Market Line Up - Christmas 2014

The crazy whirlwind Pili Pala Christmas fun-bus takes off this weekend.  We've finalised our market dates for the last 3 months of the year and, 'gee willikers', are we spreading the Pili Pala love far and wide! Check out the dates below:

Hence, it's a little chaotic around here and we feel like squirrels stockpiling our goodies for Christmas. It's exciting!!! You can find the full details about market locations and opening times on our website. 

Will we be heading your way soon?  As always, we'd love to see you; do pop by if you get a chance.

And, stay tuned in the coming weeks as I introduce you to the lovely ladies helping me get this show on the road, keeping me sane behind the scenes and helping with the squirrelling efforts.

Helen x

Here, there and everywhere....

It's here!  That crazy, full-on, cheerful, but oh, so ridiculously busy time of year for Makers and Designers everywhere. The Christmas countdown has begun. 

There I said it - 'Christmas'.  I noticed several customers mentioning their Christmas shopping list 2 weeks ago at Salamanca and others have begun ticking off their lists since. And here at Pili Pala, it means I step up the already crazy production line and market appearance schedule.  

Within the next few weeks I'll be releasing a new range of designs for our pendants and earrings as well as some cute Christmas decorations. Plus, I'll be heading to a few different locations to attend various events in the lead up to Christmas.

Along with our regular appearances at Salamanca, you'll also find us at the Tasmanian Craft Fair in Deloraine again this year. This runs from Friday 1st November - Monday 4th November. We'll be located at the Showgrounds this year.  

Tasmanian Craft Fair: Deloraine.  Definitely worth the visit!

After that, a few more Salamanca attendances and then, drumrollllll.... I'll be off to Adelaide (helloo family and friends) to participate in the amazing Bowerbird Bazaar. This runs from Friday 22nd November - Sunday 24th November and you have no idea how excited I am about that!

Bowerbird Bazaar: Pili Pala does Adelaide!

And, to finish off the year, there will be another Barn Market on 30th November (set to be absolutely massive - their biggest event ever), more Salamanca attendances and possibly one more market to add to the list (waiting on confirmation).

So, it's a hectic time coming up but fun at the same time and the icing on the cake is that it's time to crack out the Christmas carols - the cheery ones though please!

Helen x

Festivities

Christmas for us meant a trip to South Australia to spend Christmas through to new years with our family and friends in our home town. It also meant some time completely off from all things Pili Pala, but that doesn't mean my creativity was on holidays.  I couldn't stop thinking about new designs and little projects and I'm actually pretty excited about what lies ahead for 2013.... stay tuned!

In the meantime - Pili Pala was a part of many a Christmas around Australia and the world (thank you so much for your 'thank you's' - I love hearing from you).  We also got to do some custom name tags for a stylish party that was held in Melbourne just prior to Christmas (see photos below) - quite lovely and refreshingly zesty!!!

Meanwhile, the day before Christmas I recieved a lovely email from Rachel who eagerly wanted to show me the cushions she'd just finished making.  'Peter' has a significant meaning for her family, and so she'd made 2 cushions featuring our 'Fly Away Peter' and 'Come Back Peter' tea-towels as Christmas presents for her parents.  Rather cute!  Thanks for sharing Rachel: I hope your parents like them.

Well, it's full steam ahead now, with new designs and products in the works as we gear up for a big year at Pili Pala Pieces.  This will be our 5th year - unbelievable!!!!

Tasmanian Craft Fair: Wowzers!!!

Well, what can I say?  The Tasmanian Craft Fair (TCF) was AMAZNG!!! 20,000 people came through.  Yep!!  Thats Huge!  

A special bunch of wallets found themselves somebody to call their own, and many a product got collected and headed home to be stored for Christmas stocking stuffing or placed beneath various Christmas trees around the place. I love this time of year and the thought that on Christmas Day Pili Pala Pieces will be apart of family Christmases all around Australia.  Oh, the joy!

But back to the TCF: This event is run predominantly by Rotary members who all volunteer and I can't say enough about how amazing they were.  I was by myself for the duration of the 4 day event, and at least once an hour a Rotary staff member would come and check on me and offer me a toilet or food break.  Apart from that, they were so friendly and supportive; really just an amazing bunch of people.   In the end, my stall turned out spectacularly; I think it's the best I've ever created.  And, it turns out that all the planning paid off because I won the 'First Time Exhibitor' Award.  Yippee!!  Such a delight and amazing recognition for my little Pili Pala Pieces!  So, a huge thank you to the judges, Deloraine Rotary members and also the town of Deloraine.  

Below are some images from the event; if you've never been before, put it in your diary for next year.  I'll definitely be heading up again: wouldn't miss it!!

The Marvellous 'The Market'

With weary eyes and sore muscles I can happily report that 'The Market' on Sunday was an absolute, unmistakable, fantasmagorical success!!! Mirri and I started setting up at 8am (yawn!) on Sunday and were very pleased with how our stall ended up looking. It took a few minutes after 10am for the flood of people to begin and we hardly took a breath until the lunch time lull (and when I say 'lull' I mean only half a dozen people at the stall as opposed to 15 or so!) It was so nice to have friends and family visit and to meet so many people - you could definitely feel the festive vibe in the air as people were cheerfully gathering gifts for loved ones (and a few for themselves as well).

Thank you so much to 'The Market' for providing such an amazing avenue for Tasmanian handcrafts and products. We can't wait for what next year will bring at 'The Market'.

Happy countdown to Christmas - we can say 'Christmas is next week' now!