, with a few folds.

This little ingenius creation is the work of art of a dear friend of mine - Christine Das. Though, she's normally publicity shy (so far) about her work being blogged, I'm sure she won't mind this one as it was openly announced in church before.

She and her husband have so generously donated these cards to St Thomas More for our fund raising project. All proceeds from it will go towards our building fund (CKK Building Fund).

There are only 47 sets left so far (at the time of blogging), so please email me and pay immediately to secure a set of these limited edition cards.

For those from outside Malaysia, you can still have these cards shipped to you or you can have me post them directly now to your family and friends with your intended messages (for an additional fee ofcourse).

Malaysians, if you want them posted directly to your friends and family too - can be arranged. Just email me the person/s you intend the cards to be sent to, your message and their mailing addresses.

Make someone smile this Christmas!

Price: $10/pack
Additional services: extra $10/pack (means we send to 6 different individuals for you)

Note: The additional service is only available from now till second week of December.

** Please pray for Christine, she doing something really really special for our new church.

Christine, hope you will allow me to share about it in detail. Better still, you contribute a story about your current experience. Also please la, let me show off some of your artwork here... pretty please....(pardon the grammar, using a little Malaysianised English, fondly known as Manglish)

Christmas With CrisKroz - A Family Heartbeat

2009-11-28T06:18:00.001-08:00

Last year's Christmas Battle Of the Bands champion CrisKroz is once again making waves during this Yuletide season.

This time, they are launching their very first album entitled A Family Hearbeat on 3 Dec.

The official launch will be held in Wisma MAA at 3pm.

In line with the spirit of season, the album showcases 10 tracks of Christmas songs, of which two (Emmanuel and Peace He Will Bring) are original numbers written by the band's vocalist and song writer Cecelia Biggs.

CrisKroz was born as a result of the members' decision to take part in the Christmas Battle of the Bands competition held at the Central Market open arena last year.

Besides Cecelia, the group consist of Ravi Kana, who is not only keyboardist and vocalist, but also her beloved spouse.

Then there's Aaron Ravi, their son and guitarist of the band. Other members are Aloysius John, who plays bass and Christopher Felix on drums.

With the RM10k competition cash prize in hand, and adding some personal savings, the group embarked on this album project, which they have dedicated to all families (thus the title of the album).

After winning the Christmas Battle Of the Bands, CrisKroz had also performed live for the Church Of Divine Mercy in the Families United concert.

Known for their unique style of Christian Praise & Worship music, their genre is classified under Contemporary Christian Gospel.

Why You Should Own This Album

Firstly, it gives a fresh prespective or twist to some golden oldies. Guess that was the element that won them the championship last year.

Second, there are not many creative Malaysian Catholics who release albums. So when they do, support them so that more talent will emerge and we will have a great pool. For so many years we have been always buying foreign and Prostestants, right? Nothing against that, but Belilah Barangan Malaysia, especially Katolik Malaysia. Isn't it fantastic?

Third, they are promoting good family values.

Fourth and most importantly, they are also supporting some charities - especially since one of them is the St Thomas More building fund... ha... ;-)

On a personal note, I'm also proud to say that two of the members are parishioners of St Thomas More and in fact one of them - the cute drummer Christopher is from our Music Ministry (girls I'm not sure if he's still available though. You gotta do some research yourself - sorry).

I've seen Chris grew up from a little boy into a young man whom God has blessed with the ability to play several instruments (drums, guitar, bass, piano... to say the least).

Aloysius is also a good friend, whose life testimony on God's providence will shock you into the faith if not anything. Besides that, Aloy is also another one who plays several instruments well.

I don't really know Ravi's family that well but I'm sure they too have a compelling Faith story to share with us.

So if you guys want to know more - first get the album and then perhaps one day they might have a concert in a parish near you.

To order the albums, email: hazelong888@gmail.com

If you are from abroad (outside Malaysia), you can pay through PayPal.

You can either have it shipped to you or you can buy it for someone you know in Malaysia as a Christmas present. We can include a card with your personalised message for them.

With that said, it's off to my own Christmas mass practice soon, not forgetting mass for tomorrow.

To all of you Catholic Christians out there - Have a fantastic Advent and a wonderful Christmas!!!

Renamed, improved and on PayPal !!!

2009-11-16T06:50:00.000-08:00

We are very happy to announce that this blog has been renamed Creative Catholics. It was formerly known as The Creative Catholic Centre.

Why? Well, one, I think it sounds better. Also some people spell centre (British style), while others spell it as center (the American way) so I thought I'd just eliminate the word. Spare everyone the confusion (not to mention lost traffic - just in case there was a verbal recommendation).

And that's that...

GONE INTERNATIONAL

I thank my God each time think how He sent some of the most unexpected orders my way. So far, I haven't really promoted this blog and most of the orders come from people who know me from church and my blog was just a catalog for them to check out how my knotted Rosaries look like.

A month or two into its existence, I started receiving orders from the foreign students studying here, who serve in Lifeline, our youth ministry. Before I knew it Cradle Creations has made its way into Indonesia.

