"reclectica"

 Coulter and Coulter now has a harder firmer side, "reclectica".  An eclectic collection of furniture both new and restored.  Every piece in the collection is created from re-purposed items or renewed items.

 From the very little bling boxes made from recycled timber and vintage fabrics to beautiful bits of New Zealand's past restored to new life.

 All available from our new Felt shop "reclectica".

The madness that is Martinborough Fair

 Martinborough Fair takes place in the beautiful Martinborough village twice a year.  And it is a very, very busy occasion, two hundred plus stalls.  In order to get my stall set up I had to turn up early in the dark at 4:30am, yes I did really say 4:30am.

 There was however a flaw in my cunning plan.  I had hired tables to use on the day, instead of using my own, so there was more room in the car for stock.

 What I had not figured out was that the people supplying the tables did not open till 6am.  It was nice to have an hour to wander around, watch the sun rise and see other people setting up.  Next month I will not be as early.

 As always at Martinborough Fair it was all worth it.  Thank you to all the lovely returning customers that came back to buy more stuff and thank you to all the new customers, hope you come back next time.  I do however think my stall looks very boring this time.  So I have a few plans and changes to make it more appealing next fair day.

 Added bonus I was just a few steps away from the jazz band and got to enjoy their playing.  Also a big thank you to Keriann from Sweet Mary, who ran my stall over at the Craft and Design Market, while I was away.

Almost forgot to mention that we got to stay in a tiny bit of paradise.  I would recommend Ambrosia Cottage as the most relaxing bach I have ever stayed in.  I am not sure why its not the poshest and did not have the best view.  But I felt the most relaxed I have been in years while staying there and I would love to go back again.

Peter Has Been Busy Again

 Peter has been busy in the garage again.  First he made me this most fantastic little fantail.  I have been waiting for about three months, I think its worth the wait.  I would like a matching friend for this one little fantail.  Hope it does not take another three months.

 He also had a lot of old offcuts of wood cluttering up the place, which have now been converted......

 .............into this tidy tiny little console/desk tabley thing.  I love it.

 Hopefully all these projects will come together by this weekend and our first unveiling at the Craft and Design market in Havelock North.

 Last but not least a tiny little bird house shaped notice board.  

Changes in Work Spaces

While reading about the changes to Peter's work space you should listen to this music.  Its what was playing as I was taking the photographs and is strangely evocative of the atmosphere in his room.  Cool, chilled and relaxing.  The new shelves are made from two drawers from an old desk and a couple of wall units that were taken out of our bathroom, when it was renovated.  I think this is one of the best re-purposing projects he has done so far.

A bit of a contrast to the way my new workroom space looks.  This time you need to listen to this music.  Again we have used a couple of old drawers.  These ones were picked up at a garage sale in the museum at Palmerston North.

If you think the above looks like a jumble its not.  Everything is laid out where I need it.  Fabric is stacked by project it will be used for.  Ribbons, threads, buttons and bits and bobs all stored by project type.  I can not wait to get started on printing the pile of blankets below.  It has taken a lot of will power not to just drop all sewing and do the fun bit.

Earlier last year I made a huge decision to leave the safety of paid employment and work full time for Coulter and Coulter.  A decision that I have not regretted even once.  Even when standing in a field at a country fair  freezing cold, soaked to the skin and up to the knees in mud.  Even when I have worked seven days a week, about 15 hours per day for the last four weeks with only two evenings off.  I am so glad I made that choice.  So a big thank you to all you lovely customers that have supported Coulter and Coulter last year.  I am really looking forward to bringing you lots more hand printed loveliness in the future.  Hopefully in warm, dry, un-muddy fields.

The true spirit of Christmas - the two amazing things that happened to me today.

Today, two amazing things happened to me.  But first I should explain why I have been ignoring you all out in the blogging world.   No I have not run away to a desert island.  A bunch of my friends and myself have set up a pop up market in Napier.  We have filled the shop with 20+ lovely craft stalls and are having a ball chatting to customers and selling lots and lots of handmade goodies.  Anyway getting back to my story about the kindness of strangers.  First of all I had a lady that bought a lot of items from my stall, then came back in to ask if she could buy one star, they were selling at $10 for 3 stars.  I said that she could have the star for free as it is Christmas.  So she then told my why she wanted just one star.  She had lost her niece who was called Star of the Ocean, what a wonderful name, and wanted the one star as a memory of her.  I felt so glad that that she had my star.  I hope she does not mind me sharing as I was really touched by her story.

Story number two started when Jo and I were serving a customer.  The customer was talking about how noisy the bagpipes were that were playing up the street.  I said how homesick it made me for Edinburgh when I heard the bagpipes playing.  A while later the lady came back again and presented me with a packet of shortbread biscuits to cheer me up when I felt homesick.  How wonderful is that, what a lovely person.  I am so happy that Christmas spirit is alive and well even in these materialistic days.

Phew

Phew - that was a busy three days at the Cranford Hospice Holly Trail Fete.  I am absolutely puggled out.  What a great time I have had out in the Hawkes Bay sunshine, eating mince pies and strawberries and chatting to all the Holly Trail Ladies.  My little stall was decimated by the end of the weekend.  I better get stuck into some more sewing now for Crosshills Garden Fete next weekend.  Don't you just love the build up to Christmas.