The Grand Opening of the Best Little Shop in Auckland

I started this week thinking...Lets take it easy, lets go for beach walks, make cakes, chop vegges and make yummy soups, get the bread maker going and just chill-ax...Then I came across The Little Craft Shop blog...and all my relaxing came to an end! A few days ago I read on a WAHM blog that they regularly like to 'Spread the Love', what a great idea I thought, giving something to someone for the love of it, for the joy of it...so I approached Helen, creator of The Little Craft Shop and asked if I could do a mini interview. She agreed, despite not knowing me or anything about me, guess spreading the love can help break down all barriers. I put together some questions, with luck you'll find them interesting and a few might even make you smile...if they do, my aim will be complete...That and of course seeing you all at the opening this Saturday supporting Helen and her new venture.
The Little Craft Shop - 201 Point Chev Road, Point Chev 10am to 4pm


Tell us a little bit about you…what’s your name, where are you from, what’s your favourite colour…
My name is Helen, originally from the UK, I moved to NZ about 6 years ago and now I’m living in Auckland with my hubby and two great boys. My favourite colour is yellow.

What inspired you to open The Little Craft Shop?
I had been planning away for some time and then a close friend died suddenly and I just knew that it was time I had to start living my dreams now. There has been a huge boom in the handmade here and we need more supply shops and I think people are now more willing to support independent retailers again.

What made you open it in Pt Chev?
I live in point chev and wanted to be part of its supportive community and its also to do with my family I want this shop to work with my kids – so we open school hours 10- 3pm and 10-4pm on Saturdays then closed for Sundays.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren't busy with the shop?
I love reading and can go through a book in a day, I’m addicted to design blogs and my morning walk with the dog clears my mind for the day ahead.

Where are your favourite places on-line?
Decor8, oh hello friend you are loved, creature comforts, desire to inspire ...and the list goes on...

Who would your ideal customer be?
I'm looking forward to doing classes for the local school kids all the way through to building a connection with the retirement village so that we can learn some of the traditional crafting techniques from the resident crafters.

Are there any crafts you love to do yourself?
I have always worked with fabric and had my own company producing for the design stores around the country for several years. I am looking forward to improving my knitting this year starting with a jumper for the dog!

What is the last book you read?
Elizabeth Berg – 'Home safe' - About a writer who is coming to terms with grief.

What was the last movie you went to see?
I went to see... um don’t get out much but it must have been a fundraiser night – sex and the city 2 with the girls.

If you were a piece of fabric, what would you be and why?
I would like to think I’d be Linen you can dress it up and down, it’s simple and timeless.

What would you say was the strangest craft item you sell?
Don’t think we have a strange one yet but I have the biggest rolls of batting out the back of the shop that I don’t know what to do with !!!!

On August 13 my baby girl was 2....There was much fun to be had, but I think I had the most fun making her invites.....I did a real House-Wifey thing & had a 'theme', well in so much as the balloon matched the cupcake cases.....Red, White & Pink....And it was going to be a Cupcake & Bubbles party, fun for her & fun for all the adults who were invited as well ;-)

Altogether there were 21 of us...just a few friends I thought...then add their children, us four, and oh we had a blast...most of the children are Millys age, eldest daughter 8 and a half years, looking at this photo...I think they had lots of fun.....

Well.....Am back with a spring in my step....It feels like a long time since I felt well, and am so glad to be back.....

I tried hard to take the rest advice to heart and have spent as much time as I could resting and getting better. Not just that but I changed my diet, stop drinking the bubbles, started walking again and feel great for it...though I freely admit to missing the bubbles ;-)

And with beaches like this, it's hard to NOT go walking.....

A break......

Hello, Firstly, I'm really sorry I've not been here much. Several weeks ago I was told I had Glandular Fever, it was a real blow. At the time I was in the middle of getting ready for a show/fair at The Auckland City Art Gallery in July, my husband was working flat out at work and with two girls, I had no idea how it was going to go. I had to work through most of it, my husband "worked from home" as much as he could, and we just got through it some how.

Now the fair is over - It was fabulous, but more on that later - I have decided I need to take some time off. I will be back again towards the end of August, with new photos, new items and lots of energy....Lots of love, Anna x

I just love this bag......A classic piece of vintage Liberty-esq curtain fabric upcycled into a versatile reversible bag.

The fabric is a heavy linen with fabulous turquoise birds perched in the most opulent flowering trees. It's a I need that bag sort of bag...lol......x

Riverbed started at 7:30am on a cloudy day last spring beneath a rickety gazebo at Ostend Market. A couple of hours later Riverbed made its first sale. A few months later I was lucky enough to have a couple of local shops agree to stock my broaches. I now sell in Matakana, Auckland, New Plymouth & Christchurch.

At the moment Riverbed is just me, plus my youngest as quality control if I’m not careful. Everything I make is by hand (and sewing machine). At the moment I make brooches and bags from upcycled and new materials. It doesn’t matter too much to me what I make, what I enjoy is the putting together of different materials and colours.

Over the coming year I would like to see my range increase to include accessories for the home & toys.