Goodbye and Hello. And thank you.

I'm guessing this is going to be one of the hardest posts I've ever had to write.  Well, I've only ever written five!   Might be a long one too so I hope you've got a cup of tea there.  I'll just come straight out with it....

I'm saying goodbye to Hapene Flax NZ Ltd.

Maybe you've already heard, or perhaps you don't even know what Hapene Flax NZ Ltd is!  I guess you could say it was my first 'baby'.  A little idea with a little piece of flax, that I nurtured and grew and developed and loved, and I guess you could even say flax became my life!

Life changes doesn't it.  Twelve years, 50,000 pieces of flax, 3,000 emails, six cats, one husband and two children later....I'm  ready to hang up my flax hat.  A decision that has taken three years to make, but more so in the last year, a decision that has been sitting quietly in the back of my mind, already decided upon, but just not actioned.

It was just over a year ago that I had my second prem baby.  My eldest boy Enosh, he wasn't too early, but still a wee thing at just 4lb 11oz.  As
for Asher, he was born 8 weeks early at a teeny 3lb 10oz.  It has been the hardest, yet most rewarding, year of my life.  I won't go into detail (he's totally fine by the way, a big happy boomba now!), but the year has flown by and the kids are growing up before my eyes....or should I say, 'not' before my eyes.  I'm always busy busy busy. Seems like so much to do, and so many hats to wear.  I know there are others out there who can totally relate.  Taking care of your family + creating all of your products from scratch + marketing + accounts + administration + customer service + every other little detail that being in business involves = worn out, pulling her hair out mum!  It's the 'me having to design and make everything' that is the biggest thing.  No-one else can do it for me.  I'm the artist.  Yes, there are parts of jobs that I can get others to do, but people come to me to get the work that I do.

I'm not an energetic, carefree twenty year old anymore.  I know I'm only in my thirties and still have a lot of life to live, but right now, my priority is my family, and my health.  I want to take the kids to the park, be free to join my sister and nieces for lunch, go for adventures with my boys through the forest, play tackle, bake cakes and do messy art.  And believe it or not, we'd like more kids, totally aware of the fact that my dodgy kidneys are a precursor for preterm labour and teeny tiny babies.  That also means I have to reduce stress levels, take it easy and keep my silly blood pressure down.  Hard to do when you're wearing all the hats!

So it's haere ra to Hapene.
I'm ready to let it go.  I've been fortunate to have received worldwide exposure, awards, extensive press coverage, and regular orders throughout the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.  It has been an amazing experience from which I've learnt SO much, and I couldn't have done it without my family, especially my mum!  I'm ready for someone else to take it to the next level, make it a huge success, and fulfill all of these dreams I have written in this big book called a twelve year visual diary, AKA business plan.  The potential is huge.  Huger than huge.  Who is going to make it happen? Could be you!  Of course, I can't sell 'me', and I can't sell creative talent.

But what you'll get from me is: 
The Patent, 12 years worth of product development, Marketing and business plans, the reputable Hapene branding with the incredible exposure received over the years (see here), product photographs, www.hapene.co.nz and www.hapene.com, beautiful professional website with online store and content management system, all new branding design, stock and materials, trade secrets, full procedures, equipment, suppliers details, client database, Facebook page.....I'll stop here because this post is going to be way too long!  I will give all of this and more to the RIGHT person/persons/company, for the right price (not the highest).  I totally don't expect to be compensated for the blood, sweat and tears poured out over 12 years for this.  I'm completely realistic.  I just want the chance to be more of a mum, and less of a "I'll be with you after I've finished this wedding order".  And I want Hapene to live on, and fulfill its potential.

Which brings me to the HELLO part.  Hello garage (it will be my husbands dream come true to have garage space!).  Hello walks on sunny days.  Hello time to organise my linen cupboard, attack the sewing pile, finish painting the boys rooms, play with the kids!  Hello Maisy & Grace!  Uhhhhh....what???!  Yup, Maisy & Grace.  A lovely little online store I started a little while ago.  Merchants and makers of vintage inspired homewares, art, craft and design.  The philosophy: It's the simple pleasures which MAKE LIFE BEAUTIFUL.

