Angels at the Airport

This is the favourite tree in the Auckland Airport Shopping Centre Carpark dressed up for Christmas with peg and pipe cleaner angel dolls



 

A Handmade Shopping Affair

If you pop by regularly you'd know that I sell my crochet creations on Felt and Etsy.  One of the things it has made me more aware of for myself is the want/need to buy handmade goods directly from the people who make them, just as I want people to buy from me. 

I've been incredibly fortunate recently to have bought some incredibly gorgeous creations (all for myself!) so I thought I might share :-)

A Bit of Mystery

Based in Huntly and is a great shop on felt that has loads of bags  from recycled mens ties, this is the one I bought, it's a perfect size, beautifully finished - I love it so much!
 

trash footwear

 Based in Raglan, all their shoes are made from recycled or upcylced material.  I loved it that he could tell me where the material for mine came from :-)  I got some ballet shoes in a lovely retro purpley flower material and some boots which have green leather (where the brown is) and a fab red and green tartan

 

By Nature

Based on Waiheke Island the lovely Mel is showing off a petticoat made from bamboo cotton.  Mine is black without the lace panel. Made to measure, it's the most comfortable piece of underwear I own!

Lavage Handcrafted Soap Boutique

Based in Wellington, and with a factory shop in Plimmerton, the amazing Jayne comes up with brill creative treats for your body.  A great fan of Lavage I use her handmade soaps and body mist daily. And fighting off my germs a few weeks ago, this eucalyptus soy Melt Me was great to burn in the room. 

These are just a few of my recent purchases.  Jewellery would need a couple of posts just for itself, what with the fab earrings, nose rings, ring rings, bracelets, pendants and brooches I'm a bit of an accessory nut! :-) Shamefully I haven't keep a note of everyone I have bought from from I strongly recommend having a look on www.felt.co.nz there is something to suit everyones tastes!

FreeForm Crochet Capelet

March is finished, and so is the freeform crochet along that I was doing.

I had a ball and learned heaps! 

All of the bits came together and decided to be a caplet/shrug/ponchet thing 
(the 'et' just means they are little versions :-) )

I really like how it's ended up and I fully intend to wear it out in public lots as it gets cooler :-)

Craft and Sewing Show

Had a great morning at the Craft and Sewing Show at Greenlane this morning.

There was lots to see and I also went to a class and got to play with the hot glue gun (always a sucker for a reason to get the hot glue gun out!) 

 

Not sure what her name is yet

 

 

I also saw a fantastic display of freeform crochet which kind of put mine to shame and gave me inspiration all at the same time, especially since the people who were displayed were fellow team mates doing the freeform crochet-a-long on Ravelry

Talking of which - it's been a big learning week, I've almost mastered a crocheted bullion stitch, done loopy beaded stuff, tried a version of irish crochet, done crochet embroidery and also messed about with different lacy things.  Phew!

February'ness

Flying by!

I'm in the beautiful South Island with work for the next few weeks - the weather is lovely and not humid like the north which means I might get some crochet projects done (or at least started :-) )

The etsy blogger of the month of February is TiLT Creations - www.tiltcreations.etsy.com

I have a weakness for shoes and bags and TiLT is all about the bags.

I have to admit to spending a lonnnngggggg time oggling some beautful pieces.

I'm a bit of a spot lover........

Happy day :-)

Looking back and looking forward

The etsy bloggers carnival is on again, one of the topics is

"Now that 2009 has come to a close, what will you remember most about last year?"

Here are some of the things that will stick with me about 2009:

People I didn't know bought my creations

People I don't know are supportive of my creations

I have sold my creations at the local market

I've learnt how to blog

I've learnt how to Twitter

I learnt how to have a Facebook fanpage

I learnt how to open and operate 3 online shops

I have semi learnt how to market my creations

Google Analytics is an amazing tool that scares me

There are people out there in the world that love to create and are friendly even if you don;t meet them face to face

I have learnt all sorts of new and amazing crochet tricks and techniques

I have learnt that I love to buy handmade

All in all a pretty good year crafty wise. I think 2010 is going to be even bigger!

This is where we went on New Years eve day - gobsmackingly beautiful, all about the past and the present and the future

Bridal Veil Falls - Raglan New Zealand

Hand Made what a Doll

I had one of my favourite tea cosies chosen for a gift guide on the Handmade Highway http://www.handmadehighway.blogspot.com/ it's called Black Forest because it reminds me of a gateaux :-)




Anyway I've ended my creative mudbath and picked up a hook and some yarn and now I'm in the middle of trying to create a different kind of doll than I've made before. I've got it's main body (it's a frock) now I'm trying for the shoulders, neck, head and arms. I've unravelled it 4 times so far :-) I'm hoping that tonight is going to be the break through!



Since I started on etsy and more recently on artfire I've noticed myself leaning towards buying hand made products rather than mass produced.

First off

they are usually unique items and no one else will have one and the things I have bought have had so many comments.

Secondly

I love creating and am so honoured when others buy my creations that I think that other people that make hand made stuff feel the same, and I love how it makes me feel so I want to spread that joy There are heaps of amazing soap makers on etsy and one day I will try them all, in the mean time at the end of my road (the one in the picture up there) there is a shop that sells handmade soap that I never ever had thought to buy from before and now it's all we use. Doing what I'm doing has made me look at hand made products with new eyes.