The Tea Party is back in a new location!

Come along to our Candlelit Tea Party and take a look at our gorgeous range of candles while enjoying a cup of tea and a cupcake on some fine vintage china. There will be a range of lit candles on display, great deals on clearance stock, free gift wrapping and a goodie bag for each attendee.

It will be a great chance to catch up with friends, do a spot and shopping and perhaps even get your Mother's day gift sorted. The Pay It Forward shop will also be open, especially for the Tea Party, so you can also take a look around at all the lovely locally made items in store while you are there.

Sunday May 3rd from 2:30pm - 4pm at Community Space at Pay it Forward, 49 Nancy Ave, Mairehau, Christchurch. Pay it Forward will be open from 1:30pm - 4:30pm.

Tea Party

The Rose in Thorns tea party is back, just in time for some Christmas shopping. If you want to shop in a relaxed environment and enjoy tea and cupcakes served on fine china with good company, then come along! It will be held on the 1st December at 3pm - 5pm at my home in Northcote. If you would like to come, just register here and you will be sent address details a few days before the event. You can also rsvp to the facebook event if you wish.

Our full range of candles will be available, so you can take a look over them at your leisure. I will have some candles lit so you can see them in action, and there will be some great specials on clearance items.

The Tea Party returns!

 The Rose in Thorns tea party is back, in a brand new location. If you want to shop in a relaxed environment, enjoy tea and cupcakes with fine china all in good company, then why not come along to the next tea party?

It will be held on the 16th September at 3pm - 5pm at my home in Northcote. If you would like to come, just fill in the rsvp form and you will be sent address details a few days before the event. You can also rsvp to the facebook event if you wish.

There will be some great specials on clearance items, and I will have some candles lit, so you can see them in action.

If you can't wait that long, I will be at Dunkley's Craft Show this weekend at Addington Raceway. It is on Friday 7th through to Sunday 7th, from 10am till 5pm each day. This is the first time I've done this event, and I'm looking forward to it. There is an admission of $12, but if you print out this coupon, you can get a $1 discount.

Focus

Yesterday was quite a topsy turvy day for me. I spent the morning in hospital under sedation, and the afternoon fuelled by adrenaline, after the world came crashing down again. Fortunately I was home from the hospital before the first aftershock struck. In fact I was just sitting down to relax to recuperate from a second gastroscopy (this one was to check the gluten free diet is working, and the results came back as normal, which means it is – yay!) We'd just cleaned up the mess, checked in on facebook and sat down again when the second one hit.

Just like February, the fish tank fell over and smashed again, throwing the fish on the floor again and spilling water all over the carpet again. The poor fish must be quite traumatised by now. Fortunately they both survived, as they were only on floor for a minute or so this time. We also got another liquefaction volcano in the backyard. Still no where near as bad as a lot of other people further east have it though.

All this shaking tests the resolve just a little. I'm sure we've all become much more resilient since September, but each time it gets a little harder to hold it together and stay focussed on the bigger picture.

For me, the bigger picture involves growing my business to a sustainable level that provides a proper income for me. Starting a business is never easy, but to start one in a year punctuated by earthquakes certainly doesn't help make it any easier. The majority of the retailers I supply in Christchurch have been affected, along with other local companies I work with. I don't want to sound too melodramatic though, as some businesses have lost everything, and I haven't lost a thing.

However, this makes me more determined than ever to make my business succeed. As long as I am self-employed, I am keeping a job open for someone else who needs it more. In the longer term, my business may grow to employ other people, and help grow the Christchurch economy when it so badly needs it.

I have a list of things as long as my arm of things to do, which I have been slowly ticking off. There are two important things I need to do to help with the forward momentum, and I feel if I write them here, it might give me more accountability to get them done! Firstly, I need to finish my website, which is at least half done. Secondly, I need to find some more retailers interested in stocking my candles. I have a few in mind I plan to approach, but if you know of any shops in your area that might suit, or you have a shop yourself and would be interested in stocking them, then let me know.

I do plan to still have my Tea Party on Sunday. It may begin with an earthquake briefing, but other than that I'm determined not to let tectonic plates get in my way! If you'd like the distraction of shopping, high tea, and great company, then come along, and feel free to bring a friend. You can RSVP here by 5pm tomorrow, and receive all the details by email on Thursday, and check in on the facebook event here.

Last night I kept thinking of that parody song 'I'm on a boat', and thinking that's what it was like with the house swaying so often. Which reminds me of how if someone is feeling seasick, you always tell them to watch the horizon. Which I what I intend to keep doing.

And the winner is...

Drum roll... Rosie from Honey and Spice! You have won a tall ice candle, and a small essentials tin. I will email you with the details.

