Coffee and Craft Group

It's back from holidays for me and back into creativity starting with Coffee and Craft Group tomorrow, 8th Feb 2011. If you would like to know more about this group and you are in the Auckland/Hibiscus coast area for a short time or a long time, please contact me. This is a small friendly group and we love to share. It's a great opportunity for time out for YOU.

Oh, dear. I have been neglecting my social media responsibilities over the Christmas period - and not because I have been away on holiday, but I am about to go. I'm off to the States to meet our latest granddaughter, Bria, who is now 13 months old and have a lovely week with Justin and Crysta in Palm Springs. I will also be staying with our good friend Mike and catching up with my sister in law who will be travelling down from Vancouver.

There will be new inspiration from the holiday, so keep your eyes out for new posts here. In the mean time here is a wee quote:

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other."

So how are you going with your resolutions?

I think I need to 'blog' more often. And get more photos on the web. I would love to hear your plans for 2011.

Best wishes to all you lovely followers. See you back here soon.

Hand knitted baby socks

Did I mention that I knit in my spare time? What spare time, you may ask. Well, when one is in the car or watching TV. You can't read while you are watching TV (at least, I can't) and sitting and doing nothing BUT watching TV seems like a huge waste of time, so I knit. Baby socks. Great little socks that stay on baby's little feet, in newborn and 3 to 6 month sizes. Newborn babies need natural fibres to keep their feet warm, whatever season they are born.

Some say it's like knitting with tooth picks :)

My daughter dyes 4 ply sock wool (80% wool and 20% polyester) and while this is great wool for adult socks and all sorts of other garments, I love it for the baby socks. Her colours are interesting and often vibrant. Check these out.

"Thyrza" socks by Helen H, Wool by Stashable

"Pansy" socks by Helen H, Wool by Stashable

If you are interested in buying socks try my website and if you would like to see the full range of wool to purchase via the web, go to Stashable. I hope to see you soon. In the mean time (I don't watch TV in the morning) I will go and make some more jewellery (or jewelry - if you happen to live somewhere else in the world)


Sometimes I use other wools. For me it's all about colour/color. :)

"Blue Boy" socks by Helen H. 75% wool, 25% polymide

"Soft Multi" socks by Helen H. 75% wool, 25% polymide.


Have a great week. Less than 6 weeks to Christmas and overseas posting needs to done very soon. No pressure!!!!

Christmas Shopping night

I hope you can come along to the Christmas Extravaganza on Thursday night, 4th November. I've been creating madly to have something different to show you. I'm looking forward to meeting you there. The summer range I am working on is varied.

I welcome Trade inquiries too.

  

My favourites at the moment are the hand strung pearls. And that means if you have pearls or other special jewellery that needs to be restrung or revamped, let me know. I do repairs as well as creating new lovely fashion jewellery.

Adding these photos to the blog is much harder than actually making the jewellery.

So now that I have them here, it is time to publish them before I lose them. If you would like to know more about any of them, please contact me or leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Have a good week.

Adios until next time.

Helen H

Summer 2010 - Jewellery collection

I have been working towards getting a collection of jewellery together for the new season. It seems to me that pearls and crystals are coming back. They always have looked great with that little black number you keep for special occasions, but now they are high fashion with lots of other outfits too.

The Crystals always look brilliant (excuse the pun) and make a great team with the pearls.

I like the natural Fresh Water cultured pearls and these are within anyone's budget, although the size and perfectness of them will differ depending on the price bracket. And I have discovered I love hand knotting the pearls (and some other beads too.)

And then there are crystals with crystals.

I have loads more ideas, just hoping for a larger amount of time to make them all. I find it all a bit more-ish. Once I start making these gorgeous little numbers, it's hard to stop.

I hope you enjoy looking at them and if you are in the mood for a little shopping you will find them on my website under the Shopping heading. Look for Pearl Plus.

Do you like the new presentation boxes? The pearls will come in a presentation box or pouch. That helps make them great gifts, and with Christmas just around the corner . . . Happy Shopping.

Exhibition at Depot Artspace in Devonport.

I have made several pieces for the Auckland Quiltmakers exhibition being held at Depot Artspace. Check out the link to find out some of the details.

Here are photos of my pieces. They are all for sale at the Gallery for the (almost) 2 weeks it is open.

I would love to see you at the opening on Saturday afternoon 3pm to 4.30 pm.



Hibiscus (4 in x 6 in)




"Inch by Inch" (approx 8in by 10 in)





"Flower Power" (Fits within a 16 inch square)



"Confusion" (Fits within a 16 inch square.)

Isn't it great to keep busy? See you soon. 

Beaded Scissor Keeper

I really enjoyed the class I did with the Bead Hold. It was organised by the Auckland Embroiderer's Guild - thank you Robyn.

We started by making a bead out of beads for the top. That's on a par with cutting up fabric to join it together to make a quilt. There are some definite possibilities there for making some special beads to include in a necklace. So I made a couple more beads to see how they would go.

They may not look much to you, but at an hour a piece, that was a night's work. I think they look quite cute. You may see them on  necklace on my website some time.

If you want more info on these, please feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you.

News from the (very Windy) north.

Anyone would think this was Wellington, not Whangaparaoa. It will be a relief when the wind settles a bit. But for now, it's good to not have to go far (oh, yes, there is the gym - I'm dressed for it, but can't quite get mentally prepared!) and I thought it was time to show and tell some of the results of the past few weeks.



My nephew, Brendon was very pleased with the quilt I made for his beautiful daughter Rileigh. I'm always amazed and humbled when others are so happy with these gifts.

Next: after the wonderful 2 day class by Louise Gardiner I had a quirky piece of multi media machine embroidery, with a definite Lou Gardiner bent. What do you think?

As my Mum said, 'Picasso, Eat your heart out!'

But it needed more work, and I had decided it would be the perfect gift for my sister-in-law for her 60th birthday.

So a bit of paint here, and playing with that sewing machine around the edges (just loved doing that), some bling (gotta have the bling!) and voila!

Ros, I hope you enjoy her as much as I enjoyed making her.

And finally, congratulations to Kim and Jan on the birth of their baby daughter, Lilith, on 18 Sep. I hope she enjoys her quilt. See the last blog to catch up on that.