Miss Millie : Monkey Maker

The random number generator has spoken.

The sixth commenter was Julie and that actually makes me very happy because really, what comes around should go around eh!

Thank you for you blog birthday thoughts and thanks to everyone who has supported my work and blog bleating to date. I got a few private emails with very sweet well wishes, one of which deserve a special mentions because it's just too cute:

"Thanks so much for the sock monkey...Annabel loves it and stares at it constantly whenever she sees it. She also tries to eat it but hopefully she'll grow out of that as I don't think it is chew proof!"

Millie x

Crafty Business Number 2

7pm Monday 2 March

Churchill's Public House

441 Colombo Street in Sydenham, Christchurch

This month we’re looking at the big picture - what’s involved in running a crafty business and how to make it work for you. We'll highlight all the basics of a business plan (which can be fun, we promise!) and how your plan is relevant if you wish to grow your business.

Crafty Business is a chance for Christchurch crafters to get together and exchange ideas, make new contacts, collaborate and socialise with like-minded people. Check out the Crafty Business blog for more info and we'll post audio and notes in the following days for non-Cantabrians who might be interested.

Millie x

The post where you've been posting for one whole year.

I was having afternoon tea at Kirkcaldie & Stains (Christchurch: think Ballentynes) a few weeks ago and there were two women at the table next to me having a conversation about blogging. From what I could gauge it seemed one of them had just started dating a chap who keeps a blog. Her friend said to her in a less than civil tone of voice "from what I can gather keeping a blog is just a way of bleating on about yourself". After initial outrage - and just not being quick enough to think of a witty interjection - I decided that in a way it really is true, for most blogs anyway, and in the end that's really part of the charm. So here's to one whole year of bleating on about myself! 

In keeping with what seems to be current fashion with blog anniversaries I have a little giveaway. So go on, flatter my ego by leaving a comment and if you impress me* I'll send you the prize below (or you can choose one that's more your colours).

Millie x

* I may or may not use a fairer number generating system.

Outdoor Knit - Mission Fulfilled

So, Outdoor knit came and went and although I wasn't there all day it seemed that much tree area had been covered when I returned this morning to inspect.

The early birds obscured. Hannah & Nikki, Tash & Myself early yesterday morning:

According to one enthusiastic passer by my knitting had captured the essence of the tree. Exactly what I was going for!

The scene this morning:

Millie x

Cuba Garlands

Cuba street is looking very pretty in preparation for this weekend's Carnival.
I was feeling a little bit in love with the city last night as a hauled my glossy pink suitcase home from Webstock. 

Millie x

Knitters Unite

Here's my ever growing contribution to Outdoor Knit this weekend on Cuba Street:

If you're interested in joining in the hoopla here's the details:

Location: Outside the Bristol, Cuba Street

Time: Saturday 21 February 2009, 11am - 4pm 

The deal: OutdoorKnit wants you! We will be knitting  our little hearts out in the spirit of Cuba Street Carnival. We need help creating cosies for the trees outside the Bristol to bring even more colour into the Cuba Quarter. Bring along your needles, yarn, and that great smile we all love. For those who don't know how to knit, we will have needles, yarn and a quick lesson just for you (for a small koha, 'cos you get to take all that home). Meet some new people, learn a new skill, and leave a bit of you behind for all to see. 

Oh, and of course, crocheters are more than welcome too!

Contact: outdoorknit@gmail.com or see http://outdoorknit.blogspot.com

Millie x

The extended quiet time at Pataka lent itself to some pretty solid spells of knitting. I've been working on this simple scarf for a friend for ages but am usually distracted by something else even though I really enjoy the therapeutic aspect of row upon row of garter stitch. Now that I've finally finished it and have crowned it with a sweet Black Swan pin I don't actually want to part with it. So guess what? I'm not! I know, what a good friend I am. If you become my friend after this point, don't say I didn't warn you.

Millie x

Pataka Markets - Waitangi Day

While the Pataka market day certainly wasn't the world's best market in terms of sales it was still a fun day and there's really very few better ways I can think of to celebrate our nations day than surrounded by other crafters and far away from any protests or manhandling.

Mel of Black Swan Designs kindly loaned/added some of her brooches to the table which helped with the look of fullness and delighted many shoppers.

I bought myself a green Koru shaped Wilma Flinstone-esque hair piece but on Saturday I impulsively  went and got my hair cut into my favourite mullet type style (business up front, party out back I hear you say?). Anyway, it left me with very little hair to tie up and illustrate my new purchase so it'll have to wait until the next time I leave my hair 6 months between cuts and it grows out all unruly and in need of taming.

Millie x

More Blog Discoveries

I really don't know how so many cool NZ based crafty blogs could have been slipped by my attention - I really thought I had my finger on the pulse. I certainly should have given the hours I use to waste on dedicate to reading blogs during my previous employers time.

Check these ones out:

Sweet William
Love Stitches
Small Town Stories

Millie x

Crafternoon Tea

Nikki and Hannah responded to last weeks moans and groans about inner city pressure and lack of foliage with a super sweet invite to their backyard for cups of tea and craft. Although we didn't get very much craft done we did have a very nice, relaxed Sunday afternoon.

For my part I supplied something sweet in the form of Donna Hay lamingtons. I freestyled with the recipe just a bit by making a chocolate sponge and therefore making double chocolate lamingtons. Since lamingtons are never the most lady like treat to eat and bearing in mind there would be a little lady at our tea party I made them very small - about 4 bite size... or two bites if you're a really keen little red head!

Millie x