Snow and a birthday

Last week we had our first snow of the season.  Snow seems to be making a regular feature here in Christchurch each winter. I know the friends of mine back in Michigan would get a giggle out of the fact that schools were closed for 3 days because of the snow. Not such a great amount of snow in their world but in ours it causes a bit of bedlam. We just aren't used to it or prepared for it. It does look pretty when it first falls and the kids, of course, just LOVE it.  I took some pictures of the house but completely missed getting photos of the children.  OOPS

 and a photo looking up our street...

Now, of course it is all gone!! But it still has been very cold.

Today was my baby's birthday.  Not really a baby any more as she turned nine.  Molly has been a bundle of energy all day.  Usually I have to drag her out of bed in the morning but this morning she was dragging my toosh out of bed!!!
I took her shopping to the mall this afternoon with my Mum.  What a blast she had.  Here she is with my Mum in her new outfit, shoes, socks in all!

 and at home later with her cake....

She asked for a marble cake.  Something I had not made before.  so I dug out the Donna Hay Kids magazine.  I can tell you my cake did not look like hers.......

I had too much chocolate mixture.  But at least Miss Nine loved it.  I am not brave enough to show you a photo of the inside!!
Miss Nine is now tucked up in bed, very very happy with her day.  YAY!

I must get myself to bed too.  I have a busy rest of the week with Shop Me Pretty work to be done, bags to make, patterns for new bags to work on and a visit to the accountant!!

Hope your day has gone well.
Catch up again Soon,

Kate x

A few changes

Hello all,

Well so much for being better at writing this blog.  Hmmmm...not much I can say about that really!!

Life continues to be busy at Kate M with a couple of trips to Martinborough.  As mentioned in my last post the March fair was unfortunately cancelled due to the 'weather bomb'.  A little heart breaking I .  have to admit.

But good news followed with a re-run organised.  So last weekend my daughter and I made the journey back.  A wee trip on the ferry, which Olivia was very excited about.  It was such a beautiful day for a sailing........

So the fair went well.  A good crowd really and the weather really was very settled....a bit cool and cloudy but no wind and rain.  Thank heaven for small mercies!!


Back to the workshop this week and a much needed tidy up of the tornado zone.  I do have to say that whilst I am in full swing sewing, I am not at all good at keeping my working areas tidy.  Hence the 'tornado zone'!!!

I also decided to have a complete change around in position.  The warehouse is very cold in winter.  This means I tend to spend most days working there in many layers of clothing including my coat and scarf.  Not ideal really.  The oil column heater just cannot heat up that huge space.  So back into the front office I go.  I just have made a smaller 'showroom area' and will only keep a few things on display.

I am thinking at this stage this is a good idea!!

So here is some pics of the results of my days work.  Firstly a before and after shot of the cabinet where I keep all my sewing supplies.....I am so excited about this.  I have even shown my friends already....tragic I know!!!



BEFORE



AFTER

Now a couple of photos of the showroom.  It is only half organised at this stage........

So some good things going on.  Now I just need to tackle the mounds of fabric scraps....oh perish the thought.

Hope all is well in your world.

Happy happy day


Kate x

Oh my poor neglected Blog.....

I have been terribly remiss of writing on my my blog for quite a number of months now.  I am sure it is feeling very very neglected.  OOPS!!

I decided to take on a few (well more than a few actually!!) more craft shows/fetes over the bust fete season.  This meant head down and bum up.  It was a crazy crazy season as I travelled around the country side from the deep south... Winton to the North....Martinborough (twice...once was a bit of a flop as the show was cancelled due to the weather bomb...on a good note though, Mr Mooar and I did have a great few days away togther...NICE!!!)  It also meant many many many hours of sewing and trying desperately to keep stock levels up.

Thanks a million to Mother Pam (my mum) for the endless hours of cutting out and pricing..thank heaven for you.  Also to Mother Mooar (my m-i-l) for many hours of interfacing and helping out on the stall.  To my friends who travelled to shows with me and helped with cutting, a bit of making, a bit of stall jushzing and lots of 'keeping me going'.  Without the help from you guys, I would not have got through

And last but not least to my best mate,  the absolutely wonderful Mr Mooar.  We were kind of like ships in the night for many months, as he came home back I went to the workshop.  He just did whatever I could not get done around the house and was there for me to lean on when I just felt like I could not go on anymore.  He was and is my biggest supporter.  Big props to you Mr Mooar xx

So now I will try and keep up with my blog a little more.  Hope all is well in your worlds.

Happy happy day

Kate x

ps....just a few of the places I have been.....



Ashburton



Waimate

The stall girls looking super smart in Cromwell

my friend Megan with her very proud display in Winton.

xx

A change in hours

Hi everyone,

I have been in a bit of a thinking mode lately..as well as a busy Mum and in busy sewing mode.  It is a never ending job being a parent isn't it.  The hardest job in the world.  Sometimes seems the perfect job and some times those little darling just drive us to distraction!!!

Anywhoo where am I going with this.  Firstly I love love love my little sewing business and am so pleased to have the workshop space.  On the flip side of that is that it makes it harder to keep up with all that needs doing at home.  Especially now that my husband, a builder, has become very busy in our quake devastated city.

So.... I have decided to change my opening hours at the showroom.  Not too much of a change.  I just now will be closed on a Tuesday and will no longer be open on a Friday evening.  New opening hours are now
Mon 10 am - 2pm
Wed and Thurs 10 am - 2pm
Fri 10 am - 2.30pm

I am more than happy to be there at other times by appointment....I just need a little bit of notice, so please don't hesitate to contact me.

Hope your weeknd went well.

Take care
Kate

A handmade birthday present

Hi all,

Recently my neice celebrated her 5th birthday.  They have also just moved into a new home.  Their last home was badly damaged in the Feb earthquake and is no longer habitable.

So I wanted to give her something special for her birthday.  What better present than some handmade goodness.  Here is what I came up with.........

A fabric bird mobile

Gorgeous Fabric Flowers


She was delighted with them both.  It is always so thrilling when they love what you give them.

Onto more sewing for the spring/summer round of fetes which begins on the 15th October.  More about that soon.  Right now I really must go and get dinner sorted for the family.

Have a great evening

Cheers
Kate

Let it snow.....

Hi all,

Yesterday with the bad weather that was forecast,  all the children could think about when they went to sleep was would there be enough snow for a snowball fight when they woke in the morning.

Well I guess that dreams do come true.....  In the night the snow had arrived with a vengence and very cold temps... -9 (gulp)....so this is what outside the front door now looks like.......

The freezing temps could not stop the children.  So bundled up, snowball fights and snow sculptures later, they are happy little campers.............

I am too much of a wimp and have been enjoying staying in the warm house with the log fire cranking.  Although I have not been doing fun things....cleaning the bathroom and fridge....but I am very happy with how they are both now sparkling!!  And my husband cleaned out and sorted the pantry yesterday.  I know I know how lucky am I

Hope you are all having fab days

Cheers
Kate


Happy happy

Riccarton Bush Artisan Market

Hello everyone,

My world has been very quiet actually.  So a very quick post with photos of the Riccarton Bush Artisan Market.

This market is held every Sunday at Riccarton House from 11am to 3pm.  It is a small market but there is some great foodies, music and stalls to look at.  All in a beautiful setting.

I have a stall there.  So if you can't make my showroom during the week, come see me at the Sunday market

Happy happy day

Kate