CraftyVibes Workshop #1 — Rose Garden Cottage

🎉 We had our very first workshop, and it was a blast! 🎉

Here are some of the awesome takeaways:

Keep it simple, keep it fun: We learned that focusing on just one or two activities is the way to go. We had a smorgasbord of options—beads, stamping, colouring, tukutuku boards, weaving, sewing—you name it. But it was a bit much, even for our creative crew!

Beads = Big Win: The beads were a total hit! Our rangatahi and tamariki couldn’t get enough, crafting bracelets for themselves and their mates. We’re definitely keeping this one in the mix.

We need our own space: Having a safe, dedicated space is a must. Somewhere we can stash our supplies, set up, and stay cosy without any unexpected visitors popping in to use the loo.

It’s just the beginning: This was our very first workshop, and while we’re still finding our groove, there’s heaps of potential here. We’re just getting started!

Rose Garden Cottage vibes: The Rose Garden Cottage is a great spot, but it’s definitely more suited for summer—note to self: switch on the heat pump next time! We ended up basking in the last of the sun under the pergola, munching on kai in and around the cottage.

Future plans: If we’re back at the Rose Garden Cottage, we’ll set up the crafts indoors and maybe add another table. That big bench seat? It’s the star of the show! Can’t wait to play around with different setups.

Streamline is the dream: Next time, less is more. Lugging all those crafts back and forth from the car was a mission. We’ll definitely streamline our supplies!

Shoutouts: A massive thank you to everyone who came along and to Whaea Bibiana for her incredible support. You’re all legends! 🙌

Next workshop lineup:

• Jewellery making 💍

• Scrapbooking with stamps and stickers 📚

• Rock painting 🎨

Let’s keep the creative energy flowing! See you next time!