This is something that's been quietly brewing away over the last few years, as my intrigue and passion for the ways of old have slowly infiltrated my life and my thinking.  Inspired by my Grandmothers mainly.  I guess also as you have more children and your life evolves into a more 'domestic' way of thinking, your ideals and outlook on life change too.  I tried to incorporate this passion and love for all things beautifully vintage and classic into Hapene Flax NZ Ltd, but it just didn't quite fit.  The quest for a 'simple beautiful life' was getting more and more complicated!

So enter Maisy & Grace.  You could say they are my idealistic multiple personalities.  Maisy, on the one hand, is like your Nana - she preserves, irons, sews, and loves a simple life with a 'waste not, want not' attitude.  Grace, on the other hand, is like your favourite Aunty - creative, a baker, the ultimate hostess who loves pretty things.  I wish I was them!  Well I can try, and the online store is a take on the good old fashioned General Store - a place where Maisy and Grace inspired homeware is showcased, recipes and housekeeping tips are shared, and where you can get a little (or big) piece of this simple, beautiful lifestyle.

The beauty of this little venture for me, is that I get to share everything I love, and I don't have to make every product from scratch!  This is my new extra curricular activity - every woman needs one!  Especially when you have an overactive mind like I do.  I will still dabble in a bit of creativity - upcycled products, letterpress, sewing, painting (once an artist, always an artist), perhaps a bit of weaving every now and then.  And perhaps I might even put my degree to good use and get back into a bit of interior design work - but maybe when the kids are all at school!  In the meantime, I'm going to aim for a simple, beautiful life - selling these lovely wares, hiring out vintage china, styling the odd event here and there, and most of all, being mum.

If you've read all the way to here - CONGRATULATIONS!  This is a mammoth post!  I hope you'll join me over at my new venture.  Thank you for all of your support and encouragement over the years.  And if you think you have what it takes to make Hapene a huge success....email me - christall.lowe@xtra.co.nz

Take care all,
Hei konei ra,

Christall x

Rise to the challenge - Easy Peasy Focaccia Bread

If there's one thing that disappears almost as fast as the milk in this house, it's the bread.  What is it with males and bread?!  So when I put the chicken casserole in the oven to cook for a few hours, I thought I would be safe to leave it, bring it out just before tea time to cool a bit, and serve it with the trusty bread.  I should have known my darling Mr 4 year old would make himself a late afternoon snack, and demolish the bread that was left, while I was, oh I dunno, cleaning the toilet, or comforting the sick baby, or writing emails, or updating my Facebook status.

When I realised at 4:30pm that there was no bread, and none in the freezer, I turned to my recipe book shelf. "HELP ME!" I screamed.  And out jumped Annabel Langbein.  Focaccia bread.  Looks easy enough I thought.  I mean, how hard could it be, how could I possibly fail at making FLAT BREAD????  Surely you can't get any flatter than flat.  I'll give it a go.

You must do this people!  It's the easiest bread ever to make (I've made a few in my life), and as you can see from the results - it was a success! I give myself an A+ and a chocolate (or two) for that.

  
Here's the recipe, courtesy of Annabel Langbein's "The Free Range Cook"

FOCACCIA BREAD
(I actually halved this recipe shown below and made one bread, not two)

1 ½ cups warm (not hot) water
1 ½ tsp dry yeast granules
1 packed cup cooked mashed potato
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
4 ½ cups high grade flour (very important you use high grade for bread), plus extra for kneading
2 tsp salt

Topping
1-2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp fresh rosemary leaves
½ tsp sea salt

Place warm water in a large mixing bowl.  Sprinkle yeast over the water and allow to stand for 2 minutes (I was in a hurry so I used the instant dry yeast from the packet, makes the dough prove faster).  
Mix in the mashed potato (leftover from the hangi yesterday!)  and the ¼ cup olive oil. 
Stir in the flour and salt and mix until the dough just starts to come away from the sides of the bowl.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and using lightly oiled hands knead about 30 times (that's the part I like - only 30 kneads!  I can deal with that!) 
Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with muslin or a tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 3-4 hours or until it has doubled in bulk (but if you used instant dry yeast like me, and halved the recipe, it only took half an hour in the oven warmer drawer). You can also leave it in the fridge, covered, to rise slowly overnight.

