With games, rides and prizes for the kids, they’ll be kept entertained while the grown ups enjoy a leisurely day browsing the superb selection of handcrafts, tasting a few specialty beers and soaking up the music and hopefully some sunshine!

Just a five minute drive from the lovely Pauatahanui Village on the Kapiti Coast, Battle Hill Farm Forest Park is a gorgeous spot surrounded by native bush reserve and panoramic views of rural Wellington. Pack a picnic, round up a few friends, chuck a mix tape in the car stereo and hit the road for an awesome crafty day trip. There’s loads of parking on site – just bring along some gold coins to drop in the bucket to support Life Flight Trust.

And as if all that wasn’t enough excitement for one day, the Felt team will be there too! Stop by and say hello and we’ll pop you in the draw to win a gorgeous bundle of handcrafted goodies.

Just as awesome as your standard Craft 2.0 market, the Trunk Show features a hand-picked selection of some of Wellington’s finest craft, art and indie design – and this time the makers are selling from trunks! It’s a perfect opportunity to find those extra special presents that the high street just can’t offer, plus you get to meet the charming makers behind the wares, including Dear Colleen, Miss Millie, The Paper Bird Society, Sweet William, Whskr and The Sewphist. Each fair will have a mix of different sellers so it’s a darn fine idea to drop in to both.

Admission is free and the first 70 visitors on Friday 16 December get a limited edition gift! It’s a cash only fair, but worry not – there are plenty of ATM machines near the Paramount.

Craft Country is an awesome opportunity to discover the general handmade fabulousness of the region and a must-visit for your Christmas shopping. Head along on Saturday from 10am till 3pm and check it out!

Featuring many familiar faces and a whole lot of new talent, the All I Want For Christmas Market will be an exciting mix of crafts, gifts, vintage wares and homewares, accompanied by great food and coffee – all you need to enjoy your Christmas shopping, all in one place!

The Craft Collective will be selling raffle tickets for a gorgeous gift pack of donated goodies, with all proceeds going to support the Christchurch Women’s Refuge. There will also be a drop off box for gifts for the children for Christmas. Any gifts are greatly appreciated by these families, and it’s a lovely way to share the love this Christmas. Check out the Craft Collective’s Facebook page for a list of gift ideas.

If you’re in Christchurch, come along on Saturday 10 December for a fabulous day’s shopping – see you there!

Minu’s creations are influenced by European folk tales and traditional book illustration, as well as the contemporary illustrations in pop and street art culture. Her cute characters reveal an often melancholic and almost mischievous side at the second glance. Originally from Germany, Minu now works as an illustrator, printmaker and toymaker in Wellington. Her work is known from her participation in several group shows in Wellington, as well as her appearances at the New Zealand Artshow in 2010 and 2011. Her prints and toys are available on Felt. The show contains a selection of her prints from 2008 to 2011 as well as new work.

The very old, and much loved, soft toys depicted in Rieko’s portraits seem to be reluctant to reveal their stories. Her anthropomorphic animals are placed in sceneries that seem to be taken from almost forgotten childhood tales. Both subjects have a curious nature giving the viewer a window into their character and feelings. Her acrylic paintings are influenced by the pop surrealism movement, while maintaining a romantic innocence. Originally from Japan and now based in Wellington, Rieko studies at Inverlochy Art School and this is her second exhibition.

A Curious Nature is open at Thistle Hall on the corner of Cuba and Arthur Streets in Wellington, from 11am till 7pm from Wednesday 30 November until Sunday 4 December.

This weekend sees the return of the wildly successful Fruit Bowl Craft Jam at Hawke’s Bay Opera House Plaza. This year it’s two fabulous events rolled into one, kicking off at 5pm this Saturday 3 December with Starry Starry Craft until 9pm and continuing on Sunday morning with The Morning (Cr)after from 10am till 2pm. It’s a total craftathon!

On Saturday night, you can scope out the huge range of handmade gorgeousness while enjoying wine and snacks from the Opera Bar – then come back for breakfast at the Opera Kitchen and finish your shopping off on Sunday.

Amongst more than 60 awesome stalls, you’ll find Fat Spatula, Wildflower, Kazzalblue, Eiderdowns, Reborn, Plucky Sheilas and Silverworks. There’s something for everyone, so it’s the perfect opportunity to ticks off some of those names on your Christmas list. Felt will be there too – stop by and say hello.

See you this weekend at Hawke’s Bay Opera House Plaze for Fruit Bowl Craft Jam!

It’s a huge weekend for crafty Christmas shopping this week, with markets happening all over the show! In Christchurch, the place to be is Christchurch Girls’ High for Christmas Encraftment. Amongst the vast array of stalls you’ll find such loveliness as jewellery by Pretty Pear and Cloud Nine Creative, ceramics by Mudbird and The Busy Finch and the gorgeous clothing and accessories of Sailor Spy, as well as all of the sellers featured below and many more.

Why not make a day of it? Gather some friends, collect up your pocket money and head along to Girls’ High for coffee, yummy lunch from the Hillview School sausage sizzle and Black Forest Waffle Hut – there’s even donuts on offer! It’s quite the nicest way to shop for Christmas, don’t miss Encraftment from 10am till 3pm at Christchurch Girls’ High, 10 Matai Street, this Saturday 26 November!

Not only is the Craft and Design Market an awesome morning out, but they’re supporting Women’s Refuge, so it’s in aid of a great cause too. Head along to Hawthorne Coffee Roasters at 23 Napier Road on Saturday 26 November from 9am till 12.30pm.

From WoW winners and fashion designers to Christchurch earthquake evacuees and button obsessives, stallholders at this weekend’s market are coming from as far afield as Christchurch, Napier and Palmerston North to make up more than forty tables of vintage fabric and sewing accessories.

As well as awesome fabric bargains from crafty individuals and small businesses, you’ll be able to get your sewing scissors sharpened on the spot, enjoy a tea or coffee and free patterns, and as usual there will be tables selling donated fabric to raise money for Mary Potter Hospice, for which Fabric-a-brac has already raised a grand total of nearly $10,000! Go team!

Head along to Fabric-a-brac this Saturday 5 November from 9.15am till 12.30pm at St. Anne’s Hall, Emmett Street, in Newtown.

True to form, the list of stall holders for this fair is a veritable who’s who of the best and brightest crafters from the Wellington craft scene and across the country, featuring such superstars as Dear Colleen, Tinch Design Studio, Minu, Zippitydoodah, Black Swan Designs, Copper Red, Sweet William and Smash Palace Jewellery.

Come along for a fabulous day out, get your Christmas shopping started and stop by at the Felt stand for your chance to win a $200 Felt gift pack of crafty goodness from Mixing Ink, Superplush, St. Peter’s Thumb Print Studio, Willow Tree Crafts, Basics for Life, Bell and Whistle, Natale, Scarlett Gifts, Paper Girl and Smith and Co.

And don’t forget – for the deluxe Craft 2.0 shopping experience, there’s still time to become a Friend of Craft 2.0. Friends get in early for a crowd-free hour of VIP shopping time at 9am and receive a super cute limited edition 100% organic cotton Craft 2.0 tote bag filled with gorgeous goodies from selected stall holders, including a sweet little treat from Felt.

Head along to Craft 2.0 in the City this Saturday in the Chaffers Dock Building Atrium from 10am till 4pm – see you there!