The Crafty Squirrel

Its been a BIG year folks and to wrap it up I've decided to give you more opportunities to visit us this Christmas! We will be OPEN everyday now until Christmas Eve! Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday & Sunday 10am to 4pm.

We will then be CLOSED for the summer break and reopen on Thursday 2 February 2017.

I wish you all the very best for the festive season and would like to thnak you for your patronage and support over the year. I couldn't do what I do without you all! Merry Craftmas! Ho Ho Ho!

Morgan xx

The Crafty Squirrel Tokyo Tour!

Hello - Konnichiwa! Hope this finds you all well! Life has been somewhat head down at the Crafty Squirrel HQ this year with our most recent pop up being at the Australasian Quilt Convention (AQC) in Melbourne in April. We had a fabulous time and loved catching up with our lovely regular visitors and meeting lots of new faces who have made the journey to Ballarat to visit the studio shop.

Behind the scenes we have been working on some (cross our fingers) wonderfully crafty workshop ideas that we hope to host in the coming months but the most exciting news of all is our treasure hunting trip to Japan and the announcement that we will soon be running crafty tours of Tokyo with the first one happening in May 2017.

If you follow along on Facebook or Instagram you can see a sneak peek of some of the places I visit (but not all of course....you have to come on the tour to see that!). If you are interested in finding out more please send me an email to info@thecraftysquirrel.com.au and I will add your name to the mailing list so that you will hear first!

There will be limited spaces and I can guarantee it will be lots of FUN! If you've always wanted to visit Tokyo and you love all sorts of crafts - particularly fabric, paper and wool based hobbies than this is the tour for you! I look forward to you joining me on the journey! Morgan x

Christmas Trading Hours

There's only 5 Fridays until Christmas! So just as a reminder - I will be open for trading on the following dates:

Friday 20 Nov - 10am to 5pm
Sat 21 Nov 10am to 4pm
Thurs 26 Nov 10am to 5pm
Fri 27 Nov 10am to 5pm
Thur 3 Dec CLOSED - at the Big Design Market
Fri 4 Dec CLOSED - at the Big Design Market
Sat 5 Dec CLOSED - at the Big Design Market
Thurs 10 Dec 10am to 5pm
Fri 11 Dec 10am to 8pm - late night shopping
Sat 12 Dec 10am to 4pm
Thurs 17 Dec 10am to 5pm
Fri 18 Dec 10am to 5pm
Sat 19 Dec 10am to 4pm
Wed 23 Dec 10am to 5pm
Thurs 24 Dec 10am to 5pm - we will then be
CLOSED reopening on Thursday 28 January 2016.

Hope to see lots of you over the next few weeks!

Happy 4th Birthday SALE!

The Crafty Squirrel is turning 4 and what better way to celebrate than to have a SALE! The sale will run over two weeks in store only. 30% off storewide - excluding Sonny angels. Sale on 25, 26, 27 June & 2, 3, 4 July. Store opening hours are Thurs & Fri 10am to 5pm and Sat 10am to 4pm. Yippee!

Visit me at the AQC!

Free hand screen printed calico bag with the first 12 purchases over $150

It's been a great start to 2015 with lots of opportunities to sew and get creative with my beloved vintage sheet collection! The flavour at the moment seems to be cushions and I have recently come up with a new kit that utilises improvisational piecing from the scrap basket in my studio. I love how it turned out so much I am tempted to make a quilt using this technique - super fun and simple. Once you start you don't want to stop! The other new cushion design I have is one made using squares from my vintage sheet charm pack. A sweet patchwork flower would brighten up any couch or bed don't you think?

New vintage sheet cushions - kits and patterns.

All of this behind the scenes preparation has lead me to my first ever venture into the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne otherwise known as the AQC.

I'm excited to say that I will be popping up there with all my vintage sheet goodness PLUS lots of goodies from the shop. The fair opens on Thursday 16 April at 10am and runs through to 4.30pm on Sunday 19 April. For more details - check out their website here.

I will have a number of show specials too -

Buy a Vintage Charm Pack ($96) and receive my new vintage flower cushion pattern ($15) for free.
Free shipping on retro style sewing boxes (save $20) over the 4 days both online and at the fair.
Receive a free hand printed calico bag with all purchases over $150 (limited to the first 12)

I will be located at stand no. 70 in the middle of the beautiful Royal Exhibition Buildings, Carlton Gardens. If you are lucky enough to be able to visit - make sure you come and say Hi!

Vintage Sheet Charm Pack by The Crafty Squirrel.

New vintage sheet cushion kit.

Visit me at The Big Design Market!

Limited edition vintage tablecloth stools by Morgan Wills

Vintage sheet Apple Pincushions by Morgan Wills

Vintage Sheet Scarves by Morgan Wills

www.thebigdesignmarket.com

I felt like I had all the time in the world and then I blinked and here we are hurtling towards the end of the year, the festive season and all the busy-ness that comes with it!

I've been working for quite a few months now behind the scenes in preparation for the Big Design Market on lots of old favourites and lovely new things that I can't wait to share with you all.

This will be the third one they have held and the third time I have done it - so I know that I needed to make lots and lots and LOTS of stock! Lucky I have a wonderful team of 'helpers' who have got me to the finish line. I bump in tomorrow and the market opens at 10am on Friday. I am trading under my design label Morgan Wills and can be found at stand E17. I hope to see you all there!
Morgan x

Life at the Crafty Squirrel HQ

Support Small Business Day - Saturday 4 October 2014

The Crafty Squirrel HQ - with yarn bombed pole.

The Crafty Squirrel at the Melbourne Craft & Quilt Fair - June 2014

We are finalists in the CGU Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards!

We won! Pictured here with Mr Squirrel - my number one fan and supporter!

It’s been a massive year so far at the Crafty Squirrel HQ – with lots of really amazing things happening! I recently turned the BIG 40 and I feel as though this milestone has brought with it many opportunities to celebrate the hard work that has gone in to building my small business over the last 10 years.

For the first time in June I had a stall at the Melbourne Craft & Quilt Fair at the Convention & Exhibition Centre and was delighted to meet so many of you! This was such a great success I have booked in again for next year – mark the 23 to 26 July 2015 in your diaries! Subsequent day trips up to visit the store have been many and I have loved having the opportunity to share my work and the treasures in store with you all.

In recent times I was named a finalist in the CGU Commerce Ballarat – Business Excellence Awards in the inaugural Creative Industries category. I went on to win this category and was totally blown away by the whole experience! Amazing and such an honour!

I was also asked recently by the Small Business Victoria team to be part of their publicity campaign for Support Small Business Day coming up this Saturday – 4 October. We had such a fabulous time in store last year with this fantastic initiative and we are gearing up again for it to be a fun day with lots of giveaways and special offers.

The outpouring of kind words and support across Instagram & Facebook when I was asked to remove my yarn bombing on the pole outside the store was impressive! Whilst it has still not been resolved – I anticipate that it will get to stay…fingers crossed everybody!

Behind the scenes I have been designing and working on a number of new products that will be launched at The Big Design Market on the 5, 6 & 7 December at the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Carlton. This is a must visit event for Christmas shopping!

Whether it’s in store or at an event – I really love meeting you all, make sure to say hello!

Until next time – happy crafting!

Morgan xx