It's that time again...when we give away heart garlands to all our customers.

This year, mini garlands made from red spotty felt. How cute!

We're sending the hearts out with all orders, from now until the 14th . (Or until they have all been given away, which from memory of last year was well before the 14th, my lovelies.)

And the garlands are delivered gift wrapped, how lovely!

Ready to give to your honey bun, or keep for yourself x

These garlands look gorgeous hanging near a baby's cot, in an entrance, in a bedroom..well, anywhere really.

  xmeg

 We're back and we're excited. 2012 is going to be a great year.

What's on the list for this year? More daily creativity. I'm a happy chap when I'm at my sewing machine. This year I want to bring that happiness to the sofa too...I'm going to learn to crochet by winter. Anyone out there in Wellington and keen to teach me? teapeadesign@xtra.co.nz

New products and designs are high on the 2012 list - made by us, and lovelies sourced from around NZ and the rest of the World. Stay tuned.

More information and inspiration - it's all coming your way. Anyone on Pinterest? This is me. It's another step into the world of Tea Pea. I'll be writing here more too. Is there anything you'd like to see here, read about, or shop for in our store, any products you'd like us to design or source. We'd love to hear from you. Email address above.

My inspiration was kick started a few days into the new year. I visited an incredible second hand book store. One room was dedicated to vintage children's storybooks.

Heaven.

And somehow Scott managed to fit the 130 books into the car, back to Wellington.

I have many ideas swirling about what to do with them. Everyone a work of art. Oh weren't the illustrations and colours fabulous back in the 50's and 60's.

Here's a couple.....

I have also returned with loads of vintage fabrics. So much to do, so little time...

There were also a few purchases for myself. A couple of coffee cups to add to the collection.

 And what do you think of the new artwork - a gift from my sister, Jo, for Christmas. The numbers are from a racecourse (I must find out which one), used in the old manual siding way to show the winning horses.And the houses were also a present, from my lovely mum. The artist is Owen Bartlett. I'm planning on collecting them.

So I suppose, to recap, 2012 is the year to expect big things from Tea Pea.

So we better get started....

Meg x

Next year, I will do things differently. This wonderful Christmas season has seemed to pass me by. The soirees, the end of year concerts, carols, prize giving, birthdays (we have a lot of December birthdays, in fact it is Griffin's 7th today), the shopping, all blurred into a huge red and green melting pot.

One of the main reasons for this is Tea Pea. You, our fabulous customers, and I really am convinced I do have the MOST gorgeous customers, bought, and bought and bought. And now our shelves are all but empty.

So before I go any further, can I say thank you. Without you there would be no Tea Pea, and we are thrilled there is. Two years on and everyday I still walk into our studio each morning excited about what the day will bring - the orders, the enquiries, the sourcing, the creating and the sewing.

I wanted to show you our own Christmas. We are away in Hawkes Bay this year so it's very low key, but well here it is all the same. As most years, the theme is handmade. Griffin made a little baby Jesus in a manger. Isn't it so cute.

Our tree looks a little sparce in the photos. It's not. It's a mix of yellow babbles bought on a trip to Italy, kids creations, lego reindeer, about 2000 lights and various mismatched decorations.

We sell so many vintage storybook garlands. I love making them, and I love it that people buy them. They are rather quirky, so quite a surprise they are one of our best sellers!

 I made these red and pink garlands for us.

And finally, in the St Nick of time! Presents, bought or made, and wrapped. I've made pink pillowslips for my sisters and mum, framed photos of the kids, champagne, great totes from Foundry, and cute things from Small Acorns and WhatKatyDid.

And so now it's drinks with the neighbours, breakfast at Dunsheas, and then we are off to the beach for two weeks.

Holiday time for us, and hopefully all of you.

Wishing you happiness and fun.

xxmeg

Our Change Mats are a perfect gift for a newborn. They are both stylish, and practical.

