https://www.greenleas.nz en-nz Greenleas Handcrafts 30 Sun, 14 Apr 2024 15:57:30 +1200 daily 1 https://www.website.world https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/987313 I had intended to update this website at the beginning of the year - whatever happened to the past 6 weeks?? It has disappeared so very quickly. It has been wonderful having so many past customers come to say hello - and to buy again. I do value the conversations I have with so many people from around the world and from up and down the country. Of course it also means a lot to me that you choose to buy the items that I make and to either take them back to your homes or to give them to people that mean something to you. I do have a couple of new wall-hangings and I'll try to get the photos up so that you can see how they would look on your own walls. They are of the native woodpigeon (Kereru) Tui, Pukeko, Fantail (Piwakawaka), and the Morepork (Ruru) owl. I look forward to seeing you at the Matakana Market in the Old Dairy Factory. Susan Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/987313 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/979676 Hello again. At last I can restart this year which has been filled with family emergencies, hospitalisations etc. Hopefully that is now past and I can again restart my business and return to the Old Dairy Factory at the Matakana Market. I have missed meeting my customers and having really interesting conversations and of course it is lovely when they find just the right something I have made to buy. When I restart at the Market on 7 October I will have all the favourite Kiwiana items - table mats and table runners - in particular the 1.3 metre long 6-patch table runner featuring 3 NZ birds and 3 NZ flowers or ferns. This runner has been so popular and even those people who do not have a long enough table to feature it, have purchased to use as a bed runner at the foot of their bed, so they too can have a little bit of New Zealand. There are some new fabrics, in particular some panels which I have turned into wall hangings - striking colours and they make a wonderful splash of colour on the wall. I have added some slightly different designs to the Kiwiana Lap quilts which are a little larger and of course there is always a good range of children's quilts - the popular I Spy as well as the New Zealand Counting and New Zealand Alphabet plus others - it is always a changing range. So I look forward to seeing you in my corner at the Old Dairy Factory at the Matakana Market every Saturday from 7 October onwards. Safe travels Susan Sat, 23 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/979676 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/958272 Hasn't it been a strange year! I have been fortunate in that I have been able to attend the Market here and there between getting Covid and a family member's illness. It has been so nice to have past customers come to say Hello, have a chat and to buy something more. Thank you to all of you. I am taking the Christmas Eve market off as I have family staying, so I wish everyone a Very Happy Christmas and I hope to see you at Matakana sometime in the future. All the best Susan Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/958272 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/953720 Hasn’t it been a horrible winter for so many people, but at last we can see the beginning of Spring with warmth in the sun. With Spring comes my return to the Matakana Market as I always take 3 – 4 months off in Winter so I will be back in my corner of The Old Dairy Factory from Saturday 1 October. I am looking forward to seeing old friends, returning customers and of course new ones. I will have my tables laden with Kiwiana items – the favourite Six-Patch table runners (1.25m long), and the ever-popular Mixed Bird sets of 4 table mats as well as the colourful table centres (75cm), and the other 11 styles of table mats. There are wall hanging which can also be used as table centres. As well as a large assortment of Children’s Quilts including I Spy, I Spy Storyline, Baby Love and Kiwiana there are panel quilts for children as well. All Children’s Quilts are $95. A customer asked me if I ever had Lap Quilts suitable for someone who is in a wheelchair or maybe a recliner for long lengths of time, so I made her one and I now have a few in stock. They are long enough to cover down to the feet of a seated person and one or two have Kangaroo pockets to put small items – tissues, remote, keys etc or to keep hands warm. I am looking forward to my new season, and don't forget how light the table runners and table mats are for posting or travelling overseas. See you at Matakana at the Old Dairy Factory. Susan Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/953720 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/945940 It is definitely winter again with rain, rain and even more rain locally. However the Market continues to have many visitors and I am always delighted to see past customers who come to say Hello and sometimes to purchase something new for themselves or as a gift. As I said on the Home Page I will be taking my winter break, as I do each year, from the 2nd week of July. I will be back in my corner from Saturday 1 October. I have decided to stock some Comfy Lap Quilts for adults. It was mentioned to me that while I have children's quilts I don't have anything quite long enough for their Senior family members who spend time in their recliners or wheelchairs. With this in mind I will be developing a range of longer quilts that should cover their owner's feet when sitting in an armchair. I hope to have a colourful range at the beginning of my new season in October. So I have only 3 more weeks of this season left - Saturday 18, 25 June and 2 July. I will look forward to seeing you then or else in October. All the best Susan Fri, 17 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/945940 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/921702 Christmas is over for another year and I hope you all had a very happy day with family and friends, but now it is looking