market + wee giveaway

When I was in Christchurch for Around the table, there was an amazing market on the Friday night. There was a huge array of talented crafters and designers there, seriously. Each table seemed to be filled with things I wanted to take home with me.  I was restrained by the cash I had in my wallet and that was probably a good thing. 

 I love this brooch by Little Fritter. I was taken by two brooches, this one that features some sweet liberty fabric and the other was an acrylic one shaped like a fantail. I wanted both, but after a lengthy decision I decided on this one, I can always buy the one from the Little Fritter shop!

 I loved everything from In my backyard, Stella and I both bought a print and some fabric scraps too - such copycats aren't we? I loved the wee scrap packs, mainly because I'm a terrible fabric hoarder. I just hate cutting into beautiful fabric, but you see the cutting has already been done! So I can happily use these pretty wee pieces.

I didn't buy this one, but it was included in the great goodie bag from Around the table. The super generous Emma from Emma Makes donated a notebook and pencil for each blogger attending the conference. Super duper generous I say! Check out her lovely Emma Makes shop.

And I know all of you NZ bloggers who missed out on attending Around the table, are feeling totally left out after all these posts popping up about what an amazing event it was. Here's you chance to feel (in a small way) like you were there. I've got the above items to pop in the post for a NZ blogger who didn't make it and would like a goodie bag of their own! The first comment of "yes please" will get the lot. My favourite thing would have to be the cool postcard by Stella! "I'm kind of a big deal on my blog"

*Open to NZ bloggers only, first comment by a blogger who didn't attend Around the table will win!  Giveaway closed
Congratulations to Sally!

Orange

So over the weekend in Christchurch I was hosted by Nin of Sailor Spy! I was lucky to have a comfy bed that belonged to her daughter, it was in a very pretty room with lots of lovely handmade details. I was referred to as the "big girl" by the lovely miss 4 who was very excited to meet me.

On the Friday afternoon I was dropped off at Nin's studio/showroom - the Orange Tree Cottage. I only managed a few quick snaps of the beautiful space, the light was fading and I really wish I'd taken more. Nin and her family have worked hard to make it such a beautiful wee space, you can see some of the before pictures on her blog here.

Nin is an amazing dress maker and pretty clever at upcycling too, just look at her clothes racks! They are chairs that her daughter's kindergarten was wanting to get rid of. They wanted to pay her to take them to the dump! My little snaps don't really show how amazing they look in this space, I'm super jealous as I'm looking for one to do something similar in my laundry garage laundry space (argh why don't modern homes have a laundry?)

When I found out Nin was my host I asked her to make a tunic for me (as I've long admired her beautiful designs), I wore it to the Saturday night dinner at the conference. I'll have to take a pic of it soon, I love it! Just have to wait for all this rain to clear (yay hopefully the drought has finally broken). I might have to even join in with Stella and her curvy style Friday. Her clothes are beautifully finished and I think it was lucky there weren't too many things in my size on the racks otherwise I might have come home with some more pieces!

the lovely quilt/wall hanging above my bed

Thanks again for having me Nin! 

the one where I tell you how AWESOME CHCH bloggers are!

It's easy to turn up to an event like Around the table and not give all the behind the scenes much thought. It was so well run that you could be forgiven if you thought maybe little fairies were running around making everything run so smoothly. I mean, you arrive at the airport and "ta da!" there is a smiley face there to pick you up, thanks Treena! 

A lovely family home is there to welcome you, with a lovely bed and a lovely host too. Thank you again Nin for welcoming me into your home! 

the week yarn bomb organised by Leonie

You arrive at a conference and there is a jam packed goody bag, morning tea and great workshops to welcome you - all those things don't just happen without hard work and lots of juggling of spreadsheets. There are people getting ferried about in many different vehicles off to different venues all without any body being left behind (to my knowledge). All amazing. There was a great walking "tour" of some of the earthquake damage (yes I do believe it was a "tour" Miriam!) It must have been as we started to get extra people join us along the way, a couple of ladies were listening intently to the words of our tour guides as they shared their personal experiences and knowledge. Then at the end of it all there was someone to take me back to the airport too! Thanks Sophie!

I was blown away by how generous the hosts of this event, and the people of Christchurch were. I know that there was lots and lots of behind the scenes work to make it all happen and for that I thank you! Christchurch bloggers you are AWESOME! You opened your hearts and homes and your city to us out of towners and gave up your time to make the weekend such an amazing event - THANK YOU! 

ups and downs - around the table

I'm going to keep it real, it was NOISY, NOISY - NOISY! - 60 women talking all at once can do that. At times it was overwhelming, it was fun and it was tiring. I missed my kids, I knew I would. At times I felt a bit out of place (I knew I would too) but it was EXCITING and quite amazing too.

There were people who were JUST as I imagined them to be, others surprised me (in good ways)

Some were MUCH sweeter than I imagined, like this little guy, who belongs to this lovely mama.

There were people I just didn't get to meet, others I really wanted to chat to, but they always seemed to be already busy chatting to someone else - like this lovely lady, next time I'll just jump in Deb!

These two were just how I imagined them to be, although Miriam, you were a bit more "Miriam" than I imagined- in the best possible way!

Christchurch I wish I had more time with you! I didn't even get to one op shop for starters! I've got another couple of posts about last weekend, like some of the great people I met and some of the things that I came home with me.