Well it's been a good ten months since I last made a post. I have been keeping busy with a new baby in May (Oliver) and all the activities my bigger boys are up to.
I'm keen to once again spend dedicated time in crafting and writing about it but have much less time now. So I will see how it goes....
Just to show I haven't completely abandoned my crafting, I have put a page together with photos of all the crafting I have done through 2011.
I have tried my hand at a few new foodie arts: I am brewing limoncello for Christmas gifts, have made my first batch (took 3 goes to get it set and not burnt) grapefruit marmalade.
I've also been busy getting my garden really going well and experimenting with making my own cleaning products thanks to Wendyl Nissen's recipes.
On the go, I have 2 fabric teepees, a car caddy, sock rag doll and lots of yummy things to make before Christmas, a half knitted vintage bunny, half knitted easy doll and a half knitted woollen necklace. I have to confess the necklace may never be finished....most of it was knitted in hospital while I was waiting for Oliver to make his appearance, so not great memories when I pick up that project.
Keep watching this space, I hope to post on here a bit more regularly with some more news.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
New Year, New Opportunities
An awesome Christmas/New Years period travelling around the North Island to catch up with both sides of the family.
Our boys had lots of adventures, the photos of which I have put together in a little story book to share with friends. We stayed at the beach, camped in the bush and had lots of fun with the cousins, uncles, aunties and grandparents.
I am thankfully not too hot yet given I'm coming up 23 weeks pregnant with another boy, but am certainly enjoying short breaks relaxing with a book in the shade while my boys play in the paddling pool.
I'm looking forward to another busy year filled with promise and opportunity. I spent some time thinking and dialoguing over the holiday break about 'where-to-from-here' with my crafting.
I concluded I spread myself too thin last year trying to develop lots of different products while I worked out what was marketable/sellable.
So, I have decided to pull it back, focus on one theme that I really enjoying making and develop a small range of products around this.
Watch this space to see what I do with.... elephants
Our boys had lots of adventures, the photos of which I have put together in a little story book to share with friends. We stayed at the beach, camped in the bush and had lots of fun with the cousins, uncles, aunties and grandparents.
I am thankfully not too hot yet given I'm coming up 23 weeks pregnant with another boy, but am certainly enjoying short breaks relaxing with a book in the shade while my boys play in the paddling pool.
I'm looking forward to another busy year filled with promise and opportunity. I spent some time thinking and dialoguing over the holiday break about 'where-to-from-here' with my crafting.
I concluded I spread myself too thin last year trying to develop lots of different products while I worked out what was marketable/sellable.
So, I have decided to pull it back, focus on one theme that I really enjoying making and develop a small range of products around this.
Watch this space to see what I do with.... elephants
Friday, November 19, 2010
Christmas is almost upon us!
Wow! I knew it had been a long time since I was on here, but seriously didn't think it was over 2 months ago! Have had busyness in our home with overseas business travel for hubby, winter ills and other dramas that seem to happen one after the other.
All the while, I have been able to keep on doing some sewing. I showcased a few things at a local community centre exhibition for 2 weeks a little while ago. Apparently there was lots of feedback about the vintage animals, but sadly no sales came of it.
I ran a stall at our local primary school fair a couple of weekends ago and that was fun. Tiring, but enjoyable in the fact that about every 3rd person who came to my stall I knew! I sold over 10% of my total stock which was not too bad but I definitely would have preferred to sell more, particularly as I had put together 3 new lines of products aimed at pre-school/primary school aged kids - swimming togs bags, library book bags and childrens' aprons.
Check some of them out in my showcase pages - 'for the kids'.
I have also been busy knitting up a cute little monkey for a friends' baby. Super cute, but I am never making that pattern again! The instructions were sketchy at best (even for my avid knitter aunty) and it took several months off and on to make.
I have also been experimenting a bit more with felt craft, exploring brooches etc - basically gauging what people are interested in purchasing.
As always, if you see something you like in my pages, please feel free to contact me on: cpbeloved@gmail.com and I would be happy to correspond with you about making an order for you.
All the while, I have been able to keep on doing some sewing. I showcased a few things at a local community centre exhibition for 2 weeks a little while ago. Apparently there was lots of feedback about the vintage animals, but sadly no sales came of it.
I ran a stall at our local primary school fair a couple of weekends ago and that was fun. Tiring, but enjoyable in the fact that about every 3rd person who came to my stall I knew! I sold over 10% of my total stock which was not too bad but I definitely would have preferred to sell more, particularly as I had put together 3 new lines of products aimed at pre-school/primary school aged kids - swimming togs bags, library book bags and childrens' aprons.
Check some of them out in my showcase pages - 'for the kids'.
I have also been busy knitting up a cute little monkey for a friends' baby. Super cute, but I am never making that pattern again! The instructions were sketchy at best (even for my avid knitter aunty) and it took several months off and on to make.
I have also been experimenting a bit more with felt craft, exploring brooches etc - basically gauging what people are interested in purchasing.
As always, if you see something you like in my pages, please feel free to contact me on: cpbeloved@gmail.com and I would be happy to correspond with you about making an order for you.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A busy week
Well, it's not quite the end of the week, but at the official end of it I will be at the in-laws in Tauranga and not likely to be on the computer for the whole weekend.
Loving the sunshine this week - the boys and I have been super busy in the garden planting out our 'direct-sow' root crops, some salad things and tidying up the supports for where our beans, peas and tomatoes are going to grow.
I have been taking a bit of time for myself this week and enjoying reading, trying out some new recipes I mulled over and generally not sewing like crazy every time I have a moment with no children around.
