The year so far ...

Wow, what a year! We began by opening a store in Newmarket in what has since been pronounced as the worst retail climate in 50 years. Thanks to our amazing staff, and loyal and supportive customers, the Teed St store is now flourishing and meeting the vision we had for it. There are still features to add to it, but like most things we create, it will always be work in progress.

 

I spent the winter working on our Spring/summer range, which involves dreaming up designs for cool, summer items for body and home. This became easier once Bill had installed a heat pump in our offices, so we no longer had to wear gloves and scarves to work.

After a crazy winter, weather-wise and economically, it is so lovely to see and feel the weather warming up. Here in NZ, we tend to hibernate over winter, and re-energise when the sun comes out. Meg came running into the kitchen last night saying  ”Mum, the recession is over, they said so on the telly!” So of course it must be true!

Colour is so important to create moods, so the lovely lagoon blues we selected for our summer range are working really well.

I have been madly digging in the dirt, preparing our rather unruly garden for it’s spring release.

Everything has been mulched, fed and talked to, and the we can see the new growth daily. We have planted 40 Puka, with chlorophyll green leaves, which instantly make the garden feel new and fresh. Green is such a restorative colour, and gardening is the best tonic for calming your mind. Whenever I get stuck for ideas, the garden gets a workout!

We have got a few new summer essentials arriving in November;

I have fallen in love with this Garden stripe, and so we have made it as a hammock, box cushion, beach bag and gardener’s apron, which will get a lot of use at home!

This Pomegranate print is beautiful and breezy, and will be made into nighties and beach dresses for summer. We have used the Pintuck nighty pattern again for this print, looks gorgeous on!

Boys, boys, boys... Always trying to think up ideas for their rooms. I am sure boys don’t spend much time thinking of their decor, so obviously someone has to!

We are bringing in a new duvet set called Wayfarer which boys may like, (as well as most beach house owners). It has old chart prints from all seven seas, and will be quite at home with our current quilts and sheets.

There will be some cute Xmas decorations to bring in some Xmas cheer as well.