Fossicking Road Trip Time

The stack of furniture waiting to be recreated in the garage was getting to an unknown low level, I could actually see the way through to Peters work bench.  Time for Peter and I to set of on a fossicking road trip.  So one foggy morning this week off we went.

 First stop our favourite road trip cafe for a late breakfast in the warm.  I am sure you can guess which cafe it was.

Peter and the dog seemed to be competing for the seat closest to the fire.  I think the dog won.  

Peter had cheese and herb omelettes and as usual I went for the very healthy option of pancakes with berries and maple syrup with yogurt!  I so love the colour combination and feel very inspired by that combination of off white with highlights of dark, dark red and vintage blue.

If you only knew how many photos I have with Peter's grinning face appearing in them, I could almost start a whole blog for them.  I was concentrating so hard on the food did not notice him at all.

Another colour inspiration shot.

As it was its a good job we did stop for a late breakfast as the shop we wanted to visit was just opening up as we arrived.

Here you go have a closer look inside, its full of fantastic bits and pieces from all eras.  There was a sofa I would seriously like.

I think if you know Hawkes Bay you will recognise where we were headed.

 I think I must be influenced by cold winter colours, I seem to be really focusing on whites, grey greens and blues, with hints of red to warm things up.

 I can't wait to get printing and trying to combine these colours in my work.

The aim of the trip was not really to find photo inspiration.  But to find furniture inspiration.

In fact we found some great inspirational bits and pieces, I can't wait to see what appears out of the Reclectica workshop.

Peter seems to be very happy with his new pair of drawers.

Its time to come on down and keep warm

What a busy week getting organised for the Mid Winter Warm Up Craft market, in Napier on Friday evening and Saturday day time.  We have a great line up of stalls some new, some old and some all time favs.  Of course Reclectica and Coulter & Coulter will be there.   So much to do so little time. As they say in the creative crafting world, sleep is overrated.  Hope to see you there, I will be the one with matchsticks holding up her eyelids.

A little birdie

Look what I spotted yesterday at the Craft and Design Market.  This little nest hidden up in among the vines.    I wonder if the eggs and chicks were there right through the summer markets.

Lucky Havelock North

Havelock North is filled to the brim with creative goodness this weekend.   The Craft and Design market is on outside Hawthorns Coffee shop on Napier Rd.  A great place to relax, have a coffee and check out all the cool stalls.  But that is not all ....... the other craft market is also on in the centre of the village and just to top it off there is an Art display on up at Kierunga gardens.  So if you are not off to Handmade in Wellington this weekend, why not pop over to Havelock North.

A Learning Experience

 Last weekend the Coulter & Coulter market stand made its first venture into large Home and Garden show world.  It had in the past been my gut instinct that it was not the right venue for us, unfortunately I was proved right. But its good to try new things out and meet new people.  I also loved all the people that came around the corner and exclaimed "This is more like it, this is what we wanted to see".  Here are the few of the things that I have learnt from our little adventure.

1. Location, location, location.  Obvious really and something we were aware of already, but it was good to have this reinforced.  The craft section was tucked well out of the way and by the time the public reached us they were almost viewed out and just looked at us with a slightly bemused look. 
2. Trust my gut instinct, it is nearly always right.
3. Large shows are a great venue for promoting events, we gave away so many hand outs for the Made It Here Mid Winter market and had some great conversations about it with the passers by.
4. Another thing that I should know by now,  display my prices.  People don't always ask and if they do sometimes my Scottish accent can make $15 sound like $50.

At the end of the day it was an experience made fun by the crafters either side of me and the lovely people who liked our work so much they took it home with them.

A quick peep into Coco & Co

Today I packed up a bunch of my old cd's and a lot of cushions ready for hand stitching and headed of to Coco and Co to look after the shop for the day.  I thought you might like a little peak inside at some of the loveliness. 

 There is our Coulter & Coulter stand of course, restocked after a busy month.

 Some lovely soaps from Soo's Garden displayed in a container Peter made for Soo out of reclaimed wood.

 A bench full of lovely Coco and Co cushions.

 I love these little baby pirate shoes from Lil Red.  So cute.

Coco and Co is packed with interesting stuff, well worth a visit next time you are in Hastings.

Inspiration - Cool Colours, Cool Places and Cool Things

 Love the combination of colours on the image above.  Simple cool and elegant, at least I think so.  

 The coolest place has to be the Roxy Cinema, Miramar.  The most beautiful cinema I have ever been too.  Nowhere else comes anywhere close.  We only found it by accident when walking past looking for op shops.  If you are ever going past, just drop in have lunch, drink some wine and of course see a movie.

In my opinion never mind the 3d printers and drone helicopters and digital scanning at Makertorium this weekend.  My vote for coolest project has to go to the above textile dying.  Slowly over the day the dye dripped down through the fabric and embroidery to make a willow pattern.  More photos from Makertorium soon, I promise.