Spring Snippets.

It's mid Spring now in New Zealand and the air has suddenly turned warm. Archie sat up in the studio with me today. I crocheted and he read - pure bliss. What you can't see behind Archie is the deck which is festooned with wisteria and the fragrance wafted in all morning.

The wisteria creeps its way across the pergola too, so you can imagine how much tea I am trying to drink under it at the moment.

My little puppy niece snoozing on the couch. I am so obsessed.

 And my amazingo, fantastico birthday present from my neighbour - she made it! I love it!

Whether you are in Spring or Autumn, I hope that the season is embracing you too.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

My Studio.

This weekend (being the weekend of birthdays), I had the absolute joy of having Jonno up in my studio with power tools (that sentence didn't quite play out the way I planned). For far too long the studio has been an awkward dumping ground for all the unwanted or hard to categorise junk in the house. Nothing creative has gone on there for an age. And so, with the boys away, we tackled it.You can see the results above. Note the bench jutting across the room - that's from Jonno's childhood kitchen!

 Paint brush and pencils storage - gaaaahhhhh!!!

 The big man himself. Note the paper dispenser he made for me. Grrrrrr.

 Hooks.

A table to crochet and paint at - with chairs!!!!! Maybe it's time to get serious about giving crochet lessons. 

Jars for washi tape and towel rails for tissue paper - this has streamlined the Stanley book wrapping sooooo much.

This was one of my little projects - I've had this box since I was little and with a couple of hooks and some chain, it's now handy storage - I thought I was pretty clever with the string next to it too!

 Jonno put in a bookshelf next to the guest bed (also in the studio) and I propped up an old steamer trunk to become a bedside table.

Most satisfying reorganisation of a room ever. I've still got lots of bits to show you so will start taking the next batch of photos.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.

Studio Sale.

 I have approximately 4 minutes to get this post up before collecting the kids from the school bus. So I will be quick. Last week we had our annual studio sale. It went well. Here are a few little peeks from it. You are ace.

Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.
Phew, the kids will think that I still love them.

Something Fancy for the Boys.

 With my studio sale coming up on Thursday (email me if you would like more details and are in the area), I like to have something a little fancy for the boys… Headdresses seem to fit the bill.

 There is one headdress for a girl sitting to the side. I couldn't resist.

Now all I need to do is attach velvet ribbons and then they are done. By the way, after breaking my 4th needle on the machine, I decided hot glue was definitely the way to go…

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

A Pop Up Studio Sale.... "Mitten Monday".

 Sorry that it has been all quiet on the blogging front. I have spent the last week getting ready for a little studio sale - something that became rather necessary as I went crazy on the wrist warmer front and found myself with about 20 pairs!

 I also went a little over the top with the washi tape and had to face the fact that you can only wear so many necklaces at once.

 So, a sale was certainly called for.

It was (thank goodness) a great success but I now feel as though I have run a marathon and it seems like an effort to even put my slippers on. Hmmmm, lucky the next one isn't until November.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Hexie Crafting.

 Today's photos (apart from the final two) have been taken by my big boy Archie who is almost 10. I was blown away when he showed them to me and also very greatful as it not only saved me a job but added a whole new dimension!

 Over the past couple of weeks I have slowly reorganised my studio and now that it is very neat, it looks very boring. So I have decided to work on a few small projects for it.

This morning I cut out washi paper hexagons and glued them to a cork board. The gluing wasn't perfect but the beauty of this project is that you then get to put photos and thumb tacks over the imperfections...

 Archie made a fortune teller for me. Very handy and great choice of paper.

 Here is Archie in my new little crafting booth. He is the first one to use it so v. exciting. How great is the internet for origami patterns by the way.

Cosy. By the way, I have decided to leave the hexies there as I will be adding a few other bits and pieces to it.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

An Open Studio.

 I am two thirds of the way through my open studio (1 night viewing and two mornings) and it is going very well. So much fun being able to show everything off and also being able to play 'shops' at home. Especially when home is my favourite place to be. So, here are a few photies of the set up.

More to come.
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

The Big Day.

Weeeelllll, today is the big day. My open studio begins tonight and I am suddenly wondering how on earth I am going to finish hiding my mess that is currently strewn around the house. The junk cupboard is already bulging and there is no space left under the bed. Hmmm.

This is one of the cards I will have available for sale tonight. Once again, I can't wait to be able to offer them online next year.

Eeek. Time to stop playing on the computer Kate - start setting up now!!!
Love Kate xxooxx.

Setting Up.

 Tomorrow my open studio and sale begins and from here to there - I have an awful lot of setting up to do. 

 It is so satisfying to see things starting to line up  though.

 Here is one of my Christmas cards - I am so looking forward to doing them on a larger scale next year.

 Cushions waiting for price tags - and a good iron for a couple of them.

 Headbands and crocheted corsages ready to find heads and hands.

And I am very lucky because my neighbour is bringing over lots of her things too. I will soon have a herd of dresses on my front lawn - I wish I could keep them all!!!

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.