My idea of Bliss....

Is a day off together (Friday of course!), lunch at a cafe (Chocolate Dayz to be precise - nom, nom, nom!!) and a wander down Petone where I happened to chance across these:

and then getting home to find my yarn from Red Riding Hood Yarns, I'm overloading on the yumminess!!

Can't you just see the little dress knitted up in the reddy pink?

Craft 2.0 and Whoops!

Firstly the whoops - I was on a friends blog last night who has my blog on her front page and under it said '4 weeks' that means since the last post.  Ugh, I can't believe it was that long ago I posted so whoops!!

In the lead up to Craft 2.0 I do tend to go into this little bubble world where all I concentrate on is stock, what I still have to make and thoughts about how I'm going to display things this year.  Most other things tend to just go on the back burner!

I have to say that I was a lot more relaxed this time round.  I didn't want to overstock as I thought that being October and coming into Spring/Summer over here, knitwear probably wouldn't be on the top of everyone's list.  So I did do a few cotton and cotton/bamboo items - sunhats and Mary-Janes and I did a few vests which are good as they add a little warmth without being a full on jersey.

I have to say I was surprised - It still went very well (yay!) and what I sold isn't what I thought would.  For a start I sold 2 jersey's, (that was very surprising), and quite a few merino hats.  The Mary-Janes however sold out, I wasn't too surprised by that as I think they're great.

I can't say enough how much I love Craft 2.0.  Not only as I sell there but I always stock up on gifts and whatnot.  I love the fact that I'm buying handmade, I love that it's different and not everyone will have one and I love the fact that I'm supporting another cottage industry.  I know these items are made with love and that I love love love meeting all the stallholders and the ones at craft 2 are simply the best - they share ideas freely and there really isn't that feeling of 'you're the competition'.

I haven't applied for the December fair - for a start knitwear in December I really do think won't be wanted - and it's a bit close to Christmas for us, Christmas being such a hectic busy affair round here - but if you can get along it's on the 18th December and it's well worth it for gifts.

Here's a photo of my stall before we opened (yes I did handknit and the applique the bunting - it got SO many remarks I'm considering selling it as custom orders).  I kept it quite simple this time round.  I think my favorite items were the mice, so cute!!

                

Back to the real world .....

Last week we took off to Turangi.  Middle of the North Island of New Zealand, 40mins away from the skifields on Mt Ruapehu.  Not a lot to do there but relax, ski and walk if you're so inclined.

Very enjoyable, there's something about not being at home and therefore not having to worry about the house, gardens, chores that need to be done.  We spent a lot of time driving - a day in Taupo, to the mountain to ski, exploring other areas - and we spent a bit of time walking - lovely tracks and walks there - and some just blobbing.

While M and I didn't ski - we just sat and manned the pit stop - the kids did and they had a blast.  B had never skied before but took to it like a duck to water after a lesson and G, having been for a week with school, just said bye and away he went. 

So good, we think we'll take them again next ski sesson!

Friday Night Madness

M is out, G is playing computer games, B is at her grandparents and I'm sitting here, reading this blog and doing something I often tell my children off for doing.  I'm drinking from the bottle of Just Juice Bubbles.

Don't worry, I finished it all, I'm not putting it back in the fridge (unlike some children who will remain nameless) however I think it's pretty sad that the extent of wildness in my life is that I get excited over doing something as 'mad' as drinking from the bottle!!  Or maybe I'm looking at it all wrong, it's not sad, it's actually pretty darn cool that my life is so great at the moment that drinking from the bottle is 'mad'.

Yeah, that's what I'll go with!!

Well the week started out OK .....

Monday was pretty OK, Tuesday M bought me flowers

Later Tuesday night however.... my poor brittle asthmatic had an attack, the ambulance was called and she's been in hospital till today (Friday).  She's tired, weak and was very bored but at least she was in the best place.  Hutt Hospital rocks!!

So plans for this weekend include resting, relaxing and catching up on sleep - for us all!

Milly turns 3

Recently I had another dilemma, Milly was turning 3 and I had NO IDEA what to get her. 

What do you get the child who's mother owns a toy store????

So ... I decided to put together a little art pack and in it included a handmade crayon roll.  Mad on Winnie-the-Pooh I used some fabric I had here for the outside, a contrasting star fabric for the inside and decided to go with a big button and elastic to close it rather than ties and was really happy with how it turned out

I think these are such a great idea.  It makes the crayons portable and help the kids with their small motor skills as they learn to take them in and out of the little pockets as well as the actual drawing. 

It was so easy to make that I'm definitely going to do more - I have another friend with two littlies so I have a good excuse. 

Oh and if you want to check out 'The Toy Store' go here - The Toy Store 

Dilemma

So, Craft 2.0 is coming up in October and I need to start getting organised.  However I recently purchased this yarn:

'Da Apple' from Eskimimi Knits

I'm sure I can hear it whispering ever so softly, "Knit me first, go on, you know you want to, I'll make super fantastic socks"  SIGH!!!  I have no willpower!!!