Then, there's my very good friend Mama C, who left for New Zealand to spend Christmas there. She ordered 10 Rosaries and Crosses from me as presents for her nieces and nephews who live there.

(These are the 10 pieces of my latest creations in NZ)

I was already very happy ... never dreaming of my handmade pieces ever leaving Malaysian shores... then out of the blue, I received an email from a New Yorker....

That blew me away. This Catholic from Warwick, St Stephen's parish wanted to order my Rosary Wrist Bands - Garden Of Roses and the Christmas+Easter. I was so excited. However, I felt so ill prepared as I have not learned much about transacting money online.

God sent him to teach me something new and indeed He did. Somehow God even sent me a short 1-day FREE internet marketing course along the way - within my research time.

To cut a long story short, I finally settled on setting up a PayPal account and finally transacted with my new friend in NY. Thanks for your patience RL ;-)

With baby Mary in my life now (read my main blog if this information seems like Greek), time is indeed a priceless commodity, but I'm sure God will open up time for me in this new area of my life...

I will soon feature the other creative catholics and their products and services - in time for Christmas I pray.

So keep coming back...

God bless
Hazel

Come Celebrate St Thomas More feast day this Sunday!

2009-06-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

In conjunction with our parish's very first feast day celebrations, I have made a limited edition St Thomas More keychain.

Red is used to signify More's martyrdom.

This design is a combination of plait and knot.

It can also double up as Rosary wrist band for those who fit.

Price: $10/pc

Sad news is all my martyrdom series and those designs with red (Colours of Christ and Blood of Christ) may have to discontinue if I can no longer find this chilly red nylon twine.

I pray the stock will arrive. According to the sales girl at one of the DIY shops, it is very unpredictable.

I shall storm heaven, please pray with me.

Great Things Come In Small Packages

2009-06-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

Indeed, great things come in small packages. Small Rosaries when prayed, can drive evil away. When you buy a beautifully handmade Cradle Creations Knotted Rosary, your precious "weapon" is wrapped in little brown envelopes.

You can also buy our little packages to wrap other gifts. These little brown envelopes (with a recycled paper feel) is also handmade.

Price: $1/pc.

I have also made little packages with mini Chaplets. If you would like to have one of these for your gifts, you have to pay an additional $2 for it.

It's actually the price for the mini Chaplets. I thought it's quite cute on the little brown envelopes.
So far, I've only made four.
Red (1pc), Yellow (1pc) and Whites(2pcs).

Update: No longer available. Made upon request.

When your purchases are above $30, we wrap your Rosaries in these Cradle Creations organza pouches.

If you just want to buy the pouches ...
Price: $3/pc. Available.

Happy Shopping, while helping to build our church - Parish of St Thomas More, Subang Jaya, Amen!

Rosary Wrist Bands

2009-06-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Wearing wrist bands is now a trend to make a statement - fight against cancer, hunger, and recently in our parish, even to encourage Catholic youths to be proud of their faith.... taking that cue, these Rosary wrist bands are made to remind Catholic youths to be proud of the identity the Rosary gives us.

We always know another Catholic from the Rosary that hangs on their car rear view mirror... so how about from their wrist bands as well?

From top clockwise:

White Band/Keychain ($ 8) sold out (made upon request)
White+Yellow Band/Keychain ($ 9) sold out (made upon request)
Garden Of Roses Band (Blood of Christ colour combo - $ 15) sold out (made upon request)
Colours Of Christ Band/keychain ($ 10) sold out (made upon request)

Garden Of Roses with the Christmas+Easter Band
Christmas+Easter Band ($ 15) sold out (made upon request)

Close-up of the Christmas+Easter Band

Plain Cross Band for Christian friends who may not be comfortable with a Rosary ($ 10) sold out (made upon request).

More shots of the Garden of Roses Band.

Update - this design is one of Cradle Creations' bestsellers.

The Crucifix + Centrepiece Collection

2009-06-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

Crucifix has the 4 main Roman Basilicas, while the centrepiece is about the Fatima Apparition (behind is a little soil from Fatima - framed).

Price: $40. Sold out. Made upon request.

If made with Cotton Cord then price is $45. Made upon request.

Crucifix is John Paul II's staff, while centrepiece is papal (JPII and Benedict XVI)

Price: $40 (thick cord), $45 (cotton cord)

Made upon request.

Crucifix is of the Holy Trinity, while centrepiece is a Jerusalem cross.

Price: $38 (made with thin cord, used for the St Thomas More Rosary)

Made upon request.

Crucifix is of Risen Christ, while centrepiece is Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Gudalupe.

Price: $48 (double cord, thin)

Made upon request.

Please note: Purchases above $30 comes with a FREE Cradle Creations organza pouch.

Colours of the Liturgy

2009-06-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

Since I became aware of a thing called the Liturgical Colours of the church sometime end 2007, early 2008 (so late in my Catholic walk, right?), it has been my "little mission" to help others appreciate its role and beauty in our faith life.

The changing colours helps me to feel the different moods of the worship we experienced from Advent to Christmas, Ordinary Time into Lent. And after Lent into Easter and back into Ordinary Time, leading o a new Advent.

