goodbye for 2008

Now its time to say goodbye, to all our company A-N-E (see you real soon!) -M-O-N-E (why? because we like you!) C-R-A-F-T.

This will be our last post for the year, we are shutting down everything until mid January (like proper kiwis do) so that we can enjoy the holidays with our friends and family. I am leaving you with a few random pictures from the last few markets we have done and some misc news.

loan sharks by paper fish!

paper skulls that are individually decorated by hand! sorry vendor, I'll get your name next time :)

Little Golden Books notebooks by ruby in the dust.

Illustrated characters by Xander (note 80s wresters at top) who also makes Sparkle Friends for What Now.

Some new toys made by yours truly.

The latest issue of world sweet world has some great stuff in it including how to make a couch from an old door, how to knit with plastic bags, and my little card and envelope tutorial.

You can get this at several locations in Auckland including, iko iko, oiu boutique (in st kevs), and the eco store in freemans bay. Here is their website for more info.

also I am working on getting our games up on the side bar so that everyone can play again without having to hunt through our archives. This is why I had to repost them below. I'm halfway there, but just need Luke for technical assistance in order to get the wabbit breeder up.

Well, its been a good year, thanks very much for following along! Have happy holidays everyone!

-k

GAMES

You can choose from one of three characters, mix and match outfits, and select a friend before printing your creation. *click the yellow arrow to make the magic happen



COMING SOON: Breeding Wabbits game

Beautiful Cut-Out Scenes And Life-Like Figures

I am quite into Christmas this year. Some years during the holidays I get a strong case of the 'so whats', like the world isn't full of magic or mystery. which it is. But it is very easy to get cynical amongst the creepy Santas and cheap tinsel decoration that are strewn about my environment, and its hard not to get annoyed at the extra junkmail stuffed into my letter box with ugly photos and shocking graphic design- more cheap crap I don't need. (And why does my 'no advertising material' sticker lose all its power this time of year? please friends, don't litter into my letterbox!).



But this season I have been determined to dive deep into the SPIRIT. Working with children has definitely helped with this. Kids are absolutely mad about Christmas, full of wild expectations, belief, and a crazy kind of merriness that is possibly sugar induced. If you spend a lot of time around them, it is almost impossible not to catch at least a small part of their happy frenzy.

Also I have forced myself to let go of nostalgia so that I can enjoy the southern hemisphere summer Christmas for what it is. Yeah its not going to snow, big fat deal. And we are not going to cuddle up by the fire drinking cocoa, or cider, or egg nogg, so what. Get over it. Instead we have the beach, pohutukawas blooming, and sunshine (ah the weather this year, glory be!). My tomato plants will soon be red and green.


So yes, I am making an effort and as it turns out, I am really enjoying myself. I spotted this little treasure on my friends desk yesterday and outright yelped with delight. A vintage nativity set! Illustrated! Made of paper! from the 1960s! Those of you who know me can understand how these elements combined are my pure pleasure. Its enough to help me overlook how inaccurately white Jesus and crew are.



Thanks very much to Megan for sharing this nativity with me, and to her grandmother for saving this treasure!

Mmm hmmm that's right. I have put up the tree, and made the presents, baked the cookies, and now I am ready! One week to go.


Happy Christmas!
-k

In between...

Gosh. Last week was packed with good and bad...
It started with my sewing machine blowing up. No kidding, blue flash, fuse blown, r.i.p. Pretty bad.

Then on saturday morning a wonderfully good thing happened : Sinterklaas (traditionally kids from the 'lowlands' = the Netherlands, Belgium, France, get their 'Santa' early on the 6th of december from Sint Nicolas - it it MASSIVELY important to both kids and parents) brought a lovely cooker for Lieveke. She was so rapt in it. She now makes A LOT of pizza for us.


Then... On sunday Lieve got very sick and on tuesday we had to take her to the hospital. It was that terrible broncheolitis again, no oxygen in her little lungs, she was in such a bad way this time. After a night and a day we were discharged and Lieveke was on the mend. Slowly slowly, but resiliant as ever. Oh lieveke, dancing in your hoola-skirt...


That really was the best of the week, our little daughter all tsjirpy again. But some other great things : Kimberlee and I did the Craftwerk-fair and I sold so well, a new little parcel with some more Marimekko flowers made it just in time for under the christmas tree...

And an old LOST parcel turned up : a most beautiful felted lime blanket with big white dots for our little new baby.

***we found out it's going to be a girl***
Gabriel sighed such a touching sigh,
of relief, of love, of gratitude
'oh so good
I think I know
now
how to
take care
of a girl'

I kinda want a normal uneventful week, this week.
Keep safe, all
X Lies

kids christmas party

this is my other job. I love it, and not just because it involves bouncy castles. though that helps.

our pretty building, all decorated.

Getting into the spirit

controlled chaos

All the way from the North Pole.

Who has been good this year?

no party is complete without face painting

the unnecessaries get discarded

The only lollies that are dairy, egg, and gluten free.

Clothes peg toss, always a classic.

"I sit at the kids table because I like them better"
yes it's true, see how happy I am?

certificate for unlimited hugs and kisses. every parent deserves one of these.

What did you do this Sunday?

-k

CRAFTWERK this THURSDAY!!!!

FOLKS! I have missed you. My little news is that we had the children's production this Sunday and the little angels did a sparkling job. Of course there were several going the wrong the direction but doesn't that just make it all the more classic? My favourite part of our dance was Sean, our lanky teenage boy who lead all the little girls with this awkward confidence which made my heart sing! LA LA LA. If you have no idea what I am speaking about, then read this post. I am not sure about putting pictures up here, since they are not really my kids afterall.


Otherwise we have cracking the crafting whip, since it is CRAFTWERK this thursday! 6-10 pm in St Kevins Arcade on K'road. A Mexican theme, an hour longer, and films this time. COME ALONG! say hello!

We will have all our gear there, I have been working on some new prints (above) so we'll see how that goes.


alrighty, I am late for work!

xo,
kimberleeeeeeeeee

Special finds

With Christmas round the corner I've been browsing Etsy for some special finds and really awesome inspiration. I like simple, original and crisp design, and my favorites do reflect my soft spot for things crafty... Look how creative people are with concepts such as 'knit' and 'woven' and...

beautiful knitted silver brooch
at Naventin

woven tote, from recycled construction fencing
Davidshockdesigns

the CB bag : 'made of strips of both clear
and blue plastic shopping bags,
which were hand cut
then knotted to create "yarn"
and then knit'
by Olivebrown

Let's stretch that knitting a bit more : a 'knitwit' bangle, why not.
Lianakabel

From the needle to the measure tape, a bracelet now.
Ideaka.

Etsy 'window' shopping is wonderful. Go there!
All credits respectfully to the makers and their photographers, of course.




Enjoy the new week...
X Lies