cheating

Sometimes the pressure of having a crafting blog can get to me.  What should I post?  Also when I am very busy and my crafting mojo seems to have left the building, I feel a bit of a fraud.  So today I am cheating and I will show you a beautiful dress that one of my lovely customers made.

Amanda I love it!

Now there is one piece of these little black matryshka dolls left in the sale section.  I am sad to see this fabric come to an end.

Happy stitching

stitching in the sun

Oh it's so great to have a sunny day with no wind.  I have been sitting in the sun stitching - or more correctly tacking.  Boy did I hate tacking at school, I was always in a hurry to get to the main event.

But I am worried that if I don't tack all the pockets before stitching them in place they will move.  Plus I want to make this advent calendar like a mini quilt so when I stitch the pockets on I will be stitching through the pocket top, batting and backing as well.  My only worry is will my machine cope with so many layers.  Here's hoping.

Kids Clothes Week Challenge

I know that lots of you will already know about this - but just in case someone doesn't - Elsie Marley is hosting the wonderful Kids' Clothes Week Challenge over on her blog.

This is celebration of handmade clothes for children and a great place for inspiration.  My kids are now 13 and 15 and having clothes made by your Mum is seriously uncool, but I remember when they loved hand made clothes and if I made something for one, I had to then make something for the other.  They still like me making quilts and bags for them, so maybe my clothes making skills for teenagers are just a bit off and the end result is a bit naff.

Well if you are looking for inspiration please head over to Elsie's blog.  I would also like to recommend a great book for sewing children's clothes Making Children's Clothes by Emma Hardy.

This book contains 25 step by step projects for children aged 0-5 and contains a number of simple but very effective designs.

Happy stitching.

We are Popping Up and hope you can Pop In

Yes the Pop Up Design Store has popped back up. 

We are in a brand new location 24 College St, opposite Wellington's coffee mecca Cafe L'Affarre and next door to Moore Wilsons.

Inside you will find gorgeous jewellery by Cath Baddeley, AQ Bags, Smudge clothing, Merino baby clothing, great New Zealand art,  Stitchbird Fabrics and lots more.

The Design Store is open Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm (late night Thursday 7 pm) and 10 am to 3 pm Saturday and Sunday. 

We are taking turns "wo-manning" the shop and would love to see you so please pop in.

so excited

Have you seen the latest NZ House and Garden? 

And the lightshade from Stitchbird Fabrics?  Not just on one page, but two!

Very exciting!

internet shopping

In running an internet based store I have some very clear ideas about the shopping experience that I want people to enjoy.  Because I do not get to meet people on a face to face basis and extend that warm fuzzy of personal service, I try my upmost to make sure people feel it in other ways. 

I know from experience that once you have purchased something over the internet you can't wait to receive it and each day you go to the mail box with anticipation that there will be something other than bills and the bank statement in there.

Also every one likes to get a little something else - the Book Depository sends a book mark, from others I have received a little chocolate or sweet.  Plus make it look appealing - sure the customer has paid for it but is doesn't take much to make it feel as though they are unwrapping a gift to themselves (because as a woman I know that is where my head is at).  Whatever it is this is my treat to me.

Recently I have had two very different experiences - I bought my first books via the Book Depository and received great service.  The books arrived promptly and were very well packaged and best of all there is free shipping to any where in the world.  One of the books I bought was Hillary Lang's Wee Wonderfuls after reading about it on Jacqui's blog

Six weeks ago I was running out of my fragrance and decided to buy online through Fragrance X.  Delivery was targetted at 7 -10 days.  As of today I still do not have my fragrance.  I have received two surveys from the store asking me to rate their service and asking me whether I am enjoying my new fragrance.  I have emailled them 6 times asking after my fragrance.  I have asked them to organise re-delivery only to be told that I will have to wait, either until either the original delivery arrives or they have it returned to them.  When I asked NZ Post they have advised that it is up to the sender to initiate a trace and insurance claim at their end - yet they refuse to take action saying I will just have to be patient.  My patience has officially run out - I have been without my fragrance now for 3 weeks.  I accept that it may have gone missing in transit but as they say the true test of service is the "putting right".  I have asked for a refund (a week ago) but I am yet to here back, this is despite them advertising a money back guarantee.  In the meantime I have purchased my fragrance elsewhere - I am lucky to have the funds to do so. 

To Fragrance X, I am officially pissed off and this is my one woman protest about your service - you give internet shopping a bad name.

And to others like the Book Depository thanks for your great service.  

stitching sunday

At last some time to do some stitching and making. 

The material is cut from a linen skirt bought in Paris back in the days when I was closer to a size 10.  (More than 1 or 2 years ago).  I could never throw it away: 1 - because of the material and 2 - because it reminded me of the day when it was bought.

This is not a new project - this is finishing off something that did not get finished last year.  Thanks to Lina for the inspiration, you can see more of what Lina did here.

The Knack Market and Miss M's Magic

I have the most completely awesome daughter.  (She has me under her spell, while she massages my back).  She is amazing, what would I do without her!  "What else do you want me to say Miss M?"

"Mum, you have big ears".  Hmmmm not sure that was quite what I had in mind!

As you can see I am easily bought.  For the price of a massage or someone playing with my hair I will do anything. 

And the final result....

(Where is the make smaller button on blogger!)  This is a rare event a photo of me on my blog, I would much rather post photos of others ...

Such as Alley enjoying the spring sunshine on Miss M's bed, while Miss M reads Tomorrow When the War Began series (my books).  "Mum they are really good books" - yes I know.

Or fabric.....

Sorry for the lack of blogging around here, but now all my wholesale orders are completed, hopefully my life will get back to normal (well sort of).  I may even get some making in and be able to blog about that.

I am also getting ready for a market this weekend - the Knack market is on this Saturday from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm at South Wellington Intermediate (SWIS) in Newtown.  Love to see you there!

Aroha to everyone in Christchurch

Christchurch is my hometown and at 4.35 am this morning it was struck by a 7.2 earthquake.  My family is all ok and so far there appears to have been no fatalities.  Thank God it happened in the middle of the night. 

I know of one person who has lost there home and a cousin's dog was crushed by a boulder.  I am sure there will be a lot of stories that come out over the next few days.  I can't believe the photos, the video footage, the devastation - surely it is somewhere else.

Below is a link of one video of some of the destruction. This is not far from where we used to live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HTySEWxbmc

To all my whanau, friends and everyone else in Christchurch our thoughts are with you - stay safe.