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

Muddled Male Mayhem

The final Saturday at Salamanca before Christmas is usually rather busy.  Along with the usual last-minute Christmas gift hunters it brings with it a collection of confused men.  I like to call it 'Muddled Male Mayhem'.  Yes, it's the day that many males have put aside to do their entire Christmas shopping, and they're often hunting for that one special gift for their significant other. 

As a consequence, there are a lot of completely bewildered men wondering around Salamanca, considering buying the first thing they see and running triumphantly back to the shelter of their cars, but deep down knowing that they should put a little bit of time and thought into their purchase.

In recent years, I've had many males arrive at my marquee, upon instruction from their partner, smile like they've won an award because they actually found the marquee they had been told to look for (thats quite a task with over 300 stalls) and then completely draw a blank on what it was that they were sent to purchase.  

So, if you (I'm assuming you are a female) would like your significant other to purchase a piece from Pili Pala this year as a Christmas gift,  I have a 4 step plan for making it happen...

1) Go to my 'look book' (click here) and print the relevant pages that contain items that you like.

2) Circle a selection of pieces that take your fancy.

3) Write 'Pili Pala Pieces' and 'facing Knopwoods Tavern, backing onto the grass' on the back of the page.  

4) Hand the above printed pages to your partner and give him the ol' 'nudge, nudge, wink, wink'. 

Voila and Ho, ho, ho!

We'll be at Site 169 tomorrow at Salamanca; yep, facing Knoppies and backing onto the grass.  Do pop by and say hello; we will be bursting at the seams with goodies. 

Helen x

Bowerbird, Barn and a Bonus!

Here are 3 B's:

Bowerbird Bazaar in Adelaide this weekend was amazing!  It was an epic event with thousands of people flooding to the show grounds to view the wares by over 100 talented stallholders.  It was a blast and I can't wait until I get the chance to do it again.  How I love the community of like-minded Makers/Designers that get a chance to hang-out at events like this: so much fun!

Onto our next event: this Saturday we'll be at the The Barn Market at Rosny Barn.  It's their biggest ever market with stallholders jam-packed right throughout the inside and outside of the venue.  If you live in Hobart, this is one NOT to miss!

And finally, a little bonus for those who have signed up to our mailing list. There will be a special code to use on the website right up until Christmas.  If you would like to sign up, there is a link in the top right hand column of this blog.  #wink wink#  If you've already done so, keep an eye out at the end of this week.

Over and out!!!  

Helen x

An awesome affair: Tasmanian Craft Fair 2013

Another amazing year at this truly spectacular event!  Run primarily by the (ever-supportive, 'nothing's-too-hard') Rotary Club members of Deloraine, the Tasmanian Craft Fair is the biggest craft fair in Australia: which is quite a feat for little ol' Tasmania.

I had such an amazing time, met so many new/return customers and 'made great friends with'/'met up with existing' fellow stallholders.  I love being apart of this amazing community where Makers and Designers support and understand each other.

Another bonus was that I also decided to stay in Deloraine this year at the fantastic Bonney's Inn where I, along with a beautiful bunch of other stallholders, were thoroughly looked after.  I loved it so much, I'm already booked in for next year.

Here is a little look at how the Pili Pala Pieces stand turned out this year!

I love that it looks like God is shining down on my clouds in this shot!  

It needs sound effects: cue big booming organ sound 'wwwaaaaaaaahh'

I found some cute little boxes to highlight each of my products.  

The NEW smartphone wallets were a hit!

Thanks to everyone who came along, and for your support, kind words and enthusiasm for my work.  I'm already counting down until the TCF 2014.  Put it in your diary now and make sure you don't miss it. 

Helen x

P.S - This is my 100th blog post and last week I reached 1000 likers on facebook. Round numbers like that make me smile!    Thank you for your part in that. xx

Getting out there in the wintery cold.....

There's snow on Mt Wellington here in Hobart - finally!!!  I love winter and all the wintery clothing goodness you get to wear; jackets and scarves and my absolute necessity (and slight obsession with) boots and stockings!!!

In amongst the cold, things have been heating up here at Pili Pala Pieces.  Some of our products have even been spotted on various facebook pages, curated product round-ups and magazines.  Have a little squiz below; woot!

Our products made it into the amazingly awesome 'Vintage Caravan Magazine' earlier this year.  Chuffed!  

   

Our stunning clouds also made the facebook cover picture for the month of June over at Down That Little Lane.  Have you been shopping in that online store?  Ah-mazing!!!

And then, to top it all off, one of the sellers on Down That Little Lane choose our clouds to feature as part of their curated collection; labelled 'pure and natural'.

I love seeing Pili Pala out and about in the big wide world.  It's like my baby is growing up and heading off to Primary School.  

Over and out.  Helen x

NEW LOOK!!! Spunky!

It's high time we had a bit of a revamp here at Pili Pala Pieces - it's been a while coming.  So, with the very creative, patient and supportive help of the AMAZING Tabitha Emma, we have redesigned our website and blog; a little facelift if you will!

What do you think?

The old blog - blergh!!!  

Website: from drab to.....

Fab!!!  (actually, *insert word that means 'a zillion times better than fab' here*!!)

It's a little too small here to get the full effect, so hop over and check it out now.  Click here.

Oh, and make sure you keep an eye on our facebook page, because we might just be having a sale to celebrate this VERY exciting occasion.

It's that time of year...

It's that time of year when all of the boutique, artisan markets start up again.  Apart from our regular appearances at Salamanca Market, we'll be participating in the first Barn Market of the year and it's set to be a biggie.

We'll be there with a lovely range of new goodies to show off as well as all of your favourites.  Plus, another run of our overwhelmingly popular wallets have been completed, meaning ALL of the designs are now back in stock and available at markets or online.  

I hope to see you soon happy people. x 

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!!