to the future and 2022 and hoping for a far better year than 2021. It was so good to have past customers come to see me at the Market, some to buy some to say Hello, when we opened again on 4 December. The next market is on 1 January - NEW YEARS DAY and yes, I will be there to welcome you. I hope and wish that 2022 is a very good year for all of us. All the best. Susan Sun, 26 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/921702 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/918574 Well here we are, still in Lockdown but with hope on the horizon that the vaccinations rates hit the required 90% target soon and lockdown restrictions can be lifted a little and the Matakana Market can again open to welcome everyone to our lovely piece of the World. I look forward to meeting my many past customers again and welcoming new customers to my stall. Christmas is coming! Best wishes to everyone Susan Wed, 3 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/918574 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/917765 It is quite a while since I came back to my website. My season ended a bit later than usual and then we had/have Lockdown. As I am in the Auckland Region I am still Locked Down. However, as today is Super Saturday, hopefully we will get a high number of vaccinations, Covid case numbers drop and we can all get back to doing what we enjoy, which for me, is being at the Matakana Market of Saturdays and seeing and talking with my customers. Despite not being able to meet you on Saturdays I have had emails, phone calls and orders from customers who are beginning to think about Christmas and in particular posting items overseas. The time lag for posting is growing by the week. As all my creations are as lightweight as I can make them, they are easy and not expensive to post overseas. The sets of 4 Table Mats weigh a mere 200grams, the Table Runners (75cm long) 150grams, and the 6-patch Table Runners (1.23 metres long) weigh only 350grams. While I have had this time off over the winter months I have been updating my stock - increasing the supply of Favourites and introducing some new designs. I have started taking photos of examples of what stock I carry now so over the next day or so I will upload them. Sat, 16 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/917765 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/904989 Hello, it is has been good to have past customers come to visit me at the Market. It is always good to be able to talk with you and of course show you what I might have that might be new to you. I generally end my market season at Queens Birthday weekend, but this year it has been so mild that I have continued and will be there until Saturday 10 July, then I will take the next couple of months off and will return on Saturday 2 October. I will take the time to design some new items as some of the favourite fabrics have been discontinued and of course I need to increase my stock for my Summer Season and the season for gift giving - birthdays, Christmas, Visitor gift and of course gifts for yourself and your own home. All my items are as light-weight as I can make them as we all know that the cost of postage is expensive. So, I will look forward to seeing you sometime till 10 July or from 2 October onwards. I will be, as usual, in my corner in the Old Dairy Factory at the Matakana Market. All the best Susan Thu, 24 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/904989 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/894191 It is surprising how quickly this year is passing and now we are heading into the colder and wetter months of the year. It has been wonderful to see so many visitors to Matakana even when we have had torrential rain, but the welcome to the Market is always warm. I am in the process of designing some new stock - wall hangings and some different table runners. They will be introduced slowly over the weeks as I make them. Children's I Spy Cuddle Quilts have been a hit lately - so many of them destined to make a child very happy. They are so colourful and can be a fun teaching tool with colours, counting, identification and matching and of course story telling. I have other children's Cuddle Quilts too which change regularly from NZ Counting, NZ Alphabet, Trains, with Wheels on the Bus and Old McDonald making an appearance soon. They always bring a smile to passers by. I look forward to seeing you ... at the Market. Susan Thu, 15 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/894191 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/890400 It is so disappointing that the Market won't be open Saturday 6 March because of Level 3 Lockdown for the Auckland Region. I am sorry I wont able to chat with you or share your quilting and painting stories. However, just because we are in Lockdown it doesn't mean that you can't order from me online. If you like what you see on the website just let me know and I can make it for you. I have a PDF file of the batiks that I have in stock for the borders which I send out to customers who order online so that they can get just the shade they like. I Spy Children's quilts are very popular at the moment and I have sold out, but I am in the process of making a new range for sale in the next week. So, everyone, take care of yourselves, wear the masks and keep scanning and I'll see you in Matakana again soon. Susan Wed, 3 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/890400 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/889412 It has been an interesting month with a return to Level 3 Lockdown for Auckland and then a return to Level 2 and the Matakana was able to resume under strict protocols. It was lovely to see so many people at the Market yesterday (Saturday 20th) from all over the country, making the most of the opportunity to explore this part of the North. I really enjoyed the conversations with the people who visited my stall in the Old Dairy Factory. It was lovely to meet previous customers who came for "just one more item" and to see what new paintings I had available. Sun, 21 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/889412 