Sweet Mary

Myself and daughter on my Sweet Mary stall Nic of Coulter and Coulter Birdhouses from Perry Davies Beautiful Carabana Vintage Skirts by Sally. Another successful market - date of next one is: Saturday 22nd October

I am having a two week break but I will be at the Craft&Design Market at Hawthorne coffee shop in Havelock North on Saturday, September 24th. See you there!

Last week I joined a group of friends who were going out to The Farm at Cape Kidnappers to have a set afternoon tea. If you would like to know more about this beautiful Hawkes Bay venue click here - all the information and lots of good photos. There are a series of "common"rooms for guests to use and as the conservatory had the best views over the Pacific ocean we gathered at one end around the comfy sofas. It was a stunning spring day even though officially spring was due to start the next day. We choose our individual teas from a varied selection and then waited (not long!) for the incredibly delicious food to arrive. I can happily tell you that the chocolate maccaroon was mouth wateringly good, followed closely by the smoked salmon sandwiches. I am still thinking about them a few days later. Another beautiful "common" room. I took this photo from the comfort of my soft seat while eating my near perfect afternoon tea. I say near perfect because, to me, afte...

For the last few days I have been washing, ironing and sorting through my stash of vintage linen. Its an eclectic (or just mad!) mix of inherited pieces and collected by me along the way. After this weekend I will probably have more. I am in Auckland over the next few days to see my dear friend Kate and to go to the Vintage Textile Fair . We went for the first time last year and loved it so much we have made a date to go every year if possible. I have my comfy shoes, clothes and backpack packed as its pretty crowded with ladies on a mission. Can't wait. I may have to make something with my linen stash and thought this idea was pretty perfect.

If all goes well these gorgeously pink bags should be brimming with strawberries come summer and especially bountiful for the Christmas table . After dreaming about the trailing harvest to come I decided to raise the bags well off the ground so have sat them on the old day bed. Just what it was made for! Come to think of it, the day bed shape will be handy when I have to net the strawbs from the birds.My husband thinks the bags are a "bit pink" but I have convinced him that the pink will look pretty peeping out from underneath the greenery to come. There were three strawberry plant choices at the garden centre and after reading the decriptions I settled for Supreme which apparently like fairly tight packing which is just what they have got.

I have been making oilcloth noticeboards for Sweet Mary although the one below is a special present for my daughter. She has a bit of a black and white theme going on in her bedroom so when I was gifted this gorgeous piece of fabric I had a fair idea what I was going to use it for. Hope she likes it! I am away for a few days so a friend is going to run my Sweet Mary stall this Saturday. She is Nic from Coulter&Coulter and will have her stall right next to mine at the: Craft&Design Market: Saturday, 20th August 9.00am - 12.30pm around Hawthorne coffee shop, 23 Napier Rd, Havelock Nth Cash and Cheques only

For the past few days I have been reading. My friend Kerry has written a book and I asked if I could read it. Once I started, I could hardly put it down so just gave in and every spare moment I have been engrossed in the story. Its good and I really hope she can get it published. Maisy, aka blanket or cushion girl was happy to keep me company.