Having said that, I did try out a new design for some baby toys I'm planning to make - inspired by a design I saw in a boutique childrens' store awhile ago. First customer is a 2 day-old baby whom I am meeting tomorrow (hopefully).
I also cut out and began the initial sewing of 5 childrens' aprons - one of the new lines of products I am planning to release at an upcoming school fair.
I have also indulged this week in reading my Peppermint magazine for more than 5 mins at a time and found some excellent articles which further inspired me to check out the subjects' websites.
Take a look, there's some really interesting stuff there.
http://crafthope.com/
http://www.prophet-of-bloom.blogspot.com/
Well, that's it for this week - tomorrow is coffee group and packing for a weekend at the farm for my mother-in-law's 60th birthday. I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone and meeting our new nephew.
Have an awesome weekend and let's hope the sun continues to stay for longer periods.
Loving the sunshine this week - the boys and I have been super busy in the garden planting out our 'direct-sow' root crops, some salad things and tidying up the supports for where our beans, peas and tomatoes are going to grow.
I have been taking a bit of time for myself this week and enjoying reading, trying out some new recipes I mulled over and generally not sewing like crazy every time I have a moment with no children around.
Having said that, I did try out a new design for some baby toys I'm planning to make - inspired by a design I saw in a boutique childrens' store awhile ago. First customer is a 2 day-old baby whom I am meeting tomorrow (hopefully).
I also cut out and began the initial sewing of 5 childrens' aprons - one of the new lines of products I am planning to release at an upcoming school fair.
I have also indulged this week in reading my Peppermint magazine for more than 5 mins at a time and found some excellent articles which further inspired me to check out the subjects' websites.
Take a look, there's some really interesting stuff there.
http://crafthope.com/
http://www.prophet-of-bloom.blogspot.com/
Well, that's it for this week - tomorrow is coffee group and packing for a weekend at the farm for my mother-in-law's 60th birthday. I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone and meeting our new nephew.
Have an awesome weekend and let's hope the sun continues to stay for longer periods.
Friday, September 10, 2010
yay for spring!
So, it's been a week since I was on here.
What have I been doing, you ask. Enjoying this new season. Getting my garden sorted. Spending time with my lovely boys. Filling my house with boxes of seeds to germinate. Tidying up clutter. Catching up on chores/errands/administration stuff that slipped in the lead-up to my first craft fair.
How was it? Glad you asked. Pretty good. Only sold a few things and didn't quite make back my market stall fee but that's OK. It seemed most others were in the same boat.
I had fun though, and it's not nearly as scary as I thought so will be even more keen to sign up for more. Check out my display on the Fairs, Markets and other cool stuff page.
I am putting some stuff in to the Beachhaven Community centre exhibition this weekend and hopefully will get some sales from that.
Otherwise, I am planning for the new 'lines' of wares I'm preparing for the Willow Park school fair in November, finishing gifts for friends' babies (when they finally arrive) and enjoying the sunshine and spending time with my friends and family.
I also thought I would put some other things in my blog, not just craft-related. So check out my new pages:
Culinary crafting
Horticultural crafting
What have I been doing, you ask. Enjoying this new season. Getting my garden sorted. Spending time with my lovely boys. Filling my house with boxes of seeds to germinate. Tidying up clutter. Catching up on chores/errands/administration stuff that slipped in the lead-up to my first craft fair.
How was it? Glad you asked. Pretty good. Only sold a few things and didn't quite make back my market stall fee but that's OK. It seemed most others were in the same boat.
I had fun though, and it's not nearly as scary as I thought so will be even more keen to sign up for more. Check out my display on the Fairs, Markets and other cool stuff page.
I am putting some stuff in to the Beachhaven Community centre exhibition this weekend and hopefully will get some sales from that.
Otherwise, I am planning for the new 'lines' of wares I'm preparing for the Willow Park school fair in November, finishing gifts for friends' babies (when they finally arrive) and enjoying the sunshine and spending time with my friends and family.
I also thought I would put some other things in my blog, not just craft-related. So check out my new pages:
Culinary crafting
Horticultural crafting
Friday, September 3, 2010
Be at Devonport Craft Market this weekend!
Completed stock. Check. Printed business cards and tags. Check. Organised husband to babysit. Check. Found and ironed the tablecloth. Check. Healthy case of nerves on embarking on my first-ever craft market. CHECK!
I am very, VERY excited about this weekend - selling for the first time at a craft market!
Also, quite nervous about the following, (plus a whole stack more): whether my display will look alright, whether anyone will like my things, what if I sell it all way before the end of the market (unlikely, but it COULD happen), eeek, working out how much change to give when the customer is standing right there etc, etc.
I'm feeling pretty good about the sheer amount of product stock I have put together and am planning to have a practice tomorrow putting together the display so I can fiddle with it and know how much time it takes.
Check the showcase pages for all my new stuff. And, if you live in the area, come along this Sunday.
I will be spending Monday recovering and planning a very lovely dinner for my husband seeing as he will be babysitting on Fathers' Day.
Have a great weekend,
Cherise ;-)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
In a week's time...
I am feverishly sewing and planning for my first craft fair next weekend. Lots to do - finish off the last of my animals and toys, make some signs, get a float, let people know etc
It's going to be a busy week! Fortunately hubby's back from his business trip so I do get a bit of free time to sew etc without the boys hanging off my arm.
Will update more during the week including new stuff I'll be selling etc..
Have a great one!
It's going to be a busy week! Fortunately hubby's back from his business trip so I do get a bit of free time to sew etc without the boys hanging off my arm.
Will update more during the week including new stuff I'll be selling etc..
Have a great one!
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