When you’re ready to cook your bread, place a baking stone on the centre shelf of the oven and preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius (I don’t have a stone so just used a solid baking tray and it worked well). 
Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured bench, divide in half and shape each half into a ball.  
Roughly flatten one ball onto a tray lined with baking paper, pressing the dough out to an oval shape about 25 x 20 cm. Use your fingertips to press dimples into the top of the loaf, then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary and salt.

Slide the baking paper with the dough on it off the tray onto the preheated baking stone/tray. Bake for about 25 minutes until golden. When cooked the bread will sound hollow when you tap it. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking stone for a few minutes. Then transfer to a rack to cool.

Phew!  Bread to go with our casserole - crisis over!

Delish I tell you.  Apparently the stickier/wetter the mixture the better, so don't be tempted to add in more flour.

Give it a go, I'd love to know how you get on.  Of course, you can use whatever topping you like!

Enjoy 
Christall x

A 1940s Vintage Love Affair

I couldn't go past this beautiful 1940s vintage inspired photo shoot all the way from Lina at A Stunning Affair in Los Angeles!  I first saw this shoot featured on Hostess with the Mostess and I was thrilled when the lovely Lina herself was flattered that I wanted to feature it here.  I'm sure you will agree with me - it is just stunning, and I LOVE all the pretty details.  From the wood type blocks, to the pale blue enamel pitcher.  This is a wedding shoot, but my goodness, I can see this kind of setting created for any number of occasions - garden tea party, baby shower, engagement party, 40th Birthday....any excuse really to recreate this style!  

Are you loving the vintage typewriter, calligraphy, woodcut type & vintage camera like I am?!!!

Preserving jars & vintage lace.  A bit of rustic, whimsy and elegance - works perfectly

Look at the pretty table setting!  Love that old ten pin!

"Sweet love"

I LOVE the old enamel pitcher, actually I love everything about this 'soda station'

Incredible detailing on this cake!

Hanging jars with bunches of loose flowers is super dooper pretty

Gorgeousness in a drawer

Who loved this as much as I did?!  To be honest, I was drooling a little.  I hope someone wants me to create something like this for them oneday. Come on, I know you're out there somewhere.  Surely there's a good reason to put on a party like this!  Call me!

Christall x

– Photographer: Krista Mason Photography
– Event Planner: A Stunning Affair
– Floral Designer: Peony & Plum Floral Design
– Hair Stylist: Kutting Room
– Invitation Designer: Shannon Vetere
– Dress Designer: Winnie Couture
– Cake Designer: Fantasy Frostings
– Linens and Coverings: Premiere Party Rents
– Equipment Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals
– Calligrapher: Calligraphy Katrina and Maison du Papier
– Makeup Artist: GraceMakesPrettyFace
– Personal Stylist: Nunn Better Design

Tea for three with Nana Bubby

A visit to my Great Nana Bubby's when I was a child always excited me. Not just because she always had a box of Griffin's samplers to give us, or Mallowpuffs in the old wooden cabinet she called a pantry. But also because her ways, and her house and everything that was part of it, intrigued me. The old coal range, the 'food safe' where she stored her milk and things that we would've had in the fridge, the tiny kitchen with tongue and groove walls, grey lino and a little electric cooker. The outside toilet that had an actual chain - as the chain, and the scent of sunlight soap as you walked through the wash house to get to it. How I wish I could go back there.

This installment as part of my recent exhibition was conjured up from memories of those days. "Tea for three with Nana Bubby" was always a pleasure. My Irish Great Grandmother, a colourful, adventurous character, who wore bright coloured lipstick - quite striking against her porcelain complexion, blue eyes and jet black hair. Always with a tea brewing on the stove or coal range, and always with some exciting story to tell.

Cup of tea, anyone? x

Did you know that according to legend, tea was discovered by the Chinese Emperor,
Shan Nong, in 2737 B.C? We've been drinking tea for over 4,500 years!