When we arranged to go away on the tennis trip with our new tennis club we did so with the intention of getting to know some of the members a little better. Our attendance at club days has been sporadic and we thought this might be a good opportunity to correct that and to get to see another part of NZ, in the company of kiwis. We don't have a car here so the club captain had said that she would organise a lift for us with one of the members, everyone was car pooling anyway. So, imagine my delight on Friday afternoon when I got into B's car to find a bag of wool in the back seat. Our driver is a knitter and a sewer(?)(that looks wrong anyhow she sew a lot!). Turns out the captain had got this car pool just right.
B was intrigued to learn of my Crafty Girls Guide to NZ book and as I read out places in and around Havelock (where the tennis was) we agreed to check some of them out the next day. What a result, I was thrilled. I really didn't expect to get to do anything crafty on the weekend although I did pack the book and my knitting on the off chance. So Saturday arrived and apart from a prearranged lunch at a winery we had the day to ourselves.
B drove us first to Hohepa Craft Workshop where she had previously bought a beautiful woven scarf. She didn't manage to add to her collection this time but I got some handspun. I'm not sure yet what I'll make from it but I wanted a souvenir from there and it seemed ideal.
Next stop was Napier. We called in on a farmers market there and then we visited the Napier Antique Centre. Wow, I could have stayed here for hours. There was just so much to look at. They have a huge selection of textiles, vintage clothing, china, books, paintings, furniture and jewellery. The also have a vast range old and new buttons, and buttons being more portable than any of the above I came away with a few.
We weren't done yet! The next two places we wished to go to weren't officially open on a Saturday but if you rang in advance you could make an appointment. So we did. It happened that Christabels was kind of enroute for us back to our lunch venue so we called there next. 
It might have meant that we would be a little late for lunch but with the prospect of Liberty fabric beckoning B couldn't resist and neither could I apparently. Pictured below is a little scrap of Liberty Tawn that I choose as my souvenir from here. As I'm not a sewer yet (I have neither machine, materials, patterns or knowledge) so I restrained myself from choosing from the rolls and rolls of pretty prints.
Our next appointment was after lunch at The Dyepot. I was sooooo looking forward to going here. I really wanted to get some recycled silk and envisaged seeing lots of hand dyed hanks here. I was a little disappointed when Sheryl told me that she's getting out of yarn. What a pity I'm not better set up for dying and spinning here. I've no doubt Holly that you would have enjoyed a visit here. Still, I didn't leave empty handed, I got one purplish hank of sari silk and some accent fibres cotton for embellishments. The silk sewn sample below I couldn't resist - I'm thinking it would look really great sewn to the front of a fabric bag - I did mention that I don't have a sewing machine yet didn't I?
We had a great weekend and made a few new friends which we have already arranged to meet up with again outside of tennis. Oh and the wine was great too, we might even taken another trip to Hawkes Bay if we get the chance.
Onto more current news - my sister has arrived. There were tears in the airport! We're going to be busy over the next while so I think the updates will be few and far between in the next few weeks. Oh, and my Knitters Treat Exchange treatee got her parcel from me - check out her blog - The Knitting Coop. I haven't received my parcel yet but I have received an email to say it's on the way. Looking forward to receiving it.
On the knitting front I have cast on for something new - no pics yet - maybe next time. I have sewn in the ends on the Wrap cardigan, I haven't yet decided whether I will wash and block it before I sew it up or whether I will just sew it up and wash it then. It'll all come down to the quickest option. I'm running out of time if I hope to bring it on our travels.
I fear for my Sound Swap partner I have recorded her CD for her but we are supposed to get creative with the CD cover too - help! Think I need to get online for some inspiration and quickly!
Labels: Knitters Treat, New Zealand, Sound Swap, Stash Enhancement, Swaps, Wrap Cardigan
Packing - done
The dehumidifier is helping though! And I still have this evening to sew it all up. Not that easy blocking a cardigan that already has the the shoulder seams sewn and a lengthy neck that just can't go anywhere. I'm not that happy with how this cardie is turning out, I think it might be too big and I fear that the wool and cotton blend is also going to stretch during wear, it seems quite heavy. Plus of course there is the issue of the neck being 3 inches short and I think it could really do with the extra length. Time will tell.
