Thursday Craft Shoppe Narre Warren

This picture may not look like much but it is my bedroom window. The shadows and the misty hazy look are indicative of Autumn almost Winter and the shadowy outline of leaves always makes me smile and be thankful its not summer. These curtains are never open in Summer. Many people passing by this blog wouldn't realize that in our Estate, washing of windows is banned and it has to be done without using a hose at all just like the car and anything exterior. So if my windows look dirty, blame the drought and the fines you get if you appear to be using water without a permit. I get looks because my garden is so green and lush, um geeze Mr frowny passer by, haven't you ever heard of mulching?....... anyhow
Off to work


And didn't I work hard. Not
I laughed as I knitted and finished this scarf which reminds me of coconut ice. P came in armed with mags for our 50 cents used mags stand and for the life of me I cant see how they can call them used. Not a mark on them and all intact. These ones are mine mine mine. G, our friendly volunteer handy man came in for coffee and told us a story that made us laugh so hard I don't know if we could have contained ourselves if a customer walked in. Good thing we work for nothing or our pay might have gotten docked.

The magazine stand has been restocked so if you live near Narre Warren go and grab one for 50 cents. You cant even tell they're not brand new. Stacks of embroidery and quilting, homespun mags.
I will leave you with a pic of my 7 year old on Tuesday night kneading the bread for every ones school lunches on Wednesday. We flattened out the focacia dough, smeared it with Vegemite and cheese, rolled it up, chopped it into slices and voila! Cheese and Vegemite focacia scrolls. Mum didn't have to make any sandwiches in the morning because it had the bread and all the innards combined. See how fab it is when kids can cook. Clever me bought a 5kg pack of baking flour today....................plotting

I will take pics of the finished product next time. If I'm not too lazy.

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Thursday Craft shop Narre Warren

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY CRAFT SHOPPE
21 years ago, a couple of mums had an idea and thanks to them, 21 years later Narre Warren has a place to go to chat, craft and create. Thanks Phyl and Julie and the Narre Warren Community Centre for providing such a haven in our community especially for us.

Phyl returned from her European trip looking very fit and tanned and it was fab to see her back at the shop today. If you were ever going to have a boss lady, make sure you get one like Phyl, she is ace.
We had one volunteer missing today because her mum is not doing so good and I'm sending P a massive cyber hug and support to get her through the weeks ahead. She has many people here who think she is the bees knees and will be here for her through this.
Another missing volunteer is my mate Linny. It was so quiet without her, no giggling like school girls while I drink coffee and she sips boiled water. The 11:30 helper returned from Canberra after visiting her brand new baby grand daughter. CONGRATULATIONS M.
Here she is modeling one of the new crocheted baby blanket/shawls a clever member has made.



Just thought I would show my cup cakes again on display in the shop because I can

and another plug for one of the members who does custom made candles.

And look at what Soz has been up to. Gorgeous baby polyfleece hats! Only $5

Marg, Soz and myself are going to whip up some denim totes with the craft shop logos on them to help support the shop. And to promote our belief in caring for the environment by using natural reusable bags. Soz has made some toys ready to go for Meet me at Mikes "softies for Mirabel" which has prompted me to pull my finger out... yikes, how does she do it all? There are so many more women that donate there time to our community shop and I hope to plug them all eventually because I don't care if I sound like a broken record. The men and women that donate their time so generously to help the community deserve every mention possible. I am always in awe of how many devoted people there are doing so much for nothing more than the satisfaction than knowing they are helping.
OK , I'm getting all mushy again arn't I? If you can't get to our local community craft shop in Narre to support us then do your own community a favor and ask how you can help them or maybe they have a craft shop like us or something totally different. If you cant help them, take the time to say a hello to a volunteer and maybe even thank them. Cheers

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Thursday @ The Craft Shoppe

It was a quiet day today and most likely people are snuggled up because of the weather. Last month it was up to 40 degrees Celsius(100ish F) and now puddles are a plenty and I am seeing the scarves get dusted off to ward off the chill. People in the Northern hemisphere would laugh at what we call freezing but to us it is freezing and even so you will still see some daft Aussies out there in shorts...
We had a chin wag about the Softies for Mirabel that Meet me at Mikes is doing and it looks like I can lure some of the awesome ladies there to contribute on behalf of the Shoppe. They don't take much luring though as they always put their hand up for a good cause. More of that though when it is pondered on a bit. If you are the crafty sort go that a look at Meet me at Mikes. I love when I stumble across people in the community that promote the spirit of helping and devote their time and effort in being involved. OK OK , I do go on about it don't I? These men and women that help other folk with out asking for so much as a thanks are worth prattling on about in my book, so I'm not sorry for going on and on:)

I have never mentioned this before because I didn't think it relevant but we are right next door to the community centre opportunity shop (thrift shop). I know there's a few thrift shoppers out there so I thought it would be handy info. PLUS you can come and see us, even if its just to say hello! We are right next door.
I got a few sets of nice old anodized knitting needles from there. .75cents what a bargain! I am going to add them to my collection.
Ta Ta for Now!

