Sweet Mary

Either late 1920's or early 1930's my grandparents opened a drapery shop in Rotorua selling manchester, fashion, curtaining and haberdashery items. My father has told me many stories over the years about the success and popularity of this store which he remembers working in as a young man. All these years later, looking around my magpie collection of fabrics, buttons, ribbons and general sewing items, I now find myself gently introducing haberdashery items to my Sweet Mary stall. Every month I will add new treasures which will sell alongside my handmade vintage style fabric pretties. Come along to the Craft&Design market, details top right of this post.

I have been busy making some cute things for the Easter market this Saturday in Havelock North village. Some blue gingham hunt bags to collect all those easter eggs, cute cosies to keep your freshly cooked eggs warm and a few chicken&egg hanging decos. Normally the Craft&Design   market is on the first Saturday of each month but as its Easter there will be a market this Saturday, March 30th. The stalls are spread all around Hawthorne Coffee shop from 9am - 1pm, come along for a coffee and a shop around the hand-made craft stalls.

Its lovely to still be picking and eating strawberries seven months after our first small harvest. About a month ago I gave the plants a good feed of worm juice and now we are benefitting from one last flush of deep red fruits. Mostly we just eat them as they are but with any extras I like to make a simple strawberry compote that keeps well in the fridge. I have blogged about this before but neglected to direct you to the recipe. So here is is, thanks to Jamie at Home. Click HERE for the link and try the rice pudding too as its very delicious made with rich creamy milk and eaten cold with a strawberry swirl.

Two pretty blue lavender hearts on their way to Auckland this morning - a "petite" order for a very special young woman. These fabric hearts have ribbons to hang and are filled with homegrown Hawkes Bay lavender. Priced at $15 each with a $4 postal charge for the 2, they make a gorgeous present wrapped in coloured tissue. Please contact me on sweetmarynz@gmail.com to order.

Mum has gone home now but I can remember her every time I handle these beautiful lavender rubbings. Whilst listening to her "talking books" she strips all my dried lavender stalks to give me a good supply to fill my lavender sachets over the coming months. Its an easy job but does take time so I am always thankful that mum can do this for me. I have made hearts, doves and long sachets to take along to market tomorrow. See the blog post below for details on the Made It Here market.

Tomorrow, I will have my Sweet Mary stall at the monthly (first Saturday of the month) Craft & Design Market that is held next to the Hawthorne Coffee Roasters in Havelock North. Click HERE for the Craft&Design Market website and then click on the "featured seller" to read a little bit about my background. This year I am introducing a few haberdashery items for sale starting with the prettily packaged buttons and fabric pieces in the above photo. See you there, the market runs from 9am - 1pm.