At 50cm x 42cm, they are designed to take up very little space in a handbag or nappy bag.

One of our 100% cotton fabrics make up the top of three layers. The under layer is a shower proof nylon, and the middle - batting to give a little padding to baby. Finished off bound in bias, and with a ribbon tie.

Made in New Zealand.

 Our snugglies continue to be one of our most popular products.

The perfect baby shower, or newborn gift.

Handmade in New Zealand, they offer colour, texture and softness for baby's first curious reaches. 

A bright interesting pattern on one side, and the cosiest and calming minky on the other.

The 16 tags around the edges are bright and inviting for little fingers. We've made the snugglie a managable size to hold, pop in a nappy bag, take on a walk and generally snuggle up with.

Let's get technical. Child professionals call our snugglies 'Transitional Objects'. Used to settle a child at creche, or away from their mother or main caregiver they are a piece of home, a familiar object.

The design of our snugglies is with thought to safety first and foremost. The tags are strengthened by being stitched four times. Next comes colour  - that's something we love to use. And babies respond to our bright ribbons and fabric we choose.

Throw your snugglie in the wash and line dry. Most customers purchase two, or come back for a second back up.

  All our snugglies are couriered out gift wrapped. Most can also be teamed with a matching Change Mat. And if you're not sure whether you're shopping for pink or blue, a number of designs are great for either a baby boy, or girl.

There's the most gorgeous goodies arriving everyday here and we scarcely have room to move.

With more still to come we've decided to clear a few shelves.

So we're having a little sale. It finishes on Sunday, and just so you know, very limited stock of everything (it's selling out already!)

Those gorgeous goodies arriving every day? They'll be in our store soon. We'll let you know via Facebook and newsletter. (Sign up here.)

Lots of lovelies coming! We can't wait to share them with you. And our Christmas store is opening next week too.

Enjoy the sale 

meg x

Another weekend behind us. Where did it go? I feel cheated - I worked most of it. Although it was such fun on Saturday. Craft 2.0's first Wellington City market and it was a runaway success. The venue, Chaffer's Dock Building, was made for us. Light, airy and BIG! As always I didn't have time to do nearly as much shopping as I would have liked. I'll show and tell the goodies I did buy later this week.

We are in the midst of photographing new products (and updating our current) and also adding a few babies and children. That's right - never work with them! But in fairness, so far, so good. The kids have been fantastic (a little bribery goes a long way).

 Sheree from Sheree Willman Photography has been a star. Her work is beautiful.This is from our Snugglies and Change Mats. Baby Isabella was a delight!

Coco never delays getting into mischief. Part way through one of the days I found her doing a little sewing...

I suggested the kids read so they wouldn't get bored while we sorted products. So they read...

and read...

and read... (I love this pic)

Good luck with the race today!

 Megx

Last week was an exciting week at Tea Pea...well, if exciting is working until midnight each night.

The big news is we are launching into Australia! That's right, fair dinkum.

Our Oz Cousies - we'll let you know stockists as they come on board. Or you can email Gemma at sales@emmaezing.com.au. She's our lovely distributor. Would you like your local baby store to stock us? Ask them to get in touch with Gemma.

We are so looking forward to coming over!

Yes, it's this weekend!

Wellingtonians, we hope you can come along this Saturday. As always it will be bursting with amazing designers and their goodies.

And remember it's a new venue. A LOVELY new venue.

Herd Street in the Chaffers Dock building - where the City Market is on Sundays.

Tea Pea will be there with new Christmas goods, Craft 2.0 specials and a little treat with every purchase.

And look, here it is in Sunday's up column. See you there x

...and they are over already.

A blurry fortnight of cinnamon pinwheels, playdates, fabric buying, the zoo, sewing, parks, order dispatching, rugby and sleepovers.

 I need a holiday...

The Wellington Zoo is a great day out, even in the rain.Here's Griffin and his friend James talking weather forecasts with one of the Sun Bears.