Having the full range of the Liturgical Colours, can help you pray in the right mood and frame of mind during the Liturgical Year.

From right :

Green (Ordinary Time - $18). Made upon request.

White (Feast Days - $10). Made upon request.

White+Yellow with crucifix only (Christmas+Easter Day - $35). Made upon request.

Red (Passion Sunday, Pentecost, Feasts of Martyrs, $10). Made upon request.

Purple+Pink (Advent+Lent - $22). Made upon request.

The Advent/Lent Rosary is subject to the availability of the Chinese Colour Rope (is the most expensive cord used in my collection so far)

I've recently received an order to fix a crucifix + centrepiece for this colour combo. Charges for that order is $60.

If you would like to fix a crucifix + centrepiece for the Ordinary Time Rosary, charges will be $50.

Double + Trinity Cord Collection

2009-06-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

Blood of Christ
I experimented with two cords when knotting this piece and it turned out great. My artist friend Christine Das and her husband now owns it. Hope she'll let me feature her in this blog. Her artwork is comtemporary and beautiful.

Here's a bible quotation that gives meaning to the double cord Rosary.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 says:
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up.

Red = Blood of Christ
Brown = Cross of Christ
Price : $15 (made upon request)

Cross of Christ

After the success of the double cord, of course I went for three cords... thank God it was another success. This piece now lives in Kuching. I'm sure in the hands of a good Catholic man....

Ecclesiastes 4: 12
If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threehold cord is not quickly broken.

This Reading is often used for weddings and marriages. Good as a wedding or anniversary gift. Can be packed in His+Hers packaging (refer to my organza pouches earlier).

Price: $20 (made upon request)

St Peter's Keychain Collection

2009-06-12T05:03:00.001-07:00

If you intend to enter the Pearly Gates one day, you better get Mother Mary's help to say some good words to Saint Peter about you... hahaha...

Full range at a glance

Rosaries on the go... Now you can bring your Rosary everywhere. Never leave home without it.

Colours of Christ
Brown = Wood of the Cross

Red = Blood of Christ

White = Water that flowed out of Christ when the soldier pierced him to make sure he was dead.

Price: $10

Doubles up as a Rosary wrist band. 3-in-1 = Pray with it, Identify your keys, Wear it.

Christmas + Easter

White + Gold are Liturgical colours of Christmas and Easter seasons. They are also used during grand feast days.

Price: $9 (1 pc available)

Doubles up as a Rosary wrist band.

Cross of Christ

Brown is the wood colour of the Cross on which Christ was crucified.

Price: $8 (sold out, made upon request).

Holiness + Purity

White is the colour of Holiness + Purity.

Price: $8 (sold out, made upon request).

St Thomas More (Martyrdom)

Red is the colour of the blood of Christ and also the blood of all those who died because of Christ. St Thomas More, our patron saint, was one such individual.

Price: $8 (sold out, made upon request)

Fully Knotted Rosaries - Chaplets and Full length Rosaries

2009-06-12T02:37:00.000-07:00

Colourful mini chaplets
As unique and different as the Catholics throughout our universal church.

Can be given as door gifts to friends and family during Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation parties. Perhaps even Wedding Reception door gifts...

Prices ranges from $2 to $5 each. According to size. Made upon request.

Original brown mini chaplets

This range was made before I discovered the many different colours above.

Once again can be given at the above mention parties and celebrations.

Prices ranges from $2 to $5 each. According to size. Made upon request.

St Thomas More (Martyrdom) + Holiness
Red is the colour of martyrdom, While white signifies holiness and also purity.

Red is also the colour of Christ's Passion (shedding His Blood) to save us.

Full length red or white is $10 each.

Chaplets are from $2 to $5 according to size.

Original brown full length
These are limited edition first batch rosaries I made before I discovered the different colours.

$10 each.

Birth of my online Catholic Shop

2009-06-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

Since I started my first blog Through The Eyes Of A Cradle Catholic, April this year, I've been really facinated by what so many Catholics are doing in cyberspace especially in the area of spreading our faith.

They have mp3s for downloads, art, YouTubes and so on and so forth. I've decided that as a Malaysian cradle Catholic, I didn't want to be ketingalan zaman (left behind) and so here I am with my share of creative imput to help spread the faith.

For starters, those following my main Catholic blog will know that I've been hooked on making knotted Rosaries for some time. What started out as a hobby to raise funds for my new parish building - St Thomas More (Malaysia) has now turned into a burning desire to set up a small shop (well, online one for starters).

I've also met so many Catholics with so many different talents - business, performing arts, etc, etc, etc. I thought, this blog would serve us well (especially those who are not Internet savvy).

Anyway, if you would like to be featured in my blog, please email me (hazelong888@gmail.com) about yourself, your talents and what you would like to market thru this little online shop of mine. We'll work out a win-win situation, k?

Once again, calling all you creative Catholics out there, let's make lotsa money through our God-given talents and contribute towards building His Kingdom here on earth, before we pass on to the real Heaven....

Your fellow Catholic
Hazel