Thank you all for your comments and feedback, it's always nice to hear which products people like. Also, just this afternoon I have reached another milestone, of 30 sales in my Felt store!

If you'll be in Christchurch next weekend and feel like some high tea and shopping, you might like to come along to my Tea Party. You can RSVP here.

Tea Party – The Winter Edition

It's that time of year again, the Rose in Thorns Tea Party is back! It will be a great blend of tea, fine china, baking and shopping. There will be a full range of my candles available to purchase, some great deals on sale stock, and demonstrations of some of the different candles.

It will be held on the 19th of June from 3pm – 5pm at my home in Richmond, Christchurch. You will need to RSVP by Wednesday the 15th June here, and will receive address details the following day. You can also RSVP on the facebook event I have created. You can RSVP on both, I will check to make sure I don't count anyone twice! Also, feel free to bring a friend along with you – just mention that when RSVPing so I have the correct numbers. I don't want to run short of teacups and baking!

You can bring along any old candles for recycling for a 10% discount of your purchase. Also, don't forget my giveaway is still open, you've got till tomorrow to enter.

2010 – What a ride!

The past year has been rather event-filled, to say the least! At the beginning of the year, I was hoping that 2010 would be an improvement on 2009. I'm not so sure that it was an improvement, but it has definitely been action packed. Things have had quite a shake up, both figuratively and literally.

Firstly, I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in February. This wasn't so bad, as it provided answers to why I kept getting sick last year, and I had known for a couple of months that a positive diagnosis was highly likely. I have got into the swing of things now, and am loving the fact there are so many gluten free options available in Christchurch. I have added some great recipes to my repertoire, including anzac biscuits and bread. There is also a scone recipe still to come.

Two weeks later I was made redundant from my graphic design job. This wasn't much fun, as I had got quite attached the regular income it provided. I still miss it a lot. Within the following few weeks, I realised finding another (similar) job was going to be very difficult, as the economy had given the entire industry quite a knock. I had thought about going out on my own, and after talking to a life coach about it, decided to dive in head first.

This was quite scary, and it has had it's ups and downs. I got some regular work from Felt, doing support and administration work, as well as the odd graphic design job, and I sold a few candles. I had my first Tea Party, and attended a few markets, including A Craft Affair, and the inaugural Auckland Art and Craft Fair. It was nice to meet some of the other sellers who I felt I already knew from having regularly read their blogs.

Then, early on Saturday the 4th of September, us Cantabrians were rudely awoken by a 7.1 earthquake. I was beginning to wonder what else was going to be thrown at me this year, I had thought losing my job was enough drama for one year! We had lots and lots of aftershocks, and I almost started to get used to them. They have eased off a lot in the last few weeks now, and it feels like things are getting back to normal. We were very fortunate to suffer very little damage, when only blocks away, there was somevery severe damage. Some of these houses still have portaloos now.

In October I travelled to Palmerston North, and then on to Wellington for my debut at Craft 2.0. I had another Tea Party in November, and then some great markets in December, including the Craft Collective's A Craft Christmas Market, and a fun road trip to Hokitika with Srey to the Kiwi Christmas Market. I think I might be due for a holiday now! I will be heading to Nelson on the 23rd December, so my shop will be in holiday mode. As I will be attending the Nelson Market on the 1st January, I will have some stock with me, so may be able to fill some orders.

I would like to thank everyone for all the support and encouragement I have received this year. From the shoppers and retailers who have bought candles, businesses who have offered me work, to the market organisers, attendees and other stallholders, the blog/facebook/twitter readers/followers, all those who have shared lovely encouraging comments, and to my husband, family and friends for all their support.

Next year I hope to build on what I have achieved this year, and grow my business into a sustainable source of income for myself. I would like to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas, and a happy and prosperous New Year.

High Tea

Tea was drunk from the prettiest of teacups, scones were piled high with jam and cream, and a good time was had by all. A big thank you to everyone that came, it's the great company that really makes an event like this a success! I think I may have even found myself a good gluten free scone recipe. I will post it up later in the week for any who is interested.

I launched an improved version of one of my most popular candles, which I will post more detail about when I finally do my way overdue Felt shop update later in the week. I will also post a list of my upcoming markets and events for the rest of the year sometime tomorrow. I hope you're all having a good week!

All the Tea in China

When you combine great company, beautiful china, unique candles and some home baking, you end up with a fantastic Rose in Thorns Tea Party. Thanks to everyone that came, it was great to see you all. Here are some pics for those that couldn't make it. Oh, and because I know you are wondering where I got all the beautiful china from, it was hired from the China Cabinet, who I highly recommend if you are ever in need of some china. They have a fantastic selection to choose from, and provide great service as well.