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To Market To Market we went

The Narre Warren Craft Shop was asked to put a stall in at the local School's carnival where they were holding a trash and treasure market. Whilst it was probably not the best setting for our well loved creations, it was good to be represented out in the public and a fair bit of networking was done. I dont think any money was left after visitors had purchased thier showbags and temporary tattoos. I might reconsider if asked to attend next time.......

I took some fabbo pics though.

JS is a very skilled Teddy Bear maker and these guys are awesome. I love love love her Little ones. I love them all!!

JU is a textile artist and she brought along some skeins of hand spun and hand dyed wool.

and she whipped up some coin purses

And these are my little pin cushions. Totally FAT FREE!!!. I figured that my bags, which is my real business, wouldnt sell and I was right. Perhaps if I screen print some skulls on them next time???

The following pics have nothing to do with the Narre Warren Craft shop. These are pics of the finished rocking horses that the members of the woodworking club I am in have finished. As a tradition we line them all up on Cup weekend. I think a few were scratched though because I am sure there were more. I am awestruck when I see how clever these guys are. Well ahem, most of the makers of these rocking horses are ladies so I use the term guys loosely. I cant help but show them off. I just reckon they're awesome.



So what next?

Well. I volunteer now at a historical site locally 2 days a week until about Christmas. They needed some help and I needed to keep my skills in use so it was a win win thing.

I aim to have my line of environmentally healthy, polypropylene free grocery bags available on my website by the 1st of February 2008 but I desperately need an industrial machine.


I am also working on guides and jigs to start banging out my new and reclaimed wood range of craft handles for all of you crafty bag makers out there. I might bang out a few embroidery cotton reels too. Hmmmm , I better dust off the lathe and the router eh? Move over Mrs Sewing machine, the noisy toys are comin out!!
Im hoping to keep that part of my craft as reclaimed as possible though so it always depends on availability.
Before I do all of this i need to build a room under the carport for woodworking only because I found, to my surprise, sanding and cutting wood in the same shed you sew in is STUPID!!!! Its like confetti. You just keep finding the sawdust in everything. Thank goodness I store stuff in tubs.

Between now and Christmas its a mad dash for cash for xmas. With 4 kids and 1 income ( yes yes, one day I will contribute) it gets really tight and I KNOW alot of people out there can relate to this. So I guess my Xmas list in on my list of things to do.
Time to make that List
Blog ya later

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Boxes of beautiful bounty for premmy babies.

With boxes filled to the brim, feeling very pleased and excited, Phyllis set off to hand over the booties, bonnets, cardigans, pants and many other assorted pieces that the generous woman of the Narre Warren Craft Shoppe had knitted,sewed and crocheted for the premmies. The garments were exsquisitley handmade with love and kindness as is everything these women make for charities and they are on thier way to the Monash Hospital to be given to families with premature babies. The clothes are so tiny. I wasnt a part of this venture as my skills are somewhat lacking in the garment department but I had to write about it with pride to mark the day. I was lucky enough to snag some pictures of the women making garments for one of the other charities. I was, however, too late to snap piccies of the boxes of tiny brand new hand made babies cloths but I did get to see them quickly before Phyll whisked them away and they were absolutely adorable!

If you live locally and love handmade, come and support the girls at the Narre Warren Craft Shoppe in Malcom St Narre Warren.

There is an enourmous range of hand knitted babies outfits as well as other beautiful hand made giftware. Yeah, I know, I go on and on about it, but with good reason. Its places like these that ensure the continuation of the art of craft. You cant buy this kind of community spirit or the atmoshpere created when a group of women are engaged in crafting and sharing their knowledge and skills. Where ever a group like this exists, whether in my town or yours, I want to support it, visit it and embrace it. Anyhow, arn't they marvelous? Good on ya girls!! Good on all the folks that do this kind of stuff!

Oh and totally unrelated,and all about me, its only 8 more sleeps till my first stall!!! Dont know whether to be stressed or excited at this point. Its like " oh my god, will people like my stuff?" Yes yes, everyone who has does the markets knows how I am feeling. But this is all about me remember? A voice in my head is saying " For goodness sakes, go get a real job" And i can often be heard answering that voice in my head out loud with " No, this is my job, shut up"

Last but not least. A big wave to my absolutely fabulous textile arteest friend Jan who occassionally spies on my blog and points out my spelling errors .I say to her, less time critiquing my spelling and more time being arty farty please. Chop chop dahling, 8 sleeps to go!!!!!

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