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/887024 Somehow this month seems to have rushed past me and I have not got done all those things I promised myself I would do at the start of the month, one of those being to update this blog. So belatedly I wish everyone a happy and safe 2021. Recently I have been making and have had orders for I Spy quilts for children. They consist of 5 patches by 6 patches of colourful novelty prints to make a central panel, then a narrow sashing, a colourful border and a contrasting binding. The back is always a busy print. My I Spy quilts have been popular as there is so much a child can do with the quilt - not just as a play mat, but learning to count, learn colours, matching similar animals or letters, or telling stories about a favourite character in the quilt. I make them gender neutral with pink fairies or ballet shoes likely to be next to diggers or tractors or racing cars. Photos of I Spy quilts will be added to the website shortly. I have had such fun meeting customers at the Market from all over the country this past month. Some of them have been returning customers to buy a gift, others bringing their visitors, while others have come just to have a chat. It is always a pleasure to have a conversation with everyone who visits especially those who are visiting the area and the North for the first time. There is so much to see and do around Warkworth and Matakana. As it is Auckland's Anniversary weekend this weekend, I wish everyone who is travelling a safe journey and I will look forward to seeing you at the Matakana Market at the Old Dairy Factory. Susan Thu, 28 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/887024 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/878679 At last we have joined the rest of the country at Alert Level 1 so the Matakana Market at the Old Dairy Factory is up and running again at full capacity. Although it was a blustery day yesterday the market was well patronized and I really enjoyed meeting past customers who had been waiting for me to restart so they could purchase gifts for someone special. Although it is only October, people are beginning to think of Christmas, particularly if they have to post items overseas. This is where my table mats and runners come in as they are beautiful and light weight. The 75cm table runners weigh only 150grams, the set of 4 table mats weight just 200grams while the 1.23 metre table runner of 3 NZ flowers and 3 NZ birds comes in at 350 grams. I look forward to seeing you in the Creamery at the Old Dairy Factory on Saturdays. Susan Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/878679 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/876237 Hello It is nearly time again for me to start my Summer Season at the Matakana Market. I will be in the Old Dairy Factory in my usual corner. Covid-19 allowing, I will be back with my hand made homewares on Saturday 3 October. I will have the very popular Table Mats in sets of Four, Table Runners approximately 75cm long and the 1.25 metre Table Runners. All of these are in the beautifully coloured Kiwiana fabrics with Bali Batik borders. Wall hangings, Art Quilts, and the ever popular Pot Mats will also be available. Everything is made in very good quality cotton which when washed still looks new. The beauty of my items is that they are very light weight so do not cost an arm and a leg to post. The 75cm Table Runner weighs 150gms, the 4 Table Mats weigh 200gms and the 1.25 metre Table Runner is 300gms. I am looking forward to meeting my returning customers again, and of course new customers who are looking for something special and handmade as gifts for themselves or friends, family or guests. Fri, 18 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/876237 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/869969 Hello Everyone It is a long time since I have been online owing to my husband's nearly 2-year illness. Fortunately he is now well and gaining in fitness, so I am able to continue with my quilting and painting again. I have been at the Old Dairy Factory these past few weeks, just getting back into work again very slowly. However I will not be at the Market for the months of August and September but will return for my weekly Saturday Markets from 3 October. I have really enjoyed meeting my past customers recently and thank you to those who have ordered items for gifts to send overseas. The beauty of the table mats and table runners is their light weight which helps to keep the cost of postage down both nationally and internationally. So although I will have the months of August and September off from the Market I am still accepting online or email orders. Thu, 16 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/869969 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/850950 I hope everyone has had a very Happy Christmas. I am very sorry that I have not been in my corner in the Creamery at the Old Dairy Factory these past 2 weeks and I won't be there tomorrow either. I broke my wrist and now am sporting a bright blue fibre-glass cast. HOWEVER I intend to start back on 4 JANUARY, so I hope to see you then. As well as my lovely kiwiana items I also have colourful children's cot/play quilts and unique, one-of-a-kind wall hanging art quilts. In addition to these I have a small gallery of paintings. So HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my customers and visitors, I hope to see you soon. Susan Fri, 27 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/850950 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/845334 It is less than 2 weeks now before I begin my new Summer Season at the Matakana Market on 5 October. I hope you will visit me there in the Old Dairy Factory building. I have some new fabric ranges which will be available as well as the favourite table mats featuring 4 different NZ birds. There will be a range of Children's Quilts which are really colourful and happy. As usual I will have a range of contemporary Art Quilt wall hangings, all original designs for that unique piece of art for your home. I look forward