Sadly, we have decided to close Crafty m.e. for one year to redesign our company. We have been running the company since 2007 and while we have had a lot of success, we are reassessing and reflecting on where we want to take the company.

During the rest of 2011, we will still be running the knit-a-thon for Christchurch. Please stay involved with this as we are committed to helping rebuild the city, one stitch at a time.

We hope to reopen Crafty m.e. next year with a new focus, a new and exciting range of products and more customer input.

Because of this, we invite you to complete a survey about our company and would love your honesty in how we could improve.

1. What do you like about Crafty m.e. as it is?
2. What could we improve on? 
3. How is our customer service? 
4. Do we communicate with you enough?
5. What would you like to buy from us? 
6. Have you bought our products?
   a. If yes, what was it
   b. If no, why not?

Thanks for your commitment to us, we really appreciate the level of support we have received from our New Zealand community, and the people who have ordered our products from overseas.

Regards, Erin and Megan Howell

Crafty m.e. would like to wish you a happy holiday season! The lead up to Christmas was crazy, but fun. When we were not sewing and knitting to keep up with demand, we were really enjoying the lovely sunshine in Wellignton.

We are closed from now until 10th January.  During this time, please keep sending us emails for orders and questions, and we will get back to you when we get back.The highlights of yesterday were great food (including Erin’s homemade pavlova), and having time out with the family around the BBQ.

We are running a fun little facebook competition to see who can post the craziest craft Christmas decorations. View our photos here and post your own.

Stay safe, knit responsibly and see you in 2011

Cheers, Megan and Erin

Spring is in the air again, our gardens are working overtime and at Crafty m.e. we are busy with new ideas and designs.

We have made a lot of quilts, blankets and cushions for all of the babies that were born over winter, and we have a waiting list for all of the babies due to be born in the next couple of months.

As well as baby products we have been working on our Christmas products which were in high demand last year. Get in early and prepare for Christmas by ordering our hand made Christmas stockings, and Christmas pillowcases. It will be a lot less stressful for you, and you will have the joy of giving a hand made gift made with love.

The knit-a-thon for Kidney Kids went really well so thanks everyone for all of your knitting and sewing efforts during July. We got a lot of toys made and the kids are very happy with them. We are already planning our next knit-a-thon so email us if you have a favourite charity for a fantastic idea that you would like us to incorporate.

We have been following the earth quake news from Christchurch and have many of our family members living down there. Luckily our family is fine, but there are a lot of people who have had their lives turned upside down. Crafty m.e is keen to help our fellow Kiwis and have donated to the last month's profits to help out.

With the spring season, most people are clearing out their houses and redesigning their living spaces. Contact us to order your new season's key pieces. We make to order so let us know if you have a new theme or idea for your house, and we can design and create a beautiful cushion or throw which will inspire you for years to come.

It is that time of year again- the knit-a-thon is upon us! Grab your wool, needles and friends and knit up a basketful of soft toys for this year’s charity, Kidney Kids NZ Ltd.

Kidney Kids is a parent driven organisation set up to meet the needs of children, and the families of children, who have kidney disorders. They offer kids and their families emotional support from other parents who have "been there", information on their child’s condition, social occasions, and education evenings where they can meet a specialist to talk to about their child’s condition. Read more.

Last year we had people who wanted to sew instead of knit, so this year we have sewing patterns as well as knitting patterns. Download them from our website. The patterns are for soft toys because sick kids need extra cuddles. The toys are all colourful with cute, happy faces. Design clothes for them, tie ribbons around them and make them multicoloured. Post your ideas and photos on our Facebook page.

Bring your knitting and join us at the Southern Cross any Monday night during July, 7pm-9pm. Last year the free knitting lessons were a big hit so if this sounds like fun, grab some wool, needles and come along.

Also leading up the knit-a-thon we had a survey about your pets. We have a winning rabbit, nominated by Kylie and have named the Oscar Rabbit pattern after him. Kylie will be getting her prize posted out to her tomorrow.

Contact us if you need advice about where to get everything and tell all of your friends to join in! We are still available for one off designs throughout the knit-a-thon, so if you need a creative gift for a special event, let us know and we will create something beautiful.

The seasons are changing again and it is a great time to get excited about local, handmade crafts!

Crafty m.e. exhibited cushions in the Altericons show during January and we had a lot of fun talking with visitors and fellow artists. We really enjoyed meeting people in the community because we are mainly an online company. It is always nice to get feedback about our products and exciting to see what everyone else is making too.

Over the next three months, we are preparing for the annual Knit-A-Thon and will send out more information in our next newsletter. We are working with another fantastic charity and will have more free patterns, knitting classes and fun events arranged.

While we are preparing for the Knit-A-Thon we thought we would do a little survey.
Go to our website and fill in the 'contact us' form and tell us:

• what was (or is) your favourite animal as a child
• the name of your first family pet

We will choose an animal and name that we like and it will be featured in our Knit-A-Thon. The winner will get a beautiful ball of wool and a pair of knitting needles. Read more about previous Knit-A-Thons on our website.

As usual if you would like to order a one off, personalised, gifts for your friends and family, contact us and tell us how we can help.