A little shop update and Christmas preparations

Almost time to head out to our little shop in Coolmon.  It's a shame that it's so far away from my coast home but luckily I do love a drive in the countryside.  Our little shop is looking all beautiful ready for some good spring trading, we are also gearing up for a couple of days out in Wagga Wagga Wagga selling all things Kindrawares at the Childrens Medical Research Institute Christmas Fair next week.  We love this outing, we meet so many great customers in Wagga and we hope we'll see them again out at our shop.  This fair is a fabulous place to begin your Christmast shoppin, so much to choose from and all very high quality stalls.  I'll be starting mine! Actually I have bought one present already.

We love our ty old Speedwell in our front window as do many passers by who pop their heads in to ask if it's for sale.  It's not, it's only on loan to us from Donna's MIL.  

Time to start working on a very special collection of handmade Christmas tree decorations for our little shop this year.  I love making handmade Christmas things, but you need to start early to get them all done!  The little heart design evolved from trial and error, I'm better at working from a photo of a finished item than actually reading a patttern.

The creative director needed a chest rub before the snowflake making session began last night.

She's happy and so am I!  I found this little snowflake pattern over at Attic24 blog.

The stacks of hearts and snowflakes are steadily growing.

One very secret present for one very special person this Christmas.  

I bought it at Dowry in Moruya, an absolute treasure trove of handmade goodness.

Ganmain Show 2014

Donna and I were invited to take a tableful of Kindrawares goodies to the Ganmain Show Ladies Marquee.  

We got busy and made some new stock.

A gloriously sunny winters day.

You can fit a surprising amount on one foldup table.

Quirky, modern, inexpensive giftware is our thing.

We even sold two cookbooks to Mr October 2002!  Who would have thought!

A very talented sand sculptor worked all day on this masterpiece.

Gorgeous Miss Junior Showgirl 2014.

Old Kentucky Animal Farm brought the most beautiful selection of baby animals I have ever seen.

Dagwood Dogs, Fairly Floss, Dodgem Cars, Giant Dippers and all that Side Show Alley can offer was there.

Nervous sheep awaiting the quick shear competition.

Clydesdales, show jumping, dog showing and working dog trials, lots to see and do.

The Ganmain Pie Eating Competition was one by a very competitive local farmer who takes his pie eating training very seriously.  

The pavillion was filled to capacity this year, my favourite part of a country show.

Crochet......I've really caught the bug

Finished this last week, soaked, blocked and worn once already.  I started this project back in January and I'm proud of my efforts to finish this.  It is really delicious, so soft and drapey, my first fine crochet work.  It weighs 142g and measures 58"wide by 28" deep, perfect for bandit style wearing.  I added a 5 chain picot to the centre of each scallop in the final row which looks great but was really handy for threading the blocking wires through.  I had 8g of wool leftover so this project cost $1.42, not bad!  I have 134g of this wool in a pale turquoise, might have to search out a pattern for that very soon.

In June my Jellywares winter yarn club package arrived and inside was a ball of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and this is what I made with it.  A pair of Ripple Lace Finglerless Gloves for Darling Daughter who is leaving next week for a 4 month European backpacking trip of a life time with her boyfriend of almost 4 years, Jack Sparrow.  I was slow to get started on my first yarn club package, I was a bit scared if the truth be know, crochet is still a bit out of my comfort zone but I pushed myself and I did it.  I made the pair in one evening.  Great easy pattern, free on Bethany Scofiled's blog.  I did use a smaller hook,  3.5mm and started with 36 chain to start, bit firmer and thicker fabric.  I'll be making these again, great quick gift.  

Made this lovely soft cowl for our shop a couple of weeks ago, reminds me of Lemon Delicious pudding!

July yarn club package arrived, and it exceeded all expectations, loved the great choice of wool by Jodie, the cute homemade choc chip shortbread were great and the tea is very special.  So glad I joined this club.  

What to make this month?  I wasn't keen on any of the suggested projects so I found may own on Ravelry.  Sunset Shawlette by Tamara Kelly, another freebie.  This wool blend is a 4ply sock wool and the pattern is worked using a 5mm hook so this project is working up very fast.  I have done a lot more while we were away last week, will show you the finished project very soon.  The colour of the yarn is most like the boxed hank, the worked photo is too green, poor lighting at night on my lap.  

Also had time to whip this cowl up.  Bought a ball of Noro a my local yarn store and used almost every inch.  Might write the pattern up so you can make one too.  Never written a crochet pattern yet but I did write notes while I worked so maybe I can do it.  This washed up so soft and I've worn it half a dozen times already.