to seeing you and of course you can always get in touch with me from the CONTACT US page. All the best Susan Tue, 24 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/845334 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/831756 Well Winter is now upon us and I have retreated to hibernate in my workroom surrounded by fabric and paints. It will be a colourful winter! I now have 4 months to restock. It has been wonderful meeting you all - past customers coming to have a chat and new customers buying my creations. It has been a pleasure to meet you. I will not be at the Old Dairy Factory in Matakana again until the first Saturday in October which is the 5th. I will look forward to seeing you some time during my summer season. I can always be reached via email or phone - see Contact Us page for details. All the best Susan Wed, 5 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/831756 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/824731 For those of you who have been visiting but have found nothing changed or updated on this website, I am sorry. My husband was extremely ill in hosptai for some months and I spent my days with him. He is now home and recovering and I am back at the Matakana Market in my usual corner. But for the rest of my season - until June - I will be there only every second Saturday. I now have a small painting gallery in my space so I have one wall for quilted things and the other for paintings. I look forward to seeing you at the Market again. Susan Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/824731 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/794709 We are certainly well into winter now and I am on my Winter Break from the Matakana Market. My season runs from October to Queen's Birthday in June and then I have 4 months off to make new items for the next season and to take a holiday in the Sun! Thank you to all my customers - local, New Zealand-wide and International. It has been a pleasure meeting you and being able to provide you with just the right item for your own home or as a gift for family and friends. I have really enjoyed our conversations and lots of laughs as well. There are some new fabric designs for the coming year as well as new batiks. I am in the process of updating this website to have examples of everything I have to sell - kiwiana table mats, table centers, long table runners, wall hangings, pot mats, quilt art wall hangings, children's play quilts as well as paintings. Sun, 1 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/794709 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/775557 Somehow the months have whizzed by and I haven't taken the time to update this little blog. However a few of my customers reminded me that it is now February! It has been wonderful to meet many of my past customers at the Market again this year. It is so good to be able to catch up and to get your feedback on what styles you would like added to my range. Thanks to a couple of customers at the end of last year who said that they would like a set of table mats with 4 different birds in the set. It seems that others wanted the same as Four NZ Birds is the fastest selling table mat style - they keep flying off the table. I vary the combinations of birds, but of course I can always make to order. This past Saturday was one of our wettest days, but inside the Old Dairy Factory the atmosphere was upbeat with music, conversation and more than a dozen stalls of handmade goods for sale from my Kiwiana items and paintings to wonderful leatherwork - belts, bags, wallets; colourful custom-made shirts, hand wrought silver jewellery, lotions, potions and jams, leadlight angels and beautifully crafted cutting boards and kitchen trolleys ...and a whole lot more. Time for another visit even if it is wet! Till next time Susan Sun, 11 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/775557 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/761069 It was great to meet so many people last Saturday and I now have items winging their way to the USA, the UK and as a housewarming gift in NZ. Starting October 14 you will find me inside The Creamery which is the building at the right of The Old Dairy Factory. It is a building filled with character and now is the venue for lots of NZ art and craft including me and my quilted items and I will have a little bit of display room for my paintings. Landscapes, flowers, and sometimes old buildings and sheds in acrylic and watercolour. So now I will be able to combine my two loves - quilting and design and painting. I look forward to seeing you. Tue, 10 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/761069 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/757786 After the dreadful weather of Winter, Spring is here and that means a return to the Market at the Old Dairy Factory in Matakana for me. I have new kiwiana products which make wonderful gifts to send overseas or of course for yourself. They are very well made, original to my own designs, and the domestic items such as table mats and table runners wash and wear extremely well. I also have a range of children's quilts - some traditional, others funky and colourful - just right for that special child. So I look forward to seeing you at Matakana - the Old Dairy Factory. Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/757786 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/716063 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/716063 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/704398 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +1300 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/704398 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/696264 It is Spring at last and 1 October is the beginning of my 2016/2017 Season at the Old Dairy Factory in Matakana. If you haven't visited the Old Dairy Factory in Matakana, now is the time to come. There are so many artisans, most of them local, who make and sell their original creations at The Old Dairy Factory. Sat, 17 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +1200 https://www.greenleas.nz/blog/696264