Weekend in Wellington and Craft2.0

Well, I'm back from Wellington. So much build up and now it's all over! I was getting ready for bed last night, thinking to myself that I was standing here brushing my teeth only yesterday — but it felt like it had been 3 days since I was home! This is why....

Leaving Day...
4.45am rolls around and my alarm is politely telling me to get up (about as politely as a screaming 3 year old would...) I had hardly any sleep the night before from being so excited about Craft2.0, but Kylie (of Skipapple) and I are on our way to Wellington.

We arrive to the most AMAZING day — not a cloud in the sky and it feels like it was about 24 degrees, so much for Wellington being an icebox! We dump our bags at the backpackers that we were staying at and head out to breakfast (my second breakfast of the day), we found a cool little cafe called Midnight Espresso on Cuba St and I had the BEST ever bagel. We hung out for a bit before heading down to the waterfront.

Me being a tourist

Chatty time with crafty people...
I had arranged to catch up with fellow crafty type, Illustrator Sarah McNeil for tea and cakes. We met up outside the Art Gallery — which is an awesome building, currently covered in polka-dots — before taking a walk up Cuba St on our way to Martha's Pantry for some serious cuteness. Martha's Pantry is featured in the current World Sweet World and is full of frilly aprons, cute tea cosies, pretty plates and the most amazing selection of cakes and biscuits.

Wellington City Art Gallery, covered in spots like Bottomly Potts

Tea and cakes at Martha's Pantry

After we'd finished pretending to be ladies, Sarah kindly took me around and showed me all her favourite shops and some interesting places around Wellington. There was this little cafe on the corner of Cuba St that was inside awesome little retro caravans. We visited the best bookshop full of books about craft and fashion, I could have spent hours in there! And of course we had a lookie in Madame Fancy Pants and all the curiosities. Lunchtime rolled around and it was time for Sarah to get back to work and I had to meet up with Kylie for lunch.

Caravan cafe goodness at the top of Cuba St.

The rest of the day consisted of lunch over looking the Wellington harbour in the sun and feeling very, very tired! We finally got to check in, and after a quick pit stop I got together a few things to take up and show the lovely Claire from Madame Fancy Pants, which of course she loved!

Beer and Sun — a winning combination

Later that night after setting up our tables at the market, we went out for a yummy Indian dinner and a trip to the Bats Theatre to see the worst play in the universe. So bad, I'm not even going to type it's name. Exhausted, we dragged ourselves home to get ready for the market the next day.

Market Day....
After I think the worst nights sleep I think I have ever had (went to sleep at 3.30am only to have my alarm clock go off at 7.30am....) we got up and ready to head to The New Dowse Gallery in Lower Hutt for Craft2.0, Heleen (of Ruby In The Dust) and her sister kindly gave us a lift.

Me setting up for a day of market goodness.

My table in all it's glory

The market itself was pretty slow (compared to what I had been told it's like in the past) the numbers were rather low and the craft cash was down for a few hours, which really didn't help. I personally didn't do amazingly considering my costs for this market had been so high, but it was nice to say hello to everyone and of course meet with lovely retailers about my wares. Fingers crossed for those!

Hometime....
The market finished, we packed up and jumped on the shuttle bus to the airport. To be honest, I couldn't get home fast enough. I was feeling a little discouraged after the market, utterly exhausted and just wanted to get home and relax. The flight only took about 40 minutes and before I knew it I was home with a lovely boyfriend and a cold beer waiting. Couldn't ask for more really!

Amazing view of Wellington Harbour from the plane.

All in all it was a lot of fun and I'm looking into coming down again for another one at some point. Wellington put on amazing weather and a definite highlight was hanging out with Sarah and meeting retailers.

See you all at the next market! In the meantime, check out more photo's from our trip here on flickr.

Jess xx